Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-02-07


vent the free and natural action of
its Inhabitants in it's internal organ
HEization, and thus to anticipate or to-
force the determination Of that ques-
ltion in this inchoate State.
With such views, associations we're
organized in some Of the States, and
their purposes were proclaimed
through the press in language ex-
tremely irritating and offensive to
those of whom the colonists were to
become their neighbors.' Those de-.
signs and acts had the necessary con-
sequence to awaken emotions of in
tense Indignation in States near to
the Territory of Kansas, and especi-
ally in the adjoining State Of Mis-
souri, whose domestic peace was thus
the most directly endangered; but
they are far from justifying the ille-
gal and reprehensive counter-move-
ments which ensued. ~
Under these inauspicious circum-
stances, the primary elections for
members Of the legislative assembly
were held in most, If rot all, Of the
precincts at the time and the places,
and by the persons designated and
appointed by the Governor according
to law.
Angry accusations that illegal
votes had been polled, abounded on
all sides, and imputations were made
both of fraud and violence. But the
Governor in the exercise Of the pow.
er, and the discharge Of the duty
conferred and imposed by law on him
alone, officially received and consid-
t cred the returns; declared large
: majority of the members of the
J council and the house of represent
t atives "duly elected" withheld GER
, tifcates from others because Of al.
}, legged illegally of votes; appointed
t new election to supply the place
of the persons not certified; and thus
! at length, in all the forms Of statute,
! and with his own official authentica-
, ton, complete legality was given to
the first legislative assembly of the
Territory.
: Those decisions of the returning
9 officers and of :be Governor are final,
r except that, BY the parliamentary
!, usage Of the country applied to the
organic law, itmay be conceded that
t each House of the Assembly must
Q have been competent to determine,
Q in the last resort, the qualifications
: and the elections of its members. -
t The subject was, by its nature, one
e appertaining exclusively TO the juris-
J diction Of the local authorities of the
Territory. Whatever irregularities
!, may have occurred in the elections,
: it seems too late now to raise that
: question At allevents, 1T is ques-
3 ton as to which, neither now, nor at
3 any previous time, has the least pos
sible legal authority been possessed
by the President Of the United
States. Forall present purposes the
j legislative body, thus constituted and
elected, was the legitimate Assem-.
bly, of the Territory.
Accordingly, the Governor. by
proclamation, convened the AS.
sembly thus elected to meet at a
place called Pawnee City; the two
Houses met and were duly organized
in the ordinary parliamentary form;
each sent to, and received from the
f Governor the official communications
usual on such occasions; an elaborate
f message opening the session was
communicated by the Governor; and
the general business Of legislation
f was entered upon by the legislative
Assembly.
! But, after few days, the Assem-
Ibly resolved to adjourn to another
place in the Territory. A law was
accordingly passed, against the con-
sent of the Governor, to remove the
seat of government temporarily
to the Shawnee Manual. Labor
School," Tor Mission,) and thither
the Assembly proceeded. After this,
receiving bill for the establishment
of a ferry at the town of Kickapoo,
the Governor refused to sign it, and
! by special message, assigned for
/ the reason Of refusal not anything
Objectionable in the bill itself, nor
any pretence of the illegality orincom-
potency of the Assembly as such,
but only the fact that tie Assembly
had by its act transferred the seat
of government temporarily from
Pawnee City to Shawnee Mission.
For the same reason he continued to