White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-09-24

hanliton' U. T. Vanderslice, Dan'l
Jenkins, VIM. H. Walker, VIM,
Jones, Bait Wells, w.
Jones, A. W. Wallace, John NJ
Key, Thomas J. Wilson, H.T.
A motion, originally proposed by Mr.. Jenkins
and subsequently amended by Messrs. A. w
Jones, Major L. S. Boiling, Gen. Calhoun, and
Others, was passed, providing that the members
of the Convention be required to take an obi
CATION Of fidelity to the Constitution Of the Uni.
ted States, and to the Organic Act of the Terri
tory, known as the Kansas Nebraska Act, and
that the oath be administered by legally au-
thorized officer
The Convention then proceeded to vote uiua
UOee for permanent President, and elected Gen.
Calhoun. by the following vote:
Gen. ], Calhoun, o.
Hon. Rush Elmore, 10
Gen. J. L. Eastin,
Majority for Calhoun over both opposing can
didates, 9.
On taking his seat, as Chairman, Gen. CAL
houu addressed the Convention, as follows:
GExTSENEN:-For the very flattering exnres.
sion Of your sentiments in comforting on me the
Office of President of this Convention you have
my profound Acknowledgements. lam fully aware
of the importance IF the position which you have
assigned to me; aud ! think also, Of the impor
tanee of the mission which has brought US to-
gethsr on this occasion. IEuow well that it will
be utterly impossible for me to perform the du-
ties Of the Office to which have been called,
unless l have the hearty co opera ton of the
friends around about me. To fulfill these duties
to the extent of my ability, will, it is ;mnec-
essary for me to say, exert my utmost efforts.
Indeed, you have the assurance Of that in the
fact of my having accepted the position con-
ferred on me-
The meeting of Convention to frame the
Constitution of anew State, is under ordinary
circumstances, matter of no great interest
The young State may spring into being and reach
great consequence in the National Congress and
in the National history, but, STILL that will be the
uniform course of the States of the Union. We
meet here to-day under extraordinary circum-
stances, and trHst that every member of this
Convention has come here to-day to discharge
his duties, fully impressed with the high respon-
sibilites that attach to him, and, with their i'm
portance not only to Kansas, but to the Union of
which we propose to become a member. A Con- |
stitution wisely framed, and properly, fairly and
honestly approved by the true citizens of Kan !
sas, will settle all the difficulties that surround
US, and that have been surrounding US, and will
at once restore harmony to the Union. NAV
remark here, without perhaps doing injustice to
the feelings of any honest and true lover of his
country, that the formation of such Constitu- |
ton prostrates and crushes TO earth a party that
is seeking every means within its power to OBJ |
tain ascendancy, even at the sacrifice of the |
Union itself. 1t is not merely Kansas, it is the |
Union that is interested in the settlement of our
difficulties This Convention is not merely the |
interest of the people here, but of the people |
representing the Republic. One of the greatest |
issues to be solved by this Convention, is, wheth-
er the people of this Territory shall have power
to control its government. To make Consti- |
tuition is but small affair. Not single princi- |
pie will be embraced in the Constitution to be |
framed during this session, that has not been al
ready implanted in other Constitutions The old |
original Constitutions of the American States, |
contained some errors which have since been
corrected BY the popular sentiment; and wher-
ever old Constitutions have been revised and al |
tered, or new Constitutions framed, they have !
had expressed in them the principle that the peo-
pie have the right, and shall elect, not merely |
Governors ans Presidents, and the various Off |
GERS that are usually elected by the people, but,
also Judges
These improvements have been made within 1
the last quarter Of century, and are expressed |
not only in the Constitutions Of such of the old
States as have held Conventions within that
time, but. also, in those of the new States that
come into the Union. There are, therefore, no |
new principles to be decided in these Conven-4
tons to frame Constitutions. But the people of
Kansas assume the right to settle their local |
questions for themselves, and it is that which |
produces the difficulties not merely in Kansas,
but throughout the Union. Those difficulties
must be settled by your deliberations. think |
that the character Of the members of this con-
ventiOn over which 1 have the honor to preside, |
ought to give the world the assurance that their
deliberations will result, not merely in the set
Element of the question as to whether this Union
shall continue, and as to whether that party |
which is employing its time and its treasure to
keep this an open question till the next Presi-
dental contest, will stand or fall. IL the Union
stands, that party goes by the board. If that
party triumphs, this Union cannot liveO The |
high and responsible duty therefore devolves on
US, to take into our hands the organic act of
this Territory, and, acting upon its principles to
present to the Congress Of the United States
constitution, framed in such manner, and hav-
ing such an endorsement, as that we may not
merely petition for admission to the Union, but
demand that We shall be admitted. trust that
wise counsels win prevail here. lam confident,
from my knowledge Of this convention, that
such win be the case. There may be excite
ment of feeling. There may be particular
points on which individual members viii plant |
themselves; but sin, I trust that every mem
Der of this convention win bring 70 bear in the
Judgment Of al issues that may be presented,