Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-02-12
THE KANSAS FRAUD.
LETTER FROM Ex-sRCRETARY SLANT,

N.
| To he people of the United States!
Having been recently removed from the office Of Sec
rotary Of Kansas Territory under circumstances which
imply the part Of the President and
having had official information Of my removal, nor
any opportunity for explanation defense have deem
ed il necessary present the people Of the United
States brief statement of facts in vndication of INV
motives in explanation OF the results Of the for which
have been condemned
The office in question not given at my solicitation.
My acceptance Of il under all the circumstances was
proof Of strong friendship for the President and Of
bounded confidence in the fmness and fahfuness with
which he would adhere to the line Of policy deliberately
agreed upon between him, his whole Cabinet aud Gov
Walker.
On my arrival in the Territory in April last in advance
Of Gov. Walker confess that had an imperfect know-
edge Of the real condition Of affairs. supposed the
question Of slavery TO be the only cause Of dssenson
and difficulty among the people and in my brief inaug
ura address OF the l7th OF April treated this the
chief subject Of difference upon which submission to
the people would be likely TO be demanded soon found
however, that this view altogether too limited and
did not reach the true ground of Controversy The
great of the inhabitants Of the Territory dis
satisfied with the local government and earnestly denied
the validity Of the existing laws Asserting that the pre-
yous Legislatures had been forced upon them by the
claimed their determination TO submit to the
aotments Of legislative bodies thus believed be leg
I mate and not entitled to obedience.
This was the condition Of things when Gov Walker
eame the Territory in the latter part OF May 1t
evident that the just policy Of permitting the people
regulate their affairs could be successfully car
red out unless they could be inspired with confidence in
the agents OF Government through whom this result was
To be effected. II mere minority of the people had
been thus dissatisfied and contumacous they might nos
sbly have been pronounced facous and treated as dis
satisfaction general, comprising almost the whole
people, more respectful consideration indispensable
TO peaoeable adjustment 1t was evident that the pol
icy OF repreSsiona rigid attempt to enforce submission
without effort at concintion-wOnd inevitably result
/ in a renewal u the civil With commendable anxi-
ety TO avoid this contingency Gov. Walker resolved 90
among the people to listen to their complaints, to give
them assurance Of fair and just administration of the
Territorial government and TO induce them il possible,
TO abandon her hostility, and to enter upon the peaceful
but decisive struggle Of the ballot box often with
the Governor when he addressed the people and gave my
best efforts in aid Of the great purpose Of Cancellation.
1t too late to induce the people go into the June
election for delegates to the Convention The regisira-
ton required by law had been imperfect In all the coun
ties, and had been wholly omitted in one half Of them;
could the people Of these dfranchised eouties
in any adjacent county as has been falsely suggested.
Ia such OF them subsequently took regis
Try Of Their own, the delegates chosen admit
ted to scatsin the Convention. Nevertheless it is not
be denied that the great central fact which controlled
the whole was the utter want OF confidence by the
people in the whole machinery Of the Territorial gov
emment They alleged that the local officers, in all
instances unseupulous pafiisans, who had pre-
vously deirauded them in t,e elections, and who
ready 10 repeat the same optrages again thateyen
II iniuders from abroad should not be permitted to
oyrrpower them, they would be cheated by false returns
which would not be possible for the Governor and Sec
rotary defeat Although at that time these apprehen-
sons seemed TO to be preposerous and unfounded il
was impossible 10 deny the and sincerity with
suit OF deep convictions, having their origin in some pre-
vious experience Of that nature.
The worst portion Of the small minority in Kansas
and bitterly complained OF Gov. Walkers policy Of con-
ciaton, and demanded the opposite policy OF repression
And when, under the solemn given that the
elections should be fairly conducted and no frauds
which he could reach be eonnenanced tolerated. il had
become apparent that the Of the people were pre-
pared and determined 10 participate in the October cleo
TONS the minority cndcavored to defeat the result by re-
yiving the tax qualifications for electors which had been
repealed by the previous Legislature Opinions
tanned from high legal sources, the effect OF which, had
they prevailed, would have been exclude the Of
the people from voting to retain the control in the hands
OF the minority, and consequence TO keep up agta-
ton and 10 nder civil war inevitable. But the intrepid
resolution Gov Walker, in spite Of fierce opposition
and denuncaton, far and near carried him through this
dangerous crisis and he had the proud satisfaction Of
having achieved peaceful triumph, hy inducing the
people to submit TO the arbitTamcnt Of the balotbox
But the minority determined not 10 submit TO de-
feat The popuons county Of Douglas had been attach
ed TO the border county Of Johnson with large and
trolling representation in the Legislature. The cee-
brated Oxford fraud perpetrated with view OBJ
tain maioriues IN both Houses Of the Assembly. When
these returns received my office, in Gov Walk
ers absence, had fully determined give certi6-
based upon them II they had been formal aud
correct to have made il my duty " certify them,