Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-04-28
from 00tasgington.
COW w,LKER AND THE PRESIDENT,

Letter From Er. Coz. Walker
WASHINGTON, Friday, April 20, 1850,
10 Tie Editors of The National Intelligencer
cyyrrrygN: A very inaccurate statement
ormv testimony before the Covode lnvesti-
cotjnc Committee of Congress has been pub
iisbej in the New ork papers.
Much and long ns we may nave oinereu on
,oi;,icni nngstions, have faith that you will
bo wiling to do me justice by truthful pub.
,cation of the facts OF the case.
sond YOU q correct statement OF my evi.
aonca ,hefore the Committee also copy oil
INV letter of 2Sth June, 1857, to MIR. Buchan-
nm. and to which bis Of July 18th was reply.
Accompanying this is my statement to the
Committee as regards this letter, to produce
which reserved my right. -,
submit the whole to an impartial public
with this comment only That the correspon.
dence proves that MIR. Buchanan and myself
concurred ih the Spring OF 1857 10 the con-
struotion of the Kansas and Nebraska act,
that it required the submission OF the Consti-
tuition to the vote of tho people OF Kansas.
10 that construction Of that act, which Mr.
buchanan and myself we're both sworn 10
sunnort. | adhered and therefore considered
The refusal of the Convention to submit the
Constitution to the vote Of the people as
clear violation Of the Kansas and Nebraska
net. and therefore, under its distinct prov.
eions mil and void. ! was sworn to sup
mort that law, and so was Mr.. Buchanan. l
did supnort it, aud therefore opposed the
withholding Of the Constitution from the vote
Of the people. 1t is quite clear, as was the
opiniop of MIR. Buchanan anG myself, that the
Kansas and Nebraska oct required the SUBJ
mission of the Constitution to the vote OF the
n n.ople: and any action in Kansas repugnant
to that act was under its provisions null and
void. So regarded such action, and there.
fore it was my duty to oppose 1T.
But there we're other reasons. Inc pro;
gramme finally adopted did not, as pretended
submit even the Slavery question to the vote
OF the people; nay, it deliberately, ana WIN.
fully. and fraudulently withheld that question
from their vote The only question suanlt.
ted was. "For the Constitution with Slavery
"Eor the Constitution without Slavery !"
thus excluding by deliberate fraud from this
vote all. constituting an overwhelming major
ity, who we're opposed to the Constitution.
And this was the very reason given 10 uIe ny
Calhoun, the President Of the Convention,
why this peculiar language was selected. u
was wretched device of fraud and vlllainy.
| send YOU copy, preserved 10 the nanu'
writing of my Secretary, OF my letter oi tue
2Sth June, 1857, TO which Mr. bucnanan
was reply. That letter, disclosing my IN.
most thoughts, ana never INTENDED 10 meet
the public eye, will show bow 'alse mas oeen
the statement that my action IN hansas "as
hostile IN the South. 1t was all in their
fayor, to the extent Of the just aud honest
exercise of nv power in Kansas believed
and so announced then my anxious DESIRE 10
the execution of which my life has been devo'
ted. TO preserve the equilibrium OF the Gov
ernmeut. | indorseG fully the Dred scout
decision, and especially that portion oil II
(always meintained by me) that the true
period when the people eau abolish Slavery
Ia Territory is when they perform the hrst
act of sovereignty 10 forming State Consti-
tuition. | maintained this doctrine IN On,
elaborate argument published over my sigma
ture in June, 1856, from which have never
departed.
consider myself, gentlemen, as much
Withdrawn from politics as il had ceased 10
exist, and now only ask the privilege oI VIM
dicating myself and the truth OF history.
Yours, truly, IL j. " AhAEH'
THE PRESIDENTS ORGAN ON GOV. WAL
KER'S TESTIMONY.
From the Constitution Of Saturday.
For the present, we pass without com
ment the Testimony Of Hon. X. j. Walker,
which has been so conspicuously heralded to
the world. Instead of answers to any inter.
rogatorv, il seems TO be carefully prepared
u,couu: of his stewardship as Governor OF
Kansas.
he saws the President favored the submis-
sion Of the Constitution OF kansas TO tue
people, and so he did. That is fully admitted
This has never been denied. But be says
further, that during the progress oil the he'
comntop Convention he was advised by Mr..
- prasiIant that the nlAn finally
atopted, which Mr.. Walker, Considers a
great departure from the doctrine Of submis'
Sion, vas suggested and apprOced by the Pres.
;,jeui The statement of Mr.. Calhoun he did
not believe. lie acqui:s the President OF all
knowledge Of the programme adopted, and
then he uses this exact language:
"It is also due to frankness to further say
that | am fully impressed with the conviction
that the President himself did not get up
this programme, though | do believe ii gaS
0ottca up by some Of The administration or
Others high 10 authority"
At this time the propriety or improperly
of the plan is not question with whi:h we
care to deal. Who got it up, or whether it
was in accordance with MIR. Walkers or the
Presidents plan is not put in issue. But
when MIR. Walker says "it was gotten up by
some of the Administration" be must mean
oll the world will understand him to mean,
nv some member Of the Cabinet Here
arises n grave question. If any member Of
the Cabinet has sought, or has taken steps,
10 change the line OF action of the President
in an importaut matter of State policy,
without the advice, knowledge, or consent
Of he President, be has been guilty of on act
of infdelity and bad faith which should
invoke his severest censure. Indeed such
conduct would be dishonarable, and justly
incur forfeiture of his confidence.
In this view We think we have the right to
demand of Mr.. Walker the naming OF the
Individual implicated. In the absence of O
reply, we shall maintain be is wholly mista
ken, or is wholly unable to substantiate the
grounds of bis belief