The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-03
President Pierce's Views Of the Kansas War
INTERYIEX RETMEEN ExECuTIYa AND

President Fierce's Views of the Kansas War.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND TIE
DEPu1ATIoN FROM THE NATIONAL KANSAS CON-
MIrTEE.
The undersigned. in obedience to your instructions
waited on President Pierce on 3oth ut prayed his
inerpostion against the threatened slave ogarchc
OF Kansas. The following Is summary Of results
VIEWS THE PRESIDENT.
The opinions expressed by the Executive are substan
italy as i0llowsi-r
While government has been exhaustng It's constitutional
powers (Which limted to maintain order Kansas Aid
Societies have been actively stirring up rebellion fac
tons which they need not have concerned themselves
about and which would have all come right
ture. habits and education ul0 Of the boraermen,
It natural 10 find them excited by such a
agitation AT this crsi', the North instead Of sending
armed men, who went about boastlng Of the ability 10
protect themselves should have sent in order loving and
law abiding citizens should have ssent in peace seek
ing men, who would have promoted concord by moral
agencies-by BoIes rather than by shsrp's rifles.
Such a course would have strengthened the hands
of the President instead Of tying them, as they had
been The suierings OF the settlers are therefore o.
their seeking. and the legitimate fruits OF that
gunpowder bible preaching which they and their sup
por'ers at the North have advocated. Each side Is
doubtless TO blame Inaammatory appeals circulated
both south and North and reports false ated
put forth by heated partsans to str up sectional strife
their Designing and restless leaders agitation would
ceae, and SPEEDY end be put to the disorders
The iDterposition OF the Executive Is claimed by
both sides, each party urging against the other ex
actly the same ceargts. AT his distance from the
scene strife, the President cannot determine between
them His action must be guided by official reports.
Gen. Smith communicates very different condition
of things ON the exaggerated statements which have
gone abroad. No apprehension Of an armed invasion
need be apprehended. But should it happen, the
whole power OF the government will be exered 70 re-
pei II. come from whatever source Il may. The army
IN Kansas not there 70 prevent correct ourages,
unless they amount TO invasion instruction. The
civil power alone is competent 10 this. Application
should be made there. General smith bad power TO
redress the wrongs OF Mr. Strawn. He applied TO the
wrong quarter. lie should have gone the courts.
AS 10 granting him escort General Smith thought IT
Mr.. Smith smart enough TO fud his way safely
TO him without one, he ought to be able TO ind his
way back The courts are opt 10 all classes OF citizens
without distinction. No authentic Information has
reached the Executive OF Individual who has sought
redress Of wrongs at the banas Of the civil power in Kan
sn, and failed 10 Obtain H. II one such d been
presented, lie would st have )ved the o@eodng
Official II the ma GRITTY OF the people In Kan as had want
get was for the settlers among themselves 10 frown
dJwn all itaton growing out OF differences OF opnioa
TO local institutions. The Executive had always felt
focous about the Territory and bai exerted his
sutuuonal powers to their full xen, to preserve
order. The affair at Lawrence had given
him great arxcy and he at that tciegraphed both
TO Col. Sumner and Gov shannon, besides sending u
pecal (Here the President produced copies
OF bis teles fsrhic dispatches. which, beicve
net Gone by authority The President admits that
mistakes have been made, Is evident By his remoyal
o. Shannon. Bot an impartial man has now gone there,
who Will see justice done both parties i he should
catch either party in acts OF violence hey shall be hung
up on the pot The civil power OF the Territory must be
maintained
OPINIONS or TIE PRESIDENT
l. That government has not the power to protect emf
grants for the Territory because Of the cristic.
ton Of the States consequently outrsges commref
the highways OF the nation only be redressei by the
courts q the respective States whose soil such ols
RACES were committed
q That government has power 70 prevent OF re.
drc,s ouirsees committed within the Territory, except
through the civil arm or by martial law
That the military can only at the civil power a
Tosss conHotp'i consequently,
Government having provided legal mode Of re-.
dress for the feers aud strengthened by posse at
all times available, the fsuh with the settlers, where
they have JAILED % get protection or reress: they have
failed to get either because they Law abliog
citzens because they made application 10 the mitary
which Wa the wrong source from whence % seek il.
Tba. the mere possession Of arms by emigrau's
entering the Territory not Toiaa tdcis evidence o.
threatened invasion, and that the Possession OF
arms by settlers within the Territory s not primr
focis evidence of threatened instruction that
the bearing Of Is a constitutional privilege which
Distinguishes American citizens and then even govern
ment Itself has 10 light, under sucA circumstances, 10
daaIm them.
REPLY rHx COMMITTEE
Mr.. President, curing the eighteen months or more
that executive power has been exerted. asst u alleged
TO preserve peace Ia Kansas, and valny exsrted il
would seem from admissions here made the disorders
Of tha, Territory have grosn only worse AZ this
moment they more threat ming than ever; a
peaceful solution Of H. troubles seems still more
certain than al any period Of is former history The
President anrms that he has exhausted all his coasttu
toral powers. And yet orocr i not restored. Cnder
such crcuusfances may no, be worth while TO inquire
whether the germ Of tue evils not 70 be found In the
Territorial laws themselves
PEEsmEs-This question do not propose 70 discuss at
the present time.
CosNnTEK-From whatever source. then sir, the din.
culies In Kansas have originated this thing patent
70 the country aud the werd that ng all
the Efforts Of the government disorders " the fright
fol character have prevailed disorders that would
the worst dsposs OF the worst disorders vide
spread and 80 aocous b ody and Internal deeply
canning ana inhuman that 10 them the vretched
Inhabitants would make gain transferred 70 the despofc
governments q Russia OF Austria or o. France During
this dark reign Of blood and terrordurng this fearful
tempest Of violence and anarchythese unsolicited
victims OF plotted vengeance have broken no lac and
committed no crime. Dor hating slavery because they
loved liberty, all these things have come upon tn
such sr l. the nature and cha -acter of the events
which have trsnspred 10 Kansas during the past eigh
teen mt nths policy Of the government AZ representa-
lives Of the Nati0 lal Kansas Committee here
cay TO ask vhe her any change this policy OF the ad
minstratcn IL 70 be expected =
PpFS1nFSr-tNo, sirs There vii be none =
such gentlemen Of the National Kansas Committee ia
the substance ~ interview with President Pierce The
duty OF CONNER ting the fact here stated we leave 10
you. Our mission Is ended. Respectfully kc..