Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-19


prople in its most dangerous and alarming aspect.
The PRESIDENT takes a different view of the sub
leet in his message, and from the events occurring
in kanzas, as well as here, it is evident that the
question passing from theories into practice and
that as governor of Kanzas, l should be compelled
to carry out new instructions differing on a vital
question from those received at the date of my ap-
poIntment. Such instructions could not execute
consistently with my views of the constitution,
and of the kanzas and Nebraska bill, or with my
pledges to the people of Kanzas
Under these circumstances no alternative is left
but to resign the Office of governor of the territory
| of Kanzas
No one can more deeply regret than myself this
necessity, but 1t arises from change of opinion
on my part. On the contrary l should most cheer
fully have returned to Kanzas to. carry out my or
iginal Instructions and thus preserve the peace of
the territory and finally settle the Kanzas cues :
tiOn by redeeming my pledges to the people,
tbs not my intention at this time to discnss the
peculiar circumstances, and unexpected events
which have modified the opinions of the President
upon point vital as the submission of the con-
sttution for ratification or rejection by the vote
of the people. Much less do desire any con-
troversy with the President on the subject vet
however widely my views may differ from those
entertained by him on this transformations which
have held all my life, and which, as involving
fundamental principles of public liberty and Of
these great measures which trust will constitute
the policy of the administration in other repects
1t will give me pleasure q private citizen to
yield my cordial suppoot [ have said that the
slavery question. as practical issue, had disap-
peared from hanzas, and the question of self
government had been substituted in its place.
On some future occasion | shall OBSTINATE that
delusion which has prevailed upor this subject.
and show that after three years experiment, when
I arrived in Kanzas. there Wus less than three
hundred slaves there, and the number constantly
diminishing, proved by the official records
of Congress published and authenticated by those
distinguished southern statesmen, John G. Calhoun
and jefferson Davis. The winter climate of even
Eastern hanzas is colder than that of New
England, and that the proslavery territorial con-
vention of Kanzas, consolidated with the pro-
slavery territorial legislature on the 4th Of Jam
uary, 1857, nearly five months before nv arriy al
there, did abandon the slavery issue, because, vs
set forth by one of their number, the pro-slaYery
party was IN small and admitted majority, and CO.
operation of the free state democrats was invited
and the only hope eff success not to make Kanzas
a slave state which was conceded to be impossible
but to make it q conservative democratic free
state.
Even as late as the Sd of July, 1857, when the
Democratic Territorial Convention assembled at
Lecompton, in consequence of the laws of the eli
mate and the we'll known will of the people, none
SuAGclucO SldN6Iy Guulu NC GuSTS,
nor was it until my Southern opponents interfered
in the affairs of Kanzas, and by denuncation,
menace, and otherwise, aided at critical period
by several federal Office holders of Kanzas, in
GLIDING the Surveyor General and the President of
the Convention, with his immense patronage, en-
bracing many hundred employees, interviewed, and
as believe, without the knowledge or appreciation
of the President of the United States produced
the extraordinary paper called the Lecompton
Constitution.
Yet this act of intervention by the federal off
GERS to defeat the will of the people, seems to be
sustained by my opponents, whilst my interview
ton, as it is called in obedience 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 endeavorng to protect the peo-
pie of Kanzas in their rights under that act, is
denounced and illuminated.
1t is still more remarkable that the hypothetical
remarks made by me as regards climate, in its
connection with Its influence upon the question of
slavery after that issue had been abandoned there
which views were fer consolidated union of the
sentative free State and proslavery Democrats, so
as to prevent the confscaton of the small number
of slaves then held in Kanzas, have been denounc-
ed by many distinguished senators, who, when the
Kanzas and Nebraska bill was pending in Con-
gress and when such remark, if ever, might affect
Southern emigration, were then loudest in pro-
claiming that, because of its climate, Kanzas
could never become slave State.
Indeed, it seems that all persons, in and out Of
Kanzas, whether in public private life, may
publish what opinion they please, in regard to
these questions, except the governor Of that ter
ritory, who has SO little of power and patronage.
And now be pleased to express to the President
my deep regret as regards unfortunate differ
ence OF opinion in relation to the Lecompton con-
sttution, and to say to him that, infallibility
does not belong to man, however exalted in intel
lect purity, intention position, yet ifhe has
committed any errors in this respect, may they be
oyer-ruled by experimenting Providence for the
prosperity of our Union, and the advancement of
the honor and interest CT our beloved country.
In now dissolving my connection with your de-
partment, | beg leave to tender you my thanks for
your constant courtesy and kindness.
Most respectfully your obedient servant,
Signed, r. ]. WALKER.