Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/804

 let your aims be purely patriotic, and your sole purpose the general welfare and the substantial interests of the whole people. If we fix our steady gaze upon the constitution and the organic act as "the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night," our footsteps will never wander into any unknown or forbidden paths. Then will this legislative assembly be as a beacon light, placed high in the pagea of our history, shedding its luminous and benign influence to the most remote generations; its members will be remembered with veneration and respect as among the early fathers of the magnificent commonwealth, which, in the not distant future, will overshadow with its protection a population of freemen unsurpassed by any state in this beloved Union for intelligence, wealth, religion, and all the elements which make and insure the true greatness of a nation; the present citizens of Kansas will rejoice in the benefits conferred; the mourning and gloom, which too long, like a pall, have covered the people, will be dispersed by the sunshine of joy with which they will hail the advent of peace, founded upon justice; we will enter upon a career of unprecedented prosperity; good feeling and confidence will prevail; the just rule of action which you are about to establish, will be recognized; the entire country, now watching your deliberations with momentous interest, will award you their enthusiastic applause; and above and over all, you will have the sanction of your own consciences, enjoy self-respect, and meet with Divine approbation, without which all human praise is worthless and unavailing.

Lecompton, K. T., Jan. 12, 1857.

One of the first proceedings of the members of this body was to hold a secret meeting, at which it was resolved, that should any act be vetoed by the governor, there should be a mutual agreement to disregard the veto, and pass the act by a two-third vote, which was strictly adhered to. The governor attempted to arrest several bills by his veto, but to no purpose. A bill was passed, which was intended as an indorsement of the conduct of Judge Lecompte in admitting the murderer Hays to bail, and giving to any district judge authority to bail all persons charged with any crime whatsoever, whether previously considered bailable or not. This the governor vetoed, giving his reasons as follows, but the bill was passed by an almost unanimous vote:

To the Council and House of Representatives of Kansas Territory:


 * — The bill "to authorize Courts and Judges to admit to bail in certain cases," has been carefully examined, and notwithstanding my earnest desire to agree with the legislature, I am compelled to return it without approval, for the following reasons:

The doctrine that the more certain the punishment of crime is made, the greater will be the restraints upon the evil passions of wicked men, has been established in all civilized communities, and approved by the wisdom and experience of every age of the world; and had we no other evidence of its truth, more than sufficient has been furnished in the disturbances and outrages which have so recently occurred in the territory of Kansas; for no one can be insensible of the fact, that tne impunity that has here been given to crime, has been