Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-03

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government of Kansas well established as that |
II any other Territory. Under these ciTcum- |
stances. what was INV duty, Was II not to suS- |
lain this government? to protect II from the VIC
IenCe of lawless men, who were determined either
10 rule or ruin! to prevent Ii from being overturned
by force in the language of the constitution TO
: take care that the laws be faithfully executed"
II was for this purpose, and this alone, that or
deTed military force to Kansas, to act as posse
conitatHs in aiding the civil magistrate to carry
The condition Of the Territory at the time,
which need not portray, rendered this precau-
ton absolutely necessary In this state Of affairs,
would not have been Justly condemned had |
left the marshal and other officers of like char
acter impotent to execute the process and judg-
ments OF courts OF justice established by Con-
gress or by the Territorial Legislature under its
express authority, and thus have suffered the Gov
eminent Itself to become an object of contempt
in the eyes Of the people! And vet this is what
you designate as forcing " the people Of Kansas
to obey laws not their own, nor Of the United
States and for doing which you have denounced
me as having violated my solemn oath. 1 ask,
what else could have done, or ought to have
done Would you have desired that I should
as 1t had been by Congress, to illegal violence,
and thus renew the scenes Of civil war and blood
shed which every patriot in the country had de-
plored! This would, indeed, have been to vio-
late my oath Of office, and to tx danning blot
on the character of my Administration.
l most cheerfully admit that the necessity for
s,nding military force to Kansas to aid in the
execution of the civil law reflects no credit upon
the character of our country. But let the blame
fall upon the heads Of the guilty Whence did
this necessity arise? portion of the people of
Kansas, unwilling to trust to the ballot box.the
certain American remedy for the redress of all
grievances-undertook to create an indepedent
government for themselves. Had this attempt
proved successful, IL would, Of course have SUBJ
verted the existing government, prescribed and
recognised by Congress, and substituted revo-
lutOnary government in its stead. This was a
usurpation of the same character ii would be
for portion Of the people Of Connecticut to I'M
in its chartered limits for the purpose Of redress
~ any grievance, real or imaginary, OF which
they might have complained against the iegiti-
mate State government Such principle If car
ried into execution, would destroy all lawful au-
thOrity, and produce universal anarchy.
ought to specify more particularlya condition
OF affairs, which have embraced only in general
terms, requiring the presence of military force
in Kansas. The Congress Of the United States
had most wisely declared it to be the true intent
and meaning OF this act (the act organizing the
Territory not to legislate slavery into any Terri
tory or State, nor to exclude 1t therefrom, but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the Constitution ofthe United
States As a natural consequence, Congress has
also prescribed, by the same act, that when the
Territory of Kansas shall be admitted as a State,
IL " shall be received into the Union, with or
without slavery, their constitution may pre-
scribe at the time of their admission. -
slavery existed at that period, and still exists
in Kansas, under the Constitution of the United
States. This point has at last been finally decided
by the highest tribunal known to our laws. How
IL could ever have been seriously doubted is a
mystery. Ii a confederation Of sovereign states
acquire anew territory at the expense of their COM
mon blood and treasure, surely one set of the
partners can have no right to exclude the other
from its enjoyment, by prohibiting them from
taking into II whatsoever is recognised to be prop
erty by the common constitution. But when the
people-the bona fdc residents Of such Territory
proceed to frame State Constitution, then il 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
interference.
In the opinion Of the territorial legislature of
Kansas, the time had arrived for entering the
Union, and they accordingly passed a law to elect
delegates for the purpose of framing State con-
stitution. This law was fair and Just in its pro-
visions. IL conferred the right Of suffrage on
% every bona tide inhabitant of the Territory
and, for the purpose Of preventing fraud, and the
intrusion of citizens of near or distant States most
properly confined this right to those who had re-
sided therein three months previous to the cleo
tlon. Here fair opportunity was presented for
all the qualified resident citizens of the Territory,
TO whatever organization they might have previ-
ousy belonged, to participate in the election. and
TO express their opinions at the ballot-box on the
question of slavery. But numbers of lawless men
still continued to resist the regular territorial
government. They refused either to be registered
or to vote and the members of the convention
were elected, legally and properly. without their
Intervention The convention will soon assemble
to perform the solemn duty of framing constitu-
tion for themselves and their pOsterity and in
the state OF pient rebellion which still exists in
Kansas, IT Is my imperative 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 - bona fde inhabitants" qualified
TO vote under the provisions of this instrument i'm
the free exercise OF the right of suffrage when il
shall be submitted TO them for their appreciation
or rejection.
have entire confidence in Gov. Walker that
the troops will not be employed except to resist
actual aggression, in the execution OF the laws
and this not until the power of the civil ma1is-
tTate shall prove unavailing. Following the wise
example OF Mr.. Madison towards the Hartford
Convention, illegal and dangerous combinations
such as that of the Topeka convention. will not
be disturbed unless they shall attempt to pc. form
some act which Will bring them into actual col
lision with the constitution and the laws I'm
that event, they shall he resisted and put down
by the whole power OF the government. In per-
forming this duty shall have the appreciation of
my own conscience, and, is humbly trust. of M
God.
thank you for the assurance that YOU will
" not ref ain fion the prayer that Almighty God
Will make my adinnistra ton an example Of JUS
tice and beneiicence." You can greatly assist me
in arriving at this blessed consummation by ex-
ering your influence in allaying the existing sec
tional excitement OH the subject of slavery which
has been productive of much evil and no good
and which, if il could succeed in attaining its
object, would ruin the slave well as his mas
ter This would be work Of genuine philan-
thropy. Every day of my life feel how made
quate ! am TO perform the duties Of my high sta
ton without the continued support of Divine Prov
idence ;yet, placing my trust in ii m, and in Him
alone, entertain good hope that de will enable
me to do equal justice to all portions of the Union
and thus render me an humble instrument in re-
ny Ieace and harmony among the people Of
the several States.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Rev. Nathaniel w. Taylor ID ID, Rev Theodore
ID. Woolsey, ID, LII D., Hon. Henry Dutton
Rev. David Smith, ID D., Rev J. Halves, d D.,
and others.
The IMPUDENT FARCE.-Of all impudent dis
plays of the folly Of aboltionim, we know of no
more laughable one than the recent COmpensa-
ton Abolition Convention, Of which that Tin
this region so well known philanthropist and
ingenious gentleman, the Rev. c. W. Denison,