Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-05-14

law, the Convention itself will in some
form provide for submitting the great dis
tracing question regarding their social in
institution, which has so long agitated the
people of Kansas, to fair vote of all the
actual bona Jfde residents of the Territory
with every possible security against fraud
and violence. IF the Constitution he thus
framed and the question of difference thus
submitted to the decision of the people, /
believe that Kansas will be admitted by
Congress, without delay, as one of the
Sovereign States of the American Union
and the Territorial authorities will be i'm
mediately Withdrawn.
need scarcely say that all the power Of
the territorial executive will be exerted with
entire impartialily to prevent fraud. 10
SUPPRESS violence, and to secure to every
citizen fair opportunity for the safe and
peaceful exercise of the election privilege;
and it will be no less the duty than the
earnest desire and great pleasure of the
Governor or acting Governor of the .erri-
tory, to carry out. in good faith, the policy.
asowed by the President of the U. s. in
his recent inaugural address, in which he
declares it to be 1.-THE imperative and indis-
pensible duty Of the government of ;he
United States to secure 10 every resident
inhabiai1t the free and independent ex
preston of his opinion by his vote. This
sacred right to each individual must be
preserved" and that being accomplished
nothing can be fa.rer than to leave the peo
pie of the Territory, free from all foreign
influence, to decide their own destiny for
themselves, subject only to the Consttu
ton of the United States,''
Nothing is wanting but to Secure the
confidence of the people Of all parties in
the sincerity of The declared intentions Of
the Territorial Executive to carry out tl.ese
principles in good faith, in order to induce
he cooperation of all good men III the
pending measure for adopting Stale Con-
s,ituion. The principles themselves can
not fail to be acceptible to the sober Judge
ment of the people. and ardenlly hope.
for the sake of the par mount Interests in
volved, tha, the necessary confidence will
not be withheld
The deplorable events which have mark
ed the history of the Territory up to this,
hare doubtless left their natural results of
enmity and heartburnings among the peo-
pie, as also upon the criminal records of
the Territorial courts Incidents have
been found against many of those who
acted in military capacity under the au-
lhority of the territorial government, for
acts and excuses alleged to be wholly ille-
gal and upjustifab.e. On the other hand,
similar prosecutions have been instituted
against those who resisted the territorial
authorities, and who undertook 10 retail
ate for the alleged wrongs committed
against them. 1t is my deliberate opinion,
that in order to promote peace and harmo-
ny, and to secure the future repose Of the
people, there ought to be general amens-
ty in reference to all these acts on bnth
sides, which grew out of the political con-
test. and which were not coruplty and
feloniously committed for personal gain and
to gratify individual maligniIy.
These measures. if adopted at all. ought
to be adopted generously. without any con-
sideraiion of the origin IN the difficulty, or
without question as to he party which may
be responsible for the wrong. 1t will in
volve no concession or advantage to either
party, but will be merely an aci of clem-
ency, designed to obliterate, as far as pos
sibe. from the hearts Of the people all
memory of the disastrous and Iamenlable
contest which has heretofore desolated this
unhappy Territory. If it shall have that
effect. though it may pardon some ins.an-
ccs of gross wrong and outrage, it will
tend to calm the excited passions of the
people, and to prevenr similar occurrences
in the future. 1t will be measure of con-
ciliation and peace. but will leave the peo-
pie free from apprehension in the future;
SO they can securely devote themselves to
those important laborers which are desiin-
ed to make this terri ory great. prosper
Gus and happy State.
FRED p. STANTON,
Sec'y., and Acting Governor.
LEcoMProN, April 17th, 1857.