The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-28
Accept ance OF Gov. Walker,s Restg.
nation.-Gem. Cass,s Reply.
The following ID the letter Of Gen. Csss, Secrets.
~ Of State accepting the resignation Of Gov Wal.
ker, Of Kansas "a.
DEPARTMENT Of STATE

ker, Of Kansas:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, December Is, 1851.
sir-On Wednesday last received you comnu-
nication Of the 18th inst. rendering your resgua-
ton as aovernor Of Kansas. This resignation Is
accompanied BY long argument on the affairs of
the territory, to which, you are we'll aware II
would be improper for the department TO reply
III any oficer OF the government who feels himself
constrained 10 refuse obedience to thc instructions
q the PRESIDENT OF the United should pursue
this unusual course, aad thus place on the files of
the appropriate departments criticisms on the poi-
cy OF the administration, NO person knows better
than yourself TO what consequences this might
lead. Ihe department must either cause charges
and arguments against the President to be filed
among the pablo archives of the country without
CONTRADICTION or reply, or il must spend the time
which ought to be devoted to the public service IN
controversies With subordinate of6cers who may
disapprove the Presidents policy Whilst duty
therefore, forbids me to enter into Controversial
discussion with you on the various topics embraced
by Your ar sument it Is proper that / should make
a remark upon a single point. ~ - !.
fou state that the President has chan rad his m,
hey In regard to Kansas. And wby THIS aIlara
tion! simply because the convention of Kansas
had in the exercise of the rghs belonging To Them
decided that they would not submit the whole
constitution TO the people, and although thew had
submitted the ail-important and dan~ernns ,nss.
tion oi slavery, which threatened TO convulse the
Union, and was alone prominent In the minds ~
the people throughout every State, he had not
treated the submission of this msmeutons nest,on
as mere nuliity. s
Under these circumstances IL was his innnera
tive dnty ana this in strict conformity with nrs
vou5 instructions, to take care that fair election
should De held Oh this vital question and thus
give peace to the Unions Had he acted in any
otler manner merely because he preferred the
submission OF the. constitution originally 10 The
people, MS responsibility would have beeu of the
gravest character. He never intended or exnressad
the opinion that the convention were bonHd 10
submit any portion of the constitution To the neo
pie except the question of slavery much less that
portion OF the constitution would be invalid with
out such submission "'N'' M
Had he entertained such an opinion. tbis would
nave Deen 10 opposition to the aumerous nreco
deuts winch have occurred siuce the adontion ~
the federal constitution by tue different States -
Ihe question OF slavery was the all.absorbi,c
question, and you were sent to Kansas with The
iaii eonndeDce OF the President to carry ont ths
principles of the Kansas Nebraska act. Win the
question whether Kansas was to be free or n sIave
state, you were not to interfere You were b. en-
cure TO the people of Kansas free and fair e,ac
tlon 70 decide this question for themselves The
PRESIDENT was therefore, happy to learn from your
dispatches to this department. of the 18th Of lnIy
last that IN all your speeches you refraiped from
| expressing any opinion as to whether Kansa.
should be slave or free State -
am instructed to inform you that your rasiona
ton OF the Office Of Governor of Kansas has hen
| accepted. "' '''A
am, sir, your obedient servant,
H. po, LEWIS CAss.
Hon KoBT. j. WALLER, Washington