The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-13

nounced Governor Walker for the sugge'
ton in his inaugural address, and in his X
peka speech, that the Constitution shout
be submitted to all the bona 6de inhabitant
although he invariably stated, when aske
for explanation, that some reasonable iengt
of residence ought to be required as evidenc
of the bona file character of inha6itancy. 81
1t was apparent that all the machiner
had been artfully prepared for repetition
gross frauds, similar to those which had Dee
attempted in October; and it was in view @
all these facts. after the adjournment of tn
Convention, that the people Of the Territory
by an almost unanimous demand, called upol
me, as the acting Governor, to convene a
extra session of the Legislature, in order t.
enable them peaceably to protect themselve
against the wrongs evidently contemplatet
by the adoption of this Constitution. Their
was no law to punish frauds in election re
turns. The people were intensely excited
and it was the opinion of the coolest men il
the Territory that, without call OF the Leg
islature. the elections under the CONSTITUTION
could not have taken place without collision
and bloodshed. The meeting Of the Legis
lature diverted the attention of the people
from the schemes Of violence upon which
they were brooding, substituted the excite
ment of debate and investigation for that o
fierce and warlike hatred, and enabled thei
representatives to devise means for counter
acting the wrongs which they justly appre
hended.
Recent events have shown that their appre
tensions were we'll founded. Enormous
frauds have been perpetrated at the precinct!
of Oxford, Shawnee and Kicapoo and it may
well be believed that this result was actually
designed by the artful leaders who devised
the plan and framework of the Lecompton
Constitution. L lave lately been at Shawnee,
and have seen and conversed with persons
who were at Oxford on the day of election.
The frauds committed are notorious and
though dishonest persons may deny tnem'
and may fill the channels of public iniorma-
ton with shameless representation to the
contrary, they can be easily established De-
yond 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
instrument which permitted them, and was
to be carried by them, that called the Leg
islature together.
In my judgment the people had fair claim
to be heard on this subject through their
Legislature. The organic act contided to me
the discretion of converting that body in ex-
ira session. The President of United States
had no rightful authority to exercise that dis
cretion for me. He had the power of remov-
al. and such control as that power gives him.
But would cheerfully have submitted to re-
moval, and consequent loss of favor with the
President, rather than occupy the position of
Governor and refuse to the people an oppor-
tunity to assert their most essential rights,
and to protect themselves against the basest
frauds and wrongs ever attempted upon an
outraged community.
Not having been informed of the grounds
OF my removal, know them only through
the newspaper reports, to the effect that, in
calling the Legislature, disobeyed the in
structions of the President. 1 had no in
structions bearing on the subject, and there
was no time to obtain them, even if had felt
bound to substitute the Presidents will for
that discretion which the organic act contided
to me. The converting of the Legislature
undoubtedly prevented difficulty and secured
peace. Were it important, am confident I
could establish this position by the most in
dubitable facts but it is sufficient now to
say that the peace of the Territory was not
in fact disturbed and whatever approaches
were made toward such result were wholly
attributable to the policy of the Administra-
tion in censuring my acts and removing me
from Office.
The measure for which have been unjust
ly condemned has enabled the people of Kan
sas to make known their real will in regard
to the Lecompton Constitution. This of
fords the Democratic party an opportuni' ,v 70
defend the true principles of consti| ut;onoI
liberty, and to save itself from d;sostromS ,
division and utter overthrow. If OoncreSS
will heed the voice of the ,eople and not
force upon them a governp ,ent which thev
have rejected by vote Of. four to one the
whole country will be satisfied, and Kansas
will quietly settle he : own affairs without
the least difficulty, and without anv danger
to the Coincidence :, The SontberD StatsS
y; .I are supPo' ed to have a deep interest
su .ne .ia'0, '.'ll be saved from the supreme
iolly 81 stan' ing up in defence of so wicked
. anu uisno" st continuance as the Lecomp-
'on ConS Tuition. The moral power of their
i posia" will not be weakened by vain and
1 IooN IS defence of wrong, when it is perfect
:, certain they will gain nothing even by
dccess in the present attempt.
The extra session of the Kansas Legisla-
ture has done good, also, by giving means to
expose and punish the monstrous frauds
which have been perpetrated, and doubtless,
also, by preventing others which would have
been attempted. 1t has driven the guilty
miscreants engaged in them to become fugi-
tives from justice, and has rendered it impos-
slbie for the peace of the Territory hereafter
to be endangered by similar occurrences.
In view OF these facts and results, will
lingly accept the rebuke conveyed in nv
peremptory dismissal from office, but ap-
peal to the deliberate judgment of the peo-
pie to determine whether have not chosen
the only honorable course which the circum-
stances allowed me to pursue.
FRED. P. STANTON.
Washington, Jan. %, 1858.