The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-01-07

Ny inaugural and other addresses were
therefore, really in the nature Of proclama-
tons, 80 often issued by Presidents ard
Governors) with a view TO prevent, az they
did in this case, civil war and Instruction
Now by my oath of Office, was sworn
to support the Constitution Of the United
States, which have shown 10 my Judgment,
required the submission Of the Constitution
TO the vote Of the people. | was sworn
also to :" take care that the Kansas and
Nebraska bill should be faithfully exc
cuted, which bill, in my judgment. as here
tofore stated, required that the Constitution
should be submitted 10 the vote Of the people,
and was therefore only performing a solemn
duty, when as Governor Of the Territory,
TO whose people my first obligations were
! due, endeavored to secure 10 them these
results. The idea entertained by some tina,
should zee the Federal Constitution and
the Kansas Nebraska bill overthrow and
disregarded, and that, playing the part of
mute in pantomime Of ruin, should ac-
quiesce by my silence in such result. es-
peclally where such acguiescence involved, as
an immediate consequence, o disastrous and
sanguinary civil war seems to me TO be
most preposterous. Not drop Of blood
has been shed by the Federal troops ia
Kansas during my administration. But in
surrection and civil war extending, | fear,
throughout the country, were alone prevented
10y the course pursued by me on those occa-
slons, and the whole people abandoning rev.
dictionary violence, were induced by me to
go, for the first time, into general and peace
full election. .......
These important results constitute a suffi-
cient consolation for all the unjust assaults
made upon me on this subject. do not
understand that these assaults have ever re-
ceived the slightest countenance from the
President; on the contrary, his message
clearly indicates an approval Of my course
up TO the present most unfortunate difference
about the so called Iecompton Constitution.
lnasmuch, however. az this difference is upon
IA vital question, involving practical results
and new instructions. II is certainly much
more respectful to the President on my part
10 resign the Office Of Governor. and give
him an opportunity Of filling it. as is his
right under the constitution, with one who
concurs with him in his present opinions,
rather than 60 to Kansas and force him 10
remove Inc by disobedience to his ins,ruc-
tions. This latter course, in my Judgment,
would be- incompatible with proper respect
for the Chief Magistrate of the Union in
consistent with the rules Of moral recti,ude
or proprety, and could he adopted with no
other view than to force the President TO
remove me from Office. Such course. il is
alleged, would present ME to the public as Il
political martyr in the defence of the great
principle Of selfgovernment but 10 90 10
Kansas with any such purpose, or with a
certain knowledge that such result must
follow, would be alike unjust and improper
My only alternative, then, is that Of "a res
pcetfui resi- nation, in the hope that Kansas
and our beloved country may be shielded
from that civil war with which. fear both
are Threatened, by any attempt TO force the
so-called Lccompton Constitution upon the
people Of Kansas.
state il as fact, based on long ard in
innate association with the people Of Kan
sas, that an overwhelming majority Of that
people are opposed to that instrument. and
my letters state that but one ont Of twenty
of the press OF Kansas support. il. Some
oppose It because so many counties were
disfranchised and unrepreSen,ed in the con-
vention. Some, who are opposed TO paper
money, because it authorizes a bank of enor-
nous capital tor Kansas, nearly unlimited in
It's issues, and in r. denomination OF It's
notes, from one dollar NJ and down. Some,
because of what they considered a Know
Nothing clause, by requiring ,ha, the Gov
ernor shall have been twenty years citizen
of the United States. some because the
elective franchise is not tree, as they cannot
vote against tire constitution. but only the
single issue, whether any more slaves NAV
be imported, and then only upon that issue
10y voting for the constitution 10 which they
are opposed. They regard this hn, az a
mockery Of the elective franchise and
pcrllous sporting with the sacred rights Of
the people. Some oppose because the con.
stitution distinctly recognizes and adorts
the Oxford fraud IN apportioninc legislative
members upon johnson county upon the
fraudulent and fictitious rcny1,S. so falsely
called. from that precinct. which recognition
oil that fraud IN the constitution is abhor
rent 10 the moral sense of the people. 9th.
ers oppos. because, although in other cases
presidents OF other conventions have been
authorized 20 issue writs of election TO the
regular Territorial or State officers with
usual Judges, with the established precincts
and adjudication Of returns. in this case IN
precedented and vice-regal powers are given
10 the president # the convention 10 make
the precincts, the judges, and TO decide final.
ly upon the returns.
From the grant Of these unusual and
enormous powers. ard from other reasons
connected with the fraudulent returns Of
oxford and McGhee, an overwhelming ma
Ority Of the reops q! h ansas have no fa;,b
IN the validity OF these returns, ard therefore
will not vote. Indeed. Disguise II as We NAV
TO ourselves, under the influence OF the pres
ent excitement, the facts will demonstrate
that any at,emp, by Congress to force this
constitution upon the people Of Kansas will
be an effort TO substitute the will Of small