The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-04-02
FRREWELLRDDREsy p.
GoVERNO8 GElRR, !
People OF Kanshs TkkTIt6ry-

Having determined to resign the Exeeu-
tive Office, and retire again to the scenes of
private life and the enjoyment Of those do.
nestle comforts Of which have so long
been deprived i deem il proper to address
you on The occasion Of my departure.
II Thelofics from which now voluntarily
! withdraw was unsought by me, and at the
I time offs aeceptsnee, wus BY no means de-.
sirable..s This was quite evident, from the
deplorable moral, civil, and political eondi,
ton OF the Territory 1.-The discofd, conten.
tion and deadly strife which flien and there
prevailed-and the painfHl. anxiety with
which il wns regarded By 'PaiHstie citizens
in every portion Of the American Union.--
To attempt 10 govern Kansas al sncl per.
iod, and under such circumstances, was 10
assume no ordinary responsibilities. Few
men, could have rlesiFed To undertake the
task, and none weuld dhave, beenso presump,
tous, without serious forebodings as to the
result. ThGt1 should have hcstatcd is no
matter ofastonishment to those acquainted
with ihe facts; bat that uceepted the ap.
pciRemept, was we'll grounded source ( Of
regret to many Of my well tried friends, who
looked upon the enterprise as one that could
terminate in nothing but disaster to myself.
TWAS not supposed possible that order could
be brought, in any reasonable space ofiime,
and with the means then at my comm and,
from the thenlexistng ehaos. 2" lsd
Without descanting upon the feelings,
principles and motives which prompted me,
| suffice il to say that / accepted the Presi
dents tender Of the Office oi Governor. In
doing so, sacrificed the comfort Of a home,
endeared by the strongest earthly ties and
most sacred associations, 10 embark in an
undertaking which presented at the best but
dark and unsatisfactory prospect. reach.
ed Kansas and entered upon tine discharge of
my official duties in the most pploony' hour
OF her history. Desehtion and ruin reigucd
on every hand. Homes, aud fresides were
deserted. The smoke OF burning dwellings
ddSRened the atmosphere. Women and
children, driven from their ahabitations, warI-
dered over the prairies and among the wood.
lands, or sought refuge aud protection even
among the !ndian tribes. The highways
were infested with numerous predatory
bands, and the towns were fortified and oar.
risoned hys armies ofocoGficting lpurtizuns,
each excited almost to phreBzy, and deter
mined upon mutual exterminstion. Such
was, without exaggeration, the condition OF
the Territory, Mt the period of my arrsvaI.sA-
Her Treasury was bankrHpt.a There were
no pecunary resources within herself to
meet the exigencies ol the time. Ths Con.
gressional appropriations, intended to de.ray
the expenses of u year, were Insufficient 10
meet the demands Of u Foresight. !, The laws
were null, the courts virtually suspended
nd Tho civil arm ~ ~ :, n .''
entirely powerfess Action-prompt, daci-
sive, energetic action-4was necessary 4
at oRce saw what was needed, andu ithout
hesitation gave myself tu the work. For six
months have lubored with unceasing in.
dustry. The accustomed and needed hours
for sleep have been employed in the public
service. Night and day have official duties
demanded uuremll.g attention. | have
had no proper leisure moments for rest or
(iScfeaton. My health has failed tander The
pressure. Nor is this all; 10 my own pri.
vate purse, without assurance of Reimburse
ment, have lresortcd, in every emergency.
| for the required funds. Whether these ar.
dueus services and willing sacrifices have
been beneficial to gktasi's and my country,
you are a5uadantly qualified to determine.
That haze met vi h oppositiull, aud even
bitter vita Jerution and vindivt.ye malice. is
no mattes for asto1shairut. 'AN"''-'
No man hns ever vet held an imp0rtan,
orTesponsible post In our own or ary Other
country and escaped ceDsurc. should have
been weak and foolish indeed, had expect.
ed to pass through the fsry ordeal cntirelys
unscathcd, especially as was required. If
mot to come in conflict with, at least /,
thwart evil machiBations, and hold in re.
stralnt wicked passions, or rid the The Ter.
rltory OF many lawcss, rcck less and dcsDer.
ate men. Beside 1t were impossible 10 come
in contact with the conflicting interests
which governed the conduct Of many we'll
disposed persons, without becoming an oh.
ject Of mistrust and abuse. While from
others, whose sole object was notoriouslv
personal advancement ut any sacrifice OF the
general goodand at ery'hazard, It wou Id
have been ridiculous to anticipate the, need
OF praise for disinteresteG action. And hence.
however palpable might have been nv On.
trlotism, however just my official conduct, |
or however beneficial its results, do NOT
marvel That my motives have been impugn. |
ed and my integrity, malisned. I, is, how,
ever, so well known, that need scurceIv
record the fact, that those VINO nave attribu,
TED my iasors to a desire for gubefnhtoriaI
or senatoriul henors, were and are the,ns |
selves the asPirants fer those high trusts
and powers, and iooiisbly imagined that |
stood between them and the consummaton (
of their asnbitious designs aud higA towering |
hopes. a49 lasa bas 40 30 sta'IiSn. d 350G : |
But Whatever may be sthoaght or said of
my motives or desires, have the proud con |
seriousness 81 leaving this scene OF nv severe /
Und anxious toilwith clean hsnds, and the
convictlenthut He who can penJ
etrate lfl the lnmost 3 reccsses OF the heart and
read its secret thoughts, will approve INV
purposes and acts. III the discharge OF INV
executive fnnctons,I I have invariably soiieht I
to DO equal and exact justice to all men,
however humble or xalted, j have eschew.l
ed all sectional disputatons, kept ,aloof,irom
dll party affiliations, ohd have alike scorn.
ed numerous threats Of personal injury and |.
and the most fatterirg promises
of adgaacementnDdreward. And Iask, and.
claim nothing more fol, the part / have. act
cd than the simple merit of having endeav.
ored TO perform my duty. This have done
at1ait times. aud upon every occasion, fei
gardless OF the opinions of men. and utterly
fearless Of consequences. i.OccasionalIy,It|,
have been forced to assume ggeat, responsi.
bilities, and depend solely upon my own
resources TO accomplish Important ends
bnt in ali such instances, Ilhave carefully
examined surrounding circumstances, weigh.
ed we well the probable, results and acted Up.