Squatter sovereign., 1855-07-24

dustriously prosecuted in the past history Of
our country by the destructive spirit of ab.
olitionism can never be productive Of augh
but evil and Is calculated in an eminent de.
gree 70 obscure the glores of the past, tc
evoke the fcnless spirit Of discord among
the citizens OF our common country, anc
also TO mar cur brilliant future, If no, en-
danger the existence OF our cherished Unior
A want of fidelity to the solemn compact.
of the constitution, and a attack upon the
rights OF the States which are guaranteed
by it, can have no justification or excuse
This view Of TIE case however is not to be
confounded with the discussion and settle
ment of the slavery question in our Terri
tory In its bearings upon the formation OF
our institutions. That has been referred
to US as an open question by the legitimate
action OF the Nation, and here it is not only
the privilege but the duty Of every man tc
speak his opinions freely and enforce them
peaceably and fairly. Advocate and OPP
ponent stand on the same ground and must
mutually concede to each other the iden;i-
cal measure of right which they claim for
themselves. Freedom OF opinion and free
dom of discussion without RIGHTEOUSNESS are
of the very essence OF republicanism at ali
times are to be peculiarly respected here.
The permanent character and high author
ity of a State Constitution and the fact Of
its submission to direct vote Of the peo-
pie of the Territory indicate that event as
a signal occasion for the decision of that
peculiar question. In the meantime, how
ever, Territorial Legislature may un-
doubtedly net upon the question tc a limit
ed and partial extent, and may temporarily
prohibit, tolerate or regulate slavery in the
Territory, and in an absolute or modified
form with all the force and effect Of any
other Legislative act binding until repealed
by the same power that enacted it.
Among the several subjects Of legislation
which are referred to your action by the act
organising the Territory, is the creation
and defining Of counties. The non-com-
pletion of the surveys would seem at first
to require resort to natural boundaries in
the performance of this work, but from a
map Of projected surveys made in the Of
fec of the Surveyor General and kindly
furnished me for the purpose it is probable
the county lines may be designated in ad-
vance at least over portion Of the Terri
tory. You will decide whether it is expe-
dient to provide that the said designation
shall be made before the lines are run on
the ground. Of the eighteen ranges east
on the base line, and the tbirty-five town.
ships south, the lands lying within town
ships one to fifteen south Of range nine to
eighteen east. and cont in,ling on to the
Missouri river and State line will be first
surveyed. Outside Of these limits it would
perhaps be premature to ADOPT the project
ed lines of survey as boundaries OF coun-
ties. The map alluded to is submitted
with this communication.
The census Of the Territory, taken under
the provisions Of the act of Congress ex-
hibits return of two thousand nine hund-
red and four qualified voters, and an entire
population of eight thousand five hund-
red and twenty-one persons, exclusive OF
Indians and officers. soldiers and employ
ees of the army of the United States, not
residing in the Territory. The census re-
turns which are submitted for your inspec-
ton contain q considerable amount of sta
tistical information. such as the place OF
emigration, ages, occupations, SC. This
population consists Of five thousand one
hundred and thirty-eight males, and three
thousand three hundred and eightv-three
females. and i; is fact worthy of remark
as peculiar TO u great extent to this Terrific
ry that they are not IS usual collected
about one point or along frontier line.
but are dispersed over q district OF more
than Is, 900 square miles. This state of
things. although it has its inconveniepces
at present. is nevertheless highly gratify-
ing, as it indicates that our Territory has
many points of strong interest, and prom
ises an early development of our resources
In obedience to the act of Congress
have until otherwise provided by law divi-
ded the State into Judicial Districts desig-
mated the places for courts, and assigned
the Judges as stated in my proclamation
of the o6th of February last, which to-
gether with all the other proclamations
from the Executive department will be SUI
mitted to you. The designation of terms
of the Supreme Court was pnrposely omit
ted for the reason that my action was only
provisional until the subject could be COM
nitted to your charge, and tbe jurisdiction