Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-01-01
Secretary Cass' Reply TO Gov. walker.


SIR: On Wednesday last l received q
communication of the 18th instant, tender
ing your resignation as Governor of Kansas.
The resignation is accompanied by n long
argument on the affairs of the Territory
generally, to which you are we'll aware, It
would be impossible for this Department to
reply. If every officer in the government,
who feels himself constrained TO refuse obe-
dience to the instructions of the President
shall pursue this unusual course, and thus
place on the files of the appropriate Depart
ment, a criticism on the policy of the Ad-
ministration, no person knows better than
yourself to what consequences this might
lead. He must either cause the charges
and argument against the President to be
filed among the public archieves of the coun-
try without contradiction or reply; or he
must spend the time which ought to be de-
voted to the public service in controversies
with subordinate officers, who may disap-
prove of the Presidents policy. Whilst
duty, therefore, forbids me to enter into a
controversial discussion with You on the va
rious topics embraced by your argument, it
is proper that should make remark on a
single point. You state that the President
has changed his policy in regard to Kansas
and why this allegation. Simply because
the Convention of Kansas, have in the ex-
ercise of the rights belonging to them, de-
cided that they would net submit the whole
constitution to the people, although they
had submitted the all important and dan
gerous question of Slavery, which threaten
ed to convulse the Union, and was alone
prominent in tho minds of the people
throughout every State. He had not treat
ed the submission of the momentous ques.
tion as mere nulity. Under these circum-
stances it was his imperative duty, and in
strict conformity with instructions, to take a
fair election be held on this question, and
thus give peace to the Union. Had he ac-
ted in any other manner merely because he
preferred the submission of the Constitu
tion to the people, his responsibility would
have been of the bravest character. He
never intended or expressed the opinion
that the Convention was bound to submit
any portion of the Convention to the peo-
pie, except the question of Slavery, much
less then that any portion would be Invalid
without such submission. Had he entertain
ed such an opinion, this would have been
in opposition to the numerous preccdents
which have occurred since tho adoption Of
the Federal Constitution by the different
States.
The question of slavery was the all alb
sorbing question, and you were sent to Kan
sas with the full confidence of the President,
to carry out the principles of the Kansas
Nebraska act, with the question of whether
Kansas was to be free nr sla-o c.~s-.
you were not TO interfere. You were to Sc
cure to the people Of Kansas free and fair
election, to decide the question for themselves.
The President was, therefore, happy to
learn, from your dispatches to this Depart
ment, of July 18th, last that in all your
speeches, you had refrained from expressing
any opinion as to whether it should be free
or slave State. / am instructed to inform
you that your resignation of the Office Of
Governor Of Kansas has been accepted. /
am sir, your obedient servant,
LEWIS CASS.
To Robert J. WALKER,