Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
,,.ot,ls .S.p,s DaI H,r. Of Rspr~entqsr.s :.

.,.n.rsss. have ElN"n reason Tor gratitude TO
. Nni-htv Providence which has never failed to in-
, ~, our relief at the most critical periods of our
one year ago the sectional strife between the
. and the South the dangerous subject of slavery,
i,~ai hornne intense to threaten the peace and
.ritv nf the corledcracv. The application for the
',;i,r %: Kansas State into the Union to,tercd
....r,,,,y agitation and brought the whole subject
more before Congress. 1t the desire of
W., that such of legislation might DO
i,.I az would remove the excitement from the
. and conHns it to the Territory where it egtimatey
ar,,y.l Much has been done | am happy 20 say, to-
wards tue accomplishment oi I'M" oolcc oufns VIC 'S'
.a.ioH of congress
T ,lrrcme Court of the United States had previous
Aided that oil American citizens have an equal right
,tc into the Territories. whatever is held ~ property
lo- Ito laws .! any of tho States and to hold such
,er, there under tho guardianship of the federal con-
'..,,',r - long tho territorial condition shall re-
gri, nov wcll-cstablshcd position, and the pro-
. of tho last session alone wanting to give IL
al effect The principle has been recognised in
NJ, ,rn OF other. 10y almost unanimous vote OF both
, Of Consrcos that Territory has right to come
: tie MON either tec slave State according
r. will Of msjority OF its people The just equality
fall lie state, hiss thus been yudicatcd, and fruitful
,~n o, dangerous dissenson among them has been
! moved
Wnf. such has been the beneficial tendency of your
->l,,iv. proceedings outside of Kansas, their influence
Ia, Nowhere been happy within that Territory IT.
II Left to manage and control its own affairs IN It's
~ c.v without the pressure Of external influence, the
-r,lr,ioaary Topeka organization and all resistance to
80 territorial government established by Congress, have
Loo, m, 'Y abandoned. As natural consequence, that
So, territory appears to he tranquil and prosperous
l attracting increasing thousands of immigrants TO
,.n, / l!"ir happy home.
T,.t unfortunate experience of Kansas has enforced
10 cou ofon already taught, that resistance to law
%, ,tngr.tv under form of government. cannot ia
.c ed 10 rovc disastrous 10 its authors LAO The
,,o, the Territory yielded obedience To Tn" laws en-
.lNr their Legislatures it would at tho present mo-
4 ,,., i,ve contained large additional population Of
-rf,is and cntcrprisins citizens, VIII" have been do
ol rom entering it's borders 10y tn" existence Of civil
4 .'rf. and uggInizeI rebellion
.,as m. resistance to righul authority and the por
eirs attempts 10 establish revolutionary government
lc, the Topeka constitution which caused the people
Krsl, 10 commit the grave error OF refusing to vote
4 -l.l.-tnS to tho convention 10 frame constitution,
rl.r law denied to bs fair and Just IN It's proVs-
. This refusal vote has been the prolific source OF
l d. evil. which have followed. In then hostility 10
territorial government they disres arded the principle
absolutely essential the working of our form OF gov
4 rmoa. that majority OF those who yotc--not the ms
4 r-'r who may Iemain at home. from whatever CAUSE
,r decide the result of an election. For this reason,
n. 10 take advantage OF their own error, they dc'e'
no authority of the convention thus elected 10 frame
\ uritUtJl
4 TIC Convention notwithstanding. proceeded t" adopt
Institution uncxccptionahls i'll its general features and
w linz for tho submission OF the slavery question I"
/ a- 20. T.. people. which in my opinion, they wclc
gaI e, do under the Kansas and Nebraska act. Ibis
VI, the all mpor question which had alone CONFUSED
Territory and the opponents ~ the lt"ioi gov
-mrut persstg IN thc;G fist error, RETAINED from eA
r,u. tlcr right 10 vote and pciei'cd thn1 T.''ei!
III ccntinG" rather than surrender lh'lr ls'oi"''V""!
eka organization.
wiser and better spirit seemed to prevail before the
4 .., Monday of January last when an election wls held
Ter the constitution y majority OF the people then
el for governor and other stat" officers Tor mem
II -o Congress. and members OF the State les stature
ma. election was warmly contested by the two political
II .a. in Kansas ani greater vote was pocd than a
b., pr-yi,us election large majority OF the me;nhol.
lie legislature c,: belonged to that party which ha
syinsy r,filsed 10 vote The nntisayery party were
Inns placed in tho ascendant and the political power o
Sat, was in their hands Had Congress admit
p" Ktrs,s into the Union under the lrcomlton cohsi'
on tho legislator. might Ut its very session nave
i nit'n The question 70 a vote "i tic people whether
~, would or would not have a convention to amend
".- constitution either the slavery or any other ques
r an! have adopted oil necessary means for giving
.ssv effect To- ia. will of tho majority. Thus the Kan
.s .a,srion worl! have icon Immediately and final
Il Under those circumstances. submitted II Congress
n constitution thus framed with az the officers already
.' necessary t. put the State government INTO opera
o. ar,umnlnicl nv StrOac 'nnicntati0n IN favor
lie adm s-ion Kansas state. In the course I"
l' onc public life have never performed any "hcia
H,h the retrospect, las Afforded me more it'''-
~ satisfaction lts admission could have hIc!''l no
81 | .,.t- injury on any human being, whilst II would.
',tin hc period have restored eace to kansas an"
@uny ~ the Union In that event Tic slavery question
'si ere th have been finally settled according 70 the
-aycxpyc,,od will of majority of the voters. and
POPULAR sovereignty would thus have been vindcate IN
( II institutional
\ With my deep convictions of duty could have pur-
'~ No otl.-r course. il is true. that, as M
\ Lr.iuo ] had expressed an opinion both he
- aud during the session Of the convention, III
'' Of submitting the remaining clauses OF the con
"on well that concerning slavery. IT, the pc"-
Eat, acting in IN official character neither myself
any human authority hid the power to leIndSe the
ceilings Of the convention and declare the conStitT-
yf which j; hai framed TO DC nnlty. To have done
won have been Il violation OF the hausaS ana Ne
nN'n>L which left the people OF the Territory per
''cc 10 form aud regulate their domestic i!l'titn-
L their WY, subject only to the constitution
1e United States" 1t would equally have violated
:e lgiuripe of popular sovereignty, ut the founa-
u 'G olr institutions to deprive the people ct the
H II they Thought proper to exercise it, of eonidns
SrsH"s elected by themselves the trust o framing
'".uo! without requiring tLon to subject their con.
.L.N L. thr trouble. expense and delay OF second
".' L would have been in opposition 10 many
'ehl' m our history, commencing IN tho very best
'Gr republic. of the admission OF Territories rs
~ "''' tie Union. without previous vote "t Inc
- aG2roy'A- their constitution
70 % ismrntcd that question so Ilsighincanl
viewed IN III practical effects ON the people Oh
- whether decided way or the ether should
""'s, such 1ame of excitement throughout I!o
s"'' luiS rejection may prove to he 4 lesson 81
~ sid Of warning for our future guidance. irac
.psh'cTcd the question is simply whether the pHo