Mt. Vernon Republican (Mount Vernon, Ohio : 1854), 1858-02-16

              v . i .1 I I ; 14 It if I I vol iV; MOUNT VERNON, OHIO, TUESDAY MORNING, FEB. JG 1858. isO. 14 From Household Word. ONE BY ONE. Ob by on the sands are flowing, On Aj on ths monnntt fall - 8om ar coming; iom v going, i Do not itrir to grasp them ll. " i ' On by on thy dutli wait the,' Let thy whole ttrangtb go to eaeb, Let no future dream elate thee, Learn thou tint what these can teach. One by one, (bright gift) from Hcaren,) Joyl are lent the her belowj Take them readily when giren, Ready too to let them go. , One by on thy griofi will meet thee, Do not fear an armed band; bne will fad u othere greet thee, Shadowa passing through tho land. ' Do not look at life'i long sorrow, Soe how imall each moment'i pain; fJod will help the for to-morrow, ' ' Erery day begin again. Erery hour that fleots io ilowly, Ha iU tasks to do or boar, . Luminous the erown and holy, ' If thou let each gom with caro. Do not lingor with rogrctting, Or for passing hours despond; Nor the daily toil forgetting, Look too eagerly beyond.. Hours are golden links, God's token, Reaching Heaven; but one by one, Take them lest the chain bo broken. Ere thy pilgrimago is dono. KANSAS MESSAGE. Washington, Feb. 2, To tie Senate and Hotue of Representative) : I bare received from Mr. Calhoun, President of tbe late Constitutional Convention of Kansas, a copy, duly certified by himself, of the constitution framed by that body, with the expression ol the hepe that I would submit the same to the consideration of Congress, "with the viow of the admission of Kansas into the Union as an independent State." In compliance with this request, I herewith transmit to Congress for their action the constitution1 o'f Kansas, with the ordinance respecting tho public lands, as well as the lotter of Mr. Calhoun, dated Lccompton. the 14th tilt,, by which they wero accompanied. Having received but a single copy of tho constitution and ordinance. I send this to tho Senate. " A great delusion seems to' pervade the public mind in relation to the condition of parties in Kansas. This arises from tho difficulty of inducing the American peoplo to realize the tact that any portion of them should be in a state of rebellion against the government finder which they live. When wo speak of tho affairs of Kansas wo are apt to refer merely to tho existence of two violent political parties In that Territory, divided on the question of slavery, just as wo Bpeak of such parties in the States. This presents no adequate idea ot the true state of the case. The dividing line there is not between two political parties, both acknowledging the lawful existence of the government, but between 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 .assaults by the troops of the Unitod States. Such has been the condition of affairs sinco my inauguration. Ever sinco that period a largo portion of the people of Kansas have been in a state of rebellion against the government, with a military leader at their head, of most turbulent and dangerous character. They have never acknowledged, but have constantly renounced and dolled, the government 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 endeavoring to subvert it and establish a revolutionary government under the so called Topo-ka constitution in its stead. Evon at this very moment the Topeka Legislature aro in session. Whoever has read tho correspondence of Goverror Walker with the State Department, recently communicated to the Senate, will be convinced that this picture Is not .overdrawn, lie Always protested against the withdrawal of any portion of the military force of the United States from the Territory, -dooming its presence absolutely necessary for the preservation of tho regular government, .and tho execution of the laws. In his vory first dispatch io the Secretary of State, dated June 2. 1837, he says : A most alarming movement, however, proceeds from the assembling on tho 9th of Juno, of the so called Toneka Legislature, with the view to the enactment .of an entire codo of Jaws. Of courso it will fa any endeavor to prevent such a result, aa it would lead to an jnevitablo and disastrous collision, and, in fact, renew the civil war in Kansas. This was, with difficulty, prevented by the efforts of Governor Walker, but soon thereafter, on the 14th July, we iai fcira requesting (ion. Harney io furnish him regiment of dragoons to proceed to the ityf Lawrence, and this for the reason that be bad received authentic intelligence, verified by bis own actual obseivatioa, Uiat a dangerous rebellion had occurred, involving an open defiance of (be laws and tbe establishment of an insur-1 gont government in wai city. Io the Governors dispatch of July 15th, he informs the Secretary of State that ; This movement at Lawrence was the beginning of a plan, originating in that city, to organize insurrection throughout the Territory, and especially in all towns, cities andcoun tiea where tho republican party hue a majority. Lawrence is the feet bed of all abolition movements in this Territory. It is the town established by tbe abolition saciolio of the East, and, whilst there are respectable people there, it is filled by aeonsiderable number of mercenaries, who are paid by abolition Societies to perpetuate ami- diffuse agitation , throughout Kansas, and prevent a peaceful ' settlement of this question. Having Jailed if inducing their own so called Topeka Bute Legislature to organize tbislnsurrection, Lawrence has commenced it herself, and- il not arrested, tho rebellion will extend throughout tbe Territory. And again : . - In order1 to Snd thlscomrauBvcaiioti immediately by mail; 1 must close;-by assuring you that the spirit of wholjion pervade the great masa of tha RepUicaii party of this Territo-fy, instigated', as' i enta'tsin so doubt they are, by Eastern societios, haviog in ier re-aults most disastrous to the Government and to the Union and that the continued presence tf General Harney her is indispensable, as originally stipulated by me, wiw a large oeay of drajpoai aod several Dttttneti On tho 20th of July, 1837, General Lane. under the au thority of the Topeka Conven tion undertook, as Uov. Walker informs us : To organize tha whole so-called free State party into volunteers,' and to take the names of all who reiuse enrollment. Th'o professed object is to protect the polls at the election in August ot a new insurgent Topeka State Legislature. 