Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-12-31
ACCEPTANCE OF GOV. WALKERS RE-
SIGNATION.

The President ON Wednesday week, in response
TO resolution of the Senate, transmitted to that
body mass of public documents with reference
to the Territory of Kansas The following let
ter is among the papers, accepting the resigna-
ton of Gov Walker
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, December 10, 1857.
Sw:-On Wednesday last I received your
communication of the 18th inst, rendering your
resignation as Governor of Kansas This resigna-
ton is accompanied by long argument on the
affairs of the Territory, to which, you are well
aware, it would be improper for the department
to reply. IF any officer Of the government who
feels himself 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 de-
partment criticisms on the policy of the admin
lstration no person knows better than yourself
to what consequences this might lead. ~ The de-
paftment must either cause charges and argl1-
ments against the President to be- fled among
the public archives of the country without con-
tradction or reply, or it must spend the time
which ought to be devoted to the public service
in controversies with subordinate officers who
may disapprove the Presidents policy Whilst
duty, therefore, forbids me to enter into a con-
troversial discussion with you on the various
topics embraced by your. argument, it is proper
that should make a remark upon single
point. -, go. 49, Il
You state that the President has changed his
policy in regard to Kansas. And why this al
legation? Simply because the convention of
Kansas had in the exercise ofthe right belong
ing to them, decided that they would not sub
no ybolo 10, fho
although they had submitted the all-important
and dangerous question of slavery, which threat
ened to convulse the Union, and was alone
prominent in the minds of the people through
out'every State he had not treated the submits
sion of this momentous question as mere null
ity. ~ =. - as 81 49,
Gnder these circumstances, It was his imper-
tive duty; and this in strict conformity with
previous instructions, to take care that; a fair
election should be held on this vital question,
and thus give peace to the Union. Had he act
ed in any other manner merely because he pre-
ferred the submission of the constitution origi-
nally to the people, his responsibility would
have been of the gravest character He never
intended or expressed the opinion that the con-
Fention were bound to- submit any portion of
the constitution to the people, except the ques-
ton of slavery, much less that that portion of
the constitution would be invalid without such
a submission.
Had he entertained such. an opinion this would
have been in: opposition to the numerous prece.
dents which have occurred since the adoption of
the federal constitution by the different States.
The question of slavery was the all-absorhingg
question, and you Were sent to Kansas with the
full confidence of the President to carry out the
principles Of the Kansas-N Nebraska act. With
The question whether Kansas was to be free
OF a slave State you were not to interfere. You
were to secure to the people of Kansas a free
and fair election to decide this question for
themselves. The President was therefore, hap
py to learn from your dispatches to this de-
partmept Of the 18th Of July last that in all
your speeches you RETAINED from expressing any
opinion as to whether Kansas should be a slave
or a free State
am instructed to inform you that your re-
signation of the Office of Governor of Kansas
has,been accepted 2tf g.
I am, sir, yeur obedient servant, 4isi
LEWIS CAss.
Hon. Robert ]. Walker, Washington. ), 3
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