Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-12-16
The Presidents Message.

sage, with two mortal columns devoted
to Kansas. The Kansas question has
been over and over again, declared set
tied by the administration and It's
friends; nevertheless Mr.. Buchanan goes
over the whole ground of controversy
again. Let it no longer be said, that
Republicans are responsible for the
agitation of the slavery question, when
the President of the u. States renews
the discussion-reyiving past issues,
and making them the leading and prom
inent subjects OF his annual message
Does the President suppose, that he
alone is privileged to discuss the topic
of slavery, and that all others must keep
silence? He sets the example-re-opens
the Kansas debate, and shamslessly
perverts the truths of past history. We
have given the message entire on this
subject, not as specimen of statesmen
ship, but for the purpose of affording
every one al opportunity to see what a
reckless, irresponsible and untruthful
chief Magistrate presides over this great
nation. We doubt whether there is a
third rate democratic politician in this
State, who would hazard his reputation
before an intelligent audience, by such
psrversions of fact in relation to Kan
sas.
The President assumes that all the
acts of the bogus Legislature Of Kansas
were regular and strictly legal at least
he gives no intimation to the contrary.
The frauds and controlling Of the ballot
boxes by Missouri mobocrats are all
passed over in silence. These most
villainous outrages, ever psrpetrated in
this or any other country, are not mere
random statements; they were proven
before committee Of Congress, raised
for that purpose; many of the promin-
ent witnesses being pro-slavery demo-
Gratis.
The President says, Had Congress
admitted Kansas into the Union, under
the Lecompton Constitution, the slavery
question might ere this have been speed
lily settled by the will Of the people,
Now every one knows, that had the
people of Kansas taken the Lecompton
Constitution, with its slavery recognition,
they could not have changed it, except
in accordance with the provisions of that
instrument itself. The Lecompton Con-
stitution allowed Of no alteration, until
after the expiration of a given number
years. The President knows full well
that any attempt of the people of that
Territory to rid themselves of a slavery
constitution, would have been in def
ance of the fundamental law of the
State.
The message is unfortunate for the num-
Der of its contradictory statements The
President says the people refused to
vote for the Constitutional Convention
at Lecompton, yet speaks of that Con-
vention representing a majority of the
people! He expatiates on this princi-
Iple of Popular Sovereignty-allowing
the people to manage their own affairs,
yet warns the people of Kansas not to
attempt to form constitution for the
purpose of coming into the Union at
present. He declares the people of
Kansas, have no business to come into
the Union until their population shall
amount to ninety-three thousand four
hundred and twenty; but abuses them
for not comeing into the Union with only
forty thousand.
The Presidents hate of Kansas
\ doubtless arises from the refusal of the
people to accept one of the pet meas
ures of his administration. There are
other matters in the message equally re.
pngnant to the common sense Of the
people, and equally unworthy to eman.
ate from the chief magistrate of thi,
Republic. Some of the suggestions oil
the President seem to be proper enough
although they are of no great practical
Importance.