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' S- B. KOW.Editok asd Propribtoe." - "
.CLEARFIELD, FA., SEPT. 16, 1857. ".
BtCHAXAS AND Sl.AVi.llT. We publish ,111
another portion of our'paper the Memorial of
Frof. Suliuian, and. forty-two others, address
ed to. President Buchanan, relative to Kansas
affairs, and the reply of the latter. The Pres
ident takes the position that slavery exists in
the Territories under the Constitution' of the
United States, and after saying that this point
had finally been decided by the highest tribu
nal known to our laws, thiuks it a mystery that
it conld ever have been, seriously doubted.
In order to place his meaning beyond all doubt,
he goes on to explain' that if a confederation
of sovereign States acquire a new territory at
the expense of their common blood and trea
sure, one set of partners can have no right to
exclude the other from its enjoyment by pro
hibiting them from taking into it whatsoever
is recognized to be. property by the common
constitution, and that when the bona fide resi
dents of such territory proceed to frame a
Constitution, then it is their right to decide
the important question for themselves, wheth
er they will continue to modify or abolish slave
ry. These are important admissions on the
part of 31 r. Buchanan, and show conclusively
that the object of the Dred Scott decision was
to establish slavery, in Kansas, and that the
present National Administration is willing to
lend its influence, by countenancing that de
cision, ia making a Slave State out of Kansas.
.. Bodbixc Arocsd." Our neighbors of the
Clearfield Republican are funny fellows, if we
are permitted to judge of their characters by
a long article, on "The Journal," in their last
norther, and which doubtless will provoke a
mile on the countenance of every one who
read it. It is really amusing to see how they
"bob op and down" in the current of argu
ment,, and it would keep ns busy, indeed, to
'hit their bead" every time it appears in an
erroneous position in passing through the va
rious zneanderings of our neighbors' article,
even though they could occasionally dodge
behind their "compositor" 'whilst he was in
serting "a period in the place of a comma."
We will, however, refrain from such fine sport
at this time, as there is nothing special to be
accomplished by it. There is, nevertheless,
one point in their article to which we wish to
direct attention. The editors of the Republi
can say they "hold Mr. TTilmot to be an abo
litionist, and that he advocates . their doc
trines." . This declaration is made boldly and
unqualifiedly. They make a direct charge,
and hence it devolves upon them to substan
tiate what they assert. Now, we ask them to
produce the evidence that Mr. Wilmot advo
cates "the monstrous doctrines of abolition
ism." Come, gentlemen, bring forth , your
proof. ; Mere assertions wont do. Mr.' Wil
mot ia strongly opposed to the extension of
slavery ; but the asseveration that be is in fa
vor of "abolishing" it in the States where it
exists, does not square with the truth. We
gain-ask the editors of the Republican to pro
duce the evidence to snbstantiate their charge.
SstAH ! WlLI WONDERS XEVEE CHASE ? The
lst ' Clearfield Republican, the nominal organ
f the Democratic party in this county, in its
last number, has a lengthy editorial defence of
the, notorious II. Butcher Swoope, chairman
ef the Ilazlehurst State Committee, an indi
vidual, like Ralph, the squire of Iladibras,
'for profound
And solid lying, much renown'd,' - ' . -as
well as for several other things, some of
which were set forth in a letter published in
the Philadelphia Sun of the 1st- Sept., and
which letter was the cause that drew forth the
article in the Republican of last week. It mat
ters little to ns what indiscretions 'the skirak,'
as the virtuous 'Chairman' is sometimes called
here, has been guilty of,' or how often he has
been aowhided, tho it may not have been-as
clten as he deserved these are matters which
concern us not they are none of our business,
notwithstanding every good citizen we have
heard speak of it, objects to having him repre
aented as a apeciroentof the morality and der
cency of our quiet town. We, wish : only 4j
point out the faet that the Chairman of the Ha
slihurst Stele Committee is the subject ef the
most fulsome and "unwarrantable praise on
the part of a Democratic paper," one, 'too, that
a couple" years ago denounced binr bitterly,
and even ' made one of the-' charges against
him, we are told, which is contained ' in 'the
letter in the Sun. Tben'A ho weyer, he was la
boring against the Democracy bow ha is, in
directly, workins fr ttm As a matter of,
course, "the case being .altered, it alters the
case.', Can any donbt, as to the object of tho
"idedoor" movement, be longer eotertsiaedj
when a rampant DtmeermiiQ paper comes out,
not oJy la defence of on of the leader! of
that taction when aatsfted, hut Ianlgea4ri the
west ottnsble Jmtri fii:PT
vam can reaauyjfrfciiaaett;i
? The LiUnon XSsrCr" 1 XVit -ocoros
lorl-1 -. - '".'ii - j- -: .. . ?
mmnu
....
