Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-02-09

stitution should be submitted to all the
bona .fde inhabitants, although he invaria-
blyestated, when asked for explanation,
that some reasonable length ofresidence
ought to be required as evidence of the
bona yfde character ofinhabitancy.
Il was apparent that all the machinery
had been artfully prepared for a repetition
of. the gross frauds, similar to those which
had been attempted in October; and, it
was in view Of all these facts, after the
adjournment of the Convention, that the
people of the Territory, by an almost
unanimous demand, called upon me, as
the acting Governor, to convene an ex-
ira session Of the Legislature, in order to
enable them peaceably to protect them
selves against the wrongs evidentley con-
templated by the adoption of this Consti-
tuition. There was no law to punish
frauds in election returns. The people
were intensely excited; and it was the
opinion of the coolest men in the Terri
tory that without. a call of the Legislature,
the elections under the Constitution could
not have taken place without collision and
bloodshed.
~
Recent events have shown that their
apprehensions were well founded. Enor-
nous frauds have been perpetrated at the
precincts of Oxford, Shawnee, and Kick
apoo; and it may well be belived that this
result was actually designed by the art
ful leaders who devised the plan and
frame-worlspftne Lecompton Constitution
| have latelssAeen at Shawnee, and have
sc6na1d conScrsed 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 fill tho channels of information
with shameless representations to the con-
trary, these can be easily established be-
yond all controversy I.
1t was to enable the people to shield
themselves from these frauds and to give
legal expression to their hatred, and to re-
ject that instrument that called the Leg
,isla:ure together
Not having been informed Of the
grounds of my removal, 1 know them
only through the newspaper reports, to
the effect thatn calling the legislature, l
disobeyed the Instructions of the President.
had no instructions bearing on the sub
ject, 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 confeded to me. The
convening of the Legislature undoubtedly
prevented difficulty and secured peace.
The measure for which l have been un
justl y condemned has enabled the people
of Kansas to make known their real will
in regard to the Lecompton Constitu
ton. This affords the Democratic party
an opportunity to defend the true principles
of constitutional liberty, and to save itself
from disastrous divisions and utter over
throw. If Congress will heed the voice
of the people and not force upon them a
government which they have rejected Dy
vote Of four 10 one, tie whole country
will be satisfied, and Kansas will quietly
settle her own affairs without the least diff
fcul,y, and without any danger to tho
Confederacy.
The Southern States, which are supposed
to have deep interest in the matter, will
be saved from the supreme folly of stan
ding up in defense of SO wicked and dis
honest contrivance as the Lecompton
Constitution. The moral power of their
position will not be awakened by vain and
useless defense Of wrong, when it is per-
fectly certain they will gain nothing even
by success in the present attempt.
The extra session of the Kansas Leg
islature 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 fugitves from Justice,
and has rendred it impossible for the peace
of the Territory hereafter to be endangered
by similar occurrences.
In view of these facts and results, I
willingly accept the rebuke conveyed in my
dismissal from office, but
appeal to the deliberate judgment of the
people TO determine whether l have not
chosen the only honorable course which
the circumstances allow me to pursue.
FRED. p. STANorN.
IVoel To-, IQEO