Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-12-17
THE KANSAS QUESTION.

We give the following extract from the late
Message of President Buchanan that our read
ers may understand what are the views of the
President in relation to this question, which is
creating so much excitement In Congress and
throughout the country:
1t is unnecessary to state in detail the alarm
ing condition of the Territory of Kansas at the
time of my Inauguration. The opposing parties
then stood in hostile array against each other,
and any accident might have re-lighted the
flames of civil war Besides, at this critical mo-
ment, Kansas was left without governor by
the resignation of Gov. Geary.
On the 10Th of February previous, the terri
torial legislature had passed a law providing for
the election of delegates on the third Monday of
June to a convention to meet on the first Mon
day of September, for the purpose of framing
constitution preparatory to admission into the
Union. This law was in the main fair and just;
and it is to be regretted that all the qualified
electors had not registered themselves and voted
under its provisions.
At the time of the election for delegates an
extensive organization existed in the Territory,
whose avewed object it was, if need be, to put
down the lawful government by force, and to
establish a government of their own under the
so-called Topeka constitution. The persons at
tached to this revolutionary organization abstain
cd from taking any part in the election.
The act Of the territorial legislature had omit
ted to provide for submitting to the people the
constitution which might be framed by the con-
vention; and in the excited state Of public feel
ing throughout Kansas an apprehension extern
sively prevailed that a design existed to force
upon them constitution in relation to slavery
against their will. In this emergency it became
I,,4,, - r,ohI c rIrht
having in view the union of all good citizens In
support of the territorial laws, to express an
opinion of the true construction of the provisions
concerning slavery contained in the organic act
of Congress of the Both of May, 1854.
Congress declared it to be "the true intent and
meaning of this act not to legislate slavery into
any Territory or State nor to exclude it there
from, but to leave the people thereof perfectly
free to form and regulate their domestic insttu-
lions in their own way" Under it Kansas,
s'when admitted as State" was to "be received
into the Union, with or without slavery, as their
constitution may prescribe at the time OF thell
admission"
Did Congress mean by this language that the
delegates elected to frame a constitution should
have authority finally to decide the question q
slavery, or did they intend by leaving it to the
people that the people of Kansas themselves
should decide this question by direct vote p
On this subject confess had never entertain
ed serious doubt, and, therefore, in my instruc
tons to Governor Walker of the 2Sth Marcel
last, merely said that when "a constitution
shall be submitted to the people Of the Territory
they must be protected in the exercise of thei
right of voting for Or against that instrument
and the fair expression Of the popular will mus
not be interrupted by fraud or violence"
In expressing this opinion it was far from m.
intention to interfere with the decision of tn
people Of Kansas either for OF against slavery
From this have always carefully abstained.--
Entrusted with the duty of taking "care that tn