- rr i tcci" j
IETTZS FEOM NEBKASKA.
Correspondence of the "Raftsman's Journal."
Nebraska Cm, N. T. August 28, 1857.
Friesd Kow : Last night I returned to Ne
braska City, from which I have been absent
four or five days on a jaunt across the prairies.
On my return I found several letters from
yourselfand o.thers, and also the "Journal,"
some of which made the trip through in elev
en days. I was, of course, delighted to hear
so much, and so many good things, from my
late "abiding place." - - --
In company with Wm. M'Lennan, Esq., of
Nebraska City, who, by the way, our eastern
friends who desire information in regard to
western land3 will do well to call on, X started
with horse and buggy to see the southern part
of Nebraska. TThe most that I can say of the
country back from the River is, that 'it is rich
and surpassingly beautiful. ' It Is useless, and
even vain, for any one ( to attempt to describe
its beauty for no ope can describe it correct
lywords fail to convey the idea,' and even
imagination itself, when in its wildest form,
can scarcely picture to itself the beauties of
this far famed land, xbere is timber enough,
for ordinary purposes,, scattered through , the
country. , Lime-stone, of a superior quality, is
abundant and easy to be procured. Water is
good springs numerous and never failing.
The country is sparsely settled as far as fifty
or sixty miles back from the Missouri river.
I have mado arrangements to pitch my tent
in the town of Archer, Richardson County,
Nebraska Territory, where I shall be happy to
give any information in my power, in regard
to the West, to those who are seeking after
"light and knowledge." This county is boun
ded on .the South by Kansas, and on the East
by the Missouri river. ' On our return lrom
Archer to Nebraska City, wc had the misfor
tune to break a spindle off tho buggy. We
were, at the time, about six miles "from any
place ;' but we tied up the buggy and dragged
it along till we "turned up" at Nebrasky City.
Hunger began to stare us in tho face and we
were thinking seriously of what we should do
for the "inner man." We "turned up" at the
first house convenient. .The family, consisting
of husband and wife, babies, cats, dogs, pigs
and chickens, lived, to all appearances, har
moniously together. . Discord was banished
from amongst the inmates, and peace exerted
its mild dominion over that happy, family.
They had evidently learned that "a house di
vided against itself cannot stand." I bolted
into the 'house to see what chance there was
for "bread." The lady of the bouse was ab
sent. We had not waited long until we heard
the rattling of "wheels," not far distant. ' Ou
looking around to see from whence it came we
espied our hostess seated in a heavy lumber
wagon driving a pair of spirited horses, at full
speed. She soon "reined up" at her mansion
and alighted in "double quick time." Then
we commenced, "Madam, you drive fast hor
ses herein Nebraska." "Indeed Sir! I'm a
Nebraskian and don't wish to be flattered or
imposed upon." . "But good lady, . I neither
intended to flatter or impose upon you." "No
apology, sir, no apology. I hate apologies.
I'm a Nebraskian." I saw at once that the
lady was in cause bello, and so I did not at
tempt further explanation. I began to des
pair of getting "bread" there, but finally mar
tialed all of my courage and asked her "wheth
er she would be good enough to , provide us
something to eat," expecting, at the same
time, to receive a preremptory "no." "Cer
tainly, with pleasure," she replied, very much
to my surprise. Sho then prepared us a very
homely but substantial meal, clean, I presume
as the circumstances-would warrant. When
wc asked for the bill the lady very politely in
formed us that she thought one dollar and 25
cents each would be enough. . We paid our
bill and started "on our way rejoicing." We
came to the conclusion that that woman would
live, even in Nebraska, and that a few like her
would in a short time make tho vast prairies
"bud and blossom as the rose." This one la
dy is but a fair specimen of tho female adven
turers out here. . ; . ' ; - D
Ma." Wilmot. From all parts of the State',
we have the most cheering intelligence of the
impression making by our friend Mr. Wilmoi
on the minds and hearts of tho people. His
rare argumentative ability, his vast fund of
politico-historical facts, bis intimate acquaint
anceship .with distinguished gentleman, on
all sides of politics his possession of folios
of interesting personal , reminescences his
simplicity of manner and wonderful urbanity
of disposition rbis frank, outspoken way with
the people, all, in harmonious combination,
render him one of the most remarkable men
of the day . , .' .' '. -: . .
, Pennsylvania may" well. 'be .proud to claim
such a man as Wiimot as her'son, and- happy
will the State be, when she can point to him
as her Governor as the worthy successor of
James Pollock, whose" excellent administra
tion of StateJ affairs wiir. b4 continued Xy Go
tersor. Wilmot., ." T ' V- 1
The people's nominee is treated with mark;
ed respect, in .'the country", aye even by the
friends or Mr, Packer.' -His political enemies
know, the .worth - of the r man," whom party
duty compels them to oppose. ;
But, what shall we say cT the opponents of
Democracy who are" doing "thelr little, worst
against. WimoT 7 " Ivy- nothing," simply be
cause no lapguage we 'are acquainted with
has words which can commensurate ly express
our "contempt for them-an. T ""' """'.
