Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-12-12

parallel in history. To prevent actual
collision and to assist the civil magistrates
in enforcing the laws, a strong detachment of
the army was stationed in the Territory, ready
to aid the marshal and his deputies, when
lawfully called upon, as posse comitafus 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 is the surest
arbiter of disputes among fteemen. Under
this conviction, every proper effort was en-
ployed to induce the hostile parties to vote at
the election of delegates to frame State con-
stitution, and afterwards at the election to
decide whether Kansas should be slave or a
free State. The insurgent party refused to
vote at either, lest this might be considered a
recognition on their part of the territorial
government established by Congress. bet
ter spirit, however, seemed soon after to pre-
vail, and the two parties met face to face at
the third election, held on the first Monday of
January, 1858, for members of the legislature
and State officers under the Lecompton con-
stitution. 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
little or nothing of the Topeka government
and all serious danger of revolutionary troub-
les in Kansas was then at an end.
The Lecompton constitution, which had
been thus recognized at this State election by
the votes of both political parties in Kansas,
was transmitted to me with the request that I
should present it to Congress. This | could
not have refused to do without violating my
cleareSt and strongest convictions of duty.
The constitution, and all the proceedings which
preceded and followed its foundation, were
fair and regular on their face. l then beiev-
ed, and experience has proved, that the in
terests of the people of Kansas would have
been best consulted by its admission as State
into the Union, especially as the majority,
within a brief period, could have amended the
constitution according to their will and pleas
ure. If fraud existed in all or any of these
proceedings, it was not for the President, but
tor Congress, to investigat and determine the
question OF fraud, and what ought to be its
consequences. If, at the two first elections,
the majority refused to vote, it cannot be pre-
tended that this refusal to exercise the elective
franchise could invalidate an election fairly
held under lawful authority, even if they had
not subsequently voted at the third election.
1t is true that the whole constitution had not
been submitted to the people, as always de-
sired but the precedents are numerous of the
admission of States into the Union without
such submission. 1t would not comport with
ms present purpose to review the proceedings
of Congress upon the Lecompton constitution.
1t is sufficient to observe that their final action
has removed the last yestige of serious revo-
lutionary troubles. The desperate band re-
Gently assembled, under notorious outlaw,
in the southern portion of the Territory, to
resist the execution of the laws and to plum
der peaceful citizens, will, doubt not, be
speedily subdued and brought to Justice. Had
treated the Lecompton constitution as null
lity and refused to transmit it to Congess, it
is not difficult to imagine, whilst recalling the
position of the country at that moment, what
would have been the disastrous consequences,
both in ard out of the Territory, from such a
dereliction of duty on the part of the Execu-
tive. Peace has also been restored within the
Territory of Utah, which, at the commence
ment OF my Administration, was in state of
open rebellion. This was the more dang erous,
as the people, animated by fanatical spirit
and entrenched within their distant mountain
businesses, might have made long and formi-
dable resistance. Cost what it might, it was
necessary to bring them into subsection to the
Constitution and the laws. Sound policy,
therefore, as we'll as humanity, required that
this object should, if possible, be accomplished
without the effuson of blood. This could on
ly be effected by sending military force into
the Territory sufficiently strong to convince
the people that resistance would be hopeless,
and at the same time 10 offer them pardon
for past offences on condition of Immediate
submission to the Government. This policy
was pursued with eminent success; and the
only cause for regret is the heavy expenditure
required to march large detachment of the
army to that remote region and to furnish it
subsistence. Utah is comparatively
peaceful and quiet, and the military force has
been withdrawn, except that portion of it ne
cessary to keep the Indians in check and to
protect the emigrant trains their way to
our Pacific possessions.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, &c.
1t is with great satisfaction l communicate
the fact, that, since the date of my last An
MaSSara IN al nOl G Law has inn.
ported in violation Of the laws prohibiting the
African Slave trade. This statement is found
ed upon a thorough examination and investiga-
tion OF the subject Indeed, the spirit which
prevailed some time among portion of our
fellow citizens in favor of this trade seems to
have entirely subsided.
also congratulate you upon the public
sentiment which now exists against the crime
of setting on foot military expeditions within
the limits of the United States, to proceed
from thence and make war upon the people of
unohendng States with whom we are at peace.
In this respect happy change has been ef-
tected since the commencement of my Adj
mlnistration. 1t surely ought to be the prayer
of every Christian and patriot, that such ex-
peditlonS may never again receive counte-'
nance in our country or depart from our shores.
1t would be useles repetition to do more
than refer, with earnest commendation, to my
former recomme endations in favor of the Pa
cific railroad-of the grant of power to the
President to employ the naval force in the vi
cinity, for the protection of the lives and prop
erty of our fellow-citizens passing in transit
over the different Central American routes a
gainst sudden aud lawless outbreaks and dep
relations and also to protect American mer-
chant vessels, their crews and cargoes, against
violent and unlawful seizure and confiscation
in the ports of Mexico and South American
republics, when these may be in disturbed
and revolutionary condition. 1t is my set
tied conviction, that without snch power we