Squatter sovereign., 1857-09-12
President Buchanan's Letter.
WAsarNoroN. Seplembel


President Buchanan's Letter.
WAsHlsoroN, September 8.
The following contains the most import
ant features of President Buchanan's re-
ply to the immortal of Prhf. Silliman and
forty-two other gentlemen of Connecticut,
on the affair of Kansas:
The President commences by stating
that from the distinguished source when it
proceeds, as we'll as its peculiar character.
he had deemed proper to depart from his
general rule in such cases, and to give it
an ar yer. He then argues: You first
assert that the fundamental principles of
the constitution OF the United States and
of our political institutions. is that the peo-
pie shall make their own laws and elect
their own rulers. You then express grief
and astonishment that should have viola.
ted this principle, and, through Governor
Walker, have employed the army, one of
which the people of Kansas to obey, not
their own nor those Of the United States,
but laws which it is notorious, and estab.
lished upon evidence they never made,
and rulers they never elected, and as car
ollary from the foregoing you represent
that am openly held up and proclaimed
to the great derogation of our national
character as violating in its most essential
particular the solemn oath which the Pre-
sident has taken to support the Constitu-
ton of this Union. These are heavy
| charges, proceeding from gentlemen OF
| your high character, and if well founded
ought to consign my name to infamy. but
in proportion TO their gravity common JUS
tice, 10 say nothing of christian character,
require that before making them you should
have clearly ascertained that they were
we'll founded, for If they are not, they will
rebound with whitening condemnation upon
their authors. Have you performed this
preliminary towards the man who, how
/ ever unworthy. is The Chief Magistrate OF
your countryz 1t SO either you or / am
aboring under a strange delusion, and
should this prove to be your case it will
present memorable example of the truth
that political prejudice is blind even TO the
existence OF the painest and most palpa-
BILE historical facts. To these facts let us
refer:
When entered upon the duties of the
Presidential office on The 4th of March
last, what was the condition of Kansas
That Territory had been organized, and a
government in all its branches was in full
operation, Governor, Secretary of Ter
ritory, Chief Justice, two Associate JUS
tees, Marshal and District Attorney, had
been appointed by my predecessor, and
were all engaged in discharging their
duties. A code of laws had been enacted
by the Territorial Legislature. and the
Judiciary were employed in expounding
and carrying those laws into effect.
In referring to the controversy that had
previously arisen respecting the election oil
members to the Territorial Legislature. he
SAYS: SIN fact / found the Government oil
Kansas as well established as that of any
other Territory. Under these circumstances
what was my duty! Was it to sustain this
Government, to protect 1t from the violence
of lawless men who were determined to
rule or ruin. to prevent it from being over.
turned by force, or, in the language of the
Constitution, TO take care that the laws be
faithfully executed ! 1t was for this pur-
pose, and this alone, that ordered mill.
tary force to Kansas as posse con,itatus,
aiding the civil magistrates to carry the
laws into execution. The condition OF the
Territory at the time. which / need moi
portray, rendered this precaution actually
necessary. In this state of affairs, would
not have been justly condemned had
left The Marshals and other officers of like
character inaposent to execute the processes
and judgments of courts of justice estab-
lished by Congress or the Territorial Leg.
islature, under its express authority, and
thus have suffered the Government itself te
become an object of contempt in the eyes o.
the people And yet this is what you de.
signate as forcing the people of Kansas tc
obey not their own laws nor those of the
United States. and for doing which yol
have denounced me as having violated my
oath. ask, what else could have dons
. or ought to have done Would yo,
. have desired that Ishould abandon the Ter
Titorial Government, sanctioned as It ha,
been by Congress. to illegal violence, anc
thus renew the scenes of civil war ans
bIoodshed which every patriot mad de
plored This would indeed have been t.
violate my cath of Office, and TO fix a dam
ming blot on the character of my Admin
istration.
4 most cheerfuliy admit that the necessi
lily for sending a military force to Kansa.
to aid in executing the law reflects no ere
dit upon the character of our country, bu
/. liet the blame fall on the heads of the gull
: Ity. Whence did this necessity arise A
, portion of the people of Kansas unwiIIin,
70. trust to the ballot-box, the certaii
Americon remedy for the redress of al
grievances. undertook to create an indie
pendent government. for themselves am
had this attemps proved successful. it would
LOT course, have subverted the existing
: government, prescribed and recognized b
Congress, and substituted revostaicuar,
government IN its stead.
Following the wise example Of nfr