White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-01-13
GovERHoR's MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, LEcoNPros, K. To
January 3rd, 1852
Gentlemen Of The Council and
Hovse of REPRESENTATIVE

bNC hahC UNIV uuaNA -
Act and Laws of the Territory to Con,
suit for the public good. and to inlhii
faithfully and -honorably the important
trusts conliled to our care.
Nature has provided. and we have
chosen a country not only beautiful to
look upon, but overhowing in all that Is
required to make happy and prosperous
psople-she has left nothing wanting to
bring forth. and into the Union, another
State; rich, happy and progressive as any
Of the Sisterhood, varied as they are IN
soil. climate and character Of their Peo-
pie; but peace must be courted, industry
rewarded, due observance of law enfor-
eel by public opinion. as well as by the
chosen authorities, else the blessings
which nature has bestowed, will be lost
to ourselves and our posterity.
Where the freedom of the press, OF
speech and of conscience, is unquestioned,
difference Of opinion must necessarily ex-
list. When that freedom, unchecked BY
honest judgment and just desires, is per-
mitted TO run riot, violate laws and con-
stitutions, it becomes curse rather than
a blessing to the people.
Written constitutions and written laws
are based upon the virtue and intelligence
Of those from whom they emanate, and
arc daguerreotype of the mind which
constitutes the government. The future
will know MS by our laws, for upon them
our character, as people, must be indel-
IDLY stamped.
To the patriotic lover Of the Union, it
is Just cause of alarm and deep regret
to witness, in various parts of the ceun-
try, a growing disposition to overawe the
voter, corrupt the ballot box, and to Sc
cure power by fraud and disobedience to
the plaincst letter Of the law, and the die
tates of honesty. Against all such prac-
tees, the sound conservative men Of the
nation should set their faces, before the
incrcasinge evil attains magnitude beyond
their control, and the governing power
falls into the hands OF those, unprincipled
anil vicious, cast up as fit representatives
of such morality. Power, by such means,
is dearly bought. The successful party
would have been better served by defeat.
Success might be ruin, when defeat would
be preservation.
To the victors may properly belong the
spoilS but they are the spoils. and pat
ronage given to power for the public veal
and the public necessity. But when the
majority mistakes the spoils of official
station, regulated by law, for the spolia-
ton of the rights and property of the
minority, our Wanted freedom and just
ness of government become the objects of
ridicule, and furnish the strongest argu-
ments against our governmental policy.
No one has reason, nor right to complain
of the successful PARTY distributing the
posts of favor among its political friends;
but there the power Of the law ends all
beyond that is criminal and the individu-
al amenable to the laws.
AS the subject of forming State Con-
stitution, and asking admission into the
Union has been extensively agitated, it
might be expected that / should allude to
it in this place. In doing SO, / shall
speak of it only in practical sense-it
has no necessary political connection
The Territorial condition is certainly not
desirable for large and wealthy COM
munity ii is q transition state from
youth to manhood = from weakness to
strength. 1t is question, with the peo-
pie of Kansas, whether they are prepared
to assume the weighty responsibilities Of
a State Government. Personal ambition
should not be permitted to step in between
them and their true interests. The ques-
tionshould be discussed in all its bearings,
and brought to .ss>decision favorable to
the interests of u Whole people. Popu.
lation has much to do with the question,
it is true but to the people of Kansas,
who have the expense of Government to
pay out of their own pockets, their abil-
ity to do so is of deep interest to them,
and should not be overlooked.
Congress has been liberal to many of
the Territories Z; but there is much yet to
be done for Kansas in the way Of appro-
priations, to place her upon an equal foot.
ing with many that have preceded. From
her disturbed condition for the past few
years, the appropriations which she has
have not been as advantageousIy
disposed as they would have been. But
the people of Kansas are not alone to
blame. There were those outside her
limits, and even in the Halls of Congress,
who deserved goodly share. Agitation
from without inhaming the emigrant on
his way hither, was calculated to contin-
ne, If not increase the excitement within |
the Territory.
Railroads from the East, already APP
preaching our very border, and pointing
their way through the heart of our Terri
tory, are about to bring into our midst
both population and wealth, in their pas
sage onward to the shores Of the Pacific
10 return with rich cargoes of the mineral
wealth of the mountains and the products |
Of Asiatic industry-will make Kansas
The great thoroughfare of the States.
Lying in the geographical centre of the
Union. the hope may be entertained that
Kansas may some day become its center
ing point for population, wealth and in
iuence.
1 would most respectfully call your at
ention to that portion Of the Territory
ying in the region Of the recent Gold dis
,overies. A large number of our own
citizens, and emigrants from the States,
nave already located there, and from the
best and latest information that has been
received from the New Eldorado, a very
extensive immigration must be expected