The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-13
THE THIRD KANSAS CONSTITUTION.

We find in the Kansas correspondence of the ST.
Louis Democrat (froeso) the following account
the third constitution of Kansas and Of the convcn-
ton which framed it. twill be seen that the in
srument has been framed in the period of one week.
IT was a fast convention that did tho job 1t pro
vides for alien and for negro suffrage
LxAvEhwoRrH CRY, (Kansas,) April s.
T5He Editor Of The Missouri Democrat
The constitutional convention closed ita labors this eve
ming at O'Clock. complete constitution has been
framed and adopted in little than weeks time
the several committees having been announced yesterday
q week ago
Within the past two three days earnest efforts
made by the conservative members to introduce the word
'whe'' into the instrument, but every attempt
complete failure Every male citizen Of the United States
twenty years old and upwards, and foreigners who
have been in the country year, and have declared
their intention to become citizens, qualified electors
The question Of universal suffrage is TO be submitted by
the first legislature to popular vote ut the first general
election under the constitution Schools required to
be established open and free to every child in the State
In the declaration of rights, the right of all to the
control of their persons Ia asserted to be prior to
law and nalienable and the right of trial by jury il de-
carcd to extend to persons of every condition These
are among the liberal provisions of the instrument and
those which the struggle between the liberal and
conservative elements In the convention most
earnest
After the constitution had gone to the enrolling
mttce j. Nj. Walden, chairman Of the committee
address tie American public submitted report of this
document.
The policy recommended to tho people Of Kansas by
this address u.s. that they give the Leavenwoth consitu
ton hearty ratification and refuse to accept Of any
ganc law which may derive it's origin from the Lecomp
ton constitution government 1t distinctly
derstood by it that the convention would not tolerate the
policy of any reeSate qualifying under the Lecomp
ton constitution should it I've received This provoked
earnest and proractcd discussion for there few
persons who think that there may be contingency in
which may be necessary for the officers under Lecomp
ton to assume their functions.
The convention strongly republican in character OF
eighty four members present. seventy three repub
cans nine free State democrats and two wings. The
republican portion Of the Kansas press strongly
sented r. ID. Thatcher editor Of the Lawrence Repub
can, w. w. Ross, of the Topeka Tribune, p, B. Plumb
of the Emporia News and j. NJ Walden, of the Qunda
70 Chindowan, being delegates, whilst not single
sentative editor returned to the convention IF this
body is fair exponent of the people of Kansas there
will be State here that will he sturdy recruit TO the
army of free labor
The constitution carefully enrolled, read to the
convention this afternoon and then signed by the eighty
four delegates present The labors of the body
then closed by prayer by the Rev Mr. Henderson, of
Leavenwortb.