Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-09-11
ought to specify more particularly a


! ought to specify more particularly a
condition of affairs, which / have EN-
braced only in general terms, requiring
the presence of a military force in Kan
sas. The Congress of the United States
had most wisely declared it be the true
intent and meaning Of this act (thc act
organizing the Territory MOTTO lcgislate
slavery into any Territory or State, nor
to exclude it thcrefrom, but to leave the
people thereof perfectly free to forn and
regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only TO the Con-
stitution of the United States. As a
natural consequence, Congress has also
prescribed by the same act, that when
| the Territory Of Kansas shah sc aa,ait-
ted as State, it ''shall be received into
the Union, with or without slavery, as
their constitution may prescribe, at the
time of their admission"
Slavery existed at that period, and still
exists in Kansas, under the Constitution
of the United States. This point has at
last been finally decided by the highest
tribunal known to our laws How it
could ever have been seriously doubted
is mystery. If a confederation of soye-
reign States acquire a new territory at
the expense Of their common blood and
treasure, surely one set of the partners
can have no right to exclude the other
from its enjoyment, by prohibiting them
from taking into it whatsoever is recog-
: nized to be property by the common Con-
stitution. But when the people--the
bona fde residents of such territory
/, proceed to frame State constitution, then
it is their right to decide the important
question for themselves whether they
will continue, modify, or abolish slavery
To them, and to them alone, does this
question belong, free from all foreign in
reference
In the opinion Of the Territorial Leg
| islature Of Kansas, the time had arrived
for entering the Union, and they accor-
dinghy passed law to elect delegates for
! the purpose of framing a State constitu-
! ton. This law was fair and just in its
provisions. 1t conferred the right of
: suffrage on "every bosA fde inhabtant
: of the Territory and, for the purpose
: Of preventing fraud, and tho intrusion of
citizens of near or distant States, most
properly confined this right to those who
: had resided therein three months previ-
Gus to the election. Hero fair oppor-
, tunity was presented for all the qualified
3 resident citizens of the Territory, to
, whatever organization they might have
previously belonged, to participate in the
3 election, and TO xpross their opinions al
the ballot-box on the question Of slavery.
But Numbers of lawless men still con-
tinued to resist the regular Territorial
Government. They refused either to be
registered or to vote and the 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 for themselves and their pos
terity and in the state of incipient re-
bcllion which still exists in Kansas, it is
my imperative duty to employ the troops
of the United States, should this become
necessary, in defending the convention
against violence whilst framing the con-
stitution, and in protecting the "bono
fde inhabitants" qualified to vote under
the provisions of this instrument in the
free exercise Of the right Of suffrage when
it shall be submitted to them for their
appreciation or rejection.
/ have entire confidence in Governor
Walker that the troops will not be en-
ployed except to resist actual aggression
or in the execution Of the laws and this
not until the power Of the civil magistrate
shall prove unavailing. Following the
wise example Of Mr.. Madison towards
the Hartford Convention, illegal and
dangerous combinations, such as that Of
the Topeka Convention, will not be dis
turbcd unless they shall attempt to per-
form some act which will bring them into
actual collision with the Constitution and
the laws. In that event, they shall be
resisted and put down by the whole pow
er Of the Government. In performing
this duty, | shall have the appreciation of
my own conscience, and, as | humbly
trust, Of my God.
/ thank you for the assurance that you
will "not refrain from the prayer that
Almighty God will make my administra-
/ ton AN example Of justice and benefi-
cence" You can greatly assist me in
arriving at this blessed contamination by
exerting your influence in allaying the
existing sectional excitement on the sub
iect Of slavery, which has been product
i've Of much evil and no good, and which,
/ if it could succeed in attaining its object,
would ruin the slave as well as his mas
ter. This would be work Of genuine
philanthropy. Every day Of my life !
feel how inadequate / am to perform the
duties Of my high station, without the
continued support Of Divine Providence
yet, placing my trust in Him, and in Him
alone, entertain good hope that lie
will enable nc 20 DO equal justice to all
portions Of the Union, and thus render
me an humble instrument in restoring
peace and harmony among the people OF
the several States.
Yours, very respectfully.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Rev. Nathaniel w. Taylor. d. d.
Rev. Theo D. Woolsey, D. D., LII. d.
Hon. Henry Dutton.
Rev. David Smith, y. d.
Rev. j HAYES, d. d., and others
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