Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-08-09
Weekly gtate Sentinel.
FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 8, 1855.

Courier.
Friend CARRIER is very much mistaken if
he thinks that we have any thing to retract
about what we may have said of AToHIsoN
and his gang or of Gov. REEDER. If Gov.
krEpEE has been speculating in Indian claims
contrary to law it may afford grounds for his
jfen|Ryal. On that poirt we suspend -judg-
incst until we know the facts. But if Presi-
dent PIERCE directly or Indirectly undertakes
to endorse AToHIsoN and his gang we de-
nounce President PIERCE. Such conduct
would be treason to the principle of the Ne
braska bill, and treason to the principles
which actuated the American Colonies in re-
bellion against the mother country. Did not
the English Parliament set of outsiders,
attempt to dictate to the bona fine residents
of the colonies; and havo we not earnestly
constantly and consistently maintained that
Congress, if it interfered with slavery, would
be doing the same thing to the tcrritorieS?-
ATcHIsoN and his gang arc attempting to do,
in open violation of law, what Aboltionists
arc striving to do uLder color of law, viz: to
deprive an organized society of the right to
determine its own institutions We denounce
both, for their doctrines arc in essence the
same.
Of Gov. REEDEB, the Journal of Commerce
says:
GOVERNOR REEDER-It will be borne in mind
that the Secretary of State, in letter published
by us on the 2lst June, stated to Gov. Reedcr
that, owing TO the purchases by the latter, of
Indian reservations, and his speculations in
lands of the Territory apparently in violation
of Acts of Congress, and of regulations of the
Department, the President i" feels embarrassed
TO see how, consistently with his convictions of
duty, he can allow the present official relation
TO the Territory of yourself, (Goy. Reeder mean
ing,) or either of the other gentlemen named to
continue, unless the impressions which now rest
upon his mind shall be removed by satisfactory
explanations" and explanations were accord
ingly asked.
The letter to Gov. Reeder, of which the above
is an extract, was received by him at New Y ork,
en- route TO Kansas, and for want of time to
answer it, was reserved until his arrival at Kan
sas, as the affairs of the Territory might be jeo-
parded by delay in his arrival. The fact of the
purchase of lands by Gov. Reeder seems to be un-
questioned; and it is said that hepurchased them
at Pawnee, at which place the Session of the
Legislature Of Kansas, as it is called, was held.
The Administration, at the time Gov. Marcy s
letter was written, could not of course have
known in what manner events would shape
themselves in the Territory of Kansas; and it is
fair, therefore to infer that the removal of Gov.
Reeder was the result of the determination
formed on the llth of June, and expressed with
sufficient clearness by Gov Marcy
But looking at the matter with all the lights
which are yet furnished, it seems 10 us unfortu-
nate that Governor Reeder should have been re
'''.'~ed at-the present time, even III exposed 10
censure in that matter. The course of the Kan
sas Legislature at Pawnee, and at Shawnee Mis-
sion, is looked upon by all moderate men with
extreme regret. The conservative sentiment OF
the country has been greatly outraged by the
violent tone of the assemblage, and the disre-
gard of propriety and decency shown in its de-
| liberations The removal of Governor Reeder,
which the Legislature had requested, will be re-
ceved as a sentence against him, and as an ac-
quiescence in the request of that body.
On looking at the Act organizing the Terri
tories of Kansas and Nebraska, it appears to US
that Gov. Reeder, though right in many of his
grounds, is wrong in others. At the opening
of the Legislature at Pawnee, he sent them Il
message which met with the general approval.
That was a recognition, so far as his power ex-
tended of the existence of Legislature then
assembled Among their first acts of lcgisla-
ton, was one changing their place of meeting
from Pawnee in the interior, the place OF his al
legged land speculations-to Shawnee Mission,
AN old settlement, near tc the Missouri river and
Missouri line This act he vetoed and it was pas
sed by a atwo-thirds vote. Itwas nevertheless dis
regarded by him, on alledged ground, that there
was no legal right in the Legislature to determine
their place of meeting. The Legislature, new
ertbeless. removed to Shawnee Mission, and
TINS ousted themselves (such is his claim) of
all further right to legislate. We should re-
ioice if this ground were correct; but 1t seems to
us, from an examination of-the Kansas Act, that
| if Gov. Reeder was right in treating this body
as a Legislature, he is wrong In this opinion
The Act. in conferring power on the Governor
and Legislature of Nebraska, differs essentially
from that part of it which confers power on the
same authorities in Kansas. The 18th section
proyides that the Legislative Assembly of the
Territory oftNebraska shall hold its first ses-
sion at such time and place in said Territory as
the Governor thereof shall appoint and direct
There is no like authority conferred in terms ON
the Governor of Kansas; but Fort Leayenworth
is expressly named in the Act, as the temporary
seat Of Government.
In the part of the Act applicable to the Ne
braska. power is given TO the Governor and Leg
islature at its first or any subsequent session tc
locate and establish the seat of Government
The naming of the two in that manner, would
perhaps, subject il TO the Interpretation that
each was required to concur in the location, but
such is not the phraseology of so much OF the
law as applies to Kansas.
On the contrary full power of legislation on
all subjects of legislation that do not disagreC
with the Constitution of the United States o
the Act of Congress establishing the Territory
Is conferred upon the Legislative assembly, ex
cept that they may not interfere with the pri
mary disposition of the soil, or tax lands of th
III. s. or the lands of non-residents, higher thar
those of residents. In what manner Pawne'
was named, in lieu of Fort Leavenworth, WI
know not; but it appears to us that the Legisla
ture had power to locate the seat of Government
temporarily or permanently under the Act O
, Congress, IF they had any po,cer ,chateoer.
, The outrages committed in the election of tn
present body by worthless citizens of Missouri
outrages against the true principle which tn
Act created promised a passionate, reckles
and useless career to the Kansas Legislature
; and a violent termination of their proceedings
, II is unfortunate that it furnishes TO unprinci
nled fanatics the means to fan the flame Of sec
tional discord, aiii to charge against the bill il
self the mischiefs which proceed from disregar
+ of its provisions and objects.
, or That matter in this mornings Journa
over the signature of Star would be righ
funny but for one thing: it happens to be a
: the veriest CANNON imaginable. A gentle
0 man. resident of Martinsvillc now at OF
9 elbow, suggests that he was present when tn
aaq was discovcrcd-and seen it hauled dow
That the "stalwart Engineer" of the Stc
7 gentleman had not one ,oOrd to say-and th'
0 had he been disposed TO "pitch in" in th'
4 +" "connexion," f" no would have found himse
as badly a arashed institution as has bee
seen in Martinsville since "Sam" swallowe
5 that "Nigger."
0TCuAnLEY TEST, the President of ii
n 18th of July Abolition Convention in tn
9 city, made an american speech at Crawford
!, \ vile last Saturday. The X. Ms. ofthat tow
y bovever didn't like the effort They CON