White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1864-08-18
Gross OMcial NEGLECT.

aASe O->e4ee As~o.O
Ths last Lsgislstdrs, BY Joint Rssolu-
lions, presented two amendments to the
Constitution to the people for approval
or rejection-amendments that were nsces |
sary, and called for BY the public inter-
ests.
One of these was an amendment per-
mittipg bills to originate in the Senate.
As the Constitution now stands, all bills
must originate in the House. thus COM
pelling the Senate to remain idle. in q
measure, for the 6rst week or two of the
session, until business is received from
the House. and overcrowding the Senate
during the last week or ten days Of the
session. thus preventing that care in the
consideration Of bills which the pablie
good demands.
The other amendment, and the most
important one. referred to soldiers vot-
ing. The Constitution positively pro-
hibits soldiers from voting in Kansas
elections. The Legislature, il is true.
passed law giving them the right to
vote. but almost every member had doubts
as to its coustitutionsllty. The conse-
quence will be, . multitude Of contested
election cases: and wherever the matter
can be brought before the Supreme Court.
there is little doubt that the law will be
declared unconstitutional. To make the
matter sure hersfter, sn amendment to
the Constitution was submitted to the
people. which. if adopted, would confer
the right of suffrage upon Kansas voters
who are in the army. lighting for their
country. beyond the shadow of legal
doubts. And there is no doubt that such
an amendment, If submitted to tho peo-
pie. would be adopted almost unanimous
ly. But now comes the rub.
The Constitution, on the subject Of
amendments. provides that all amend.
ments shall first be adopted by two thirds
of both branches Of the Legislature; that
they shall then be submitted to the voters
of the State. at the next general election;
and that the Secretary of State, for three
months prior to such election, shall cause
the proposed amendments to be published
in one newspaper in every County in the
State wherein . newspaper is published.
The next general election occurs on the
9Th day of November. The proposed
amendments. to comply with the require.
ments of the Constitution, should have
been published in every County during
the first week Of the present month Of
August. Two weeks have passed by. and
still such publication has not been made
in single County. 1t is now too late
the requirements of the Constitution can
not be fulfiiled-and for another twelve
month the business of legislation must be
carried on in the old dragging manner,
and for another twelvemonth the brave
Kansas soldiers must be deprived of q
voice in our elections, or at least cast
their votes with prospect, almost cer-
tainty, that they will be thrown out as H.
legal.
Who is responsible for this neglect,
amounting to an outrsgee Clearly, the
Secretary of State. w. w. Fl. Lawrence.
And why the neglect! Because be has
been SO deeply engrossed with the honor
of peregrinatiug the State in company
with j. II. Lane. denouncing the great
"fraud" committed last Winter. and lay
ing the wires for re election. that the
duties Of his office and the interests of the
people have been altogether forgotten.
Eloquently he has proclaimed to the peo-
pie that they were defrauded of their rights
BY ths last Legislature: laboriously be has
worked to uphold the waning fortunes of
the demagogue who claims to rule Kan
sas and her people; vehemently be has
proclaimed his own honesty and capacity.
and his claims to reelection, or an
election to still higher position. While
doing SO, be has defrauded our brave
soldiers out of their dearest right. has
neglected the interests of the State; and
has shown himself unworthy to hold .
position of public trust. But what mat.
ters that +? He looks to Jim Lane for Of
6cs; and if he does that worthy's dirty
work. he will get it. whether the people
want him or not-whether the soldiers
are dsfrauded of their rights or not. Jim
Lanes horde of Office holders will con-
troll the stats Convention called BY Jim
Lanes bogus State Central Committee.
Jim Lane will dictate to that Convention
who shall be nominated for the various
offices; and those who perform the greatest
amount of dirty work for Jim Lanes
especial benefit, will receive the nomina.
tions. After these are made. Jim Lane
and his hired elaquers. presuming, ss
usual. upon their power to dups the peo-
pie. will proclaim it the only true Union