Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-02-25
SELECT MIS- OELLANY.
Mr.. SrANTONS ADDRESS.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES.


tbe otice ofSecretsFy Of Kansas Territory,
under circumstances which imply severe
censufe on the part u the President, and
having had no official information Of my
removal, nor any opportunity for explains
tion or defence, I have deemed It necessa-
Fy to present to the People Of the United
States brief statement of facts in vindics-
aion Of my motives and in explanation Of
the results Of the act for which have been
condemned.
The office 10 question waa not given
at my solicitation, Ny acceptance Of it
undel all the circumstances, was a proof
of strong friendship for the President, and
of uubounded confidence in the frmness
sud faitblulness with which he would ad-
here to the line Of policy deliberately agreed
upon between him, his whole Cabinet, and
Gov. Walker.
On my arrival in The Territory in April
last, in advance Of Gov. Walker, confess
that had an imperfect knowledge Of the
real condition Of affairs. | supposed tue
question Of Slavery to be the only cause
Of dissension and difficulty among he peO.
pie; and, in my brief inaugural address OF
the I7th April treated this rs the chief
subjest Of difference upon which a subms-
sion to the people would be likely to be
demanded. soon found, however, that
this view was altogether too limited, and
did not reach the true ground Of contro-
versy. The great macs of the Inhabitants
of the Territory were dissatisfied With the
local Gcverument,and earnestly denied the
validity of the existing laws. Asserting
that tie previous Legislatures had been
forced upon them by the fraud and vio-
leuce of neighboring people, they pro-
claimed their determination never to sub
init to the enactmen.s Of legislative bodies
titus believed to be ilegitimate,and not en-
titled to Obedience.
This was tue condition OF things when
Gov. Walker came to the Territory in the
latter palt of May. 1t was evident that
the Just policy Of permitting tue people to
regulate their own affairs could not be
successfully carried out unless they could
he inspired with confidence in the agents
Of Government through whom this result
ives to be effected. If a mere minority Of
the people had been thus dissatisfied aud
sontumacious, they might possibly have
been pronounced factious, and -ttsstsd as
disturbers Of the peace; but when tue dis.
satisfaction was general comprising almost
the whole people, more respectful con.
sideration was indispensable to peaceful
adjustment. 1t was evident that the poll.
ey of repression-a rigid attempt to en-
force submission, without an effort at con-
ciliation--woud inevitably result in a re-
newaI Of the civil wEr. With commendE-
ble anxiety to avoid this contingency, Gov.
Walker resolved to go among tue people,
to listen to their complaints, to give them
assurance Of fuir aud jus! administration
of the Territorial Government, and to in
duce them, il possible, to abandon their
hostility, and to enter upon the peaceful
but decisive struggle Of the balIot-box.--
was often With the Governor when he
addressed the people, aud gave my best
effort in aid Of the great purpose OF con-
ciliAtion.
1t was too late to induce the people to
90 into the June election for delegates to
the Convention. The registration requi-
red by law had been imperfect in all the
counties and had been wholly omitted 10
shalt of them; nor could the people of
these DISTINGUISHED counties vote in any
adjacent county, as had been falsely sug-
peSted, In such of them as subsequently
took census or registry Of their own, the
delegates chosen were not admitted to
.eats in the Convention. Nevertheless, it
is not to be denied that the great central
fact which controlled the whole case, was
the utter want of confidence by the pec-
pls in the whole machinery Of the Terri
toriaI Government. They alleged that
the local officers, in all Instances were un-
serupuluus partisans, who had previously
defrauded them in the elections, aud who
were ready to repeat the same outrages
again; than, even If intruderS from abroad
should not be permitted 10 overpower
them, they would be cheated by false re.
turns, which it would not be possible for
she Governor and Secretary to dcfeat.-
Although at that time these apprehensions
seemed to me to be preposterous and un'
founded, it was impossible to deny the
sarnestness and sincerely with which they
were urged, or to doubt that they were
Ihs result Of deep convictions, having their
origin iu some previous experience Of that
nature.
The worst portion Of the small minori-
~ in Kansas, who had possession Of the
Territorial organization, loudly and bitter
IL complained Of Gov. Walkers policy of
conciliation, aul demanded the opposite
policy Of repression. And when, under
the solemn assurances given, that the eIec
tions should be fairly conducted, and no
frauds which We could reach be counte-
nancsd or tolerated, it had become appar.
eut that the mass Of the people we're pre-
. pared and determined to participate in the
October elections, the minority eudeavored
to defeat the resu!t by reviving the tax
qualification for electors which had been
repealed by the previous Legislature
Opinions were obtained from high legal
sources, the effect of which, had they pre-,
vailed, would have been to exclude the
mass Of the people from voting, to retain
the control in tie hands of the minority,
and, as a consequence, to keep up sgita.
tion, and 10 render civil war inevitable
But the intrepid resolution of Gov. Wal
ksr, iu spite Of fierce opposition and DE-