' . , i.
f Tn coaduct of Geo Packer in followlng-in
the footsteps pf Judge Wilmot a man whom;
be is afraid to meet in "open discussion before
tbe people of Pennsylvania should", convive
own party, prejudiced as the most pf its
members are, tLat Ha cause is a weak ohe.'Sj;.!
cannot stand the test Of a calm and deLLraia
rnec trio Sew Trrascrt The -Bemo-'
emu latins that they want a sub-tressttf y . . J
tv?y pea,p Wjr sub-treasury , taki j t foe master
t orx 1 people ud pnttic- it inU the pockets
i .-1 - -r t Je-boiJetsf I can ftnderstatfd tiera.
. 7 J eMder4iepecket of tie j
On the. 8th, Jndge Pcabody, ot New, i'ork
city, delivered bis decision on the writ of
habeas corpus in the case of Mrs. Cunningham,
admitting her to bail in the sum of $5000,.
f- By the explosion of a portion of Russels
powder mill at Pennington, Vermont, on the
9th, two boys were killed.
On the 5th, Mr. Samuel Davis, of Gloucester
Massachusetts, shot his wile dead with a pistol,
after which be placed the pistol to his own
breast, fired and killed himself.- There are
many rumors as to the cause of the murder and
suicide. It is" said theyi lived, unhappily to-
getner. - ------
The Grand, Jury , on the lOth found a truo
bill against Mrs. Cunningham, on the charge
Of producing a fictitious hcir to' the Burdel
estate. ' .".''' '
' A Mrs. Drummond has been convicted,' be-
: -
fore the Circuit Court of Shenandoah county,
Va., of stubbing and killing a deputy sheriff of
that county, named Hutchinson, whilc.be. was
in tho act of arresting .her for shooting one of
her neighbor's cows. She'was sentenced to
the penitentiary for four years. ' , . '
;ln a letter dated Travcrs, des Sioux, Minne
sota, Aug. 2?, the following important state
ment is made. The Sissitons have succeeded
in killing the, whole of Ink-pa-du-tah's band;
except one Indian, who fled to a band of Yank
tons, to which be was pursued by the Sissitons,
Here an engagement took place .between tho
Sissitons and the Yanktons. Twenty five of
the former and a large number of the latter
were killed.' ' , . , '
The IIon.J Henry J. Gardner was'nominated
for Governor of Massachusetts, on the 10th,
by Conventions, which met as two the one
representing the so-called National American
party and the other the so-called American
party of Massachusetts but which soon prac
tically fused into one. Gov. Gardner accep
ted the nomination in a characteristic speech,
in the course of which he placed himself upon
the Springfield Platform of 1853. Alexander
De Witt of Oxford was nominated for Lieu
tenant-Governor, and John II. Clifford of New
Bedford for Attorney-General. ' " v" '
The municipal election held at Leavenworth,
Kansas, on Monday tho 5th, resulted in the e-
lectiori of the Free State ticket by 2D0 major
ity. The Constitutional Convention convened
at Leavenworth on the 7th inst. ' '
Dispatches to the Tribune, from Washing
ton, say the strife over the bureaucratic ap
pointments intestine and terrific. Faulkner
protests against the . appointment of Tate of
Virginia as Sixth Auditor, becauso Faulkner's
district has but six Federal officers, while.
Floyd's has twenty, including Gov. McMullinV
The Presedent calms the fury of the combat
ants by retaining Phillips, tho present Audi
tor. Sherman of Michigan is pressed . for
Second Controller. Secretary Cobb urges
Hillycrof Georgia as Solicitor of the Trea
sury, while the Secretary of the Interior backs
a Mississippian. The Administration is some
whit vexed by a pamphlet-defense of its Kan
sas policy, wiitten by a fiery Anti-Northern
States Rights Democrat, but attributed to the
dictation of the President.
By the arrival of the. steamship Europe, at
Halifax, on Wednesday last, we have Liver
pool dates to the 23th ult. , The cotton market
has been active, and all the qualities had
slightly advanced. The weather continued fa
vorable fortbe crops. Xo further intelligence
had been received from India. It was thought
that the Atlantic Telegraph cable would be
sold to Government, for a line, to India,
Strong hopes are entertained by many, how
ever, that the enterprise will -yet be carried
through. - . . . . . .
