Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-08-24
Mr.. Niles Letter.

j VI. Niles late l. ). Senator from Con-
necticut has been long known as a member of
the old Democratic party. lie has written
letter to the Hartford Republican, in which
he gives his views of the pro-slavery action of
President Pierce's Administration in very
plain terms.
After referring to remark Of his to this
effect. that in journey to the West of 1000
miles, he had found no one to defend the pres
ent administration, he continues
Tho idea intended to be conveyed was, that
the administration must be sunk very low
with the whole people, when ON tour oi
four thousand miles, embracing ten statcs
and ono territory, and cOnvcrsing with all
sorts Of persons, and hearing conversations
| among others, we in no instance witnessed II
defence Of the administration by a single in
/ diyidual. We saw and conversed with several
| persons, somc gentlemen Of distinction, whose
! position is such that they may be regarded
as giving their support to the administra,
ton but they did not defend it-and one OF
| them. distinguished editor in OHIO, seemed
| to admit that this administration was the
heaviest burden his party had to sustain,
Whether the circumstances which fell
under our observation indicated the true
! state Of public sentiment at the West, Will
oiler no opinion, as that question Will soon he
! decided by the elections and yet the eloc-
tions. involving state as well as national is
sues. will by no means fully indicate the
! public sentiment, as from the influence oi old
| political associations and party drill, thou
sands who disarprove oil every important
measure OF this administration, will vote for
candidates who, after the election, will be
! pallpd admin tion mon
That the great states in the West, whose
institutions are based on the principles of
freedom contained in the ordinance of l7s7,
should be opposed to the present administra-
tion, ought not, we should think, to surprise
/ any one. All the arts and sophlstry OF poll
hclans, with their Jargon about popular
sovereignty cannot prevent men OF sense ana
. ordinary intelligence from percelvlng that ail
the power and influence of this administra-
tion has been used to attempt to force slavery
into Kansas; st, by repeating the restric-
ton which excluded it in the Missouri Com
promise secondly, In appointing all the oll-
. Gers oil the territory. judges, attorney, sccre-
tary and governor-as was supposed-who
Hre lIo-siavery men anu thlruly, IN 'ne au-
/ 'ii"Istlatl'h counVen'noiis "uu up''oiI'"5
ync ou'I"Ers pci te,latou p1. .'lo poopW " W
N',s's ~ III iiii'u 0'Au' VI humans 'io'i -'''
sou''
What il the relation Of the President to
the territory Very different from what it
is to state. IF lawess disorders arise in Il
state-which is an independent government
in itself, with all the organs of power-it is
not the duty of the President to interfere.
nor has he the power to do it, unless in case
OF lnsurrecton or rebellion, and requisition
lS made upon HIM by the Governor But 1t
is very different IN territory, which exists
under federal law and authority, where there
are no other laws, and where the federal
/ government mas exclusively jurisdiction.
The law organizing the territory is not
local act, but the law Of the United States,
which the President has taken an oath to
support; yet he permits it to be violated, and
the federal authority to be overthrow. In
this extraordinary course is not the Presi
dent making himself a party to these
outrages and if civil disorders come, and
blood Is she'd, will he not, in moral point of
view at least, he responsible for 1t The
people OF Kansas appeal to INN lor protection
!" Nnln nc tuilIt neui ln'.ii i'o o'n oniy
''ai ""'H "'i wiz" ""u '''''i'oN
The neglect OF the executive to enforce the
laws and rcpress violence and outrage upon
the rights and liberties OF the people OF Kansas
IS as much an abuse OF power as the commits
-
ming the territory OF Kansas and extending
'"' Id" VI '..o N.Y. o'"Voe ONei ~ 'io S''
trhintht .iT invited settlers mere ana pleuSed
rs I"''" !" I'o'cc' mem l" tHc c"JoS in'"V o'
a., 'n'1' gus "i'oi t''' aot u VI iA'''ot
"ncNr" '"'"'' 'nI nv " w 60 DIe"c'
VI l"it' 'o""iu' ''i1 fI?ptc u t'io te'i''o'S
as WellH as Il gross uereilc'loh Oh uuty'
Among the charges brought against the
King OF Great Britain by our ancestors, and
offered as reasons for revolution or sera-
ration one was 'that ne had aodicated gov
crnment, leaving the people oi the colonies
exposed to anarchy and IS not the grave
charge equally applicable to our President
. Has he not abdicated government in Kansas,
leaving the people not only exposed to anar-
chv, but to invasion and oppression from Il
ncighboring state. The astonishing fact j.
now proclaimed to the world that slavery has
raralyzed the government and palslcd the
arm OF power. 1t Is now avowed, not oy
+ words but ny Ieeds, that the authority o
the government Is not TO be exercised 10 up
mold freedom
l. not the federal government in its pres
ent hands, as much of slave government as
that of South Carolica Such is the result
Of that system, which was founded, as is de-
clared in the preamble to the constitution
- to establish justice, and to secure to the
ETOlt' N 'e'' f'Ni''J '"N Ni9So "
liberty
Here are antagonisms which it would seen
must unavoidably lead to violence and ciy
strife But the few thousand men in Kansa:
p cannot defend themselves against the hordei
which will pour in upon them from Missouri
: with cannon and all the preparations fuI
q actual war. Are they then to be extermi
q mated or driven out of the territory, and Kan
sas given up to slavery, and to become mere
p appendage to Missouri ! Will those, whether
a North or South, who have proper sense of thu
& cnormty Of these outrages, and the basenes
that territory under the laws and authority