Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-10-02
GOV. WALKERS PROCLAMATION
ToTHr PEOPLE OF KANSAS

L
Lscompson K. r. Wednesday, Sept ie.
Tn. first Monday in October, 1851, is the
aav assigned Nv la W for the election. by TIE
neople Of this Territory, Of delegate to the
Consres Of the United States. both brsnche.
| of the Territorial Legislature. and various
county offices As the Governor Of Kansas,
numerous aud urgent calls have been made
upon me BY various public meetings and
Committees, by some Of the judges Of e.ec-
TORS. and also by many citizens. to commu-
nicate my views in relation to the quslifi
cations Of voters at the election, as also in
regard to the legislative appointment. and
the establishment Of voting precincts.
As to the appointment, the Territorial
Election law OF the goth Of February, 1887,
r.auires it to be taken under the Territorial
Con vention Act Of the 10 February. 1851
The returns were made under that census,
and the apportionment for that Conve:ti ton
fixed by the acting Governor, long before
my arrival in this e,ritory and. Of course,
over that matter have no control whatev-
err Whilst it was q cause OF deep regret To-
him, as well a. 10 myself, that the census
aud registry were SO incomplete IN many
counties and that in fifteen counties organi-
zed at election districts under that law and
entitled TO vote for delegate to the Conven-
ton. there was neither census nor registry
and, therefore, that they could not partlci-
pate in any manner in the choice oil dele,
gntes on that most important occasion. yet
no power 10 remedy the evil was vested by
law either in hin. or me The only RENE
DIV rests with the Couye ntlon itself, by sub
hitting, IL they deem best the constitution
for ratification or rejc .tlou 10 the vote Of
the people under such just and reasonable
quali.' oations AS they may prescribe. That
they would pursue this curse have never
doubted, aud although have no night
whatever to in. riere ia that question. yet.
when my individual opinion was asked on
that subject by members Of the Convention
and others, have always indicated pre-
vious reside nee OF three or SIN months piior
10 the vote upon the adoption of the Consti-
{ Tons. as most just AMI reasonable, peri
Oh Of three months being presided by the
Convention law itsef. as the psior residence
required in voting tor delegates TO the Con
vent,on. and six months designated by the
Territorial Election laws Us the pre,io :
residence required in voting for members Of
the Territorial Legislature. Either oftheSe
qualifications in my opinion would have
eUib4dtSu tIi' great utuN vi 'ut 'u''" fsNt
settlers who might be here tbs FdN. mas
much as the Convention would probably not
terminate their iabors and submit the con
stitution until sometime in November, and
inasrnuch Gs three or ak months would pro
, badly be granted by them as an interval be
| tween the date Of submission and the vote
upon the constitution. l repeat however
the opinion always heret o'ore expressed ny
| me. that thi. Is a mntter " hich belongs eN
| clusively TO u C convention, over which l
have no power, except, IN the language "f
| ebraska act, to take care that the
laws hs faithfully executed including that
organic act itself, and left at liberty as n
citizen TO take such course a., III my Judg"'
ment would be most consonant with the
| principles of justice, of the Kansas and Ne
| bruska bill, and of the Constitution TO the
Uni ed states. in any contingency
| Th superintendent Of members Of both
branches of the Legislature, is based, rs |
have stated, on the census taken under the
| Convention act of the 18th Of February
1887 My power TO make the apportion-
iaent. expired on the 3lst of May last, lea
wing me but three days, exciusise of Sun
day to perform that act, after my arrival II
this Territory. The territorial laws OF s5I
had never been printed. They were ther
IN the course Of publication at 81. Louis Mo
aud nc copy reached here until the middle
ofJune, long after my over on the sulJec
had expired. The existence of this arpor'i
onment law was wholly unknown to the
secretary of State, to the Probate Judge Of
this County, Or to any other pers within
my knowledge, and the printed copies. a.
/ have stated, did not reach here until the
| middle of June Of course in was impossl
BILE for me to perform the duty prescribed IL
that net aud t. guard against the contin
geucv Of those laws not reaching here he
the first Of June. the duty from and ate,
tie date. was levolv.l by law upon In,
Speaker Of the House and President OF the
Council Tina, duty was performed by th'
officers designated 10y the law, and have
no doubt. in good faith. ALTHOUGH ] wa
never consulted 10y them gu the subject
The law prohilihited them from appor,ion
ing members 10 counties not embraced IL
the census under the eouS cn,ional law, an,
know il to be matter Of complaint l.,
both PARTIES. that the districts are arrange,
so us To defeat their respective candidates
That the districts were arranf ed by thes
gentlemen a. charged bv their opponents
with a view to bring voters from the Stat,
Of Missouri into the adjacent counties q
Kansas 10 control the election. have tn
most solemn assuran'e from the most anthem
tie sources Of intrlIig, nee in that state, i
wholly unfounded in fact. That the Gems l
! or registry was not made IN fifteen countie
Of Kansas is owing TO the neglect of the 10
cal officers of hose counties to perform thci
: duties, many Of whom have excused them
selves, on the allegation that no means wcr
provided and no public money applicabl
10 the expenses OF taking the census and IN
king the registry, and that they were una
bic or unwilling to make the necessary al
, vance III, mseives. However this NAV he
have ever regar'iedii rs a deplorahle eli
cum stance, that these counties could no
participate in the election of delegate {
the Convention, but feel confident that II
such result was anticipated by the Terrific
rial Legislature.
Although none Of those fifteen coun'ie
could vote for Delegates to the Conventio
the remedy Tor which lies with the Convei
ton it, If and although No members hay
: been or could be appointed them for tn
Territorial Legislature, Vet the Speaker
the House aud the Pre- lent of the Cou,. ci
!, in conformity with the duty pr, seribcd b
law, have attached them 10 other le.islativ
districts. SO that they can vote for member
, Of the Territorial Legislature 1t is certain
, " great calamity that these counti.s ar
thus deprived Of their due weight in the n,
9 pointment Of members for the Terrtoris
, Legislature, Yet they can vote for The men
bers in the district 10 which they are al
I ia, bed, and the only result is to give t.,
! many members oil that body TO some coul
ties in the appointment. according to popr
$ lation. and not an absolute denial Of the risl
q Of suffrage Thi- result was not intende
by the Territorial Legislature. ard coul
g not be prevented by the officers by whe
h the appointment was made There was n
intention on the part of the territorial au
= thorities to disfranchise But this has ar
= sen from accidental causes, over which
have no authority to exercise any contr,
Il whatever. and could give no legal etfc
/. cncy to ony vote that was ont legal in i
self
e 1t is hoped that the good citizens Of the
II counties will vote 20 the extent permitts
them by law, looking to an early period {,
% the remedies for all these grievance. al
n that We shall have no revolutionary on
break or violence at the election, viii,
&c would be fraug.t with incalculable evil ar
10 att \ led with no possil le good.
IL will be observed that the apporto
y ment has no effect whatever upon the vo