Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1856-12-06

s ton ofthe Executive Batiaiaents os actual xo
lenceor oforganized obstructien.of Iaw, perth ci
onsIy renewed from time TO time have been met q
they occurred, by such means as were AM
as the circumstances required and nothing OF thi
character nov remainsto affect the general peace Q
the uIlon. The attempt of part of the fnhabltann
o. the Territory to erect revolutionary government
though sedulously encouraged and supplied will
pecuuiary aid from active agents ofdisorder in some
of the States, has completely failed Bodies ofaruled
mem foreign to tho Territory, have been prevented
from entering compelled to- Ieaye 1t. Predatory
bands, engaged in acts of rap under cover of the
existing political disturbances, have been arrested
or dispersed. And every wei disposed person is
now enabled once to devote himselfln peace to
the pursuits prosperous Unjust u for the prOseca-
ton Of which he undertook to partie pate in the set
Element the Territory.
II affords me .unmingled satisfaction thus to an
nounce the peaceful condition of tn ngs in Kansas,
especially considering the means to which it is ne
cessary TO have recourse for the attainment of the
end, nancy, the employment ola part of the mill
tary force of the United States Tie wi hdrawal OF
that force from its proper duty of defending the
country against for-ign foes the savages of the
frontier to employ it for the suppression of domes-
tic Instruction, is whefthe exigency occurs, mat
ter of the most earnest solvitade on this occast
ofimperatiye necessity ii las been done with the
best results, and ny sstisactienin the attainment
of such results by such means IS greatly enhanced
by the consideration, that tlrsugh the wisdom and
energy of the preseat Executive Of Kansas, and the
prudence irmness and vigilance of the military of
fcers duty there, tranquility has been restored
without one drop of blood having been shed in It's
accomplishment by the forces Of the United States
Territory furnishes the mean5 of observing calmlyi
and approaching attheir just alue, which
have occurred there, and the discussions OF which
the government of The sTerritors has been subject
We perceive that controsers concerning its fr-
ture domestic institntions was fnsY table and no
human prudence no form islation, no wisdom
the part of Congress, could have prevented this
is idle to suppose that the particular provisions
of their organic law the cause of agitation
Those provisonsSwere butthe occasion, or pretext
of an agitation, winch waJ inherent in the nature of
things. Congress lcgislated upon the ssbject in
such terms as were most consonant with the princi
pie of popular sovereignty which underlies gov
ernment. 1t could not have legsated otherwise
without doing violence to another great principle of
Institutions the inprescriptible right of equa-
ity of the several Sthtes. We perceive also, that
sectional interests aud party passious have been the
great impediment.to the salutary OF Grafton of the
organic principles adopted, aud the Chief cause Of
the successive disturbances in Kansas.
The assumption tiat, because in the organization
of the territories Of Kansas and Nebraska Congress
9restrained from imposing restraints upon them to
which certain other territories had been subject
therefore, disorders occurred in the former territory
is emphaticay contradiced by the fact that none
occurred in the latters
nv
Those disorders were not the Consequences IN
Kansas of the freedom OF sclfgo1c1 nmen conceded
to that territory by Congress, but of unihst inter-
ference on tue part persons not Inhabitants of
the Territory. Such inter ference wherever it has
exhibited ITSELF by acts Of in5urrcctionary character
or of obstruction 20 processes Oflaw, has been
PEELED or suppressed, by means which the Constitu-
ton and the !aws.place in the hands OF the Exec
utive.
In those parts Of the United States where, by
reason of the inhamed state of the public mind,
false rnmors and Misrepresentation have the great
lest currency it haSbeen assumed that it was the du-
ty OF the Executive not only to suppress insurrec-
tonary movements in Kansas but also to see to the
regularity OF local elections. II needs little argu-
ment to show that the President has no such power
All government in the United States rests substan-
TALLY upon popular election. The freedom of cleo
ouS IS lloie oy Inc intrusion otun-
lawful votes, or the cxclusi n Of lawful ones, by
improper influences, ny violence, or by fraud But
tie people of the United States arc themselves the
al -sntlc ent guardians OF their own righss and TO
suppose that they will not remedy, in due season.
any such incidents ofciyil freedom, is to suppose
them to have ceased to be capable of selEgovern-
mcnt. The President of the United States has not
power 10 interposc in eeetons,o seeto their free
DOM to canvass their votes or TO pass nponst
legality IN tue IerutorleF intre Il1'a IN the
United States lf he has 5sps'' power the govern
ment might be sreptfb ical form, bat il would be
a'monarchy intact and II he lad andertaken 70
exercise it in the case Kansas he
Justly su6Jeetto the charge OF usurpatfon, and5ot
violation the dearest rights OF the people OF the
United nss. a'@.ess
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eraas o. n o,i visS
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