Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-01
Governor Speech on Kansas
Affairs.


At a late " law and order convention held
at Leayenworth, Kansas Territory, Governor
Shannon presided, and, upon taking the chair,
delivered the following address, as reported by
the correspondent of the New York Tribune :
My FRIENDS AND FELLow.CITIzENs / now
for the FIRST time stand before many of you.
and | feel grateful for the kind reception you
have given me and honor you have shown me
IN assigning me the chair. / left home with
the intention of making his my future home.
There are parties who differ upon the question
OF the policy of your government in fact, an
excitement is now extant that must, for the
safety of the citizens, be brought to an end.
Applause. The first news / received upon
arriving in the Territory was shat the laws of
the Legislature were null and void, and not
binding upon the people. / had heard that
Governor Reeder had pronounced them null
and not binding, though the members Of that
body had received his seal, and took their
seats, as the members Of all legislatures do,
with the sanction of the governor. They had
enacted a set of laws Which could not be con-
sidered illegal. Cheers. Fellow-citizens, that
body of legislators we're elected on q day ap.
pointed by a call of the governor, and con.
yened at a point he had called them to, having
given them certificates of election. The legis-
lature appointed a day for the purpose of elect
ing q delegate to Congress, which was October
l. The faction that would not obey the laws of
the Legislature then started this revolutionary
movement to nullify its acts, and accordingly
appointed the 9Th Of October a day when they
would for themselves elect a delegate to Con.
gress. And for what reason did they do this {?
Why not vote for this delegate on the day ap-
pointed by the Legislature2 They dare not
face Whitfield on that legaHy-appointed dan!
Applause. If they could have got a maio-
rity Of votes at all, they could have got them
as well upon the lst rs the 9th of October;
and if Missouri votes had been polled, the lie.
g~islature had made laws that the polls could
be purged. Then, there was no reason for
holding the election on the 9th, unless to null
lily the laws of the Legislature. They have
no right thus to nullify the laws, If those
laws are unconstitutional the appeal is to be
made to the judicial tribunals Of the country.
But, instead Of appealing to the courts, these
gentlemen 90 to work and issue circulars and
notices to the effect that they have taken the
affairs Of government in their own hands, and
are going to elect a delegate to Congress and,
more, that they are going to frame a %constitu.
ton, and ask to be admitted into the Union
as a State. Who ever heard Of such a move.
ment? for one party to frame a constitution
Tor a State, or the entire people, without con.
sulting the other party. This comes in conflict
with the organic act, which says the people have
the rightto govern themselves. i have read their
calls, and looked them through attentively, and
can only see All attempt to usurp power BY
making that constitution. What would be said
if the other party should attempt to usurp that
power without the consent Of the people?
Would it be considered right2 Nay, it would
lead TO fatal consequences, and would make a
civil war. Applause. A State constitution
could not be accepted without all parties par.
ticipating. Why this haste2 With the excep.
ton Of California, it is without precedent.
There is no regular form prescribed by Con-
gress, and this should be conducted as in other
Territories. Let Congress issue some order.
Cheers. If the nuHtfers consider the laws
Of the Legislature wrong, let them appeal TO
some higher tribunal, and not take the law in,
their own hands, which is wrong by all the
regulations Of the organic act, which we should |
be proud Of. Cheers. They should remem-
Der the lessons taught by the great men of the
nation. We should all be mindful Of their
example. They cannot better their condition
by such revolutionary movements, such excite.
ments, misstatements, and resorting TO force
Of arms. The laws Of the legislature are not
properly understood, not yet being printed. '