Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-12-31
Address to the People Of Kansas.

Having been appointed by the Presi-
dent of the United States to the office
CT Secretary, and, during the Govern
or's absence, Acting Governor of this
Territory, it is proper that 1 should
make you a brief address, sufficient to
indicate what my future course of ac-
ton will be. The troubles and Difficult
ties with which the people of the Terri
tory have been involved makes this the
more necessary, for it would be unrea-
sonable to expect any one occupying
this position to escape misrepresenta-
ton and abuse. The passions of many
have been so thoroughly aroused, and
long-standing difficulties have so en-
Filtered the feelings of one portion of
the community against another, that it
has been represented as almost impossi-
BILE to find any one willing to listen to
the voice of reason. This I am not
prepared to believe. That there are
some violent men who have assumed to
speak by authority for the people atlarge,
and counsel such measures as must ne
cessarily, if followed, lead to bloodshed,
anarchy and confusion, 1 have no doubt;
but it will require more than bare as
s~ertion to satisfy me that there is not
yet enough of the conservative element
remaining to uphold and enforce the
laws, by which alone the lives and pro-
perty of our citizens can be protected,
and the honor of our country preserved.
1t is the earnest desire of the Presi-
dent that a fair opportunity should be
afforded all the people of the Territory
at the approaching elections to give a
full and free expression of their opin-
ions, and as an evidence of this I give
the following quotations from his in
structions to me through the Secretary
of State, dated December IL, 1857:
"The convention which met at Le-
compton on the LIST of September, had
framed a constitution, and had author
lied its president to submit the ques-
ton to the people on the 21st of De-
cember, whether this constitution should
be adopted with or without Slavery
The importance of this issue could not
be well ovcr-estimated. 1t involved the
complete authoritative settlement of the
only subject of difference which had Sc
riously agitated Kansas or interfcred
with its prosperity.
"The qualified electors, therefore, to
whom the settlement was referred. not
only had an unquestionable right to at
tend at the polls and give their votes on
the day appointed, but they were re.
quired to do SO by the highest conside-
~rations of public duty. In the exercise
of this right, moreover, they were emit,
tied to adequate protection by the Ter,
~ritorial government, and the acting gov.
ernor was bound to employ all the legal
means at his command to give security
and fairness to the election"
1.-THE conflicting opinions which pre-
vail in the Territory" he says, "haG
their appropriate issue at the ballot
box, and to that peaceful arbitramen
they might safely be referred. TIL,
great objects to be accomplished, in tn,
opinion of the President, were to pre-
serve he peace of the Territory and Sc
cure the freedom of the election" j. i:
"From these views you will readil,
understand what the President regard
as the chief duty which devolves upol
you as Mr.. Stanton's successor. Thi
duty is to preserve the peace in Kansas
Every person entitled to vote under tn
Constitution ought to have safe acces
to the polls, and to be free from any re
: straint whatever in the exercise of tn
elective franchise. If the civil powe
is found insufficient for this purpose
the troops of the United States shout,
be employed in aid of it; and it ma,
be a wise ~precaution to have them sta
toned, in advance, within reach of thos
places where, in your Judgment, thci
services are likely to be required" x :
Z x X STlor /tl4 1oekr,ao-e 1o-o
tofore given) refer prominently to tn
preservation of peace at certain import
ant elections; but 1 need hardly inform
you that your duty is not intended t.
be confined to these special occasions
1t extends, of course, to the protection
of all citizens in the exercise of thei
just rights, and applies as we'll to on
legal election as another.
THE Territorial Legislature, doubt
less, convened on the 7th inst, ant
while it remains in session its member
are entitled to be secure and free il
their deliberations. Its rightful actor
must also be respected. Should it au
thorize an election by the people, fo
any purpose, this election should be helc
without interruption, no less than thos'
dutLoIlZSu ny lHc OohNcuIloH- AlI'
| the peace of the Territory is preserved
and the freedom of elections is secure
there need be no fear of disastrous col
sequences. The public journals con
tain reports of an intended movemen
by. a portion of the residents of Kansas
to organize a revolutionary government
1t is hardly probable that this repor
can be well founded. But should the
attempt be made, and lead to practica
collision with the Territorial authori
ties, the authority of the Government
must necessarily be maintained, anc
from. whatever quarter it is attempted
to interfere, by violence, with the cleo,
tons authorized by the Constitutions
Convention, or which may be authorized
by the Legislature, the attempt must
be resisted and the security of the cleo.
ton maintained. The peaceable pro.
gross of these elections can obviously
occasion no injury to any citizen or any
party, because their results can have on,
Iy their due weight under the Constitu
ton and laws" y >
< cit is vitality import,
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