Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-24
SPIRIT OF THE MOANING PRESS.


to-day dedicated wholly to a resume of the
proceedings in the two Houses of Congress
yesterday.
The Union publishes the following able and
appropriate reply from the Secretary of State
to Gov. Walkers late letter of resignation
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Dec. Il, 1857.
SIR: On Wednesday last | received your COM
municaiiOn of the 18th inst, rendering your res
ignatiOn governor of Kansas. This Tesig-
nation is accompanied by a long argument on
the affairs of the Territory, to which, you are we'll
aware, il would he improper for the department
To reply. IL any officer of the government who
feels himself constrained to refuse obedience tn
the instructions OF the President OF the United
states should pursue this unusual course, and
thus place on the files Of the appropriate depart
ment criticisms on the policy of the admnistra-
ton, person knows better than yourself to
what consequences this might lead. The de-
partment must either cause charges and argu-
ments against the President to be filed among
the public archives &c the country without con-
tradictiOn or reply, or il must spend the time
which ought to be devoted to the public service
in controversies with subordinate officers who
may disapprOye the Presidents policy. Whilst
duty, therefore, fOTbids HE TO enter into a con-
trOversial discussion with YOU on the various
topics embraced by your argument. IL is proper
that should make remark upon single point.
lou state that the President has changed his
policy in regard TO Kansas. And why this allie
CATION! Simply because the convention of Kan
had, in the exercise of the right belonging to
them, decided that they would not submit the
whole constitution to the people and although
they had submitted the all-important and dan
geTouS question of slavery, which threatened to
conynlse the Union, and was alone prominent in
the minds of the people throughout every State
he had not treated the submission of this moment
Gus question a mere nullity.
Under these circumstances, il was his impera-
tive duty, and this in strict conformity with pre-
vIOuS Instructions to take that fair election
should he held on this vital question and thus
give peace to the Union. Had he acted in any
other manner, merely because he preferred the
submission of the constitution originally to the
people, his responsibility would have been of the
2ravest character. He never intended or expressed
the opinion that the convention were bound to
submit any portion of the constitution to the
people. except the question of slavery, much less
that that portion of the constitution would be in
valid without such submission.
Had he entertained such opinion this would
have been In opposition to the numerous prece-
dents which have occurred since the adoption of
the federal constitution by the different States
The question of slavery was the all-absor bling
question, and you were sc mt to Kansas with the
full confidence of the President 10 carry out the
principles of the Kansas Nebraska act. With
the question whether Kansas was to be free or
TO secure TO tine people of Kansas a free and fair
election 20 decide this question for themselves
The President Was, therefore, happy to learn
from your dispatches to this department of the
18th of July last that in all your speeches YOU re-
trained from expressing any opinion as to whether
Kansas should be slave or a free State.
am instructed TO inform you that your resio-
nation of the office of Governor of Kansas has
been accepted.
am, sir, your obedient servant,
LEWIS CAss.
Hon. RosEET J. WALLER, Washington.