The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-03-25

Farewell Address of Gov. Geary O.
Kansas

i Ill IL - L
Farewell Address of Gov. Geary of
Kansas.
The farewell address of Gov. Geary,
of Kansas, has reached Us in the ST.
Louis Republican. 1t is not such doc
ument as was reported by telegraph from
st. Louis on the authority of the Demo-
crat at that place, which turns out to be
pure fiction. We extract the more ma
terial passages from this sensible address.
The Governor says:
In parting with you I can do no less
than give you few words of kindly ad-
vice, and even of friendly warning. You
are well aware that most of the troubles
which lately agitated the Territory were
eccasioned by men who had no especial
interest in its welfare. Many of them
were not even residents; while it is quite
evident that others were influenced alto
gether in the part they took in the dis
turbances by mercenary or other personal
considerations. The great body of the
actual citizens are conservative, law-abid
ing and peace-loving men, disposed rather
to make sacrifices for conciliation and con-
sequent peace, than to insist for their en-
tire rights should the general good there
by be caused to suffer. Some of them,
under the influence of the prevailing ex-
citement and misguided opinions, were
led to the commission of grievous mis-
takes, but not with the deliberate inten-
tion of doing wrong.
A very few men, resolved upon mis-
chief, may keep in state of unhealthy
excitement and involve in fearful strife
an entire community. This was demon
strated during the civil commotions with
which the Territory was convulsed. While
the people generally were anxious to pur-
sue their peaceful callings, small combi-
nations of crafty, scheming, and design
ing men succeeded, from purely selfish
motives, in bringing upon them series of
most lamentable and destructive Difficult
ties. Nor are they satisfied with the mis-
chief already done. They never desired
that the present peace should be effected;
nor do they intend that it shall continue
if they have the power to prevent it.
In the constant croakings of disafect-
ed individuals in various sections, you
hear only the expressions of evil desires
and intentions. Watch, then, with a
special, jealous and suspicious eye those
who are continually indulging surmises of
renewed hostilities. They are not the
friends of Kansas, and there is reason to
fear that some of them are not only the
enemies of this Territory but of the Union
ITSELF Its dissolution is their ardent wish,
and Kansas has been selected as q fit place
to commence the accomplishment of a
most nefarious design. The scheme has
thus far been frustrated; but it has not
been abandoned. You are intrusted, not
only with the guardianship of this Terri
tory, but the peace of the Union, which
depends upon you in greater degree than
you may at present suppose. *
When I look upon the present condi-
tion of the Territory, and contrast it with
what it was when I first entered it, 1 feel
satisfied that my administration has not
been prejudicial to its interests. On every
hand, now perceive unmistakable indi-
cations of welfare and prosperity. The
honest settler occupies his quiet dwelling,
with his wife and children clustering around
him, unmolested and fearless of danger.
The solitary traveller pursues his way un-
harmed, over every public thoroughfare.
The torch of the incendiary has been ex-
tinguished, and the cabins by which ii
was destroyed have been replaced with
more substantial buildings. Hordes OF
banditti no longer lie in wait in every ra-
vine for plunder and assassination. In
vasions of hostile armies have ceased, and
infuriated partisans, living in our midst,
have emphatically turned their swords
into plow-shares and their spears into
pruning hooks. Laborers are everywhere
at work-farms are undergoing rapid i'm
provements.
Whether this healthy and happy change
is the result solely of my executive labors
or not, it certainly has occurred during
my administration. Upon nyourselves must
mainly depend the preservation and per-
petuity of the present prosperous condi-
tion of affairs. Guard it with unceasing
vigilance, and protect it as you would
your lives. Keep down that party spirit,
which, if permitted to obtain the mastery
must lead to desolation. Watch closely,
and condemn in its infancy every insid-
ious movement that can possibly tend to
discord and disunion. Suffer no local
prejudices to disturb the prevailing har.
mony. To every appeal to these turn q
deaf ear, as did the Savior of men to the
promptings of the deceiver. Act as q
united band of brothers, bound together
by one common tie. Your interests are
the same, and by this course alone can
they be maintained. Follow this, and
your hearts and homes will be made light
and happy by the richest blessings of g
kind and munifcent Providence.