The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-09-11

ana other otncerS OF a like character imDotcnt
to execute The process and judgements of court
OF justice established by Congress, or the Terri-
torlal Legislature under lis express authority.
and thus have suffered the Government itself IN
become an object of contempt 10 the ewes ofthp
people! And yet this is what you designate as
forcing ''thr people OF Kansas to obey laws not
their own nor of the United States" And for
doing which you have denounced me as haying
violated my oath.
81 ask, what else could | have done. or
ought to have done! Would you have desir
ed that should abandon the Territorial Gov
ernment, sanctioned, as it had been, by Con-
GreSs, to Illegal violence, and thus renew the
scenes Of civil war and bIoodshed which every
patriot had deplored? This would, indeed, have
been to violate my oath OF office, and to fix a
damnIng blot on the char acer Of my Admins
tration.
81 most cheeriulIy admit that the necessity
for sending military force 10 Kansas, TO aid in
the execution of the civil law, reflects no credit
upon the character of our country. But let the
blame fall upon the heads of the guilty.
Whence did this necessity arise7
ga portion Of the people OF Kansas, unwll-
ing 10 trust to the balol-box-thp certain A.
merican remedy for the redress of all grirv-
anceS-undertook 20 create an independent
Government for themselves. Had this attempt
proved SuccrSSiu, it would, of COURSE, have
subveTted the existing Government, prescribed
and recognized by Congress, and substituted a
revolutionary Government III It's stead. This
was usurPation OF the same character as it
would be for portion Of the people OF Connec-
tlCut 10 undertake TO establish seperae Gov
ernment within It's own limits, for the purpose
OF redresslOg any grievance, real or imaginary,
OF which they mght have complained against
thr legitimate Government. Such principle,
if carried into execution, would destroy all law
ful authority, and produce universal anarchy.
81 ought to specify more particularly con-
dition OF affairs which have embraced only
in general terms, requiring the presence of a
military force ia Kansas. The Congress Of the
United States had most wisely declared il 10 be
the true intent and mraning Of this act--the act
organizing the Terrltory-was not to legislaie
slavery into any Territory or State, nor to eX-
cludr 1t hrreiion, but to leave The people there
of perfectly free 10 form and regulate their do
nestle institutions in their own way, subject
only TO the Constitution Of the United States
Asa natural consequence, Congress has also
prescribed, by the same act, that when the Ter
ritory of Kansas shall be admitted as a State, it
shall be received into the Union with or with
out slavery, as their Constitution may prescribe
al the time of their admission.
"Slavery existed at that period and still ex-
lists in Kansas under the Constitution Of the
United States. This point has at last been 6n
ally drcIdrd by the highest tribunal known 10
la Al Egv, h.,
ously doubted is a mystery. Ii a confederation
of sovereign States acquire new territory at
the expense OF their cofninon blood and treas
ore, surely one set ot tn partners can have no
right 10 exclude the other from lis enjoyment
BY prohibiting them from taking INTO ii wbatso-
ever IS recognized to br property by the com
mon Constitution. But when the people, The
bonn tde residents of such territory proceed to
franz a State Constitution. thru II Is their right
to decide the important question for themselves
whether they viii continue to modify or abol-
ish slavery. To them, aud 10 them alone, does
this question belong, free tom all iOrelgn inter-
ference. In the opinion OF the Territorial
legislature OF Kansas the time had arrived for
entering the Union, and they accordingly pass
ed law to elect delegates Tor the purpose OF
framing a State Constitution. This law was
fair aud Just 10 lis provisions. 1t conferred the
right of suffrage on every bona Tde inhabllant
Of the Trrrory, and for the purpose OF prevent
ing fraud and the intrusion of citizens OF near or
distant States, most properly confined this right
to those who had resided therein three months
previous to the election. Here was a fair op,
presented for all qualified resident
citizens Of the Territory to whatever oIganIZa-
ton they might have previously belonged, to
10 the election, and to express their
opinions at the balIol-box on the question OF
slavery. But numbers of lawlrss men still con-
tinue to resist the regular territorial government
They refused to be either registered or to vote,
and members of the Convention were elected
legally and properly without their intervention.
The Convention will soon assemble TO perform
the solemn duty of framing constitution Tor
themselves and their posterliy; and IN the state
of incipient rebellion which still exists IN hah-
sas, it is my imperative duty to employ the
troops OF the United States, should this become
necessary, in defending the Convention against
violence while framing a constitution, and IN
the bona fde inhabitants qualified TO
vote under the provisions OF this instrument IN
the free exercise of the right of suffrage, when
il shall be presented to them for their aPpToba-
ton or rejection.
81 have entire confidence IN Gov walker,
that the troops will not be employed, except to
resist actual aggression, or in the execution Oh
The laws; and this, not until the power OF ,he
civil magistrate shall prove unavallIng. Fol
lowing the wise example Of MIR. Madison TO-
wards the Hartford Convention, illegal ana dan
gprous combinations, such as that OF the Topeka
Convention, will not be disturbed, unless ihey
shall attempt 10 perform some act which snail
bring them into actual collision with the Con-
stitution and the laws. 10 that event they shall
be resisted and put down by the whole power
nrth. Cnrernmenf. In prLforming this duty,