Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-10-02
IN AGURAL ADDRESS.
John w. Geary, Governor arkansas Ter
ritOry.
DELIVERED AT LECoMPToN, SEPTEMBER 11TH,
1856,

DELIVERED AT LECOMPTON, SEPTEMBER It'll,
1856
FELLOW CITrzENs:-I appear among You
stranger to most Of you, and for the first
time have the honor to address you as Gov
ernor Of the territory of Kansas The po-
sltion was not sought by me; but was vol
unfairly rendered by the present chief ma
gistrale of the nation. As an American
citizen, deeply conscious Of the blessings
Which ever flow from our beloved Union,
did not considsr myself at libertyto shrink
from any duties however delicate and on
erous, required of me by my country
With a full knowledge of all the circum-
stances surrounding the executive office, |
have deliberately accepted it and as God
may give me strength and ability | will
endeavor faithfully to discharge its varied
requirements. When | received my com
mission was solemnly sworn to support
the constitution of the United States, and
to discharge my duties as governor of Kan
sas with fidelity. By reference to the act
for the organization of this territory, pas
sed by Congress on the Both day of March,
/ 1854, | find my duties more particularly
defined Among other things, | am 'to
take care that the laws be faithfully execu-
/ ted"
The constitution of the United States and
The organic law of this territory will be the
lights by which | will be guided in my ex-
ecutive career.
a careful and dispassionate examination
Of our organic act will satisfy any reason
able person that its provisions are eminent
ly just and beneficial. If this act has been
distorted to unworthy purposes, it is not
the fault of its provisions. The great lead
ing feature of that act is the right therein
conferred upon the actual and bona fde in
habitants of this Territory ''in the exercise
of self government, to determine for them
selves what shall be their own domestic in
situations, subject only to the constitution
and the laws duly enacted by Congress I'M
der it," The people accustomed to self
government in the States from which they
came, and having removed to this territory
with the bona tfde intention Of making it
their future residence, were supposed to be
capable of creating their own municipal
government, and to be the best Judges of
their own local necessities and Institutions
This is what is termed popular sovereign
ty." By this phrase we simply mean the
right Of the majority of the people Of tie
several States and Territories, being quail
fled electors, to regulate their own domes-
tic concerns, and to make their own NUM-
cipa laws Thus understood, this doe
Urine underies the whole system of repub-
Il = IL 1
self government, for the establishment of
which our ancestors, in the stormy days
of the Revolution, pledged their lives,
their fortunes, and their sacred honor"
A doctrine SO eminently just should re-
ceive the willing homage Of every Ameri-
can citizen. When legitimately expressed,
and duly ascertained, the will Of the major
ity must be the imperative rule of civil ac-
ton for every law abiding citizen This
simple, just rule of action, has brought or
der out of chaos, and progress unparalel-
ed in the history of the world, has made
few feeble infant colonies a giant confeder-
ated republic.
No man, conversant with the state of af-
fairs now in Kansas, can close his eyes to
the fact that much civil disturbance has for
long time past existed in this territory.
Various reasons have been assigned for
this unfortunate condition of affairs, and
numerous remedies have been proposed.
The House of Representatives of the
United States have ignored the claims of
both gentlemen claiming the legal right to
represent the people of this territory in that
body. The Topeka Constitution recogniz-
cd by the House, has been repudiated by
the Senate. Various measures, each in the
opinion of the respective advocates, sug-
gestve of peace to Kansas. have been al
ternately proposed and rejected. Men out
side of the territory, in various sections of
the Union, influenced by reasons best
known to themselves, have endeavored to
stir up internal strife, and to array brother
against brother.
In this conflict of opinion, and for the
promotion of tie most unworthy purposes,
Kansas is left to suffer- her people to
mourn, and her prosperity is endangered.
Men of the North-men of the South
of the East and of the West--in Konsas--
you, and you alone have the remedy in
your hands. Will you not suspend fratri-
cidal strife? Will YOU not cease to regard |
each other as enemies, and look upon one |
another as the children Of common moth |
err, and come and reason together?
Let MS Danish all outside influence from
our deliberations. cnd assemble around our
council board with the constitution of our
country and the organic law of this terrific
ry as the great charts for our guidance and
direction. The bona Jfde inhabitants of
this territory alone are charged with the
solemn duty of enacting her laws, uphold
ing her government, maintaining peace,
and laying the foundation for future com
monwealih,