The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-09-30

frequent scenes Of bloodsbed, continued
TO prevail 10 the Territory The second
Legislature was elected in the same man.
her as the first one.
That Legislature called Convention
for the purpose of framing Constitution
of State Government. In the meanw bile
there had been another change of Cover
nor Shannon had been superseded by
Gesry, who, during the brief period ol
his Executive term, performed bis duty
like an honest man. He vas Governor
when the Convention was called. He We
tocd the bill calling the Convention, but
1t was passed over his head by a two
third vote. The free State men refused
10 vote for delegates. They said, "we do
not recognise Jour authority; you are not
our representatives; We did not elect you
you were elected by the people of an,
other State; you have already usurped
the powers and forms of law. Now you
call a Convention to form a State Con-
siiiution. That Constitution is to govern
US for all time, and we refuse to recognise
your authority. We refuse to take part
in this election" OF course, pro-slayery
delegates we're elected They assembled.
Geary had been superseded as Governor
by Robert j. Walker, man Of the high
est reputation and standing. He had
tried to induce the people to vote, but iD
large number of counties there was no
provision made for a vote. He said:--
81 pledge myself that whatever Con.titu.
ton is framed shall be submitted to the
ratification or rejection of the people
. For this, have the authority Of the Pres
ident and his Cabinet" They rested un-
der that pledge--for whatever the Con
vention did, if it were not acceptable to
them, they could reject it. Before the
Convention closed its labors change had
come over Kansas affairs. The Conven-
ton had assembled in September 1857
lu October of the same year there was to
be an election for new Legislature
The Convention adjourned over until of.
ter the election. The free State men at
that election went to the polls and elected
their dele ate to Congress by large ma
Jority, and, although frauds the most
glarins aod extensive were Prepetrated.
the Legislative Assembly was almost un-
aniRouSly free State. You can ncyer
forget the Oxford and MEG bee aud Kic-
kapoo frauds.
Thou anjs of pro-slavery votes were
returned from places where even now the
population can ouly be counted ty tens,
Governor Walker, who, | believe, is q
thoroughly honest man, satisfied himself
of these frauds. He took pains to ferret
them out. He denied certificates to those
who professed to be elected with those
votes. A bue and cry was commenced
against him from the Southern States for
this act of honesty and fair dealing. g.
Southern Conventions passed resolutions
demanding his removal. The Governor
stood uobiy by the position be had as.
sumed. Constitutional Convention reas.
scmbled and completed its work. III
framed a Constitution. But instead of
fulfilling the promise which had been
made. the Convention refused to submit
the Constitution fully and freely to the
people for their rejection or APPROVAL
There was 10 submission in fact The |
vote wa, to be. For the C0RStitutj0n with
slavery. aud For the Coustitution with
out slavery. No vote could be given a.
gain,t the Constitution, and in that Cons
titatlon was embraced clause that the
slaves then in the Territory should con-
tInuo TO remain slaves, 10 matter what
ihe vote should be. Slavery was not pro.
hlbltcd in any event. There vas also
provision ln 1t as Donstrous as any which |
ever dIsgraced a statue book 1t starts
oat with the declaration that the right of
rropertJ is before and higher than all
Constitutions, and that the right to hold
slaves is as sacred as the right to hold
any other property. That is a provision
which, If true, would at once convert all
the States of this Union into slave States. /
Ii II be true, then there is nothing to
prevent the owners of slaves from bring.
Tug their property into the State of Penn
syivania aud holding it here. But it is
untrue. 1t is founded neither iu law nor
In justice. 1t is contrary to the first prin-
ciples Of humanity, and contrary 10 the
recognized code of the civilized world.
Now, fellow citizens, We have reached |
the point when the question on the Con-
stitutiou was brought Immediately TO the
attention of Congress. A return wa>
made TO Washington that 6,226 of the
people of Kansas had voted iD favor Of
the Constitution with slavery, 500 only
voting in favor of the Constitution with.
out slavery. Oxford, Shawnee, and
hickaPoo gave enormous votes. How
many thousand fraudulent votes were
then given in these three places land the,
were not the only ones) may be seen by 4
q comparison of their votes then and their il
vote on the English contrivauce. No
man denies the fraud. Even Calhoun
himself, With all his audacity, must ad
nit it.
The Constitution was sent by the Pres {
Ident to the House of Representatives G
with message strongly recommending ,
It's adoption by Congress. Adhesion to q
il was made test of Democracy by Mr.. G
Buchanan and his Cabinet E,ory do, /,