The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-12-12


tions or interests within itself as of the con-
f1icting passions of the whole people of the u
nited States. Revolutionary disorder in Kan
saS had its origin in projects Of Intervention, de-
liberately arranged by certain members of that
Congress which enacted the law for the organ
lzation ofthe territory. And when propagan-
dist colinization Of Kansas had thus been under
taken in one section of the Union, for the sys-
tematlc promotion of its views of policy, there
ensued, as matter of course, counteraction
with opposite views in other sections of the u
Mon.
In consequence of these and other incidents,
many acts of disorder, it is understood, have
been perpetrated in Kansas, to the occasional
interruption, rather than the permanent suspen-
sion, of regular government. Aggressive and
most reprehenSible incursions into the territory
were undertaken, both in the North and the
South, and entered in on its northern border by
way of Iowa, as we'll as on the eastern by way
of Missouri, and there has existed within il a
state of insurrection against the constituted au-
thorities, not without countenance from ncon-
sderate persons in each ofthe great sections of
the Union. But the difficulties in that Terri
tory have been extravagantly exaggerated for
purposes of political agitation elsewhere.
The number and gravity of the acts of vio-
lence have been magnifed partly by statements
entirely untrue, and partly by reiterated ac-
counts OF the same rumors facts. Thus the
Territory has been seemingly filled with ex-
treme violence, when the whole amount of such
acts has not been greater than what occasional
ly passes before US in single cities to the regret
Of all good citizens, but without being regard
cd Of
quence.
Imputed irregularities in the elections held
in Kansas, like occasional irregularities of the
same description in the States, We're beyond the
sphere of the Executive. But incidents of ac-
tual violence OF of organized obstruction oflaw,
pertinacously renewed from time to time, have
been met as they occurred, by such means as
Were available and as the circumstances requir-
ed; and nothing of this character now remains
TO affect the general peace ofthe Union. The
attempt of part of the inhabitants of the ter
ritory to erect a revolutionary Government,
though seduIously encouraged and supplied
with pecuniary aid from active agents of dsor-
der in some Of the States, has completely failed
Bodies Of armed men, foreign TO the territory.
have been prevented from entering, or compel
led TO leave it. Predatory bands, engaged in
acts of rapine, under cover ofthe existing poll
teal disturbances, have been arrested or dis
persed And every welldisposed person is now
enabled once more to devote himself in peace
to the pursuits of prosperous industry, for the
prosecution of which he undertook to partici-
pate in the settlement of the Territory.
1t affords me unminglrd satisfaction thus TO
announce the peaceful condition of things in
Kansas, especially considering the means 10
which it was necessary TO have recourse for the
attainment the end, namely, the employment
of part of the military force of the U. 5. The
withdrawal Of that force from its proper duty
of defending the country against fereign foes or
The Savages of the frontier, 20 employ it for the
suppression of domestic insurrecton, is, when
the exgency occurs, matter of the most earn
est solicitude.
On this occasion of imperative necessity, it
has been done with the best results, and my sa-
tsiaction in the attainment of such results by
such means is greatly enhanced by the conside-
ration that, through the wisdom and energy of
the present Executive of Kansas, and the pru-
d~nce, frmnesS, and vigilance of the military
officers on duty there, tranquility has been res
tored without one drop of blood having been
shed in its accomplishment by the force of
the United States.
The restoration of comparative tranquility in
that territory furnishes the means of observing
calmly, and appreciating at their just value, the
events which have occurred there, and the dis
cussionS of which the Government of the Terri
tory has been the subject.
We perceive that controversy concerning IFS
future domestic institutions was inevitable that
no human prudence, no form of legislation, no
wisdom on the part Of Congress, could have
prevented this.
1t is idle to suppose that the particular provi-
sions of their organic law were the causes OF
agitation. These provisions were but the oc-
cason, or the pretext of agitation, which was
inherent in the nature of things. Congress le-
gislated upon the subject in such terms as were
most consonant with the principle of popular
sovereignty which underies our government.
1t could not have legislated otherwise without
doing violence TO another great principle of our
institutions, the inpTescriptible right of equality
of the several States.
We perceive, also, that sectional Interests and
party passions have been the great impediment
to the sautary operation of the organic princi-
pies adopted, and the chief cause of the success
slve disturbances in Kansas. The assumption
'but3 pVAduSt III iut VI lUc lVtIitO-
ries of Nebraska and Kansas, Congress a5starn-
ed from imposing restraints upon them to which
certain other territories had been subject, there
fore disorders occurred in the latter territory, is
emphaticaly contradicted by the fact that none
have occurred in the former.
Those disorders were not the consequence in
Kansas of the freedom of self-Government con-
cedrd to that Territory by Congress, but of un-
just interference on the part of persons not in
habitants the Territory. Such interference
wherever ii has exhibited itself, by acts OF an
lnsurrectionary character, or of obstruction &c