Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-12-03

imputed irregularities IN lne eIecuanS naQ
in Kanzas, like occasional Irregularities Of the
same description in the States. were beyond
the sphere of action of the Executive But
incidents of actual violence or of organized
obstruction of law. pertinaeiously renewed
from time to time, have been met they
cured, by such means as were available, and as
the circumstance required: and nothing Of this
character now remains to affect the general
peace of the Union. The attempt of part
of the inhabitants of the Territory TO erect
revolutionary government, though seduious
ly encouraged and supplied with pecuniaIy
aid from active agents Of disorder in aome Of
the States, has completely failed Bodies of
armed men, foreign to the Territory have
been prevented from entering or compelled to
leave it. Predatory bands, engaged in acts of
rapine, under cover of the existing political
disturbances, have been arrested or dispersed.
And every well disposed person is now ena-
bled once more to devote himself in peace TO
the pursuits of prosperous industry, for the
prosecution Of which he undertook TO partc-
pate in the settlement of the Territory.
1t affords me unmingled satisfaction thus
to announce the peaceful condition of things
in kanzas, especially considering the means
to Which it was necessary to have recourse
for the attainment of the end. namely, the
SiI 'g iLAO'it VI Jdit VI the lulilaTf lJTtG Ol
the United States. The withdrawal of that
force from its proper duty of defending the
country against foreign foes Or the savages Of
the frontier, to employ it for the suppression
of domestic instruction, is, when the ext
gency occurs, matter of the most earnest
solicitude. On this occasion of imperative
necessity it has been beeu done with the best
results, and my satisfaction in the attainment
OF such results by such means is greatly en-
HANGED by the consideration, that through
the wisdom and energy of the present Exec
ntive of Kanzas, and the prudence, frmness,
and vigilance of the military officers on duty
there. tranquility has been restored, without
one drop of blood having been shed in its ac.
complishment by the forces OF the United
States.
The restoration Of comparative Tranquility
III that Territory furnishes the means of OBJ
serving calmly, and approaching at their Just
value, 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
its future domestic institutions was inevitable
that no human prudence, no form of legisla-
ton, no wisdom on the part of Congress.
could have prevented this.
1t is idle to suppose that the particular pro-
'@'SNS@'' "a
agitation. Those provisions we're but the oc-
csson, or the pretext of an agitation, which
was inherent in the nature of things. Con-
gress legislated upon the subject III such
terms as were most consonant with the princi-
pie OF popular sovereignty which underlies
our government. 1t could not have legislated
otherwise without doing violence to another
graat principle Of our institutions, the unpre
scriptible right of equality of the several
States.
We perceive, also, that sectional interests
and party passions have been the great i'm
pediment 10 the sslutary operation Of the
organic principles adopted, and the chief
cause of the successive disturbances in Kan
zas The assumption that, because in the
organization of the Territories of Nebraska
and hanzas, Congress abstained from imposing
restraints upon them to which certain other
Territories had been subject, theretoredisor-
ders occurred in the latter Territory, is en-
phatically contradicted by the fact that none
have occurred in the former. Those disorder
were not the consequence, in Kanzas, of the
freedom of setf-governm0nt conceded to that
Territory by Congress, but Of unjust interfer-
ence on the part of persons not inhabitants of
the Territory. Such interference, wherever
it has exhibited itself, by acts of instruction
al SIdldGLSts VI VI ODbIuCllODS 10 processes
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 misrepresentation
have the greatest currency, it has been as
sumed that 1t was the duty Of the Executive
not only to suppress insuIechoDary move
ments IN hauzas, but also to see to the regu-
larlty OF local elections. 1t needs little arglr-
ment to show that the President has no s,lch
power. All government in the United
states rests substantially upon popular cleo
ton. The freedom OF election is liable to be
impaired 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 United States are them
selves the all sufficient guardians of their own
rights, and to suppose that they will not rem
edy, III due season, any such incidents of civil
freedom is to suppose them to have ceased to
be capable of self-government The Presi-
dent OF the United States has not power to
lnterpose IN elections, to see to their freedom to
canvass their votes, or to pass upon their le-
galty In the Territories any more than in the
States. If he had such power the govern
ment might be republican in form. but it
would be monarchy in fact and if he had
undertaken to exercise it in the case Of Kan
zas, ne would have been justly subject to the
charge OF usurpatiOn, and of violation of the
dearest rights of the people Of the United
States.
onwlse laws equally with Irregularities at
elections, are, in periods of great excite
ment, the occasional incidents of even
the treest and best political institutions.
But all experience demonstrates that in a
country like ours, where the right of self con-
stltutlon exists in the completest form, the at.
tempt 10 remedy unwise legislation by resort
TO revolution, is totally out Of place; mas
much as existing legal institutions afford more
prompt and etficacious means for the redress
of wrong.
l confidently trust that now, when the
peaceful condition of Kanzas affords opportu-
NIFTY for calm reflection and wise legis alton,
either the legislative assembly of the Terrific
ry, or Congress, will see that no act shall re-
main ON its statute book violatiye of the pro
visions OF the Constitution, or subyersive of
the great objects for which that was ordained
and established, and will take all other neces-
sary steps to assure to its inhabitants the en-.
Joyment, without obstruction or abridqneut
OF all the constitutional rights, privileges, and
lmmunites OF citizens Of the United States. as
contemplated by the organic law of the Ter.
ritoy.
Full information in relation to recent events
III this Territory will be found in the docu-
ments communicated herewith from the De.
paltments Of State and War.
refer you to the report of the Secretary of
the treasury tor particular information con.
corning the financial condition of the govern.
ment and the various branches of the public
service connected with the Treasury Depart