The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-12-16

; ming condition olthe Territory OF Kansas 1
! the time OF my Inauguration. The opposing
L parties then stood in hostile array asait,sl
/ each other, and any accideut might nave n .
lighted The flames ofcivil wan---Besides. a,
this cfiteas snoment, Kansas was Ieft without
governor By The resignation of Govesaoi
Geafy. s
/ Al tbetime oftfe election for dslepalss
an extensive oteani2ation existed ir the Ter.
4 rliory, whose ayowed object IL was, if need
4 be, to put down The lawful gosernment bv
force, and 10 establish government, OF their
own undershe socaled Topeka Constitution.
The persons attached 10 this Revolutionary
organization abs'ained from taking any part
! in the election. 80 &
0nihe 10Th OF February preyious. The Tar.
riiorial legislature had passed law proyieIino
Tor The election Of delegates oni The third Non.
day oi June 10 convention to meet on The
Isl Monday oi September, for the purpose Of
framing Constitution preparatory 10 admia.
sim ipio the Union. This law was IN the
main lair and jnst ]; and il is 10 be regretted
that all the qualified electors had moi re.yis.
Tered themselves aud voted under its proyi.
sions.
The act OF the territorial Legislature sbad
| omitted provide for submittinp 10 the peo-
pie the constitution which might be ffamed
by the convention aud in the excited stato
OF public feeling Throughout Kansas an app.e-
hension extensively prevailed that a design
existed 10 force upon them constitution In
relation to slavery against their will Ia ttiis
emergency !, became my duty, as it'was INV
nnquesilonably rishl, having in view the nai.
on ot all good citizens in support OF the terri
lorial aws,.to express an opinion on The tr1s
construction OF the provisions concerning
/ al tb
eress Of The both May, 1854 Congress- de.
clarel ii TO be "ihe true intent and meaning
of thls act not 10 legislaie slave into any Ter.
rilory or State, nor 10 exclnde il iherefron1.
but TO leave the people thereof perfectly free
to torm and regulate their domestic tnstitu.
lions in their .own way.n Under il Kansas.
t'when admitted as Siaie,n was to ssbe re-.
ceived into the Union, with or wihou, slave.
ryf as their Constitution may prescribe al the
time ot.their admission.n
Did Congress mean ty this language thai
the delegates elected 10 frame a Constitution
should have authority finally 10 decide the
question OF slavery, or did they intend by Ieay.
ing il to The people that the people OF Kan.
sas themselves should decide this qnestion
by direct vote! On this subject confess
had never ente riained q serious doubt, and.
therefore in my instructions TO Governor
Walker otlIhe 2sih March last, merely said
that when ga constitution shall be submits
ted 10 the peop'e OF The Territory, they must
| be protected In the exercise oflheir. rioht of
voting for or against that instrument, and the
fair expression of the popular will musl moi
be interrupted by fraud or vioIencen
In expressing this opinion il was far from
my intention 10 interfere with the decision of
The people OF Kansas, either for or against
slavery. From this have always carefully
| absianed luiiusied with The duty of taking
'eare tina, the laws be faithfully executed,u
! my ony desire was tina; the people of Kansas
should furnish 10 Congress the evidence re-
quired by the organic act whether for or
agains, slavery and in this manner smooth
! their passage inlo the Ulion. In emerging
from Ihe condition OF territorial dependence
iRo that of sovereign State, il was their du-
~, in my opinion, 20 make known their will
by The votes OF The majority, on the direct
question whether This important domestic in
sllInlion should or shonld not continue 10 ex.
ist. Indeed, This was The only possible mode
in which their will could be automatically as
certained.
The election OF delegates TO convention
must necessarily take place in separate dis
lricis, From his cause il may readily hap
pen, as has otter been the case, that major
ity of the people ofa State or Territory are
one side of a question, whilst majority Of
the representatives, from the several districts
into which !, is divided may be upon the
other side. This arises from The fact ,ha, in
some districts delegates may be elected by
small malofiies, whilst in others those Of
different sentiments may receive maiorijes'
sufficiently great not TO overcome the voies
given for the former, but 10 leave large ma
jority of The whole people in direct opposition
to majority Of the delegates. Besides, our
history proves that influences may be brought
10 bear on the representative sufficiently pow
erful 10 induce him to disregard the will OF
his constituents. The truth il, that no other
authentic and satisfactory mode exisis of as
cenaining the will ola majority ofihe people
OF any Stale or Territory on an important aud
exciting question like lnat OF slavery in KAN
sas, except by leaving Il to diiect vote.
How wise, then, was il for Congress 10 pass
ever all subordinate aud Intermediate agen-s
cies, and dptoceed directly 10 the source OF all
legitimate power under our institutions
How vain would apy olher principle;pfoye
in practice This may be Illustrated by tbs
case OF Kansas Should she be admitted in
to the Union, with Constitution either mafn-3
tainug or abolishing slavery, agains, the
sentiment OF the people, this could have no
olher effect Than 10 continue Gnu 10 exaepee
rate the existing agitation during tbe brief
period required 10 make the Constitution con-
form TO The irresistible viii of The majority.
The friends aud supporters Of the Nebtas-
la and Kansas act when struggling on a re-
cent occasion 10 sustain IFS vice provisions
before the great tribunal OF the Americana
people, neverdihered about IFS true meaning
on his subject. Everywhere throughout the
Union they publicly pledged their faith and
their honor, that,hey would cheerfhlly SUBJ
nit lhe question OF slavery to the decision of
The boaa ide people Of Kansas, without any
restriction or qualification whaievet. All
were cordially uuited upon the great doc
ttne of popular sovereignty, which Is tho viz
ial principle of our free Institutions. Had a.
then been 1asinuaied from any quarter that
il wonid be sufficient compliance win lbe
acquisitions Of the organic law for the menl-
befs ola convention, thereafter 10 be eiec-
ted 10 withhold The question. Of slavery tfom
the people, aud 10 substitute their nwn wiia
foi that Of legally asceriainesl majority OF at
their constituents, this wonid have been IN
siandyfsiecled. Everywhere they remained
tue 10 ihe resolutions adopted on ceIsbsa-
led occasion recognising ilhe right oi the
people ofall Terfho odes--iacluding Kansas
and Notwithstanding through legally and
fairly expressed VIII Of a majority OF actual