Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-06
THEKANSAS BILL.
The bill passed the House on Thursday in the to!
owing form:


into the Union on all equal footing with the orsina
Staies in all respects whatever bl; inasmuch il il
greatly disputed whether the constitution framed al
I.ecompton OH the 7th day of November last and
pending before Congres-, was fairly made or ex
pressed tho will OF the people Of kansns tbs Hdmls
sion of her into the Union STATE IL here declared
To be upon this fundsments! condition precrd-rl
namely that the said constitutional instrument shall
be first submitted to vote Of the people of Kansas
aud sssented to by them or majority of th' voters
at an election to be held for the purpose; .oru
az such assent shall be given, and duly made known
by majority of the commissioners herein appointed
TO the President of the United States, he shaI! nm.
nounce the same by proclamation and thereafter and
without am further proceedings ne part OF Con.
eress the sdmssion of the sad State of Kansas into
the Union upon an equal footing with the original
States in all respects whatever shall b. complete anu
absolute Atthe said election the voting shal be by
ballot, and by endorsing on his ballot, each voter
may please. "for the constitution" or "eganst the
constitution" Should the said constitution be reject.
ed at the sad election by majority Of votes being
caat aganstit then and IN that event. the inhabitants
Of said Territory bsraby authorized and empower.
ed to form for Themselves contribution and State gov
ernment by the name Of the Stale Of Kansas, accord
ing TO the federal constitution and to that end may
elect delegates to convention as hereinafter pro-
vided.
SECTION And be it further enacted, That the
said State of Kansas shall have concurrent jursdc.
tion on the Missouri and all other rivers and waters
same shall form common boundary TO said State,
and any other State or States now or hereafter 10 be-
formed or bounded by the same; and said rivers and
waters, and all the navigabs waters of said State,
shsll be common highways and forever free. as well
to the inhabitants of said State az to all other czsns
Of the United States, without any tax, duty import
or toll therefor.
SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, That, for
the purpose Of insuring, as far as possible, that
the elections authorized by this act may be fair aud
f-.a NJ oc
Kansas and the presiding officers OF thetwo branches
of its legislature, namely the president of the council
and Speaker ofthe House OF Representatives here
by constituted board of commissioners 10 carry in.
to effect the provisions of this act and to all the
means necessary and proper to that end. ANY three
of these shall constitute board and the board shall
have power and authority, in respect 10 each and all
of the elections hereby authorized or provided for,
to designate and establish precincts for voting. or to
adopt those already esablished to cause polls to be
opened at such places as il may deem proper in the
respective counties and election precincts of said Ter
rtory to appoint as judges OF election At each of the
several PLACES OF voting, three discreet aud respecta
BILE persons, any two of whom shall be competent 10
act 10 require the shers Of the several counlies by
themselves deputies, to attend the Judges at each
of the places of voting for the purpose OF preserving
peace and good order; the said board may, instead
of said sheriffs and their deputies appoint at their
discretion, and in such Instances as they may
choose other Git persons for the same purpose and
delegates to Convention to form Constitution, as
hersinbefore provided tor. the number of delegates
shall be sixty, and they shall be apportoned by said
board among the several counties of said Territory,
according to the number of votes; and in making this
apportonment the board may join two or more coun.
ties together to make election or representative
distrct where neither of the said counties has the
requisite number Of voters to ente it 10 delegate,
or 10 ioin smaller to larger county, having sur.
plus population, where it may serve to equaze the
rba otinps hara aht,a oil
continue one day only, and shall not be continued
later than sun.down on that day. The said board
pha appoint the day of election for each Of the eec
tions hereby authorized, as the Same may become
necessary. The said Governor shall announce. by
proclamation, the day appointed for any one of said
elections and the day shall be as early one as ia
consistent with due notice thereof to the people Of
said Territory, subject to the provisions Of this act
The said board shall have full power to prescribe the
fine manner and places of rh Of ssid elections and
to direct the time and manner of the returns thereof
which returns shall be made TO the said board,
wlIvs1 duty II shall be to announce the re.
suit by proclamation, and to appoint therein
AZ early a day as practicable for the dele.
oates elected twhere the election has been for dele.
pstes) to assemble in Convention at the sest of gov
srnlnent of said Territory When assembled. The
Convention shall first determine, by vote, whether
il ia the Wish Of the proposed State to be admitted
into the Union at that time; and, so shall proceed
TO form Constitution and take all necessary steps
for the establishment of State government In con.
