Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-12-31
Gen. Cass to Gov. Walker.

The following is the reply OF Gen. Cass,
Secretary Of State, 10 the resignation letter
Of Gov WALKER:
STATE DEPAnTMEsT, Dec. Is, 1857.
On Wednesday last received your COM
munlcalon Of the 18th inst, rendering your
resignation as Governor Of Kansas. The
resignation is accompanied by long argu
ment on the affairs oil the Territoy generally
10 which you are well aware it would be I'm
proper for this department TO reply. III
every officer Of the Government, who feels
himself constrained to refuse obedience to
the instructions OF the President, should
pursue this unusual course, and thus place on
the files of the appropriate department
criticisms on the policy OF the Admlnistra-
ton no person knows better than yourself 10
what consequences this might lead. The de-
| partment must either cause the charges and
| arguments against the President 10 be filed
among the public archives of the country
without contradiction or reply, or ii must
spend the time which ought to be devoted
TO the public service, in controversies with
subordinate officers, who may disapprove oil
the Presidents policy. Whilst duty, there
! fore lorbds me TO enter into controversial
discussion with yon upon the various topics
embraced by your argument, it is proper |
should make remark upon single point
You state ihat the President has changed his
policy in regard TO Kansas, and why this
allegation? Simply because the Convention
in Kansas have in the exercise Of the rights
belonging TO them decided that they would
not submit the whole Constitution TO the
people, although they had submitted the all
important and dangerous question of slavery
which thereatened 10 conyulSe the Union,
and was alone prominent in he minds OF the
people Throughout every State. He had not
treated the submission Of this n0inentous
question as mnre nuliy. Under these
circumstances it was his imperative duty,
and this was in strict conformity with his
instructions 10 take care that lalr election
be held on this vital question, and thus give
peace 10 The Union, Had lie acted in any
other manner, merely because lie preferred
the submission Of the Constitution originally
10 the people, his responsibility would have
been of the gravest character. He never
ihimated or expressed the opinion that the
Convention were bound to submit any por-
ton Of the Constitutions 10 the people, eX-
cept the question of slavery, much less that
that portion would be invalid without such
opinion. This would have been in cppo
sition 10 the numerous prrcPdcnt> which
have occurred since the adoption OF the
Federal Constitution by the different States
The Slavery question was the all absorbing
one, and you were sent TO Kansas with I'll,
, Iul Confidence Of the President To carry on
the principles Of the Kansas Nebraska act
With the question whether Kansas was t,
be Free or Slave State you were not tc
: interfere. You were TO secure to the peo-
pie Of Kansas free and fair election TO de
eide the question for themselves. Tit
President was, therefore. happy TO learI
from your dispatches to this Department o
e July 18th last, that in all your speeches yot
had refroined from expressing any opinion
$ as to whether it should be Slave or Free
r State.
n Your obedicnt servant, LEWIS CAss.
!. To Hon. r. J Walker, Washington City