The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-08
7 .Nt1tEE7IFtEE
GOVERNOR REEDER's POSITION.

The St. Louis Republican gives report of a
.,.ech delivered by Gov. Reeder at Free
safe meeting at Lawrence, K. T., on the
rb October. the day before the election Of the
r-ae State party. He denounces III strong
.-ans The interference of Missourians in the af.
iir, Of Kansas The platform of the Free State
mn he laid down as follows:
we proclaim by our platform of principles
hat We demand the right of free speech, free
.fr,ge and free government; that we desire
\, buiH up here another great republic, by free
,lie labor, and to exclude, as we have the
r-lt to do, the institution of Slavery, which we
l,s1eve would blight our progress and our pros
r.-irv. We say to our brethren of the Union
who differ from US, that although we might deny
.f-ir rirht to hold slaves in the Territory, yet
n The spirit Of liberality we will find no fault
that they bring their slaves along, when they
come TO enter into fraternal contest at the bal
;,i fox. FOX determining the character of our in
,;ta,iops. and will recommend that their slaves
3. IN the mean time unmoested and we de-
,lare that, when free institutions shall be estab-
shed. the right Of property which they claim
+. the slaves within our bounds shall be treated
sih that moderation and charity which should
exist between brethren of a great Republic, who
Il-. in opinion"
lie then goes on to review the proceedings Of
de late legislature. That Legislature, he says,
represents the opponents of the Free State men;
BIT be would not libel the Pro,Slavery men of
he Territory by saying that it represented
aym. Ii represented only those Missourians
vlo elected them, and whom he regarded as
heir principal and almost only opponents. Of
he Legislature he says:
This legislature have essayed to perpetuate
he power they usurped have refused US the
r-i,ege of electing even our most inferior Of
a.-rs have taken away from us the balot-box,
u surrounded it with odious qualifications and
restrictions have brought officers from a for
EN- State to govern US and, in the omnipo-
itace OF their self-esteem, have repealed the
jrpempti0n laws, the naturalization laws, the
hansas-Nebr;ska bill, and have ended by inva-
ding the Constitution Of the United States"
Referring TO the outrages perpetrated by the
N,sourians, he remarks that the Free State
Gaa have returned good for evil, hberality for
oilression, and have shown that they are deter
mined to have the wrong all upon one side, all
The right upon the other; but mistaken is the
nan who concludes from this that they are
disposed tamey to wear the yoke of Slavery.
On this point he says:
lou have sounded the first note of resist
ancc By bold and stern defiance of the tyran-
~ % The hdaSds Missouri Legislature, and
'ou now await, in calm deliberation, the issue
3. congressional action, to learn if peaceful
a-a~lles are to he had; and when all these fail,
lta orr ballotbox is again opened for the
tlaiee Of another Legislature, with no protec-
t.n but our own arms, with what bitter scorn
you'd YOU curse the man that would not rather
cp.y spill the hearts best blood by its side,
'lla see It again in the hands of armed in
yli.rs.
"Neare told that no peaceful remedy awaits
a. thai the Congress Of this great nation will
coIy pass over. to become the slaves of
'Tl'e io-ce and that disunon must follow any
MEASURE OF relief for us. This cry of 'disunion'
''' become stale and disgusting. The wish is
a'ays father to the thought, and have always
observed that whenever it comes, whether from
'ae anatlc of the North or the nullilier of the
Noul1' 1t Is accompanied by a blow at the Con-
''-A''n from those whose bad hearts prompt
is mirrauce. 1t is a vain and empty threat by
-'h who, Judging perhaps from the idiosyncra-
y o' ueir own organization, believe in the eff
.a'cy OF threats as a means of moving men.
VHr mon has been too strong for Northern
ualucsm or Southern notification; for the
""'''siering after Cuba as well as Canada and,
NY word for It, it will be too strong for the
i',Auallts at the ballot-box. But if it is so; if
. cannot secure to the citizens of the Union
~. -Eo'erment. free speech, and free suffrage
IL kpppmn Il
-rCay that 1t can no longer subserve the eminent
'1 essential purposes for which the sages of
t revolution erected it, no threat of its dis
4ution from the men who would enslave us
fonId compel us to bow our necks to the woke
-ld -iFe our limbs to the shackles."
hoy. Reeder says that the prospects of the
zee State men have improved at every STEP
'-7r numbers have increased, and their organ
'+''on grown in strength and efficiency. They
"y' he says, in a decided preponderance in
POINT Of numbers, and many ProSlavery men
@al sayeholderS have Joined their ranks, dis
,'>'ed at the doctrines and practices Of the
'''S'olrlans. He concludes as follows:
these are cheering signs indeed, and give
: agh assurance that Providence, in its wis
ON has decided the fate of Kansas that our
-s 'nl are fixed, far beyond the power Of
,N1' demasogues and their misguided followers
.5an &c or affect: and that, in due time, in
Vi congratulating each other on our pros
Us ana our hopes, we shall be rejoicing over
gonsummation; and, instead of my assurance
ug lew hundred persons within these walls,
Snout OF thousands shall boom along our
50 PANS, and the blazing bonfres from
u. MN Snail announce that our work is DONE
"'' mat Kansas is freei"