The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-24
GOVERNOR WALKER AND sECRECSRY STAN
TON,

The reader will find in our columns the Proc.
lamation of Mr.. Secretary Stanton, csnvening a
special session of the Legislature &c Kansas,
and the Letter of Governor Walker resigning
his cffice of Governor.
The Proclamation is well conceived, is dig
justification of the decisive step ia zen by the
Secretary. Mr.. Stanton deserves high commend
alton for the general fairness and s1agnauim-
ity of his course. At one time, under the i'm
preston that his mission had closed, we under
stand that he sent in his resignation, to take
effect on the 3lst of December. Bot, soon
after, learning that Governor Wakes had been
arraigned for his policy, and Determined not to
desert his Principal, or shrink from responsible
itg,. be recalled his resignation, and resolved to
stand by the positions taken by the Governor
and himself. When appealed to in behalf of a
special session of the Legislature, he hight have
pleaded that it was measure on whs.,h he had
received no instruction, too momeR:ous to be
taken by subordinate officer, but 70 showed
decision of character and a self.relyi sg energy
equal to the crisis, and took the step believed
necessary to prevent violent collisit ), and in
sure peace. For this, he was punt ,ed by an
Executive, which yet retains in off man,
who is seeking, at the expense of the ,emocrat
ic Principle, in defiance of the rigf IS of the
People of Kansas, and in disregard of, e pledges
of, the President himself, to force upol Kansas
Constitution odious to four-fftRs of People.
Stanton remained at his post, di his duty
r =
be honored
We could wish that Governor ,lker had
remained in Kansas, and there f. 6led his
pledges TO the People. His action ,uld have
been more effective there, than it has ,een here
he needed no further iostructions, d should
have waited for none. Opposition the L.
compton usurpation cou d have been arried on
as well in Kansas as i, Washingto and the
decisive measure of con- ening spe ;al session
of the Legislature mig 1t have fore allied any
action by the President. The worst hat could
have happened, would ave been hi removal,
but a removal under such circumsta, ,es would
have told more in his avor, and sanst the
Administration, than his resignation. 1t would
heve indicated beyond All question is fidelity
to his pledges and the eople of 4 nsas, and
rendered the action OF be President still more
indefensible.
But he deemed it the Fiser course 20 appear
in Washington, thinking perhaps, tn, :. he could
at once better vindicat.. his own c|Arse, and
modify the views of the Adminstratio If such
were his expectations, he has ere th learned
their utility. Ascertaiaing that the President
was committed to one Ene of polio, while he
Wss pleoged to another became t the con.
cinsion that, as he could not carry on the views
Of she former, he must resign. Rsd he re.
NAMED in Kansas, he could have &C 'tinued to
act, have accomplished everything lecessarv
under former instructions, and La 10 the
President the task of Indicating his hanpe of
policy.
The letter of resignation is gooe one. Bv
foil statement of facts, the Preside, is shown
to have entirely changed his polics since be
INVOKED the aid of Mr.. Walker as aysHcator OF
Kansas. But the part Of the letter deserving
special notice is, his exposure of t, Q ilIeg;ti.
macy of the Lecompton Convention. sven con.
ceding it we're rightfully called. Tt, Terrific
rial act named thirty-four regularly organized
ceupties or election districts. In eat of them,
census and registry we're required Law.
"In l9 of these counties there was % census.
and therefore there could be no such <pportion
ment there of delegates, based upon 1ch cen.
sus. And in fifteen of these counties..here was
no registry of voters.
"These Is counties, including m. ~ of the
ofdest organized counties of the Terrsr,ry. were
list
nssey uiis . and did not i've, and
'oy"'' '~u'' VI 'neir own) could not gaSe, sol