The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-02
NUMBER 16..
Secretary Cass's Reply to Gov. walker.
STATE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,
s- ~ December 18 1857. e7

SIR On Wednesday last received your
communication of the 18th inst, rendering
your resignation as Governor of Kansas.-
The resignation is ACCOMPANIED by long ar
gnment on the affairs of the Territory eener-
ally, to which, yoo are well aware. it would
oe Impossible tor this department. to reply. J..
IL every ofhcer OF the Government who
leels hlmself constrained to refuse obedience
to the Instructions Of the President, shall pur.
sue the unusual course, and thus place on the
MES OF the appropriate department a criti-
cism on the policy of the administration, no
person knows better than yourself to what
consequences this may lead them. He must
either cause the charges and argument against
the President to be filed among the public ar.
chives of the country, without contradiction
or reply, or he must spend the time which
ought to be devoted to the public service, in
controversies with subordinate officers who
may disapprove Of the Presidents policy.-
Whilst duty, therefore, forbids me to enter
into controversial discussion, with you on
the various topics embodied in your argu-
ment, it is proper that I should make a re-
mark upon single point. You state that
the President has changed his policy in regard
to Kansas. And why this allegation. Sim
ply because the Convention of Kansas have,
in the exercise of the rights belonging to
them, decided that they would not submit
the whole Constitution to the people, al
though they had submitted the all important
and dangerous question of Slavery, which
threatens to convulse the Unioa, and was
prominent to the majority of the people
throughout every State, no had not treated
the subject OF this momentous question as
mere nullity. Under these circumstances, it
was his Imperative duty and in strict conform
ity with instructions, to take care that fair
election be held on this question, and thus
give peace to the Union. If he acted in any
ottier lnan,'c. merely oeeause he prefer, ed tho
submitting of the Constitution originally to
the people, his responsibility would have been
OF the greatest character. He never inten-
ded to express the opinion that the Conyen-
ton was bound to submit any portion of the
Constitution to the people on the question of
Slavery, much less then, that that portion
would be invalid without such submission.-
Had he entertained suah an opinion as this
it would be in opposition to the numerous
precedents which have occurred since the a.
doptiOn of the Federal Constitution by the
different States. The question of slavery
was ene All aosorpiDg question, ana you we're
sent to Kansas with the full confidence of the
President to carry out the principles of the
Kansas Nebraska Act. With the question
whether Kansas was to be free or slave State,
you were not to interfere You were to Sc
cure the people of, Kansas free and fair
election to decide the question for themselves.
The President was therefore happy to learn
from your dispatch to this Department of
10th July last, that in all your speeches you
had refrained from expressing any opinion as
to whether it should be free or Slave State.
l am instructed to inform you that your re-
signation of the Office Of Governor of Kan
sas has been accepted. % 81 -ei ~ '.er
l am, sir, your obedient servant,
Signed, LEWIS CASS.
To r. j. WALKER.