The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-25

there 10 refrain from voting 1t a most import
ant crisis. in order 10 tske advantage afterwards
of their own wrong, and to complain of the vote
as not having been Sufficiently foil. He has
not hesitated, on the contrary to encourage every
citizen to vote. he has Undiscovered to keep the
peace In the Territoryto make the elections secure
and to uphold the cause Of law and order by every
means in his power. If further difficulties occur in
Kansas the responsibility, repeat, will not rest
upon him, but upon those who, in Kansas and out
oft, have pursued directly opposite course. We
sincerely hope however that no further difficulties
win in that unfortunate Territory The slavery
question, out Of which they originally grew, Gov.
Walker himself declares to be past issue, and it is
nconceyable that inteigentandp patriotic should
desire to prolonga disturbance after the cause of
has been adjusted. With good constitution offer
ed them, with the slavery question submitted and
opportunity afforded them of getting the full control
Of their affairs by being admitted into the Union,
why should the people of Kansas go into revolution
Against what outrage would they rebel
Litter of Acceptance
DEPARTMENT. OF STATE,
Washington, December Is, 1857
of the 18th inst rendering your resignation governor
of Kansas. This resignation is accompanied by long
argument the affairs of that Territory generally, to
which, You are well aware it would be improper for
the department to reply If every officer of the govern
ment who feels himself constrained to refuse obedience
to the instructions of the President should pursue this
usual course and thus place on the files OF the appropr
ate department criticism the policy OF the ainsta
tion person knows better than yourself to what
sequences this might lead The department must either
charges and arguments against the President to be
filed among the public archives Of the country without
contradiction 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 Pres
dents policy. Whilst duty therefore, forbids me to
ter into controversial discussion with you the var
topics embraced by your argument it is proper that
should make remark upon single point
You state that the President has changed his policy
in regard to Kansas And why this allegation Simply
because the convention of Kansas having in the exercise Of
the right belonging to Them decided that they would not
submit the whole constitution the people, although
they have submitted the allimportant and dangerous
question of slavery which threatened to convue the
Union and alone prominent in the minds of the peo
pie throughout every State he had not treated the sub
mission of this momentous question nullity.
Under these circumstances it his imperative duty,
and this in strict conformity with previous instructions
to take that fair election should be held this
vital question, and thus give peace to the Union Had
he acted in any other merely because he preferred
the submission of the constitution generally to the peo
pc his responsibility would have been of the gavest
character He entertained expressed the opinion
that the convention bound to submit any portion Of
the constitution to the people, except the question of
slavery much less that the other portions of the consu
ton would be invalid without such a submission.
Had he entertained such opinion this would have been
in opposition to the precedens which have
CURED since the adoption of the federal constitution by
the different States The question of slavery the all
absorbing question and you sent to Kansas with the
full confidence Of the President to carry out the princi
pies of the Kansas Nebraska act. With the question
whether Kansas to be free slave State you
not to interfere. You to to the people of
Kansas free and fair election to decide this question for
themselves. The President was, therefore happy to
learn from your despatch to this departmental the 18th Of
July last that in all your speeches You had reaned from
expressing any opinion to whether Kansas should be
slave a free State.
am instructed to inform you that your resignation Of
the Office of governor of Kansas has been accepted
am, sir, your obedent servant, LEWIS CASS.
Hon RoDERT j. WALKER, Washington.