The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-20

The IeTIit0Ilat 1egi1latufe Drought Us
Iabors to a close at noon of Saturday last,
after session of forty days, to which it
was limited by the Organic Act. It's do
ings win soon be before the public, who
win review their actions, and applaud or
condemn, as their judgments shall direct.
It's to be regretted that instead of de-
voting so much Of is time, during the
fore part Of itg session. to the discussion of
abstract questions and to local matters, it
had not engaged at once in general iegis-
lation. Had il done so, and followed up
IFS efforts with the same industry which
characterized it through its short session,
the result would have been creditable In
deed, and would have given perfect salts
faction to the people. It is due to the
majority to state, that the first seven to
ten days of the session were wasted in a
foolish discussion, forced upon them by
about half dozen faetionists. proposing
to abandon the Territorial Legislature in
favor of the Topeka government. Dur
ing that period, while discussing whether
they should commit suicide, the friends
of these faetionists were plying them
selves with the greatest industry to get
local laws introduced chatering town
companies, and companies for building
roads, bridges, ferries, railroads, the estab-
iishment banks, insurance companies. &c,
so that when the Topeka controversy was
disposed of. the calendar was numbered up
with these special laws, to the exclusion
of important public interests. Mon who
had been denouncing the Territorial gov
eminent in unmeasured terms, and who
had been vieing with each other to see
which could do the most in putting an
end TO it by substituting revolutionary
government, were now rivaling each other
to see which ceuld secure the greatest
number Of monopolies for themselves or
Lne'L lIIeAds.g1 10 394
Tt was thus the session of the Legisla-
ture was frittered away. Local bills were
first on the calendar, and must be disposed
of whether general laws were passed or
not. General laws were considered dur
ing the last days of the session, and a
large number were passed, but very many
were defeated for want of time to finish
them, and still others forth want of time
for the Governor to sign them. The Con-
ivention Bill has lost half its virtue because
of the doubt thrown over its legality fol
the want of time to finish it. The Coun-
| ty line bill was only defeated for the want
Iof time to perfect it, so as to make it satss-
factory to all parties; but amid the mass
of bills defeated for the want of time, we
hear of none of local character. Every
bill of this character was perfected, as
would have been the case with the gen.
eral laws, had the members been piled
with as much pertinacity to look after
/ the public, as they were after piyate in
terests.
4 But Wedo not enter the arena as fault
finder. The Legislature was composed
of entirely new members. Not oEeswho
had ever served day in similar body,
had a seat in this body. Without expe-
rience, and without leading mind to di.
! rect in case of doubt, or to advise with
and business blocked up with previous
Legislation. it is certainly creditablst to the
parties. taking all things into considera-
ton, that they have succeeded as well al
they have.
The removal of the Territorial capita
to Minneola, viii probably elicit more
complaint than any other movement
We apprehend that when that affair i,
better understood it wilfbe less censured
We are not disappointed that those press
es which have been so violento on the Leg
/ islature, because it stood in the way Of tn
STopeka government, are violent on tn
location of the capital at Minneola. Iti
well known,that Topeka bought up tn
fse-stsled State Legislature, by which tn
, capital was located at that point, unde
f the Topeka organization. The friends G
! the movement, knowing how such thing
: are done, are better qualified for raisin
: the cry of corruption" now. Our ow
: opinion has been that the location at Min
g neola would prove to be temporary, an
g that future Legislature, Fepresentin
IL every locality in the Territory, woul
,. again remove it, but the opposition come
J, from such a questionable source, we are il
is elined to apprehend it will not be altere
II from its present site for several years.
le we desired measure to succeed, the be
n method We could devise, would be to en-
7, ploy Mr.. linton, the Kansas Neans, an
tt like persons and newspapers, to join IN
'. hue and cry againstit. As they are alrei
4 dy employed against Minneola, the frien,
st of that town feel sanguine of success b
7 fore the people.
of It is but just to the Representative
st south of the Kansas river, to say, th
e, nineteen counties are represented by b
n three representatives. If these thr'
be members could overbalance twenty men
1
le bers in similar locality north of the ri
J. er, by which they succeeded in gettil
d. the capital removed twenty miles sou
e. iof the Kansas river, when those distrie
shall be fully represented, may we n
- expect them to either hold the capital
ID that point, or remove it still farther sou
n and probably west? |? Is there not pro
!. ability that next tins. it may get IS