The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-09-15

The Grasshopper Falls convention to prepare
and publish an address to the people OF the
United States. 1t is prepared. Although
not yet submitted for the approval OF the
entire committee, there is no doubt that 1t
will be adopted without alteration rs given
below. II Is the joint production OF Gen.
Lane and Mr.. Conway;
ADDRESS TO THE PRoPLx.
The people Of Kansas, at their recent con-
vention held at Grasshopper Falls, adopted
a resolution to participate in the election OF
members OF Territorial Legislature and
delegate to Congress in October next, and
appointed the undersigned committee to
address the people at large with respect to
this important action.
BEGINNING OF THE TROUBLES.
Two wears and half ago portion Of the
people Of Missouri invaded our territory,
took possession Of our ballot boxes, and es-
tablished the oligarchy which has since
claimed to exercise the functions Of gov
eminent amongst us. A short time after
that event our people met in convention at
Big Springs to determine the course they
should pursue.
THE PRIMITIVE POLICY.
Two plans we're suggested-oue to resist
the execution Of their laws by force; the
other to avoid this extreme measure by the
adoption of state government. This latter
alternative was preferred, and the following
resolutions adopted;
Resolved, That the body Of men who for
the last two months have been framing laws
for the people Of our territory, moved, coun-
selled and dictated by the demagogues Of
Missouri, are to us a foreign body, repro
senting only tue lawless invaders who elect.
ed them, and not the people OF the territory;
that We repudiate their action as the mon
strous contamination Of an act OF violence,
usurpation, and fraud, unparalleled in the
history of our Union, and worthy only OF
men untitled for the duties, and regardless
Of the responsibilities Of repahlioAnism.
Resolved, That this convention, in view
Of its reputation Of the so called Kansas
legislative assembly, respond most heartily
to the call made By thy peoples convention
Of the l4th ultimo, for delegate conven-
ton Of the people Of Kansas territory, to be
held at Topeka, on the 18th instant, to con-
slider the propriety Of the formation Of a
state constitution, and such other matters as
may legitimately come before il.
Resolved, That setting aside oil minor is
sues Of partizan politics, it is incumbent
upon US to prefer an organization calculated
to recover our dearest rights, and into which
democrats and wings, native and naturalized
citizens may freely enter, without any sacri-
fce OF their respective political creeds,
but without forcing them as test upon
others and that when We have achieved oul
| political freedom, indicated our right oil
| self government, and become an indepcn-
| dent state Of the Union, when those issue.
may become vital as they are now dormant
it will be time enough to divide our organi-
zation by these tests, the Importance Of
which We fully recognize in their appropriat,
sphere.
DEFENSE OF 1T.
| Il is we'll known that these resolutions
passed, at Big Springs, September, 1855, have
/ constituted the basis Of all subsequent pc.
litical action Of the people of Kansas. They
there uaequiyocally disavowed the authority
of the Territorial Legislature. and have
maintained that position ever since. They
there committed themselves in favor Of u
state organization, and have maintained that
position ever since. Upon these two meas-
ures they have rested their hopes from the
commencement Of the struggle; and upon
their ultimate success they still continue to
rely. In adopting this course OF action the
people of Kansas were not impelled either
by fanatical zeal or wanten inconsidera-
ton of purpose. They proceeded gravely
and with deiberation to decide upon the
ground they should occup. 1t was said that
they could not proceed to effect state or
ganixation without authority previously Civ
en- by act of Congress or territorial Legis-
lature. But they knew that no such princi-
pie as this had ever been established. On
the contrary, they knew that the instances in
which states had been formed under acts Of
Congress were exceedingly few; and as to
acts Of the territorial Legislature, they knew
that these hud been ruled by the highest au-
thority to be invalid and of no effect. 1t
was also said that although the people had
been prevented from electing their Legisla-
ture as the organic act Of the territory re.
CURED, yet, while the territorial government
remained technically intact, o state govern
ment would be rival, revolutionary move
ment, putting the authority OF tho United
States government in despite. But the peo-
pie knew that the Constitution Of tho United
States contained no provision whatever for
q territorial government anywhere, that the
trainers Of that instrument did not contem-
plate the acquisition Of new territory to the
Union: that territorial government was
therefore the creature Of temporary ne
cessity-a mere protectorate--of extra con-
stitutional lcgisla,on--a thing incident to a
transient sovereign, that when the
state government, the normal and recognized
status Of the community, came into exist
ence, the territorial government expired with
the necessity which created it. The people
Of Kansas knew that the government Of the
United States itself had proceeded upon
these principles in the admission OF state,
into the Union and had thus given them il,
highest sanction and rendered them auihori
tstiye. They, therefore, assumed thil
ground after duly weighing the objection
urged to it with the most perfect assuranc,
OF its correctness - matter Of Law AMI
established governmental policy.
FAITH IN Tnx OLD POLICY.
I The opposition made by the administra
| ti0n 1t Washington and its party throughout
the country to this course Of the people o.
\ Kansas, has not in the slightest degre,
! weakened their confidence in it, or lessenes
Z their determination to adhere TO it to the end
They are satisfied that its propriety woult
never have been called in question as mat.
I ter OF serious moment, had not the fedora
administration sought, by 80 doing, to serve
special purpose in behalf Of slavery. So
confident are our people in the stand they
have thus taken, that they would be perfect
" willing to permit their state government
TO proceed to the regular performance Of its
functions, without any regard to the terrific
rial government, were it not for settled
wish on their part, TO do nothing which may
subject them to the charge Of ultra views,
or a desire to incur violence, even in the as
sertion OF their rights. They have pre-
ferrcd to turn aside for the time being from
their state organization, and to make an ef-
Tort to secure, through the territorial ballot