Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-06
LETTER Fsou GOV. pEEnEP


|
personally, but also my constituents. whom in
clination as well as duty imperiously demands
OF me to justify and protect. Entirely satisf-
ed as L am with the course adopted, up to this
time, By the people of Kansas-convinced that
1t has been dictated by a desire to preserve
the peace, the reputation and the glory of our
country-knowing that it has, at every stage.
been characterized by the most conservative
moderation and laudable regard for the rights
OF others-havng seen at every step the plain
est manifestion Of the anxions desire to avoid
even the semhlance of encroachment or ae-
gression, I should be false to every manly i'm
pulse and every sense Of duty if allowed the
aspersons of the Message TO pass unnoticed.
| Unless the Message shall incite and stinlu-
late new inyasons CT our Territory and fresh
outrages upon our citizens, it viii produce TO
US no regret, as 1T has caused no surprise. At
ter having seen our people trampled on. op-
pressed and robbed, on the one hand by the
/ invaders Of their soil, and on the other by .he
! influence, the authority, and the officers Of
/ the present Administration; after having wit
messed the cold-bloodcd murder of an unarn-
ed and unofending citizen by an officer of the
| Administration, who is not only unmolested
| by the laws and unrebulsed by the President
who appointed him, but WHO has. perhaps,
strengthened his official tenant and enhanced
his chances Of promotion by the act It is not
at all surprising that we should, by the head
of that Administration, be misrepresented and
perverted. After having seen the Chief Mag
istrlte, during five organized invasions of our
Territory, unmoved by single sympathy in
favor Of an unofending people, innocent of all
wrong, and laboring only to carry out faithful
" for themselves the doctrine Of self-gover1-
ment, and to build up and extend the great
ness Of our countEy-after having seen our in
vaders coming upon us armed (without re-
proof if not with official permission } from the
contents Of the Arsenals Of the United States,
establishing a system of martial law over life
and property, regulated only by the uncon-
troiled will of yindictiYe and irresponsible
men-a system under which life was taken
and property destroyed; the highways obstruc-
ted travellers seized, searched and detained
ali the pursuits of life paralyzed, and the de-
strUction and determination of whole settle
ments threatened and evidently intended
backed up by the sanction and authority of the
Federal officers, who pledge publicly the CO.
operation of the President, and all based upon
the fact that a man encouraged, perhaps aided
by his friends, had made his escape from an ar
rest on constable's peace warrant. After hav-
ing thus seen our natural and legal protectors
joining in the most atrocious measures of op-
preston and wrong, it is no matter of surprise
to see misrepresentation of cur position and
our objects emanating from the same source
This is not the mode nor the time in which
to discuss the themes of this Message. Ex-
pecting,. as 1 have right to expect from the
cearness of the exclusive title am prepared /
to show, that shall enjoy a seat and a voice |
on the floor of the,House, lam willing patient
" ''to bide my tine.'' st the proper time /
and place, however, l pledge myself to meet I
and expose the misstatements Of facts and the
errors of law and logic which it contains
viii show that there is nothing but cold cruel
t. and insult in the request Of an appropriation
TO pay an army or posse to prevent the people
Of Kansas from the commission OF outrage and
treason. will show that the movement for a
State Government is msstated as to the facts
Of lis origin and progress, and that all we have
done in this direction has been under the sane
ton Of the precepts and examples of all the
great men of the country for the last fifty
yeaTs-of the Legislation of Congress and the
action of the Executive in repeated and well
considered cases, and of q deliberate opinion
Of high and distinguished Attorney general
Of the United States, and which, as it is a part
Of the archives of the Executive Department,
i is to be regretted the President did not con-
salt before the delivery Of the Message. Ifit
IS illegality and incipient treason for new
State to be formed without an enabling Act of
Congress. l will show that fourteen Senators
IF the United States hold their seats, and sew
IN States stand in this Union by virtue of ille-
gal and REASONABLE proceedings-that Con-
sress has sanctioned reyulution, illegality and
reason, again and again; and that the rank
md noxous weed has even fourished in the
Y hite House and the Executive Department;
nd having vindicated my people, will also
sith the utmost confidence OF success -proceed |
o the minor and secondary task of vindicating {
myself in such Manner l trust, as to show the I
ttack to have been iil-adyised and unfortunate.
AS to the discussion in the Message of the
'ointS involved in the contested seat, | shall !
meet them when the case is heard; and as the
louse is the sole constitutional judge of the
of its own members, trust that
he minds of members may be kept open and
until they shall hear the law and
he facts of the case, and that whether the dis o
ussion by the Executive of some of the points !
involved has been made because they were in
idental to another sulject,or aimed and inten- I