The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-10-02
RAVENNA, THURSDAY, OCT. 2, 1856.
inaugural Address OF Gov. John
w. Geary.
Delivered at L.compton, September II, 1856

w. Geary.
Delivered at LscOmpton, September IL, 1856
FELLOW CrTIzESs:-I nppear nmong vo,
a stranger to most of you, and for the frs
time have the honor to address you as the
Governor of Kansas. The position was no
sought by me: but was voluntarily rendered
by the present chief magistrate of the ma
ton. As an American citizen, deeply con
scious Of the blessings which ever flow
from our beloved Union, did not consider
myself at liberty to shrink from any duties
however delicate and onerous, required oI
me by my country.
With full knowledge OF all the circum
stances surrounding the executive Office,
have deliberately accepted it, and as Goo
may give me strength aud ability. will en-
deapOr faithfully to discharge its varied re.
quiremeuts. When received my commits.
sion, was solem My sworn to support the
Constitution of the United States, and to dis.
charge my duties as Governor of Kansas
with fidelity. By reference to the act for
the organization Of this Territory, passed by
Congress on the 30th day of March, 1854,
find my duties more particularly defined. -
Among other things am "to take care thu,
the laws are faithfully executed"
The Constitution of the United States
and the Organic Law of this Territory will
be the light by which will be guided in
my executive career.
A careful and dispossionate examination
of our Organic Act will satisfy any reasona.
BILE person that its provisions are emnently
just and beneficial. l. this act has been dis.
torted to unworthy purposes, it is not the
fault Of its provisions. The great leading
features OF that Act is the right therein con-
terred upon the actual and bona ,fa5 inhabi.
tants Of this Territory "in the exercise OF
self government, to determine for them
selves what shall be their own domestic in.
stitutions, subject only to the Constitution,
and the laws duly enacted by Congress un.
der it," The people, accustomed to self-go.
vernment in the States from whence they
came, and having removed to this Territory
with the bona fde intention OF making it
their future residence, were supposed TO be
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 "popnlar sovereign.
,y." By this phrase we simply mean the
right of the majority of the people Of the
several States and Territories, being quail.
lied electors, to regulate their own domes
tic concerns, and to make their own munic:'
pal laws. Thus understood, this doctrine
underliCs the whole system of Republican
government. 1t is the great right of sci
government. for the establishment Of which
our ancestors i'll the stormy days OF the rev.
olution, pledged Htheir lives, their fortunes
and their sacred honor"
A doctrine SO eminently just should re-
ceive the willing homage of every Anne ri.
can citizen. When legitimately expressed
and duly ascertaned, the Will OF the major
ity must be the imperative rule Of civil ac.
tion for every law. abiding citizen. Thi:
simple, just rule of action, has brought ou1
of The chaos, and, by progress unparalleI
ed in the history of the world, has made q
few feeble infant colonies gaGt confede er-
ate republic. ..
No man, conversant with the state o.
ulIairs now in Kansas, can close his eyes t.
the fact that much civil disturbance has fo'
a long time past existed in this Territory
Various reasons have been assigned for this
unfortunate condition Of affairs, and numer.
Gus remedies have been proposed. ....
The House of Representatives of the Uni
ted States have ignored the claims of both
gentlemen claiming TO The legal right to
represent the people Of this Territory in that
body. The Topeka Com ttution, recog
uized by the House, has been repudated by
the Senate. Various measures, each in the
opinion of its respective advocates, sugges
tive of peace to Kansas, have been alternate
ly proposed and rejected Men outside O
the Territory, in various sections Of thu
Union, Influenced by reasons best known t,
themselves, have endeavored to stir up in
ternal strife, and to array brother agains
brother.
In this CONFLICT Of opinion, and for tht
promotion OF the most unworthy purpose
Kansas is left to suffer, her people TO mourn
and her prosperity is endangered.
Is there no remedy for these evils! Can
not the wounds of Kansas be healed, ant
peace be restored to all her borders!
Men Of the North--men of the South %
the East and of the West. in Kansas-you
and gon alone. have the remedy in your owl
hands. Win you not suspend lratricidu
strife! Will you not cease to regard each
other as enemies, and look upon one anoth
er as the children of a common mother, ant
cone and reason togethera
Let us Danish all outside influences from
our deliberations, and assemble around oul
council board, with the constitutions of our
country and the Organic Law of the Terri
i tory as the preak charts for our puidaDcf