Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-09-10

had most wisely declared 1t TO be 'the true intent
and meaning of this act (the act organizing the
Territory not to legSlate slavery into any Terri
torv or State. nor to exclude it tharetrom but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free to form ani
regulate their domestic institutOns in their own
way subject only to the constitution of the United
States As natural consequence. Congress has
also prescribed by the same act. TINT when the
Territory Of Kansas shall be admitted AZ State
it "shal be received into the Union. with or with
ont slavery rs their constitution may prescribe at
the time of their admission"
Slavery existed at that period, and it still exists
in Kansas, under the constitution Of the United
States. This point has at last been finally dec'-
ded by the highest tribunal known to our laws
How it could ever have been seriously donoteo Is
amystery. If q confederation of sovereign states
acquire new Territory at the expense OF the:f
common blood and treasure, surely one set OF the
mariners can have no right to exclude the other
from its enjoyment by prohibiting them from ia
king into it whatsoever is recognised to be prop
erty hy the common constitution. But when the
neople-the bona fde residents of such Territory
proceed TO frame State constitution, then 1t IS
their right to decide the important question for
themselves whether they will continue, modify, or
abolish slavery. To them, and to them alone, does
this question belong free from all foreign inter-
ference.
In the opinion of the territorial legislature Of
Kansas the time had arrived for entering the union
and they accordingly passed law to elect aee-
gates for the purpose Of forming STATE eonSt'tu'
tion This law was fair and just in It's provisions.
It conferred the right Of suffrage on ''every bona
I'D. inbabtant of the Territory and, for the pur-
pose of preventing fraud and the intrusion OF citl-
zens of near or distant States, most properly con-
fined this right to those who had resided thereon
three months previous to the election. Here a
fair opportunity was presented for all the quail
fed resident citizens of the Territory, to whatever
organization they might have previously belonged
TO participate in the election, and to express their
ooinions at the ballot box on the question OF slave
ry. But numbers of lawless men still continued
to resist the regular territorial government. They
refused either to be registered or to vote ana tne
members of the convention were elected, legaiiy
and properly, without their Intervention. Inc
convention will soon assemble to perform the SOL
emn duty of framing constitution for themselves
and their posterity and in the state of incipient
rebellion which still exists in Kansas, it is my I'm.
perative duty to employ the troops OF the United
States, should this become necessary, in defending
the convention against violence whilst framing the
constitution, and in protecting the ''6ona .hde ln-
habitants" qualified to vote under the provisions
of this instrument in the free exercise OF the rght
of suffrage when it shall be submitted to them Tor
their appreciation or rejection.
have entire confidence in Gov. Walker that
the troops will not be employed except to resist
actual aggression or in the executions of the laws
and this not until the power Of the civil magistrate
shall prove unavailing. Following the wise ex-
ample of Mr.. Madison towards the Hartford Con-
vention, Illegal and dangerous combinations, sueh
as that of the Topeka convention, will not De dis
turbed lless they shall attempt to perform some
act which will bring them into actual coihslon
with the constitution and the laws. In that event.
they shall be resisted and put down by the whole
power of the government. In performing this
duty shall have the appreciation of my own con-
science, and. as humbly trust of my God:
thank you for the assurance that you Will mot
refrain from the prayer that Almighty God Will
make my administration an example of justice anu
benefcence" You can greatly assist me IN arri-
wing at this blessed consummation oy exertng
your influence in allaying the existing sectional
excitement on the subject Of slavery, which has
been productive of much evil and no good and
which, if it could succeed in attaining its object
would ruin the slave as we'll as his master. This
would be work of genuine philanthropy. Every
day of my life feel how inadequate am to per-
form the duties of my high station without the
continued support of Divine Providence; yet,
placing nv trust in Him, and in Him alone, en-
tertain good hope that He will enable me to do
equal justice to oil portions of the Union, and
thus render me an humble instrument IN restoring
peace and harmony among the people OF the sew
eral States Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Rev. Nath. W. Taylor, D. D., Rev. Theo. D.
Woolsey, D. D., IL. D., Hon. Henry Dutton,
Rev. David Smith, D. D., Rev. j. Hawes: d.
D., and others.