Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-12-14

portions OF her territory. duty from
which we could not shrink without aban-
doning the traditional and established poll
cy of the American people.
| am happy to observe that, firmly rely
ing upon the justice and good faith of these
/ Governments, there is no present dan
ger that such a contingency will hap
pen. Having disc vered that my recon-
mendations would not be sustained by Con-
gress, the next alternative was 10 accom-
plish in some degree, if possible, the same
objects, by treaty stipuiations with the con-
stitutional government, Such treaties
were accordingly concluded by our late
able and excellent Minister to Mexico, and
on the fourth of January last were sub
mitted to the Senate for ratification AS
they have not received the final action of
that body, it would be improper for me to
present detailed statement of their pro-
visions. Still may be permitted to ex-
press the opinion, in advance, that they are
calculated to promote the agricultural man.
utacturlng and commercial interests Of the
country, and to secure our just influence
with an adjoining Republic, as to whose
fortunes and fate we can never feel indif-
ferent !; whilst at the same time they pro-
vide for the payment Of considerable
amount towards the satisfaction of the
claims of our injured fellow citizens.
KANSAS AND UTAH. ..
At the period of my inauguration [ was
confronted in Kansas BY revolutionary
Government, existing under what was call
ed the Topeka Constitution. The avowed
object was to subdue the Territorial Gov
ernment by force, and to inaugurate what
was called the Topeka Government in its
stead. 10 accomplish this object, an ex-
tenslve military organization was formed
and It's command entrusted to the most vio-
lent revolutionary leaders Under these
circumstances it became my imperative
duty to exert the whole Constitutional
power of the Executive, to prevent the
flames of civil war from raging N Kansas,
which the excited state of the public mind
both North and South might have extend
ed into the neighboring States. The hos.
tile parties in Kansas had been infamed
against each other by emissaries both North
and South, to degree of malignity with
out parallel in our history To prevent
eventual collision and to resist the civil
magistrates i'll enforcing the laws, q strong
detachment Of the army was stationed III
the Territory, ready to aid the Marshals
and his deputies when officially called up
on as posse comitatus in the execution
of civil and criminal processes. Still the
troubles in Kansas could not have been
permanently settled without an election by
the people, the ballot-boxes being the SUI
rest arbitrator of disputes among freemen
Under this conviction, every proper effort
was employed to induce the hostile parties
to vote at the election of delegates tc
frame the State Constitution, and after
wards at the election to decide whether
Kansas should be slave or free State
The insurgent party refused to vote at Ell
Their, lest this might be considered as a
recognition on their part Ct 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 Mon
day of January 1858, for members of the
Legislature and State officers, under the
Lecompton Constitution. The result was
the triumph of the anti-Slavery party at
the polls This decision 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 moth
ing of the Topeka government, and all Sc
rious danger of revolutionary troubles in
Kansas was then at an end. The lie
compton G Constitution, which had been thus
recognized at this State election, by the
votes of both political parties in Kansas.
was transmitted with the request that
should present it to Congress. This could
not have refused to do, without violating
nv clearest and strongest convictions OF
duty.
The laws, and all the proceeding which
proceeded and followed its formation, were
fair, and regular on their face, and what
then believed and expressed has proven
true; the interests Of the people of Kansas
would have been best consulted by its adj
mission, as State, into the Union, espec-
ially as the majority within brief period
could have amended the constitution ac-
cording to their will and pleasure. Il
fraud existed in any or all of these proceed
ings, it was not for the President but fol-
Congress to investigate and determine the
question of fraud, and what ought to be
the consequences. If at the two first cleo
tions the majority refused to vote, it can
not be pretended that this refusal to ex-
ercise the electoral franchise could invali
date an election fairly held under lawful
authority even if they had not voted at
the third election Tt is true that the
whole Constitution had not been submitted
to the people, as | always desired, but the
precedents are numerous of the admission
of States into the Union without such ad-
mission. 1t would not comport with my
present purpose to review the proceedings
Of Congress upon the Lecompton Consti-
tuition. It is sufficient to observe that
their final action has removed the last yes
tige of serious revolutionary troubles
TIE desperate band recently assembled
under a notorious outlaw in the southern
rortion of the Territory to resist the exc
cution of the laws and to plumber peacea
BILE citizens, will, doubt not, be speedily
brought to justice. Had | treated the LIE
comnton Constitution as nullity and re
fused to transmit it to Congress, it is not
difficult to imagine, whilst recalling the
:.; of tho country at that moment