1 The object of taking the names of all who refuse enrollments is to terrify tho froe State conservatives into submission, This is provoked by recent atrocities committed on such men by Topokaites. Tbe speedy location of large bodies of regular troops here with two batteries is necessary. The Lawrence insurgents await the development of this new military organization, &c. In the Governor's dispatch of July 7 th, he says: . "Lane and his staff everywhere deny the authority of the Territorial laws, and counsel a total disregard of these enactments." Without makitig further quotations of similar character from other dispatches of Gov. Walker, it appears by reference to Mr. Stanton's communication to Gen. Cass, on the 9th of December last, that " the important step of calling the Legislature together was taken after I (he) had become satisfied that the elec tion ordered by the Convention on the 21st instant could not be conducted without collis ion and bloodshed. So intense was the dis loyal feeling among the enemies of tho government established by Congress, that an election which afforded them an opportunity, if in tho majority, of making Kansas a free State, ac cording to their own professed desire, could not be conducted without collision and blood shed. The truth is, that up till tho present momonl the enemies of tho existing govern ment, still adhere to their loiek revo lutionary constitution and government. 1 ho very hist paragraph of the message of Governor Uobinson, dated on the 7th of December, to tho Topeka Legislature, now assembled at Lawrence, contains an open defiance of the constitution and laws of the United States. The Governor says: The Convention which framed the constitution at Topoka, originated with the people of Kansas Territory. They have adoptod and ratified the same twico by a direct vote ; also indirectly through two elections of State officers and members of the State Legislature ; yet it has pleased the administratian to regard tho whole proceedings revolutionary. This Topeka government adhered to with such treasonable pertinacity is a government in direct opposition to the existing government prescribed and recognized by Congress. It is a usurpation of tho same character as it would bo for a portion of the pooplo of any State to undertake to establish a separate government within its limits for tho purpose of redressing any grievance, real or imaginary of which they might complain, against tho legitimate State government. Such a principle if carried into execution, would destroy all lawful authority and produce universal anarchy. From this statement of facts the reason becomes palpable why the enemies of tho government authorized by Congross, have refused to vote for delegates to the Kansasconstitutional- convention, and also, afterwards, on tbe question of slavery, submitted by it to tho people, It is because they have ever refused to sanction oi recognize any other constitution than' that framed at Topeka. Had the whole Lccompton constitution been sub-miittcd 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 constitution. They would have done this, not upon the consideration of tho inorits of the whole or part of the Lecomp-ton .constitution, but simply becauso they have ever resisted! the authority of the government authorized by Congress from which it emanated. Such being tha unfortunate condition of affairs in the Territory, what was the right as well as the duty ot the law abiding people. Were they silently and patiently to submit to the Topeka usurpation or adopt tho necessary measures to establish a constitution under the authority of tho organic law of Congress. That this law recognized the right of the people of the Territory, without an enabling act of Congress, to form a State Constitution, is too clear for argument. For Congress " to leave tho peoplo of the Territory perfectly free " in framing their constitution, " to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the Constitution of the United States)" and then to say that they shall not be permitted to proceed and frame the constitution in thoir own way without an express authority from Congress, appears to be almost a contradiction in terms. It would be much more plausible to contend that Congress had no power te pass such an anabling act, than to argue that the people of a Territory might be kept out of tho Union lor an indefinite poriod, and until it might pleaso Congross to permit them to exorcise the right of self-government. This would bo to adopt, not their own way. but the way which Congress' might proscribe. It is impossible that any peoplo could have proceeded with more regularity in tne mrmaiion oi a constitution than the people of Kansas have dono. It was neeessary, tirst, to ascortain whether it was ,Uie desire of the people to be rcnoveu from their Territorial dependence, and estab lish a State government, for this purpose the Territorial Legislature, in 18o&, passeu a law for taking the sense of the peoplo of this Territory upon the expediency of calling a convention to form a state constitution, at the general election to behead id Gctobor, '50. The "senso of the pooplo" was accordingly ta ken, and they decided in favor of conven tion. Itislrue that at this election the saeaies of the Territorial government did not voto, because they were then engaged at iopexa, without the slightest pretext of lawful .authority, in framing a constitution of their own for the purpose of subverting the Territorial government. In pursuance of this decision of tho pooplo in favor of a convention, the Territorial Legislature, on the 27th ot February, 1857, passed an act for the eloction ol delegates on the third Monday of Juno 1857, to