AMERICAN VOLUNTEER.
PUBtISUED'KTEIiy TIIUB3DAY MOBNINO BY
Joint B. Bra-ltoM*. ,
TERM S
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cuted with accuracy and at the shortest notice.
THE MESSAGE
PRESIDENT BUCHANAN.
Washington, ?eb. 2,1858.
The following message was submitted to bol
Houses this afternoon:
• I have received from General Calhoun, the
president of. the late Constitutional Convention
of Kansas, a copy, duly certified by himself,
of the Constitution framed by that body, with
the expression of a hope that I would submit
the same to the consideration of Congress with
the v'ew of securing the admission of Kansas
into the Union as an independent State. In
compliance with this request, I-hercwith trans
mit to Congress, for its action, the Constitution
of Kansas, with the ordinance respecting the
public lands, as well as the letter of General
Calhoun, dated Lccompton. Idth ultimo, by
which they were accompanied.
Having received but a single .copy of the
Constitution and ordinance, I send this to. the
Senate. ..■•••
A great delusion seems to pervade the public
wind in relation (o the condition of parties in
Kansas. ' This arises from the difficulty of in
ducing the American people to realize the fact
that any portion of them should be in a stale of
rebellion against the Gov’ment under which they
live. When we speak of affairs in Kansas, we
are apt to refer, merely to the existence of two
violent political parties in that Territory, divi
ded 01 the question of slavery, just as we speak
’of such parties in the States. This presents no
adequate idea of the true state of the case.—
The diyiding line there is not between two po
litical parties, both acknowledging the lawful
existence of the Government, but between those
who are loyal to this Government and those
who have endeavored to destroy its existence
by force, and usurpation ; between those who
sustain and those who have done all in their
power to overthrow the Territorial Government
established by Congress. This Government
they would long, since have subverted had it
not been protected; from Their assaults by the
troops of the’ Urii'cd Suited-- Such has been
the condition of affairs since my inauguration.
Ever s : rice that period a largo portion of the? 1
people of Kansas have been in a.state of rebel
lion against the Government, with a military
leader at their head, of the most turbulent and.
dangerous character.
They have never acknowledged, but have
cbnstdnily denounced and defied I the Govern
ment to which they owe allegiance, and have
been all the time in a state of resistance against
its authority. They have all the time been en
deavoring to subvert't and establish a revolu
tionary Government, under the.so-oalied Tope
ka Constitution, in its stead. Even at this
very moment (he Topeka Legislature is in ses
sion. Whoever has read the correspondence of
Governor Walker with the Sta'e Department,
. recently conimmvcated to the Senate, will be
.convinced (hat this picture is not ovordiawn. —
Ho always protested against the withdrawal of
any portion ot the nvlitary.lbroeof the Ui States
from the ■ Territory, deeptingits presence abso
lutely necessary for the preservation of the re
gulapidjoyorninent. and the : excCnlipn of the
daws. In his very first, despatch to the Secre
tary of State, dated June 2, 1857,' he says : '
“Tile most alarming movement, however,,
proceeds from the assembling of the,so-called
Topeka Legislature, with the view to, the en
actment of an entire code of laws. Of course,
it will be my endeavor to prevent such a result
hs would lead to tin inevitable, disastrous colli
sion, and, in fact, renew civil war in Kansas.”
This was with difficulty prevented by’the efforts
of Governor Walker, but soon General Harney
was required to furnish him a regiment of dra
goons to proceed to the city of Lawrence : and
this, for reason that lie had received authentic
intelligence, verified by Ills own actual observa
tion, that dangerous rebellion bad occurred,
“involving open defiance of the laws, and the
establishment of an insurgent Qovcrpmcnt in
that city.”
, In the Governor’s despatch of July 15th, he
informs the Secretary of State- “that the move
ment at Lawrence was the beginning of a plan
originating In that city, to organize an insur
rection throughout the Territory, and especial- •
ly.in all towns, cities, arid counties where the
Republican party have a majority. Lawrence
is the hot bed of all the Abolition movements in
this Territory. It.is the town established by
the Abolition societies of the East, and whilst
there are respectable people there, it is filled
by a considerable number of mercenaries
who. are paid by the Abqlition societies to
perpetuate and. diffise agitation throngh
-out Kansas, and prevent the peaceful settlement
of this question. Having failed in inducing
their own—-the smcalled Topeka Slate Legisla
ture—to organize this insurrection, Lawrence
has commenced it herself, and if not arrested,
the rebellion will extend throughout the Terri
tory.” . '
.. .v And again: “In order to send this commu
nication immediately by mail I must close, as
suring you that a spirit of rebellion pervades
the great mass of the Republicans of this Ter
ritory,- instigated, as I entertain no doubt they
are, by Eastern societies, having in view results
most disastrous.to the Government and the
Union, and that the continued presence of Gen
eral Hardily, is indispensable, as originally stip
ulated by me, with a largo body of dragoons
and several batteries.”
On the 20th. of July, 1857, General Lane,
■under the authority of the Topeka Convention,
undertook, as General Walker Bays, v To or
ganize the whole so-called free-Slalo party into
volunteers, and toko the names of all who re
fuse enrolment. i The professed , object was to
protect the polls at the election in August of
the insurgent Topeka StaloLegislaturp.” ‘-The
object of taking the names of all who refuse the
enrolment is. to terrify the free-Stafe conserva
tives into submission. This is proved by the
recent atrocities committed on such men by the
Topekaites. The speedy location of large bod
ies; of regular troops hero with two batteries is
necessary. The Lawrence insurgents await the
development of this now revolutionary military
organization.”
In Governor Walker’s despatch of July 27th,
he says: . , '
“General Lancand his staff every wherc’deny
tho authority of the Territorial laws, and coun
sel a total disregard of these enactments.”—
Without making further quotation of similar
character from other despatches of Governor
Walker, it appears by a refercrico to acting
Governor Stanton’s communication to Secretary
Cass, under date of the 9th'of December last,’
that “the important step of calling the Lcgisla-
was. taken after Governor Walk
er had become satisfied that the election order
ed by the Convention on the 2Tst inst. could
not be conducted , without collision or blood
shed.” So intense,, was the disloyal feeling
among the enemies of the Government establish
ed by Congress, that im election which afforded
them an opportunity, if in the majority, of
making Kansas a free Stale, according to their
own professed desire, could not .be conducted
without,collision and bloodshed. The truth is,
that until the present moment the enemies of
the’ existing Government still adhere to their
Topeka revolutionary Constitution and Qovorn
mont. The very first paragraph of tpc message
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BY JOHN B. BRATTON.
