The Kanzas news., 1858-04-03
The Kallzas News.
sATURDAY::::.:::::4::.: 4 . .::::::::::APRIL 8, 1855.
Letter of r. j. Walker to Mass Meet
ing Of the Democracy OF Indiana.
WAsHIEoTos, Feb. 90, 1853.

ing of the Democracy OF Indiana.
WAsHIEeTos, Feb. go. 1853.
AUSTIN II. BRows, Chairman, etc; Z
SIR: Your letter in behalf of the commit |
tee, inviting me 10 address the mass meeting
Of the Democracy of Indiana on the Esd of
this month at Indianapolis, has been receiy-
ed. Ii would have given me sincere pleas
ure to have complied with your request, but
on the Gath of this month one of my most
important cases, now pending in the Supreme
Court of the United States, is set down for
argument, and I cannot be absent on that
occasion. 5s
The, power of Congress to admit new
States into the Union has heretofore, at va
rious periods, been fully discussed by me.
This power of admission most clearly i'm
plies TIE previous consent of the people of
the inchoate State, not only by the very
terms, bat as required by the fundamental
principles of our Government. Indeed, l
presume it viii hardly be contended that
Congress possess any power to force the peo-
pie of State into the Union against their
will. The Union is composed of confede-
racy of coequal soyereignties. and each must
have freely entered into the Federal COM
pact. By the people of State, under our
Federal Constitution, is always intended the
majority of that people. The people of a
State, in entering into the Union, always in
dicate their previous assent by the adoption
OF State Constitution.
Ny own opinion, as heretofore often ex
pressed, distinctly repeated in my letter of
acceptance of the Governorship of Kanzas,
and reiterated in my inaugural address, was
that the assent of the people to their Con-
stitution can only properly be aseertained
by direct popular vote for or against Its
adoption. Indeed, in what other way can
it ever be known that the people would have
assented to the Constitution unless they are
permitted to vote for or against its adoption?
The President, in his message of December
last, admits this must be done as regards the
question of Slavery as regulated by a State
Constitution, although he comedies that his
instructions to me as regards the submission
of the Constitution were general and un
qualified" It is most unfortunate that such
an opinion had remained so long dormant
in the breast Of the President; for, if the
slightest suggestion to that effect had been
made to me, it is quite evident, from my
lifelong opinions on this very point, so of
ten and distinctly expressed, repeated in my
letter of acceptance of the Governorship of
Kanzas, and reiterated in my inaugural ad
dress, that on such conditions I never would
have gone to Kanzas.
1t is true that the President, in his Mes
sage, most frankly comedies, not only that
his instructions to me as regards the sub
mission of the Constitution were general
and unqualified" but also that he then sup
posed that the Constitution itself would have
been submitted to the vote of the people, and
that in his Judgment this ought to have been
done. But, nevertheless, his Message of
December last, to my surprise and aston
ishment, first developed the astounding fact
that the President considered that nothing
but the Slavery question was required to be
submitted to the vote of the people. I do
not mean to charge the Chief Magistrate of
our country with willfui deception on this
question, but this do say, as indicated by
my life long opinions, published again and
again, repeated in my letter of acceptance,
reiterated in my inaugural address and vari-
Gus dispatches, that the President and all
his Cabinet well knew my opinions on this
subject, and that l never would have gone
to Kanzas except upon the condition of ad-
Focating the submission of the Constitution
for ratification or rejection to vote of the
people. This, with me, was vital ques-
ton, embodying the only fair, just, peace
full and constitutional method of settling the
difficalties'in Kanzas.
1t was with extreme reluctance, and ac-
eompanied by great sacrifices, and after re-
peated refusals, that at length did consent
to 60 to KaHzas. but upon no other terms
would have gone than upon those above
indicated; and if the President had stated
to me that the Slavery question only was
required to be submitted to the vote of the
people, he very well knows, and all his Cab
met well know, and all my friends who con-
ferred with me at that date know, that on
such conditions / never would have gone
to Ksnzas. a,5 lz E-o Lo
In my administration of the affairs oi
KaRzas, always communicated fFom first to
last to the President, faithfully carried out
these views as regards the submission of the
Constitution to the vote of the people, and
by these means, as the President frankly ad.
mits in his late Kanzas Message prevented
3 sanguinary revolution there in June last
This revolution would have covered Kanzas
with blood and desolation; it would have
been marked by all those horrors which ev-
er accompany civil war, which must have
extended to bordering States and Territories
and involved, but too probably, the ruin O.
our beloved country. How was this dread
ful catastrophe ayerted? By my addresse:
and dispatches, quoted by the President, ad
Focating the submission of the Constitution
for ratification or rejection by the vote of the
people Indeed, nv only alternative was tc
suppress this revolution by the bayonet. OIL
by advocating the submission of the Con
sstitution as above stated, and pledging my
best exertions to obtain fair election fol
the people of the Territorial Legislature il
the then ensuing October. These pledges
and these alone. it is conceded, prevented
revolution and civil war.
And why should they not now be redeem