Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-31
Gov Walker and the Administia- :
ton.

w alker letter to tho President, resignng the
office of Governor of Kansas. 1t is sharp,
Iorcibe and nswerable. The remainder is
given to discussion of the questions OF popu-
lar sovereignty:
SIR Il resign the Office of Governor of tho
Territory of Kansas. have been most reluc
family forced to this conclusion after anxious
and careful consideration of my duty to my
country to the people Of Kansas, to the Pres-
dent oil the United States, and to myself
Tue grounds that are assumed by the Presi-
dent III his late message to Congress. and in re-
cent instructions in connection with events now
transpiring here and in Kansas, admonished me
that, as Governor of that Territory, it will no
longer be in my power to preserve the peace or
promote the public welfare
AT the earnest solicitation of the President,
alter repeated relusals - the last being in writ
ing-l formally accepted this otlic e, upon his
letter showing the dangers and difficulties
of the Kansas question, and the necessity of
my undertaking the task of adjustment. In
der these circumstances, Notwithstanding the
great sacrifices to my personal, political and
pecuniary interests, felt could no longer re-
fuse such call from my country through her
battle who is ordered to the command of for
lorn hope.
accepted. however, on the express condition
that | should advocate the submission of the
constitution to vote of the people for ratifca-
ton or rejection. These views were clearly
understood by the President and all his Cabi-
net. They were distinctly set forth in my let
ter on my acceptance Of this office, on the Goth
l,st al ,o,t al ~, nj
address Of the 9th of May last, AS follows:
d" Indeed, cannot doubt that the Conven
ton after having framed State constitution,
will submit it for ratification or rejection by a
majority of the then actual, bona yfde, resident
settlers Of Kansas"
With these views well known to the Presi-
dent and the Cabinet, and approved ny them, l
accepted the appointment OF Governor of Kan
sas. My instructions from the President,
through the Secretary Of State, under date Of
3Oth March last, sustain the regular Legisla-
ture of the Territory in assembling Il Conven-
ton to form Constitution. and they express
the opinion Of the President that when such
a constitution shall be submitted to the people
OF the Territory, they must be protected in the
exercise oil their right OF voting for or against
that instrument, and the fair expression of the
popular will must not be interrupted by fraud
or violence
| repeat, then, as my clear conviction, that
unless the Convention submitted the Constitu
ton to the vote of all the actual resident sett
lers of Kansas and the election be fairly anC
justly conducted, the Constitution will be, and
ought to be, rejected by Congress This inau
quail most distinctly asserted that it was not u
question of Slavery merely, which believed
to be of little practical Importance then in its
application to Kansas, but of the entire Consti
tuition, which should be submitted to the PEG
pie OF Kansas for ratification or rejection -
These are my words on that subject, in my in.
augnral:
" 1t is rot merely, shall Slavery exist in OF
+ dlsapp ar from Kansas, but, shall the grea
principles OF sell government and State sOver
eighty be maintained or subvertcd -
In that inaugural proceed further to say the
people - may by subsequent vote, defeat thu
f ratification of the Constitution" designate
tbs Il great constitutional right" and adj
= that the Convention is the servant and no
the master of the people"
In my official dispatch to you, of the Cd 0
Y June asst, copy of that inaugural address wa
transmitted to you, for the further information
of the President and the Cabinet. No excep
ton was ever taken to any portion of thai ad
dress On the contrary it was distinctly, admit
0 tied by the President, in his message, with com
: mendable frankness, that my Instructions in ia
, vor of II submission Of the Constitution to
vote OF the people were = general and unqual
fed"
BY that iraugur, aud subsequent addresses
! | was edged 60 the people of Kansas to op
:, pose by al lawful measures the adoption of an
: constitution which was not fairly and fully sui
United to their vote for ratification or rejection
0 These pledges | cannot recall or violate wihou
: personal dishonor and the abandonment Of fur
!, damental principles and therefore it il npo
sible for me to support what is called the Lit
Is compton constitution because it is not submit
+ ted to vote Of the people for ratification or IT
d lection.
:, have ever maintained the principle tina
} sovereignty is vested exclusively in the peop
B. of each State, and that it performs its first an
If highest function in forming State governmer
n and State constitution. This highest act
sovereignty, in my judgment, can only be pei
= formed by the people themselves, and cannc
e be delegated to conventions or other immedat
% bodies
The President in his message, thinks tn;
the rights secured by this bill to the people
l. acting upon their State Constitution, are col
e fined to the Slavery question but think,
: shown in my address before quoted, that I" so,
ereignty is the POWER that makes Constitution
and governments" and that not only the Slav
/, nv clause in State Constitution, but all other
e, must be submitted. The President thinks thu
80 sovereignty can be delegated at least in par
| think that sovereignty cannot be delegated O
< all The President believes that sovereignty
e, indivisble between Conventions and people,
Of be exercised by the former on all subjects b,
# Slavery, and by the latter only on that subject
e whereas, think that sovereignty is inalienabl
IL indivisible, incapable of partition, and that
is it cannot be delegated in whole OR in part.
m
L have heretofore discussed the beet mail
"a ly on the question that Conventions are n,
sovereign, and cannot rightfully make Sta
Constitution without its submission to Il vo
e. of the people for ratification or rejection. Ye
TX surely, even those who differ from me must col
cede, especially under the Kansas Nebrasl
act, it is only such Conventions can be Gale
II sovereign as have been truly elected by the pc
OF pie and represent their will.
N On reference to the Territorial law und
which the convention was assembled thirt
Ill four reeularly organized counties were name
O. as election districts for delegates to the CONVEX
c. ton. In each and all of these counties it WI
r. required by law that census be taken and Il
!, voters registered and when this was completed
III the delegates to the convention should be o.
DIS pointed accordingly In nineteen of the
If counties there was no census and thereto
rs there could be no appointment there OF del
: gates npon such census, and in fifteen of the
- counties there was no registry of voters
X These fifteen countess including many OF Il
ny oldest organized counties in the Territory, we
e. entirely DISTINGUISHED, and, by no fault Of the
own, could not give solitary vote for the del
:" gates to the convention
10 This result was snperinduced by the fact th
be the Territorial Legislature appointed all Il
Shor; ~ nd Drnhat Indroa -, All Al oau ..n..