Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-10-02

FROM KANSAS.

" were appointed at the Grasshopper Falls
Convention, to prepare and publish an Ad-
dress to the people Of the United States. 1t
Is prepared. Although not yet submitted for
the approval OF the entire committee, there is
no doubt that it will be adopted without al
teration as given below.
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.
The people of Kansas, at their recent Con-
vention held at Grasshoppor Falls, adopted
resolution to participate in the election for
members of territorial Legislature and dele
gate to Congress in October next, and ap-
pointed the undersigned committee to ad-
dress the people at large with respect to this
important action.
Two years-and-a-half ago portion of the
people Of Missouri invaded our Territory,
took possession of our ballot-boxes, and es-
taunsncu tuV utfparcuy WnIUn mas aIIitg
cd to exercise the functions of government
among us. A short time after that event our
people met in convention at Big Springs to
determine the course they should pursue.
Two plans were suggostod--ono to resist
the execution of their laws by force, the 9th
er to avoid this extreme measure by the a
doption Of new State government. Tho
latter alternative was preferred and the fol-
lowing resolutions adopted -
Ressired That the body Of men who for the last
nnntns nave been framing the people OF
rtory moved counsollcd and dictated by the demago
gues Of Missouri 20 a foreign body, representing
only the lawess invaders who elected them, and the
people Of the Territory that repudiae their action
the monstrous contamination Of Of violence usiir
paiion and fraud. unparalleled in the history Of
union and worthy only Of untitled for the dutics
and regardless Of the responsibilities Of republicanism
Rcsored, That this Convention in view of its repudia
ton Of the so-callcd Kansas legislative Assemble res
pond most heartily the call made bv the peoples con-
venton Of the lith ultmo for delegate convention Of
the people Of Kansas Territory to be held Topeka
fhn
OF State Constitution and such other matters as may
legitimatey come before it,
Resolred, That setting aside all minor issues Of por-
zan politics It Is incumbent upon as 70 preher an oan
izaon calculated 10 dearest rights and into
which democrats and wings, native and naturazed c
2ens may Freely enter without any sacrifice OF their res
pectivc political crceds, but without forcing them
test upon others and that when shall have achieved
our political freedom indicated our right Of sefgovern-
mentand become Independent State Of the Union when
those issues may become vital they dormant,
viii be time enough to divide organization by these
tests the Importance Of which fully recognize in their
appropriate sphere.
1t is we'll known that these resolutions
passed at Big Springs, September, 1855, have
constituted the basis of all subsequent politi-
cal action of the people of Kansas. They
there unequivocally disavowed the authority
of the Territorial Legislature, and have main
tanned that position ever since. They there
committed themselves in favor of State or
ganization, and have maintained that position
ever since. Upon these two measures they
have rested their hopes from the commence
ment of their struggle; and upon their ulti-
mate success they still coEtinue to rely. In
adopting this course of action the people of
Kansas were not impelled by either fanati-
cal zeal or wanton inconsiderateness of pur-
pose. They proceeded gravely and with de-
iit---+.-u to Ascidc uP~. si4o s----..I they
should occupy. 1t was said that they could
moi fn affnr ufnfn aNfr ffnn
without authority previously given by act of
Congress or of a territorial Legislature. But
they knew thas no such principle as this had
ever been established. On the contrary they
knew that the instances in which States had
been formed under acts of Congress were ex-
ceedingly few; and as to acts of the terrific
rial Legislature, they knew that these had
been ruled by the highest authority to be in
valid and of no effect. 1t was also said that
although the people had been prevented from
clecting their Legislature as the organic act
OF the territory required, yet, while the terri
toral government remained technically intact
State government would be n rival, revolu-
tionary movement putting the authority of
the United States government in despite
But the people knew that the Constitution of
the United States contained no provision
whatever for territorial government any
where that the trainers of that instrument
did not contemplate the acquisition of new
territory to the Union that the territorial
government was therefore the creature of a
temporary necessity mere protectorate-
of extra constitutional legislation--a thing in
cident to transient sovereignty-and that
when the State government, the normal and
recognized statutes of the community, came
into existence, the territorial government ex-
pired with the necessity which created it.
The people of Kansas knew that the govern
mont Of the United States itself had proceed
ed upon these principles in the admission of
States into the Union and had thus given
them its highest sanction and rendered them
authoritative. They, therefore, assumed this
ground after duly weighing the objections
urged to it with the most perfect assurance of
its correctness as a matter of law and estab-
lished governmental policy
The opposition made by the administration
at Washington and its party throughout the
country to this course of the people of Kan
sas, has not, in the slightest degree, weaken
ed their confidence in it, or lessened their de-
termination to adhere to it to the end. They
are satisfied that its propriety would never
have been called in question as a matter of Sc
rious moment, had not the federal administra-
ton sought, by so doing, to serve a special
purpose in behalf of slavery, So confident
are our people in the stand they have thus
taken, that they would be perfectly willing to
permit their State government to proceed to
the regular performance of its functions, with
out any regard TO the territorial government,
were it not for settled wish on their part,
to do nothing which may subject them to the
charge Of ultra views, OF a desire to incur yio-
lonce, even in the assertion of their rights
They have preferred to turn aside for the
time being from their State organization, and
to make an effort to secure, through the ter
ritoral ballot-boxes, peaceful possession of
the territorial government and to this end
they have determined to try their chances in
the October election.
We acknowledge that our chief incentive to
the adoption of this measure, was the urgent
appeals made in favor of it by many of those
who stood by us in the free States in all our
past struggles. But we frankly ayow our
selves not sanguine of success Il IS true
that Mr.. Walker, our federal governor, has
declared that he will afford us, to the best of
his ability, full and fair election before inn
partial judges but with our past experience,
we find il difficult to indulge in any hope of