White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-05-06
Address OF THE KANSAS CONSTITUTIONS.
ALcoEvKNTIoN 10 THE AMERICAN PUB

Inc undersigned we're appointed BY the Con
stitutional Convention, to prepare an Address 4
accompany the instrument which should emanatl
from this body. In performing this duty, VI
desire briefly to direct attention to that necessity
in which the present movement Of the Peopl,
originated, and the reasons Why it should still
meet with the hearty approved ofseFerS Amer
! can citizen ,15qE- q --- N- 90 o
I All the difficulties in Kansas originated In the
successful attempt to wrest the government, Cor
the People by fraud, and to force Usurpatior
upon them BY violence The character Of This
Usurpation was such. that it seemed evident "a
the people, that the most speedy and practical
way TO accomplish its overthrow, would be "a
change the government from Territorial form
to that Of sovereign and Independent State
Believing the right to make this change to be
indefeasibIe, and holding that It was recognized
by the treaty of cession with France, sanctioned
by the Organic Act of Congress, and proclaimed
BY the dominant Political party of the country,
the people, prompted only by the hope and de-
sire Of speedly terminating their difficulties, and
peaceably recovering their rights, inaugurated
that movement, in 1855, which resulted in the
formation OF State Constitution. This instru-
ment, upon being presented to Congress, was
rejected by one branch Of that body, chiefly, as
it was asserted, because IL emanated from the
people without an enabling provision from the
Territorial Legislature, or from Congress.
Failing to find relief in this, the people with
hope Of better success, participated in the cleo
ton, last October, and secured the control of
the Territorial Legislature. But, before this
body could take any official action, a Conven-
ton, previously provided for By the alien Legs
islature, and elected under partizan and fraud
ulent Registration and Apportionment, had
framed Constitution for Kansas, repugnant in
manv Of its provisions, thus throwing another
great obstacle between the people and their
rights just when they were about to enter into
their possession and enjoyment. @
In this crisis, when people whose patience
had been exhausted by the repetition of acts Of
tyranny and persecution, were exasperated by a
new and startling attempt to fasten another
usurpation upon them, and were ready to crush
out their oppressors by violence, the Territorial
Legislature, with hope of averting the impen
ding calamities, enacted the law providing for
another Constitutional Convention. 1t was fully
beIieved that an Enabling Act thus emanating
from legally constituted Legislative body would
remove all technical objections previously urged
against the Constitution which originated with
the people, and this conviction gave them con-
fdeEce in the measure. Animated by tina. spirit
which has inspired them from the first, and fully
determined TO exhaust every peaceable means
to defeat the consummation of the gigantic
fraud before resOrting to force, the people ear
nestly engaged in this new Constitutional move
ment, and, by very large vote, elected Dele
gates to frame an Organic Law for Kansas.
To the American People, we would say, that
the people of Kansas, after they had repudiated
the Lecompton Constitution by an overwhelming
vote, and had demonstrated against 1t in every
possible way, beheld with dismay, that the Con-
gress of the United States diEegarded their pc
titions and their protests. But amid all these
they engaged in this Constitu-
tional movement believing It to be the last peace
able measure for the recovery Of their rights to
which they could resort. Their intention has
been to make for themselves a Fundamental
Law, and to organize a government under it,
with the hope that its existence might deter Con-
gress from sanctioning the Constitution framed
at Lecompton, and with thesietermination that
It should be the standard around which they
would rally in the event Of forcibIe and violent
resistance TO the Fraud becoming Necessary
Because Of this, we, in behalf Of the long OPP
pressed people for whom we speak. appeal to the
citizens of every State tn nse all their influence
to prevent the National Congress from sanction
ing that Constitution and government to which
the people of Kansas cannot submit without the
sacrifice Of their dearest rights, and which can
not be recognized as valid without an absolute
Of the fundamental principles Of our
government. -. r.f.-r.. ---..
To the people Of Kansas, you. whose interests
are directly involved in this Constitutional move
ment, we can say, that your Delegates in per-
forming the duty entrusted to them, have en-
deavored to frame Constitution adapted TO the
wants and calculated to conserve the highest in
terests of Kansas. They now submit It to you
for Ysur approval or rejection. The limited time
to which the Convention has necessarily confined
its session has prevented that elaboration with
which such instruments are usually formed, but
scrupulous care has been taken to avoid incor-
porating anything believed to be repugnant to
any considerable portion Of the people. The i'm
pending dangers have been kept steadily in view,
and because of them, the aim has been especial
". 20 make an instrument which every COED cit
izen may conscieniiousIY approve. The Dele
gates earnestly hope that they kave been entire
" successful in this, for they are conscious that
your peace and prosperity for years to come. may
depend upon their work. They feel that II Il is
such As to deserve and receive Jour ready and
hearty ratification, then, not onlr will they have
been successful in their efforts, but you. the Peo
ple Of Kansas, will have created BY your sover-
e;sn y IN an instrumentaIity with which yOu may
e6ectuaIIy contrayene the conspiracy agAinst
your rights c-sf ~ .~-t-g,
There is an urgent necessity that the ratifca-
ton of this Constitution be Of most emphatic
charaetrr. whether the Pro- Slavery Constitution,
nov before Congress. Is or is not received By
that body. By adirect and overwhelming vote
YOU have declared your hatred to that instru-
rnent; BY triumphant endorsement Of the work
Of your own Delegates you viii again express
your hostility 10 the admission Of Kansas Under
. Constitution which Is he smbOdiment Of :