The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-04-02

We, citizens of Kansas, in Delegate Conven-
ton assembled, at Topeka, March 10, 1897, re-
solve and declare:
Whereas body of men, recently assembled
at Lecompton, and claiming to be the Legisla-
tive Assembly of Kansas Territory, have adopt
ed regulation purporting to be law Tor
taking the census, and electing delegates to a
Constitutional Convention, proposed to be held
in that place in September next; and whereas
the said Assembly was the creature of fraud,
and its members the representatives of people
foreign to this Territory and whereas the or
ganic act does not authorize the Territorial
Legislative powers, even when legisatively con-
vened, to pass any enabling act to change the
Government of the same and whereas the act
of this Assembly is partisan in its character,
clearly contemplates fraud, for the recurrence
of which it offers inadequate security, while it
deprives the Executive of the Territory of the
power to prevent or remedy such frauds, leaves
the control of the census and election in the
hands of pretended officers not chosen by the
people of Kansas, who are of violent character,
and hostile to the best interests of the Terrific
ry; and whereas said act proposes to disfran'
chise certain bona tfde settlers of Kansas, who
have filed their declaration of intention to be-
come citizens of the United States, recognised
as voters by the organic act; and whereas
there is no provision in the said regulation for
submitting the Constitution so framed to the
vote of the people of the Territory: therefore,
RESOLVED, That the people of Kansas Terri
tory cannot participate in any election under
such regulations without compromising their
rights as American citizens, sacrificing the
best interests of Kansas, and jeoparding the
public peace.
Resolved That having suffered under the
&c hol Loft
of this Territory, we have lost all confidence in
their integrity in the administration of the laws,
however just these laws may appear to some
on their face.
RESOLVED, That with the people of any Terri
tory alone rests the right to change the form
of their Government, subject to the approval
of Congress, given before or after steps for
State Government have been taken; and, fur
ther, that Territorial Government is extra
constitutional, and, at best, under ordinances
OF Congress, purely temporary.
Resolped, That the Constitution framed at
Topeka by the representatives of the people of
Kansas, and ratified by popular vote, is still
the choice of majority of our citizens as the
form of our State Government, and that we
maintain it, and urge on Congress our i'm
mediate admission as a State under it.
ReSolred, That the policy OF the Free State
party has always been averse to any movement
of an aggressive character ard that violence
has never been resorted to, save in self.defence.
Resolved, That we regard the presence Of
peaceful relations existing between our citizens
as conducive to their best personal welfare, as
well as indispensable to the perfect develop
ment and expansion of the various economical
interests of the Territory. To the end, there
fore, that such relations may be obtained and
permanently established amongst US, we ear.
nestly appeal to all men, of whatever party, to
submit all difficulties of opinion, growing out of
the question of our domestic institutions, to the
test of sound reason and enlightened though
friendly discussion, and the final arbitrament
of the ballotbox provided, that any at
tempt to abridge or impair the freedom oil
speech, oral or written, of the ballot box, viii
be held as just cause of departure from this
policy.
Resolued, That we make no tests for mem
bership in the Free State party, save that Of
the exclusion of domestic Slavery from Kansas
by subsequent legislation.
Resoloed, That Congress having presented
the principles of squatter sovereignty, as enun
ciated in the Kansas bill, as the basis of the
political action of the people of Kansas, we are
infexibly determined to abide by its faithful ex
ecution, as we ever have resolutely opposed Its
perversion, and ever will while it remains on
the statute book.
Ib sc4sssMs m iae lie 6o~ng report
1t was adopted, after discussion and amend
ment, and reads as follows:
The Committee on Miscellaneous business
would respectfully submit the following report :
Whereas Hon. James Buchanan, in a debate
in the Senate Of the United States, on the ad-
mission of Michigan into the Union, with a
constitution framed in a similar manner to the
State Constitution of Kansas, declared that the
people stand upon their rights rights Sc
cured to them by the Constitution = elected
their officers" and the whole machinery of a
State Government being perfected-that, hav-
ing assumed this attitude, they could demand
their admission, as a matter of right, and as
an act of justice; and that to repel State
under such circumstances is sufficient to induce
fear for consequences, and cause statesmen to
tremble at an act of such I'M ustice.
And whereas the present Democratic AID
ministration, by virtue of the pledges made by
Its leaders in the late Presidential campaign,
are IN all honor bound to use its influence and
lend its aid to make Kansas free State;
And whereas the Democratic party in the
States made the admission of Kansas as a
free State the inducement to vote for him upon
this issue:
Resotred, That the people of Kansas have a
right to look with confidence to the present
Chief Executive of the nation for an approval
OF their course, and for his assistance in pro.
curing their admission into the Union under
the Topeka Constitution.
,Resolced, That this Convention would urge
upon the State Legislature the Importance of
assembling in June, according to adjournment,
and take such action as may be necessary to
secure the vitality of the State Government,
and its recognition by Congress-.
Resolved, That the Territorial laws, so called,
OF Kansas, had their origin in fraud, were i'm.
posed on the Territory in usurpation and vio-
lence, in bold defiance and subversion of the
Constitution, the organic act, and every princi-
pie of justice, and are therefore null and void
and we respectfully request the Territorial Elk.
ecutive to refuse to enforce any of said fraudu-
lent enactments till Congress shall provide for
an election of a Territorial Legislature by the
people of Kansas, without interference from
foreign States.
RESOLVED, That it is shameless hypocr;sv
for political party to adopt for their principles
the doctrine of "Popular Sovereignty" while
they justify the most fragrant violation of it. and
persist in subjecting citizens of the United
States to foreign tyranny unparalleled in his.
tory.
Resolced, That the banking system, chartered
by the Territorial Legislature, so called not onIv
had Its origin in fraud, but is fraud in itself:
ana we caution all against receiving its notes
as a currency.
Hesotred, That, as good citizens, we are will.
ing TO contribute to the support of Legislative
Government but we have no tribute yolnnta.
rily to offer to the tyranny that robs us of onr
constitutional and inalenable rights.
HeSOLp1d That tho rabaIl;an
oaroarism, and more worthy to be approved
ana enforced by Nero than Geary,
Resotced, That the census act of the late Mis-