Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-07-29
.ov WALKERS PROCLAMATION.
.v,r,ox 70 THE PEOPLE OF LAWRENCE.


considerable number of the citizens of Lawrence J"
this Territory, have adopted, as they claim by pc.
nu,ar vote a charter for their local government "A
copy of that charter has been placed IN my nanus'
upon comparing which with that granted oy ,''e
rtoral Legislature last winter, ma Una. sney T r
new charter. then. is set up not only without any
authority of law but in direct and open defiance OF
an act II the Territorial Legislature on the same sub
ject. . ,,;s,u, h,uo
On this point your committee, whose views nave
been adoptcd by you make the following statement:
= Hinder ordinary circumstances the more regular
,oetbod of proceeding would be TO obtain charter
from tho Territorial authorities. As the Territorial
government however, in no sense represents the
people of Kansas, not elected by thcm and can
have right to egslate for them, we cannot accept
q charter at its hands. And, us the State govern.
mcnt has not, as yet deemed it advisable to proceed
to the organization of local and municipal govern
ments we cannot obtain charter from it. There
is therefore left only the alternative of charter
springing directly from the people, or continuance
in present unorganized condition.
Under those circumstances you have seen mt &c
instruct us to present charter having discussed ts
provisions in a preliminary asscmblaec and now
propose to submit it to full vote OF the people LOT
approval or rejection"
twill be perceived that the authority Of tho Ter.
rtorial government is here distinctly den'eo, ana
whilst that of the so.caed State government IS ac-
knowlelged, it is conceded that charter has been
granted by them Indeed, it is fact that, although
this socaled State government has in ITSELF no legal
existence or authority, yet you asked ana ia'eo "
receive charter from then.
Under these circumstances you have proceeded. 10
establish a government in the city of Lawrence, IN
direct defiance of the Territorial government, and
denying its existence or authority. You have grant
cd to this city government the authority to elect
Mayor and Board of Aldermen, City Assessor,
Treasurer Justices of the Peace, City Marshal NC.
You have granted to the Mayor and Aldermen most
extensive powers, including the right to levy and
collect taxes upon rcal and personal property within
the limits of the city, whether belonging to residents
or non-residents, and al the other powers usually
incident to a city government.
You have imposed upon all these officers the duty
Of taking oath to support this so.caled State Con
stitution, thus distinctly supcrseding so far as IN
your power, the Territorial Government created by
the Congress of the United States. You have ca'S-
cd these proceedings to be printed in handful io'm
and distributed them, as am informed, throughout
the Territory, with the view to incte the other critics.
towns and counties of Kansas to establish insurrec
tionary governments, thereby placing the people OF
this Territory far in your power, in open con-
fct with the government of the United States
The more considerable portion of your party hav-
ing induced your Topeka Legislature to enact the
laws urged by y,u creating municipal government S,
you have, in defiance of their authority, when
you profess acknowledge proceeded to create such
agovernment for Lawrence. and are now urging 9TH
eelocalitieS to,puSue similar course. Your evident
purpose is thus to involve the whole Territory in in
Surrection and to renew the scenes of bloodShed
and civil war. Upon you, them must rest all the
guilt and responsibility of this contemplated revou
ton. Yon will be justly chargcable in law and in
conscience with all the blood that may be shed in
this contest, and upon you must fall the punish
ment.
You have elected your officers under this charter,
and instructed them to enter upon this immediate
i Al, ol.~,k 80
ordinances and the execution thereof, uuder an au.
thority having in itself legal existence and estab
lished in direct defiance of the Government of the
United States.
From all these facts, it is obvious, if you per-
mitted to proceed and especially if your example
should be followed as urged by you in other places,
that for all practical purposes in many important par
ticuars the Territorial Government will be
thrown the charters granted by that Government
for similar purposes will be dsregarded and the JUS
tees Of the peace and other officers acting under their
authority, will be brought necessarily into conflict
and collision with the so-called officers claiming to
act under different authority
The Territory will thus be involved in ineXtricable
confusion and litigation the value of your property
be greatly deprecated your titles, transfers. trans
actions and contracts will be subjected to endless and
costly disputes and all will suffer from this nsurrec
ton, except the lawyers who have stimulated this
movement. \ Government founded on inSurI ection
and usurpation will be substituted for that estab
lished by the authority of Congress. and civil
will be renewed throughout our limits If your
authority to act in this matter for the city of Law
renee is permitted similar authority must be &C
knoMledged in every other town, city or county;
result in inevitable and most disastrous conflict; and,
If successful. the Territorial Government will be
oVerthrown in detail as is your present purpose
You were distinctly informed in my inaugural
address Of May last that the validity of the Terri
torial laws was acknowledged by the government
OF the United States, and that they must and would
be carried INTO execution under my oath of Office
and the instructions of the President of the United
States. The same information was repeated in va
rlous addresses made by me throughout the Terri
tory AT the same time every assurance was given
you that the right Of the people Of this Territory
under the forms prescribed by the government of
your country to establish their State govern
ment and frame their own social institutions would
be acknowledged and protected
Ii laws have been enacted hv the Territorial Leg.
isature which are disapproved of by majority of
the people OF the Territory, the mode in which they
those laws, was also designated. If there are any
grievances Of which you have any just right to
complain, the lawful, peaceful manner in which YOU
could remove them in subordnation to the govern.
ment OF our country was also pointed out
e lou nave however, chosen to disregard the laws
oi congress and of the Territorial government ere.
ateo oy It, and whilst protesting to acknowledge
ota'e government rejected by Congress, and which
can therefore not exist only by successful rebellion
ana exactlns from all your officers the perilous and
sa!crlegous oath to support the socaed State Con
sutut,on; yet you have, in defiance Of the So
called State Legislature which refuses to Grant Won
charter, proceeded to create local government NJ
your own, based upon instruction and revolution
Inc very oath which you require from all your off,
:ers 10 support your so.calcd Topeka Constitution
violated in the very act of putting In operation
charter rejected even by them :"
"A rebellion lniUutouS md rooo,,..:,.-
such awful consequences has never before dsarsoaS
any age country ''' o''s' "'e"
Permit me to call your attention as still claiming
to be citizens of the United States to the results of