Ellsworth American

Kansas Enslaved.

Under these circumstances the Constitutional Convention reconvened one month since at Lecompton. John Calhoun U. S. Surveyor General for Kansas, was its President. Many members hung back, and it was with difficulty that this body, elected by a handful of votes in opposition to the known sentiment of Kansas, could obtain and keep a quorum. Yet the Convention proceeded to frame a State Constitution for Kansas, and concluded its labor on Saturday, the 7th inst. The Constitution so framed embodies the strongest kind of a Pro-Slavery article, not only recognizing Slavery as legally existing in Kansas, but denying to the Legislature or People power ever to abolish it.

By a "Schedule" appended to the Constitution, it is provided that the constitution so framed shall not be voted upon by the People, who should Congress accept it, as the President and Cabinet have already done, have no possible escape from or power to modify this Constitution prior to 1861; nor thereafter unless two-thirds of the members of both Houses of the Legislature shall agree to submit the call of a Convention to the people: nor even then unless a majority of all the citizens of the State—not merely a majority of all who actually vote—shall ratify the call. Practically, there can be no change ever be made in this Constitution so long as any portion of the inhabitants desire to have it remain as now fixed.

A Constitutional Election is to be held on the 21st of next month, but not to determine whether the people approve or disapprove this Constitution. On that point, they are not allowed to vote—are allowed no voice whatever. They are allowed to vote only for the "Constitution with Slavery" or "Constitution without Slavery," as they may see fit.—But should a majority vote for the "Constitution without Slavery," that does not abolish nor end Slavery. All the slaves already in Kansas with their offspring, are to remain slaves forever, and both the Legislature and the People are forbidden ever to pass any act or make any change in the Constitution which shall "affect the right of property in the ownership of slaves."

The Legislature already elected by the People of Kansas is stricken dead by this Constitution. The power heretofore vested in the Governor to issue and canvass the votes of the People taken from him only—seisin … the President of this Convention John Calhoun—He is to appoint Commissioners who are to appoint judges at each polling place, which judges are to appoint the clerks—so that the whole has none of trust to It own hours appointed make their returns to John Calhoun, who declares the result. No chance for slip up as in the case of the detected frauds at Oxford, &c. In any possible case, Slavery is fastened upon Kansas beyond her power to shake it! provided Congress can be induced to accept this Constitution. And the calculation evidently is, that the Free state men will refuse to countenance this villainy by voting under it, so that the "Constitution with Slavery" will be triumphantly carried.

People of the United States! unless your Representatives reject this Constitution, Kansas is forever enslaved!—Will you not arouse and let your wishes be known?