The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-09-12
every patriot mad deplored2 This would

every patriot had deploredp This would
indeed have been to violate my oath of Office,
and fix a damning blot on the character of
my Administration.
I most cheerfuily admit that the necessity
for sending a military. force to Kansas. to
aid in the execution of the civil law, reflects
no credit upon the character of our country.
But let the blame fall upon the heads of the
guilty. Whence did this necessity arise? a
portion Of the peo lie of Kansas, unwilling
to trust to the ballot box, the certain Ame-
rican remedy for the redress OF all sriev-
ances, undertook to create an independent
Government for themselves. Had this at
tempt proved successful, it would, of course.
have subverted the existing Government,
prescribed and recognized by Con .ress, and
substituted a revolutionary government in
its stead. This was usurpaton of the same
character as it would DC for portion of the
people Of Connecticut to under take to es-
tablish a separate government within its own
limits, for the purpose Of redressng any
grievance, real or imaginary, of which they
might have complained against the legitimate
government Such a principle, if carried
into execution, would destroy all lawful au-
thority and produce universal anarchy.
i ought to specify more particularly con-
dition of affairs which have embraced only
in general terms, requiring the presence of
military force in Kansas. The Congress
of the United States had most wisely declared
it to be the true intent and meaning of this
act-the act organizing the territory-was
not to legislate slavery into any territory or
State, nor TO exclude it thereirom, but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their own way, subject only to the Con-
stitution Of the United States. As 4 natural
consequence, Congress has also prescribed
by the same act, that when the Territory Of
Kansas shall be admitted as State, it shall
be received into the Union with or without
slavery, as their constitution may prescribe
at the time of their admission.
Slavery existed at that period, and still
exists in Kansas, under the Constitution of
the United States. This point has at last
been finally decided, by the highest tribunal
known to our laws. How it could ever have
been seriously doubted is mystery. If a
confederation Of sovereign States acquire
new terrIt"ry at the expense Of their com
mon blood and treasure, surely one set Of
the parties can have no night to exclude the
other from its enjoyment by prohibiting
them from taking into it whatsoever Is re-
cognized to be property by the common con-
stltution. But when the people, the bona
Pile residents Of such territory proceed 10
frame State Constitution, then IL is their
right 10 decide the important question for
themselves, whether they viii continue to
modify or abolish slavery. To them and to
them alone does this question belong. free
# ON all foreign interference. Ia the opinion
OF the Territorial Legislature Of Kansas, the
time had arrived for ent-iing' the Union,
and they accordingly passed Law 10 elect
delegates for the purpose of framing 4 State
Constitution. This law was fair aud just IN
its provisions. Ii conferred the right OF
suffrage on every 69ud .Jiie inhabitant Of
the Territory, and for the purpo-e of pre-
venting fraud and the intrusion of citizens
of near or distant States, most properly con
fined this right to those who had resided
therein three months previous 20 the cleo
ton. Here was iar opportunity presented
for all qualified resident citizens Of the ter
rItOry, 10 whatever organization they might
have previously belonged, to participate in
the election, and to express their opinion at
the ballot box on the quest on OF slavery
Bat numbers Of lawless men still continued
10 resist the regular territorial government
They refused 10 be either registered or To
vote, and members Of the Convention were
elected legally and properly without their
intervention.
The Convention will soon assemble to per-
form the solemn duty of framing u COnsti-
tuition for themselves and their posteritv.
and in the state oil incipicnt rebellion, which
still exists IN Kansas, II Is my imperative
duty 10 employ the troops OF the United
States. Should this become necessary in
defending the Convention against violence,
while framing a Constitution, and in pro-
tectug the byNa .Tle inhabitants qualified to
vOie under the provisions Of tLis inslru-
ment, ia the free exercise of the right OF
suffrage when IL shall be submitted for their
appreciation or rejection, have entire conf
deHCe IN Governor Walker, that the troops
viii not be employed, except to resist actual
aggression, or ia the execution OF the laws
ana this, not until the powers Of the Civil
Magistrate shall prove unavaliinr. Follow
ing the wise example Of Mr. Madison to-
wards the Hartford Convention, Illegal and
dangerous combinations, such a. that OF the
Topeka Convention. VIII not be disturbed,
unless they shall attempt to perform some
act which will bring them into actual COLI
sion with the Constitution and the laws In
that event, they shall be resisted and put
down by the whole power of the Govern
ment. In performing this duty, | have the
appreciation OF my own conscience, and as
| /. 'Uubly trust, of my God.
| thank you for the assurance that you
will not refrain from prayer that the Al
mighty God will make my Administration an
example o.. justice ard benehcence. You
can greatly assist me in arriving at this
blessed consumms ton, by exerting your in
Guence in al aging the existing sectional ex-
element on the subjec. 0! slavery, which
has been productive Of much evil and no
good; and which, if it succeed IN attaIning
its object, would ruin the slave as '>-ell as the
master. This 10 Id be genuine phila nthro-
Ply. Every day of my life, feel how in
adequate am to perform the duties of my
high station, without continuing in the sup
port of the Divine Providence
Yet placing my trust in Him, and in Him
alone, entertain good hope that He will
enable me TO do equal justice TO all portions
of the Union, and thus render me an humble
instrument in restoring peace and harmony
among the people Of the several States.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
OREGoN.-The annuapelection in Oregon
took place in June. Gen. Lane was re-elect-