The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-12-07
KANSAS CONSTITUTION.

KANSAS CONSTITUTION.
This famous document has found its
way to the public. without any official
authorization The following is an
abstract Of its leading provisions, which |
we adopt from the New Albany Ledger:
The " Ordinance" provides that the State |
will relinquish her right to tax the U. S. lands
provided Congress will give to her four Sec
tons in every township for common school
purposes, relin9uish the right of the govern
ment to all mines, pay five per cent. Of the
sales of the public lands to the State, give
her two townships of land for university,
and each alternate section of land twenty
four miles in width to build railroad.
The Governor is elected for two years, and
cannot hold his Office more than four in any
term of six years. He must be thirty years
| OF age, have been n citizen of the u. s. TWEEN
ty years, and Of the State five years. or from
the adoption Of the constitution. He has the
veto power. but two-thirds of the Legislature
can pass bill over the veto.
The Senators are elected for four years and
\ the Representatives for two-the Legislature
to meet biennially. 1t has no power to grant
divorces or change names. The first Legis-
lature is to consist Of A Representatives, and
| - Senator.
The Judiciary consists of Supreme Court,
composed of one Chief and two Associate
Justices, Circuit Courts, Chancery Courts,
Probate Courts, and Justices Of the Peace.
The Judges are elected by the people. but not
on the same day as the general elections are
held.
The article on Slavery establishes slavery
and fOrbids the emancipation of slaves by the
Legislature without the consent Of the own
ers; no laws shall be passed to prevent the
immigration Of slaves into the State, except
such Us have been convicted of high crimes.
IL has the power to pass laws to permit mas
ters TO emancipate their slaves, provided the
! rights Of creditors are not jeopardized; also
to pass laws compelling owners to treat their
slaves with humanity, and to provide them
! with necessary food and clothing. In the
, prosecution of slaves, except for petit larceny
the Legislature shall have no power to de-
prive them Of trial by jury. A person mutt
lating or numbering u slave shall suffer tho
same penalty Us ii the offense had been COM
! mitted on free white person.
This is the article that is to be submitted tc
popular vote. Ii majority vote for the soon
stitution without slavery,"it is to be stricken
out altogether.
The qualifications for q voter are citizen
D ship Of the United States, residence in thu
s State one year, and in the county thre,
:, months. The voting is to be by ballot.
The Legislature is prohibited from con-
$500,0OO.
. 1t is made the duty of the Legislature t.
encourage and prosecute works Of public i'm
provemcnt.
!, Corporations may be formed under eithe
q general or special law.
The Legislature may incorporate banks O
!. deposit or exchange, but such banks shall no
issue bills. Itmay, however, incorporate on
. bank Of discount and issue with not NOR
e than two branches, but such act Of incorpo
> ration must be first submitted to vote OF tn
- people. The branches are responsible for eacl
- others liabilities, and tho stockholders ar
- individually liable. The State Is to have n
- interest in any bank.
y The Legislature is required to pass laws 70
~ the establishment of common schools.
- Lecompton is TO be the seat of governmcn
- till two-thirds of the Legislature shall orde
- otherwise.
- - Aliens who are bona fde residents of tn
u State are secured in the right to hold property
N Property of married women at the time o
~ the marriage is to remain her separate pro
= pcrty.
u The Legislature shall not, under any cir
cumstanccs, prohibit free negroes from Twin
\. in the State.
~ The Declaration Of Rights guarantees to til
/, people the right at all times to alter. reform
% or abolish their form of government in sue
Of manner as they may see proper.
n Article seventh declares that athe right {
= property is before and higher than any con
: stitmtionaL sanction, and the right of tn
"a owner of o slave to such stare and is increa,
is the same, and as inviolable US the right t
any property whatever"
The schedule provides that if the SLAYER
N clause be stricken out, slavery shall not eyis
~ in the Territory. ''except that the right
lie property in slaves nO,c in this Territory sha
in no manner be iaterfered with." Under th
W seventh section and proviso Of the schedule /
st is contended that the slaves now in the Tel
ritory and their descendants can be held thel
q forever.