Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-09-19

entered upon the duties of the Presidential
Office, on the 4th of March last, what was
the condition Of kansssl ........ -.
This Territory had been organized
under an Act of Congress, passed the 80 h
of May, 1854, and the Government in all
its branches was in full operation. A
Governor, a Secretary Of the Territory,
Chief Justice, two Associate Justices,
Marshal and District Attorney, had been
appointed by my predecessor, by and with
the advice and consent Of the Senate, and
were all engaged in discharsing their re-
spectvo duties. A code of laws had been
enacted by the Territorial Legislature,
and the Judiciary were employed in ex-
pounding, and carrying these laws into
effect. ...
1t is quite true that controversy had
previously arisen, respecting the election
of members to the Territorial Lcgisl ture,
and Of the laws passed by them. But at
the time I entered upon my official duties,
Congress had recognized the Legislature
in different forms and by different enact
ments, The Delegate elected to the House
of Representatives, under Territorial
law, had just completed his term of service
on the day previous to my inauguration.
In fact, found the Government of Kansas
as well established as that of any other
Territory. .. ...-
Under these circumstances, what was
my duty! Was it not to sustain this
Government; to oprotect it from the violence
of lawless men who were determined to
rule or ruin; to prevent it from being over
turned by force; in the language of the
Constitution, to Take care that the laws
be faithfully executed "
1t was for this purpose, and this alone,
that ordered a military force to Kansas
as posse comitatus, aiding the Civil Mag
islratc to carry the laws into execution. -
The condition of the Territory at the time
which / need not portray, rendered thi
precaution actually necessary. ~-..
In this state of affairs, would not have
been Justly condemned, had left the Mar
sh4l aud other officers of like character
imp tent, to execute the process and judg
monts of Court of Justice, established BY
Congress, or Tie Territorial Legislature
under its express authority-.nd thus have
suffered the government itself to become
an object OF contempt in the eyes of tn,
people! And yet this is what you desg
date as forcing " the p ople Of Kansas t
obey laws, not their own, nor of the United
States" And for doing which, you hav'
denounced me as having violated my oath
ask, what else could I have done, O.
ought to have done2 Would you hav
desired that should abandon the Terri
lorial Government, sanctioned as it ha
been, by Congress, to illegal violence, an
thus renew the scenes of civil war an,
bloodshed, which every patriot had de
plored This would indeed have been t
violate my oath of Office, and to fix dam
ming blot on the character of ny Admin
istration.
most chcerfully admit that the necessit
for sondiug military force to Kansas,
aid in the execution of the civil law, reflect
no credit upon the character of our countr,
But let the blame fall upon the heads {
, the guilty. Whence did this necesst
arise ? A portion of the people of ,Kar
sas, unwilling to trust to the ballo,-box, IL
certain American remedy for the redre
| of all grievances, undertook to create a
independent Government for themselve
Had this attempt proved successful,
d would, Of course, have subverted the exis
l ing Government, prescribed and recognize
}, by Congress, and substituted revolutio
a ary government in its stead. This w
It usurpation of the same character as
d would lie for portion of the people
Il Connecticut to undertake to establish
Il separate government within its own limi
= for the purpose of redressing any grievanc
n real or imaginary, Of which they mig
have complained against the legitimn
G government. Such principle, if carrie
r, into execution, would destroy all lawi
y authority and produce universal anarchy
% l ought to specify more particularly
l. condition of affairs which have embrac
1t only in general terms, requiring the pl
r scnco OF military force in Kansas. I
d. Congress of the United States has IN,
'g wisely declared it to be the true intent a
re meaning Of this act-thc act organizing
le territory was not tolegislatc slavery il
eff any territory or State, nor to exclude
er therefrom, but to leave the people ther,
e. perfectly free to form and regulate th