Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-12-31
Lettsr to Hon. E. ] Walker.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington Dee. Is 1857.
SIR.-On "Wednesday last 1 received your com
n,unication of the 18th instant rendering your
aignation as Governor of Kapsas. This resigua-
ion is accompanied by a long argument on the
IF tirs of the Territory TO which, you are we'll
aware, It would he improper for the D sparmeDt to
reply IF every officer of the Government who
feels hin self constrained to refuse obedience to the
instructions of the President of the United States
SHOULD pursue this unusual course, and thus place
on the files Of the appropriate Department crit
cism on the policy of the Administration, per-
son knows better than yourself to what conse-
uuerces this might lead, he Department must
either cause charges and arguments against the
Presi lent to be filed among the public archives of
the country without contradiction or repiy or il
must spend the time which ought to he devoted to
the public service IN controversies With subordinate
officers who may dis9ppTove the Presidents policy.
Whilst duty, therefore, forbids me to enter into
controversial discussion with you on the various
topics embraced by your agument it Is proper that
| should M Ike a rem TX upon a sin ge point.
You state that the President has changed his
policy in regard to Kansas And why this aIega-
ton j.? Simply because the Convention of Kansas
having in the exercise of the right belonging to
them d, cided that they would not submit the whole
Constitution to the people, although they have
submitted the a-mpOrtant and dangerous question
of slavery, which threatened to convulse the
Union and alone prominent in thu minds
Of the people throughout every State, h. had
not treated the SUBMISSION OF this momentOuS
question mere nuHty.
Under these circumstances it was his impera~
tive duty and this in strict conformity with preyi
Gus Instructions to take care that fair election
should be held this vital question, and thus give
peace to the Union Had he acted in any other
manner merely because he preferred the submits
sion of the constitution generally to the people,
his responsibility would have been of the gravest
character lie never entertained expressed
the opinion that the Convention bound 10
submit any portion of the constitution to the peO
pie, except the question of slavery, much less
that the other portions Of the constitution would
be invalid without such a submission. Had he en-
tertained such an opinion this would have been in
opposition to the mum rOus precedents which have
occurred since the adoption of the Federal Con
stitution by the different States. The question Of
slavery was the aIl-absorbing question, and you
were sent to Kansas with the full confidence Of
the President to carry out the principles of die
KansassN ebraska act. With the question wheth-
er Kansas was to be a free a slave State you
were not to interfere. You were to secure TO
the people of Kansas free and fair election to
decide this question for themselves. The Presi
dent was therefore hlppy to learn from your des
patch TO this Department Of the 18th of July last
that in all your speeches you had relraine from
expressing any opinion to whether KIN as
should BE- a slave free State.
I am instructed to inform you that YOUR rcsg-
nation Of the Office OF Governor OF Kansas has
been accepted.
/ am, sir, your obedeut servant
LEWIS CASS.
Hon. ROBERT J. WALKER, Washington.