The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-19
From the Boston Poet
TIE PRESIDENT AND KANSAS.


From the Boston Post
TIE PRESIDENT AND KANSAS.
The instructions to Governor Geary not only present
clear light the policy Of the President Kansas but
show clearly the infamous of the opposition in
the vile work of calumny and Misrepresentation. This
policy is and has been maintain order and quiet in the
Territory and bring to punishment those who disturb
the public peace.
The proclamation issued BY the President Of February
H. 1856 was leyeled against all that nterered with the
tranquility Of Kansas, against armed intervention from
abroad and against nsureconay movements in the Ter
rtory IL warned all persons engaged in unlawful comb
nations to dispense and retire 10 their homes 1t declared
that its organic law would be executed k impartial JUS
ce" and it called upon all to uphold the majesty Of the
laws and to vndicate the sanctty of the constitution In
word II announced the purpose to TO the actual
settlers their rights in determining what the institutions
should be under which they should live.
This proclamation so admirable in its tone and 30
explicit in its points that II undoubtedly met the
ton OF the American people, and the judcious and pa
triotc in Kansas among the eeState gave il their
approval unfolding the policy which they needed and
wanted II is Of record and will speak in the future for
itself as TO its soundness its power and its objects II
was strong appeal TO the reason and wholly right
Nor the instructions of the cabinet officers to the
government officials who ordered to carry this proc
lamation into effect less commendaory. On the 18th Of
February the Secretary Of War issued his instructions to
the commanding officer Col Sumner II is difficult TO
how any candid citizen refuse to these instructions
credit for their orbearance and fitness The magistrate
who is called upon to direct armed force against the
breasts of his owcounymen is called upon TO perform
the most painful duty that devolve upon him. In Civ
ing this order the Secretary of War the following adj
mirabe language: .eH,a IA.
!" In executing this delicate function of the military pow
of the United States you will exercise much caution
avoid II possible collision with eOen nsmget citizens and
will endeavor to suppress resistance to the laws and coma
stituted authorities by thai moral eh happily
country ordinarily sufficient respect 10 The
laws Of the land and the regularly authorities Of
the government You will sound discretion as to the
moment at which the further employment Of the military
force may be discontinued and avail yourself Of the first OPP
portunity to return with your command to the CRATE
J and PrOader service Of The sotr-that of common de-
fence
tay of State to Gov Shannon, of the date and in
the instructions to Gov Geary August 26h The latter
are so brief that we copy the whole letter:
Z. .t.gs.. 4. s..... "DEPAkrMENT STATE
..g washington, August 20, 1856
'S The present condition Of the Territory of Kansas
renders Your duties governor highly responsible and
delicate In the instructions heretofore communicated
your predecessor February last in the annual message
to Congress of the Gath of the previous December and in
orders issued from the War Department prnted copies of
the President fully presented u.s. first 10 maintain order
and quiet the Territory Of Kansas; and second If disturb
ances therein 10 bring 10 punishment the offenders
"Should the force which has been provided to attain
these objects prove insufficient you will promptly make
known that fact to the President that be may take such
in regard thereto to him may to be de-
manded by the exigencies of the case.
1t is important that the President should be kept well
informed the state of things in Kansas and that the
Of his information should be such to insure its
accuracy You therefore directed by him TO commu-
ncate constantly with this department Such facts as it
is deemed important to have early known here you will
cause to be transmitted by telegraph well as by mail
The President INDUCES hope that, By your energy,
imartiay and discretion, the tranquility Of the Territory
toH DC restored and The persons and property Of our citizens
therein protected
al am, sir, &c.
w. L. MARCY
His Exceency JOHN w. GEARY,
governor Of Kansas Territory"
This presents the policy of the administration as to Kan
during the whole past season Let Ne look at it in
connexion with the disturbances that in the spring
and those that exist now.
The appeal to moral force in the proclamation proved
Intellectual 1t is not necessary for our purpose to 90 over
the circumstances that necesstaed military action on the
part of Governor Shannon. In obedience his CALL Col
Sumner proceeded TO act with his troops against dis
turbers Of the peace he drove the Missourans from the
Territory and dispersed the bodies of freeSate men In
arms This in the month Of June and this date the
friends Of Buford and the South charging Col Sum
with tyranny in consequence Of his proceedings At
the close of the month"; letters from various quarters
Summer had discharged bis duty with frmness impartial
y, and humanity The reader will find for instance in
the Boston Traveller Of June &C. letter stating "a most
Of the npadrs have bs repeled By Col Sumner and sent
home And il continued be stated in letters printed in
the New York Tribune Times and other journals and by
telegraph that Kansas more quiet than it had been
since its organization.
We to the last demonstrations Of the disturb
of the peace in this Territory. This state Of quiet du
ring the last weeks in June and the early part Of July was
represented state OF danger to Kansas The agita-
tors did not then and do not now that there
should be peace The New York Tribune declared in s54
incendiaryp than that the Kansas law should be
mated the metropolitan leaders invoked civil war
w o. Duva for instance, saying 81 sincerely hope civil
may burst upon the country" band OF as
socates had taken oaths In Kansas to resist the laws by
force "cuen though should suJUet hs government Such
was the general policy Of these agitAtors
At the very period when Colonel Sumner had driven Of
the Missouri and Bufords convention was held
July 10 and IL, 1885, at Buffalo, Of the friends of Kansas
at which A. H Reeder present Here an
completed to send armed into Kansas aud to su
tain them by contributions Of mot less than 100000 Der
month" The resolutions OF this treason convention are
before US. The purpose openly avowed Of carrying
CIVIL WAR This was the very time, the last OF June
and the first OF July, when the agtators gathering
force under General Lane in Chicago and it's
for the purpose Of preceding into Kansas This force was
expected in Topeka the 9Th Of July to Join the eight
hundred in that place under In the New Yorl
Tribune in letter dated Topeka July g. is described the