Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-07

Walker. present Governor of the Territory,
accepted his appointment from the President
upon condition that he should not be required
to leave Washington until the first OF next
month, and circumstances beyond his control
render it impossible for him to start before
that day he may therefore be expected here
about the middle Of next month, and will
then assume the Executive authority OF the
territory.
During the absence of the Governor, by
the organic law of the territory, the whole
duties and responsibilities of the Executive
are devolved upon me, by virtue of my COM
mission as Secretary. On assuming to ex-
ercise the functions of this high office, at
this critical jnncture in the affairs of the
territory, it is not inappropriate that |
should briefly indicate the course which |
shall pursue.
The government of the United States rec
ognises the authority of the territorial gov
ernment in all matters which are within the
scope of the organic act of Congress, and
consistent with the federal constituent. l
hold that there can be no other rightful au-
thority exercised within the limits of Kan
sas and | shall proceed to the faithful and
impartial execution of the laws of the terri
tory, by the use of all the means placed in
my power, and which may be necessary to
| that end
The government especially recognises the
territorial act which provides for assembling
the Convention to propose a Constitution,
with view of making application to Con-
gress for admission as state into the Union
that act is recognised as presenting the only
test of the qualification of voters for dele
gates to the Convention, and all proceeding
repugnant restrictions are thereby repealed.
In this light the act must be allowed to have
provided for full and fair expression Of the
will of the people through the delegates who
may be chosen to represent them in the Con-
stitutional Convention. I do not doubt, how
ever, that in order to avoid all pretext for
resistance to the peaceful operation Of this
law, the convention itself will in some
form provide for submitting the great dis
tracing question regarding their social in
stitution, which has so long agitated the peo-
pie Of Kansas, to fair vote to all the actual
bona fde residents of the territory with ev-
cry possible security against fraud and vio-
lence. If the constitution be thus framed
and the question of difference thus submitted
to the decision of the people, believe that
Kansas will be admitted by Congress, without
delay, as one of the sovereign states of the
American Union, and the territorial author
tiles will be Immediately withdrawn.
need scarcely say that all the power of
the territorial executive will be exerted with
entire impartiality to prevent fraud to sup
press violence, and to secure to every citizen
a fair opportunity for the safe and peaceful
exercise of the election privilege and it will
be no less the duty than the earnest desire
and great pleasures of the Governor Of the
territory, to carry out, in good faith, policy
avowed by the president of the United States
in his recent inaugural address in which he
declares it to be +" the imperative and indis-
pensible duty of the government of the Uni
ted states to secure to every resident inhab-
liant the free and Independent expression of
his opinion Of his vote. This sacred right to
each individual must be preserved" and
/" that being accomplished, nothing can be
fairer than to leave the people of the terri
tory free from all foreign influence to decide
their own destiny for themselves, subject on
y to the constitution of the United States"
Nothing is wanting but to secure the con-
fdence Of the people of all parties in the
sincerity of the declared intentions of the
territorial executive to carry out these prin-
cipes in good faith, in order to induce the
cooperation of all good men in the pending
measures for adopting state constitution.
The principles themselves cannot fail to be
acceptable to the sober judgment Of the peo-
pie, and ardently hope, for the sake of the
paramount interests involved, that the neces-
sary confidence will not be withheld.
The deplorable events which have marked
the history Of the territory up to this have.
doubtless left their natural results Of enmity
and heart-burnings among the people as also
upon criminal records of the territorial courts.
Indictments have been found against many
of those who acted in military capacity UNI
der the authority of the territorial govern
ment, for acts and excuses alledgcd to be
wholly illegal and unjustifable. On the
other hand, similar prosecutions have heen
instituted against those who resisted the tel
ritorial authorities, and who undertook to
retaliate for the allegded wrongs committed
against them 1t is my deliberate opinion,
that in order to promote peace and harmony
and to secure the future repose of the peo-
pie, there ought to be general amnesty il
reference to all those acts on both sides,
which grew out of the political contests, and
which were not corruptly and feloniously
committed for personal gain and to CRAFTY
individual maignity, These measures, i
adopted, at ALL ought to be adopted gener.
ly, without any consideration of the origin o.
the difficulty, or without question as to che
party which may be responsible for the
wrong. 1t will involve no concession or adj
vantage to either party but will be merely
an act Of clemency, designed to obliterate, al
far as possible, from the hearts of the PEG
Pile, all memory Of the disastrous and lament
able contest which has heretofore desolated
this unhappy territory If it shall hav,
that effect though it may pardon some in
stances of gross wrong and outrage, it will
tend to calm the excited passions of the PEG
pie, and to prevent similar occurrences il
the future. 1t will be measure of concili
alton and peace, but will leave the peopl,
free from apprehension in the future S,
they can securely devote themselves to thos,
important labors which are destined to maxi
this territory, great prosperous and happ,
state. FRED p STANTON.
Sec'y and Ac'g Governor.
Lecompton, April 18th, 1857.
MuppI IN,