Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-11-04
Governor DenVer,s Farewell 4d-
to the People OF
Territory.

GOVernOr Denver's Farewell Ad-
dress to the People OF
Territory.
FELLOW CITIZENS: The announcement
of my resignation of the office of Gov
;ernor having induced many OF the good
people of the Territory to express their
regrets that [ should do so, and some
having gone so far as to express misgiv-
iDgs as to the future, it may be proper
for me, when about to sever my official
CONNECTIONS with you forever, to address
to you a few words at parting. 1t is true
that at the time 1 took charge of this Of
fee, great confusion existed iI1theT Ter
ritory, and that everything is now qui-
ct; but it is equally true that b con-
FINANCE of peace and quiet depends,
henceforward, more on the people them
selves than on the Executive ofthe Ter
ritory. In every county he people have
a super abundance of civil officers, cleo
ted by themselves, and an election has
lust been held all over the Territory, FOR
Representatives in the Legislative As
sembly, without the occurrence of any
disturbance, and without the interven-
ton of the Federal authorities. The
necessity for such Intervention is a stig-
ma on the American people, who boast
of their voluntary obedience to the laws
and their ability to, govern themselves.
1t is to be presumed, that the expert
ments made are sufficient to satisfy the
people that political objects cannot be
attained by absenting themselves from
the polls on the day of election-that
peace and quiet are better than intes-
tine broils and civil war-that an hon
est and faithful administration of the
/ civil law is better than military rule,
and that there is a much greater degree
of responsibility attaching to legally
constituted authorities than to self CON
stituted leaders. 1t really makes but
little difference who may be the repre-
sentative of the general government
here, if the people are true to themselves
and true to American institutions. To
obey the laws-to select. good men to
fill the local offices, and to hold their Of
6ccrs to a strict accountability, is all
that is necessary for the people to do to
give continued peace and prosperity to
the Territory. Every citizen ought to
make it a part Of his, usiness to'see that
offenders against the laws meet with sure
and speedy punishment-that officers
discharge their duties faithfully, and
that each and every one of his neiShbors
is protected in all his rights, civil, POI
litical and religious. There is no rea-
sonahle man WHIP will claim such rights
for himself, and not be willing to con-
ccde the Same to his neighbors. The
duties of the Governor of Il Territory
are ordinarily few and simple, Now
that this Territory is thoroughly orSIn-
lied, all he has to d. is to Sec that the
laws are properly administered, and to
this end he must commission the ofhoers
elected, suspend or remove such as the
laws direct, see that the peace Is preser-
we'd when the local oinccr-the sheritis
and onstables-at unable to Go so,asslst
the Legislative Assembly in enacting
laws, aud also to do il few other acts vi
an executive character. All these are
plain and simple duties. and su as
can be performed by any man Ut cnln-
mon sense. Undrr our system Of Sov-
eminent the chief responsibility rests
on Ghe people themselves, aud it be-
hooyes them to exercise towards each
other a spirit of tolerance and fratcruaI
feeling. Free Intercourse and inter-
change Of sentiments will rcmove any
false Impressions entertained OF each
other by persons coming FROM different
sections of our common country, aud Il
better state of feeling will hereafter pre-
vail. During the time [ have been with
you, L have earnestly cndeavOred to dis
charge the duties devOlying on me faith
fully, honestly, and impartially; and, IT
| have done this in such Il manner as to
meet with the appreciation OF the good
people of the Territory, l cannot but
feel gratified; and it nrLy be proper for
me to state that in all [ have done l
have received the most cordial approval
from Pres lent BuchaI al and his Cabi-
net. In conclusion, permit me to warn
you against the tricks and Vaccinations
of designing demagogues, who prefer
turmoil and strife to peace aud prosper
ity, for it is only at such times that
they can bring themselves into notice.
In this Territory there has been a ma
MIA for making State Constitutions, and
effort has been made to organize a State
Government before any of the necessa-
ry preparations have been made to meet
its responsibilities. Without a dollar in
the Treasury, with but little taxable
property, without any well regulated
system for collecting revepue, and a
considerable Territorial debt, the organ
iZation of a State Government, at this
time, must prove an oberous burden to
the people. That these efforts will be
renewed, I have no doubt; and whether
these burdens and responsibilities shall
be assumed before you are prepared for
them, my fellow c%itizeDs, and before you
Know we'll the men whom you will have
to intrust with your dearest rights and
interests, will remain for yourselves to
determine. Sincerely hoping that the
future of Kansas may be as prosperous
and happy as the past has been bolster
Gus and troublesome,
1 remain, my fellow-citizens,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) j. w. DENVER.
LECoMPToN, K. T., Oct. 9, 1853.