Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-04-03

Genfy's Hesienntion.
Our latest ndvices from Washington
leave no room for doubt that Gov. Geary's
resignation has been accepted, and 1t Is
added that Robert J. Walker OF Mlssisslp-
pi has probably boon pitched upon as his
successor as was formerly indicated. We
do not, however, lay much stress on the
selection Of Southron for this important
post as we have generally found q slave
holder preferable to IN inveterate dough-
face In all such emergencies. Yet II Is
very unusual to choose at once the Gov
ernor. Secretary, and majority of the
Judges, Of q new Territory fom the Slave
States.
We ask those who have hitherto told
the North to place confidence In Geary,
to look the new issue fairly In the face
Gov. Gcary has abandoned Kansas, not
because his life was unsafe there though
brave, intelligent men in Lecompton be-
lioved that no could not live there forty
days longer-not because his letters and
dispatches wcro Systematically opened,
though even his letter Of resignation,
which was profound secret betwIxt him.
self and bis Secretary, had not been one
hour deposited in the Leeompton Post
Office before rs contents were circulating
through every bar-room IN the place-not
even because tho United States Military
eommandant, whom called upon to sustain
with his force the Governors authority,
gave an answer which barbed refusal with
insult--but because, sehiie he bore the re-
sPonsibilitH he icas deprived Of the author
ity IF Governor. That Is the essential
fact. In the first place, he was compel.
cd to recognize and uphold ms rightful
the authority Of tho bogus Territorial
Legislature, which he know to be founded
10 fraud and only maintained by terror.
Any word Of favor or kindness TO the
Froe-State men wa1 regarded aud resent.
cd by the "Law and Order" officials sur
rounding him as troason. When the
Frce.Slalo Legislature met Mt Topeka last
Winter, though no did not recognize nor
IN any manner encourage II, no was sub
Ieeled to the modification Of seeing Ito
members for second time dispersed by
force aud a part OF them arrested, ~ II by
his instgatlon. when he was doing his ut
most TO conollalo and harmonigc. Tho
bogus Legislature which he was eonstraIn-
cd to treat as fairly chosen and authorita-
tive, dlsregarded all hts recommendations
looking 10 tho establishment Of justice
aud peace Ia Kansas, refused TO repeal the
tyrannical and atrocious acts Of its former
session. proceeded 10 enact others, II pos
siblo still worse; and whom he vetoed
some Of these. they ropassed them over his
head. These acts, Of which no had DEM
onatratod the injustice and !nlquity, he
was now required to uphold and enforce
II he hesltated on single point, rs that
OF commissioning tho drunken rowdy
sherardro be Sheriff Of q most important
county, mainly poopod by -Froe-stato
men--hc was denounced and threatened
with assassination by the whole Border
Ruilan party, as though he were guilty Of
high treason; ho was spending his own
money like water to uphold n semblauee
Of Government IN Kansas, while his drafts
drawn on tho Federal Treasury were pro.
tested; the Legislature had passed over
his head an net msklng murder and all
other crimes bailable, so that the Slave
Judges could legally libcrate any assassin
whom he might arrest and hold for trial
and he could not fail 10 see that all the ar.
Engagements for Constitutional Election
had boon skillfully made, in the Conven-
ton act passed over his veto, In such
manner as TO render certain Pro. Slavery
triumph aud the framing of Slavery
Constitution, which should thoreupon g
into effect without being submitted TO o.
voted upon by tho People. Nopower wa
given him to modify the operation or i'm
prove the character OF this act; no voic'
was allowed him in appointing the census
takers or election officers or in making VI
and scrutinizing tho list Of voters; yet h
was made TO perform certain ministerial
duties IN the process Of carrying through
this scheme which would inplicate hin
before the public as ono Of It's supporters
Persifcr L. Smith Of Louisiana was sti
} In command Of the troops; Lecompte ant
Cato, in spite OF President Pierce's prom
lie, were retained as Territorial Judges
what, then, could Geary do, or hope to do
by holding on to his Office, but make him
self responsible for tho crimes and fraud
now hurrying to their consummation?-
Nothing.
"But," say some, "ho might have waite'
to see what tho new Administration wo't
do.p Why pah for this? we ask. VIVA
! can It do? It can support and prosecute tn
, Bordcr-Ruilian policy Of "crushing out
Freedom in Kansas, or IL can turn shor
corner aud take tho side Of On Athlete,
!. . and prosecuted people against their ruth
less oppressors. If the former course !
to be pursued, then Geary is fully deter
mined to wash his hands OF the concern
II tho latter. then his resignation afford
President Buchanan both IN occasion an
pretext for doing what he desires. i
either case, the President should b
: thankful to Gov. Geary for resignln
when he did--as VIC are.