White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-12-31
NUMBER 81.

States to the States Of Central America, which
could not fail to prove highly beneficial to all the
parties concerned In pecuniAry poiu. Of view
alone, our citizens have sustained heavy losses
from the seizure and closing Of the transit route
BY the San Juan between the two oceans %
The leader ofthe recent expedition was ar
rested at New Orleans, but was discharged %
giving bail for his appearances in tho insuficient
sum of two thousand dollars.
Icommend the whole subject to the serious
attention Of Congress, believing that our duty
and our interests. as well as our national charas-
ter, required that we should adopt such measures
as will be effectual in restraining our citizens
from committing such outrages. ...l
regret to inform you that the Presidents Of
Paraguay has refused to ratify the treaty be-
tween the United States and that State, 40
amended by the Senate, the signature of which
was mentioned in the message Of my predeees.
sor, to Congress at the opening Of its season. in
December, 1853. The reason assigned for this
refusal will appear in the correspondence bore
with submitted. .ts
1t being desirable 70 ascertain the fitness Of
the river La Plata and its tributaries for navga-
ton By steam, the United States steamer Water
Witch was sent thither for that purpose in 1852
This enterprise was successfully carried on IN
til February, 1855, when, whilst in the peaceful
prosecution Of her voyage up the Panama river,
the steamer was fred upon BY a ParaguAysa
fort. The FIRE was returned; but a. the Water
Witch was Of small force, and not designed for
offensive operations, she retired from the con-
fict. The pretext upon which the attack Was
made, was decree of the President Of Para
quay, of October, 1854, prohibiting foreign yea
sels-of-war from navigating the rivers Of that
State. As Paraguay, however, was the owner
of but one bank Of the river of that name, the
other belonging to COrrisnSes, State Of the
Argentine confederation, the rights OF its gov
eminent to expect that such decree would be
obeyed cannot be aeknowle 'ged. But the Wa
ter Witch was not, properly speaking, vessel
of-war. She was a small steamer engaged in
scientific enterprise intended for the advantage
of commercial States generally. Under these
circumstances, an constrained to consider the
attack upon her as uRjustifable, and as calling
for satisfaction from the PsraguAyan govern
ment. ..-
Citizens Of the United States, also, who we're
established in business in Paraguay, have had
their property seized and taken from them. and
have otherwise been treated BY the authorities
in an insulting and arbitrary manner, whichre-
quires redress.
A demand for these purposes will be made
in firm, but conciliatOry spirit. This will
the more probably be granted if the Executive
shall have authority to use other means In the
event of a refusal. This is accordingly recon-
mended
It is unnecessary TO state in detail the alarm
ing condition of the Territory Of Kansas at the
time Of my Inauguration. The opposing par
ties then stood in hostile array against each 9TH
er, and any accident might have relighted the
flames of civil war. Besides, at this critical mo-
ment, Kansas was left without Governor by
the resignation Of Gov. Geary.
On the 18th Of February previous, the Terri
torial Legislature had passed Law providing for
the election Of delegates on the third Monday
of June, to a convention to meet on the arst
Monday of September, for the purpose Of fra
ming Constitution preparatory to admission
into the Union. This law was in the main fair
and just; and it is to be regretted that all the
qualified electors had not registered themselves
and voted under its provisions.
At the time Of the election for delegates. an
extensive organization existed in the Territory
whose avowed object il was, If need be, 70 put
down the lawful government BY force, and so
establish government Of their own under the
so called Topeka constitution. The personsass
taehed to this revolutionary organization alb
stained from taking any part in the election.
The act OF the Territorial Legielaturs bad
omitted to provide for submitting TO the peoplS
the constitution which might be framed By the
convention; and in the excited state Of pablo
feeling throughout Kansas, an apprehension ex-
tensively prevailed that design existed to force
upon them constitution in relation 70 slavery
against their will. In this emergency Il became
my duty, as Il was my unquestionable right, hs-
wing in view the union Of all good citizens in
support Of the territorial laws, to express an
opinion on the true construction Of the proVis-
ions concerning slavery, contained in the organ
&c act Of Congress Of the 30th May, 1854. Con.
gress declared il to be " the true intent and
meaning Of this act not to lsgiSlate slavery into>
any Territory or State, nor to exclude It there
from, but to leave the people thereof perfectly
free to form and regulate their domestic fnsti.
buttons in their oNa way" Under It Kansas.-
when admitted IS State, = was TO abe re-
eeived into the Union, with or Withous slavery.
Is their constitution may prescribe st the tine
Of Gheir admission"
Did Congress mean BY this language that the
delegates elected 70 frame 8 Constitution
should have authority finally 10 decide the queS-
ton Of slavery, or did they intend BY leaving Il
to the people that the people Of Kansas them.
selves should decide this question By direct
vote1 On this subject confess IhAdneseren-
tertained serious doubt, and, therefore, II my
instructions 70 Governor Walker on the sd
March last, merely said that when - cunsti-
tuition shall be submitted to the people of the
Territory, they must be protected inlfhs sxer-
else Of their right Of voting for or sgzlnst hat
instrument, and the fair expressions Of the pop
uiar viii must not be interrupted By fraud o.
! violence"
! In expressing this opinion It was FAR from nv
J intention to interfere with the decision Of tbs