YOL. 44. ‘
of Governor Robinson, dated the 7th of Decem
ber, to the Topeka Legislature now assembled
in Lawrence, contains an open .defiance of the
Constitution ami laws of the United Slates,.
The Governor says: “ The Convention which
framed-tho Constitution a{ Topeka oHginated
with the people of Kansas Territory. They
have adopted and ratified the same twice by a
direct vote, and also indirectly through two
elections of State oflicers and members of the
State Legislature: Yet it has pleased the Ad
ministration to regard the whole proceeding as
revolutionary. ” This Topeka Government, ad
hered to with such treasonable pertinacity, is a
Government in direct opposition to the existing
Government, as prescribed and recognized by
Congress. Ills an usurpation of thesame char
acter as it would bo for a portion of the people
of any State to undertake to establish a sepa
rate Government within its limits, for the pur
pose of redressing'any grievance, real or imag
inary, of which they might complain, against
the legitimate State Government.' Such a prin
ciple, if carried into execution, would destroy
all the lawful authority and produce universal
anarchy.
From this statement of facts, the reason be
comes palpable why the enemies of the
ment authorized . by Congress have refused to
vote for delegates to the Kansas Constitutional
Convention) and .also afterwards on the ques
tion of slavery, submitted by it - to the people.
U is because they have over refused to sanction
or recognize any other Constitution than that
framed at Topeka. Had the whole Leootripton
Constitution been,submitted to the people.the
adherents of this organization would doubtless
have voted'-against it, because, if successful,'
they would thus have removed an obstacle out
of the way of their own revolutionary Consti
tution. .They would have done this, hob upon
consideration of the merits of the whole or part
of the Lceomptoii Gonstitutioir, but simply be
cause they have ever resisted the authority of
the Government authorized by Congress, from
which it emanated.
Such being the unfortunate condition of the
affairs of the Territory, what was.the right as
well as duty of law-abiding people ?,
Were they silently arid, patiently 16 submit
to the Topeka usurpation, or adopt some ne
cessary measure to establish.a Constitution un-
der the organic law of Congress T That this
law recognized the right of. the people of the
Territory, without the enabling act of Con
.gross, to form a Slate Constitution, is top clear
for argument. For Congress “to leave the
people of • (ho Territory perfectly free,.”, in
framing Their Constitution)-‘.‘to form and regu
late their domestic institutions, in theif.oWn
way, subject- only to the Constitution or the
United States,” and then to say they shall not
lie permitted to proceed and frame a Constitu
tion in their own way, without- the express au
thority of Congress; appears to bo almost a con
tradiction of terms. It would he much more
plausible that the people of a Territory might
bo kept out of. the Union for an indefinite pe
riod, arid until it might pleaseCpngress to per
mit them to exercise the right of self govern
ment., .
This would be to .adopt, not their own way,
“but the way which Congress might prescribe.”
It iq impossiblaThaUany people could haye-pro
ceeded with'tnorb-regularity in the formation
of a Constitution, than the. people, of Kansas
have done. It was necessary first,-to ascertain
whether it was the desire:of the people to be
relieved from a Territorial dependence and es
tablish a State Government, For this
the Teriitorial Legislature, hi 1855, passed a
law for “taking the sense of the people of this
Territory upon the expediency of calling a Con
vention to form a State,Constitution,!’ at- the
■general election to be held in October, 1850.
The “sense of the people” was accordingly ta
ken, and they decided in favor of a Convention.
It is true, that at this ejection, the enemies of
the. Territorial Government did not 'vote, be
cause they were then engaged at Topeka, with-,
out the Slightest.pretext of lawful authority, in
framing a Constitution of their own, for the
purpose of subverting the Territorial Govern
ment. •
In pursuance of this decision of the people in
favor of a Convention, the Territorial Legisla
ture, on thc27ih of February ,1857, passed ah
act lor the election of ’delegates on the • Third
Monday of June, 1857, to frame a State Con
stitution. This law is as fair in its provisions
as any that ever passed a legislative body for a
similar purpose. The fight of sufleragb at. this
election is deafly anti justly delincd. “ Every
bona fide inhabitant of Kansas,’’on the third
Monday of June, the day of the election, who
was a citizen of the-United States above the
age of twenty-one, and had resided therein for
three months previous to that dale, was enti
tled to vote. In order to avoid all interference
from neighboring States and Territories with
the freedom and fairness of the election, a pro
vision was made for the registry of the qualified
voters, and pursuant thereof, nine thousand
and fifty-two voters were registered. Govern
or Walker did his whole duty in urging all the
qualified citizens of Kansas to vote at this elec
tion. ..
In his inaugural address, on the 27th of May ,
ho informed them that “under oirr practice the
preliminary act of framing a State Constitution
is uniformly performed through.the instrumen-.
tality of a Convention of delegates chosen by
the people themselves ; that the Convention is
now about to be elected by you, under a call of
the Territorial Legislature, created and still re
cognized by the authority nf Congress and
oloihed by it, in the comprehensive language of
the organic law, with full power to make such
an enactment. The Territorial Legislature
then in assembling this Convention, were fully
sustained by the act of. Congress, and the au
thority of the Convention is distinctly recog
nized in my instructions' from ll.ie President of
the United States.”
