The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-18

them that my Judgment the constitution would be sub
mitted fairly and freely for ratification rejection by
their vote, and that II this not donc would unite
with tbem he people) as now do in lawful opposition
TO such procedure
Tho power and responsibility being devoved exclusive
y upon by the President Of using the federal army in
Kansas to suppress nsurrecton, the alternative dis
peks arrestng revolution by the slaughter the
people, or of preventing IT, together with that civil war
which must have extended throughout the Union by
Iemn assurance then gvon that the right OF the people 10
frame their government far my pow extend
ed should be maintained But for this assurance, II h
conceded fact that the Topeka State government then
assembled in legislative session. would bave been put into
immediate actual operation, and that sangunary COLT
sion with the federal army and civil war must have en-
Indeed the whole idea Of inaugural address Orgina
aed in the alarming intelligence which had reached Wash
iBgton city Of perilous and ncpent rebellion in Kansas
This insurrecton rendered still more formidable
my reaching the Territory by the approach OF tho
assembling Of the revolutionary State Legislature, and
the very numerous conventions by which il
sustained. In TRUTH had TO choose between arrestng
that nsurrecon at whatever cost OF American blood by
the federal army or TO prevent the terrible catastrophe
did, by my pledges TO the people OF the exertion
all my power to obtain fair election and tho submission
OF the constitution TO the vote Of the people for ratification
rejection My inaugural and other addresses were
therefore, really in the nature Of procamatons oteI
issued by presidents and governors with view to pre-
vent as they did in this case civil war and nsurrccon
Now by my oath of office was sworn to support the
constitution of the United States which have shown in
my judgment required the submission OF the constitution
to the vote Of the people. was sworn also, to take
care that the Kansas and Nebraska bill should be
heretofore stated, required that the constitution
should be submitted the Of the people, and
therefore only performing solemn duty when as Gov
Of the Territory, to whose people my first obiga
tons due endeavored to secure them these
suits. The idea entertained by some, that should
the federal constitution and the Kansas Nebraska bill
oherthrown and sregaded and that playing the part of
mute in pantomme of ruin should acquesce by my
silence in such result especially where such acqucs-
involved, immediate consequence, disas-
trous and sanguinary civil war; seems to me most pre-
postcrous Not drop OF blood has been shed by the
inf
nsurrection and civil war, extending, ear throughout
the country alone prevented by the pursued
by on those occasons and the whole people abandon
ing revolutionary violence, were induced by me
TO 60 for the first time into general and
peaceful election. These important results const-
tu,e a sufficient consolation for all the unjust as-
saus made upon on this subject / do not under
stand that these assaults have ever received the slightest
counenance from the President On the contrary his
age clearly indicates approval Of my up
the present most unfortunate difference about the
called Lecompton constitution Inssmuch, however, as
this difference upon vital question, involving practical
results and instructions, 1t is certainly much
respectful to the President my part to resign the
Office Of Governor, and give him an opportunity Of filling
IL, is his right under the constitution, with who
concurs with him in his present opinions rather than go
his instructions. This latter course, n my judgment,
would be incompatible with proper respect for the
chief magistrate of the Union, inconsistent with
the rules of moral rcctitudc proprety, and
cond be adopted with no other view than to
force the President to remove me from Office
Such course is alleged would present TO the pub
lie as political martyr the defence Of the great prnc
pie Of self but TO go 10 Kansas with any such
purpose, with certain knowledge that such result
follow, would be alike unjust and improper My
only alternative then, Is that Of respectful resignation
in the hope that Kansas and beloved country may be
shielded from that civil with which fear both
threatened by any attempt to force the soced Lecemp
ton constitution upon the people Of Kansas. state
fact based on long and intimate association with the
people OF Kansas that overwhelming majority Of that
people opposed TO that instrument, and my letters
state that but out Of twenty OF the press of Kansas
tain IT, Some oppose because so many counties were
disfranchised and unrepresented In the Convention;
some who opposed To paper money, because il au
thorises bank OF capital for Kansas nearly
unlimited in It's and in the denomination OF its
from dollar and down. some because OF what they
consider Know Nothing clause by requiring that the
Governor shall have been twenty years OF the
United States some because the elective franchise Is no..
