White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-04-04

rejected by Congress.
Persistent in their efforts to secure
their political rights. another Conven.
tion was called BY the people. through
their Legislature. which met at Wyan-
dotte. July 5th, 1859. and framed the
Constitution under which you were elsc'
ted and are called npon to legislats.-
This Constitution has been approved oy
Congress. and BY the Act Of Admission
we are placed on m equal footing Po-
litically, with all the States Of the un'
ion. .et
The necessity for SO much Coustitn'
ton making and strife % Kansas has -.
perienced during the past six yssrs. mas
been caused chiefly by tho question OF
slavery. That question, so far as tne
Constitution and Laws can settle il. is
now settled. Whether or not there 10
vestige of the institution remaining i
for the Judiciary to decide. II is truly
a cause for rejoicing that this disturbing
element is forever removed from our local
politics, and that our domestic institu'
lions are ssch as are best calculated to
develop the resources and secure the
highest good Of the State.
The formation of so many Constitu'
tions was made necessary by the slavery
contest, and this contest was opened by
the action of Congress in removing the
slavery restrictions, and continued BY it,
rejection Of the Topeka and Leavenworth
Constitutions.
1t is customary for Congress to pay
the expenses of making one Constitution
in all new States. and ss it was owing to
no fault or action of the people that Kan
sas was not admitted under her first Of
third Constitution, but to the failure o.
Congress to respond to the popular SEN
timent of the Territory. the General Gov
ernment should dsfrsy the expenses in
CURED in framing them.
The attempt to fas,eu upon Kansas an
institution distasteful to large majority
of the people. in direct violation of tht
letter and spirit of the Organic Act
caussd much suffering and pecuniary
loss. 1t is the duty of all government
to preserve the peace. 1t is for this they
are organized and supported. The citi
zen who is taxed to defray the expenses
Of government. has righ: to full pro
lection Of life and property. and the pow
er that assumes the government Of peo
pie is responsible for the same. 1t is no
torious that the peace of Kansas was no.
preserved BY the government. but. on th'
contrary. in many instances. the officer
were the aggressors. In short. had il
it not been for the interference on the par
of the Federal Administration. and it
attempt to fasten slavery upon US. il
opposition to the wishes of large ma
jority of our people. but little. if any
loss would have been suffered by our cit
izens.
The Territorial Legislature of 1855
provided for Commission to audit the
losses incurred during the Disturbance
and they awarded. as due to our people
nearly live hundred thousand dollars
This amount, it is clearly the duty of thu
Federal Government to pay. and it is be
lieved that an appropriation will be made
at the next session of Congress for tha
purpose. As the Legislature provided
for issuing warrants on the Territoris
Treasurer for the amount of the award.
Of the Com missioners, it wonld avoit
confusion and do justice to all parties
should Congress provide that the money
paid should be to the claimant, in person
or his attorney, on the surrender Of hi
warrant. or to the State Treasurer, who
should pay it out in like manner. Thia
method would protect all parties, and re-
lieve the State from all liabilities, should
any now exist. without loss to itself, and
without incurring the odium inseparsbl,
from reputation. The claimants ar.
very numerous. and for the most part
worthy citizens who suffered in a Just
cause. and it is highly proper that the
State should render all aid possible in
procuring from Congress their due. while
it protects all parties from loss.
From the report Of the Territorial Au
ditor to the Territorial Legislature. il
will be seen that the present Indebtedness
of the State cannot be less than 800, 900.
On the principle that taxation and rep.
resentation are insepsrable. this deb,
should be assumed by Congress. Kansas
has not only had no representative in
Congress. but the control of the Terrific.
rial Government has been with the Fed
eral Administration. While We have
furnished our proportion of revenue to
the Federal Treasury. without represen.
tstion. it is not too much to ask that the
expenses of the Territorial Government
should be met by that Treasury.
In the act of admission. Congress re.
jected the ordinance attached to the Con-
stitution. and proposed. instead. to give
the State the 18th and 36th sections in
each township. for schools /; 72 sections
for university; 10 sections for public
buildings: 9 sections to each salt spring.
not exceedin, twelve in number, and S
per cent. Of the sales of the public lands.
with the following proviso THAT the
foregoing propositions. hereinbefors Of
fered, are on the condition that the peo.
pie Of Kansas shall provide by an ordi-
nance. irrrevocable without the consent
of the United States. that said State shall
never interfere with the primary disposal
of the soil. within the same. BY the Uni
ted States. or with any. regulations Con.