The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-04-30

Il
and internal improvements, as the Legislas
ture shall direct; Proridsd, That the iorego.
ing propositions herein offered To the State OF
Kansas shall never interfere with the prima-
~ disposal Of the United States, or with any
regulation Congress may find necessary for
securing title in said soil to bona .fde purchas.
ers thereof, and that no tax shall be imposed
on land belonging to the United States. and
that in no case shall nonresident propretors
be taxed higher than resident.
Sixth-And that said State shall never tax
the lands or the property Of the United States,
At said election the voting shall he by ballot.
as each vote may please-Proposition accept
ed, or Proposition rejected.
Should the msjority of votes be cast for
proposition accepted. the President OF the
United States, as soon as the fact Is duly
made known to him, shall announce the same
by proclamation, and thereafter, and without
any further proceedings on the part of Con.
gress. the admission Of the State Of Kansas
into tie Union on an equal footing with the
original States, in all respects whatever,
shall be complete and absolute; and said
State shall he entitled to one member Of the
House of Representatives in the Congress OF
the United States. until the next census be
taken by the Federal Government. but,
should the majority OF the votes cast be
against the proposition of Congress and adj
mission, it shall be deemed and held that the
people of Kansas do not desire admission in.
TO the Union with said Constitution, under
the conditions set forth in said proposition
aud in that event the people OF said territory
are hereby authorized and empowered to
form for themselves Constitution and Safe
Government by the name Of the State oil
Kansas, according to the Federal Constitu-
ton. and may elect delegates for that purpose,
whenever, and not before. il is ascertained, by
a census duly and legally taken, that the
population of said Territory equals the ratio
of representation required Tor a member OF
the House OF Representatives OF the United
States; and whenever thereafter such dele
gates shall assemble 10 convention, they shall
! first determine by vote whether it Is the
wish OF the people OF the proposed State to
be admitted into the Union ut that time, and
ii So, shall proceed to form a Constitution,
and take all necessary steps for the establish
ment of a State Government, in conformity
with the Federal Constitution, subject to
such limitations and restrictions as TO the
mode and manner of its approval or rattca-
ton by the people of the proposed State as
they may have prescribed by law, and shall
be entitled to admission into the Union as
State under such constitution thus fairly and
legally made, with or without slavery, AZ said
constitution may prescribe.
Sec. 2. Aad be 10 further enacted, that for
the purpose OF insurins, as lar AS possible,
that the election authorized by this act may
be fair and free, the Governor, United States
District Attorney aud Secretary OF the Ter
rlory of Kansas, and the presiding officers of
the two branches If its Legislature, namely,
the President OF the Council and Speaker oil
the House OF Representatives. are hereby con-
situated a Board oi Commissioners To carry
into effect the provisions Of this act, and To
use all the means necessary and proper Ia this
end ANY three OF them shall constitute a
Board, and the Board shall have power and
authority TO designate and establish precincts
for voting, or to adopt those already establish
ed to cause polls to be opened at such pla-
ccs as it may deem proper Ia the respective
counties and election precincts Of said leIri'
tory; to appoint, as Judges OF election at
each OF the several places OF voting, three
discreet and res ectable persons, any two oil
whom shall be competent to act; To require
the sheriFs of the several counties, by them.
selves or deputies, To attend the judges AZ
each of the places of voting, for the purpose
OF preserving peace and good order; or the
said board may, instead OF said sherlilS ana
their deputies, al point at their dlscretion,and
In such instances 49, they may choos"' othcr
tit persons Tor the same purpose. Tie cleo
ton hereby authorized shall continue one day
only, and shall not be continued later than
shutdown on tha, day. The Board shall ap.
point the day for holding said election, and
said Governor shall announce the same by
proclamation and the day shall be rs early
I enc rs is consistent with due notice thereof
To the people of said territory, subject to the
provisions of this act. The said Board have
full power to prescribe the time and place OF
said election, and to direct the time and man.
ner of the returns thereof, which shall be
made to said Board, whose duty it shall be TO
announce the result by proclamation, and said
Governor shall certify the same TO the Presi-
dent of the United States without delay.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, that In
the election hereby authorized, all white male
inhabitants OF said territory over the age OF
81 years, who possess the qualifications which
were required by the laws Of said Territory
for legal voter, at the last general election
for a member of the Territorial Legislature,
and none Others, shall be allowed to vote and
this shall be the only qualification required
to en,itle the citizens to tho right Of suffrage
in said elections, and If any person not so
qualified shall vote or offer TO vote, or II any
person shall vote more than once at either OF
said elections, or shall make or cause to he
made any false, fictitious, or fraudulent re-
turns or shall alter or change any returns OF
either of said elections. such person shall, upon
conviction thereof before any court OF compe.
tent Jurisdiction, DC KEEP, at hard labor not less
than Elk months and not more than three
years.
Sec. 4. And be IL further enacted, That the
members of the aforesaid board of commits
sioners and all persons appointed by them to
carry into effect the provisions of this act
shall, before entering upon their duties, take
an oath to perform faithfully the duties OF
their respective offices, and on failure thereof
they shall be liable and subject to the same
charges aud penalties as are provided in like
cases under the Territorial laws.
Sec. s. And be IL further enacted, That the
officers mentioned in the preceding section
shall receive for their services the same COM
pensatiun as is given for like services under
tho Territorial laws. ...
Mr.. English said in view of the state Of the
public business, and the fact-that this subject
has already been more thoroughly discussed
than any proposition ever before Congress, he
he did not propose to make any extended re-
marks. The Committee of Conference were
deeply impressed with the responsibility rest
ing ON them. While adhering "a what they
believed the great principle, they had en-.
deayored to discharge their duty in spirit
which would not enjanser the passage OF this
great measure. and hazard the peace Of the
country tor unimportant points or unmeaning
words. This report was the very best the Com
miitee could agree OF, in view of the embar-
RAISING circumstances surrounding their
action. The report pressed the admission of
! Kansas under certain conditions, but in this