The. Governor also clearly and distinctly
warns them what would be the'consequences if
they did not participate in the elections. “The
people of Kansas," then, hu'says, “are invited
by tho highest authority known lo thq-Consti
tution to participate. IVeely and fairly in the
election of delegates to frame a Constitution and
btate Government. Tho law has performed
entire and appropriate function when it extends
to the people the right of suffrage, but it cah<
not - compel the performance pf: that dittyfl—'
Throughout the whole Union, however, and
wherever Tree government prevails, those who
abstain from the exercise of the right of suffrage’
authorize those who clo vote lo act foe them in
Wat contingency, and absentees aro as much
bound, by the jtrty and Constitution, where
there is no fraud'.ojvviolcncc, by tho act of the
majority of Uib'sg',’who, do vote, as if all had
participated.ill!thy election. Otherwise, as vo
ting must bfi.ybltmtary, self-government would
be impractica)ffej : iicql : , monarchy or. despotism
would remaih.as the qnly-alternativo.’'
It may also be observed that at this period,
any hope, it such had existed; that the Topeka
Constitution would ever be recognized’ by Com
gross; must have been abandoned. .Congress
had adjourned .on tho 3d of March previous,,
having recognized the legal, existence of the'
Territorial legislature in a variety of forms,
which I need not enumerate. Indeed, the. dele
gate elected to tho House of Representatives,'
under a Territorial .law, had been admitted to
bis scat, and just completed his term of ser-
+
a
vjco the day previous to my inauguration.—
This was a propitious moment for settling all
tho difficulties iiv Kansas. This was the lime
for abandoning the revolutionary Topeka or
ganization, and for the enemies of the existing
Government- to conform to the laws and unite
with its friends in framing a State Constitution.
But this they refused to do, and the conse
quences of their refusal lo submit to lawful au
thority, and vote at the election of delegates,
may yet prove to bo of the most deplorable
character. Would that the respect for the laws
of the land, which so eminently distinguished
the men of the past generation, could be revived.
It is a disregard rind violation of the law which
have for years kept the Territory of Kansas in a
state of almost open rebellion against the. Go
vernment; it is the same-spirit which has produ
ced actual rebellion in Utah; Our only safety
consists in obedience and conformity to the
law. Should a general spirit against its en
forcement prevail, this will prove fatal to ns as
a nation. We acknowledge no master but the
law; and should wo cutloosc from its'-restraints,
and every one do what good in their
own eyes, our case is indeed hopeless.
The enemies of the Territorial Government
are determined .still to resist tho authority of
Congress. They refused to vote for delegates
to the Convention, not because, from circum
stances which ‘ X need not detail, there was an
omission to register comparatively tow voters
who woro inhabitants of pertain comities in
Kansas, in the early spring of i 857, blit because
they had predetermined, at all hazards; to adhere
to their revolutionary organization, and defeat
the, establishment of any other Constitution
than that wliioirthoy had framed at, Topeka;—
the election', therefore, was suffered to pass in
default. But of this result the qualified elec
tors who refused to vote can never justly com
plain.
, From this review, .it is manifest that the L.e.
oompton Convention, according to every prin
ciple of constitutional law, was legally constitu
ted and invested with the power to (ranio a
Constitution. „ •
Tito sacred principle of popular sovereignty
has been invoked in.favor of the enemies of law
and order in Kansas. But in what manner is
popular, sovereignty to bo exercised-, in this
country, if not through the instrumentality of
established law ? In certain small Republics
of ancient times people did'assemblo in prinm.
ry meetings, passed laws, and directed public
affairs. Tu our- country this is 'manifestly im
possible. Popular sovereignly can be exercis
ed hero only thro’ the ballot-box, and if people
will refuse to exorcise it in this manner, ns they
.have'done ..in • Kansas at, the election of dole-,
gates, it is not for them to complain that: their
rights have been violated.
The Kansas Convention, thus lawfully con
stituted, proceeded to frame a.. Constitution,
and, having completed the work; finally jd
journcd on the 7th of November last. They did
not think proper to submit the whole of this
Constitution to the popular vote, but did sub
mit the question whether Kansas should bo a
free or slave State to the people. This was
the question which had convulsed the Union
and shaken its very centre. This was the
question which had lighted the flames of civil
war in Kansas; and .produced dangerous sec
tional parties throughout the Confederacy. • It
was of a ,character so paramount, iwre.spcct .tq.
attention of the people of the whole ;country |
upon it.alone. No person thought of any, oth
.or .question. For my own part, whbn : I in
structed Governor Walker, in general terms, in
favor of,submitting the Constitution to the peo
ple,! had no object in view, except thc'all absorb
ing question of slavery; In what manner the
people might regulate their own concent-; was
not the subject which attracted any attention.
In fact, the general provisions of the recent
State Constitutions, after an experience of eigh
ty years, are.so familiar arid excellent, that it
would be difficult to go far wrong, at the pres
ept day, in framing a new Constitution.
I then, believed, and still believe; that under
the organic act the Kansas Convention were
bound to submit this all-important question of
slavery to the people. It was never, however,
my opinion that, independently of this act the}'
would have been bound to submit any portion
of the Constitution to the popular vote in order
to give it validity. Had I entertained such an
opinion, this would have been,in opposition to
many precedents in our history, commencing
in the very best ago of the Republic. It would
have been in opposition to the principle which
pervades our.inStitutjons, and is every day car
ried intq practice, that the people have the
right to delegate to representatives, chosen by
themselves, their sovereign power to frame Con
stitutions, eriactlaws, and perform any other
important acts, without requiring That these
should bo subjected to their subsequent appro
bation. ■ *' ' .
It would bo a most inconvenient limitalion.of
thriir own power'.imposed by the people upon
themselves, to exclude them from exq'cising
their sovereignty", in any lawful manner they
may think proper. It .is true; the people of
Kansas might, if they had pleased, have.requir
ed the Convention to submit the Constitution
to a popular yqtc, but this they have not done.
The only remedy, therefore,'’ in. this case, is that
whichixists.m all other similar: bases. If the
delegates who ft'aiiiod the Kansas Constitution
have, in any manner, violated the will of their
constituents, the people always possess the
power to change their Constitution or laws,
according to their own pleasure....
