860 
KANSAS. 
assembled, That an election shall be held in the several election precincts of 
this territory, on the second Tuesday of October next, under the regulations 
and restrictions hereinafter imposed, for members of a convention to form a 
constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all 
needful measures for organizing a state government, preparatory to the 
admission of Kansas into the Union as a state. 55 
At this convention a Territorial Executive Committee was appointed, and 
the committee, in accordance with the instructions of the convention, is¬ 
sued a proclamation, commencing as follows : 
“ TO THE LEGAL VOTERS OE KANSAS. 
“ Whereas the territorial government, as now constituted for Kansas, 
has proved a failure — squatter sovereignty under its workings a miserable 
delusion — in proof of which it is only necessary to refer to our past his¬ 
tory, and our present deplorable condition ; — our ballot-boxes have been 
taken possession of by bands of armed men from foreign states, and our 
people forcibly driven therefrom ; persons attempted to be foistered upon 
us as menbers of a so-called Legislature, unacquainted with our wants, and 
hostile to our best interests, some of them never residents of our territory ; 
misnamed laws passed, and now attempted to be enforced by the aid of cit¬ 
izens of foreign states, of the most oppressive, tyrannical, and insulting 
character ; the right of suffrage taken from us ; debarred from the privi¬ 
lege of a voice in the election of even the most insignificant officers ; the 
right of free speech stifled ; the muzzling of the press attempted ; — and 
whereas longer forbearance with such oppression has ceased to be a virtue ; 
and whereas the people of this country have heretofore exercised the right 
of changing their form of government when it became oppressive, and have, 
at all times, conceded this right to the people in this and all other govern¬ 
ments ; and whereas a territorial form of government is unknown to the 
constitution, and is the mere creature of necessity, awaiting the action of 
the people *, and whereas the debasing character of the slavery, which now 
involves us, impels us to action, and leaves us the only legal and peaceful 
alternative — the immediate establishment of a state government ; and 
whereas the organic act fails in pointing out the course to be adopted in an 
emergency like ours ; therefore, you are requested to meet at your several 
precincts in said territory hereinafter mentioned, on the second Tuesday of 
October next, it being the ninth day of said month, and then and there 
cast your ballots for members of a convention, to meet at Topeka on the 
fourth Tuesday of October next, to form a constitution, adopt a bill of 
rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organiz¬ 
ing a state government preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the 
Union as a State. 55 
On the fourth Tuesday of October, the Constitutional Convention assem¬ 
bled at Topeka, and drafted a constitution, which was submitted to the peo- 
