Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-02-02

Hu'"Nu u NJhNllbullOut HuOpteV ~ duu uUutT IL eleC-
ted a Governor and other officers and a Represents
tive to Congress.
In extenuation ofklhese illegal acts, ii is alleged
that the States Of California, Michigan, and others
were self-organized, and as such were admitted
into the Union without q previous enabling act of
Congress had been passed TO authorize the Terrific
ry to present itself as a State, and that this IL
deemed the most regular course, yet such MI act
has not been held to be Indispensable, and in some
cases, the Territory had proceeded without 1t, and
has nevertheless been admitted into the Union MS a
state. Is lies with Congress to authorize before
hand, or to confirm afterward, in its discretion; but
IN no instance has a State been admitted upon the
application Of persons acting against authorities
duly constituted by act of Congress. In every
case 1t is the people Of the Territory, not a party
among them, who have the power to form aeon
stitution and ask for admission as a State. No
principle of public law; no practice or precedent
under the Constitution of the United States, no
rule OF reason, light or common sense confers any
such power rs that now,claimed 10y n mere party
in the Territory. In fact, what has been done is
of revolutionary character. 1t is avowedly 80 in
motive and in aim rs respects the local law OF
the Territory. 1t will become reasonable insur-
%rection if it reach the length of organized resis-
lance. by force TO the fundamental or any other
federal law and to the authority Of the General
Government.
In such an event the path of duty for the Execu-
tive is plain. The Constitution requiring him to
take care that the laws Of the United States be
faithfully executed, if they be opposed in the Ter
ritory of Kansas he may and should place at the
disposal of the marshal any public force of the
United States which happens to Se within the
jurisdiction, to be used as a portion CT the posse
comtatus; and, if that do not suffice to maintain
order, then he may call forth the MALTA of one or
more States for that object, or employ for the
same object any part OF the land or naval force
OF the United States. SO also if the obstruction
be to the laws of the Territory, afff it be duly
presented to him as q case Of Instruction, he
may employ for its suppression the militia of any
State or the land or naval force of the United
States. And if the Territory be invaded by the
citizens Of other States, whether for the purpose of
deciding elections or for any other, and the local
authorities find themselves unable to repel or
withstand il, they will be entitled to, and upon
the fact being fully ascertained they shall most
certainly receive the aid of the General Cavern
ment.
But it is not the duty Of the President of the
United States to volunteer interposition by force
to preserve the purity Of elections either in a State
or Territory. To do so would be subversive of
public Freedom. And whether a law be wise or
unwise, just or unjust, is not a question for him
to judge. If 1t be constitutional-tha is, if it
be the law of the land-it is his duty to cause it
to De executed, or to sustain the authorities of any
State or Territory IN executing it in opposition to
all insurrectionary movements.
Our system affords no justification of revolu-
tionary acts; for the constitutional means of re-
lieving the people of unjust administration and
laws, by a change of public agents and by re-
peal, are ample, and more prompt and efec-
tive than illegal violence. These constitutional
means must be scrupulously guarded-this great
prerogatlve of popular sovereignty sacredly re-
! spected.
1t is the undoubted right of the peacoable and
orderly people of theiTerritory of Kansas to elect
their own Legislative Body, make their own laws,
and regulate their own social institutions, without
foreign or domestic molestation. Interference, on
the other hand. m prOcurp the abolition or prOhiDl.
bition of slave labor in the Territory. has produced
mlschevious interference on the other, for It's main
tenance or Introduction. One wrong begets anoth-
er. Statements entirely unfounded or grossly
aggerated, concerning events with the Territory,
are seduously difused through remote States to
feed the flame of sectional animosity there; and
the agitators there exert themselves indeiatigably
in return to encourage and stimulate strife within
the Territory.
The inhammatory agitation, of which the pres
ent is but a part, has for twenty years produced
nothing save unmitigated evil, North and South.
But for it the character of the domestic Institutions
of the future new State would have been a matter
} of too little interest to the inhabitants of the con
tiguous States, personal or collectively, to produce
among them any political emotion. Climate, soil,
! production, hopes of rapid advancement, and the
pursuit of happiness or the part of settlers them
selves, with good wishes but with no interference
from without, would have quietly determi led the
question which is at this time of such disturbing
character.
O. But we are constrained to turn our attention to
the circumstances of embarrassment as they ndw
exist. 1t is the duty of the people of Kansas to
dlscountenance every act or purpose of resistance
t 10 its laws. Above all, the emergency appeals to-
o the citizens Of States, and especially of those
, contiguous TO the Territory, neither by interven.
= ton Of non-residents in elections, nor by unauthol
lied military force, attemptt to encroach upon OIL
c usurp the authority Of the inhabitants of the Ter
s ritory.
NJ, a,t,,oe 20 o. 1900 alo.1l -aus.It .-.oI
to forget that he is a part of its government and
Z entitled to be heard il the determination of its
policy and it's measures; and that, therefore, the
G highest considerations of personal honor and pat
riotism require him to maintain, by whatever oil
y power or influence he may possess, the integrity oil
C the laws of the Republic.
Entertaining these views, it will be my impera.
n tive duty to exert the whole power of the Federal
Executive to support public order in the Territory;
to ~vindicate its laws, whether Federal or local
against all attempts OF organized resistance; and
e so to protect its people in the establishment of theii
own institutions, undisturbed by encroachmen
from without, and in the full enjoyment of the
= rights of self-governmerta assured them by the Con
G stitution and the organic act of Congress.
e Although serious and threatening disturbance;
= in the Territory of Kansas, announced to me BIZ
the Governor in December last, were speedily qui
eted without tho effusion of blood, and in a salts
s factory manner, there is, l regret to say, reason t
d apprehend that disorders will continue to occur
IS there, with increasing tendency to violence, unit
some decisive measures be taken to dispose of tn,
question itself which constitutes the inducement o.
y occasion Of internal agitation and Of external inter
ference.
Y This it seems to me, can best be accomplished b,
= providing that, when the inhabitants of Kansa
- may desire it, and shall be of sufficient numbers t.
a constitute a State, a convention of delegates, dul,
a elected by the qualified voters, shall assemble t
n frame a Constitution. and thus to prepare, througI
" regular and lawful means, for its admission int
, the Union as n State.
| respectfully comm the enactment Of
L law to that effect.
recommend, also that a special appropriate,
be made to defray any expense which may becom
requisite in the execution of she laws or the mair
tenance of public order in the Territory of Kansa,
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
THE BIRLE SocrETY.-Grants of books were mad