The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-01-09

issue, had disappeared from Kansas long
| before my arrival there, and the question
of, self government had been substituted
| in its place. On some future occasion /
shall dissipate the delusion which has
prevailed upon this subject, and show
that after three years experiment, when
arrived in Kansas there were less than
900 slaves there, and the number con-
stantly diminishing that, as proved by
the official records of Congress published
and authenticated 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 that the Pro-slayery.
Territorial Convention of KaEsas consoli-
dated with the Pro-slayery Territorial
Legislature on the 4th of January, 1857,
nearly FIVE months before my arrival
there, did abandon the Slavery issue be-
cause, as set forth by one of their num-
ber, the Pro-slavery party was in small
and admitted minority, and the co-opera-
tion of the Free State Democrats was in
vited as the only hope of success-not to
make Kansas a Slave State, which was
conceded to be impossible, but to make it
Even as late as the I'd of July, 1857,
when the Democratic Territorial ConVen-
tion assembled at Lecompton, in conse-
quence of the laws of the climate and
the well-known will of the people, none
contended that Slavery could be estab-
lished there; nor was it until my South
ern opponents interfered in the affairs of
Kansas, and by denunciation, menace and
otherwise, aided at critical period by
several Federal office-holders of Kansas,
including the Surveyor General, and the
President of the Convention with his i'm
mense patronage, embracing many hun
dred employees, interviewed, and as | be-
lieve without the knowledge or approba-
ton of the President of the United
States, produced the extraordinary paper
called the Lecompton Constitution. Yet
this act of Intervention by the federal
officers TO defeat the will of the people
seems to be sustained by my opponents,
while my intervention, as it 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
be fairly executed by endeavoring to Sc
cure to the people of Kansas their rights
under that act, is denounced and calum-
| mated. 1t is still more remarkable, that
the hypothetical remarks made by me as
| regards climate in its connection with its
influence upon the question of Slavery in
Kansas, after that issue had been aban-
doned there, which views were for con-
solidating the Union between the Con-
servative, the Free State and Pro-slavery
Democrats, so as to prevent the confsca.
! ton of the small number of slaves theI
held in Kansas, have been denounced
| by many distinguished Southern Sena
! tors, who, when the Kansas n Nebraska bill
was pending in Congress, and when such
remark from them, if ever might affect
Southern emigration, were then the loud
est in proclaiming that because of its eli
mate, Kansas could never become Slave
State. Indeed, it seems that all persons
in and out of Kansas, whether in public
or in private life, may publish what opin-
ions they please in regard to these ques-
tons except the Governor of that Terri
tory, who has SO little power and no pat
ronage. And now be pleased to express
to the President my deep regret as re-
CARDS our unfortunate difference of opin-
ion in relation to the Lecompton Consti-
tuition, and to say to him that, infallibility
does not belong to man, however exalted
in intellect, purity of intention, yet if he
has committed any errors in this respect,
may they be overruled by superintend-
ing Providence for the perpetuity of our
Union and the advancement, the honor
aid interest of our beloved country.
In now dissolving my official connec-
ton with your department, I beg leave
to tender to you my thanks for your con-
slant courtesy and kindness.
Most respectfully, your ob't servant,
(Signed) R. j. WALKER.