Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-12-23


To Ion. Lesgis Cas-, Secretary Of State:
Irssignthe Office of Governor of Kansas. have
been reluctantly forced this conclusion after
toxious and careful consideration Of my duty 10 the
country the people Of Kansas to the President Of
the United States, and 10 myself. The grounds as
sumed by the President in his late message to Con-
gress and in recent instructions in connection with
the events rauspiring here and in Kansas, admonsh
me that as Governor of that Territory, it will no
niger be in my pOwerto preserve peace or promote
the public welfare.
Al the earnest solicitation Of the President, after
repeated refusals the last being in writing finally
accepted this Office upon his letter showing the dan
gers aud difficulties of the Kansas question nd the
lecessity Of my undertaking the task Of adjustment
Under these circumstances, Notwithstanding the
great sacrifices 10 me, personal, POLITICAL and pc
culinary, felt that could no more refuse sucn
III from my country, through her Chief Magistrate,
ian a soldier ia battle who is ordered 10 command
4 lorlorn hope accepted, however, on the express
condition, that should advocate the submission OF
be Constitution 10 vote of the people for rathca-
ton or rejection.
These views were clearly understood by the Prest
i lent and ali his Cabinet. They were distinctly Sc
orth in my letter of acceptance Of this ofce on the
10Th of March last and reiterated 10 my inaugural
address, on the 9th of May last, az follows; In
deed [ cannot doubt that the convention, after hay
ng passed State Constitution, Will submit 1t for
rati6caion or rejection by majOrity of the bona dt
.esidsnt settlers of Kansas. With these views
! veil known to the President and Cabinet, and ap-
roved by them, / accepted the appointments 0i Gov
| o Kansas My insruc ions from the President,
,,rouyh rbe s. cretary of State under date of the
9th OF March last, to sustain the regular lie
,slature Of the Territory IA assembling convention
form a constitution, and tn express the OF inlon
Il the President, that when such Il constitution shall
De submitted TO the people Of the ferchory, they
must be protect ed in the exercise of their right OF
/ net hat frst
PRESTON of the popular will must not be interrupted
| ~ fraud or violence.
repeat then as my clear conviction, that, unles;
The convention should submit the constitution to The
vote OF all the actual resident settlers In Kansas
| aud the election be fairly and justly conducted
The constitution will be and ought TO be rejected by
Congress. This inaugural most distinctly asserted
maj it was not the question of slavery merely winch
! believed 10 be of mule practical Importance thel
n lis application to Kansas, but the enure consh
tuition which should be submitted TO the people loI
| ratification or reje;tion.
| Alter quoting from the Presidents inaugural
Governor Walker refers follows TO his course al
Governor Of Kansas aud the good effects Of the pew
er and responsibility beng deyOlyed exclusively up
On him by the President, Of using the Federal ARM
a Kansas to suppress instruction. The alternative
| vas distinctly presented to him by qneslons pro
pounded at Topeka OF arresung revolution oy th'
Slaughter Of the people, OF Of preventing altogether
,bat civil war which must have extended throughout
/
| The Union.
| . My solemn assurance was then given, that the
! eight Of the people 10 frame their own government
80 lar as my power extended, should be maintained
BUT Tor this assurance 1t is concededacip that tht
| rupeka Sale Government, then assembled IN legs
,a1ve session. would have been put into Immediate
,ctual operation, and that sanguinary collision with
| he federal army and civil war must have ensued
executing, il is feared, throughout the Union III
iced, the whole idea OF inaugural address orlgI
/ IA ed IN The alarming intelligence winch had
reached Washington City, of periiOus and luclplcnl
rebellion IN Kansas This insurrection was rem
lered still more formidable on my reaching the
| Territory by the near approach Of the assembling
of the revolutionary State Legislature and the very
numerous mass conventions by which 1t was su9-
! tanned.
In truth. had to choose between arresiing that
instruction at Whatever cost Of American blood by
he Federal army or to prevent the terrible catas
| tr0phe as did by my pledges to the people oil the
e1eruon Of all my power 10 obtain lalr e.eclon
by the vote Of The people for ratification or reJec
ton. My inaugural anu other addresses were 'heIe-
tore really IN the nature OF procIamauons, 50 oItth
issued by he President and Governors wilma we"
10 prevent as they dad IN this case, civil War ana
| IusurrecuOn.
