Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-12-24

no alternative is left me but to
resign the office of Governor of the Territory of
Kansas.
No one can more deeply regret than myself
this necessity but it arises from no change of
opinion on my part. On the contrary, should
most cheerfully have returned to Kansas to car
~ out my original instructions, and thus pre-
serve the peace Of the Territory, and finally set
tie the Kansas question by redeeming my
pledges to the people. 1t is not my intention
to discuss, at this tme the peculiar circumstances
and unexpected events which have modified the
opinions of the President upon point so vital
as the submission of the constitution for. ratif-
cation or rejection by the vote of the people
much less do 1 desire any controversy with the
President on this subject; yet, however widely
my views may differ from those entertained by
him on this question-views which I have held
all my life, which, as involving fundamental
principles of public liberty and of the constitu
ton, are unchangeable-yet, as regards all those
great democratic measures which, trust will
constitute the policy of his administration in
other respects, it will give me pleasure, as pri
vate citizen to yield my cordial support.
I have sal / that the slavery question as prac-
teal issue had disappeared from Kansas long
before my arrival there, and the question of self
government had been submitted in it's place
On some future occasion shall dissRate The de-
and show that after three ysars experiment, when
| arrived in Kansas, there were less than three
hundred slaves there, and the number constant
~ diminishing !; that, as proved by the official
records OF Congress, published and authenticat-
led by those distinguished southern statesmen,
John g. Calhoun and Jefferson Davis, the win
ter climate, even of Eastern Kansas, is colder
than that of New England, and that the pro-
slavery territorial convention of Kansas consol-
ldae with the proslavery legislature, on the 4th
OF January, 1857, nearly five months before nv
arrival there, did distinctly abandon the slavery
issue, because as set forth by one of their num-
Der, sSthe pro-slavery party was in small and
admitted minority" 'and the corporation of
the free State Democrats was invited as the only
hope OF success, not to make Kansas slave State
which was conceded to be impossible, but to
make it a conservative democratic free State"
Even as late as the Sd of July, 1857, when
the Democratic convention assembled at Lecomp-
ton, in consequence of the laws of climate and
the will of the people, none contended that sla-
very could be established there. Nor was it
until my southern opponents interfered in the
affairs of Kansas and by deH1mciation, menace
and otherwise, aided at critical period, by sew
raj federal office holders of Kansas, Including
the surveyor general, the president of the con-
ventfon,) with his immense patronage, embrac-
ing many hundred employees, interviewed, and
as believe, without the knowledge or approba-
ton of the President of the United States, pro-
duced the extraordinary paper called the Le-
compton constitution. Yet this act of interven-
ton by federal officers to defeat the will of the
people seems to be sustained by my opponents;
whilst my Intervention, as it is called, in obed-
ence to my duty and oath of office to support
the federal constitution and to take care that
our organic law should be fairly executed, by
endeavoring to secure to the people of Kansas
their rights under. that act, is denounced and
illuminated.
iG still more extraordinary that the hypo-
marks made by me as regards climate
Ohnection with its influence upon the
question Of slavery in Kansas after that issue
had been abandoned there-which views were
consolidating the union between conservative
free State and pro-slavery Democrats, so as to
prevent the confscation of the small number of
slaves then held in Kansas-have been denounc-
ed by many distinguished southern Senators,
who, when the Kansas Nebraska bill was pend
ing in Crongress, and when such remarks from
them, if ever, might affect southern emigration,
We're then loudcst in proclaiming that, because
of its climate; Kansas could never become a
slave State. Indeed it seems that all persons in
or out of Kansas, whether in public or in pri-
vate life, may publish what opinions they please
in regard to these questions, except the Govern
or Of that Territory, who has so little power and
no patronage.
And now be pleased to express to the Presi-
dent my deep regret regards our unfortunate
difference of opinion in relation to the Lecomp-
ton constitution, and say to him, that as nfalii-
biity does not belong to man, however exalted
IN intellect purity Of intention, or position, yet
if he has committed any errors in this respect,
may they be over-ruled by experimenting
Providence for the perpetuation of our Union,
and the advancement Of the honor and interest
of our beloved country. "a. -
In now dissolving my official connection with
your department, I beg leave to tender to yon
my thanks for your constant courtesy and kind
ness. Most respectfully, your obedient servant
R. j. WALKER.
To Hon. LEWIS CAss, Secretary of State.