M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-08-17
KANSAS AFFAIRS-EXTRACT
FROM GOV. REEDER'S MES.


IL "A IN DAD "A "A IN - ~ II AZ
FROM GOV. REEDER'S MES
SAGE.
The Slavery question is disposed Of
in the following manner:
.. "There are many specific subjects Of
legislation, some OF which are express
Ily referred TO you by the bill organizing
our Territory, and others spring from
the necessities of our community
Prominent among them is the question
whether We shall build our Govern.
ment on the basis of free or slave la
boz. Claiming as we do the same ca
pacity for self-government as our TEL
low citizens OF the States, with lar
greater, if not an exclusive interest, in
the institutions and laws which are to
exist among us; compelled alone to
bear their burdens, and entitled alone
10 claim their benefits; wisdom, justice
and fairness would dictate that those
laws and institutions, inside OF the
Constitution of the United States sho'd
be moulded by ourselves, stimulated by
the absorbing interest we must feel in
them, rather than BY the representa-
ItiSes or citizens OF other States, who
are no more. competent to the task than
we-who have no stake with US in
their. results, and who would most in
Idignantly repel any offer OF reciproci-
ty from us in assisting 10 manage their
affairs. The provision of our Terri
lorial Organic Act secures us this right,
and is founded on the true doctrines OF
repubicanism. Itmay be exercised in
various ways, and whenever it is called
into action it cannot legltimately be al
tended with that excitement which is
incident to the agitation of the slavery
question in the direction of an attack
upon constitutional rights. An agita-
tion of that kind, such as we have
seen induStriously prosecuted in the
past history OF our country by the des-
tructive spirit of abolitionism can nev'
er 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 future, if moi
to endanger the existence OF our cher
Iished Union. A want Of fidelity ia
the solemn compacts OF the constitu'
ton, and an attack upon the rights oI
the States, which are guaranteed by it.
can have no justification or excuse
This view OF the case, however, is mol
to be confounded with the discussion
and settlement of the slavery question
in our Territory, in its bearings upor
the formation of our Institutions
That has been referred to us as an
open question by the Legitimate action
OF the nation, and here it is not only
the privilege but the duty Of every man
to speak his opinions freely and enforce
them peaceably and fairly. Advocate
and opponent stand on the same ground,
and must mutually concede 10 each
other the identical measure Of right
which they claim tor themselves
Freedom Of opinion and freedom oI
discussion, without licentiousness, are
the very essence of republicanisrA at
all times, and are peculiarly to be res.
pected here. The permanent charac.
ter ard high authority of State Con-
stitution, and the fact Of its submiSs'
ion to direct vote of the people OF the
Territory, indicate that event as a sig
nal occasion for the decision of thai
peculiar question. In the mean time.
however, a Territorial Legislature
may undoubtedly act upon the ques'
tion to a limited and partial extent
and may temporarily prohibit, tolerate
or regulate slavery in the Territory
and in an absolute or modified form
with all the force and effect OF any 9th
er legislative act, binding until repealed
Iby the same power that enacted 1t.