Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-11-26
The Promise Redeemed,


Every promise made by the Democra-
tic party, in regard to Kansas, during
the Presidential canvass has been re-
deemed. We promise that the organic
act of the territory, in is true intent and
meaning, should be enforced, and it has
the people were allowed to vote I'M
molested by vagrant Missourians, or by
disciples of "sharpe's rifles from Now
England, and the result is a free State
not a SUPPLEMENTARY. We pro-
missed that the party of the ballot box
should be protected, and in obedience
to that promise Gov. Walker threw out
the fraudulent returns from Oxford pre-
cinct and M4eescounty. And in this
course, there can no longer be a shadow
of doubt that he will and is fully sus-
tained by the President and his cabinet.
We agree with the Detroit Free Press
that if there was room for the least
doubt as to the law in the matter, it was
upon a slight technical point; and sure
-ly, in the face of so bold aud fagitious
attempts at fraud as those thrust upon
Governor Walker, it was scarcely a time
to look very closely at the mere techni-
c~alities of the law applicable to them
1t was, rather, a time for prompt action,
within the laws, to be sure, which should
protect the rights of the people of Kan.
sas at every stage Of the election pro
eeeding. If Governor Walker could
not have found law for the rejection Of
these fabricated returns, we do not hes
itate to say that rather than become the
passive instrument of giving them the
effect of genuine papers, be would have
owed it to his self respect, and to his
good name aud fame, to throw up the
office of Governor of Kansas and leave
the territory. His mission would in
deed, have been a failure had he been sc
powerlessywhen this fragrant cheat was
attempted that he could not arrest it
It would have been worse than a failure
had be sat still, having power to arrest
the cheat, aud permitted it to be ,eonsu
mated: For, had it been consummated
We aplpprehenfd it would have Precipita.
ted difficulties. and disorders IN Kansa:
vastly moro serious than those which sht
had succeeded lin adjusting His mis-,
sion it odghtlfoZBe r%ecolleeted in all
quarters, official and mon official, wa:
not undertaken as an ordinary one
He went out; not as almere governor o;
"a Territory-for he wouldddisdain sucl
an ofice-but more in the character o
an envoy, with the most extensive pow
ers under the law, charged with a dut.
that could not safely be trusted, ant
which the Presidents dare not trust, t.
any but first class statesmanship-th
duty Of, pacifcating Kansas, rent will
civil war, and conducting her into tn
| Union in1stfict conformitywith the pro
visions Of her organic law. With thi
fact in. view, how absprd,tthee impression
by whomsoeyer entertained, that h
ought to have sunk the very power
only by the exercise of which he icoul
fulfill his great duty, and lent himsel
as a mere instrument in the hands Q
the perpetrators of the most disgracefu
election frauds that ever disgraced an
State or Territory, designed 10 defea
the popular will, and which, had the
been successful, would have defeate
the popular will and rendered nugator
THAT clause of the Kansas law which ii
~surcs to the people of the Territory tn
right Of determining the character {
their own institutions.