Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-12


the Secretaries OF War and Navy 10 the appropriate Army
and Navy officers requiring them to be vgant and to use
their best exerons carrying into effect the provisions
OF the act Of SIS. Notwithstanding these precautions the
expedition has escaped from shores Such enterprises
can do possible good to country but have already
inflicted much injury both upon its interests and lis char
acier They have prevented peaceful emigration from The
United States the Sta fCenal America which could
nj" fail to prove highly beneficial to all parties Concerned
In pccpniary point or Yiew alone citizens have ss-
tanned heavy losses um the seizure and closing Of the tan-
sit route by the San Juan between The two oceans
The leader of the expedition arrested al New
Orleans but discharged giving bail for his appear
in the insufficient sum of two til, us,nd dollars
commend the whole subject To the serious attention Of
Congress believing that our duty and our interest as well
our national character require that we should adopt
such will be ceciual in restraining citizens
from committing such ouirages.
RELATIONS WITH PARAGUAY.
regret % inform you that the President Of Paraguay
has refused to raii the treaty between the United States
aud that State amended by the Senate the signature Of
which mentioned in the of my predecessor TO
Congress at the opening Of its session IN December 1893
The assigned for this refusal will appear in the
respondence herewith Submitted,
Ii being desirable TO ascertain the fitness Of the river La
Plata and its tributaries for cation by seam the United
States steamer Water Witch sent thher for that pur.
pose in 1888 This enterprise successfully carried
until February 1855 when whilst in the peaceful prosecn-
ton OF her voyage the Parma river the steamer fir
ed upon by Paragayan fort The fire was returned but,
the Water Witch of small FORCE and not designed
for offensive operations, she retired from the conflict The
preteNt upon which the attack made, decree of
the President of Paraguay of October 1854 prohibiting for
cgn vessels OF war from navigating the rivers of that State
AS Paraguay however owner OF but one bank OF The
river Of that The other belonging to COrenes State
Of the Argentine Confederation the right Of its Government
expect that such decree would be oteyed be
knowedged But the Water Witch was not properly speak
ing vessel of She small steamer engaged in
scientific enterprise intended Tor the advantage u CONNER
ciu States generally. Under these circumstances, am
constrained to consider the attack upon her unshabe
and AS calling for satisfaction from the Paraguayan Gov
eminent
Citizens of the United States, also who established
in business ia Paraguay have had their properly seized and
taken from them and have otherwise been treated by the att
thoreS in an insulting and arbitrary manner which re-
guires redress.
demand for these purposes will be made in firm but
tonciatcry spirit This will the more probably bcganted
If the Executive shall have authority to other means IN
the event OF refusal This is accordingly recommended
AFFAIRS OF KANSAS.
II is unnecessary state in detail the alarming condition
of the Territory Of Kansas at the time of my inauguration
The opposing parties then stood in hostile array against
each other and any accident might have GIFTED he flames
Of civil Besides at this critical moment, Kansas was
left without Governor by the resignation OF Governor
Geary.
On the 10Th Of February previous the Territorial Legs
uture had passed law providing for the election of dele
gates, the third Monday of June to convention 10 meet
the first Monday Of September for the purpose of fai
ming conS'Sui'"n preparatory to admission INTO me
Union This law in The main fair and just and it is
to be regretted that all the aed electors had not regis.
tered themselves and voted under its provisions.
At the time of the election for delegates extensive
gazation existed in the Territory, whose avowcd object
II was if need be, 10 put down the lawful government by
force and To establish government Of their under
the s0caed Topeka constitution The versions attached TO
this revolutionary organization absained from taking any
part in the election.
