The daily union., 1856-03-27


Of the State given by the charter government itself
gave the sanction Of their votes The body OF the peo-
pie OF Rhode Island then proceeded under the authority
OF the constitution elect State officers They elect
ed executive and legislature and this executive and the
legislature Ia the OF the constitution received not
only the Of majority Of the people bat majority OF
the legal under the charter But the authorities
under the charter would yield up the power which II
had placed Ia their hands and claimed TO be the govern
the danger OF between the parties became imminent
Military forces were arrayed one side and on the
other and that critical menacng conjuncture occurred
in Rhode Island which has occurred in Kansas. The ex
ecutiye de fdcto called the Executive OF this nation
to WELD It's power 10 put down insurrecuons, 10 pre-
collisions and the shedding OF blood by brethren
in deadly conflict The President OF the United States
declared his psrpose TO sustain the government de tact
as the one known to the constitution and laws; and
what the resut There was no hostile conflict The e
gsatue elected under the constitution thus set sepa
raed-the executive fed. The government de aeto was
permitted TO exercise all its powers and what then hap
pened Were those who thus yielded trampled the
earthdespoed of their rghts-because they submitted
TO the existing government oppressive though seemed to
be- rather than engage IN conflict not sanctioned by awf
No. sir the evils complained Of by them remeded by
their presenting themselves at the polls at the subsequent
| election, and speaking through the balotboxes. The
wrongs which they had endured were redressed by their
own strength and power not exerted field OF bat
tlenot displayed amid OF turbulence and strife
and filling whole country with fear "tha anarchy was
come again by the decided yet peaceful expression OF
their opinions at the times and places and in the modes
prescribed by law And now sir, the Executive OF the
United States has been called in the present case to
in what may possibly be similar circumstances and he
has declared his intention to exercise that power That
power will be exercised If it be necessary as 1t would
that Illegal assemblage which claims TO exercise the
powers of government in the .kansas Territory under
the authority of constitution which has been set up by
them and their contederates in opposition TO the existing
government which established there by the concurrent
action of the national Congress aud the Executives and
secondly it will be exerted for the purpose of preventing
the intrusion of all those into the Territory with the in
tent and design interfere with the exercise OF the rights
given the inhabitants of that Territory by the territorial
act whether they pro-slavery men ant-slavery
menwbether they from the North or from the South
And will be exered to prevent repress the disor
ders and violence no matter how excited provoked,
which would be calculated hinder disturb the
else of the right the real inhabitants of the Territory to
| the most PEE feet freedom of suffrage
The contestant in this claims to be delegate rep
resentng the people Of the Territory of Kansas Let us
not forget that that contestant governorthe chief
executive authority in the Territory of these
disturbances which have been loudly spoken Of al
legged to have taken place If they had had existence
his duty-and he false to his obligation to the
country be false TO bis oath of Office if he failed to
discharge Ito Inform the Executive Of the United States
of their occurrence and to call him to interpose his
power prevent their reprss them Had
he done so-admitting for one moment that any facts
eounenaneing the contestants present allegations were
in existence at the time he speaks othe troubles and
disturbances which said since broken out there
would have occurred, and frightened from their
propriety But be tailed to discharge his duty if the facts
did exist and he urges bis friends here after he
has violated his duty his country in department OF
tia government violate their duty to the nation their
duty to the constitution their duty to the rights of
in another department OF ths government and insists that
they should take step In opposition every principle of
public law-o every dictate Of sound pocyand to every
motive of personal proprieywhich may result In con-
test in which faernal blood may be she'd unless the spirit
oflawessaea3 end violence which stalking through
the land is laid by counses Of mingled frmness and mod
GRAFTON.
Now sir we have high duty to perform; and the ques
ton arises How shall perform in acting upon the
question before us2 My opinion is that shall best
discharge 1t by throwing aside this contest which has no
existence in fact for which there legal ground with
respect which there is evidence which men hav
ing respect fer themselves can act and by allowing time
pass by for the exercise of the power which the national
legislature has conferred on the Executive Let us wait
until another election arrives il II be true as these gen.
temen assert that there large majority Of persona
terainng the sentiments which they seen 70 entertain
settled in Kansas Territory what wonl5 be the result
of such course2 If the executive power be exercised
the intrusion of armed men-of those persous spoken OF
border rufsnsw be prevented and any violence no
matter from what quarter comes will be repressed, and
the inbabap tthe bona de settlers-will have an op
poruny of giving expression to their sentiments freely
through the balot-boK Then the changes which they
desire make in the legislation Of the country will be
made peacefully, rghully through the exercise Of the
only power which is legtmate-the only power which
sSy american citizen desire to have exerted In such
couestls power of the individual citizen, acting with
his peers and speaking With sovereign authority through
the ballot-box.
Bot sir may be said that different result may take
place 1t Is possible but think that ought not 70
allow possibilities that are extremely improbable contro
or even influence our action It S our duty to wait until
esy exercise his power these inyasons not prevent
ed If these instances Of pretended violence not re-
pressed then will be the time for this House. in the
else OF its constitutional duty, This House is the
great inquest of the nation II may institute inquiry
into the conduct of the Chief Magistrate II may prefer
against him articles Of impeachment for violation Of his
official duty &c further II the Executive should fail to
do his whole duty il would then not only be proper for
this House to proceed against him by preerrng articles o
Impeachment but ii would be the bounden duty of Con-
gesR-of the national legislaureto notice it, and take
the subject would then be competent for them
TO engage in inquiries for the purpose Of asceranng the
facts not for the purpose Of deciding contested election
in this House not for the purpose Of deciding contested
election in any other House. but for the purpose Of inform
1t should not exercise the Legislative power Of the nation
either for the purpose Of creating machinery for the
purpose Of efectuay securing the people of Kansas
in the exercise Of their just rights change modify
what nov exists.
This sir according to my view Is the true course and
II Is not only the pointed by reason IL s the
which every true lover of his country ought in
sst upon because you cannot tell In the unknown future
what may follow improper action. Why sir this Ia
government which is based solely upon The consent of
the citizens this Is government in which all power Is
to be exercised nationally this 10 government whether
he regarded extending over all onr possessons in y
tue OF the constitution Of the United States whether IL
be regarded existing in the particular States under the
State constitutions in the organized Territories under
the authority Of the national legslature-t is, / say
government which exists under and by authority Of law
and n which there provided for the exercise OF
all power In peaceful and legitimate way II the
which have indicated be pursued matter what diff
cptes may exist in Kansas they will terminate peacefully
Right viii in the end triumph.
IT. the contrary by the irregular action Of the House
an extraordinary stop should be takenif by the egu
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