Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-19
The Kansas Eiecti0n-u instructions from
the Administration 30 Gov. Denver.
DEPARTMENT CT STATE, !
Washington. May Z, 1858. [

DEPARTMENT CT STATE,
Washington, May Z, 1858.
S. W. DENVER, ESQ,
Governor Of the FerFitory Of Kansas, LeeomplOn
Sir: transmit to you copy IF the act Of
Congress approved May 5th -fOr The admission Of
The State OF Kansas into the Union Your duties
under this act are IF the most delicate and impor
taDt character, but they clearly and distinctly
defined by the aet itself.
(After stating The main provisions Of the act IA
prOceeds)
Under the second section Of The ACT, yourself, the
district attorney the secretary Of the Territory,
the president OF the council aud he speaker Of the
house Of representatives, are constituted board OF
commissioners to conduct this important election.
The President has entire confidence that so fur Gs N
you lies the election VH be Jairlg and properly con
Quoted Your powers AID your duties are sufficiently
pointed out by the act and by your previous instFue-
tons Il is greatly 20 be desired that the frs Gon-
mSsi0Hers should act en- concert N al their proceedings
The President above all things desires that there should
be fair expression Of popular wiH Hss important
question; and that any person ko may attempt 70 cam
Ht he frauds punishable under he act may be prose-
euted Cih the utmost Tig0r Of the Iaw It is TO be
hoped that the people OF Kansas relieved from all
outside influences, may be left TO decide the ques-
ton for themselves, whether they viii Immediately
come into the Union under the provisions Of the act
will remain in territorial condition until their
population is equal TO the number required for q
representative to Congress.
Enclosed herewith you viii receive four copies Of
the act referred to, one Of which you viii send TO
each of the commissioners named in the act, in
order that they may be properly informed of their
designations
At the same time you viii provide for an early
meeting Of the commissioners, that the election
required by the act may take place without unne-
eessary delay, and that ali suitable arrangements
may be made for this purpose The President
earnestly hopes that these arrangements may be
successful in securing free and fair election, and
that the present important crisis the peace of the
Territory may not be interrupted.
The act for The admission of Kansas ought to he
extensively circulated among the people, because
the question TO be decided by them is one Of vas
Importance and may involve the welfare and pro s.
perity of their fnO Territory for q long period of
years. For this reason whilst the act very properly
prescribes that the day Of election shall be at as
early period after the proclamation as is coRsi
tent with the notice thereof the people, the int
vening period ought be sufficiently long to enable
them TO thoroughly understand the question in all
its bearings and consequences. / shall have ten
thousand copies of the act printed in this city, and
forwarded to you for immediate circulation.
You will not probably convene the board until
after the appointment of a new district attorney
for the Territory. nomination for the purpose
will be sent to the Senate on Monday next. Should
you deem it advisable, you are at liberty to publ sh
the whole or any part of these instructions The
President wishes to give every assurance to the
people of Kansas that he desires above all things,
that there shall be fair expression Of the popular
will at the election and that the res ult may be to
produce peace and harmony among themselves, and
promote their lasting welfare
l am, sir, your Obedient servant,
LEWIS CASS