The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1858-04-23
M igttllanu.

| Correspondence fthe Missouri Democrat
Kansas Constitutional Convention Al.
I iourneJ---what the Convention has
! Done2--The Character CT its Members.
LEAvESwoarH CRY. Kansas April g.
The Constitutional Convention closed
its labors this evening at 6 o'clock, A
complete Constitution has been framed
and adopted in little more than a week S
time, tho several committees having
been announced yesterday week ago
Within the past two or three days,
earnest efforts wero made by the consorva-
tive members, TO introduce tho word
"white" into the instrument, but every
attempt was a complete failure Every
male citizen ofthe United States. twesty-
one years old, aud upward, and foreigners
who have been in tho country one year
aud have declared their Intention TO be-
come citizens, are qualified electors. The
question Of universal suffrage, 10 to be
submitted by the FIRST Legislature, to 8
popular vote at the first general election
under the Constitution. Schools are
required to be established open and free
to every shild in the State. In the de.
claration Of rights, the right of all men
to the control Of their own persons, is as
serted TO be prior to law. and nalionable,
and the right Of trial by jury is declared
to extend to persons of every condition.
These are among the liberal provisions Of
the instrument, and those over which the
struggle between the liberal and conserva-
tive elements in the Convention, was most
earnest.
After the constitution had gone to the
enrolling committee, j. NJ. Walden.
chairman, Of the commitle on an address
to the American public. submitted re-
port Of this document. The Daily
Times says: "This able state paper is
from the pen Of Mr. Walden. 1t is ads
mirably written, earnest calm. conclusive
1t has in it the fire of the spirit Of the rev
olution and its wisdom. II will be read
by the people Of the republic because il is
a noble defence of the rights and liber-
ties Of the people"
The policy recommended to the pc ople
of Kansas by this address, is that they
give the Leavenworth constitution a
hearty ratification, and refuse to accept
of any organic law which may derive its
origin from the Lecompton constitution
or government 1t was distinctly under
stood by it, that the couYention would not
tolerate the policy of any Free State men
qualifying under the Lecompton consti-
tuition, should il be received. This pro-
voked an earnest and protracted discus
sion, for there are few persons who
think that there may be contingency,
in which it may be necessary for the
officers under Lecompton to assume their
functions,
The address as adopted by the conven.
tion, does not recognize the possibility
Of Lecompton becoming the fundamental
law, even should Congress receive It, in
asmuch as without the sanction Of the
people, IL will be, in fact, null aud void
The convention is strongly republican
in character. OF eighty-four members
presnel, seventy-three are republicans,
nine free-state democrats an two wings.
The republican portion of the Kansas
press, was strongly represented, II. D.
Thatcher, editor Of the Lawrence Repub-
lican, w. w. Ross, Of the Topeka Tri-
bune, p. B. Blum, of the Emporia News,
and J. M. Walden, of the Quindaro Chin
dOwan, being delegate9, whilst not a sin.
gle conservative editor was returned ia
the convention.
The constitution, carefully enrolled,
was read to the convention this afternoon
and then signed by the eighty-four dele
gates present. The labors of the body
were then closed by prayer by Rev. Mr.
Henderson of Lesyenworth.
Because Of one thing, at least, Kansas
may be proud Of the bodylof men by h cl
her people have been represented here
/ Of the whole number very large
majority never drink liquor, and during
the entire session not a single member
was intoxicated When the hbors were
completed. instead of having a carousal
the members parted from each othe
with good feeling and sober. They fee
sanguine that the constitution they now
present to the people for approval or re
lection, will not only be ratified. but will
Eventually be the fundamental law o
Kansas.
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