Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-25
TIE EOMINATIoN OF EX-GoVERNOR
REEDER FOR CONGRESS REyO-
LUTIONARy SENTIMENTS OF THE
KANSAS ABOLITIONIsTS.

We publish in another column, the proceedings
of meeting, or rather convention, recently held
at ''The Big Spring, in Kansas Territory. This
was an abolition convention, and its objects and
views, as expressed by its action, are of violent
and reasonable character. Ex-Governor Reeder
was nominated as Delegate to Congress, and a
series ofresolutons was adopted which plainly ex-
hbit the most revolutionary purposes. Reeder
was present, and in his speech accepting the nomi-
nation rendered him, endorsed the declarations of
the fanatics who made him that tender.
The rejecting politician must perceive that at
an early day 1.-The Kansas question" must be-
come TO be THE GREAT QUESTION in the domestic
politics not only Of Kansas, but Of the entire con-
federacy. Kansas must be the battlefield on
which those acrd controyersies-made immi-
nently perilous by ignorance, incompetency or
something worse--are to be finally decided Had
there been fair dealing in the beginning all would
have been we'll But a system of policy, evil
IDENTIFY intended TO make Kansas a free Territory
and ultimately free State, gave encouragement
TO Northern fanatcism, and was the real cause
of those Emigrant Aid Societies, gotten up in the
North, whose members and sympathizers now
poses have been thwarted by Southern emigrants
proper and straight forward policy on the
part of the Government would have removed all
dangers-indeed il would have made their exist
ence impossible. But when tortuous and un-
fair course was pursued, and no worthy though
mistaken motive could be assigned for il, the
hopes Of bad men were aroused, and they set
themselves to work to carry out their evil de-
signs The result is, that we have condition Of
things IN the west which every good citizen must
deplore. As this unfortunate condition Of things
has arisen, however, we hope that the issues in
volved will be radically and permanently settled
If we must have bloodshed in order TO check the
mad spirit Of aggressive fanatIcism, then let as
have bloodshed-and the sooner the better
Thus far the Southern party in Kansas has car
ried its measures by means Of the balot-box. II
evil disposed men undertake to resist those mea-
sures, or to overthrow and destroy them by the
use Of physical force, the cold steel ought to be
used to sustain the voice Of the ballot-box, and
no hesitation and but little mercy ought TO be
shown.
The South has alwaysI from necessity, acted on
the defensive in those questions which involve
slavery The Southern emigrants in Kansas are
acting on the defensive now. They have the
vantage ground, and we trust that they will
maintain it at all hazards and 10 the last extrem-
ity. Ex-Governor Rcedcr and his fanatcal fol-
lowers Of the "Big Spring Convention, = make
most valorous threats. Even the Ex-Governor
himself declares that he is prepared for force and
bloodshed if he cannot succeed, by other and
milder means, in resisting and destroying the acts
Of the late Legislature Of Kansas, which would
not fix the seat Of government in the wilderness
80 as TO suit his land speculations. The follow
ing extract from the "Big Spring Speech" Of that
worthy gentleman, will serve 70 show his temper; |
and, when considered in connection with the pro-
ceedings of the convention, II will serve 10 show
the awless designs Of the Abolitonists, who have |
been induced to invade Kansas They are en-
titled TO no forbearance:
"lIe urged the free-State men Of Kansas to
forget all minor issues and pursue determinedly
the one great object, swerving, but steadily
pressing on, as did the wise men who followed the
star TO the nanger, looking back only for fresh
encouragement. lie counsellcd that peaceful
resistance be made TO the tyrannical and unjust
laws OF the spurious legislature; that appeals 10
the courts, TO the ballot-box and to Compress be
made for relief from this oppressive load; that
violence should be deprecated so long as n single
hope Of peaceabe redress remained but if al