Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FROM FOURTH PAGE.


A large majority of the convention were in
favor of establishing slavery in Kansas. They
accordingly inserted an article in the constitu-
ton for this purpose similar in form to these
which had been adopted by other Territorial
conventions In the schedule, however, pro-
v;ding for the transition from a territorial to
State government, the question has been fairly
and explicitly referred to the people, whether
they will have constitution " with or without
saverv.' 1t declares that, before the consti-
tuition adopted by the convention " shall be
sent to Congress for admission into the Union
as State" an election shall he held to decide
| this question, at which all the white male Ill
habitants of the Territory above the age of
81 are entitled to vote They are 10 vote by
ballot: and the bTllots cast at said election
shall be endorsed constitution with slavery
and " constitution with no slavery" If there
he majority in favor of the constitution
with slavery ;" then it is to be transmitted to
| Congress by the President of the Convention
| in its original form. If on the contrary, there
| shall be a majority in favor of the consttu-
ton with no slavery" =" then the article pro
yiding for slavery shall be stricken from the
constitution by the president of this convcn-
! ton :" aud it is expressly declared that "no
I slavery shall exist in the State of Kansas, eX-
cept that the right of property in slaves now
/ in the Territory shall in no manner be inter
| fcred with - and in that event it is made his
duty to have the constitution tins ratified
| transmitted to the Congress of the United
States for the admission the State into the
| Union
! At this election every citizen will have an
! opportunity Of expressing his opinion by his
/ vote whether Kansas shall be received into
the Union with or without slavery" and thus
this exciting question may lie peacefully set
tied in the very mode required by the organic
! law The election will be held under legti-
mate authority, and if any portion Of the in
habitantS shall refnse to vote, a fair Opportu-
nifty to do so having been presented, this will
be their own voluntary act, and they alone will
be responsible for the consequences
| Whether Kansas shall be free or slave
| State must eventually under some authority be
| decided by an election and the question can
never be more clearly or distinctly presented
/ to the people that it is at the present moment
| Should this opportunity be rejected. she may
! he involved for years to domestic discord, and
| possibly in civil war; before she can again make
/ up the issue now SO fortunately rendered, and
! again reach the point she has already attain
! ed
| Kansas has for some years occupied too
much of the public attention 1t Is high time
/ this should he directed to far more important
! objects. When once admitted into the Union,
| with or without slavery, the excitement beyond
her own limits will speedily pass away, and
! she will then for the first time be left as she
ought to have been long since, to manage her
own affairs in her own wav If her consttu-
! ton on the subject, be displeasing to a MAORI
/ ty Of the people, no human power can prevent
! them from changing it within brief period -
Under these circumstances it may well bc
! questioned whether the peace and quiet of the
whole country are not Of greater Importance
! than the mere temporary triumph of either OF
, the political parties in Kansas
] Should the constitution without slavery he
! adopted by tie votes of the majority, the
rights of property in slaves now in the Terri
! tory are reserved. The number of these is
! very small ; but if it were greater the provi-
! sion would be equally just and reasonable
! These slaves were brought into the Territory
under the constitution of the United States,
| and are now the property Of their masters.
! Tlis point has at length been finally decid
ed by the highest judicial tribunal of the coun-
! try-and this upon the plain principle that
when a confederacy of sovereign States acqnire
Il new territory at their joint expense, both
! equality and Justice demand that the citizens
of one and all of them shall have the right to
! take into it whatever is recognised as proper
/ ty by the common constitution To have
summarlIy conliscatcd the property in slaves
already in the territory, would have been
an act of injustice, and contrary to the prac-
tice Of the older States of the Union which
| have abolished slavery
A territorial government was established
! for Utah by act of Congress approved the 9th
of September, 1880, and the Constitution and
! laws Of the United States were thereby en-
tended over it " so far as the same, or any
provisions thereof, may be applicable" This
act provided for the appointment by the Presi-
! dent, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, Of Governor, who was to be ex-
offcio superintendent of Indian affairs, a Sec
retary, three Judges of the Supreme Court,
! Marshal and IA District ATTORNEY. Suhse-
qucnt acts provided for the appointment of the
off .ers necessary to extend our land and our
Indian system over the Territory Brigham
! Young was appointed the first Governor on
the 10th of September, 1850, and has held the
Office ever since. Whilst Gov. Young has
been both Governor and Superintendent OF In
dian Afars throughout this period he has
| been at the same time the head Of the church
called the Latter Day Saints, and processes
to govern its members and dispose of their
property by direct inspiration and authority
from the Almighty. His power has been,
therefore, absolute over both Church and
State
The people of Utah, almost exclusively, be-
long to this Church, and believing with fan,
teal spirit that he is governor of the Territory
by divine appointment, they obey his commands
as if these were direct revelations from IIea.
ven. IT, therefore, he chooses that his gov