The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-17
AFFAIRS IN KANSAS.
messass OF Governar Denver 60 the Lsyisia-
ture.

The time having arrived when, under the law, you
are directed 20 convene for the transaction of legis
htive business, custom requires that l should COM
nunicste TO you my views on the condition and
wants OF the Territory.
Having but recently arrived among you. it can
hardly be expected that ] should have that exact
information in relation TO the internal affairs OF
the Territory that a longer residence would have
AFFORDED but | have seen enough 10 satisfy me that
much OF the luminosity and bitter feeling now ex-
islng, proceeds more from personal hostility than
from. political considerations. These had their
origin in the troubles growing ont Of the first set
uement OF the country, and the ~yinalctive feelings
then engendered among the prominent actors, nave
IN many instances. sunk into personal hatred.
Thus you find the most bitter feuds existing AL
over the country, which, when traced back, are
hound To have originated in some personal guar
rel The southern part OF the Territory Was
lately convulsed about a claim TO a quarter sec
tion Of land. One man, with his friends, iorciDiy
removed another from a claim, and FOR doing so tley
were arrested under a writ issued by the United
States judges, and held 10 bail for they appearance
NJ the next term OF the court q answer the charges
made against them. A cry OF persecution WAS I'M
nlediately raised, and this Petty dlfhulty was soon
ek waited 10 the dignity Of a war between the Tree
1T &c and pro-slayery parties and at one time
"a aten,d 10 draw the whcle Territory into the
quarrel. The difficulty was not at first o political
one, but il was seized upon, as u preteXt for their
acts, by tho lswlcSs and restless men who are
never satisted except when engaged in some broil
or exciting trouble. The peace of the country is the
last thing such people desire, and they eagerly seize
wa tNNfs ItNhy thA1lti ~ NaSSusoN puOu dCAo III
armoralizing in their effects On the public mind, and
n behooves every good citizen to dscountenance
chem, and To assist III bringing the actors to punish
ment. To quell these Disturbances | have deemed it
nee. ssary TO send a detachment Of United States
troops into the neighborhood, which has Lad the ef-
feet 10 restore peace t. the community. The rumors
Of battles and the killing Of various persons, with
which the country was rife at the time, having proved
" lie untrue; the marauders have confined their ope.
cations 70 the indiscriminate plumber OF friends and
Sues.
TIE affairs of Kansas have for a long time at
trsctcd much OF the attention of all portions of the
American Union; and Y Is sincerely To be hoped that
The tr uLles which have heretofore existed among the
PEE pie OF this Territory are about TO be peaceably
adjusted. After the long continued disturbances
this will be a most gratifying result, and will give a
new impetus "a the prosperity and settlement of the
country Settled as this Territory has been, by peo-
pie from every portion of the older States, many of
whom entertained extreme views on the question of
domestic slavery, il could hardly be expected that
collisions would not occur, and yet a spirit of toler.
Ance, such as has characterized the people of our
SISTER Territory, Nebraska, which was organized I'M
Ter the same law and where slavery exists to almost,
N not quite a. great an extent as il does here, might
have prevented il. There all questions of public
policy have been determined by a resort TO the ballot
box, and all parties have yielded a ready acquies-
e,nce t. such decisions. Coercive measures have
never been Tesorted 10 there; and whenever frauds
have been attempted at the elections, application
has been made to the proper tribunals for correction,
ard in no instance, as far as.my information extends,
without finding redress. On these subjects the con-
duct of the people of Nebraska Territory is worthy
OF all commerdation, and ] sincerely hope that the
great mass of the people OF this Territory will fol-
low their example.
IL is much to be regretted that the federal govern.
ment has been compelled to interfere in your Terri
tOrial affairs, and | trust that such interference will
not lie required n the future. A full and fair eX-
preston OF the wishes of the people, by means of the
ballot box. will settle all these political differences,
and during the time that | may have control OF the
executive authority here, nothing shall be left UNI
done to afford them an opportunity to give such ex-
preston.
Much az the future peace and prosperity of this
Territory depends on your legislative action: and i
hope that you will be governed by calm judgmen
and wise counsels. Hasty or partizan legislation
should be by all means avoided; the patriotic states
men will slways be governed by considerations Of
public policy, keeping in view the necessities OF
the whole people, 50 as 10 protect and benefit the
meritorious, and at the same time check and punish
the vicious.
Before engaging in the business of legislation,
however, ! will direct your attention TO the constitu-
ton recently framed by a convention sitting in this
place. The second section Of the schedule reads as
80 lows
Sec. ?. All laws now Of force in the Territory Of
Kansas. which ave repugnant IN this constitution,
shall continue and be OF force until altered amend.
ed or repealed by a Legislature assembled under the
provisions OF this constitution.
This was signed ON the eth day OF November, 1857,
and under lie provisions submitted 20 the people on
the 2lst day Of December last. IL was again sub
mitted IN a vute of the people by an act of the Le-
gi-lature, approved December IL, 1857, only one
of the political parties voting at the time on these
propositions and the others absenting themselves
from the polk. In this condition IT will probably
be sent 10 Congress. and IL may be as well for you
70 delay any important legislation until You can
ascertain what action Congress will take in the
premises; for should Kansas he admitted as one OF
the States of the Union, under this constitution, IT
would have the effect TO nullify all your acts and
revive such ar You may have repealed. IL, however,
you shall conclude 10 disregard this possible state
OF affairs, IL then becomes my duty 10 direct your
Intention 10 some matters on which legislative &C
zion may he necessary.
The criminal laws Of the Territory, owing to the
disturbed state of the country, are at present the
most important. Every offence against the laws
should he followed by speedy punishment, and this
should be commensurate with the degree Of crime
committed. That philanthropy which seeks TO par
don criminals for the purpose OF reforming them.
will never reduce their number or protect society
from their depredations; but sure and adequate
punishment l. well calculated % deter others from
like practices. II Is impossible, however, 20 enforce
the criminal laws without prisons In which toconfne
the criminals. Your earliest efforts. therefore. should
be directed 20 the collection Of revenue and the cree
tion OF prisons.
have been informed that an organization exists
In this Territory similar 10 what il said 10 be the
Dante organization among the Mormons. Il il as
serted that the members are bound by the most so
kmn oaths and obligations to resist the laws. take
Che lives Of their fellow citizens, OF commit any
other act OF violence they may he directed by their
leaders. ] am unwilling 20 believe that such an
organization could ever find an ~eXistance In a civi.
Lied community; but the bare possibility of IT, ex-
isfance, and the fact that assassinations have re-
Gently been perpetrated- giving a color Of truth IN
The siatement-should induce you 10 give il your
most serious attention. BY allowing il 20 go with
out notice there is great danger that counter or.
CARNATIONS may he started, and thus the whole
country be placed at the mercy " hwiess and IRE.
sponsible men.
The "act for the prevention and punishment Of
election fraud. y passed at your late session, ought
20 be 20 amended as To apply to those who may at
tempt 20 deter men from voting by threats OF per
ronal violence or other means a intimidation. IL
ought, also, to provide a punishment for officers OF
the election who shall fail neglect or refuse 10 send
up the returns within q specified time.
The election law ought also To be amended 20 "a
to require every person n vote at the precinct near
which he resides, and w no case 10 be allowed 10
vote out Of HE own municipal township. The mum.
Der Of election precincts ought "a be increased 20
a. u have them convenient for the people TO at.