The Washington union., 1858-02-02
MIR. sTANTuN.s LETTER.

der circumstances which imply severe censure OF
himself on the part Of the President and having had
no official information of his removal nor any oppor-
tunity for explanation defence, he deems it
cessary to speak for himself On the 22d Of Decem-
ber the President communicated to the Senate alt the
correspondence and documents in the hands of the
government relating to affairs in Kansas We find
in these papers Gen. to Mr. Denver dated
the llth of December, in which, after reminding Mr.
Denver that he had previously communicated to him
the fact of the removal of Mr. Stanton, proceeds :"
desire now to state TO you distinctly the reason OF
this change" Gen. Cass then reconnts the circum-
stances connected with the adoption of the Lecomp
ton constitution and its proposed submission to the
people on the 2lst of December, regarding it as an
authorization and legal proceeding throughout, and
distinctly maintaining that the local executive had
no right to interfere with the conflicting opinions
prevailing in the Territory on the subject The time
had passed. the judgment Of the government, when
interference with the local Of the peo-
pie was either proper or tolerable. Entertaining
these views, the proclamation Of Mr.. Stanton calling
together the territorial legislature an act con-
Aicting with the policy of the administration, and
well calculated to embarrass the whole subject with
out in any event. subscribing the peaceful measures
of adjustment which had been adopted by the gov
ernment.
Mr. Stanton distinctly understood that it was the
settled policy of the President to recognise the valid
ity of the territorial organization and laws, and
amongst others the act of the 10th of February,
directing the election Of delegates in June following.
The President was equally explicit in maintaining
that refusal to vote could be regarded only as an
endorsement of the representatives elected Mr..
Stanton will not contend that such was not his con-
struction of the law He insisted before the people
of Kansas that those only who voted at elections
could be regarded having right to control the
politics of the State. In his proclamation of the 9Th
of December he says 'The refusal of the majority
to go into the election Of the 18th of June twas
fortunate"
Now, it does not appear that the government with
held from Mr.. Stanton the reasons which dictated
his removal nor does Mr.. Stanton in his letter afford
us any explanation by which the conduct Of the adj
ministration is justly open to complaint. He main
tanned officially and unoffciay, the regularity and
legality of the territorial government including es-
pecialiy the act of the 10th Of February and the
election of the 18th of June. Now desire to
gal and yoda If they were legal the authority of
the convention was unquestionable and if that was
SO, Mr. Stanton hardly justify volunteer effort
to embarrass the election called in obedience thereto
Mr.. Stanton undertakes to account for the very
small vote cast the 18th Of June. He alludes to
the '.disfranchsed counties where the census and
registry were very imperfectin many Of tho coun-
ties wholly omitted. We admire the candor which,
touching this matter, gives us food of light. Mr.
Stanton says Nevertheless it 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 gov
enrment" In other words, they would have
census no registry and would not vote if they had.
This is certainly central fact, and we have no
doubt at all Of its entire truthfuness. 1t is in har-
mony with the nonvoting policy which sought to
WELD the mystery of non-action as moral lever to
overthrow the government and the elections Mr..
Stanton, from being rigid lawyer, became moral
ist Voting with him got into disrepute. 1t is true
he thinks the refusal to vote in June "was unfortu-
nate " but is not so clear that voting was fortunate.
We certainly think Mr.. Stanton with very good in
tentions got little muddled Gov. Walker advised
voting on the 4th of January and at all times the
papers in Kansas say.
------------------
Our republican friends both in and out Of Congress-
just now wonderfully exercised over the affairs
of Kansas They are, apparently, greatly shocked
at the thought that Congress is about to force upon
the people Of that Territory constitution for their
government, and crying out most Justify that
such course would be the worst of tyranny, be-
they say it is denying to these poor people the
right to mould their domestic institutions in their
own way When did these gentlemen learn that
Congress had power the affairs Of the Ter
ritores and that for it to undertake to meddle with
them was tyranny and an outrageg One of the dis
tinctve features in their creed has been that the
doctrine of popular sovereignty was all wrong, and
that the right to legslate for the Territories belong
ed exclusively to Congress. This, if we remember
Alright was short time ago inscribed upon all their
banners and everywhere proclaimed by their orators
and newspapers. When, we ask, did they become
converts to tho great democratic doctrine Of popular
sovereignty and congressional non-interventionf 7
When did they discover that the people of the Ter
ritores had right to manage their own affairs in
their own way, and without the interference of
Cop0raecp