Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-07-28
PROCLAMATION
LEAvENwoRTH, July Is, 1857. Dooy,1o of T.,,.n

| charter for their local government. A CODY of that charter has been placed in my hands: upon comparing which with that granted by the Territorial Legislature, last winter, l find that they differ intentional, in many essential particulars. The new charter, then, is set up, not only without any authority of law, but in direct and open defiance of all act of the Ter fitorlal Legislature on the same subject
 On thls polht your committee, " nose views nave been adopted by you, make the following statement:
 Under ordinary circumstances the more re- gular method of proceeding would De to obtain a charter from the Territorial authorities. As the Territorial government, however, in To sense represents the people of Kansas was not elected by them, and can have no right to leyis late Tor them, we cannot accept a charter at it's hands. And, as the State government has not. as yet deemed 1t advisable to proceed to the organ zation of local and municipal govern ments, We cannot obtain charter from it, There Is therefore left Us only the ateruativ 6 of charter sprnglns directly from the people, or continuance m our present unorsauizeu condition.
 nder these circumstances you have seen l nt to Instruct Us to present a charter having discussed Its provisions ill preliminary assem- | d vote of the people for approval or rejection"
 It will be perceived that the authority of the Territorial government is here distinctly de nled, and while that of the so-caled State so. vernment Is acknowledged, 1t is conceded that no charter has been granted by them. Indeed It Is fact that although this so-called State 1 government has, ill itself no legal existence or authority, yet you asked and failed to receive a charter from tlem
 Under these circumstances, you have pro- ceeded to establish government for the city of Lawrence in derect defiance of the Territo- nal government, and denying its existence or authority. You have granted to this city go- vernment the authority to elect a Mayor and board ot aldermen, city assessor, treasurer, ius- uces of the peace, city marshal, etc. You nave granted to the mayor and aldermen most extensive powers, including the right to levy and collect taxes upon real and personal ro- perty within the limits of the city, whether belonging to residents or non- residents, and all the other powers usually incident to a city go- vernmeht.
 lou have imposed upon all these officers the duty ot taking an oath to support this so-called State constitution thus distinctly supersodiug, so lar as Ill your power, the Territorial govern ment created by the Congress of the Cnited oratcs. You have caused these proceedings to be printed Ill handbill form, and have dIsrlbut. ed them, as l am informed, throughout the territory, with the view to incite the other cities, towns and counties of Kansas to estab- ilsh lnsurrectionarv governments, thereby pl4c- ing the people of this Territory, so far as in your power, in open conflict with the govern ment ot he United States
 The more considerable portion of your party har'ng induced your Topeka Legislature to en- act the laws urged by you, creating municipal government, you have even in defiance of their authority, which you profess to acknowledge, proceeded to create such a government for Law tehce, and are now urging other localities to pursue similar course. Your evident pur- pose ls thus to involve the whole Territory in lnsurrecCon, amt to renew the scenes of blood shed and civil war. Upon you, then, must rest all the 5allt and responsibility of this contcm- plated revolution. You will be justly charge. able in law and in conscience with all the blood that may be shed A thls contest, and upon you must al the punishment
 You have elected your officers under this charter, and instructed them to eatcr upon lie Immediate di,cAar5o of their duties, iucudin. the adoption of ordinances and the execution thereof, under an authority having iu itself no legal existence, and established .u direct dci- ance of the Government of the United States. From all these facts, t IS obvious if you are permitted to proceed and especially if vour ex- ample should be followed as urged by vou it 1 other places, that for aIl pracuca purposes in many Important particulars the territorial .o- venmont will. De ovelthrown. The charters. granted by that government for similar purro- sca will be d.sresardcd, and the justices of tho peace and other officers acting under their au- thurity, will he brought necessarily into con- hct and collision with the so-called officer, claiming 10 act under different authority.
 he terrItonty will thus be involved in mex tricable confusion and litigation; the value of your property be greatly Appreciated; Your titles, transfers, trdnsactous ali contracts Will Dc sub- JeeteG to endless anI costly disputes and all VIII suffer from this instruction, except the lawyers who have stimulated tnJs movement. \ government founded on instruction and usurpaton will De substituted for that cstabh-h- ed Uy the authority Of Congress, and cjyi, war WILL be refeMtd throughout our limits If tour authority to act iu this manner for the eIty of Lawrence s permitted, a similar au- | thouty must be acknowledged iu every other town, city or county, result in inevitable and most disastrous coldlgt; and if successful. the territorial government be overthrown in detail, AS IS your present purpose.
 You were distinctly informed in my nauLu- rai address of May last, that the validity of the territorial laws was acknowledged by the government of the United States and that they must and would be carried into execution uu- tier my oath of office, and the iuStruc'ions of the President ot the United States. The same Inform 'lon was repeated ip various addresses made py me throughout the territory. At the same tune, every assurance Was given vou that the rights of the people of this territory. un- der the act to establish their own Stale govern ment and frame their own forms prescribed by the government of your country, social ust;tu- tons, would be acknowledged and protected
 Ii laws have been enacted bv the territorial legislature, which are disapproved of bv ma jorty the people of the territory, the mode in which they could elect new territorial esis, lature and repeal those laws was also designat- ed. Ii there arc any grievances of which you have any just right to complain, the lawful, peaceful manner in which yod could remove them, in subordinatioH to the government of your country, was also pointed out
 You have, however, chosen to disregard the laws of Congress- and of the territorial govern ment created by it, and whilst professiug to acknowledge a State government rejected by Congress- and which can therefore not exist only by a successful rebellion, and exacting from all yonr officers tho penous and sacrile- sjous oath to support the so-cailed State con- stitution; vet you have, even in defiance of the so called State Legislature which refused to grant you a charter, preceded to create a local government of your own, basel only upon in surrec,ion and revolution. The very oath which you require from all your officers to sup port your so-calIed Topeka State Constitutiou
 is violated in the very act of putting u opera | ton charter rejected even by them.
 A rebellion 50 iniquitous and necessarily in | voiviuG such awful consequences has never be- fore disTaced any age or country
 Permit me to call your attention, as still claiming to be citizens of the United States, to the results of your revolutionary proceedings. You are inauguating rebellion and revolution; you are sre5ardin- the laws of Congress and l oi the territorial government, and delvin5 their | authority; you are conspiring to overthrow the