The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-03-11
NO. l2
TIE POSITION OF Gov. wAIKEP.

TGE tVH4Tl0N OF GOV. WALKER.
The following letter from the Hon.
Robert j. Walker to the Apti- Leconp.
ton Democratic Convention, held in IDdi.
anaFolis eli the 2zd ult, cid not appear
IN the regular report Of the proceedings,
but has Sirce been putlisbed. 1t Will
put to rest all doubts coucerLing Gov
Walkers position.
" AsHINGToN, Feb. 20. 1858.
AUSTIN II. BRoWN, eso.. Cba;rm.n E.,
/ SIR: Your letter in behalf Of The Con-"
mittee, inviting me to address the mass
meeting OF the Democracy of Indiana on
: the % of this month at lndianapoIi. has
beer received. 1t would lave eircn me-
sincere pleasure to have complied with
your request, but on the 2lth of This
month one OF my most important cases
now pending in the Supreme Court of the
United States, is set dogn for argument
and cannot be absent on that OCCASION
The power of Congress to aclnait new States
into the Union has heretofore, at yarious
periods, been fully discussed By NE. This
power OF admission most clearly implies
the previous consent Of the people of the
inchoate State not only BY the very terms
but as required By the Fundamental pripci.
pies of our Government Indeed presume
it will be hardly contended that CONGRESS
possesses auy power 20 force the people Of
State into the Union against their will.
The Union is composed of confederacy
of eoequal sovereignties, 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 State, in entering into the Union, al
ways indicate their previous assent by the
adoption of a State Constitution.
My own opinion, as heretafore often
expressed, distinctly repeated in m letter
of acceptance of the Govcrnorship of Kan
sns, aud reiterated in my inaugural ad-
dress, was that the assent of the peonle-
to their Constitution can only properly
be ascertained 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, admitted this must be done as re-
CARDS the question of Slavery as regula-
ted by State Constitution, although he
comedies that bis instructions to me as re-
CARDS the submission of the Constitution
were general and unqualified" 1t is
most unfortunate that such an opinion
bad remained SO long dormant in the
breast of the President; for If the slight.
est suggestion to that effect had been
made to me, it is quite evident, from nv
lifelong opinions on this very point SO Of
ten and distinctly expressed, repeated in
my letter of acceptance of the Governor
ship of Kansas, and reiterated in nv in,
augura address, that on such conditions
| never would have gore to Kansas.
1t is true that the President, in his
Message, most frankly comedies, not only
that his instructions to ne as regards the
submission of the Constitution were "ger-
eral and unqualified" but also that he
then supposed that the Constitution itself
would have been submitted to the vote
of the people, and that in bis judgement
this ought to have been done. But, ney-
ertheless, his Message of December last,-
to my surprise and astonishment, 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. 1
do not mean to charge the Chief Magis-
trate of our country with willful deeop-
ton 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 various dis
patches, that the President and all his
Cabinet we'll knew ny opinions On this
subject, and that never would have gone
to Kansas except upon the condition of
advocating the submission of the Consti-
tuition for ratification or rejection to o
vote of tbo people. This, with me, was .
vital question, embodying the only fair,
lust pc eaceful and constitutional method of
scaling the difficulties in Kansas,
1t was with extreme reluctance, and
accompanied by great sacrifices, aud af-
ter repeated refusals, that at length did
consent to 90 to Kansas; but upon no 9TH
er terms would have gone than upon
those above indicated; and if the Presi-
dent had stated to me that the Slavery
question only was required to be submit
ted to the vote of the people, he very we'll
knows, aud all his Cabinet well know,
and all my friends who conferred with
me at that date hnow, that on such con-
ditons | never would have gone to Kan
sas.
In ny administration Of the affairs of
Kansas, always communicated from first
to last to the President, faithfully ear
ried out these views Us regards the sub
mission of the Constitution to the vote of
the peogle, and by these means, as the
President frankly admits in his late Kan
sas Message, prevented asanguinary rev.
oIution there IN June last. This resolu
ton would have covered Kansas with