forrnty with the federal Constitution, subject to the
approval and ratification OF the people OF the pro
posed State. And the said Convention shall &C.
cordugly provide for its submission to the vote of the
people for approval rejection; and if the majority
of votes shall be given for the Constitution frnu,eh
ss aforesaid, the governor of the Territory shall.
within twenty days after the result ia known, notify
the President Of the United States Of the same And
thereupon the President shall announce The same by
proclamation, and thereafter, and without any further
proceedings whatever on the part OF Congress. the
admission of the said State of Kansas into the Union
mon an equal footing with the original States in all
respects whatever shall be complete ana sosoute'
SECTION !. And be il further enacted, That III the
elections hereby authorized, all white male inhabi-
tsnts of said Territory, over the age OF twenty one
years. who arc legal voters under the laws OF the
Territory of Kanaas and none othera shall be allow.
ed to vote; and this shall be- the only qualification re-.
ouired 10 entitla the voter to the right Of anrags in
said election. And ifany person not qualified shall
vote or offer to vote, or any person shall vote more
than once at either Of said elections or shall make or
cause to be made any fase fictitious, or fraudulent
returns or shall alter change any returns o either
of said elections, such person sha, upon conviction
thereof before any court of competent jurisdiction,
be kept at hard labor not less than Blk months and
| not more three years.
| SECTION S. And be il further enacted, That the
members of the aforesaid board Of commissioners,
and all persons appointed by them 10 carry into effect
the provisions of this act shall before enta ing upon
their duties take All oath to perform faithfully the
duties of their respective offices, and on failure there
| Of. they shall be liable and subject to the same
charges and penalties as are provided IN ike cases
| under the territorial laws.
| SECTION g. ABd be it further enacted That the Of
icers mentioned in the preceding section shall receive
for their services the same compensation as IL gwen
for like services under the territorial laws
SECTION T. And be it futher enacted, That the said
State of Kansas, when her admission as State be
comes complete aAd absolute, shall be entitled TO one
member in the House of Representatives. in the Con
gress of the United States, till the next census be
! taken by tho Federal Government.
| SECTION 8. And be it further enacted, Ihat the
following propositions be, and the same are hereby
offered 10 the said people of Kansas for their free ao
ceptance or rejection, which, If accepted. shall be OBJ
gatory on the United States and upon the said State
| of Kansas to wit First. That sections numbered
sixteen and thirty six in every township OF public
lands in said State, and where either OF said secons
or any part thereof has been sold or otherwse been
dsposed Of other lands equivalent thereto, and ~
contiguous as may be- shall be granted to said State
| for the uss of said schools. Second. That seventy
two sections of land shall be set apart and reserved
for the use and support Of said university 10 De go
leoted by the Governor of said State auoect to the
| approyal of the Commissioner OF the General Lann
| Office and to he appropriated and applied in snch
manner az the Legislature of said State may prescribe
for the purpose aforesaid, but for no other purpose
Third That ten entire sections OF land 10 De selecteo
nv the Governor Of said State in legal subdivisions
shall be granted 10 said State for the purpose OF com
pletnp The public buildings or for the erection OF 9th
ers at the seat of Government under the direction Of
the Legislature thereof. Fourth That all aalt springs
| within said State, not exceeding twelve in number
with ak sections of land adjoining, coDtiguou:
as may be to each, shall be granted to said State tor
liza use the to be selected by the governor there
of within one year after the admission OF said stare
and when go selected to be used disposed oon auef
terms, conditions and regulations the Legislature
shall direct Provided That no salt spring or ano
the right whereof is now vested in any individual o
individuals or which may be hereafter confirmed o.
sdudged to any individual or individuals shall b,
this article be granted to said Slate. Fifth. Tha
Eve Der centum of the net proceeds of sales o all pub
lie lands lying within said State. which shall be so'
by Congress after the admission of said State into h
Union, after deducting all the expenses incident to tn
same shall be paid to said State, for the purpose
making public roads and internal improvements: ~
The legislature hall direct: Provided, The oregolsl
propositions herein before offered are on the COM ~
ton that the people of Kansas shall provide oy al
ordinance irrevocable without the conreh! oi NV
United States that said State shs meyer @ e,ae.' CIV
with the primary disposal Of the soil wl.h,a me sSn' SAM
"a LanV