The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-02-06
.Afairs in 1}ausas.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
WAsHtxoroN, January 81, 1856

The Territory OF Kansas, aud produce theie
condition of things which renders it incum-
bent on me to call your attention to the
subject, and urgently Recommend the adop.
ton by you Of such measures of legislation
as the grave exigeneies Of the ease appear to
require.
A brief exp sition of The circumstances
referred to, and of their causes, will be ne
cessary 10 the full understanding ofthe rec
concentrations which it is proI osed to sub
nit. .e. .# - ,.-
The act TO organize the Territories of Ne.
braska ard Kansas, was a manifestation OF
the legislative opinion of Congress on two
great points of constitutional construction:
One, that the designation Of the boundaries
Of new Territory, and provision for its
! political organic stion and admission as
| Territory, are measures which of right fall
within the powers Of the General Govern.
ment; and the other, that the inhabitants of
any such Territory, considered as an ncho-
ate State, are entitled, in the exercise of
self government, todetermine for themselves
what shall be their own domestic institutions
subject only the Constitution and the laws
duly enacted by Congress under it, and to
the power of the provisions and principles
Of the Constitution, at what tine the Ter.
litory shall be received as State into the
Union, Such are the great political rights
which are soemuly declared and affirmed by
| that act
/ Based upon this theory, the act Of Con-
gress defined for each Territory the outlines
of republican government, distributing pub
lie authority among Iawfully-created agents
executive, judicial, and legislative to be
appointed either ly the General Govern :
ment or by the Territory. The legis ative
functions were entrusted to Courcl and a
House of Representatives, duly elected and
empowered to enact all the local laws which
they might deem essential TO their prosper
ity, happiness, and good government
Acting in the same spirit, Congress also de.
lined The persons who we're in tie first in.
stance to be considered as the people of
each Territory: enacing that every free
white male iuhabitant Of The same above the
age of twenty one years, being an actual
resident thereof, and possessing the eualif-
! cations hereafter described, should be en-,
tillcd 10 vote al the first election, and be el.
lsible to any Office within the Territoryj but
that the qaAAiiieations Ct voters and holding
Office at a4ssassequent elections SHOULD be
such rs might be prescribed by the Legs
lalive Assembly: Provided. however. that
The right Of suffrage and holding Office
should I've exercised only by citizens OF the
United States, and those who should have
declared en- oath their intention to become
such, and have taken an oath to support
the Constitution of the United States and
the provisions Of the act; And provided
further, that no officer, soldier, seaman, or
marine, or other person in the army or ma,
Wy of the United States, or attached 10 troops
ia their service. shollt be allowed to vote
or hold Office in either Territory by reason
Of being on service therein.
Some of the public officers Of the Terri
tories as, BY the provisions Of the act. were
to be appointed by the General Government
including the Governors, were appointed
and commissioned in due season--ihe law
having been enacted on he 30th May, 1854,
and the commission OF the Governor of the
Territory of Nebraska being dated on the
Cd day of August, 1854. and Of the Terir-
tory Of Kansas on the 29lh day Of June,
! 1854.
Among the duties imposed by the act on
the Governors was that of directing and su
perirtendng the political organ cation OF
the respective Territories. The Governor
OF Kansas was required to cause census Or
enumeration of the Inhabitants and qualiG
ed voters of the several counties and dis.
tricts of the Territory to be taken by such
persons and in such mCJe as he might des-
ignate and appoint; to appoint and direct the
the time and places cf holding the first elec
tions and The manner of conducting them,
both as to the persons to superintend such
elections and the returns thereof; TO declare
the number Of the members of the Council
and House of Representatives for each
county or district: TO declare what per.
sons might appear to be duly elected;
and to appoint the time and place of the
first mheting of the Legislative Assembly.
In substance, the same duties were devolv-
ed on the Governor Of Nebraska.
While, by this act, the principle Of con-
stitution for each Of the Territories was one
and the same. and the details of organic le-
gislation regarding both were as nearly as
conld be identical, and while the territory OF
Nebraska was TRANQUILITY and successfully
organized in the due course Of lev, and its
first Legislative Assembly met on the 10Th
Of January, 1855, the organization Of Kan
sas was long delayed, and attended
with serious difficulties and embarrassment
partly the consequences Of local mal.admin-
lstration. and patty Of the unjustiiiable in
reference of the inhabitants OF some Of the
States, foreign by residence, interests, and
rights TO the Territory.
The Governor Of the Territory Of Kansas,
commissioned, as before stated, On the 29Al
of June, 1854, did not reach the destina.
i ted seat Of government until the 7th of Tie
ensuing October; and even then failed te
make The first step in its legal organization
THAT Of ordering the census or enumera-
ton Of its inhabitants--nntil so late a day
that the election Of the members of the lie,
gislative Assembly did not take place unit
} the 30lh Of March, 1855, nor did Its meet
ing take place until the second Of july
, 1855; 80 that, for year after the Territory
was constituted by an act Of Congress, ant
, the officers to be appointed by the Fedora
} Executive had been commissioned. it wat
without complete government. without a
ny legislative authority. without local law
} and of course without the ordinary guaran
tees of peace. and public order. HHt
In other respects the Governor, insteaG
. ofexercisIug constant vigilance. and putting
forth all his energies 70 prevent or counter