The Kanzas news., 1858-05-01
Vol. 1--No. A.

fugitiyes from the aroused vengeance of the
people, hiding here, in the shadow of the
White House. One of these appointees, at
the time of his appointment, stood indicted
for murder and other heinoas crimes. This
fact was notorious; the President knew it.
The appointment was made, and then the
law officer of the President promptly step
ped forward and entered staolle prosegai'
on the bill. Thus, second time. was IN
terposed the hand of authority to save a
criminal from the consequences of his crime.
Has the army been withdrawn? It is well
known, that under this, as under the last
Administration, it has been used to support
all the reckless and desperate schemes of the
Pro-Slavery party. Did motifs bugle sound
the charge of ruffians on the ballot box in
the elections of December and January last?
1t will hardly be denied. And the judges,
whose fame for corruption has passed into q
proverb-where are they? aal s3.fo
Still on the bench, to darken and degrade
the highest offices of human intellect; to
illuminate DEGREES inspired by passion, and
shock the conscience of Christendom by an
open prostitution of tie law, furnishing the
innocent, but screening the guilty. Such
is the alarming condition of things now, not
less than twelyemonth ago. Nor this
alone. In this twelyemonth, an intermedi-
ate work of most fearful augury has begun.
The -Lecompton Constitution has been franz
ed. The President sends it here, as the
finale of the Kanzas troubles. 1t will be
observed that do not present that Consti-
tuition, although l am the organ of that peo-
pie upon this floor. That blow at their rights
cannot be stricken through me. On the
other hand, In the course of my duty,
have had occasion from time to time TO lay
before this House much pertinent testimo-
ny against it; protests from the people by
their Conventions, protests from the people
by their Legislature, indicating the indig-
nant and almost unanimous disapprovr of
it by those who are falsely said to have franz
ed it, and for whose benefit it is with still
greater falsity said to be intended. The law
to which this instrument is referable was
enacted in February of 1857. The Legis-
ture in which it originated, consisted of a
Council, chosen on the 38th March, 1855,
still holding over, and House of Repre-
sentatives, chosen in October, 1856, under
the operation of the test oaths. I shall be
told that Congress has pronounced this Leg
islaLure valid, and their laws binding. Il
may be so. This assumption is III fact the
groundwork of all the assaults against the
cause of popular rights in the Territory
But deny that such action on the part of
Congress can estop the people of Kanzas
from pleading the facts of the case.
Congress cannot change truth into false
hood, nor falsehood into truth. These quail
tiles are inherent in the essence of things;
they are indestructible, Interchangeable, and
eternal. The people of Kanzas will main
tain, doggedly if you please, the truth of
their history, though every Congress, for a
century to come, should vainly seek to fall
sify it by short-sighted attempts to enact
right into wrong.
The usurpation of the 30th March, 1856,
is persistent truth. 1t cannot be forgot
ten; it must not be ignored. 1t taints with
the Territorial Government, from the day
on which it was seized, to the day when the
last ballot-box was stuffed, and the last re-
turn forged to complete a. simulated show
ing in behalf of this Lecompton Constitu-
ton. s- .s ..e..-. ,-s - -ss
Although I deny that the conditions of
valid law are to be found in these enact
ments, or that they were entitled to more at
tentioh than the people, from motives of
convenience or policy, might chose to rem
der them, yet, for the sake of this discus
sion, am willing to yield what gentlemen
on the other side claim on this point. From
it, let them defend this Constitution if they
can.
| assert, in the first place, that the Legis-
lature contemplated the commission of a
gross fraud when it passed the act to pro-
vide for the Convention. The evidence of
this is apparent from reading the law itself.
The first section provides that sit shall be
the duty of the Sheriffs of the several eoun-
ties of the Territory, and they are hereby
required, between the first day of March
and the first day of April, eighteen hun
dred and fty-seven, to make an enumera-
ton of all the free white male inhabitants,
citizens of the United States, over twenty
one years of age, and all other white per-
sons, I" actually resident in their several coun-
ties. DC.
Section two provides, that in case of a
vacancy in the Office of Sheriff, these duties
shall be performed by the Judge of Pro-
bate, etc. f-sfr-
The third section provides that it shall
be the duty of this officer to file In the Of
| fee of Probate Judge, on or before the tenth
of April. full and complete list of all the
qualified voters in their respective counties
on the first of April, eighteen hundred and
fifty-seven, which list shall exhibit, in fair
and legible hand, the names OF all such quail
fled voters.
Section seventh provides for an appor-
tionment on the basis of this returned list.
Section eighth provides that no person
shall vote unless his name appear on the
corrected list. ssrE. aas n.7aI
The nineteenth section districts the Terri
tory as follows: -Doniphan couatys shall
constitute the first election district; Brown
and Nemaha, the second; Atchison, thethird
lLeavenWorth, the fourth; Jefferson, the fifth;
Calhoun, the sixth; Marshall, = the seventh