The question of slavery was submitted to
the election of the people of Kansas oh the.2lst
of December last, ih'obcdienee to the mandate
of the Constitution. Hero, again, a fair oppor
tunity was presented to the adherents of the
Topeka Cqnstitutipn, if they were in the major
ity, to decide this exciting, question, in their
own way,” and thus’restpre peace, to the dis
tracted Territory. Bqtthoy again refused the
right of popular sovereignty, and again sitflel'ed
the election to pass in default.. "w
I heartily rejoice that a wiser and better
spirit prevailed among a large majority of these
people.on the first Monday of January, and
that they did tliat day,vote under the Leopmpton
Constitution, (hr Governor and other Stale offi
cers, member of Congress, and members of the
Legislature. This election was warmly contes
. ted by parties, and a larger vole was polled
'than at any previous election in the Territory.
We'may now reasonably hope that the revolu
tionary Topeka organization ■ may be speedily
and finally abandoned, and this will go for to
wards the final settlement of the unhappy dif
ferences in Kansas. If frauds have been com
mitted at this election, bj' otic or both parlies,
tlio Legislature and the 'people of - Kansas, un
der their Constitution, know how to redress
themselves,. and-punish- those detestable, but
too common crimes, without outside interfe
rence.
Tho pcoplg of. Kansas have, “in tbofr own
way,” and in strict accordance with the organ
ic act, framed a constitution and State Govern
ment, have submitted the all-important question
of slavery to tho people; and have elected a govf
ernor, member of Congress, members of the
State'Legislature, and other State officers.,—’
They now ask-for admission into tho" Union,
under this'ConstitUtion, which is .'republican iti
its form. It is for Congress to "decide whether
they will admit or reject the State .which has
thus beeq.created. For iny own part, lam do
cidcdly.jn favor of its admission, and thus ter
minating tho Kansas question. This will car-
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“OUR COUNTRY—MAY IT ALWAYS BE RIGHT—BUT RIGHT OK WRONG, OUR COUNTRY.”
CARLISLE, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11,1858. -
r y out the great principle; of non-intervention
recognized and Sanctipncdjby the organic act,
: which declares, in express language,, in favor of
(he “non-intervention of,Cjongress with slavery
in the States and Territories,” leaving “the
people perfectly free toj form and regulate their
domestic institutions in,their own wnyrsubject
only to the Constitution oh the United Slates.”
Tn this manner, by localizing th'o“ question of
slavery, and confining it td (he people who arc
immeedialcly. concerned, -every -patriot expected
the question to be banished from the halls of.
Congress, where it has: always exerted .a bane
ful fhflnenco throughout the coimtry.
It is proper that I should refer lo the election
held under the act of the Territorial Legislature,
on the first Monday in, January, on the Le
compton Constitution. , This election, held af
ter the Territory had been prepared for admis
sion into the Union'as a; Sovereign State, and
when no authority existed I ,’in the Territorial
Legislature which could ppssibly destroy its
existence, or change its character,.the,election,
which was peacefully conducted under my in
structions, involved a strange inconsistency.—
A-large -majority of the persons who voted
againt the Lecomptori Constitution were.at the
same lime and place recognizing its valid exis
tence in the most solemn rind authentic man
rcr. by voting under its ptiovisions. I have,
as yet, received no official .information of the re
sult of this election.j
As a question of expediency, after the right"
has been maintained, it,nmy;:bo wise to reflect
upon the. benefits to Kansas ,imd the whole Un
ion which would result fromjts immediate ad
mission into the Union, as well as -the disaster
which may follow . its rejection. Domestic
pence will be the happy consequence of its ad
mission, and that tine Territory, hitherto torn
by dissensions, wifi rapidly j|cren.se.m popula
tion and wealth, and speedily realize the. bles
sings and comfort-which follojv agricultural and
mechanical industry- The people then will be
sovereign, and ean regulate their own affairs in
their own way. ■ -.t , -.
If the majority of them desire to abolish do
mestic, slavery within the State, there is no oth
er possible mode by which it-han be effected so
qpeedily as" by it’s prompt, 'admissions The
will of the majority is sepremp and irresistible;
When expressed orderly apd m a lawfully man
ner. It can unmake.Oonstlttpionsat plcrisuije.
It would be absurd to say they canfimpgsjjfy)£
tors upon their own power whjchjncyjcan’nojj
afterwards remove. -If they
might tie their own- hands for a hundred as’,
well as for ten years.- ThesS are the funda
mental principles of Ameri|aii freedom, and
recognized in some form by crery State Consti
tution; arid if Congress, in me act . of admis
sion, should' think proper ,to.#ecognize.theinVJ,
dan perceive no objection. T||s has been done
empluptically in the Constitution of Kansas.—
It,declares, in" the bill of rights, that “all po
litical power is inherent in ttiO people, and all
free Governments are founded On their authuri
ty arid instituted for their., Miieflt, and there
fore they have at all times theyiniilienablc and
iridefensablo right to alter, rtsorm, or . abolish
their form..of govermriont, iri 'tuch .mariner as
they .may think proper.” The great State of
New York a.-.
mode prescribed by the prcvigiL: Constitution.
If, therefore, the p ro vision chnuging the Kim-1
sas C6i)Slflution,"^nrtor.ibo : ySiti?iS£id, could by.
anj'possibility bo construed dnto the prohibi
tion to maho such change previous to the peri
od of prohibition, it would, he-wholly unavail
ing.. The Legislature already icleetcd,- may at
its first session submit the question to the vote
of the people, whether they will or not have a
Convention to amend their Constitution, arid
adopt all necessary means for giving effect to,
the popular will. : - •
It has been solemnly adjudged by the highest
judicial tribunal that slavery exists, in Kansas,
by virtue of the Constitution ,of the United
States. Kansas is therefore at.this molnent as
triuoh a slave State as Georgia or Soutli Caroli
na. Without this, the equality of the sover
eign States composing the Union, would ho vio
lated, and the use and .enjoyment of territory
acquired by the common trbiiJture of till tho
States would be closed against the people' and
properly of nearly half the members of the Con
federacy. Slavery can, therefore, never be pro
hibited in Kansas except by moans of a consti
tutional provision, and in no other manner can
this be obtained so promptly;'if the majority
of the people desire it, as by - admitting it into
the Unibn under the prcsent’Constitution.
