New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-01
PROGRESS OF THE LECOMPTON CONSTR
TUITION.
From, The PhRadclpkio Press.

From Inc PHHdcffp6N PTeSs
Crn WARN KAssAs.-We print the telcgraphic
dispatches from Kansas this morning with deep regret
But the news was not unexpected. This sad result
was predicted by Gov. Walker in his great letter OF re-
signation of the 18th of December as certain sequel
of any attempt TO force the Lccompton fraud upon the
people of Kansas. The following extracts from his
letter prophecy indeed;
The power and responsibility being devoived ex-
clusively upon me, by the President, OF using the
Federal power in Kansas to suppress insurrecton the
alternative distinctly presented by the ques-
tons prOpounded at Topeka, OF arreSing revolution
by the slaughter Of the people OF preventing IT, TO.
gether with that civil war which must have extended
throughout the Union, by the solemn assurance then
given that the right OF the people to frame the own
Government, so far as my power extended, should De
maintained But for this assurance, IT IL conceded
fact that the Topeka State Government, then assem-
bed in legislative session, would have been put into
immediate actual operation, and that sangunary col
-ion with the Federal army and clvl war must nave
ensued extending it il feared throughout the Union.
Indeed the whole idea of an inaugeps address orig
mated in the alarming intelligence which had reached
Washington City of the perlIous and lneipent reOei-
ion in Kansas. This nsurrection more
formidable on my reaching the Territory by the near
approach Of the assembling of the revolutionary
State legislature and the very numerous mass con.
yen,ions bv which il sustained. In truth, had
to choose between arrestng that insurrectlon, at
whatever cost of American blood, by the federa
by nv pledges to the people of the exertion OF all my
power to obtain fair election, and the submission Oh
the Constitution to the vote OF the people fof ratca
ton u election.
NV inaugural and other addresses were, therefore,
really in the nature of procamaonsso often Issued ny
Presidents and GoyernUrs with a view 10 prevent, Us
they did in this case, civil war and insurrection.
Now. bv my oath of Office, was sworn to support
the Constitution of the United States, which nave
shown in nv judgment, required the submission OF
the Constitution TO the vote of the people. was
sworn also to take care" that the Kansas ana Ne
braska bill - should be faithfully executed, wnlch
BILL in my Judgment, as heretofore stated, required
that the Constitution should be submitted 10 the Vo'e
of the people and was therefore only performing
solem duty. when as Governor of the Territory, 10
whose people my first obligations were due, ehdeav-
ored TO secure to them these results The ldea enter
aiped by some that should gee the Federal ConSttu
ton and the Kansas-Nebraska bill ovethrown ana
disregarded and that, playing the part OF mute IN
pantomime of ruin, should scquesce py IN;
involved, as an immediate consequence, Disastrous
and sanguinary civil war, seems to me to De most pre-
posterous. Not drop of blood has been shed oy the
Federal troops in Kansas during my aaininsI t
But insuTection and civil war, extending l lear,
throughout the country, were alone prevented oy he
course pursued by me on those OCCASIONS ana tue
whole people abandoning evolutionary violence, were
induced by me TO 20, Tor the INST iihie, ho s'i"
and peaceful election.
These important results constitute sufficient con-
ISOLATION for all the unjust assaults made upon e on
this subject. do not understand that these assaults
have ever received the slightest countenance rom
the President on the contrary, his message cieary
indicates an approval ofmy up to the pre- sent
most unfortunate difference about the so-caled ie-
compton Constitution. Inasuluch, however, as rms
difference is upon vital question involving practical
results and new instructions, il is certainly mueh more
respectful to the President, on my part, 10 resign
the Office of Governor, and give MN an 0p.
portunty of filling it, it is his right under me
CONSTITUTION with one who concurs with him Ia MS
present opinions, rather than go to kansas anu
force him to remove me by disobedlenes OF MS
Instructions This latter course, IN my Judg-
ment, would be incompatible with proper respect
for the Chief Magistrate of the Union, lnconssten,
with the rules of moral recttude or propriety, and
could be adopted with other view than TO force the
President to remove ME from office: Sucn course,
il Is alleged would present me to the pubic as Po,
tjca MARTYR in the defense Of the great principle Gt
selfgoyerpment; but to go to Kansas with any such
nu,pose or with a certain knowledge that such
re.t must follow would be alike unjust and improper
Nv only alternative then is that OF respectful Tesg
nation. in the hope that Kansas ana our beloved
country NAV be shielded from that civil war WIT
rLich ffar both are threatened, By any attempt 70
force he so-caled LeeomptO" Constitution Hpor me
people Of Kansas.