Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-10-02
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
by RITCHIE &; DUSNAvANr.
FRIDAY MORNING oCToREv !.

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FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER ?.
| GOVERNOR WALKEkS PROCLAMATION,
lnVe" oi the election of delegate to Congress.
members o. the territorial legislature and number of
"''ce'' LOT 'he counties, 10 take place IN Kansas on
hohuay hext uoVernOr Walker issued a proca,na
l"h on lhe l"h Ssp' in which he ss,s forth The laws
rsa''Ve In me qualifications Of voters and other mat
ers pertinent to the OCCASION. 1t il clear and candid
IN expression and moderate and determined in its
tone evidencng decided disposition to do HE duty
to the Administration to the country and 10 tbs peo
pie OF Kansas without regard to sectional sympathy
or parlizan tjudca
Alter expressing h,s regret al the incompsteness OF
the census and registry over which he has no control
he employs the following language with reference To
the submission OF the constitution 10 tbs people
The only remedy rests with the Convention ITSELF
by submitting if they deem BEST the constitution for
ratification or rejection ~ the rOte of the people, up
DER such just aud reasonable qualifications as they
may prescribe. That they would pursue this course
have never doubted. and although have no right
whatever to Interfere in that question, vet when my
lndlfldnal opinion was asked on this subject BY
members of the Convention and others, have al.
ways ncicated previous residence OF thrae or six
months prior 10 the vote upon the adoption of the
constitution, as most Just and reasonable a period of
three months being prescribed by tbs convention Law
ITSELF Hs the prior residence required ia voting for
delegates 10 the Convention, aud six months being
designated by tho Territorial election laws rs the
previous residence required in voting for members Of
the Territorial Legislature. Either of these qualtcn
lions, IN my opinion, would have embraced the great
body of he bona hde settlers who might be here this
fall, nasnuch as tbs Convention would probably not
terminate their abors and submit the constitution
until some time in November, aud inasmuch three
Or Blk months would probably be granted by them
al interval between the date ol submission and the
vote upon the constitution. | repeat, however, the
opinion always heretofore expressed by me-, that this
10 matter which belongs exclusively to the conven
ton, over which have no power, except, in the
language Of the karsas Nebraska act 20 'take care
that the laws bc faithfully executed including tha,
organic act itself, and left at liberty citizen 10
take such course a. in my judgment, would be
NOS consonant with the principles OF Justice, o The
Kansas and Nebraska bil aud OF the constitution of
the United States, in any contingency.
We cannot but hope that even our warke cotem.
poraries of the most excessively Southern portion Of
the prcss, will admit that there is nothing eIceptoua.
bic in such sentiments as those.
! Governer Walker has had delicate and difficult
task to execute. And he ID not yet lree from The EN-
barrassments that have surrounded him since his en-
trance into the territory After the gravest debera
tion he was selected, as possessing in an eminent de-
gree the tact and talent and fairness and discretion
cessary to aasuags the angry elements of civil strife
then raging, to bring peace and quiet to Kansas and
to enforce the Federal and Territorial laws, in their
separate spheres, by other means than those Of vio
lence and coercion He assigned post Of the
nost imminent peril 10 The whole political iield-de
tailed for duty, in the attempt Of which
he must make a miserable failure, or achieve
signal auccess and command the congratu!a-
tious Of his country and the paudis of posterity.
1t was like leading desperate assault. His prede.
osssors bad failed and fallen before him. They had
rsked their reputation a campaign in Kansas, and
had returned from the wars receive the notice Of
the nation only az they we're scoifed at aud de
nounced for a moment, before they passed into oh.
.ivoD.
Walker could derive no courage from the fate Of
others on the same mis.ion. Hut lie accepted The
perlous position And North and South, the conser.
valve OF the country congratulated themselves,
that the important work would be well done soon.-
At this stage OF The progress of events in Kansas It
may we'll be asked are the patriotic. loyal and law.
abiding people Of The Enitsd States, satisfied or not
with the aspect OF affairs! Does Gov. Walker in
his present position stanl censured and condemnrd
by the country, or 1t admitted that he expresses
the We've and represents The wishes OF the roneer
valve men Of both aect:onsl
Has he 90 far failed, or Is he successfully accoln.
plishing the tack he selected to perform The
Administration manifests it, satisfaction at the pre-
sent partial results oi his labora and eynoes its
tnued confidence by retaining him In Office. and fn
couraging him in the course he Is pursuing. And
whatever may have been the objections urged against
his Topeka speech as it was originally reported
there lie no Southern man, not included in The coll
racted circle of incorrgible dsunoniste, who would
now venture 10 provoke suspicious upon his sanity
By denying iha. the views expressed in the extract
| which we have quoted from his proclamation, are in
exac: accordance with the Kansas Nebraska act, the
Constitution and The interest and wishes Of the South
Whether the peace and quiet now eristng in il-
Territory of Kansas are to connuse,or to be disturb
ed at the ensuing elections, remains to he seen.
II to be hoped however, that there will he no me-
cessiiy for any employment Of the troore now sta'
toned there. Governor Walker ia evidently desi.
rous of preventing sny such scenes Of discord aud
| tumn aa have already rendered The name Of thst
territory familiar in connection with bloodahed and
lawlessnesa. He 10 Governor Of Kansas, not az the
parti1an Of the Sonh Of the North but clothed with
authority derived only from the Constitution nt The
United States II ia his nisaon 10 that its prov
sons arc not ranp!ed upon and that Justice is done
alike to all sections Of common country which be
represents. That such Is his own conviction The
opinons expressed in his proclamation assure us.
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