Walker was a statesman of high rank, who had been associated with Buchanan in the Cabinet of James K.Polk.
Three times he refused to accept the office and finally undertook the mission only from a sense of duty.

Being aware of the fate of Governor Geary, Walker insisted on an explicit understanding with Buchanan that his policies should not be repudiated by the federal Administration.
Late in May he went to Kansas with high hopes and expectations.

But the free-state party had persisted in the repudiation of a Government which had been first set up by an invading army and, as they alleged, had since then been perpetuated by fraud.

They had absolutely refused to take part in any election called by that Government and had continued to keep alive their own legislative assembly.

Despite Walker's efforts to persuade them to take part in the election of delegates to the constitutional convention, they resolutely held aloof.