The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-10-30
tn. oOnvonhOn-A State consa,u,on.

The Convenhon-A State Constitution. j
One Of the expressed objects for which
the Convention is to be held on the 10th
of November is said, by the committee
calling it, to be "To consider the question
of the speedy admission of Kansas into
the Union as Free State"
Now what can delegate convention of
the Free State party accomplish by con-
sidering that question v 1t is represented
that it is set down in the programme, to
pass series of resolutions re-afirming |
the Leavenworth Constitution. If such
Is the programme, there cannot be doubt
bat il will be carried out to the letter.
Is anybody SO foolish as to suppose
that the Reimbursement of that Constitu-
ton by partisan convention, will have
any influence on Congress? On the con-
trary, does not everybody know that the
mOreitiSendorsed by party conventions, the
less liable it is to be endorsed by Congress?
The objection to it now is, that it is aparty
instrument In the first place it lacked
legal forms, like the Topeka Constitution.
Because it did lack legal forms, none but
the Free State party, and only small
fraction of that party, participated in
framing it. Instead of being the offspring
Of the popular will, like the Lecompton
Constitution, it was an illegitimate child,
and as such, is unworthy of popular re-
gard. If endorsed thousand times by
party conventions, the people-the masses
who are never represented in delegate
conventions-will discard it.
We give it as our honest opinion, that
there has been Constitutions enough
framed for Kansas by partisan movements,
and partisan Conventions. The Legisla-
ture, elected by the people, and represent
ing every shade of sentiment in the Ter
ritory, will discuss this question of a State
Constitution, and they will take such
action in regard to a new Constitutional
Convention as the people will approve.
The Convention which frames the Con-
stitution for the government of great
people like Kansas, embracing every shade
of sentiment, must not be made up of a
single party; and it viii; not be, if fair
distribution is made of the delegates
among all the several counties of Kansas,
and no gerymandering is practiced by
which a portion of the popular voice is
silenced.
Suppose q Constitutional Convention
was made up sCholy of merchants. Does
, any one suppose that every other interest
would be guarded with the same care
that the mercantile interests would be?-
The same of farmers, doctors, lawyers, or
clergymen; each, it is presumed, would
look after his own craft, and throw safe
guards around it in framing the fund.-
mental law of a State. If such is the
case with trades and professions, we might
expect the same idea carried out to still
greater extent if Constitution was
framed by single party. Look at the
Topeka, Lecompton, and Leavenworth
Constitutions. Each has been framed
by parties, and what are they? Is there
q person in Kansas who believes that
either of those instruments is what il
would have been if there had been even
minority of the opposite party in the
Convention framing it. If such is the
case, and we have passed the era when we
wish TO crush our opponents by legislation
instead Of trying any longer to govern the
'people By partisan conventions. it would
be wsh to pass the matter over to the
Legislature and let that body govern III
By law.
~ We are conscious that we are liable t.
b misunderstood in this matter, and hav,
no doubt we shall be misrepresented; bu
i e those who have not brains to under
st4nd anything, who cannot comprehend
us; while so far as relates to misrepre
sentation, that has been an every da,
occurrence since an envious rival wa
established with desire to crush us, s.
we can endure even that. All histor,
teaches US that when great party assume
complete control they become oppvessiv
and tyrannical, and labor to crush out wha
little opposition remains against them
but We wish to see no more of this "crush
ing out' instrumentality employed
Kansas against either party. The gres
principles of political and religious tolers
ton, taught us by the fathers of our inst
tuition, never contemplated the destru,
ton Of opposing sentiments. If attemp
OF this character have been called I'M
rsquisition in the past by our polite
opponents, then now is glorious tin,
while we are so greatly in the ascendenc
to teach them life lesson on the SUI
ject
When the Convention assemblies
November, then let it show its wisdom |
resolving that the question of State 60
eminent is amattsr worthy the consider
ton of the law-making power, and
tbspassed over to that body.
False
The New York Tribune, in late issr
3 rejoices over Republican victory in Ka
2 sas, and represents that scarcely Dem
crat has been returned to the Legislatu
Such representations do more to DANA
the Free State party in Kansas than