Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-05
atipn OF the frcesoif oandidate -Wto emierate

tfon or the freeSoif candidate who emigrated
from Pennsylvania.
Il, however, provoIdngly happened that Of
the two thousand, only Sis hundred voted, IS
they were expected 70 vote, and Gen. Whit
field was returned to Congress.
This result must be attributed 10 The fact
thas in reaching Kansas it was necessary to
cross the breadth of Missouri, and thus the
emigrants of the Aid Societies had their eyes
opened in regard 10 slavery as it actually ex.
lists, and, with their own eyes, saw the falsity
Of the Abolition lectures which fanatics had
pronounced to them from the pulpit and in
the 'lecture-room.
The people of Kansas have never seen any
good reason why Governor Reeder did not, last
fall or winter, issue his proclamation for the
election Of members Of the Legislative Assem-
bly,. The people Of Kansas knew the import,
ance to the Territory of an early meeting of
the Legislature. They, the majority, claimed
that, until the Legislature passed laws, they
we're entirely without law while, on the other
hand, it was claimed chat in the absence of
legislation the common law prevailed, with
its ignoring" of slavery.
But, be this as it may. Nebraska, organized
at the same time, has long since had its cleo
ton for members of the Legislature, and its
Legislature has met and adjourned, while, up
to this time, Kansas, with five or ten times the
population, has not been allowed to speak
through its representatives elected by the
people.
The PEOPLE of Kansas distinctly charged,
through various papers, that the reason of the
delay Of Governor Reeder in calling the Legis-
lature was because he affiliated with the. Emil
grant Aid Societies, and that the object of the
delay was to give time for the spring exporta-
tons from Massachusetts. This the PEOPLE
charged against Governor Reeder; and certain
it is, that before the election was held, the Mas
sachusetts spring goods (?) did a,7aoe.
The PEOPLE of Kansas further charged, that
Governor Reeder seized upon the opportunity
Of the temporary absence of many of them, 10
take the census, upon which to base the appor-
tionment of representation Of the several dis
tricts, and subsequently refused to add their
names toehis census, list of which was fur
nished.
The PEOPLE of Kansas further charge, that
the day of election was known in Massachusetts
before it had penetrated to the distant region
of Missouri.
The PEOPLE of Kansas further charge, that
Governor Reeder, in his recent proclamation of
election, undertook TO prescribe the qualifca-
ton of voters-an act of supererogation- as
the qualification of voters had been already
prescribed by Congress.
The PEOPLE Of Kansas charge that the law
of Congress placed in the hands Of the people
the perfect liberty to settle the question of
slavery for themselves, and that Governor
Reeder has attempted to deprive them of it,
and usurpit for himself.
In confirmation of this charge Of the people
Of Kansas VS.. Governor Reeder, is his con-
templated visitto Washington. z
1t is asserted on all sides that Governor
Reeder comes 10 Washington to lay his griefs
before the Federal Administration--tha he
comes to ask the opinion of the Attorney Gen
eral What has the Administration or the At
torney General to do with these questions more
than had the Governor of Kansas?
Here is displayed Governor Reeders radical
error He seems to have forgotten that the
action of Congress tapproved by the Presi-
DENT has been emphatically to deny that the
General Government has the right to inter
vene in the right Of the PEOPLE Of Kansas with
perfect freedom TO form and regulate their do
nestle institutions for themselves.
He seems TO have overlooked the words of
the act organizing the Territory of which he
is governor, that it is "he true intent and
meaning Of This act not to legislate slaUery into
any Territory or State, nor 10 erclude IL there
from, BUT TO LEAVE TIE PEOPLE THEREOF
PERFECTLY FREE TO FORM AND REGULATE THEIR
DOMESTIC INSTITUTIONS IN THEIR OWN WAY.