Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-21
GOV. REEDER-GEO.W w. MANYPENNY-
KANSAS AFFAIBS.

studiously rehaned, in our comments upon
the affairs Of Kansas and the official conduct
of the Governor Of that Territory, from any
animadverslon upon, or even allusion to, the
charges made against that gentleman's con-
nection with specuations in the Indian reser-
vations. Indeed, we chose to hope that such
was not the case, and hence confined ourselves
to criticism purely Of his official course and
his general administrative policy. These we
dealt with unsparingly, because we believed
that Governor Reeder's course was highly
reprehensible, and dangerous in its results to
the peaceful, safe, and fair settlement of that
Territory according to the provisions of the
bill organizing it. Tuesdays Union, how
ever, publishes in full the correspondence
between Governor Reeder and Mr.. Many
penny, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
and all the collateral correspondence that
necessarily. grew out of the difficulties which
| for some time have surrounded the affairs in
Kansas. We give the whole correspondence,
because we wish the public to see for them.
selves that it was no unnecessary alarm we
were exciting upon this critical subject OF
| discussion.
We do not intend to 20 into minute dis
section of this most curious correspondence.
To aid our readers in forming correct views
upon it, we simply mean to lay before them a
few facts, to show that an unnatural policy, is
never wise policy, however periodically it
may have been intended.
To do this, We first reiterate, assuming the
adoption Of such a policy to have been in good
faith, that, to our minds, it was objectless, pur-
posless, and therefore unwise and inexcusable,
to place a free State man, governor of Stare
territory What could follow, but discussion,
strife, bloodshed? What do antecedents''
amount to in these evil days? Benedict Arnold
had his antecedents. Judas Iscariot had his
antecedents ! and to come down to things po-
litical, and of more modern date, Martin Van
| Buren, had his dntecedentS! OF what value are
they to us noWS Stripped of the prestige which
Van Buren, acquired under the great jackson,
and removed from the influence of his sage and
patriotic counsels, he became traitor to his
party and traitor to his countryl!l Madam
Rowland, when executed within view Of the
Temple Of Liberty, turned her undaunted eye
towards ii, and exclaimed, " Oh liberty, what
crimes are committed in thy namel"
So of antecedents and Compromised the
mischief, all the error, all the evil which have
come upon the country, find their source in the
l. 10 md RAIL- -,
a captain, it is said, always captain. Not
| however, once a saint, always a saint. If it
had been UNCONSTITUTIONAL to have appointed
| a Southern man 10 Southern Territory, then
It would have been wise and eminently proper
to have looked 10 the d,itecedcuts OF Northern
man. But when there was no reason, none
| given and none conceivable, why a Southern
man should not be appointed to live in his own
cline and to govern his o,ca institutions, in the
name Of common sense why was il not done !?
Is there S man in the broad limits Of our land.
who doubts that if this had been the policy,
that all would have been peace, quiet and
tranquility in our beautiful territory Of Kansas
But we wander from the point, for really we
cannot write with patience upon the distressing
effects Of policy founded upon neither reason
nor right
The correspondence is characterized, as will
be perceived, by an unusual degree Of personal
and ofhcialasperity. In this respect it is highly
Objectionable. 1t is no excuse for the employ.
ment Of vituperative sentiments, that they are
clothed in graceful language. For two high
ofhcials-the the Governor Of aTerritory-
the other, the head Of one Of the mostmportant
departments in the Government, to deal in i'm
putations upon each others personal honor and
truth, is truly Notifying and disgracefu
But Mr.. Manypenny is not left the painful
task Of conricting Governor Reeder Of the most
improper speculations in lands in the Territory
over which he was appointed 10 administer
justice and fair dealing. Governor Reeder con.
fesses the soft impeachment, and makes mis-
cradle defence Of himself for 50 doing. In our
opinion, Judge would not be more reprehen-
sible 70 speculate in the cases submitted TO his
Judgment. Aroid the appearance d evi, should
be the motto Of every responsible agent Of the
law or the Government.
AS bad, however, as all this seems 70 be- and
is, i is not half SO outrageous as the course
Governor Reeder has pursued towards the pro.
slavery men in Kansas. The charges Of Mr..
Manypenny affect the personal character OF
Governor Reeder.
We have but little to do with this; howbet,
we have our own opinion Of the propriety Of
the Governors course in dealing in lands at all.
But when Governor Reeder showed himself to
be sympathizer with the emigration opposed
to Stdceyy, he, in our belief as we have FIRE.
quently said before, committed an act which
required his removal 1t is his that consti-
tutes the graramen Of Governor Reeder's Of
fences. 1t is This which involves far greater