The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-12-18

CcH5TeSS, the next dileFHdtiNc WAS 10 &C
!, complisb, in some degree impossible, th,
, same objects, by treaty stipulations will
the constitutional government. Sucf
treaties were accordingly concluded by
, our late able and excellent Minister tc
: Mexico, and on the 4th Of January las
, were submitted to the Senate for ratifica
ton. AS they have not received the fl
nal action of that body it would be i'm.
proper for me to present detailed state
ment of their provisions. Still, | may
be permitted to express the opinion il
advance, that they are calculated to pro
mote the agricultural manufacturing and
commercial interests of the country and
to secure our just influence with an ad.
joining Republic as to whose fortunes and
fate we can never feel Indifferent whilst
at the same time they provide for the
payment of considerable amount to-
wards the satisfaction of the claims OF
our injured fellow citizens.
KANSAS AND UTAH.
AT the period of my Inauguration |
was confronted in Kansas by a revolu.
tionary government, existing under what
was called the Topeka Constitu ton. The
avowed object was to subdue the Terri.
torial Government by force, and to inau.
gurate what was called the Topeka gov.
ernment IN its stead. TO accomplish this
object an extensive military organization
was formed, and its command entrusted
to the most violent revolutionary leaders
Under these circumstances it became my
imperative duty TO exert the whole Con.
stitutlonal power of the Executive, to
prevent the flames of civil war from rag
ing in Kansas, which the excited state OF
the public mind both North and South
might have extended into the neighbor,
ing States. The hostile parties in Kan
sas had been intlamed against each 9TH
er by emlsaries both from the North and
South, to degree of malignity without
parallel in our history. To prevent even
tual collision, and to assist the civil mag
istrates in enforcing the laws, a strong
detachment of the army was stationed in
the Territory, ready to aid the marshals
and his deputies when officially called
upon as posse comtatus in the execu-
ton of civil and criminal processes. Still
the troubles III Kansas could not have
been permanently settled without an elec
ton by the people, the ballot box being
the surest arbitrator of disputes among
treemen. Under this conviction, every
proper effort was employed to induce the
/ hostile parties to vote at the election OF
delegates 10 frame the State Conslitu
lion. and afterwards al the election to
decide whether Kansas should be slave
or free State. The insurgeut party re
fused to vote at either, lest this might be
considered as a recognition on their par
OF the Territorial 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, 1858
for members OF the Leg islature and State
officers, under the Lecompton Constitu
ton. The result was the triumph Of the
anti slavery party at the polls This de
clsion OF the ballot box proved clearly
that this party We're in the majority, and
removed the danger of civil war From
that time we have heard nothing of the
Topeka government, ard all serious dan
ger of revolutionary troubles in Kansas
was then at an end. The Lecomptou
Constitution, which had thus been rec
ognized at this State election, by tht
votes Of both political parties in Kansas,
was transmitted with the request that
should present il 70 Congress. This
could not have refused to do without vic
lating my cIearest and strongest convic
tions of duty.
The laws. and all the proceeding,
which preceded and followed It's forma.
ton, were fair and regular on their face
and what then believed and expressed
has proven true the interests ofthe peo.
pie of Kansas would have been best con.
suited by its admission as State. into
the Union, especially rs the majority
within briei period, could have amen.
ded the constitution according TO their
will and pleasure. Ii frauds existed in
any or all OF these proceedings. it WAS
not for the President but ior Conrre S
TO investigate and determine the cues,
ton ot fraud, and what ought 10 be the
CoHSel utuCcs Ill ut tue TWO nrSt elee.
lions the majority refused to vote, ii can
) not be pretended that this refusal to ex.
erclse the elective franchise could in.
validate an election fairly held under
lawful authority, even ii they had not
| voted at the third election II is true
J that the whole Constitution had not been
: submitted 10 the people, rs always de,
sired, tut the precedents are numerous
OF the admission of States into the Tn.
{ ion without such submission Ii would
not oomport with ny present purpose L
} review the proceedings Of Congress up
3 on the Lecompton Constitution Ii i.
sufficient 10 observe that their final ac
ton has removed the last vestige OF ser
ious revolutionary troubles The des
perate band receptly assembled under ;
] notorious outlaw in the Southern portion
of the Territory TO RESIST the execution
Of the laws and 10 plumber peaces bl.
Q citizens, will, doubt hot. be spcedil,
{ brought 10 Justice Had treated th,
! Lecomption Constitution as MULTI,
and refused 70 transmit 1t to Congress
E Il IS not difficult to imagine whilst re
calling the position OF the country a
+ that moment, what would have been lh