The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-31
NO. 474.


conviction of the violation of this provision OF
the Fugitive Act because he might never, even
on the border of Missouri, be called on to exc
cute it. The rufians have therefore provided
against any hope of escape in this way, by re-
ouiring the voter in advance to take an oath
10 support it. They have gone still further, and
required every voter to swear fealty to Slavery
in Kansas. He must not question the consti-
nationality of Slavery in the Territory, nor pre-
same to discuss the subject, except as its de-
fender, on pain of mourning the guilt of felony.
Sucb are the enactments of the drunken row.
dies. styling themselves the Kansas Legislature,
conceived and brought forth in fraud, vio-
l4nce. and villany, which President Pierce re-
cards it as a sacred duty to enforce by all the
movers of the Federal Government. Such is
the piratical code imposed upon the people of
Kansas by his guilty connivance, which he has
now the impudence to call on Congress for
money and means to execute.
The President apologies for the removal of
the Legislature from Pawnee City to the Shaw
nee Mission. He admits that the act of re-
moyal was made without the consent OF the
Governor, who, by the Territorial law, is part
of the legislative power. Any act OF the Terri
torial legislature is null, until it has received
the sanction of the Governor, or until it has been
passed by a two-thirds vote over the Governors
veto.
The removal Of the seat of Government with
ont the consent of the Governor, or without 60
inc through the forms Of two-thirds vote over
his veto was clear and palpable usurpation,
which invaIidates all the subsequent proceed
ings of that body. 1t is equally clear that the
enactments Of that body, even if passed by
unanimous votes, but without the signature of
the Governor or the twothirds vote over his
refusal to sign, are mere utilities. The refu-
sal of the Governor to recognise the Legisla-
ture whether that refusal be warrantable or
otherwise, has the necessary effect of paraly-
zng its powers, and rendering its operations in
valid. The organic law of the Territory has
not empowered the other branches of the Legis-
lature to enact laws independent of him but in
one way; and that is, by overcoming his veto
by . twothrds vote of the body. If, therefore,
the Governors actual participation, according
to the forms of law, in the duties of legislation,
are for any cause suspended, whether by death,
resignation. mental arrangement, perverse re-
fusa, or refusal las in this CASEY for what he
deemed reasons Of public duty, the functions
OF legislation are in any of these cases sus-
pended. The effort of the President, therefore,
to give legal sanction to the enactmentS Of a
part of the Legislature, by impugning the mo-
tives and impeaching the conduct of Governor
Reeder, who, by the organic law of the Terri
tory, is made a coordinate branch is only
worthy of pettifogging attorney, and utterly
derogatory from the dignity and character of
the Chief Magistrate.
The President threatens to enforce the en-
actments of the sham Legislature by all the
powers Of the Federal Government. He de.
nOunces the Free State Constitution recently
formed as revolutionary and threatens to en-
plOy the United States forces in the Territory,
aud to call out the militia of the neighboring
States, lhe means the Border Ruffians,) to sup
press the attempt to carry it into operation.
The President will not pretend to assert that
there is anything illegal or revolutionary in
voluntary and peaceable Conventions of the
People, whether the deliberations of those con-
Ventions result in the formation of a "Consttu-
ton or 4 - Platform" The people therefore
cannot be charged with revolutionary" pro-
ceedngs until they attempt to set up a State
Government without the sanction of Congress.
The criminal dereliction of the President in
his duty toward the people of Kansas, would
we'll warrant them in such course. He has
t'uily outraged them, and turned them over to
The Ruilian rule of the Missouri borderers; they
nave been thrown upon their own resources ;
and 1t rests with them to select their means of
redress and defence. They will act wisely and
HiScreetlY; and none but the enemies of Free
dom will question their right to resort to what
The President, in the true spirit of toryism,
chooses to brand as revolution" When the
people of Rhode Island, under circumstances
ineomParaby less UNSUITABLE, resorted to extra
constitutional means of amending their funda-
mental law the whole Democratic party of that
Gay sustained them in it. But now, when the
people OF Kansas have had laws imposed on
,a'm by ruillans from an adjoining State, the
resident, elected by the Sham Democracy of
'nis DAY, calls upon Congress to sanction his
MEASURES Tor securing implicit obedience, by
~'Aing the necessary appropriations for that
purpose. 1t remains TO be seen whether there
de traitors enough in the House of Represent
4uVes-trators, we mean, to the People, who
supposed that they had elected large MAORI.
OF Ant-Nebraska men to that body-who
viii be ready to sanction and register this edct
o. A'chison aud Stringfellow.
IN conclusion, the President recommends
uA' The people of the Territory be authorized
" 'Orfn state Constitution, and pledges his
pUecuoh to them (by the aid of the Border
'1ilallSl while they are so doing. The COOL
lesson this proposition would amuse, if it were
II" calculated to excite indignation. He for
ges that he has all along pretended the want
VI power to protect the people of that Territory
against the violent inroads of the Missourians :.
WI now In order to defeat the chances of ad.
-,i'S'oh to the free State, which is already form.
~ he comes forward with these hollow nro.
SUNS oil determination to preserve order.
Tue resident says nothing to the contrary.
presume that his meaning is, that the pres
~ territorial code shall define the qual6ca-
S'uS Oh voters in the adoption of his proposed
Constitution. Such an arrangement
'4'u infahbly secure Pro-Slavery Constitu-
''1 since threefourths of the voters of Kan.
@e dlSiranchised by those piratical enact
s None but open champions of Slavery
'a'torous doughfaces will for an instant
''Uu'enance such a scheme. G.