Rev. James B. Finley, the pioneer Metho
dist preacher, died at Eaton, Ohio, on the 6th
of paralysis, aged 77. .. He was much beloved
by the Methodist community, among whom he
has labored for nearly fifty-years .. . ;r f f i, f
W. H. Greeamanj a lawyer of Canton, Brad
ford county, Pa., committed suicido by cut
ting his throat. Mr. Spaulding, the proprie
tor of the hotel, on seeing the corpse, fell in
fit and died immediately. ...... , ;
David Wilmot Socially. We do not know
when we have met with, a gentleman, holding
the position ' that Judge Wilmot does at the
present time, who has given -as such a pleasing
evidence of his social qualities. It often hap
pens that men identified; with the political
history of our, country, so clearly as David
Wiimot" is, preserve or assume a dignity that
renders them difficult to appioach. There is
none of this about our worthy candidate i be
is at onee pleasing and aflablc in his manners t
his very features, although, indicative of a firth
and determied spirit, give evidence of good
nature and social qualities of heart." ' There is
no toan, even the humblest pf . our, race, who
need have the . least hesitancy . to approach
J Qdge Wilmot ; his hand is ever ready to grasp
that of his fellow man with the utmost cordiality.'-
tw v'- TU'2i.--3. ??-.?
-r David ?Wilmot is now, and has ever been the-
Eoor man's friend, and it is this sentiment of
umanity, so striking developed in hi charac
ter this social quality ef his nature and his
determined purpose to carry out the principles
he- conceived,- to ,be right, that has rendered
him the special favorite of bis district ., Tbere
is no man in the State who has exercised such
an influence over the minds of his constitu
ents as David VTllraot. At the time when hq
was elected to Congress as a Simon Pure Dem
ocrat, he carried bis D'StriQtby"s.ome six thou
"sand majority the same District, in 1856
gave Fremont nine thousand ; majority." W
think those. who know David Wilmot personal
ly, and who- have watched his career .from his
youth, can give us no better evidence of tbeir
appreciation of his " honesty pf purpose 'and
goodness of heart, than the sweeping majori
ties they hare given him and the principles
he has-seen fit to advocate. This alone should
speak volumes fn favor of him' as a .caodjdate
before -the people for the Chief Magistracy
Of the Commonwealth.--CtrnneUsville Enttr
."VAz' -"? pv-u f r'-y-fi'urita.j.it
? Eien'ts ShTadows W Poirrreit Lr.-u
On last Saturday a week; Jndge Cobsadr
teaeed, a man named Rump te prises tor two
years and eight months, for h6 perpetratf on
of frands by '???fiBwl-
U4 to Jne Prcsidency last fal.. Mr-Buchsnao;
new ccnpiesL toe White Xiouse at wasairigtos
d- Bnmr is domiciled in a cell 4 tforsjnp
1 , ZAUSAS AFFAIES.
Evidence of the most conclusive kind is af
forded by the letters of bur Kansas correspon
dent, which we publish to-day, that the pre
tense under which Gov. Walker, occupied Law
rence with a large military .force was just as
false as all his other professions and public an
nouncements have proved to be." The pre
tense under which Walker, like a second Gov
ernor Gage, assembled at Lawrence not only
all the regular forces properly appropriated to
Kansas, but the troops of the sham Utah expe
dition, and tho.e which ought to have been
employed in repressing Indian outrages in Min
neaota, was that the people of Lawrence were
about to put into operation a local municipal
government agreed upon by themselves an
act "which the Governor stigmatized as nothing
less than treason, and which he declared his
intention and . determination to prevent and
suppress by the strong band, if the citizens
warned in season,' and frightened by the ap
pearance of the Governor, his soldiers, and his
proclamation did not desist of their own ac
cord. Nevertheless, under the very noses of
Governor vt alker and his troops, aud in spite
of his proclamation, this voluntary municipal,
or ss waiter would, nave it, treasonable and
rebellious Government has organized itself,
and is in full blast, not only enacting ordinan
ces and publishing them in their papers,'and
raising money by voluntary subscription in ad
vance of taxes, but even going so far as to ar
rest, murderers a business- winch the bogus
authorities have no leisure to attend to all
their time and thoughts being devoted to pros
ecutions of r reo tate men for treason and u
surpation of otKcer and in laying and project
ing plans lor the election of a new bogus Leg
islaturc. And what is more, the acts of the
Lawrence ' Municipal Government in this be
half seem to be recognized and ratified by the
Deputy United States Marshal at Lccouipton,
whose letters to the Lawrence authorities re
questing them to forward the prisoner, afford
a fine specimen of Border-Ruffian literature
' This concentration by Walker of troops at
Lawrence, and the new. troops which arc daily
being marched into the Territory, evidently
have sonic other object in view than to prevent
the Fr;e State men from organizing local mu
nicipal governments. These troops are doubt
less marched thither -with a view to the ap
proaching Uctobcr election, and to assist in
perpetuating power in tho bogus hands by
which it has been exercised for the last two
years. To e fleet this purpose, intrusive ruf
fians from Missouri though the Territoiy has
been districted with an exclusive view to their
convenience cannot any longer be implicitly
relied upom l here is in Missouri itself a
good deal less of the Border-Ruffian spirit,
and the volunteers organized by Gen. Lane to
defend the polls against invasion from abroad,
must doubtless have tended to abate a good
deal the ardor ol that spirit. : The Missouri m
vadcrs have had. some experience of Lane.