frame a Butte Constitution. Tbi law is as fair in its' provisions aa any (feat erer passed a legislative body Tor a similar purpose, Tbe right of suffrage At thia election is elear-Iv and iustlv defined1. Every bona ido in habitant of the territory of Kansas, on tbe third Monday of June, the day of tbe election whe was a citizen of the United' States, abovo the co of twenty one, and had resided-there in far three months previous to that date, vfas entitled to vote. In order to avoid all interference from neighboring States or Territories with tbe freedom'and fairness of tbe election, provision war mado for the registry of the qualified rotors, wd in pursuance thereof nine thousand two hundred and flfty.ooe Voter ware rezisteral. Governor Walker' did' Ills whole duty in urging all qualified citizens of Kansas to vote at this election. , in nis inaug ural address, oil the 27th or May last, he in formed then) that ' Under our practice the preliminary act of framing a constitution is uniformly performed through tbo instrumentality of a convention of delegates chosen by the people themselves. That convention is now about to bo elected by you undor the call of the Territorial Legislature, created and still rccognizod by the authority of Congress, and clothed by it, in "he comprehensive language of tha organic law, with full power to make such an enact, ment. The Territoririal Legislature then, in assembling this convention, we're fully sustained by the act of Congress, and th i authority of the Convention is distinctly recognized in my instructions from the President of tho United States. The Governor also clearly and distinctly warns them what would bo the consequence if they should not participate in the election. The people of Kansas; than, ho says, "are in-vited by the liighest authority known' to the constitution to participate freely and fairly in the election of delegates to frame a Constitution ar.d State government." The law has performed its entire appropriate function when it extends the right of suffrage, but it cannot compel tho performance of that duty. Throughout our whole Union, however, and whorever free government prevails, those who abstain from the exercise of tho right of suffrage authorize those who do voto to act for them in that contingency ; and the absentees' are as much bound untUr the law and constitution, where there is no fraud or violence, by the act of tho majority of those who do vote, as if all had participated in the election. Otherwise, as voting must be voluntary, self-government must be impracticable, a id monarchy or despotism would remain as the only alternative It may also bo observed that at this period any hope, if such had existed, that tne iopo-ka constitution would ever be recognized by Congross, must have been abandoned. Congress had adjourned on tho 3d of March previous, having recognized the legal existence of tho Teiritorial Legislature in a variety of forms, which I need not eru-morate. Indeed, the delegate elected to tho IIouso of Representatives under a Territorial law had been admitted to his scat and had just completed his term of service on the day previous to his inauguration. This was the propitious moment for settling all difficulties in Kansas this was the time for abandoning tho revolutionary Topeka organization, and for the enemies of the existing government to conform to the laws and to unite with its friends in framing a State constitution. But this they refused to do, and the consenuences of their refusal to submit to lawful authority and vote at the election of delegates may yot prove to oe oi a roosi deplorable character. Would that the rasped for tho laws of tho land which so eminently distinguished tho men of tho past generation could bo revived. It is disregard und violation of law which have for years kept the Territory of Kansns in a state of almost open rebellion against its government; it is the same spirit which has produced actual rebellion in Utah. Our only safety consists in obedience and conformity to law. Should a general spirit against its enforcement prevail this will prove fatal to us as a nation. Wc acknowledge no master but tho law, and should wo cut loose from its restraints and every ono do what socmeth good in his own eyes, our case will indeed bo hopeless. The enemies of the Territorial government deter mined still to resist tho authority ot Congress. I he- refused to vote foi delegates to the Con vention, not because from circumstances which t noud not detail there was an omission to register the comparatively few voters who wero inhabitants of certain counties in Kansas in the earlvsDrinff of 1857, but becauso they had prc-determined at all hazards to ad-hero to their revolutionary organization and defeat the establishment of any other Consti tution than that which they had framed at Tonckn. The election was, thorcforo, suffer ed to pass by default ; but of this rosult the qualified electors who refused to voto can never justly complain. From this review it is manifest that the Lccompton Convention, according to every principle of constitutional law, was legally constituted and was invested with power to frame a Constitution. Tho sacretl principle ol popular sovereign ty has Iwon invoked in favor ol the enemies of law and order in Kansas, but in what manner is popular sovereignty to be exercised in this country if not through the instrumentality of establishe l law ? In certain Rmall republics in ancient times the people did as- semblain primary meeting, passod laws and di rected public affairs. In onr country this is manifestly impossible. Popular sovereignty can be exercised here only through the ballot box ; and if the People will refuse to exercise it in this ruann'Oras'tliby have dono in Kan sas at tho eloction of delegates, it is not for them to complain that their rights have been violated. Th Kansas Convention, thus lawfully constituted, proceeded to frame a con stitution, and having completed thoir work, finally adjourned og the ah ol jjinv, Inst. They did not think; proper to submit the whole of this constitution to