Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/733

conduct of the men appointed to hold office in the territory contributed very

much to produce the events which followed. Thus, Samuel J. Jones was appointed sheriff of the county of Douglas, which included within it tie-1st and lid election districts. He had made himself peculiarly obnoxious to the settlers by his conduct on the 30th of March, in the lid district, and by his burning the cabins of Joseph Oakley and Samuel Smith.

While these enactments of tin 1 alleged legislative assembly were being made, a movement was instituted to form a state government, and apply for admission into the Union as a state. The first general meeting was held in Lawrence on the 15th of August, 1855. The following preamble and resolutions were then passed:

"Whereas, The people of Kansas have been, since its settlement, and now are, without any law-making power; therefore, be it "Resolved, That we, the people of Kansas territory, in ma.s meeting assembled, irrespective of party distinctions, influenced by common necessity, and greatly desirous of promoting the common good, do hereby call upon and request all bona fide citizens of Kansas territory, of whatever political views or predilections, to consult together in their respective election districts, and in mass convention or otherwise, elect three delegates for each representative to which said election district is entitled in the house of representatives of the legislative assembly, by proclamation of Governor Reeder, of date 19th. of March, 1855; said delegates to assemble in convention at the town of Topeka, on the 19th day of September, 1855, then and there to consider and determine upon all subjects of public interest, and particularly upon that having reference to the speedy formation of a state constitution, with an intention of an immediate application to be admitted as a state into the Union of the United States of America."

Other meetings were held in various parts of the territory, which indorsed the action of the Lawrence meeting, and delegates wre selected in compliance with its recommendations.

They met at Topeka on the 19th day of September, 1855. By their resolutions they provided for the appointment of an executive committee to consist of seven persons, who were required to "keep a record of their proceedings, and shall have a general superintendence of the affairs of the territory, so far as regards the organization of the state government." They were required to take steps for an election to be held on the second Tuesday of the October following, under regulations imposed by that committee, "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." The rides prescribed were such as usually govern elections in most of the states of the Union, and in most respects were similar to those contained in the proclamation of Gov. Reeder for the election of March 30, 1855.

The executive committee, appointed by that convention, accepted their appointment, and entered upon the discharge of their duties by issuing a proclamation addressed to the legal voters of Kansas, requesting them to meet at their several precincts, at the time and places named in the proclamation, then