The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-05-07

Sirth, And that said State shall never tax the
lands Or property Of the United States IN that
State.
Al the said election the voting shall be by
ballot, and by endorsing on his ballot, as each
voter may please, ''pToposlon accepted or
s.proposition rejected" Should majority OF
the votes cast be for 'propoSition accepted" The
the President of the United States, as soon as
the facts are duly made known to him, shall an
nounce the same by proclamation; and there
after, and without any further proceedings on
the part of Congress, the admission of the State
of Kansas into The Union upon an equal footing
with the original States, in all respects whatever
shall be complete and absolute, and said State
shall be entitled to one member in the House Of
Representatives in the Congress of the United
States until the next census be taken by the
federal government; but should majority Of the
votes cast be for "proposion rejected" il shall
be deemed and held that the people of Kansas
do not desire admission into the Union with
said constitution under the conditions set forth
in said proposition, and in that event the people
of said Territory are hereby authorized and en-
powered to form for themselves a constitution
and State government, by the name OF the State
of Kansas, according to the federal constitution,
and may elect delegates tor that purpose whea-
ever, and not before, il is ascertalned by census
duly and legally taken that the population OF
said Territory equals or exceeds the ratio OF rep
resentaton required for member OF the House
of Representatives ofthe Congress OF the United
States; and whenever thereafter such delegates
shall assemble in convention, they shall first
determine by vote whether it is the wish OF
the people of the proposed State to be admitted
into the Union at that time; and II so, shall pro-
ceed to form a constitution and take all necessa-
nv steps for the establishment OF State govern
ment in conformity with the federal constitution,
subject to such Limitations and restrictions 10
the mode and manner OF its approval or ratltica-
ton by the people of the proposed State as they
NAV have prescribed by law, and shall be ent-
tied to admission into the Union as State un-
der such constitution thus fairly and legally
made with or without slavery, as said conStltu-
tion may prescribe.
SEC. 2. find be 1T further enacted, That for
the purpose of iDsuring, far possible, that the
election authorized by this act may be fair and
free, the Governor, United States District Attor-
ney, and Secretary of the Territory OF Kansas,
and The presiding officers ofthe two branches OF
its Legislature namely, the President OF the
Council and Speaker of the House of Represen-
tatives-are hereby constituted board OF COM
missioners TO carry iuto effect the provisions OF
this act, and 10 use all the means necessary and
proper to that end. And three OF them shall
constitute board; and the board shall have
power and authority to designate and establish
precincts for voting, or 10 adopt those already
established to cause polls TO be opened at such
places as il may deem proper IN the respective
counties and election precincts OF said Territory;
TO appoint as Judges of election, at each OF the
several places of voting, three discreet and re-
spectacle persons, any two OF whom shall be
competent to act; 10 require the sherlfs of the
several counties, by themselves or deputies, to
attend the Judges at each Of the places of voting,
for the purpose of preserving peace and good
order; orthe said board may. instead OF said sher-
ias and their deputies, appoint at their dlSere-
ton, and in such instances as they may Choose,
other fit persons for the same purpose. The
election hereby authorized shall continue one
day only, and shall not be continued later than
sundown on that day. The said board shall APP
point the day for holding said election, and the
said Governor shall announce the same by proc
amation; and the day shall be as early one IS
is consistent with due notice thereof to the peo-
PIE of said Territory, subject TO the provisions
er 10 prescribe tie time, manner, and places OF
said election, and TO direct the time and manner
of the returns thereof, which returns shall be
made 10 the said board, whose duty it shall be
to announce the result by proclamation, and |
the said Governor shall certify the same TO the
President of the United States without de-
lay.
/ SEC. 3. find be it further enacted, That in
the election hereby authorized, all white male !
inhabitants of said Territory over the age OF
twenty-one years, who possess the qualifications, |
which were required by the laws of said Terri
tory, for legal voter at the last general cleo
ton for the members of the Territorial Legisla-
ture, and none others, shall be allowed to vote;
and this shall be the only qualification required
TO entitle the voter 10 the right of suffrage in
said election. And if any person not so qualified
shall vote, at said election, or shall |
make or cause to be made any false, fictitious,
or fraudulent returns, or shall alter or change
any returns of said election, such person shall, |
upon conviction thereof before any Court of
competent jurisdiction, be kept at hard labor
not less than six months, and not more than
thee years.
HRc. 4. find be 1t further enacted, That the
fnsmbers ofthe aforesaid board of commissioners, |
|and all persons appointed by them TO carry into
effect the provisions ofthis act shall, before en-
tering upon their duties, take an oath to perform
faithfully the duties of their respective offices;
and, on failure thereof, they shall be liable and
subjected to the same charges and penalties as
ale provided in like cases under the territorial
laws.
SEC. .. find be it further enacted, That the
officers mentioned in the preceding section shall
receive for their services the same compensation
as is given for like services under the territorial