The Washington union., 1858-02-03
THE PRESIDENTS sPbcIAL MESSAGE

ing the extraordinary message Of the President ON
the subject Of affairs in Kansas. Before alluding
to the character Of this State paper, il viii not
be regarded out of place to observe that
occasion heretofore has public message been
submitted to Congress under circumstances Of more
profound interest than the present The union Of the
States signifies something than the existence Of
political tie binding them together upon a basis Of
common governmental interests. tits something be-
sides mere partnership in profits and losses--a
mere rule by which We agree TO divide advantages and
calculate disadvantages. We have history crowded,
it may be, into the period of three-qnarters
of century, but ii is history full of noble trsdi-
tons, patriotic sefsacrihces and individual
tyrdom. II is history of the progress of portion
Of the human family which has parallel elsewhere.
1t is history of free government exhibiting to the
world the adaptation of its institutions TO the high
est welfare of the human family. Under it we have
Witnessed the triumph of labor and its full recogni-
tion element of power in the State We have
established equality of political, social, and
industrial rights and under their influence have
compshed in the short day of our existence for
the benefit of mankind than the rest of the world
government should be the object of supreme affec
tion and all its affairs conducted upon the basis OF
enlarged patriotism, capable of overcoming every
minor difficulty, and of strengthening AS we advance
step by step, the devotion Of the people to its life
and uses
1t is impossible TO disguise from the most ordina
ry observer that upon the question Of Kansas we
have permitted designing to raise up false is
snes with the sole view Of distracting councils
and dividing our people. An effort reaching back
more than thirty-fve years has been made to pro-
duce essential and irreconcilabe divisions between
the North and the South. The direction by Congress
to organize territorial government for Kansas was
seized upon an football for agtators and disuncn
lists Against the proposition was therefore array
ed the whole force Of anti-savery throughout the
! free States 1t was denounced plan To propa
gate the institutions of the South in that Territory.
Many Of the republicans regarded rebellion against
4 slavery as ius6able, and demanded by considera-
| ,ons Of individual duty. Such, indeed, the
| controlling sentiment of the abolitionsts, by whom
/ Kansas was eolonized Meanwhile its territorial
| government was established 1t met by the re-
belous government of Topeka. The two systems
antagonzed and each demanded allegiance the
former established by the full authority Of Congress
the latter basng its right to control on the assimp
tion that its adherens the majority. Such was
the issue presented to Mr.. Buchanan when he as
sumed the duties of the presidency. Is there msn
of sense in this whole country who fail to see
what course under the circumstances, the President
would pursue, CouId he recognise the Topeka
l i.,l ~,ut
ence, but which sought and threatened the over
| throw of the government established by pre-
! vious legislation and executive action Was he
to sanction what Mr.. Walker subsequently de-
nominated .sthe spirit Of rebellion which he said
.pervades the republican party of the Terri
| tory - Was he to become party to what the
same authority denominated "organized insurrec-
| ton 7" No. He maintained the laws and jurisdic-
ton Of the United States. He recognised the gov
ernment established by his predecessors. He in
voked the most eminent talent and patriotism to sub
due by peaceful means the parties who had set up to
overthrow and degrade that government. de called
upon the people TO exercise the high duties Of cit
zenship by voting at elections. He told them that
their rebellion was doubly iniquitous in this, that
they had raised up mock system in opposition to
the laws of the United States and at the time
had violently jeopardized the public peace by wick
ed attempts to produce universal anarchy in the
| country They had refused to vote npudently
claiming that such refusal invaidated government.
| Mr. Walker laid before them the folly Of this pre-
tence and enjoined upon them to vote He told them
that throughout whole Union, and wherever
free government prevails those who abstain from the
exercise Of the right of suffrage authorize those who
do vote to act for them in that contingency and the
absentees are as much bound under the law and
constitution, where there is fraud violence, by
the act of the majority Of those who do vote, as If all
| participated in the election
Under the principle here laid down the people OF
Kansas by the authority Of Congress and their legis-
lature, organized State government The constitu-
/ ton they adopted the President has submitted
/ to Congress. We do not regard it necessary to
say word in order to justify the admission Of
the State into the Union The past controversy has
been long tedious, captions, and dangerous. II has
been medium for producing frghtu contentious be-
tween the North and the South of estrangement be-
tween friends of bitterness and conflict in politics,
and of dissatisfaction everywhere. The most weighty
reasons then demand its admission. We cannot con-
tend about the local affairs of State. II the peo-
pie feel themselves aggreved they have the correc-
tion in their own hands. Ii they desire TO change