Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-30
Instructions to Acting Governor Stanton--.Af
fairs in Kansas.

Instructions to Acting Governor StantOn--.Af-
fairs in Kansas.
The last Washington Union contains letter of
instructions from the President, through Gen. Cass,
Secretary Of State, to Gen. Denver Acting Governor
of Kansas. After referring to the action of Acting
Governor Stanton in converting the Legislature OF
the Territory before the time appointed by law, and
after expressing the opinion that a new element Of
dscord had thus been thrown among the excited
people of Kansas-for which conduct Mr.. Stanton
was promptly removed-the President says:
.From these views you will readily understand what
the President regards as the chief duty which de-
wolves upon you Mr.. Stanton's successor. This
duty is to preserve the peace in Kansas Every per-
entitled to vote on the constitution ought to have
safe to the polls and to he free from any
strants whatever in the exercise of the elective fran
chise. If the civil power is found insufficient for
this purpose the troops of the United States should
be employed in aid of it !; and it may be wise pre-.
caution to have them stationed in advance within
reach Of those places where, IN your judgment their
services are likely to be required 1t is earnestly
hoped that the use of military power may be wholly
avoided. Violence is always less likely to occur
when the means are known to be at hand for its
prompt suppression. Should the military force be-
come absolutely necessary to keep the peace, you
will find full instructions with reference the pro-
per mode of employing it, in my communications to
Governor Walker. of March IS, July IS, and Sep.
TENDER 2, 1857, and in those subsequently written
to Mr. Stanton. OF these last, that of November 80
was taken to Kansas by you and you had copy of
it. All of them will doubtless be found in the ar
chiveS of the governor at LecomptOn. They refer
prominently to the preservation of peace at certain
important elections; but need hardly inform you
that your duty is not intended to be confined to those
special occasions 1t .nds of course to the pro-
lection of all citizens in the exercise of their Just
rights and applies legal election as well as to
thor Tbn farri nj 1onic
yened on the 7th inst, and while it remains in ses-
sion its members entitled to be secure and free
in their deliberations. Its rightful action must also
be respected. Should it authorize election by the
people for any purpose, this election should be held
without interruption, no less than those authorized
bv the convention. While the peace of the Terri
tory is preserved and the freedom of election is
cure there need DE no fear Of disastrous consequent
ces. The public journals contain reports of an in
tended movement by portion of the residents in
Kansas 10 organize revolutionary government
der the Topeka constitution. 1t is hardly probable
that this report be weilfounded but should the
attempt be made and lead to practical collision with
the territorial authorities, the authority of the gov
eminent must necessarily be maintained and from
whatever quarter it is attempted to interfere by vo
ence with the elections authorized by the constitu
tional convention, or which may be authorized by
the legislature the attempt must be resisted and the
security of the elections maintained. The peaceabe
progress of these elections can obviously occasion
Jury to any citizen or any party, because their
results have only their due weight under the
constitution and the laws 1t is to BE- expected there
FORE that no good citizens will endeavor to interfere
with them, but that all the people will be contened
80 the work Of the convention peacefully carried
out to its legitimate results and fairly presented TO
the consideration of Congress. The President
lies upon your 6rmness and discretion to give effect
to these instructions 1t is vitality important that
the people of Kansas and none other than the peo-
r1e of nav f,ll def matt of
the question now before them for decision. 1t is i'm
posant also that in securing to them the protection
to which they entitled great care should be ia
ken not to exercise any illegal authority. On this
point again refer you to my instructions to Gov.
Walker and Secretary Stanton, which you will re-
gard as directed to yourself
1t is proper to add that action of the territorial
legislature about to meet can Interfere with the cleo
tons of the q of December and the 4th ofJanuary,
in the mode and manner prescribed by the constitu-
al convention"
The Legislature of Kansas, thus convened by Mr..
Stanton, was in session at the latest dates. 1t had
passed an act providing for calling out the militia,
appointing officers for the same, &C., which Gov.
Stanton had vetoed but the act afterwards pass
ed over his Veto The Legislature had also passed
act providing for a vote for the Lecompton Con-
suton with slavery for it without slavery, and for
a vote against the Constitution as whoe-the cleo.
ton to be held on the 21st the day fixed for the vo.
ting by the Lecompton Convention. 1t is also sta
ted but denied that act has been passed for SUBJ
hitting the Topeka Constitution to the people.
In order that our readers may have clearer un-
Outstanding of the NATTER we1ill state that the Le
compton Constitution framed by Convention
of delegates regularly chosen under an act of the
Legislature, which derived its authority from the or
1;D fbo
as the Kansas Nebraska act. That Legislature has
ceased to exist and the present one which is large
ly black Republican, was elected in October last
The Lecompton Convention provided for submitting
its Constitution the people the 2lst December,
thus" Constitution Nth slavery, and Constitu-
ton soitAout slavery" The delegates to this Con-
vention for the most part Democrats and slave
ry men, the black Republicans having refused to vote
for the reason that they repudate the organic act also
the Legislature elected under it. which called the Lee
compton Convention; and they insist on their Con-
sttution, which positively prohibits slavery framed
by them at Topeka in a revolutionary manner
that is in opposition the organic act and the laws
of the United States The President is in favor of
admitting the new State with the Lecompton Consti-
tuton whether the people shall accept reject the
clause establishing slavery; while Judge Douglas in
ssts that the Lecompton Constitution was Irregular
ly framed does not embody the will of the people of
Kansas, is not republican, because it does not en-
body that will and he insists rejecting both Lee
compton and Topeka, and passing an act by Con.
gress to enable the people to call new Convention,
the Constitution, when framed by it, to be submit
ted as whole to the people for their acceptance or
rejection. This plan would, We fear, continue the
strife whereas, If the State should be admitted with
the Lecompton Constitution, the whole matter of
slavery, and all other domestic concerns would at