Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-12-12

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ernnlei.t Of the Territory has been subject
We perceive that controversy concerning
its future domestic Institutions was newt.
/ able; tti@t no human prudence, no forse d
Legislation, no wisdom on the part Of Con
grsss, could have prevented this.
| II i Idle to suppose that lhe particular
proyis iods Of their organic law were flle
cause Of agitation. Those provisions were
but the occasion, or the pretcxt Of an agi;a-
ton, Which was inherent in The nature d
,bings. Congress iegisIated upon the SUBJ
Ject IN such terms as were most consoaani
with the principle ot popular sovereignty
which uaderlies our government. i, could
not have leglslated otherwise without deing
violence 70 another great principle Of our
institutions, the impfeseiptible right oi
equality Of the several States.
Wepefeeiye, also, that sectional interests
and party passions. have been the great i,rl-
pediniens 10 the sAlutary operation of the
Organic principles adopted, and the chiel
cause Of tie successive disturbances in Kan-
sas- I.e assumption that because in the
organization of tue Territories of Nebraska
aud Kansas, Congress abstained FROM I'M
posing restraints upon them TO which Ger
tain other Territories had been subject,
therefore disorders occurred in the latter
Territory, is>e.aphaticaliy contradieted by
the fact that none have occurred in the for
mer. Those disorders were not the conse-
qRcnee, in Kansas. of the freedom Of self
government conceded to that Territory BY
Congress, bur Of unjust interference on the
part of persons not inhabitants Of the Ter
ritory. Such interference, wherever il has
exhibited itself, By acts Of lnsurrectioHary
character, OF of obstractieh 10 processes of
Law, has been fepelled or suppressed, ~ all
the meaus which the Constitution snd the
laws place IN the hands OF The Executive.
In those parts ofthe United States where
BY reason of the infismed state Of The pub
lie mind, false runors and misrepresenta-
tons have the greatest currency, it has
been assumed that it was the duty of the
Executive not only TO suppress insurrcc-
;ionary movements in Kansas, but also 10
see 10 the regularity Of local elections.
1t needs little argument to show that the
President has 10 such power. AL govern
ment IN the United States rests substauti
ally upon popular election. The freedom
OF elections is liable to be impaired by the
intrusion of unlawful votes, or the exclu-
sion Of lawful ones, BY improper Influences
by violence, OF By fraud. Bit tie people
of the Umiled States are themselves the all
sufficient guardians Of their own rights, and
10 suppose that tbey will uot remedy: ia due
season, aby such incidents of civil freedom,
Is 10 suppose them to have ceased to be ca
rable OF self government. The President
of the U-ited States has had TO iuterpose
in elections to see to their freedoms 10 can
vass their votes, or to pass upon their legali-
Is in the Territories any more than in the
States. Ii he had saoh y over the govern
ment might he republican in form, but it
would be monarchy in fact, and if he bad
undertaken to exercise it in the case Of
Kansas, he would have been justly subject
to the charge of nsnrpation, aud Of viola
ton OF the dearest rights Of the people OF
the United States.
Uuwise laws, equally. with irregularities
at elections, are in periods of great excite
ment, the occasional incidents Of even the
frecst and best political institutions. But
all experience demonstrates that in coun-
try like ours, where the right of self con-
setuiien exists in the completest form, the
attempt to remedy unwise legislation by re-s
sort to revolution, is totally out of place,
inasnlucA as existing legal institution afford
more prompt and sficaciops means for the
redress oE wrong.
Iconflently trust that nov, when the
peaceful coneitionof Kansas affords oppor-
tunity for calm reaectien aad wise legisla-
tiou, either the legislative assembly OF the
Territory, or Congress, will see that no act
shall remain on its statute book yio!ative of
The provisions of the provisions of the Con-
stiuItion, or subyersiye of the great objects
for which that was ordained and establsh-
ed, and viii t4keal other necessary steps 10
assure 10 its inhabitants the enjeyment,
without obstruction Or abridgmcut, Of all
the constitutional rights, privileges, and
iurnunities of citizens Of the United States.
as contemplated by the organic law Of the.
Territory.
Full infnrmation in relation TO recent
events in this Territory viii be found inthe
documents coiumunicate atedherewth from the
Departments of State and War,
Irefer you 10 the report Of the Secretary
Of the Treasury for particular information
concerning the financial condition of the
government, aud the various branches of