Robert John Walker

Name: Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker, Governor of Kansas Territory
Author: Robert John Walker

Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

Summary

“Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker, Governor of Kansas Territory”, published in 1857, is a work by Robert John Walker. It explores elements such as sovereignty, Kansas and constitution.

Quotes from Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (Robert John Walker)

Robert John Walker, Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

“ He says, very truly, that from the necessary division of the inchoate state into districts, a majority of the delegates may think one way and the people another, and that the delegates (as was the case in Kansas) may violate their pledges or fail to execute the will of the people. And why does not this reasoning apply with equal force to all other great questions embodied in a state constitution; and why should the question of slavery alone override and extinguish the doctrine of popular sovereignty and the right of self-government? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert John Walker, Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

“ Under our government we know no sovereigns but the people. Conventions are composed of "delegates." They are mere agents or trustees, exercising not a sovereign, but a delegated power, and the people are the principals. The power delegated to such conventions can properly only extend to the framing of the constitution; but its ratification or rejection can only be performed by the power where sovereignty alone rests, namely, the people themselves. We must not confound sovereign with delegated powers. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert John Walker, Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

“ Sovereignty, then, with us rests exclusively with the people of each state. The constitution of the United States is not sovereign, for it was created by states, each exercising for itself the highest political power called sovereignty. For the same reason the government of the United States is not sovereign, nor does it exercise any sovereign powers. It exercises only 'delegated powers,' as declared by the constitution, and those powers only which are granted by that instrument. Delegated powers are not sovereign powers, but are powers granted by sovereignty. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert John Walker, Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

“ Yet a state government is forced upon the people of Kansas by the Lecompton constitution whether they will it or not; for they can only vote for the constitution, and not against it. But, besides the change from a territorial to a state government, which the people alone have a right to make in framing a state constitution, there are many other momentous questions included in that instrument. It involves all the powers of state government. There is the bill of rights, the magna charta of the liberties of a free people ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert John Walker, Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

“ By this clause of the federal constitution, the sovereignty of the 'people' of each state is clearly reserved, and especially their own exclusive sovereign right to form in all its entirety their own state constitution. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert John Walker, Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

“ And now be pleased to express to the President my deep regret as regards our unfortunate difference of opinion in relation to the Lecompton constitution, and to say to him, that, as infallibility does not belong to man, however exalted in intellect, purity of intention, or position, yet, if he has committed any errors in this respect, may they be overruled by a superintending Providence for the perpetuation of our union and the advancement of the honor and interest of our beloved country. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert John Walker, Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

“ Under our confederate system, sovereignty is that highest political power which, at its pleasure, creates governments and delegates authority to them. Sovereignty grants powers, but not sovereign powers ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert John Walker, Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

“ Such instructions I could not execute consistently with my views of the federal constitution, of the Kansas and Nebraska bill, or with my pledges to the people of Kansas. Under these circumstances, no alternative is left me but to resign the office of governor of the territory of Kansas. No one can more deeply regret than myself this necessity ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert John Walker, Resignation letter of Robert J. Walker… (1857)

“ Under this theory, the people were mere ciphers, and crowned heads sub-deities — the sole representatives on earth of the governing power of the Almighty." "Our doctrine is just the reverse, making the people the only source of sovereign power. ”

Robert John Walker

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