The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-07-30
Gov. Walkers Proclamation TO
the People OF Lawrence.
LEAyENwoRrH, July Is, 1857.

nent. A copy Of the charter has been
placed in my hands; upon comparing which
with that granted by the Territorial Legisla. |
ture, last winter, find that they differ in.
tentionally in many essential PARTICULARS
The new charter, then, is set up, not only
without authority of law, but in direct and
open defiance Of an act Of the Territorial
Legislature on the, same subject.
On this pointyour committee, whose views
Have been adopted by you, make the follow
ing stOtement:-
"Under ordinary circumstances the more
regular method of proceeding wopld, be TO
obtain charter from the Territorial authori.
ties. AS the ferritoSial government, how
ever, in no sense represents the people Of
Kansas, was not elected by them, and can
have no fight to legislate for them, we can.
not accept a charter at its hands. And, as
the State government has not, as yet deem.
ed it advisable to proceed to the organization
of local and municipal governments, we can
not obtain charter fromit. There is there
fore left US only the alternative of charter
Fpringing directly from the people, or con-
tnuance in our present unorganized condi.
ton.
Under these circumstances, you have seen
fit to instruct US TO present charter, having
discussed its provisions in a preliminary as.
semblagc, and now, propose to submit it to O
full vote Of the people for approval or rejec'
tion."
1t will be perceived that the authority o
the people of the Territorial government is
distinctly denied. and whilst that of the SC
CALLED State government is acknowledged, i
IS conceded that no charter has been grantee
by them. Indeed, it is d fact that, although
this SO called State government has, in itsel
no legal existence or authority, yet you ask
ed and failed to receive c charter from
them.
Under these circumstances, you have pro
ceeded to establish government for the cit
of Lawrence, in direct defiance Of the Ter
ritorial government, and denying its exist
ence or authority. You have granted t
this city government the authority tp elect
Mayor and Board of Aldermen, City Asses
S sor, Trensp-er,' Justices Of the Peace, CT:
Marshal. &c. You have granted to til
Mayor and Aldermen most extensive pow
= ers, including the right to levy and collie
taxes upon real and personal property with
: tie limits of the city, whether belonging
residents or noh.residents, and all the oth
, powers usually incident to city gover
y r!ent.
u You have imposed upon all these Office
u the duty Of taking an oath to support tn
{ so called State Constitution, thus distinct
superceding, SO far as in your power, Il
' Territorial government created by the Co
gress of the United States. You have cnu
ed these proceedings to be- printed in: ha
bill form, and to have distributed them, as
am informed, throughout the Territory, wi
!, the view to incite the other cities, towns a
- counties of Kansas to establish iDsurrectic
Z. ary gotsrnfaents, thereby placing the pc
- pie of this Territory, SO far as in your pow
- in open conflict with the Government Of t
IL y, United stotesl. .,,
, The more considerable portion 9f yc
n party having induced your Topeka Legis
:, ture to enact the laws urged by you, C
ating Municipal government, you have ev
% in defiance of their authority, which y
profess to acknowledge, proceeded, to cre
such government for Lawrence, and
new, urging other localities to pursue
similar course. Your evident purpose is tt
~ to involve the whole Territory in insurr
20 % tion, and to renew the scenes of bloodsl
: and civil war. Upon you, then, must !
IN all the guilt and responsibility of this C
tempIated revolution. You will be jus
n. chargeable in law and in conscience with
!, the blood that may be shed in the cont
and upon you must fulI the punishment.
You have elected your officers under
the charter, and instructedthem to enter u
immediate discharge of their duties, incl
ho ing the adoption of ordinances and the e
ID, cuton thereof, under an authority having
as itself no legal existence, and established
as direct defiance. of the Government of
he United States. -.-....... ...'.
From all these facts,,i is obvious if
are permitted to proceed, and especial
your example should be followed as urge'
lie you in other places, that for oil pfact
purposes "A many important particulars,
Territorial government will be overtime
mt The charters granted by that government
similar purposes will be disregarded, and
4 Justice of the Peace and other officers
th. ing under their authority, will be brol
necessarily, ipto -conaict .apd collision
Z the SO called officers claiming to act vi
an. different authority. u, t9rF E-'it, 'fl
The Territory will thus be involved i
4 extricable CONFUSION and litigationi ithe
viii ue Of your property be greatly depreeia
as your titles, transfers, transactions. and
be tracts will be spbjectedto to endless and
not E1y disputes and all will suffer from thi'
"Is surrsction, except the. lawyers who
as stimulated this movement. A, governn
viii founded on insurrection and usurpation