Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-03-04
POSITION OF GOV. WALKER.


vention, held in indianapolis on the 22d ult,
did not appear in the regular report of the pro-
ceedings, but has since been published. 1t will
put to rest all doubts concerning Gov Walkers
position:
AUSTIN H. BKowS Esq, Chairman, &c.
SIR: Your letter in behalf Of the Commit
tee, inviting me to address the mass meeting Of
the Democracy of Indiana on the 22d of this
month at Indianapolis, has been received. 1t
would have given me sincere pleasure to have
complied with your request, but on the oath of
this month one of my most important cases, now
pending in the Supreme Court of the United
States, is set down for argument, and cannot
be absent on that occasion.
The power of Congress to admit new States
into the Union has heretofore, at various periods,
been fully discussed by me. This power of dd-
mission most clearly implies the previous con-
sent of the people of the inchoate State not only
by the very terms, but as required by the fun
danental principles OF our Government. Indeed,
presume it will hardly be contended that Con
greSS possesses any power to force the people
of n State into the Union against their will.
The Union is composed of a conGcderacy of CO.
equal sovereigntieS, and each must have freely
entered into the Federal compact BY the peO-
Pile of State, under Federal Constitution,
is always intended the majority of that people.
The people of State, in entering into the Union,
always indicate their previous assent by the
adoption of a State Constitution.
NV own opinion, MS heretofore often express.
ed, distinctly repeated in my letter of accept
ance of the GovernOrship of Kansas and reiter-
ated in my inaugural address, was that the as
sent Of the people to their Constitution can only
properly he ascertained by direct popular vote
for or against its adoption. Indeed, in what
other way can it ever be known that the people
would have assented to the Constitution unless
they are permitted to vote for or against its
adoption? The President, in his message of
December last, admits this must be done as re-
CARDS the question of Slavery as regulated by Il
State Constitution, although he comedies that
his instructions to me rs regards the submission
of the Constitution were general and nnquali.
fed" 1t is most fortunate that such Opin-
ion had remained so long dormant in the breast
of the President; for, if the slightest suggestion
to that effect had been made to me, it is quite
evident, from my lifelong opinions on this very
point, SO often and distinctly expressed, repeat.
ed in my letter of acceptance of the Governor
ship of Kansas and reiterated in my inaugural
address, that such conditions | never would
have gone Kansas.
Its true that the President, in his Message,
most frankly Comedies not only that his in
StructionS to me as regards the submission of
the Constitution were general and unqualified,
but also that he then supposed that the Con-
Stitution itself would have been submitted to
the vote of the people, and that in his judgment
LtllS ought 10 nave Deen Dul, nevertheless,
his Message of December last, to my surprise
and establishment, first developed the aStound-
ing fact that the President considered that moth.
ing but the Slavery question was required to be
submitted to the vote of the people = | do not
mean to charge the Chief Magistrate of our
country with wiful deception on this question,
but this do say, as indicated by lifelong Opin-
IONS published again and again, repeated in my
letter of acceptance, reiterated in my inaugural
address and various dispatches, that the Presi-
dent and all his Cabinet well knew my opinion
on this subject, and that | never would have
gone to Kansas except upon the condition Of adj
vocating the submission of the Constitution for
ratification or rejection to vote of the people.
This, with me, was n vital question, embodying
the only fair, just, peaceful and constitutional
method of settling the difficulties in Kansas.
1t was with extreme reluctance, and accom-
panied by great sacrifices, and after repeated
refusals that Fat length did consenttO go to Kan
sas: but upon no other terms would have gone
than upon those above indicated; and il the
President had stated to me that the Slavery
question only was required to be submitted to
the vote of the people, he very well knows, and
all his Cabinet well know, and all my friends
who conferred with inc at that date know, that
on such conditions l never would have gone TO
| Kansas.
| In my administration of the affairs of Kansas,
always communicated from first to last to the
| President, faithfully carried out these views as
| regards the SUBMISSION oil the constitution 10
the vote of the people, and by these means as
the President frankly admits in his late Kansas
Message, prevented sanguinary revolution
there in June last. This revolution would have
covered Kansas with blood and deSolation; il
would have been marked by all those horrors
which ever accompany civil war, which must
| have extended to bordering States aud Terrific
rieS, and involved, hut too probably, the ruin of
our beloved country. How was this dreadful
catastrophe averted? BY my addresses and dis.
| patches quoted by the President, advocating
the submission of the Constitution for ratifca-
ton or rejection by the vote of the people. In
deed. my only alternative was to suppress this
revolution by the bayonet, or by advocating the
submission of the Constitution as above stated,
and pedging my best eXertons to obtain fair
election for the people of the Territorial LegisIa
ture in the then ensuing October These
pledges, and these alone, it is conceded, pre-
vented revolution and civil war.
And why should they not now be redeemed {?
For myself, these pledges have been thus far
most faithfully maintained, and they will be re-
deemed by me, if necessary, with the last drop
of my lfe's blood, and to the latest hour of nv
existence. These were pledges well known to
the President and all his Cabinet They were
pledges given by me in good faith, and any