Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-10-06
VOLUME III. NO. So
KANSAS FRBB STATE coNvsNxIoN.

+; KANSAS FRBB STATE CONVENTION. p
. The Kansas Free State Convention which as
semblod at Big Springs on the 5th Of September,
nominated Ex- Governor Reeder, as their caudi-
date for Congressional Delegate. At the close Of
the Convention Governor Reeder made the follow
ing speech, which is reported in the Kansas Her.
aid Of Freedom:
GOVERNOR REEDER'S SPEECH.
He proceeded TO say how much he thanked
them for their encouraging friendship; that such
applause and approval would repay all the injus.
tice that might be heaped upon any man that
every man there would do him the justice to say
that this nominatlDs had been given entirely with
out solicitation, by him his friends that to ac-
cept it would interfere with private engagements,
and that he had continually refused il when
urged, until he had been told by men from all
parts of the Territory that his name was essen
tial to success. He would accept it upon the con-
dition that he be not excepted to canvas the Ter
ritory in person. To do so would not be conso-
nant to his feelings, he desired to go into the
hala of Congress and say 81 come here with clean
hands, the spontaneous choice Of the sovereign
squatters of Kansas" In giving him the nomi.
nation in this manner, he would now pledge to
them steady, unAinching pertinacy of purpose,
nevertiring industry, dngged perseverance, and
all the abilities with which God has endowed him
to the rghting Of their wrongs, and the final tri-
umph of their cause. lIe believed from the cir
cumstancc 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
Kansas, that he could do much towards obtain
ing a"edress of their grievances.
He said that day by day crisis was coming
upon u.s. that in after times this would be to pos
terity turning point, marked period, are to
us the opening of the Revolution, the adol ton of
the Declaration of Independence, and the era of
the alien and sedition laws; that We should take
each step carefully, so that each should be step
of progress and so that no violence be done to
the tic which binds the American people together
He alluded to the unprecedented tyranny under
which we are and have been; and said that #
any one supposed that institutions were to.be i'm
posed by force upon free and enlightened people,
they never knew, or had forgotten the history of
our fathers. American citizens bearin their bosom
too much of the spirit of lher and more trying
days, and have lived too amid the blessings
of liberty, to submit to opp sson from any quar-.
ter; and the man who ha6ng once been free,
could tamely submit to tyfRny, was fit to be
slave
He argued upon the Free State men of Kan
sas to forget all minor issues and pursue deter
minlly the one great object, never swerving, but
stea lily pressing on, as did the wise men who
followed the star to the nanger looking back on
| ly for fresh encouragement. He counselled that
peaceful resistance be made to the tyranical and
unjust laws of the spurious Legis lature that ap-
peals to the Courts, to the ballot box and to Con-
gress, I've made for relief from this oppressive load;
that violence should be deprecated so long as a
single hope of peaceable redress remained but if
at last all these should fai-if in the the proper
tribunal there is no hope for our dearest rights,
outraged and profaned-if we are still to suffer
that corrupt men may reap harvests watered by
our tears then there is more charge for justice.
God has provided in eternal fitness of things re-
dress for every wrong, and there remains to us
still the steady eye and the strong arm, and we
must conquer or mingle the bodies of the oppres-
sors with those of the oppressed, upon the soil
which the Declaration of Independence no long
er protects. But he was not at all apprchensve
that such crisis would ever arrive. He believ-
ed that Justice might be found far short Of so
dreadful an extremity and even should an ap-
peal to arms come, i. was his opinion that if we
are we'll prepared, that moment the victory is
won. Our invaders will never strike blow in so
uni ust cause.
''Thrce armed is he who hath his quarrel just.
He then entered into the plan of conducting
the campaign, and advise that the proclamation
from the people calling the election, be signd by
every voter. Let the legal requirments Of an
election be strictly observed Our position is one
of asking only that the law be carried out.
When Uol. Ethan was asked at Tinconderaga, by
whose authority he demanded the fort, he replied,
Gin the name Of the Great Jehovah and the Con-
tinental Congress" expect of you that you so
prepare me, that to similar question may bold
! iy answer The Great Jehovah and the Sover.
cign Suuatters of Kansas" He spoke long and
eloquently upon the Importance that no rashness
shouldlendanger the Union, which we all love and
cleave to- He did not consider the correct public
sentiment of the South as indorsing the violent
wrongs that had been perpetrated by Missourians
in our Territory, and that being so he waited to
hear their rebukc Should it not come, and all
hope of moral influence to correct these evils be
cut off, and the tribunals of our country fail us,
while our wrongs shall continue, what then!
Will they grow easier to bear by long custom
God forbid that any lapse of time should accustom
frcemep to the duties of slaves; and when such
fatal danger as that menanced comes, then is the
time to
u "Strike for our affairs and ou- fires,
i Str Ike for the green graves OF our sires,
God and our native land ~
As he paused there was for an instant of deep
silence as when question Of life or death is con-
sidered-every man drew long breath, but the
next instant the air was rent with cries, ayes, we
will strike;" white men never can he 81 yes"
I-"Reede, Reeder!, "Nine cheers for Reeder
and Right" Durirg his speech, he had been
constantly interrupted by shout and shaking Of