The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-09

Of ri are entitled 10 vote They are 10 vote by ballot
and 1.-THE ballots cast at said election shall be endorsed
constitution with slavery and constitution with no
slavery" IL there be majority IN tsvor OF the Goa
stitutio with slavery then IL Is TO be transmitted Ia
Congress by the president of the convention In its Original
form IT, ON the contrary, there shall be majority IN
favor Of the constitution with no slavery then the
article providing for slavery shall be stricken from he
constitution by the president Of this convention and
is expressly declared that mo slavery shall exist in The
State of Kansas except that the right of property In slaves
now in the Territory shall In manner DO ntererod
with and in that event II is made his duty TO have the
constitution thus ratified transmitted TO the Congress
the United States for the admission Of the State into the
Union.
AT this election every citizen will have opportunity
of expressing his opinion by his vote whether Kan.
shall be received into the Union with without slavery
and thus this exciting question may be peacefully settled
in the very mode required by the organic law. The elc
ton will be held under Legitimate authority. and II any
portion of the inhabitants shall refuse TO vote, fair o
portunty to do SO having been presented, this will be
their own voluntary act and they alone viii be respOn
BILE for the consequences.
Whether Kansas shall be free or slave State must
eventually under authority be decided by an cleo
ton and the question be more clearly dis.
ncty presented TO the people than it is at the present
moment Should this opportunity be rejected she may
be involved for years in domestic discord, and possibly
civil war; before she again make up the issue now
fortunately rendered and again reach the point she has
Kansas has for some years occupied too much OF the
public attention 1t is high time this should be directed
TO far more important objects. When once admitted
into the Union, whether with or without slavery the ex
element beyond her limits viii speedily pass away
and she will then for the first time be left as she ought
to have been long since to manage her own affairs In her
own way If her constitution the subject OF slavery
or on any other subject be dspleasng to majority OF
the people, no human power can prevent them from
changing it within brief period Under these croum
stances may well be questioned whether the peace and
quiet of the whole country not of greater Importance
than the temporary triumph OF either OF the pol
cal parties in Kansas. +G
Should the constitution without slavery be adopted by
the votes Of the majority the rights of property in slaves
now in the Territory reserved The number Of these
is very small but If it greater the provision would
be equally just and reasonable. These slaves
brought into the Territory under the constitution of the
United States and the property OF their masters
This point has at length been finally decided by the high
est judicial tribunal of the country and this upon the
plain principle that when confedcracy OF sovereign
States acquire territory at their joint expense both
equality and Justice demand that the citizens of and
all of them shall have the right to take into 1t whao
is recognised as property by the common constu
ton. To have summary confiscated the property in
slaves already in the Territory, would have been an act of
gross injustice and contrary to the practice Of the Older
States Of the Union which have abolished slavery.
territorial government was established for Utah by
act of Congress approved the 9th September 1885, and
the constitution and laws of the United States
thereby extended 1t $50 far the any pro
visions thereof may be applicable" This act provided
advice and consent of the Senate, Of governor who
to be ex-oficio superintendent of Indian affairs
tary three judges Of the supreme court marshal and
district attorney Subsequent acts provided for the sp
pointment of the officers necessary to extend our land
and our Indian system the Territory. Brigham
Young was appointed the first governor the 10th Sep
tember 1885, and has held the Office since. Whilst
Governor Young has been both governor and superin
tendent of Indian affairs throughout this period he has
been at the same time the head Of the church called the
Latter Day Saints and processes to govern it, members
and dispose of their property by direct inspiration and
authority from the Almighty. His power has been,
therefore, absolute both Church and State.
The people of Utah. almost exclusively belong to this
church. and believing with anatical spirit that he
governor of the Territory by divine appointment they
obey his commands these direct revelations from
Heaven IT, therefore, he chooses that his government
shall into collision with the of the Uni
ted States the members of the Mormon church will yield
implicit obedience to his will Unfortunately, existing
facts leave but little doubt that such is his determination
Without entering upon minute history OF occurrences
1t is sufficient to say that all the officers of the United
States judicial and executive with the single exception
of two Indian agents. have found 1t necessary for their
personal safety to withdraw from the Territory and
there longer remains government In Utah but the
despotism of Brigham Young This being the condition
of affairs in the Territory could not mistake the path
of duty Az Chief Executive Magistrate was bound to
restore the supremacy of the constitution and laws within
its limits In order to effect this purpose appointed
governor and other federal officers for Utah. and sent
with them military force for their protection, and to aid
posse comaa in of need in the execution OF the
laws t@ 4 ~ ta7Ea. n fts as III sEnssi
With the religious opinions Of the Mormons as long
they remained mere opinions, however deporable IN
themselves and revolving to the moral and religious
msns of all Christendom had right to interfere
Actions alone when in violation Of the constitution and
laws of the United States become the legitimate subjects
for the jurisdiction of the civil magistrate My insruc
tons to Gov. Cumming have therefore been framed in
strict accordance with these principles AT their date
hope nduged that necessity might exist for en-
ploying the military in restoring and maintaining the
authority of the law; but this hope has vanished
Gov Young has, by proclamation, declared his dete'
nation to maintain his power by force and has already
committed acts of hostility against the United States
Unless he should retrace his steps the Territory of Utah
will be in state of open rebellion He has committed
these acts of hostility notwithstanding Major Van Vet
officer of the army, sent to Utah by the commanding
general to purchase provisions for the troops had given
him the strongest of the peaceful intentions
the government and that the troops would only BIO en-
ployed as posse when called by the civil au
thority to aid i'm the execution of the laws.
There is reason to believe that Gov. Young has long
contemplated this result He knows that the continuance
of his despotc power depends upon the exclusion OF all
settlers from the Territory except those who will a.
knowledge his divine mission and implicitly obey DDS
will and that enlightened public opinion there would
PROSTATE institutions at with the laws both
God and man He has therefore for several years. in Of
der to maintain his independence, been industriously
employed in collecting and fabricating arms and mum
tions Of war; and In discplnng the Mormons for mill
tary service AS superintendent of Indian affairs he has
had an opportunity of ampering with the Indian tribes
and exciting their hostile feelings against the United
States This, according to information, he has &C
complshed in regard to of these tribes, while Others
have remained true to their allegiance, and have commit
nicated his intrgues to Indian agents He has laid