The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-05-10
IL [From the Washington Constitution.
The Kansas Question, the Prcsi-
dent, and the Hon. II. j. Walker,

dent. and the Hon. IL. j, Walker.
- We have heretofore shown by an extract from,
the message of the President that there is no.
thing inconsistent with his position upon the
Kansas question and the views expressed by
him in his letter of the 18th Of July, 1857, ad-
dressed to the Hon. r. J. Walker, and which
las lately been made public through the tcsti-
mony of Mr. Walker before the investigating
committee of the House. In further vindica-
ton Of the high position which the President
occupies in this controversy, we beg leave to
refresh the public recollection by republishing
some documents which Mr.. Walker must have
forgotten.
In connection with this matter it should be
borne in mind that the only disturbing element
in Kansas which threatened the peace of the
Union was the question Of slavery; in other
words, that the people, through their bona fdc
voters should settle for themselves what should
be their social institutions. Mr.. Walker says,
in his letter of acceptance that he understands
that to be the opinion ofthe President, in which
all of his cabinet concur. This letter of ac-
ceptancc was written March 2Gth, 1857, and is
as follows:
WASHINGTON, March 26, 1857.
My DEAR Sir: have, at your request re-
considered my determination, as announced to
you, declining your tender Of the office of Gov
ernor Of the Territory Of Kansas. In view Of
the opinion now presented by you that the
safety Of the Union may depend upon the Sc
lection Of the individual to whom shall be as-
signed the task of settling the difficulties which
again surround the Kansas question, have
concluded that solemn sense Of duty to my
country requires me to accept this position. l
am brought to this conclusion with an unaffcct
ed diffidence in my own ability, but with fer
vent hope that the same overruling Providence
which has carried my beloved country through
so many perils will now attend and direct my
humble efforts for her welfare, aud that my
course will not be prejudged by any portion Of
| my tellOw-ctizens in or out of Kansas.
| understand that you and oil your cabinet
cordially concur in the opinion expressed by
me that the actual bona .fde residents of the
Territory Of Kansas, by fair and regular vote,
unaffected by fraud or violence, must he per-
mitted, in adopting their State constitution, to
decide for themselves what shall he their social
institutions. This is the great fundamental
principle of the act Of Congress organizing thai
Territory, affirmed by the Supreme Court o
the United States, and is in accordance with the
views uniformly expressed by me throughou
my public career. contemplate n peaceiu
settlement of this question by an appeal to til.
intelligence and patriotism Of the whole peopl,
Of Kansas, who should all participate, treel.
and fully, in this decision, and by majorit,
Of whose vote the determination must be mad,
as the only proper and constitutional mode o
adjustment.
II contemplate no appeal 10 military power
i'll the hope that my countrymcn of Kansas
from every section. will submit to decision o
this matter by u full and fair vote OF II majorit,
of the people of that Territory. 1fths decision
cannot thus be made, l see nothing in the fu
ture for Kansas but civil war, extending il,
baleiul influence throughout the country, and
suhjecting the Union itself to imminent hazard
l will go, then, and cndeavor thus TO adjus
these difficulties in the full confidence so strong
ly expressed by you, that l shall he sustained
by all your own high authority, with the cor
dial cooperation Of all your cabinet AS j
will be impossible for Inc to leave for Kansa
before the second Monday of May next. woul,
desire my appointment to take effect from tha
RI. WALKER.
JAMES BUCHANAN, President U. States.
In his testimony before the investigator,
committee, Mr.. Walker says that IA few day
before the vote was taken upon the subject, MI
Calhoun, (vho as no,c in his sgrare) the prcsidcn
Of the convention, called upoIr me and submit
ted substantially the programme as to slavery
which was subsequently adopted by the con
vcntion, and asked my concurrence" TIL
witness evidently intends TO leave the imprcs
sion that for the first time he has been mad
acquainted with the fact that the policy of NJ,
Buchanan is to submit the settlement of til
question of slavery TO the bona .fde voters of III
= Territory. Whether Mr.. Walkers letter of az
ccptance and testimony before the nvestigatin
committee on this point are consistent, wc sui
init to the arbitramcnt of q discriminating pull
lie.
Not only this, Mr.. F. p. Stanton was appoil
ted secretary of the Territory at the carncs
and repeated solicitations of Mr.. Walker hin
self, and was his most confidential adviser an
= friend. He preceded Mr.. Walker to Kansas
n and acted as governor of the Territory prior I
the governors arrival in the Territory. In tn
$ capacity of acting governor, Mr.. Stanton mad
an address to the people Of Kansas dated Apr
II, 1857, from which we make the followin
extract:
r "The Government especially recognizes tn
= = territorial act which provides for assembling
convention to form a constitutions, with vie
8 to making application to Congress for ADM
G sion as State into the Union. That act is r,
J. gardcd as presenting the only test of the quail
fications OF voters for delegates to the CONVEX
y tion, and all preceding repugnant restrictio,
t are thereby repealed. In this light the az
c must be allowed to have provided for flu
/, and fair expression of the will of the pcopl
y through the delegates who may be chosen
: represent them in the constitutional convention
l do not doubt, however, that, in order TO avoi
O all pretext for resistance to the peaceful oper
tion of this law, the convention itself will |
some form, provide for submitting the gre,
y distracting question regarding their social il
10 stitution, which has so long agiiated the peop
,f of Kansas, to a fair vote of all the actual bo,
fde residents of the Territory with every po
sible security against fraud and violence
the constitution be thus framed. and the que
h ton Of difference thus submitted to the dec
; sion of the people, l believe that Kansas wi
e be admitted by Congress without delay as OF
n of the sovereign States of the American UniO
e and the territorial authorities will be imm
s. diately withdrawn"
Mr. Walker as witness before the investig
" " ting committee leaves the impression that Il
10 idea of submitting the slavery question alol
n was first communicated to him by Mr., Calhou