The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-23

4
take. told him that one great Leans OF pr0te ctin
Our people woald be to have ali his sppontees in til
Territory understand that the administration strict
~ required OF them to set their faces aid use thei
influence, against all sorts of foreign interference
tnat there were some sixteen officers Of the gcera
government in the Territory, and that their com
blned influence would be all powerful for good q
evil. also suggested the idea Of proclamation, Il
be issued by himself reciting what had been done
sternly disappearing IT, and pledging his admins
tration against foreign interference as violation
OF the principles Of the Kansas Nebraska bill; and
the use of the government troops if necessary "a
prevent repetition OF past outIages and spoke d
the moral influence upon Congress and upon the ma
ton of fixed and unyielding opposition to them Of
the administration. The manner in which he met
these suggestions the objections which he stated Ia
issuing proclamation, the doubts he expressed Of
his legal authority to support such o proclamation
II issued, and his evasion of the true point ut issue
by talking OF the Emigrant Aid Society made me
very distrustfu OF any sincere intention his par
to give adequate protection TO our people, and
lett him saying that | would come again in the
morning.
My reflections that night brought me to the con
clusion that If were removed our people would be
LEFT entirely at the mercy of their invaders, and that
unless could have some distinct and positive secu
rty for their protection would proceed no furta er
with the present negotiation. saw him again the
next morning, and so informed him. Our conve
satlon then, though entirely courteous, did not
have that same amicable spirit which had charac
ses1zed all our preceding interviews except that
TIVE Night before. said to him that it was evident
to nae that lie cas about to make concessions in the
ETvag direction that he was perfectly aware that
in All previous angry collisions between Northern
and Southern sentiment had favored the compro-
misses which had satisfied the South aud had sc.
cured tAsr rights against the camor Of the anti sa.
very men that considered this a clear case of az.
gression o. Noytheyn rights; in whatever there was
to be OF concession or compensation, 1t shoald be
made to the North, and not to the South The in
tereSts OF the North the interests Of the democratic
a.. = -
required it; and that if be wocld boldly and prompt
y take that course at this tins, before the mass of
the Southern people had taken any position upon
the question, he would be largely sustained even at
to progress, the more perplexed and complicated
would the case become, and the ny1re difficult Of re-
medy. failed to convince him OF my views, which
he rather evaded than answered; and finally told
left but for him to take the responsibility Of his acts
and of mine. He spoke Of the Dangers of my re-
turning to office: to which replied that they had
no terrOrs for me so long as felt in the per-
remove you ON account Of your otic,os action; if
rem0re y0n at oil, ii tciU be on account nj your spe-
culation in lands Of the Territory" told him
they were not speculations, but simply puTcha ses.
After had risen to leave the room, remarked
to him that the additional papers relating to the
purchase Of half breed lands were now before him.
that he had the whole case, and myself and col
leagues were very anxious to have his confirmation
of the contracts expired on that day by their own
limitation. He remarked that he had not had time
to examine the papers. then alluded TO the town
OF Pawnee and the military reservation. which was
an important matter in its bearings upon the pOti
cal parties Of the Territory, and IN regard to which
he had promised me to speak to the Secretary of
War and the Secretary OF the Interior. He replied
he would have no time to think OF the matter or at
tend to it, but that If the vacation OF my Office Id
be satisfactorily adjusted, he Thought all these mat
tiers could De arranged an such shape as to pro-
mote my pirate infe eSfs. ] felt insulted BY the
proposition 10 such extent that dared not trust
myself to reply. was conscious OF state Of temper
SO angry and excited As to leave only the alternative
OF silent contempt an angry and indecorous
reply. chose the former, and as was standing near
the door, with my hit In my hand, babe him good
morning and lett him.
Some seven to fourteen days after this received,
at Easton. Pa, a note from him, requesting me 10
send to Washington Hon. Asa Packer, member Of
Congress for that district. This request, | communi
ton in a few days. / made my arrangements to pro-
coed to the Territory without my family. / had
previously made all the necessary arrangements TO
take my family with me, but abandoned the idea
after came to the States, in consequence Of infor
nation received which disappointed me as to the
quarters expected and had provided for them in
the Territory.
About 10 o'clock at night on the evening proceed.
ing the day l was to leave Easten for Kansas, l
received letter from the State Department asking
explanations in regard to the purchase OF half breed
lands and ether speculatons IN lands oil the Terri
tory. This letter was incosed In an ordinary enve-
dorsement invariably used upon all envelopes Of let
tiers coming from the Department on official bust
ness, SO that, had l proceeded to Washington In
consequence of receiving it, and there closed the ne
gotiation which had previously failed, there would
have been no trace before the public Of any evidence
that had received an official communication TO
call me there. Instead Of going to Washington,
however, determined to 60 to Kansas dupll-
cate Of that letter, as afterwards learned was for
in case Ishould fail to receive the one directed to
Easton. The sequel Of the correspondence is before
the public. On the 18th June mailed letter con
tanning the explanations called for which, BY due
course of mail, must have reached Washington on
the 9th Of Jnly; and the letter notifying me Of my
removal on the day Of its date, was mailed on the
3Oth July (Monday), although dated on the 2sth.
This removal, which had been thus suspended for
twenty.one days, was Immediately preceded BY the
intelligence OF my veto message, which repndiated
the Legislature dissolved all connection with It, and
treated as void all its laws passed at the Shawnee
Mission. This message had created much excite
ment In the Legislature, and petition for my re
Tnoval was thereup0n prepared and signed by the
me mbers, and one OF their body dispatched TO pre-
sent and press II in person. This messenger was
met on the way in the States by the intelligence
which made his further progress unne sessary, and
thus the President was saved the embarrassment
or deprived of the opportunity, OF considering the
main question at Issue between the Legislature and
myself. The papers showing the contract Tor the
half breed lands had been before the President In
January, 1865, and had been, OF course, examined
by him. as they we're returned to me by him, with
note icm his private secretary, stating that he De
cliped TO confirm them, without concurring In oil
the reasons mentioned in Mr.. Mannypenny's report
There was no final rejection Of the contracts, and
nj once proceeded to supply the alleged defects o.
proof Nor was there any allegation or intimatior
IN any correspondence or otherwise that the con
tracts were illegal or dishonest or that they were
finally rejected.
Having supplied the alleged defects, the whole
case was again laid before him in May. and about
the middle OF June was called on to explain 1t
The papers then before the President, and which
had been lie ore him in January, contained my Owl
statement and argument, with the dispositions ant
certificates OF other persons, giving history ant
eutidation of the whole transaction far more tho
| rough than any explanations / could make In thu
absence Of the papers. haze nerer been informts
10 this day. and do not knoU in tchdf aspect and to
,rhai reasons those contracts considered caus
| Of yemorni. Whether they were treated a. unfai
and dishonorable, or simply illegal, or whether tn
position was taken that public officer has not tn
| same right to purchase AZ private individual
have never been informed. The "other speculation