Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-12-24
The Four Governors of Kansas.


MIA, who had always been known as an un
wayerirg National Democrat, previous to
his departure for that Territory. The
events which transpired there were of such
character rs to induce him 10 protest
bitterly against the action of the inhabi
tants of the border counties of Missouri
We are not disposed TO reopen any of the
questions connected with the early history
of Kansas difficulties, nor to endorse the
position which Governor Reeder finally
assumed, for we battled against it with ali
our energies. We refer to him in this con
nection merely as a historical character.
He was succeeded by Wilson Shannon, o.
Ohio, whose career was not marked by any
important incident, and whose views OH tn.
Kansas question never attracted any con.
siderable degree of attention one way OIL
the other. His mission was, however, evi-
IDENTIFY an unsuccessful one.
With these failures before him, Gen.
Pierce selected John w. Geary, of this
State, to act as Governor. He exerted
himself very energetically, and to some ex.
tent successfully, in pacifying Kansas
But finally, he also returned, and notwith.
standing the auspices under which be hao
gone, he protested most bitterly against
the conduct of the ultra Southern party as
exceedingly unfair and unjust.
So this question stood when Mr.. Buchanan
was appointed President. That sagacious
statesman found the appointment of new
Governor Of Kansas, in view of the difficul.
ties by which it was surrounded, one Of
the most delicate and important duties de-
volving upon him. He brought TO its dis
charge the most careful and patriotic delib-
Grafton. The Kansas issue had been the
great feature of the presidential campaign
of 1856. The eyes of the whole nation
were turned upon that distant Territory
1t was pre-eminently proper that the gov.
eminent of it should be conided to able
hands. And certainly the President fully
acknowledged the importance of this con-
sideration. 1t might have been charged
that the former Governor had not sufficient
political experience. But no one could
urge that objection to Robert ]. Walker
He had been Senator of the United
States and Secretary of the Treasury. In
both capacities he had displayed abilities of
the very highest character, and he confess
edly ranked among the leading statesmen
of the Union. 1t might have been charged
against the other governors that they were
embued with Northern predjudices-that
their vision was distorted by their North
ern ideas and associations. But no such
objections could be made to Mr. Walker
He had been devoted as a friend, and as
firm a champion of the South, as she ever
had. He had been leading spirit in Sc
curing the nomination of James K. Polk,
and the annexation of Texas, by which an
immense scope of slave-holding Territory
was added TO the Union. He had given a
greater impetus TO the favorite free-trade
theories of the South than any man in the
country. And even SO late he had been
most urgent pressed upon Mr.. Buchanan
for the appointment of Secretary Of State,
by nearly all the ultra men of the South
He thus stood confessedly before the coun-
T! try as one who possessed their confidence
in an eminent degree. His Secretary Mr.
Stanton was also well known as devoted
friend of the South, and had for years ably
represented Tennessee in Congress.
Now, throwing entirely out of view the
opinions on Kansas formed by all the pre-
vious Governors-adopting without ques.
tion the the theory that they were incorrect
and biased-what are we to think of the
fact that both Gov. Walker and Secretary
Stanton most Indignantly protest the action
of the late Lecompton Convention as vi.
olation of all principles of justice and fair
dealing! If we cannot credit such witness
es, in whom can we confde? If we reject
their testimony, are we like those spoken
Of, who would not even believe one "though
he had risen from the dead?'
The whole transaction reminds us of the
Scrip,ural history of Saul and David:
"And Saul sent messengers to take Da'
vid: and when they saw the company of the
prophets prophesying, and Samuel stand.
ing, as appointed over them, the Spirit Of
God was upon the messengers of Saul, ana
they also proohesied. And when it was
told Saul, he sent other messengers, ana
they prophesied Ikewise. And Saul sen,
messengers again the third time, and they
prophesied also. Then went he also to
Ramah, and came to a great well that is
in Sechu; and be asked and said, Where
are samuel and David! And one said,
Behold they be at Najoth, in Ramah.-
And he went thither to Najoth, in Ramah
and the Spirit of God was upon hin.
also, and he rent on and prophesied, un-
til he came to Najoth, in Ramah. And
he stripped off his clothes also and prophe-
sied before Samuel IN like manner, and lay
down naked oil that day and all that night.
Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among
the PhopAetsy'
Not only are Walker and Stanton in in
dignant protest against the action of the
Lecompton Convention, but Judge Doug
las, the author of the Nebraska bill, has
delivered one of the greatest speeches ever
uttered on the floor of the United States
Senate against it.
Are all these men, chosen representa-
tiyes Of the Democratic party, who have
possessed unusual facilities for acquiring
full knowledge of the real condition Of Kan
sas affairs, mistaken! Is it not infinitely
more rational to conclude that the voice Of
the people of that Territory, demanding
the inalienable right of self government,
and pleading for the power Of disposing
OF their internal difficulties through the
es'aolishment Of the great and self reg
ula'lng principle of allowing the will Of
,ne majority to prevail, has touched their
nearts, as the messengers of Saul, and f