Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-03-25
FAREWELL ADDRESS
GOTERT0R GglRY

Go ERf0R GBhRE.
70 THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS TERRITORY.
Having determined to resign the Ezocu-
tive Office. and retire again to the quiet scenes
Of private Ifs aud tie enjoyment Of those
domestic comforts Of which I LaYe so long
been deprived, / deem i proper to address
you on this occasion of ny departure
The Office from which { nov voluntarily
Withdraw. was uusougLt By ne, and st the
time Of It's acceptance. vas by 10 ue8ns de-
slrablc. This was quite evident, from the
| deplorable moral civil, aud political condi-
ton Of the Territory--the discord, conten-
ton, and deadly strife which then aud there
prevaied-and the painful anxiety with which
! it was regarded b. patriotic citizens in every
portion Of the American Union TO attempt
to govern Kansas Al Zach q period and iQder
such circumstances, was 10 assume no ordina-
~ responsibilities Fcy meu could have de-
sired 10 undertake the task, and none would
| have been SO prescriptions, without serious
forebodiDgs as 10 the resul5 That I should
have hcsitated is 10 matter Of azto1ishnlent
10 these acquainted with the facts; bus that
accepted the apPo;sta4eut, was a well-erouad-
ed source Of regret to many of MY well tried
friends, who looked upon:the enterprise IS one
| that could terminate in nothing lat disaster
to myself. Il was not supposed possible that
order could be be brought. in any reasonable
space Of time, and wish tie nelI.s then at
NY command, fren he tEcn existing chaos.
Without tlescauting upon the feelings. pril-
ciples and nletives which prompted ne, suf
/ fee it to sag chat ! accepted the Picsident's
tender Of the eficc of Governor. Ia doing
so, [ sacrifeed the comforts Ct home. IN
. deared by the strongest earthly ties and most
sacred associations. 20 .cmbark in an uaderta a
king which presented at the best tut dark
and unsatisfactory prospect. I re,.cbed an
sas. md entered upon The Cisc large Of NY
official duties IN the most gloomy hcu- Of her
! history. Dissolution and rlia regued ca ev-
cry hard. Homes aod Grts:des were desert
ed. The s;noke Of burning dwellings dark
enca the atmosphere. Women and children
driven from thei- haJitati52s, wandered over
the pCa.rics and among the woodlands, CT
sought efagc aud rotsc.ion eFen among the
Indian tF:bcs. The highways were infested
with rumc ols predatory bands. ana tue
towns were fortified aua garlisoned by armies
Of conflicting partizans, each excited almost
TO phrenzy, an determined upon mutual cz-
Termination. Snch vas, Without ezogaera-
ton. the condition of the Territory, &. the
period CT my arrival Her treasury was
bankrupt. There wcreGo pecuniary resources
within herself 10 meet the exigencics CT the
time The Congressional q appropriations. in
tended to deiFay the expenses Of Il year, were
insufficient to meet the demands of a fort
night. The laws w,rc nul, the courts virtu-
ally suspended, ana the civil arm Of the
Government almost entirely powerless Ac-
tion-pronI decisive, energetic action
was necessary. l At once saw what vas
needed, and witbou. hcsitation gate myself to
the work For six months [ have laborcd
with uueeasing Industry The accustomed
and needed hours for sleep have been eG,plov-
Cd in the public service Night and day
have oficial duties demanded unremittinp at
tsntior. have had TO proper leisure mo-
Inents for rest or recreation Aiy health hss
failed under the pressure. Nor is this al ;
to my own private parse, without assurance
OF reimbursement, have I resortcd, in every
emergency, for the required funds. Wheth-
eF these arduous services and willing sacrif-
ces have been beneficial to Kansas aud INV
country, you are abundantly qualified TO
determine.
That have met with opposition, and even
bitter vi;uperation, and vindictive malice. is
no matter for astonishmert Ne man has
ever Jet held su important or responsible
post in our own or any other country and
and foolish indeed, had | expected to pass
through the fiery ideal entirely unscathed
especially as was required, if not to come in
conflict with, at least to thwart evil maehina-
tions. and hold ia restraint wicked passions,
or rid the Territory of many lawless, reckless
ard desperate men. Beside. it were impos-
sible TO come in contact with the conflicting
interests which governed the conduct of many
well-disposed persons, without becoming al
/ object of mistrust and abuse. While from
others, whose sole object was notoriously per-
sonal advancement at any sacrifice of the
/ general good and at every hazard. it would
have been ridiculous to anticipate the NEED
of praise for d;sinterested action And hence
however palpable might have been my patri
otism, however just my official conduct. OIL
however beneficial its results. 7 do not marve
that my motives have been impugnod and m,
integrity naligned. 1t is. however, so vel
known, that l need scarcely record the fact
that those who have attributed my labors to
desire for gubernatorial or senato. ial honors
were and arc themselves the aspirants 70