Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-12-10

of the United States.
The restoration of comparative tranquility
in that Territory furnishes the means OF ooser-
wing calmly, and appreciating at their just
yalue the events which, have occurred there,
and the discussions OF which the government
of the Territory has been the subject.
We perceive that controversy concerning It's
future domestic institutions inevitable
that no human prudence, no form of legisla-
,ion, nc wisdom on the part of Congress, could
have prevented this.
II is idle 10 suppose that the particular pro-
visions OF their organic law were the cause OF
agitation. Those provisions were but the oc-
casion, o. the pretext of agitation, which
was inherent in the nature OF things. Con-
cress legisiated upon the subject in such terms
as were most consonant with the principle of
popular sovereignty which underlies our gov
ernment 1t could not hence legislate other
wise without doing violence to another great
principle of our institutions, the ImprescrlptI-
bic right of equality of the several States.
We perceive, also, that sectional interests
and party passions have been the great imped-
iment TO the salutary operation of the organic
principles adopted, and the chief cause of the
successive disturbances in Kansas. The as
sumption that, because in the organization OF
the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas, Con-
cress abstaned from imposing restraints upon
them to which certain other Territories had
been subject, therefore disorders occurred IN
the latter Territory, is einpbatically contradlc-
former.
Those disorders were not the consequence,
in Kansas OF the freedom of self-goyernment
conceded to that Territory by Congress, but OF
unjust Interference on the part of persons not
inhabitants of the Territory. Such Interior
ence, wherever it has exhibited itself, by acts
of ofinsutrectionary character, or Of obstruction
TO processes of law, has been repelied or sup
pressed, by all the means which the ccnstitu-
tion 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 misrepresentation
have the greatest currency, it has bean assumed
that it was the duty of the Executive not only
to suppress insurrcctionaTy movements III
Kansas. but also to see TO the regularity OF 10
cal elections. 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 free
dom OF election is liable to be impaired by the
intrusion of unlawful votes. or the exclusion
of lawful ones, by improper influences, by yio-
lencc, or by fraud.
But the people of the United States are
themselves all sufficient guardians Of their own
rights, and to suppose that they will not reme-
dy, in due season, any such incidents OF civil
freedom, is to suppose them to have ceased to
be capable of self-government. The President
of the United States has not power to inter
pose in elections, to see to their freedom, TO
canvass their votes, or to pass upon their le-
eality in the Territories any more than in the
States.
If he had such power the government might
be republican in form, but it would be mon
srchy in fact and if he had undertaken to ex-
ercise it in the case of Kansas, he would have
been justly subject to the charge OF usurpation,
and of violation OF the dearest rights Of the
people of the United States.
Unwise laws, equally with irregularities at
rt,Io ogfr ay ifau ant
the occasional incidents of even the frecst and
best political institutions. But all experience
demonstrates that in country like ours, where
the right of self constitution exists in the COM
petest form, the attempt TO remedy unMise
legislation by resort to revolution, is totally
out of place. inasmuch as existing legal insti-
tutions afford more prompt and ettcatious
means for the redress ofwrong.
l confidently trust that nOw, when the peace
full condition Of Kansas affords opportunity for
calm reflection and wise legislation, either the
legislative assembly of the Territory, or Con-
gress will see that no act shall remain on its
statute book violative of the provisions of the
Constitution, or subversiye of the great objects
for which that was ordained and established,
and will take all necessary steps to assure to
its inhabitants the enjoyment of all the consti-
tutional rights, privileges, and immunities Of
the citizens of the United States, contcmpla-
ted by the organic law Of the Territory.
Full information of recent events in this
Territory Will be found IN the documents COM
municated herewith from the Departments Of
State and War.
refer you TO the report Of the Secretary of
the Treasury for. particular information con-
ccruing the financial condition of the govern
ruent and the various branches of the public
service connected with the Treasury Depart
ment.
Durin, the last fiscal year the receipts from
customs were for the first time, more than six
" four million nine hundred and eighteen
thousand one hundred and forty-one dollars
which, with the balance on hand up to the lst
oil JGly. 1856 made the total resources of the
year TO amount to Dinety-two million eight
hundred and fifty thousand one hundred and
seventeen dollars.
The expenditures, icluding three million
dollars in execution of the treaty with Mexico
and including sums paid on account of the
public debt. .samounted TO sixty millions one
hundred and seventy-two thousand four hun
drcd and one dollars and, including the latter,
to seventy-two millions nine hundred and for
Is eight thousand seven hundred and ninety
two dollars, the payment on this account hav-
ing amounted to twelve millions seven hun
dred and seyenty-sx thousand three hundred
and ninety dollars.
On the 4th Of March, 1858, the amount of
the public debt was sixty-nine million one hun
drcd aud twenty mine thousand nine hundred
and thrty-seven dollars. There subsc-
quent increase of two million seven hundred
nnd fly thousand dollars for the debt of Tex
as-making a total of sevcnty-one million
eight hundred and seventy nine thousand nine
hundred and thirty-seven dollars. Of this sum
Of forty five million five hundred and twenty
five thousand three hundred and nineteen dol
lars including premium, has been discharged,
reducing the debt to thirty million seven hun
dred and thirty-seven Thousand one hundred
and tyentv-nine dollars. all OF which might be