Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-02-12
THE KANSAS FRAUDS.
/. ErrER FROM rx-sEcRErARY STANTON
To he People ofMe United States.

To the People ofthe United States ,
Having been recently removed from q,
the Office Of Secretary of Kansas Terri
tory, under circumstances which imply
severe censure on the part OF the Presi-
dent, and having had no official intorma-
tion Of my removal, nor any opportunity
for explanation or defence, have deemed
u Deccssary to present to the people OF
the United States brief statement OF
facts in yindication Of nv motives in ex-
planaiion of tie results Of the act for
which | have been condemned.
The office in question was not given at
my solicitation. Ny acceptance Of it III
der all the circumstances, was proof OF
strong friendship for tie President, and
Of unbounded confidence in the firmness !
aud failhfulness with which he would ad-
here to the line Of rolicy deliberately |
Rgrerd upon between HIN, his w'c., CAT !
met, ana GOV. w alker.
On my arrival in the Territory in April
hat, H. advance Of Gov. Walker, con
Tess that lad m imperfect knowledge
Of the real condiio of affairs. ] sup
posed the question Of slavery to be the
only cause Of dissension aud difficulty
among the people; and, in my brief in-
Augural address On the 18th q April.
treated this AS the chief subject OF dltfe'-
encc upon which Submission to the peo-
pie would be likely TO be demanded. !
soon found, however, 'ha. :his view vas
altogether too limited, sad did not reach
the true ground ef controversy. The
gryat mass Of the inhabitants Of the IUI-
ritory were satisfied with the local gov
ernment, and earnestly denied the valdi-
" of the existing law. asserting tha!
the previous Legislature had been forced
ppou p.tn b. the fraud and violence Of IA
neigl boring people, The. proclaim j their
determination meyer to submit TO The L.
actments ef .,,.s'atiye bodies thus be-
ieved to be illegi,imate and not entitled
&c obedience
This was !nu condition Of things when
Gov. Walker came TO ths Territory in
the latter part G: hity, 1t was EVIDENT
that the just policy Of permitting the peo-
he - regulate their OWN affairs could not
Ne successfully carried out, unless they
eould BE- inspired with confidence in the
SCENTS Of Government through whom
ihis resul; was to be effected. If a mere
minority The people had been thus dissai-
bsied and contumacious, they might pos
sibly have been rroaourcci factioIs ard
treated as disturbers # the peace; but
when the dissatisfaction was general, com
prising almost the whole people, NOR,
respectful consideration was indispensable,
to-a peaceful adjustment. Ii was eviden
that the policy of Representa- rigid at
tempt 10 enforce submission without al
effort at conciliation-would inevitably
resul, IL renewal Of the civil war. Will
eommeEdable anxiety 10 avoid this con
,ingency, Cay. Walker resolved to z
among the people, TO listen 10 their com
plants, to give them assurance Of fai
Hnd just administration Of The Terrtorla
government. and to ;nlroe i......, - poss
Die, to abandon ,ner hostility, and TO er
ter upon the peaceful but decisive strus
gle Of the ballot box. ! was ohen wit
the Governor when he addressed the pee
pie, ami gave my best efforts in aid Of Il
great purpose OF Cancellation.
1t was too late to induce The people
20 INTO the June election for delegates
the CouyeliiCn. The resstration r
CURED by law had been imperfect IN &
the counties, and had been wholly omittt
in one haliof them; nor could tue pc
pie Of these DISTINGUISHED counties vote
any adjacent county, rs has been false
suggested. In such of them as subs
quently took a census or registry OF the
swn, The dele gates chosen were not Il
uaitied to seats in the Convention. Ne
srtheless, it is not 10 be denied that Il
great central fact, which controlled t
whole case, WAS the utter want Of con
dence by the peop.e in the whole II
shinery Of the Territorial governmel
Fhey alledged that tlc local Office
in all instances, were INSCRIPTIONS ps
iizanS, who had previously defraud
them in the elections. aud ,ho were rea
TO repeat the same ouira2es again; til
even it intrulers from abroad should I
be permitted TO OyeppoHer them, III
would be cheated by False returns, viii
it would not be possible iog the Cove
or and Secretary to defeat. Although
tAal zine these apprehensions seemed
iae N be PFrpOsterous and unbound
V VIM impossible to deny the earnestn
n . II L