Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-02-16


been artfally prepared for repetition of gross
frauds, similar to those which had been attempt
ed in October; and it in view of these facts
after the adjournment of toe Convention, that
the people OF the Territory, by an almost unan-
mots demand, calledkUpon me, the acting
Governor, TO convene an~extva- session of the
Legislature, in order To enable them peaceably
to protect themselves against the wrongs evil
IDENTIFY contemplated by the adoption OF this
Consultation. There was lazy To punish
! frauds IA election returns. The -peeple We're
intensely excited it was the AopiIaan' of the
coolest men in the Territory that, without call
al the Legislature, the elections under the Con-
stitution could rot have taken place Without
collision and hloodshed. The meeting of the
Legislature diverted the attention OF the people
\ from the schemes OF violence upon which they
We're brooding, substituted the exctment of de-
bate and investigation for that of fierce and war
| like hatred, and enabled their representatives
/ To devise means for counteracting the WRONGS
which they justly apprehended
! Recent events have shown that their appre-
tensions were we'll founded Enormous frauds
have been perpctgated at the precincts of OK
ford. Shawnee and Kickapoo and it may well
be believed that this result was actually design
ed by tie artIul leaders who devised the plan
and framework OF the Lecomptcn Constitution
/ / nave lately been at Shawnee, and have seen
and convcrsed with persons who were at Oxford
on the day of election. The frauds committed
are notorious: and though dishonest persons
may deny them, and may I'LL the channels of
public information with shameless representa-
mons to the contrary, they can be easily estab-
lished beyond all controversy.
1t was TO enable the people to shield them
selves from these frauds and to give legal ex-
preston to their hatred and rejection of the in
strumeut which permitted them. and was 10 be
carried by them. that called the Legislature
/ together.
| In my Judgment the people had fair claim
Z T. he l,.or, - a,
latUre. The organic act conii,ied 70 me the dis
erection of convening that body in extra session
/ The President of the United States had no
rlghtful authority to exercise that discretion f,r
me. lie had the power of removal and such
control As that power gives him But I wouId
checrfully have Submitted to removal md con-
sequent loss of favor with the President. rather
/ than occupy the position of Governor and refuse
! the people m opportunity to assert their most
essential rights, and To protect themsel Is
against the haSest frauds and wrongs ever at
tempted upon an outraged community.
/ Not having been Informed Of the grounds Of
/ my removal, l know them only through the
newspaper reports, to the effect that in ca.IiDo,
/ the Legislature dsobeyed the Instructions of
the President. ] had 10 instructions beari,a
on the subject. and there was time to obtain
them even If had felt bound 10 s,lhst it4tc II
Presidents will for that discretion which fLe
organic act confded 70 me. The conyenino Of
! Legislature undoubtedly prevented difficulty
and secured peace. Were it Important nm,
/ confident could establish that position bv The
most UudenIab!e factS-but it Is 81 i}icjenf nov,
10 say that the peace OF the Territory was not in
/ fact disturbed, and whatever approachs were
| made towards such results were wholly .+tr;
hntable to the policy of the Administration in
/ censurlng my acts and rcmuviug me from of,fca
The measure for which / have been 11r;us-I,
condemned has enabled the people of Kan.,z ~
make known theirreal win in regard TO Tho q
compton Constitution. This affords the Demo
cratic party an opportunity to defend the true
! principles OF constitutional liberty and to save
/ itself from disastrous division and utter over
/ throw. If Congress will heed the voice of the
people and not force upon thcm \ ,,,,-,,-,,-,,l,4
which they have rejected by a vote of f,iIr To
one, the Whole country wiz be satisfied. and
Kansas viii quietly settle her own affairs win
! ou' me least diAculty and without any danger
/ 20 Tue Coh'eaefacy Ihe Southern States, which
are supposed to have deep iuteres 81 in the ma
/ ter, Will lie saved from the supreme f,.J,.' IF
standing up in defence of 50 wicked and Jis
1 honest continuance as the Lecompton Copsti
tuition The moral power Of their position viii
/ not be weakened by Il vain and useless defence
of wrong. when it is perfectly certain tIev VIII
gam nothing even by success in the present a.
tempt.
/ The extra session Of the Kansas Legislature
has done good, also, by giving means to o,I7osa
and PUNISH the monStrous frauds which have
/ been Perpetrated. aud doubtless, also. BIZ 1,rr-
/ venting others which have zen attelnnted l.
/ ha7 driven The guilty. miscreants engaged in
them to become fusitives from justice and has
rendered 1t imporsib bic for the peace Of the Ter
ritory hereafter to be endangered by similar
occurrences
/ in view of these facts and results. I WILLINGLY
accept the reouke conveyed in my peremptorv
dismissal from office, but appeal to The del her
ate Judgment the people to determine whether
have not chosen the only honorable course
which the circumstances allowed me to pursue
FRED P. STANTON.
! WASHINGTON Ian % 1873