Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-28

wholly avoided. Violence rs always less likely
TO occur when the means are known to be at hand
for its prompt suppression. Should the military
force becoue absolutely necessary, to keep the
peace, you will find full instructions with refer
ence to the proper mode Of employing it, in my,
cemmunicstlons to Governor Walker, of March
18th, July 18th, and September I'd, 1857 and in
those subsequently, written to Mr.. Stanton. OF
these last, that Of November 3Oth was take& to
Kansas BY you, and you had copy Of It. All Of
them will doubtiess be found In the archives OF
the Governor, at Lecompton; they refer promi.
nenty to the preservation Of the peace at certain
important elections. But / need hardly inform
you that your duty 10 hot intended to be confined
to these special occasions; 1t extends, of course,
to the protection Of all the citizens in the exercise
Of their just rights, and applies to one legal cleo
tion, as well as another. The Territorial Legis-
while II remains in session its members are emit
tied to be secure and free in their deliberations
Its rightful action must also be espected Should
II authorize an election by the people, for any
interruption, no less than those authorized by the
Convention. While the peace of the Territory is
preserved, and the freedom of election secured,
there need be no fear Of disastrous consequence
The public journals contain reports OF an in.
tended movement, BY portion OF the residents
Of Kansas, to organize Revolutionary Govern.
ment, under the Topeka Constitution II is hard
ly possible that this report can be well founded
but should the attempt be made and lead to a
practical collision with the Territorial authOri-
ties, the authority of the Government must ne.
cessarily be maintained, and from whatever
quarter 1t lis attempted to interfere by violence
with the election authorized by the Constitution
al Convention or which may be authorized by
the Legislature, the attempt must be resisted,
and the security of the election maintained. The
peaceable progress Of these elections can obvi-
ously occasion no injury to any citizen Of any
party, because their results can only have their
due weight under the Constitution and the laws
1t is to be expected therefore, that good citi-
zen will endeavor to interfere with them but
that all the people will lie consented to see the
work Of the Convention peacefully carried out
to its legitimate results and fairly presented to
the consideration of Congress The President
relies upon your frmness and discretion to give
effect to these instructions IL is vitality impor-
tant that the people Of Kansas should have the
full determination of the question now before
them for decision. IL is important also that i'm
securing to them the protection to which they
are entitled, great care should be taken not to Or
ganize any Illegal authority. On this point
again refer you to my instructions to Governor
Walker and Secretary Stanton, which you will
regard as directed to yourself. 1t is proper to
add that action of the Territorial Lee slature
about to meet, can interfere with the elections of
the Dist Of December aud the 36th Of January i'm
the mode and manner prescribed by the Consti-
tutional Convention.
am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
LEWIS CAss