The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-09-23

vemsa0m neiu ~ ttka9eueppef lar, auQPeol
. pesolution to pAstisipate in The elect;on io
members Of i 1btfitofial Legislators ani
Delegate "a. Congress IN October next, mi
appointed the undersigned 4 COMMITTEES y "a
dress the people u large with respect 70 thi'
important seton. ssassau d sat Gasaas.es $3.50
Two years and d half ago ! portion Of tit
people Of Missouri invaded our Territory
took possession Of our ballot boxes, and q
tablish@d the oliearchy which has since
claimed to exercise the functions Of Govern
ment amongst us. A Short time after TIM
event our people met in Convention it BIZ
Springs to determine the course they should
pursue. Two plans were suggested zone Il
resist the execution OF their lava by force
the other % avoid this extreme measure b.
the adoption Of o State Government lThi,
latter alternative was preferred, and the fol
lowing resolutions adopted:
Resolred, That the body of men who, FOL
the lastltwo months, have been passing lawl
for the people Of our Territory moved
counselled and dictated to by the dema
gogues Of Missouri, are to us foreign body
Representing only the lawless invaders who
ele{ted them, and not the people Of the Ter
fitory; that We repudiate their action a. the
monstrous contamination of an act Of VIC
lence, usurpation and fraud. unparalleled in
the history of the Union, and worthy only oil
mensunfttsd for the daties, and regardless
0 thA responsibilities Of legislation.
Resolrcd, That this Convention, in view
of its reputation of the acts Of the eo-called
Kansas Legislative Assembly, respond most
heartily to the call made by the People 6
Convention of the 18th ultimo, for Dele.
gate Convention of the people of Kansas
Territory, to be held at Topeka ON the 18th
inst, to consider the propriety of the forma-
ton Of . State Constitution, and such other
matters rs may legitimately come before it.
Resolred, That, setting aside all minor is
sues Of partizan politics, it 10 incumbent up
on us toIprefer an organization calculated to
recover our dearest rights; and into which
Democrats and Wings, Native and Natural
ised citizens may freely enter, without any
sacrifice of their respective political creeds !;
but without forcing them as test upon 9TH
ers. And, that when we shall have achieved
our political freedom, yin6icated our right Of
selfgovefnment, and become an independent
State of the Union-when those issues may
become vital, as they are now dormant, it
will be time enough to divide our organiza-
ton by these tests, the importance of which
we fully recognize in their appropriate
sphere.
1t is we'll known that these resolutions,
passed at Big Springs, September, 1855, have
the basis of all subsequent po-
litical action by the people Of Kansas They
here unequivocaily disowned the authority
IF the Territorial Legislature, and have
that position ever since. They
hen committed themselves in favor of a
State organization, and have maintained that
position ever since Upon these two meas
ares they have rested their hopes during the
continuance of the struggle, and upon their
Ultimate success they still continue to rely
In adopting this course Of action, the peo-
pie Of Kansas were not impelled by either
anatical zeal, or wanton inconsiderateness
Of purpose. They proceeded gravely and
with deliberation, to decide upon the ground
hey should occupy. 1t was said that they
could not proceed to effect State organiza-
ion without authority previously given by
let of Congress. or of the Territorial i.egis.
ature. But they knew that no such princi-
pie as this had ever been established On
he contrary, they knew that the instances
IN which States had been formed under act
IF Congress were exceedingly few; and Us
% acts of the Territorial Legislatures, they
Knew that these had been ruled by the high
,st authority, to be invalid and Of no effect.
L was also said that although the people had
been prevented from electing their Legisla.
ure, as the Organic Act Of the Territory re-
luired, yet while the Territorial Govern
nent remained technically intact, a State
Government would be rival, revolutionary
movement, putting TIE authority Of the Uni
ed States Government in dispute.
But the people knew that the Constitution
IT the United States contained no provision
for Territorial Government any,
where; that the trainers of that Instrument
lid not contemplate the acquisition Of new
Territory to the Union: that the Territorial
was therefore the creature of q
emporary necessity-of extra-C Constitution.
Il legislation--a mere 'protectorate" "a
hing incident to transient sovereignty;
md that when the State Government-the
formal and recognized status Of the commu.
ity-canne into existence, the Territorial
Government expired with the necessity
which created it The people Of Kansas
new that the Government of the United
'tates itself had proceeded upon these prin-
iples IN the admission of States into the
'nion, and had thus given them its legal
auction, and rendered them authoritative.
hey therefore assumed this ground, after
uly weighing the objections urged to it,
Nth the most perfect assurance OF its COR
ectness, as matter of law and established
governmental policy
The opposition made by the administra-
ion at Washington, and its party through
ut the country, to this course of the people
t Kansas, has not in the slightest degree,
their confidence in it, or lessened
heir determination to adhere to it to the
nd. They are satisfied that its propriety
Iould never have been called in question, US
matter of serious moment, had not the
ederal Administration sought, by so doing,
, serve q special purpose in behalf of sla-
cry 50 confident arc our people in the
tand they have thus taken, that they would
Q perfectly willing to permit their State
government to proceed to the regular per-
of its functions, without any re.
ard to the Territorial Government were it
OF for settled wish on their part to do moth
lg which may subject them to the charge
ultra views, or desire to incur violence,
zen in the assertion of their rights. They
ave preferred to turn aside for the time be-
Y, from their State organization, and to
AXE an effort to secure, through the Terri.
rial ballot boxes, peaceful possession OF the
erritorial Goyernment-and, to this end,
ley have determined to try their chances at
Ie October election.
But we frankly ayow ourselves not san.
zine Of success. 1t is true that Mr. Walk
;, our Federal Governor, has declared that
e will afford US, to the best of his ability, Is
i'll and fair election, before impartial
Idges; but, with our past experience, we
nd it difficult to indulge in any hope of JUS |
ce from the agents of the Federal Admins
alton. BY the law of the election, all but
lose who have resided six months or more
the Territory, are excluded from the polls. |
he system of districting and apportionment |
+ members of the Legislature, shows an
determination to introduce |
1ters from abroad Sixteen counties, |
rongly Free State, containing nearly one |
alf Of the entire population Of the Terrific
!, are not allowed a single Representative 10
Their branch
Of the thirteen members Of the Council, /
l but three; and Of the thirty nine men,
srs of the House of Representatives, all but
n, are to be elected in districts bordering
!, the Missouri line Topeka il connaeted