The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-02
NUMBER s16.s,
Cass,s Reply to Gov. walker,
STATE DEPARTMENT, w sHIxcroN, !
,-... ''i-'l "a December IL, 1857. '&

SIR On Wednesday last I received your
communication of the 18th inst, rendering
your resignation as Governor of Kansas
The resignation is ACCOMPANIED by long ar
gnment on the affairs of the Territory gener-
any, 70 winch, yoa are well aware, it would
DC Impossible Tor this department. to reply. 1.
II every officer ofIthe Government who
teels himself constrained to refuse obedience
to the instructions of the President, shall pur-
sue the unusual course, and thus place on the
files of the appropriate department a eriti-
cism on the policy of the administration. no
person knows better. than yourself to what
consequences this may lead them. He must
either cause the charges and argument against
the President to be filed among the public ar
chives of the country, without contradiction
or reply, or he must spend the time which
ought to be devoted to the public service, in
controversies with subordinate officers who
may disapprove Of, the Presidents policy
Whilst duty, Therefore, forbids me to enter
into controversial discussion, with Won on
the various topics embodied in your argu-
ment, it is proper that I should make re-.
mark upon single point. You state that
the President has changed his policy in regard
to Kansas. And why this allegation. Sim
ply because the Convention of Kansas have,
in the exercise of the rights belonging to
them, decided that they would not submit
the whole Constitution to the people, al
though they had submitted the all important
and dangerous question of Slavery, which
threatens to convulse the Union, and was
prominent to the majority of the people
throughout every State, no had not treated
the subject OF this momentous question as q
mere nullity. Under these circumstances, it
was his imperative duty and in strict conform
ity with instructions, to take care that fair
election be held on this question, and thus
give peace to the Union. If he acted in any
Vtaer inuniicls merely bcesase ne prefer. ed tho
submitting of the Constitution originally to
the people, his responsibility would have been
OF the greatest character. He never inten.
ded to express the opinion that the Conyen-
ton was bound to submit any portion of the
Constitution to the people on the question Of
Slavery, much less then, that that portion
would be invalid without such submission \.
Had he entertained suah, an opinion as this
1t would be in opposition to the numerous
precedents which have occurred since the a.
doptlon of the Federal Constitution by the
different States. The question of slavery
was the all absorbing question, and you we're
sent to Kansas with the full confidence of the
President to carry out the principles of the
Kansas Nebraska Act. With the question
whether Kansas was to be free or slave State,
you were not to interfere. You were to Sc
cure the people Of Kansas free and fair
election to decide the question for themselves.
The President was therefore happy to learn
from your dispatch to this Department Of
10Th July last, that in all your speeches you
had reiraned from expressing any opinion as
to whether it should be a free or Slave State.
l am instructed to inform you that your. re-
slgnatlon OF the Office Of Governor of Kan
sas has been accepted O i5gegfm t1ae-
e' l am, sir, your obedient servant,
Signed, , LEWIS CASS,
To r. j. WALKER.