The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-04-02
GOV. GEARY's REASONS FOR REs1GN1Ne.

street.
GOV. GEARY's REASONS FOR REs1GNING.
Gov. Geary's farewell address was a remark
able document-remarkable not so much in it
self, as in its contrast with the act which led
to Its mulgation-remarkable less for what
is said than for what it left to be inferred.
1t consists of three parts-frst, vivid rep
resentation of the civil disorder and wretched-
ness of Kansas, prior to his arrival; second, a
rather jubilant statement of his success in sub
DUNG these evils, and restoring that peace to
the Territory which, as he AYERS, now prevails
there; and, third, sundry affectionate counsels,
modelled apparently on the farewell advice of
the Father of His Country, as to the means by
which this happy state of things may be
preserved. In short, the whole document is
little more than verbose amplifcation of the
boast of the old Roman general, 81 came, / saw,
conquered"
If one has a right to infer anything from this
exposition, it is that Gov. Geary has brought
about political millennium in Kansas; that,
under his potent influence, the lamb and the
lion are lying down together; and that the Free
State and Border Ruffian parties, so recently
ia hostile array, are perfectly wild with frater-
nal enthusiasm and mutual good will.
But the question arises, why then does the
Governor, without waiting for any intimation
of Mr.. Buchanan's displeasure, resign? Why
does he not remain to preside over that harmo-
NOUS order-that Saturnian era of good feel
ing-which he has inaugurated, and to the
continuance of which his presence would seem
so indispensable?
The truth, we fear, must be confessed. The
pleasing picture Of affairs in Kansas thus pre-.
scented ia Elusive, and the prospect of the peace
of the Territory too precarious to warrant a
further six months of successful experiment as
its Chief Executive. We must therefore look
for facts in connection with this subject outside
of the Governors published statement, if we
would obtain a solution of the question why he
has resigned. Some of these have already ap-
peared in the newspaper reports of bis confess
sions and others, equally conclusive, are pat
ent to public observation.
The riot ending in the shooting of Sherrard
who, in consequence of the Governors refusal
TO appoint him to the Office of Sheriff, had, i
the Governors own private declaration, tina
fifty persons were pledged to assassinat'
him, if he acted in manner displeasing
to the Border Rufian party, form Singh
lar commentary his glowing description
of the condition of Kansas, not to speak of hi
significant admissions, that, notwithstanding
the daily occurrence of high-han crimes il
the Territory, the Federal Judiciary, under
Lecompte, refused to hold a court more thar
two weeks out of the six months of his term o
Office; and that the Federal troops were unde
Il. 5Ssf rtdaistion ~ tber Services i
preserving public order, thus making that func
tionary a mere lay figure, without power to en-
force his authority.
1t is true, though by no means probable
that that Judiciary might be removed by Mr.
Buchanan, and that the War Departments or
ders might be changed, and the troops places
under the Governors command. This woul,
better his condition. But there still remain
one fixed fact, one insuperable obstacle to tn
faithful and impartial fulflment of his dutie
Is the Chief Executive of the people of Kansas
and that is the bogus Legislature and its bogu
laws, the validity of which he is required, b
his instructions from Washington, to recognise
The character of this Legislative body, whicl
was imposed upon the people by the invasion
of armed rufians from Missouri, and by th
grossest frauds and outrages at the polls, ma
be Judged from the character of the only thre
laws vetoed by Governor Geary, which laws
nevertheless insisted in passing over his Veto
The first was a law extending bail to a.
criminal offences, so that men indicted, evel
BY Pro Slavery grand juries, for murder in tn
FIRST degree, are now walking at large, on bal
given by Sheriff Jones. Two Of the subject
of this official clemency the part Of Jone
are, or have been lately, favored visiters at tn
White House in Washington.
Another of these acts provides for the sale O
landA expressly granted by the United State
for the support of Public Schools, in order t
replenish The Territorial Treasury; while tn
third is the well-known Census and Conventio
Law, which, contrary to the wishes of at leas
two-thirds of the people of Kansas, insures tn
formation of Slaveholding Constitution.
We should like to know how any Governor
except a man thoroughly imbued with tn
ProSlavery fanaticism of an Atchison o
a Stringfellow, can honestly, and to his own sa,
isfaction, discharge his official duties in &C
operation with q Legislature like this-a Leg
isiature which, in order to perpetuate an as
tendency procured by usurpation and the VIC
lent overthrow of the rights of legal voters, ha
net at naught the Constitution and the Will o
Congress, and trampled upon the cause of Pop
Mar Eiucation, the common-hw immunities O
life and property, and the right of the people t.
elect their own rulers, according to the laws o
the Territory. Ii is perfectly out of the ques
ton; and we want no higher evidence of Gov
Geary's conviction of the hopelessness Of sucl
an attempt, than the simple fact of HE resgna
sion With him, resignation is confession
Governor Geary is more sagacious in this ma:
ter, we suspect, than he would have US believe
DANIEL WEBsTER's OPINION OF THE SUPREM
CopKr-A correspondent of the Boston Alta
reports 8 conversation which he held with Oar
iel Webster in 1851, concerning the characte
of the Bench, in which Mr.. Webster said:
1.-THE time was, sir, when a wel-read lawyer
Who thoroughly understood his case, could foru
an opinion as to its result before the Suprem
Court bu: not now, sir, not now. That cous
has become court of expediency."
IspIAy TRUST LANDS IL KaSsAs.-The trus
lards of the Iowa, Wea, DC, aud Delawar
tribes of Indians, are to be sold 10 the mouth