The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-08-20
Nor. Border Ruta.n u.urp.aon.

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The usurpation connected with the Le-
compton Constitution is still fresh in the
minds Of the people. and a repetition Of
the same outrages by the Wysndott Con-
vention is raising storm of indignation
against their Constitution.
The Lecompton Convention disfran-
chised portion Of the Territory. /,
virtually disfrsnck;sed every anti-sIavery
man by requiring him, if he offered to
vote on the slavery clause, to take an oath
to support the Constitution if adopted
This was justly held to be a usurpation Of
power. The Convention went on and
provided for the making of returns and
canvass Of votes by persons other than
the Territorial authorities. The Presi-
dent Of the Convention was empowered
to receive the returns, canvass the votes.
proclaim the result and issue certificates
of election. This provision gave rise to
the candle-box returns, which were SO
VIGOROUSLY fraudulent.
The Wyandott Convention has disfran-
chised all civilized Indians, ,cit1out their
eonseat, and has illegally attempted to pu:
this provision of the Constitution in force
before its ratification by the people. 1t
also has provided that the returns of the
various elections shall be made to the
President of that Convention, and the
President and Secretary of the Conven-
ton are constituted quorum of the Board
Of Canvassers. True, the Governor of
the Territory is one of the Board, but the
power to control the character of the pro-
CARNATIONS which they have provided
"shall contain an announcement of the
several elections, the qualifications of
electors, the manner Of conducting said
elections, and of making returns thereof"
has been placed in the hands virtually Of
an aPpointee of the Convention, J. A.
Martin, who will give the casting vote in
case Of disagreement between Gov. Me.
Diary and Mr.. Winchell. There are serious
legal questions arising in reference to what
the proclamations shall contain, which, in
case Gov. Aedary should act as one Of
the Convention Board of Canvassers, are
to be decided by person who legally has
no more right to give the casting vote than
has any other citizen of Kansas.
j. N. Winchell and j. A. Martin may
be less partizan and more honest than
John Calhoun. They are under no sworn
obligation to be honest, nor are they
amensble BY act of the Convention for
any violation Of the provisions of the
schedule, but are irresponsible.
The Lecomptonites would not submit
their Constitution to the nti-slavery men
because they would vote it down; the
Republicans will not submit their Consti-
tuition to civilized Indians, because they
would vote no. Not content with this
adoption of Border. Ruffiauism, they 90
further and provide for the same candle
box returns, which characterized Calhoun,
or for the suppression of votes against the
Constitution, by their irresponsible Presi-
dent and Secretary. For they could
hardly have been blind to the fact, that
Gov. Netlary is prohibited BY LAW from
becoming one of their Board Of Canvassers.
They evidently designed to take the
whole question out of his hands by an
act of bold and defiant usurpation, which
is no more honorable on the part of Re-
publicans than on that of Border Rufians.
"The Convention is sovereign" plead
the Republicans. Such was the justi6ca.
ton of the Lecomptonites. The people
of Kansas, backed BY the whole North,
replied NO.
The Republican party of Kansas, per-
haps, can afford to throw back in the teeth
of the free North this indignant NO, but
they will have the satisfaction of knowing
that the old free State forces which de.
nouuced the usurpaliOn of the Lecomp-
tonites, viii also Settle seal of their con.
domination on their more hypocritical and
audacious assumption of illegal power
As the Free State men took the Terrific.
rial Legislature out Of the hands of the
Border RufianS, and provided for the sub
mission Of the whole Lecompton Consti-
tution to the people, and secured its over.
Whelmins rejection, so the genuine Free
State men of to-day will repudiate the
usurpation of the Republican Border Ruff
fans. As then they taught the Lecomp-
tonites the supremacy Of the Territorial
Legislature over the elf-arrogant Con.
vention, they win not fail to press home
the same lesson on the Wyandott usurp-
ers. They have already the power to do
this without any special session of the |
Lsgislature-thsy have already provided |
for the contingency Of usurpation. and it
d the sworn duty of the officers of the |
Territory to strictly enforce The law.
The law authorizing the wyandO,t
Convention provides, in Sec. 10, that the |
Boards Of County Canyassers shall make
! certified abstract of the returns to the
Governor Of the Territory.
The Governors duty. both IS to the
elections after as well as before the for
nation Of the Constitution, is defined in
be following sections;
Sec. 20. That the Governor Of the Ter.
tory shall issue his proclamation, not less
han twenty days next preceding each
sspective election provided for in this ,
ct; said proclamation shall contain an
ami of fha aavoral alarfion. The /