Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-16

this exciting question may be peacefully set
tied in the very mode required by the organ
ic law. The election will be held under legi-
innate authority, and fanny portion Of the in
habitants shall refuse to vote, a fair opportu-
nifty to do so having been presented, this will
De their own voluntary act, and they alone
will be responsible for the consequences.
Whether Kansas shall be a free or a slave
State must eventually, under some authority,
be decided by an election; and the question
can never be more clearly or distinctly pre-
sented to the people than it is at the present
moment. Should this opportunity be reject
ed, she may be involved for years in domestic
discord, and possibly in civil war, before she
can again a up the issue now so fortu-
nately rendered, and again reach the point she
has already attained.
Kansas has for some years occupied too
much OF the public attention. 1t is high time
this should be directed to far more important
objects. When once admitted into the Union,
whether with or without slavery, the excite
ment beyond her own limits will speedily
pass away, and she will then for the first time
be left, as she ought to have been long since,
to manage her W affairs in her own way.
If her constitution on the subject of slavery,
or on any other subject be displeasing to a
majority OF the people, no human power can
prevent them from changing it within a brief
period. Under these circumstances, it may
well be questioned whether the peace and
quiet OF the whole country are not of greater
Importance than the mere temporary triumph
of either of the political party in Kansas.
Should the constitution without slavery be
adopted by the votes of the majority, the
rights of property in slaves now in the terri
tory are reserved. The number of these is
very small; but if it were greater the provis-
ion would be equally just and reasonable
These slaves were brought into the territory
under the constitution of the United States,
and are now the property of their masters
This point has been finally decided by the
highest judicial tribunal of the country-and
this upon the plain principle that when a con-
federacy of sovereign States acquire a new
territory at their joint expense, both equality
and Justice demand that the citizens of one
and all Of them shall nave the right to take
into it whatsoever is recognized as property
by the common constitution. To have sum-
marily confiscated the property in slaves al
ready in the territory, would have been an act
of gross injustice, and contrary to the prac-
tice of the older States of the Union which
have abolished slavery.
The affairs in Utah is next taken up in the
Message. He gives a brief account of the
history of the formation of the territorial gov
ernment the appointment of Brigham Young
as Governor and Superintendent of Indian af-
fairs of his being also at the head of the
church, called latter day saints, or Mormons
of his acts of insolence to and direct rebellion
against the general government, and pro-
nounces the territory in a state of rebellion
which is the first that has ever existed in our
territories. He says humanity requires that
, it should be put down in such a manner as
that it shall be the last! In order to do this
: it will, he says, be necessary to raise four adj
, ditional regiments of troops.
: Upon the subject of the Public Lands, the
, President says that while as a source of rev
: enue they are of great importance, yet they
are much more so, "as furnishing homes fo
a hardy and independent race of honest and
: Industrious citizens who desire to subdue anC
= cultivate the soil" and ought to be admins
tered mainly with a view of promoting thi
object. He takes ground against squander
- ing them away upon objects of doubtful con
stitutionality or expediency, but comedies tn
- power to Congress to give away portions Q
10 them to enhance the value of the remainder
&c He recommends that Congress in hereafte
granting lands to States or Companies, tina
III the intermediate sections retained by the gov
y eminent should be subject to presumption b.
- actual settlers.
He recommends the establishment of a tel
;, %ritorial government for Arizona, and con
mends to the friendly consideration of Coz
gress the subject of the Pacific Railroad
without finally committing himselfto any pa
- ticular route.
He next calls special attention to the +
On commentator of the Secretary of the Nav
in favor of the construction of ten small ste
Ii mers of light draught.
n The President also refers to many othe
subjects of national importance, but the for
20 going embraces the leading features of tt
IN message.