The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-05-15
The English Bill!

The English Bill!
The following is a copy of English's
Bill, as it passed Congress and became
law -
Whereas, The people of Kansas did, by
convention of delegates, assemble at Lee
compton, on the 7th day of November,
1857, for that purpose, form for themselves
a Constitution and State Government,
which Constitution is Republican and,
Whereas, At the same time and place
said Convention did adopt an ordinance
which asserts that Kansas, when admitted
as State, will have an undoubted right
to tax the lands within her limits belong
ing to the United States, and proposes to
relinquish said asserted right if certain
conditions set forth in said ordinance be
accepted and agreed to by the Congress Of
the United States and,
Whereas, Said Constitution and ordi-
nance have been presented to Congress by
order of said Convention, and the admis-
sion of said Territory into the Union
thereon as State requested /; and,
Whereas, Said ordinance is not accepta-
BILE to Congress, and it is desirable to as
certain whether the people of Kansas con-
cur in the changes in said ordinance here
after stated, and desire admission into the
Union as State as herein proposed, there
fore
Be 1t enacted, 3c., That the State of
Kansas be and is hereby admitted into
the Union on an equal footing with the
original States in all respects whatever,
but upon this fundamental condition pre-
cedent, namely: That the question of adj
mission with the following proposition in
lieu of the ordinance framed at Lecomp-
ton, shall be submitted to the vote of the
people of Kansas, and assented to by them
or the majority of the voters voting at an
election to be held for that purpose,
namely: That the following propositions
be, and the same are hereby offered to
said people of Kansas for their free accept
ance or rejection, which, if accepted, shall
be obligatory upon the United States and
upon the said State of Kansas, to wit:
Fsrst-That sections numbered sixteen
and thirty-six in every township of public
lands in said State, and where either of
said sections, or any part thereof, has been
sold or otherwise been disposed of, other
lands, equivalent thereto, and as eontigu-
Gus as may be, shall be granted 20 the said
State for the use of schools.
Second-That seventy-two sections of
land shall be set apart and reserved for
the use and support of State University,
to be selected by the Governor of said
State, subject to the approval of the Com
missioner of the General Land Office, and
to be appropriated and applied in such
manner as the Legislature of the said State
may prescribe for the purpose aforesaid,
but for no other purpose.
Third-that ten entire sections of land,
to be selected by the Governor of said
State. in legal subdivisions, shall be
granted to said State for the purpose of
completing the public buildings, or for the
erection of others at the seat of Govern
msnt, under the direction of the Legisla-
t1re thereof.
Fourth-That all the salt springs within
the said State, not exceeding twelve in
number, with six sections of land adjoin-
ing, or as contiguous as may be to each,
shall be granted to said State for its use,
the same to be selected by the Governor
thereof, within one year after the admis-
sion of said State, and when so selected,
to be used or disposed of on such terms,
conditions and regulations as the Legisla-
ture shall direct; Provided, That no salt
spring, or land, the right whereof is now
vested in any individual or individuals, or
which may be hereafter confirmed or adj
judged to any individual or individuals,
shall by this article be granted to said
State.
Eth-That FIVE per centum Of the pro-
ceeds of the sales Of all public lands lying
within the said State, which shall be sold
by Congress after the admission of said
State into the Union, after deducting all
the expenses incident to the same, shall
be paid to said State, for the purpose of
making public roads and internal improve
ments, as the Legislature shall direct
Promided, That the foregoing propositions
herein offered to the State of Kansas shall
never interfere with the primary disposal
of the lands of the United States, or with
any regulations Congress may find neces-
sary for securing title IN said sale to bona
fds purchasers thereof. and that no tax
shall be imposed on land belonging to the
United States, aud that In no case shall
nonresident proprietors be taxed higher
than resident.
Sizk-And that said State shall never
tax the lands or property of the United
States.
At said election the voting shall be by
ballot, and By indorsing On his ballot, As
each voter may please, Proposition Ac-
cspted," or proposition Rejected. n-
Should the majority Of votes Be cast for
Proposition Accepted, the President
Of the United States. IS soon IS the fact
b duly made known 10 him, shall an
nounce the same By proclamation, and
thereafter, and without any further pro-