San Andreas independent., 1858-01-23

,,,le--vet. as regards all those great Demo-
rrat;c measures which, trust will constitute
the policy of his Administration im Other re-
:xpects, il will give me pleasure, as a private
citizen. to yield my cordial support
| have said that the slavery question. as n
practical issue, had disappeared from Kansas
long before my arrival there, and the question
of self-goyernment had been substituted in its
place. On some future occasion shall dissi-
pate the dclusion which has prevailed uuon
this subject, and show that after three wears
experiment, when / arrived in Kansas there
were less than three hundred slaves there. and
the number constantly diminishing that. MS
proved by the official records of Congress.
published and authenticated bv those distin-
Buished Southern statesman John G.. Calhoun
aud Jefferson Davis, the winter climate, even
of Eastern Kansas, is colder than that of New
England, and that the pro-slayery Territorial
Convention Of Kansas, consolidated with the
pro-siavery Territorial Legislature on the 4th
of january, 1857, nearly five months before
my arrival there, did distinctly abandon the
slavery issue, because, rs set forth by one OF
rhetr number, "the pro-savery party was IN
small and admitted minority, "and the CO.
operation Of the frce-State Democrats was M
vited, as the only hope of success, not to make
AARuSrS " slaNe OLutC. WHlCu h.o NOHNNNNN w
be impossible but to make it a conservative
Democratic free State" Even as late as the
Sd of July. 1857, when the Democratic Terri
torial Convention assembled at Lecompton, in
consequence of the laws of climate and the
well-known will Of the people, none contcnded
that slavery could be established there. Nor
was it until my Southern opponents nterfercd
in the affairs Of Kansas, and by denunciation,
menace, and otherwise, aided ut critical pc
riod by several Federal office-hodcrs of Kan
sas, including the surveyor general the pre-
sident Of the Convention,) with his immense
patronage, embracing many hundred employ
ees, -interyened, and rs believe, without the
knowledge or appreciation of the President Of
the United States, produced the extraordinary
paper called the Lccompton Constitution
fet this act of Intervention by Federal officers
to defeat the will of the people seems to be
sustained by my opponents; whilst my inter-
vention, as it is called in obedience to my
duty and oath of office to support the Federal
Constitution, and to take care that our organic
law should be fairly executed, by cndeavoring
to secure to the people of Kansas their rights
under that act, is denounced and illuminated.
IL is still more extraordinary that the hypo-
theticnl remarks made by me rs regards eli
mate in its connection with its influence upon
thc 4ucSttoH Ol slavery In Kansas, aIter tllat
issue had been abandoned there which views
were consolidating the union between conscr-
vative, frce-State and pro-slavery Democrats,
20 as to prevent the coniscation of the small
number of slaves then held in Kansas, have
been denounced by many distinguished South
ern Senators, who, when the Kansas Nebraska
bill was pending in Congress, and when snch
remarks from them, if ever, might affect
Southern emigration, were then loudest in
prsclaiming that because Of its climate, Kan
sns could never become slave State. Indeed,
II seems that all persons. in and out of Kan
sas, whether in public or private life, may
publish what opinions they please in regard
these questions, except the Governor of that
Territory, who has SO little power and no pa
tronage.
And now be pleased to express to the Presi-
dent my deep regret rs regards our unfortu-
nate difference of opinion in relation to the
Lecompton Constitution, and to say to him.
that as infalliblity does not belong to man.
however exalted in intellect. purity of inten-
tion, or position. yet if he has committed any
errors in this respect, may they be ovcrruled
by a experimenting Providence, for the per-
Petuation of our Union, and the advancement
of the honor and interest OF our beloved
country.
In now dissolving my official connection
with your department, beg leave to tender
my thanks for your constant courtesy and
Kindness.
Most respectfully, your ob't serv't,
r. J. WALKER.