The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1857-05-30
ADDRESS OF non T.. STANTON, sETRE
TAkh AND ACTING COY tRNps. 10 THE
PEOPLE OF KANSAS TERRITORY

y
accepted his appointment from the Presi>
dent upon condition that he should not he
required to leave Washington until the frs,
Of next mouth, and circumstances beyond
his control render 1t impossible fer him to
start before tina, day. Tie may therefore b"
expected here sboat the middle at next
mouth and will thea assume the Executive
authority OF the territory
Daring the absence OF the Governor by
the orgMuic law of the territory, tho whole
dulie. and responsibilities ol the Executive
are devolyed upon me, by virtue oi my
commission rs Secretary. Ga assuming 10
exercise the functions oi this high oiiic". at
this critical luncia'e IN the affairs OF the
territory. II is not Inappropriate that should
briefly Indicate the course which | shall,
pusuc.
The government Of the lnied States
recognize. the authority OF the territorial
government IN ali matters which are within
the scope OF the organic act OF Congress,
and consistent with the federal constitution
| hold that lber. eau be no other tlghtiul
authority exercised within the limits of
Kansas. aud shall proceed to the faithful
aud impartial execution of the laws OF the
territory, by the use OF all the means
placed IN nay power, aud which may be
necrssary to that end.
The government more especially recogN
nizes the territorial act which provides Tor
assembling the Convention to propose n
Constitution, with view Of making appli-
cation to Congress tor admission ~ n State
INTO the mon. That act is recognized as
presenting the onl, test- of the qualification
ct voters Tor delegates To- the Convention,
aud all proceeding fePngnant restrictions
are thereby repealed. Ia this light the act
must be- allowed to nave provided lor toll
and lair expression ot the vl,i OF the people
lhfouu. the delegates who may be chosen
to represent them in the Constitutional
Convention. do not doubt, however. that
IN order to avoid all pretext for resistance
to the peaceful operation OF this law, the
convention Itself Wil. IN some form provide
Tor submitting the great disttactlng question
regarding their social institution, which has
so long agitnted the people OF Kansas, to a
far vote OF all the actual bona hde residents
Of the territory with every possible seeurl-
ty spsnst fraud aud violence II the Con
s,itulun he ,hus framed aud the question OF
difference thus submitted to the decision OF
the people believe that Kansas viii be adj
mitlrd hy Congress. without delay, as one
of the sovereign States OF the American
Union. aud the Territorial authorities wal be
Immediately Vtthdfa"n.
need scarcely say that al, the power OF
the territorial executive Will be eXeried with
entire imptrla'iiy 20 prevent fraud, 70 sup
press y,o,enec, and 10 secure 10 every cili>
zen fair opportunity for the safe and
peaceful exercise OF the electoral privilege;
aud It will lee 10 les, the duty than she
earnest desire and grea, pleasure Of the
Governor or acting Governor Of the terrific
~, to carry out, IN. good faith, the policy
avowed by tie President of tho United
States in his recent inaugural address. IN
which he declares it to be " the Imperative
and indispensable duty of the government
of the ulted States to secure to every
resident inhabitant the free and independent
expression OF his opinion by his vote Tins
sacred right to each individual must he pre-
served" and "that being accomplised,
nothing can be fairer than to leave the peo>
pie OF the territory free from all foreign IN
hnence to decide their own destiny for
themselves, subject only to the tousli'a' On
OF the ln,ted States
Nothing is wanting but to secure the
confidence OF the people OF all parties "a the
sincerity OF the declared Intentions OF the
territorial executive to carry out these pHn
ciples in good faith, IN order to induce the
co,operatiou of all good men IN the pend
ing measures for adopting state tonsu
,aiiou. The principles themselves cannot
fail to be acceptable to the sober lndy>
ment of the people snd ardently hope TOT
tho snks OF the paramount interests IN
volved. that the necessary confidence VIII
not b. withheld
The dealorable events which have
marked the history of the territory up to
this. have, doubtless left their natural re-
suits OF eumilv and heart hntnlng' among
the people. IS also uron the CRIMINAL
records o, the territorial courts ludlct>
ments hsve been ioand against many ol
thos. who acted to military capacity
under the authority OF the 'eff,'or'd gov
ernmeni, Tor acts aud exresso. alleged to he
who'll, Illegal ard nnlosiihshle ON tn"
other hand, similar prosecutions have bee"
instituted against those who resisted tn"
territorial authorities. and who undertook
to retaia,e for the alleged wrongs committed
ssxins, them. {, is my deliberate opinion
that IN order to promote peace aud mar