Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-02-10
eIEARFIELD. Pa WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1858

20 rightful authority to exercise that discre-
4 ton for me. He had the power of removal,
and such control as that power gives MIN.
But would cheerfuiy have submitted to re-
moval and consequent loss OF favor with tne
President, rather than occupy the position OF
Governor and refuse to the people ali oppor-
tunity 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, 1 know-+eurenly through the
newspaper reports, to the effect that, in calling
the Legislature, disobcyed the instructions
CT the President. l had no instructions bear
ing on the subject, and there was no time to
obtain them, even if / had felt bound to sub
stitute the Presidents will for that discretion
which the organic act confided to me. The
convening of the Legislature undoubtedly pre-
vented difficulty and secured peace. Were it
important, am confident / 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 VIII oily attributable to the policy
of the Administration in censuring my acts
and removing me from Office.
The measure for which have been unJustiy
condemned has enabled the people CT Kansas
to make known their real will in regard to the
Lecompton Constitution. This affords the
DeniOcratlc party an opportunity 10 deIetlu tne
true principles OF constitutional liberty, and
to save itself from disastrous division and ut
ter overthrow. If Congress will heed the
voice of the people, and not force upon them
a government which they have rejected by
vote of four to one, the whole country will be
satisfied, and Kansas will quietly settle her
own affairs without the least difficulty, and
without any danger to the Confederacy. Tbe
Southern States, which are supposed to have
a deep interest in the matter, viii be saved
from the supreme folly of standing up in de-
fence of so wicked and dish onest contrivance
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. Z
| The extra session of the Legislature has
| done good, also, by giving means to expose
| and punish the monstrous frauds which have
| been perpetrated, and doubtless, also, by pre-
| venting others which would have been at
! tempted. 1t has driven the guilty miscreants
| engaged in them to become fugiiiyes from jus
tice, and has rendered it Impossible for the
peace of the Territory hereafter to be endan.
| gered by similar occurrences.
| In view of these facts and results, / willing
| ly accept the rebuke conveyed in my peremp
| tory dismissal from office, but l appeal to the
| deliberate judgment of the people to deter
| mine whether have not chosen the only hon
| orahle course which the circumstances allowed
me to pursue. FRED. L. STANTON.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 90, 1858.