The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-19
covoDE INVESTIGATION.
REVIVAL OF THE KANSAS MDROcLlO.
Interesting Testimony Of Robert
j. Walker.
ina Presidents Instructions to Mr.. Walker,
when Governor Of Kansas.
TIE PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-
&c, &C., DO.
D~. special w~shs.gte. Despatch.

Oar Special WAshf. gtoA Despatch.
WASHINGTON, April Is, 1880.
sm oovopB INVESTIGATION TESTIMONY }.
PRESIDENT BucHAsASs LErrxR INSTRUCTION TO
WHEN oovEKsoR or
The tovsde Committee stuox mine 70 day. Yester
deg Revert Walker, ex Secretary Of the Treasury ana
Governor OF Kautss. examined o witoess He
ass ed he had letter Of Instructions furnished him
~ she President when he appointed Governor Of
KSrsasY He said he had, but cecned 10 give up as
ssslng that he would sooner 90 70 jail than sur
render n 10 the con m.t,ee. The witness was
discharged, and the matter rested until to day, when
Nr. Ellis Schnable, Pennsylvania polititisn, was
enHed . winners He tsed that he had seen the let
tss Of nstruc;bns 10 walker He informed the
ssmmis,ee< chat he hsd recently had quarrel with a
men sSH& The CABINET, Mr. Black M Bo~mans printing
sa Sbout letter qussIon that Black denied that
such letter ever existed, or now existed, and deded
other Sebnabe Walker 70 produce il After the latter
baa concluded his testimony Mr. walker, who was in
Che Supreme Court, was sesio summoned before the
committee, when the follo~Dg took place
CHAIRMAN when you we're here yesterday you de-
sned 10 produce The letter he l2h Of July 1857 writ
70 you by Mr. Buchanan il righ. 70 inform you thst
since that time the committee have avaed themselves Of
THE best evidence they coad Obtain and have
ned several Witnesses 70 prove the existence Of tho let
tsS sno also Ice coptepts
AxswER-wrl tive committee allow me 70 hear The tes-
saDoDy 10 which they refers
The CHAIFNAS-Cerhiny. The committee deem 1t your
right to hear il read.
Tie testimony OF Mr.. schnable, Mr. Mcdowell and Mr..
NcElhone then read tho witness All three proved
the existence of the letter. Mr. Schnabie and Mr.
McElhope he,ined In regard 70 it's copten g. aad Mr.
Sebnabe also testified concerning an interview With
Sadse Black, toe Attorney General, within few days
past, in which Judge Black denied the ex-
h;snse Of auy such letter, and challenged
- production II any eucn letter existed, accom- sanied
VIA threats towards Gov. Walker il made poblc.
The CRAIRMAN-H nov remains with you 70 determine
whether in toe present position OF the matter, you will
psoduce that letter. nrst n save the Committee from
subpanaeng witness TO prove in conents; AMI next In
jusuncaop Of your course viii now put the direct
qsssson 70 u,-win you nov produce that letter.
AsswrR-n is due V me, gentlemen, 70 preface my
RpIy by few remarks. After the reply made BY Gen
CAss Secretary Of State 70 my letter Of resignation,
ousht very seriously Of Publishing this letter then-the
bitter Of the lah Of July 1857, forwarded TO Kansas
- me. The reason which induced me 10 think 20
seriously Of publishing the letter at that time was
sAs-,hAt that communication Of Gen. Casa seemed 10
dissent from the fact stated by sgarded the
strucscn which Mr. Buchanan had given 70 the Kansas
Nebraska bill on the subject OF submitting the oonsuu-
Non by the convention to the vote Of the people was
very indignant at thAs time and If had acted upon the
excitement OF the moment, would, under such crcum
stances have Published the letter In vindicaon Of my
rsc,y and my honor After conferring, however, with
many frisDde, Of whom thought was to mysel
70 puSsh The letter. and others dsented from that
came W the CONCLUSION that would suspend my dec
MON upcn that question Many CT those friends urged
very strongly very different construction OF General
uAss' conmun caton from that which was inclined %
give and nsfted that old not make any question Of
vsraci,y be.ween myself and the President / did not
think at al of publishing 1t until after this
letter Ct General Csss and l deem It my
duty 10 say, think all the gentlemen
who conferred with me that time will bear in mind
that had no doubt its non publication for time would
Be injurious to my personal and political welfare, and
ths, rever could replace myself fully in the position
which would occupy before the public by publishing it
n future PERIOD because the popular attention would
be wiboyawn from the subject But still, might vindi
cate myself on the page Of history which was always
dete rmired to do 1t always merelya question Of
th,e with me In regard TO the pubhcaeon OF
shss letter. am free 70 cay 70 you, gentlemen, and
cav in no offensive sense, that was very much alarm
al about the condition OF the country had fears
that the government itself might be endangered; and In
samueh ss have always been devotedly and enthus-
- cally attached 70 the Unions subject upon which
have written much and thought much-I was apprehen
sye and % told these gentlemen, thai
II / published that letter at that time
although would undoubtedly be beneficial 70 mysel:
personally, feared would involve consequences that
might inperil the government; and, therefore, when
nay came to the decision TO delay the publication, II
was on this ground, and this alone, and have
Dssn actustsd by any other motive In this affair
n was . lorg time before would agree 70 60
- Kansas ] refused two or three times verbal.
n, and once 10 writing but the request was
renewed from simc % time with great earnest
meas by the President, and by many friend through
wbem be communicated 70 me upon this subject and
Che great reason presented by him and them was that
The Topeka Legislature about assembling TO put the
% called State government into actual operation, and
bat there was danger Of revolution and civil war; which
night extend throughout the Union and eAdangei
ne government Tho President considered the most
important position in the country and peculiar and very
1Aaasring reasons were given why should Co. It was
saAd that was Northern by BIRTH and Southern
1Ao by long residence and adoption, and perhaps en-
ssd the confidence Of the whole nation 70 my impar
Shuy uron this question, and that possibly could do
from these peculiar Circumstances TO reconcile
nSstng elements in Kansas than any other person.
7Ae last person whom the President sent
70 me ON this subject to urge me to 60
vss Judge Douglas Of the Senate who very
and very excited and who seemed regard the
n the Kansas and Nebraska bill in that Territory az 70
s,sss extent dependent upon my conserving 70 CO.
necessary for me here 70 bring In domestc anuson a.
though do mot with 10 do but seems to be necessary
in order 70 understand and explain this msuer
All my family were averse 70 my going, partic
ulArly my wife, had given her promise that wOul
NOT 10 without her consent After the vtGt Of Judg
Douglas, which was the last Of the numerous ones thu
we're paid TO me ON the part Of the Presidents friends,
snaly consented that would 60 on two oondions-rs
chat inasmuch % had pledged my word 70 Mrs. Wake
nat would not go without Der consent, her ooasen
should be obsained, and would ccnGious
whatever aid could 70 that result; and secondly tn
there should be found 70 DO perfect concurrence ot
tween the President and myself upon tho policy inst Va