Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-07-23
GBe 90Lp SPg.
THURSDAY, JULY %, 1857.
Gov. Walkers Proclamation.

zette. The threats and bombast with which it
ahounds make it document just such char
Octer as was to be expected from that quarter,
and especially from an official who entered upon
his mission with the avowed object to serve the
interests of the slavery propagaudists 1t is da-
ted Fort Leavenworth, July 18th, and opens as
follows -
al have learned that considerable num-
Der of the citizens of Lawrence, in this Terri
tory, have adopted, as they claim, by popu-
lar vote, chatter for their local government.
A copy of that charter has been placed in my
hands upon comparing which with that
granted BY the Territorial Legislature last
Winter, find that they differ intentionally in
many essential particulars. The new charter
then, is set up, not only without any author
ity of law, but in direct and open defiance of
an act of the Territorial Legislature on the
same subject.
On this point, your committee, whose views
have been adopted by you, make the follow
ing statement
Mr.. Walker here quotes from the last para
graph Of the address of the committee of citizens
Of Lawrence, published below. He then pro-
ceeds i
It will thus be perceived that the authority
of the Territorial government is here dis
tinctly denied, and whilst that of the So
called State government is acknowledged, it
is conceded that no charter has been granted
by them. Indeed, it is a fact that, although
this so-called State government has, in itself,
no legal existence or authority, yet you asked
and failed to receive charter from them.
Under these circumstances you have pro-
ceeded to establish government for the city
of Lawrence. in direct defiance Of the Terrific
rial government, and denying its existence or
authority. You have granted to this city
government the authority to elect Mayor
and Board of Aldermen, City Assessor, Treas
urer, Justices of the Peace, City Marshal, &C.
You have granted to the Mayor and Alder
men most extensive powers, including the
right to levy and collect taxes upon real and
personal property within the limits of the
city. whether belonging to residents or nom
residents, and all the other powers usually in
cident to a city government.
You have imposed upon all these officers
the duty of taking an oath to support this SO
called State Constitution, thus distinctly su.
persrding. so far as in your pewer, the Terri
torial Government created by the Congress Of
the United States. You hove caused these
proceedings to be printed in hand bill form,
and hove distributed them, as am informed,
throughout the Territory, with the view to
lncIte the other cities, towns, and counties, of
Kanzas, to establish insurrectionary govern.
ments, thereby placing the people of this Ter
ritory, so far as in your power, to open con-
dict with the Government of the United
States.
The more considerable portion of your party
having inducsd your Topeka Legislature to
enact the laws urged by you, creating num-
cipsl government, you have, even in defiance
OF their authority, which you profess to ac-
knowledge, proceeded to create such a gov
eminent for Lawrence, and are now urging
other localities to pursue similar course.
Your evident purpose is thus to involve the
whole Territory i'll instruction, and to renew
the scenes of bloodshed and civil war, Upon
you, then, must rest all the guilt and respon-
slblity of this contemplated revolution. Yon
will be justly chargeable in law and con-
science with all the blood that may be shed in
this contest, and upon you must fall the pun.
ishinent.'
Gov. Walker then goes on to complain that the
citizens Of Lawrence have proceeded to elect city
officers under this charter, and instructed them
to enter upon the immediate discharge of their
duties, as he claims, /" in direct defiance of the
Government of the United States" thus, in his
view, as he charges, "inaugurating rebellion and
revolution" and as guilty of "treasOn." He
says:
4" You were distinctly informed, in my in.
augural address of May last, that the validity
Of the territorial laws was acknowledged by
the Government of the United States and
that they must and would be carried into ex-
ecution, under my oath of office and the in
structions of the President of the United
States. The same information was repeated
in various addresses made by me throughout
the Territory
As specimen of the pathetic and fearful man.
ner in which Gov. Walker implores the people of
Lawrence to submit to the odious and tyrannical
enactments of the border rufian, Missour-elected
Legislature for Kanzas, we quote the following
I" You stand now, fellow citizens, upon the
brink of an awful precipice, and it becomes
my duty to warn you ere you take the fatal
leap into the gulf below. If your proceedings
are not arrested, you will necessarily destroy
the peace Of this Territory, and involve it in
all the horrors of civil war. warn you, then,
before it is too late. to recede from the peril
GUS position in which you now stand.''
II Gov. Walker had 1.-THE of the "love of
country" and of the Constitution" and the
"Union," which he processes in this proclama.
ton, and particle of "regard for its 1.-THE ooun-
try'sl peace, prosperity, and reputation" he
would have bent his exertions, from the start
toward getting Legislature for Kanzas repre-
Senting the people, and toward getting repealed
the infamous, unconstitutional edcts which he is
now trying to enforce. The citizens of Lawrence
are law.abiding people, and have manifested no
intention to oppose the execution Of the laws of
the United States there. But they are OPP osed
to the execution of the Black Code" which
Atchison, Stringfellow, and their confederate ruff
fans from Missouri have saddled upon them
against their own will. Surely, if there is any
validity in the doctrine of popular sovereignty"
about which the Democrats have prated so loud
ly, Gov. Walker is bound, by all the past profes.
sicns Of his party, to sustain the people Of Law.
renee in their recent stand instead Of denounc-
ing them as " traitors"
Ths general government having thus, through
Gov. Walker, in this proclamation, forced an is
sue with the people Of Lawrence upon the organ
iSatlon Of city government, we cannot better
conclude this article than by subjoining. as I'M
portant to fair understanding of the matter, the
remarks with which the committee who framed
the charter Esubmitted it to the people. 1t
complete justification Of their course -
- In presenting the accompanying ehartar
It may not be improper for your committee 10
state few of the reasons which seem to rem.
der the organisation Of city government not
only proper but imperative. 1t will hardly be
disputed that the people are the only true
aud legitimate fountain of all human govern.