Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-08-04
Kansas Constitutional Convention
The Boundaries of the Proposed
State of Kansas.

Kansas COrStIt utlOnai ConVenloa--
The Boundaries of the Proposed
State of Kansas. 4
Correspondence OF the Cincinnati Gaze,te.) !.
CoNyENrIoN HAIL, Wyandoti, Kansas, Z
July Is, 1859.
The boundaries OF Kansas, as determined
upon ty the Convention. are as follows
Beginning at punt on the western boun-
dary Of the State cf Missouri, where the
thirry-seventh parallel of north latitude
crosses the same, thence westward on said
parallel to the twent, -thkd meridian of
longitude west from Washington, thence
north on said parallel to the fortieth parallel
oil latitude, thence east on said parallel to
the western bouB dury of the State of Mis-
souri,, thence south with the western boun-
dary of said State to the place of begin
ing.
The application of Southern Nebraska
for annexation has not been complied with.
Several reasons were given for the votes of
the delegates in opposition to the measure.
1t was considered inexpedient to change our
boundaries, fearing it might prejudice our
claims for admission into the Union. FIVE
furnish our Democratic Administration with
a pretext for rejecting our application for
speedy admission, they will take advantage
of It to delay our becoming sovereign
State until after the contest for President
in 1860, unless the Democrats carry the
election of which there Is hardly possibil-
ity. They insist upon strict construction
and enforcement of tire low creating the
convention, and it will probably be dome
The people at Pixies Peak having expressed
desire to become separated and distinct
from Kansas, with government of their
own, and no desire to become in any way
identified with our politics, The convention
refused to extend the jurisdiction of the pro-
posed State over that region, but established
the western boundary at the twenty-third
ner ridian, three hundred miles east Of the
gold mines. giving our State an area of
over sixty-fve thousand square miles
Three hundred and ten long from east to
west, and two hundred and ten wide from
north to south. The preamble. as reported
to the Convention by the Standing Com
mittee, was copied from that of the Constr
tuition of Massachusetts, drafted years ago
BY John Adams. 1t was not well received
by the Democrats, who. Immediately upon
its being read. commenced, as the saying
is, "pokiug fun at -" suggesting amend.
menfs making it rea-- ridiculous, and causing
continual laughter; one amendment wa:
m ade to the following sentence, to strike
out "with" in two places, giving it bar
room significance, "where the whole people
treat ,sith the citizens aud the citizens trea,
,eih the whole people"
Upon learning the authorship of the doc
ument, its history, its celebrated authority
the sport was given up, the authority recog
nized and submitted to, but not sufficiently
to save it. for the Convention laid it upon
the table and adopted a brief and pointed
substitute. The Bill of Rights as adopted
declares that call men are created free and
equal, with certain rights that are inalien.
abIe," among which are those Of defending
and enjoying life, liberty, and the acquiring
possessing, end protecting property. 1t also
provides that 'ihe right of trial by jury shall
be i1violate, and extend TO persons OF every
condition And also provides that "there
sh all be no slavery in this State. or invol-
uLtary servitude unless for the punishment
Of crime" Only one v,ie against this pro
vision, it was given by Mr.. Forman of Dom
iphan county, democrat, and ex-member
of the bogus Legislature of 1858. The priv
iIege of the writ of hobeas corpus shall no,
be suspended unless in case of invasion or
rebellion, the public safety may require it
Tie freedom of the press is inviolate for
ever. Freedom of speech is guaranteed te
all.
Foreigners no are. or who may become
hereafter. bona fde residents of this State
shall enjoy the same rights in respect to the
possession. enjoyment and Inheritance oI
property as native-born citizens.
The Legislative department of the Gov.
ernment of this State Is to consist of g
Senate, consisting Of twenty-five members
elected for two years, and House of Rep
resentalives, consisting Of seventy-five
mem oers, elected annually.
The Judicial department is to consist ol
a Supreme Court, FIVE District Courts Jus.
tices OF the Peace, &c The supreme Eour1
is to consist Of three Justices; the Chief II
elected for six years; the associates one fol
four and the other for two years. The
Judges of the District Courts are to be elect
ed by the electors of the respective districts
ELECTIONS
All elections by the people shall be by
ballot, and all elections by the Legislature
shall be viva voce.
The general elections shall be held an
nualy on the frs: Monday after the first
Tuesday in November, until otherwise pro-
vided by law.
SUFFRAGE.
Every white male person Of twenty one
years and upwards, belonging to either oil
the following classes--who shall have re-
sided in Kansas six months next preceding