On the other, hand,-should Congress reject
the Constitution, under. jhd idea of affording the
disaffected in Kansas a third opportunity to
prohibit slavery in a State which they might
have done twice before, if in the majority, no
man can fortell the consequences'. If Con
gress, for the sake of those inch-who refused to
vote for delegates tp.thc Convention, when they
might have excluded slavery from'tho Constitu
tion, and who .afterwards refused-to'-ydtp on the
21st of December, when they might, as they
o'aim, have stricken, slavery from the Constitu
tion—shoidd now reject p State because slavery
remains in-its Constitution, it is .manifest that
the agitation upon, this important,.subject will
be renewed in a more alarming form than it has
ever assumed. ■ • -■! .
Every patriot in the country had. indulged
the hope that the Kansas-Ncbraska act would
put a final end to the slavery agitation, lit least
in Congress, which bad for more than twenty'
years convulsed the country and endangered the
Union. This act involved great andfnndrtmcn-
tal principles, and, iffairiy, carried Into effect,
will settle the question. Should the agitation
be again revived, should the people. Of the sis
ter Stales be again estranged from .each other
with more than their former' bitterness, (his
will arise from a cause, so tab as the.interests of
Kansas are concerned, more trifling', qnd.insig
nifioant than has ever stirred the elements of
a great people into commotion.
To the people of Kansas; the only practical
difference between the admission: orVMjcotion'
depends simply upon ’ the fact, whether they
can thcmselves more speedily, change the? pres,
opt Constitution, if it docs not accord, with the
will of the majority, or frame a second con
stitution. to bo submitted to Congress, hereaf
ter. Even if this were a question, of mere ex
pediency and not of right, the small. (IHUlrchce
of time, one way: or theotber, is not of the least
importance when contrasted with the, evils
which must necessarily result to_.tl\o whole
country, front the revival of the slavery ngita,
lion. In considering this questmrt. it should
never ho forgotten, that, in proportion to.its
insignificance, let the
so far as may effect the few inhabi
tants of Kansas, who have frongfflpbegi^ning
'resistedl(io Constitution this
very reason the rejection of thoi, Constitution
will bo so much more keenly felt by the people
pf fourteen States' of the Union where slavery is
recognised muter the Constitution of. the United!
States. ■ • V;
Again: the speedy admission of Kansas into
!tho Union would restore peace and qijiet to the
whole'country. - Already the affairs ofthe Ter
ritory have engrossed an undue proportion of
the' public attention, have sadly affected the
friendly relations of the people of the States
.witli.cach qlhcr. nnd alarmed the fears of.patri
ols-fpr the safely of the Union. Kansas once
admit tedjlhe excitement becomes localizedj and
BIM
l!',10
'Ad* ■
will «oon die away - for want of outside aliment;
then every difficulty would ,bu settled at the
ballot-box. Besides—and this is hb trifling
consideration—l shall then he enabled to with
draw' tho troops from Kansas, and employ
their service where they are much needed.—
They have been kept there on the earnest im
portunity of Governor Walker to maintain the
existence of the Territorial Government, and
secure tho execution of the laws, lie consider
ed at least two thousand troops tinder the com- J
mand of Gen. Harney necessary. '
.Aclirigupon his reliable information, I have
been obliged in some degree to interfere with
the expedition to Utah* in order to keep down
the rebellion in Kansas, which has involved a
very happy expense to the'Government. Kan
sas once admitted, it is believed there will ho
longer be any occasion therefor tho troops of
the United States.
I have thus performed my duty on this im
portant question under a deep sense of my re
sponsibility lb God and to my . country. My
public life will terminate within a briefperiod
•and I have no other object of earthly ambition
than to leave my couhtry in a peaceful; pros
perous condition, and live in tbe affections and
respect bf ray countrymen. The dark and
ominous clouds now impending over the Union,
I conscientiously believe, will bo dissipated
with honor to every portion of it by the admis
sion of Kansas during, the present of
Cougrcss, whereas, if it should bo rejected. I
greatly fear that ihese clouds will become dar
ker and more ominous than any that have,ever
yet threatened the Constitution and the Un
ion. JAMES BUCHANAN.
MAT MIGHT BE DUNE.
By CHARLES IIACKAY.
What might bo. done if men were wise—
What glorious deeds, my suffering brother,
Would they unite,
In love and right,
And cease their scorn of one another 7
Oppression's heart might ho imbued
rJsjSfith kindling drops of loving kindness,
-')V\ And knowledge, pour, .
oil From slioro to shore, .
.tight in the .eyes of mental blindness.
All Slavery, Warfare, Lies and Wrong,
'All vice anil crimp might die together j
. :A)1 fruit and corn, "
To each man born, .
Be free as warmth in summer weather.
-Tho meanest wretch'that ever trod,
Tho deepest sunk in guilt and sorrow,
. Might stand erect,
In self-respect, ■
And share tho teeming world to-morrow.
What might bo done 7 This might bo done,
, And mote than this; ray suffering brother —
More than .the tongue
E’er said or sung,,
MO IS MY \EIGIIBOR f
Thyneighbor 7 If is him whom then
Hast .power to aid and bless,
"Whoso aching'heart rind burning brow
. Thy soothing heart may press.
Thy neighbor? s Tis tho fainting poor,
Whose eye with want is dim,
Whom hunger sends.from door to door—
Go thou aiul succor him.
Thy neighbor!. “f is that weary mart
Whose years nip at their brim.
Bent low with sickness, cares and pain—
., Go thou and comfort him.
Thy neighbor 1 ’Tis the heart bereft
Of every earthly gem ;
Widow.and orphan, helpless loft
Go thou anti shelter them.
Whenever thou mootest a human form
Loss favored than thy own,
Remember ’(is thy neighbor worm, '
Thy. brother or thy son.-
Oh! pass not, pass not heedless by;
Perhaps thou cans’t .redeem'
The breaking''heart from misery—
Go share thy lot with liini.
lan¢ou&
A TOUCHING STORY.
“You were not hero yesterday,’ said the gen
tle teacher of the village school, as site laid her
hand kindly on the curly head of one of her pu
pils. It was recess time, but the little girl bad
not gone to frolic away the ton minutes,, not
oven loft her seat; and sat absorbed in what
seemed a fruitless attempt toThako herself mis
tress of a spin in long division.