a popular vote, but, did submit tho question, whothcr Kansas should lie a free' 0r slave Stato to the people. This was the question which had onvulscd theUniori and shaken it to its very centre. This was tho question which had lighted np the flames of civil warm Kansas, and had produced dangerous sectional parties throughout the confederacy. It was of a character so paramount to the condition of Kansas as to rivit the anxious at tention of the people of tho wholecountry upon it and it alone. No person thought of any other question. For mv own Dart, whon t instructed Gov ernor Walker in eeneral terms in favor of submitting tho constitution to tho peoplo, I had no object in view except tbe all absorbing question slavery. . In what manner mo people of Kansas might regulate their other con-ceroa was not a aubicct which attracted my attention. In fact, the general provisions of onr recent State constitution, allor an expe rience f flighty years, are so similar and so excellent, that it would be difficult to go far wrong at the present day in framing a new contHtia I then believed, anil still beli"ve that under theoreanic act the Kansas Convcn tion were bound to submit this all important question of slavery to the people. It never however, my opinion, that in dependently or this act they would hare neon bound to submit any paction of the constitution te popiilar' vote in order to give it validity. Had I entertained eueh an opinion. this would have been ill opMxslion to many precedent in our history, dbmnjeneing in the very bet ge of tno republic. ( t would have been in oppoiiuorr to ino pnncipiu ku parades' our institutions and vfMcli' if vry day carried inter practice that tne" people have the right to' delegate to the reproeht-lives chosen by (Semselve their sovereign power' to Irame constitutions, enact laws and perform many other important acts, without requiring that tbeso should be subjoct-A In their aurjuauent approbation. It wpuld bo a moat looonvcuierit limitation of their own powor, imposed by the people upon themselves, to excludo them from exercising their sovereignty in any luwful manner which they might think proper. It is true that the peoplo of Kansas might, if they bad pleased, have required the Convention to submit tho constitution to a popular voto, but this they have not done. The only remedy, therefore, in this case, is that which exists in all similar cases. If the delegates who framed the Kansas Constitution have In any manner violated the will of their constituents, tho people always possess the powor to change their constitution or laws according to thoir own pleasure. The question Of slavery was submitted to an election ot the peoplo on the 21st of December last, in obedience to the mandate of the constitution. Here again a fair opportunity was presented to the adherents of tho Topeka Constitution, if thoy wero the majority, to decide this exciting question "in their own way," and thus restore peace to the distracted Territory j but they again refused to exQrcise thoir right of popular sovereignty, and again suffered tire election to pass by default. I heartily rojoice that a wiser and better spirit prevailed among a largo majority of those people on tho first Monday of January, and that they did on that day vote under the Lccompton con-stitution,for a governor and other State oflicors, a member of Congress and members of the Legislature. This election was warmly contested by tho parties, and a larger voto polled than at any previous election in the Territory. We may now reasonably hope tho revolutionary Topoka organization will be speedily end finally abandoued, and this will go far towards the final settlement of tho unhappy differences in Kansas. If frauds have been committed at this election by ono or both parties, tho Legislature and people of Kansas, under their constitution, know how to redress themselves and punish these dotcstable but toocommoncrimes without outsido interference. The people of Kansas have then " in their own way, and in strict accordance with tho organic act, framed a constitution and State government, have submitted the all important question of slavery to the people, and have elected a Governor, a member of Congress, members of the Stato Legislature, and other Stato officers," and they now asked admission into the Union under this constitution which is republican in its form. It ib for Congress to decide whether they will admit or reject the State which has thus been created. For my own part I am decidodly in fivor of its admission, and thus terminating the Kansas question. This will carry out tho great principle of non-intervention, sanctioned by the organic act, which declares, in express language in favor of thonon-intervention of Congress with slavery in tho States and Territories, leaving the eople perfectly froe to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the constitution of the United States. In this manner, by localizing tbo question of slavery and confining it to the people who are immediately concerned, evory patriot anxiously expected that this question would bo banished from the halls of Congress, whoro it has always exerted a baneful intluonco throughout the country. It is proper that I should refer to tho election, held under the act of the Territorial Legislature, on the first Monday of January, on tho Lccompton constitution. This election was held after the Territory had beon prepared for admission into the Union as a sovereign Stato, and when no authority existed in the Territorial Legislature which could possibly destroy its existence or cbango its charac ter. Thoclection, which was peaceably conducted under my instructions, involved strange incon sistencies. A large majority of tho persons who voto J against tho Lecompton constitution were at the same time and placo recognizing its valid existence in tho most solid and authon tic manner by voting under its provisions. i .... i i ni.:..l :i .