free they cannot vote against the constitution but only
the single issue whether any more slaves may be i'm
ported and then only upon that issue by voting for tn
constitution to which they are opposed they regar
this but mockcry of the elective franchise and
rous sporting with the sacred rights OF the peops
oppose because the constitution distinctly recognizes
and adopts the Oxford fraud in apportioning egis
lative members for johnson county upon the frau
duent and fictitious returns so falsely called
from that precinct, which recognition OF tha
fraud In the constitution Is abhorrent TO the moral
OF the people. Others oppose because, although
in other the presidents Of conventions have been
authorized issue wrs OF election 20 the regular Terri
toria state officers with the usual judges and with tn
established precincts and the adjudication OF the
turnsn this case unprecedented and vice regal powers
are given the president OF the convention 10 make the
precincts the judges and Ia decide finally upon the
turns. Prom the grant OF these unusual and enormous
turns Of oxford and McCce overwhelming majority Of
Kansas have faith in the validity Of these returns and
therefore wi, not vote. Indeed disguise II may to
ourselves under the influence Of the present excitement
the facts will demonstrate that any attempts by Congress
to force this constitution upon the people Of Kansas will
be effort to substitute the viii or small minority for
that OF overwhelming majority Of the people OF Kansas
that will no, settle the Kansas question or locaze the
issue-that Il will fear be attended by civil war,
tending perhaps throughout the Unon thus bringing this
question again upon Congress and before the people
in its most dangerous and alarming aspect The resi.
fa1a in uaQ1a
and from the events occurring In KANSAS well rs here,
is evident that the question passing from thsorcs into
practice and that Governor Of Kansas should be com
PEELED 10 carry out instructions differing vital
question from those received at The date OF my appoint
ment such instructions could not execute consistently
with nv views OF the federal constitution ana OF the Kan
and Nebraska bill, with my pledges to the people
Of Kansas Under these circumstances no alternative
is left but 10 resign The Office OF Governor of the
Territory OF Kansas. No one more deeply
regret than myself this necessity, but Il
arises from change Of opinion my part On the
trary should most chcerfuy have returned TO Kansas
carry out my original instructions, and thus preserve
peace in the Territory and finally settle the Kansas ques
my intention this discuss the peculiar circutn
stances and unexpected events which have modified the
submission Of the constitution for rs,lacaon or re.
lection by the vote " the peope-much less do
on this subject Yet however widely my views may df
fer from those entertained by him on this qucston-vicws
which have held all my life and which, as involving
fundamental principles Of public liberty and OF the con
stituion arc unchangoabie--yet a. regards all those
great measures which trust will constitute the policy
Of his administration In other respects, will give me
pleasure private citizen, 70 yield my cordial support
have said that the slavery question as practical issue
had disappeared from Kansas long before my arrival
there and the question Of self government had been sub
sttucd Ia It's place. On some future occasion shall dis
spatc the dcuson which has prevailed upon this subject
and show that after three years experiment, when ar
rived In Kansas there less than three hundred slaves
there and the number constantly dimnishng-that,
proved by the official records OF Congress, published
and authenticated ny these distinguished Southern
Statesmen, John C. Calhoun and Jefferson Davis, the
winter climate OF Eastern Kansas is colder than
that OF New England, and that the proslavcry ter
rtoria convention OF Kansas consolidated with the pro
slavery Territorial Legislature the 18th Of January 1851
nearly nye months before my arrival there did abandon
the slavery issue because, set forth by Of their
number, the pro slavery party was IN small and ad
mitcd minority and the operation OF the free state
democrats was invited the only hope Of success not to
make Kansas a slave state, which was conceded 10 be
impossible, but 10 make conservative demo
cratic free State. Even rs late ne the 3D. OF July
1857, when the Democratic Territorial Convention
assembled Lecompon in consequence OF the laws Of
the climate, and the well known will OF the people none
conended that slavery could be established there nor
in nf