Her face and nook crimsoned at the remark
of her teacher, but looking up, she seemed
somewhat royassurpd of the kind glance that
met hoc’s. “.No ma'am but sister Nelly was.”
“I remember there was a.little girl, who call
ed herself Nelly Gray, came in yesterday, but I
did riot know slio was your sister,' Biitwliy did
you not conic ? You seem to lovo study very
much f”
* f lt was not because X did not want to como,
was the earnest answer, and then she paused
and the deep Hush again tinted that fair brow—
“but,” sho’centinncd, altera moment of pain
ful pmbaras.sment,“mother cannot spare ns both
conveniently, so wo are both going to take turns;
I’m going to school one day, and sister next;
and to-riight I’m to teach Nolly all I’ve learned
to-day ; and to-morrow night she will feacli mo
all she learns whiio boro- It is the only way
that wo can think.of.gelting along, arid wo want
to study very much, so as to sometime keep
school ourselves and fake cafe of our mother,
because slip has to work very hard to keep us.”
With genuine delicacy,!Miss M. forbore to
question the child further, but sat down beside
her,' arid in a riiomont explained the rule, over
which rile was puzzling her young brain, so that
thodiftlCult sum was easily finished.
.“.You had-better go out arid take tho aim
pioniontj you liavo studied very hard to-day,”
said tho teapher, as tho little girl , put up her
'slate.
'“I had rather not; I might tear my dress; I
will stand by (ho window and watch tho rest of
10 scholars.”
There Was such a peculiar* tone In Iho voice’
of her pupil as sho said (I might-tear raj’ dress,
that Miss M.-was led instinctively t®/notice it.
It was nothing-lint- a ninoponny print of deep
bine, but wna-noatly made,land hndmevor been
washed. And while looking pt it-, sho remem
bered that, dnring.tho whole previous fortnight
Mary Gray attended school ‘regularly, that sho
had nevercseon her wear but:that one dress.!
“Sho is a thoughtful iitllo- girl,” said she to
herself,-‘fand dries not want to make her mother!
any trouble. I- wish I had more such schol
ars.’*, ■ ,
The next morning Mary was absent, but hor
sister occupied her scat.. Thoro.wassomething
so mtorevesting in the two little sisters; the one
eleven years old arid the other eighteen months
younger, agreeing to attend school by turns,
(tint Miss M. could not forbear observing them
very clcsoly. They woroprotty-lhcod children, |
v -.y
• of delicate forms, and fairy like hands nnd feet;
. the older with dark lustrous eyes, and the other
’ with orbs like the Juno sky, her white neck
veiled by a wreath of golden ringlets. She
observed in both the same close attention to
their studies, and as Mary had tarried during
play time, so (lid Kelly, and upon speaking to
lier as . she did to her sister she received the
same answer, “I might tear my dross.”
Again the reply caused Miss M. to notice Hie
garb of the sister. JShe saw at once it was the
same piece as Mary’s anil upon scrutinizing it
Closely, sho became certain that it was thesamo
dress. It did not lit so closely on Kelly, andit
was too long for her; and,she was evidently not
at ease when site notite'd hof teacher looking at
the bright flowers that were so thitkly sot on the
dark ground.-
The discovery, was one tliat.could not but in
terest a heart so trhly benevolent as that which
pnlsated in tho bosom of that village teacher.
She ascertained the residence of, their mothom
and though sorely straightened herself by a naP
row purse, that same night, having found at the
only store in the place a few yards of the same
material; purchased a dress for little Nolly, and
sent it in snob a way that tho donor could not
he detected. ' ' .
Tory hrigiit and happy looked Mary Gray on
Friday morning, as she entered the school at an
early hqur. Sim waited only to place tier books
neatly on tier desk, ere she approached Miss M.
and whispered in a voice that laughed in spile
ot her efforts to make it low and deferential—
“after this week Nelly is .coming to school every
day, and oil, I am so glad 1”
“This isgood news,” roplicd'Uio teacher kind
dfy. Holly is fond of her books, I see, arid-I
am linppy to know that she can have an oppor
tunity to study her books eyoiy day.
Then she continued, a little good 'humored
mischief encircling her eyes, “hut how can your
mother spare both conveniently?”
“O, yes, ma’am—yes, nia’ara she con now.
Something-lias happened which'she didn’t ex
pect, and she is glad, to have us come when we
are to do so.” '--«
She hesitated ri moment, but hcryoung heart
was tilled to tho brim with joy, and when a child
is happy it is as natural for it to t .11 tho cause
as It is for a bird to warble when the sun
shines.
So out of tho fullness of her heart, she spoke,
and told her teacher this" itflo story: ■
Sho and her little sister were the only child
ren of a poor widow, whose health was so feeble
and delicate that it twaa almost Impossible to
support herself.and daughters. She was oblig
ed to keep them out of school all winter because
thoy.had.no clothes to wear, lint sho told them
if they could earn enough by doing chorea for
tho neighbors to buy each of them a now dross,
they might go in tho spring. Very earnestly
had tho littlo girls improved thefr stray chances,
and very carefully laid up the copper coin which
usually, repaid; them.- They had each saved
money ono.ugh to buy .a calico dress, when Nol
ly was taken sick, and as tho mother, had no
money before hand, her treasure had tp bo ex-
pended for medicine. ■ - •
“6,1 did fool so bad.when school opened,
and Nolly could not go because sho had no
dress,” said Mary. “I told hor.l would not go
either, but sho said I had hotter, for. I could
then teach tier some, and it would; be better
than no schooling. I stood it tor a fortnight
biit Nolly’s litUo.face seemed always looking at
‘mo .on tlio way.to sofiriol/aiKiJ cDjiidn-'t OtHurp
py it tilt, so 1 finally thougbt.of a way by tvlilch
wo co'uid bofh go, and I told mother I. would
come one-day, and the next I.would lend Nolly
my dress, and she might oomo, and this Is the
way wo have done this week. B l >t last night
somebody aont'sister a dress justliko mine,and
now she can come too. 0,1/1 only know who
it was, I would got down on my knees, and
thank thorn, and so would Nolly. But wedon’t
know, and wo have done all w.o could for thorn
—we pray for them; and oh, Miss, M.', we are
all so glad now. Ain’t you too 7” ■
-' “Indeed I am',” waa tho emphatic answer.