The act of the Territorial Legislature had omitted pro-
vide for submitting 10 the people the constitution which
might be framed by the convention and in the excited state
of public feeling throughout Kansas, an apprehension
extensively prevailed that design existed to force upon
them constitution in relation to slavery against their Will
In this emergency it became duty, Az 1t my nnqnes
tonablc right having view the union Of all good citizens
in support of the territorial laws to express opinion
the construction Of the provisions concerning slavery
lsji. Congress declared it to be the true intent and
meaning of this act not TO egsate slavery into any Terri
tory State exclude it thererom but to leave the
people thereof perfectly free form and regulate their do.
nestle institutions in their own way" Under it Kansas,
"when admitted State was TO be received into
the Unou with without slavery their constitution
may prescribe at the time OF their admission
Did Congress mean by this language that the delegates
elected to frame constitution should have authority finally
to decide the question of slavery, did they intend by
leaving the people that the people Of Kansas them,
this subject confess had entertained serious
doubt and, therefore in my instructions to Gov Walker
Of the 18th of March last merely said that when
stitutOn shall be submitted TO the people of the Territory
they must be projected in the exercise of their right of
ting for against that instrument and the fair expression
of the popular will must not be interrupted by fraud or
violence"
In expressing this opinion i was far from my intention
interfere with the decision of the people of Kansas either
for against slavery. From this have always carefully
abstaned ln,rsted with the duty of taking "care that
the laws be faithfully executed my only desire was that
the people of Kansas should furnish Congress the evil
required by the organic whether for against
slavery and in tins manner smooth their passage into the
Union. In emerging from the condition OF territorial de-
peudcncc into that of sovereign State, was their duty
opinion TO make known their will by the votes the
majority, on the direct question whether this important do
mcstc institution should should not continue To exist
Indeed, this the only possible mode in which their will
could be automatically ascerainCd.
The election Of delegates TO convention must necessar
" take place in separate districts. From this 1t
readily happen has often been the that majority
Of the people Of State Territory side Of
question: whilst majority the representatives from the
several districts into which is divided may be upon the
other side. This arises from the fact that in districts
delegates may be elected by small majorcs, whilst in 9th
those oi different sentiments receive impurities Su
icicntly great not only to the vol for the
former but 10 leave large majority of the whole people in
direct opposition TO majority Of the delegates. Besides
history proves that influences may be brought to bear
the representative sufficiently powerful to induce him Ia
disregard the will of his constituents The truth is, that
other authentic and satisfactory mode exists of
tOnng the will of majority of the people OF State OF
Territory on an important and exciting question like that
of slavery in Kansas except by leaving to direct vote
How wise, then it for Congress 10 pass all subor
dnatc and intermediate agencies and proceed directly to
the source of all legitimate power under our institutions
How vain would any other principle prove IN practice
This be illustrated by the Of Kansas Should she
admitted into the Union, with constitution either
maintaining or aboshing slavery against the sentiment o
the people this could have other effect than to continue
and to eSaspeate the existing agitation during the brie
period required to make the constitution conform to the
irresistible will Of the majority.
The friends and supporters of the Nebraska and Kansas
act when struggling ON recent occasion to sustain It's
wise provisions before the great tribunal of the American
people, differed about its true meaning this sub
ect, Everywhere throughout the Union they publicly
pledged their faith and their honor that they would cheer
fully submit the question Of slavery to The decision of the
bona fie people of Kansas without any restriction OF
qualification whatever. All were cordially united upon the
great doctrine Of popular sovereignty, which is the vital
principle Of our flee institutions Had it then been insin
uaed from quarter thai it would be sufficient c0mp
with the acquisitions of the organic law for the mem
bes of convention, thereafter 10 be elected to withhold
the question of slavery from the people, aud to substitute
h,r own will for that of legally rained majority OF
all their constituents this would have been instantly
jected. Everywhere they remained true To the resolution
adopted on celebrated occasion recognizing the right OF
the people of all the Misunderstanding Kansas aud Ne
braskaacting through the legally and ayexpressc d
will of u majority of actual residents and whenever the
number of their inhabitants ises ii, to form cOnsttu
ton with without slavery, and be admitted into the
Union upon terms of perfect equality with the other
States
The convention TO frame constitution for Kansas met
the first Monday of September last. They called
together by vrue OF act Of the Territorial Legislature
whose lawful existence had been recognized by Congress.