New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-26
AFFAIRS In KANSAS.
THE BORDER RUFFIANS SUSTAINED.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
WAsHIsGToS, Jan. "a, 1856.

Of governmental organization in the Territory OF
Kansas and produce there acondition Of thngs which
renders it incumbent on to call your attention to
the subject, and urgently recommend the adoption b.
you Of such Of legislation the grave ext
geDces of the appear to require.
brief exposition of the circumstances referred to,
and Of their causes will be necessary to the full IN
derstanding Of the recommendations which II Il pro-
posed 10 submit.
The act to organize the Territories Of Nebraska and
Kansas was manifestation Of the legislative opinion
Of Congress two great points Of constitutional
structOn One that the designation of the boundaries
of new Territory, and provision for its political or
ganiZatiOn and admlnt ratlOn 40 a Territory, are
which Of right fall within the powers of the
General Governs MT and the other that the inhabt-
ants of any such Territory, considered an nchOae
State, entitled in the exercise Of se9oyernment,
10 determine for themselves what shall be their own
domestic institutions subject only TO the Constitution
and the laws duly enacted by Congress under 1t, and
10 the power Of the existing States to decide, accord
ing TO the provisions and principles of the Constitution,
at what time the Territory shall be received as State
Into the Union. Such the great political rights
which solemnly declared aud affirmed by that act.
Based upon this theory the act Of Congress defined
for each Territory the outlines Of republican govern
mcnt, distributing public authority among the lawfully
created agonts-execuive, judicial and legislative
10 be appointed either BY the General Government or
by the Territory. The legislative functions were In
trusted to a Council and House Of Representatives.
duly elected and empowered TO enact all the local
laws which they might deem essential TO their prosper
ty, happiness and good government Acting IN the
same spirit Congress dko defined the persons who
were in the first instance to be considered the peo
pie Of each Territory; enGcting that every free white
male inh8btant of the same above the age OF twenty
one years being actual re ident thereof, and pos
sessng the qualifications hereafter described, should
be entitled to vote at the first election, and be eligible
10 any Office within the Territory but that the qualif
cations of voters and holding Office at all subsequent
urnffb no laan nv
Legislative Assembly: Provided, however, that the
right of suffrage and of holding office should be exer
csed only by citizens Of the United States, and those
who should have declared ON oath Their intention to
become such, ond have taken oath to support the
Constitution Of the United States and the pro-
visions Of the act And provided, further, that
officer soldier, seaman or marine, or other
person in the army or navy Of the United States,
or attached to troops in their service, should be
allowed to vote hold office in either Territory by
reason Of being on service therein.
Such of the public officers Of the Territories as by
the provisions of the act to be appointed by the
General Government, including the Governors, were
appointed and commissioned in due season-the law
having been enacted on the 30th of May, 1854 and
the commission of the Governor of the Territory of
Nebraska being dated on the I'd day of August, 1854,
and of the Territories Of Kansas on the 10Th day OF
June 1854
Among the duties imposed by the act on the Cover
nors was that Of directing and experimenting the
political organization of the respective Territories.
The Governor Of Kansas required to cause CEN
gus or enumeration of the inhabitants and qualified
voters Of the several counties and districts OF the Ter
rtory to be taken by such persons and IN such mode
az he might designate and appoint; to appoint and
direct the time and places of holding the first elections,
md the manner of conducting them both as to the
xersoDs superntend such ell ctons and the returns
thereof 10 declare the number of the members OF the
Council and House of Representatives for each county
or district; TO declare what persons might appear to
be duly elected; and to appoint the time and pace OF
The first meeting of the Legislative Assembly. In
substance the same duties were deVOVed on inc Uo'-
ernoT of Nebraska. -. =
While by this act the principle of constitution for
each of the Territories and the same ana the
details of organic legislation regarding both were as
nearly as could be Identical and while the Territory OF
Nebraska was TRANQUILITY and successfully organized III
the due course of law and ts first legislative Assem-
by met on the 10th Of January, 1855, the organization
of Kansas WAS long delayed, aud has been attended
with serious difficulties and embaassments, partly the
of local NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., ana par'y
of the uniustifiabe interference OF the nnaOtahts Oh
some Of the Sates foreign byresdence interests, ana
rights to the Territory. - ,1.- o...,..i.
stoned before stated on the "9th OF June, loS4,
did not reach the designated seat OF his Government
until the 9TH of the ensuing OCTOBER aud even theh
failed to make the first step in Its legal organzeuon-
that of ordering the census or enumeration OF us IN
habitants-until 10 late day that me eecuon o Ine
members of the Legislative Assembly did not take
pace until the 3Oth of March, 1888, nor Its meetnS
until the Cd of July 1885, so that for year aiter thS
TERRITORY was constituted by the act OF Congress ana
he
had been commissioned il without complete
Government without any legislative authority, with
out local law, and Of course without tue oruinary
guarantee of peace and public order
In other respects the Governor instead OF exercising
constant vigilance and putting forth all his energies 10
prevent or cOuntcract the tendencies TO nlegehly
which are prone to exist IN all impeTlecuy
and newly-associated communities, allowed MS attSn-
ton to be diverted from ofhclaI oDngatoH py ooC
objects and himself set example OF the violation Oh
law in the performance of acts which rendered my
duty in the SEQUEL to remove him from the once VI
chef executive magistrate of the Territory.
Refo,e the reouisite preparation was accomplished
Coz election of Territorial Legislators an election OF
Delegate tn CONGRESS had been held IN the territory
ON tbe Doth day of November 1854 and the Deiegate
took his seat in the House of Representatives WHSVu'
challenge If arrangements nau ocem pihors Of the
the Governor so that the elect IN for members OIL tnJ
Iegisjative Assembly might be held IN the seVeicl
Drecincts at the same time as for Deeg9te 10
any ouestiOn appeItaning to the qudilh'aou "a 'lo
persons voting as people oil the itl ~ is;on
psssed necessarily and at once under the .eeiN sloh
IF Congress as the Judge of the validity OF ire return
nj tbe Delegate and would have been deternineu oe
fore conflicting passions had become lnnaned .! 'e
and before opportunity coulu nav uS0 &c ;nS;dol
systemstic interference of the people OF mnVluuai
States. -. ,o,,oorns "a urinary
causes and It's immediate commencement was one VI
the incidents of that perniclouS agitation on 5no SUI
80; of the condition of the COOred persons held 10 ser,
90 in some of the States which has so long disirDe
tLe renose of our country, and excited mdlVlduaS
otberwise patriotic and awabiding to toll with lnS
rected zeal in the attempt to propagate thelr soC
theories by the perversion and abuse Oh 'nc i""'''
Congress. -, ..r &c tho act
The persons and parties whom the tenor OF Lhe act
70 Organize the Territories of Nebraska ana hansa
thwaItcd in the endeevor TO impose IN o. seal
agency Of Congress their particular views OF sotla'
organiza alton on the people of the future new otH'
now perceiving that the policy of leaving inc ihnao'
iaDts of each State to judge for thenseyes III
II ....4. amy d