Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-09-17

they were well founded. If not, they will
rebound with whitening condemnation upon
their authors. Have you performed this
preliminary duty towards the man who,
however unworthy, is the Chief Magistrate
Of your country? Ifso, either you or | are
laboring under strange delusiOn. Should
this prove TO be your case it will present a
memorable example of the truth that politi-
cal prejudice is blind even to the existence
of the plainest and most palpable historical
facts. To these facts let us refer.
When entered upon the duties of the
Presidential office on the 4th of March last,
what was the condition of Kansas? This
Territory had been organized under the
act of Congress of both May, 1854, and
government in all its branches was in full
operation. A Governor, Secretary Of Ter
rtory, Chief Justice, two Associate Justi.
ces, Marshal and District Attorney, had
been appointed by my predecessor, by and
with the advice and consent Of the Senate,
and were all engaged IN discharging their
respective duties. A code of laws had
been enacted by the Territorial Legislature.
and the Judiciary were employed in ex-
pounding and carrying these laws into ef-
feet. 1t is quite true that controversy
had previously arisen respecting the validi-
ty Of the election of members of the Terri
torial Legislature and of the laws passed
by them; but at the time entered upon my
official duties Congress had recognized this
Legislature IN different forms and by differ
ent enaclments. The delegate elected TO
the House Of Representatives, under ter
ritoral law had just completed his term of
service on the day previous to my inaugu-
ration. In fact found the Government Of
Kansas as well established as that of any
other Territory. Under these circumstan-
ces what was my duty? Was it not TO sus-
tain this Government, TO protect it from the
violence orlawless men who were deter.
mined either TO rule or ruin, to prevent it
from being overturned by force, in the Ian
guage of the Constitution, 10 take care that
the laws be faithfully executed? 1t was Tor
this purpose, and this alone, that ordered
a military force to Kansas 10 act as posse
conitatuS, aiding the civil magistrate tc
carry the laws into execution.
The condition OF the Territory at the
ii e, which need not portray, rendered
this precaution actually necessary. In thi,
state of affairs, would not have been Just.
ly condemned had left the Marshals and
other officers Of like character impo,ent 10
execute the process and judgements oil
courts Of Justice established by Congress OF
by the Territorial Legislature, under its ex.
press authority, and thus have suffered the
Government itself TO become an object o.
contempt in the eyes of the peoplep Ant
yet this is what you designate as forcing
the people of Kansas to obey laws not theil
own nor of the United States, and for doing
which you have denounced me as having
violated my solemn oath. | ask, what else
could | have done or ought 10 have donef
Would you have desired that should aban-
don the Territorial Government, sanctioned
as it had been by Congress, to illegal vio
lence, and thus renew the scenes of civi
war and bloodshed which every patriot il
the country had deplored? This would in
deed have been 10 violate my oath oi office
and 10 fix damning blot on the character
OF my Administration.
most cheerfully admit that the necessi
ty Of sending military force to Kansas t.
, aid in executing the law reflects no credi
upon the character of our country. But le
The blame fall on the heads Of the guilty
Whence did this necessity arise? A por
J ton OF the people of Kansas unwilling t
7 trust to the ballot box, the certain Ameri
can remedy for the redress of all grievances
undertook TO create an independent govern
ment for themselves. Had this attemp
proved successful, it would, Of course, hav
subverted the existing government, pre-
scribed and recognized by Congress, an
substituted revolutionary government i
its stead. This was usurpation OF th
!, same character as il would be fol. a porto
Of the people Of Connecticut TO undertake I
establish separate government within il
r chartered limits for the purpose Of redress
I ing any grievance, real or imaginary, ,
}, which they might complained against tn
: legitimate State government. Such prir
: eple, if carried into execution, would d.
d stroy all lawful authority and produce un
n versal anarchy.
n ought TO specify more particularly col
dition OF affairs, which have embraced OF
t ly in general terms, requiring the presen'
of military force in Kansas. The Coz
6 gress of the United States had most wise
!, declared it to be ''the true intent and meal
Q ing of this act [ihs act organizing the TIE
" yitnyvl mt n ls0iSlata slayerv into any Te