lie drove them out of the Territory once .be
fore, and he might be apt to do so again. It
is pretty clear that those numerous bodies of
regular soldiers are intendel to snpplv tho
place ocenpiod by armed invaders from Mis
souri during tho former elections. ' Kansas will
present what this country has never yet seen,
and what is totally inconsistent with the small
est remnant of freedom, every voting-place oc
cupied by an armed guard of mercenaries, and
tho votes given, as it wtrre, at the point of the
bayonet. . These mercenary, soldiers will not.
perhaps, attempt to vote themselves, though
that is not bv any means certain, but thev will
at least snsfain and defend the bogus officers
of the polls in rejecting or admitting whatever
votes they please. A wholesome terror of the
Indignation of their outraged fellow-citizens
might otherwise have kept those bogus officials
wittim certain bounds ; but, with a guard of
tegular soldiers to back them, they w ill feel
encouraged to carry out boldly the programme
or iraud embodied m the bogus apportionment.
as our correspondent observes, the prosnecn
for the r ree-State men is itloomy enough. : It
s not likely that there will be any hesitation
on the part of Walker and the bogus authori
ties, at any trick or any fraud necessary to ob
tain a nominal majority. 'President Buchanan,
in his recent letter on Kansas aHairs, has laid
down the doctrine that possession is not only
uine points of the law but a perfect title. One
afl vantage, however, is certain the bogus
rulers of Kansas will be driven to the necessity
of giving a new test of their quality one such
as possibly may startle evvnMr.Buchanan him
self. X: Y. Tribune. " "T : '
" '' ' - For the Raf tsman's Journal. ' v' ;
1 ' Grahax TowKsnir, Sept. th, 1857. !
Ms. Row :-Denr Sir : In perusing the Re
publican of the 2d instant, I discover a letter
purporting to-be written by Dr G. Fr Hoops,
of Morris township, in which he says, "having
never learnt to play wooly-hcad,' he wonld
make but a poor member Of the zigzag party."
After a great many spicy remarks, he proceeds
to assert that "the laboring portion ot the De
mocracy of Morris arc not willing to dance to
the- tnne of the Crawford county system of
nominations." Now, I think any party that
can dance to - the tune of the Cincinnati plat
form, popular sovereignty, extension of slave
ry 6ver . free territory, ' can certainly dance, to
the' tone of 'the Crawford system.- But hero
permit me ' to say; that his great boasted par
ties' .practice does not correspond with their
precepts. The democratic press from Maine
to Louisiana are resoiinding with the cry of
popular sovereignty, at the same time their
great; boasted champion in-the Presidential
chair has already sent an army to subdue Utah.
for the heinous crime of eoverniue their own
local affairs.' I have never yet conformed to
the teaching of the Cincinnati platform,' or
the. doctrines of popular sovereignty or polyg
amy $ but, according to that doctrine, if a
slaveholder in Kansas has a right to have fifty
hate" fift jrwives. - It is all popular sovcreigntyi
This Morris township "PiH " as ho sees pro
per to style himself, says ho "never bought
,, a pop-gun Dattery,, or voted, a shanghai
ticket in bis Iiferthank Rod." I suppose the
doctor "was: Hh n or .a- nbo-frun " hattervM
would not be capable f containing. the amount
of gas blowed out by him . in- his .letter t if.
must have been a Packer or a Pill battervl
wbicbwill "certainly explode lit the"-October
election and Carry hint and his nnrtv set fn- nn
Salt Rivr that tbey wili never bpahle to 'get
backfill they turn shanghai., At the close of
hisf letter," the doctor states' that at the pctobef
election Morris will present ah unbroken front
for Packer and tlie whole Democratic; ticket."
With all respect to the Doctor. I bee leave to
differ with him, from the fact thaf I Jierd his
nexi noor neighbor not long since declare em
phatically that, front a personal acquaintance
he rhad with-Mr. Packer and his past official
career, he. eeuld net support. him, under any
consideration, although he had always voted
that ticket; and is a very influential Democrat.
Also, the Doctor's Brother Pill is One thatTma
ny of his party areTaoVwilling to swallow, even
if welt sugar-coated with. JUemocracy .Tbe
Dr., very approRlriaWjjrbyes;
".'lis not so mucn ror men as measures that we
-. He, emH ,b wredg wh se: prineiples are.righii'Ja
, And, H inish hwThriBe. ow ia.the timo...
