The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1858-02-05

from the immediate bordsrs, under
the qualification which invited to the
ballot.box every white male inhabi.
tant Gin the Territory on that day."
The samo men who did this had pre-
v;ously denounced Governor Wal
ker for the suggestion, in his inaug.
ural address, and in his Topeka
speech, that the Constitution should
be submitted to all the bona fsis in.
babitants, although he invariably
stated, when asked for explanation,
tha: some reasonable length OF resi-. {.
donoe onsht to he required as evi.
dence Of the bona fide character of
inhabitancy.
1t was apparent that all the ma.
chinery had been artf'ully prepared
tor repetition Of the gross frauds
similar to those which had been at
tempted in October; and, it was in
view Of all these facts, after tho ad.
Ijournment Of the Convention, that
the people of the Territory, by AN al
most unanimous demand, called up.
on me, as the acting Governor, to
|convene on extra session Of the Leg.
islalure, in order to enable them
peaccably to protect themselves
against the wrongs evidently con.
tenplatel by the adoption of this
Constitution. There was no law to
punish frauds in election returns
rne people were intensely excited;
anl it was the opinion OF the coolest
men in tho Territory that, without u
'all of the Legislature, the elections
under the Constitution could not have
taken ula"o ~~.,h"nt collision and
lblnodshed.
Recent events show that their ap
nroh"nsions were well iounded.-
Enormous frau1s have been perpe.
trated at the precincts OF Oxford,
Shawnee, and Kickapoo; and 1t NAV
well be bolie,e that this result was
actually designed by the altful lead.
ers who devised the plan and frame.
work OF the Lecompton Constitution.
! have lately been ut Shawnee, and
| have Seen and conversed with per-
sons who wee at Oxford or the day
OF election. The frauds committed
are notorious; and though dishonest
persons may deny them. and may
hll the channels OF public information
with shameless representations to the
contrary, they can BIZ easily estab-
lished beyond all controversy.
1t was to enable the people to
shield themselves from these frauds
and to give legal expression to their
hatred and rejection OF tho instru-
nent which permitted them, and was
to be carried by them, that called
the Legislature together.
Not having been informed of the
gronn Is OF my removal, | know them
only through the newspaper reports.
to the effect in calling the Legisla
tnrc, | disobeyed the instructions off
the President. lbad no instructions
bearing on the subject, and there WAS
no time To obtain them, even il had |
felt bound to substitute the Presi.
dent's will for that discretion which !
the organic act confded to me-
The convention of the Legislature
undoubtedly prevented difficulty and
secured peace.
The measure for which | have
bec5 unjus,ly condemned has ena.
ble'i the peopla OF Kansas to make
known their real will in regard to the
Lccompt3n Constitution. This af.
tords the Democratic party AN oppor.
tnnity to defend the true principles
ot constitutional liberty. and to save
itself from disastrous division and
utter overthrow. If Congress will
heed the voice OF the people and not
force upon them government which
thew have rejected by q vote Of four
to one, the whole country will be
satisfied, anl Kansas will uuic,,v
settle her own affairs without the
least difficulty. and without any dan.
ger to the Coniederacy.
The Southern States, which are
supposed to have deep interest in
the matter, will b. saved from the
supreme folly Of standing up in dc.
|uncc of SO wickcd and dishonest a
;ontrivance as the Lecompton Con.
'titution. The moral power Of their
position will not be weakened by
vain and useless defence OF work.
when it is perfectly certain they will
gain nothing even by success in the
present attempt.
Tho extra session Of the Kansas
Legislature has done good also, by
,ivin means to expose and punish
.he monstrous frauls which have
been perpetrated, and doubtless, also,
oy preventing others which would
lave been attempted. 1t has driven
he guilty niscreats engaged in them
IA become fugitives from justice and
las rendered it impossible for the
peace OF the Territory hereafter to
% endangered by similar occurren.
,es.
In view Of these facts and results,
willingly accept the rebnke con
'eyed in my peremptory dismissal
! ON office, but appeal to the de.
iberatc judgment OF the people to
determine whether have not chosen
he only honorable course which the
allow me to pursue.
FRED. Z. STANTON.
WASHINGTON, Jan 20, 1858.
Resolutions Adopted at the Editorial
G,0uventins halL .s rIavoIaud