And on tho following morning; wlion liftlo Ncliy
in the new dross entered tho school-room, her
face radiant as a rose in tho sunshine, and ap
proached the teacher’s table, sho exclaimed in
tones ns musical ns those of a freed fountain
—“ I’m coming to school now,, and I am so
glad!” -
Miss M. felt as slio had never fell—that it was
more blessed to give than to receive. No mill
ionaire, when ho saw his name in public prints,
landed for. his thousand dollar charities, was ev
er half so happy as that poor school .teacher,who
wore old gloves halt a summer longer than she
ought, and thereby saved enough to buy that
little fatherless girl a calico dress. ,
The foliowing 'was written half a century ago
by Sirßoyic‘Eocho, a member of tholrish Pa:
liameht. The letter Was addressed to a friend in
London, and it is old enough to ho new to nine
out of ten readers :
“Mv Dean Sm :—Having now a little peace
and quietness, I sit down and inform you of (ho
dreadful hustle and confusion wo arc all in from
these blood thirsty rebels, most of .whom are,
thank (Jod, killed and dispersed. We are inrt
pretty mess; can get nothing to o.jt, nor any
wino.fo drink, except whiskey; and when wo
sit down to dinner wo are obliged to keep both
hands armed. While I write I hold a sword in
each haftd and a pistol in the other.
I concluded from the beginning that tills
would bo the end of it, and I see I was right;
for it is not hall oyer yet. At present there are
such going on that everything is at a stand still.
I should have answered your l.ettor a fortnight
ago, but,! did-not receive it until this morning.
Indeed, scarce a mail arrives without being
robbed. No longer ligO than yesterday the
coach with the mail from Dublin was robbed
near this Town. The bags had been left behind
for foaf of accident, and by good luck there was
nobody in it but two outside passengers, who
had nothing for flieivos to take. Last .Tuesday
notice whs given that a gang of rebels was ad
vancing here undor\tho French standard, but
they had no colors nor any drums except bag'
pipes. ,
Immediately every riian in tho place, includ-
ing men, women and children, ran ont to meet
them, Wo soon found our force much too little;
wo wero tod near to think of retreating. Death
was in every face; but at it'wo wont, and began
to bo all alivo again. • For tunately the rebels
had no guns but pistols and pikes, and as we
had plenty of muskets and ammunition, tvo put
them all.to tho sword. Not a soul of them es
caped, except,soipe that werp drowned in the
adjacent’bogs, and .in a very short time nothing
was hoard but silence. Their uniforms wero all
different colors, but! mostly green. , After the
action we went to rummagoa sort o( camp which,
thoy.ljad left behind them. All wo found was a
few pikes without heads ; a parcel of empty bot
tles of. wider, and a bundle-of French commis
sions filled with Irish names. Troops are now.
stationed,all around tho country, which exactly
squares twjlli my ideas. I have only time to add
that lam inagreat hurry.” , ’
“P. S.—t-If-yoli don’t receive this, of conrso
it must have, miscarried, therefore I hog you to
write and lot mo. know,’.’
[£7“ A poor gillcd blade says :
“Woman’s loro is like Scotch snuff.
You get one pinch and that’p enough.”
Whereupon a darkey of more sense as well
as soul responds : • ’’ "
“Wothan’s lub; like ingy-fubber': ' ,
It stretch de more, do more you lub her.
rr7- It is singular tiiat'whcn' bills are “duo,”
fboir acceptors 'atc'iittsf, "
AT S2,CO PER ANNUM
. NO. 35.
A- Dmc of Irish Dulls.
• Wild Cat Currency At the West, t
The following from tho Chicago •TrihunS’ Of
January 19th, is a sample • of tile copphlnts
which 1111 the Western papri-s:
. “Minnesota is tho paradise pfthojfeline tribe.
As in Michigan in carlier '• flourish
with a vlgbr of growth, and length of claw, nnd
sharpness of yoice, that are nowhere else Attain
ed. The latter litter, as noticed in the St. fan!
papers, consists of two- kittens, one Called tho
Central Bank, Gray, nnd the other yclept tho
Charcoal Bank of Nowhere. The swindling
emissions of both are endorsed by parties in St.
Paul, and both are doubtless worthless". Tho
peculiarity of the notes of the charcoal Bank is,,
that they promise redemption, if presented-to"
the uttprer, at his cilice, <on the I lust day of Ju
ly —not a day later or earlier. Who doubts
that St. Paul and Minnesota are hard up, when
such stair can be used as a substitute (or money.
“lowa is but little belter off- than her north
ern neighbor. Wo publish to day a letter, from
Davenport, in which the eflcct of-Nebraska
money—they have no .other.in that- region—is
graphically described; nnd we liayej in the Ga
lena Advertiser, specimens of.(ho prevailing
currency at Dubuque, which we •copy'; for the
delectation of those who never passed through
a shinplustcf era. Two specimens Will snlflcl- .
cntly describfc" (he lot.? .
