The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-12-15
G:snls1iIls 5laiIp AanymL.
KANSAS.

KANSAS. -.,
We have supplied most Of bur readers
with the Presidents Message in an -Ex.
ira. We republIsh that portion, which
relates to the affairs in Kansas, in our
regular edition that it MAY JbeIembraced
in the regular files OF the paper for refer
ence in the heated discussions to which
the SUBJECTS likely to give rise. The
admission Of Kansas is to lie the great
issue Of the session The Ee,sage in
stead OF ofdirec;ly defending the Lecomp
ton Convention, argues the expetliency
ofadopting their tbs as the le,st OF two
evils. |. would suffer great wrong to
avoid further agitation and difficulty in
the Territory. Ii would sacrifice great
principle for present peace. The Presi-
dent laments that the people should
lose their privilege oil voting upon ail-the
provisions OF their organic law, but he
suggests that it is better 10 take the
right from them than TO endure, longer
agitation and internal convulsions =
This is the plea Of all usurpations. Ii
was the Justification of the 'Napoleoh's in
France, and has been the argument OF
tyranny throughout all history. It's in
direct antagonism with the,spirit Of the
American Revolution that resisted, at all
hazards, the approaches Of despotisln ia
the most indirect and nsldious encroach-
mentS upon the remOtest abstract politi-,
cal right. Kansas in contending 'or her
privileges Is defending the great cause or
popular sovereignty, and IS contending
for the r gh;s OF every territory that may
be organized within the dominion o! the
Union in all future time. Her cause is
the cause OF popular liberty.
IL is unnecessary to state in detail the
alarming condition OF the Territory vi Kan
sas al Ihe time oi my Inauguration. The OPP
Posing parties then stood in hostile array
against each 9th Rand any ,acoieh,nt niigal
have rclighJcd tine flames of civil var. be-
sides, ut TINS critical moincnt, Kansas was
lyis without Governor by the :esignstlon
or Coz. Ii.Iry. fr. -... ~. ~ rr-r .r. ..-I f
On the IN of February previous, the ter
ritOrial legislature had passed "a law mVvi-
ding Tor the election OF uclogates Oh the third
Monday OF june To u convention to meet ON
the first Monday OF September, for the pur
pose Ot framing constI IsutIon preparatory TO
admission INTO che Union. I'M. Law was III
the main far and Just and it as To DO ro-
greJtedIhaJ ali the quaiited electors had not
not registered themselves and voted under
ats provisions.
AT the time of the election for delegates,
an extensive organization existed III the cr-
rie,Ty, whose avowed OBJ ,eet il was, II heel
b., 10 put down the lawful government by
force. and To establish government OF their
own under the so-,alled Topeka constitution.
The persons attached to this revoiuIlonary
organization aOst.lned from taking any part
in Iilc election.
The act of the territorial legislature had
omitted to provide tor submitting to-tne peo
pie the constitution which might be framed
by the convention; and in the excited state OF
public feeling throughout kan>ls an appre
hcnsion extensively prevailed that design
eIisted To force upon them a a-eonstitutlon IN
relation TO slavery against theIrewiH In
TINS emergency 1t became my Il 'ty, u IT Was
ipy nnqueStiOnable right, having IN view the
aatcn oI all good citizens N support of the
Territorial laws, to express an opinion ON the
tru; construction OF tne provisions concern
ing slavery contained m the organic act oi
Congress of the ,th May. lSo4. Congress
declared il 10 be .'ths true intent and mean
ing OF this act not to ley.slate slavery into
any Territory or Siate, nor To exclude It
tlIercfrcm, but TO leave the people thereof
Perfectly free To iorm and regulsae their do
meSIic Institu ions in their own way Cn-
der u, Kansas, : when admitted as u State
Wis 10 = Be received into the Union. with or
without slavery, as their constitution may
Prescr. be at the time OF their admission"
DID Congress mean oy this Language that
DELEGATES elected To frame constitution
should have authority hnaiiy to decide the
question OF slavery, or did they Intend by
leaving 1t to the people that Inc people of
Kansas themselves should decide this qGe<-
tlon by Il direct vote . On this question
confess | had never enuertainei a serious
doubt, aud, therefore, i'll my instructions 20
GoN. WaiSer Oi the Is Ii March Lass L mere
~ said that when Il constitution shall be
submitted TO thc people OF the rerri,o th v
must be prOtcctSd In the exercise oil their
right of voting for or sgainSt that instru-
ment. aud the fair expire sion Of the peculiar
VIII must not Dc interrupted by fraud OF yio-
lense.n
In expressing this opinion, it was far fiorn
my iEteution 10 interfere with the decision OF
the people of Kansas, either .fOr or against
slavery. From this have always carefully
abstaincd. Intrusted with the duty OF taking
''earc that the laws be faithfully execn;ei, -
my only desire was that the people OF X ansas
should fIrniSh 20 Congress the 'evi6elce re-
Guired by the organic act, whether tor or
aganSt slavery aud in this manner smooth
their passage in.o the Union. In emerging
from the condition o: territorial depehdcnce
into that OF sovereign Sts.tey II was their
duty, in my opinion. U make knownI IN ,ir
will by the votes OF thc utIority on the di-
rect question whether this important domes-r
tic Institution should or shoull not continue
to exist. IGiscl, this was the only possible
mole ia which their will coald be aulhenti-
cally asccTtaincd. q .-a-