Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-12-31

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events occurring in Kansas as well as here,
it is evident that the question is passing
from theories into practice, and that, as
Governor of Kansas. should be compelled
to carry out new instructions, differing, on
a vital question. from those received at the
date of my appointment. Such instructions
could no: execute, consistently with my
views of the Federal Constitution, of the
Kansas and Nebraska Bill. or with my
pledges TO the people of Kansas. Under
these circumstances, no alternative is left
me but TO resign the office of Governor of
the Territory of Kansas.
No one can more deeply regret than my
self the necessity; but it arises from no
change of opinion on my part. On the con-
trary, | shoald most cheerfully have return
cd to Kansas to carry out my original in
structions. and thus preserve the peace of
the Territory, and finally settle the Kansas
question, by redeeming my pledges to the
people. 1t is not my intention TO discuss.
at this time, the peculiar circumstances and
unexpected events lich have modified the
opinions Of the President upon point so vi
for the ratification or rejection by the vote
of the people, much less do desire any
controversy with the President on this SUBJ
ject; yet, however widely my views may
differ from those entertained by him on this
question-,iews which have held all my
life, and which, as involving fundamental
principles of public liberty and The Consti-
tuition. arc unchangeabe-yet, as regards
all those Democratic measures which,
trnst, will constitute the policy of his Ad
ministra,iOn in other respects, il will give
me pleasure. as 4 private citizen, to yield
my cordial support.
have said that the slavery question, IS
a practical issue, had disappeared from
Kansas long before my arrival there. and
the question of self government had been
subs ituted in its place.
On some future occasion / shall dissi-
pate the delusion which has prevailed upon
This subject, and show that after three
years experiment, when 1 arrived in Kan
sas there were less than three hundred
slaves there, and their number constantly
diminishing; that, as proved by the official
records Of Congress. published and au-
thertica,ed by those distinguished southern
statesmen. John c. Calhoun and Jefferson
Davis, the winter climate, even of eastern
Kansas, is colder than that Of New Eng.
land. and that the slavery Territorial
Convention of Kansas, consolidated with
the pro-slavery Territorial Legislature. on
the 4 Ii of January. 81, nearly five months
before my arrival there, did distinctly a.
bandon the slavery issue, because, as set
forth BY one of their number, 1.-THE pro.
slavery party was in a small and admitted
minority, land the cooperation Of the
free-State Democrats was invited, as the
only hope of success no. 10 make Kansas a
slave State, which was conceded TO be i'm
possible, but 10 make it conservative
Democratic free State" Even as late as
the 81 of July. 1857. when the Democrat
ic Territorial Convention assembled at Le-
compton, III consequence OF The laws of eli
mate and the well known will Of the peo-
pie, none contended that slavery could be
established there. Nor was it until my
southern opponents interfered in the affairs
of Kansas, and by denunciation, menace
and otherwise--aided at critical period
bv several Federal office holders OF Kansas,
including the surveyor-general, (the Pres
ident of the Convention, with his immense
patronage, embracing many hundred en-
ployees--intervened, and, as | believe,
without the knowledge or appreciation OF
the President of the United States, produ-
ced the extraordinary parer ca led the Lee
compton Constitution. Yet this act of in
tervention by Federal officers to defeat the
will of the people seems to be sustained by
my opponents; whilst my Intervention, as
il is called, in obedience to my duty and
oath of office to support the Federal Consti
tuition, and to take care that our organic
law should be fairly executed, by endeav
oring to secure the people of Kansas their
rights under that act as denounced and CO
Illuminated.
1t is sill more extraordinary, that the
Hypothetical remarks made by me as re-
CARDS climate in its connection with It's in
huence upon the question of slavery ii
Kansas, after that issue had been abandon
ed there. which views were consolidating
the union between conservative free STATE
and pro slavery Democrats. SO as to pre-
vent the confiscalion of the small number
of slaves then held in Kansas, have beer
denounced by many distinguished South
ern Senators, who, when the Kansas Ne
braska bill was pending in Congress, ant
when such remarks from them, if ever
might affect southern emigration. were
then loudest in proclaiming that. because
of its climate, Kansas could never become
a slave State Indeed. it seems that al
persons, in and out of Kansas, whether il
+ public or private life, may publish wha
opinions they please in regard to thes
questions. except the Governor of that Ter
ritory, who has SO little power and no pat
ronage.
And now be pleased to express to tia
President my deep regret as regards on
unfortunate differenc of opinion in rela