Whvn men pf talent and temperance are oat of aieh'L
ForTaekev and Boyer they sxe ready to ighr. -
tStp3i;Cit7 cf cxHaiUpatipn of th howfls.t
, THEMEMOBIAL
of proiessor siixniAN, ajcb tiie utrLY or
V. 1- ."" rKESIDEKT BCCHAKAX.
"The undersifrned, citizens of the Uni
ted States, and electors of the ' State of
Connecticut, respectfully - oflhr' to your
Excellency; this their memorial. -The fun
damental principle of the Constitutiou of
the United Mates,, ana of our political in
stitutions is, that the people, shall make
their own laws, and elect-, their. own .ru
lers. Wc see with grief, if not with aston
ishment, that Governor Walker, of Kan
sas. ojenly represents and proclaims that
the President of the United States is em
ploying through him an' army, one pur
pose of which is to force the people of
Kansas to obey laws not their own, nor of
the United States, but laws which it is no
torious and established upon evidence that
they never made,- and rulers they never
elected.- We represent, therefore, by the
foregoing, your .Excellency is held up and
proclaimed,' to the great derogation of our
National character7 us ioluting in its
most essential particular the solemn path
which the President has taken to support
tho Constitution of this Union. We call
attention further to the fact that your Ex
cellcney in held up to this nation, to all
mankind, and to all posterity, in the at
titude of 'levying war ag.iint a portion of
the United States, by employing arms in
Kansas to uphold a. body of men and a
code of enactments purporting to be le
gislative, but which never had .the elec
tion,, nor sanction, nor consent of the people-
of the Territory. We earnestly rep-.
rscut toyour Excellency that we have al
so taken the oalh to obey the Constitu
tion,' and your excellency may be assured
that we shall not retrain from the prayer
that the Almighty will make j our Admin
istration anexample of justice and Ix-nef-ficence,
and with II is terrible majesty pro
tect our people and our Constitution." -,
111E i'rksident's ketlv.
Washington, Aug. V, 1S57.
' -Gentlemen: On my reeent return' to
this city, after a fortnight's absence, your
memorial without date, was placed in my
hands, through the agency of .Mr. Hora
tio King, of tlie Post Oilieo department,
to whom it had been entrusted. . From
the distinguished source from whence it
proceeds, as well as its jeculiar character,
I have deemed it proper to depart from
my general rule in such cases, and to give
it an answer. . - -
You first assert tb?t "The fundamental
principle of the Constitution 'of the Uni
ted Mates, ami ot our political institutions
is, that the people : shall make their- own
laws, and elect -their own rulers." "You
then express your grief and.astonishment
that 1 should have violated this principle.
and through Gov.. "Walker, have employ
ed an army "one of the purposes of which
is to force the people of Kansas to obey
laws, not their own, nor of- the United
States, but laws, which it is notorious,and
established, upon, evidence, they - never
made, and rulers they never elected." .And
as a corollary from the foregoing, you rep-; J
that I am-' openly held up, and proclaim
ed, to the great derogation of our Nation
al character," ns violating in its most es
sential particular, the solemn, oath w hich
the President has taken to ;.support the
Constitution of this Union." -.,.-.. -
These are heavy charges proceeding
from gentlemen of your high character,
and if well founded ourrht to consijm mv
name to infamy. Rut in proportion to
their gravity, common justice, to" say no
thing of Christian charity, required- that
lefore , making them you '.should liave.
clearly ascertained, that" they were well
founded, ' If not they'will 'rebound' with
withering "condom nation upon ' their 'au
thor.1 Have ou performed this prelimin
ary toward the man, who, however unwor
thy, is the Chief Magistrate of your: coun
try ? ., If so, cither you, ot I are laborinsi
undera strange delusion, Sltouhi this prove
to be your case, it vill present a memora
ble example of the truth that political
prejudice is blind," evwi io the existence of
the plainest and most palpable facts .
- To Uies facts let its refer. . When I en-"
tere4 upon the duties of the rresidentiid
office, on tbe fourth of March last, .what
was the condition of Kansas? "" ' " ' '
This Territory had heen 'organized itn-
der an act of Congress, fasseV tho '30th
Mav 1854, and the Goverrunent in all its
orancnea was in lull operation. A tjovcrn--
or, a fcJocretary of the Territory, a Chief
Justice, two Associate Justices, a 'Marshal
and Pisfrict" Attorney," had been appoint-;
ed by my predeeessor,11 by "and -with " the
advice -and consent of -the Senate, and
were all engaged, in discharging tlurir res
pective duties.' A co.le of. laws had been
enacted by , the TenitorialLecishituiv, and
the Judiciary were employed in expound
ing and carrying these laws mtd enect. "v
It is quite true -that a controversy had
arisen,' respecting the' election of members
to the. .' Territorial Legislature; and of ; the
laws passed by. them, . But at tire-time I
entered upon my official duties', Cougress
had recognized tlio I,egislature in differ
ent forms and by different enactments.
