Mariposa Democrat., 1857-10-15
President Buchnnan's Reply to the Connecti-
cut Memorial

The following is the letter written by Presi-
dent Buchanan, in reply to that of Professor
Silliman and forty-two others, citizens of Con-
necticut We hope to be forgiven the perpe-
tration, but we cannot help thinking that the
entire forty-two might, with proprety, adopt
the Professors cognomcn, as they must hence
forward feel silly indeed
! WASHINGTON Aug 18th, 1857.
Gentlemen On my recent return to this city after
fortnights absence, your memorial, without date,
was placed in my hands, through the agency of Mr..
IIoratio King of the Post Office Department to whom
IL had been ntrusted. From the distinguished source
from whence it proceeds well as lis peculiar char
acter have deemed it proper totepart from my gen
eral rule in such cases, and to give it an answer
"You first assert the fundamental principles Of
the Consultation of the United States and of our polt
ca institutions is, that the people shall make their
own laws and elect their own rulers" You then ex-
press your grief that should have violated this prn-
cipe, and through Governor Walker have employed
an army, one purpose Of which is 10 force the peo
pie of Kansas to obey laws not their own nor of the
United States, but which, II is notorious and establish
ed upon evidence, they never made, and rulers they
never elected" and corollary from the foregoing
you represent that am openly held up aud proclaim
ed to the great derogaton of the national character
violating in its most essential particular the solemn
oath which the President has taken to support the
Constitution of this Union.' These heavy charges
proceeding from gentlemen Of your high character,
and if well founded ought to consign my to in
fanny. But in proportion to their gravity, common
justice to say nothing of Christian charity required
that before making them, you should have clearly
certained that they were well-founded
If not, they will rebound with whitening condemna
tion upon their authors. Have you performed this
preliminary duty towards the who, however un-
worthy, is the Chief Magistrate Of your country II
So either you are laboring under strange delu
siDn Should this prove TO be your case 1t will pre-
sent memorable example Of the truth that political
prejudice is blind to the existence Of the planest
and most papabe historical facts. To these facts let
us refer. When entered upon the duties Of the Pres
identia Office the 4th of March last what the
condition Of Kansas?
This Territory had been organized under the act Of
Congress of the 3Oth of May, 1854, and the govern
ment in all its branches in full operation. A Gov
ernor Secretary of the Territory Chief Justice two
Associate Justices, Marshal and District Attorney
hhb Deeh oIpviuttu " NY picueNteo'it W WIN
the advice and consent of the Senate and were all en-
gagged in discharging their respective duties. A code
of laws had been enacted by the Territorial Legsa-
ture, and the judiciary employed in expoundng
aud carrying these laws into effect.
1t is quite true that controversy had previously
arisen respecting the validity Of the election Of the
members Of the Territorial Legislature, and of the
laws passed by them, but at the time entered upon
my official duties, Congress had recognised this Legis
ature in different forms and by different enactments.
The delegate elected to the House of Representatives
under Territorial law had just completed his term Of
service on the day previous to my Inauguration. In
fact, found the government Of Kansas well estab
shed as that Of any other Territory. Under these
circumstances, what my dutys Was it not 10
tain this government To protect il from the violence
Of lawless men, who determined either to rule
ruinl To prevent it from being overturned by force
In the language Of the Constitution take care that
the laws be faithfully executed 1t for this pur
pose and for this alone that ordered military force
to Kansas, to act posse comifatus in aiding the
civil magistrates TO carry the laws into execution. The
condition Of the Territory at the time, which | need
not portray rendered this precauton absolutely neces
sary In this state Of affairs would ] not have been
Justly condemned had | left the Marshal. and other
officers Of like character, impoteut to execute the
process and judgments Of the Courts Of Justice estab
shed by Congress- or by the Territorial Legislature
under It's express authority and thus have suffered the
government itself to become an object Of contempt in
the eyes Of the peope And yet This is what you des
gnate as forcing the people Of Kansas to obey the
laws, not their Of the United States and for
doing which you have denounced me as having viola
ted my solemn oath.
ask what else could have done, or ought to have
donel Would you have desired that should abandon
the Territorial Government, sanctioned as il had been
by Congress, to illegal violence and thus the
scenes Of civil war and bloodshed which every patriot
in the country had deploredl This would indeed have
been to violate my oath Of Office, and to fix damning
blot on the character Of my administration.
Imos cheerfuly admit that the necessity for sending
military force 10 Kansas 10 aid in the execution of
the civil law reflects credit upon the character Of
our country. But let the blame fall upon the heads Of
the guilty Whence did this necessity arise? portion
of the people of Kansas unwilling to trust to the bal
otbox the certain American remedy for redress Of
all grievances, undertook TO create an independent
government for themselves.
Had this attempt proved successful would Of course
have subvered the existing government prescribed and
recognized by Congress, and substituted revolution
ary government in its stead This was a usurpaton Of
the character it would be for portion Of the
people of Connecticut 10 undertake to establish a sep
arate government within its chartered limits for the
purpose of redressing any grievance, real imagna
ry of which they might have complained against the
legitimate State government Such principle, if
carried into execution would destroy all lawful
thority and produce universal anarchy.
Iought to specify more particularly condition Of
affairs which have embraced only in general terms,
requiring the presence of military force in Kansas
The Congress of the United States has most wisely
declared it to be the true intent and meaning of this
act Ohe act organizing the Territory not to egslae
slavery into any Territory State, to exclude il
hereirom but to leave the people thereof perfectly
free TO form and regulate their domestic institutions in
their way, subject only to the Constitution of the
United States" As natural consequence, Congress
has also prescribed by the same act, that when the
Territory of Kansas shall be admitted a State IL
!" shall be received into the Union with or without
slavery as their Constitution may prescribe at the
time of their admission"
Slavery existed at that period, and still exists in
Kansas under the Constitution nf the limited States