Now, by my oath of Office, Twas sworn to support
the CONSTITUTION OF the United Staies which have
! shown in my judgment, required the SUBMISSION oil
| the constitution " a vote OF the people. was
| bill should be faithfully executed, which 0ll IN
my judgement as heretofore stated, required that
tie constitution be submitted TO vote OF tie PEG
pie, aud was therefore only performing my sole M
duty when, rs Governor OF the Territory, 20 whose
people my first Obligations were due, enueaYored
T. secured to them these results. The idea Fnler-
nineI by some that | shOu see the Federal Con-
sfIiurion and The Kansas Nebraska bill OvertlrOwu
aud disregaIded and thL playing the part OF
mute in q pauJUmime Of ruin, should acquIesle 10y
ny silence IN such result especially Where such
acquIlscence involved an immediate consequence
d disastrous and sangunary Civil war, seems y lie
most prepostorOus-
Not A drop OF blood has been shed by the federal
troops In Kansas during my administration, bA IN
surr,ction and civil war were extending, lear,
throughout he country, and we're alone prevented
10y IN. course pursued by me on these occasl'as'
aud the whole people abandoning revolutionary EIo-
lsuce we're induced by me to 60, Tor The nrsJ tine,
into general and peaceful election Ihese iSpor-
results constitute sutncieut consoialvh iii al
the unjust assaults made upon me On tins SUBJECT
I do not understand that aese assaults have ever
received The slightest countanance from ny fres-
Jeut. Ga the contrary, MS message clearly lHdI-
dIclies approval Of my course up 10 The present
81 unfortunate difference ABOUT the so-taIlcu Lee
CON gJCu CunsJit hutton.
luasmucl, however, as this dfereice Is upon
Vi al question, involving practical resuIis and ne"
instructions, il Is certainly much mote respectful to
the President my part 10 resign the TN ;e Of GOV
eruOr, aud give him opportuuityoi filling IT, as
his right under the Constitution, with one VINO con-
ours with him in his present opini0t, rather than go
Iusas and force nm 10 remove me by dtsobeul-
10 MS instructions. In my Judgment, 1t would
be Incompatible with proper RESPECT for the Chief
Magistrate OF the Union, Inconsistent with the rules
Vi moral rectltude or Proprety ard could be auop-
ted with no advantage 10 the rghIs Of The people.
The following Is The substance OF the remainder
OF the letter:
some oppose because the Constitution distinctly
reco ,uizss aud adopts the Oxford fraud appOrtiOn
log Legislative members; Others because unpTece-
deuJed aud vice regal powers were given to the Pre-
sdeut Of the convention.
An Overwhelming majority Of the people have no
faith IN validity vi the returns, and Will not
vote. Any attempt by Congress 10 force The ConstI-
Wdun upon The people Oh IL susas will be an effort to
substitute the viii Of small minority Tor an over
whe Ginning majority and wall not settle the question
Or ioc,Ie tAe issue. lie fears it will be ATTENDED
with cIyi war, extending perhaps throughout the
Uuion, bringing the question back again upon Con
zress aud before the people in most dangerous and
alarming aspect
Tue President takes different view of the sub
Iec in his message, and from the events occurring In
Kansas well here, II is evident that the ques-
tuu Is passing the theories Into practice, and
that as uuveryr OF Kansas shouid be compelled TO
carry out new Instructors, differing Oh a vital ques
a from those received at the uaje Of my appoint
uyut such instructions | could not execute con- |
sstsutIy with my views Of the Fe leral Constitution,
Of ihc Kansas and Nebraska bil, with my pledg- |
Is 10 the people Of Kansas. Under these cTcum- |
stances uV alternative Is left me but 10 resign The
office OF Governor OF the Territory OF Kansas. No |
Une cau more deeply regret than myself this neces
slty, but b arises from 10 change Oi opinion on my
arr On the uirary, l should must cheertully
laye reiuIugd TO Kansas to carry out my original |
ana thus preserve the peace u The Ter
Ft..1 Ir r..af no q
IeenIug my Pledges to the people.
IL Is uOt my IuJeu IOu 10 discuss at this time the
peculiar circumstances and unexPcc, cd events which
have modified the opinions OF the President upon
point 80 vital as The submission Of the consul ulIOn
Tor ratification or election by vote OF the people,
much less do desire any controversy with the Pre-
,rdcut on this subject. Yet, however widely my
news may differ irJm those entertained by hun on
his question: rs regards al, those great Democratic
measures Nhlcu trust wIl constitute the policy OF
MS administration, III other respects will give me
1,easIre as a private ciuzen, ~ yield my cordial
support.
,rluc Territorial Convention assembled at LecUmp-