M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-10-01

plOpoiblp " NuNh S'N'lb1 NN'ihiN'
Justice, to say nothing of Christian
charity, required that. before making
them. You should have clearly ascer.
tanned that they were well founded.
If not, they will rebound with wither-
ing condemnation upon their authors.
Have you performed this preliminary
duty towards the man, who, however
unworthy, is the Chief Magistrate Of
your country If so, either yon or |
are lahoringnnder strange delusion.
Should this prove to be your case, it
will present q memorable example OF
the truth that political prejudice is
blind even tothe existence of the plain
est and mostpalpable historical facts.
To these facts lei us refer.
When | entered upon the duties Of
the Presidential Office, on the 4th Of
March last, what was the condition Of
Kansas 2 This Territory had been Or,
ganized under the act OF Congress Of
May 3Oth, 1854, and the government
in all its branches was in full opera.
tioR. A governor, secretary Of the
Territory, chief justice, a marshal,
and district attorney, had been ap-
pointed by my predecessor, by and
with the advice and consent Of the
Senate, and were all engaged in dis
charging their respective duties. A
code of laws had been enacted by the
Territorial Legislature and the judi
ciary were employed in expounding
and carrying these laws into effect
Itis quite true that a controversy had
previously arisen respecting the valid
/ ity of the election OF members OF the
Territorial legislature and Of the laws
passed by them but at the time en-,
tered uponmy official duties Congress
had recognized this legislature in dit:
terent forms and by different enact
ments. The delegate elected to the
House ofRepresentatives, under a Ter
ritorial law, had just completed his
term of service on the day previous to
my Inauguration. In fact, | found the
government of Kansas as well estab-
lished as that Of any other Territory
Under these circumstances, what was
my dutyl Was it not to sustain this
government ? to protect it from the
violence of lawlesS men who were
determined either to rule or to ruin
to prevent it being overturned by
force 9-in the language Of the Con
stitution, to take care that the laws
be faithfully executed 2" 1t was for
this purpose, and this alone, that
ordered military force TO Kansas, to
act as a posse cOmitatuS in aiding the
civil magistrate to carry the laws in
to execution.
The condition of the Territory al
| the time, which | need not portray
rendered this precaution absolutely
necessary. In this state Of affairs
would not have been justly condemn
ed had left the marshal and otheI
officers of like character impoten
to execute the process and Judgments
OF courts of Justice established by Con
gress or by the Territorial Legislature
under its express authority, and thus
have suffered the Government itsel
to become an object Of contempt il
the eyes Of the people 2 And yet thi
is what you designate as forcing eth,
people of Kansas TO obey laws no
their own, nor of the United States
and for doing which you have de
nounced me as having violated IN,
solemn oath. | ask, what else couIt
| have done, or ought | to have done
Would vou have desired that | shonlC
abandon the Territorial government
sanctioned as it had been by Congress
to illegal violence, and thus reney
the scenes of civil war and bloodshet
which every patriot in the land ha'
deplored This would. indeed, hav
been to violate my oath of Office, an
to fix damning blot on the charac
ter of my administration.
: | most cheertully admit that tn
necessity for sending a military fore
= 70 Kansas to aid in the execution {
the civil law reflects no credit upo
} the character of our country. Bt
let the blame fail upon the heads {
: the guilty. Whence did this necesSt
/ arisel A portion of the people {
! Kansas, unwilling to trust to the baI
! lot-box-the certain American rem,
r dy for the redress of all grievances
r undertook to create an indepe4be
q government for themes,,, ~: Ia mar,
: this attempt proved IA n0 M. r. ses I ,
: would, of course, tS h3EE; which y Ive his !
6 existing Govern IN '.,"'li winch !, we far
. recoSnlzea Der, 9eer tile committee atioI
!u'eu s'hdition TO make afor- m
> It's sT The bottom has not been !; J; i, =
',erobgl rCbsi d the committee have ve- ~ ,o :
the fly, concluded that they will XXI XXI
ID ID, 70 report until they can present fhos @
a. full and reliable shape.is This nart rat
!, however, has been ascertained, tl,a3
,oe2. Of q a. N Gomp%nt,.o uUu 1sY gaI !, part,