Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-07-25
Gove,no Reeders Message

Tho message of Governor Reeder 10 the ktn-
sas Legislature ia published in several of our ,y-
changes. W. give SO much of il Us refers Ia the
suhje.t Of Slavery.
There are many specific subjects Of legi~lar',u
some of which are expressly referred n vuu hy t,e
hin organizing our Territory, enc others sprung
from the necessities of our community. Prominent
among them il the question whether We shall
build or government mp in the hasis II Tree or
slave labor. Claiming ms we do the SUM cnIaD
" for self government rs our fellow citizens 90! 90
States. with far greater, 4 not an eNela~n" in
tere>t in DEMONSTRATIONS and laws which are to
bear their burdens, and entitled nlone 10 claim
their benefits, wisdom, justice, aud fairness would
dictate that those laws and institutions nsi io of
the constitution of the United Suites should be
moudcd by ourselves stimulated by the absorb
ing interest we must feel in them. rathrl than 10y
the representatives or citizens of other States,
who are no more competent to the task than we
who have no stake with ia in their results,
and who would most Indignantly repe any offer
of reprocity from US in assisting To manage their
affairs. The provision of oar territorial organic
act secures Us this right aud is founded in the
true doctrines of republicanism. 1t may be ex
erci>oa in various degrees aud in various WAYS,
and Whenever il is called into action ii cannot ie
ultimately he attended with that excitement
which is incident TO the agitation of the slavery
question in the direction Of an attack upon CON
sttutionnl rights.
An agitation of lhat Kind, such as we have seen
indu-trioasS prosecuted in the past history If
country by the destructive spirit of abolition
ism. can never be productive Of aught bat evil
and j. calculated in an eminent degree to obscure
the gnrirs # the past to evoke the foalest spirit
ofdi,cord among the citizens of our common couu-
try and also Ia mar brilliant future if not 10
to eudlnger the existence of our cherished njnl.
4 want of fidelity TO the solemn compacts of the
constitution, and attack upen the rights of the
State which are guaranteed by il, can have u0
Justification or excuse. This view of the crsr
however, is not to be COMPOUNDED with the dis
cus-ion and settlement of the slavery question in
our Territory. in its bearings upon the formation
of our institutions. That has been referred to
Us open question by the legitimate action of
the nation. and here it is not only the privilege
bat the duty of every man to speak his opinions
freely and enforce them peaceabv and fair "
Advocate and opponent staudon the same ground
and must mutually concede to each other the dcn
teal measure of right which they elnim for th,n
sevles Freedom of opinion ana freedom Of dis
cu-sion, without centiousncss are of the very
essence of republican-m at all times and are pc
culiarly to be- respected here. The permanent
character and high authority of State con>titu
ton and the fact off submission direct 60
vote of the people of tho Territory, Indicate that
event signal occasion for the decision of that
peculiar question. In the mean time however,
territorial legislature may undoubtedly act upon
! the question 10 limited and partial eXtont, and
| may temporory prohibit, tolerate. or regulate
slavery in the Territory, and in al absolute or
modified form, with all the force and effect nf any
other legislative act, binding until repealed by the
! same power that enacted il.