The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-09-17

% W aSHlNGION I u u AuSuot ic1 t}c''
GENTLEMEN:--On my recent return to this
city, after a lortnighrs absence, your memorial,
without date, was placed in my hands, through
the agency Of MIR. uoratio kngot the Post
Office Department, to whom il had been ntrus-
tel. From the distinguished source whence 1t
pr0cceds,is well as its peculiar character, have
deemed it proper TO depart from my general rule
in such cases; and give it an answer.
You first assert that the Fundamental prln-
ciple of the Constitution Of the United States
AMI of our political institutions is, that the peo
pie shall make their own laws and elect their
own rulers" You then expess grief and as
constituent that | should huye violated this
principle, AMI through Goyernvcr Walker have
employed ar army, zone ofthe purposes OF which
is, to force The people of Kansas to obey not
their own nor the laws the United States, but
laws which it is notorious and established upon
evidence, they never made, and rulers they new
er elected" And as corollary from the for
going, you represent that am 'openly held up
and proclaimed to the great derogation of our
National character, as violating in its most es-
sential particular the solemn oath which the
President has taken 10 support tie Constitution Of
Nis Uafoa."
These are heavy charges, procee ling from gen
tlemen of your high charactcrand, if well loun-
ded, ought to conSgn my name to lntainy. But
an proportion to their gravity common justice,
to say nothing Of Christian charactrr, required
that before making them you should have clear
ly yascertained they were well founded. II not,
they will rebound with whitening condemnation
upon their authors Have you performed this
preliminary duty toward the man who, howey.
or unwotthy, is the Chief Magistrate of YOU
country? Ifso either you or. am iaborng un-
der strange del,son. Should this prove tc
be your case, it will present aflnomorabte exam
pie OF the truth that political prejudice is blind
ev.n to the existence ofthe plalnest and most
palpable historical facts. 10 these facts let Vi
refer
When entered upon the duties of the Prcsi
dental office, on the fourth OF March last whai
was the condition Of Kansas? This Terfitor,
had been organized under the act Of Congress o
Both May, 1854, and the government in all it'
branches was in full operation. Governor
Secretary of the Territory, Chief Justice, two
Associate Justices, Marshal and District At
torney had been appointed by my predecessor
by and with the advice and consent Of the Sen
ate, and all were engaged in discharging theil
respective duties A code of laws had been en-
acted by them,ai the Judiciary were employed
in expounding and carrying these laws into ef
feet II is quite true that controversy had
previously arisen respecting the validity Of the
election ofmcmbers of the Territorial Legisla
and OF the laws passed by them; but at the time
entered upon my official duties, Congress had
recognized this Legislature in different forms and
bydiEcrcnt enactments. The delegate elected
to the House Of Representatives under 4 terri
torial law, had just completed his term Of seT-
vice on the day previous to my inauguration ~
In fact, iound the government Of Kansas as
we'll established as that ofany other Territory
YInJar ti,aca t,fac what ua "
Was it not to sustain this government? 10
protect from the violence Of lawless men. who
were determined either to rule or ruin? to pre-
vent from being overturned by force?--in the
language OF the Constitution, to stake care
that the laws be faithfully cxecuted?" It was tor
this purpose, and this alone, that | ordered a
military force to Kansas, to act as a posse co'at-
tatss in aiding the civil magistrate to carry the
laws into execution.
The condition of the Territory at the time
which need not portray, rendered this precau-
tion absolutely necessary. In this state of af-
fairs, would othave been Justly condemned
had / left the Marshal and other officers of like
character, impotent to execute the process and
/, judgements OF the courts Of justice established
BY Congress or the Territorial Legislature under
itsexpress authority, and, thus have suffered
the Government itself to become an object Of
contempt in the eyes Of the people? And vet
this iswhat you designate as forcing "tbe peo.
pie Of Kansas to obey laws not their own, nor
Of the U. States;p and for doing which you have
denounced me as having violated my oath.
ask, what else could 1 have done, or ought to
have done? Would you have desired that
should abandon the Territorial Government
sanctioned as 1t has been BY Congress, to illegal
violence, and thus renew the scenes of ciyilwai
and bloodshed which every patriot In the coun,
try had depIorcd? This would indeed have
been to violate my oath cf Office, and to fix !