The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-01-17
MES s AGE
GOVERNOR JOHN W. GEARY,
TO THE
LEGISLATIVE Assembly of Kansas Ter.
rftory.

Geudeaaea of.. tie Council and of kke
House Of Representatives;
4 The all-wise and benefcent Being
who controls alike the desiinies o,
individuals and of nations, has per-
mitted you to convene this day, charg-
ed with grave responsibilities.
The eyes, not only of the people o.
Kansas, but of the entire Union, are
upon you, watching with anxiety tn:
result of your deliberations, and OF oul
Joint action in the execution of the
delicate and important duties devolv-
ing upon Us.
Selected at critical period in tht
history of the country to discharge the
executive functions of this Territory
the obligations | was required to as
sumo were of the most weighty i'm.
portanee. And when I came seriously
to contemplate their magnitude,
would have shrunk from the response.
bility, were it not for an implicit reli.
ance upon Divine aid, and full con-
fidence in the virtue, zeal and patri-
otism of the citizens, without which
the wisest executive suggestions must
be futile and imperative.
To you, Legislators, invested with
sovereign authority, I look for that
hearty co. operation which will enable
us successfully to guide the ship Of
state through the troubled waters, into
the haven of safety.
1t is with feelings of profound graf
itude to Almighty God, the bonnie
Gus giver of all good, l have the pleas
ure of announcing that after the bitter
contest of opinion through which we
have recently passed, and which has
unfortunately led to fratricidal strife,
that peace, which have every reason
to believe will be permanent, now
reigns throughout this Territory and
gladdens with its genial influences,
homes and hearts which but lately
were sad and desolate; that the rob
Der and the murderer have been driv-
en- from our soil; that burned cabins
have been replaced by substantial
dwellings; that feeling of confidence
and kindness has taken the place of
distrust and hate; that all good citi-
zens are disposed to deplore the errors
and excesses of the past, and unite
with fraternal zeal in repairing its
injuries, and that this Territory-un-
surpassed by any portion of the con-
tinent for the salubrity of its climate,
the fertility of its soil, its mineral and
agricultural wealth, its timber -fringed
streams, and fine quarries of building
stone-has entered upon career OF
unparalleled prosperity.
To maintain the advance we have
made. and realize the bright anticipa-
tions of the future; to build up a model
commonwealth, enriched with all the
treasures of learning, of virtue and
religion, and make it a choice heri-
tage for our children and generations
yet unborn, let me, not only as your
Executive, but as a Kansan, devoted
to the interests of Kansas, and anima-
ted solely by patriotic purposes, with
all earnistness invoke you, with one
heart and soul to pursue so high and
lofty a course in your deliberations,
as, by its moderation and justice, will
commend itself to the appreciation of
the country and command the respect
of the people.
This being the first occasion afforded
me to speak to the Legislative Assem-
bly,, it is but proper, and in accord
ance with general usage, that I should
declare the principles which shall give
shape and tone to my administration.
These principles without elaboration,
/ will copdensc into the narrowest
compass.
equal and exact Justice" to all
men, ofwhatever political or religious
persuasion; peace, comfy and friend
ship with neighboring States and Ter
ritories, with a sacred regard for State
rights and a reverential respect for the
integrity and perpetuity of the Union;
a reverence for the Federal Constitu-
ton as the concentrated wisdom of
the fathers of the Republic, and the
very ark of our political safety; the
cultivation of pure and energetic
nationality, and the development of
an exalted and intensely vital patri-
otism; a jealous regard for the elective
franchise and the entire security and
sanctity of the ballot box; firm de-
termination to adhere to the doctrines
of self government and popular sover-
eighty as guaranteed by the Organic
Act; unqualified submission to the
will of the majority; election of
all officers by the people themselves;
the supremacy of the civil over the
military authority; strict economy in
public expenditures with a rigid ae-
countability of all public officers; the
preservation of the public faith and a
currency based upon and equal to gold
and silver; free and safe immigration
from every quarter OF the country; the
cultivation of a proper Territorial
pride, with a firm determination to
submit to no invasion of our sover-
eighty; the fostering care of agricul-
ttlre, manufactures, mechanic arts, and
all works of internal improvement;
the liberal and free education of all
the children OF the Territory; entire
religious freedom; a free press, free
speech, and the peaceable right to as
-semble and discuss all questions of
public interest; trial by iuries impair
tally selected; the sanctity of the ha-
beas corpus; the repeal of all laws in
consistent with the Constitution of the
United States and the Organic Act,
and the steady administration of the
government so as to best secure the
general welfare.
These sterling maxims, sanctioned
by the wisdom and experience of the
past, and the observance of which has
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