The Kanzas news., 1857-12-26
Address to the People of Kanzas.

II
of the United States TO the Office of. Secre-
tary and, during the Governors absence,
Acting Governor of this Territory, it Is
proper that should make you brief ad
dress, sufficient to indicate what my future
course of action viii be. The troubles and
difficulties with which the people of the Ter
ritory have been involved, makes this the
more necessary, for it would be unreasona-
bic to expect any one occupying this posi-
ton to escape Misrepresentation and abuse.
The passions of many have been so thor
oughly aroused, and long standing Difficult
ties have SO embittered the feelings of one
portion OF the community against another,
that it has been represented as almost impos-
sible to find any one willing to listen to the
voice of reason. This I am not prepared
to believe. That there are some violent men
who have assumed TO speak by authority for
the people at large, and counsel such meas
ures as must necessarily, if followed, lead
to bloodshed, anarchy and confusion, have
no doubt; but it viii require more than bare
assertion to satisfy me that there is not yet
enough of the conservative element remain
ing to uphold and enforce the laws, by which
alone the lives and property of ouI citizens
can be protected, and the honor of the coun
try preserved.
It is the earnest desire of the President
that fair opportunity should be afforded
all the people of the Territory at the ap-
preaching election to give full and free ex
preston of their opinions, and as an evil
dence of this ! give the following quotations
from his instructions to me, through the
Secretary of State, dated December 11th,
1857: ad
''The Convention which met at Lecompton on
the lst Of. September, had framed a Constitution,
and had authorized its President to submit the
question to the people on the 2lst of December,
whether this Constitution should be adopted with
or without slavery. The importance of this issue
could not well be over-estimated. 1t involved the
complete and authoritative settlement of the only
subject of difference which had seriously agitated
Kanzas or interfered with its prosperity The
qualified electors therefore, to whom the settlement
was referred, not only had unquestionable right
to attend at the polls and give their votes, the
day appointed, but they required to do so by
the highest considerations of public duty. In the
exercise of this right, moreover, they entitled
to adequate protection by the Territorial Govern
ment, and the Acting Governor was bound to en-
ploy all the legal means at his command to give
eurity and fairness to the election.
"The conflicting opinions which prevail in the
Territory, he says "had their appropriate issue at
the ballot-box, and TO that peaceful arbitrament
to be accomplished, in the opinion of the Presi-
dent, were to preserve the peace of the Territory
and secure the freedom of the election.
''From these views you will readily understand
what the President regards as the chief duty which
devOlves upon you as Mr.. Stanton's SUCCESSOR
This duty is to preserve the peace in kanzas. Ev-
cry person entitled to vote under the Constitution
ought to have safe access to the polls, and to be
free from any restraint whatever In the exercise of
the elective franchise. If the civil power Is found
IuS he of he TTni-
ted States should be employed in aid of 1t; and it
may be a wise precaution to have them stationed
in advance within reach of those places where, in
your Judgment their services are likely to be re-
quired. They (the instructions
heretofore given) refer prominently to the preser
vation of peace at certain important electonS but
need hardly inform you that your duty is not in
tended to be confined to these special occasions
1t extends, of course, to the protection of all cti
zens in the exercise of their just rights, and ap-
plies well to one legal election to another
The Territorial Legislature doubtless convened on
the 7th instant, and while it remains in session. its
members are entitled to be secure and free in their
deliberations. Its rightfu action must also be re-
spected. Should it authorize an election by the
people, for any purpose, this election should be
held without interruption, no less than those
thorized by the Convention. While the peace of
the Territory preserved and the freedom Of cleo
tons is secure there need be no fear of disastrous
consequences. The public journals contain reports
of an intended movement by portion of the res
idents of Kanzas, to organize revolutionary gov
ernment. 1t is hardly probable that this report
can be well founded But should the attempt be
made and lead to practical collision with the Ter
riterial authorities, the authority of the Govern
ment must necessarily be maintained, and from
whatever quarter 1t is attempted 10 interfere, by
violence, with the elections authorized by the Con-
stitutional Convention, or which may be authoriz-
ed by the Legislature, the attempt must be resist
ed and the security of the election maintained
The peaceable progress of these elections can OBJ
viOusly occasion no injury to any citizen or any
party. because their results can have only their due
weight under the Constitution and laws. =
at is vitality important that the people
of Kanzas, and other than the people of Kdnzas,
should have the full determination of the question
now before them for decision. sit is
proper to add that no action of the Territorial Leg
slature can interfere with the elections of the 2ist
of December, and the lst Monday of January, in
the mode and manner prescribed by the Constitu
tional Convention,
By these instructions it will be seen that
my duty is plainly marked out, and as my
own views on these subjects entirely accord
with those of the President, l shall find
no difficulty in obeying them; and l trust
that all good citizens will assist me in pre-
serving the peace of the Territory and at
the same time settle the questions which
now perplex them. 1t is far more easy to
do this through the ballot-box than by the
sword, and IN that way it can also be done
much more speedily. 1t is much to be re-
gretted that one portion of the people have
resolved not to vote on the Constitution as
submitted to-day for had there been gen
eral attendance at the polls, the question of
slavery would have been fully and definite
ly settled. The American people can never
determine a political question by absenting
themselves from the polls. Their absence is
indifference, and the majority of votes act
uallE given determines the result, and not
the majority that might have been given.
1t is asserted by some that persons from
other States have interfered in the elections
and that frauds have been perpetrated by
which they have been oyerpowered and de-
prived of their rights. These charges may
/ h tr1a but II 60 thu OWLS tbav cor,,pIa;n