The Kanzas news., 1858-02-27
The Disfranchised District.

The Disfranchised District.
Last fall, when the politicians of the bor-
der counties were clamorous for going into
the octoberelection. thepeople of the nine
teen disfranchised eounties'' objected, for
the reason, amongst others, that they were
allowed comparatively no representation in
the Legislature, having only three Repre-
sensatives and t.Oo CousciImen apportioned
to them; while the remainder of the Terri
tory; containing but little over one-half of
the population, had thirty-siz Representa-
tiyes and eleven Councilnaeni This was a
serious objection, and was only overcome by
the solemn pledges of the represented dis
tricts that if they obtained the power in the
Legislature ther would not only remedy the
unjust apportionment but in all things they
would do US full justice, as if we had full
representation. Deceived by these promises,
and not believing that any body of Free
State men would willingly do them the
slightest injustice, the citizens of the dis
| franchised counties consented to go into
the election; and although in many instances
they were obliged to travel thirty miles to
a voting precinct, they did SO cheerfully,
and by their votes elected the Free State
Delegate to Congress. The Free State men
succeeded in electing large majority of
both branches of the Legislature. and the
people of the disfranchised district rejoiced
over the victory with their brethren of other
portions of the Territory. 1IF
The Legislature assepbled at the appoint
ed time, and has now adjourned. Its acts
of commission" were outrageous enough
in all conscience, but one act of ''omission"
was worse by far than all else besides, and
should stamp the members with eternal in
fanny. They did not provide for a neU
appOrtionment for Representatives., or eVen
for taking the census in the ''distranchised
counties,' leaving them with the infamous
apportionment of the Border Ruffians But
it is worse this year than it was last, for by
the time of the next election of Representa-
tives (next fall) these counties viii contain
at least one-haIf the entire population of the
Territory, and will yet be allowed but three
Representatives., while the other half have
thirfy-sir-thus really disfranchising one
half the Territory. Could there be anything
more infamous than this ? And yet, as if
to add .'insult to injury they used the
'tdisfranchised counties as cloak to hide
the fraudulent manner in which they To-
Gated the Capital at ''Minneola," claiming
that these counties were asking them for the
Capital, and that out of the abundance OF
their generosity they would give it to them
In the apportionment for Delegates to the
Constitutional Convention they also did this
district gross injustice, giving to Madison
county but one Delegate, and to Butler and
Hunter but one. The same is also true of
other counties.
This is all, we have no doubt, part of a
contrived plan. These men fear that if the
people of Southern Kanzas; smartiug under
the wrongs inflicted ON them and the dis
F grace that has been brought upon the good
name of the Free State party, should have
fair representation they would elect enough
honest men to not only put stop to specu-
lation and fraud for the future, but to pre-
vent them from realizing much on the ones
already made. They fear the people, and,
dressed in a ''little brief authority" they
dreamed that they could avert the sure ret
ribution which an outraged people will not
| fail to visit upon them.
But we can .'bide our time" Justice
will surely be done, and the voice of South
ern Kanzas will be heard in denunciation
of those who have SO foully wronged her
people. .