Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-02-01
; tatrieally Legislation Abolition of Slave
ry IL Kansas Territory.

The following Is one of the bills introduced into
the Kansas Territorial Legislature. fer the aboi
ton OF slavery aud the punishment OF offences in
regard tn persons held IA seryitude. 1t was pre-
sented by {. ii. B2NNscoNB, ESQ. of Lawrence
IA 4ct a5olisbi5ig al EIlcs esta6iisiag or recog-
fiztHJ SlGUcrg az Tie Territory az ha5sas ana
Pssis*tng c-TtIsi o3saceS regard 10 persons be-
ing he!d as sIdycS
WHERsas. IL has heretofore been attempted 10
force Tie institution of Slavery upon the people
of KANSAS and 70 legal.ze the same within The
! limits o. THIS Territory, contrary to the known
/ Will OF lis inhabitants and, whereas. the exis-
lance of 4 seryIie class OF debased and degraded
negroes within SAID Territory Is dec med MIMIC
a. 10 ltS highest Interests and, whereas, 1t Is
asserted and maintained that Slavery has a Ie-
gal eNlS,auce n said Territory and whereas
persons are now held a state Of seryitude In
tins Territory, by persons claiming to own a
right OF property n them and whereas meth =
er the organic act under which the Territory Of
Kansas was organized nor the Constitution OF
The United States, contains any limitations of
the power of the people Of said Territory over
the subject OF 5 lavery therefore, be 1t enacted
by the Governor AMI Legislative Assembly of
the Territory of Kansas. a. follows:
Sec. /. There shall be neither Slavery nor in =
voluntary seTvitude IN this Territory, 0therw Use
than IN punishment. OF crimes whereof the party
shall be duly convicted, and all laws and statu-
tory provisions now existing and IN force In said
Territory, So tar as the same either directly or
indirectly, lesallze or recognize the ance of
Slavery within this Territory are hereby repea! :
ri ana declared null void
Sec =. Every person WHO shall bring within
thIs Territory any other person held as a slave
by law usage IN any State or Territory OF the
UuIted States, with intent TO hold such person
as slave within this Territory, and shall assert
or maintain any right OF property such other
person wltAln taIs Territory. shall be demand
20 be guilty. VI = InISdeUleaGOT, and shall. on
be-
Ceedlng hve uauuFel- dollars, or by l8aUE5sul!-
rpeBt 4 county IaIi not exceeding SIX iuontA Us.
or by both such me and Imprisonment.
SEC J. Every person who SHALL wIthin this
Territory, RESTRAIN or attempt 10 restrain The l.b
evty of any other person. upon pretence of owl :
ing any property N such other person, shall be
deemed 70 be gully vi a mlsdemeauor, and, on
conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not
exceeding i've hLndreG doltars, or by ImprIson-
meat al a county IaII not exceeding SIX months,
or by both such tine and Imprisonment
Sec 4. All persons who may heretofore have
been Brought into tins Territory, or who may
hereafter ue 50 brought, oy persons claiming 10
D q them - slaves, are neGeny declared u be
persons aRa persons oniy; they may sue and be
sued, IN The Courts OF th> Territory, In their own
name. and shall be deemed capable of entering
. INTO valid and binding contracts and Of acquIr-
iuS, Transferring ana transmitting property =
They may marry persons of their own culor,
and shall be entitled 10 the custody OF rheir ovn
children.
Sec. s. Ii any person asserting or claiming
any right Of property II other person In this
Territorv. shall sepa' ate such person from. or
dcEy him or her access TO his OF her father or
mother or his or her wife o. husband such per
son 50 offending shall be deemed guilty OF q mis-
demeauor and shall, on CONVICTION thereof. be
punished by fac not exceeding three thoa>
and dollars, or by imprisonment IL a county jail
not exceeding two years, or By both such nne
and imprIsoB ment.
Sec 9 All fines paid or recovered for yio-
latlon OF any provision of this act. shall go Il
the county In which the offence shall be tried
This act shall take effect Immediately.