, 1859-01-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FtllotO Citizens of Tie Senate and House Of T
Representatives.:

UOTTgT TeIaUm WTMII
tnde to that Almighty Providence, which has never
failed to interpose for relief at the most critical
periods OF our history. One year ago the sectional
strife between the North and the South a danger
Gus subject OF slavery had again become intense
10 threaten the peace and pepetuity Of the confede
racy. The application for the admission of Kansas
State into the Union, fostered this unhappy aglta
ton aud brought the whole subject once more before
Congress, 1t was the desire OF every patriot that
such measures of legislation might he adopted as
would remove the excitement from the States, and
condne i to the Territory where it egitimately be-
longed. Much has been done, | am happy to say,
towards the accomplishment Of this object during the
last session Of Congress.
The Kansas Question.
The Supreme Court of the United States had pre-.
viously decided that all American citizens have an
equal right to take into the Territories whatever is
held a property under the laws Of any Of the States
and to hold such property there under the guardian.
ship OF the federal constitution 50 long as the terrific
rial conditions shall remain.
This is well established position and the pro-
ceedings Of the last session were alone wanting to
give il practical effect The principle has teen recog-
nised, in some form or other, by almost unanimous
vote of both houses Of Congress that Territory has
slave State, according to the will of majority of its
people. The just equality of all the States has thus
been vndicated, and faithful source Of dangerous
diysension among tLam has been removed
Whilst such BIAS been the beneficial tendency of
your legislative proceeds outside Of Kansas, their in
hlence has nowhere been 50 happy within that
Affairs in its own way, without the pressure of the
ternal influence the revolutionary Topeka Orgauiza
tion and all resistance to the territorial government
established by Congress have been finally abandoned
As natural consequence, that fine Territory now
appears to be Tranquil aud prosperous and is attract
ing Increasing thousands OF immigrants to make it
their happy home.
The past unfortunate experience of Kansas has
enforced the lesson often already taught that resist
to llwful authority, under our form Of govern
ment cannot ta in the end to prove disastrous to It's
authors. Had the people Of the Territory yielded
obedience to the laws enacted by their Legslaure1it
would at the present moment have contained large
additional population Of industrious and enterprisng
citizens who have been deferred from entering it,
borders by the existence Of civil strife aud organized
rebellion.
1t was the resistance to rightrul authority and the
perSevering attempts TO establish revolutionary
government under the Topeka constitution which
caused the people OF Kansas commit the grave error
OF refusing to vote for delegates to the convention to
frame constitution, under law not denied to lie
fair and just in lts provisions. This refusal to vote
has been the prolific Of all the evils which have
followed. In their hostility to the Territorial Govern
ment, they disregdrded the principle absolutely essen
tia to the working Of our form of government, that
majority OF those who vote-nOt the majority who
may remain at hOme from whatever cause-must de-
eide the result OF election. For this reason seek
ing to take advantage of their own error they denied
the authority OF the convention thus elected to frame
4 constitution.
The convention, notwithstanding, proceeded to
adopt constitution unexceptionable ia its general
features, and providing for the submission Of the
slavery question 70 vote of the people, which In my
opinion, they bound to do under the Kansas and
Nebraska act. This was the all-importaut question
which had alone convused the Territory; and yet the
opponents Of the lawful government persisting in
their first error, RETAINED from exercising their right
to vote, and preferred that slavery should continue
rather than surrender their revolutionary Topeka Or
ganization.
A wiser and better spirit seemed to prevail before
the first Monday OF January last when an election
was held under the consultation. majority Of the
people than voted for Governor and other State OIL
cers, for a member Of Congress and members Of the
State Legislature. This election was warmly con.
tested by the two political parties in Kansas and
greIter vote was poed than at any previous election
a large q1r'ty OF the members Of the Legislature
elect belonged to that party which had previously re-
fused TO vote. The antislavery party were thus
placed In the ascendant and the political power Of the
state was in their own hands Had Congress admit
ted Kansas into the Union under the IecOmnton con-
stitution tue legislature might at its very first ses
sion, have submitted the question to q vote of the
people, whether they would would not have a con
ventiOn to amend their constitution either on the
slavery or any other question, and have adopted oil
necessary means for giving speedy effect tO the will Of
the majority. Thus the Kansas question would have
been Immediately and finally settled.
Under these circumstances, submitted to Congress
the constitution thus framed with all the officers
already elected necessary to put the State government
into operation. accompanied by a strong recommen-
dation in favor Of the admission Of Kansas as State
In the course Of my long public life have never per-
formed any official act which, in the retrospect has
afforded more heartfelt satisfaction Its admission
could have inflicted no possible injury on any human
being, whilst it would within brief period have re-
stored peace to Kansas and harmony the Union In
that event the slavery question would ere this have
been finally settled according to the legally expressed
will Of a majority OF the voters and popular soyer-
eighty would thus have been vindicated in a consti-
tutiOnal manner.
With my mygonvictions of duty, could have pursued
no other course 1t is true that individual had
expressed an opinion, both before and during the
session OF the convention in favor of submitting the
remaining clauses Of the constitution as well as that
concerning slavery TO the people But, acting In an
oicial character, neither myself nor any human au-
thority had the power to rendge the proceedings Of
the convention and declare the constitution which II
had framed to be nuty. To have done this would
have been a violation OF the Kansas and Nebraska
act which left the people of the Territory perfectly
free TO form and regulate their domestic institutions
In their own way, subject only to the constitution oil
the United States' 1t would equally have violated
the great principle OF popular sovereignty, at the
foundation Of our institutions to deprive the people
OF the power they thought proper to exercise it, of
conhdng to delegates elected by themselves the trust
OF framing constitution, without requiring them to
subject their constituents to the trouble expense and
delay Of a second election. It would have Leen in
opposition 10 many precedents in our history com
menciug in the very best age Of the republic of the
admission Of the Territories States into the Union
without previous vo of the people approving their
constitution.
1t is to be amented that question so insignificant
when viewed in its practical effects Of the people Of
Kansas, whether decided way or the other should
have kndled such flame Of excitement throughout
the country. This reflection may prove To he lesson
Of wisdom aDd Of warning for our future guidance.
Practically considered the question is simply whether
the people Of that Territory should first come into the
Union and then change any provision in their conSti-
tuition not agreeable to themselves or accomplish the
very same object by remaining out Of the Union, and
framing another constitution in accordance with their
will In either the result would be precisely the
same The only difference in point Of fact is that the
object would have been much attained and the
pachcation Of Kansas more speedily effected, had it
been admitted as State during the last session OF
Congress.
Ny recommendation, however for the immediate
admission Of Kansas, failed to meet the appreciation
OF ofCongress. They deemed il wiser to adopt differ
ent measure for the settlement Of the question For
my own part, should have been willing TO yield my
assent TO almost any constitutional measure 10 accom-
plish this object. therefore, cordially acquiesced in
what has been called the English Compromise, and
approved the Act for the admission of the State Of
sgfbed.