Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-06-17
From the Augusta Cnnstturiona'ist.
GOV, WALKERS INAUGURAL.

From the Augusta Cnnstiturionaist.
GOV. WALKERS INAUGURAL.
In his letter 10 the President, accepting the
Office which he holds, Gov. Walker ann unced
that he would, in the exercise of'its functions
preserve a strict neutrality between tile parties
who divided by an irreconciiable antasonism
of feeling and opinion, were struggling for the
mastery in the Territory, over whose affairs he
was called to preside This declaration of neu-
trality, together with his talent, experience,
and eminent administrative ability, made his
appointment acceptable to The South, (althougll
that vague, indcfnable shadow, which for years
has rested upon hischaracter, prevented hear
ty, cordial, and undoubting endorsement of the
fitness and propriety Of his nomination and
the hope was generally induleed and expressed,
that under his administration of itS affairs the
question of slavery In Kansas would have q
peaceful solution, satisfactory to all sections of
the Union. This hope was short-lived, for very
SOON there were unmistakeablei indications, that
the newly appointed Executive OF Kansas, wa
not impartial between the northern and south
ern parties Of that Territory, and thatsin the
administration of his Office he would not observe
that policy of official nor-intervention, which
he had prescribed for himself in his letter of
acceptance. First came the reiterntion Of the
declaration made by Gov, Walker, in the last
Presidential canvass, and extensively published
throughout The Northern States that Kansas,
under the laws of climate and population, must
inevitably be free State-an unfavorable in
dication of the animus with which he would as
sumo the Office OF its Governor. Next came n
manifesto to the people from the Hon. +. P.
Stanton, Secretary of tho Territory, who, in
the capacity of Acting Governor, had been sent
to Kansas as Walkers avant-cuurier, in which
it is announced that the Constitutional Conren-
ton, called expressly for that purpose, by the
recognized Legislature Of the Territory, will
not settle the question: of slavery, but that its
action will he submitted to all the actual resi-
dents of the Territory, for their approval or re-
lection. Next came speech from Gov: Wal:
ker himself, delivered at complimentary din:
.nersaiyens hilniIr Xorh,s in whiehal
reiterates and endorses the proposition Of Sec
reta.,y Stanton, in language 80 dlctatorial and
that we reproduce the passage
from bis speech entire:
"irhe people Of that Territory had q clear
md unquestioHable right 10 decide for them
selves npon Me adoption Of a State Constitution,
md any attempt on the porf u any Contention
or any othsr Jody Of aaen, however respectable
and influential they might be, to impose upon
the Territory Constitution not sanctioned by
the popular vote, 1cOnla be 'isMrpation a,El a
,crouy lrhich c0,t!d nat be liberated tOr q moment
SO far rs the utmost exercise. Of his official
powers and his personal influence would 70 10
secure that result, Coz. Walker said be was de-
ternined the people of Kansas should have an
op,ortuyiity Tor u full, free and solemn express
sion Of their will, upon the adoption Of any
Constitution that might be framed, after fair
and satisfactory CENSUS of NIL the Grla fle'in-
habitants who might he in tue Tcrrltory0t the
lime. lie considered it due to them. Il lcas'
oaf of their inherent and instieua3le sorercigniy
And be should consider it, not only q point Of
law and Of official duty, as an officer OF the
Territory, but q po,nl I honoT, as a man and a
gentleman, to Go everything in his power TO
secure to them the full, fair, and undlsputed
exercise of this fundamental right"
:, This wa, certainly sufficiently explicit, but if
any doubts c%i,ted in reference to the policy
which he would pursrc, alter tile delivery Oh
this dnncr speech iii New fork5stlley are eilec-
tualy removed by his official inaugural to the
.prople IF Kansas. The: extracts frum that adj
dress, referring to the subject Of slavery, which
we puhI>he,l.s yesterlay, dcreope the: same
policy as that disclosed in the New York speech
"a policy of intervention in behalf OF the free
State men OF the Tcrrilory-a policy antaso-
ni,tic TO that OF tie rro->layrry nlen Of the
Territory policy which, if it is adopted,
must make Kansas u free State.
The address is free State document through
out. First there is long, earnest, bc.eeclIlns
appeal to the free State men to participate in
tie election ol delegates 10 tic Convention
which will meet in September to frame Con.
stitution and State Governm mt. Then there
is a distinct assurance that tue pro-slarery Con-
ttnt.n to be adopted by that Convention will
be submitted for ratification or rejection "by q
majority of the ihcR actual bona fidc resident
settlers of KanSaS," coupled with tie declars-
ton that, unless the Constitution is 81 submit
ted, "it viii be-, and ought to bc, rejected by
Congress-" Then there is the suggestion, that
slave labor would be Improbable in such q eli
mate as that OF Kansas. Then there is the as
SUMPTION that Kansas will he free State with
the earnestly expressed hope that it will not be
a necro-steallng free State; Or as tue Governor
ruIiely PHRASES it, that il will in its CollStit-
tinn. asccure to tile Stale Of Missouri the faith
full performance Of all constitutional guarantees"
Anl thcll, finally, thereis suggestion that q
slave State may lie created out Of the Indian
territory, on the Southern limits Of Kansas.
Why should tue Governor Of Kansas 60 ont OF
his way to propose the creation Of Slave State
out of territory south of it, il it vas not TO
give a sop to tile South, and present this hope
of Slave State as a prospective compensation
for the loss Of Kansas? Why Should he recon-
mend the action which Kansas rs u free State
should take, if lie did not believe and intend
that AS far us lie could influence the result, it
should be free State? Why should he argue
against slavery, by suggesting that the eli
mate of Kansas would render slave labor
unproftaLle there, if he was not disposed
to make Kansas free State Why should he
insist that free State men should abandon their
Topcka constitution and bogus State Govern
ment, and participate in the election Of delega-
ties to the Constitutional Convention, if it was
not to prevent the South from profiting by the
folly Of its cnemles2 Why, above all, should
lie urge that the constitution to be adopted in
September should be submitted to q vote of all
tluse who. at the time OF its adoption, are set
tiers OF Kansas, unless it is TO give to the free
State men All oEtor,unity to reject tie pro'
- r,s 81 :sau,1t'ii 3 i.3.t .s,a.i-. ~