Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-04-25
FAMILY SECRETS.

| The Covode Investigating Committee at
| Washington is opening up some rich veins of
information, touching the Kansas policy of
| James Buchanan. 1t will be remembered that
Hon. X. j.. Walker, sometime Governor of
Kansas, was decapitated by their Presidents
orders while carrying cut his instructions from
that funetionary, as Executive of the Territory.
Gov. Walker has always justified his Kansas
policy, on the ground that he acted clearly in
accordance with Mr.. Buchanan's wishes. On
the other hand, the friends of the President
| have met this justification with plump denial
of the existence of any such expressed
wishes - of Mr.. Buchanan. Mr.. Schnabel
testified that he had seen letter from the
| President to Gov. Walker containing such
| 4" expressed wishes 30 the authenticity of this
| letter denied by Attorney General Black I;
but the letter was produced, and the handwrit-
ing having been proved to be Mr.. Buchan-
ans it was read before the Committee, and
is as follows:-
WASHINGTON. January II; 1857.
MY DEAR SIR 81 duly received your letter
of the 2Sth ult., on Friday last and read it to
the cabinet then in session. The views which
it contained were not calculated to assure us of
our success, though we did not despond. Hence
you may judge with what satisfaction re-
ceived an account of the proceedings of the
National Democratic Convention, held at Le-
compton on the Sd inst. The POINT ON WHICH
YOUR OWN SUCCESS DEPENDS Is THE SUBMISSION OF
THE CONSTITUTION TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS
AND BY THE PEOPLE MEAN, AND HOPE NO DOUBT
YOU MEAN, THE ACTUAL BONA FIDE RESIDENTS,
WHO HAVE BEEN LONG ENOUGH IN THE TERRITORY
TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH ITS FATE. The
Legislature determined three months as the
period of residence to entite individuals to vote
for the members of the Convention, and If the
Convention should think proper to adopt the
same period to entitle individuals to vote for or
against the constitution, it appears to me this
Tint thaft ,Afc p
mitting the constitution to the bona fide resi-
dents of Kansas, | AN WILLING TO STAND OR FALL.
IT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE KANsAs-NEBRAsKA
BILL; THE PRINCIPLE OF POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY,
AND THE PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION OF ALL PoPU-
LAR GOVERNMENT. THE MORE 1T IS DISCUSSED
THE STRONGER WILL BECOME. Should the Con-
vention of Kansas adopt this principle, all will
be settled harmoniously, and, with the blessing
of Providence, you will return triumphantly
from your arduous, important, and responsible
station. The structures of the Georgia and
Mississippi Conventions will then pass away,
and be speedily forgotten.
In regard to Georgia, our news from that
State is becoming better every day. We have
not yet had time to hear much from Mississip-
pi. Should you answer the resolution of the
latter, | WOULD ADVISE YoU TO MAKE THE
GREAT PRINCIPLE OF THE SUBMISSION OF THE
CONSTITUTION TO THE BONA FIDE RESIDENTS OF
KANSAS CoNsPICUoUsLY PROMINENT. On THIS you
WILL BE IRRESISTIBLE. With the question of
climate every person is acquainted, and the
more you insist upon this, the more will our
opponents urge that we violating the prn-
ciple of non-interference at the foundation of
the Kansas and Nebraska bill. 1t is strange
that people at distance, who have no practi-
cal acquaintance with the condition of Kansas,
should undertake to be wiser than those on the
spot. 1t is beyond all question the true policy
to build up great Democratic party there to
maintain the constitution and the laws. CON-
posed of pro- slavery and free-state Democrats,
and if the majority should be against slavery,
to obtain such constitutional provisions will Sc
cure the rights of shareholders in Missouri and
other States, and maintain all the laws guard
ing the just rights of the South.
You are right in your conjecture to the
cause of Judge Williams's appointment. We
supposed it would be peculiarly acceptable to
yourself, and that he might aid in carrying out
your policy.
Col. Cummings has Eeen appointed Cover
nor of Utah. This will cause his place to be
vacant after the brief period required for set
tling up his business, and certainly shall be
disposed to fill it by the appointment of Mr..
Stevens.
Gen. Harvey has been ordered to command
the expedition to Utah, but we must continue
to have him with you, at least until you are
out of the woods. Kansas is vastly more i'm
portant at the present moment than Utah The
pressure upon me continues without intermis- |
sion. 1 pray that Divine Providence, in which
place my trust, may graciously preserve my
life, and my health until the end of my term.
But Gods will be done in any event.
With every sentiment of esteem,
remain always sincerely your friend,
TSigned. JAMES BUCHANAN.
To Hon. Robert J. Walker.