The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-12-08


parallel in our history. To prevent eventual
collision and to assist the civil magistrates
in enforcing the laws, strong detachment Of
the army was stationed in the Territory, ready
to aid the Marshal and his deputies when Of
ficially called upon as posse comitatus in
the execution OF civil and criminal process.
Still the troubles in Kansas could not have
been permanently settled without an election
by the people, the ballot-box being the surest
arbitrator of disputes among freemen. Under
ployed to induce the hostile parties to vote
at the election Of delegates to frame n State
Constitution, and aftcrwarl Il at the election
to decide whether Kansas should be slave
or free State. The insnrgent party refused
to vote at either, lest this might be consider
Cd asa recognition on their part of the Terri
torial government established by Congress-
A better spirit, however, seemed soon after
to prevail, and the two parties met face to
face in the election, held the first Monday OF
January, 1855, for members OF the Legisla-
ture and State officers, under the Leoompton
Constitution. i he result was tire triumph Of
the anti slavery party at the polls. This de-
cison of the ballot-box proved clearly that
this party were in the majority, and removed
the danger of civil war. From that time We
have heard nothing Of the Topeka govern
ment, and all serious danger Of revolutionary
troubles i'm Kansas was then mt an end. The
Leeompton Constitution which had been thus
recognized at the State election by the votes
of both political parties in Kansas, was trans
mitted with the request TINT -hould present
it to Congress. This could not have refused
to do, without violating my elearest and
strongest convictions of duty.
The laws, and all the proceedings which
preceded and followed its formation, were
fair, and regular on their face, and what
then believed and expressed. has proven true;
the interests CT the people of Kansas would
have been best consulted by its admission rs
n State into the Union, especially NJ the ma
iority within brief period could have amend
ed the constitution according TO their will
and pleasure. Ii fraud existed In any or all
Of these proceedings, il WAS not for the Pres
ident but for Congress TO investigate and de-
tcrmine the question Of fraud, and what
ought to be the consequences. If at the two
first elections the majority refused 10 vote, II
cannot be pretended that this refusal to ex-
ercise the electoral franchise could invaiidate
an election fairly held under lawful authority
even ii they had not subsequently voted ~
the third election. Ii is true that the whcie
Constitution had not been submitted to the
people as always desired, but the prece-
dents arr numerous OF the admission Of States
into the Union without such submission. II
would not comport with my present purpose
to review the proceedings OF Congress upon
the Lecompton Constitution. II IL sufficient
to observe that their final action has removed
the inst vcstige ef serious rey dictionary trou-
bles. The desperate band recently AIS emhlad
under a notorious outlaw III the Southern
portion Of the Territory to resist the exccu,
ton Of the laws aud 70 plumber peaceable eat
liens, will, i doubt not, be speedily brought
to Justice. Had | treated the Lecompton
Constitution as u nullity and refused 70 trans
nit it to Congress, ii is hot aiiFtit to AN as4ne
whilst recalling the position Of the country
al tha; moment, what would have been the
| disastrous consequences both In and out OF
| the Territory. from such dereiction of duty
| on the part Of the Executive.
| Peace has also been restored within the
/ Territory OF Utah, which, at the commence
| mcnt Of mr administration, was in state OF
open rebellion. This was the more danger
Gus, as the people, animated by u fana,ica
/ spirit. and entrenehei within their mountain
/ Businesses, might have made "A long and for
midahls resistance. Cost what II might, u
was necessary TO bring them into subsection
| 20 the Constitution and the laws. Sonnd pol
| icv, therefore, rs well as humanity. required
that this object should. ii possible, be nc.
complished without the efusion OF blood
/ This could only be effected by sendin. a mil.
| itary force into the Territory, sufficiently
strong TO eonviace the people that resistance
would BIZ hopeless, and ut the same time II
| offer them a pardon for past Henses. on c,n-
/ dition Of Immediate submission 10 the tor
s.FAix In At4l4.
nent success: and the only eause for regret il
| the heavy expenditure required to march a
j large detachment of the army to that remote
| region, and TO furnish its subsistence. Utal
is nos comparatively peaceful and quiet, ant
| the mill ary force has been withdrawn, ex-
cept that portion of it necessary to keep ths
| Indians in check, aud to protect the cmigran'
trains on their way TO our Pacinc possessions
FINANCES.
In nv first annual message promised tt
employ my best exertlons in cooperation
with Congress to reduce the expenditures Of
the government within the limits Of . Wis,
and iadieious economy. An osertowin.
treasury has produced habiis Of prodigalit,
and extravaganza, which could only be grad
ually corrected. The work required bott
time and patience. applied myself diligent.
| ~ to this task from the beginning, and wa
aided by the .ahleeand energetic efforts of til,
heads OF the different Executive departments
| The results OF our labor in this good caus,
did not appear III the sum total Of our ex
| penditnres for the first two years, mainly il
consequence Of the extraordinary expendi,u
res necessarily incurred in the Utah expedi
ton, and the very large amount of she con
tingent expenses Of Congress, during this pc
Rod. These greatly exceeded the pay ant
mileage Of the members. For the year end
ing 3Oth June 1858, whilst the pay and mile
/ age amounted to ST. 400, o1i, the contengen
expenses rose to s., ,3O9 TO- and for tn,
year ending June, 1852, whilst the pay AM
mileage amounted TO $s59,093 Go, the con
tingent expense announced to 81 ,43l sos, IS
am happy, however, to be able to inform
yon that during the last fiscal year, ending OF
the Both Jnne, 1850, the total Expenditure