Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-02-02


and that this is deemed the most regular course yet
such an act has not been held to he indispensable,
and, inso cases, the Territory has proceeded with
out it, and has nevertheless been admitted into the
Union rs State. Ii lies with Congress to author
ize beforehand, or to confirm afterwards, in its dscre-
tion. But in instance has State been admitted
upon the application of persons acting against au-
thorities duly constituted by act of Congress. In
every case it is the people of the Territory. not
party among them, who have the power to form
constitution, and ask for admission as State. No
principle of public law, practice or precedent un
der the constitution of the United States rule Of
reason, right common sense, confers any such
power as that now claimed by mere party in the
Territory. In fact, what has been done is of revo-
lutionary character. 1t is avowedy so in motive
and in aim respects the local law of the Territory
1t will become reasonable insurrecon if it reach
the length of organized resistance by force to the
fundamental or any other federal law and to the au-
thority of the general government.
In such an event, the path of duty for the Execu-
tive plain. The constitution requiring him to take
care that the laws of the United States be faithfully
executed if they be opposed in the Territory of Kan
sas he may and should place at the disposal OF the
marshal any public force Of the United States which
happens to be within the jurisdiction, to be used as
portion of the posse c0nttatus and if that do not
suffice to maintain order then he may call forth the
militia of States for that object, or en-
ploy for the object any part of the land or naval
force of the United States &c. Also if the obstruc-
ton be to the laws Of the Territory and it be duly
presented TO him of nsurrectlon, he may
employ for its suppression the militia Of any State,
or the land OF 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 themselves unable to recl withstand it, they
will be entitled to, and upon the fact being fully as
cerained they shall most certainly receive the aid
of the general government
But it is not the duty of the President of the Uni
ted States to volunteer interpretation by force to pre-
serve the purity of elections either in State Or Ter
ritory. TO do So would bc suhversve of public free
dom. And whether law be wise unwisc, just
unjust, is not question for him TO judge. If it
be conStitutiona-that is, if it be the law of the
land-t is his duty to cause it to be executed or to
sustain the authorities Of any State ur Territory in
executing it in opposition to all insurrectionay move
mcntS
Our system affords no justification of revolution
ary acts; for the constitutional means of relieving
the people of unjust administration and laws, by Il
change of public agents and by repeal, are ample,
and more prompt and effective than Illegal violence
These constitutional means must be scrnpulously
guarletl-th:S great prcrogavc Unpopular sovereign
ty Sacredly respected.
1t is the untl0ubtcd right of the pcaccabe and or
dcrv people Of the Territory of Kansas to elect their
own Legislative body, make their own laws, and reg
ulate their social institutions, without foreign
or domestic mole>tation. Interference, on the one
hand, to procure the abolition prohibition Of slave
labor in the Territory has produced miSchcvous
interference the Other for its maintenance or in
PRODUCTION. One wrong bcgetS another. State
ments entirely unfoun;lc,l, grossly exaggerated,
concerning events within the Territory, are Scdu.
lousy di!fmsed through remote States to feed the
flame of sectional animositv there and the agators
there exert themselves indcfatgahv in return to
courage and stimulate strife within the Territory.
The intianmatory agitation, of which the present
is bnt part, has for twenty years produced moth
ing save unmitisated evil, North and South. But
for it the character Of the domestic institutions of
the future State would have been a matter of
too little interest to the inhabitants Of the contigu-
Gus States, personally Or collectively to produce
among them any political emotion. Climate. soil,
production, hopes Of rapid advancement and the
pursuit of happiness the part of the settlers them
selves with good wishes. but with no interference
from without, would have quietly determined the
question, which is at this time Of such disturbing
character.
But constrained to turn our attention to
the circumstances of embarrassment as they now
exist 1t is the duty of the people Of Kansas to dis
countcnancc every act or purpose OF resistance to
its laws. Above all, the emergency appeals to the
citizens of the States and especially Of those contig
to the Territory, neither by Intervention of
csilcnts in elections, nor by unauthorized mill
tary force to attempt to encrcach upon usurp the
authority of the inhabitants Of the Territory.
No citizen of our country should permit himself to
forget that he Is part OF ITS government and cnti-
tied to DC heard in the determination Of its policy
and its measures, and that, therefore, the highest
considerations of personal honor and patriotism re-
quirc him to maintain, by whatever of power or in
tluence he may possess, the integrity Of the laws Of
the republic.
Entertaining these views, it will be my impcra-
tive duty to exert the whole power Of the federal
Executive to support public order in the Territory
vinliratc its laws whether federal or local. against
all attempts Of organized resistance and SO to pro-
te"t IT'S people in the establishment Of their own in
situations, nndsturbcd by encroachmcnt from with
out, 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
the Territory of Kansas, announced to me by the
governor in December last speedily quoted
without the ctf,sion of blood, and in satisfactory
manner, there is, regret to say reason to appre
bend that disorders will continue to occur there,
with increasing tendency to violence, until some de-
ciSive measure be taken to dispose of the question
ITSELF which constitutes the nducement or occasion
of internal agitation and of external interference
This, it seems to me, hest be accomplished by
providing that when the inhabitants of Kansas may
desire it, and shall be of sufficient numbers to con-
stitntc State a convention of delegates duly cleo
ted hy the qualified voters, shall assemble to frame
constitution and thus to prepare through regular
and lawful means, for it's admission into the Union
as a State.
Respectfully recommend the enactment of law
to that effect.
recommend, Also that special appropriation be
made to defray any expense which may become re-
quiste in the execution Of the laws the mancn-
ance of public order in the Territory Of Kansas.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WAsnINGroS January a. 1856
BosToN SLAVE TRADERs.-The horrible massacre
of 26O Chinese, by the officers Of the b ston ship