The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-13
- From tie Bdtsoadg Aatazigeac
To the People Of the Uniisd Sfsfsz.

nation or defence, I have deemed it nee
essary to present to the people of the
United States brief statement Of facts
in yindieation of my motives and in ex-
planation of the results of the act for
which have been condemned.
The Office in question was not given at
my solicitation. Ny acceptance of it,
under ali the circumstances, was proof
of strong friendship for the President, and
of unbounded confidence in the firnness
and faithfulness with which he would ad-
here to the line of policy deliberately
agreed upon between him, his whole Cab
met, and Gov. Walker.
On my arrival in the Territory in April
last, in advance of Gov. Walker, con-
fess that had an imperfect knowledge OF
the real condition of affairs. / supposed
the question of slavery to be the only
cause of dissension and difficulty among
the people; and in my brief inaugural
address on the 18th April, treated this
as the chief subject of difference upon
which submission TO the people would
be likely to be demanded. l soon found,
however, that this view was altogether too
limited, and did not reach the true ground
of controversy. The great mass of the
inhabitants of the Territory were dissatis-
fed with the local government, and ear
fnestly denied the validity of the existing
laws. Asserting that the previous Legis-
latures had been forced upon them by the
fraud and violence of a neighboring peo-
pie, they proclaimed their determination
never to submit to the enactments of leg
isiative bodies thus believed to be illegiti-
mate and not entitled to obedience.
This was the condition of things when
Gov. Walker came to the Territory in the
latter part of May. It was evident that
the just policy of permitting the people
to regulate their own affairs could not be
successfully carried out, unless they could
be inspired with confidence in the agents
OF Government through whom this result
was to be effected. If mere minority of
the people had been thus dissatisfied and
contumacious, they might possibly have
been pronounced factious and treated as
disturbers of the peace but when the
dissatisfaction was general, comprising al
most the whole people, more respectful
| consideration was indispensable to peace-
able adjustment. 1t was evident that the
policy OF repression-a rigid attempt to
enforce submission without an effort at
coneiliation-would inevitably result in
| renewal of the civil war. With COM
mendabie anxiety to avoid this eontin-
gency, Gov. Walker resolved to go
among the people, to listen to their COM
plants, to give them assurance of fair
and just administration of the Territorial
Government, and to induce them, if pos-
sible, to abandon their hostility, and to
enter upon the peaceful but decisive strug-
gle of the ballot-box ] was often with
/ the Governor when he addressed the peo-
pie, and gave my best efforts in aid of the
great purpose of conciiation.
1t was too late to induce the people to
go into the june election for delegates to
the Convention. The registration requir-
ed by law had been imperfect in all the
counties. and had been wholly omitted in
one-haif of them; nor could the people
of these disfranchised counties vote In any
adjacent county, as has been falsely sug-
'gested. In such of them rs subsequently,
took census or registry of their own. the
| delegates chosen were not admitted to
seats in the Convention. Nevertheless, il
is not to be denied that the great central
/ fact, which controlled the whole case, was
the utter want of confidence by the people
in the whole machinery of the Territorial
Government. They alleged that the local
officers, in all instances, were unscrupu-
| lous partisans, who had previously de-
/ frauded them in the elections, and who
were ready TO repeat the same outrages
again; that, even if intruders from abroad
should not be permitted to oyerpowel
them, they would be cheated by false re.
turns, which it would not be possible fol
the Governor and Secretary to defeat
Although at that time these apprehen-
sions seemed to me to be preposterous and
unfounded, itwas impossible to deny the
earnestness and sincerity with which they
were urged, or to doubt that they were
the result of deep convictions, having
their origin in some previous experience
of that nature
/ The worst portion of the small minor
/ ity in Kansas, who had possession of th.
Territorial organization, loudly and bit.
terly complained of Gov. Walkers policy
of Cancellation, and demanded the oppo
site policy of repression. And when
under the solemn assurances given tina
the elections should be fairly conducted
! and no frauds which we could reach b
coantenanced or tolerated, it had becom.
:. apparent that the mass of the peopl.
were prepared and determined to partici
) pate IN the October elections, the minor
| ity endeayored to defeat the result b,
reviyins the tax qualification for electors
j which had been repealed by the preyion
/. Legislature. Opinions were obtained
|. from high legal sources, the effect O
which, had they prevailed, would hav
been to exclude the mass of the peopl
3 from voting, to retain the control in th,
= hands of the minority, and as a conse
: quenee to keep up agitation and to rende
: civil war inevitable. Buts the intrepi
+ resolution of Gov. Walker, in spite o
!. fierce opposition and denunciation, "a
! and near, carried him through this dan
{ | gerous crisis. and he had the proud salts
! faction Of haying achieved q peacefu
triumph, hy inducing the people to sui
NIT 70 the afbitrament of the bailot-b
But the minority were determined Bt
: to submit to defeat. The populcus cour
-ity of Douglas had been attached to th
border county of johnson, with q larg
aud controlling representation in the Leg
islature. The celebrated Oxford frau
e was perpetrated with view to obtai
j. najoFities In both houses of the Assem-
biz. When thess returns were receive
= at my Office, IN Gov. Walkers absence,
q had fully determined not to give certif
, Gates based upon them. If they ha
i been 50 formal and correct IS to ha,
s made it my duty to certify them, woul
= have resigned mr. Office in order to testil
d my sense 81 the enosmity Of the wron
itI Governor Walker, at LearenuoEth, ha
Il formed the sans resolution, IS be stats
s. to me and TO several others, and We We
: both eratifed thar We found tbs papers
= Imperfect Is 10 make iteur duty to feie
!them. Great sxcitenent followed in q