The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-09-11
MILITARY RULE IN KANSAS.
President Buchanan's Reply to Prof
Silliman and Others.
TIE LETTER TO Tx President.


sor silliman and iorty-two others, Of Con-
necticut, addressed to his EIcellency James
Buchanan, the President Of the United
States
"The undersigned, citizens Of the United
States and electors of the State OF Connecti-
cut, respectfully oG,r TO your Excellency
this their memorial. The fundamental prin-
ciple OF the constitution Of the United States
and of our political institutions is, that the
people shall make their own laws and elect
their own rulers. We see, with grief, If not
with astonishment, that Governor Walker,
Of Kansas. openly represents and proclaims
that the President OF the United States Is
employing through him (walker) an army,
one purpose Of which is To force the people
o. Kansas 90 obey laws not their own nor oil
the United States, but laws which II Is noto-
rious and established upon evidence they
never made, and rulers they never elected.
We represent, therefore, that BY the iorego-
ing your EIcellency is openly held up and
proclaimed, to tho great derogstion Of our
national character, as violating In its most
essential particular the solemn oath which
the President has taken TO support the con-
stitution OF this Union. We call attention,
further, TO the fact that your Excellency 10
in like manner held up TO this nation, to all
mankind, and to all posterity, in the atti.
tude Of levying war against q portion OF
the United States by employing arms in
Kansas To uphold body of men and q code
of enactments purporting to be Legislative,
but which never had tho election, nor sane
ton, nor consent Of the people of the terri
tory. We earnestly represent 10 your Ex-
cellency that we also have taken the oath TO
obey the constitution, and your Excellency
may rest assured that we shall not reira,,,.,
from the PRAYER that Almighty God whi
make your administration an example oil
Justice and benefcence, and with His terri
bic majesty protect our people and our con-
situation"
TIE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
WASHINGTON CRY, Aug. Is.
Gentlemen: On my recent return to this
city. after fortnight's absence, your me-
mortal without date was placed in my hands,
through the agency OF Mr.. Hontio King,
Of the Post Office Department, TO whom IL
had been entrusted From the distinguished
source whence il proceeds, rs well rs its Pc
culiar character, have deemed il proper To
depart frOm my general rule IN such cases,
and to give it IN answer.
You first assert that I" the fundamental
principle of the constitution of the United
States and Of our political institution is, that
the people shall make their own laws and
elect their own rulers" You then express
your grief and establishment that l should
have violated this principle, and through
Gov. Walker have employed an army, " one
purpose Of which is TO force the people Of
Kansas TO obey laws not their own, nor Of
the United States, but laws which il is motto.
r;Ous, and established upon evidence they
never made, and rulers they never elected. !"
And rs corrollary from the foregoing, you
represent that am "openly held up and
proclaimed, 10 the great dero:atiou OF our
national character, as violating in its most
essential particular the solemn oath which
the President has taken to support the con-
sti,ution Of this Union "
These are heavy charges, proceeding from
gentlemen OF your high character, and If
well founded, ought to consign my name to
iniamy. But in pro- ortion to their gravity,
common Justice, 10 say nothing OF Christian
charity, required that before making them
you should have clearly ascertained that they
were we'll founded. IL not, they will re-
bound, with whitening condemnation, upon
their authors. Have you performed this pre-
liminary duty towards the man who, how
ever unworthy. Is the chief magistrate OF
your country? IL 50, either YOU or are
laboring under strange delusion. Should
this prove 10 be your case, IL will present a
memorable example Of the truth that politi-
cal prejudice is blind even 10 the existence Of
the plainest and most palpable historical
facts. To these facts let US refer.
When I entered upon the duties Of the
Presidential office, on the 18th Of March last.
what was the condition of Kansas? This |
territory had been organized under the act |
of COngrcSs OF 30th May, 1854, and the goys |
eminent in all its branches was in full ope- |
ration. A governor, secretary OF the terri |
tory. chief Justice, two associate justices, n |
marshal and district attorney had teen ap-
pointed by my predecessor, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, and were |
all engaged in the discharge Of their respec-
tive duties. A code of laws had been enact
ell by the territorial legislature, and the ju-
dietary were employed in expounding aud
carrying these laws into effect.
IL is quite true thata controversy had pre-
viOusly arisen respecting the validity of the
election of members of the Territorial Legis-
laturc and Of the laws pissed by them but
at the time entered upon my official duties
Congress had recognized this Legislature in
different forms and By different enactments
The delegate elected To the House of Repre-
sen,atiycs, under n Territorial law, had Just
his term Of service on the day pre-
vious 10 my Inauguration. Ia fact, II 0und
fhc government Of Kansas as ,rsH established
as that Of any Other Territory. Under these
what was my duty? Was it
not to sustain the government ?-to protect
il from the violence of awless men who were
determined either To rule or ruin TO pre-
vent II from being overturned by iorce?-
In the language of the constitution, to
u take care that the laws be faithfully exc
cuted?"
Ii was for this purpose, and this alone,
hat ordered military force TO Kansas, 10
vet "a posse cOmiiQiuS in aiding the civil =
magistrate To carry the laws into execution.
The condition of the territory at tho time,
which need not portray, rendered this pre-. '
mutton absolutely necessary. In this stas .
e affairs. would l not have been Justly con-
emncd had left the Marshal and other off, b
ers of like character impotent to execute T.
he process and judgments Of courts Of jus. =
ice established by Congress or by the Terri Il
orial Legislature, under its express author Z
,y, and thus have suffered the government :.
isclf to become an object Of contempt in the 1
yes OF the people ? And yet this is what 81
on designate as" forcing the people Of Kan ~
Is 10 obey laws not their own nor the Uni v
ID States" and for doing which you have o
enounccd me rs having violated my solemn u
ain. ask. wha, elsc could have done, q
r ought to have done? Would you have OF
esired that should abandon the Territorial dl
sanctioned as it had been / y al
ongress. to illegal violence, and thus renew
10 scenes Of civil war and bloodshed, wb;,.,ni
iery patriot in the country had dc.o,ored ? I,
his wnnh inleed have leon