The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-03-14
City Charters.

We learn that the members of the
late bogus Legislature, and their al
lies. are rejoicing over the fact that
many of the Free State towns in
Kansas applied to them for city char,
ters. They think it the evidence of g
disposition to "back down" on the
part of the Free State party from
their former position, and to recog-
nizc the Territorial laws. Not they,
only, but some very good Free State
men feel the same way, and are not
slow in so expressing themselves
Now that body has adjourned, we may
be permitted to state a fact, which,
in our humble estimation, presents
the case in a very different attitude
from that considered by those who
haro not examined it in legal point
of view. Let us look at the subject
for a moment -
Section 1st. of an act of Congress
passed May 23d, ,1844, provides, ,"Thal
whenever any portion of the surveyed
public lands has been or shall be set
tied upon and oecupied as a torn site,
and therefore not subject to entry un.
der the existing presumption laws, ii
shall be lawful, In case suck towa' o,
place be INCORPORATED, for the co,po-
rate authorities thereof, and, If not in.
corporated, for the Judges Of the Couu.
ty Court for the County IN achich sucl
toscn may be situated, to enter at the
proper land office. and at the minimum
price, the land so settled and occu-
pied, in trust, for the several use and
benefit Of the occupants thereof, &C.
cording to their respective interests
the execution of which trust, as to the
disposal of the lots in such town, and
the proceeds of the rates thsrcof, to be
conducted under such rules and regu,
lations as may be prescribed 6y the leg
;slotiue authority Of tie Territory il
which the same is situated"
But one of three modes of proceed.
ing are left the people of Kansas By
act of Congress. Either. first, they
must not build towns ; or, second
they mast get incorporated if they dc,
sire to manage their own business
or. third. they must apply to the bo
gus Legislature. and allow those bo
gus Judges "to dispose ofths lots and
the proceeds of the sales, under such
regulations" as the bogus Legislature
may have provided.
Men will not settle in Kansas if they
cannot settle in towns, and acquir,
title to the soil. This fact viii destro,
the force Of the first proposition. fol-
unless there are settlers here, thore il
no hope Of making Kansas 5 Fres
State.
Projectors Of Free State towns have
suffered much rather than approach
the bogus Legislature. or its Courts
They must have suffered still more il
the future had they kept sloof from
them ; as no person could legally have
entered the lands on which towns werc
located /; the result would have been,
every Free State town in Kansas
would in due time be exposed to pub
lie sale to the highest bider. as soor
as the land Office was opened, and the
sales should take place and if pro-
slavery men should bid thu highest, ,oul
lands. and the. Improvements on them
wonld fall into pro-siavery hands, tc
the entire peeuniary sacrifice of The
holders of such lots. Others may de-
sire to be placed in sueh category,
and compelled to vacate Kansas for
want Of the means Of support but
we do not desire it for ourselves OF
friends, and shall not advise others to
pursue such a policy. We feel thai
we have suffered as much as others
from these bogus authorities. Tho
accumulation of years Of hard labor
has been destroyed by mob claiming
authority from thess bogus Lawn On,