Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-15
"LoOK HERE UPON THIS PICTURE,
AND ON THIS.o


Washington Union. The fact that it is De-
mocratic journal, and reputed to be the central
organ of the Administration. renders such an
Office exceedingly unpleasant;
Without further comment Ne proceed to
republish from the WashiH Union, of the
18th of May, the follow horsement of
Governor Reeder, which Y Nj contrast with
its late reputation of thu k-functionary
From, the Washington Onion, of May IL.
q" This gentleman Gov. Reeder) is now in
Washington, not for the purpose, so generally
attributed to him, of invoking the action of the
general government in regard to the admins
tration OF his duties as Governor of Kansas
but simply preparatory to his return in week
or two with his family to the Territory which
he proposes to make his future home 1t is
satisfactory to observe the contrast between
his quiet and manly department and the vio-
lent expressions unjustly charged to him by
his enemies Not for single moment has he
been diverted from the plain, straightforward
path Of duty Refusing all participation with
either extreme in the late disturbances in the
Territory and planting himself upon the con.
ceded principles of the Kansas and Nebraska
bill, he has steadily maintained the attitude
which might be expected from man who for
thirty years has been leading and consistent
member Of the Democratic party-the party
of the Constitution. A northern citizen,
Pennsylvania after the school of Buchanan
and of Dallas, he has, throughout his political
career opposed the Wilmot proviso, sustained
the fugitive slave law, advocated the Kansas
and Nebraska bill, denounced abolition from
first to last, and boldly co-operated in every
movement for the protection of the South in
its rights under the Constitution
"Hence it is that, while he has resolutely
and consistently resisted all attempts to control
the destinies of Kansas by means not entirely
legal and fair, he has never sought to give the
advantage to either of the contending interests
Perfectly conscious, aud deeply regrettng, that
the mischievous efforts of Greeley and the
Northern fanatics have been made the pretext
for the recent border excitements, he has firmly
occupied the ground of discouraging every
movement that might disturb the public mind,
or revive those unfortunate divisions which
have SO often convulsed our happy country.
We are not disappointed that general excite
ment has resulted from the local troubles in
Kansas; but we unhestatingly say to the true
friends OF constitutional principles, in every
part of the Union that no man could more
faithfully represent the conservative sentiment
of the country, or will more steadily and con-
scentiousy labor to bring order out of confu-
sion, than the present Governor of Kansas"
Let 1t be remembered that the emphatic en-
dorsement of Governor Reeder's soundness on
the slavery question, contained in the above
extract, was after the delivery of Gov. Reeder's
first Easton speech, in which he denounced
the Missouria1s, and in which he declared
kansas had been inraded conquered sutJu-
gated, by an armed force from beyond her Dor.
ders, led on BIZ fanatical spirit, trampling
under foot the principle of the Kansas bill and
the right of suffrage"
But several months have rolled by, and lol
the Union and the Governor appear in COM
plete antagonism. The Easton speech of the
Governor, which we noticed in our last issue,
contained emphatic denunciations of the
Union, which we're enough to stir its wrath
and to draw from it one of those bulls of
accommodation which our neighbor SO fire.
quently has to issue against its ancient friends
and allies. Several days, however, passed by
before the Union made the Governors speech
the subject of notice, and then only noticed it
mildly, notwithstanding its defiant and denun-
ciatory language. In Its issue Of Saturday,
the Union published the Governors late Easton
speech, devoting to it column of heavy COM
ment. But while its comments are free from
that acerbity Of language which characterised
Governor Reeder's speech, they yet present
striking contrast to the high encomiums con.
tanned in the above extract Not having room
for the whole of the article contained in the
Union Of Saturday, we present few choice
extracts from it. Says the Union:
" The result, then, is simply this, that since
Governor Reeder was removed from the Office
of governor he has discovered that he gave
certificates Of membership to persons constitut.
ing the Legislature Of Kansas who ought not
to have received them, because Of frauds in
their elections; and, acting now upon that dis.
covery, he proceeds to organize an illegal asso-
citation, whose avowed purpose is revolution.
AIRY, and to treat the entire body Of laws passed
by the Legislators commissioned BY himself as
null and void. As private citizen Of Kansas
he repudiates and nulli6es his official acts as
Governor Of Kansas, and instead of RELYING
upon that "sober second thought" which he
admits is working out a revolution in the pub.
lie sentiment even Of the border counties OF
Missouri, and appealing to the ballot-box at the
next regular election in the true spirit Of popu.
lar sovereignty, he resorts to a movement
which defes the laws Of Kansas, which is pal.
pably revolutionary in its character, and seeks
to recommend and sanctify that by calling il
an exercise Of popular sovereignty" 1t is
just such friendship to popular sovereignty as
this that the leaders Of mobs profess when
they seek to justify their outrages upon law and
order.n
Again, says the Union:
Gle seems to have resolved on making him.
| self either hero or a martyr, aad until the
Abolitionists cease to sound his praises, and TO
make him a tool for sectional agitation, he
can hardly be expected to return to that sober
second thought which is working such wonders
even amongst his border rufians' Of Missouri
| He might learn wisdom from the fate of another
one of the heroes and martyrs Of the Adolf
tionists in Pennsylvania, who has recently
emerged from prison after defying the law for