Transcriber's Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
It is often charged that participants in assemblages of this characterare apt to exaggerate the importance of the occasion they commemorate,and after the manner of one of our poets, sing in chorus: "I celebratemyself." Perhaps I can speak of the Wyandotte Convention and itswork without being accused of this self-gratulation; for I was more of anobserver of its proceedings than a participant in them. I recorded whatwas done, but I had no part or lot in the doing. If its work had beencrude or weak, I could not fairly have been held responsible for the failure.As it was strong, efficient and enduring, I can felicitate you, thesurvivors of those who wrought this great service for Kansas, without asuspicion of self-praise.
Four Conventions framed Constitutions for this State. The first assembledat Topeka, on the 23d of October, 1855, and adjourned on the11th of November, after a session of twenty days. It was composed offorty-seven members, of whom thirty-one signed the Constitution. Onthe 15th of December this instrument was submitted to the people forratification or rejection. Only 1,777 ballots were cast, all but 46 beingfavorable. One of its sections, a provision excluding negroes and mulattoesfrom the State, was submitted as an independent proposition, andadopted by an affirmative vote of 1,287, to 453 against it.
The second convention was that held at Lecompton, which met onthe 7th of June, 1857, and after a session of four days, adjourned until the19th of October, a final adjournment being reached on the 3d of November.It was composed of sixty-four members, forty-five of whom signedthe organic law it framed, and its session continued twenty days. Nodirect vote on this Constitution was provided for. The Schedule orderedtwo forms of ballot, one, the "Constitution with Slavery," theother, "Constitution with no Slavery." It was the old turkey and buzzardchoice. The Free State men refused to vote at the election, held on the21st of December, and only 6,712 ballots were cast, 6,147 being for Slaveryand 569 against Slavery. The Free State men had, however, electeda majority of the Territorial Legislature in October, and at a special sessionof that body, held in December, a law was passed providing for a directvote on the Constitution. This election was held on the 14th ofJanuary, 1858, resulting: against the Constitution, 10,266; for, 164—thepro-Slavery men not voting. A third vote on the Lecompton instrumentwas taken August 2d, 1858, Congress having ordered its re-submissionunder the terms of the English bill. Again it was rejected, the ballots i