The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-05-09
WIN Kansas be a Free State?


For our part we have no fears of the re-
suit, if the issue can ever be fairly pre-
In this lies the trouble. The
actual population already has determin-
ed the question in favor of Freedom.
Although their rights have been out
ragged, yet it must be but a momentary
success. Organized Know-N othingism
may favor Slavery, yet it cannot be that
the President will sustain the proscrip-
tive Order in its effort to extend the
area of Slavery. If any doubt the pro-
Slavery tendency of Known othingism,
let them look at the manner in which
the Order in Missouri disgorged itself
in Kansas Territory to sustain Slavery.
In connection with this matter we
subjoin the following extracts from the
Plain Dealer:
The President, and the party by which
he has been sustained, are held response
BILE for the principles embodied in the
Kansas and Nebraska bill. The adopt
ion of that measure has been the pretext
for all manner of hostility against its
friends, and the hay, wood, and stubble
of fanaticism have been set on fire, by
an act, just in itself, and which will be
benefcent in its ultimate results. The
measure, as We have before said, was
neither a pro-slavery, nor an anti-slave-
ry one, but a high constitutional act, to
be judged of by the legitimate conse-
quences which shall flow from it. 1t
may be viewed differently by others
but such is our opinion oft. And if we
are right in this, it follows that the Pres
ident and his advisers have but the. one
alternative-to see to it that the rights
of those who become actual settlers in
Kansas are adequately protected, and
that the just provisions of the bill are
fully carried out.
Governor Reeder is a man made of
the right kind of stuff. The Herald
Of Freedom of the 9TH ultimo, after say
ing that he was determined to submit
the recent contested election casesin the
Territory to the Attorney General of
the United States, for his opinion, pays
him a high compliment in the following
language:
awe feel proud of the Governor of
Kansas. He has shown himself to be
true steel during the exciting times of
last week. The Missourians waited on
him in person, and threatened to hang
him unless he would give the pro-slave-
ry candidates certificates Of election
His reply was: Gentlemen, two or
three of you can assassinate me, but q
legion cannot compel me to do that
which my conscience does not approve
Such a man deserves well of the country,
and the people of Kansas will not be
slow to do him JUSTICE
1t is gratifying to learn that mi so
well qualified for the post he occupies,
is not without resolute and devoted
friends, to stand by him in the midst of
his trials The Northampton Mass
Courier says it has assurances of the
genuineness of the following extract of a
letter from Gen. Samuel C. Pomroy,
written to a friendFn that place, and da-
ted, Kansas, April Z, 1855:
Governor Reeder has stood up like
a man. The members elected by Mis-
souri, votes held a meeting, and voted to
go to the Governor and demand their
certificates ; if he refused, then to re
quest him to resign his Office, or they
would shoot him. I sent a line to the
Governor to ask him if he wanted any
thing in the hour of his trial. He said
it would be grateful to his feelings to
know that he had some one to lean upon
[ sent my horse and buggy that same
night with a line to DIR. Robinson. The
next day, twelve good and true men.
with r~eTolvers, &C., stood up with the
Governor. We remained two and q
half days-determined to do or die
We had been insulted, and had all our
rights trampled upon during the election
aud now determined to submit no Ion.
ger. At last, the members left, amidst
a storm of wrath and oaths poured out
upon the Governor, and the Emigrant's
Aid Company. The Governor to-day
starts for Washington"
The Buffalo Courier, in remarkine
apon this subject, expresses the follow
ing truthful sentiments:
The position of Gov. Reeder is a crit.
zeal one, and, as far as we know, altogeth'
er without precedent in the history of
the country. The Governor had nc
means of enforcing obedience to the laws
or protecting himself. Derision has
been heaped upon him, the deadliest
threats have been made, and now aproc-
lamation that his power is at al end, and
a demand that a Governor, whose views
and course of action will bear out future
lawlessness, be appointed in his stead
are forwarded to Washington. What
has Gov. Reeder done to merit this
treatment? He has simply insisted
to no purpose indeed--that the rights Of
citizens under a territorial government
should not be invaded, and that the law
should be respected. He has done his
duty, and he asks whether the President
will uphold him.
"Were the issue in this case any 9th.
er than between freedom and slavery
the united voice of the whole country
would demand most smphatically that
Governor Reeder should be sustained al
all hazards. He ought to be, and il
will reflect little credit on the admins
trat1on, if those who have been engaged
in these high-handed proceedings are al
lowed to rule Kansas, while the proper
ly constituted authorities are left power
less. Let the issue be what it will, the
President is bound to make the laws re.
spected. If he is satisfied that Illegal
ty has invalidated the late election, he
cannot do less then to give Gov. Reeder
the means of protecting the polls. In
this matter, he is called upon to act de-
cidedly, not as a pro-slavery, or anti
slavery man, but as the Chief Execu-
tive of the United States whose sworn