The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-28
KANsAs.-THE TOPEKA CONVENTION.

KANSAS.-THE Topeka CONVENTION.
The New York Journal Of Commerce of Friday, March
~, concludes an article this subject follows:
ga telegraphic despatch from ST. Louis describes the
closing action State convention above referred
which has just been held at Topeka, as follows:
Finally, that they naexbly determined to abide
by the principles of equality and aquater sovereignty as
enunciated in the Kansas Nebraska BILL
Really we cannot fathom either the politics the policy
Of these men, or Of the party which uphods them As nearly
we comprehend IT, it is about follows The Kansas
Nebraska law terribly bad thing therefore, in
Aexby determined to abide by its principles Slavery Is
horrid evil it's extension greatly to be deprecated there
FORE will do nothing to prevent Its establishment in Kan
viii not go tho polls such result
although we have large majority Of the votes"
The New York Tribune of the date says:
"Ths State convention of Kansas has finally decided
have nothing do with the approaching bogus election
The members of this convention evidently convinced that
this election foreg0ne conclusion and that there will DO
nothing fair about it, II it possible for them
far to depart present position of denying all
iidty the bogus laws IL Kansas to be slave State
any and there to be doubt of that though
Of her people notorousy State ment
BETTER they think that the party be esud
ed and subugaed should not by sanctionng the process
make themselves responsible for it, Such is their opinion
and in view Of the frauds and acts Of violence from which
they have suffered, cannot say they not perfectly
in the right"
We think explained in yesterdays Union that the
Kansas movement grows out Of the desperate wan "
the opposition for fresh supply Of political capital To
supply this want the eeae convention" has been held
Gov Robinson has been induced to withdraw his resgna
ton Of office which legally existed the old cries Of
fraud and violence which used freely before the
presidential election renewed by the blaekrepub
can leaders, and solemn decision is promulgated that
freeSate is vote in Kansas the approaching
ton there The apologies for this conduct contained
in the preceding paragraph from the Tribune Let look
at the case they present,
The objection is not made that Congress has passed
no enabling authorizing Kansas to form State consi
tuition as done in the Of Minnesota and most of
the Territories which have previously been admitted
States This objection would apply equally 10 the old To
peka movement which neither authorized by Con-
gres nor by the legislature of Kansas by the people
of Kansas, but only by party there but which, never
theles the Tribune agtators have the yet to
sustain as legal, authorized and popular movement
which ought to receive the sanction of Congress- and pre-
vent any other for State constitution in that
Territory The constitution which the result Of this
| Topeka convention, and which undertook to provide
against its own amendment for nearly half generation,
while free negroes absolutely excluded from the Ter
ritory over which it to operate is the same consu
ton which was repudiaed by the last Congress- and has
only been galvanized now for political effect.
O. The new movement for State convention Ia author
lied by legislature Of Kansas whose legal existence has
been recognised by Governor Reede whose auspices
it was chcse by Governor Shannon by Governor Geary
and by the Of the United States 1t is idle to
that any other legislature exists has existed in
Kansas entitled to any legal recognition whatever.
The legislative act under which the convention is TO
be organized and which have published in the Union
even If it is imperfect in particulars 10 yet the
whole 50 far as judge reasonably fair law and
although It does provide for submission Of the
stituton to the people, yet the convention may possibly
supply this OMISSION and the difficulty be thus removed
The guards against illegal voting and against violence at
the polls are numerous and designed in good faith to
produce fair election and there nothing therefore in
the present condition Of things which usties the free
State voters in absening themselves from the polls from
fear of personal injury from anticipation of everpower
ing fraud Fraud might be thus anticipated by persons
disposed in agreat many cases. In other Territories and
States but fraud not to be presumed and it is absurd
to yield to it in advance
Suppose for the argument that fraud is contemplated
and that the prosavery settlers to control the cleo
ton by unfair means how beg to ask is this to be
made manifest If there contest at the pos2 If
side is allowed to have everything its way of course
there will be need Of violence and need of fraud
and the election will not be vtated In the slightest degree
because man, body Of men, had vague des that
there would have been faud and violence II they had
deraken to vote Let the delegates to this convention be
chosen without opposition let the convention be organ
lied peacefully let its deliberations result in republican
constitution let this constitution be submitted il may
be- to the peoples let be ratified by them unanimously
and in the absence of the Topeka let it then be
brought Congress- and the reception Of the State