The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-11
NEW SERiES-NO ll9

been at Shawnee, aud have seen and con.
ycrscd with persons who were at Oxford on
the day OF election. The frauds committed
are notorious and though dishonest persons
may dcny them. aud may MI the channels OF
public Information which shameless repre-
scntations TO the contrary, they can be easily
established beyond all controversy.
Il was to enable the people 10 shield them.
selves from thcse frauds and TO give legal
expression 10 their hatred and rejection OF
the instrument which permitted them, and
was TO bc carried by them. that | called the
Legislature together.
In my Judgment the people had iair
claim To be heard On this subject through
their Legislature. The organic net conIlded
10 mo the discretion Of conveaing that BODY
In extra scssion, The President of tho
United States had no righthl authority 10
exercise that discretion for me- lie had tho
power Of removal, and such control a. that
power gives him. but | would cheerfully
have submitted 90 removal. and consequent
loss Of favor with the President, rather than
occupy the position of Governor aud rciuse
to the people an opportunity TO assert their
most es@n,al rights. and 70 protect them.
selves against tho bascst frauds and wrongs
ever attempted upon an outraged comm.
nifty.
Not having been informed Of the grounds
OF my removal, know them only through
the newspaper reports, 10 the effect that. In
calling the Legislature, | disobeyed The
instructions Of tho President. ! had no
instructions bearing on the subjcct, and
there was no time 10 obtain them. even IL
had fclt hound 10 substitute the Presidents
will for that discretion which the organic act
con6ied TO me. The convcning OF the
Legislature undoubtedly prevented difficulty
and secured peace. Were Il important. |
ain confident ! could establish this position
by tho most indubitable facts but II Ia
sufficient now u say that tho peace Of the
Territory was not In fact disturbed. and
whatever approaches were made toward
such result were wholly attributable TO tho
policy Of tho Administration 10 ccnsuring
my acts aud removing mc from olIice.
The measure for which have iccn unjust
y condemned has enabled the people Of
Ranas 10 make known their real will In r.
gard 10 the Iecompton Constitution. This
affords the Democratic party an opportunity
20 dcE'nd the trua principles of constitutional
liberty, and 10 save itslf from disastrous
division and utter overthrow. if Congress
will heed thc voice OF the people and not
force upon them government which they
have rejected by vote Of four 10 Que, tbc
whole country will be satisfied. and kanas
will quietly settle her own affairs without
the least difficulty. and without any danger
10 the Confoderscy. The Southern States,
which arr supposed 10 have deep interest
In the matter, will bc Mv,d from the supreme
folly Of standing up In defence Of 10 wicked
and dishonest c0ntrivnnce a. the IecOmp.
ton Consultation. The moral power OF their
position will not DO weakened by vain AMI
us'l''~ defans of wrong. when 4 u perfectly
certain that they will gain nothing even by
succ,~s In The present attempt.
The extra session of the K an~ls Iegisla.
ture has done good also by giving means
10 expose and ppnisl, the monstrous frauds
which have ben pcrpetraied, and doubtless,
also, by preventing others which would have
becn attempted. II Inns driven the guilty
mincrcants engaged IN them 10 become fogi-
tives from Justice, and has rendered Il impos-
siblc for the peace of the Territory hereafter
10 be endangered by similar occurrences.
In view Of ihese facts and results, vii.
lipgly accept ths rebuke conveyed IN my
perenpt0ry dismissal from Office, but sp-
peal 10 the deliberate Judgment Of the people
TO dctermno whether have no, chosen the
only honorable course which The circun.
stances allowed me to pursue.
FaKD. T. SrAsros
Washington. Jan ~. 1853.