The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-07-25
Proclamation.
To the People Of Laurence.
LEAvENwoRTH. july Is. 1851

~ W0 cUpte ~ A0WTeUCe.
LEAvENwoRrH, July 10, 1857
have learned that considerable number
of the citizens of Lawrence, in this Terrific
ry, have adopted, as they claim, by popu-
lar vote, charter for their local government.
A copy of that charter has been placed in
my hands; upon comparing which with that
granted by the Territorial Legislature, last
winter, l find that they differ Intentionally
in many essential particulars. The new
charter, then, is set up, not only without
any authority of law, but in direct and open
defiance of an act of the Territorial Legis-
lature on the same subject.
On this point, your committee, whose
views have been adopted by you, make the
following statement:
Under ordinary circumstances the more
regular method Of proceeding would be to
obtain charter from the Territorial author
tiles. AS the Territorial Government, how
ever, in no sense represents the people of
Kansas, was not elected by them, and can
have no right to legislate for them, we can
not accept charter at his hands And, as
the State Government has not, as yet deem
ed it advisable to proceed to the organiza-
ton Of local and municipal governments,
we cannot obtain a charter. There is there
u
springing directly from the people, or a con-
tinuance in our present unorganized condi-
ton.
"Ubder these circumstances, you have
seen fit to instruct us to present charter,
having discussed its provisions in prelmi-
nary assembiage, and now propose to SUBJ
NIT it to a full vote Of the people for appro-
val or rejection"
t. 10 lat he rf
the Territorial Government is here distinct
ly denied, and whilst that Of the so-called
State Government is acknowledged, it is
conceded that no charter has been granted
by them. Indeed, it is feet that, although
this so-called State Government has, in it.
self, no legal existence or authority, yet you
asked and failed to receive charter from
them.
Under these circumstances, you have pro-
ceeded to establish a government for the city
of Lawrence, in direct defiance of the Ter
ritorial Government, and denying its exist
ence or authority. You have granted to this
city government to elect Mayor and Board
of Aldermen, City Assessor, Treasurer, JUS
tees Of the Peace, City Marshal, &c. You
have granted to the Mayor and Aldermen
most extensive powers, including the right
TO levy and collect taxes upon real and per-
sonal property within the limits Of the city,
whether belonging to residents or non-resi-
dents, and all the other powers usually in
cident TO city government.
You have imposed upon all these officers
the duty of taking an oath to support this
SO called State Constitution, thus distinctly
supersediug, SO far as in your power, the
Territorial Government created by the con-
gresS Of the United States. You have caused
these proceedings to be printed in handful
form, and have distributed them, as | am
informed, throughout the Territory, with
the view to inciie the other cities and towns
and counties of Kansas TO establish insur-
rectionary governments, thereby placing the
people Of this Ter: i,ory, SO far as in your
power, in open conflict with the Government
of the United States
The more considerable portion of your
party having induced your Topeka Legjsla-
ture 10 enact the laws urged by you, Great
ing municipal government, you have even
in defiance Of their authority, which you
profess TO acknowledge, proceeded to create
such government for Lawrence, and are
now urging other localities to pursue a sim
liar course. Your evident purpose is thus
TO involve the whole Territory in insurrec-
ton, and to renew the scenes Of bloodshed
and civil war Upon you, then, must rest
all the guilt and responsibility of this revo-
luton. You will be justly chargeabie in
law and in conscience with all the blood
that may be shed in this contest, and upon
you must fall the punishment.
You have elected your officers under this
charter, and instructed them to .nter upon
the immediate discharge of their dnties, in
GLIDING the adoption Of ordinances and the
execution thereof. under an authority hav-
ing in Itself no legal existence, and estab-
lished in direct defiance Of the Government
of the United States.
From all these facts, it is obvious if you
are permitted to proceed, and especially if
your example should be followed as urged
by you in other places, that for a.! practical
purposes in many important particulars, the
Territorial Government will be overthrow.
The charters granted by that government
for similar purposes will be d sregarded,
and the Justices Of the Peace and other Off
GERS acting under their authority, will be
brought necessarily into conflict and COLI
sion with the so called officers claiming TO
act under different authority.
The Territory will thus be involved in in
extricable confusion and litigation the value
of your property be greatly Deprecated
your titles, transfers, transactions and con-
disputes and all will suffer from this insur-
rec,ion, except the lawyers who have s,imu-
lated this movement \ government found
ed on instruction and usurpation will be
substituted for that established by the au-
thority Of Congress, and civil war will be /
renewed throughout our limits. If your
authority TO act in this manner for the city !
of Lawrence is permitted, similar authori- /,
ty must be acknowledged in every other /
town, city or county, result i'll inevitable |
and most disastrous conflict and if sue !
cessful, the Territorial Government be over !
thrown in detail, as is your present purpose
You were distinctly informed in my inau
gural address of May last, that the validity
of the Territorial laws was acknowledged !
by the Government of the United States, !
and that they must and would be carried !
into execution under my oath of Office ana
the instructions of the President of the U.
States The same information was repeated /
in various addresses made by me throughout
the Territory. At the same time, every as
surance was given you that the rights of the
people of this Territory, under the right to /
establish their own State Government and
frame their own forms prescribed by the |
Of your own country, social in
would be acknowledged and pro-
tected.
If laws have been enacted by the terrific
rial Legislature which are disprov,d of by
a majority of the people of the Territory,
the mode in which they could elect new
Territorial Legislature and repeal those laws,
was also designated. If there are any grie-
vances of which you have any just right to /
complain, the lawful, peaceful manner in
which you could remove them, in subordi- |
nation Of the Government of your country |
was clearly pointed out
You have, however, chosen to disregard
the laws of Congress and o. the Territorial