The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-09-07

shall and other officers of like character.
impotent to execute process and judgments Of
The CoUrcs OF Justice, established by Con-
gresS or the territorial Legislature under its
express authority. and thus have suffered the
Government itself To become an object OF
contempt In the eyes of the people, and yet
this Is what you designate as fOrcingthe peo-
pie of Kansas to obey the laws, not their
own nor of the United States, for doing which
you have denounced me as having violated
my oath.
Il ask what else could have done or ought
| TO have done! Would you have decided
that should abandon the territorial govern
ment sanctioned as it had been by Congress,
to illegal violence, and thus renew the scenes
of civil war and bloOdshed which every pa
tTiOt has deplored!
This would indeed have been to violate my
oath Of office and to fix a tanning blot upon
the character of my administration.
Il most eheerfrlly admit that the necessity
for sending military force 20 Kansas TO aid in
executing the civil law, reflects no credit up
on the character of our county, but let the
blame fall upon the heads OF the guilty.
From whence did this necessity arise' A
portion of the people of Kansas, unwilling TO
trust to the ballot box, the American remedy
for redress of all grievances. undertook 20
selves. Had this attempt proved successful,
it would have subverted the existing govern
ment, prescribed and recognized by Congress,
and substituted a revolutionary government
in lis stead
The President then enters into more par
ticular specifications Of the condition OF af-
fairs. requiring the presence of military force,
which he has embraced above in general
terms, and continues THE Convention will
soon assemble to perform the solemn duty Of
framing Constitution for themselv es and
their posterity, and in the state of incipent
rebellion 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
while framing q Constitution and in protect
ing the bona tideinhabitants 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 appro-
baton or rejection. l have entire confidence
! in Governor Walker, that the troops will not
! be employed except to resist actual aggression
or in the eXeeu ion of the laws, and this rule
! until the power of tue civil magistrate shall
| prove unavailing.
Following the wise example of Mr. Madi-
| son towards the Hartford Convention. which
was an illegal and dangerous combination
sucn as tnaJ OF the Topeka convention, viii
not be disturbed unless they shall attem pt
| to perform some act which will bring them
into actual collision with tbs Constitution
and laws. In that event. they shall be re-
sisted and put down by the whole power Of
Government.
'ln performing this duty,I have the appro-
baton Of my own conscience. and humbly
trust, OF my God. | thank you for the assn
rance that you will not refrain from the
prayer that the Almighty God viii make my
administration an example of jus ice and be-
| neicence.
You can greatly assist me in arriving a
this blessed confirmation, by exerting your
influence in allaying the existing sectional
excitement on the subject of slavery. wheel
has been productive OF much evil, and III
good, and which, il it succeed in attaining it:
object, would ruin the slave as well as sht
master. This would be genuine philan-
thropy. Every day of my life ! feel how in
adequate | am to perform the duties of my
high station. without continuing it in tht
support Of Divine Providence; yet, placing
my trust in Him, and Him alone, entertain
a good hope that He will enable ME to dc
equal justice to all portions of the Union, anC
thus render me an humble instrument in re-
storing peace and harmony among the peopl,
of the several States.
Yours, very respectfully,
.,I JAMES BUCHANAN.