(-, I huvo yet rocaived no official information of the result of this election. As a question of expediency, after right has boon maintained, it may be wiso to reflect upon tho benefits to Kansas and tho whole country that will re sult from its immediato admission into the Union as well as the disasters that may follow its rejoction. Domestic peace will bo tho nappy consequence of tho admission, and that line Territory, hitherto torn by dissontions, will rapidly increase in population and woalth, and speedily rcalizo the blessings and comfort which lollow agricultural and mechanical in dustry. The pooplo, thon, will be sovereign, and can regulato their affairs in thoir own way. If the majority of them desiro to abolish domestic slavery within the Stato thero is no other possible modo by which it can be of-fected so speedily as by its prompt admis sion. Tlio will of the majority is supreme and ir- resistiblo when expressed in an orderly and lawful manner. It can unmake constitutions at pleasure. It would be absurd to say that Ihoy can imposo letters upon tueirowu power which they cannot afterwards remove. If thoy could do this they might tio their own hands just as well for a hundred as for ton years. These are the tunuamoiiuu principles oi American freedom, and are recognized in somo form by every State constitution, and if Congress in the act of admission should think proper to recognize them I can perceive no objection. This has been done omphatically in the constitution of Kansas. It declares in its bill of rights that "all political power is inherent in tho peoplo," and all free governments aro founded oh their authority and instituted for thoir benefit, and thoreforo have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to niter reform and abolish their form of government, in s-ich manner as they may think proper. The great State of Now York is at this moment govefnod undor a constitution framed and established in direct opposition to the mode prescribed by the previous constitution. If, therefore, the provision changing the Kansas constitution, after the year 1864; Could, by possibility, be construed into a prohibition to make such a change previous to that poriod, this prohibition would be wholly unavailing. The Legislature already elected may, at its very first session, submit the question to a vote of tho people whother thev will-or will not have a convention to amend their constitution, and adopt all necessary means for giving eiToct to' the popular will. It has been sblemnly adjudgedV the high est judicial tribunal known to our Iaws that slavory exists in Kansas by virtue of the con- gtltution 01 tno unuea oiaies. nii3 in, therefore, at this moment, as much a slave Siata os Geoiciaor South Carolina. Without this eoualitv of the 'Southern States compo sing the Union would be violated, and tho use and enjoymcnf of a Territory acquired by the -mui!wn treasure of all 8iatesi would, le Clesed against the people and tho property of nearly half the membors of tha confederacy. Slavery can, therefore never bo prohibited in Kansas, except by means of a constitutional provision, and, in no othor manner oin this be oMainod so promptly, if majority the people desire it, as by admitting it into tbe Union under its present constitution. On the other hand, should Congress reject the constitution under the idoa of affording the disaffected in Kansas a third opportunity of prohibiting slavery in the State which thoy might have dono twice beforo if in the majority no man can foretell tho consoquoncos. If Congress, for tho sako of thoso men who refused to vote for delegates tp the convention when they might have excluded slavery from the constitution, and who afterwards refusod to vote on tho 21st December last, when they might as thoy claim, have stricken slavery from tho constitution, should not reject the State becauso slavery romainsin tho constitution, it is manifest that tho agitation upon this dangerous subject will bo renowed in a more alarming form than it has ever yet as sumed. Every patriot in the country has indulged tho hope that the Kansas and Nebraska act would put a final end to the slavery agitation, at least in Congress, which had for more than twenty years convulsed the country and endangered the Union. This act involved great and fundamental principles, and if fairly carriod into effect, will settle tho question. Should the agitation again be rovived, could the people of the sister States bo again estranged from oach other with more than their former bitternoss, this will arise from a cause, so far as the interests of Kansas aro concerned, more trifling and insignificant than has ever stirred the elements ora great people into commotion. To tho peoplo of Kansas, the only practical difference betweon admission or reject'on depends simply upon the fact whether thev can themselves moro speedily change tho present constitution if it docs not accord with the will ol tne majority, or iramo a second constitution to be submitted to Congress hereafter. Evon if this were a question of mere expediency, and not of right, the small difference of time, ono way or tho other, is of not tho least importance, when contrast ed with, the evils which must necessarily re-suit to tho wholecountry from a revival of the slavery agitation, In considering this question, it should never be .forgotten that, in proportion to its insig nificance, lot tho decision be what it may, so far as it may affect tho few thousand inhabit-ance of Kansas who havo from tho beginning resisted tho constitution and the laws, for this very reason tho rejection of the constitution will be so much moro the keenly felt by the people of fourteen of tho States of tho Union whore slavery is recognized under tne consti tution of the United States. Aeain : tho speedy admission of Kansas in to the Union would restore peace and quiot to the wholo country. Already tho affairs of this Territory have enirrosscd an unduo pro portion of public attention. Thoy havo sadly allected the friendly relations ol the people oi the States with each other and alarmed tho fears of patriots for the safety of tho Union. Kans-iS once admitted into tho Union, tho excitement becomes localized, and will soon die away for want of outsido aliment. Thon every difficulty will bo settled at the ballot-box. .besides and this is no tnning considera tion I shall then bo enabled to withdraw the troops of the United States from Kansas and employ them on branches of servico where they are much needed. 