The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-25
From the Albany Atlas and Argus
The KANSAS DIFFICULTIES.

standing out in rebellion against the authority Of the ter
ritor legislature calculate largely upon the public
ereduly. Let see how the matter stands The first
elecon for delegates 10 the legislature was held In the
fall of 1854 We do not doubt that more or less frauds
were pracsed But Gov. Reeler, to whom the duty be-
onged most of the successful candidates certificates
of their election In few he refused certificates
and ordered new elections These were held and the list
Of members made complete
The legislature afterwards assembled and organized
Reeder, as governor recognised it, sent in his message
and afterwards otherwise communicated with it, here
Is dispute that he fully recognised ii us the regular ter
toria legislature until it lourned its session TO an
other placenot the at which Reeder interested
in locating the capital Governor Reeder then took the
ground that this not a valid legislature orgi-
nay that by adounng to another place IL had ex
y,s p2%es and lost jurisdiction, and that its further
essectae statesman or lawyer Mm tfS pretex which no
The government at Washington had also Ieeogghia,;
this legislature. How could ii do otherwise The gov
ernor had recognised it, and there other legisa
tive body claiming conflicting jurisdiction Conceding
there had been frauds in the election of of the
members, 1t did not render the whole body nuty.
Such is not the rule in respect to any legislative body
The title Of the disputed members is inquired into first
before the other proper officer who gives
the certificate of election and afterwards before the legs
ative body The federal government had alternative.
only legislative body knn~" 10 the law, ana the one
which the governor of the Territory Reeder) had com
missioned
The remedy Of such portion of the people rs felt their
rights invaded was the only one open in similar
cases in any State Terrtorya vndcation of them
selves the polls at the next election This would have
been action under the law and in which the protection
Of the law and Of the federal could have been
demanded But this remedy not pursued. On the
Hon. and rob were
Those deoming themselves aggevcd refused to regard
the actual existing government and defying its au
thorty proceeded in irregular and awless manner to
set up a new government They did what in any coun-
try under the sun would be regarded as revolution,
Another legislature has since been elected has held q
session passed laws and adjourned Yet there are those
who istify resistance to the laws passed by both of these
legislatures not alone because the laws are oppressive or
unst but because they choose to throw off their ale
Glance to both and to deny that there any valid
laws in the Territory The simple recital of these circum
stances which IL well enough to recall to our minds
Is enough to show that those who resist the laws in Kan
sas and refuse obey the system OF internal government
which the legislative authority has established occupy
the ordinary position of engaged in revolt against
the government under which they reside
And vet there are few prints the New York Tribune
and Albany Evening Journal among the number which
Justify residents of Kansas in such action more,
roe It upon them and press them to perscvere in it,
.srcblv Il need be- Such is the atrocious language Of
thosiattcr paper
Such advice is the criminal because now there is
not the apology of any seeming necessity for 1t TO be
pleaded Whatever mag have been the condition OF things
incident to the first settlement Of Kansas and the border
difficulties which then existed there no good ground
for asserting that the citizens of Kansas State men in
cu,ledcannot go the polls at the legislative election
in October and with much freedom and security
as ,.uay prevail in any Territory or State. The
will Of the majority be reflected in the next legis
ture Mr. Buchanan gave the assurance in his inaugu
raj and the whole policy OF his administration shows that
he intends to redeem it, that every citizen OF Kansas
should c able to express his opinion by his vote Under
this state Of things and with the guarantee OF the pro
lection OF the gl. OF Suffrage by the United States au
thorites rebellion is rot merely crime, it is a stupic
blundcr and insane folly And il Is impossible to believe
that the journals in question honestly advise it. IL Il
impossibe to resist the conclusion that they urge
on the citizens of Kansas 10 this insenc course merely fo
the purpose of keeping up the slavery agitation Tor par
tisan ends The public cannot fail to view it in th'
light
The recent disturbances at Lawrence stand simply OF
the basis which have described They are rebellion
against the existing government OF Kansas ana an AZ
tempt to set mp an independent government in spite
its authority Gov Walkers proclamation simply calls
upon the insurgents to cease their rebellion and their re
sistarce to the laws. That ~ al.
To show how journals not favorable TO the democratic
party but at the same time disposed to treat the subject
reasonably view it, we mako few extracts
The New York Times which supported Fremont says
ANY people less accustomed than are the same cit
zens to converting every interest however sacrcd anc
every issue VITAL into the material OF party str,
and petty partisan intrigue would have long since ac
ceted the position in which matters left by the pa
ciicaton OF Kansas, and making the best OF That posi-
ton would have gone to work to effect practicable or
ganizaton Of their affairs.
we have never been able to that any possible re-
suits OF permanent good for Kansas the nation were
to he achieved by the attitude Of the frceSate men al
Topeka
II the crisis OF our national existence Is really npof
usif the Union of these States has been virtually dis
solved and the government to which send our repre-
sentatives and from which send executive func
tonaries no longer governmentthcn certainly, W.
can comprehend the position Of those who maintain that
il reasonable and right for the State men OF Kansas
TO refuse obedience To the territorial authorities designated
by the of tho United States and to persist IL
the support Of territorial organization which is not rec
ognised and will be recognised by the Congress
the Union But we do not perceive that the friends Q
the Topeka Legislature this position They seen
to us to claim the privileges without assuming the re
sponsbcs of revolution And it is for this reason, ant
for this reason only that always have opposed, ant
DO still sirenuousy oppose their sentiments and thei
action.
That we are right in this opposition Is, we think
sufficiently proved by the actual state of affairs at Law
renee.
''1he inhabitants of Lawrence have set up govern
within government They refuse to recognise tn
80. A.. Ia. ,,,yih In