Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-02-02
Message Of the President.
WASHINGTON, JANUARY "a. Il

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" AshiSeios' January 81. Ao'o
10 the Oendte ana House 81 Representatives.:
Circumstances lave occurred 10 disturb
the course OF goyernme ntal organization in
the Territory of Kansas, and produce there
IA condition. of things W hlch renders i, in.
rumbent on me 10 call your attention to the
subject aud urgently recommend the aGop.
ton BY YOU oil such measures Of legislation
as the grave exigencies OF the case appear
TO require.
A b,lef exposition OF the circumstances
referred TO, and of their causes, will BE- me-
cessary TO the full understanding of the re.
COMMUNICATIONS which 1t is proposed to
submit.
The az, 10 organize the Territories OF
Nebraska and Kansas was a manifestation
Of the legislative opinion OF Congress on
two great points of constitutional coustruc.
ton Que. that the designation OF the
boundaries of a new Territory. and pro.
vision for It's political organization and aid
ninistration as a Territory, are measures
which of tight fall within the powers Of
the General Government; AID the other
that the inhabitants OF any such Territory,
considered rs an inc hoate State, are init,
tied 10 tue exercise OF self-government.
10 determine for themselves " hat shall be
their own domestic institutions, subject
only to the Constitution aud the laws duIv
enacted by Congress under it, and to the
power OF lhe existing States to decide, &C
rording to the pi ovisious aud principles Of
the Constitution, at what time the Terri
to- y shall be received as State into the
Union. Such are the great Political nights
which are solennly declared and affirmed
by that act.
Based upon this theory the act of Con-
eress deined for esch Terri,or. the OUT
lines Of republican government, dis!ribu-
ling public authority among lawful, .crea-
ted agenis--executiv-, judicial, aud legis-
tive-so BE appointed either BY the Gen.
ersl Government or by The Territory. The
| legislative functions were entrusted to a
Council and House of Representatives,
duly elected and empowered to enact all
the local laws which they misht deem es.
sential to their prosperity. happiness. aud
good government. Acting in the same
Split Congress also defined the persons
y Tho were in the frat instance TO be- con-
sidered as the re ,ple OF each Territory;
enacting that every Tree white male in.
habitant OF thesame above the age Of TWEEN
ty-one wears, being an a .tuaI resident there.
OF. and possessing the qualifications hereaf.
ter described, should be- entitled to vote At
the FIRST election, and be eligible to an,
Office within the Territory; but that the
qualifications of y,teis and holding office
al al. subsequent elections should be such
as might be prescribed by the Legislative
Assembly Provided, however, that the
right olsutfragr and OF holding Office should
be exercised only by citizens OF the Uni.
| ted States, aud those who should have dr..
claled on oath their intention to becom.
such, and have taken an oath to support
the Constitution Of the United States aud
the provisions Of the act: And provided
further, that no officer, soldier, seaman,
or marine, or other person in the army or
navy of the United States, or attached 10
troops in their service, should be allowed
to vote or hold Office in Gather Territory
bv reason of being OIL service therein.
Such of the public officers Of the Terri
tories as, by the provisions Of the act, were
to be appointed by the General Govtrn-
mrnt including the Governors, wer< APP
pointed and commissioned in due season.
the law. having been enacted on the 30th
OF May. 1854, aud the commission of the
Governor of the Territory of Nebraska be.
ing dated on the I'd day OF August. 1854,
ard of the Territory OF Kansas, on the 29,h