Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-29
Mr. GROW said :

,,s If the Union and having under consideration the
Presidents annual message
Mr. GROW said
Mr. SPEAKER: Rumors of n prospect of CT
ii war in the Territory of Kansas have reach
a ns and filed the public mind with gloomy
onnrphension The President in his annual
Usage Informed US, that " in the Territory of
Kansas there had been acts prejudicial to good
o-}er" hut neglected to tell what those az IS
r.ra and at later day he informed this
House by special message that there had been
acts pi9ia!v against iagc which now threaten
,le peace not only of the Territory OF Kansas.
Int Of the Union" 1t becomes the imperative
3nty Of Congress. then, to inquire into the eau
-, Of this state Of things, and devise if posi-
Me some means by which to avert SO dire ca
4mty
Congress being the supreme legislative pow
y for the Territories, giving them their organ
s aw. executive and judicial officers, and pre-
sr.Mng the mode and manner of the exercise
If all their legislative functions, it is our first
f7,y 10 see that the inhabitants thereof are
,..l-4 in the enjoyment of all the rights and
arg.eEes guaranteed to American Freemen
s,tryvhere under the protection of the Re
public.
The acts which the President regarded as
threatening the peace not only of the Territory
d Kansas. but of the Union, are summed up
aa aamragragh Of the message -
P->o7s ,anes~ed!y constituting the body polite
a. Ii e.. Inhabitants. but merely party of the uhab
~. AMI without law have undertaken to summon
4-9soa or the purpose Of Transforming the Territory
5a state. and have formed constitution. adopted it,
- aaie, il elected Governor and other officers and
Gs.-s>satal.'e ~ Congress
s.ot which he pronounces illegal and of rsro-
..a.-g character Sir, the doing of any or
+. Tie acts in this enumeration would be no
7sat.oa Of Just law or constitutional right :;
r: the people, or any part of them, of State
Territory have a perfect right peaceably to
assemble, al any time, and deposit their votes
raar person they may please, with such de-
,.aa..m Of Office as they choose to aflix and
a.e>> thew or the person so chosen, commit
~Ge overt act against the Government under
v-cl hey live they have violated no law and
a-- aIenable for no otfense, aay more than
'-7 would be to assemble ami discuss their
.--y4Acr>. and petition for their redress. In
Rhode Island where there was no question as
10 tie regularity Of the existing government
Ii had existed for almost two centuries-a call
.gc a convention TO form new constitution was
~aea by persons confrsssdly not Constituting the
I'd. F h'lc, and ,cth0W iar for the purpose
transforming charter government into
>.ate They formed constitution. adopted
and uadtr il elected Governor and other
1eerS and q Representative to Congress.
Tie members Of the Legislature met, swore to
ggp0r, the new constitution, and the oath of
4ce Was administered to the Governor, and
message transmitted TO the Legislature
VI Nra Of these acts were considered as lie
M 2 : he constituted authorities of Rhode
NJ .>a0d and no arrests were made till Dorr
MI s.at out a military force to uphold his govern
All l-rt
MI Tie people of Kansas have thus far done on
M 7aa, VAS done in Rhode Island previous TO
# 50 appeal To arms. Are acts that are harm
s saea performed in a State illegal and trea-
MI @-as.e when performed under like circum-
M >-2ses IN Territory 1t was not thought
s. y the country in the case of the admission
% Michigan into the I Mon. where a conven-
a the people, called tcuhoat lar, accepted
"'.-a conditions of Congress which had just
@ rejected by convention Of delegates as
@ - under authority Of an act Of the Lc-
# @A,t-2. But sir, the undOubted right Of the
@ as. o. Territory to call a State coRveR-
q Without any act of the Territorial Legis-
-s g. @. congress, for the purpose of trans
- Territory into State, and TO elect
.@ elceTS necessary to administer such
sic government, has been settled not only by
5 Eacuce Of the Government. but by the
aa q one Of It's ablest legal officers and
l1onal advisers of the President. Du-
@ 2, V-leTa. Jackson's administration the Go
--a' Of the Territory Of Arkansas addressed
I = r.ieT soliciting instructions for his guild
= d case the people of said Territory should
'eesateS TO a convention without law
5 '-a Legislature, and organize and put in
~.-el State government without authorl-
congress. The Governor informed the
-h taat. unless otherwise Instructed. be
M lei bound 10 consider and treat all
5,2seriin-s as unlawful" The Prcsi-
30; General Jackson, it seems, had not
M 80 LIE % great principles of popular SOW
lM -s-:' established ty the compromise mea-
M 1870 replied, through his Attorney
,.55, tha,
M rs 1 The power cf the General Assembly Of Ar
So ny au tor the purpose OF el,-ting members
& L: IA 10 form a constitution and State govern
# - - any other act, directly Indirectly. 10
N ## =" S.ve-1neat. Every such law even tho
A az ~ he Governor OF the Territory, would
n a# people Of a Territory have an undoubt-
!, :" 81 any time 10 call a convention. frame
W State constitution, and elect all
N 3# necessary 10 its action as an indepen-
# 5. Ss,a'e though il might be question whe-
III M ~, could perform any official act as State
~ -4a! the action of Congress. though
fM ". e-a enacted laws and voted for President
vas admitted as a State into the
mt toe State must be formed before