Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-12-31
TIE vote of the people for ratification or re-


lection.
Ny inaugural and other addresses we're,
therefore, really IN the nature of proclama-
tions,, $50 often issued By Presidents and
Governors with view to prevent, as
they did III this case, civil war and insur-
rection.
Now By my oath of office, | Twas sworn
TO support the Constitution Of the United
States, which have shown in my judg-
men, required the submission of the Con-
etitulion to the voice of the people. was
sworn also to "take care" that tho Kansas
and Nebraska bill "should be faithfully ex-
ecuied," which bill, in my Judgment, as
heretofore stated, required that the Consti-
tuition should be submitted to the vote Of
tho people, and was therefore only SOL
emu duty, when, rs the Governor Of the
Territory, TO whose people my first
obligations were due, endeavored to Sc
cure to them these results. The idea en-
tertainsd by SINE that l should see the
Federal Constitution and the Kansas Ne
6rassa bill oyo:,hrown and disregarded,
and that. playing the part of mute in
pantomime of ruin, should acquiesce by
mr. silence in such result, especially
where such acquiesccnce involved, as an
Immediate consequence, disastrous and
sanguinary civil war, seems TO me TO be
most prepos.erous. Not drop of blood
has been shed oy the Federal troops in
Kansas during M administration. But
Instruction and civil war, extending, /
fear, throughout the coun.ry. were alone
prevented by the course pursued by me Oh
those occasions, and the whole people,
abandoning revolutionary violence, were
induced by ME to go. for the first time H.
10 q general and peaceful election.
These important results constitute snf-
fcient consolation for all tho unjust as
saults made upon me on this subject.
10 not understand that these assaults have
ever received the slightest countenance
from the President; on the contrary, his
message clearly indicates an approval Of
my course, UP to the presen. most unfortu-
na.e difference aboutthe so-called Lecomp-
ton Constitution. Inasmuch, however, as
dis difference IS upon vital question, Ia
volving practical results aud newsn.
s,ructions, il is certainly much more re-
spec,ful 10 the President on my par. TO re
sisn the Office Of Governor, and give him
an opportunity OF filing it as Is his right
under the Constitution, with one who con.
curs with him in his present opinions.
rather than 90 to Kansas and force him to
remove me by disobcdience TO his ins.ruc-
lions. This lasier course, in my judgment
would be incompatible with proper respect
tor the Chief Magistrate of the Union, in
consistent with the rsles Of moral recii.ude
and proprie,y. and could be adopted with
no other view than to force the President
20 remove p,e from Office. Such course
il is alleged, would present me to the pub
lie as q political martyr in defence of the
great principle Of selfgovernmeni; bu. to
60 TO Kansas with any such purpose, or
with a certain knowledge that such result
mus. follow, would be alike unjust and i'm
proper. BY only alternative, then, is thai
of respectful resignation, in the hope that
Kansss and our beloved country may be
shielded from that civil war with which
fear both are threatened, by any attempt to
free the so-called Lecomptoa Constitution
upon tie people of Kansas.
state it as fact, based Oh 4 long and
intimate association with the people of Kan
sag. that an overwhelming majority of that
people are opposed TO the instrument, and
my letters state that but one out Of twenty
of the press of Kansas supports il. Some
oppose it because 50 many counties were
disfranchised and unrepresented in the con-
venlion. Some, who are opposed to paper
money, becausc i, authorizes bank OF
enormous capital for Kansas, nearly unlim
tied in is issues, and in the dissemination
OF its notes, from one dollar up and down.
Some, because of what they considered a
Know Nothing clause, by requiring that
tho Governor sisalI have been twenty years
a citizen Of the United States. Some be
cause The elective franchise is not free, as
thew cannot vote against the Constitution,
but only the single Issue, whetiierany more
slaves may be imported, and then only up
on that issue by voting for the Constitution
to which they are opposed. They regard
this but as mockery of the elective fran.
chise, and a perilous sporting with the sa
cred rights of the people. Some suppose
because the Constitution distinctly recog
nizes and adopts the Oxford fraud in ap
Forthcoming legislative members for johnson
county upon the fraudulent and fctitiou:
returns, so falsely called, from that pre-
cinct, which recognition of that fraud il
the Constitution is abhorrent to the mora
sense of the people. Others oppose be-
= cause. although in other cases presidents o
Conventions have been authorized to issue
wri.s of election to the regular Territorial
or State officers with usual Judges. with the
established precincts and adjudication 0
returns, in this case unprecedented ant
vice-regal powers are given to the presl
dent of the convention TO make the pre-
cincts Judges and to decide finally upo'
The returns. From the grant of these unu
sual and enormous powers, and from othe
<a1,r,.aa1.tad vi, n tha fralduieut re-