The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-01-31


chief done the State has resulted from Over
legislation. Various remedies to overcome
this evil have been proposed. In many of
the States it WAS thought that biennial ses-
sions of the Legislasure would prevent it.
This plan has been tried, and wherever
tried, has failed. States, such as Massa-
chusetts and New York, have adopted an
other mode to correct this evil, and that is
through General Laws. The reason of this
was, that the township and the county
should have control over the legitimate bus
iness of the township and the county, leav-
ing to the Legislature of the State control
of the Legitimate business of the State.
Thus, county lines, county seats, incorpora-
ton of cities and villages, escheated lands,
authority to construct dams, and whatever
may relate specially to township or county,
have been left by the general laws of these
States to the people of townships and coun.
ties. With view, then, of correcting the
evil in the State, and letting the people do
their own business in their own way, so far
as relates to local legislation, of ridding
the Legislature of corrupting and unnatural
combinations, of vexatious and troublesome
questions, and of lessenning the expenses
Of the Legislature by consuming its time
in questions wholly foreign. to its business,
l beg you, as matter of wisdom and
economy. to heed the experience Of older
States, and to pass general laws which shall
overcome these evils.
SUMMARY.
I have intimated to you that I had not
the official information which was really
necessary to impart to you. Such is the
fact. On the subject of taxation, known
to be so important to the people, have
neither statistics nor facts. On another
subject equally important, that of systems.
tizing the laws and of establishing true
financial policy for the State, have no data
which would enable me to speak advisedIy.
I have made such recommendations as in
my humble judgment would best advance
the true interests of the State. That I may
be clearly understood, l present you sum-
mary of these recommendations:
1st. An amendment to the Constitution,
that our citizen soldiery be permitted to
vote. 81
3D.. To affirm by law the acts of the
former agents of the State, and to complete
the contract made with the Secretary Of tie
Interior. rl
Sd. To advance the benevolent and edu-
cational interests of the State.
4th. To accept the law Of Congress,
July I'd, 1862.
5th. To locate the branch of the Pacific
Railroad, and to establish State railroad
system.
9th. To tax foreign Insurance Companies.
7th. To pass General Laws con6ning Lo-
cal Legislation to local authorities. ~
Sth. That you memorable Congress fol
Declaratory Act of the Law of Sept. 4tb,
l84l, aud Of the Act of Jan. goth, 1861.
As military necessity to complete
the Platte County Railroad to Fort .Leav-
epworth, and to improve the wagon roads
leading from Fort Leavenworth West and
South. =
For just proportion of the Public
Lands.
For the extinction of Indian Titles.
For the completion of the Public Sur
veys.
For the relief of the sufferers of 1855,
1856 and 1857.
SUFFERERS of 1855, 1856 AND 1857.
We should not forget the sufferers of
1855, 1856 ard 1857. 1t cannot be your
wish, and it is not my purpose, to revive in
any way the wild hates aud rude animosities
of those memorable years in the history of
Kansas. The pioneers came here to pur.
sue peace, and the arts of peace. They
came here to make for themselves happy
homes in this beautiful land, and to dedi-
cate it forever to freedom. Their simple
and honest purpose was, to lay deep and
strong the foundation of free State, for a
home for themselves, their children and
their children's children. A misguided
portion Of the people in the Southern
States, assailed them with rufian brutality,
aud involved the young Territory in bloody
war, as the SCARED bodies of the living, and
the charred remains of many ruined homes,
so sadly, yet so truthfully testify.
Impartial history will sustain my asser-
ton, that these Kansas freemen met the
first shock of Treason against the Federal
Union, and had the Government done it's
duty, had it given protection to these pion-
eers in the common rights which belong to
all freemen, had it punished those who
violated justice and sought its overthrow !;
their sacrifices and their losses would never
have occurred.
It failed to do it. The debt, then, so
incurred in consequence of these losses and
these sacrifices, is debt to the nation. 1t
will not do for the nation, if it would maiu-
tain its own self-respect or the respect Of
the world, TO forget these sacrifices or neg
lect to pay for these losses. If every O.