Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1856-02-09
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

The news from Washington is very i'm
portant. On the 26th President Pierce
sent special message to the Senate and
House, on the difficulties now existing in
Kansas: The following is synopsis Of the
message:
The President, in the commencement Of
his message says that circumstances had
occurred to disturb the course Of Govern
ment in Kansas, producing condition Of
things which, nevertheless, it was incumbent
upon him to call the attention Of Congress,
and to urgently recommend the adoption Of
such measures as the exigency may require.
He alludes eulogistically to the principles
embraced in the Kansas and Nebraska act,
and the system Of government and laws
which it was passed to put into operation.
While Nebraska had been successfully
organized, an organization had been long
delayed in Kansas, attended by serious DIFF
ticult;es and endorsements from
local n,al-administration, and partly from
unjustifiable interference from the inhabi-
tants of other States, with views foreign to
the interest and rights Of the Territory.
Governor Reeder, instead of constant
vigilance in the execution Of his duties,
himself sets the example Of violating law
aud duty, which impelled the President to
remove him.
He alludes to the misdirected zeal oil
propaeandists, and the clashing Of Slavery
and Anti-Slavery interests as the cause Of
the mischief, and as emphatically condemns
the efforts to anticipate, or force the deter.
mination Of that question in this inchoate
state. The first Legislative Assembly,
whatever may have been the informalities
in the election of members, was for all
practical purposes, a lawful body, and in this
connection the President reviews Reeder's
conduct regarding tho removal of the seat of
Government, and Readers refusal to sign
bills passed by that body. The i'll feeling
in that territory has now reached such a
pitch that it threatens the peace, not only
Of Kansas but OF the Union.
Relative u the recent Convention which
formed Free State Constitution, he says
it was party and not tho people who thus
acted contrary to the principles of public
law, the practice under the Constitution of
the United States, and the rule of right
and common sense. The movement in
opposition to the Constitutional authorities
in Kansas was revolutionary in its character,
and if it should reach point Of organized
resistance would become reasonable insur.
rection; and it will be the duty Of the fed
eral government to suppress it.
1t is not for the President to de6ne the
duties Of States and Territories, or to decide
whether the law is wise or unwise, Just or
unjust. Its his duty to cause it to be etfec-
tive. The great popular prerogatlse Of self
government must be respected.
The President further says it is his duty
to preser1e order in the Territories, vindi-
cate the lat.s, whether federal or local, and
protect the people in the full enjoyment Of
selfgovernmeht, from all the encroachment
from without. Although the serious and
threatening disturbances announced to him
by Gov. Shannon in December last, were
quieted without the etfusicn of blood, there
is reason 10 apprehend renewed disorders
there, unless decided measures he forthwith
taken to prevent them.
He concludes BY saying, that if the in
habitants of Kansas shall desire a State
formation, and there shall be sufficient
number, the proper course vii: to be call a
Convention of delegates to prepare con.
st:tution, and recommend the enactment of
law to that effect, in order that admission
into the Union may be in lawful and
proper manner, and that special appro.
priation may be made to defiav any ex-
pen'e' which may become requisite in the
execution Of the law, or the maintenance of
public order in that Territory.
In the House Of Representatives, when
the mes'ags was presented; the greatest ex-
element prevailed. Ali attempt. to enforce
order were in vain. After sonie time had
elapsed in boisterous debate, Mr.. Stephens
Of Georgia, moved that the fnessaes be
read. The reading Of the message was
ordered by twenty-three msjority.
In the House, on the Goth, further at
tempts were made to elect Speaker, but
without success. The plurality proposition
was again voted down.-Pioneer d Dem.
lard TINES AT WAsH1xeroN.-Th