The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-09-14

duce universal anarchy. ought to specify
neys particularly . condition Of s&airs.
whJsh lave embraced only in general 1nRni.
requarie the presence Of . nilIsasy fosp 10
The Qongresssof tho U1tsd ststes had
most wlpsly declared Il to - ~ srue irIsnt
md meaning OF this act-the ~ eSGea3 sine
~ Isrfitory-not to lsgislats slavery into
any Territory or State, nef = exclude il
therefrom, but TO leave the psopIe thereof
perfectly frse TO form and regulate their do.
mestic institutions in their eWn nay. subieok
only 80 the Constitution II ~ Uniksd Stntsa.
As natural Consequence, Congress has also
prescribed BY tho same cot that when the
Territory Of Kansas shall be admitted a. .
State, i shall be received into the Union
with or witAo1S Slavery, q Ihsir Const;tu-
ton may pfeecfibs 1t the tins Of their Id.
mission. Slavery existed ct thai period and
still exists n Kansas under ~ Ooustitution
OF the United States. This point has a lat
been finally decided BY the highest tribunal
known to our laws. How it could ever have
been seriously doubted 10 : nystery. II
confederation Of sovereign Stasss acouire
new territory ct the expense Of their com
mon blood and treasure, surely one set Of
the partners have NO right to exclude th Q
other from its enjoyment BY prohibiting them
from taking into it whatsoovsy 10 rscoanis cd
to be property BY . common Ooustitution,-
But when the peopls-the bona ode residents
Of such Territory-procesd to frame the
State Constitution, then it 10 their right to
decide the important question for themselves,
whether they will continue, modify or abol-
ish Slavery. To them, and to them alone.
does this question belong, free from all for
eign interference. In the opinion Of the
Territorial Legislature Of Kansas the time
had arrived for entering the Union, and they
accordingly passed law to elsct delegates
for the purpose Of framing State Consti-
tuition. This law was fais and iust h il,
provisions. Il conferred the right Of suf-
frage upon every bona ide inhabitsnt OF the
Territory, and for the purpose Of preventing
fraud and the intrusion Of o,tiseus OF ncer
or distant States, most properly oon6 ned All.
right to those who had resided therein three
months previous to the election. Here fair
opportunity Was presented for al the quail
fed resident citizens OF the Territory. 10
whatever organization they might have pre-
viously belonged, to participants in the cleo
ton, and to express their opinion Ct the bal.
lot-box on the question Of Slavery: but
numbers OF lawless men still continued to
resist the regular Territorial Government.
They refused either to DO registered or 20
vote, and the members Of tks Convention
were elected legally and properly without
their intervention. The Conv sntion viii
soon assemble to perform the solsmn duty OF
framing Constitution for thsmsslvss and
their posterity, and in the ssabs Of insipisnt
rebellion which still exists 10 Kansas, il il
my imperative duty to employ the troops Of
the United States, should this become me-
eessary, in defending the ConventSon aeAinst
violence while framing the Constis tuition, and
in protecting the bona ide inhabitants QUAIL
flied TO vote under the provisions Of this in
strument in the free exercise Of the right Of
suffrage, when it shall bs submitted TO them
for their appreciation or rejection. have
entire confidence in Gov. 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 unsvailins. Fol-
lowing the wise example Of Mr.. Madison to-
ward the Hartford Convention, illegal and
dangerous combinations, such % that OF the
Topeka Convention, will not be disturbed,
unless they shall attempt to perform some
act which will bring them into actual COLI
sion with the Constitution and the laws in
that event they shalt be resisted and put
down By the whole power Of the Government.
In performing this duty shall have the ap-
probation Of my own conscience, and, q |
humbly trust, Of my God. thank you for
the assurance that you will not refrain from
prayer that Almighty God viii make my ad-
ministration an example Of justice and be-
neflcence. You can greatly assist me In ar
irving At this blessed consummation BY ex-
erting your influence in allaying the existing
sectional excitement on the subject OF Slay-
cry, which has been productive OF much evil
and no good, and which, If it could succeed
in attaining its object, would ruin the slave
as we'll as his master. This would be q
work Of genuine philanthropy.
Every day Of my life feel how inadequate
nm to perform the duties Of my high sta
ton without the continued support Of Di-
vine Providence, yet, placing my trust In
Him, and in Him alone, entertain q good
hope that He will enable me to do equal ius-
tice to oil portions Of the Union, and thus
render me an humble instrument in restoring
peace and harmony among the people Of the
1 several States.
Yours very respectfully,
JANIS BUCHANAN.
The Rev. Theodore ID. Woolscy. D. D.. T.
/ l.. D., and others.