Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-12-10
VOL. 4. NO. I.

| pAChcutcu hoHi chsciiuS VI SOupCiSa " iCoN0
it Predatory bands, engaged in acts Of rap
ine under cover of the existing political distur-
Dances, have been arrested or dispersed. And
every well disposed person isnow enabled once
more to devote himself in peace to the pun suits
OF prosperous industry, for the prosecution of
| which he undertook to participate in the set
Element of the Territory.
1t affords me unmiugled satisfaction thus
TO announce the peaceful condition of things
in Kansas, especially considering the means
to which it was necessary to have recourse for
| the attainment of the end. namely, the employ
ment cf part of the military force of The Uni
ted States The withdrawal of that force from
its proper duty of defending the country against
foreign foes or the savages of the frontier, to
employ it for suppression of domestic insurrec-
ton, is, when the exigency occurs, a matter
of the most earnest ,olicitude
On this occasion of imperitive necessity it has
been done with the best results, and nv salts
faction IN the attainment of such results, by
such means is greatly enchanced by the consid-
Grafton that, through the wisdom and energy
of the present Executive of Kansas, and the
| prudence, 6rmness and vigilance of the mill
tary officers on duty there, tranquility has been
! restored without one drop of blood having
been shed in its accomplishment by the forces
of the United States.
Iuc TcStoTdtIOu OI comparative tranquility
| in that Teriit,ry furnishes the means of OBJ
| serving camly, and approaching at their just
value, the events which have occurred there,
and the discussions of which the government
OF the Territory has been the subject
We perceive that controversy concerning
Its future domestic institutions was inevitable,
that no human prudence, no form of legisla-
| ton. no wisdom on the part of Congress,
| could have prevented this
1t is idle to suppose that the particular
provisions of the organic law were the cause
of agitation. These provisions were but tho
occasion. or the pretext of agitation. which
was Inherent in the nature Of things. Con-
grcss leg:slated upon the subject in such
terms as were most consonant with the prin-
eiple of popular sovereignty which underlies
our government 1t could not have lesisla-
ted otherwise without dong violence TO aBo.
ther great principle of our Institutions. the
inprescriptbie right of equality OF the several
States
We perceive, also, that sectional interests
and party passions, have been the great i'm
pediment to the salutsry operation of the or
ganic principles adopted, and tue chief cause
of the successive disturbances in Kansas
The assumption that, because in the organi-
zation of the Territories of Nebraska and
Kansas. Congress abstained from imposing
restraints upon them to which certain other
Territories had been subject, therefore disor-
ders occurred in the latter Territory, is en-
phaticatly contradicted by the fact that none
have occurred in the former.
Those disorders were not the consequence.
in Kansas. OF the freedom of self government
conceded to that Territory by Congress. but
o. unjust interior ence on the part of persons
not inhabitants of the Territory. Such inter
ference, wherever it has exhibited itself. by
acts OF lnsurrectionary character, or of OBJ
s'ruction to processes of law. has been repel-
led or suppressed, by all the means which the
Constitution aud the laws place In the hands
OF the Executive
In those parts Of the United States where
by reason of the q lmed state of the public
miiid, false runners and misrepresentation have
Size greatest Currency, it has been assumed
that IT was the duty OF the Executive not on
iy to suppress insurrectionary movements in
Kansas, but also to see to the regularity of
local ci c;ioas, 1t needs little argument to
SHOW that ihe President has no such DOW
er All government in the United States
r7-sls Substantially upon popular election The
Freei"an of elections is liable to be impaired
i,y the Intrusion of unlawful votes, or the ex-
eius'oo cf lawful ones, by improper iausuces,
by violence or fraud.
Blu: the people of the United States are
themselves the all-su ieieni guardians of their
pwn rights and co suppose tait they Will not
renitd dy. N due season, any such incidents of
civ;i freedom. is to suppose them to have eeas-
ed 10 be capable OF seif-governmept The
President of The United States has not power
to lnlesrese IN elections, TO see TO their free
dom. ID canvass their votes. or to pass upon
their legality in the Territories any more
than iD the States.
IF / had such power the government Nigh,
be republican 10 form. but it would be mon
archy in fact: and if he had undertaken to
exercise It in the case of Kansas, he would
have been IN tly subject to the charge of u.ur-
patton. and OF violation of the dearest rights
of the people Of the United States.
Urwise laws, equally with Irregularities at
elections, are, in periods of great excitement.
the occasional incidents Of even the freest
and best political institutions. But all expe-
rience demonstrates that in country like ours.
where the right of self constitution exists in
the completest form. the attempt to remedy
unwise legislation by resort to revolution, Is
totally out of place; inasmuvh as existing le-
gal Institutions afford more prompt sad efica-
cious means fos the redress of wrong
l confidently trust tiiat now when the
peaceful condition of K nsas affords opportu-
nit, for calm reflection and wise leeislation
either the legislative assembly of the Terrific
ry, or OF Congress. will see that no act shall
remain on its statute book volatiye of tho
provisions of the Constitution, or subversiye
Of The great objects for which that vas or
da.neel and established. and viii take all other
oecassary steps to assure to It's Inhabitants TIE
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