Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-09-16
EDGEFIELD, S. Ct, SEPTEMBER 16, 1857.

like character impotent to execute the process:
and judgments Of courts of justice established
by Congress, or by the territorial Legislature
under its express authority, and thus have suE
iered the government itself to become an object
of contempt in the eyes of the people? And
yet this is what you designate as forcing " the
people Of Kansas to obey laws not their own
nor of the United Statcs;" and for doing which
You have denounced me as having violated my
solemn oath. I ask, what else could have
done, or ought to have done? Would you
have desired that should abandon the terrific
rial government sanctioned as it had been by
Congress, to illegal violence, and thus renew
the scenes Of civil war and blooGshed which
every patriot in the country had deplored
This would, indeed, have been to violate my
oath Of Office, and to fix a damning blot on the
character Of my administration.
most cheerfullv admit that the necessity for
sending military force 20 Kansas 10 aid in the
execution of the civil law reflects no credit upon
tie character Of Our country. But let the
blame fall upon the heads Of the guilty. Whence
did tiIis necessity arise? y portion Of the peo-
pie Of Kall-;l-, unwilling TO trust to the ballot
box-the certain American remedy for the re-
dress Of all grievance,-- undertook to create an
independent government Tor themselves. Had
this attempt proved successful, it would, Uf
course, have Subverted the existing government,
prescribed and recognised by Congress, and
substituted a revolutionary government in its
srad. This WAS uSurpation Ot the same
character as it would he for portion of the
people of Connecticut to undertake to establish q
,koo 1,,,t-
c,r tile purpose of redressllg am grievance, real
OF magItiary: of which they might lIave com
planned against tic Legitimate State government
Such principle, if carried into execution, would
destroy all lawful authority and produce uni
vrrsai anarchy.
ought to specify more particularly condi-
ton OF affairs, which nave embraced only III
general terms, requiring the presence Of mill
tary 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 not to legislate
slavery into any Territory or State, not to cx-
cu lie it theretrom, but to leave the people
thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their
domestic institute rs in their own way, subject
only to the constitution Of the United States"
As to natural consequence, Congress has also
prescribed by the same act that when the Ter
rtory Of Kansas shall be admitted as State,
it Shall be received into the Union, witt. or
without slavery, as their constitution may pre-
scribe 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 de-
cltlel by the highest tribunal known to our
laws. How it could ever have been seriously
doubted is o mystery. If a confederation of
sovereign States acquire. now Territory at the
expense of their common blood and treasure,
surely one set of the partners can have no right
to exclude the other from its enjoyment by pro-
hibiting them from taking INTO it whatsoever is
re, o.nised to be property by the common con-
stitutiun. But when the pcople-the bone .fde
residents of such Territory-proceed to frame
State constitution, then it is their right to de-
eide the important question for themselves
whether they will continue, modify, or abolish
slavery. TO them, and to them alone, does
this question belong, free from all foreign inter-
ference
Tn the opinion OF the territorial legislature Of
Kansas the time had arrived for entering the
Union, and they accordingly passed a law to
elect delegates for the purpose Of framing Il
State constitution. This law was f,ir and Just
in its provisions 1t conferred the right of Suf-
traye on 'cvery bonn .Gds inhabitant Of the Ter
.itury;" and, for the purpose Of preventing
fraud, and the nStruson OF citizens of near or
distant States, most properly confined this right
! to those who had resided therein three mouths
previous TO the election. Here a fair opportu-
nity WAS presented for all the qualified resilient
citizens nt the Territory, to whatever organlZa-
ton they might have previously belonged, to
participate i'll the election, and to express their
opinions at the ballot box on the question OF
slavcrr. But numbers Ut lawleSS men still
continued to resist the regular territorial gov.
crnncnt. They refused either to he registered
or t., vote; and the members OF the convention
: were tecic,l, LEGALLY and properly, without
their in cryeiltiun. The convention will snon
assemble TO pcrurlli tho solemn duty III fran-
ilr: n constitution for themselves and tiicr pos
tcrrity; and in the state Of incipicnt rebellion
which still exists in Kansas it is my imperative
duty to employ the troops of the Cnitctl States
should this become necessary, in defending the
| convention against violence whilst framing the
constitution, and in protecting the "bV,m file
inhabitants" qualified to vote un!cr the prnTi,-
ions ul this Instrument in the free exercise ol
to tIicn for their appreciation "r Rejection.
iavc entire conli,l,,,.c in ';,v Walker that
the troops will hot 'c rniplnyr'! except /" rrsi'
actual a.s"rn-.ir'r nr i'll tlr "%rr":ii"a ii ;ir.
laws and this mi ll,t;l ~ lnwri ii TIT ''i:':
magistrate ,ir, prove unavallin~. Following
| the wise eX;,nple o! Mr.. M;;li>"l towards tic
Hartford Conventions illegal and dangerous
combinations, such as that of the Topeka con.
vrntion, will not be disturbed unless they shall
attempt to perform some act which will bring
them into actual collision with the constitution
and the laws. In that event, they shall be re-
sisted and put down by the whole power of the
government. In performing this duty SHALL
have the appreciation of my own conscience,
and, as hulnbly trust, of my God.
thank you for the assurance that you will
"not refrain from the prayer that Almighty
God will make my administration an example
OF Justice and heneficence." You can greatly
assist me in arriving at this blessed consumaton
by exerting your influence in allayins the exist
ing sectional excitement on the subject of slave
ry, which has been productive of much evil and
no good, and which, if 1t could succeed i'll at
tanning its Object, would ruin the slave rs well
as his master. This would be work of genll-
inc philanthropy Every day Of my life feel
how inadequate | am to perform the duties OF
my high station without the continued support
of Divine Provide ce; yet, placing my trust in
Him, and in Him alone, entertain a good hope
tia, H. will enable me to do equal ju ticc to
all pt rtions of the Union, and thus render me
an humble instrument in restoring peace and
harmr ny among the people Of the several States
YoLri, very respectfully,