Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-09-12
President Pierce on the Out
rages in Kansas.

President Pierce on the Out
RACES in Kansas.
A Committee Of the National Kansas Com
mittco waited upn President Pierce on the
Both ult., for the purpose Of obtaining his in
terposlton sgainstthe threatened invasion Of
Kansas. The pr@ident informed the Com
mittee that he thought the suilcrngs Of the
settlers were Of Their own seeking sn6 the
legitimate fruits Of that gun.powder bible
preaching which tley and their supporters at
the North have advocated. Each side was
doubtless to blame,
The following are stated as the opinions
of the President
/. That government has not tho power to
protect emigrsnts o. route for the territory,
because Of the jurisdiction Of the States
consequently, ouIraLes committed on the
highways Of the nston can only be redress
ed by the courts Of he respective states on
whose soil such outuges we're committed.
Consequently, as the State Of Missouri
does not and will not protect American ciu-
zcns passing throughher territory, they can-
not Unprotected at ALL What becomes Of the
constitutional guaranU Of the rights Of citi-
zenshp in the sey'td States? Is not the
President bound bs his oath to take care
that tho laws nre faithfully executed and
the constitution itself being the supreme
law? If legislation IS needed in this re-
spect, why dad he not rk Congress forhs
2. That government las no power to pre-
vent or redress outrage committed within
the territory, except thrcgh the civil arm, or
by martial law.
Why has not the President required his
Governor and Judge. u Kansas to prevent
or redress these outrage;l
3 That the military IN only aid tho civil
power aa posse comltuts, consequently
4. Government having provided a legal
mode Of redress for he sellers, and strength
ened It by posse at oil tines available, the
fault is with the settlrs where they have
iniled 10 get protection br redress they have
failed 10 get II either because they we're not
law-abiding citizens, Or because they made
application to the military which was the
wrong source from whence toseek it,
This is not true. The Flee Suite men
have applied for protection TO 6oh the civil
and military nuthorities-n vain
s. That the mere possession of arms by
cmgrauts entering the territory Is not prima
incle evidence OF threatened invasion. and
that the mere possession Of arms is a Constr
mtiOHai Privilege. which distinguishes Amer
icun citizens; and thai eWn gore nnieut itseB
mas NO RIGHT. under suct circumstances. TO
DIsARu them
WHY, then, have Free State men been
u's''''leu "''u WY nave LOT 'ne VloA'efs OF
the Constitution been punished Pierce's
Judges are swift To punish men for accent.
INC the ,fHce. of C;ova,,,r Senator 60
.r.c
''.V i'P'"a 'o''''''uo'' pu' ''o'a'ef7
OF Ue constitution OF the United States 60
unscathed
The COMMITTEE ,,hicb o,,.;s,..l ,,rrL.a
deus lIystt " f. Al A., and rJ.,.rl
Daniels t,ode tho C,li.,,..,. ,..l. IL
presidett f'
NJ p....I.,
~ curing tH' eng H'eeh mohths
"l "lOic ll8t executive power mas been eN~
eet'ed' us Is alleged 60 preserve peace 10
hansas and vanly eXertod . would seem
from admission here made, the disorders OF
mat territory have only grown worse. At
'nlS moment they are more threatening than
eVeri peaceful solution of its troubles
seems still more uncertain tian at any peri
90 OF Ms former history. Tie President af-
firms that he has exhausted all his constiiu-
uonal powers. And vet order IL not restor-
en-. Under such circumstances may It not
De well to inquire iohether The germ oChe
gus IS not 10 be FOUND IA the territorial idtos
themselves