1 hey have been Kept there, on the earnest importunity of Governor Walkor. to maintain the existence of the territorial government and secure the execution of tho laws. Ho considered that at least two thousand regular troops, under tho command of General Hurnoy, were nccsssary for this purpose. Acting upon his reliable information 1 have been obliged, in somo degree, to interfere with tho expedition to Utah in order to keep down rebellion in Kansas. This has involved a very hoavy expense to tho gov ernment. Kansns once admitted, it is believed there will no longer bo any occasion there for troops or the United .States. I have thus performed my duty on this im portant question, under a deep sense of responsibility to God and my country. My public life will terminate within a brief peri od ; and I have no othor object of earthly ambition than to leave my country in a peaceful and prosperous condition, and to live in the affections and rospect of my countrymon. The dark and ominous clouds which now appear to be impending over tho Union I conscientiously believe may bo dissipated, with honor to evory portion ol it, by tho admission of Kansas during the present session of Congress ; whereas if sho should be rejectod, I greatly fear these clouds will become darker and more ominous than any which havo ever yet threatened the constitution and the Union. JAMES BUCHANAN. Washistotox, February 2d, 1808. TO THE PEOPLE OP THE UNITED STATUS. TTn.,:rw Imnn twpntlir rAmnvftd from the nf- iKt.i,,. .".v.. . j - - (inn r Snnmtnrv a( Kansas Territory, under IIVU w.v.-. - - ... t circumstances which imply sovorc censure Ton the part of tho President, ana naving nau no official information of my removal, nor any nr,,.ti,nitir fur p V til :U111 ticlll OT defence. I liaVO deemed it necessary to present to tho people 1 tho United states a oriui siuiviimiik ui tMnilinntinn nf mv motives. and in cx- iNiLa in ,ni'u..v...v. - planation of tho results of tho act for which havo been conuomneu. Tho office in question was not given at my solicitation. My acceptance of it. under all thocircumslndccs, was a proor of strong Inend-ship for tho President and of unbounded con- denco in tho firmness and lawmiiness wiin .i,:i. Kn n-nnlil arlhnm tn. tho line of nolicv deliberately agreed upon botween him, his wholo Cabinet and Gov. Walker. On my arrival in the Territory in April l.wt, .,l,..nAi nf (inv Wnllcnr. I confess that I III DUIIIIIVW V. " ' - " ' - 1...1 .n imnai-r"r linntrlmKa of tho real condi tion of allairs. 1 supposeu tne questional Slavery to bo tho only cause ot dissension and difficulty among the pooplo ; and in my brief inaugural address of tho 17lh April, I treated this as the chief subject of differenco upon which a submission to the people would . ... I I J T ftw.nl DO llKOiy IO w ulMllliilucu. i own iuuiiii, l.AnVn.,A 4l.nt tliia viitur tpnn alrnTftthor too iiunv.vi) ...... 0 limited, and did not roach tho true ground of mi . -t uL :i.i. ; controversy, i u grunt uia3i ui um iuihui-tants of tho Territory were dissatisfied with the local govornmont, and earnestly denied the validity oi tne existing taws., aswiuij that the previous Legislatures had boen'forced upon there by the fraud and violence of a neighboring peoplo, they proclaimed their de- ..Innllnn nttvrt A Olllinilt tAttlA AnflRtment of legislative bodies thus believed to be lllogit- imate aiid not entitled to obedience. This' was' the condition of thing when Gov. Walkor came to tho Territory n the latter part of MW. It was evident that the just policy of permitting ih people to regu late thoir own attaint could not oe suecessiui-. ly carried oul, unless they Could he inspired with confidence In tho a-ontsof Government through whom this) result was to bi effected. II a mere minority of the people had boeu thus . dissatisfied and contumacious they might possibly have boon pronounced factiou and treated ai aistutben of the rteace; but when the dissatisfaction was general, comprising almost the whole people, a moro ros-pectful consideration was indispensablo to a peaceable adjustment. , It was evident that the policy 'of rcprcssion-a rigid attempt to enforce submission without an effort at concilia tionwould inovitably result in ft renewal of the civil war. With common Jamo anxioty to avoid this contingency, Gov. Walker resolved to go among tho people, to listen to their complaints, to give them assurance of fair and just administration of the Territorial Government, and to induce them if possible, to abandon thiir hostility and to enter upon the peaceful but decisive struggle of tho bal lot-box. I was often with the Governor when he addressed the people, and gave my best efforts in aid of tho great purpose of conciliation.It was too late to induce tho people to go into the Juno election for dolegates to the Convention. Tho registration required by law had beon wholly omitted in ono half of them ; nor could the people of those disfranchised counties vote in any adjacent county, as has been falsely suggested. In such of them as subsequently took a census or registry of their own, tho delegates chosen wero not admitted to seats in the Convention. Nevertheless, it is not to be denied that the great central fact, which controlled tho whole case, was the utter want of confidence by the people in the whole machinery of the Territorial Government. Thoy alleged that tho local officers, in all instances, wero unscrupulous partizans, who had previously defrauded them in tho elections, and who were ready to repeat the sanio outrages again, that, even if intruders from abroad should not bo permit-ted to over power them,thcy would be ohoa tod by false returns, which it would not bo possible for tho Oovernor and Secretary to defeat. Although at that timo these apprehensions seemed to mo to be preposterous