White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-04-04
GOVERNOR R0BINS0N's MESSAGE
TO THE
First Legislative Assembly Of the State
Of Kansas.
To the Members ofMs Senate and House
Of Representatives of the STATE Of Kan

To the Members ofMs Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the STATE Of Kan
sas:
It is source of congrstulstion that the
people Of Kansas. after q pupilsge Of
more than six years, are permitted to in
augurats q government of their own
Probably no Territory Of the United
States has had such varied history as
that ceded by France. and of which Kan
sas is part. From September 14th.
l7l2, until ceded to the United States.
April 30th. 1903. the civil code as mod.
ified by France and regulations of Spain.
was the law of the Territory. In March.
1904. the Territory was divided by a
line corresponding with the thirty third
degree Of north latitude and the northern
portion called the District of Louisiana.
The executive power of the Governor OF
Indiana was extended over the Territory
embracing the present State of Kansas.
and the Governor and Judges of Indiana
were authorized to establish inferior
courts. prescribe their jurisdiction and
duties, and make laws for the govern
ment Of the people. In 1905 Terrific
rial Government was granted to the
northern province. and it was called tho
Territory of Louisiana. Under this gov.
eminent the legislative power was vested
in Governor and three Judges.
In 1872 the Territory was re.orgaaiz.
ed and named Missouri Territory. its leg.
islative power consisting of Governor.
Council and House Of Representatives,
In 1920 Missouri was admitted into the
Union. leaving Kansas without any or
gani zed government.
On the 3Oth of May. 1854. Kansas and
Nebraska were organized. with an Exc
cutive and Judiciary appointed by the
President. and Legislature elected by
the people. Under the organic act it was
claimed that the people were left perfect
ly free to form aud regulate their domes.
tic institutions in their own way, subject
only to the Constitution of the United
States. This perfect freedom resulted in
an earnest contest upon the question of
slavery. which enlisted on one side or the
other the sympathies of the people Of the
States generally. The temptation to plant
that institution in the Territory be.
fore consecrated to Freedom, was too
strong to be resisted. and to carry out
that purpose the 6rst Legislature was elec.
ted by non. residents. citizens of an ad-
joining State. This proceeding was ear.
nestly protested against, and the legisla,
turs thus elected. with its enactments, re
pudiated by the inhabitants. The usurp.
ing Legislature elected all county and To-
cal officers for four years, and provided
such tests and restrictions for voting % to
exclude from the polls al Free State men
with sslf-respect. TINS rendering its rule
perpetual. The usurpation vss endorsed
BY the President, and there was no way
ont of the difficulty short of revolution,
except in the formation Of State Con-
stitution. Accordingly. in October. l8.
IS. Delegate Convention met ct Tops.
IA, framed Constitution and provided
for State government. This inssru.
ment. although repeatedly ratified BY the
people. was rejected BY the o. g. Senate.
After vainly endesvoring to enforce the
Territorial usurpatio6. and after the re-
movsl of several Governors for their ina.
bility or refusal to enslsvs the people.
the obnoxious tests and restrictions were
removed from the ballot boz. and the
people allowed their rights under the Or
gsnic Act.
In the mean time. . movement origin.
ated under the auspices Of the usurpsrs.
which resulted In the instrument known
ss the Lecompton Constitution. This
C Constitution. like the Legislature provi.
ding it. Vas rspudiassd By onr citizens
and conditionally rejected BY the Presi-
dent. While the Lecompton Constitu-
ton was pending in Congress, the pso-
pie, IN order to secure government OF
their own. called another Convention, |
which assembled st Lsavsnworth, and
6rsc,ad asSh;yd GansSiSnt;on that vaa ale0