Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-12-10
The Kansas Constitution.

SCileuulc VI SuputASSIoH, dS duoptCu W
the Kansas Convention. will show that
thesreports at first receiged of its action
are false and ~unfounded. 1t was at
first announced, and is Still repeated by
some<of the BlackRepublican papers,
that, even if the majority of the people
should vote for the constitution ,1ith0ut
the slavery clause, the constitution
would then be simply silent on the sub
ject, and slavery would be recognized
in the new State by virtue Of the fcde-
raj constitution, as interpreted by the
Supreme Court in the bred Scott case.
A perusal OF sthis document will show
that-this is not true. 1t will also show
that the people of Kansas have it fully
in their power to prohibit slavery by
this vote, if they see fit. .s
The eleyepth section of the schedule
provides that on the 21st day of De-
cember inst, the vote of the. people
shall be taken that the ballots cast at
said election shall be endorsed "Consti-
tuition with Slavery and "Constitu-'
ton with no Slavery that if a ma
jority of the ballots are east for the for
NOR, then the constitution shall be i'm
mcdiltely transmitted to Congress but
if it shall appear that the majority is in
favor of the Constitution with no Sla-
ery,"then. Hthe article providing fer
slavery shall be stricken from the. con-
stitutionSby the President of this con
vention, and no Slare,y IN he State of
Kansas, except that the right of proper
ty in slaves now in this 4erritory shall
in no manner be interfered with"
Can anything be more fair? The
question of slavery or no slavery will
be fairly tested, and the decision of the
majority of the bona ide citizens OF
Kansas will be final and conclusive.
:, The following is the schedule above
referred to: TT
SEC. I. That not inconvenience may
t arise by reason Of a change from a ter,
%ritorial to a permanent state govern,
: ment, it is declared that all rights, &C,
D tons, prosecutions, judgments, claims
and contracts, as we'll of individuals as
;, Of bodies corporate, except the bill in.
+ cooperating banks, by the last terrific,
t rial Legislature, shall continue as if nc
e change had taken place, and all process
j ses which may have issued under thu
authority of the territory of kansa.
shall be as valid as if issued in thu
: name of the State of Kansas.
n Sec. =. All laws now of force in Tho
territory of Kansas, which arc not re
rugnant to this cont itution, shall con
tinuc and be of force until altered
amended, or repealed by a lcgislatur
assembled by the provisions of this con
stitution.
SEC. BAH fines, penalties, and for
FIXTURES accruing to the territory of Kan
sas shall inure to the use of the Stat
of Kansas.
SEC. f.. All rccognizances heretofor
taken shall pass to, and be prosecute
in the name of the state of Kansas
and all bonds executed to the governo
of the territory, or to any other Office
or court, in his or their official capacity
shall pass to the governor and CORES
ponding officers OF the State authority
and their successors in Office, and 70
the use therein expressed, and may b
sued and recovered accordingly; an
all the estates or property, real, person
al or mixed, and all judgments, bonds
specialities, cases in action, and claim
o or debts of whatsoever description, G
$ the Territory of Kansas. shall inure t
. and vest in the State of Kansas, and b
sued for and recovered in the sam
manner and to the same extent that til,
same could have been by the Tcrritor
d of Kansas.
SEC. 5. All criminal prosecutions an
penal actions which may have arisen be
fore the change from a Territorial to
State government, and which shall the
h be pending, shall be prosecuted to judg
ment in the name of the State of Kan
: sas; all actions at law in suits in cquit
which may be pending in the courts {
the Territory at the time of the chang
a from a Territorial to a State governmen
may be continued and transferred t
a. any court of the State which shall hav
ii jurisdiction Of the subject matter there
of.
nj SEC. G. All officers, civil and milit;
in ry. holding their offices under the au
I'd thority of the territory of Kansas, sha
is continue to hold and exercise their re
Spective offices until they shall be ST
perseded by the authority of the State.
y. SEC. Z. This Constitution shall
Id submitted to the Congress of the I'm
ted States, at its mex ensuing session
and as soon as official information h;
- been received that it is approved by II
Il same, by the admission of the State
n Kansas as one of the sovereign Stat
nd of the United States, the president
e. this Convention shall issue his proofs
nation to convene the State legislatul
at the seat of government, within thi
ty-one days after publication, Shou'
n any vacancy occur by death, resign
ton, or otherwise, in the Legislature
other Office, he shall order an %electic
y to fill such vacancy: Procided, ho~cre
d. in case of refusal, absence or disabilit
n of the president of this Convention
ed discharge the duties herein imposed
cd him, the president pro tcntPore of til
p Convention shall perform said dutie
OF and in case of absence, refusal, or di