Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-02-01

that now claimed by mere party in the Territory
In fact what has been done is of revolutionary char
acter II is avowedly so in motive and in aim as re-
spects the local law of the Territory 1t will become
REASONABLE nsurrecon if it reach the length OF or
ganized resistance by force 10 the fundamental or
anv other federal law and 10 the authority of the
general government.
In such an event, the path of duty for the Execu
tive is plain The constitution requiring him 10 take
care that the laws of the United States he faithfully
executed if they be opposed in the Territory OF Kan
sas he may and should place at the dispcsal OF me
marshal any public force of the United States which
happens to be within the Jurisdiction, to be used as
portion of the posse comitatuS AMI, II that do not
suffice to maintain order, then he may call forth the
militia of one or more States for that object or en-
poy for the object any part Of the land or naval
force of the United States So, also if the obstruc
ton be to the laws of the Territory, and be duly
presented to him case of instruction, he may
employ for its suppression the militia OF any State or
the land naval force of the United States And II
the Territory be invaded by the citizens of other
States, whether for the purpose of deciding elections
for any other and the local authorities find them
selves unable to repe withstand it, they will be
entitled TO, and upon the fact being fully ascertained
they shall most certainly receive, the aid of the gen.
eral government.
But it is not the duty of the President OF the United
States to volunteer interposion by force to preserve
the purity of elections either In State or Territory
To do so would be subversve of public freedom =
And whether a law be wise or uni ust is not ques
ton Tor him to judge. If it be consttutional-that
is, if it be the law of the and-it is his duty to
cause it to be executed to sustain the authorities
of any State Territory in executing II in Opposi-
ton to all insurrectionary movements.
Our system affords no justification of revolutionary
acts for the constitutional of relieving the
people of unjust administration and laws, by change
of public agents and by repeal ample, and more
prompt and effective than illegal violence. Those
constitutional means must be scrupulousIy guarded
this great prerOgatlVe OF popular sovereignty
credly respected.
1t is the undoubed right of the peaceabe and Or
derby people of the Territory of Kansas to elect their
own legislative body, make their own laws and regu-
late their own social Institutions without foreign or
domestic molestaon. interference on the one hand
to procure the abolition prohibition of slave labor
in the Territory, has produced mischeyous nerfe-
renee, on the other, tor It's maintenance introduce
ton. One wrong begets another. Statements entire
ly untOunded, or gross exaggerated, concerning
events within the Territory sedulouslY difused
throug remote States to feed the flames of sectional
animosity there; and the agtaors there exert them
selves lndetaugably IN return to encourage and slim
ulate strife within the territory.
The lntammatorY agitation, of which the present
is but part has for twenty years produced nothing
save unmitigated evil, North and South. But for it
the character of the domestic institutions of the fu-
ture new State would have been matter OF two little
interest to the inhabitants of the contiguous States,
personally or collectively TO produce among them
any political emotion. Climate soil, production,
hopes of rapid advancement and the pursuit of hap.
piness the part of settlers themselves with good
wishes, but with interference from without would
have quietly determined the question which is at this
time OF such disturbing character.
But constrained to turn our attention 10 the
clrcum stances of embarrassment as they now exist
1t IS the duty OF the people of Kansas to dlscounte
nance every act or purpose of resistance to its laws
Above all, the emergency appeals 10 the citizens OF
the States, and especially to those contiguous to the
Territory, neither by intervention OF nonresIdents
in elections, nor by unauthorized military force, to at
tempt to encroach upon OF usup the authority of the
inhab of the Territory
| No citizen OF our country should permit himself
to forget that he is part of its government, and
entitled TO be heard in he determination of It's policy
and its measures, and that, therefore, the highest
considerations OF personal honor and patriotism
qulre him to maintain, by whatever of power in
huence he may possess the integrity of the laws Of
the republic
| Entertaining these views, it will be my imperative
duty to exert the whole power of the federal Execu
tive to support public order in the Territory to vim
dlcate its laws, whether federal local. against all
attempts OF organized resistance and so 10 protect it's
people IN the establishment OF their Institutions
undIsturbed by encroachment from without, and in
the full enjoyment of the rights of self government
assured to them by the constitution and the organic
act of Congress.
Although serious and threatening disturbances in
|
governor IN December last, were speedily quoted
without the efusion of blood, and in satisfactory
manner, there is, regret to say reason 10 appre-
bend that disorders will continue to occur there with
increasing tendency to violence, until some decisive
measure be taken 10 dispose of tie question itself,
which constitutes the inducement occasion Of in
ternal agitation and of external interference
! This, 1t seems TO me, can best be accomplished by
providing that, when the inhabitants of Kansas may
desire it, and shall be Of sufficient numbers to con-
sttute State convention of delegates duly elected
by the qualified voters, shall assemble to frame
constitution and thus to prepare, through regular
and lawful means, for lis admission into the Union
State.
respectfully recommend the enactment of law TO
that effect
recommend, also, that special appropriation be
made to detray any expense which may become re.
qulslte IN the execution Of the laws or the mante-
nance OF public order in the Territory of Kansas
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1856
WHAT AMERICA HAS LEARNED.--We may learn
more than one valuable lesson from this war, says
the New York FINES. What have the most mower
1ul meets the world has seen effected upon the