The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-12-16

WIS decree OF the fresident OF FaraSuay o.
October, 1854, prohibiting ioreign vessels OF wal
from navigating the rivers Of that STATE. As
Parnguy, however was the owner OF but one
bank oi the river OF that name the other belong
iur 10 Corientes, State Of the Argentine Con-
federation, the right Of its government 10 ex-
pect that such decree would be obsyed cannot
10 Acknowledged. But the Water Witch was
not, properly speaking, vessel Of way. She
wns a small steamer, engaged IN scientific en-
terprise. intended for tbs advantage Of conmer-
oial States generally. Under these circumStan'
ees, am constrained 10 consider the attack up
her as unlustihable, and rs calling for satisiac-
from the Paraguyan government.
Citizens ufthe United States, also, who were
established in business in Paraguay, have had
their property seized and taken from them, and
have otherwise been treated by the authorities
IN an insulting and arbitrary manner, which re-
Quire redress.
A demand for these purposes will hsmade in
q firm but concliatory spirit. This will the
more probahiy be granted 1.-THE Executive shall
have authority to use other means in the event
ola refusal This is accordingly reccommend-
cd.
Il il unnecessary to state in deal the slnrm-
iAS condition oi the Territory Of Kansas at tho
time ofmy Inauguration. The opposing par
er. and anv accident might have reliehted the
flames ofciv war Besides at this critical mo-
ment, Kansas LEFT was without a Governor by thC
resignation Of governor Geary.
On the 10Th of February previous, the terrific
rial legislature had passed a law providing fol
tha election ofdelsgates on the third Monday o
dune to a convention TO meet on the first Mon
day Of September, for the purpose OF framing {
constitution preparatory to admission into the
tJnion. This law was in the main fair and just
and it is to be regretted that all the qualified E.
iectors had not registered themselves and voted
ander its provisions.
Aethe time OF the election for delegrtes,. al
extensive organization existed in the Territory
whose avowed object it was, If need be, to pu
down the lawful government by force, and Il
establish government Of their own under tht
Ee-cailed .opeka constitution. The persons at
tacled to tits revolutionary organization ab
stained from taking any part in the election.
The act OF the territorial legialature had omit
ted to provide for submitting to tho people th
constitution which might he framed by the con
sention; and in the excited state of public feel
ing throughout Kansas an apprehension exten
s;vsly prevailed that q design existed to folc
uran them constitution in relation to SLAYER
agliast th.ir will. In this en- Urgency it Is my
in view the union Of all good citizens in suppor
fths territorial laws, TO express an opinion oi
the trua construction ofthe provisions concern
ing slavery contained in the organic act of Con
gr.ss Of the Goth May, 1854, Congress declared
Is to be 'the true intent and meaning of thi
act not to legslate slavery into any Territor
O.. State, nor to exclude it therelrom, but t.
kAve the people thereof perfectly free to form
snl regulate their domestic institutions in thei
ewa way" Under it Kansas when admit
Aa as a State" was to "be received into tn
Union, with or without slaverp, as their consti
tation may prescribe at the timo of their ad
nIission."
Did Congress mean by this language that tn
delegates elected to frame a constitution shoulC
kava aus iorty finally to decide the question o
slavery, or did they intend by leaving it to th'
people that the people Of Kansas thcmselve
should decide this question by direct vote
On this subject confess ! had never entertained
serious doubt, and therefore in my instruct
Ions TO Governor Walker Of the 2Sth Of Marcl
last merely said that when "a constitution
shall be s1brnitted to the people of the Terrific
~, tLey mist be protected in the exercise o
their right Of voting for or against that instru
lnent, aal tho fair expression Of the pt pual
will, mast not be interrupted by fraud or VIC
lsnee.
In oeprassiny this opinion it was far from my
intention to interfere with the decision Of tht
peo;,le Of krnsas either for or against slavery
From tais have always carefully abstained.-
lntrusted with the duty Of taking 'care tina
laws be faithfully executed" my only desir
was that the people Of Kansas should furnish
Gorge tle evidence required by the organ
net. whether for or against slavery: and in tn
manner smooth their passage into the Unon.-
In emerging fro,u the condition oftcyritorial dt
pemlence into that OF a sovereign State, it W,
their duty in my opinion, TO make known the
wii By the votes of the majority, on the dre
Question whether this importont domestic inst
tution should or should not contin,
70 eqist Indeed this was the only possib
snsis in which their will could be authenticall
ascertained.
The election Of delegates to convention mu
aecesSarily take place in separate districts
From this cause it may readily happen, as ha
of.en been the case, that majority Of the peop
sfa State or Territory are ON one side of ii
question, whilst majority of the representative
Npfa the several districts into which it is div
tled may be upon the other side. This arise
ffom the fact. .1hat in some districts delegate
may be elected by small majorities, whist
others those Of different sentiment may receN
Ynajorities sufficiently great not only Overcon
shc votes given for the former, but to leave
large majority Of the whole people in direct OF
position to majority OF the delegates Beside
sirhistory proves that influences may be brougl
TO bear on the representative sufficiently powe
FIJI TO induce him to disregard the will of
constituents The truth is, that no other a
thcnt;cand satisfactory mode exists Of ascertain
ing the will OF majority of the people OF ar
State OF Territory on on important and exc
eBg question like that Of slavery in Kansas, c
espt By leaving it to direct vote. How vi
then, it was for congress TO pass over all subo
dinate and intermediate agencies and procet
airsctIy to the source Of all legitimate power u
der our institution!
How vain would any other principle prove
pfaeljee This may be ilustratetcd by Il
easa Of Kansas. Should she be admitted in
the Union, with constitution either maintai
ing or ab0lishing slavery, against the sentime
nlthe people his could have no other effe
than To continuo and to exasperateithe ag tat
during the brieS period required to make t
constitution conform to the irresistible will
the majority.
The friends and supporters Of the Nebras
and Kansas act; when struggling on reee
occasion 10 sustain its wise provisions befo
thu great tr hunal Of the American people, ne
differed about its true "a ,anng on Il
subject. Everywhere throughout the Unit
thsg had publicly pledged their faith, and hon
that they would cheertully submit the quest
ofsiayery to the decision ofthe BoNI FIDE pc
pie Of Kansas, without any restriction or quail
ten whatever
AL wers cordially united upon tine great do
trine Of popular soyrsgnity, which is the Wit
principle Of our free institutions. Had it thc
iesn insinuated from any quarter that it wou