Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-03
GOVERNOR REEDER's SPEECH AT
EASTON.

Pennsylvania, on the 3Oth of April. In this
expectation we have been disappointed, and
are therefore under the necessity Of taking the
subjoined brief account of his speech, as the
basis of some comments which we think it
proper to make The italics are our own:
| CREIGHTON OF Gov. REEDER- Easton, Pa,
April 30--The Hon. A. III. Reeder, Governor
of Kansas, arrived here today from the West,
and met very enthusiastic reception from his
! friends and neighbors. He reached Phillips.
burg at noon, and was there met and escorted
to the Courthouse square, in Easton, by
large concourse of citizens of all parties, ac-
companied by the Easton Band. On arriving
at the Courthouse Governor Reeder was vel
| coined by the citizens with hearty cheers, and
formal welcome then extended to him, in an
eloquent and impressive speech, by the Hon.
j. nj. Porter, who comphmented Gov. Reeder
on the manly and courageous, as well as able
manner, in which he had discharged the duties
| of his difficult and responsible Office. He went
| into hasty narrative of the growth and pro-
gress of the slave question, attributing its dan
gerous and threatening character at the pres
| ent time to the fanatical Abolitionists of the
| North, but admitting also that slavery men had
| in their turn become as fanatical and wrong as
the Abolitionists themselves. He went through
the old routine Of apology for the South, say
| ing that they had slavery entailed upon them,
and asserting in full the broadcast pro-slavery
claims, declared that Gov. Reeder had done his
duty ably, and would and should be sustained,
both by Pennsylvania and the country at large.
Gov. Reeder, in reply, expressed in feeling
manner and eloquent terms the grateful impress
sion made upon him by the warm and enthusi-
astic reception given to him by so large an as
/ 10 ofh fall oft AZ II
the reports Of fraud and outrage, upon the
part Of tie slaDery men, IN the Kansas election,
and emphatically confirmed the very worst
statement Of them which had preceded his ar
| rival. He said his opinions on the subject of
/ popular sovereignty had undergone no change,
but that the conduct of the people Of the
border counties Of the North Missouri had as
founded and amazed him, BY their reckless dis.
regard of all laws, compacts, and constitutions;
| that the Territory of Kansas, in her late cleo
ton, had been invaded by regularly organized
army, armed to the teeth, who took possession
| Of their ballot boxes and made a legislature 10
suit the purposes Of tie prO,slaUry party.
"Kansas ioqs subdued, sutjugated, and con-
quered by armed men from Missouri, but her
citizens toere resolred nerey to gre up The fight
for their freedom, and tie independence Of their
| soil from foreign control or Interference. The
State Of Missouri mould be called upon 10 disa-
poao all sympathy ioith these border Tu6ianS.
| If she refused, tie South icould be called upon
10 discountendnce her, If the South refuse,
the solemn duty Mould derolre upon the North
TO take up the matter, so that the rights of her
sons ioho had settled IN Kansas, on The faith Of
solemn compacts, shall be rindicdted and s,ts-
tdined He declared that the accounts Of the
| fierce outrages and wild violences perpetrated
at the election, published in the northern
papers, we're in no wise exaggerated. He con-
cluded by saying that Kansas was now a con-
quered country, conquered by force Of arms,
| but that her citizens were resolved never to
yield their rights, and relied upon the North to
aid them, by demonstrations Of public senti-
ment, and all other legal means, till they shall
be fully and triumphantly indicated.
During his speech, Governor Reeder was,
frequently and enthusiastically cheered by the
large audience present"
This speech is in as bad taste as was the
same genteman's speech on the occasion of the
famous serenade, gotten up for him prior to his
departure for Kansas, in which he attributed
his appointment, not to the President, but to
the influence Of distinguished friend of the
President. But this first speech Of Governor
Reeder was a harmless effort, that excited only
the merriment Of the reader. 1t violated good
taste-but violated nothing else. This second
speech of Governor Reeder is open TO severe
comment and caustic criticism. 1t cannot be
more appropriately and briefly characterized
than as an appeal to all the incendiary ele-
ments of Northern fanaticism, and Northern
Abolitionism to unite in an earnest effort to
make Kansas free Territory.
Governor Reeder is said by his friends to be
bitter enemy to Abolitionists and Freesoilers.
What may be his anteccdents in respect Of
those matters is not so important as are his
present opinions.
The Governors censures and denunciations
are all directed against the SLAVERY MEN"
and BORDER RUPFIANs" He breathes not
whisper Of disapprobation Of the Emigrant
Aid Societies ofNew England, and Of the vaga-
bonds they sent to Kansas to introduce Abo-
litionsm. The Governor, by his silence, leaves
us TO infer that the infamous machinery EN-
ployed in New England to Africanize Kansas,
was in his opinions right Again Governor
Reeder talks as fippantly about the "fght
for freedom" as could any member Of the i'm
maculate Emigrant Aid Societies,
These things show Governor Reeder's pro
clivities. They are the straws that show which
way the wind blows.
There are some passages in Governor Reed
er's remarks that smell Of birthstone. He says
that Missouri will be called upon to repudate
the "border rufians," who, il is said, aided in
electing the pro-slavery ticket. If Missouri
refuses, then the South will be called upon TO
"discountenance her." or THE SoUTH RE-
FUSE, THE SOLEMN DUTY WOULD DEyoLvE UPoN
THE NORTH TO TAKE UP THE MATTER, so THAT
THE RIGHTS OF HER SONS, WHO HAD SETTLED IN
KANSAS ON THE FAITH OF SOLEMN CONTACTS,
SHALL Re INDICATED AND SUSTAINED"
This invocation to the people Of the North,
this appeal TO sectional prejudices, this attempt