Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-12-10

President of Paraguay of October, 1854. prohibit
ing foreign yessels-of-w from navigating the riy
ers of that State. As Paraguay, however, was the
oRner of hut one bank of the river of tint name
the other belonging to Corricntcs, State of the
Argentine Confederation, the right of its govern.
ment to expect that such decree would be obey
ed cannot be acknowledged. But the Waterwitch
was not, properly speaking, ycssel.of.WNr. SHE
was n small steamer engaged in n scientific enter.
prise, intended for the advantage of commercial
States generally. Under these circumstances |
nm constrained to consider the attack upon her as
uniustigablc and MS calling for satisfaction from
the Pnraguayan government.
Citizens of the United States, also, who were
established in business in Paraguay, have had
their property seized and taken from them, and
have otherwise been treated by the authorities
in an Insulting and arbitrary manner, which
requires redress.
a demand for these purposes will be made in
a firm but conciliatory spirit. This will the
moro probably be granted it the Executive
shall have authority to use other means in the
event of y refusal This is accordingly recon-
mended.
ino- condition, of the Territory of Kansas at the
time of my inauguration. The opposing par
ties then stood in hostile array against each
other, and any accident might have Tehgh!ed
the flames of civil war. Besides, at this criti-
cal moment, Kansas was left without COVER
nor by the resignation of Gov. Geary.
On the 10Th of February previous, the terri
torial legislature had passed a law providing for
the election of delegates on the third Monday
of June to u convention to meet on tue hrs
Monday of September, for the purpose Of ira
ming a constitution preparatory to admission
into the Union. This law was in the mann talr
aud Just and it is to be regretted that all the
qualified electors had not registered themselves
and voted under its provisions.
At the time of the electien for delegates an
extensive organization existed in the Territory,
whose avuwed object it was, if need be, to put
down the lawful government by force, and to
establish government of their own under the
SO. called Topeka constitution. The persons at
tached to this revolutionary organization alb
stained from taking any part in. the election.
The act of the territorial legislature had omit
ted to provide for submitting to the people the
constitution which might be framed by the con-
yention; and in the excited state of public feel
ing throughout Kansas an apprehension extern
siYely prevailed that n design existed to force
upon them a constitution in relation to slavery
against their will. In this emergency it be.
my duty, as it was my uuqucstionabe right,
having in view the union of all good citizens in
support of the territorial laws, to express an
opinion on the true construction of the provi-
sons concerning slavery Contained in the or
ganic act of Congress of the goth May, 1854.
Congress declared it to be 'the true intent and
meaning of this act not to legislate slavery into
from, but to leave the people thereof perfectly
free to form and regulate oheir domestic institu-
tons in their own way" Under it Kansas,
t'when admitted as Stnte,' was to "be receiv-
ed into the Union, wi4h or without slavery, as
their con -titution may prescribe at the time OF
their admission"
Did Congress mean by this language that the
delegates elected to frame constitution should
have authority finally to decide the question Of
slavery, or did they intend by leaving it to the
people that the people of Kansas themselves
should decide this question by direct vote:
On this subject confess had never entertain
ed serious doubt and therefore, in my in
structions to Governor Walker of the 28th
March last, merely said that when "a cOnSti-
tuition shall be submitted to the people of the
Territory, they must be protected in the exer-
else of their right of voting for or against that
instrument, and the fair expression of the pc.
pular will must not be interrupted by fraud
or violence.
In expressing this opinion it was far from my
intention to interfere with the decision of the
people of Kansas, either for against slavery.
From this have always carefully abstained.-
Entrusted with the duty of tnking ''care that the
laws be faithfully executed" my only desire
was that the people of Kansas should furnish to
Congress the evidence required by the organic
act whether for or against slavery; and in this
manner smooth their passage into the Union
In emerging from the condition of territorial
dependence into that OF \ sovereign Stale, IL
was their duty, in my opinion, to make known
their will by the votes of the majority, on the
direct question whether this important domestic
institution should or should not continue to
list Indeed, this was the only possiblemode in
which their will could be automatically ascer-
tanned.
The election of delegates to a convention must
necessarily take place in separate Districts
From this cause it may readily happen. as has
often been the case. that majority of the peo.
pie of State or Territory are on one side ola
question, whilst a majority of the representa-
tves rom the several districts into which it is
divided NAV be upon the other side. This arises
from the fact that in some districts delegates
may be elected by. small majorities, whilst in
others those of different sentiments may re-
ceive majorities sufficiently great not only to
overcome the votes given for the former. but to
leave large majority of the whole people in d.
rect opposition to majority of the delegates
Besides, our history proves that influences may
be brought to bear on the representative suff-
GENTLY powerful to induce him to disregard the
will of his constituents. The truth is, that no
other authentic and satisfactory mode exists of
ascertaining the will of majority of the peo-
pie of any State or Territory on an important
and exciting question like that of slavery in
Kansas, except by leaving it to direct vote