Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-12-29
Resignation of Gov. Walker.
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 15, 1857.

Hon. Leaois Cass, Secretary of State:
 I resign the office of Governor of Kansas. have been most reluctantly forced to this con- cluson after anxious and careful consideration of my duty to the country, to the people of Kansas, to the President of the United States and to myself. The grounds assumed by the President in his late message to Congress, and in his recent instructions in connection with the events transpiring here and in Kansas, admon- ish that, as Governor of that Territory, 1t will no longer be in my power to preserve peace or promote the public welfare. At the earnest so- lcitaton of the President, after repeated refu- sals, the last being in writing, l finally accepted this office upon his letter showing the dangers and difficulties of the Kansas question. and the necessity of my undertaking the task of its ad- ustment.
 Under these circumstances, notwithstanding the great sacrifices to me, personal, political and pecuuiarv felt that could no more fuse such call from my country, through her Chief Magistrate, than soldier in battle, who is ordered to command a for,orn hope. l ac- cepted, however, on the express condition that should advocate the submission of the con sttution to vote of the people for ratification or rejection. These views were clearly under stood by the President and all his cabinet.-
 
 acceptance of this office on the 26th of March last, and reiterated in my inaugural address on the 27th of May last, as follows: |" Indeed, can't doubt that the convention, after having passed State constitution, will submit 1t for ratification or rejection by majority of the Iona .fde resident settlers of Kansas
 With these views well known to the Presi- dent and cabinet, and approved by them, ac- cepted the appointment of Governor of Kan sa,. My instructions from the President through the Secretary of State, under date of the 18th March last sustain the regular Legis- lature of the Territory in assembling conven- tion to form constitution, and they express the opinion of the President that when such a constitution shall be submitted to the people of the Territory, they must be protected in the exercise of their rights of voting for against that instrument. The fair expression of the popular will must not be interrupted by fraud or violence. l repeat, then, as my clear con- vlctlon, that unless the convention should sub init the constitution to the votes of the actual resident settlers of Kansas. and the election be fairly and justly conducted, the constitution will be and ought to be rejected by Congress. The inaugural most distinctly asserted that it was not the question of slavery, merely, which believed to be of little practical inn portance, then, in its application to Kansas, but the constitution, which should be submitted to the people for ratification or rejection.
 After quoting from the Presidents inaugural, Gov. Walker refers as follows to his course as Governor of Kansas, and its good effects:
 The power and responsibility being devolved exclusively upon me by the President, of using the federal army in Kansas to suppress insurrec- ton, the alternative was distinctly presented to me by questions propounded at Topeka, of ar resting revolution by the slaughter of the peo- pie, or of preventing it, together with that of civil war, which must have extended through ont the Union. My solemn assurance was then given that the right of the people to frame their own government, so far as my power extended should be maintained; and but for this assur- ance it is conceded fact that the Topeka State government, then assembled in legislative session. would have been put into immediate and actual operation and that sangunarv col lision with the federal army and civil war, must have eusued, extending it is feared, throughout the Union. Indeed the whole idea of an in augural address originated in the alarming in ! telgence which had reached Washington city of perlous and ncIpient rebellion in Kansas 1 This instruction was rendered more formida- ble on my reaching the territory, by the near approach of the assembling of the revolutionary State Legislature and the very numerous mass conventions by which 1t was sustained In truth l had to choose between arresting that insurrection by whatever cost of American blood by the federal army, or to prevent the terrible catastrophe as did, by my pledges to the peo- pie of the exertlon of all my power to obtain a fair election hy the vote of the people for rati- ication or rejection.
 My inaugural and other addresses were, therefore, really in the nature of proclamations, 50 often issued by presidents and governors with view to prevent, as they did in this case, civil war and insumecton. Now, by my oath of office, was sworn to support the constitu- ton Of the United States, which 1 have shown. in my judgment, required the submission of the constitution to vote of the people. 1 was sworn also to take care that the Kansas Ne braska bill should be faithfully executed. which | bill, in my judgment, as heretofore stated re- ! qured that the constitution be submitted to the { vote of the people, and was therefore onlv l performing my solemn duty as governor of the territory, to whose people my first bligations were due 1 endeavored to secure to them these results. The idea entertained bv some that should see the federal constitution and l the Kansas Nebraska bill overthrown and dis regarded, ard that by playing the part of a mute in pantomime of ruin, should acauiesce 1 by my silence in such result, especially where such acluiescence involved, as an imme- dlate conselueuce, a disastrous and sanguinary civil war, seems to me most preposterous
 Not drop of blood has been shed by the federal troops in Kansas, during my admins tration but nsurections throughout the conn., try were alone prevented by the course pursued I by me on those occasions and the whole peo- | pie, abandoning revolutionary violence. were induced by me to 90, for the first time, into a general and peaceful election. These impor- | tant results constitute a sufficient consolation 1 for all the unjust assaults made upon me on this subject. l do not understand that these assaults have ever received the slightest conn. tenance from the President On the contrary his message clearly ind cateS an approval of my course up to the present most unfortunate diff ference about the so-caned Lecomptor consti- tuition. lnaSmuch, however, as this difference Is upon vital question: involving practical re- solts and new instructions, It Is certainly more respectful to the President on my part to resign the olhce ot Governor, and give him an oppor. tunity of filling it is right under the consti tutlon with one who concurs rather than 90 tc Kansas and force him to remove me by disoba dlenee to his instructions. In my judgment i would be incompatible with proper respect 10 the Chef Magistrate of the Union, incopsis tent with the rules of moral rectitude or pro pnety, and could be adopted with no advan tase to the rights of the people,
 ROBT J. WALKER
 PRIZES AWARDED
 II DOLBEAR'S COMM ERCIAT COLT EC F