The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-11-28
CONSTITUTION OF THE
STATE OF KANSAS.
ORDINANCE

WHEREAS: The Government of the
United States is the proprietor. or will
become so, of all or most of the lands
Iying within the limits of Kansas, as de-
termired under this Constitution; and
whereas the State of Kansas will possess
the undoubted right to tax such lands for
the support of her State Government, or
for other proper and legitimate purposes
connected with her existence as State:
Now, therefore, be it ordained by this
Convention, on behalf of and by the au-
thority of the people of Kansas, that the
right Aforesaid to tax such lands shall be |
and is hereby forever relinquished, If the |
conditions following shall be accepted and
agreed to by the Congress of the United
States:
Section /. That sections numbered |
eight, sixteen, twenty-four and thirty-six, |
in every township in the State, or in case |
either of said numbered sections are or
shall be otherwise disposed of, that other |
lands equal thereto in value, and as con-
tiguous as may be, shall be granted to the |
State, to be applied exclusively to the |
support of the Common Schools.
SEC. 2. That all salt springs, and gold,
silver, copper, lead or other valuable |
mines, together with the lands necessary
for their full occupation and use shall be |
granted to said State for the use and ben |
eft of said State, and the same shall be |
used or disposed of under such terms and
conditions and regulations as the Legisla- |
turp of said State shall direct.
SEC 8. That five per centum of the
pneeeds of the sales OF all public lands
sold, or held in trust, OF otherwise. ly-
ing within the said State. whether sold
before or stcr the admission of the State
into the Union, after deducting all ex-
penses incidental to the same. shall be |
paid to the said State Of Kansas, for the |
purposes following, TO wit:
SEC. 4. That seyenty-two sections, or |
tao entire townships. shall be designated !
BY the President of the United States, |
which shall be reserved for the use of |
seminary of learning; and appropriated
BY the Legislature of said State solely to
the use of said seminary.
SEC. 5. That each alternate section of
land now opened or which may hereafter
be acquired by the United States, for
twelve miles on each side of a line of rail
road to be established or located from some
point on the Northern boundary of the |
State, leading Southerly through said
State in the direction of the Gulf of Mex !
leo, and on each side of a line of rail
road to be located and established from |
some point On the Missouri river west /
wardly through said State in the direc- !
ton of the Pacific Ocean, shall be re-
served and conveyed to said State of Kan |
sas for the purpose of aiding in the con-
struction of said rail roads. And it shall |
be the duty of the Congress of the Uni
ted States, in conjunction with the proper
authorities Of this State, to adopt imme-
date measures for carrying the several
provisions herein contained into full eff
feet.
PREAMBLE.
We, the people of the Territory of
Kansas, by our representatives in Con-
vention assembled at Lecompton in said
Territory, on Monday the 7th day OF
September. 1857, and of the Indepen-
dence of the United States the eighty
second year, having the right of admis
sion into the Union as one of the United
States of America. consistent with the
Federal Constitution; and by virtue of the
treaty of cession by France to the United
states of the province of louisiana, made
and entered into on the thirtieth day of
April, 1903; and by virtue of and in ac-
cOrdance with the act of Congress passed
March the 30th, 1854, entitled "An Act
to organize the Territories of Nebraska
and kansas;;r in order to secure to our
selves and our posterity the enjoyment of
all the rights of life, liberty, and prop
Gritty, and the free pursuit of happiness,
Go mutually agree with each other to
form yourselves into free, and independent,
and sovereign State, by the name and
style of the State of Kansas, and do Or
dam and establish the following Constitu-
ton for the government thereof:
ARTICLE I-BoUNDARIEs.
We DO declare and establish, rat
ay and confirm the following as the
permanent boundaries of the said State
Of Kansas, that is TO say: Beginning at
POINT Oh the Western boundary of the
StAte of Missouri, where the thirty-sey-
enth parallel of north latitude crosses the
same; thence west on said parallel to the
EASTERN boundary of New Mexico; thence
aofth on said boundary to latitude thirty
esht; thence following said boundary
westward to the east boundary of the
Territory of Utah, on the summit of the
hccky Mountains; thence northward on
Ald summit TO the fortieth parallel Of
altitude; thence east on said parallel to
ae western boundary of the State of Mis-
sun; thence south with the western
boundary of said State to the place of
'esinning.
ARTICLE H.-coUNTT BOUNDARIES.
No county, now established, which
ofders upon the Missouri River, or
ePOn either bank of the Kansas River,
nall ever ne reduced by the formation of
seg counties to less than twenty miles
sluare; nor shall any other county now
,Sfsanized, or hereafter to be organized,
e reduced to less than five hundred
9uare miles.
AEIIeLE II.-DIsTgIBUTIos or POWERS.
The powers of the Government of the
Sate Of Kansas shall be divided into
sasee separate departments-the Legisla-
I'VE, the Executive, and the Judicial; and
20 person charged with the exercise of
gOwers properly belonging to one of these
apartments, shall exercise any functions
fiertslning toeither of the Others, except
"a Tue cases hereinafter expressed. direct
i Cd, OF permitted.
ii ASiieLE Ey.-ExECUTyE DEPARTMENT.
SECTION |. The Chief Executive pow
q @ this State shall be vested in Gov
amor; who shall hold his Office for two
!ess nom the time of his installation.
ssc z. The Governor shaIl be elected
y Tue qualified electors of the State
:. aae returns of every election for Govern
~ " saall be sealed up and transmitted to
sae seat of Government, directed to the
sseFetarF of State, who shall deliver them
: inc Speaker of the House of Repre-
luIauyes at the next ensuing session of
'ae Legislature drfrin- .he first xvaaI, af