The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-03-05
Tn. cI,y Government


day last in this city, on the new city
charter recently enacted by the Territorial
Legislature. We are pleased to announce
that it was defeated by fifty-eight major
ity, the vote standing 102 for the new
charter, aud 1G0 against it, This is the
first time the voters of Lawrence have
had direct and legal opportunity to vote
upon their charters, though, as we stated
last week, each regular session of the
Legislature has enacted a new one for our
government The defeat of this shows
what would have been the fate Of the
Others, had each been submitted to legal
vote Of the citizens of Lawrence only.
Kansas is the only country we are ac-
quainted with, where State Constitutions
and charters for cities are made to govern
people without even submitting them
in some form TO vote of those who are
to be governed by them. Louis Napoleon,
when he,sought the throne of France, went
through the farce of an election to gain
the Presidency; and when he changed the
Republic into a monarchy, he did it under
the pretence that the people had decided
in favor of it. And England. though a
monarchy, never dreams of changing the
charters of her cities, or incorporated
towns, without first requiring a vote of
the parties interested, on the new instru.
ment. II the States the act Of incorpora-
ton of villages and boroughs is first sub
mitted to vote of the people for their
ratification or rejection, as are amendments
to the same; and banking companies, and
Incorporated bodies generally, when an
amendment is made to their charters, are
required to take vote of the members of
the incorporation, and if not indorsed by a
majority Of the stockholders of such in
corporation, it has no legal effect. But in
Lawrence, as we have before remarked,
we are absolutely living under city gov
eminent on which the voice of the people
has never been expressed, and no Oppor-
tunity has basn given them to say whether
they desired it as their fundamental law,
or otherwise. We opine there are some
who will not feel like "yielding obedience
10 the constituted authorities" until this
privilege is given them.
We have been anxious to see thorough
city government in Lawrence, and have
been willing to pay our quota to defray
its expenses; but we are not willing to
contribute Of our means any longer to aid
in sustaining government based upon
tyranny and usurpation, when no earthly
good can grow out Of it, and which is only
used to support few men in doing that
for which the city would be better off if
not done at all.
The great argument in Kansas, and in
Congress. against the Lecompton swindle,
was the fact that it was never submitted
to o fair aud impartial vote of those who
were to be effected by it-that it was an
usurpation, and We all declared, that if we
organized under it, it should only be to
inaugurate, in the shortest possible period,
Q legitimate State Constitution, which
should be fairly submitted to vote Of
the people, and indorsed by majority Of
them. Last year, when the city govern
ment was imposed upon US by the Legis-
lature without expressed consent of the
voters of Lawrence, we felt like making
war upon it; but as it was understood
that it had passed into the hands ol
officers who would take immediate steps
10 get up a proper government, we re-
mained silent, and to prevent them from
saying that we had labored to prevent
them from accomplishing what they de-
sired, VIC paid the taxes imposed upon us;
but. we now givc public notice that we
cannot consent to do this any longer. and
shall look to the courts for protection
against any invasion of our rights in this
direction, as we presume the people gen.
orally will do.