Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-07-26
Governor Reeder's Message to the
Legislation of Kansas.

Rc6Qtl CSSd6C " bh~
Legislation of Kansas.
On the subject of slavery, the Governor
speaks as follows:
HThere are many specific subjects of Legisla-
ton. some of which are expressly referred to
Won by the bill organizing our Territory, and
Others spring from the necessities OF our com
munity. Permanent among them Is the ques-
ton Srhether we shall build our government
upon the basis Of free or slave labor. CLAIM
ing as we do the same capacity Tor seli-gov-
ernment as our fellow citizens OF the States,
with far greater, If not an exclusive interest
in the institutions and laws which are to exist
among u.s. compelled alone to bear their bur
dens. and entitled alone to claim their benefits,
wisdom. Justice and fairness would dictate
that those laws and institutions inside OF the
Constitution of the United States, should be
moulded by ourselves, stimulated by the alb
sorbing interest we must feel in them, rather
than by the representatives or citizens OF other
States, who are no more competent to the
task. than we-who have no stake with us IN
their results, and who would most indignant
ly repel any offer of reciprocity from us IN
assisting to manage their affairs. The provl-
sion of Territorial Organic Act secures us the
right as is founded in the true doctrine of re-
publicanism. 1t may be exercised in various
degrees and in various ways, and whenever
/ it is called into action it cannot legtimately
be attended with that excitement which IS
incident to the agitation of the slavery ques-
ton i'm the direction of an attaak upon con-
\ stitutional rights An agitation of that kind
such as we have seen industriouSly prosecuted
in the rast history of our country by the des-
tructive spirit of abolitionism can never be
productive of aught but evil, and is calcula-
ted in an eminent degree to obscure the glo-
ries of the past to evoke the foulest spirit oil
discord among the citizens OF our common
country, and also to mar our brilliant future
if not to endanger the existence of our cher
ished Union. A want of fidelity to the SOL
emn compacts of the constitution and an at
tack upon the rights of the States which are
guaranteed by it, can have no justification o.
/ excuse. This view of the case, however, Ii
not to be COMPOUNDED with the discussion anC
settlement of the slavery question in our ter
ritory inits bearings upon the formation o
our institutions. That has been referred t.
us as an open question by the legitimate &C
ton of the Nation, and here it is not only tn
privilege but the duty of every man to speal
: his opinions freely and enforce them peaca
blv ana fairly. Advocate and opponen
: stand on the same ground and must mutual
J, ly concede to each other the identical meas
: ures of right which they claim for themselves
r Freedom of opinion and freedom OF discus
sion without Righteousness are OF the yer.
essence of republicaniSm at all times are pc
4 culiarly to be respected here. The perma
Y nent character and high authority of a Stat
Constitution and the factof its submission t
a direct vote OF the people of the territory, III
: dictate that event as a signal occasion for tn
u decision of the peculiar question. In tn
/ meantime, however, territorial Legislator
), NAV undoubtedly act upon the question to
= limited and partial extent, and may tempora
u rily prohibit, tolerate or regulate slavery
) the territory, and an absolute or modifie
# form with all the force and effect of any oil
err Legislative act binding until repealed b
the same power that enacted it.
On the census the Governor says:
'The census of the territory taken undo
! the provisions of the act of Congress, exhil
its return of two thousand nine hundre
V and four qualified voters, and an entire popr
lation of eight thousand five hundred an
twenty-one persons, exclusive of Indians an
officers, soldiers and the employees OF tn
: army of the United States, not residing in tn
# territory. The census returns which are sui
( mtted for your inspection, contain consoles
able amount of statistical information, sue
e as the place of emigration, ages, occupation
u &c. This population consists of five thor
ir sand one hundred and thirty ght males, an
Y three thousand three hundred and eighty
. three females And i. is a fact worthy of re
mark as peculiar to a great extent of this tel
: ritory, that they are not as usual collecte
d about one point or along frontier line, bu
y are dispersed over a district of more tina
!, 15,OOOsquare miles. This state of things al
though it has its inconvenience at present,
nevertheless gratifying, as it indicates tina
: our territory has many points Of strong inter
: est, promising an early Development of on
resources