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

pledges to the people Of Kansas. Under
these circumstances. no alternative is left me
but 10 resign the Office Of Governor of the
TERRITORY II Kansas.
No one can more deeply regret than n.y.
self the necessity; bu, il arises from no
change OF opinion on my part. ON the con
,rary, should most cheerfuly have returned
TO Kansas 10 carry out my original instruc-
tions and thus preserve the peace Of the
Territory, and finally settle the kansa. ques-
ton, by edeening my pledges TO the peo-
pie. II is not my intention 10 discuss at
this time the peculiar circumstances and
unexpected events which have modified the
opinions Of the President upon point so
vital as the submission Of the Constitution
for ratification or rejection by the vote Of the
people, much less do desire any contro-
yersy with the President on this subject; yet,
however widely my views may differ from
those entertained by him on this question
views which have held all my life, and
which, as involving fundamental principles
Of public liberty and the Constitution, are
unchangea ble--yet,as regards all those great
Democratic measures which. trust, will
constitute the policy of his administration
in other respects, il will give me pleasure,
as private citizen, to yield my cordial sup
port.
have said that the slavery question, as a
practical issue, had disappeared from Kan
sas hong before my arrival there, aud the
question Of self-government had been sub
stituted in its place, On some future occa
sion ! shall dissipate the deluson which has
prevailed upon this subject, aud that after
three years experiment, when | arrived in
Kansas there were less than three hundre |
slaves there, and their number constantly
diminishing that, as proved by the official
records OF Congress, published and anthem
ticated by those distinguished Southern
statesmen, John c. Calhoun and Jefferson
Davis, the winter climate. even Of Eastern
Kansas, is colder than that Of New England,
and the pro slavery Territorial Convention
OF X Kansas consolidated with the proslavery
Territorial legislature, on the 4tn OF .janu-
airy. 1851. nearly five months before my ar
rival there did distinctly abandon the slave
~ issue, because, as set forth by one OF
their number. the pro slavery party was in
small and admitted minority, land the CO.
operation Of the Free-State Democrats was
invited, as the only hope of success not to
make Kansas slave State, which was con-
ceded to be impossible, but to make it a
conservative Democratic free State"
Even as late as the Sd Of July, 1917.
when the Democratic Territorial Convention
assembled at LecomptOn, in consequence Of
the laws Of climate and the well known will
os the people, none contended that slavery
could he established there. Nor was i,
until my southern opponents interiered in
the affairs Of Kansas, and by denunciatlon,
menace and otherwise--aided at q critical
period by several Federal oiliceh holders of
Kansas, ncluding the Surveyor-General the
President of the Conventon) with his i'm
meusc patronage, embracing many hundred
mployees-intervened and, as | believe.
without the knowledge or appreciation Of
the President Of the United States produced
the extraordinary paper called the Ie-
compton Constitution Yet this act Of in
teryention by Federal officers TO defeat the
will Of the people seems to be sustained by
my opponents whilst my Intervention, as il
is called, in obedience to my duty and oath
OF Office to support the Federal Constitution,
and TO take care that our organic law should
he fairly executed, by endeavoring to secure
the people Of Kansas their rights under tina,
act il denounced and illuminated.
IL is still more extraordinary, that the
hypothetical remarks made toy me as regards
climate, in its connection with its influence
upon the question Of slavery in Kansas. after
that issue bad been abandoned there. which
views were consolidating the union between
conservative FREE State and pro-slavcry Dem
ocrats. so a. 10 prevent the confscation Of
the small number Of slaves then held in
Kansas, have been denounced by many dis.
tirguished Southern Senators, who. when
the Kansas ebraska bill was pending in
Congress and when such remarks from them,
if ever. might affect Southern emigration
were then loudest in proclaiming that. be.
cause Of its climate. Kansas could never be.
come slave state. Indeed. il seems that
al persons. in ard out OF Kansas, whtiher
in public or private life, nav publish what
opinions they please in regard to these ones.
lions, except the Governor Of that Ter
rltory, who bas so little power and no pa-
trOnage.
And now be pleased to express 10 the
President M deep regret as regards our IN
fortunate difference of opinion IN relation 10
the Iccomp,op Constitution, and say to him
that as intaliiblIity does not belong TO man
however exalted in Intellect, purity Of inten-
ticn or position, vet II he has committed any
errors IN tbs respect, may they he overruled
bya experimenting Providence, for the per-
petuation Of our Union and the Advancement
Of the honor ard interes. Of our beloved
country.
In now di,solving my Official connection
with your department, | beg leave 10 tender
my thanks Tor your constant courtesy ard
kindness.
Most respectfully. yea' obi servt.
T. J. WALEEK.