Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-05-02
FOR GOVERNOR.
HENRY D. FOSTER,
OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
The Walker Letter.

Hon. Robert J. Walker. Ex-Governor of
Kansas, was short time since examined be-
fore the CoYode smelling committee. An alb
stract Of his testimony occupies about four
columns of the Philadelphia Inquirer The
perusal OF it is aot calculated to elevate the
Ex-Governor In the estimation of candid and
thinking men. He gives brief history of
his administration of Kansas affairs for the
purpose, as be says, Of vindicatiDg the truth
of history. The first part of his testimony is
the sofsest kid of twadde He states that
he was unwilling 10 accept the appointment
Of Governor of Kansas when it was Erst offer
ed to him, and that his wife was absolutely
opposed to his doing SO, that at the earnest
solicitation OF the President and the Cabinet,
who firmly believed he was the man for the
crisis, he finally consented to accept the ap-
poincment ''providing his wife would agree to
it." that the President called on her for the
purpose OF obtaining her consent and that he
was present at the interview. ca very sensi-
bic precaution on his part, inasnuch as jim
my is a handsome old bachelor.) Mrs
ert should save the country, and he shortly
afterward started rejoicing for Kansas. The
substance of the rest Of his testimony Is, that
the President was anxious that order should
be restored in the territory, that its bona fde
citizens should have an opportunity to select
delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
and that the Constitution adopted by the
Convention should be submitted to the vote of
the peopie. He concluded by producing a
letter which he received from Mr.. Buchanan
in July 1857. This letter notwithstanding
the excitement its publication has created
among he Black Republicans and ishy Dem
ocrats, contains nothing new or remarkable.
1t shows conclusivaly that it was not the pol
icy CT the administration to make Kansas
Slave State, and that the President was anx-
ious to protect the rights of Mort hern met as
we'll as Southern men in the territory. He
states that he is in favor of submitting the
Constitution to the bono Jtde citizens of Kan.
sas. but ta does not say that this must be
done, he does not maintain that the Constl-
tuition adopted By the Convention would be
null snd void If it failed to do this, he does
no. contend that either lie or Govern
or Walker had the right to compel the Con-
rentiOn 10 submit the Constitution to the peo-
pie, nor does he threaten to annul It's procee
diDgs, if it failed to adopt and carry out his
suggestions. He was incapable of such an
sct of tirranny and arrogance.
The views contained in the Walker Letter
are exactly in accordance with those con tain
ed in the Presidents Message to Congress de-
claF;ng himself in favor of the adoption of the
Lecompton Constitution. To prove this we
publish the following extract from the message:
at is true, that, as an Individual. I had
expressed an opinion, both before and during
the session of the Convention, in favor of sub
mitting the remaining clauses of the Constitu-
tion, veil as that concerning slavery, to
the people. But. acting in an official char
seter, neither myself nor any human authority
had the power 20 rejudge the proceedings of
the Convention. and declare the Constitution
which it had framed to be nuliity To
have done this would have been violation of
the Kansas and Nebraska act, which left the
people of the Territory perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way. subject only to the Constitu-
ton of the United States 1t would equally
have violated the great principle of popular
sovereignty, at the foundation Of our institu-
lions, to deprive the people of the power. if
they thought proper to exercise it, of conf
ding to delegates elected b themselves the
trust Of framing Constitution, without re-
curing them to subject their constituents to
the trouble. expense, and delay of second
election. I. would have been in opposition 20