The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-02-16

my duty TO certify them, | would have re.
signed my office in order to testify my sense
Of the enormity of the wong Gov. Wal
ker, at Leavenworth, had formed tho same
resolution, as he stated TO mo and TO sey.
eral Others, and VIC were both gratiicd
that We found the papers SO imperfect as
10 make it our duty 10 reject them.
Great excitement followed in the Terrific
ry. The minority, thus righteously defea.
ted IN the effort to prclong their power.
became fierce IN opposition and rcsortcd
to every means of intimidation. But
am led TO believe that they found their
most effectual means of operation by un.
dermining us with tho Administration at
Washington.
Tie Constitutional Convention, which
had adjourned over until after the October
election, mot again in Lccompton to re-
sumo. its labors Many of the members of
that body were bitterly hostile to tho Gov
ernor and Secretary, on account Of their
rejection Of the Oxford and McGee frauds
IN which some of the members and off,
GERS OF the 'onven,i n had direct partic-
lpaiions. In fact, this body, with some
honorable exceptions, well represented the
minority party in the Territory, and were
fully imbucd with the same spirit and de
signs. 1t was obviously not their desire
to secure the real people of Kansas the
control of their own affairs. In tho Con
stitution soon afterwards adopted, they
endcnvorcd to suppressed the Legislature
which had been elected by the people, by
providing III the second section Of the schstl-
ule, that 'all laws now in force in the
Territory shall continue TO be Of force un
I'll altered, amended, or repealed by tho
Legislature under tho provisions Of this
Constitution" They provided still more
etfcetuaily, as they supposed, for the per-
pctnaton OF their minority government, by
adopting the Oxford fraud as the basis of
Their apporiionincnt, giving great pre-
ponderance of representations to the coun-
ties on the Missouri border and affording
at the same time, every possible faculty
tor the introduction Of spurious votes.
The President Of the Convention was
clothed with unlimited power in conduct
ing the election ard receiving the returns,
While tho officers are not required to take
the usual onth to secure fair and honest
dealing. The elections were hurried OH in
milwinicr-thc 2lst cf December and the
4'h of Januaiy-whcn emigrants could
only come from tie immediate border un.
der the qualifications Which invited to the
balut7box every white male inhabitant ".a
the Territory on Mat day. The sane
men who diI this tad previously denoun
ccd Governor Walk er for the suggestion III
his inaugural address, and in the Topeka
speech, that the Constitution should DO
---i---' ~ "n ne OonaEd inhabitants,
although he invariably. stated, when asked
for explanation, that somc reasonable
length of residence ought to be required
as evidence of the bona tide character of
inhabitancy. re
IL was APPARENT that all tho machinery
had been artiully prepared for a repetition
OF gross frauds, similar TO those which had
bcca attempted in October; and i, was il
view Of all these facts, after the adjourn.
mcnt Of the Convention, that the people
OF the Territory, by an almost unanimous
demand. called upon me, rs the acting
Governor, 10 convene an extra scssion Of
the Legislature, in order to Unable them
peaccnbly TO protect themselves against
the wrong evidently contemplated by the
adoption Of this Constitution. There was
no law to punish frauds in election returns.
The people were intensely excited; and
II was The opinion of the coolest men in
the Territory, that, without call Of the
Legislature, the elections under the Con
stitution could not have taken place with
ont collision and hloodshcd The meet.
ing OF the Legislature dvcitcd the attcn.
ton of the people from the schemes of vio-
Icnce upon which they were brooding, sub
stIintcd the excitement of debate and in
vcsligation for that of fierce and warlikc
hatred, and enabled their rcprc senta,ivcs
10 devise means for countoractng tie
wrongs which they justly apprchended.
Recent events have shown that their
were well founded. Enor-
nous frauds have been pcrpctraled at the
precincts Of Oxford, Shawnee, and Kick.
apoo; and it may well he believed that |
this result was actually designed by the
artful leaders who devised the plan and
framework of the >Lccompton Constitu.
ton. l lave lately been at Shawnee, and
| have seen and converscd with persons
who were at Oxford on the day of elcc.
ton. The frauds committed arc notorious;
and though dishonest persons may DENY
lbem, and may fill the channels of public
with shameless rcpresc ntatiens
20 the coLtrary, the, can .ac easily cstab-
ished beyond all controversy.
1t was to cnabh the people to shield
themselves from these frauds and 10 give
egal expression TO their hatred and reiec.
ION OF the instrument which permitted
hem, and was to be carried by them.
hat | called tho Legislature together.
Ia my judgement the people had fair
lam to be heard on tho subject through
heir i,egisIa ure. The organic act conf.
led TO me tho discretion Of convcninr that
ody in extra session. The President Of
he United States had no rightful authori.
to exercise that discretion for mo. He
nd the power Of removal, and such con-
rol as hat power gives him. But /
'ould cheerfully have submitted TO the re
'oval and consequently loss Of favor with
IN IR.-a.