The Washington union., 1857-09-26

its massacres its oonagraton and its shame sustained
every step its authors and abeto to this hour Have
YOU not sanctioned such conduct by placing retaining
prominent leaders therein in official stations
Again. are the troubles and caamities of Kansas the
legitimate results of the wise the true
and right working in such exigeneyof our national
government THE most perfect specimen OF human gov
enment the world has seento our own admiration
the perfection of excellence Surely such results bespeak
arrangement some disturbing force In the eyolu-
tons of machinery fitted TO do good 80 powerful 10
its high design.
But If your example in administration, and thatof your
predecessor in Office 10 be followed In future when
similar cases shall occur II every usurpation oil
power when il has gained temporary success thence
forth be backed by the whole power OF the federal gov
enment and forced upon the indignant people ON whom
by fraud violence it had imposed ITSELF where will the
end be How often will such crises actually occur, re-
sulting from the very nature of our government with
such principle in its administration to originate and
foster them What temptation to party spirit, thus
unrestaned emboldened. upheld by the government OF
the nation would be furnished, to carry out its schemes
and its trumphs in violence and boodshed What shall
hinder Let the administration OF the
hands sand such changes may be frequent-how surely
would the contests be re-enacted by way OF iepr
sails for past injuries and oppressions How would such
contests be repeated in Territories and in States TILL to
your mind, would be revealed in the very principle
which you assume weakness in our government fore
telling its speedy dissoutiong
OF the particular considerations by which have en-
deavored to support the fundamental principle OF your
reply, the first which demands notice is that when you
entered upon your official duties Congress had recognised
the legislature (of Kansas in different forms and by d
ferent enactments" Had you informed your memorial
lists what these different enactments they might
have been made the subject of distinct examination AS
is they only that they know OF no forms or
enactments of Congress which could be binding ON you
authoritative which you had to regard
evidence of the validity of that legislature Do you
fer to the act by which the usual appropriations from the
treasury madef Every one knows in what manner
and for what that act passed. and that many
who voted for it regarded and still regard the territorial
Legislature downright usurpation nor had they any
suspicion that they recognising its validity How
this bill invest act of usurpation with authority
your memorialsts unable to discover. What If the
legislature of Connecticut had, under the excitement
of party strife, even by formal act, recognised
the usurpaton which you have supposed might not
the governor Justly fall back upon his official pre-
rogative call the militia and suppress the rebellion
If he would be bound to recognise such usurpation
government having authority when could he ever sup
press it without himself becoming rebel against the very
authority which he recognises Apply this illustration
to the President of the United States and you will
that the fundamental principle of all your reasoning is
absolutely suicidal and thus renders nugatoly your
tire vindcation Did not President Jackson his own
official responsibility national Executive set at def
ance alike the power and the authority Of sovereign
State 2! And can territorial government rank with an
independent State sovereignty Can border rufianism
by any act of Congress- become entitled to respect and
support rightfu law making power from the Pres
dent of the United States The is too fragrant The
facts too notorious No truly independent, efrely
ing President who understood his official prerogatve and
his duty under the constitution would have hestated to
disregard even direct of Congress tyrannica and
oppressive and appeal to his country and the world for
his vindcation
But no such trying emergency was here presented.
With the solemn decision of the House of Representatives
after long investigation that the legislature of Kansas
had no authority and that its laws no laws-wh
that direct positive and unmpeachable evidence before
you your memoass cannot but express their surprise
that you have relied upon your construction of indirect
nconcusve acts of that same body ence OF the
thory of that Legislature They know of no rule of law
by which you set up constructive nfeenta evidence
against direct and positive evidence from the source
But this proof you pass over in utter silences
Abiding to the condition OF the Territory, son speak
of the which you adopted absolutely
ry and ask whether .you would not have been justly
condemned had you left what you assume to be the
government and its administration 'smpotent and thus
have suffered it to become obect of contempt in the
eyes of the people Our first reply to this view of the
is before, there (erritoraD government in
Kansas to be executed you suppose And again. we
say the usped ought to have been rendered
impote, and to have become an object of contempt in
the eyes of the people, as it has become But further
Congress had passed law for the establishment of gov
ernment in this Territory with this formal and positive
explanation that the people dn the Territory be left per-
ecy free to form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their way Why then could governor OF Kan
have been appointed at any time acting under your
thorty and with army under his control who would
have suppressed all internal violence and contention and
et the people free to form and regulate their domestic
lnSttuuOnS, as well Tic army 10 ucL tne
absurd and arccal part Of posse ccatus to enforce
der your direction territorial laws which had pretence
Of authority2 Without saying who who were
not the responsible orgnators of the troubles in Kansas
can it be doubted that the President long before this
time by the suggest 3D. other, might
have put end to these troubesa Has he not power
to stakc that the laws and of course, that the
law of Congress respecting Kansas"be faithfully
cuted p
You have introduced several topics into your reply as
that of slavery the decision of the Supreme Court in the
case of Dred Scott with others, which your memorial
lists have said nothing in their memorial and which
they intend say nothing now, except to express their
dissent from your opinions.
1t is needless to proong this discussion. Your whole
vndcaton if it has any ground rests in the view of
your memoriass, upon palpaby false assumption
That whatever claims to be government de acto with
out pretence of its proceeding from any righul law
making power is entitled to your support. The world
has not usrpaton which this principle would not
sanction If adopted in the administration of our gov
eminent it must involve, later, its destruc
ton.
Pardon now if need be, the plain and respectful
estness of your memoalsts in unfolding what they
slider false principles in your positions on the present sub
ect. They speak of want of honesty in your opin
ons of sincerity in your avowal of themof no want
Of patriotism your part yet of that higher pat
otism which God approves They speak only of what
quences in political evils They judge not the heart.
They have imputed to you any violation of your oath
Of Office you have thought fit to charge. Their Ian
guage shows the contrary They said, "by the foregoing
you are held up, as violating, sc. The foregoing
here spoken of shown by the connexon TO be the c1
of Gov Walker that he President of the United States
is employing through him (Walker) an army, pur