Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-09-29
spEEcu OF GOVERNOR RxKDKp AT rHE
KASZAs FREE STATE CONVENTION.

convention in kanzas, the proceedings OF
which have been previously given, the con-
yentlon proceeded to tho nomination Of O
Territorial delegate to Congress- Mr. Con-
way moved that Andrew Ii. Reeder, late
Governor OF kanZas be our nominee. The
motion vas seconded and carried by accla-
nation. Cheer followed upon cheer the M
ncuncemcnt Of the result All order was
lost in the confusion, and every person pres
cnt seemed to Join in tho cry OF Reeder
Reeder The late Governor appeared upon
the stand in answer to repeated calls, and at
the moment appeared deeply moved with this
unexpected outburst of enthusiasm
Gov. Reeder proceeded to say how much
he thanked them for their encouraging and
strengthening friendship; that such applause
and approval would repay oil 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 en-
tirely without solicitation by him or by his
friends that to accept it would seriously in
terfere with 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
10 success. He would now accept it upon
the condition that he be not expected to can
yass the Territory in person. Todo so would
not be consonant with his feelings. as well
as that he desired to go into the halls OF
Congress and say, 81 come here with clean
hands, the spontaneous choice of the sever
egn squatters Of Kanzas." In giving him
this nomination, in this manner, they had
strengthened his arms to do their work, and
in return he would now pledge to them II
STEADY. unllinching pertinacity of purpose,
never tiring industry, dogged perseverance,
and all the abilities with which God had
endowed him to the righting Of their wrongs
and the final triumph of their cause. He be-
iieved from the circumstances which had for
the last eight months surrounded him, and
which had at the same time placed in his
possession many facts, and bound him heart
and soul to the oppressed voters Of Kanzas,
that he could do much toward obtaining o
redress Of their grievances. He said that day
oy day crisis was coming upon us; that in
after times this would be TO posterity turn
ing point, marked period as are to us the
opening of the Revolution, the adoption Of
the Declaration of Indedendence and the act
OF the alien and sedition laws thatwe should
take each step carefully so that each be
step OF progress, and so that no violence be
done to the tie which binds the American
people together. He alluded to the unpre-
cedented tyranny under which we are and
have been, and said that if any one supposed
that institutions were to be imposed by force
upon free and enlightened people, they
never knew, or had forgotten, the history of
our fathers American citizens bear in their
breast too much OF the spirit of other and
trying days, and have lived too long amid the
blessings Of liberty, to submit to oppression
from any quarter and the man who, having
once been free, could tamely submit to ty-
ranny, was fiji to be slave lie urged the
free State men of Kanzas to forpet all minor
issues, and pursue determnedly the one great
.hi h,t
on, as did the wise men who followed the star
TO the mauger, looking back only for fresh
encouragement.
He counselled that peaceful resistance be
made to the tyrannical and unjust laws of o
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 so lsng as
single hope of peaceable redress remained /;
but if at last all these should fail--if in the
proper tribunal there is no hope for our dear
est rights, outraged and proianed-if we are
still to suffer that corrupt men may reap
harvest watered by our tears, then there is
one more chance for Justice. God has provi.
ded in the eternal frame Of things, redress for
every wrong, and there remains tons still the
steady eye and the strong arm, and we must
conquer, or ningle the bodies of the oppress-
ors with those Of the oppressed upon the sol
which the Declaration of Independence nt
longer protects. But he was not at all ap
prehensive that such n crisis would ever ar
rive lie believed that justice might be
found lar short of so dreadful an extremity
and even should an appeal to arms come. il
was his opinion that if we are well prepared
that m oment the victory is won Our invs
ders will never strike blow in so unjust
cause.
Thrice armed i, he who hath his quarrel just
lie then entered into the plan of conduct
ing the campaign, and advised that the proc
lamation from the people, calling the election
be signed by every voter. Let the legal re-
duirements of an election be strictly observed
law be carried out When Col. Ethan
Allen was asked AZ Ticonderoga, by whose
authority he demanded the fort, he replied
"ln the name o: the Great Jehovah and tn,
Continental Congress" expect Of you tha
you so prepare me, that to Il similar question
l may boldly answer, The Great Jeboyal
snd the Sovereign Squatters of Kanzas."
He spoke long and eloquentlyupon the i'm
portance that no rashness should endange
the Unou which we all love and cleave to
lie did not consider the correct public sent
meut Of the South as endorsing the vioen
wrongs which had been perpetrated by Mi
sourians in our Territory and that being s.
lie waited to hear their rebuke. Should
not come, aud all hope Of moral influence I
correct these evils be cut off, and the trib
lnls Of our country fail u.s. while onr wrong
still continue, what then? Win they hay
grown easier TO bear by long custom? &c
forbid that any lapse Of time should accusto
freemen TO tie duties Of slaves and whit
such fatal danger as that menaced, then
the time 10
Strike for our n!tsrs and our fres--.
Strike for the green graves Of onr srss,
God and our native land.
As he paused there was, for an instant,
deep silence, as when o question Of life
death is being considered-eyery man DIRE
long breath, but the next instant the 9
was rent with cries, Eyes, we will strike
white men can never be slaves !" "Reede
Reeder!" mine cheers for Reeder a
Right y During his speech he had been CO
stantly interrupted by shouts and shaking
hands but now the enthusiasm was ungc
ernable; the crowd gathered around him wi
the warmest greetings. We would rsth
have the place he holds in the hearts Of
generous, daring people, than wear kiuG
erown.