Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-12-18
THE PRESIDENTO ON KANSAS AND
s-. ED UTAH AFFAIRS.

THE PRESIDENTO ON KANSAS AND
eu. 10 UTAH AFFAIRS.
. We extract from the Presidents Mes
sage his remarks and recommendations in
regard to affairs in Kansas and Utah, as
follOWG:f.. r-.s - 49, ~aE a
KANSAS. .-.a p ....l
Il is unnecessary to state in detail! the
alarming condition OF Kansas at the time
of my inauguration. The opposing par
other. and any accident might have re>
lighted the flames of civil war. Besides.
NJ this critical moment, Kansas was left
without Governor by the resignation Of
Governor Geary. -. Il.
On the 10Th of February previous.
the territorial legislature passed law
providing for the election of delegates
ON the third Monday ofJune TO a conven-
Iion 10 meet on the first Monday Of Sep
tember for the purpose Of framing a con-
stiIution preparatory to admission into the
Union. The law was in she main fair
and just: and it is to be regretted that
ell the qualified electors had::not register
ed themselves and voted under its pru-
visions.
Al the time ofthe election for delegates.
an extensive organization existed in the
Territory, whose avowed object it was.
If need be. to put down the lawful gov
eminent by force, and to establish a gov>
eTnment Of their own under the name Of
the SO called Topeka constitution. The
persons attached TO this revolutionary or
ganizaIion abstained from taking any
part in the election. .....
The act of the territorial legislature had
omitted TO prOIi ide for the submitting to
the people the constitution which might
be framed by the convention and in the
excited state Of public feeling throughout
Kansas an apprehension extensively pre-
vailed that design existed to force upon
them q constitution in relation TO slavery
against their will. In this emergency it
became my duty. as it WAS my unques>
tionable right, having in view the union
Of all good citizens in support of the ter
ritori"l laws, to express an opinion on the
truo construction of the provisions con-
cerniDg slavery contained in the organic
act OF Congress Of the 3uth May. 1854.
Congress declared it to be " the true in
tent and meaning of this act not to legis-
la:e slavery into any Territory or State.
nor to exclude it therefrom, but to leave
the people thereof perfectly free to form
Q I'D regu q their ON .slic instit Itions in
their own way" Under it Kansas. when
admitted as a S,ate." was to "be re-
ceiTed into the Union, with, or without
scribe at the tims of their admission"
Did Congress mean by this language
that the delegates elected to frame a con-
stitution should have authority finally to
decide the question of slavery. or did they
intend by leaving it to the people that the
people OF Kansas themselves should decide
Ihis question by direct vote I? On this
subject l confess l never had entertained a
serious doubt. and therefore. in my in
structions to Gov. Walker. Of the 28th of
March last. merely said that when {" a
constitution be submitted to the people Of
the Territory. they must be protected in
voting for or against that instrument. and
theifairf expression OF! the popular will
must not be interrupted by fraud or VIC
lence.
In expressing this opinion it was far
from my intention to interfere with the
decision Of the people of Kansas, either
for or against slavery. From this have
always carefully abstained. 1ntrusted
with the duty of taking care that the
laws be faithfully executed" my only de-
sire was that the people Of Kansas should
furnish to Congress the evidence required
by the organic act. whether for or against
slavery and in this manner smooth their
passage into the Union. In emerging
from the condition Of territorial depen>
dence into that OF a sovereign State. it
was their duty, in my opinion, to make
known their will by the votes of the ma
Iority, on the direct question whether this
important domestic institution should or
should not continue to exist. Indeed, this
was the only possible way in which their
Aill could be ascertained.
The election Of delegates to a conyen-
tion must necessarily take place in sep-
Nrats districts. From this cause it may
readily happen. as has often been the
case. that a ma iority of the people Of
State or Territory are on one side Of q
question. while majority of the repre-
senta1ves from the several districts into
which il is divided may be upon the 9TH
ar side This arises from the fact that in
some districts delegates may be elected
by small msioritiee. whilst those in others
those Of different sentiments may receive
mnjorities sufficiently great not only to
overcome the votes given the former. but
leave large majority Of the whole peo>
pie in direct opposition Of the delegates.
BESIDES, our history proves that inau-
eaees may be brought to bear on the rep
Tesentatiys sufficiently powerful to induce
him to disregard the will of his eonstitu.
ents. Tho truth is that no other authen-