The Kanzas news., 1858-01-02
The Kanzas News.
9, 1858.
Resignation of Gov. WaIker.

Resignation OF Gov. Walker.
The following is the letter of R. j. Wal
ker, resigning the Office of Governor of
Kanzas:
.. WAsHIEGTos CI1T, Dec. Is, 1857.
LEWIS CAss, Secretary of State:
/ resign the Office of governor of Kanzas.
I have been most reluctantly forced to this
conclusion after anxious and careful consider
alton of my duty to the country, to the people
of Kanzas, to the President of the United
States, and to myself. The grounds assum
ed by the President in his late message to
Congress, and in his recent instructions In
connection with the events transpiring here
of that territory, it win no longer be in my
power to preserve peace or promote the pub
he welfare. Atthe earnest solicitation of the
President, after repeated refusals, the last be-
ing in writing, finally accepted this Office
upon his letter showing The dangers and diff
fculties of the Kanzas question and the ne
cessity of my undertaking the task of its ad-
iustment Under these circumstances, not
withstanding the great sacrifices to me, per-
sonal, political and pecuniary. / felt that I
could no more refuse such call from my
country, through her chief magistrate, than
a soldier In battle, who is ordered to COM
mand foriorn hope. / accepted, however,
on the express condition that should advo-
cate the submission of the constitution to a
vote of the people for their ratification or re-
lection These views were clearly understood
by the President and his cabinet. They were
distinctly set forth in my letter ofacceptance
of this Office on the 26th of March last, and
reiterated in my inaugural address on the
27thl of May last, as follows Indeed,
cannot doubt that the convention, after hay
ing passed state constitution, will submit
it for ratification or rejection by majority
of the bona .Jfde residents of Kanzas.
With these views, well known to the Pres
ident and cabinet and approved by them, I
accepted the appointment of governor of Kan
zas. Ny Instructions from the President,
thro' the secretary of state, under date of the
18th March last, sustain the regular Legisla-
ture of the territory in assembling conven-
ton to form constitution, and they expressed
the opinion of the President that when such
a constitution shall be submitted to thepeo
pie of the territory, they must be protected
in the exercise of their right of voting for
or against that instrument. The fair ex-
preston of the popular viii must not be
interrupted by fraud or violence. repeat,
then, as my clear conviction, that unless
the convention should submit the constitu-
ton to the votes of the actual resident set
tiers in Kanzas, and the election be fairly and
Justly conducted, the constitution viii be
and ought to be rejected by Congress.
J
that it was not the question of slavery,
merely, which believed to be of little prae
tical importance, then, In its application to
Kanzas, but the entire constitution, which
should be submitted to the people for ratif-
cation or rejection.
After quoting from the Presidents inaug-
ural, Gov Walker refers as follows, to his
course as governor of Kanzas, and to its
good effects:
The power and responsibility being de-
volved exclusively upon me by the Presi-
dent, of using the federal army in .Kanzas
to suppress insurrection, the alternative was
distinctly presented to me by questions pro-
pounded at Topeka, by arresting revolution
by the slaughter of the people, or of pre-
venting it together with that of civil war,
which must have extended throughout the
Union. Ny solemn assurance was then
given, that the right of the people to frame
their own government, so far as M power
extended, should be maintained, and, but
for this assurance, it is conceded fact,
that the Topeka state government, then as
sembled in legislative session. would have
been put into immediate and actual opera
ton, and that q sanguinaly collision with
the federal army, and civil war must have
ensued, extending. it is feared, throughout
the Union. Indeed the whole idea of an
inaugural address originated in the alarming
intelligence which had reached Washington
City, of perilous and incipient rebellion in
Kanzas This insurrection was rendered
still more formidable on my reaching the
territory by the near approach of the as
sembEng of the revolutionary state Legis-
lature, and the very numerous mass conyen-
tions by which it was sustained. In truth,
had to choose between arresting that in
surrection by whatever cost of American
blood by the federal army, or to prevent the
terrible catastrophe as / did by my pledges
to the people of the exertion of all my power
to obtain fair election by the vote of the
people for ratification or rejection. My in.
really in the nature of proclamations SO often
issued by presidents and governors, with
view to prevent, as they did in this case
civil war and insurrection. Now, by oath
of Office was sworn to support the consti-
tuition of the United States, which have
shown in my judgment required the sub
mission of the constitution to a vote of the
people. ] was sworn also, to take care tha
the Kanzas Nebraska bill should be faithfully
executed, which bill in my judgment. as
heretofore stated, required that the constitu-
ton be submitted to the vote of the people
and was therefore only performing my
sworn duty when, as governor of the terri
tory, 10 whose people my first obligations
were due, endeavored to secure to then
these results. The idea entertained by some
that 1 would See the federal constitution and
the Kanzas- Nebraska bill overthroBn ane