The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-04-18
y,rsveil Address of Gov. esary.

the enjoyment OF those domestic com
forts of which have so long been
deprived, I deem it proper to address
YOU on the occasion of my departure.
The Office from which / now volun-
iarily Withdraw was unsought by me,
and at the time of Its acceptance was
by no means desirable. This was
quite evident from the deplorable NOR
al, civil and political condition of the
Territory-the discord, contention and
deadly strife which then and there
prevailed = and the painful anxiety
with which it was regarded by patri-
.otic citizens in every portion of the
American Union. To attempt to gov
ern Kansas at such period, and un-
der such circumstances, was to assume
no ordinary responsibilities. Few
men could have desired to undertake
the task, and none would have been so
presumptuous, without serious fore
bodings as to the result. That ] should
have hesitated is no matter of aston
ishment to those acquainted with the
facts; but that / accepted the ap-
continent was a well-grounded source
of regret to many of my well-tried
friends, who looked upon the enter
prise as one that could terminate in
nothing but disaster to myself. It was
not supposed possible that order could
! be brought. in any reasonable space of
time, and with the means at my COM
msnd, from the then existing chaos.
Without dsscanting upon the feel
ings. principles and motives which
prompted me, suffice it to say, that |
accepted the Presidents tender of the
office of Governor. In doing so, ]
sacrificed the comforts of home, en-
deared by the strongest earthly ties
and most sacred associations, to en-
bark in an undertaking which present
ed, at the best, but dark and unsatis-
factory prospect. l reached Kansas
and entered upon the discharge of my
official duties in the most gloomy hour
of her history. DesolatiOn and ruin
.reigned on every hand; homes and
4iresides were deserted; the smoke of
burning dwellings darkened the at
mosphere; women and children, driE-
en- from their habitations, wandered
over the prairies and among the wood
lands. OF sought refuge and protection
even among the Indian tribes. The
highways were infested with numer-
'OHslpredatory bands. and the towns
were fortified and garrisoned by ar
mics of conflicting partizans, each
excited almost to frenzy, and deter
mined upon mutual determination
Such was, without exaggeration. the
condition of the Territory at the pc.
Rod of my arrival, Hsr treasury was
bankrupt. There we're no pccuniary
resources within herself to meet the
exigencies ofthe time. The Congress
sional appropriations, intended to de-
fray the expenses of year. were in.
! sufficient to meet the demands of q
i fortnight. The laws were nall, the
Courts virtually suspended. and the
civil arm of the Government almost
entirely pswerless. Act;on-prompt,
decisive, energetic action-was neces7
sary. / at once saw what was need
ed. aud without hesitation gave my
SEA to the work. For six months !
have labored with unceasing industry
The accustomed and needed hours for
sleep have been employed in the pub
iic service. Night and day have off,
cial duties demanded unremitting at
tention. Ihave had no proper leisure
moments for recreation. My health
has failed under the pressure. Nor il
this all; to my own private purse,
'Tithout assurance of reimbursement,
have resorted, in every emergency,
aOr the required funds. Whether these
arduous services and willing sacrifices
have been beneficial to Kansas and my
country, you are abundansly qualified
to determine.
That | have met with opposition
and even bitter vituperation, and win.
.detiye malice. is no matter of aston.
ishment. No man has ever yet held
an important or responsible post il
our own or any other country, and es
eped censure. / should have beer
very weak and foolish indeed, had
expected to pass through the fiery or
zeal entirely unscathed, especially 81
was required, if not to come in con
Met with, at least to thwart evil mach
nations. and hold in restraint wicked
passions, or rid the Territory of many
a"less. reckless. and desperate men,
besides. it were impossible to come il
coataet with the conflicting interest,
which governed the conduct of many
seii,disposed persons. without becom.
ING tne object of mistrust and abuse,
"hiie from others. whose sole obisei
sas notoriously personal advance,
'aeat' At any sacrifice of the general
eood and af every hazard IL xro.,ld