White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-09-29

suffering for want of it. The last Legis-
lature appointed Board Of Commission
srs, who ascertained the exact loss Of each
individual, and reported the result to the
Constitutional Convention. which body
have petitionsd to Congress for funds. or
for grant Of lands. to refund those loss
es. Those who vote for the Constitution,
vote to ask Congress TO pay the poor peo-
pie of Kansas for their Losses. II the
Constitution is defeated, SO will be the
request for the payment of those claims.
Ifthat fails now, there will probably never
again be so much pains taken to have the
claims adjusted. The only just mode Of
paying them. would be the one proposed
in the Constitution: as thereby the people
would not be taxed to pay claims for
which they are not responsible. That
Congress will pay them, there can be no
Just reason to doubt, as it paid the Oregon
claims, and those of other States. Con-
gress surely would not refuse to Kansas
the favOrs bestowed upon other States.
Still another important matter is. the
Indian Reservations. The Territory is
full Of these Reservations, and they take
up immense quantities of the very best
lands within our borders. The land is in
possession Of g few Thousand indolent
barbarians. who make no use of it, and
prevent others from doing so. When
Kansas becomes State, the Indian titles
will speedily be extinguished-the admis-
sion of every State has been quickly fol-
lowed by the e1tinguishment Of the Indi-
an titles within its limits-and the valua-
bic land embraced within the Reservations
will be thrown open to settlers. Until we
become State, majority of these titles
never will be extinguished.
Now, let us turn to few Of the obiec-
tons urged against the adoption of the
Constitution. The niger question has
collapsed-even the worst stickles have
been compelled to acknowledge that no
niger can be found in the instrument.
One great objection is the pretence set
up that the debt and expenses viii be so
great, anG that we are not able to support
State Government. This argument
mainly comes from those who voted for
the English proposition. and who thought
we were able to support State Govern
ment. year ago. AS to the debt, it does
not amount to much, and Congress will
be asked to pay it. The Government
paid the debts of other new States, and
why not that of Kansas? If it could
afford to pay Texas 10000. 900, and
Oregon some $4,000. 900. why not sew
eral hundred thousand for Kansas? Be-
sides. the longer we remain a Territory,
the larger the debt will become. We
must have Constitution sometime-and
that Constitution will cost money. The
expenses Of the late Convention must be
paid and when q Constitution is at
length adopted, the expenses Of that Con-
yention will have to be paid. What is
the use. then, of holding Convention after
Convention. and running up the expenses.
when the matter can be settled at once ?
AS far as the expenses of State Gov
eminent are concerned, it has been shown,
by the figures, that the people are taxed
as heavily, or heavier. now. than they
would have to De, to sustain a Govern.
ment.
Complaint is made that the Convention
asked for enormous grants of land. Why
should the people object to that? Are
they to vote against the Constitution. be-
cause it asks something handsome for
them? And every acre of land that is
asked for. is to be applied to some lauds-
bic purpose, and will assist in relieving
the people of burdcnsome taxes. Besides,
it is tolerably sure. that if we ask for
nothing, we will get nothing.
The State is too small, they tell MS.
Too small, indeed Why. the people Of
Ohio and Indiana each think they have
big State. of which they are justly
proud; yet Kansas will be as large as the
two combined.
They grumble because the gold region
is not embraced within the bounds of the
State. The Eastern portion of the Ter
ritory is divided from the gold region by
desert waste. which must ever remain
unsettled and the people Of the two sec
tions have no more interests in common
than the people Of Missouri and Oregon.
And the people of the gold region did
not desile to be included in the State Of
Kansas, but have asked for Territorial
Government Of their own.
The refusal to annex Southern Nebras-
ka is much harped upon. That was q
desirable morsel, to be sure, and many
wanted it annexed. But it was NOT done;
and what can We do about it now? Ne
braska IL nrenarinC IN ask admission as n