Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-02-07
Special Message from the President

SpoClal message lrOln Cne ITeSluenC
The subjoined message from the Pres
dent of the United States was transmitted
to both houses of Congress on last Thurs
day.
10 the Senate
- And House of Representatives.:
Circumstances have occurred to disturb
the course of governmental organization
in the Territory of Kansas, and produce
uhere condition of things which renders
it incumbent on me to call your attention
to the subject, and urgently to recommend
the adoption by you of such measures Of
Legislation as the grave exigencies of the
case appear TO require.
A brist exposition Of the circumstances
referred to, and of their causes. viii! be
necessary to the full underst anding of the
recomn endations which it. is proposed to
submit.
The act to organize the Territories Of
Nebraska and Kansas was a manifestation
of the legislative opinion of Congress on
two great points OF constitutional consWuc-
tion; ono, that the designation OF the boun-
daries of new Territory, and provision for
its political organization and adm inistratlon
az Territory, are measures which Of right
fall within the powers of the genera gSvern-
ment; and the other, that the inhabitants OF
any such Territory considered as an inchoate
estate are entitled, in the exercise of self
government, to determine for themselves
what shall be their own domestic institu-
tions, hjsct only to the constitution and
the laws cs,ly enacted by Congress under it,
and to the lower Of the existing States to
decide according to the provisions and prin-
ciples of the constitution at what time the
Territory shall be received as a State into
the Union. Such are great political rights
which are folemnly declared End affirmed by
that act.
Based upon this theory, the act of Con-
greis defined for each Territory the out
Efes ofEeyub..::ssrf gevs EHmeRRt He r. distributing
J, public authority among lawfully-created
agents-executve, Judicial, and Legislative
Ito be appointed either by the general
government or by the Territory. The le-
gislative functions were intrusted to conn
eli and house OF representatives, duly eles-
ted and empow cred to enact all the local
laws which they might deem essential to
their prosperity, happiness, and good govern
ment. Acting in the same spirit, Congress
also defined the persons who were in the
first instance to be considered as the pc ople
of each Territory, enacting that every fee
white male inhabitant Of the same above the
age Of twenty-one years, being an actu'
resident thereof, and possessing the qualiti-
cations hereafter described, should be enti-
tied to vote at the first election, ard be
eIigible 10 snv office within the Territory
but that the qualifications OF voters and
holding office at all subsequent election,
should be such as might be prescribed by the
legislative assembly: Provided, however
that the right of suffrage and of holding
Office should be exercised only by citizens o
the United States, and those who shoulC
have declared on oath their intention to be-
come such, and have taken an oath to sup
mort the constitution of the United States
and the provisions OF the act; And provided
further, that no officer, soldier seaman, Of
marine, or other persons in the army o.
navy of the United States, or attached T.
troops in their servive, should be allow
ed to vote or hold office IN ther Ter
,ritory by reason of being on service there
in.
ai Such of the public officers of the Terri
tories as, by the provisions of the act wer'
to be appointed by the general government
inc lud;ng the governors, were appointe
and commissioned in due season; the inv
having been enacted on the 30th OF Iay
1854, and the commission Of the govern ir {
the Territory of Nebraska bang dated ON til
I'd day of August, 1854, and Of the Teri
tory Of Kansas or the 29th doy oi Jane
,lb4
Among the duties imposed by the act 0
,he governors was that of directing eli
.,n.r intending the political organization
sss respective Territories. The governor
w..,.s was required 10 cause a census
-n.,-.e,.t,sn of the inhabitants and qualifit
go. ,f the several counties and distric
.s A. Territory to be taken by such Psrso
and in such mods as he might desgna
and appoiot; to appoint aad direct the tin
and places of holding the first elecllo
and the manner of conducting them' boh
70 the persons to superinteno such elec ic
and the returns thereof; TO declare the hu
her of the members Of the council and hou
of representatives for each county or
trict to declare what persons might app'
10 be duly elected, and to appoint the III
and place Of the first meeting OF the leg
latiys assembly. In substance, tho sa
anties were devolsed on the governor oi
~
prs sSSn. sv :,hi. set the principle Of C
.,,,a,;on % for o.ch o. the isFf''o"ss was s'
as ,hs zane, and ,hs dei'' s' org.
legislation regarding both were . a;..,i: :
sould be identical. and while the Ter. .
os Nebraska was TRANQUILITY and susce's''