Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-02-03

labcrs. Many of the members of that body
were bitterly hostile to the Governor and Sec
retarv. on account of their rejection of the
Oxford and McGee frauds, in which some of
the members and officers Of the convention
had direct participation. In fact this body,
with some honorable exceptions, we'll repre-
scented the minority party in the Territory,
and were fully imbued with the ssme spirit
and designs. 1t was obviously not their de-
sire to secure to the real people of Kansas the
control of their own affairs. In the consti-
tuition soon after adopted, they endeavored to
supercede tho Legislature which had been
elected by the people, by providing, in the
second section of the schedule, that " all laws
now of force in the Territory shall continue
to be of force until altered, amended, or re-
pealed by Legislature under the provisions
of the constitution.
They provided still more efectually, as they
supposed, for the perpetuation Of their minor
ity government,by adopting the Oxford fraud
as the basis of their apportionment, giving a
great preponderence of representation to the
counties on the Missouri border, and afford
ing at the same time, every possible facility
for the introduction Of spurious votes. The
President of the Convention was clothed
with unlimited power in conducting the cleo
tons and receiving the returns, while the Of
Ulcers are not required to take the usual oath
to secure fair and honest dealing. The cleo
tons were hurried on in mid winter-the
Dist of December and the 4th of January
when emigrants could come only from the
immediate borders, under the qualification
which invited to the ballot-box every white
male inhabitant " in the Territory that day."
The same men who did this had previously
denounced Gov. Walker for the suggestion
in his inaugural address, and in his Topeka
speech, that the constitution should be sub
mitted to all the bona tide Inhabitants, al
though he invariably stated, when asked for
explanation, that some reasonable length of
residence ought to be required as evidence of
the bona tide character of inhabltancy.
1t was apparent that all the machinery had
been artfully prepared for a repetition of gross
frauds, similar to that which had been at
tempted in October; and it was in view of
all these facts, after the adjournment OF the
Convention, that the people OF the Territory,
by an almost unanimous demand, called upon
me, as the acting Governor, to convene an
extra session of the Legislature. in order to
enable them peaeeably to protect themselves
against the wrongs evidently contemplated
by the adoption of this constitution. There
was no law to punish frauds in election re-
turns. The people were intensely excited;
and 1t was the opinion Of the coolest men in
the Territory, that without call of the Leg
islature, the elections under the Constitution
could not have taken place without collision
and bloodshed. The meeting of the Legisla-
ture diverted the attention of the people from
the schemes of violence upon which they
were brooding, substituted the excitement of
debate and investigation for that of fierce and
warlike hatred, and enabled their representa-
tives to devise, and enabled their representa-
- +
wrongs which they justly apprehended.
Recent events have shown that their ap-
prehensions were well founded. Enormous
frauds have been perpetrated at the precincts
Of Oxford, Shawnee, and Kckapoo and it
may we'll be believed that this result was ac-
tually designed by the artful leaders who de-
vised the plan and framework Of the Lecomp-
ton Constitution, l have lately been at Shaw
nee, and have seen and converseC with per-
sons whe were at Oxford on the day of cleo
ton. The frauds committed are notorious,
and though dishonest persons may deny them,
and may fill the channels Of public informa-
ton with shameless representations to the
contrary, they can be easily established beyond
all controversy.
It was to enable the people to shield them
selves from these frauds, and to give legal ex-
preston to their hatred and rejection OF the
instrument which permitted them, and was
to be carried by them, that called the Leg.
islature together.
In my judgment the people had a fair claim
to be heard through theiI Legislature. The
organic act confded to me the discretion of
converting that body in extra session. The
President of the United States had no right
full authority to exercise that discretion for
me. He had the power Of removal, and such
control as that power gives him. But l
would have choerfully submitted to'removal
and consequent loss Of favor with the Presi-
dent, rather than occupy the position of Gov
ernor and refuse to the people an opportunity
to assert their most essential rights, and to
protect themselves against the basest frauds
and wrongs ever attempted upon an outraged
community.
Not having been informed of the grounds of
my removal, know them only through the
newspaper reports. to the effect that, in calling
the Legislature, disobeyed the instructions
Of the President. 1 had no instructions bear
ing on the subject, and there was no time to
obtain them, even if l had felt bound to snb-
rtitute the Presidents will for that discretion
which the organic act eonfded to me. The
convening of the Legislature undoubtedly
prevented difficulty and secured peace. Were
it important, am confident l could establish
this position by the most indubitable facts,
but it is sufficient now to say that the peace
of the Territory was not in fact disturbed, and
whatever approaches were made towards such
a result were wholly attributable to the policy
of the Administration, in censuring my acts
and removing me from office.
The measure for which have been unjust
ly condemned has enabled the people of Kan
zas to make known their real will in regard
to the Leeompton Constitution. This affords
the Democratic party an opportunity to de-
fend the true principles of constitutional lib
erty, and to save itself from disastrous division
and utter overthrow. If Congress will heed
the voice Of the people and not force upon
them government which they have rejected
by vote Of four to one, the whole country
will be satisfied, and KanEas will quietly set
tie her own affairs without the least difficulty
and without any danger to the confederacy.
The Southern States, which are supposed to
have deep interest in the matter, will be
saved from the supreme folly of standing up
in defence of so wicked and dishonest a con-
trfvanee as the Lecompton Constitution. The
moral power of their position will not be
weakened by vain and useless defence of
wrong, when it is perfectly certain they will
gain nothing even by success in the present
attempt.
The extra session Of the Kanzas Legislature
has done good, also, by giving means to ex-
pose and punish the INDUSTRIOUS frauds which
have been perpetrated, and doubtless. also, by
Il