The Kanzas news., 1858-12-04
rba rerritorial Legislature.

=
ture viii commence Its session. The
Council is the same as last year, the mem
bers of that body having been elected for
two years, and from the experience of last
session should be familiar with the work
before them and be prepared to enter upon
it at once With expedition and regularity
But the members of the Lower House are
mostly new nen-only three members OF
the last House having been returned to the
present one. These members are Messrs.
Mitchell and Danford of Linn county. and
Abraham Barry. of Riley. Several of them
have, it is true, had some experience in leg
islative bodies, which viii be of service to
them now; but the greatest number of them
sre entirely without that experience. and
matters viii, of necessity, progress slow
er at FIRST than would be the case if the
members had had the benefit of one session g
experiences.
The session is one of forty days-long
enough. provided the time is well spent
and too short to allow of any waste of time
in private speculation or buncombe speech
es. There will be sufficient necessary leg
islation to perform to employ all the time
and the best energies of the whole body
The people of the Territory have clearly
and unmistakably indicated their determi-
nation not to be trihed with and see their
best interests sacrificed to fill the pockets
of greedy spectators.
The people of Southern Kansas demand
of them to do one thing which has been too
long neglected-the re-districting and re-
apportionment of the Territory so as 10 take
from the border districts their surplus of
representation and give it to the districts in
the interior which have so long been dis
franehised. No excuse can serve TO palli-
ate for the neglect in this direction. Il
mast Be done. The time has gone by when
the Northern portion of the Territory and
the districts bordering along the Kaw River
can ride over and trample upon, with inn
punity, the Central, Southern, and South
western portions. They sOiU be represent
ed in the future, and the legislator who re-
fuses to do them justice. full and complete.
signs his own political death-warrant.
The abolition of the viva Uoce system of
yoting-that relic of Missouri usurpation
and barbarism-must also be done away
with. The people being the rightful source
of power, are amenable to no one for the
exercise of it, and have right SO to do free
from espionage and intimidation.
It is essential to the purity of the ballot
box and the freedom of our elections that q
good Registry Law should be passed
There is considerable floating population in
the Territory whose franchise shifts from
poll to poll as may best suit their convent
ence or promise best for reward. 1t is not
right that the good citizens ballot should
be obliged to meet such, and frequently be
oyerthrown by them to the detriment of the
best interests of the community. What
we want is that in all matters touching the
interests of the community the bona .jide
citizens of such community and none Others
should be allowed hearing at the ballot
box. No one, except it were those who ex-
pect to profit by fraud, viii oppose meas
ure 50 well calculated to prevent it.
Our whole code of laws needs revision
and correction. The numerous conflicting
enactments should be made to harmonise.
There is much labor of this kind to be done,
and to it win need to be applied the best
heads of the Legislature. We are glad to
know that there has been several lawyers OF
ability elected to the Lower House. Upon
them will devolve, more particularly, this
portion of the work, and their reputation
being at stake, We shall expect of them to
perform well the task.
We are opposed to special charters and
privileges. A general incorporation law
should be passed early in the session, to
cover all cases for which charters or acts oi
incorporation viii be asked for-thus saw
ing both time and money. securing unifor-
nifty and preventing fraud and speculation
There Is no use of trying to dovetail two
systems or codes of law together. Let US
have one system entire: each part made in
reference to the other-a complete fabric.
To do this the Bogus code must be viped
out. This should be done for various con
sidsrations. 1t is associated with the "a.
nembrance of monstrous crimes and frauds.
and was, IN fact. the offspring of both. Il
Is an eye-sore aad an offending to the peo.
pie. Il Is inconsistent with the laws pass
ed at the last session OF the Legislature
and is entirely too cumbersome Something
more plain and simple-made in view o
the necessities of the people, and by thei
own representatives. is needed. There vii
be no serious objection to this If the props