Squatter sovereign., 1856-09-16
inaugural Address Of John W. Geary,
Governor Of Kansas Territory, Deliv-
cred at Leeompton, September llsh,
1855.

xu8uS uE34 k4uuISSS VI SU0n W. 0SeAys
Governor Of Kansas Territory, Deliv-
cred at Leeompton, September llsh,
1856. f
FELLOW CIrIzEEs:-I appear among
you a stranger to most of you, and Tor the
first time have the honor to address you
as Governor of the Territory of Kansas.
The position was not sought by me; but
was voluntarily rendered by the present
chief magistrate of the nation. As an
American citizen, deeply conscious of the
blessings which ever flow from cur beloved
Union. i did not consider myself at liberty
to shrink from any duties, however deli
cate and onerous, required of me by my
country.
With full knowledge of all the Cir
cumstances surrounding the executive Of
fee, have deliberately accepted it, and
as God may give me strength and ability.
will endeavor faithfully 10 discharge It's
varied requirments. When Ireceiyed my
commission was solennIy sworn to sup
port the Constitution of the United States,
and to discharge my duties as Governor
of Kansas with fidelity. BY reference to
| the act for the organization of ibis territory,
passed by Congress on the 30th day of
| March. 1854, l find my duties more par
| ticularly defined. Among other things, l
am ''to take care that the laws be faith
fully executed"
| The Constitution Of the United States
and the Orgenic Law of this territory will
be the lights by which will be guided liz
my executive career.
| A careful and dispassionate examina-
sion Of our Organic Act will satisfy any
reasonable person tina, its provisions are
eminenily Just and beneficial. If this Act
has been distorted to unworthy purposes.
1 it 10 not the fault of it's provisions The
great leading feature Of that Act is the
right therein conferred upon the actual
and bona fde inhabitants Of this territory
..in the exercise Of self-government. to de-
ternine for themselves what shall be their
own domestic institutions. subject, only to
the Constitution and the laws duly ena cted
by Congress, under it." The people, ac-
customed to self-government in the States
from whence they came and having remov-
ed to this territory with the bona tide lnten-
ton Of making it their future residence,
were supposed to be capable of creating
their own municipal government, and to
be The best Judges OF treir own local neces-
stiles and institutions. This is what is
termed "popuar sovereignty" BY this
phrase we simply mean the right Of the
majority of the people OF the several states
and territories, being qualified electors, 10
regulate their own domestic concerns, and
to make their own municipal laws. Thus
| understood, this doctrine underies the
whole system of republican government.
1t II the great right Of self-government for
the establishment of which our ancestors,
in the stormy days of the revolution pledg.
ed ''their lives. their fortunes. and their
aacred honor"
| A doctrine so eminently just should re.
ceive the willing homage OF every Amer
ican citizen. When legitimately express
ed, and duly ascertained. the will of the
ma iority must be the imperative rule oi
civil sction for every law-abiding citizen
This simple, just rule of action, has brought
iorder out of chaos. and by q progress un-
paraleIed in the history of the world, has
made few feeble infant colonies giant
confederated republic.
No man, conyersant with the state of af-
fairs now in Kansas, can close his eyes &c
the fact that much civil disturbance hai
for long time past existed ia this terrific.
iry. Various reasons have been assigned
for this unfortunate condition of affairs
and numerous remedies have been pro-
posed.
The House Of Representatives of the
United States have ignored the claims o.
both gentlemen claiming the legal right te
represent the people ofthis territory in tha
body. The Topeka Constitution, recog
nized by the House, has been repudiateC
by the Senate. Various measures, eacl
III the opinion of its respective advocates
: suggestive of peace to Kansas, have beer
alternately proposed and rejected. MeI
: outside of the territory, in various sectiors
of the Union, influenced by reasons bes
known to themselves, have endeavored t,
stir up internal strife, and to array brothe
against brother.
81 In this conflict of opinion. and for tn
}: promotion Of the most unworthy purposes
Kansas is left to suffer. her people t
,noure, and her prosperity is endangered
Cannot the wounds of Kansas be heal
led and peace be restored TO all her boz
dsrs.
i Men of the Nor,h-msn of the South
Il of the East and of the West, IN Kansd
n ni-you, and You alone, have the remedy i
your own hands. Will you not suspen
fratricidal strife. Will you net cease 1
> regard each ether rs enemies, and loo
n upon one another as the children OF
81 common motLer, and come and reason tc
d gethers
Il Let us Danish all outside influences fror
4 our deliberations. and assemble aroun
our council-board with the Constitution
our country and the Organic Law of th
'i territory as the great charts for our guit
h ance and direction. The bona fde inhal
g, liant. of this territory alone are charge
81 with the solemn duty Of enacting her law
!. upholding ber government. maintainin
. peace, and laying the foundation for Fl
~ ture commonwealth.
On this point let there be perfect unit
y of sentiment. 1t is the first great step Il
a. 80 ,ds IN. affainment of peace II yyi