Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-02-01
AFFAIRS IN KANSAS.
Message ortho President

10 d, Sennl. nnd Non,e d Rlpre,,nlnlIreg

tuWlutWl VI lllt W Gull lhuI ditUlthN W W
subject, and urgently recommend the Odor
ton by you Of such measures Of legislatio
as the grave exigencies Of the case appear t
require.
A brief exposition Of the circumstance
referred to, and of their causes, will be nee
essary to the fall understanding Of the rec
concentrations which 1t Is proposed to submit
The act 10 organize the Territories g
Nebraska and Kansas was manifestation d
the legislative opinion of Congress on tw
great points Of constitutional construction
One, that the designation of the huundarle
ct new Territory, and provision for its 30
litical organization and administration rs
Territory, nre measures which Of rghi fal
within the powers Of the General Govern
ment and the other, that the inhabitants d
any such Territory, considered as an in
choote State. are entitled, in the exercise q
selt-governmonl, to determine for thcmselve
Whist shall be their own domestic nstitn
tons subject only to the Constitution AM
the laws duly enacted by Congress under If
aud to the power Of the existing States Il
decide, according to the provisions and pr II
clpes OF the Constitution, nj what time thi
leruory shall be received as State int,
the Union Such are the great political
rights which a e solemnly declared and af
inped by that act
Based upon this theory, the act Of Con
gress defined for each Territory The omlinpl
of republican government distributing pub
inc authority among the lawfully created a
gents executive. judicial aud legislative ..
To be appointed either by the general gov
eminent or by the Territory, The lerlsla
tive functions we're inlrusled TO- Cnunci
and House OF Representatives., duly clecie,
ond empowered 10 enact all the local law,
which they might deem essential To then
prosperity happiness and good government
Aclng ~ the samc spirit, Congress also de.
fined the persons who were ia The first inst
ance To be considered os the people of cacf
Territory; cnacung that every free white
male lnhabltHnt, an actual resident thereof
aud possessing the qualifications hereafter
described, should be entitled to vote al tho
FIRST election, aud be eligible tn any office
within the Territory but that qualification.
of voters and those holding Office at all sub.
sequrnt elections should be- such as fnipbi he
prescribed by the Legislative ASSEMBLE
provided, however, that the right OF suffrnpe
aud Of holding office should be exercised
only by ciulcns of the United States, and
those who should have declared On oath 10
1i''''' '''o eou''''u',ou ~ ie United states
~ w '''. ',''""' VI ''' ac' ana pfovld
eu '"''"'' ,'"' no "ulcer' solder seaman ur
,"', VI o'ne, person III the hriuy ~ navy
VI we Oh'leu Smtes' or attached to troops
ln 'heIl service shnnln De allowed to vote uT
noiu ONCE IN eltner Territory by reason OF
IL.
oelng on service therein.
such OF the public officers Of the Terri
torres as by the provisions OF the act, were
To De appointed by The General Government,
Including the Governors, were appointed
ana commissioned IN due season the law
having oeth enacted on the 3Oth of May,
lcJ4, ana the commission Of the Governor
OF the territory OF Nebraska being dated on
i1e "a DAY OF August leI4 and Of the Ter
rtory OF Kansas on the 18th day Of June,
1904
Among the duties imposed by the act on
the Governors was that of directing and su-
perinlendlng the political organization ofthe
respective Territories. the Governor OF
h'hsas was required to cause a census or
enumeration OF the nlablian's and qualified
voters OF the several counties and districts Of
the IernIo'y TO be taken by such persons
ana III such mode AS he might designate aud
appoint 10 appoint and direct the time and
places Of holding the first elections, and the
manner OF conducting them both a. 10 the
persons TO supfelniend such elections and
lhe returns thereof; To declare the number
D, ine memOefs oi the Council and louise
VI Representatives ior each county or dis
ulC'i 10 uep'ate whil persons might appear
W uu uu'y e!ec'eu ahu 10 appoint the time
anu pay :" we n'st meeting OF 'he Legs
'aN'u H's'"luy III SUBSTANCE the same
Hu''uS were "e'e'opeu on the Governor OF
'', ,,,'',
""c' oy unls ACT, the principle ol con-
su'u'loh 'of e'cn OF the territories was one
ana 'he sa'ne' ana me details ul organlc leg
'''ut'"n Ieg'lulhg polh were as nearly as
S =, oe 'p'H"ca' ana "hl'e the territory OF
'Nvo.'-N1 was "'hPuN'y ana successfully
organized ~ the due course of law, aud lis
'',S' es's",Me Assembly mel on lhe 10Th
VI January '9''' uie "' ea"E ,ton OF Kansas
~o1 lug ue,'y''' anu mas or'h attended
WV ''' ''u' u''i'u'''S ana e'uoarrasS'nenls,
P.'Uy "'' 'eh- o' He'l MAJ adn'in'
a""''' ""u P''uy "l tue u'Jn''lhaoIe m
~, e''e'cnoo Oh 'n9 'nn'n',ah's OF some oi TIE
suits l"Ic'gn ny t,s'u'nce' interests and
'"r ~, r's"'s !" '"o 'n,fNory
ne N''et"'f ui th1 'trr'ory OF Kansas
1o',,'''s'p,lc1' rs ne'o'' stated ON the 29th
" u,' % ~ u'u IVY l'ncn 'h' ueSignttfd
Sea'u' nus NoV'fhheil un'li the |th ot The
o"Su'"s D'.'oer 'nd even ten tailed To
'i''No .'i' n'S' s''p III It's 'egai urganllllon-
''i'l VI o,'1'lng inc census or enumeration
=" us ''nao"en'S - unti So late day that
lno eleo'"n ol me members OF the Legisla-
I'VE Assembly d'd not take place until the
1o'n OF N9feh' zoo nor It's meeting until
','e "a ol 'u'y' io'' ) So mat Tor year after
,ne 'er'''o'y was constituted by the net OF
ConstesS ana the "ilcerS TO De appointed by
u'p r'urIal Executive h'n oeen commits
''ou'"i " "us "'u"u' complete govern
nth' W'nVut any legislative authority,
"'inoul 'oo"' la"' ana OF course without the
ordinary guarantees oil peace ana public or
uet'
IN olher respects Inc uovernor instead of
exercising constant vigilance and putting
form All ms energies to prevent or counter
act 'he Tenderness TO lllegallty which are
prone 10 exist N al imPsrleetly-organlzed
ana he"ly-assoclated communities, allowed
ms aten'loh 10 De diverted from official OBJ
d.