The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-02-09

sent 70 congress On sne z4th, and recelV-
ed by both the Senate andHense. A
private dispatch informed rs OF fact,
Ibut the dispatches for the Ass led
Press made no mention whatever -
By the mail last night We received Ci1s
einnati and Louisville papers which con-
tain very full synopsis of the Message,
land of the proceedings of the House
upon it. In the Senate it was received
as matter of course, but in the House
there was vigorous effort to suppress
tit-which, however, was unayailing, and
bit was received and read.
We copy the proceedings:
SENATE.
a Message was received from the
President of the United States, saying
that circumstances had occurred to dis
turb the course of government in Kan
sas, producing a condition of things
which, nevertheless, it was incumbent
upon him to call the attention of Con-
gress, and to urgently recommend the
adoption of such measures as the exigen-
| cy may require He alludes eulogisti-
cally to the principles embraced in the
Kansas and Nebraska act, and the system
of government and laws which it was
passed to put in operation. While Ne
braska had been successfully organized
an organization had been long delayed
in Kansas. attended by serious difficult
ties and embarrassment, partly from local
NAL administration, and partly from un-
justiiable interference from the inhabi-
tants of other States, with views foreign
to the interests and rights of the Terri
tory.
Governor Reeder, instead of constant
vigilance in the execution of his duties,
himself sets the example in violating law
and duty, which impelIed the President
to remove him.
He alludes to the misdirected zeal of
propagandists, and the clashing of sla-
very and anti-slavery interests, as the
cause of the mischief, and as emphati-
cally condemns the efforts TO anticipate
or force the determination of that ques-
ton in this incohoate state. The first leg
islative 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 re-
garding the removal of the seat of gov
ernment, and Reeder's refusal to sign bills
passed by that body. The i'll feeling in
that Territory has now reached such
pitch, that it threatens the peace, not only
iof Kansas, but of the Union.
Relative to the recent Convention,
which formed Free State Constitution,
he says Ii was a party aud not the people,
who thus acted contrary to the principles
of the 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 con-
stitutional authorities in Kansas was rev.
olutionary in its character, and if it
should reach point of organized resist
ance, would become treason and insur-
rection, and twill be the duty Of the
Federal Government to suppress it. It
is not for the President to define the du-
ties of States and Territories, or decide
whether the law is wise or unwise, just
or unjust 1t is his. duty to cause it to
be effective
The great popular prerogative of self
government must be respected. The
President further says it is his duty to
preserve order in the Territory and vim
dicate the laws, whether federal or local,
and protect the people in the full enjoy
ment of self-government from all en-
croachments from without. Although
the serious and threatened disturbances
announced to him by Gov. Shannon, in
December last, were quieted without an
efusion of blood, there is reason to ap-
prehend renewed disorders there, unless
decided measures be forthwith taken to
prevent them.
He concludes by saying that if the In
habitants of Kansas shall desire State
constitution, and there shall be sufi-
cient number, the proper course viii be
to call convention of delegates to pre-
pare constitution, and recommends the
enactment of law to that effect, in order
that admission into the Union may be in
a lawful and proper manner, and that a
special appropriation be made to defray
any expenses which may become requi-
site in the execution of the laws, or the
maintenance of public order in that Ter
ritory.
Mr.. Seward differed from the Presi-
dent under the present state of our
foreign relations he would forego argu-
ment in that matter now when in the
judgment of the majority of the Senate.
the time shall come for action on the
subject, he would endeavor to make his
position good, of opposition to the posi-
tions, sentiments and policy, which are
contained in the Presidents Message
Mr.. Mason moved reference of the |
message to the Committee on Judiciary |
Mr.. Clayton thought it better to select
the Committee on Territories.
Mr.. Seward suggested that in the |
Committee on Judiciary, there was no |
opponents of the Administration, while |
in the Committee on Territories there was
only one, and thought it would be gener-
Gus and fair to let the minority have a
hearing. but would not insist upon it.
After further debate, the message was