Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-09-19

admitted into the Union with or without
slavery, as their constitution may prescribe
at the time of their admission,
Slavery existed at that reriod, and still
exists in Kansas, under the Constitution of
the United States. This point has at last
been finally decided, by the highest tribu-
nal known to our laws. How it could ever
have been seriously doubted is mystery.
If a confedcra ation of sovereign States &C.
quirc a new territory at the expense of
their common blood and treasure, surely
one set of the partners can have no right
to exclude the other from its enjoyment by
prohibiting them from taking into it what
soeyer is recognized to be property by the
common constitution. But when the people,
the bona jide residents of such territory
proceed to frame State Constitution, then
it is their right 10 decide the important
question for themselves, whether they will
Continue to modify or abolish slavery. To
them and to them alone does this question
belong, free from all foreign interference.
In the opinion of the Territorial Legislature
of Kansas, the time had arrived for entering
the Union, and they accordingly passed a
law to elect delegates for the purpose of
framing State Constitution. This law
was fair and just in its provisions. 1t
conferred the right of suffrage on every
bona fde inhabitant of the Territory, and
for the purpose of preventing fraud and
the intrusion of citizens Of near or distant
States, most properly confined this right to
those who had resided therein three months
previous to the election. Here was a fair
opportunity presented for all qualified
resident citizens of the territory, to what
ever organization they might have previously
belonged, to participate in the election, and
to express their opinions at the ballot box
on the question of slavery. Bnt numbers
of lawless men still continued to resist the
regular territorial government, They re-
; fused to be either registered or to vote, and
members of the Convention were elected
legally and properly without their interven.
ton.
The Convention will soon assemble to
perform the solemn duty of framing q
Constitution for themselves and their pos
terity, and in the state Of incipient rebel
. lion, which still exists in Kansas, it is my
, imperative duty to employ the troops of
O the United States. Should this become
necessary in defending the Convention
, against violence, while framing Constitu-
! ton, and in protecting the doaaJ Jide inhsbi-
e tants qualified TO vote under the provisions
i. of this instrument, in the free exercise Of
r the right of suffrage when it shall be submit.
c ted to them for their appreciation or rejection,
|. have entire confidence in Governor
s Walker, that the troops will not be employed
d except to resist acutal aggression, or in the
4 execution Of the laws; and this, not until
:. the powers of the Civil Magistrate shall
o prove unavailipg. Following the wise
. example of Mr.. Madison towards the
Hartford Convention, illegal and dangerous
combinations, such as that Of the Topek;
" Convention, will not be disturbed, unless
a they shall attempt to perform some ac
10 which will bring them into actu1l collision
:, with the Constitution and the laws. Ii
,f that event, they shall be resisted and pu
v down by the whole power of the Govern
:, ment. In performing this duty, l have th'
70 appreciation of my own concience, and as
Sc humbly trust, of my God.
n thank you for the assurance that yo
q will not refrain from prayer that the Al
g mighty God will make my Administra,io
: an example ofjustice and benefcence. Yo
u can greatly assist me in arriving at thi
- blessed consummation, by exerting you
~ influence in allaying the existing sections
:. excitement on the subject of slavery, whc
&c has been productive of much evil an
no good; and which, if it succeed in attail
- ing its object, would ruin the slave as We
- as the master This would be genuir
~ philanthrophy. Every day of my life,
10 feel how inadequate am to perform Il
"a duties Of my high station, without con,inl
=, ing in the support Of the Divine Providenc
!, Yet placing my trust in Him, and
Him alone, l entertain good hope tn
- He will enabc Inc to do equal justice to Q
- portions of the Union, and thus render n
y, an humble instrument in restoring pea
~. ~ and harmony among the people of Il
~ several States. I'D ..,. ..-...
~ Yours, very respectfully, ..
A0 JAMES BUCHANAN.