The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-11


Stanton, then Governor Of Kansas,
made the apportionment of delegates
among the several districts Tho
election was legally held, pursuant
to the law. At the time this appor-
tionment was made, the Governor
knew as much concerning the coun-
ties, and people not registered. in
consequence of acts which no law
could prevent, as since and If the
facts as then presented, were fair
enough to justify the apPortionment,
it is now too late to make any COM
plant against the action. The law
allowed but sixty members for the
Convention, and the Governor, with
the full knowledge of the registration
before him, apportioned the whole
number among the districts and coun-
ties where the registry had been
made; leaving it impossible for
other counties not included in the
registration by their own miscon-
duct, and not attached to the regis
tered counties, to have any separate
and independent representation in
the Convention, without a palpable
violation of the law calling the Con-
vention. The people had legally
demanded this call of Convention,
and the proper tribunal had made
provision for it on terms admitted to
be fair, just and equal for all the
people and if, by refusal to act, or
other misconduct, any portion feel
aggrieved, they have no just cause
of complaint nor should Congress
pay any regard to such complaints,
in consequence of their non.action.
Speaking of this call of the conven.
ton, and of the Convention itself,
Mr.. Stanton said, in an official docu-
ment to the people of the Territory !:
The government especially recog-
nizes the Territorial act which pro-
vides for assembling Convention to
frame a Constitution with view to
making application to Congress for
admission as State into the Union.
That act is regarded as presenting
the only task Of the qualification Of
voters for delegates to the Conven-
ton, and all proceedings and repug-
nant restrictions, are therebyrepealed
In this light the act must be allowed
to have provided for a full and fair
expression Of the will Of the people
through the delegates who may be
chosen to represent them in Consti-
tutional Convention. ! do not doubt,
however, that in order to avoid all pre-
texts for resistance to the peaceful
operation of this law, the Convention
itself will in some form provide for
submitting the great distracting
question regarding the social insti-
tutions, which has long agitated the
people Of Kansas, to a fair vote of
the bona fide residents Of the Terri
tory, with every possible security
against fraud and violence. If the
Constitution be thus formed, and the
question of difference be thus sub
mitted to the decision of the people,
| believe that Kansas will be admit
ted by Congress, without delay, as
one Of the Sovereign States Of the
American Union, and the Territorial
authorities will be Immediately with
drawn.
This was the legal notification of
the Governor to the people of Kansas
before the election for delegates to
the Convention was had. Gov. Wal
ker, on the 9th Of May still before
the election, said:
Under our practice the preliminary
act Of forming a State Constitution
is uniformly performed through the
instrumentality of Convention
That Convention is now about TO be
elected by you on the call Of the Ter
ritorial Legislature, created and still
recognized by Congress, and clothed
by it, in the comprehensive language
Of the organic law, with full power
TO make such an enactment.
The Territorial Legislature, then,
in assembling this Convention, were
fully sustained by the act of Con
gress and the authority Of the Con
vention is distinctly recognized in
my instructions from the President Of
the United States.
The people Of Kansas, then, are
invited by the highest authority
known 10 the Constitution, to parti'
cipatc freely and fairly in the election
of delegates to form Constitution
and State government The law has
performed it's entire appropriate
functions when it extends 10 the PEG
pie the right Of suffrage, but cannot
compel the performance Of that duty.
Here, also, by Governor Walker,
we have the distinct recognition Of