The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-19

| - 10y - uSiShNhS 'uS CcuHtIN A1diuSt
foreign foes or the savagcs Of the frontier,
to employ it for the suppression of domcs-
tic instruction, is, when the exigency
occurs, matter Of the most earnest solici-
tude. On this occasion of imperative
necessity it has been done with the best
results. and my satisfaction in the attain
ment of such results by such means is
greatly enhanced by the consideration
that. through the wisdom and energy of
the present executive of Kansas, and the
prudence, firmness, and vigilance of the
military officers on duty there, tranquility
has been restored without one drop of
blood having been shed in it's accomplish
ment by the forces of the United States.
The restoration ofcomparativc tranquil
ity in that Territory furnishes the means
of observing calmly and approaching at
their just value the events which have oc-
Cured there, and the discussions of which
the government of the Territory has been
the subject. .. '. ...
We perceive that controversy concern
ing it's future domestic institutions was
inevitable; tina. no human prudence, no
form of legislation, no wisdom on the part
of Congress, could have prevented it.
1t is idle to suppose that the particular
provisions of their organic law were the
cause Of agitation. Those provisions
were but the occasion or the pretex OF an
agitation which was inherent in the nature
of things. Congress legislated upon the
subject in such terms as were most con-
sonant with the principle of popular SOW
ereign:y. which underlies our government.
l. could not have l.gislated otherwise
without doing violence to another great
principle of our Institutions. the impre-
scriptible right of equally of the several
STATES.
We perceive, also, that sectional iner-
ests and party passions have been The
great impeachment TO the salu.ary opera
tion of the organic principles adopted,
and the chief cause of the successive dis
turbances in Kansas. The assumption,
that because, in the organization of the
. Territories of Nebraska and Kansas. Con-
gress abstained from imposing restraints
upon them TO which certain other Terri
tories Lad been subject, therefore dsor-
ders occurred in the latter Territory, is
emphatically contradicted by the fact that
none have occurred in the former. Those
disorders were not the consequence in
Kansas of the freedom of sclf-government
conceded to 'h:t Territory by Congress,
but of unjust interference on the part of
persons not inhabitants Of the Territory.
Such interference, wherever it has cxhib-
tied itself, by acts of insurrectionary char
actcr, or of obstruction to process of law,
has been repealed or suppressed by all the
means which the constitution and the
laws place in the hands of the Executive.
!, In those parts of the United States
where, by reason of the infamed state of
the public mind, false rumors and mis-
representations have tie greatest currency
it has been assumed that it was the duty
OF the Executive not ONLY to suppress in
surrectionary movements in Kansas, but
also to see to the regularity of local cleo
tons. 1t needs little argument to show
that the President has no such power
All government in the United States rests
: substantially upon popular election. The
freedom OF elections is liable to b: impair
ed by the intrusion of unlawful votes, or
the exclusion Of lawful ones, by improper
influences, by violence, or by fraud. But
the people OF the unicd States are them
selves the all-sufiicient guardians of their
own rights; and to suppose that they will
| not remedy, in due season, any such Incl
dents of civil freedom, is to suppose them
10 have ceased to be capable of sclf-gov-
ernment. The President of tie United
S.ases las not power 10 in.erpose in cleo.
lions, to see TO their freedom, TO canvass
thelr votes, or 20 pass upon their legal y,
, in the Territories any more han in lie
States. Ii he had sucn power, the gov
ernment might be republican in form. but
1t would be monarchy in fact AID if he
had undertaken 10 exercise i. in the case
OF Kansas, he would have been Justly sub
jecS to the charge of usurpation, and of
violation of the dearest rights of the peo-
, PIE of the United States.
Unwise laws, equally with Irregular
ties al cleo ions, are, in periods of graa.
, excitement, the occasional incidents of
, even the freest and best political instiiu-
tons. But all experience demonstrates
thai in country like ours, where The right
of selfcons,itution exists in the compIet-
est form, the attempt to remedy unwise
legislation by resort to revolution is total
ly out Of place, inasmuch as existing legal
, institutions afford more prompt and effica-
{ cious means for the redress OF wrong.
| confidently trust that now, when the
| peaceful condition of Kansas affords op-
. portunity for calm reflection and wise
5 legislation, either the legislative assembly
OF the Territory, or Congress, will sec
, that no act shall remain on it's statute
book violative of the provisions of the con
5 stitution, or subversive Of the great objects
t for which that was ordained and establish
ed, and will take all other neces ,ary steps
to assure to its inhabitants the enjoyment,
without obstruction or abridgment, of all
the constitutional rights, privileges, and
immunities of citizens Of the United
Sta es, as contemplated by the organic
law of the Territory.
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