Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-02-20

themselves It the b@lIot-box. was sstounded when
they laughed in my hce with seorn and mockery at
the very mention Of the bsllotbox They said that
the local officers were the merest and most
pulous partixsns utterly dishonest in these matters
Of public elections; and that i their neigbbors Of
Missouri did not come into the Territory for the pur
pose Of out voting them. these officers would cheat
and defraud them BY forged votes made for that
| pose. LEiE iE l E8sI4 VI {ik 4ffHHF
confess that could not believe these things.
| did not know certainly whether such things had
transpred before in the history Of that Territory.
| But Governor Walker and myself in the strongest
language we could command, in the most earnest
at the ems uing elections they should have q fair
chance at the ballot-box. FGreat applanse.1 We
pledged our sacred honor, that far had any
thing to do with IL no fraud, no trick, legerdemain
nothing which we could reach should succeed to
deprive them Of the sacred right Of managing their
own affairs by their own votes. [Cheers.
Especially did we say that the Convention which
was about to be elected-as said afterwards when
il was about to assemble Ought in our judgment TO
submit the Constitution which might Be framed, to
the vote of the people. We appealed to the nstruc-
tons Of the President of the United States; we APP
peaed to that solemn understanding which had been
had between the President and Gov Walker and my
SELF not only upon these Instructions but in the inter-
views had before we went to the Territory APP
pealed to these and told the people Of Kansas that
we should be supported in that position by the Pres
dent Of the United States and his Cabinet. think
we had right to give this TO the people Of
Kansas; think We were justified by the letter Of the
instructions given us by the Presdent think twas
no unlawful or improper interference with the affairs
Of the people Of that Territory for Governor Walker
and myself to the people that the Convention
certainly ought and probably would, submit the Con-
stitution to The people. R,~ M
But Gov. Walker, In his celebrated Topeka speech,
made at very early day after his arrival in the Terri
tory went further and said that if the Constitution
should not be submitted to the people he would join
them the people, in all lawful opposition to It's adop
ton by Congress, and would assist them, by every
lawful means in his power, to prevent the imposition
upon them of constitutional instrument upon whose
character they had had no opportunity TO decide.
think that these assurances part were in strict
conformity with hepostion Of the President and his
Instructions TO US. &fNs I'll yEF BfhBF5s
But whether they were or not one thing is certain
(for hold IN my hand now the documentary proof
that not q single position of this kind was taken by
Gov. Walker, during his whole administration of the
affairs OF that Territory that was not Immediately or
soon afterwards communicated directly 70 the Presi-
dent OF the United States. .- .3 I..z.a Z
Gov. Walker informed the President that be had
told the people Of the Territory that they ought TO be
permitted to vote upon the Constitution, and that be
would oppose it If twere not submitted 70 the people.
could show you, by reading from this document,
that that is repeaed over and over and over again in
Gov walkers dispatches TO Gen. Cass, and to the
President of the United States.
But in all the correspondents of the State Depart
ment or the President of the United States with Gov
ernor not one word is to be found OF reproof
or dissent from these POSITIONS assumed by him. and
Mr. Buchanan suffered him TO 60 before the people
OF Kansas, and In his name and by his authority fol-
lowing his instructions to the letter. TO assure the
people that they ought TO have the right to vote upon
their Constitution; and II that right was not allowed
them that the Constitution ought TO be rejected and
in so far as he could bring about that it should be
rejected lido not W, gentlemen, that Mr.. Buchanan
pledged his honor TO this but do say that Governor
Walker pledged his, and pledged mine, with the
full knowledge OF the President and without any dis
sent or reproof on his part. Cheers .,.#..-
think III was possible TO investigate this subject,
II 1t would lie tespectfui to te President land Ger
tany DO not mean TO be dlsrespectful to him here
IN lls own Stale, before this Intelligent audience, 10
the city oil fhiiadelpmal TO ascertain the facts, II
would appear that he lad said tI hundi ed lndvd-
uas that he approved the course of Governor Walker
up c. rtain time, when, perhaps IN his Judgment
1t became necessary, for the good OF the country
laughter to modify his position Continued laugh
ter and applause. iNrsg y elf
Now fellowcitizens there are several things 10 be
taken into consd ration as we go along with this mar
rativ', which are exit emey Important although they
may seem TO be small in themselves. Whenwc frs,
commenced tins series OF addresses TO the people q
Kansas for the purpose OF continuing witt item and
ascertalnng their complaints and their wants, mi.
norih land very small minority It was) that had
possession q. the Territorial Government became ex-
tremely restless, and in murmurs and low tones al
first complained. and afterwards denounced Cover
nor Walker, for having intercourse with Black Re
pubhcans- They did not wish US to go AMONGST the
peop and 1t was very evident they did not wish the
people to vote, because they knew perfectly well that
II the people could be prevailed upon peaceaby TO go