ar.d unfounded, it was impossible todeny the earnestness and sincerity with which they were urged, or to doubt that they woro the rosult of deep convictions; having their origin iu somo previous experience of that nature. Tho worst portion of tho small minority in Kansas, who had possession of the Territorial organization, loudly and bitterly complianed of Gov. Walker's policy of conciliation, and demanded the opposite policy of repression. And when, under tho solemn assurances given that the elections should be fairly conducted, and no frauds which we could reach be countenanced or tolerated, it had become apparent that the mass of the people wore prepared and determined to participate in the October elections, tho minority endeavored to defeat the result by reviving the tax qualification for electors, which had been repealed by tno previous legislature, upimons were obtained from high legal sources, the effect of which, bad they prevailed, would have been to excludo the mass of the people from voting, to retain the control in'tho hands cf the minority, and as a consequonce to keep up agitation and to render civil war inevitable. But the intrepid resolution of Gov. Wniker, in spite of Uerue opposition anddenuiiciar.ion,tarand near carried him through this dangerous crisis, and ho had the proud satisfaction of having achieved a poacofnl triumph, by inducing tho peoplo to submit to tho arbitrament of the ballot box. Out the minority were determined not to submit to defeat. Tbo populous county of Douglas had been attached to the border county of Johnston, with a largo and controlling representation in the Legislature. Tho celebrated Oxford fraud was perpotratcd with a view to obtain majorities in both Houses of tho Assembly. hen these returns wore received at my office in Gov. Walker's absence, I had fully determined not to givo certificates based upon them. If they had been so formal and correct as to have made it my duty to cortify thorn, I would have resigned my office i.i order to testify my senso of the onormity. of the wrong. Gov. Walkor, at Leavenworth, had formed tho same resolution, as he stated to me and to several others, and wo were both gratilied that wo found tho papers so imperfect its to reject them. Great excitement followed in tho Territory. The minority, thus righteously defeated in the effort to prolong their power, becau.o fierco in opposition and resorted to evory means of intimidation. But I am "led to' bolicve that they found their most effectual means of operation by undermining us with tho Admin-tration at Washington. Tha Constitutional Convention, which had adjourned over till after the October election, met again in Lccompton to resume its labors. Many of the members of that body wero bitterly hostilo to tho Governor and Secretary, on account of their rojection of tho Oxford and McGee frauds, in wlii-h ichlQ. of the membors and officers of the Convention had a direct participation. In fact, this' body, with somo honorable exceptions, well' represented tbo minority party iu the Territory, and were well imbued with tho same spiritand designs. It was obviously not thoir desirq to sacu.ro to tho real peoplo of Kansas tho control of their own affti'i. In the constitution soon afterwards adopted thoy endeavored to supersede tho Legislature which had been elected by the people, by providing, in the second section of the suhodotu, that "all laws now of force iu ho Territory slmlK continue to be rf force until altercd, amended, or repealed by a Leg islaturo under the provision cf this constitu tion." 'Ihcy provided still moro ofTeetinlly, as they supposed for tho perpetuation of their minority govarntnont, by adopting tha uxioru fraud as tho basis of their apporiionmcnt.giving a great preponderance of representation to the counties on the Missouri border, and affording at tho same time, every possiblo facili ty for the introduction of spurious votes. The President was clothed with unlimited power in conducting tho elections and receiving the returns, while, the. officers are not required to take tho usual oath to secure fair and honest dealing. The elections were hurried on in. midwinter tho 2fst of December and the 4th of JanuarY whon emigrants could coma only from tbo immediato border, undor the qualification which invited to the ballot-box every white malo inhabitant " in tho territory on that day." The sain mon who did this bad previously denounced Governor Walker for th suggestion in hi inaugural address, and in his Topeka speech, thut tho constitution should be submitted to all the bona fi le inh -bitants, although ho invariably stated when asked lor explanation, that some reasonable length of residence ought to be required as evidence of this fooa Jilt cbaraoter of inhabitancy. .., It was apparent that all the machictfy bad been artfully prepared for a repetition of grosi frauds, similar to thoso which had been attempted in October : and it was in view of all these facta, after tho adjournment of the Convention, that the peoplo of tho Territory, by an alinort unanimous demand, calle 1 upon me. as tho acting Governor, to convene an extra session of the Legislature, in order to enable thom peaceably to protect themtelv against tho wrong evidently eontemplatod by th adoption of this conrtitolinn. There wi no law to punish frauds in election returns. The people wore Intensely excited J anditwaa the opinion of the coolest men in tin Territory that, without a call of tha Legislature, tha election undor the constitution could not have takon place without collision and blood shed. The meeting of the Legislature diver ted tho attention of the nconla from tha schemes of violence upon which they wdr brooding, substituted th txcitement of debate and investigation for that of fierce and walike hatred, and enabled thoir represent-tives to doviso means for counteracting tha wrorfgs which they justly apprehended, ltecent events bat a shown that their ap prehensions were well founded. Enormoua' frauds havo been porpvtratod at th preoinou of Oxford, Shawne, and Kicapoo ; and it may well bo believed that