Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-24
presidents Buehanan,s Letter to Gov.
Vvnl7ror

President Buehananss Letter TO Gov.
Walker.
Ne are heartily rejoieed, says the Washington
Constitution, that the CovoDE inquisition have OBJ
tanned possession Of the private letter addressed by
the President to Gov. WALKER on the 18th of July,
1857. Various rumors concerning the contents Of
this letter have been long in circulation, which will
all be instantly dissipated by the perusal Of the let
ter ITSELF ana we take pleasure in laying it before
our readers to-day
The object of the CovoDE inquisition, doubtless
is to involve the President in an inconsistency in
first having strongly recommended to the eonYen-
ton to submit the Lecompton constitution after its
formation, to the people of Kansas and in after
wards recommending the adoption Of this constitu-
ton to Congress. although it had not thus been sub
mitted.
The convention did act in pursuance Of the advice
of the President far as to submit the all import
ant and absorbing question of slavery the people
About the remaining provisions of the constitution
there was never any contest. These the convention
declined to submit to the people The President at
no period ever withheld the expression Of his earn
est desire that the constitution should be submitted
to the people After the convention had refused to
should the President disregard and nullify tie con-
stituton framed by the convention, and determine
not to submit it to Congress because they had acted
contrary to his advice? This he could not do with
his deep convictions of duty. tits one thing for the
President to advise the members of convention or
legislative body to act in particular manner
but it Is another and quite different thing fer him to
annul their lawful action because they did moi
think proper to follow his advice.
In his message to Congress of the Sth Of Decem
Der, 1855 Mr. BUCHANAN employs the following EN-
phatic language upon this point: 1t is true says
lie "that, as an individual, had expressed an opin
'ion both before and during the session of the con
'vention in favor of submitting the remaining clauses
of the constitution as well as that concerning slave
'ry to the people. But acting in official charac
GER neither myself nor any human authority had thu
''power to re-judge the proceedings of the conyen
"tion. and declare the constitution which it haC
"framed to be a nullity. To have done this would
"been a violation of the Kansas and Nebraska act
(which left tie people of the Territory perfect,
"free to form and regulate their domestic institu
tons in their own way, subject only to the consttu
stion of the United States. 1t would equally hav
violated the great principle of popular sovereign
ety. at the foundation of onr institutions to deprive
.the people of the power, if they thought proper t.
exercise it. of confiding to delegates elected b.
themselves the trust of framing a constitution
without requiring them to subject their constitu
cents to the trouble, expense, and delay of a secon
election. It would have been in opposition t
"many precedents in our history, commencing i
.the very best age fthe Republic of the admission
.of Territories as States into the Union, without
previous vote of the people approving their const
tJ.tion"
PRESIDENT BUCHANAN TO HON. R. }. WALKER.
WASHINGTON, July Y, 1857.
Ny PEAR SIR duly recei we'd your letter of tn
2Sth ultmO on Friday last, and read it to the cab
net then in session. The news which It contane
was not calculated to assure us of your success
though we dad not despond Hence you may judg
with what satisfaction we received account {
the proceedings Of the National Democratic COnyeI
ton held at LecOmptOn on the Sd inst. The point o.
which your and our success depends Is the submit:
sion of the constitution to the people OF Kansas. An
| by the people mean, and l have no doubt 20
| mean the actual bona ride residents, who have bee
long enough in the Territory to identify themselve
with its fate The legislature determined tire
months as the period Of residence 10 entltle ind
yiduals to vote for members Of the convention; an
if the convention should think proper to adopt tn
same period to enttle individuals to vote for o
against the constitution, 1t appears to me tins wOul
be reasonable. On the question OF submitting IN
cOnSt tuition to the bona ride resident settlers OF haT
sas am willingto stand or fall In sustaining sue
principle we cannot fail 1t is the principle OF tn
Kansas Nebraska bil-the principle Of popular SOY
ereignty and the principle at the foundation OF
popular government. The more 1t Is discussed tn
stronger it will become. Should the convention {
Kansas adOpt this principle all will be settled hal
moniouslv: and with the blessing of Providence
YOU will return triumphantly from your a-duou
important ard responsible mission. The structure
of the Georgia and Mississippi conventions will the
pass away and be speedily forgotten
In regard to Georgia, our news from that state
becoming better every day. We have not yet ha
time to hear much from Mississippi. Should 70
answer the resolution of the latter, would advls
you to make the great principle Of the submlsslo
of the constitution to the bona Dds residents OF haI
sas cOnspcuOusiy prominent. On this you VIII b
irresistible With the question Of climate ever
person is acquainted; and the more you insist upo
this the more will our opponents urge that We ar
violating the principle Of nonInterterence at III
foundation of the kansas-Nebraska law. 1t
strange that people at distance, who have no prat
teal ACQUAINTANCE with the condition Of kansa:
should undertake to be wiser than those on the spo
1t is beyond all question the true policy to build
great Democratic party there, to sustain the cor
stituton and the laws, composed OF prO-slaYery an
and free-State Democrats; and if the majort
should be against slavery, to obtain such consutU
tional provisions as will secure the rights Of slave
holders in Missouri and other States, and malntal
all the laws guarding the just IlShts OI inc 2Ou'l'
You are right in your conjecture as to the cluS
of Judge Williams appointment. We supposed
) would be peculiarly acceptable to yourself, an
that he might aid in carrying out your policy. Co
Cumming has been appointed governor OF Utai
This will leave his place vacant, after the Drlet pa
riod required for settling up his business and
shall certainly be disposed to fill It by the appoint
ment of Mr.. Stevens.
Gen. Harvey has been selected to command tn
expedition to Utah; but must cOntrlve TO leay
him with you at least until you are out Of tn
woods. Kansas is vastly more important at tn
present moment than Utah.
The pressure upon me continues without Intel
mission pray that Divine Providence, in which
place my trust may graciOusly preserve my Inf
and my health until the end of my term but God
! holy viii be done in any event. With every sent
ment of esteem, | remain always sincerely you
friend JAMES BUCHANAN.
Hon. ROBERT J. WALKER.
We publish to-day portion CT late speech c