The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-02-19
Correspondence.
MAsnINGToN Cry Feb 9 !

; y,
M Bucbanaa's Special Message on the Kan-
Sas question. Probability Of tie admission
of Kansas under the Lecompton Coastuu-
hon.-Position ofa feD Democratic members
Pennsylvania Resolutions Of Instruction.
The Presidents Special Messaosa-e,o affairs ~
Kansas is sgRsaere4 by al ta'a,n,sa rna, an,@ men
taken hold OF by him, the subject is left ex-
hansted. MOI plnk is left for Black Repub-
icans or malcontentS to cling 70, and venture
The assertion that as soon as the mass of the
the people read this able document of Pennsvl-
vana's g favorite son." they will wonder why
II was that men Of Intelligence, statesmen of
marked ability, should have gone so far astrav
as TO object for a moment 10 the immediate ad-
mission Of that unfortunate Territory as SOW
ereign State.
The President shows beyond cavil, that the
kansas-Nekraska act of itself affords the people
OF the territory fell power to adopt the neces-
Sary measures to form a State constitution, and
any other enabiiag" act nolo would not only
be supeIhuous, bnt that it would be violation
OF the great pnaciP!r' Of non-inervention as set
forth In the Kansas Nebraska Bill.
Ehat the people OF Kansas went 10 work in
legitimate and proper manner 10 loFm their
constitution Is beyond all dispute. & For this
Purpose," the President saws, :. the territorial
legislature in 1899, passed law for taking
the sense Of the people of tbs territory unon
the expediency Of cajling convention to form
a State constitutions at the general election to
be held in Oclo58r, 1886 The sense of the
people, was accordingly taken, aud they de-
cided in favor OF convention"
he people having thus decided in favor of
convent|h, the legislature Of the territory au-
thorlzed by law ihr election Of delegates to
tenn Stale constitution. In order to secure
iul and tar election under this act, which is
shown TO be last and librral in all its features,
The President placed at the disposal OF Governor
Walker the army. notwithstanding all this,
and notwithstanding Governor Walker declared
the law authorizing the election of dele
gates constitutional and fair in all its provisions,
and that II any portion Of the people abslained
tFom voting they would be 81 bound under the
law and constitution" TO acquiesce, still the free
State men generally reiTained from voting.
Had the enemies 10 law and right ia
Ken different course at this stage of affairs
IN Kansas and submitted 10 the law reouir-
ing all good citizens 10 exercise their right
OF franchise, all difficulties would have
here ended But they discarded the advice of
Governor Walker and the admonitions of the
PI[esl,ietss and as, Mr. Buchanan truthfuly says,
"the consequences OF their refusal 10 submit to
lawful authority agd vote at the election of
delegates, mag yet prove to be of most de-
Plorable character.s'
The people of Kansas have had every oppor-
tunity to mould aud shape their institutions in
their own way, and if they have permitted
elections 10 90 BY default il is their fault, and
they should not now complain, bat 90 TO work
as law and order men and mould institut ions
as they sre proper"
In order to carry out the great principle
OF non-interventioH, Congress should admit an
sas at once. The effect of this would be 10
locallzr the question OF slavery, taking il out
Of national politics, thereby givipg:ppace to fhr
country.
In regard 10 the right of thp people to change
their form Of government at any time, the Pre-
sideut entertains not doubt and states that if
Congress should see fit 10 declare this in the
act OF admission il would receive his approval