The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-02-07
.FH0srs sl Kansas.
OF TIE PRESIDENT.
WAsuIsCTox. Jan. "a, 1856.

Circumstances have occurred to disturb the
course of governmental organization in the
Territory OF Kansas, and produce there con-
dilion Of things which renders il incumbent
on ne to call your attention to the subject
and urgently recommend the adoption by you
Of such measures OF legislation As the grave
exjrencies Of the case appear to require.
A brief exposition Of tie circumstances re-
ferred to, and OF their causes viii be necessa-
rv 10 the full unders landing Of the recommen-
dations whicn it IS proposed 10 submit.
The act to organize the Territories OF Ne
braska and Kansas was manifestation of the
legislative opinion Of Congress on two great
points OF constitutional construction. One,
that TIE Designation cf the boundaries of a
ne " Territory. are measures which Of right
fall within the powers Of the General Govern
ment; and the Other. that the inhabitants OF
any such Territory, considered Is an lpchoate
Stale are entitled. in the exercise Of seif-gov-
erumeu., to determine for themselves what
shah be their own domestic institutions. sub
ject only to the constitution and the laws duly
enacted BY Con .,ress under il, and 70 the
power Of the existing States TO decide, accord
ing to the provisions and prinsiples OF tho
Constitution. a: what time the Territory shall
De received as p STATE '9.s the Union. Such
are tho grea. political rights which are sol
e.an declared aNd affirmed by that act.
Based upon this theory, tie act Of Congress
defined for each Territory the outlines of re-
publican government. distributing public au
thori,v among lawfully created agents-exec-
u,ve judicial. and leEi~ariye-to be appoint
ed either by the General Government or by
the Territory. The legislative functions were
entrusted to Council and 4 House of Repre-
sentatives, duly elected and empowered to en-
act all the local laws which they might deem
essential to their prosperity happiness and
good government. Acting in the same spirit,
Congress also defined the persons who were
in the first instance TO be considered the
people of each Territory; enacting that every
free white male inhabltant of the same, above
the are Of twenty-o@e years. being actual
resident thereof. aud possessing the Quatica.
iions hereafter described. should be entitled
TO vote at the first election. and be eligible TO
any office within the Territory; but that the
qualifications OF voters and holding office at
all subsequent elections should be such as
might be prescribed by the Legislative As,
sembly: Provided, however. that the right Of
suffrage and of holding offics should be exer-
cised only by citizens of the United States,
anu those who should have declared on oath
their intention to become such, and have ta-
ken an oath to support the Constitution of the
United States. and the provisions of the Act:
And provided, further that no officer soldier,
seaman or marine, or other person in the
my or navy of the United States or attached
to troops in their service. should De allowed 10
vote or hold Office in either Territory by rea-
son of being on service therein.
Such of the public officers of the Territories
as by the provisions OF the act were to be ap
pointed by the General Government. inciu-
ding the Governors, were appointed and com
mlssioned IN due season-the law having been
enacted on the 31th Of May. 1854, and the
commission Of the Governor Of the Territory
OF Nebraska being dated on the second day Of
Angus 1884, and Of the Territory Of Kansas
on he 29th of June. 1851
Among the duties imposed by the act on
the Governors was tina OF directing and su-
periutendng the political organiza ions OF the
respective Territories The Governor OF Kan
required to cause census or enuma-
ration OF the inhabitants and qualified voters
Of the several counties and districts Of the
Territory to be taken By sucA persons and in
such mode rs he might designate and appoint
to appoint and direct tie tiaae aud places of
holding the first elections. aud t,le manner OF
conducting them, ho;a as - the persons to SUI
Perinteai such elections, aRl the returns
thereof; 10 declare Chs number & the memoe
of the CoWac. and House OF Representatives
fox each COUNTY or DISTRICT 70 declare what
persons might appear % be daiy e.seted. ari
10 sppcnt lie time aaj psaa Of -..e first meet
Ing of the Legislative Assembly. II sub
stance, the sslne duties wa-e GeToiycl oa The
Governor of Nebraska.
u h:3e by this ae' tie v-.acir'. OF the C3ns:i
tuition foT each ef ,hc Territories wEs one aud
the sans. and the Gct...s IF o-.r4nic / -.,4-
sion regarding both We're = nea-.Y IS could
be Identical, and while the Territory Of Ne
b.assa was TRANQUILITY and successfully organ
izel in The dus course al law, and its first Le-
gls.at.ve Assembly net On the 1G.h oE January
1883. the organ iEI-!oz Of Kansas was long de-
layed. and has been attended with serious
difficulties and embarrassmeats. partly The
consequence of local nal administration. and
partly OF the unjusJiiiable Interference OF the
inhabitants OF some Of the States. foreign bv
residence, interests and rights to the Terri
t3-y.
The Governor Of tie Territory # Kansas,
commissioned as before stated, on the 29th Of
Jlae, 1854, did not reach the dcsigua ed sea:
Of mis- government null the IN Q: The ensu
ing Oetoher. ana even then failed 70 make the
hr>t sep in It's legal or-rauizaiinn--tia at Of
derjny the census or enumeration of is inhsb-
itaniS--uani 80 lac day that the election of
the members of the Legislative Assembly did
not take place until the SO h OF March, 1855;
nor IL meeting until the second OF July. 1855;
So iha; for year after the Territory was con-
siituted by tie CT Of Congress. and the Off
GERS to be appointed By the Federal Executive
had been commissioned. il was without
comp'ee government. withou. anv le.isls,i
authority. wiihou: local laws. and of coarse
"Ihoa. the ordinary guarantee of peace and
public order.
L II.