Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-07-28
GOVERNOR REEDERs MESSAGE.

been unavoidable, it appears that the laws of the
United Stetes not inapplicoble to our locality-the
a Of the Territory of Indiana, made between
the twenty-sixth of March, 1704, and tho third of
March, 1906, enacted for the District of Louisiana
the laws of the Territory of Louisiana-th The laws
of tho Territory Of Missouri-the common law and
the law of the Province of Louisiana at the time
Of the cession, except so far as the latter have SUI
perseded the former, still remain in force III the
Territory Of Kansas. As the common law TO a
considerable extent was adopted for the Territory
by Congress as late as 1912, and by the Missouri
Legislature as late as 1916, and rs it rs perhaps the
most complete and comprehensive system in the
world, il has, without doubt, superseded and sup
piled a great amount Of the law previously exist
ing. In the mass Of conflicting legislation, how
ever, it will impose upon your courts much embar-
rassmcnt and trouble to decide the question Of i'm
piled repeal which will continually arise, ard /
would therefore call your attention to the necessity
of curing this evil by some legislation which will
declare distinctly which Of these previous laws are
in force and which arc not.
The Slavery question is disposed of in the fol
lowing manner.
"Thcrc nre many specific subjects of legislation,
some of which are expressly referred to you by the
bill organizing our Territory, and others spring
from the necessities of our community. Proml.
ncnt among them is the question whether we shall
build our Government on the basis OF Tree or slave
labor. Claiming as we do the same capacity for
SClipONtTllIncDI us " ltilOM VI AZ WV
with q far greater, if not an exclusive, interest in
the institutions and laws which are to exist among
us: compelled alone to bear their burdens, and en-
titled alone to claim their benefits wisdom, justice
and fairness would dictate that those laws and IN
situations inside of the Constitution of the United
States should be moulded by ourselves, stimulated
by the absorbing interest we must feel in them
rather than by the representatives or citizens of
other States who are no more competent to the task
than we-who have no stake with us in their re-
suits, and who would most Indignantly repcl any
offer of reciprocity from us in assisting to manage
their affairs. The provision of our Territorial Or
ganic Act secures us this right, and is founded on
the true doctrines of republicanism. 1t may be
exercised in various degrees and in various ways,
and whenever it is called into action it cannot le-
ultimately be attended with that excitement which
is incident to the agitation of the slavery question
in tho direction of an attack upon constitutional
rights. An agitation of that kind, such as we
have seen industriously prosecuted in the past
history of our country by the destructive spirit
Of abolitionism can never be productive OF aught
but evil, and is calculated in an eminent degree
to obscure the glories of the past to evoke the
foulest spirit of discord among the citizens of our
common country, and also to mar our brilliant tu-
ture, if not to endanger the existence of our cher
ished Union. A want of fidelity to tho solemn
compacts of the constitution, and an attack upon
the rights of the states, which are guaranteed by
it, can have no justification or excuse. This view
of the case, however, is not to he COMPOUNDED with
the discussion and settlement Of the slavery ques-
ton in our Territory, in its bearings upon the for
nation of our institutions. That has been refer
red to us as an open question by the legitimate &C
ton of the nation, and here it is not only the priv
ilege but the duty of every man to speak his opin-
ions freely and enforce them peaceably and fairly.
Advocate and opponent stand on the same ground
and must mutually concede to each other the iden-
teal measure of right which they claim for them
selves. Freedom Of opinion and freedom OF dis
cussion, without RIGHTEOUSNESS, are the very es'
senCe OF rcpublicanism at all times, are peculiarly
to be respected here. The permanent characte,
and high authority of q State Constitution, and
the fact of its submission to Il direct vote OF the
; people Of the Territory, indicate that event as 1
! signal occasion for the decision of that peculiar
question. In the meantime, however, q Territorla
| Legislature may undoubtedly act upon the ques
ton to a limited and partial extent, and may tenn
porarily prohibit, tolerate or regulate slavery in th'
Territory, and in an absolute or modified form will
/ all the force and effect of any other legislative act,
binding until repealed by the same power that en-
acted it.
THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE has promptly com
menced the work for which it was appointed, thai
of establishing slavery in the Territory. The FOL
lowing is a copy of one of its first acts. 1t was
vetoed by the Governor, but afterwards passcc
oyer his head, they Immediately adjourned to nee
at the Mission on the borders of Missouri, an(
therefore convenient for the dictaticn which tina
state will continue to offer through the mock lcSlsla
ture to the people of Kansas
"SEc. L. Until the seat of Government is locates
by law, the session of the Legislative Assembl.
shall be held at the Shawnee Manual Labo'
I School" in the Territory Of Kansas.
0 "SEc. 9. Until the seat OF Government is loca
c ted as above specified, the Governor and Secretar.
t of State shall respectively keep their Offices at tn
n Shawnee Manual Labor School in said Territor.
of Kansas.
"SEc. So soon as this act shall take effect. tn
Vt Council and House of Representatives shall nav
c power by q concurrent resolution, to ADJOURN II
present session and hold the remainder OF sue
session at said Shawnee Manual Labor School,, an
Il upon such adjournment, it shall be the duty. {
Governor and Secretary. of-State, respectively, IN
mediately to remove their Offices to said Shawne
n Manual Labor School.
= This act to take effect from and after its pas
p sage"
Among other acts was also one to prevent tn
abduction Of slaves.
e Mr.. M. F. Conway, one Of the members elect, {
the Legislature sent in his resignation to the Coy
t crnor. lie would not by acting with that bod
6 give countenance to it, forced Us it was upon tn
Territory by foreign arms and he assures til
W lOONCTuOT lulI W u CitiHCh uHu % htu hO u
@ yield no submission to this alien Legis lature. o
the contrary, | am ready to set its assumed AZ
thority at defiance; and shall be prompt to spur
y and trample under my feet its insolent enactment
70 whenever they conflict with my rights or inclint
TONS"
10 The Kansas Legislature met atShawuec Missio
on the 10th, inst, pursuant to adjournment.
Mr. Mnrahall pnyo nOtica nf n hill. feuuIrin
u citizens emigrating from Massachusetts,, and tho
other States which have annulled, or may MULTI
It, the laws of the United States, to take an oath
support the laws of Kansas Territory.
John Thomas Perry, of the Methodist Churc
South, was elected Chaplain, July, 18th.
Mr.. Marshall, of Pawnee District, introduced
;, bill, providing that every man who shall pay Il
sum of one dollar poll tax, and produce q recei
Id for the same to the judges of any election, sha
ID be a legal voter, provided such shall be citizens
the United States, and shall have taken an oath
support the Constitution of the United States, al