Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-01-28
From Forney's Press
The rOmr Governors of Kansas.

appointed to govern Kansas The first was
Andrew H. Rceder, of Easton, Pennsylva-
MIA, who had always been known as an un-
wavering National Democrat, previous to
his departure for that Territory. The
events which transpired there were Of such
a character a. TO induce him to protest bit
terly against the action of the inhabitants
OF tho border counties of Missouri We
are not disposed to reopen any of the queS
tions connected with tho early history of
the Kansas difficulties, nor to endorse the
position which Gov. Rceder final V assumed
for we battled against it with all our ener-
gies. We refer to him in this connection
merely as a historical character
He was succeeded by Wilson Shannon,
of Ohio, whose career was not marked by
any important incident, and whose views
on the Kansas question never attracted any
considerable degree of attention one way or
the other. Iii, mission was. however, cv-
identity all unsuccessful one.
With these failures before him, General
Pierce selected John W. Geary. of this
State. to at as Governor lie exertcd him
self very caergetical!y, and to some extent
successfully. N Paciiying Kansas. But,
finally, lac also returned, and notwithstand-
ing the auspices under which he had gone.
h. protested most bitterly against ihc con
duet of the ultra Southern party a. exceed
iugly unfair and unjust
80 thi, question stood when ]Ir. Buci
anan was appointed President. That saga
cious statesman found the appointment of a
new Governor of Kansas in view of the DIFF
licutics by which it WAS surrounded. one OF
the most delicate and important duties dc
volving upon him. He brought 10 It's dis
charge the most careful and patriotic deib-
Grafton. The Kansas issGt had been the
great feature of the Presidential campaign
of 1886. The eyes OF the whole nation
were turned upon that distant Territory
Il was pre-cminently proper that the Gov
ernment of it should be conlided to able
hands And certainly The President fully
acknowledges the Importance ofthis consid
Grafton 1t might have hccn charged that
the former Governors had not had sufficient
political experience. Butno one could urge
that objection to Rob'tJ. Walker. He had
been Il Senator of the United States and
Secretary of the Treasury. In both capa
cities he dad displayed abilities OF the very
highest character, and was con:eSsc lly rank
ed among ;bc leading state c,men oi,the Union
1t might have been charged against the 9th
or Governors that they were imhucl with
Northern prciudices--that their vision was
distorted Ly their Northern ideas and asso-
Citations. But no such objections could he
made TO Mr.. Walker He had been as de-
voted friend and as firm champ ion OF
the South as she ever had. He had been
leading spirit in securing the nomination OF
James Il. Polk, and the annexation OF Tex
as. By which an immense scope of slave
holding territory was added to the Union
lie had given greater impetus to the ia
vorite free-trade theories Of the South than
any man in the Union. And even SO late
as February last, he had been most urgently
pressed upon Mr. Buchanan for the appoint
ment Of Secretary of State, by nearly all
the ultra men of the Soath. He thus stood
coniessodly before the country as one who
possessed their confidence in an eminent
degree. His Secretary, Mr.. Stanton, was
also well known as devoted friend of the
South, and hal for years ably represented
Tennessee in Congress.
Now, throwing entirely out of view the
opinions on Kansas formed by all the pre-
vious Governors adopting without qucs-
tion the theory that they were incorrect and
are we to think of the fact
that both Gov. Walker and Secretary Stan
ton most Indignantly protest against the
action Of the late Lecompton Convention,
as violation Of all principles of just and
fair dealing? Ii wecannot credit such wit
uesses. in whom can we coniae? 1t we re-
ject their testimony. are We not like those
spoken Of, who would not even believe one,
-, though he had risen from the dead?'
The whole transaction reminds us of the
Scrptural history of Saul and David
And Saul sent messengers to take Da
vid; and when they saw the company of the
prophets prophe, ying. and Samuel standing
AZ appointed, over them, the Spirit Of God
was upon tic passengers IF Saul. and they
also propkeSie1 And when it was told
Saul he sent other messengers Gim they
proplesiei likewise And Saul sent mes
sepgers again the hirdtale, and they proph
esied also Then went 10 also to Ramah,
and came to a great well that is in Sechu;
and he asked and said-Where are Samuel
and David? And one said: Behold they
be at Najoth. in Ramah; and the Spirit of
God was upon him also, and he wc,a on and
until he came to Najoth. in Ra
nah And he stripped ofihis clothes also,
and propdesiedbcfore Samuel nHkc manner,
and lay down naked all that day and all
that night. Wherefore they say. Is Saul
also among The prophets"
Not only are Walker and Stanton in in
dignant protest against the action of the
Lecompton Convention, but Judge Doug
las, the author Of the Nebraska bill, has de-
livercd one of the greatest speeches ever ut
tered on the floor OF the United States Sen
ate against it.
Are all these men. chosen representatives
OF the Dem ocratic part~, who have possessed
unusual facilities acquiring full knowedga