The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-06-04
Gov. Walkers Inaugural Address.

Tile leading points Of the inaugural address of
Gov Walker, on assuming the administration of
fair. In Kansas, have already been given to our
readers and preclude the necessity of publishing
in sxtenso this vo'umirous document. The local
laws are to be enforced and the State Convention
to be elected this month is to be held good and
valid convention, representing the people of the
territory. The free State party, who have main
tanned the hold-aloof policy, may learn wisdom
from the counsel of Gov Walker upon this point
especially that admirable sentence in which he
declares that throughout our whole Union how
ever and wherever free government prevails
those who abstain from the exercise of the right
of suffrage authorize those who dc vote to act for
them in that contingency. and are as much bound
under the law and constitution as we'll ga by an
overriding moral necessity. by the act of the ma
joriy of those who do vote, as though all had par.
ticipated in the election" The Governor also
thinks the Convention should by all means submit
their State constitution to the people of Kansas,
for ratification before submitting it to Congress
Governor Walker suggests that "the Constitu-
tion of a State, as has been the case with many,
may be silent on the subject of slavery in which
case in the absence of any prohibition of thu Lee
gslative power of State, granted in one geners
comprehensive clause, the Legislature of the State
elected by the people, might act on the question of
slavery IS they have done IN other States, and S.
pscaliy by prohibiting the introduction of slaves
If the Convention In framing the constitution of
Kansas, should think proper to pursue this course,
their legal and constitutional power to do so-wi'h
the sanction of the ratification of the people of
their act-would be beyond all controversy l
must not be regarded as advising for or against
this course, but intend to treat the people of Kan.
sas with perfect candor in all my acts 1t is DIRE
alike to them and to myself to declare in advance
what, in my judgment, would be the effect of such
. proceeding
Governor Walker, in conclusion, declares bis
firm determination to upheld the laws and ex.
presses his opinion that the destiny of the Union
Ia In the hands of the people of Kansas, and ap-
peals eloquently to them to stand by the Union
He says:
laws lhould be forcbly ressted, if attempt should
bs made to defy the authority OF Congress, acting
lature, mono Of which IL sntiei pated must do my
duty in seeing that the laws are faithfully executed
apd leave the consequences to higher power. be.
we that the destiny of the Union in the hands of
the people of Kansas. If they should prove incom-
petent to the settlement of the slavery question,
nothing in the future but disaster and civil
dawnipg anon her, zee nothing but blood and DESC
lation see the ames of civil war extending beyond
her limits into other States; behold the pillars OF
the constitution lettering upon their foundations and
thu most glorious fabric of human liberty which Pro-
violence vonchsafed to man, tumble into anarchy
and ruin. o. If the people of Kansas would lift
themselves to the elevation OF the lofty destiny
which with peace and union, 10 in store for them and
for the country-if They would look 10 the mighty
progress aud future expansion Of this great republic
if they would behold thu period when our country
shall contain more than hundred millions of free
msn-when our model power shall become pre-emi
nent and other nations, profttng by our example
shall introduce til ere sl.o Institutions she will turf
with sorrow and ndig nation from the effort made
to her instrument for the destruction of the
American Union.