government of Kansas. He received, in reply, a statement that "the president had no authority to advance for the contingent expenses of the government of Kansas any amount whatever."
It is evident that the just and equitable administration of Gov. Geary received no approval at Washington. Yet he persevered even after the sword and the purse had been withdrawn from him, in maintaining the peace of the territory. "It could have been," says Dr. Gihon, the historian of Kansas, "nothing less than an enlarged patriotism that caused him to retain so long the most thankless and unprofitable office in the nation. For months he had labored for the public good with untiring energy, not even taking time for needed rest and sleep; deprived of all the usual comforts of life; occupying a log house, and very often unable to obtain wholesome food; vexed and harassed hourly with the complaints of an abused people; constant drafts being made by persons whom he was compelled to employ, upon his pecuniary resources; required to pay the militia called into the service by the president himself, from his own private funds; every federal officer in the territory conspiring to embarrass his administration; his mails overhauled and their contents examined by government officials; surrounded with organized bands of assassins; and without a word of comfort or a particle of aid from the general government, he still continued, with fidelity, zeal, and unflagging energy, to discharge the arduous duties of his station."
Finally, upon the incoming of a new administration at Washington, Governor Geary forwarded to the new president the following letter of resignation:
| Executive Department, K. T. | |
| Lecompton, March 4, 1857. |
His Excellency, James Buchanan,
President of the United States:
Dear Sir: Please accept my resignation as governor of Kansas Territory, to take effect on the 20th of the present month, by which time you will be enabled to select and appoint a proper successor.
With high respect, your friend and obedient servant,
John W. Geary.
Previous to leaving the territory, the governor issued the following farewell address:
To the People of Kansas Territory:
Having determined to resign the executive office, and retire again to the quiet scenes of private life and the enjoyment of those domestic comforts of which I have so long been deprived, I deem it proper to address you on tho occasion of my departure.
The office from which I now voluntarily withdraw, was unsought by me, and at the time of its acceptance was by no means desirable. This was quite evident, from the deplorable moral, civil and political condition of the territory—the discord, contention and deadly strife which then and there prevailed; and the painful anxiety with which it was regarded by patriotic citizens in
