The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-02-05
Letter from Ex.secrstary Stanton.

It would seem to be a work ofsuperer-
ogation to adduce still further testimony
to the internal yillany that has been prac-
ticcd in Kansas and which is now rcceiv-
ing the endorsement OF President Bu-
chanan. The last testimony, is letter
published by Ex-secretary Stanton, ad-
dressed to the people OF the United
States, in which he more than confirms
the statement ofGov. Walker. 1t will be
remembered that Mr. Stanton went TO the
territory pro-slavery man, but the out
RACES of the Border Rufiians proved too
much for him, and for endeavoring to act
with some impartiality and justice, he
was removed from the office Of acting
Governor, by the President. We have
room only for a portion ofhis letter.
He commences by stating that the OF.
fec was conferred on him withoct his So
licitaiion, and that he went TO the terrific
~ rs did Gov. Walker, desiring to use his
best endeayor TO coneiliate the people OF
Kansas, and 10 convince them that they
should be justly dealt by. He confesses
to an imperfect knowledge of affairs in
Kansas until he went there, supposing
that the great mass Of the people we've
dissatisfied with the local government,
and denied the validity Of laws imposed
on thsm 10y the fraud and violence Of a
neighboring people. In order to prevent
the renewal Of civil war, he joined in the
assurances given by Gov. Walker, that the
people of Kansas should be protcctedfrom
the frauds and violence to which they
had been subjected, he says:
II was too late to induce the people to 70
into the June election, for delegates to the
Conyention. The registration required by
law had been imperfect IN all the counties.
and had been wholly omitted In one half Of
them; nor could the people Of these dis.
franchiscd counties vote in any adjacent
county, as has been falsely suggested. In
such Il them as subsequently took a census
or registry Of their own, the delegates chosen
were not admitted TO seats IN the Conyen-
ton. Nevertheless, il is not TO be denied
that the great central fact, which controll-
cd the whole case, Was the utter want ofcon-
fdence by the people in the whole machinery
OF the Territorial government. They al
legged that the local officers, in all instances,
were INSCRIPTIONS partlsans, who had pro.
yiously deimuded them in the elections, and
who wce ready to repeat the same outnges
again; that, even IL the intruders from
abroad should not be permitted to oye'pow-
er them, they would be cheated 10y false 10.
turns, which il would not be possible for the
Governor and Secretary 10 defeat. Although
Mt that time those aPprehensions seemed To
me 10 be prepOsterous and uniounded, il was
impossible 10 deny the earnestness and sin
cerlty with which they were urged, or to
doubt that they We're the result oi deep cum
yictions, having their origin in some previous
experience ot that nature.
The worst portion Of the small minority
in Kansas who had possession Of the Terri
tornl organization, loudly and bitterly COM
planned vi Gov Walker policy Of conclia-
ton. and demanded the opposite policy Of
repression. And when, under the solemn
Assurances given that the elections shsuld BE-
fairly conducted, and no frauds which he
could reach b. countenanced or tolerated, il
had become apparent that the mas Of the
people were prepared and determined TO
participate in the October elections, the
minority cndcIyOred to defeat the result by
rey,ying the tax qualifications for electors,
which bud hen rIehltd by the previous
legislature. Opinions were obtained irOm
high LEGAL sources the effect U, which, had
thUy prevailed, would have been "a exclude
the mass vi the people from voting, to re.
tain the control in the hands Of the minOri.
~, aud as consequence to keep up agita-
tiun and To render civil war inevitable. But
the intrepid resolution OF Gov. Walker, in
spite Of herce opposition and dsnunciaiiOn,
lar aud near carried him through this dam
gerou- crisis, and he had the proud satislac
ton OF having achievela peaceful triumph,
by inducing the people to submit to the
arbiirlmcnt OF the ballot box.
But tile minority were determined not 20
submit 10 defeat. The populous county of
Douglas had been attached to the border
county at johnson, with large and con-
trolling representation in the l. sislature.-
The celebrated Oxford fraud was perpetrat-
ei with view 10 obtain mairi,ics in both
Houses Ofthe Assembly. When these re-
turns were received at nv office, IN Gov.
Walkers absence, had fully determined
not 10 give certificates h,sed upon them IL
they had Teen 80 formal aud correct as to
have made IL my duty TO certify them, |
would have resigned my Office IN order to
testify my sense al tho enOrinlty OF the
wrong. Gov. Walker, at Leavcnworth,
had formed the same resolution, as he stated
to me and to several others, and NC were
both gratiied that we found the papers %
imperfect US to make !, our duty TO reject
them. oreat excitement followed in the ter
ritory. Tue minority, thus righteOu-ly do
faisd in the eaOrt 10 prOlong their power,
became fierce in opposition and rcsor,ed To
every means Of intimidation. But am led
% believe that they found their most electual
means of operation by undermining us with
the administration at Washington.
= The Constitutional Convention. which had
adjourned over until after the October cleo
ton, met again in lecompton TO resume its
labQn. Many Of the members Of that body
were bitterly hostile to the Governor and
Secretary, ON account of their rejection Of
the Oxford and McGee frauds, in which
some Of the members and officers OF the con-
vention had direct participation. In fact,
this body, with sjme honorable exceptions,
well represented the minority party in the
Territory. and were fully imbned with the
same spir,t and designs. IL was obviously
not their desire to secure ~ the real people
Of Kansas the control Of their own AFFAIRS
In the Constitution SION afterwards adopted,
they endeayorcd to shpersssie the Legislaturc
which had been elected by the people, by
providing. in the second section OF the sche-
dule, that '.all laws now Of force in the ter
&c., sh,,il amman, to bs If force until al.