Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-11-03
MONDAY, OCT. 20, 1866. 3


September, 1855. 3ti.sz3 ZA33 i@A ,tcos3af
The Free State men of Kansas have met in
Convention and taken the preliminary meas.
ures for the formation of Consultation in view
of Kansas coming into the Union as State.
Resolutions were passed and Committees were
appointed to carry out the proposed plan The
following resolutions. relative to Gov. Reeder
We think place that gentlemen before the pub
lie in the right light. ..a9. 9di blG - Il
The Committee on Miscellaneous Business re-
ported the following resolutions, which were read
and on motion of Mr.. Houston-she late Free
State Representative in the Legislative Assembly,
from the vicinity of Hawnee, and among the first
settlers in the Territory-were adopted by accla-
nation:
Resolved, That the alleged cause for the re-
moval of Governor Reeder, and other Territorial
officers, has no sufficient foundation in truth or
plausibility; that the purchase of the half-breed
lands was fair and honorable transaction which
can tarnish the reputation of no man; that it was
for fair and full consideration, and character
lied by no concealment or improperly; that the
vendors were fully competent to make their own
bargains and protect their own interests, and who
were allowed abundant time to consult their
friends and neighbors that the contract was
made with the full knowledge of the Agent and
Interpreter, and subjected to the superyi sion
of the President: and as the President has refus-
ed to respond to the earnest and pointed request
to say what law or rule has been transgressed,
we are compelled to believe that it was in viola
ton of no law or artificial regulation.
Resolved, That the specification of an interest
in Pawnee City, which was only furnished after
the removal had taken place, and therefore pre-
ciuded any opportunity for explanation or reply,
is as unfortunate and unfounded as the other; as
it is we'll known fact that Governor Recdcr had
no participation in the laying out Of the town ;
that it was laid out and located before his arrival
in the Territory, and that his first connection with
it was the voluntary and unsolicited transfer by
the original stockholders of an interest therein
to the five Territorial officers who had then ar
rived, among whom of course was the Governor |;
that the town was then, and for some time before
and after, outside of the Military Reserve, hav-
ing been excluded by the experienced and intelli-
gent officer in command at the Post, although
since included by the Secretary of War.
Resolved, That the demand to answer to the
vague charge of ''other speculations in lands of
the Territory" without further explanations or
specifications, and the refusal of the President to
state what was alluded to by him, or to give the
name OF the and his giving the specification
only after the removal was made, are strong and
unmistakable indications that the removal was a
foregone conclusion, and the demand of explana-
ton merely an empty ceremony adopted because
it could not be evaded.
Resolved, That the doctrine asserted in the
letter Of removal, that public officer, when call
ed on to explain accusations affecting his official
tenure and private reputation, has no right to ask
specihcations--to ask such statement of the
charge as to render it nteligi5le---is as novel as
it is monstrous and unjust.
Resolved, That committee of three be appoint
ed to wait upon the Hon. Wilson Shannon, Gov
ernor of Kansas, and present him with copy of
the proceedings of this meeting; to ask aid of the
Executive i'll putting the same III active operation.
Resolved, That the Free State Committee take
steps to collect such facts relative to the political
condition of the Territory which will be valuable
and needed in Congress at its coming session !:
and that each member of the Free State Party be
requested to collect and forward to some member
of the Committee all the well authenticated facts
which they may collect.
After tho adoption Of the above resolutions,
the convention nominated ANDREW H.
REEDER, late Governor of Kansas, for can
didate for Congress The motion was carried
by reclamation. Cheer followed upon cheer
the announcement of the result. All order was
lost in the confusion, and every person present
seemed to join in the cry for REEDER REED
Err! The late Governor appeared upon the
stand in answer to the repeated calls, and It
the moment appeared deeply moved with this
unexpected outburst OF enthusiasm.
GOV. REEDER's RESPONSE.
lie proceeded to say how much he thanked
them for their encouraging and strengthening
friendship; that such applause and approval would
repay all the injustice that might be heaped upon
any man; that every man there would do him the
justice to say that this nomination had been given
entirely without solicitation by him or by his
friends; that to accept it would seriously inter-
fere with his private engagements, and that he
had continually refused it when urged until he had
been told by men from all parts Of the Territory
that his name was essential to success. He would
now accept it upon the condition that he be not
expected to canvass the Territory in person. To
do SO would not be consonant with his feelings
we'll as that he desired to 90 into the halls of
Congress and say 81 come here with clean hands,
the spontaneous choice Of the sovereign squatters
of Kansas" In giving him his nomination. in
this manner, they had strengthened his arms to
do their work: and, in return. he would now
pledge to them steady, unAinching pertinacity Of
purpose, never firing in industry, logged perse-
verance, and all the abilities with which God had
endowed him to the righting of their wrongs, and
the final triumph of their cause. He believed from
the circumstances which had for the last eight
months surrounded him, and which had at the
same time placeu IN DIS possession many IacCS, ana
bound him heart and soul to the oppressed voters
Of Kansas, that he could do much towards OBJ
tanning redress of their grievances.
lie said that day by day q crisis was coming
upon US; that in after times this would be to pos
terity turning point, marked period, as are, to
the opening of the revolution, the adoption of
the Declaration Of Independence, and the era of
the alien and sedition laws; that we should take
each step carefully, SO that each be step of pro-
gress, and so that no violence be done to the tie
which binds the American people together. He
alluded to the unprecedented tyranny under which
We are and have been and said that if any one
supposed that institutions we're to be imposed
by force <pon free and enlightened people, they
never knew, or had forgotten, the history of our
fathers. American citizens bear in their breasts
too much of the spirit of other and trying days,
and have lived too long amid the blessings of liz
berty to submit to oppression from any quarter,
and the man who, having once been free could
tamely submit to tyranny was ft to be a slave.
He urged the Free State men OF Kansas to for
get all minor issues and pursue determnedly the
one great object never swervng but steadily pres
sing on as did the wise men who followed the star
to the manger, looking back only for fresh en-
couragement. He counscled that peaceful resist
ance be made to the tyrannical AM unjust laws
of the spurious Legislature; that appeals to the
Courts, to the ballot-box, and to Congress be
made for relief from this oppressive load; that
violence should be deprecated long as a single
hope of peaceable redress remained but If al
last all these should fail-if in the proper tribu-
mails there is no hope for dearest rights, out
ragged and profaned- If we are still to suffer that
corrupt men may reap harvests watered by oul
tears, then there is one more chance for justice