Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-04-02

resolutions.
A nnmerously attended Convention
OF the Free State settlers of Kansas was
held at Topeka on the 10th inst. c. +.
Currler was appointed President, and
the usual number of Secretaries and Vice
PRESIDENTS were appointed.
"A committee to draft resolutions ex-
presslve of the sentiments of the Con
ventlon, reported the following, which
were unanimously adopted:
We, citizens Of Kansas, in delegate
convention assembled, at Topeka, March
10, A. ID. 1857, resolve and declare
Whereas, A body of men, recently
assembled at Lecompton, and claiming
to be the Legislative assembly of Kansas
Territory, have adopted regulation
purporting to be law, for taking the
census and eleeting delegates to con-
stltutlonal 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 organic act
tive powers, even when legislatively
convened, to pass any enabling act to
change the government of the same; and,
whereas, the act of this assembly is par
tlzan IN its character, clearly contemp-
lates fraud, for the recurrence of which,
1t offers inadequate security, while it de-
pf1yes 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 elected by tbepeople of Kan
sas,who are ofyiolent character and hostile
to the best interests ofth territory; and,
whereas, said act proposes to distran-
chise certain bona fide settlers of Kan
sas, who have filed their declarations of
intention to become citizens of the Uni
ted States, recognized as voters by the
organic act; and, whereas, there is no
provision in the said regulation for sub
hitting the constitution so framed to
the vote of the people Of the territory :;
therefore.
/. Resolved That the people of Kan
Sas Territory cannot participate in any
election under regulation without com
promising their rights as American cit
liens, sacrificing the best interests ofKan-
sas, and jeopardizing the public peace.
2. Resoioec5, That having suffered un-
der the misrule ofpersons pretending to
be local officials Of this territory, we
have lost all confidence i'll their integrity
in the administration of the laws how
ever just these laws may appear to
some on their face
3. Resolced, That with the people of
any territory atone, rests the right to
change the form of their government,
subject to the approval Of Congress, Civ
en- before or after steps for Il state gov
ernment have been taken; and further
that territorial government is extra
constitutional, and ut best, under ordi-
nances Of Congress, purely temporary.
4. Resolced, That the constitution
framed atTopeka by the representatives
of the people of Kansas, and ratified by
popular vote, is still the choice ola ma
jority Of oar citizens, as the form of our
state government, and that we maintain
it, and urge on Congress our immediate
admission, under il.
5. Resolced, That the policy of the
free state party has always been averse
to any movement of az aggressive char
acter, and thatit has never bcenresorted
TO, save in self;defence.
6. ReSolyed, That we regard the pres
ence Of peaceful relations existing be-
tween our citizens as conducive to their
best personal welfare, as well as indis-
pensible to the perfect development and
expansion of the various economical in
terests OF the territory. TO the end,
therefore, that such relations may be OBJ
tanned and permanently established a.
mongst us, we earnestly appeal to all
men, OF whatever party, to submit all
difficulties ofopinion growing out of the
question Of our domestic institutions, to
the test of sound reason and enlighten-
ed, though friendly discussion, and the
vided, That any attempt to abridge or
impair the freedom Of speech, oral or
written, or of the ballot-box, will be
held asjust cause of departure from this
policy.
:. Resolced, That we make no tests
for membership in the free state party,
save that Of the exclusion of domestic
slavery from Kansas by subsequent leg
islation.
g. Resolced, That Congress having
presented the principles of squatter SOW
ereignty, as enunciated in the Kansas
bill as the basis of the political action of
the people Of Kansas, we are infiexibly
determined to abide by its faithful exc
cution, as we ever have resolutely oppos-
ed its perversion, and ever will while it
remains on the statute book.
Other resolutions, reported by the bus
mess Committee. were also adopted, a
mong which the following are especially
important: 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 procuring their admiss-
ion into the Union under the Topeka
constitution.
That this convention would urge up
on the state Legislature the Importance
Of assembling in June, according to ad-
journment, and taking such action as
may be necessary to secure the vitality
of the state government, and its recog
milton by congress.
That the territorial laws, so called, of
Kansas, had origin in fraud, were inn
posed on the territory in usurpation and
violence, in bold defiance and subvers-
ion of the constitution, the organic act,
and every principle of justice, and are
therefore null and void; and we respect
fully request the territorial executive
to refuse to enforce any of said fraud
ulent enactments till congress shall pro-
vide for an election of territorial leg
iSlature BIZ the nannle of Kansas with