Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-31

could it be said these counties acquiesced for
wherever they truly endeavored, by bsequent IL
census or registry OF their own, to supply this d.
defect. occasioned by previous neglect Of the o.
Territorial officers, the delegation thus chosen 2
were rejected by the Convention | repeat that :,
10 nineteen counties out OF. thirty-four thfre =
was no census. In fifteen counties out of thirty
four there was no registry and not u SO itay v
vote was given or could be given for delegates p
to the Convention in any Of these cases Surely D
then, it cannot be said that snch Convention n
chosen by scarcely more than one-tenth of the p
present ynters Of Kansas, represented the peo-
pa OF that Territory, and could rightly impose !
a Constitution upon them without their con-
sent.
These nineteen counties, Of which there was /
no census, constituted majority of the eonn- 1
ties OF the Territory and these fifteen counties,
in which there was no registry. gave much
larger vote at the October election, even with
the six months qualification, than the whole
vote given to the Lecompton Convention on the
18th of November last. If the sovereignty
can be delegated, and conventions, as such, are
sovereign, which deny, surely, it must be on
ly in such cases as wien such conventions are
chosen by the people, which we have seen was
not the case US regards the late Lecompton Con-
ventiOn.
1t was for this, and other reasons, that, in
my inaugural and other addresses, insisted
that the Constitution should be submitted to
the people by Convention, as the only means Of
curing this vital defect in its organization. 1t
kSas, therefore, ahong other reasons, that when
us you know, the organization called the Tope
ka State Government was made, and as Il conse
quence an inevitable civii war and conflict must
nave ensued, these results were prevented by
my assuring not . the abo itionsls - as has
been enormously stated for my address was
not to them, but to the people of Kansas that,
in my judgement the Constitution would be
submitted fairly and freely for ratification or
rejection by their vote: and that, if this was
not done, would unite with them lthe peo-
tple) as now do, in lawful opposition to such
procedure.
|. stated as fact, based on a long and init
mate association with the people of Kansas,
that an overwhelming majority Of that people
are opposed to that instrument, and my letters
state that but one out of the twenty Of the
press of Kansas sustain it.
Some oppose it because so many counties are
dlsfranchlsed and unrepresented in flat Con-
venton.
Some who are opposed to paper money, be-
cause it authorizes hank of enormous capital
for Kansas, nearly unlimited in its uses, and in
the denomination eli its notes, from one dollar
up and down. some because f what they con-
slider Know-Nothing clause, by requiring that
the Governor shall have been twenty years
citizen Of tho United Utates
Some because the elective franchise isno.
rec, as they cannot vote against the Consttu.
ion, but only on the single issue whether an
more Slave States may be formed, and then mp
on that issue by voting for the Constitution to
which they are opposed ard they regard this as
mockery OF the elective franchise, and a per-
llous sporting with the sacred rights of the
people.
Some oppose it because the Constitution dis
tinctly recognizes and adopts the Oxford fraud
In appointing Legislative members for johnson
County upon the fraudulent and fictitious re.
turnsso falsely called from that precinct, which
recognition OF that fraud in the Constitution
isapparent to the moral sense Of the people.
Others oppose it because although in Other
: cases the Presidents OF Conventions have beer
authorized to issue wris of election to the reg
ular Territorial or State officers, with the usua
judges, and with the established Precincts. apC
on the adjudication of the returns, in this cas-,
unprecedented, and vice regal powers are giver
TO the President of the Convention to make tn,
Preclncts-the Judges-and to decide fnall,
upon the returns
From the grant OF these unusual and enor
nous powers, and from other reasons connected
with the returns of Oxford and MCGEE, an ever
whemlng majority of the people of Kansas
have no ialth in the validity of these returns
and therefore will not vote.
I,lo
. indeed, disguise it as we may TO ourselve
t under the influence of the present excitement
me 1acts VIII demonstrate that any attempt b
Congress to force this constitution upon tn
people oil Kansas, will be an effort to substtut
: the Will oil small minority for that of an over
: whelmlng majority of the people of Kansas.
That II will not settle the Kansas question
or tranqulize the public mnd-that it will !,
> iear' be atlended by civil Understanding, Del
maps throughout the Union, thus bringing tn
question back again upon Congress, and tn
people In Its most dangerous light, and alarm
ing aspect.
The President takes different view of tn
, SUBJECT IN his message, and from the events OF
curing In Kansas, as well as here, it is eyidep
that the question is passing from threats int
t practice, and that, as Governor of Kansas
, should be compelled to carry out new instrut
tlons' differing ON vital question from thos
8 received at the date Of my appointment.
Such instructions could not execute consi,
s tently with my views of the Federal Coustit,
ton and Of the Kansas and Nebraska bill. a
with my pledges to the people of Kansas. Ur
DER these circumstances, no alternative is lei
but to resign the office of Governor of the Teri
tory Of Kansas
No one can more deeply regret than myse
} this necessity, but il arises from no hange {
t opinion on my part. On the contrary, sboul
: most cheertully have returned to Kansas TO ca,
/, ry out my original instructions, and thus mr.,
t serve the peace of the Territory, and final
. settle tho Kansas question by redeemng M
pledges to the people. 1t is not my intentio
= at tins time to discuss the peculiar circumstar
t ces and unexpected events which have mod life
e the opinions OF the President upon IL point so Y
Q tai as the submission of the Constitution f
), ratification or rejection by the vote of the PEI
f. pie. ~
q Much less do desire any controversy wit
| the President or this subject; yet, howeye
= widely my views may differ from those ente
tanned by him on this question-vews which
have held all my life, and which, as ingolyin
r fundamental principles Of public liberty an
: OF the constitution, are interchangeable vet q
regards those great measures which trust wi
: constitute the policy of his administration i
$ other respects, it will give me pleasure as
e private citizen to yield my cordial support
= And now be pleased to express to the Pre-.
Q ldent my deep regret as regards our untortunat
e difference or opinion IN relation to the Lecom,
: ton Constitution, and to say to hun that as il
g liability does not belong to man, however e,
p Iult ODD IL, iptal -
e ton, yet II he has committed any errors
e this respect may they be overruled oy supel
r intending Providence Tor the prosperity OF GU
= Union, and the advancement of the honor an
interest Of our beloved country
t In now dissolying my tIiciaI connection wit
. your Department, beg leave TO tender to 70