The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-01-17
have foated the country into the most

Hesitation, or partizan affiliations
would have resulted in certain failure
and only served further to complicat,
affairs. To restore peace and order
and relieve the people from the evil
under which they were laboring, it wa
necessary that an impartial, indepeni
dent and just policy should b
adopted, which would embrace il
its protection all good citizens
without distinction of party. AM
sternly punish all bad men who con
tinued to disturb the public tranquil
ty. Accordingly my Inaugural Addres
and Proclamations were immediatell
circulated among the people, in ordel
that they might have early notice o
my intentions.
On the fourteenth day of Septem
Der, reliable information was reeeiv
ed that a large body of armed mel
were marching to attack Hickor,
Point on the north side of the Kansa.
River. l immediately dispatched 4
squadron of United States dragons
with instructions to capture and bring
to this place any persons whom they
might find acting in violation of my
Proclamation. In pursuance Of thest
instructions one hundred and on,
prisoners were taken and brought here
and committed for trial.
While portion of the army were
performing this duty, I was advised
that a large body of men was ap
preaching the town of Lawrence de
termined upon its destruction. / a
once ordered three hundred United
States troops to that place. and re.
paired there in person. Within foul
miles of Lawrence ] found force O
twenty-seven hundred men, consisting
of citizens of this Territory, and O.
other places, organized as Territorial
militia, under Proclamation of the
late acting Governor 1 disbanded
this force, ordering the various com
panies comprising it to repair te
their respective places of rendez.
vous, there to be mustered out ot
service. My orders were obeyed the
militia retired to their homes, the eff
fusion of blood was prevented, the
preservation of Lawrence effected, and
a great step made towards the resto-
ration ofpeace and confidence.
To recount my various official acts,
following each other in quick success
sion under your immediate observa-
ton, would be work of supereroga
ton, and would occupy more space
than the limits of an Executive mess
age would justify. My Executive
Minutes, containing truthful history
of my official transactions, with the
policy which dictated them, have been
forwarded to the General Government.
and are open to the inspection of the
country
In relation to any alterations or
notifications of the Territorial Stat
utes which I might deem advisable, l
promised in my Inaugural Address, to
direct public attention at the proper
time. In the progress of events that
time has arrived, and you are the tri-
bunal to which my suggestions must
be submitted. On this subject / be-
speak your candid attention, as it has
an insepsrable connection with the
prosperity and happiness of the peo-
pie.
It has already been remarked that
the Territories ofthe United States are
the common property of the citi-
zens of the several States. It may be
likened to- a joint ownership in an
estate, and no conditions should be
imposed or restrictions placed upon
the equal enjoyment of all the benefits
arising therefrom, which will do the
least injustice to any ofthe owners, or
which is not contemplated in the ten
ure by which it is held, which is no
less than the Constitution of the
United States, the sole bond of the
American Union. This being the
true position, no obstacle should be
interposed to the free, speedy and gen.
eral settlement of this Territory.
The durability and imperative au-
thority of a State Constitution. when
the interests of the people require a
State Government, and adirect popu-
lar vote is necessary to give it sanction
and effect, will be the proper occasion,
once for all, to decide the grave polit-
ical questions which underlie we'll
regulated commonwealth. w.
Let this. then, be the tombstone Of
your deliberations. Enact no law
which viii not clearly bear the consti-
tutional test and if any laws have
been passed which do not come up to
this standard, it is your solemn duty
to sweep them from the statute book.
The Territorial government should
abstain from the exercise of authori-
ty not clearly delegated to it, and
should permit all doubtful questions to
remain IN abeyance until the forma-
ton of State Constitution.
On the delicate and exciting ques-
tion of slavery, a subject which so pc
culiarly engaged the attention of Con-
gress at the passage of our Organic
Act, ] cannot too earnestly invoke
you to permit it to remain where the
Constitution of the United States and
that act place it, subject to the decis-
ion of the courts upon all points aris
ing during cur present infant eondi-
ton.
The repeal of the Missouri line,
which was a restriction on popular
sovereignty. anew conseerated the
great doctrine of self government, and
restored to the people their full con-
troll over every question of interest to
themselves, both north and south of
that Hne.
Justice to the country and the die
tates of sound policy. require that
the Legislature should confne itself to
sueh subjects as will preserve the ha-