Mountain Democrat., 1857-10-10


The Memorial OF Prof. SlllImOm aud
others, and the Reply OF Mr.. Buchanan.
The following is the memorial of Prof.
Silliman and forty-two others of Conncc-
ticut, addressed to Pr, sident Buchanan,
together with his reply
The undersigned, citizens of the United
States and Electors of the State of Con-
necticut, respectfully offer to your Excel.
lency this their memorial. The funda-
mental principle Of the Constitution of
the United States, and of our political in
stitutons is, that the people shall make
their own laws, and elect their own rulers
We see with grief, if not with astonish-
mcnt, that Gov. Walker, Of Kansas, open.
ly represents and proclaims that the Pres
idcnt Of the United States is employing
through him (Walkcr) an army, one pur-
pose of which is to force the people of
Kansas to obey laws not their own nor of
the United States, but laws which it is
notorious and established upon evidence
they never made, and rulers they never
elected.
We represent, therefore, that by the
foregoing your EXccllcncy is openly held
up and proclaimed to the great derogation
of our national character rs violating in its
most essential particular the solemn oath
which the President has taken to support
the Constitution of this Union.
We call attention, further, to the fact
that your EXcellcncy is in like manner
held up to this nation, to all mankind, and
to all posterity, in the attitude of "lcvy-
ing war against portion of the United
States" by employing arms in Kansas to
uphold body Of men and code of en-
actmcntS purporting to be Legislative, but
which never had the election, nor sane
tion, nor consent of the people of the
Territory. We earnestly represent to
your EXcellcncy that We. also, have taken
tho oath to obey the Constitution, and
your EXccllency may rest assured that we
snail not refrain from tho prayer that Al
mighty God will make your administra-
ton an example Of justice and bcnciiccncc,
and with His terrible majesty protect our
people and our Constitution.
THE PRESIDENTS ANSWER.
WASHINGTON, Aug 18th, 1857.
Gentlemen: On my recent return to
this city, after fortnight's absence, your
memorial, without date, was placed in my
hands, through the agency of Mr.. IIoratio
King, of the Post Office Department, to
whom it had been intrustcd From the
distinguished source from whence it pro-
ceeds, as well as its peculiar character, I
have deemed it proper to depart from my
genera rule in such eases, and to give it
an answer.
You first assert that "the fundamental
principle of the Constitution of the United
States, and Of our political institutions is,
that the people shall make their own laws
and elect their own rulers" You then
express your grief that should have vio-
lated this principle, and, through Cover
nor Walker, have employed an army, zone
purpose of which is to force the people of
Kansas to obey laws not their own, nor of
the United States, hut laws which, tits
notorious and established upon evidence,
they never made, and rulers they never
elected" and as corollary from the fore
going you represent that l am "Openly
held up and proclaimed to the great derO-
cation Of our national character as viola
ting in its most: essential particular the