The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-04-10
The Kew constisuaon.

The THIRD Constitutional Convention
for the State of Kansas closed its labors
on Saturday last, and the result viii soon
be before the public. At the time of our
present writingwe have not seen the in
strument, but understand it provides for
the election of all its officers, executive,
legislative and judicial by the people,
thus making it Republican in form" The
Constitution is TO be submitted TO a vote
of the people On the Sd Tuesday in May,
at which time the State officers are to be
elected for two years, and the Senate of
twenty-five members, and the House of
sevehty-fve members for one year. Ia
the qualification of voters the word
'whitev is omitted, but power is delegated
to the first Legislature to submit the ques-
ton, who shall exercise the elective fran
chise, TO a direct vote of the people at the
first general election, which viii be in two
years.
The first Legislature is to meet at To-
peka, and all subsequent Legislatures at
the Capital, where the public business is
to be transacted. The Capital by za,o, is
now fixed at Minneola, and the Conven-
ton has located the capital at that place,
as effectuaIly as though Minneola had
been mentioned by name.
A homestead feature is added which
exempts 160 acres of real estate from
sale on execution, without regard to its
value, or $1,000 in town property, or
$1,000 in personal chattels to be selected
by the Judgment debtor.
No school lands can be sold without a
vote of the people, but may be rented
after appraisal only for term of years,
and the proceeds are to be sacredly appf-
ed to the support of common schools.
There are three Supreme Judges to
hold their offices, after the first term, for
six years. The State is divided into five
circuits, with five circuit judges, who hold
Office for four years. A County Court,
with original, probate and criminal jurisdic-
ton in minor offences, is to be organized
in each county, which viii hold monthly
sessions. The officers are limited to two
years.
The Governor and Lieut.. Governor
hold their Office for two years, and the
Senate and House one year.
The rights of married ladies are fully
protected, and the homestead is secured
to the widow.
The Convention was in the hands OF
the radicals, and they have made rad
ical constitution, but we apprehend that
in many respects they have not gone as
far as would many of the so-called con-
servatiyes in reforms. Had we been a
member of that convention ourvote should
have been recorded in favor of forever
prohibiting the manufacture and sale Of
alcoholic liquors in the State, save fol
mechanical purposes. And We would
have provided that as soon as penitentia-
ries could be erected, SO that criminals
could be held in security, capital punish
ment should be prohibited by law; and
that solitary confinement for life should
be substituted; and that the authority to
pardon capital offences should not be
vested in any power but the Legislature;
unless subsequent conclusive evidence
should establish the fact that the offender
was not guilty of the crime of which he
was convicted.
We, too, would have voted for confer
ring greater rights upon females. Abjur-
ing the laws and customs borrowed from
feuda1 ages, which make the woman 8
mere plaything for man, We would have
clothed her with all the responsibilitie:
which God, in the creation, has thrown
upon her, and made her legally, what she
is by nature intellectually, mans equal.
While these are some of the radica
reforms which we would love to set
adopted, We would have been tolerant O
the views of others, and would not have
tproscribed any person who did not come
up to our standard in this respect, and i
they prescribed us we would have charged
them with being intolerant and anti
republican in spirit.
As soon as received the Constitution
will be published at length, and We shal
labor, heart and soul, in legal way, t.
make it the active, living, Fundamental
law of Kansas. While we doubt not
has many Objectionable features; yetit i
probably the best which could be framed
at this time; it emenates from the people
and the people will rally around and sus
tain it.
o. Mr.. Parrott made speech in Con
gress, on the 3lst ult, against the Lecomp
ton swindle. He claimed to represen
the entire people of Kansas; said tha