The Placer herald., 1858-05-22
The Constitution of Kansas.

small minority OF tne people OF that dlStrac
ted Territory. The session of the conven-
tion which framed it, was of two weeks dur
alton, during which some of the most dis
graceful scenes were enacted. A few of
these, together with the principle feature of
the new constitution, are thus presented by
the Kansas correspondent Of the St. Louis
RepuClicon. Cal. Statesman.
The Constitution is Topeka rcvamped.
The principle points are as follows: The
right to bear arms is guaranteed to indvid-
uals; slavery is prohibited, of coursc bail
may be refused in cases on strong presump-
ton; election frauds are bar to the future
exercise of the elective franchise; in cases Of
libel the defendant may testify. AT all cleo
tions free male citizens having residence in
the State six months, and ten DAYS in the
precinct, and all free males of foreign birth
having resided in the United States one
year, in the State 81 months, and ten days
in the precinct, and who has declared their
intentions, may vote. The thing goes into
details most confoundedly, and if it should
ever he the organic law of the State, it would
need to be rechanged pretty much through.
The ayes and noes are to be recorded on the
journal of the Legislature on every bill pass
ed by either branch.
The Convention was attended by delegates
from nearly every county, but it was neither
full nor fair expression of the will even
of the free State party. Claiming $4,000
votes in the Territory, and basing their APP
portionment upon 2l,0OO the convention
was appointed by about 5000 voters, all
told. The nigger question caused consider
able of trouble during the session, aud ma
ny harsh things were said by those radical
members whose aim it is to elevate the blackv
a little above the superior race. Several
counties instructed their representatives to
90 against the nigger suffrage. Hence Linn
and some other counties signed the consti-
tuition under protest. Doniphan county was
extremely y anxious to get the word "wlite"
in the constitution, to preface 'malc citizens"
but it was no go. Niggers are to vote for or
against the constitution on an equal footing
with the White folks, and then at the first
general election thereafter, vote is to be
had on the question of universal suffrage. On
a moion--after the instrument had been
fully adopted-of Lane to make the change
of time for that vote from the second to the
first genera! election, there was peculiar
sort Of a discussion. A general scene of
elimination and retaliation. and much con
fusion resulted. Barr, of Doniphan, aimed
TO get his word white in. Parson Fish, of
Shawnee, declared that those who talked
,.bout protesting were enemies TO the cause,
and he threatened to get up protest Oh the
other side, if not a refusal to sgn Sam
Woods, of Douglas, declared that this was
an attempt to make political capital, which
he denounced IN toto; lie designated i, as a
miserable dodge" and "buncombe." John
son, of Leavenworth, who, as understand,
is a large Shareholder let into Wood. pro-
claiming him as an enemy, the devil in dis
guise, DC, and upon being called to order by
Winchell, who was and perhaps is a cores
pondent for prominent Republican paper,
he declined to be interrupted by the "yellow
jackets" His criticism on his co-laborers
would not have stopped there but for the
tact that an agreement was come at TO pre-
serve the harmony of the party.
This is not the only question upon which
the party wanted to split. The address to
the people before the Convention, the policy
of the party came up in some sort, when it
became evident that considerable portion
of the people here desire to put an end to the
internal disturbances which have exhausted
the means of the settlers here, by qualifying
under the Lecompton Constitution. During
the discussion of this question, the die" was
given between Judge Conway and Mr.. Emory,
and Sam Wood made direct assault upon
Mr.. Lane, denouncing the men who took the
back track from the "bloody" issue of Big
Springs.
1t seems probable that the extreme radi-
casm of the Convention will have the effect
to disgust all sober and thinking men in
Kansas and produce sudden and overpow-
ering reaction. Thus the Daily Ledger says:
seriously, the Convention have given the
right of suffrage (for three years at east)
T0 ALL The NEGROES IN KAN.
SAs, THEREBY PLACING THEM ON
AN EQUALITY WITH THE WHITE
MAN. Furthermore they have provided
THAT BLACK AND WHITE CHILDREN
SHALL BE EDUCATED IN THE SANE
SCHOOLS"
We submit to the people of Kansas if these
enactments are not disgrace to us. We
call upon the honest farmer, the thrifty me-
cbanic, the merchant, the professional man,
and the hardfsted laborer, to ponder well
these enactments of the nigger lovers.
Again, in subsequent issue, the same
paper rema' ks: tan
TO the yeomanry of Kansas we say, come
out from amongst the nigger-lovers; and ar
ray yourselves with the party who are stern
ly opposed to this niger equality. Come
out in your majesty and power, and make
them bite the dust. We belong to that par
ty who is sternly and resolutey opposed
to the Niger equality; and that party have
for their motto, Kansas free State for the
white man aone.''
"Now, George, you must divide the cake
honorably with your brother Charles."---