New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-03
THE LATEST NEWS.
RECEIVED By
MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH
FROM WASHINGTON.


The following is the memorial of Professor Silman
and foltytwo others of Connecticut addressed to his
Exceuency James buchanan, the President of the
United States:
Tie undersigned, citizens Of the United States aud
electors of the State of Connecticut respectfully O.r
to your EIeeleDcy this their memorial. The tuoda.
mental principle OF the Constitution OF tue oui Yea
people sball make their own laws and elect their CwD
rulers. We see with grief, if net with astonishnent,
that Gov. Walker OF KansGs openly represents and
procaima hat the President of the Uoted States is
pose OF which, to force the people OF Kansas to obey
laws not their own or OF the United States but laws
which il is notorious, and established upon evidence,
they never made and rulers they never elected.
We represent therefore that by the foregoing your
Exceleucy is openly held up aud proclaim=c to the
great derCgatOn OF national character as vloai-
ing in its most essential particular the solemn oath which
the President has taken TO support the Constitution OF
ths Union We call attention, further, to the fact
that your Excelenoy is in like manner held up to thu
nation to all mankind, and to all posterity IN the att
tude Of Glowing war against portion 81 tue
United States" by employing arms in ksnsa.
to uphold q body of men, aud code OF
PupSd5ns to election sS por
nor consent Of the people of the Territory. We
earnestly represent to your Excellency that we also
have taken the oath to obey the Constitution, and
your Excellency may rest assured that we snail not
refrain from the prayer that Almighty God will make
your Administration example of justice and beneh-
cence, and with His terrible majesty prOtec. our
people and our Constitution.
The Presidents reply was as follows;
WAsHISGToN, August 10 1867.
GEsTLIMTN: On my recent return 20 this city after
a fortnehts absence, your memorial without date was
paced il my hands through the agency of Mr. Horatio
King Of the POET. Office Department, to whom il had
been utusted. From the distinguished source whence
il proceeds well as its peculiar character, have
deemed it proper to depart from my general rule in
such casee, and to give II an answer.
You first assert that the fundamental principle Of
"the Constitution of the United States and of pot
"cal institutions is that the people shall make their
Gown laws and elect their own rulers" You then
express your giief that should have violated the
principle, and through Gov. Walker, have employed
army one purpose Of which is 70 force the people
"of Karsas to obey laws rot their nor of the
United States, but laws which it is notorious,
and established up9n evidence, they never
as a COroLary from the foregoing You represent
that am openly held up and proclaimed, TO the
great derogation of our national character, vic
atng III ITS most essential particuarthe solemn oath
"stituti0n Of this Union" These are heavy charges
proceeding from gentlemen Of your high character
and II well founded ought to consign my name to in
fanny. But IN proportion to their gravity, common
iustice say nothing of Christian charity required
that before making them you should have clearly
ascertained that they were well founded.
IL is quite true that controversy had previously
arisen respecting the validity Of the election Of the
members OF the Territorial Legislature, and Of the
laws passed by them, but at tbs time entered upon
nv official duties Congress had recognized this Legis-
hture in different forms and by different enactments
The Delegate elected to the House Of Representatives
under Territorial law had Just com oeted his term Of
service on the day previous 10 my inauguration -,
In fact l found the Government of kaosas as well
established as that any other Territory Under these
circumstances, what was my duty2 Was 1t rot to
sustain this Government To protect from the vio-
knce o! lswless men who were Determined eitoer 10
rule ruin To prevent it from being overturned 6y
In I.n,, g mt
I" care that the laws be faithfully executed ~
was Tor this purpose aud for this alone, that or
deIed a military force to Kansas 10 act as posse
c0nataS in aiding the civil magistrate 70 carry the
laws into execution. The condition OF the Territory at
the time which need not portray rendered this pre-
caution absolutely necessary In this state of affairs
would not have been Justly condemned had left
the Marshal and other officers Of like
character impotent 10 execute the processes and
judgments of the Courts Of Justice established by
CongIess or by the Territorial Legislature under is
express authority, and thus have suffered the Govern
nent itself to become an object Of contempt in the
eyes VI tne people And yet this is what YOU desg
nsie as forcing the people Of Kansas TO obey the
laws no' their own, nor Of the United States" and
violated my solemn oath.
ak, what else could have done. or ought to
have donel NOsld you have desired that I should
soandon the ieriofis Government, sanctioned as it
had been by Congress, 10 illegal violence and thus
ienew the scenes of civil war and bloodshed which
every patriot in the country had deplored This
would indeed have been 70 violate my cath of Office
and to fix damning bot on the eharscte. Of nv Ad
ninistration.
most cheerfully admit that the necessity for send
ug military force to Kansas, 70 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 ,he guilty Whence did this necessity arise A
Ponion OF the people Of Kansas unwilling 70 trust TO
tne baiiotbo1, the certain American remedy for re-
oless CT ali grievances undertook TO create an uce
Rendent goyernmep, for themselves.
nso ms attempt proved successful it would OF course
es'e srbYefted the existing Gov .-.neL prescribed