Attempted Assassination of Sapoleon Ilf/
At half-past 0 o'clock on the evening pi
Thursday, January 14, the Emperor was fired
at while he was entering the Italian .Opera in
tho Rue Lcpellelicr. Some persons -in the
Street; were wounded. I'ho Emperor showed
himself to- the people at the doors of the’ Opera
house. "Ho was received with .enthusiastic
cheering, lie remained I ill the end of the’op
pra., On his return at midnight, he was baited
by the enthusiastic cheers of, an immense mul
titud, which was wailing for him in the street*
The Emperor and Empress, on entering the
opera, wore received with' the warmest enthu
siasm. , I'he course of performance went on
as usual.- On hearing of the'evcnt which had
taken place,- their -Imperial' Highness. Prince
Jerome and Prince Napolcpp,, the -Princess
Mhthiide, as well as Prinfco Jlurijt. tlje minis
ters ami several marshals and great funcliomt
ries, the members of the diplomatic body', and
the perfects of the Seine and bf police,- Prbo'ur-.
eur-Oemral of tho Court of Paris, and tho Pro
curem-Impcrial, attended their Majesties. •
The inquiry was at once commenced, and
several arrest's were effected. Their Majesties
left the opera at midnight. The ’ Boulevards
were spontaneously illuminated, and a vast coni
course of people cheered the Emperor and’ Em
press most enthusiastically and touchingly, as
they passed on their way to tho Tmlcrics. - 0h
arriving, their Majesties found gteat nutabeti
of persons, amongst them' the Ambassador bf
England, the Presidenfof tlie Scniite. memhcrs
of tho diplomatic body, and several senators;
waiting to offer their corigratiilatiobs:
.. A despatch tb the Globe stales that sixty
persons were wounded, including two ladies at
a Window. Many arrests have taken place;
amongst them are. throe foreigners. The pro
jectiles used were conical. Three persons Seta
killed.'. ■ ’
The Emperor’s face is slightly scratched' by
fragments 6f glass. The Emperor ami Empress
are perfectly well. At o’clock, the imperial
family attended a solemn mass with minister of
Sl&te. ; m
, The conspirators are Italians; four hats
been arrested. , They canie from England, anti
belong to a secret society of assassins. . '
, Fifty-Uvd persons were wounded by the three
shells thrown at the carriage—some'dangerous
ly ;
Reasons why Farmers Ake (Healthier TitAK
Professional Men.— These reasons are: ‘ 1
• 1 i They work more, and develop ail the lead
ing muscles of the body.
2. They take their exorcise in the open.ait,,
and Hina breatlio a greater amount of oxygenr,
3. Thoir food' and ’drinks "are ctimmbnly less
adulterated, and far more simple. '. .
. dVTlje^dp.rjot.oyctvvvrk their brain as inheir
ns professional meirdo. ‘ . . ’ .
fi. They take''their sloop; commbnljrj darfyg
(bo hours of darkness; and do not' try to tart!
day into uighti
0,. They are not, commonly, so ambitions and
tI6 not wear themselves oaf so rapidly in tha.
fierce contest of rivalry. ’ . '
7. Their pleasures are mote simple and lesa
exhausting. ■ . ,
To Cut Gi.ass witu a Pieces op Ino.v.—
Draw with a pencil on paper any pattern to
which you would have the glass conform; place, i
the pattern nhder the glass, holding bath logo--
thor in the left hand, (tor the glass' must not
Tost on any plain surface,) thcti fakop common
spike, heat the point of it to redness, and ap
ply it to the edge of the glass, draw the iron
slowly forward, and tho edgo of the glass will
immediately crack ; still move tho iron slowly
over tho glass, tracing the pattern, and the:
clink in the glass, will follow at the distance of ;
about half, an inch, in every direction, accord
ing to tho motion of the iron. It may bo found.'
requisite- especially.in forming corners, to apg ■
ply a wet finger to tho opposite side of tho .
glass. The iron must bo re-boated as often as
the crevice in the glass ceases to How.—Scion- ,
iific Mechanic.- '
la It SuPEiisTiTiox ?—Tradition has handed '■
down, from .time immemorial, among .
somo peculiar notions about(ho influence oftho
moon on vegetation, &c., which the skepticism ’
of modern agricultural' writers have generally '
agreed in rejecting ns relics of a superstitious ,
ago.. . •
Tho human mind is so constituted that, like,'
(lie pendulum, (which when made to swing on 1
ono sido of tho centre of gravity, will vibrato io ;
the opposite extreme) it has ever vihrntcd bb- •
twocu the opposite extremes of suporstion and. -
incredulity, and-rotlecting minds are beginning,'
to cqme tb the Conclusion that, in tho coal man- •
bested to reject everything tb’at savored of su
perstition, a great deal ot truth has been thrown ■
aiVay, .
Suggestive.— A New Orleans paper pret
sents a very suggestive paragraph, in the (bl
owing, t?bioh ho entities “The march to tho
grave of 1857:” ' . ’ V ' : ' '
“What a mighty procession have been 'mo- :
ving toward the grave during-the past year!— ’
As tho usual estimate, since the first of Janua- :
ry, 1557. there have more than thirty,one mil
lion five hundred thousand Of thft world’s pOpu- ”
lation gone down to the grave. Place them in
long array, and they will give a moving column ~
of more than thirteen hundred to every miK'of •
tho circumference of tho globe. What a spec
taclc.,as they move on, tramp, tramp, tramp, ,
the‘Dead Slat-ch',’giving its funeral notes its '
they go to the silent shades!” .
Marriage.—Get married! Marry, let the
risk he what it may ; it gives dignity to your .-
profession, inspires confidence, and commands ,
respect. With a wife, the lawyer is more trus
ty, the doctor more esteemed, I lib' mechanic,
throws the hammer with increased power; and
shoves the plane with n.moro dexterous hand ) '
tho merchant gets a better credit —in short, a d
man without a wile is no man all! She liui> r .
ses .him while sick, she watches for him.in.
health. Gentlemen get a wife, a pretty one if
you like them best—a good one when she is to '
bo found—and a rich one if you can get hep
pretty mid good. . k
A Sixour.Aa Lake.—There is a lake covering
nineteen tamdrod acres in Wright county, lowa, ;
about 150 miles west of Dubuque, which.ts sur- ,
rounded by a regular stone' wall, five feet.wide f
at tlio top,-and in some places, where the water
would he likely to overflow the prairie, fen feet
high. As the pioneers fount (he wall there,
tho question .arises, “Who built if?” Another;
remarkable fact' is that tho lake has no visible'
feeder or outlet. , ' '
By Paring the May anniversaries, in /.
York, the following dialogue .was oyprticarl,,
between two of tho Netrsboys: “fsaylJihi- 5
my, what is Ihc.meaning of- so maay’preach’era • I
being here altogether I” “Why.” answered I
Jim, “they always meets here once a year tp
exchange sermons with each other.”