The Delegate electei tothellouso of Rep-J
reseutatives under A lei-ntorial Uivr.v had
just completed his tertoa -ef service on the
day previous to uiy maugnratioa. In fact
I found tlie Government 6f Kansas as well
established as that of an other Territory.
'- Under theecrrcurrMifaiieev'hat was hiv
duty ?; Wai? it tosn'stain this Government :
tatptQtoctk-ifcJrpjfti the riolencHj of hiwles6
men , wlv were 4etenninetl to rule or ruin;
to prevenVit -from being, overturntid by J
torce in the lanuae of the Cus'Jtution
toTake care that the law's be'faithfid-
ly execute?' -t ' ' 1 - p- a
t.-.Il. waA for this purpose and this alone,
that-1 ordered.. jnilitary force to Kansius
as & posse eniil.it, aiding the Civil, Magis
trate to carry, the; laws into execution,; The
condition of the." Territory' at the time,
which I need hot " porfray, rendei-ed this
precaution Absolutely hecesa aryr-'-i
In thisstaftf "of affairs would I not imre
been : justly ; condemned; hud. . I left ike,
Mareliill and pther ptlicers-of .a, like clr-.
acter ;mpteAt,.,to execute' ..the. process
an4 judgment of a Court of Justice estab-
ished by Congress, or the Territorial "Le-"
gislatnre.iinder its express authOriry--artd
thus have eQfiered th& government itself
to. become tai- objectfiof coalemnt in- the
eyp4 tb people Andjet this. .is what
youv designate aa forcing ;;tho people of
JVapsas tp obcj laws, not their own. nor of
ine ujineu utes." Am
And fof ddin which
youhaye denounced roe as lifting violft
ted tty oath"! iit: e . I'itintaH .yui
iv J ask.i whati els could IJu-Tcf- done ? pr
ought ! to .hav.o dona t , Wpuld . y6u havp
desired that I should abandon tho Terri
torial Government sanctioned as it has
been, by Congress, to illegal violence, and
thus renew the ticeuea of civil v.-ap and
bloodshed, which everj- iitriot had de
plored? This would Indeed have been to
violate my- oath of office, and to hi a
damning blot on the character of my ad
ministration. I most cheerfully admit that tho neces-.
sity of sending a mititary force to Kanoaa,.
to aid in the execufiou of tlie civil lw, ro
flects no credit ujon the character of our
country. But lot the blame fall upon ths:
heads of the guilty. Whence did this ne
cessity arise f , A 1 portion of tho people of
Kansas,unwilung to trut to tho ballot- box,
the certain American remedv for the re
dress f all -grievanocv undertook to ere- '
ate an independent government for tLooi-
selvei. Had this attemi't rroved pueccas-
ful, it would, of course, have subverted
the existing Govcmmcut," i rcscrilK'd and
recognized by Congress, and subsiitutHd a
revolutionary government in its stead:
I his was usurpation of the same character"
as it wou.d be for a portion of the pe-opl
of Connecticut to undertake to establish a
separate government within its own lim
its, lor tiie pujose of rcurcs.-ing any grb-
vancc, real oi imaginary, of winch they
might have eomj'laincl ag;iinst tho lsiti-
mate governmeut. Nich a principle, if
carried into execution, would destroy nil
lawrui authority and produce" itnivrsai
anarch y. -- . ' - v
I ought to ppr-cifr more rartiif darW a
condition of ail'airs whiclx I liavo nbrace-l
only in general terms, requiring th pre
sence of a military force in Kansas. TIia
Congress of the United States had mct
wisely declare! it to be tho truo intmifc
and meaning of this act tlie act-organi-
lzing the territory was not to-legislate sla
very into any territory or istatv nor t- ox-
elude it therefrom, but to leave th t
pie thereof perfectly free to form and ro
gulate their domestic institutions in thoi?
wn way, sui)ject only to the constitution -"
of the U; S. As a natural consequence Con- -
gross - has also prescribed -by. tho ianie M
wt, that when the Territory f Kansas .
