True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-24

CONSTITUTION with Slavery" or Constitution
with no Slavery" One of said, poll books
shall be returned within eight days to the
President Of this Ooven ton, and the other
shall be retained by the, judges of election,
and kept open for inspection. The President
with two or more members Of this Convention
shall examine said poll books, and il it shall
appear upon said examination that majority
Of The legal votes cast at said election be in
favor of the Constitution with Slavery" he
shall Immediately have the same transmitted
to the congress Of the United States, as herein
before provided. But if, upon such examina-
tion of said poll books, it shall appear that a
majority of the legal votes cast at said elec-
ton, be in favor Of the constitution wit h no
Slavery" then the article providing for Sla.
very shall be stricken from this constitution
by the President of this convention, and Sla-
very shall no longer exist in the State of
Kansas, Except that the right of property in
slaves now in the Territory shall in no man.
ner be interfered WITH and shall have trans
mitted the constitution so ratified to the
congress of the United States, as herein be.
fore provided. In case of the failure of the
President of this convention to perform the
duties ''impOSed upon him in the foregoing
section," by reason of death, resignation, or
the President "pro tempore."
Can It be said that this is fair sub
mission TO the people, whether they will
have Constitution with or without Sla-
very 81 Go no more than call attention
to the extraordinary and unfair provis'
ions that the president of the Lecompton
Convention Mr.. Calhoun, is to appoint
three co commissioners in each county
which three commissioners shall Oppoin
three judges of election in the severa
precincts of their respective counties
,, and shall also establish precints for voting
and cause polls to be opened at such pla
ces as they may deem proper in their re
, spectlve counties; the result Of the elec
ton to be determined by Mr.. Calhoun
e and two other members of the COnven
tion. A marvelously fair provision fol
s an election, 10 provide that one of fifty
|, usurpers shall by his agents, open tn
$ polls and conduct the election in sucl
n manner and at SUCH PLACES as he shal
n deem proper! and finally with two o
f his co-conspirators, determine the result
s A complete device, this for the successful
re-enactment of election frauds, wilhou
parallel save in the recent election il
Kansas, held under the same bogus law;
v which sanctioned this Convention. Still
e more clearly does it appear that the ques
tion is not fairly referred to the people
d whether they will have Constitution
+. with or without Slavery, by the las
/. clause of the seventh section, which is
r that although the majority shall vol
o 4" Constitution with no Slavery" tn
+. right Of property in slaves nOw in tn
Territory shall in no manner be interfe
| red with. And to make sure Of this tn,
9th section of the schedule provides
/ SEC. 9, Any person offering to vote at tn
p aforesaid election upon said constitution shall
if challenged take a n oath to sup port this con
u stitutou, if adopted, under the penalties G
e perjury under the Territorial laws"
And 10 the same e efec! is the fourleeAt
i section. which provides
y 4, SEC. IA. That after the year one thousau
VI eight hundred and sixty.four, when ever tn
# Legislature shall think it necessary to amend
n alter and change this constitution, they sha
recommend to the electors at the next generi
. election, two-thirds of the members of eac
u House concurring, to vote for or against cal
d ing convention and if it appears that a ms
!. ority of all the citizens Of the State have vote
for a convention, the Legislature shall, at it
H.,
n consists Of as many members as there may
)f in the House Of Representatives at the time {
10 be chooses in the same manner, at the sam
~ places, aud by the same electors, that chose I'll
Representatives. Said delegates so electe
% shall meet thin three months after said ele
"a tion, for the purpose of revising, amending
,s changing the con sttuton but no alteratic
il shall be made to affect the rights Of propelt
of in the ownership of slaves"
~ A fair submission of the question
Of Of whether they will have a consItutio
Of Of with or without Slavery. 1t is no sub
D. mission of the Constitution at all. In n
h event are the people, or any one of then
re re permitted TO vote against the Constitution
IN they can only vote for the Constitutio
lie with Slavery. This is plain for it
le provided, if the people should all vote fc
~ ~ the Constitution with no Slavery, yet tn
9, right OF property in slaves now in tn
L. Territory shall in no manner be interf
a red with; and the only effect, therefore
, - of such vote, would be to cut off TIL
Mt provision of the instrument which provid,
as for the further importation of slaves in
te the State. The only question, then, tn
i. T. is submitted to the people is, wheth
a. they will prohibit the increase Of the
n, slave population by future importation'
W and before they are permitted TO exerci
Of Of even this privilege, they must if challe
h ged, submit to the humilialing requir
of ment of taking an oath--a test oath
81 3, fealty to their masters, and 10 their ma
RI. ter's work, to wit: that they will suppo
ee this constitution, if adopted. As ha'
Of said, its adoption is made sure, for no OF
Sa Sa can vote against it; all must vote for
-, ~ or not vote at all. Aud as Ito add
ch the humiliation, and sharpen the sting
M the indgniles thus heaped upon this i
ll lte vaded province Of Kansas, the Ptesider
,sr ,sr with 'smoolh dissimulation." speaking
or the election provided for in the seven
n section Of the schedule, to be held q
yes ys Of last December says: n4
Cd, cat this election, every citizen W