Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-09-16

| peeH, py congress, 10 lilegal violence and
| thus renew the scenes OF civil war and
bloodshed, which every patriot had da.
plored? This would indeed have been tn
violate my oath of Office, and to Gx
| darnning blot on the character OF my nd
ministratiop-
Imost chcerfully admit that the neces-
sity ofsending military force to Kansas.
| to aid in the execution OF the civil law, re-
| fleets no credit upon the character Of cur
| country. But let the blame fall upon the
heads of the guilty. Whence did this ne
cessity arise.. A portion of the people of
Kansas, unwilling TO trust to the ballot box,
the certain American remedy for the re-
dress of all grievances, undertook to cre-
ate an independent government for thezn-
selves. Had this attempt proved success
ful, 1t would, of course, have stibrerted
the existing Governmcnt, prescribed and
recognized by Congress, and substituted q
revolutionary government IN its stead.
This was usurpation Of the same character
as 1t would be for a portion OF the people
of Connecticut TO undertake to establish
separate government within It's own I'm
its, for the pupose of rcdiressing any grie-
vance, real or Imaginary, of which they
might have complained against the iesiti-
mate government. Such a principle, if
carried into execution, would destscy all
lawful authority and produce uniysTsa,
anarchy .s
l ought to specify more PARTICULARS a
condition of affairs which have eIlibraced
only IN general terms, requiring tho pre-
senee of a military force in Kansas The
Congress OF the United States had NEST
wisely declared it to be the true intent
and meaning of this act-the act organi-
izing the territory was not 10 'legislate sls
very into any territory or State, nor 10 OK
clude it therefrom, but to Leave the ueo-
pie thereof perfectly free TO form and ro-
guiate their domestic institutions in thor
own way, subject only to- the constitution
of the L. 5. Asa natural consequence Con-
gress has also prescribed by tho sanle
act, that when the Territory of kansas
received into the Union with or without
slavery, as their constitution may pre-
scribe at the time of their admission s.-
Slavery existed at that period and still
exists in Kansas, under the Constitution
of the United States. This point hos 81
last been finally decided, by the highcss
tribunal knownt to our laws. Howit could
ever have seriously been doubted - annys-
terry If Confederation of Sovereign,
States acquire new territory at the ex-.
pense of their common blood and trea-
sure, surely one set of the partners can
have no right to eXclude the other from
its enjoyment BY prohibiting them fre,r
taking into it whatsoever is recogu,zed te9
be property by the common constitution
But when the people--the bona fde resi-
dents of such territory proceed to franc
State Constitution, then il IS their light to ::
decide the important question for theH-
selves, whether they will continue to mo-
dify or abelisf, slavery. To them and to
them alone does this question belong, FREQ
from all foreign .interference. IN tho
opinion of the Territorial Legislature of
Kansas. the time had arrived for entering s
the Union, and they accordingly passed =
law to elect delegates for framing State
Constitution. This law was fair and jIst
in its provisions. 1t conferred the right
of suffrage on every bona fide inl,afsitant
of the territory, and for the purpose OF
preventing fraud, and the intrusion. off on
properly confined this right to those who
had resided therein three months preFi-s
sousto the election. Here MAS fair op-
portunity for all qualified resident citizens
of the territory, to whatever organization
they might have previously belonged. to
participate IN the election, and to express
their opinion at the ballot box on the
question of slavery. But numbers of law
less men still continued to resist the reg
MAR territorial goyerement-s They srefu-
sed to be either registered or to vote, and
legally and properly without thoir intor-s
ycntion. - as
The Convention viii soon assemble to-
perform the solemn duty of flaming a.
Constitution for themselves and their
posterity, and in the state of incipient
rebellion, which still exists III Kansas, it
Is my Imperative duty TO employ tho tho .
troops of the United States Should this
become necessary i'm defending the Con-
vention against violence, while framing
Constitution. and in protecting the bona
fde Inhabitants qualified to vote under
the provisions OF this instrument, III the
free exercise of the right of suffrage when
it shall be submitted tostlien for their p-..
probation or rejection, have entire oon-
,tidence in Governor Walker That the
troops viii not be employed, except TO re-
sist actual aggression, or. ia the execution
of the laws; and this, not until the pow
ers of the. Civil Magistr.ste shall fail, the
wise example Of Mr. Madison towards the
Hartford Convention, Illegal and danger
GUS combinations, such as that oi the To-
peka Convention will not be disturbed,
unless they shall attempt TO perform some
act which will bring them into actual col-
lision with the Constitution and thelaws.
In that event they shall be resistedand put
down by the whole power ofstile govern
nent.s In performing this .duty.ssi have
the apprebationof my own conscience, and
rs humbly hope, of my God
thank You for the assurance that you
will not refrain from pray er that the Al
mighty God will make my administration
an example of Justice and beneieene. ron
can greatly assist ME in sfrivina at tins
blessed CONS n m nation bvs px xerfing svour