The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-09-17
WASHINGTON CRY, August Is, 1857.

GENTLEMEN-On my recent return to
this city, after fortnight's absence. your
memorial, without date, was placed in nv
hands, through the agency of Mr.. III ratio
King, Of the Post Office Department, 10
whom il had been entrusted. From the
distinguished source whence il proceeds, as
well as its peculiar character, have deem
ed it proper TO depart from my general rule
III such cases, and 10 give it an answer
You first assert that "the fundamental
principle of the Constitution of the United
States and Of our political institutions is that
the people shall make their own laws and
elect their own rulers" You then express
yonr grief and asloni>hment that l should
have violated this principle, and, through
Gov. Walker, have employed an army, " one
purpose of which is to force the people of
Kansas to obey lars not their o,on, nor of
the United States. but laws which i, is no.
torious, and established upon evidence. they
never made, and rulers they never elected"
And, as a corollary from the foregoing, you
represent that am openly held up and
proclaimed, TO the great derogation Of our
national character, as violating, in its most
essential particular. the solemn oath which
the President has taken to support the Con.
sitution of this Union"
These arc heavy charges proceeding from
gentlemen of your high character, and, If
well founded, ought to consign my name to
infamy. But in proportion to their gravity,
common justice, to say nothing of Christian
charity, required that before making them
you should have clearly asceitained that
they were well founded. If not, they will
rebound. with whitening condemnation, up
on their authors. Have YOU performed this
preliminary duty towards the man who,
however unworthy. is the Chief Magistrate
of your country? If so, either you or are
laboring under strange delusion. Should
this prove to be your case, it will present a
memorable example of the truth that polii-
cal prejudice Is blind. even to the existence
Of the plainest and most palpable historical
facts. To these facts let us refer.
When entered upon the duties Of the
Presidential office, on :he 4th Of March last,
what was the condition Of Kansas This
Territory had heen organized under the act
Of Congress of 3oth Of May, 1854. and the
government, in all its branches, was in full
operation. A governor. secretary of the
Territory, chief justice, two associate justices,
a ma,shal, and district attorney, had been
appointed by my predecessor. by and with
the advice Of The Senate. and were all en-.
gagged in discharging their respective duties.
A code Of laws had been enacted by the
Territorial Legislature; and the judiciary
were employed in expounding and carving
these laws into effect. /, is quite true that
controversy had previously arisen respect
ing the validity Of the election of members
of the Territorial legislature and Of the laws
passed by them. but at the time | entered
! upon my official duties, Congress had re-
cognized this Legislature in different forms
and by different enactments. The delegate
elected to the House ,f Representatives. uil.
der Territorial law. had just completed hi>
term Of service on the day previous to nv
Inauguration. In fact. found the govern.
ment of Kansas as well established as that
of anv other Territory.
Under these circumstances, what WAS my
duty Was il not to sustain the govern.
ment TO protect il from the violence Of law
less men, who were determined TO either
rule or ruin To prevent it from being
overturned by force l-in the language OF
the Constitution, to "take care that the laws
be faithfully executed Z" 1t was for this
puIp ose, and this alone, that I ordered a
military force TO Kansas. to act as posse
eomitaius in aiding the civil magistrate to
carry the laws into execution.
u The condition Of the Territory at the time
which need not portray, rendered this pre-
caution absolutely necessary. In this state