The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-31
Gen. Cass's Letter to Gov. Walker

Washington, Dec. 23.-Mr. Secretary Cas-
has given the following reply to Gov Walkers
letter of resignation:
SIR: On Wednesday last received your
communication of the 18th inst, rendering your
resignation as Governor of Kansas. This resig
nation is accompanied by long argument on
the affairs of the Territory generally, to which
you are well aware, it would be impossible for
this Department to reply. If every officer OF
the Government who feels himself constrained
TO refuse obedience to the instructions of the
President shall pursue this unusual course, and
thus place on the files of the appropriate
Department criticism on the policy of the
Administration, no person knows better than
yourself to what consequences this might lead.
They must either cause the charges and argu.
ments against the President to be filed among
the public archives of the country, without con.
tradiction or reply, or it must spend the time
which ought to devoted to the public service in
controversies with subordinate officers who
may dsapprove of the Presidents policy.
Whilst duty therefore forbids me to enter in.
to a controversial discussion with you on the
various topics embraced in your argument, it
is proper that | should make a remark on a
single point. You state that the President has
changed his policy in regard to Kansas And
vention of Kansas have, in the exercise of the
rights belonging to them, decided that thew
would not submit the whole Constitution to the
people, although they had submitted the alim.
portant and dangerous question of Slavery.
which threatened to convulse the Union, and was
alone prominent In the minds of the people
throughout every State. he had not treated
the submission of this question as a mere multi
ty. Under these circumstances, it was his inn
perative duty, and this in strict conformity
with previous instructions, to take care that a
fair election be held on this vital question, and
thus give peace to the Union. Had he acted
in any other manner, merely because he pre-
terred the submission of the Constitution origi.
nally to the people, his responsibility would
have been OF the gravest character. He never
intended or expressed the opinion that the Con-
ventiou was bound to submit any portion of the
Constitution to the people except the question
OF Slavery, much less that that portion would
be invalid without such submission. Had he
entertained such an opinion, this would have
been in opposition to the numerous precedents
which have occurred since the adoption of the
Federal Constitution by the different States.
The question of Slavery was the all.absorbing
question, and you were sent to Kansas with the
confidence of the President to carry out the
principles of the Kansas. Nebraska act. With
the question whether Kansas was to be free
or slave State, you was not to interfere. You
were to secure the people of Kansas free and
fair election, to decide the question for them.
selves. The President was therefore happy to
learn, from your dispatches to this Department,
July 18th, that in all your speeches You had
refrained from expressing any opinion as to
whether it would be slave or free State. I
am instructed to inform you that your resigna.
ton OF the office of Governor of Kansas has
been accepted.
am, sir, your obedient servant.
LEWIS CAss.
TO Robert J. Walker, Washington.