Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-07-29
The Difficulties in Kansas.


are discussing the official conduct OF Governor
Walker in Kansas, intelligence comes to us OF
new and threatening troubles in that territory.
The Governors conciliatory course has utterly
failed to pacify the Freesoilers, and they are
proceeding to establish separate government
of their own, intending to submit their Oonsfitu-
ton, formed at Topeka TO the vote OF the people,
in August But the immediate cause OF dlincul-
ty is the illegal and REASONABLE conduct OF the
people of Lawrence in undertaking to set up
municipal government without obtainlnga CHAR
ter from the Territorial authorities. They deny
the legal existence and authority OF the Terri
torial government, and their sham State Legis-
lature, to which they applied, refused to grant
them a charter. Under these circumstances,
they adopted charter for their local govern
mept by popular vote, and on the 18th inst,
elected municipal officers.
On the 18th, Gov. Walker issued proclamation
to the people Of Lawrence, explaining to them
the inienity of their conduct and warning
them of the consequences. He says: 1ou
have granted to the Mayor and Aldermen most
extensive powers, including the right to levy
and collect taxes upon real and personal proper
erty within the limits of the city, whether be-
longing to residents or non residents, and all tile
other powers usually incident to q city gov
ernmeut.
"You have imposed on all these officers the
duty of taking an oath to support this so called
State Constitution, thus distinctly supersedlng,
rnrrifnrial (invarn.
ment created by the Congress of the United
States. You have caused these proceedings to
be printed in handful form, and have distributed
them, asI am informed, throughout the terrific
~, with the view to incite the other cities,
towns and counties of Kansas to establish insur-
rectionary governments, thereby placing the
people of this Territory, so far as in your pow
err in open conflict with the Government of the
United States"
He further says:
"As all arguments heretofore so often ad-
dressed by me to you have failed as yet to pro-
duce any effect upon you, | have deemed it me-
cessary for your safety and that of the Territory,
and to save you from the perilous consequences
of your own acts, under the authority vested in
me by the President of the United States, to
order an adequate force of the troops of the o.
QlIeu states lUlO your lululeQlsltS "
perform the duty of stopping your revolutionary
proceedings. Let meimplore you not to compel me
to appeal to that military power which is requir-
ed in the last resort, to protect the government
Of your country. You cannot carry Your rebel
lious purposes into effect without coming into
unavoidable and open conflict with the troops
and government of the United States"
| \ despatch from Lawrence on the 18th, states
that the governor arrived there the day before
with eight companies of United States dragons
under command Of Col. Cook, and oamped close
to the town in threatening attitude. The peo-
pie were greatly enrased against him, on &C.
count of his duphclty, they say, and refused to
negotiate with him. The newly elected town
officers had taken no step as yet, not even being
sworn in and no opposition would be offered
to the Federal troops, unless they made an as
sault when civil war would be declared. The
despatch alluded to says the Governors design
is to stop the August election.
In the mean time the Freesoilers were holding
another Convention at Topeka, the largest and
most earnest, it is said, ever held. A strong po-
siton was taken in favor of the constitution pre-
viously adopted at the same place, it being de-
termined by the Convention that Congress shall
admit Kansas under it. NJ. J. Barrett was NOM
mated for Congress- and Gen. Lane was APP
pointed to organize the people thoroughly to
prepare them to defend the ballot boxes in the
October election.
Coy. Walkers Proclamation, and his energet-
ic conduct in reference to the town of Law
renee, are viewed in different lights by his
friends and opponents. The Washington Union
thinks the Governor has now fully acquitted
himself of any suspicion even of sympathy with
the Freesoilers and the Richmond Enquirer
says the proclamation is severe rebuke to the
assailants of Governor Walker, and places his
course in Kansas above the reproach of duplioi-
ty and incapacity. The South, on the other
hand suspects that the intelligence has been
greatly magnified to suit the purposes of the
Governor" and that, at any rate, the present
condition of affairs is the natural consequence
of the course pursued by Walker on bis arrival
in Kansas. The Washington correspondent of
the South takes the same ground. He says that
the Lawrence difficulty is tempest in teapot,
and the Governors zeal il the matter is evident
ly intended to redeem his position.
Thus the Democratic assailants of Governor
Walker are determined not to be satisfied with
him. We, however, are chartably disposed to
give him credit for honest intentions, and COM
mend his recent vigorous action. The Topeka
Freesoil Legislature cunningly avoided the en-
acting any measure that would bring it into
conflict with the legal Territorial Government.
but the people of Lawrence have asserted their
independence ofall law by an act of rebellion a.
gainst both Territorial and Federal authority
The proceeding of the Governor against the
Freesoilers seems to us, therefore, not onlywis
but as prompt as the circumstances justified.
ssThe Friends of the South.''
We have grown tired of the idle twaddle of
the secessionists, about who are 'irends of the