The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-11-04
GOvGfhOr DenVer's Farewell Ad-
dress to the People Of Kansas
IerritOFy.

TerTitOFy.
FEIGuw CITIZENS The shhounceme
of my resignation of the Office OF Governor
having induced many of the good people oi
the Territory to express their regrets that
should do so, and some having gone so faI
as to express misgivings as to the future, il
may be proper for me, when about to sever
my official connections with you forever, to
address to you few words at parting. 1t is
true that at the time / took charge Of thi:
Office, great confusion existed in the Terri
tory, and that everything is now quiet but
It is equally true that the continuance o
peace and quiet, depends, henceforward
more on the people themselves than on the
Executive of the Territory. In every coun.
ty the people have a super-abundance oil
civil officers, elected by themselves, and an
election has just been held all over the Ter.
ritory, for Representatives in the Legisla-
tive Assembly, without the occurrence ot
any disturbance. and without the interven.
ton of the Federal authorities. The neces.
sity for such Intervention is stigma on the
American people, who boast of their volun.
tary obedience to the laws and their ability
to govern themselves. 1t is TO be presumed
that the experiments made are sufficient to
satisfy the people that political objects can
not be attained by absenting themselves
from the polls the day OF election-that
peace and quiet ore better than intestine
brols and civil war-that on honest and q
foithful administration of the civil law is bet.
ter than military rule, and that there is a
much greater degree of responsibility attach-
ing to legally authorities than to
self-constituted LEADERS,. 1t really makes
but little difference who may be the repre-.
sentative of the general government here, If
the people are true to themselves and true
to American institutions. To obey the laws
to select good men to fill the local offices,
and to hold their officers to strict account
ability, is all thut is necessary for the peo.
pie to do TO give continued peace and pros
perity to the Territory. Every citizen ought
to make it a part of his business to see that
offenders against the laws meet with a sure
and speedy punishment-that officers dis.
charge their duties faithfully, and that each
and every one OF his neighbors is protected
in all his rights, civil, political and religious.
There is no reasonable man who will claim
such rights for himself, and not be willing
to concede the same to his neighbors. Tho
duties Of the Governor of Territory are
ordinarily few and simple. Now that this
Territory is thoroughly organized, all he has
to do is to see that the laws are properly ad.
.ministered, and to this end he must commits.
Sion the officers elected, sus pend or remove
such as the laws direct, see that the peace
is preserved when the local officers--the
sheriffs and constables--are unable to do
SO, assist the Legislative Assembly in en-
acting laws, and also to do few other acts
of an executive character. All these are
plain and simple duties, and such as can be
performed by any man of common sense
Under our system Of government the chief
responsibility rests on the people themselves
and it behooves them to exercise towards
each other spirit of tolerance and fraternal
feeling. Free intercourse and interchange
of sentiments will remove any false impress
sions entertained of each other by persons
coming from different sections Of our com
mon country, and better state of feeling
will hereafter prevail. During the time
have been with you, hGve earnestly endec-
vored to discharge the duties devolving on
me, faithfully, honestly and mpartally
and, il have doRe this in slch manner as
to meet with the appreciation of tho good
people of the Territory, | cannot but feel
gratiticd and it may be proper for me to
stnte that in all have done, have receiv-
ed the most cordial approval from Presi.
dent Buchanan und his Cabinet. In con.
clnsioD, permit me to warn you against the
tricks and machinations of designing dema.
gogues, who do prefer turmoil and strife to
peace ard property, fer it is Only at surh
times that they can bring themselves hto
notice. In this Territory there has been
mania for making State Constitutions, and
effort after effort has been made to meet its
responsibilities. Without a dollar in the
Treasury, with but little ttxable property,
without any well regulated system for col.
ecting revenue, and a considerable Terrific
Ial debt, the organization Of a State Gov.
at this time, must prove an enor
nous burden to the people. That these ef.
olts will be renewed, have no doubt and |
whether these burdens and responsibilities
shall be assumed before you are prepared
or them, my fellow citizens, and before
you know well the men whom you will then
aave to intrust with your dearest rights and |
interests, will remain for yourselves to de-
ermine. Sincerely hoping that the future
VI Kansas may be as prosperous and happy
s The past has been boisterous and trouble. |
some,
l remain, my fellow-citizena,
Your obedient Servant,
]. w. DENVER.
IFCcMpToN X ~ Ort q 1Ssa