The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-09-27
Inaugural Address
OF John ". GEARY

voluntarily rendered by the present Chiel
magistrate of the nation. AS an American
citizen, deeply conscious of the blessings
which ever flow from our beloved Union,
did not consider myself at liberty to shrink
from my duties, however delicate and oner-
Gus, required of me by my country.
With full knowledge of all the circum-
stances surrounding the executive Office |
have deliberately accepted it, and as God
may give me strength and ability, / will en-
deavor faithfully to discharge its varied re-
quirements. When | received my commits
sion | was solemnly sworn to support the
Constitution of the United States, and to
discharge my duties as Governor of Kansas
with fidelity. BY reference to the act for
the organization of this Territory, passed
10y Congress on the seth day of March,
1854, find my duties more particularly de-
! fined. Among other things, | am to "take
care that the laws be faithfully executed"
! The constitution of the United States and
! the organic law of this Territory will be the
lights by which ] will be guided in my exc
cutive career
I \ careful and dispassionate examination Of
our organic act will satisfy any reasonable
/ person that its provisions are cminen;y inst
and beneficial. if this act has been distort
ed to unworthy purposes, il is not the fault
OF its provisions. The great leading feature
OF that act is the right therein conferred up
on the actual and iona .fis inhabitants OF
this Territory ''in the exercise of sclfgc-
vernnent, 10 determine for themselves what
shall be their own domestic institutions,
subject only to the constitution and the laws
duly enacted by Congress under it.
The people, accustomed 10 self-govern-
mcnt in the States from whence they came,
is..-s ,t-;,l
the boaH Ji,ie intention OF making it their fu-
turc residence. were supposed TO b: capable
OF creating their own municipal government,
and TO be the best judges of their own local
necessities and institutions. This is what is
termed popular soyercignty." By this
phrase we simply mean the right of the ma
jority Of the people of the several States and
Territories, being qualified electors, to regu-
late their own domestic concerns, and to
make their own municipal laws. Thus un-
derstood, this doctrine undcrlies tie whole
system of republican government. Il Is the
great right Of seil-governmeut, for the estlb-
Ii>hlnent Of which our ancestors. in the
stormy days of the Revolution, pledged
their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred
honor
y doctrine so erninently just should re
cciye the willing homage Of every Am r!can
citizen. When legtimately expressed, and
duly asccrtained, the Will of the majority /
must be the imperative rule OF civil action I
for every law-abidng citizen. This simple, /
just rale Of action, has brought order out OF .
chaos, and by progress unparalleled IN the .
history Of the world, has made few feeble /
infant colonies a giant cUnfcderated republic. .
No man, COuycIsar. with the state of al .
fairs now in Kansas, can close his eyes to Z
the fact that much rlyll 'ii>tuI bEUCc mas Tor .
a long time past existed in the Territory
Various reasons have been assigned for this .
unfortunate condition of affairs, and nulnc- /
Tous remedies have been proposed.
The House of Representatives of the .
United States have ignored the claims Of .
both gentlemen claiming the legal riga, to .
rcprcscn, the people OF this Territory IN that .
by the House. has been rcpuIiatcd by the /
Senate. Various measures, each in The .
opinion of its respective advocates, suggest .
i've of peace in Kansas, have been alternate 1
ly proposed and rejected. Men o"tsids ct .
the Territory, in various sections of the I
Union, influenced by reasons best known to .
themselves have cndeavored to stir up in
ternal strife, and to array brother against
brother.
In this confic; Of opinion, and for the pro-
motion Of the most unworthy purposes,
ka:sss is left TO suffer, her people to
mourn, and Ter prosperity is endangered.
Is there 10 remedy 70: these evils: Can
not the wounds of karsas be healed and
peace be restored to all her borders: {:
Men OF the North-men Of the SOuth-oi
the East and Of the West, an hdnsGs-you,
and you alone, have the remedy in your own
hands. VIII you not suspend iratriciGal
strife? Will you not cease to regard each
other as enemies and look upon one another
as the children Of a common mother, and
come and reason together?
Let US Danish all outside influences from
our deliberations, and assemble around our
council board with the Constitution of our
country and the Organic Law Of this Terri
tory as the great charts for our guidance and
direction. The bona .Jiie inhabitants of this
Territory eIone are charged with the solemn
duty OF cnactng her laws, upholdiug her
maintaining peace, and laying
the foundation for a future commonwealth
On this point let there be perfect unity
Of sentiment. 1t is the first great step to-
wards the attainment Ct peace. 1t will in
spirc confidence amongst ourselves, and H.
sure the respect Of the whole country. Let
us show ourselves worthy and capable of
selfgovernment
DO not the inhabitants Of this Territory
better understand what domestic institutions
are suited to their condition-whatl laws will
be most conducive to their prosperity and
the citizens of distant, or
even neishboring States? This great right
of regulating our own affairs and attending
to our own business without any interference
from others, has been guaranteed to us by
the law which Congress has made for the
organization of this Territory. This right
of sef-government-tbis privilege guaran-
tecd to us by the organic law Of our Terri
tory, will uphold with all my might, and
with the entire power committed to me.
In relation to any changes Of the laws of
the Territory which may deem desirable,
have no occasion now to speak but these
are subjects to which will direct public at
tention at the proper time.
The territcry of the United States is the
common property Of the several States, or
of the people thereof This being so, no
obstacle should be interposed to the free set
tlenent Of this common property, while in ,
territorial condition.
] chcerfully admit that the people of this
Territory, under the organic act, have the
absolute right of making their municipal
laws, and from citizens who deem them
selves aggrieved by recent legislation,
would invoke the utmost forbearancc, and
point out to them a sure and peaceable re-
Inedy. You have the right to ask the next (
Legislature to revise any and all laws and,
in the meantime, as you value the peace Of
the Territory and the maintenance of future
laws, would earnestly ask you to refrain
from all violations of the present statutes ,
am sure there is patriotism sufficient in '
the people of Kansas to lend willing obe-
dience to law. All the provisions of the
Constitution of the United States must he
observed-all the acts of Congress
having reference to this Territory, must be
obeyed, and the decisions Of