The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-03-05
KANSAS IN THE STATE SENATE.

cnssion of Kansas affairs in our State Legis-
lature. We cannot believe that It IS proper
for the Senators and Repr esentatives Of Penn
syyania TO consider subject which has Moth
ing TO do with the affairs of Pennsylvania. But
the Aboltionists differ with Us concerning thi3
matter. They deem the affairs of Kansas TO b3
Of paramount importance TO the people OF Penn
sylyania They must have "Bleedlng Kansas
on the legislative tapis IFS 'wounds" must b
manipulated and poulliced and bound up, thong
Bleeding Pennsylvania may lie groaning an
fIiendless until some Democratic good Samari
tan comes along and takes compassion on he4
condition But the eagerness OF the AboIIlonI
ISIS to get Kansas before the Legislature, bal
received a decided check. The resolutoni
on tn, subject in the State Senate, werI
referred to a Committee OF seven, composed q.
four Democrats and three AboItionisis, Of whic
CHARLES r. BucKALEw was chairman. On tFI
9th ult., Mn. BUcKALEw from this Selet
Committee, made a-rpPort recommending h6t
Immediate admission Of Kansas ander the 2
comDtoa Constitution. The report is unn-
swerable in its arguments in favor OF the recon-
mendaton which il makes. It proves thai thiI
people of Kansas can at any time after thei
admission into the Union, abolish their Consl-
tuition. Il shows that We, at present, live undr
a Constitution which never was submitted 0
US for ratification, and that the people of tIr
Union never ratified the Federal Constitution,
by direct vote upon that instrument. W.
make the following extracts which speak tlr
themselves:
The objection that the constitution IS NJ
chaugeable until 1864, is fully answered by tie
citation already made from Pennsylvania cot
stitutoual history. We may conclude that lie
same power will exist in the people OF Kansas
| TO change their constitution through a regular
| process, as that exercised by our own people IN
changing the constitution OF lII6. The casts
| are alike upon the question ol power, and ttP
! one is solved by The decision Of the other
IAny one who accepts our Pennsylvania pTac-
! tce as regular and lawful, will not doubt thlt,
/ upon admission, the people Of the ueW State OF
/ Kansas viii have power, through convention,
! to amend or change altogether their iundamrl-
/ tai law, retaining ID any case lis republican
! form. This power tands upon the solid ionnh-
/ ton where our fathers placed II and upon gen
era grounds ofrgason where constitution pro-
vdes for It's own amendment, the mode or time
so provided cannot be exclusive, unless other:
are expressly prohibited.
Every presumption should De made in favor
Of popular right in legal Instruments Of govern
ment, and the power of changing them mus
remain entire, unless expressly limited or Tor
hidden. The Kansas constitution does not far
bid amendment jefore 1864 and it does contai'
a declaration of popular power over cqgS1,ss,q cons a.,
n4sns,Dsr, ~ lsa f,i'rt5 5iaiidf Il ti16II
present one.
The Territorial Legislature passed law 70
taking the sense Of the people upon the ques
tion Of convention 10 form q constitution, au
subsequently,, on the 10Th OF February, 1897
passed law for the election OF delegates 10 th
convention. Both these acts obviously contenl
=. plated the possession Of general power by th
convention. In neither was there any Iulita
ton or restriction whatsoever. And the del
egates having been elected in view Of thes
laws, possessed the power Of forming aud enact
ing constitution, subject only TO the raiitCa
ton Of Congress, as heretofore shown. The &C
Of February, 1887, upon examination, appear
to be entirely fair aud Just. 1t extends the rgt
Of suffrage to every bona tjie nhabiant Of th
territory on the third Monday Of June, 1887
r who, being a citizen Of The United States an
over twenty-one years Of age, shall have reside
three months in the county where he offers (
/ vote and provdrs adequate penalties again.
illegal voting, lraudulenliy hindecng far eS
preston OF the popular vote, and unlawful al
tempts 10 influence The electors. And as a iui
ther guard against fraud, and to secure the elrC
tvie franchise from prostitution, regjslratlo
Of the voters is required to be compiled from
census previously taken by the sheriff and thei
deputies. The census returns are TO be filed i
the Office Of the probate Judges: showing th
number of qualified voters resident in the couu
tY or district, on the first of April, and TO b
, posted in public places. And the probate judg
from the time OF receiving them, IS TO hold h
court open until the first of May, for the pur
pose of correcting them, by adding names @
striking out those improperly inserted. Pc
? vision is also made Tor vacancies in the otic
of sheriff, by authorizing the probate Judge /
act in his place and in case Of vacancy in bot
offices, thr Governor is 10 appoint some comps
tent resident citizen to perform their duties.-
The other details ofthe act are equally uneX
ceptionabIe, and tend to the production of TAI
and honest election,
1t is 10 be further observed upon this ac
that voters omitted from the census would hav
Toll notice OF the omission, aud ample oppo,tu
nifty to have their names added By the probat
Judge, to the register Of names. Full time
also afforded for the proceeding. But il is nc
torious aud undenled that the great body {
those who did not vote at the subsequent elpc
l., l..
2 meralon aud registry, and INSTEAD OF assisin
the officers, as good citizens should have done
, nlerPosed all possible obstacles in their way