The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-17
The Onicial correspondence IN Kansas A.
fai~-The Coup d'Etst OF Walker and
Douglas.

The OnBcial Correspondence on Kansas Az
fair~-The Coup d'Etsf OF Walker and
Douglas.
We have before us a public document en-
bracing the official correspondence between the
Executive authorities at Washington-end the
federal authorities of Kansas, from the APP
pointment of Governor Walker in March last
down to his resignation in December; and from
this document we think it can be shown that
the late coup d',ta of Messrs. Walker and Doug
las may be charged not so much to their con.
sistency to popular sovereignty" AZ to their
Inmates of the anti-slavery sentiment of the
North.
In the letter Of instructions to Governor
Walker, of March 80, touching a State %constitu-
ton for Kansas, he is informed that when
such a constitution shall be submitted to the
people of the Territory, they must be protected
in the exercise of the right of voting for or
against that instrument and that 1.-THE fair
expression Of the popular will must NOT be in
terrupted by fraud or violence" From this it
appears that the President expected the consti-
tuition to be bodily submitted to the popular
vote; but it does not appear that he made, or
contemplated making, such submission a sine
qua non. The sam instructions were given to
Mr.. Stanton.
On his arrival in the Territory, in adj.
vance Of Governor Walker, Mr.. Stanton
was charged, pro tenn, with the duties a
Acting Governor. In this capacity he issued
from Lecompton. April II, what may be called
his inaugural to the people of Kanyas; and the
most remarkable point in it is the expression of
his hope that, touching slavery, the Conven-
ton itself will, in sons form, provide for sub
hitting the great distracting question regarding
their social institution, which has so long agi-
tated the people of Kansas, to a fair vote Of all
the actual bona fde residents of the Territory
This suggestion was met by the Convention in
the submission Of the subject of slavery to the
popular vote.
On the second of June Governor Walker
writes TO Gen. Cass from Lecompton, enclosing
several copies of the Governor inaugural adj
dress, delivered at L~ecompton on the 9th May.
In the course Of this letter he says:-"You may
rest satisfied, however, that unless the people
had been assured that the constitution should
be submitted, as far AZ our power extended. for
ratification or rejection by all the actual bona fde
settlers. a most disastrous civil war here would
have been Inevitable" In his inaugural, how
ever, the Governor pleads the legality of the cleo
ton ordered for the Constitutional Convention.
asks them, "why incur the hazard Of the preli-
minsry formation Of a constitution by a mi
n%ority." 4" when q majority, by their own votes,
could control the forming of that instrument p
In this proclamation, also, Governor Walker
talR Of the treason and fanaticism Of aboli-
tion;' and asks, Shall the destiny Of the African
in Kansas exclude all considerations connected
with our happiness and prosperity And is IL
for the handful Of that race now In Kansas, or
that may be hereafter introduced, that we should
subvert the Union, and the great principles of
self government and State sovereignty, and i'm
brue our hands in the blood Of our countrymen?''
True, he also says that . Kansas never can be
brought into the Union, with or without slavery
exceptby q previous solemn decision, fully, freely
and fairly made by a majority of her people, in
voting for or against the adoption of her State
constitution But this was a mere assumption
of the Governor, for which he alone is re.
fponsible.
Warming up with his subject, Governor
Walker denounces the Topeka party, and fatty
says that those who oppose slavery in Kansas do
not base their opposition upon any philanthropic
principles, or any sympathy for the African
race; for, in their so-called constitution, framed
at Topeka, they deem that entire race 80 inferior
aud degraded rs to exclude them all for ever
from KaDsas, whether they be bond or free"
In a letter to Gen. Cass, Of July Is, Governor
Walker is particularly severe upon the anti
slavery party, and says that Lawrence is the
hOt-bed Of sl the abolition movements in this
TerrjtQrv Il The iQrR ESTABLISHED By ns