Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-09-16
THE MEMORIAL
'R sILLIMAN, ANB THE REPLY OF

'sThe undersigned, citizens of the Uni
ted States, and electors of the State OF
Connecticut, respectfully offer to your
Excellency, this their memorial. The fun
damental principle of the Constitution of
the United States, and of our political IN
stitutions is, that the people shall make
their own laws, and elect their own ru-
lers. We see with grief, if not with aston
ishment, that Governor Walker, of Kan
sas. openly represents and proclaims that
the President ofthe United States is eni-
ploying through him an army, one pur
pose OF which is to force the people of
Kansas to obey laws not their own, nor OF
the United States, but laws which it is no
torious and established upon evidence that
they never made, and rulers they never
elected We represent, therefore, by the
foregoing your Exceilency is 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 Constitution of this Union. We call
attention further to the fact that your EX-
cellency is held up to this nation, to all
mankind, and to all posterity, IN the at
titude of ..leyying war against portion of
the United States, by employing arms III
Kansas to uphold a body OF men and a
code of enactments purporting to be le-
sislative, but which never had the cleo
ton, nor sanction, nor consent OF the peo-
pie OF the Territory. We earnestly rep.
resent toyour Excellency that we have al
so taken the oath to obey the Constitu-
ton, and your excellency may be assured
that we shall not refrain from the prayer
that the Almighty viii make your Admin
istration angexample of justice and benef-
ficence, and with His terrible majesty pro-
tect our people and our Constitution"
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
Hashingto,, 1dug. Is, 1857.
-Gentlemen:-On my recent return to
this city, aftera fortnight's absence, your
memorial without date, was placed in my
hands, through the agency OF Mr.. Hora-
ito King, of the Post Office Department,
to whom it had been entrusted. From
the distinguished source from whence it
proceeds, as well as its peculiar character,
| have deemed it proper to depart from
my general rule IN such cases, and to give
il an answer. -.--
You first assert that ''The Fundamental
principle of the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, and of our political institutions
is, that the people shall make their own
laws. and elect their own rulers You
then express your grief and astonishment
that should have Violated this principle,
and through Gov. Walker, have employ
ed an army zone of the purposes of which
is to force the people of Kansas to obey
laws not their own, nor of the United
States, but laws, whiehit is notorious, and
established upon evidence, they never
made, and rulers they never elected" And
as a corollary from the foregoing, you rep.
that i am ''openly held up, and proclaim
ed, to the great derogation of our Nation
al character, as violating in its most ies-
sential particular, the solemn oath which
the President has taken to support the
Constitution of this Unien.Y
These are heavy charges proceeding
from gentlemen of your high character,
and il well founded ought to consign my
name to infanly. Bat in proportion to-
their gravity, common justice, to say no.
thing of Christian charity, required that
before making them you should have
clearly ascertained that they were well
founded. If not they will rebound with
whitening condemnation upon their ari-
thor. Have you performed this prelimin-
airy toward the man, who, however unwor-
thy, is the Chief Magistrate of your coun-
try? ESQ, either you OF | are laboring
under.a strange delusion- Should this prove
to beyour case, it Will present mcmora-
bic example of the truth that political
is blind, even TO the existence of
the plainest and most palpable facts
To these facts let us refer. When en-
tered upon the duties of the Presidential
Office, on the fourth of March last, what
was the condition of Kansas?
This Territory had been organized un-
der an act OF Congress, passed the 3eth
May, 1854, and the Government in all its
branches was in full operation. A Govern
or, a Secretary of the Territory, a Chief
Justice, two Associate Justices, Marshal
and District Attorney, had been appoint
ed by my predecessor, by and with the
were all engaged In discharging theil. res
pectiye duties A code of laws had been
enacted by the Territorial Legislature, and
the Judiciary were employed in expound-
ing and carrying these laws into effect.
& 1t is quite true that a controversy had
arisen, respecting the election of members
to the Territorial Legislature, and dtof the
laws passed by them, But at the time |
entered upon my official duties, Congress
had recognized the Legislature in differ
ent forms and by different enaetments.-
The Delegate elected tothe House of Rep
under a Territorial law, had
just completed his term of service ON the
day previous to my inauguration In fact
/ found the Government of Kansas as we'll
established as that of any other Territory.
Under these circumstances what was my
duty Was it tosastain this Government
to- protect. it tfron, the violence of ls,wless
men who We're determined to rule or ruin;
to prevent it from being overturned by
force IN the language of the Constitution
Ito Take care that the laws be faithfui- |
ly executed ?'' 80 Il
Itawas for this purpose, and this alone,
that ordered military force to Kansas
as q posse eoahikktsas, aiding the Civil Magis-