The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-02-05

marshal any public force of the u. States
which happens to be within the jurisdiction,
to be used as portion of the posse comitd-
tus: and, if that do not suffice to maintain
order, then he may call forth the militia of
one or more States for that object, or en-
ploy for the same object any part of the land
or naval force of the United States. So also
if the obstruction be to the laws of the Ter
ritory and it be duly presented to him as a
case of insurrection, he may employ for its
suppression the militia of any State or the
land or naval force of the United States
And if the Territory be invaded by the citi-
zens of other States, whether for the purpose
of deciding elections or for any ether, and
the local authorities find themselves unable
to repel or withstand it, they will be entitled
to, and upon the fact being fully ascertain
ed they shall most certainly receive, the
aid of the General Government.
But it is not the duty of the President of
the United States to volunteer interpOsition
by force to preserve the purity of elections
either in State or Territory. To do so
would be subversive of public freedom. And
whether q law be wise or unwise, ust or un-
lust, is not a question for him to judge. If
it be constitutional-tha is, If it be the law
of the land-it is his duty to cause it to be
executed, or to sustain the authorities of any
State or Territory in executing it in oppo-
sition to all insurrectionary movements.
Our system affords no justification of re-
volutionary act; for the constitutional means
of relieving the people of unjust administra-
ton and laws, by q change of public agents
and by repeal, are ample, and more prompt
and effective than illegal violence. These
constitutional means must be scrupulously
guarded-this great prerogative of popular
sovereignty sacredly represented.
1t is the undoubted right of the peacea-
Kansas to elect their own Legislative body,
make their own laws, and regulate their own
social institutions, without foreign or domes-
tic molestation. Interference, on the one
hand, to procure the abolition or prohibi-
ton of slave labor in the Territory has pro-
duced mischievous interference, on the 9TH
er, for its maintenance or introduction
One wrong begets another. Statements en-
tirely unfounded, or grossly exaggerated,
concerning events within the Territory, are
sedulously diffused through remote States
to feed the fame of sectional animosity
there. and the agitators there exert them
selves indefatigably in return to encourage
and stimulate strife within the Territory.
The inhammatory agitation, of which the
present is but part, has for twenty years
produced nothing save unmitigated evil
North and South. But for it the character
of the domestic institutions of the future new
State would have been a matter of too lit
tie interest to the inhabitants Of the conti-
guous States, personally Or eHSIltlesGtixely, to
Climate, soil, production, hopes of rapid ad-
vancement, 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 atten-
ton to the circumstances of embarrassment
as they now exist. 1t is the duty of the
people of Kansas to discountenance every
act or purpose of resistance to it's laws
Above all, the emergency appeals to the
citizens of the States, and especially Of those
contiguous to the Territory, neither by in
tervention of non residents in elections, nor
by unauthorized military force, to attempt
to encroach upon or usurp the authority of
the inhabitants of the Territory.
No citizen of our country should permit
himself to forget that he is part of its Gov
ernment, and entitled to be heard in the de-
termination of its policy and its measures
and that, therefore, highest considerations
of personal honor and patriotism require
him to maintain, by whatever of power or
influence he may possess, the integrity of
the laws of the Republic.
Entertaining these views, it will be my i'm
perative duty to exert the whole power of
the Federal Executive to support public or
der 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
undisturbed by encroachment
from without, and in the full enjoyment of
the rights of self government assured to them
by the Constitution and the organic act of
Congress.
Although serious and threatening distur-
Dances in the Territory of Kansas, announ-
ced to me by the Governor in December
last, were speedily quieted without the effu-
sion of blood, and in satisfactory manner,
there is, regret to say, reason to apprehend
that disorders will continue to occur there,
with increasing tendency, to violence, until
some decisive measure be taken to dispose
Of the question itself which constitutes the
nducement or occasion of internal agitation
and of external interference.
This, it seems to me, can best be accom-
plished by providing that, when the inhabi
tants of Kansas may desire it, and shall be
O1 SuInclenb NUMBERS TO CONSTITUTE d CItte,
a convention of delegates, duly elected by
the qualified voters, shall assemble to frame
a constitution, and thus to prepare, through
regular and lawful means, for its admission
into the Union as a State.
respectfully recommend the enactment
Of law to that effect.
recommend, also, that special appro-
priation be made to defray any expense
which may become requisite in the execu-
ton of the laws or the maintenance of pub
lie order in the Territory of Kansas.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
TRAGEDY IN THE COURT RooM.-In
Mo-, on Saturday week a pun