Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-09-09

but 20 leave he peopee ooeo py
frss 70 forn asd vsgulsee thslx -es9elas ~
seiou6ioas in DIR eys ~. - y -
~ OpnstitutiQn - Ne U94s4 oeS A.
4 natural conss4uence. Cbnees ~ aAo
preseribed By the sn@e Get, tt whea IL |
Territory Of Kansas shall be admitted % . |
state. it "Ahall be recsiyed into the Union, |
with or without slavery. a. their coastitu- \
ton may prescribe at the time Of their id
mission"
Slavery existed at that period, and still
exists. In Kansas, under thesConstitution
the United States This point has at last
been finally decided by the highest tlibun
.. known to our lava How il could ever
have been seriously doubted Is . mystery.
II confederation Of sovsrsien 6eaen o.,
quire new territory at the expense other
common blood and treasure. surely one set
Of the partners can have ~ right 70 exclude
the other from is enjoyment, BY prehiLis
ing them from taking into Il whotSseva b
recognized to bs property by the common
Constitution. But when the psopas-the
bona tide residents Of such tsrritory-pro-
coed to frame State constitution, than 1t is
their right to decide the important question
among themselves whether they viii con
tinue, modify, or abolish slavery To them,
and to them alone. does this question be-
long. free from al foreign interference
In the opinion Of the Territorial Legisla
ture Of Kansas. the time Rad arrived for
entering the Union and they accordingly
passed law TO elect delegates for the p0s-
pose Of framing a State Constitution. The
law was fair and just in its provisions II
conferred the right Of suffrage on every bona
fde inhshitant Of the Territory" end. for
| the purpose Of preventing fraud. and the In
trusion Of citizens Of near or distant States,
most properly confined this right to those
who had resided therein three months pre-
vious to the election Here fair opportu-
nifty was presented for ell the qualified res
ident citizens of the Territory, to whatever
organization they might have previously
belonged, - psrti, ipate in the election. and
TO express their opinions al the ballot box
on the question Of slavery. But numbers
Of lawless men still continue To resist the
regular Territorial Government. They re-
fused either to be registered or to vote
and the members Of the convention were
elected. legally and properly. without their
Intervention. The convention will soon as
sembc to perform the solemn duty Of fram-
ing a constitution for themselves and their
posterity; and in the state Of incipient re
bellion which still exists in Kansas, it il my
imperative duty TO employ the troops Of
the United States. should this become nee
essary. in defending the convention against
violence whilst framing the constitution,
and in protecting the bona fde inhabitants
qualified to vote under the provisions Of this
instrument in the free exercise Of the right
Of suffrage when ii shall be submitted to
them for their appreciation or rejection.
have entire confidence in Gov. Walker
that the troops will not be employed except
TO resist actual aggression or in the execu-
ton of the laws, and this not only the pow
er Of the civil magistrate shall prove una
vailin- Following the wise example Of
Mr. Madison towards the Hartford Conven-
ton, illegal and dangerous combinations.
such IA that Of the Topeka Convention, will
not be disturbed unless they shall attempt
To perform some act which will bring them
into actual collision with the Constitution
and the laws. In that event. they shall be
resisted and put down by the whole power
of the Government In performing this du-
| iy. | shall have tine appreciation Of my own
conscience, and. as l h,pbly trust, Of my
God.
thank You for the assurance that YOU
will not refrain from the prayer that Al
mighty God will make my administration
an example of justice and benifcence -
You can greatly assist me in arriving ct
this blessed contamination by excrting your
influence in allaying the existing sectional
excitement ON the subject of slavery, which
has been productive Of much evil and no
good, and which, if it could succeed in at
tanning its object, would ruin the slave as
well as the master This would be a work
of genuine philanthropy. Every day of my
life feel how inadequate am to perform
the duties Of my high station, without the
continued support Of Divine Providence
yet. placing my trust in Him, and in Him
alone, enter,aina good hope that lie will
enable Inc to do equal Justice to all portions
Of the Mon. and thus render me an hum
bic instrument in restoring peace ard har-
mo"y among the people of the several
/ States
Yours, very respectfully.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
! KEY. NATHANIEL W TAYLOR, u. u.
| Rev. TnEoDORE u. WooLsEY, d. ID. L.. u.
| Hon. HEyRY D,rTox.
| Rev. DAVID SMITH. ID. ID.
Rev j. HAwEs d. d. and Others