American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-12-13

in reality from the spirit Of revolutionar T,
attack on the domes,ic institutions of tn,
South, and, after troubled existence of ;
lew months, has been rebuked by the voice
OF patriotic people.
OF this last agitation. One lamentabls fea
tue was, that II was carried on nj the i'm
mediate expense OF the peace and happiness
OF the people OF the Territory OF Kansas.-
Ih's was made the battle field, not so much
OF opposing factions or interests within itself
as oi The conflicting passions of the whole
people Of the Uui,ed States. Revolutionary
disorder in Kansos had its origin in projects
OF intervention, deliberately arranged by
certain members Of that Congress, which
enacted the law for the organization of The
Territory. And when the props gandis, co.
lon'Zalion OF Kansas had thus been Under
taken in one section Of the Union, for the
systematic promotion Of its peculiar views
OF policy, there cnsued, as matter of course
a counter-action with opposite views. in
other sections Of the Union. .. ..#
! liz consequences Of these and other iuci.
dents. many acts OF disorder, it is undenia-
tle, have been perpetraied in Kansas to the
occasional interruption, rather than the per.
maEent suspension, Of regular government.
Aggressive and most reprehensibe incnr-
sions into the Territory were undertaken,
both in the north and the south, and entered
| IL on It's northern border BY way OF Iowa a 3
we'll as on the eastern by way OF Missouri ::
and there has existed within il n state Of in. d.
| surrecton against the constituted authorities
with countenance from incomsiderate per-
sons in each of the great sections of the u
| Mon. But the difficulties in that Territory
have beon ex'ravagnnty exaggerated for
| purposes of political agitation elsewhers.-
The number and gravity Of the acts OF vio-
lence have been ma2niiied partly by state,
menls entirely untrue, and partIy BY rete-
rated accounts OF the same rumors of facts
Thus the Territory has been seemingly filled
with extreme violence, when the whole a.
mount Of such acts has not been greater than
what occasionally passes before us in sin lie
cities to the regret Of all good citizens, but t
without being regarded as Of general or 20.
litical consequence.
Imputed Irregularities in the elections had
in Kansas, like occasional irregularities of
lhe same description in the States. were be.
! yond the sphere OF action Of the Executive
But incidents OF actual violence or OF organ
lZed obstruction Of law, pertinuciously re
! neweu rom time TO time, have been met as
| lhey occurred, by such means as were avail.
aoie ana as the circumstances required and
nothing oi this character now remains to af-
iect the general peace of the Union. The
attempt OF parl OF the inhabitants OF the
Territory to erect a revolutionary govefn-
ment, though sedulously encouraged & sup
/ pl'ed with pecuniary aid from active agents
OF disorder in some Of the States has com.
| pletely failed. Bodies Of armed men, for.
eign TO the Territory, have been prevented
from entering or compelled to leave it
Predatory bands, engaged in acts of violence
I under ba II
bances have been arrested or dispersed -
Ana every we'll disposed person is now ena-
bIed once more to devote himself in peace
10 the pursuits of prosperous industry, for
! the prosecution Of Which he undertook to
participate in the settlement OF the Terri.
| tory.
j, affords me unminged satisfaction thus
10 announce the peaceful condition of things
IN Kansas, especially considering the means
10 which II was necessary 10 have recourse
ior the attainment Of the end namely, the
employment OF part Of the military force
! ot The United States. The withdrawal Of
that iorco from its proper duty of defending
The country against foreign foes or sayagcs Of
tho frontier, TO employ it for the suppression
oi domestic InsurrcCtion, is, when the exi-
Gency occurs matter Of the most earnest
soi'citude. On this OCCASION OF imperativn
necessity II has been done with The best re.
SUITS, ana my satisfaction in the attainment
OF sncn results by such means is greatly en-.
Ianced by the consideration, that, through
the wisdom and energy of the presen, Exec
utive OF Kansas. and the prudence: :fiimness
ana vigilance Of the military officers on duty
there, tranquility has been restored without,
Que drop of blood having been shed in its
accomplishment by the forces of the United
States.
The restoration Of mpararive TRANQUILITY
IN that Territory furnishes the means Of ob.
serving calmly, aud reciating at their lust
Va'ue, the events which have occurred there.
ana the discussions Of which the goyeramcnt
oi the territory has been the subject.
we perceive that controversy concerning
us luture domestic institutions was inevita-
pie That no human prudence, no form of
iegIsia'lon, no wisdom on the part Of Con.
gFess, could have prevented this.
1t is idle TO suppose that the particular
provisions oil their organic law were the
cause OF agitation. Those provisions were
| Dul 'he occasion or the pretext Of an agita-
uOn' Which was inherent in the nature Of
ihings. Congress legisIated upon the subject
ln such terms as were most Consonant with
the principle Of popular sovereignty which
nnueriies our government. II could not have
legisiated otherwise without doing violence
10 another great principle Of our institutions,
The 'mprescfiptIble righ, Of equality Of the
| several States.
We perceive, also, that sectional interests
and party passions have been the great i'm
pediment In the salutary operation Of the
organic principles adopted, and the chief
cause OF the successive disturbances in Kan.
sas. The assumption that, because in the
| organization Of the Territories Of Nebraska
aud Kansas, Congress abslained from impos.
ing restraints upon them to which certain
other Territories had been subject, therefore
disorders occurred in The latter Territory, is
empho,ically contradicted by the fact tha,
none have occurred in the former Those
disorders were not the consequence, in Kan.
sas, OF the freedom Of self government con.
ceded TO that Territory by Congress but of
unjust interference on the part Of persons
mr. lob, r