Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1857-11-27
KAaa.Sas.


The CC4stitutioa4l ConUsaiton-.7larm of the Free
Siata Mca-.7a Er,ru Sessioa Of he Legisiufure-
The Militia to be Organt=ed
QUINDARo, Kansas, Nov. 9, lS57.-Thc
Constitutional Convention having framed pro-
slavery constitution and closed It's llbors, the
free State mcn, who hive heretofore looked up
on the whole thing as afarce seem suddenly
10 have awakened to sense of their danger.
A meeting was held iii Lawrence on Saturday
night to determine what course the free Stat
men should take. Two propositions we're be-
fore the meeting: one to call on Gov. Walker
to convene the Legislature at once, aud one TO
provide for an Immediate 6rganfE lton of the
militia of the Territory.
As there scetts bat little hope of excluding
slavery except by force, the latter proposition
was strongly urged
Even If Gov. Walker consents TO call the
Legislature together, they have no power over
the Constitution, or over the provisions of the
convention ihat framed IT, They cannot alter
or repeal the provision which denies its SUBJ
mission to the people. L Is said Gov. Walker
has expressed his unwllingness to call together
the Legislature ifreduestad TO do so, aud it is
suspected that this willingness proceeds in no
snail degree from his knowledge thai this body
can do nothing in the premises when convened.
This thing is done, and there is no help in Ter
riioriai legislatures now.
The Legislature, if convened, will provide
for popular vote on the Constitution, Gepen-
ding entirely upon its moral effect. Though
it can have no legal force, yet some free State
men here seem to think that if tremendous
popular vote Is polled against tue Constitution,
and it is fully aud legally shown that niue
;enths of :he uha a5itants of the Territory are
opposed to il, that may deter same Northern
Democrats in Congress from voting for it.
As the large emigration of last Spring was,
thrown out at tue last election By the SIX
months residence clause, the free State major
ty is much larger than that would show. and
ii is confidently believed that if the Legislo-
ture viii permit all who have resided thirty
days in the Territory to vote, the majority a.
gainst The Constitution wi!l be fully ten to one.
The conviction among the free State men
here is, that, as every part of the programme,
in the action 10 make Kansas slave State has
been so faithfully performed over all opposition,
there eau be 10 doubt the last act will be car
ried through, and that Democratic Congl ess
will admit Kansas with this slave Constitution,
even if ninety-nine hundrcdths of the people Of
the Territory were known TO be opposed to it.
No indefinite action was taken, buf COM
mittee was appointed, and it is expected that
another meeting will be called in few days.
THE RESULT OF THE CONVENTION.
From the Ciicago Times, (Seautor D0ugta,' organ.
We think it amounts to very little whit has been
the action Of the Convention. One thing is GER
tain. the Constitution has not been submitted TO
the people, and that constitution is not worth the
paper il diSfgures 1t has no vitality now, yet it
has as much as it will ever have. Any State Off
GERS elected under it--and they are to be elected
forthwl;h-will have as much authority as the To.
peka State officers. Gov. Walker is Governor of
the Territory, and trust rs he put down the To-
pekates, so he will put down all Others who may
attempt to usurp the province of governing Kansas
without authority of law. We suppose, however,
that in few days we will have true statement OF
what has been done in Kansas ana then viii
have something to say. 1t may as well, however,
be stated now, ut any other time, that the pco-
pie OF Kansas have been given pledge that they
shoull be free 10 regulate their own aifairs for
themselves, and that pledge must be made good.