The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-12-26
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Secretary, and, during the Governors alb
sence, Acting Governor of this Territory,
it is proper that / should make you a
brief address, sufficient to indicate what
my future course of action viii be. The
troubles and difficulties with which the
people of the Territory have been in
yolve! makes this the more necessary. for
il would be unreasonable to expect any
one occupying this position toescape mis-
representation and abuse.
The passions of many have been so
thoroughly aroused, and long standing
difficulties have so embittered the feelings
of one portion of the community against
another, that it has been represented as
almost impossible TO find any one willing
to listen to the voice of reason. This /
am not prepared to believe. That there
are some violent men who have assumed
to speak by authority for the people at
large, and counsel such measures as must
necessarily, if followed, lead to blood
shed, anarchy and confusion, / have no
doubt; but it will require more than bare
assertion to satisfy me that there is not
yet enough of the conservative element
remaining to uphold and enforce the laws,
by which alone the lives and property of
our citizens can be protected, and the hon.
or of the country preserved.
1t is the earnest desire of the President
| that fair opportunity should be afforded
all the people of the Territory at the ap-
preaching elections to give full and free
expression of their opinions, and as an evil
dence of this give the following quota
tons from his instructions to me, through
the Secretary of State, dated December
18th, 1857:
The Convention which met at Le-
compton on the 1st of September, had
framed a Constitution, and had authorized
its President to submit the question TO the
people on the 21st of December, whether
this Constitution should be adopted with
or without slavery. The importance of
this issue could not well be overestimated.
1t involves the complete and authoritative
settlement of the only subject of differ
ence which had seriously agitated Kansas
or interfered with its prosperity. The
qualified electors, therefore, to whom the
settlement was referred, not only had an
unquestionable right to attend at the polls
and give their votes, on the day appointed,
but they were required to do so by the
highest considerations of public duty. In
the exercise of this right, moreover, they
were entitled to adequate protection by
the Territorial Government, and the Act
ing Governor was bound to employ all
the legal means at his command to give
security and fairness to the election"
"The conflicting opinions which pre-
vail in the Territory" he says, had their
appropriate issue at the ballot-box, and to
that peaceful arbitrament they might
safely be referred. The great objects to
be accomplished, in the opinion of the
President, were to preserve the peace of
the Territory and secure the freedom of
the election x
"From these views you will readily
understand what the President regards as
the chief duty which devo.ves upon you
as Mr.. Stanton's successor. This duty is
to preserve the peace in Kansas. Every
person entitled to vote under the Consti-
tuition ought to have safe access to the
polls, and to be free from any restraint
whatever in the exercise of the elective
| franchise. If the civil power is found in
sufficient for this purpose, the troops of
the United States should be employed in
aid of it; and it may be wise precaution
to have them stationed in advance within
reach of those places where, in your judg-
ment, their services are likely to be re-
quired." "They 1.-THE
1 !
instructions heretofore given) refer prom
inently to the preservation of peace at
certain important elections; but need
hardly inform you that your duty is not
intended to be confined to these special
occasions. It extends, of course, to the
protection of all citizens in the exercise
of their just rights, and applies as well to
one legal election as TO another. The
Territorial Legislature, doubtless, conyen-
ed on the 18th instant, and while it re-
mains in session, its members are entitled
to be secure and free in their delibera-
tons. Its rightful action must also be
respected. Should it authorize an cleo
ton by the people, for any purpose, this
election should be held without Interrupt
ton, no less than those authorized by the
Convention. While the peace of the Ter
ritory is preserved and the freedom of
elections is secure, there need be no fear
of disastrous consequences. The public
Journals contain reports of an intended
movement by portion of the residents
of Kansas to organize a revolutionary
Government. 1t is hardly probable that
this report can be well founded. But
should the attempt be made and lead to
practical collision with the Territorial au-
thorities, the authority of the Government
must necessarily be maintained, and from
whatever quarter it is attempted TO inter-
fere, by violence, with the elections au-
thorized by the Constitutional Convention,
or which may be authorized by the Leg
islature, the attempt must be resisted and
| the security of the election maintained.
The peaceable progress of these elections
can obviously occasion no injury to any
citizen, or any party, because their results
can have only their due weight under the
Constitution and laws"
| at is vitality important
that the people of Kansas, and no other than
the people of Kensas, should have the full
/ determination of the question now before
| them for decision \ 1t is
proper TO add that no action of the Ter
r;tOrial Legislature can interfere with the
elections of the 21st of December and the
lst Monday of January, in the mode and
manner prescribed by the Constitutional
Convention"
By these instructions it viii be seen
that my duty is plainly marked out, and
as my own views On these subjects en-
tirely accord with those of the President,
I shall find DO difficulty in obeying them;
and I trust that all good citizens will as
sist me in preserving the peace of the
Territory and at the same time settle the
questions which now perplex them. It
is far more easy to do this through the
ballet-box than by the sword, and in that
way il can also be done much more
speedily. It is much to be regretted that
one portion of the people have resolved
not to vote on the Constitution as submit
ted to-day for had there been a general