The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-24

sufficient sum Of two thousand dollars.
commend the whole subject TO the seri-
Gus attention Of Congress, believing that
our duty and Our interest, a. well ~ our
national character, require that We should
adopt such measures a. will be efectual in
restraining our citizens from committing
such outrages.
regret to inform you that the President
Of Paraguay has refused TO ratiiy the treaty
between the United States and that State.
"a amended by the Senate, the signature Of
which was mentioned in the message Of nv
predecessor to Congress, ct the opening OF
It's session in December, 1853. The reasons
assigned for this refusal will appear in the
correspondence herewith submitted.
1 IL being desirable TO ascertain the fitness
Of the river La Plata and its tributaries, for
navigation by steam, the United States
steamer Water Witch was sent thither for
that purpose in 1853. This enterprise was
successfully carried on until February, 1855,
when, while in the peaceful prosecution Of
her voyage up the Panama river, the
steamer was fired upon by Paraguayan fort
The fire was returned but az the Water
Witch was OF Of small force, and not de-
signed for offensive operations, she retired
from the conflict. The pretext upon which
the attack was made, was decree Of the
/ President OF Paraguay, Of October, 1854,
prohibiting foreign vessels OF war from nav.
Igating the rivers Of that State. As Para
quay, however, WAS the owner Of but one
bank Of the river Of that name, the othert,e.
! If.s,ax ~, ffnpp.aae..s "a
tine Confederation, the right of its govern
Inent TO expect that such deere" .;Guld be
obeyed cannot be acknowledged But the
Water Witch WAS not, properly speaking, u
vessel Of war. She was small steamer en-
gagged in a scientific enterprise, intended for
the advantage OF commercial States gene
rally. Under these circumstances, | am
constrained TO consider the attack upon her
a. uDjustifiablc. and as calling for satsiac-
ton from the Paraguayan government.
Citizens Of the United States, also, who
/ were established in business in Paraguay,
have had their property seized and taken
/ from them, and have otherwise been treated
by the authorities in an insulting and arbi.
trary manner, which requires redress.
A demand for these purposes will he made
in firm but conciliatory spirit. This the
more probably will be granted if the execu.
tive shall have the authority TO use other
means in the event Of refusal. This is ac.
cordingly recommended.
KANSAS
II ia unnecessary 10 state in detail the
alarming condition Of the Territory Of Kan
san at the time Of my inauguration. The
( opposing parties then stood in hostile array
against each other, and any accident might
have relighte,l the fires Of civil war. BE.
sides, at this critical moment Kansas was
left without a Governor 10y the resignation
of Governor Geary.
On the 10Th OF February previous, the
Territorial Legislature had passed a law
providing for the election OF delegates on the
third Monday Of june to convention to
meet on the first Monday Of September, for
the purpose OF framing u constitution pre-.
Paratory 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 un
/ der lis provisions.
( At the time Of the election for delegates
an extensive organization existed in the
/ Territory, whose avowed 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 con-
stltution. The persons attached to this rev
oIutionary organization abstained from To-
king any part in the election.
The act Of the territorial legislature had
omitted To provide for submitting to the
people the constitution which might b.
framed by the convention and in the ex.
cited state Of public feeling throughout Kan.
sax all apprehension extensively prevailed
that design existed TO force upon them
constitution in relation to slavery against
their will. In this emergency il became nv
duty, IA it was my unquestionabe right,
having III view the union Of all good citi
gems IN support Of the territorial laws, to ex.
press an opinion on the true construction of
the provisions concerning slavery, contained
in the organic act Of Congress OF the 3Oth Of
May, 1884. Congress declared il TO be "thc
true intent and meaning OF this act not to
legislatc slavery into any Territory or State
nor TO exclude il therefrum, but 10 leave the
people thereof perfectly fr,e to form aud
regulate their domestic institutions in their
own way Under IT Kansas, when admit
tel as a State" was to be received into the
Union. with or without slavery. as their
constitution may prescribe a, the time OF
their admission
/ Did Congress mean by this language tina,
the del gates elected 10 frame a constitution
should have authority finally to decide the
question Of slavery, or did hey intend by
leaving il to the people tina, the people OF
Kansas themselves should decide this ques-
ton by . direct vote, On this subject
confess ! had never entertained a serious
doubt, and, therefore, in my instructions TO
soy. Walker of the 18th Of March last.
merely said that when - constitution shall b.
submitted 10 ,hspcople OF the territory. ,hey
must be protected in the exercise Of their
right of voting for or agains, that in
strumen, and the fair expression Of the
popular will must not be in,errIp,ed by