American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-12-18

! vention;" and il lie expressly declared TIA,
$40 slavery shall exist in the State of Kan.
seq, cxcep, that tie night OF property Ia
slaves now in the Territory shall in no man.
nef be ,ntetiered withj" and IN that event
| II is made his duty to have the Constitution
thus ratified transmitted Ia the Congress of
OF the United Statesio the admission of the
| State into The Union, ~
AT This election, every citizen will have
an opportunity OF expressing an opinion by
his vote "whetheI Kansas shall be received
into the Union with or without slavery,n
and Thus this exciting question may be
peacefully settled in The very mode reqni.
| RED by the organic aw. The election will
be held under legitimate authority, and if
any portion OF the inho bitants shall refuse to
vote, fair opportunity To do 30 having been
| presented, this will be- their own voluntary
oct, and they alone will be responsible for
the consequences. .I|I M fnI#t
Whether Kansas shalt be a free or slave
| state must cveHtuaily, under some authority, be
! decided by an election and the question can
| never be more clearly or distinctly presented
| 10 the people than il is at the present moment.
| sho9iu TINS opportunity be rejected, she may BIO
involved Tor years in domestic discord, and pos
sibly in civil war, before she can ag ain make up
| the issue now so fortunately rendered, and again
reach tho point she has already attained.
Kansas has Tor some years occupied too much
OF inc public attention. 1t is high time this
should DC directed to lar more import ant objects.
| When once admitted into the Uaion, whether
| with or without slavery, the excitemen Mt beyond
| her own limits will speedily pass away, and she
VIII then for the first time be left, as she ought
| 10 nave been long since, to manage her own at
lars IN her own way. lfher constitution on the
| subject of slavery, or on any other subioct bo
dispieas'ng to majority of the people, no HUI
man power can prevent them from changing il
within br ief period. Under these circumstan-
Il I'M hp
and quiet OF the whole country are not q greater
Importance than the mere temporary triumph Of
either OF the political parties IN Kansas.
Should the constitution without slavery be A.
dopted by the votes OF the majority, tho rights
| oil property in slaves now in the territory are
reserved. The number Of these is very small
out II 1t we're greater the provision would be
equally Just and reasonable. These slaves were
brought into the Territory under the constitu.
ton OF the United States, and are now the prom
erty OF their masters This point has AT lenpib
boeh hhslly decided by the highest judicial tri-
bnhaI OF The couRtry-and this upon the PLAIN
prhcipie that when coniederacy of sovereign
states acquire new territory at their ioint ex>
ponsc, both equality and Justice Jems nd that tho
clu1"ns OF ono and all If them shall have the
tiHh' 10 tnHe INTO II whatsoever is recognised as
| property by the common constitution. To have
summary coniiscatcd the property in slaves AL
ready in the Territory, would have been an act
OF gross injustice and contrary to the practice
OF the older States OF the onion which have
abolished slavery.
n territorial government was established for
ulnh ny act OF Congress approved the 9,h S.p>
tcmbcr, 1850, and the constitution and laws nI
the United States were thereby extend ed over il
d" Tar rs inc same, or any provisions thereof,
may he appcabic." This act provid ed tor the
appointment by the President, by and with the
advice and consent OF the Senate, ora governor,
Who waste be cx0icio superinten de mt OF indian
anairs, secretary, three judges OF the supreme
court, marshal, and district attorney. Sub
sequent acts provided for the appointment of
the officers necessary II extend our land aud
our Indian system over the Territory. Brigham
Young was appointed the first governor on the
2oh September, 1890, and has held the office
ever since Whilst Governor Young has bean
-i both governor and superintendent OF Indian al,
ialrs throughout this period, lie has been nj the
same time the head of the church called the
i.ater-Day SAINTS, and processes to govern its
members and dispose of their property by direct
Inspiration and authority from the Almighty
/ Eis power has been, therefore, absolute over
both Church ard State .. -. .....
The people of Utah, almost exclusively. bc
long t" this church, and believing with ianati
cal spirit that he is governDr of tho Territory nv
DIVINE appointment, they obey his commands AZ
" these were direct revelations from Heaven
! IL, Their orc, no chooses that his government
shall come into collision with the government
OF the United States, the members OF tho Nor
mon church will yield implicit obedience TO his
WI. Unfortunately, existing facts leave but
| little doubt that such is his Determination
without entering upon a minute history OF ocN,
cnrenccs, IT is sufficient TO saw that all the oni
GERS OF the United States. judicial and executive
with the single exception of two Indian aycuis
nave found u necessary for their own personal
safety, to Withdraw from the Territory a nd there
| no longer remains any government in Iyt,b bnt
the "espots.n ct Brigham Young. This being
the condition of affairs in the Territory / could
not mistake the path Of duty. AS Chief. Execu-
| i've Magistrate was bound to restore the su-
premacy Of the constitution and laws within its
I'm fart
poIntcda new governor and other federal officers
Tor uNh, and sent with them a military force for
th"ir protection, and TO aid as posse comitqfus,
IN case OF need, IN the execution of the laws
! with the relig Gus opinions Of the Nor.
mons. as long as they remained mere opin-
| IONS however deplorable i'm ihrm =, Ives and
revolving to the moral and religious sec,i
men,s OF all Christenhom, | had no right 10
interfere. Actions, alone when in violation
| OF Tie Constitution and laws of the United
| o'aiPs, become the Legitimate subjects for
! lhe jurisdiction OF lhe civil magistrate. Nv
| Instructions TO Gov. Cumming have there.
fore been framed in strict accordance with
these principles. At their da'e hone was
INDUCED that no necessity might exis, for
| employing the military in restoring and
| maintaining the authority Of the law but
| thir nope has now vanished. Gov. Young
| has by procIama ton declared his determ
| '', W nha'"'o'H h'S power ny force, and
| has already committed acIs Of hrs,ility a.
9ains' the United States. Unlpss he shonId
| Tetrace his Steps, the territory Of Utah will
be IN stale oil open rebellion. He has com
/ mltted these acis Of hostility notwilbstaud.
! ing Major Van Nlirt an officer of the army
sent 10 Utah by the commanding general 10
! purchase provisions for the troops, had Civ.
! on hnn the Slr1ngs, assurances OF the peace
| lui intentions OF the government, AID that
the troops would only be employed as a pos.
Sc eonfnt0S when called IN by the civil au.
| lhorty TO aid in the execution OF the laws.
! There is reason 10 believe that Gov. Young