The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-09
GOVERNOR REEDER REMOVED.


Mr.. Reeder was an Administration mana
loyal member Of that Party in Pennsylvania,
which looks to Southern politicians for gui-
dance. If he ever signalized himself by an
Anti Slavery word or deed, we have not been
apprized of it. If he ever felt or expressed dis
appreciation Of the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise, the public has been kept in Ignorance
of the fact. That he was a supporter Of the
Nebraska act, and is full believer in the doc
trine of what is called Squatter Sovereignty,
We know from his own testimony.
The truth is, his appointment to the Govern
orship of Kansas, the selection of Mr.. Lecompte,
of Maryland, an ultra, violent Pro-Slavery man,
Supreme Judge of the Territory, and the
other Territorial appointments, were designed
to propitiate the Slave Power, and to leave the
way open for shareholders to introduce Slavery
into Kansas, if they could.
Had the Administration intended that Kan
should be a free State, it could have secur
ed that result, without invading the rights Of
any section or class. 1t proposed no such pol
icy. Come what might to Kansas, its first OBJ
ject was, to give no offence to the Slave Power.
We are not at all disposed to award a mar
tyr's crown TO Governor Reeder. The most
that be said in his favor is, that he was less
dishonest than the Administration that appoint
ed him. He acted under the illusion that the
President and the Slave Power, meant Squat
ter Sovereignty a" and it was this, that brought
him into disrepute. The meaning of the Ne
braska Kansas bill was, that Mr. Atchson and
his Missouri propagandists should have the
right to determine the institutions Of Kansas.
Mr.. Reeder committed the offence of surprising
that the actual residents in the Territory were
alone authorized, by the act, to decide that
question. 1t was this that ruined. True, he
was not Abolitionist-he even denounced
Abolitionism in his message to the sham Legis-
lature. True, he was not even an Anti-Slave-
ry man, FOR, in the same message, he does not
drop syllable, showing the slightest prefer
ence for free labor institutions True, he did
not oppose any strong resistance to the Propa-
ganda. But, he took some innocent precau-
tons TO secure a fair expression of the views of
the real settlers in Kansas-he did not co-ope-
rate with Atchison and Stringlellow, in their
scandalous invasion of the Territory-and he
did express much dissatisfaction at the man.
ner in which the Kansas people had been treat
ed. This was the "head and front of his of.
Tending mo more-and for this, his removal
was demanded by the shareholders, and order
ed by the President.
We shall be told of his land speculations;
it was for these, it will be said, the President
removed him. Nonsensel Had Reeder been
satisfactory to Mr.. Atchison and Jefferson
Davis, he would have retained his office. The
same testimony that duplicates him in land
speculations, eliminates officers of the United
States army at Fort Leavenworth lie is con-
demned and executed-they are not even ques-
toned And yet we are to believe that his
removal is dictated by the rigid virtue of the
President! We have no tears to shed for Mr..
Reeder; for had he been a true Anti-Slayery
man-had he, invested as he was with full
power, pronounced the first election illsnal.
ordered a new one, called upon the actual set
tiers TO defend their rights, and upon the Presi-
dent to protect them against invasion, he would
have saved Kansas, and enlisted such a feeling
in his favor, that the Administration would not
have dared to touch him. Still, feeble as have
been his efforts in the right direction, his re-
moyal at such crisis, and under such pres
sure Of influences, is an objectionable offence
against the free States.
What his successor, Mr.. Dawson, may do,
remains to be seen. His antecedents place
him in the class Of Northern men with
Southern principles" Of whom Pennsylvania
has always had superabundance. He voted
for the Nebraska Act, reported the Homestead
Bill of the last Congress, and took care to ex-
clude from its proposed benefits colored people,
and large portion of the foreign born popula-
ton. Was his Native Americanism recon.
mendation in the eyes Of the Administration
Bat we will not judge him in advance. He
must make up his mind, either to promote or
resist the shameless schemes of Mr.. Atchison
and his associates. But whatever he decides
upon, let him do it with a viii. We want no
halfway, or facing-both-ways, policy. If Mr..
Dawson is for Fraud, Violence, and Slavery,
let him recognise the sham Legislature that
now pretends to frame laws for Kansas. If he
is for Law, Order, and Freedom, let him repu-
diate it, and all its acts.
FYume House, White Mountains.
A correspondent of the Bowling Green (Ky.)
Standard, writing from Rockcastle county,