The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-09-26

1! iFJSoC>o tnC Audslt1laS.Q1lC
| prescribed for voters by the organic sc. OF
Congress of May S0th 1854, has any just
claim to the elective franchise"
| 1t will be observed, then, that in view
| of the dcplorable condition of Kansas for
the last three years, and the civil waI
which has so long ragged in this Territory,
and the imminent danger of renewal of
thgt conflict, growing out of conflicting
views as to the qualification of voters al
the ensuing election, the President and
all his Cabinet have deemed the occasion
sufficiently solemn and important, to ex-
I press their fun, unanimous and entire con-
euTfenee to the views as to the qusiifca-.
tons of electors at the October election,
on those points set forth by me in this
address, and previously communicated BY
me to the Secretary of State.
| 1t is obvious that the Territorial gov
eminent of Kansas must be maintained
either by superior physical force, or,
as in all other States and Territories, by
the majority of the qualified voters at the
| election.
Inever contemplated the Ilse of the
military force but in aid of the execution
of the laws, to protect the citizens in the
exercise of their legal rights. as posse
comaitatus to arrest offenders, where the
civil authority might prove incompetent
without such aid, and where the law au-
thorized military power to suppress in
surrection or rebellion. Physical force
and the bayonet constitute the real power
in nearly all monarchies and ydespotic
] I,,k lo-o . &lo xxr;n Of q
majority of the people qualified to vote
upon the Constitution and under the laws
which is to govern; and the sooner all such
| questions are pecided by full and fair
vote of the qualified eletors at the polls,
| the better land then. and not till then,
shall we have peace and repose in Kan
sas. Unless force is to be substituted
for the elective franchise, unless despotic
and monarchical principles are making
here insensible progress, sooner or later
the question must thus be decided, and
the sooner the better, not only for the
| true interests of this Territory, but for
the security of the Union and the cause
of self-government, here and throughout
the world.
The eyes of our country and the world
are now directed with intense interest to
the coming election in Kansas in October
next. Whether the people of this Terri
tory are, indeed, capable of self-goyern-
ment, whether the scenes which have dis
graced Kansas and our country for the
/ last three years, are to be renewed ipdef-
initely, whether violence, injustice or
insurrection on one or both sides mo-
ment. and for the moment only, are to
decide the question, or whether our pO-
litical differences are to be settled here, as
in all other States and Territories, (under
the provisions of our organic law by the
full, free and fair exercise of the elective
| franchise, are the momentous questions
to which you must all now soon answer.
\ The test oath is expressly repealed as a
qualification for voters by an act of the
Territorial Legislature of the 18th of Feb
ruary, 1857.
The people of Kansas have now, there
fore, an opportunity, in conformity with
the Constitution of the United States, the
organic act of Congress, and the laws of
\ this Territory, to decide, by the elective
Il franchise, the choice of their delegate to
Congress, their Territorial Legislature,
and all their county officers.
The troops at my disposal, which are
, fully competent to the task, will, at the
! request of citizens of both parties, be
stationed at the points where violence has
been threatened, or anticipated, not for the
purpose of oterawing the people, or of
interfering in any way, with the elections,
or of infuincing them in any respect
whatever, but, by their mere presence,
guarding the polls against any attempt at
) insurrection or violence, from the mere
: knowledge of the fact that it can and will
t be suppressed, but, if necessary, also to
; protect and secure by lawful means, all
!, the Just rights of the citizen in exerei-
{ sing the elective franchise under the de-
cision of the proper authorities, and &c
} act as posse eonsitatas for the arrest OF
' offenders. should have greatly prefer
f red. as expressed in my letter of accept
s ance ofthe Office of Governor of this Ter.
e ritory, never to have been required to cal
out the troops even as precautionary
measure. AS it is, not drop of blood
: has been shed; and insurrecti0n has beer
: suppressed, until it recently reappeared II
|, compulsory tax law by the insurgeni
: government at Lawrence, and In conffa
e grafton of dwellings and expulsion o
!. peaceable citizens in its yicinaSe, after /
n was known the troops were ordered t.
n Utah. and when it was falsely supposed
b that they would not be replaced by others
h Indeed, if the revolutionary government
! of Lawrence had not been encountered b,
: the immediate movement of troops there
: il is now clear that situilar insurrectiona
!, lry local governments, based on my pre-
e sumed acquiesence, would have been or
If ganized throughout Kansas in open de
ir fianee of the laws of Congress and of thi
Territory, and rendered peaceful settle
= ment impossible. It will be remembered
d that in open defiance of the laws of Con
,fi cress. and of this Territory, and after tn
N refusal of the so-called Topeka State Leg
stl islature to grant them a charter, the
l. nevertheless organized City Govern
e. ment, clothed with all the usual powers
le Legislative, Executive and Judicial. ]
will be recollected also, that after m
v procIamation of thu 15tk of July lasi, an
4. the simultaneous movement Of the trooT
E. there as precautionary measure to maiE
m tain the authority of the Government, an
J. araest the spread of this insurrectio
M throughout the Territory, they then pr
A. fessed through their organs, that VIII
lv they had called Government, and
IN which they had given ali the powers Of
n Government, was mere yeEUsTARY Al
" ISOLATION for the removal of nuisanci
It from the streets, &c. But Row, when
was enormously believed by them that Il
as troops would all be removed to Utah, an
q not replaced by Others, they have throw
at of the mask, and carried out their origin
ge insnFrectionary purpose by passing con
a pulsory tax Law, both poll and proPer'
IS tax, requiring its assessment and collectie
n BY the seizure and sale Of property, an
y exacting by their charter from execuri'
a officers, who are to carry out these acts
r OATH to perform all these duties. the VI
oil lafion Of which oath, Il these duties q
te not performed. Weuld be perjury. At Il
~ same fine skey seemed TO have bellavt