CONSTITUTION OF KANSAS—1858[1]
memorial
The delegates of the people of Kansas, in convention assembled, do respectfully memoralize Congress for admission into the Union, with the accompanying constitution:
ordinance
By the authority of the people of Kansas, be it ordained by this convention, irrevocably, that the State of Kansas will never, without the consent of Congress, interfere with the title of the United States to the public domain, or unsold lands within the limits of said State, or the primary right of the United States to dispose of the same, or with any regulation which Congress may prescribe for securing the title thereof to purchasers in good faith; and also that no tax or other assessment shall be imposed upon the lands belonging to the United States: Provided, That the conditions following shall be accepted and agreed to by the Congress of the United States: First. The sections numbered sixteen and thirty-six in every township, including Indian reserve or trust lands, in said State (and where either of such sections, or any part thereof, has been sold, or otherwise alienated or appropriated, other lands, equivalent thereto, as nearly contiguous as possible) shall be granted to the said State exclusively for the use of common schools. Second. That seventy-two sections of land shall be set apart and reserved for the use and support of four district colleges, to be located in the four equal divisions of the State; said lands to be selected by the governor of the State, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of the General Land-Office. Third. That thirty-six sections of land, to be selected by the governor of said State, shall be granted to said State for the purpose of the erection of public buildings at the seat of government, and the erection of buildings for the various public benevolent institutions created by the State constitution. Fourth, That the salt-springs, and gold, silver, copper, lead, or other valuable mines, not exceeding twelve in number, with six sections of land adjacent, shall be granted to the said State, to be selected, used, or alienated, as may hereafter be prescribed by law. Fifth. That 5 per centum of the net proceeds of the sales of public lands within said State, sold by Congress after the admission of said State into the Union, shall be paid to the said State for the purpose of creating a common-school fund, the principal to be held sacred, and the interest to be applied to the education of the children of Kansas. Sixth. That each alternate section of land now owned, or which may hereafter be acquired by the United States, lying for six miles in width on each side of the following lines of railroads, shall be granted by Congress to the State of Kansas: 1st. Commencing on the Missouri State line, at some point south of the fourth standard parallel line, and traversing Southern
- ↑ This constitution was adopted at a convention which met at Mineola March 23, 1858, adjourned to Leavenworth March 23, 1858, and completed Its labors April 3, 1859. It was claimed that it was submitted to the people of Kansas third Tuesday of May, A. D. 1858, and ratified, receiving 4,346 votes against 1,257 votes.
