Squatter sovereign., 1857-01-20
G0ces..so,.ss swcssage.
Gsntleme., of the Council

Gentlemen Of the Council
dHd House of Representatives.:
The all-wise and bcrIefcient Being,
who controls alike the deslinies OF indi-
viduals and of nations, has pes.ni,isd YOU
TO convene this diia charged with grave
responsibilities
The eyes, not only of the people Of
Kansas, but OF the entire Union, are up
Oh you. watching witii anxiety the result
oil your deliberations, and of our Joint
action In the execution of the delicate and
important duties derolving upon Us
Selected at a critical period in the his.
tory OF the country TO discharge the exec
utIvc functions OF this territory, the otil-
cations was required to assume, were OF
.he most weighiy importance. And when
came seriously TO contemplate their
magnitude. would have shfunk from the
responsibility. were il not Tor an implicit
reliance upon divine. aid, ,aud full conf
deiice n the virtue, zeal AMI patriotism oil
the citizens without which the wiseSt ex-
ecu,ire Suggestions must be futile AMI in
operative.
To you, Legislators invested with SOW
eEeign authority, look for thai hearty CO.
operation whica will enable US successfully
TO guide the ship of state through the
troubled wa9ers it,o the haven OF safety.
| Ii IS w.ti feelings Of profound gratitude
! TO Al.nighty God ahe Boan,eous giver OF
| all good, have the pleasure OF a.Inounc-
ing, that al er the 6I;ler coatest of op:uio:.
| odgn which we have rec. n;lY PASSED,
and which mas unfortunately led fratricl!-
al strife, that peace, With | have every
reason TO believe viii be permanent, nov
reigns throughout the territory, and glad.
dens with its genial Influences, homes and
hearts which bat lately were sad and dcs-
olate; that the robher and the murderer
nave been iyen from oar soil; that burn
ed cabins have Teen replaced by sebSian-
llal dwellings,; that feeling Of conf
dence ami kiildii. SIS has taken the place
OF dIstiust aiid hale; that all good citi-
ztns are disFo ed 10 def lore the errors and
excuses OF the past anu unite with ffater-
nal zeal IN repairing Ilsin]ufies; and tina,
,sils territory. unsurpassed by any portion
of lhe Continent ior the saluori,y OF It's ciI.
mate, tie fertility vi Its soil; It's mineral
/ and agricultural wealth; lis timber -fring
ed streams, anl line qu:rrits oil buiIJ!ing-
stone has entered upon u career OF utI-
. Yaraiielled prosperity.
10 luaintdin iiIe advance we have made
and reaiIz- lrIy!t anticipation oi ti.t
future 10 build up !, model col.uloawealtn
enriched with ali T. e treasures OF learning
oi virtue and religion, ami make 1t IL choice
heritage ior ouf.chIldren aud generations
, yet unborn, let me not only as Jour Exec
utiye, hut as u kansan. devoted 10 ,!.e IN
leresls OF Kansas, and animated solely L;
patriotic purposes, with all eafnestuess III
, Woke you, ,vith ol. heart ard soul, 10 pur
sue So high and lofty u course in your de
iiberatiouS, Us. by lis moderation and JUS
tice, VIII coin.nend Itseli 10 lie appGo5n
ton OF tie country aud coInlnaiid tle Ties
! pert OF tie people.
Tins bein5 tie first occasion aforJet
me TO speak to tile Legislative "A Assembly
. il Is but proper, and III aCcordauce viii
i general usage that Should declare III.
. priiI> lies which shall gi'e sl.ape and ,oa'
4 10 my administration. These principle
r, without elaboration, will condeuse nut
;. The narrowest compass.
# Equal and exact Justice to all men," q
{. whatever political Oh religious persuasion
peace, coaiety and friendship with he gt
!. beriny states aud territories, With 4 sacsf
regard Tor state rights and a reveren,ld
r t.e Union; a reverence for tie Fedora
Co.stllullon as Tie concentrated wisjol
OF the fathers OF the rel uJiIc AMI The Yer
$. ark OF .ut POLITICAL safety; the cultiva,Iu
}: OF pure and energetic natioiai:ty an
g the Development OF an exalted and IL
4. iensely vital patriotism; jealous regar
1t Tor tiie elective franchise and tie enlIr
ii security and sanctity Of the ballot box;
y. firm determination 10 adhere 10 tie doc
g lrInes OF sell-goyern!nent and popular SOY
IS ereignty as guaranteed by the Organi
'e Act: unqualified submission to the ,,Ili t
IS ,tie HlaJorIty; tie election oil all offices
by the people themselves; the suprenuc
~ oi Tie civil over the military authority
strict economy III public expenditures vii
rIgld accountability OF all public officer
ie the preservation OF L..e public iaith and
I'd carreEcy based on the equal OF gold an
c. s:,rer; Tree and safe iinu grafton IRON e,
lv cry quartz. of tie country, the cuilivalio
ot proper territorial pride, with fir
.. determination to submit TO no invasion
k our sovereignty the fostering care OF u,
Of riculture hid nu!actures, mecha mic ats, al
all works OF Internal iinpro, e.Ient; I'll
liberal and free education of all tie CHI
dren OF the territory; entire religious fre,
re dom; free press, free speech, and tt
is peaceabio right to assetnbit, anu discuss Il
IS, questions oil public interest; trial by juri,
l.ipartlally selected the sancti,y OF Ii
HabeuS Corpus; the repeal oi all laws
- all laws IncOiisIStant with the Constitute
n o.! ihe United States and the Organic a
IS and the steady administration OF the go
ernueat SO as best TO secure the gencr
welfare.
er These sterling maxins, sanctioned
= the wisdom and experience of the pas
o. and the observance, Of which, has breug
o. our country to SO exalted position amor
the nations OF the earth, will be the steat
l lights by which my administration shall
guided.
III A summary view Of the state of Il
oa Territory upon my advent, with an iiiusl
|