New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-23
xyaI.KER ON RUCHANAN.

of Kansas, and particularly to the attempt to force
upon the people of that Territory the Lecompton
Constitution. But the worst Of this matter is only
just now coming ont. The production before the
Covode Committee Of the Presidents letter OF III
structions TO Governor Walker, taken in connection
with the explanations given by Mr.. Walker in rela-
ton TO il, and his own administration 10 Kansas,
present the President in more despicable point OF
view than anyb body bad ever imagined him TO occu-
py. The letter itself contains nothing new. Its
substance was well known before, and its production
is only of importance going to verify the correct
nefs of the statements hitherto made to its con-
tents 50 far as relates t, his appointment as Gov
ernor of Kansas, Mr.. Walkers statements to the
Committee were but a reiterstlOn OF what
be had often stated before, that he was IN
duced by the urgent solicitations Of the Pfesl-
dent TO accept that position on the express un.
derstanding that the attempt so lorg bsfore and
go lagitiously peIsevered in to make Kansas
Slave State sganst the wishes of the great body
of her Inhabitants, should be abandoned, and that
the efforts of the new Governor were to be limited
TO securing Kansas for the Democratic party.
As one means toward that end, it was sgreed-and
such was the course of policy recommended in the
Presidents etter-that tie State Constitution about
to be formed as an offset to the Topeka Consttu-
ton By Convention to be assembled under an act
passed for that purpose by the Lecompton Legisla'
ture, should be submitted to vote of the people
thus curing the objections entertained to the au-
thority under which that Convention was to meet.
On arriving in Kansas, Mr.. Walker acted upon
the strength of this understanding In his numerous
public addresses, he relied upon this promised sub
mission Of the Constitution 10 popular vote as the
means of inducing the people of Kansas to allow the
meeting Of Convention which, though upheld BY
himself as legal one, was regarded BY large ma
jOIity of the inhabitants as mere fraud and
usurpation.
But, while the new Governor was thus acting
upon the programme which had been agreed upon
between himself and the President, and pending
the sessions of that Convention q remarkable
change of policy took place at Washington. Cal.
houn, the Surveyor General of Kansas, who had
been chosen member of the Convention under ex-
press pledges to submit the Constitution to be
framed, TO popular vote, came from that city, TO
which he had paid visit during recess Of. the
Convention, with new scheme, according to which,
the popular vote was to be limited to the Slavery
clauses only, while the body of the Constitution,
including many obnoxious provisions was to be
forced upon the Territory by the authority Of
the Convention. Moreover, the new State Govern
ment was to be organized under the superintend-
ence of Calhoun himself to whom the returns of
the elections were to be made, and Of which he
he was to be sole judge, thus giving him an oppor
tuuity, On the strength of false aud fraudulent
turns, of throwing the organization Of the new Gov
eminent into the hands of his own friends, and
among other things securing to himself an election
as Senator.
Gov. Walkers refusal to support this policy, and
his throwing out Of certain forged returns of votes
for members of the Territorial Legislature, by
which it was attempted to back it up and to retain
the Territory under the control of the Lecompton
minority became the occasion of his retirement
from Office; from which time forward, the whole
power of the Administration was exerted-though
fortunately without succeFs-to force the Lecomp-
ton Constitution upon Kansas without giving the in
habitants any further voice in the matter.
According to the view Of the case taken by Mr..
Walker, the position of President Bachanan in rea-
ton to this remarkable political slmmerset and
gToss breach Of faith toward himself was the most
humilitatiDg and degrading which II is possible to
imagine. He exculpates the President from the
charge of seeking to make him tool to force the
LecOmpton Constitution upon the people of Kansas
against bis own express and repeated assurances that
they should be allowed to vote upon it. But he
only does so by representing Mr. Buchanan as
complete cipher, whose policy aud wishes were
plotted against and defeated by a part Of his own
Cabinet, and who was himself subsequently made
the active instrument of those plotters in attempting
by all sorts Of MEANS to force their scheme through
Congress, and in reading out of the Democratic
party all who would NOT give their aid and support
to that operation. Mr.. Walker does not believe
that the President was originally party TO, nor
that he had at the time any knowledge Of
the plot cODcocted at Washington and
brought thence by Calhoun for deprivpg the
people Of Kansas of any opportunity to reject the
LecOmpton Constitution, and for forcing State
organization under it, lie believes that this scheme
was got up at Washington by certain members of
the Cabinet, who, without consulting the President
and without any priyty on his part thus set them
selves to counterwork the policy h which the Pres
Gent had pledged himtelf in his letter 10 Governor
Walker. Bat the humiliation Of President b.
chapaD, according to Mr.. Walkers view Of the