The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1856-11-06

We gave few days since the substance Of 9
communication addressed by Gov. GRIMES, Of
Iowa, to President PrKscs, filed With such ab.
surdities and impudences, as mus, have excited
the rdicule and contempt Of all who read it,
Like every man who makes an ass of himself
before the Secretary of State, he has to suffer
from his sound, unbending logic, and withering
ridicule. Gov. Gsnrs must have felt himself
u very little fraction Of man, saying nothing
Of his Governorship, when be read the reply
which follows. from the pen Of Secretary MAR
cY:
OFTICE or SECRETARY or STATE,
WAsHrxorox, d. C.. October, '56.
To HIS E1eeilsney, James ". Grmes, Gore-
nor Of Losra
SIR Your letter OF date August Both, ad-
dressed 10 the President, has been referred by
him TO this department with instructions to re-
ply ~ follows The President regrets that you
should "hsve been receiving letters, memorials
and sfidavits from former citizens Of Iowa in
Kansas Tor whole year alleging that they are
not protected by United States officers in the
enjoyment OF their liberty and property" That
your Excellency should be subjected to such
an annoyance is the more painful when we
consider, that you have no power 10 grant re-
dress.
The state of affairs in Kansas is to be re.
GREETED deeply by oil American citizens. The
President is not Iess sensitive than you are as
to the rights oithe citizens in Kansas. His
power, however, is only executive, and that
which be is sworn TO execute. Ii therefore be.
come his duty to see that the laws are faithful
ly executed He has no power to disregard
amend or set aside laws, as unjust and uncon-
stitutional; for to do 50 would be to invest him
with the law making power-to make him an
absolute and irresponsible power-to make him
not the President Of Republic but the abso.
lutte Monarch Of the country. u position TO
which the President does not aspire
The President hitherto has been, and now is
! ss.ag al sf,.' means ia tls power to suppress
outrages in Kansas upon private rights aud to
sustain and enforce law and order. The diff.
culties in Kansas have mainly arisen from .
spirit Of rebellion against the constituted au-
thorities, and determination TO resist all au
thority and all law which by its general dis
seminAtion has subverted civil government and
rendered the law powerless and by destroying
the power Of the law has opened general field
for rapine, murder, and the whole catalogue of
crimes TO be committed with impuuity and TO
20 unredressed.
The President has taken every effective
measure 10 secure to the citizens Of ansas do
nestle tranquility and security against foreign
aggression 1he suppression Of insurrt 0tionary
movements is within his power but he cannot
and will not attempt TO control traitors to their
country. He will protect with the national
arm oil who are disposed TO gather around the
standard OF the law and to obey its behest.
The President conscious Of having performed
his whole duty, is at n loss to know by what
authority your Excellency claims TO arragn
him, or 10 call upon him for an explanation.
Assuming that the General Government has
failed to perform its duty, you assert, " that it
is maniiestly the right Of each Of the States to
adopt measures TO protect its former citizens 3"
You demand again and again protection, but
conclude with what seems to be the burden of
all your griefs-not demand for protection to
citizens Of Kansas but demand that the mill
tary force on the line OF emigration into the ter
rit0ry be dispersed The President cannot
crafty you in this matter. He will not permit
armed invasion from Missouri, or Iowa or any
other source Peaceful immigration he never
does and never will interrupt
The President is not disposed TO except to
the style Of your address, when you say to him,
+" as the Executive Of Iosra demand for her cit
zens in Kansas protection in the enjoyment OF
their property, their liberty, and their political
rights but would suggest TO your Excellency
that such language implies a right TO enforce
obedience and the power TO compel it, Ne
ther OF these are entrusted to your Etcellency,
and the President therefore pardons to your
zeal what could not be forgiven to your good
breeding.
Ia conclusion, you propose the following is
sue In the event Of noncompliance in my
view, q case will clearly have arisen within the
principle laid down by Mr.. Madison in the Vir.
gnia resolutions Of 1898, when it will be the
duty Of the States to interfere to arrest the pro
gress OF evils in the Territory"
II Is strange that q Governor with such lin
tied powers as are conceded by the Consti,u-
ton OF the United States and conferred by the
Constitution Of Iowa upon you. should over
estimate himself The doctrine that the Exec
utive OF Iowa can protect her citizens beyond
its borders, or that he has any authority beyond
the limits Of his State. is an absurdity
The Constitution defines the right Of oil cit
liens OF Iowa going TO X Kansas or elsew here
They cannot carry there the laws or the protec.
tiou Of Iowa any more than n citizen OF slave
State can carry his slaves and hold them there
Wien he goes 10 ansas, tine Constitution guar.
antees to him the protection OF the laws OF Kan.
sas and all the rights which the citizens there
enjoy. Art I, sec. 2, Con L. 5.
The President believing that q little retec.
tion will convince your excelency that your
jurisdiction Of the citizens of Iowa is confined
TO the limits Of your State, still feels soicitous
lest your excellency become excited apd attempt
some Quixotic redress, for the real or fAncied
wrongs OF citizens Of Iowa in K ansas. and there.
fore invites your attention to this clause in the
Constitution.
Art. l, sec. 10. No State shall. without the
consent Of Congress, lay any duty Of tonnage.
keep troops or ships OF war in times OF peace.
enter into any agreement or compact with any
other State, or with foreign power, or engag.
"a iear unless actually invaded. or in such i'm
mediate danger as will not admit Of delay
Under this restriction Of the Constitution.
the President hopes that you will not under
take any rash or III considered enterprise of a
war-like rhAraeter without the limits Of your
own State, but that you will lend him the nhu-
ence OF your examples and your counsel 10
maintain law and order in accordance with the
Constitution. and that yoa will become an eff
cient aid 10 him in faithfully discharrinc the
sworn duties OF his Office
With high consideration.
remain your obi seryt,
WM l. MARCY. Sec'y OF State
To JAS W t,RIsrs t,oxsrno, n, Iox.