this rtsult iris ac tually designed by the artful leaders wh devisod the plan and frame-work or the Le-coiupton Constitution. I have lately boert at Shawnee, and I have seen and couvorsed with persons who were at Oxford on tha day of election. The frauds committed are notorious and though dishonest persons may deny then , and may fill the chanuels of public informa- uuu wihu aiiauiviuKS rcprcawumuuu w uiv contrary, they can be easily established' b-' yond all controversy. it was to enable the people to shield them selves from those frauds and to give legal expression to thoir hatred and rojection of tha instrument which permitted them, and was) to be carried by them that I called the Legislature togethor. In my judgment the peome hid a fair claim to be beard on this subject through their Legislature. Tho organic act confided to ma the discretion of convening that body in extra, sossion. The President of th United State bad no rightful authority to exercise that dis cretion for mo. He had the power of remo val and such control aa that power gives him. But I would cheorlully have submitted to removal and consequent loss of favor with tha l'residont, rather than occupy tbe position ot Governor and refuse to the people an opportu'- . uity to assert their most essential rights, and to protect themselves against the baseit fraud and wrongs over attempted upon an outraged ' community. JNot having been informed of th ground of my removal, I know tbem' only , through' the newspaper reports, to tho effect that! in' calling the Legislature, I disobeyed tha in-structions of tho President. I bad no instructions bearing on the subject, and there was no timo to obtain them, even if 1 bad; fair bound to substitute the President's will for the discietion which the organic act confided to mo, Ihe copvenwg of the Legislatiwat undoubtedly prevented difficulty and secured' peace. Were it important, 1 am confident!, could establish this position by the most indubitable facts ; but it is sufficient now to : say that the peace of th'o Territory was' not . J- . , I ' . -..V 1 in lact aisiurocu, anu wnaievcr approacues were mado towards such a result were wholly attributable to the policy of the Adminis tration in censuring uiy acts and removing' mo from office. , Tho moasuro for which I have beon unjust ly condemned has enabled tho people of Kan sas to make known their real will in regard to tho Lccompton constitution. This ailorda tho Democratic party an opportunity to da- . fend tho true principles of constitutional lib-' erty, and to save itself from disastrous division and utter overthrow. If Congress will heed the voico of the people and not force upon them a government which they hava ra- . jected by a vote of four to one, tha whola country will be satisfied, and, hansas will itiictiy settle her own auairs without tn was difficult v and without an vdanirer to th corifad- . ercy. The Southern States, which are supposed to havo a deep interest in the matter, , will be saved Iroin tbo supremo lolly oi stand ing up in dofencec of so wickod and dishonest ' a contrivance as tho Leoonipton Constitotfo.- ' l no moral power oi tneir position win uoi oo , weakened' by a vain and usohis defence of . wrong, when it' is porfectly cortaih they will gain nothing even by success in the present' attempt. Tho extra session of the Kansas Legislature has done good, also, by giving moan tV expose and' punish the monstrous fraud which have boon perpetrated, and doubtless. also, by preventing others which would have been attempted, it una driven tne guilty miscreants, engaged' ill ttlem to become fugi-" tives from' justice, and bas rendered it impossible for the peace of the Territory harev aftor to bo endangered' bjr similar oceurrea- cos. ' it In view of tuese facts and results, I vlllinf- I.. nnnnf it... .... V.I 1 1-1. mill I'll I'll: 1 IH IMM 111. Kl .11 ... 1JT UV;iU'V IIIU J CUHlw wu l J ..u l.l uijfviwiur tory dismissal from office, but I appeal to the doliboraXo judgment, of' tha peo-' p'o to determine whether 1 have not chosen' tho only honorablo courso which tho circus.-' stances allow mo to pursue. , FHEU.P. STANTOX Wuihinglon, Jan. 28, 18i&' Tho Dead Child. m . . ... , Few things appear so beautiful as young -i -i i ii- ..I I I'l.- l:.f l i f ... Cliuu ill it iMiruuu. i iiv iiiiiv imiuwiii, laoa looks sn sublimely simple and confiding amdbg tho cold terror of death. Crimeless and fonr-les, that little m'oirlal has passed alone undor' the shadow.- There is doath in its sublimest ami purest image; no hatred, no hypoorfcy, no suspicion, no care lor tho morrow ever darkened that little Tace; death has come lovingly upon it; thero is nothing cruel or harsh in it vio-( tory. The yearnings or love, indited,; cannot, bu stilled; for tho prattlo and uiflcy ejl, the little world of thoughts that wero so delight-, ful are gone forever. . Awb, too, will overcast us in its prasonco ; for tho lonely voyager. t e presence of an nlfwlse Father ; and of such.' we know, is tho kingdom 'of Utaven. inu ciuiu uufi irunv. siuiuio sun- .rusuuir. mi Tuc WEirnitn at tub Pnrrrir lTK f!tisrlnutntl' P.nllriir nf finttiriliv aiiI- iivi i- "In illustration of the almost unpieccdentel. tomporatiiro, wo may mention that we have tho peach 't ree in bloom,' that the fig tree. v though ' hii branch is yet tender,' 'putteth' forth loaves,' that the sunflower is springing" up all over our garden, and that we have stalk of Indian corn, yet thriving in the open nir which rudrOAfl tha et-irth' babm P.hriAt.' mni ' Claliirtt AuVim-i't'j.Uhy Democratic p ' pers are just now laboririjf very hard to task' it appear that Dough and Buchanan io not differ essentially, and that tho prent "Tmo- racy" are not by the ears over Kansas. Well Pope duQned -"J.U diteord, harmony not mda etooJ." - Tins Onio Wool Crop. Tho Wool CKW.. ar's K-porterfMe that "th decreana" In 186T as compared with 1851), to be 227,373 artswip,' or 682,U2.ni., Tho clipof 1860 , 10.511.. U28 lbs., and that of 1855, 10,284,55511,, In this State there are 1,632 mora fhep thn in 1850. Tha number in 1356 w4 ZlJUl; Uv