The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-10-27
Original Correspondence.
FIR tte Herald If Freedom.
Letter from Gov. Shannon.

F0Y bie Herald If Freedom.
Letter from Gov. Shannon.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, SHAWNEE Ms,
Oct. 9th, 1855.
G. W. BRowN-SIR:--In your paper
of the 29th ultimo, which has just come
to hand, you published what purports t.
be speech, made by me at Westport
taken from the st. Louis Democrat, and
reported by the reporter of that journal
'.who," you say, twas on the ground
You say further, that "the Governor, il
will beseen by his reported speech, comes
out fat-footed for slavery" Now, will
not suppose that you designed to misrep-
resent me, or do me intentional wrong
yet it is difficult to reconcile the publica-
ton of this carieature speech with your
comment on it, with that impartiakty and
desire to do justice to every one, in or
cut of Office, which should characterize
the editor of a public journal. There is
scarcely a single idea that 1 uttered on
that occasion. correctly or fully repre-
sented in the speech yoi1 have published
and endorsed as genuine,
did not discuss the subject of slavery,
In the few remarks l made at Westport,
in any aspect whatever; nor did 1 ex-
press any opinion in relation to slavery
In Kansas or elsewhere. 1 did not men,
ton the subject of slavery during my
remarks but once, and that was to say
that [ did not intend to speak of or dis
cuss the subject. In speaking to mix
ed assembly, that was composed, as ]
supposed at the time, of all parties, and
of gentlemen residing on both sides of
the line, who had assembled to give me
welcome to the country, no one, sup
pose, expected me to speak on the subject
of slavery, OF toexpressany opinion on
a question which had excited so much
feeling among the citizens residing on
both sides of the line. In responding
to a welcome given me by the people as
SsmbIed on that occasion, it would have
been in bad taste and out of place, to
have introduced subject calculated to
excite the feelings, passions, or prejudi-
ces, of any portion of my audience. l
spoke of Missouri and Kansas as being
adjoining territories for more than two
hundred miles /; that they were intimate
ly connected in all the business relations
of life, and must ever continue to be
that being so connected it was the duty
of the citizens of each to cultivate social
and friendly relations; that nothing was
to be gained on either side by keeping up
border feud, but, on the contrary, the
settlement, growth, and prosperity Of
both would be greatly promoted by cul-
tiyating harmony and the most friendly
relations. / took occasion also to make
some remarks believed then, and still
believe to be, entirely merited by the
kindness and hospitality of the citizens
of Western Missouri. There was moth
ing i'll any of these remarks to which
any one Of proper feelings could take the
slightest exception, no matter what hi,
views on the subject of slavery might
be.
| have made no speech since my arriv
81 in the country in which have ex
pressed any opinion on the subject o
slavery nor have been placed in po
sition, since my arrival, where public
expression of such an opinion woult
have been proper.
In my private intercourse with the
citizens of the Territory have not con
cealed or sought to conceal the view:
which | entertain in relation to my duty
on this subject; and on a roper occasion
Ishould not have the slightest objection
TO express them in public speech, bu
no such proper occasion, in my judg.
ment, has presented itself.
voted for the Nebraska bill when in
Congress because / then believed, aud
still believe. the principles of tina. bin to
be right, and will bear the test of the
most rigid scrutiny. The principle Of
that bill, SO far as the question of slavery
Is concerned, is that The people of each
territory have the right to determine fol
themselves whether they will or will not
have slavery. The question of slavery
by that bill IS referred to the free and un.
biased determination of the inhabitants
OF the Territory. consider it TO be the
duty of the Executive of the Territory
to carry out honestly and in good faith
the principle of this bill, at least so far as
he has any power or agency in the mat
Ter. Ii would not be proper, nor in &C
cordance with the principle of this bill,
for the Chief Executive officer of the
Territory, sent ont by the Federal Gov.
ernmeat, to use any accidental influence
that official position might give him, tc
influence the public mind either one way
or the other. To secure To the inhabit.
ants Of the Territory. without being In
terfered with by foreign votes from any
quarter, on both sides, fair expression
OF their opinions: to abide by the viii
OF the majority. when fairly expressed,
without becoming the advocate Of either
slavery or free State, is the course which
: my Judgment dictates as the most proper
for me TO take in the present contest.
further expressed the opinion, in the
remarks l made at Wes.port, that the
Legislature of Kansas was a legitimate
body. and that so Ear as their acts were
not in conflict with the Constitution OF
the United States. or the laws of Con-
rrsss, and were authorized By The laeis-