Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-02-04

and McGee frauds, IN which Snme of tha
members and officers of the Convention had
direct participation. La fact, this body,
with some honorable exceptions, well repre-
sented the minority party in the Territory,
and were fully imbued with the same spirit
and designs. 1t was obviously not their de-
sire to secure to the real people of Kansas
the control of their own affairs. Ia the Con
stitution soon afterwards adopted, they endea-
yored to supercede the Legislature which had
been elected by the people, by providing, in
the second section of the schedule, that
" all laws now of force in the Territory shall
continue to be of force until altered, amend
ed, or repealed by a Legislature under the
provisions of this Constitution" They pro-
vided still more effectually, as they supposed,
for the perpetuation Of their minority gov
ernment, by adopting the Oxford fraud as the
basis of their apportionment giving great
prependerance of representation to the coun-
ties on the Missouri border, and affording, at
the same time, every possible facility for the
introduction of spurious votes. The Presi-
dent of the Convention was clothed with un-
limited power in conducting the elections and
receiving the returns, while the officers are
not required to take the usual oath to secure
fair and honest dealing. The elections were
hurried on in midwinter-the 2lst December
only come from the immediate borders, under
the qualification which invited to the ballot
box every white male inhabitant i,e tie Ter
rito1y on that day" The same man who did
this had previously denounced Gov. Walker
for the suggestion in his inaugural address,
and III his Topeka speech, that the constitu-
ton should be submitted to all the bona tide
inhabitants, although he invariably stated,
when asked for explanation, that some rea-
sonable length Of residence ought to be requi-
red as evidence of the buna fide character of
inhabitaney.
1t was apparent that all the machinery had
been artfully prepared for a repetition of
gross frauds, similar TO those which had been
attempted in October; and it was in view of all
these facts, after the adjournment of the Gems
yention, that the people of the Territory, by
an almost unanimous demand, called upon
me- as the acting Governor, to convene an
extra, session Of the Legislature in order to
enable them peaeeably to protect themselves
against the wrongs evidently contemplated by
the adoption of this constitution. There was
no law to punish frauds in election returns
The people were intensely excited, and it was
the opinion of the coolest heads in the Terri
tory, that, without a call Of the Legislature
the elections under the constitution could not
have taken place without collision and blood
shed. The meeting of tho Legislature divert
ed the attention of the people from the
schemes of violence upon which they were
bruoding, substituted the excitement of debate
aad Investigation for that of fierce and war
Ike hatred, and enabled their representatives
| ~ devise means for counteraeting the wrongs
which they Justly apprehend.
Recent events have shown that their appre-
hensions were we'll founded. Enormous frauds
| have been perpetrated at the precincts of Ok
| ford, Shawnee aud kickapeo; and it may well
! be believed that this result was actually de.
! signed by the artful leaders whe devised the
| plan and framework of the Lecempton Con
| stitntion. have lately been at Shawnee, ard
| [ haze seen and conyerscd with persons who
| were at Oxford ON the day Of election. The
! frauds committed are notorious and though
! dishonest persons may deny them, and may
! ili the channels Of public information with
! shameless representations to the contrary,
! they can be easily established beyond al cen.
| tr0versy.
! 1t was to enable the people to shield them
! selves from these frauds, and to give legal
expression tn their hatred and rejection oi
! the instrument which permitted them, and
| was to be carried by them, that called the
| Legislature together.
! In ny judgment the people had fair
claim TO be heard On this subject through the
| Legislature. The organic act eontided to me
| the discretion Of conycning that body in extra
! session, The President Of the United States
| had no rightfal authority to exercise that dis
| creti0n FIR me. lie had the power of removal
| and sucb control as that power gives him
| But | wouId cheerfuliy have submitted to re-
moval aid consequent loss Of favor with ths
| President, rather shan ,ecupy the position Of
~ Al. L..
| tun:ty to protect themselves against the bases
| frauds aud wroags ever attempted upon al
outraged community.
Not having been informed Of the grounds
of my removal, know them only through
the newspaper reports, 10 the effect that, il
/ calling tste Legislature, disobeyed the in
structions of the President I Lad no in.
struc:ions bearing on the subject, and there
was no time to obtain them, eren if | haC
felt bound to substitute the Presidents wiI
for that discretion which the organic act con
fded to me. The coarening Of the Legisia
/ ture undoubtedly prevented difficulty and
sec1Ead peace. Were it important, / am
confident ! could establish this position By
the most indubitable facts rbutit is Sufficient
| now &c say that the peace of the Territory
| was not III fact disturbed, and whatever ap
| rroaches were made towards such O result
| were Who!ly attributable 10 the pohcy OF tht
Administration in censuring my acts anC
removing me from Office.
The measure for which have been unjustly
condemned has enabled the people of Kansa!
to make known their real will in regard tt
the Leeompton Constitution. This affords
the Democratic party an opportunity to defend
the true principles of constitutional liberty
and to save itself from disastrous division anc
utter overthrow. If Congress will heed the
voice of the people, and net force upon them
| a government which they have rejected by a
vote of four to one, the whole country will be
satisfied, and Kansas will quietly settle hel
own affairs without the least difficulty, and
without any danger to the Confederacy Tn.
Southern States, which are supposed to have
deep interest in the matter, will be saved