American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-11-11
CRY OF LANCASTER.
.Isarsday nIornlns. NoV.1I, 1883
Gov. DenVer's Farewell Address to the
des Poodle OF Kansas Territory.

People oil Kansas efflofy' ,f
s.Ig Fellow CrrlzENs:-The announcement
of my resignation OF the office Of Governor
Having induced many Of the good people of
the Territory to express their regrets that
should do so. and some having gone SO
far as to express misgivings asto the fu-
iture, it may be proper for me, when about
'to, sever my official connections with you
forever, to address to you few words at
parting. tits true that at the time / took
charge oil this Office, great confusion exist
ed in the Territory. aud That everything is
now quiet; but it is equally true that the
continuance Of peace and quiet depends,
;.hencsforwaId, more on the people them
fselves than on the Execulive,ot the Terri
tory. In every county the people have a
super.abupdanes of civil officers, elected
by. themselves, aud an election has just
been held all over the Territory, for Rep
ressntatiSes in tue Legislative Assembly.
without the occurrence OF any distul hance
saud without The Intervention Of The Federal
authorities. The necessity for such inter
yentiou is stigma on the Amer ican pso-
pie, who boast Of their ability TO govern
themselves. It'll to be presumed. that
the experiments made are sufficientto sat-
isfy the people that POLITICAL Objects cannot
be attained by absenting themselves from
the poils on the day OF felecton---thht peace
and quiet are better than intestine broils
and civil war--tbat an heuest and faithful
administration Of the civil law is better
than military rule. and that there is a
much greater degree of responsibility at
taching to legally constituted authorities
than to self-constitued leaders, at re lily
makes but little difference who may be the
representative Of the general government
here, il the people are true to themselves
and true TO American institutions. To o.
bey the laws--to select good men to fill
the local Offices % strict accountability.
is all that is necessary for the people to do
to give continued peace and prosperity to
the Territory. Every citizen ought to
make il part Of his business 10 see that
offenders against the laws meet with sure
and speedy punishment-that officers dis
charge the duties faithfully. aud that each
and every one Of his neighbors is protected
in all his rights, civil, political and relig-
ious. There is no reasonable man who
viii claim such rights for himself, and not
be willing TO concede the same to his neigh.
bors. The duties OF the Governor OF a
Territory are ordinarily lew and simple
Now that this Territory is thoroughly or
ganized, all he has to do is TO see that the
laws are properly administered, and 10 this
end be must commission the officers elect
ed, suspend or remove such as the laws di.
rect, see that the peace is preserved when
the local officers--the sheriffs aud consts-
bles---are unable 10 do so, assist the Legis-
lative Assembly 10 enacling laws, and also
to do q few other acts Of an executive char
soter All these are plain and simple du-
ties, and such as can be performed by any
man OF common sense. Under our system
of,goyernmsnt the chief responsibility rests
on the people themselves, and il behooves
them 10 exercise towards each other spir-
itof tolerance aud fraternal feeling. Free
intercourse and Interchange Of sentiments
will remove any false impressions enter
tanned. OF each other BY persons coming
from different sections Of our commor
country, and better state Of feeling viii
hereafter prevail During the time,I have
been with you, have earnestly endeayor
ed to discharge the duties devolvIug Of mt
faithfully, honestly. and impartially; and
il Ibave done this in such a manner as tC
meet with the appr balion Of the good peo
pie OF the Territory, ! cannot but feel graf
flied; and il may be prOperfo for me TO stat
that in all l have done i have received th,
most cordial approval from President Bu
Il 4 A II r. II.