The Kanzas news., 1858-01-16

Nth or without sEouery.'' He also says,
ssthe question can never be more clearly or
distinctly presented 10 the people than it is
at the present moment.
Lest such language should not be suff
ciently insulting to every citizen of KaRzas,
he goes on further to say, in alIuding TO the
Convention. that large proportion of the
ciiizens of Kanzas did not think proper to
register their names and to vote at the elec-
ton for delegates, but an opportunity to do
this having been fairly afforded. their refusal
to avail themselves of their right could IN
no manner effect the legality of the Conven-
tion.''
But what are the facts ? The Territorial
Legislature, forced upon the people by fraud
and violence, deprived them of all power to
choose county or other officers and this
registry of voters was to be made by county
officers, not responsible in any respect to the
people, In one-half of the counties of the
Territory no county officers could be found
TO register the citizens, although in some the
people used every effort to have them ap-
pointed In other instances, where the Off
GERS pretended to act, they refused 10 regis
ter the names of Free Stale men, citizens OF
Kanzas, while they registered the names of
well-known citizens of Missouri. It was
the duty of the officers to register the names
and not the citizens and il was evident to
all observers that a fair registry was not de-
signed and could not be obtained.
Unfortunately for the people of Kanzas
and for our government, a systematic falsi-
fcation of our history has been attempted,
and an ultra disregard of the will of the
majority manifested else why should a
Government, protesting to be actuated by
the principles of popular sovereignty, at
tempt to force upon the people a Consti-
tuition emanating from Territorial Govern
ment, eight-ninths of which is controlled by
the appointees of the President, while the
other ninth was usurped by foreigners, and
that Constitution not submitted to the peo
pie for their ratification or rejection? Why
attempt to force such a Constitution upon
us, to the exclusion of Constitution elected
by the people, independently of Federal in
fluences, and which Constitution has been
twice submitted to the people, receiving at
each submission an overwhelming majority
of the votes?
Can it be that all the oppression and tyr
amy practiced in Kanzas has been for the
purpose of planting an institution on our
soil repugnant to the people? Has our Gov
ernment sunk so low as to strike down the
sovereignty of a whole American people for
the sake of enslaving few Africans
At the last Territorial election the people
were permitted to take possession of the Ter
ritorial Legislature and it is now in the hands
of the friends of the State Government, and
therefore no further opposition to your pro-
ceedings is to be apprehended from that
source. Not SO, however, with the Lecomp-
ton State Government. By the provisions
of that Constitution, it took effect on the
21st of December last. This Government
the President and his Cabinet have indorsed
as legitimate, and they are said TO have
| pledged all the power of the Federal Gov
ernment in it's support.
The people of Kanzas, repudiating the
Lecompton Constitution as fraud from its
origin to its completion, refused in conven-
ton to participate in al election under it for
State Government, thus leaving the friends
of that fraud and the oppressers of the peo-
| pie to secure that government without a
contest.
Should Kanzas be admitted into the Union
under that Constitution and Government,
there can be no radical change in it for four
years, the State Senators being elected for
that term.
The people of Kanzas are nearly unani-
nous in opposition to this fraudulent gov
ernment and have sternly resolved and pro-
tested against it in various ways; but there
is reason to fear that the Administration will
override the sovereignty of the people and
entirely disregard their wishes.
In such an event, question of grave i'm
portance arises for your consideration =
What shall be done to relieve the people of
Kanzas from this despotism of the Federal
Administration This question you in
your wisdom may be called on to decide.
| According 20 the Constitution adopted
| for our guide, it is the duty of the General
Assembly to legislate upon the following
subjects:
Encouragement of Education and Reli-
gion;
Registration of Electors
! Returns of Elections
| Election of Officers;
Filling of Vacancies;
Number cf Senators and Representatives;
Apportionment;
Special Legislation
Publication of Laws
Census;
Salaries of Officers
Surveyor General, State Geologist, and
Superintendent of Common Schools;
Judicial Districts and Jurisdiction oi
Courts;
Publication of Decisions of Supreme
Court;
Duties of Reporter and Clerk of Supreme
Court;
School Fund. University and Normal
Schools;
State Asyluns for Blind, Deaf and Dumb