-hall be admitted as a State, it shall lo
received into the Union with r without
slavery, .as their constitution may "pr-'r
scribe at the time of their admission. , t -
' Slavery existed at that periol and still'
exists, in Kansas, under- the ..Constitution" -of
tlie. United Suites. This "point has at v
last been finally decidcL. by tho highest ;
tribunal known to our laws.- Howit could
ever have seriously lteen doubted is amys---
tery. . If; a-' Confederation of Soverajgita
States acquire a ney territory . at the ex-
penseof their common blood, and trea-.,
sure, surely one sot of the . partners ! can '
have no right to excludiV the '""other from 1
its enjoyment by prohibiting them freirr
taking into it whatsoever is recognized: tv "
1ms projierty by the common constitution. -'
But when the people the lona fade reai-."
fh nts of fucli tenitory proceed to f raiue v
pjtate. Constitution, then it ia their right to .
decide the .important question for thexn-
selves, wlHlher they will continue to mo- "'
dify Or alolish slaverj- . To them aJ "to .
them alone docs this question belong, fre
from 11--foreigu intorferonco. t In tho ;
opinion of the Territorial" legislature of .
the. Union; and they accordingly passed
law to elect delegates for framing a Stte :
Contsirution." This law was; fair and jut ;
in its provisions. x 1 1 conferred . th (fight a-'
of suffrage on every bona fide inhabitant , 1
of the terrirory,'and for the,jurposd of.,c..
preventing fraud, and the intrusion c-f o-4-.
tizens of near 'and distant Statei, moat
properly confined this right to those
had reskled therein threem&nths; pre fi- :
nis.to the-election. - - Here wm r fir. or--lrtunity
fwr all qualified resident citizens
of the territory ? to whatevt orgSbJzatioiv
they might have previously bolongod . to .
articipate in the election, and to cspres.
their xvpinfon at tho'-barilot box on the?
question of luyerj - liut numbers of law-
less men still continued to resist the reg--nlnr
territorial goverement.- U hey ,rofu-;
sed to be either registered or to vote anil
members of the convention .were ."olo(o'i
legally and propeiJy without thoir" intor-1
ycntioiii " ; ; -'-- --';i V-" a.'iu .-; - s :t-i
' The Convention will won, a9aoinllJto
perform , the . solemn du.lv of . fzAuiurtj
Constitution . for v themselvear and their.t
posterity,-;. and in the stato-of iuvipiont,
rebellion, which still exisli hi Kans.s,. it "
is my 'imperative dutv'to eaiVlor tho tho
troops of the United States: FTionld'tliW
become necess:ny: in defending the Con-t
vention against violenccv while;- framin? a ;
ConetitutioTi,. and in protecting tho Lou .
fide inluibitiuits- qualified yoto under
the .provisions of. this uiatvun.rut,' in tho ' "
free. eXevcise of the rightrof snffrare whei
it shall be submitted t-them for itheirap-i. '
probation or rejwtion, I hava entire nor-:
fidencer in. Governor rWaikcrr J-ht :Ui''
tropps will not be employed, cct to" re- '
sist actual .aggression ".c iu the execution .
of the laws; .aril tLis, "not until the low-" .
eVs of the; Civil Magistrtte ?halV fail, the '
wisPexampleof Mr. Madison tc-wards-the
Hartford Convention, illegal and danger- a
ous combinations, such ja.3 Siiat.oi" ile To-
XekaConYentipiA , wiH not b disturbed,
unless they .shall attempt to perform som-r
act" which will bring, them Into acl uil col
lision with "the ''Constitution and t&olawa. r
I h that event they shall be rsistectand put
down by tho whole power of the govern
ment. In performing. thiaT dutyv'is hav
the approbation of, my own consckrne,and t
us I.humbly hope, of my GoH ' "
" I thank yp for the a'suraxice t!iat joa
will not refrain Yrom prayer tliat "the Al- '
mighty Gdil will make my administration?
an example of justice and bcireneenfe. Yo .
can greatly jaasist; me in -aiTivips at tbi " '
bk-iiiomnuition, by, exerting ycrar. J
influence in allaying tliis seotional excite-.
mo'n t on ' t he subject of slavery, which has;'
been productive of much evil and nd'gobd; -and
whichif it sueeeed in nttaining'it
object, would rniu t he slaveys w.cll M th
maeterThisrould .bOigeuuiiiB-pIukiH .
-xoropny x-very -uaj 01 mjAue.A. ieei llOW-t
: i. t I :-- . ".tl - IS in.
support
fc Yet pIncingTny4 tmsfr iwi Himi smd itv
HinValone; 1 entertain a good hopethat::,
he will-enablp me to do .equ'aV iustico ...to
all yorons -of the Union d, thus ron-",
dot tni. an, humble instrument in rostor- '
ing peace and harmony amPngthft'-pmpla9
of the several ates.1 i J - - - 3
h Your, eryresptfally,t 4
e S-' J-aT JAMa BIICHAAy
Time' Tunnelb wifter4 than iwlcraad ir
rears accumvtate faster than ptery?, j
uimiiuitu- l mil. .j yeriorm me uuiice o
my- high-btatlohi wiUioiit coritmuinrf
the support oT Divine lviderice. --'
Ft
". ;'"
I-
n
TT