Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-02-07
The Presidents Message on Kansas AT.

President PIERCE, relative to affairs in Kan
sas Territory. 1t gives a succinct account
of affairs in that Territory, from the pas
sage Of the organic act, TO recent occurren-
ces there. The first portion Of the Mes
sage, we omit, beginning where reference
is made 10 the recent attempts to organize
State Government. Taking the ground that
the Topeka movement was illegal, the Pres
ident says 1850
In extenuatior of these Illegal acts, It is
alleged that the States Of California, Mich-
gan and others, were self-organized, and,
as such, were admitted into the Union,
without previous enabling act of Con-
gress. II is true that, while, in majority
of eases, previous act of Congress has
been passed TO authorize the Territory to
present itself as State, and that this is
deemed the most liberal course, yet such an
act has not been held to be indispensable,
and, in some cases, the Territory has pro-
ceeded without il, and has nevertheless
been admitted into the Union as State.
1t lies with Congress TO authorize before
hand, or TO confirm afterwards, in its dis
erection. But in no instance has a State
been admitted upon the application of per-
sons acting against authorities duly consti-
tuted by act Of Congress. In every case it
is the people of the territory, not a party
among them, who have the power TO form a
constitution, and ask Cor admission as p
State. No principle Of public law, no prac-
tice or precedent under the Constitution Of
the United States, no rule of reason, right
or common sense, confers any such power
as that now claimed by mere party in the
territory. In fact, what has been done is Of
a revolutionary character. 1t is avowedly
so in motive and in aim, as respects the To-
cal law of the territory. 1t will become
reasonable instruction, lift reach the length
of organized resistance by force, to the fun
damental or any other federal law, and to
the authority of the general government.
In such an event the path of duty for the
Executive is plain. The Constitution re-
quiring him to take care that the laws of the
United States be faithfully executed, if they
be opposed in the Territory of Kansas, he
may and should place at the disposal of the
Marshall any public force Of the United
States which happens TO be within the juris-
dction, to be used as portion of the posse
conlifatus, and if that do not suffice TO main
tain order, that 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 Territory, and it be duly presented to
him as case of instruction, 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 citizens Of other States, whether for
the purpose OF deciding elections or for any
other, and the local authorities find them
selves unable TO repel or withstand it, they
will be entitled to, and upon the fact being
fully ascertained, they shall most certainly
receive the aid of the General Government
But is not the duty Of the President o.
the United States to volunteer interpositior
by force TO preserve the purity of election:
either in State or Territory. To do st
would be subversive of public freedom
And whether law be wise or unwlse, JUS
or unjust, is not question for him to Judge
If it be constitutional--that is, if it be the
law of the land-it is his duty to cause it t.
be executed, or TO sustain the authorities o
any State or Territory in executing it, il
opposition TO all insurrectionary movements
Our system affords no justification of rev
dictionary acts; for the constitutional mean,
of relieving the people Of unjust admins
tration and laws, by change of public
agents and by repeal, are ample, and more
prompt and effective than illegal Violence
The constitutional means must be scrupl
lousy guarded-this great prerogative O.
popular sovereignty sacredly respected.
1t is the undoubted right of the peaceablt
and orderly people of the territory Of Kan
sas to elect their own legislative body, make
cial institutions, without foreign or domes
tic molestaton. Interference, on the OH,
| hand, to procure the abolition or prohibition
of slave labor in the territory, has produced
mischievious interference, on the other, TO
its maintenance or introduction. One
wrong begets another. Statements entircl,
unfounded, or grossly exaggerated, concern
, ing events within the territory, are sedulous
. ly difIused through remote s,ntes 10 feed III,
flame of sectional animosity there; and tht
agitators there exert themselves indeiatiga
bly, in return 10 encourage and stimulate
strife within the territory.
, The infammatory agitation, of which tn,
present is but part, has for twenty year
produced nothing save unmitigated evil
North and South. But for it, the characte
of the domestic institutions of the futur,
new State would have been matter of tw,
little interest to the inhabitants of the con
tiguous States, personally or collectively, t.
produce among them any political emotion
Climate, soil, production, hopes of rapid ad
f vancement and the pursuit Of happiness OF
the part of the settlers themselves, with goo,
wishes, but with no interference from with
out, would have quietly determined th
question, which is at this time of such dis
turbing character.
But we are constrained to turn our ntten
= ton to the circumstances of embarrassment
as they now exist. II is the duty of tn
people of Kansas to discountenance ever,
t act or purpose ofresistance TO its laws
: Above all, the emergency appeals to tn
| ~, of tho Gtafa and raoiaIlu Of tbos.