The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-07


10 his Ereeency Frdnkln Pierce, President n As United
The undersigned your memoriasts members Of the
council and house representatives Of the Territory Of
Kansas respectfully represent That crisis has al length
arrived in the affairs OF this Territory which makes il i'm
peratye that you should interpose that govern
the wheels Of which have been dragging heavily
heretofore and which have at last a stand) may
be relieved Of the clog which has been attached it and
be enabled to more in its regular course
brief history of Territory, written and unwrtten
since its organization win enable you the causes
which have conduced this end and he remedy being
in your hands we and beeveyou will nothes
tate Immediately TO apply IL
On the 30th May 1884, (more than year since) the
bill opening the Territory for settlement of Missouri
and Iowa passed The public excited by the glowing
descriptions of those who had been in the Territory and by
the debates in Congress regarding the future political des
tiny Of this ewy-opened country immediately rushed
By thousands from every quarter of widespread
Union
No Territory organized by this government has
been peoped with half the rapdity Of this Cafor
mia, owing TO the unnatural stimulus above alluded to-
people thus numeroutbus diversified from birth eduea-
on previous associations and present intentions and OBJ
jecsrequred ii TO us for their government the
prompt action the part Of those called pre-
side them. From the month of May until October
there officers here the governor appointed TO
ganze the Territory under the provisions of the bill
irving in the latter month. So il aseertained
BY that he had arrived flor he ia any way
made it pubc) ii was presumed that he would immed-
aely order the of the Territory be taken an
election for members of the legislative assembly be held
aud call them together at once that laws might be
acted for the preservation of the public peace and
But what was the pursued by that official? The
citizens of Territory received him with open arms and
even in Missouri, the State bordering line he was
rendered supper the day Of his arrival enable him
to meet with the distinguished gentlemen of that section Of
Missouri together with the private citizens Of the vicinity
Received thus frankly and cordially both in Kansas and
the border urged time and again provide for the
election of egisaturethe people knowing of no laws
force and the governor himself having settled opn-
ion upon the snbectapponing justices of the peace in
various sections the Territory some Of whom enforced
the Pennsylvania the Ohio and the Missouri
code acting, matter of course under his instructions
STILL with all these various imperative necessities urging
his compliance he needed them not but assumed himself
to act the making power by prescribing the various
codes above and usurpng the powers Of the judiciary
in issuing writs, and sitting examining upon
charge of assault with intent KILL the prisoner being
at the time incarceated within the walls of prison. and
before discharging his reeognizance, which was taken
however by judge whose district has yet as
signed him
In the midst of all this confusion turning cooly from
those who had thus warmly welcomed him, assocating
with those only from particular section the Union
persstng in not adopting that which alone could
produce order from this chaos it is singular that loud
complaning should be heard and that sinister motives
should be attributed to him for his conduct
The governor then his course OF speculation
beginning by arraying himself directly in opposition to
the opinions of the general government expressed by
the Attorney General in relation to Delaware lands by
purchasing property those lands and stating that the
opinions of the law officer of the general were
incorrect and of force correct thus setting an exam
pie Of INSTRUMENTATION those less informed and which
may in Hcf hat,y
and the general unless the rights of the squat
tiers those lands recognised in conducting the sales
of them
He then tour of observation through the
Territory for the ostenshe purpose of preparing for
sus &C. but which, from his subsequent conduct proved
to be only of speculation for he known to be
shareholder in many Of the various town companies
throughout the Territory Finally in the month of Feb
ruary when the two feet in depth, he
ders to be taken, the Hercuean which had
so alarmed him) and it taken in about three
weeks under the unfavorabe circumstances above stated
proclamation then issued for an election of men,
bers the legislative assembly to be held the Both
March, 1855 said proclamation tanning section claim
ing by the the right decide contested elections
thereby claiming the right override the will of the peo-
pie expressed through the ballot box, and fill the
legislature with whomsoever he chose-viruay dsfran-
chng every in Kansas Territory and also enactng
Manequor law providing for the destruction of liquor
under certain crcumst anccs.
After the contest was and the result known he de-
laye the assembling of the body until the I'd day of JULY
more than three mouths aierward-and that too when
the whole Union convulsed on account of alleged
ourages in Kansas Territory and yet law for the
punishment prevention Of them When ut last they
did meet, upon the call Of the governor at point
where they had previously in informal manner pro-
tested against being called with avowal of their in
tenton to adjourn to the point at which they now as
sembed for the that the accommodations could not
be had where there facilities for communicating
find the food to unless at an enormous
expense there being gardens yet made by the SQUAT
ters; where the house in which were expected to as
sembe had roof door the Saturday preceding the
Monday Of assembling, and for the completion of
which the entire Sabbath day and night was desecrated
by The continued labor OF the mechanics who
And men who had assembled there for business or other
wise had TO camp in wagons and tents during rainy
hot season and cholera broke as consequence OF the
inadequate food and Shelter and when under all these
circumstances OF annoyance they finally passed an act
journing to this point, where ample accommodations
provided and where the himself previously made
it the seat OF government they by bis Veto which
is herewith transmitted. The bill was reconsdered by the
house in which it originated and passed by the major
ity prescribed by the organic act then acted upon by the
other house aud also passed by the prescribed major
iy copy Of which proceedings is herewith transmitted
Upon our assembling at this point in accordance with .
resolution passed and contemplated by the
law transmitted to you, passed various bills which