Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-01-21

contributions of money and aid from the
States have kept up excitement and turbu-
lence in the Territory, and enabled designing
men there TO inaame passions which otherwise
would long since have subsided.
The judgment and opinion of the country
cannot be too strongly consolidated in favor
of the laws and against all who rise up to
oppose them by unauthorized means. Nor
can the excuse for resistance to the Territnri-
al laws, and for failing to perform the duties
of citizenship under them, that wrongs and
frauds wre perpetrated at elections, be admit
ted as a justification. Where elections are SO
frequent, and the right of suffrage so liberal,
as IN this country, it is peculiarly the duty of
good citizen to obey existing authorities,
and even Objectionable laws, knowing that the
former can be changed, and the latter modi-
he'd or repealed, within very brief period
And as to disputed elections, they must he
decided by the proper legal authority, and
not by individual citizens, or irregular self
constituted assemblages.
lnsnbordlnation TO necessary and rightful
authority, instigated and encouraged by un-
worthy men in the organized States, who de-
sired that discOrd should continue, and were
willing to contribute to that object, is the
prolific fountain from which the troubles in
Kansas have heretofore proceeded.
1t was natural, perhaps inevitable, that this
conduct by party in the territory should
provoke an opposite party to many unjustif
able acts, and to much imprudent and unrea-
sonable conduct Thus extremes act and
react upon each other and when the laws are
defed and individual actien let loose, wrong,
outrage and violence are necessary results.
The last phase of the Kansas question,
which IS upon the constitution framed by
Territorial Convention, Is peculiarly for the
Judgment Of Congress. 10 which the power of
admitting new States is confdcd ky the Con-
stitution of the Union. The representatives
of the people and of the States in Congress
assembled, will meet that question under all
the responsibilities which they owe to their
constituents, and which are imposed upon
them by their oaths of Office; and with full
information on matters of fact important to
the formation of a final judgment. Events
are constantly occurring in the territory which
will afford matter for Congressional debate,
and may affect the ultimate decision.
To the people of Pennsylvania the admis-
sion of a new State into the Union-into that
confederacy of which she is member-must
be ut all times subject of high interest,"
And | believe | express their sentiments as
we'll as my own, in declaring that all the
qualified electors of Territory, should have
full and fair opportunity to participate in
selecting delegates to form Constitution pre-
paratary to admission as a State, and, if de-
sired by them, they should also be allowed an
unqualified right to vote upon such Constitu-
tion after it is framed. OF course those who
then fail 10 vote, in either case, cannot com
plain that the proceeding goes on without
their participation. It is to be hoped, that
Congress will make saeh provision for ether
Territories that the present difficulty will have
no repetition in the future
In conclusion, permit me TO observe. that
all experience and reflection prove that the
moral virtues f,rm the only firm foundation
of public order as we'll as individual charac-
ter, aud their support should therefore engage
the profound attention of Government: and
the cooperation of all good men.
krall indeed will be any structure reared
for the regulation Of society. and the premo
ton of mans true and substantial happiness,
unless 1t stand upon a foundation more per-
maneRt than paper arrangement or the feet
ing impulses of the hourl The recognition
OF n Great Supreme Power, which rules the
affairs of nations and of men, is the only
support of those virtues which can make a
people distinguished and prosperous, and give
to government duration and success. Sin
cerc!y imploring the Divine guidance in the
performance of duty, | assume the post as
signed me by the people, indulging the hope
that at the ternination of my service / shall
enjoy the approval of my ewn conscience and
behold Pennsylvania advanced and secure in
her position as one of the great communities
Of the New World-her standard aIoft, and
proudly bearing, untarnished, her motto of
" Virtue, Liberty and independence"
WM +. PACKER.