The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-09-14
THE rkrslpkNr,s REPLY.


GENrLgNES On my recent return to this
city after lQrtnight's absence, your memo
rial without date was placed in my hands,
through the agency Of ). Mr.. Horatio King Of
the Post Office Department, to whom it had
been intrusted. From tho distinguished
source whence il proceeds, ~ we'll % its Pc
culiar character, have deemed it proper to
depart from my general rule in such cases,
and to give it an answer.
You FIRST assert that "the fundamental
principle Of the Constitution o. the United
States and OF our politica! institutions is,
that the people shall make their own laws
and elect their own rulers" You then ex-
press your grief and astonishment that 1
should have violated this principle, and,
through Governor Walker, have employed an
army, some purpose of which is to force the
people of Kansas to obey laws not their own
nor of the United States, but laws which it
is notorious, and established upon evidence,
they never made, and rulers they never elect
ed" And as corollary from the foregoing
you represent that am "openly held up and
proclaimed, to the great derogation OF our
national character, - violating in its most
essential particular the solemn oath which
the President has taken to support the Con-
stitution Of this Union" These are heavy
charges proceeding from gentlemen of your
high character, and il we'll founded ought TO
consign my name to infamy. But in proper
ton to their gravity, common justice, to say
nothing Of christian charity, required that
before making them you should have clearly
ascertslned that they were we'll founded.
II not, they will rebound with whitening
condemnation upon their authors. Have you
performed this preliminary duty toward the
man who, however unworthy, is the Chief
Magistrate Of your country II so, either
you or are laboring under q strange delu-
sion. Should this prove to be your case, it
will present memorable example Of the
truth that political prejudice is blind even
to the existence OF the plainest and most pal
pable historical facts. To these facts let us
refer.
When | entered upon the duties Of the
Presidential Office, on the 4th OF March last,
what Was the condition OF Kansas? This
Territory had been organised under the oct
of Congress of Both May, 1854, and the gov.
eminent in all it's branches was in full ope-
ration. A Governor, Secretary Of the Ter
ritory, Chief Justice, two Associate JUST.
ces, Marshal, and District Attorney had
been appointed by my predecessor, by ane
with the advice and consent of the Senate
and were all engaged in discharging theirre
I, spectiye duties. A code Of laws had beer
enacted by the Territorial Legislature ans
tho judiciary were employed in expoundine
and carrying these laws into effect.
1t is quite true that o controversy had pre-
viously arisen respecting the validity Of the
election of the members Of the Territorial
Legislature, and Of the laws passed by them
but ut the time entered upon my of6cial du
ties Congress had recognized this Legislator,
| in different forms and by different enact
ments. The Delegate elected to the Hous,
of Representatives under : Territorial Law
had just completed bis term Of service on tn,
day previous to my Inauguration.
In fact, found the government of kansa
as well established as that of any other Ter.
ritory. Under these circumstances, whal
was my dutyp Was it not TO sustain THU
government 10 protect il from the VIC.
lenoe Of lawless men who were determined K
either rule or ruin? To prevent it from be-
ing overturned by foroep In the language
of the Constitution, TO stake care that th,
laws be faithfully executed ?"
II Was for this purpose, and this alonc
that | ordered military force to Kansas t.
act ~ posse cOmit0tus IN aiding the civi
magistrate to carry the laws into execution
The condition Of the Territory at the time
which need not portray, rendered this pre-.
caution absolutely necessary. In this state
Of affairs would not have been justly con.
demned, had left the Marshal and other OF
hcers Of a like character impotent to execus,
the processes and judgments of the courts OIL
justice established by Congress, or BY thu
Territorial Legislature under its express au-
thority, and thus have suffered the Govern
meut itself to become al object OF contempt
in the eyes Of the people? And yet this i.
what you designate as forcing ssthe people
OF Kansas TO obey laws not their own, nor oil
the United States" and for doing which you
have denounced me % having violated my
solemn oath.
| ask, what else could have done, OF
ought ! to have dones Would you have de-.
sired that should abandon the Territorial
! government, sanctioned as it had been BY
Congress, 70 illegal violence, and thus re-.
new the scenes OF civil Nar and bloodshed
which every patriot in the country had de-
plored? This would indeed have been ia
violate my oath Of Office, and to fix damn
ing blot on the character Of my ADMINISTERS.
ton.
most checrfully admit that the necessity
for sonding . military force to Kansas, e
aid in the execution OF the civil Law, rsdsct.
no credit upon the character Of our country
But let the blame fall upon the heads Of III.
guilty. Whence did this nccessisy arise ? A
portion Of the people Of Kansas, unwilling
TO trust 10 the ballot-box, the certain Ameri.
can remedy for redress OF all grievances, I'm
dertook 70 create an independent govern
ment for themselves.
/ Had this attempt proved successful, i
would, Of course, have subysrted the exist
ing government prescribed and recognized
by Congress, and substituted revolutionar,
government in its stead. This was usurpA.
ton Of the same character o. il would b,
for portion Of tho people Of Connectiou
10 undertake TO euEnblish separate govern.
mcnt within its chartered limits for the par
pose OF rsdressiDg any grievance, real osin
aginary, Of which they might have complain
ed against the legitimate State government
Such principle, II carried into executions