The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-09-16

ion, to tske care ti,st Tie laws Be faithfully
executed" 1t was for this purpose, and
this alone, that ordered military force to
Kansas to act as posse comitdfas IN aiding
the civil magistrate to carry the laws into
execution. The condition of the Territory
at the time, which need not portray, rem
dered this precaution absolutely necessary.
In this state of affairs, would | not have
been Justly condemned had left the mar
shall and other officers OF like character
impotent to execute the process and judg-
ments Of courts Of justice established by
Congress, or BY 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 yetthis is what you designate as forcing
" the people of Kansas to obey laws not their
own, nor of the United States" and for
doing which you have denounced me as
having violated nv solemn oath. ] ask,
what else could have done, or ought 10
! have dones Would YOU have desired that
should abandon the Territorial government,
sanctioned as il had been by Congress, 10
Illegal violence, and thus renew the scenes
of civil war and hloodshed which every pa
triot in the country had deplored ! This
would, indeed, have been TO violate my oath
Of office, and to fix damning blot on the
character of nv Administration.
most cheerfully admit that the necessity
| for sending 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 c.k. nf Il nuxVlllnU
TO trust to the ballot-box-the certain Anne
rican remedy for the redress OF all grew
Iances-undertook to create an independent
government for themselves. Had this at,
tempt proved successful. il would OF course
have subverted the existing government,
prescribed aud recognised BY Congress, and
substituted revolutionary government IN
its stead. This was a usurpation OF the
same character as il would be for a portion
Of the people of Connecticut TO undertake
to establish separate government within
its chartered limits for the purpose OF re-
dressing any grievance, real or Imaginary,
of which they might have complained against
the legitimate State government. Such a
principle, if carried into execution, wanisl
destroy all lawful authority and produce uni
versal anarchy.
ought to specify more particularly 2
condition 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 declar-
ed il TO be the true intent and meaning oil
this act tthe act organizing the Territory
not to legislate slavery into any territory or
State, nor TO exclude it thereirom, but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free 70
form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their own way, subject only 70 the Ion
stitution of the United States. As natu.
raj consequence, Congress has also prescribed
: by the same act that when the Territory @
Kansas shall be admitted as State It "shai
: be received into the Union with or without
, slavery, as their constitution may prescribe
D al the time Of their admission"
: Slavery existed al that period. and siil
> exists, ia kausas, uuirt the Constitution q
1 the United States. This point has at las
i been finally decided by the highest tribuna
known 10 our laws. How il could ever hay,
/ been seriously doubted is mystery. Ii !
d confederation Of sovereign States acquire
!, new Territory at the expense Of their com
: mon blood and treasure, surely one set o
: partners can have no right TO exclude IN,
| other from its enjoyment by prohibiting
!, them from taking into IT whatsoever IS re
n cognised TO be the property BY the eommoi
e Constitution. But when the people, tn
/, bona file residents Of such Territory, pro
II coed 70 frame state constitution, then il /
!, their right to decide the important question
r for themselves whether they will continue
Z modify, or abolish slavery. To them and 1
' them alone, does this question belong, fire.
i from all foreign interference.
2 In the opinion Of the Territorial Leglsla
a ture nf Kansas the time had arrived for en-
J. tsrinz the Union, and they accordingly
passed law TO elect delegates for the pur
n pose Of framing State constitution. Ihi
if law was fair and just in IL provisions.
% conferred the right Of suffrage on ever
I, bona file inhabitant Of the Territory !" and
! for the purpose 81 preventing fraud and u
= intrusion Of citizens Of near or dlstan
d states, most properly confined this right I
= those who had resided therein three month
n previous to the election. Here fair oppor
d tunity was presented for all the qualities
0, resident citizens OF the Territory. 10 what
.e ever organization they might have preyi
e ously belonged, to participate in the cleo
U ton. and 70 express their opinions ~ n
ballot bnx On the question Of slavery. Bu
i numbers IT laHless men still continued |
e resist the regular Territorial government
al They refused either TO be registered or I
vote and the members Of the Consentio
,e we're elected legally and properly withot
4, their intersention. The Convention vi
is soon assemble 70 perform the solemn duty
e framing a constitution for themselves aIl
Ie their posterity; and in the state Of Incip
III ent rebellion which still exists 10 Kansas
IL il nv imperative duty 10 employ the troOI
!. of the United States, should this become NJ
IA cessary, in defending the Convention again
ii violence whilst framing the constitution, 81
I. = ...l......a. IL !. Ln.an Gde iuhah.ta ma