The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-11

Unwilling, however. to be longer
tainted from abroad with the charge
of cowardly or factious inaction, and
relying on the assurances OF the Gov.
ernor and their own well known gu.
periority Of numbers, they generally
concluded to proceed to the polls and
attempt once more to exercise their
rights, under the laws Of Congress,
and what does the result disclose {!
1t shows that Notwithstanding many
declined to vote, lest thereby they
should implicitly recognize as lawful
the existing usurpation, over 1000
votes were cast, and a Free State
Legislature elected.
In the next place, the result showed
that all the apprehensions of that peo-
pie as to fraudulent voting and re.
turns, under the auspices of those
Judges of the elections, were well
founded.
We are well informed by Governor
Walker and Secretary Stanton, that
votes TO the amount of 1900 in one
case, and over 1000 in another,
came certified from precincts where,
from personal examination, they
found limited population of but a
few hundred. A large part of these
votes were obviously fictitious, and
those returns were set aside, being
informally certified. Had not this
been done by the Governor, the orig,
inal usurpation would again have
been renewed and perpetuated by
frauds.
The result of this election was re-
garded by all candid men there as
settling the condition of Kansas, and
accordingly, when the Convention
assembled at Lecompton on it's ad-
journment, it was difficult to obtain
even bare majority to constitute a
quorum. A majority of this quorum,
but not of all the elected delegates,
proceeded, with the spirit of despera-
ton, to defeat and evade the well
known and clearly expressed will of
the people, and by ingenious devices
and cunning forms to fasten upon
them a State Constitution abhorrent
to their feelings, and at the same
time redeem, in a delusive form only,
the pledges which had been given
that it should be submitted to the
people. In ordor to evadc and frus.
tratc the will Of that people, and i'm
pose upon them a Constitution a
gainst their consent, five apparently
certain legal securities were to be
evaded or demolished
First: The Constitution with Slav-
cry must not be submitted to the
people in any such way that ma
jority could reject it; and yet it
must be submitted to them to re.
deem pledges and keep up appear
ances of fairness
Second: The conduct Of Gov. Walk
or having shown that he would not
prostitute his official duty by aiding
in the success Of fictitious votes and
illegal returns, course must be
taken to avoid any use Of his official
action.
Third: The use of the legal of.
cfers for conducting the elections
and making returns must be avoid
ed, as they might be subject to
penalties if guilty of fraud, and pos
sibly the new Territorial Legislature
might make appointment Of honest
men
Fourth: In order TO supersede the
Legislature, SO recently elected by
the people, and restore power to the
usurpation it had overcome, it was
necessary so to make the appoint
mcnt of representatives, under the
proposed State Government, as to
overcome the actual Free State ma
jority, now well known to exist, and
keep the supervision of the election
ont of their hands.
Fyh: To so arrange ii as TO rem
der any action Of the new Legisia-
ture unavailable, and to perpetuatc
the laws which the long-continued
usurpation had adopted.
To effect these purposes the Con-
vention addressed themselves with
INSCRIPTIONS ingenuity, and whether
with success it remains for Congress
to determine. They framed Consti-
tuition establishing Slavery in two
forms-first, for perpetuating in Slav-
cry all Slaves then in the Territory
and their progeny, and prohibiting
abolition; second, allowing their un.
limited introduction with their own
ers for settlement. They then pro-
vided for submitting this Constitution
to the people, professedly for their
approval or rslect,or, on the 2lst day
Of December, 1857, but in this form