The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-09-16

before making them, you should have
clearly ascertained that they were well.
founded.
If not they will rebound with whitening
condemnation upon their authors. Have
you performed this preliminary duty to-
wards the man who, however unworthy, is
the Chief Magistrate of your country?-
If SO, either you or are laboring under b
strange delusion. Should this prove to be
your case, it will present memorable ex-
ample of the truth that political prejudice
is blind even to the existence of the plain
est and most palpable historical facts
To these facts let US refer. When enter.
ed upon the duties of the Presidential
Office on the 4th of March last, what was
the condition of Kansas?
This territory had been organized un-
der the act of Congress of the Both of May,
1854, and the Government in all its bran
ches was in full operation. A Governor,
Secretary of the Territory, Chief Justice,
two Associate Justices, Marshal and
District Attorney had been appointed by
my predecessor, by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate. and were all en-
gagged in discharging their respective du.
ties. A code of laws had been enacted
by the Territorial Legislature. and the
Judiciary were employed exponding and
carrying these laws into effect
| 1t is quite true that controversy had
previously arrisen respecting the validity
of the election of the members of the Ter
ritorial Legislature, and of the laws pas
sed by them, but at the time Ientered up
on my official duties Congress had recog-
nized this Legislature in different enact
ments. The delegate elected to the House
Of Representatives under Territorial law
Ijust completed his term Of service on the
day previous to my inauguration. In
fact found the government of Kansas as
well established as that of any other Ter.
ritory. Under these circumst ances, what
was my duty? Was it not to sustain
this government To protect it from
the violence of lawless men who were de-
termined either to rule or ruin To
prevent it from being overturned by force?
In the language Of the Constitution to
"take care that the laws be faithfully ex-
ecuted." 1t was for this purpose, and for
this alone, that ordered military force
to Kansas. to act as a posse comitat,ss in
aiding the civil magistrate to carry the
| laws into execution. The condition Of
the Territory at the time, which need
not betray, rendered this precaution ab.
solutely necessary In this state of affairs.
would not have been justly condemned
had left the Marshal, and other officers
of like character. impo,eut to execute
the process and judgments Of the Courts
of Justice. established by Congress, or by
the Territorial Legislature, under its ex-
press authority, and thus have suffered the
Government itself to become an object oil
contempt in the eyes of the people 7 And
yet this is what you designate as forcing
"the people of Kansas to obey the laws
! not their own nor of the United States,
and for doing which you have denounced
me as having violated my solemn oath.
: / ask what else could have done, ol
: ought to have done Would you hav,
, desired that should abandon the Ter
ritorial Government, sanctioned as it hat
r been by Congress. to Illegal violence, ans
. thus renew the scenes of civil war ant
bloodshed which every patriot in th
s country had deplored? This would in
deed have been to violate my oath Of Office
r and to fix damning blot on the characte
: of my Administration.
: ] most cheerfu!ly admit that the neces
} sity for sending military force to Kan
!. sas to aid in the execution of the civil law
t reflects no credit npon the character o
i our country. But let the blame fall upol
]. the heads of the guilty. Whence did thi
b necessity arise ? A portion of the peo
d pie of Kansas, unwilling to trust to th
hallot.box, the certain American remed
for redress of all grievances. undertook {
create an Independent Government 70
lthemselve-.
Had this attempt proved successful,
:, = would of course have subverted the exist
ling Government prescribed and recoe
nized by Congress, and substituted re,
:. iolutionary Government in its stead. Thi
= was usurpation of the same character q
;. it would be for portion Of the people {
" Connecticut, to undertake to establish
separate Government within its chartere
;, limits, for the purpose Of redressing an
! grievance, real or imaginary, of whic
: they might have complained against to th
= legitimate Government. Such q prime
:. ple if carried into execution, would d,
= tstroy all lawful authority and produe
= universal anarchy. I ought to specii
! more particularly q condition Of affai
= = which / have only embraced in gener
: terms. requiring the presence Of . militia.
. lfo-ce in Kansas.
l. The Congress of the United States ha
~ most wisely declared it to be the true il
/ tent and meaning of this act,--the a
Il =