The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-11-12
From the New York Day Book, Nov q
THE PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR WALKER

The FhESlDENT AND GOVERNOR WALKER
The reports from Washington in relation to
the action likely to be taken with regard to
Governor Walkers high-handed and outrage
Gus exercise OF power in Kansas, are very con-
Trajectory. One report affrms that Governor
Walker will be removed another, that be will
be reprimanded for exceeding his instructions
In such manner as to cause him to resign !;
and, hnally, another report ON the strength of
the telegraph, says that he will be sustained.
This last version comes from the particular or
gsns and pets of Governor Walker, and is to
be taken cum grGno sails. These organs
consisting OF the two principal papers in this
city which supported Fremont at the last cleo
tion-have evidently taken the alarm, and are
bolstering him up with all sorts of arguments
and assertions. As usual, these organs entire.
ly misrepresent the point in issue, and try to
mystify the subject by irrelevant questions.
They assume that Governor Walker would have
sanctioned the alleged frauds in Oxford pre-
cinct, if he had granted certificates according
to the returns. Do board of canvassers en-
dorse the business of an election when they GER
THY to the election Of an officer where fraudu-
lent votes have been cast? 1t is simply pal
pable and seifevident qualification to make such
an assertion. Governor Walker had no bust.
ness with the question of illegal voting. He
was bound to take the returns as he found them,
and grant certificates of election where the re-
turns were regular upon their face. If there
had been illegal votes cast, and members had
been elected thereby, it was subject belonging
exclusively to the investigation of the Legisla-
ture, before whom it was the duty of the con.
testants to appear and claim their seats
Governor Walkers action is infinitely more
reprehensible than that Of Governor Reeder.
He IF al IL
he afterwards said he felt sure were not legally
and fairly elected and he did this because he
asserted he had no right to go behind the re-
turns. Governor Walker, however, boldly as.
sumes the province of the Legislature. and vio-
lates the provisions of the Kansas ebraska
bill, which the Administration has solemn de-
clared it would see carried out to the letter.
The effort of the apologists of Governor
Walker, to charge upon those who condemn his
course the responsibility of the alleged frauds.
is but part and parcel of their deception.
The question of fraud has nothing whatever to
do with the action of Governor Walker. Had
he or had he not, as an executive officer. the
right to go behind the election returns which
were regular upon their face, and decide that
they were fraudulent? This question covers
the whole ground, so far as Governor Walker
Is concerned. If, as we contend, he had not
then 1t makes no difference how fraudulent the
returns were, it was not his business to correct
them. The law had provided remedy in the
case; and for him to assume authority, when he
had no right to, was bold and reckless act of
dictatorial power, which people, jealous of the
forms of republican government, never will
submit to.
We do not pretend to say there were no
frauds Neither do we assent there were. The
evidence there was, rests mainly upon the as
sertions of Governor Walker, and the statements
OF the correspondents of Abolition and Black
republican newspapers. Let the alleged frauds
be investigated by the proper tribunal; and if
the men Governor Walker has rejected are not
entitled to their seats, let them be ousted. Let,
too, the alleged frauds committed by the Black
Republicans be investigated, and a general set
tlement made. We want to see fairness all
round, and the forms of good government obey.
ed. But we do resist, and shall resist to the
last extremity, all trucking to the Aboltioniss.
The weakness of Governor Walker, or the least
sign of wavering in the President, will only
cause these rapacious fanatics to howl ten times
more hercely. Their process is intimidation,
and they hope to achieve by the power of the
press, upon our public men, what they cannot
secure before the people.
Whatever may be the final action of the
President upon this matter, there can be no
doubt 1T has created a greater commotion in
the Cabinet than any other act of Governor
Walker. This dilemma for the Presidents con.
sideration is a very distinct one. He must e.
Tier abandon the terms Of the organic lar of
Kansas, or else he must condemn Governor
Walker. That law gives Governor Walker no
power to act in the manner he has. He must
therefore be removed, or he must resign. He
cannot stay in Kansas any longer, for he has
forfeited the good opinion of the Democrats of
the Territory, and his continuance there will
involve the country in an agitation which will
endanger the success of Mr.. Buchanan's Ad.
minstration, and fairly rend asunder the Dem
ocratic party.