The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-06-19

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and order, and would heal all their wounds
which had been inflicted upon them dur
ing a period of more than two years
But it never came within the range of
possible conceptions with me, to suppose
they could be induced, by any considera-
ton whatever, to sanction and support
the Lecompton Constitution, which, only
six months ago, they regarded with go
much adherence that they were ready to
light the fires of civil war to prevents it
from going into operation. will not be-
heve it, until the sad exhibition shall be
made so plainly that cannot doubt the
evidence of my own bewildered senses.
Look back upon your own history for
the brief period of single year. From
the time of my arrival here on the 18th of
April, 1857, until the passage of the English
conference bill on the 4th of May, 1858,
what an ever-shifti1g panorama of mo-
mentous events has been exhibited to the
gaze of the world Seldom has it been
the fortune of any political community,
in the course of as many years as there
were months in this period, to undergo so
many trials, and to be placed so often, and
so suddenly, in conditions of critical dan
ger. A world of experience, sad yet
profitable and Strengthening, has been
crowded into that one year. 1t was in
anticipation of these important events,
foreseen to involve excitement, and trouble
and peril, as their necessary concomitants,
that Mr.. Buchanan, just inaugurated in
the Presidential Office, called to his assist
ance the eminent ability and great expe-
rience of Gov. Walker, with view to the
fair settlement of the exasperated contro-
versy then raging in the Territory. The
election of delegates to a constitutional
convention aud the formation and adoption
of State Constitution, then already pro-
vided for by law, presented complication
of affairs, considering the previous history
of the Territory, which demanded the
highest skill, tact frmness and concilia-
ton on the part of those invested with
authority. Gov. Walker distinctly saw
that there was only one principle by which
ne could be safely guided through the
difficulties and dangers which beset his
path here-that was faithful. steady and
impartial adherence to that provision of
the Organic Act, which secured to the
people of the Territory the right to estab-
ltsh their oa0n domestic institutions an their
o,cn soay. The manner in which this
principle was to be carried out, especially
with reference to the constitution then
about to be passed, was the subject of ex-
press understanding between Gov. Walker
and the Administration at Washington
Itwas distinctly agreed, that, the people
having the undoubted right to form their
institutions in their own way, the consti-
tuition under which they were destined to
live ought to be submitted for their adop-
ton or rejection. 1t is needless for me to
read the instructions given to Gov. Wal
ker and myself. They are familiar to you
all. But if at Washington, greatly in
advance of controlling events, it was
deemed necessary to stipulate for that
great principle as a cardinal point in the
policy of the Governor, how completely
vindicated were the foresight and sagacity
of him who insisted upon this stipulation,
when he came into the Territory and
ascertained the true state of feeling and
of action among the people! You well
know, gentlemen, that no approach to-
wards peace and harmony could ever have
been made without the pledges given by
Gov. Walker upon this vital point Such
had been the imperfection of the census
under the Territorial law, and SO meagre
was the vote given for the delegates to
the constitutional convention, that every
man in the community felt it would be
nothing less than a mockery to i'm
pose upon the people the constitution
about to be made for them, without a
distinct submission of the instrument for
their adoption Or rejection. Although !
myself, in my brief inaugural address OF
the 18th April, 1857, had suggested the
idea of submitting only the slavery clause,
| a very brief intercourse with the people,
and even an imperfect knowledge of ex-
listing facts soon convinced me that such
a measure would not az all meet the ext
gencies of the case. Accordingly, in
every speech l afterwards made, I as
sumed the broad ground of entire submis-
sion. When Governor Walker came to
the Territory, his pledges were equally
explicit, and yet with all his exertions,
aided by my own humble efforts, you know
how hard it was to induce the people to
lay aside their hostility to the Territorial
government, and to agree to make final
settlement at the ballot box.
1t is not for me, gentlemen, to inform
you now what reasons the people had for
distrusting the Territorial government. !
then thought them the most unreasonable
people in the world. / could not under
stand how, with an overwhelming ma
jority on their side, they could hesitate
about risking their cause at the polls, and
by their own votes taking possession oi
their own government Subsequent
events, however, fully explained the mys-
tery. The developments made in 0cto-
Der, at Oxford and in McGee county, te
say nothing of those afterwards made
under the Lecompton Constitution. includ-
ing the candle-box found under the wood
pile at the Surveyor Generals office
poured food of light upon my vision, tc
explain the obstinacy of the people in
refusing to participate in any of the pro.
ceedings of the Territorial government
The whole explanation, as | now see it, i:
simple and easy enough. Sometimes by
force, and sometimes by fraud, the majori.
ty of the people had always been ex.
cluded from any effectual voice in public
affairs. They had struggled in vain tc
secure their rights under the Territoria
government, until they had finally aban.
doned the effort in despair, and were
nearly ready to resort to violent measures
for the purpose of righting themselves
It is almost impossible for a stranger, out
side of the Territory, to understand tn,
organized system of fraud and terror, b.
which this complete control of the minor
ity over the majority was maintained
But you understand it well, and l need
therefore, do no more than mention th,
| fact.
It was in this state of affairs, gentlemen
last summer, that Gov. Walker and my,
self made those solemn pledges to the peo
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