to bring such cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, to test the legality of such proceedings, is a flagrant violation of the constitution, and an invasion of the rights of the citizens of other states, utterly inconsistent with the professions made by the slaveholders, that they wish the provisions of the constitution faithfully observed by every state in the Union.

19. That we recommend the introduction into all treaties hereafter to be negotiated between the United States and foreign nations, of some provision for the amicable settlement of difficulties by a resort to decisive arbitrations.

20. That the free democratic party is not organized to aid either the whig or democratic wing of the great slave compromise party of the nation, but to defeat them both; and that repudiating and renouncing both as hopelessly corrupt and utterly unworthy of confidence, the purpose of the free democracy is to take possession of the federal government and administer it for the better protection of the rights and interests of the whole people.

21. That we inscribe on our banner Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men, and under it will fight on and fight ever, until a triumphant victory shall reward our exertions.

22. That upon this platform, the convention presents to the American people, as a candidate for the office of President of the United States, John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, and as a candidate for the office of VicePresident of the United States, George W. Julian, of Indiana, and earnestly commend them to the support of all freemen and all parties.

CHAPTER XVI.

PIERCE'S ADMINISTRATION.

1853-1857.

THE PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL VIEWS.

Mr. Pierce held that negro slavery, in those states where it existed, was recognized by the constitution; that it stood on an equal footing with any other admitted right, and that the states wherein it existed were entitled to efficient remedies to enforce the constitutional provisions which protected it. He also declared his opinion, that the compromise measures, including the fugitive slave law, were strictly constitutional, and should be unhesitatingly carried into effect.

Congress met December 5, 1853, with an increased demoThirty-third Congress,cratic majority in both branches. In First Session. his message to this Congress the President disclaimed any purpose, on his part, of giving prominence to any subject which might be properly regarded as set at rest by the deliberate judgment of the people. He thought the present bright with promise, but the future demanded the exercise of active intelligence in order that the dangers hitherto encountered might not fail to fulfill the objects of a wise design. He assured those who placed him in power, that the repose which the country was then enjoying should suffer no shock if he had power to avert it. And yet, despite these assurances, the country was just entering upon an era of the deepest and most intense agitation of the vexed question of slavery she had ever yet experienced.

KANSAS-NEBRASKA BILL.

During the last session of Congress an attempt had been made to organize the territory of Nebraska, but the bill having passed the House, failed to be acted on in the Senate. This territory was a part of the Louisiana purchase. From this purchase there had already been admitted into the Union five states, Louisiana, Missouri, and Arkansas, slave; Iowa and Minnesota, free. The question of slavery extension now received a new impetus.

In January, 1851, Senator Douglas, of Illinois, reported a bill to organize the territory of Nebraska. By an amendment to this bill the territory was divided into two parts, the one directly west of Missouri, and between the parallels of 37° and 40°, to be called Kansas, the other, lying just north of this, and between the parallels of 40° and 43°, to be called Nebraska. The compromise of 1820 prohibited slavery in both of these territories, but the present bill was so amended as to declare the Missouri line annulled by the compromises of 1850. These measures were declared to "rest upon the great principles of self-government," that the people should be allowed to decide for themselves the questions of their domestic institutions. The Douglas bill was advocated by the democratic party, which, being in the ascendency in both houses, carried the measure without difficulty. The free-soil party and the anti-slavery whigs contested the movement at every step. This division in the whig party proved its final destruction. The name "whig" was repudiated by the northern section of the party, who, for a time, were denominated antiNebraska men. The southern section managed to exist a few years longer, but being so nearly like the southern democracy on the question of slavery they could hardly be called a distinct party. The passage of this bill opened all the territo

ries to the introduction of slavery, if the citizens should so elect. Congress adjourned August 7, 1854.

Congress met December 4, 1854. During this session the Thirty-third Congress, question of internal improvements. Second Session. came up again, but aside from that there was little party contest. Certain public improvements were provided for, and among them was the construction of military roads in the territories of Nebraska, Kansas, and Washington. This Congress also passed an act establishing a court for the investigation of claims against the United States; for the remodeling of the diplomatic and consular service of the United States; for granting bounty land to officers and soldiers for military service, and for the reduction of postage, fixing the rate on a single letter for three thousand miles, or less, at three cents; over that distance, at ten cents. A river and harbor bill was also passed, but the President vetoed it. Congress adjourned March 3, 1855.

TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE.

The repeal of the Missouri compromise, and organization of Kansas, opened that territory to the influx of contending populations those from the slave states desiring to occupy it, while the northern states determined that it should be colonized with those opposed to slavery. The slaveholders of western Missouri, which lay between Kansas and the free states, had early gone over the line and pre-empted lands, at the same time warning free immigrants not to pass through Missouri.

The election of a delegate to Congress came off on the 29th of November, 1854. Armed bands of men came over from Missouri, and voting for their favorite candidate procured his election. On the 30th of March, 1855, occurred the election for members of the first legislature. The same tactics were repeated as in the previous election, and some four

or five thousand Missourians entered the territory and controlled the vote. Owing to the illegality of this election, Governor Reeder called for another election in six of the districts. This time the citizens, with the exception of one precinct, enjoyed their political rights.

When the legislature assembled at Pawnee, July 2, 1855, the seats of the members chosen at the second election were contested, except those from the precinct at which fraudulent votes had been cast. Subsequently every contested member was rejected, the certificates of the Governor being disregarded. The legislature thus organized, removed the seat of government to the Shawnee mission and began the work of enacting laws. They adopted the laws of the state of Missouri entire, adding some original laws which fixed the penalty of death for nearly fifty offenses against slavery. Governor Reeder, thinking that the administration would support him, refused to recognize the legislature.

TOPEKA CONSTITUTION.

At a meeting of the inhabitants of Kansas, held August 15, 1855, at Lawrence, for consultation in reference to their political and social condition, resolutions were adopted requesting the bona fide citizens of the various districts to send delegates to a convention at Topeka, to consider the propriety of adopting a constitution and making application for admission into the Union. On the 19th day of September the proposed convention assembled and appointed an election for the second Tuesday of the following October, at which delegates should be chosen to a constitutional convention. This convention assembled at Topeka, on the 25th of October, 1855, and prepared a free-state constitution, which was ratified by the people on the 15th day of the next December. Kansas applied for admission into the Union under the Topeka con