New Orleans daily crescent., 1858-02-09
THE PRESIDENTS KANSAS MESSAGE.

tutiOu Trained by the hAhsas OuhfrutuH u ~
ton in November last. but we propose TO give the
material substance Of the document in condensed
form.
The President states IN the commencement, that
the difficulty of realizing the fact that portion
Of the people are in actual rebellion against the Gov
ernmens causes She real condition of parties in Kan
sas to be misunderstood by the pnblic mind. " The
dividing line there is not between two political par
ties both acknowledging the hwfn existence of the
(TerritoriaD Government z but between those who
are loyal to it and those who deny its validity and
labor for its overthrow. Ever since his (Mr. B. s. in
auguraton, Z" large portion of the people of Kan
sas have been in state of rebellion against the Gov
ernment with military leader at their head, of
most turbulent aud dangerous character" The Presi
dent then proceeds to recte the history Of the dis
turbances in Kansas the efforts to subyert the egiti
mate authority and establish revolutionary govern.
ment under the bogus Topeka Constitution the
ncendiary proceedings at Lawrepce the attempt Of
Gen. Lane 70. organize the whole Freesoil paisy of
the Territory into military force to control the elec
ton of the following August the election OF dele
gates to Constitutional Convention-at which the
enemies Of the Territorial Government did not vote,
q because they were then engaged at Topeka, with
out the slightest pretext Of lawful authority, in
framing Constitution of their own, for the purpose
of subverting the Territorial Government - the
sembing Of the Convention at Lecompton, the ere.
alton Of the Constitution, and finally the submission
Of its prosIavery clause to vote of the people on
the 2lst of December
Up to the present moment the Topeka revolution
ary constitution and government adhered to by
the enemies of the government established by Con-
gress and this fact clearly explains why they refused
tovote for delegates to the Constitutional Conven-
ton, and also afterwards on the question of slavery
submitted by it to the people. It was because they
have constantly refused to recognize any other
thority than that of their bogus Topeka government
Had the whole Lecompton Constitution been sub
mtted to the people, the adherents of this organza
ton would doubtless have voted against it, because,
if successful, they would thus have removed an
obstacle out of the wayof their own revolutionary
constitution. They would have done this, not upon
a consideration of the merits Of the whole any
part of the Lecompton Constitution but simply be-
cause they have ever resisted the authority of the
government authorized by Congress, from which it
emanated. a
The organic law of Congress authorized the people
Of the Territory to establish constitution aud the
Territorial Legislature thereby fully sustained in
assembling the convention the election Of the dele
gates afforded opportunity for settling all diff
cuties in Kansas and as no further hope could be
INDUCED that the Topeka government would be
recognized, Congress having adjourned after recog
niziBg the legal existence Of the Territorial Legis-
atare) the friends Of that organization should have
abandoned it and assisted IN framing State Constitu
ton. This they refused TO do
The convention did not think proper to submit the
whole constitution to popular vote they did, how
ever, submit paramount question, whether Kansas
should be free or a slave State. Mr. B. says, in
this connection
For my own part, when / Instructed Gov. Walker,
in general TERMS in favor Of submitting the constitu-
ton to the people, had object in view except the
all-ahsorbng question of slavery. In what manner
the people of Kansas might regulate their other con-
Germs, was not a sabect which attracted any atten
ton.
The President is of opinion that under the organic
act the convention was bound to submit the impor-
tant question of slavery to the people bat that in
dependently Of this act twas not hound to submit
any portion of the constitution to popular vote in
order to give itvalidity. The people have right to
delegate their sovereign power without requiring that
the acts Of their representatives shall be submitted
to their subsequent approval If in this case those
representatives have in any violated the will
Of their constituents, the people have the remedy in
their own hands-they always possess the power to
change their constitution and laws to suit their
pleasure.
The President aIludes to the fact that at the eec
ton the first Monday in January last large por
tion Of the adherents Of the Topeka organization
voted under the Lecompton Constitution, for State
officers member of Congress, etc. and hopes it is an
omen that the Topeka movement will be speedily
abandoned, which would go far towards the final
settlement of all difficulties in the Territory
He allndes to the admission Of Kansas into the
Union as a question of expedency. Domestic peace,
with all its attendant blessings will follow her recog
milton as a State. The people win then be sovereign,
regulate their affairs In their own way, aud if
majority of them desire to abolish domestic slavery,
there is no other possible mode by which this can
be effected 50 speedily as by prompt admission 1t
having been solemnly adudged by the highest judi.
cal tribunal known TO our laws that slavery exists in
Kansas by virtue of the Constitution of The United
States, it can never be prohibited there except by
means Of constitutional provision and in no other
manner can this be obtained promptly, if a major
ity Of the people desire it, as by admitting Kansas
into the Union under her present constitution.
On the other hand, should Congress reject the lie.
compton Constitution, under the idea of aoIding the
disaihcted in Kansas third opportunity Of prohibit
ing slavery, which they might have done twice before
if in the majority it is manifest that the agitation
upon this dangerous subject will be renewed in more
alarming form than it has ever yet assumed Admit
Kansas into the Union, however, and the excitement
is at end il becomes localized aud must soon die
out, all difficulties being settled by the baot-box.
Another consideration, which the President does
not consider light one is that this solution Of the
question would enable him to withdraw from Kansas
the 1000 U. s. troops and employ them on branches
OF the service where they are much needed. The
detailment Of this force to keep down rebellion ia
Kansas has interfered with the Utah expedition and
caused heavy expense to the Government.
The position taken by Mr.. Buchanan upon thii
question is the correct one, and the tone he assume.
would be highly creditable had it characterized hii
whole course Of dealing with the Kansas difficulty
from the moment the executive authority was placed
IN bis hands. Bat his previous action, through the
plant instrument he placed over that Territory Al
Governor bad settled the matter some time ago, and
50 settled il that practically, it is matter of ne
moment to the South whether Kansas be admitted
under the LeeomptoR Constitution Or not. Mr.
Buchanan fully this in his appeals to Northe
members to recognize her right to admission and lei
the Topekaises change her constitution afterwards
Only matter Of principle, having reached tn,