Cellar Kitchen Convention.—On Dec. 23, 1857, a large number of free-state delegates met in convention at Lawrence, to decide on the question of voting on the Lecompton constitution and electing state officers under it. In an address before the Kansas Historical Society on Jan. 17, 1882, Richard Cordley said: "The discussion proceeded for two days. The radicals were the most eloquent and high-toned; the conservatives were the most experienced and shrewd. The radicals comprised the younger men, who followed impulse and conviction; the conservatives comprised the more cautious men and the political managers. As the discussion progressed the breach widened rather than otherwise. There was no sign of agreement, and no ground of compromise was found. A vote was reached at last, and the radical policy was adopted by a decided majority. The conservatives thereupon withdrew to the basement of the Herald of Freedom office and organized another convention, which was known as the "Cellar Kitchen Convention."

This convention nominated candidates for state offices (see Denver's Administration), but at the election the candidates received only about half the votes of the free-state party. The failure of Congress to admit Kansas under the Lecompton constitution settled the whole matter, and the "Cellar Kitchen Convention" has been almost forgotten.