6 Kansas for admission be delayed, when it seems to be conceded on all sides that it is proper to admit her without requiring the ratio of population necessary for a Representative in a State? That idea seems to have been entirely abandoned. Then why delay this application, when every man must be satisfied, in his own judgment, that it would restore peace to Kansas to give her a Government of her own formation, with officers and courts of her own selection ? Immediate action is necessary, in order to put an end to the strife in the Territory, which, the President informs us, threatens the peace not only of Kansas, but of the Union. The representatives of Freedom and of Slavery, struggling for supremacy, rally to the plains of Kansas with the implements of war and violence. Is the bitterness engendered in these conflicts to be allayed, and the dangers of bloodshed to be averted, by Congress authorizing the people of the Territory, at some future time, to do what they already have the right to do, without any such authority? An act ofj Congress authorizing them to form a State Con- . stitution confers no right that they do not already possess, and is no redress of present grievances, or relief against unjust and oppressive laws. How can gentlemen who claim to be the special advocates of the right of men to govern themselves in the Territories object? It is an inherent right of a people, the world over, to govern themselves ; and that right cannot be interfered with without injustice, unless the condition and circumstances under which they may be placed necessarily impose restraints. Such is the case with the Territories. The population, in the first instance, being too small to support a Government, Congress establishes one, and pays all its expenses. Consequently, it must have a supervision over its acts, for the same reason that a principal must have control over the acts of his agent; otherwise, he might be involved in any amount of expenditure for purposes which, he entirely disapproves. If the people could go into the Territories, in the first place, in sufficient numbers to support a State Government, Congress should have nothing to do with them any more than with a State. But being for a time too weak and feeble in numbers to support a State Government, from the necessity of the case Congress must form a Government for them, and they must submit, during this infancy of their existence, and during this inability to support a Government, to such conditions as may be imposed by Congress. But those conditions should be removed at the earliest practicable period. When the people are of sufficient numbers to support a Government of their own, and ask it at your hands, why withhold it? Why not free your Treasury from the burden of supporting tbeir Government, and allow them that right which belongs to them—the inherent right of the people to govern themselves, to protect their own ballot-boxes, their own lives, and their own property ? The objection made to the admission of Kansas, under' present circumstances, by most of the opponents of her admission, is, that law and order must be maintained in this Territory; and that was a point urged by the gentleman from Georgia, [Mr. Stephens.] Sir, law and order have not been violated in that Territory, save by the officials of your Government. We have the testimony of Governor Shannon himself, as to the peaceable character of the citizens of Lawrence, who, by his own letter to the President, of November 28, 1855, show's that the influence of the Executive office of the Territory was to be wielded in behalf of Slavery, Whose interests he regards as synonymous with law and order. In writing the President, in reference to the arming of the Free State men, he sdys : “ This military organization is looked up m as hosti’e to a1! Southern men, or rather to the taw and order party of the Territory, many of whom have ealives and friends, and all have sympathizers, in Missouri." The first invasion of Lawrence was made before any legal process of any kind or description was ever issued against any citizen of that place. In the letter of Governor Shannon to the President, December 11, 1855, which gives an account of the invasion of Lawrence, he bears testimony to the law-abiding character of the people of that place. He says: “It was atones agreed that the laws of the Territory should have the regular course, and that those who disputed their validity should, if they deired to do so, lest that question in the judicial tribunals of the co imry; that in the mean time no resistance should b-* made to their due execution, and the citizens of Lawrence and vicinity were, when, properly called on, to aid in tne arrest oi any one charged with their violation, and aid and assist in the preservation of the peace and good order of society.” * * * “ It is proper I should say that they claimed that a large majority of them had always held and inculcated, the same view." The people of Lawrence reiterated this declaration in the following,communication adopted in a public meeting of her citizens : j Lawkence, May 14.1856. Bear Sir: We have seen a proclamation issued by yourself, dated 11th May, and also have reliable informat,oa this morning that large bodies of armed men, in pursuance of your proclamation, have assembled in the vicinity of Lawrence. That th-re may be no misundi rslanding. we beg leave to a- k respectfully, (that we may be reliably informed,) what are the demands against us? Wedesire to state, most truthfully and earnestly, that no opposition whatever wih now,or at any future lime, be off: red to the execution of any legal process by yourself or any person acting for you. We al-o pledge ourseives to assist jou.jf called upon, in the execution of any legal process. We deciare ourselves to be order-loving and law-abiding c ti- zeus. and only await an opportunity to testify our fidel- ly to the laws of the, country, the Constitution, and the Union We are informed, also, that those men collecing about Lawrence openly declare that their intention is to destroy the town, and drive off the citizens. Of course, we do not believe that you give any countenance to such threats; but ill view of the exciting state of the public mind, we ask protection of the cons ituted authorities of the Government. declaring ourselves in readiness to i o operaie wi h them for the maintenance of the peace, ordet, and quiet, of the commudtj in which we live. J. B. Donaldson. United Stales Marshal for Kansas Territory. And at a still later day, the committee of safety of Lawrence sent to Marshal Donaldson the following : We, the committee of public safety for the citizens of Lawrence, make this statement aiid declaration to you as Marshal of Kansas Territory. That we represent citizens of the United States, and of Kansas, who acknowledge ihe constituted authorities of the Government; that we make no resistance io the execution of the laws, National or Territorial; and that we ask protection of the Goveri merit, and claim it as law- abiding American citizens. Fer the .private pi operty already taken by your posse,
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