The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-02-07


olutionary acts; for the constitutional
means Of relieving the people of unjust ad-
ministration and laws, by change of pub
lie agents and by repeal, arc ample, and
more prompt and effective than illegal vio-
lcnce. These constitutional means must be
scrupuousy guar'led-ths great prcroga-
tive of popular sovereignty sacredly res
pected.
1t is the undoubted right of the peaccable
and orderly people Of the Territory of Kan
sas to elect their own Legislative body, make
their own laws, and regulate their own So
cial institutions, without foreign or domestic
molcstation. Interference OH the one hand,
to procure the abolition or prohibition of
slave labor in the Territory, has produced
its maintenance or introduction. One wrong
begets another. Statements entirely un-
founded, or grossly exaggerated, concerning
events within the Territory, are scdu.ousIy
dlfilsed through remote States to feed the
flame of sectional animosity there; and the
agtators there exert themselves indcf:.tig.-
bly, i'll return to encourage and stimulate
strife within the Territory
The inflammaory agitation, of which the
present is but IL part, has for twenty years
produced nothing save unmitigatcd evil,
North and South. But for it, the character
OF the domestic institutions OF the future
new State w0uid have been Il matter of too
little interest to the inhabitants of the con-
tignous States, personally or collectively, to
produce among them any political emotion.
Climate. soil, production, hopes of rapid
advancement and the pursuit Of happiness
on the part Of the settlers themselves, with
good wishes, but with no interference from
without, would have quietly determined the
question, which is at this time Of such dis
turbing character.
But we are constrained to turn our attcn-
ton to the circumstances Of embarrassment
as they now exist. it is the duty Of the
people of Kansas to discountenancc every
act or purpose of resistance to its laws
Above all, the emergency appeals to the
citizens of the States, and especially Of those
contiguous to the Territory, neither by in
tcrvention of non-rcsidents in elections, nor
by unauthorized military force, to attcnr.
to cncroach upon or usurp The authority of
the inhabitants Of the Territory.
1ro uIIacn vi our country should permit
himself to forget that he is part Of its
government, and entitled to be heard in the
determination of its policy and its measures,
and that, therefore, the highest considcra-
tions of personal honor and patriotism re-
quire him to maintain, by whatever Of
power or influence he may possess, the in
tegrity Of the laws of the republic.
Entertaining these views, it will bc my
imperative duty to exert the Whole power
OF the Federal Executive to support public
order in the Territory; to vindicate its laws
whether federal or local, against all attempts
of organized resistance; and SO to protect
its people in the establishment of their own
institutions, undisturbcd by cncroachnent
from without, and in the full enjoyment of
the rights of set.govcrnment assured to
them 10y the constitution and the organic
act Of Congress.
Although serious and threatening dis
turbances i'll the Territory of Kansas, an
nounced to me by the governor in Deem
Der last, were speedily quictcd without the
cfflson of blood, and in satisfactory man
ner, there is, regret to say, reason to ap-
prchcnd that disorders will continue to oc-
cur there, with increasing tendency to vio-
lencc, until some decisive measure be taken
to dispose of the question itself, which con-
stitutes the inducemcnt or occasion of in
tcrnal agitation and of external interference.
| This, it seems to me, can best be accom-
plishcd by providing that, when the inhabi-
tants of Knnsas may desire it, and shall be
Of sufficient numbers to constitute State,
convention of delegates, duly elected by
the qualified voters, shall assemble to frame
constitution, and thus to prepare, through
regular and lawful means, for its admission
into the Union rs State.
respectfully recommend the enactment
Of law to that effect.
I recommend, also, that special appro
priation be made to dcfray any expense
which may become requisite in the exccu-
ton of the laws or the maintenance of pub
lie order in the Territory of Kansas.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
| What's in a Name e"-At recent
meeting Of the Asiatic Society, the Secre.
1 - Al, \