The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-07-30
Gov. walkers Proclamation 10 the
People of Lawrence.

/ the citizens OF LaWTence IN TINS territory, have
adopted, as they clsla, by popular vote, q
charter for their local government A copy Of
that charter has been placed in my hands; upon
comparing which with that granted by the Ter
ritoTial Legislature, last winter, find that they
differ Intentionally ia many essential particulars
The new charter, then, is set up not only with
out any authority Of law but in direct and open
defiance Of an act Of the Territorial Legislature
Oh the same subject.
On this point your committee, whose views
have been adopted by you, make the following
statement
"undeT ordinary circumstances the more re.
guIar method Of proceeding would be TO obtain
charter from the Territorial authorities. AS
the Territorial government, however, in no
sense represents the people of Kansas, was not
elected by them, and can have no right to legis.
late for them, we cannot accept charter at
its hands, And, as the State government has
not as vet deemed it advisable to proceed to
the organization Of local and municipal govern
ments, we cannot obtain n charter from it
There is therefore left us only the alternative Of
charter springing directly from the people, or
a continuance in our present unorganlzed con-
dition.
Under these circumstances you have seen fit
to instruct us to present charter, having dis
cusSed its provisions in preliminary assem-
bage, and row propose to submit it to full
vote of the people for approval or rejection"
1t will be perceived that the authority OF the
Territorial Government is here distinctly denied,
and whilst that of the so-called State Govern
ment is acknowledged, it is conceded that no
charter has been granted by them. Indeed, it
is fact that, although this so-called State Coy
ernment has, in ITSELF no legal existence or su-
thority, yet you asked and failed to receive a
charter from them.
\ Under these circumstances, you have proceed
ed to establish government for the city OF
Lawrence, in direct defiance OF the Territorial
government, and denying its existence or au-
thority. You have granted to this city govern
ment the authority to elect Mayor and Board
of Aldermen City Assessor, Treasurer, Justices
of the peace, City Marshal, &c. Youhave gran.
ted to the Mayor and Alderman most extensive
powers, including the right to levy and collect
taxes upon real and personal property within the
limits of the city, whether belonging to residents
or residents, and all the other powers usu-
, ally incident to a city government
You have imposed upon all these officers the
duty OF taking an oath to support this so-called
State Constitution, thus distinctly superceding,
so FAR as in your power, the Territorial Govern
ment created by the Congress of the United
States. You have caused these proceedings to
be printed in handbill form, and have distributed
| them, as | am informed, throughout the Terri
tory, with the view to incite the other cities,
towns and counties Of Kansas to establish in
surrectionary governments, thereby placing the
people of this Territory, so far as i'll your pow
er, in open conflict with the Government OF the
, United States.
The more considerable portion of your party
boy .y,Jt Itnui Inf tn on.
, act the laws urged by you, creating municipal
government you have even in defiance of their
authority, which you profess to acknowledge,
proceeded tr create such government for Law
! renee, and are now urging other localities to
pursue similar course Your evident purpose
is thus to involve the whole Territory in insur-
, rectcn, and to renew the scenes Of bloodshed
and civil war. Upon you, then, must rest all
the guilt and responsibility of this contempla-
' ted revolution. You will be justly chargeable
= IN law and in conscience with all the blood that
may be shed in this contest and upon you must
fall the punishment.
You have elected your officers under this
charter, and instructed them to enter upon the
immediate discharge of their duties, including
the adoption of ordinances and the execution
thereof, under an authority having in itself nc
legal existence and established in direct def
ancc Of the Government Of the United States
From all these facts, it is obvious if you arc
permitted TO proceed, and especially if your ex-
ample should be followed as urged by you in
other places, that for all practical purposes ia
many important particulars, the Territorial
government will be overthrown. The charters
granted by that government for similar pnrpo-
ses will be disregarded, and the justice Of the
peace and other officers acting under their au
thority, will be brought necessarily into conflic
and collision with the so-caled officers claiming
s to act under different authority.
= The Territory will thus be involved in mex
tricable confusion and litigation; the value o
e your property be greatly dcpreciated; your ii
: ties transfers. ln;actons and contracts will b.
S subjected to endless and costly disputes and al
V will suffer from this insurrection, except th
{ lawyers who have stimulated this movement
: A government founded on insurrection and usur
e patton will be substituted for that establishes
Y by the authority OF Congress, and civil war vii
i be renewed throughout our limits If your au
thority to act in this manner for the city of Law
n renee is permitted a similar authority must b
: acknowledged in every other town, city or coun
i ty result in inevitable and most disastrous con
4 hct; and if successful, the Territorial govern
f ment be overthrown in detail as in your presen
n purpose.
i You were distinctly informed in my inaugurs
address Of May last, that the validity OF tn
= Territorial laws was acknowledged by the go,
e ernment of the United States, and that the
i must and would be carried into execution unde
e my oath of Office and the instructions of tn
: President OF the United States. The same in
f formation was repeated in various addresse
Il made by me throughout the Territory.
h At the same time every assurance was give
,, you that the rights of the people of this Terr
tory, under the Constitution to establish thci
n own State Government and frame their ow
1t forms prescribed by the government Of yor
It country, social institutions, would be acknow
G edged and protected.
If laws have been enacted by the Territori'
n Legislature which are disproved of by maj
If ity of the people of the Territorial Legslatul
,e and repeal those laws, was also designated.
Of there are any grievances of which you have an
l. Just right to complain, the lawful, peaceful mai
" ner in which you could remove them, in subo
dination to the government Of your country VIZ
= also pointed out.
IS You have, however, chosen to disregard Il
,e laws OF Congress and OF the Territorial govern
J., ment created by it, and whilst protesting to az
Of knowledge a State government rejected by Col
rs gress, and which can therefore exist onl
20 by successful rebellion and exacting from a
) your officers the perilous oath to support Il
4, so called State Constitution; yet you have eve
n in defiance of the so-called State Legislatu
% which refused to grant you charter, proceede
,, to create local government of your own, base
of only upon insurrection and revolution. III
N very oath which you require from all your oil
Of GERS to support your so-caled Topeka State Col
D. stitution, is violated in the very act OF puttlr
4 4 L IL