The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-07-18
Policy of the Administration in re-
gard to Kansas.

Those who have read the inaugural and
speeches of Gov. Walker, remember how
strongly he has expressed his purpose to Sc
cure to the citizens of the Territory, so far as
his official influence would enable him to do
it, fair opportunity to determine for them
selves the institutions of the future State
Most of his political opponents, We believe
have been disposed to concede to Gov. Walk
err, a disposition to do all that he has promis-
ed in this matter. But every one understands
that he has no power, in his official capacity,
to give to the people of Kansas what he &C
knowledges they have right to claim. lie
can advise that the Constitution about to be
framed by Delegates already chosen for that
purpose, shall be submitted to the test of a
popular vote, and that is all that he can do
But will he continue to do this ?
We do not know that recent events are
likely to destroy confidence in his honesty or
create suspicion that all his talk about popu-
lar sovereignty and the limitations of Slave
~ by isothcrmal lines, were only parts of a
deceptive game contrived by the Admins
tration merely to quiet, for the time, the abu-
sed and indignant people of the Territory
and conceal its purpose to make of Kansas a
Slaveholding State. Before concluding that
Gov. Walker is acting any such part it should
be remembered that more than one Governor
of Kansas has before been commissioned and
sent to the Territory only to discover on his
arrival there, that he had wholly failed to
comprehend at Washington, the real purpose
of the Executive in regard to the course he
should pursue in the administration of the
Territorial affairs.
Indications have not been wanting that
Gov. Walkers experience, in this respect
would not be very different from that of his
immediate predecessors Democratic Stat,
Conventions in Georgia and Mississippi have
recently denounced him for giving countc-
nance to the idea that the people of Kansas
will be allowed to make it, if they choose a
free State. Popular sovereignty. about which
democratic orators have dcclaimcd so much
the sole justification which they have urged
i'll the free States for the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise. that which constituted the
chief plank in their Cincinnati platform and
which majority of the Judges of the SUI
prcme Court have determined to be the law
of the land. docs not. according to the popu-
lar understanding Of it by Southern Demo
Gratis, include any permission of this sort.
That We may do them no injustice in thus
representing their views. We quote from the
preamble and Resolutions of the Nissis>iupi
Convention:
Whereas. Governor Walker. in his Inauy
ural Address to the people of kanse> Terri
tory. declared it to be his clear conviction
that unless the convention "-callcd bv law
to form Il Constitution for that Territory
submit the constitution to the vote of all
the actual settlers of Kansas at the time of
such submission" it will be and ought to be.
rejected. by Congress
And whcrras. the law Of Kansas authnri-
zing the call of said convention and prc>cri
bling its duties makes IL" provision for such
submission to the then settlers Of Kansas. nor
prohibits Congress from adopting the same
without such submission:
And wh'tsns. Governor Walker further
suggests that Kansas. hy reason of It's geo
graphical position and climatr.i is unSuitcd to
slave labor. thereby yratuitously throwing
the weight of his Judgment and official posi-
ton against the ultimate success of the pro-
slavery party therefore.
HeS"lr''. That We regard the said recon-
mendations. opinions and argument of Gov
crnor Walker as an unjust and uncalcd-for
discrimination against the rights and interests
of the pro->lavcry party i'll Kansas and
throughout the nion-a dictatorial inter
mcddliuy with the performance of a high pub
lie duty already entrusted hv law to Il convcn-
ton selected from the people of Kansas. with
which Governor Walker had no light to in
tcrfcrc. and his conduct in this respect meets
the unqualified condemnation of this conycn-
ton"
According to the spirit Of this Resolution. the
constitution to be formed by an cxpartc con-
vention for the future State of Kansas. must
not be exposed to the risk of rejection bv
a popular vote. and this for no other reason.
in pretcnce or reality. than that slavery will
thereby be likely to be excluded from the
State.
The resolutions Of the Georgia State Con-
vcntion are of the same import and include
the expression Of an opinion that Gov. Walk
er will be removed.
In harmony with the sentiment of these
conventions, is associated almost the entire
influence of the Southern press. Old line
Wing and South American papers. as we'll as
the Democratic press of the South, are alike
opposed to Governor Walkers course and
arc calling loudly upon the administration for
his prompt removal. In reply to these de-
mands and to the resolutions of the Demo
cratic Conventions We have in the Washing
ton Cnion-the Government organ-of July
It'll, labored article defining the Presidents
position, and asserting the right of the pco-
pie of Kansas to form their own State Con-
stitution.
In regard to submission of the Constitu-
ton to a vote of the people the article says:
ave do most devoutly believe, that, unless
the constitution of Kansas be submitted to a