White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-10-08

Kansas shall be admitted as State, 1t "shsil be
received into the Union, with or without slavery,
as their Constitution may prescribe at the time
of their admission"
Slavery existed at that period, and still exists
in Kansas, under the Constitution of the United
States. This point has at last been finally deci-
ded BY the highest tribunal known to our laws.
How it could ever have been seriously doubted
is mystery. If . confederation Of sovereign
States acquire new territory at the expense Of
their common blood and treasure, surely one set
Of the partners can have no right to exclude the
other from its enjoyment, by prohibiting them
from taking into it whatsoever is recognized to
be property by the common Constitution. But
when the people-the 6OnG:fd residents of such
Territory-proceed to frame State Constitu-
ton, then it is their right to decide the impor-
tant question for themselves, whether they will
continue, modify or abolish slavery. To them,
and to them alone does this question belong, free
from all foreign interference.
In the opinion of the Territorial Legislature
of Kansas, the time had arrived for entering the
Unions and they accordingly passed law to
elect delegates for the purpose of framing
State Constitution. This law was fair and just
in its provisions. 1t conferred the right of suf-
frage on every bona. fde inhabitant Of the Ter
ritory," and for the purpose of preventing fraud
and intrusion of citizens ofnear or distant States,
most properly confined this right to those who
had resided therein three months previous to the
election. Here, fair opportunity was presented
for all the qualified resident citizens of the Ter
ritory, to whatever organization they might have
previously belonged, to participate in the cleo
ton, and to express their opinions at the ballot
box on the question Of slavery.
But numbers of lawless men still continued to
resist the regular Territorial Government. They
refused either to be registered or to vote; and
the members of the Convention were elected le-
gally and properly, without their Intervention.
The Convention will soon assemble to perform
the solemn duty of framing Constitution for
themselves and their posterity, and in the state
of incipient rebellion which still exists in Kan
sas, it is my imperative duty to employ the troops
Of the United States, shoald this become neces-
sary, in defending the Convention against vio-
lence while framing Constitution, and in pro-,
tecting the BOND. tide inhabitants qualified to vote
under the provisions of this instrument, in free
exercise q the right of suffrage, when it shall
be submitted to them for their appreciation or re-
lection.
/ have entire confidence in Governor Walker
that the troops will not be employed except to
resist actual aggression, or in the execution Of
the laws, and this not until the power of the civil
magistrate shall prove unavailing. Following
the wise example of Mr.. Madison toward the
Hartford Convention, illegal and dangerous COM
binatiOns, such as that of the Topeka Conven-
ton, will not be disturbed unless they shall at
tempt to perform some act which will bring them
into actual collision with the Constitution and
laws. In that event they shall be resisted and
ID down by the whole power of the Govern
LIT. In performing this duty shall have the
appreciation Of my own conscience, and, as
humbly trust, of my God. -.-
thank you for the assurance that "you will
not refrain from the prayer that the Almighty
God will make my administration" an example
of justice and benifcence.
You can greatly assist me in arriving at this
blessed consummation by sxerting your influence
in sllaying the existing sectional excitement on
the subject Of slavery, which has been product
i've of much evil and no good; and which, if it
succeed in attaining its object, would ruin the
slave as well as the master. This would be gen.
vine philanthropy. Every day of my life feel
how inadequate am to perform the duties of
my high station, without continuing it in the sup
port of Divine Providence; yet placing my trust
in Him, and Him alone, entertain a good hope
that He will enable me to do equal justice to all
portions Of the Union, thus rendering me an
humble instrument in restoring peace and har-
mony among the people of the several States.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor, D. D., Rev. Theo-
dore D. Woolsey, D. D., L. L. D., Hon. Hen
~ DuttOn, Rev. David Smith, D. D., Rev. J.
Halves, D. D., and Others.