The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-17


ing of Rock Greek. Somewhere near
this point-exactly where we found il
difficult to ascertain-is the western
boundary of the Pottawatomie reserve.
At the crossing we found squatter To-
Gated, holding an important position, on
which is situated fine water-power, the
first we had seen in the Territory. From
him we received information that led us
TO examine more minutely the point OF
the river just above; but of this, more at
another time. Y.
Governor Reeder.
LAWRENCE, Z. T., Feb. Ia, 1855.
EDITOR HERALD OF FREEDOM For
the past few weeks / have noticed several
thrusts made at his Excellency by the
slave State papers on the frontier, as well
as by the Pioneer at Kickapoo, and by the
Herald at Leavenworth and | have been
led to inquire into the cause of this
There appears to have been change in
the opinions entertained respecting Gov
ernor Reeder by the editors of the papers
referred to. When he came into the Ter
ritory they noticed him favorably, and
even seemed to court Executive favor.
If memory serves me rightly, the Leay-
enworth paper seemed strongly inclined
to the putting process at that time, and
came out with a sketch of the Governors
life But of late it assumes the censor's
Office, and rudely demands of him the
why and the wherefore of his acting, at
the same time basely insinuating that he
favors "the liar, defamer, and vampire. ="
That delectable sheet, the Kickapoo
Pioneer, is also lavish of its lampoonery
and slang upon our Executive. It thinks
| it would be a very fine thing if he could
be exchanged for acting Governor Cum
ming, of Nebraska. That other choice
morceau of literary excellence down here
at Westport, the Frontier News, is max
ing itself simply ridiculous in its frothy,
fire eating editorials relating to our Gov
ernor and his business proper. There
has been a strong effort made to preju-
dice the public mind against us at Law
renee, as being a lawless banditti of
prison-birds and paupers; but | am hap
py to observe, however, that the Lawrence
papers have manifested much self-respect,
and by their course have not given sensi-
bic men just cause to be disguised with
them. And think that public observa-
ton generally will bear me out when l
say, that our press have set these sheets
above alluded to an example worthy of
being followed. The press in any coun-
try should take high and honorable
grounds upon matters of a public nature !;
and it is by so doing that it wields, the
world over, SO powerful an influence as
it does. "Overturn the throne; but give
me free press, and Twill raise it up
again in three days." said one of the great
lights in modern literature and, for one,
I regret that men who have the manage
ment of any free press should permit
themselves to descend so low in the scale
of decency as to spew out such stuff as is
weekly observed in the Frontier News
and other sheets Of like character
Now, Mr.. Editor, l beg leave to have it
distinctly understood that l do not make
these remarks concerning these papers
because lam at all apprehensive that any
man here can be Influenced by their
course, or because I desire to vindicate
Governor Reeder-he can do this him
self; but simply because / desire that dis
interested people in other parts of our
country should know that we here in
Kansas have just appreciation of them,
and that we look upon their course in
bullying and browbeating public senti-
ment in Kansas Territory with all that
contempt which they SO richly merit.
Let us now see if there be any Just
cause for the nnessand insolence which
has characterized the course pursued by
these papers and the enemies of our Gov
ernor on the frontier of Missouri. And
here l might answer the query in word
by saying simply, that his Excellency has
proved himself to be a man who has a
mind of his own, and does his own think
ing. AS nigh as | can learn, this is his
great sin in their eyes. They supposed
they would be allowed to do this for him
and, as naturalconsequenee, they would
be entitled to have hand in the admin
istration of affairs in this Territory. Now,
strange as it may appear at first thought,
no such plan was adopted. Executive
business was done by the Executive
alone Then Missourians proposed to do
our voting for us; and having succeeded
in doing so at the late election of Del
egate, they are greatly incensed that the
Governor has somehow insinuated that
Kansas shall elect her own Legislature, or
that no Legislature shall be elected. This
idea is not at all reconcilable with their
notions on the subject; and hence the
Ne,cs holds this language: "The votes
recorded in these returns are prinsa faeie
legal votes. and the Governor, notwith-
standing any number of protests from the
defeated party, cannot 60 behind them
he must declare those having the highest
number of votes In these returns to be
duly elected According to this rhet-
oric, if it was made to plainly appear that
all Missouri came over here the day before
election in their wagons, voted, and re-
turned to their homes the next day, the
candidates thus elected would be entitled
to certificate of their election at the
hands of his Excellency, and seat III
our Legislature. Now We are much mis-.
taken in the character of the man, if oul
Governor does not assert and maintain
the inviolability of the rights of the citi
zens of Kansas, so far as it is his duty SC
to do. The ballot-box should be pre-
served pure. and kept untouched by the
hands of residents of Missouri, or of any
other State. And am utterly unable t
see why any officer of government, whose
business it is thus to protect and guard
the right of suffrage, should be deemed
worthy of the base attacks and insinua
tons floating about In the columns of tht
slave State papers on the frontier, and il
the Territory. But we have heard o
such things as buying up presses anc
owning editors; and we strongly suspec
that certain editors are hired and paid dai
j y wages for lampooning any and ever.
man who viii not suecuEb to the wishes
of the slavery propagandists.