Page:The Federal and state constitutions v2.djvu/564

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Kansas—1857
1201

Sec. 10. Certificates of indebtedness may be issued by the territorial executive committee for all necessary expenses accruing in the formation of the State government, not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars: Provided, No certificate shall be issued except for legitimate expenses. All claims shall be made in writing, and shall be numbered and kept on file in the secretary’s office, and all certificates of indebtedness shall be signed by the president and secretary, and countersigned by the treasurer, and numbered to correspond with the number of the claim or bill for which it was issued. The certificate shall bear 10 per cent, interest per annum.

Sec. 11. The first general assembly shall provide by law for the redemption of the certificates of indebtedness issued under the provisions of the foregoing section.

Sec. 12. Until the great seal of the State of Kansas is agreed upon and procured, as provided for in the eleventh section of the fifth article of this constitution, the governor shall use his own private seal as the seal of state.

Sec. 13. At the election for the ratification of this constitution, and the first election for State officers, a representation in the Congress of the United States, and members of the general assembly of this State, an actual residence in the Territory of thirty days immediately preceding said election shall be sufficient as a qualification for the elector, and an actual residence of ninety days for the candidates: Provided, Said electors and candidates possess all the other qualifications required by the provisions of this constitution.

Sec. 14. The first legislature shall provide by law for the enforcement of the provisions of the sixth section of the bill of rights on or before the 4th day of July, 1857, as to all persons in the Territory before the adoption of this constitution, and as to all others the provisions of said section shall operate from and after the ratification of this constitution by the people.

J. H. Lane, President.

Sam. C. Smith, Secretary.

Chas. A. Foster, Assistant Secretary.


CONSTITUTION OF KANSAS—1857[1]

preamble

We, the people of the Territory of Kansas, by our representatives in convention assembled, at Lecompton, in said Territory, on Monday, the fourth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, and of the independence of the United States of America the


  1. This constitution was adopted at a convention which met at Lecompton, September 5, 1857, adjourned for a month, and completed its labors November 7, 1857. It was immediately forwarded to President Buchanan. The clause sanctioning slave holding was submitted to the people of Kansas, and ratified December 31, 1857, receiving 6,226 votes, against 589 votes. The entire constitution, with its conditional propositions, was submitted to the people of Kansas by its advocates and by its opponents, and each claimed the support of a majority. It was claimed that on the 21st of December, 1858, the constitution with slavery was ratified, receiving 6,143 votes, against 589 for the constitution without slavery; and it was also claimed that on the 4th of January, 1859, the constitution was rejected, receiving 138 votes for it with slavery, 24 votes for it without slavery, and 10,126 votes against it.