New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-19


me two weeks consideration Iagrsed 70 20; ~ y
"a ,enI lave ever got have got unsolicited; whe1f
o,. 10 Kansas found tlat hings could beharmsnssd
fouD. different population there rom y az -
rcted a population that was Disposed 70 listen 70 VIVA
xss s;S d, Them, who were disposed for peace; sur
eaaSsJ IN .Strg better condition Of things stab
,steJ ,bs,ee spd sooner than expected; as to VI
Miller snd Mr.. Cox, know nothing about that
MR.. srCRETaRY COBB ON TIE KANSAS oossr7
TUITION. ts4fz
John J. McEihone, ;Sfer giving his testimony = Y
the Walker letter sad And will SKATE another thing
there was a letter writiu igy Mr.. Cobb which toch
the strongest ground in favor Of the subn.aos o. toe
Constitution Of Kansas to t5e people stsi,ng tnas
honor because Of the pledges Inase by sne Oemo.os
party in ls6 to the people tbtye was no sserns"ve
but that Of submitting the Consultation to the popular
| vote. .
! BY the Cbairman--Q. To whom wastbe letter WIT
| ten? A. do not recollec; il Wa writer 70 sons
| influential man in Kansas my Impression IL that V
was written TO Mr.. Calhoun, the President Of the
Kansas Constitutional Convention; II was iDtended for
publication; why II was suppressed do sot know y
was very powerful argumsnt, as ! rssoleN ~ 7
wrote it myself from Mr. Cobbs dictatcvi Ii WIS N
no way a confidential letter.
BY Sir. Robnson-Q. You wrote out tie leiterf
A. Yes, Sir.
Q. And you say that the ground taken IN ttss letter
was that in honor they besnd TO submit the Con-
suton of Kansas to the peof in conscqur OF tbs
pledges made by the Democratic party IN 10 thst
The peorls of Kansas should ceafrol this ,tsestent
A. thru that the expression was, Snat ~ nCDe9s
ren and hoping for Justice for themselves, thy shoud
asree thai the Constitution should be submited 10 fhe
people for ratification or rejection; that tty Shouts
decide for themselves whether they should r shoad
not have Saycry as recolle the letter ins sted that
it was the wish of the Administrators that that course
should be pursued.
JUDGE BLACK on THE Walker LEI sER.
Ellis b. Schnabel called and BY the Chairman
anxious to get off to Charleston to-day and in ecuss-
qucnce of the preparations You desired to make this
morning you would find il announcement to attend here
for long examination at present TO facilitate your
giving your testimony ordered our clerk to furnish
you list of Undergraduates; have you received vhosa
interrogatores, and have yoa prepared your answers
to them A. have Sir; copied the iaserrogafcres.
writing the appropriate answer ater each one OF hems
that may read properlyi here they are and have
signed them. rt..r 49, N 90
The interrogatories and answers were then read as
follows:
o.. Were you ever shown letter, dated July II.
1857 written by the President OF the United states to
Gov. Robert J. Walker, the latter then IN Kansasf
A. never saw but one letter in manuscript written
by the President to Gov Walker, and that beiievcs
bore date July II, 1857. n ~
%. Was it shown to You confden,ially, or are yoa
at liberty, without violating any promises vi secrecy,
speak OF its contents A. am under no obligation OF
secrecy whatever; have dcuSed the merits Of that
letter with great many persons within the
last eighteen months; presume twenty
different people, in Washington, to-day. have
been long aware of my knowledge Of this
ton of his in Kansas and at the time also
stated that he himself, under confidential re-
straints ut this tine Governor Walker was exceed
ingy indignant and angry ne also freely expres:sd
his fear that the President would not only destroy the
Democratic party, but the country with it, | urged
immediate publication; he feared the conseqaenees 10
the country and thought its welfare would DC best go
cured by being not too precpant; although he sxied
with determined emphasis, that inasmuch az the Pred
dent had suddenly changed 'front.' since the date VI that
letter. the epdency OF which change might be 20 dis
parage him lWalkerl in public estimation, as faithful
servant of the people, should thai ever appear either
in asailing his honor the manner in which he Dis
charged his duties ae public officer ne not ouly fsk
entirely free, but woud justify and defeni himself BE-
fore the country BY publishing the letter Of Tie IsA q
July 1857; he expressly stated that tho letter WAs
semi, cisl and entirely Invested Of confidential re-
srictions; for myself, havingno Confidential oogA
tons resting upon me- and having freely discussed ths
matter with numerous persons, at intervals, during .
year and half at least feel perfectly free to sPoak
vi lie con'en s. "a =
Q.3 What is your recollection of its contents =
A. The time the letter soon after the relg-
nation of Gov. Walker had with many other gen
tlemen earnestly urged bis appointment, hence fe .
profound interest in his success; converting with him
about what was deemed indirect renoUal % Gina
from Kansas led the introduction Of this letter az the
interview referred to; considered it most exrscrdi-
nary document when remembered that MIR. Walker,
was no longer Governor of Kansas il seemed to me,
from the conents of this letter that he was forced 70
abandon his posi- because he had faithfully carried cut
as far he had power the Instructions and advice Of
President Buchanan consider the letter as an unqul
fled Endorsement Of Gov. Walkers in Kansas
was particularly struck with the potent fact that TIE
President considered The submission of the CONSTITUTION
by the Convention to the people of Kansas the true
pTinc lie and nter talon OF the Kansas and NebrasS
BILL further, that his views equivalent to advis-
ing Gov aker to devote himself 20 the policy OF sub
mission, for the double reason first that would se-
cure his success and his would prove fatal to-
the resolutions against Gov. Walker passed short
time previous in Georgia and Mississippi; the Pres-
dent plainly indicated TO Gov Walker that hs sIcees
depended upon the doctrine of submission and adds
almost in the following words, that upon the docfriae
of submission of the Constitution TO the people be ihe
President) was willing 10 stand or fall; remember,
also that impressed with the singular s0emnity
of the President the fact that the advice contained
in the letter was cenched with a seemingly dc gout
PRAYER; this is substantially my recollection of the
spirit and meaning Of that document IL read 70
NE by Gov. Walker.
@. 4. Have you recently couversed with any mem
Der of this Administration the subject of this letter
Ii go. you at liberty TO speak of IL A. have rs
Gently had such conversations there 10 secret ar
H. no confidential restraint upon either OF the par.e,
have described the scene TO many persons sin' E-
Gay last presume this Committee like many estf-s,
have heard of IT. had an accidental discussion With
Attorney General Black upon the truth Of the existence
Of such document the referred TO ia ts trts-
mony, he DENYING and affirming; he declared thai no
such document exis. and did exist told lin
had seen it be affirmed thai was mistasen-hat
such letter existed, no good citizen woeiu w.thnoiu
II; inquired OF him whether be Invited It's produ.son
in the name of the President be replied yes that no
email, nped It's prooucton; that il Gen. Walker had
such A paper his duty to bis c)untry. as well As 10
himself REQUIRED him 70 produce it; that IL point OF
fact however he sdd the story was not founded TO-
tr,,b or words that effect; many severe remarks,
nasssd between us; he STATE Of great excemsnt;
when referred secoad tine 60 my having seen Il, ho
AGAIN. in high rage declared that was In gross tror
That the PJesd. nt never wrote such document and
If Gov Walker or any other person pretended snhave
surb a document il "A pretense TO up