The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-02
Address Of Hon. r. r. stanton, Secretary
and Acting Governor, to the People Of
kansaS TerrttOIV.

Address Of Hon. r. r. stanton. Secretary
and Acting Governor, TO the People of
Kansas Territory.
FELLOW CITIzENs-The Hon. Robert j.
WI lker, present Governor OF the Territory,
., cepted his appointment from the President
upon condition that he should not be re-
| quireG to leave Washington until the first of
next month, and circumstances beyond his
control render it impossible for him to start
before that day he may therefore be ex-
| pected here about the middle of next month,
and " i'll then assume the Executive author
ty Of the Territory.
! During the absence Of the Governor, by
the organic law of the Territory, the whole
/ duties and responsibilities Of the EeSecutive
are devOlved upon me, 10y virtue Of my COM
mission as Secretary. On assuming to cX-
ercise the functions of this high Office, at
this critical juncture in the affairs of the
Territory, it is not inappropriate that should
| briefly indicate the course which l shall
pursue.
The government Of the United States re-
ccgniZcs the authority Of tie Territorial
| government in all matters which are within
the scope of the organic act Of Congress,
and consistent with the Federal Constitu-
ton. hold that there can be no other right
fui authority exercised within the limits IF
Kansas, and shall proceed to the faithful
and impartial execution of the laws of the
Territory, by tue Use of all the means placed
in my power, and which Ray be necessary
to that end.
The government especially recognizes the
territorial act which provides for assembling
the Convention TO propose Constitution
with view of making application to Con
gresS for admission a State ia, the Union
That act is recognized Il presenting the only
test of the qualification OF voters for dcc-
gates to the Convention, and all preceding
rcpugnan, resolutions are thereby repealed
Ia inls light the act must u, allowed 10 have
provided tor tai and fair Expression of tie
will Of the people through the d;.egaics vino
may be chosen 10 represent tnein IN the Con
. stItntional Convention. | do lot doubt
however, that III order to avoid all preteXt
for resistance to the peaceful operation Of
this law, the Convention itself Will IN some
form provide for submitting the great dis
tracing question regarding their social in
B s,ItutIun, which has SO long ayItated the peo-
pie OF Kansas. TO a fair vote OF all the actual
bona .Fde residents Of the Territory, with
every possible security against fraud and
violence. II the Constitution be thus framed
and the question oi Il ference thus submitted
TO the decision OF the people, believe that
Kansas will be admitted 10y Congress with
oul delay. a. one OF the Sovereign States Of
the American Union, and the Territorial
authorities viii bc immediately withdrawn
l need scarcely say that all the power Of
the territorial executive viii be Cxer ed with
entire irnEartiallty 10 prevent fraud, to sup
press viol, nee and to securc to every citizen
Il fair opportunity tor the safe and peaceful
exercise OF the election privilege aud it vii
be no less the duty than the earnest desire
AMI great pleasure Of the Governor, Of act
Ing Governor OF the Territory, to carry out,
IN good faith, the policy ayoweI by the Pre-
sident Of the United sites, IN iis recent
inaugural adirt s., III whici. hc declares /, 10
bs the imperative aud IndI> cusah.c duty
Of the government of the United States To
secure TO every resident inuabitaut the free
and independent expression of his opinion
hy his vote. This sacred Ij-h, t. each in
d!yseual must b. prcsery d, and That be-
Ing accornll saed. nothing can be flir,r than
TO leave the people Of the Ter. TORY. irye
from all foreign influence, TO d, eide for tIcrn.
selves, subject only to tbs Constitution Of the
tnjicd State
No hing = waiting bat 10 secure the con-
fdcute at tn pcoli. of al parties in tn
sincerity f the de Jared intentions Of the
TrrrItor al TX 'cutive To carry out these
principles 10 good fith IN order to induce
the cooperation Of all GOOD men in the
pending III assures for adopting State Con
|, sii'ution. The principles themselves ca"n0'
fsi t. be acceptable To- he sober jUd-m n;
Of the people, and ardrn-ly hope. tor ,h
sake of the paramount intercSk 'rvoiv I
that the necessary confidence viii rot be
withheld.
The deI,lorable events which have ma X I'd
+ the ni-tv-y of IL. Territory W 20 thu ~ -
i''uGt'Sc-~ TCEJ t'ict. - sN7s4ira e et.sti
$ and heart burningS among the people, IL also
l upon the criminal, records of the Tcrrior.aI
courts. Indictments have been found a:ai'>.
many q those who acted in 4 military capa-
city under the authority Of the Territorial
Government. for acts and excuses alleged 10
be wholly Illegal and uujuSt.tiable.
Ga the other hand >jIni ar prosecutions
have been instituted against those who re-
sisted the Territorial authorities, and who
undertO to retail ate FOR the alleged wrongs
committed against them. Il j. nay dclber-
+! ate opinion, that in order to promote peace
and harmony, AMI 10 secure the future re-
: pose Of the people, there ought to Oc a gene
raj amnesty in reference 10 all these act on
both sides, which grew out Of the political
. contest and which were not corruptiv and
felOnl0uSy committed fer personal gain and
to crafty individual rnaigilty. These inca
sures, # adopted at all, ought to be adopted
: generous V, without any consideration OF the
: origin Of the difficulty, or without question
as 10 the party which may be responsible for
the wrong. II will involve no concession or
advantage to either party, but will be merely
an act of clcmcnc,, designed to ob!Itcratc,
a far as possible, from the hearts of the poo
pie all memory OF the disastrous and lament
ahl. contest which has heretofore desc ated
this unhappy Territory. If it shall have
that effect. though II nay pardon some in
stances Of gross wrong aud outrage II will
tend 10 calm the excited passions OF the
people, and TO prevent similar occurrences
IN the future. 1t viii be Il measure of con-
citation and peace, but will leave the people
free from apprehension in the future; so
they can securely devote themselves to those
important labors which are destined to max =.
this Territory great, prosperous and happy
State. FRED p. STANTON,
Sec'y and Acs Governor.
Lecompton, April II, 1857.
A CHOICE SERMoS.-llere is a funera'ser-
mon which, as far as it goes, is almost equal
to tn famous ' Harp of thousand strings. y
. Parson s., a rather eccentric character,
was Gale on to preach the funeral sermon
Of hard case, named Ram, which he did
in the fol owing UNIQUE style:
Ny beloved brothers and .sistirs, If orr
beloved brother Ram would want somebody
to come here and tell lies about him, and
makes him out better man .san he was,
he wouldn't have chose me to preach his
funeral sermon. No, my hrethern, he wan
tod 70 no hold n &c hr,r oh,