THE WYANDOTTE CONVENTION AN ADDRESS, Delivered By JOHN A. MARTIN, ——at the—— Re-Union of the Members and Officers ——of the—— WYANDOTTE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. HELD AT WYANDOTTE, KANSAS, JULY 29, 1882. ATCHISON, KAS: HASKELL & SON, PRINTERS. —1882.— THE WYANDOTTE CONVENTION. MR. PRESIDENT: It is often charged that participants in assemblages of this character are apt to exaggerate the importance of the occasion they commemorate, and after the manner of one of our poets, sing in chorus: "I celebrate myself." Perhaps I can speak of the Wyandotte Convention and its work without being accused of this self-gratulation; for I was more of an observer of its proceedings than a participant in them. I recorded what was done, but I had no part or lot in the doing. If its work had been crude or weak, I could not fairly have been held responsible for the failure. As it was strong, efficient and enduring, I can felicitate you, the survivors of those who wrought this great service for Kansas, without a suspicion of self-praise. KANSAS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. Four Conventions framed Constitutions for this State. The first assembled at Topeka, on the 23d of October, 1855, and adjourned on the 11th of November, after a session of twenty days. It was composed of forty-seven members, of whom thirty-one signed the Constitution. On the 15th of December this instrument was submitted to the people for ratification or rejection. Only 1,777 ballots were cast, all but 46 being favorable. One of its sections, a provision excluding negroes and mulattoes from the State, was submitted as an independent proposition, and adopted by an affirmative vote of 1,287, to 453 against it.