The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-28
GOV WALKER IN KANsAs-THE TRUTH AT
LAST

most Of which has already appeared in the
Era. Of that which has not found its way tc
the public, the letters of Governor Walker tc
Secretary Cass, giving an account of his exer
tons to maintain peace and advance certain
party interests in Kansas, are the most interest
ing.
In letter to the Secretary, dated June q
1857, be transmits copies of his inaugural Ad.
dress, which, he says, in consequence of the
position taken in favor of submitting the Con.
stitution to be framed to vote of all the Peo-
pie of the Territory, had produced a most sooth
ing effect:
"On the whole, although there is, as vet
great discomfort in the Territory, and serious
threats Of resisting the Territorial laws, vet
thing soothing effect has already been pro
duced upon the people by the positions assumed
in my address, and l indulge strong hopes Of
peaceful settlement of this question. You
may rest satisfied, however, that unless the peo
pile had been assured that the Constitution
should be submitted, as far as our poaoer e.
tended, for ratification or rejection by all he
actual bona fide resident settlers, most disas
trous ciUil acar here would haze been inevitable.
As fer as our poaosr extended" are words
plainly implying what he had asserted in hif
Address, that such was the position of the Ad
ministra.ion. This assumption is repeatedly
made throughout the correspondence, and there
is no record of any letter from Gen. Cass, dis
crediting it, or censuring Governor Walker for
urging it, as the great peace making argument
July 10th, he writes that he had visited To-
peka at the time when the Free State Mass
Convention and the " so.called Topeka Legis
lature were in session, and that by his argu
ments and appeals he had succeeded in prevent
ing the triumph of violent counsels, and in in
augurating "a great movement" The reader
will naturally desire to know what this move
ment was. 1t was nothing less than the sepa
ration Of the Free State Democrats from tht
Republicans, and the amalgamation of til.
Free State Democrats and the Pro. Savers
men into one body, styled the National Demo
cratic Party! AS this was not fit to be intro
duced into the grand argument by which thu
Governor sought to magnify Popular Sover
eighty, and demonstrate to the People of Kan
sas thashis course was dictated by stern Jus
tice and sublime Principle, it was reserved fo
the ear of the Administration alone; and W.
now learn that this party topic formed the prin
cipal theme of his communications to the AID
m inistration.
"The result" he says "of the whole discus
sion at Topeka was regarded by the friends o
law and order as highly favorable to theil
cause, and as the commencement of grea
movement essential to success, viz the sepora
tion Of ths Free State Democrats from tie Re
publicans, Who had to some extent heretofor
co-operated under the name of the Free Stat
party. 1t was, however, universally admitted
that, but for the position assumed in my inau
gural address, and emphatically repeated a
Topeka, that the people of Kansas, 80 far a.
my power extended, should be permitted, by
full vote of the actual residents of Kansas, tt
decide upon the great question of the adoption
or rejection of the State Constitution to be pre-
pared by the Constitutional Convention, which
should assemble at Lecompton in September
next, that the more violent course would have
prevailed, and the Territory have been imme
diately involved in a general and sunguinar,
civil war, postponing, for the present at least
if not indefinitely, any pacific settlement o
these momentous questions"
The italicizing is ours. 1t is we'll to motto,
his repeated and emphatic assertion, tina
nothing but the pledge of submission of TIL
Constitution to fair popular vote, could pre-
vent civil war.
National Democracy, in all parts of the Terri
tory. Early in July, as we learn from the same
letter, he appeared at Paoli, where large
crowd were in attendance at the land sales, ano
preached against the Republicans.
~ endeavored to convince them that the so
called Republican party of Kansas, and theil
associates in the United States, had endeavor
ed, and still desired, as set forth in their plat
form, to deprive the people of Kansas of the
right to adopt their own social institutions, and
had referred this question to Congress, where
the people OF the Territory would have no vote
whatever; and continued my efforts on this
ground, in connection with other TOPICS to sep
arate the Free State Democrats from any ALI
ance with the Republicans. By Free State
Democrats l mean those who were favorable
last year to the election of Mr.. Buchanan, but
who desired to bring Kansas as free State
into the Union. Our friends were greatly
pleased with the result of the proceedings al
Paoli. In all my speeches., have refrained
from expressing any opinion as to whether
Kansas should be a slave or free State"
The Governor, according to his own showing
appears, not as the impartial statesman, but as
a mere partisan, seeking the success of one
Party, by the disparagement of another. The
thing, too, he applauded, the division of the
Party of Freedom, and the triumph of the Pro
Slavery Party, by allying with it the Free
State Democrats.
His party harangues were quite effective
A Convention of the National Democrats" as
he styles them, met at Lecompton, to nominate
a Territorial Delegate to Congress. 1t was
composed, he says, "of large majority of the
leaders of the Pro,Slavery party of this Terri
tory, the remainder being Free State Demo
Gratis" The Governor proceeds to state the
result of his policy.
"They adopted with great unanimity the
Cincinnati platform, discarded all sectional diff
ferences, invited a union and cooperation oil
Northern and Southern Democrats, and nomi
mated Governor Ransom, distinguished Free
State Democrat, lately from Michigan, and who
fully concurred in the views expressed in my
inaugural address, as the Territorial Delegate
to Congress. A resolution was offered by the
Pro Slavery Delegate, instructng the nominee
of the party for Congress to support there the
adoption of the State Constitution which might
be framed by the Constitutional Convention
which should assemble in September next
schether the same had been submitted for ratif
cation by the cote Of the people or not. Very
able addresses were made on this resolution
aud especially by Judge Elmore, of Alabama
who earnestly advocated the submission Of the
Constitution to the vote of the people, az the
only course that was safe or proper. This is
the more important as Judge Elmore is amar
of very decided ability and of great inf Rnce
with the Pro-Slavery party. He was Presrien