The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-12-15

Try lOI GuCIlSoltES anu 10, as q UtOccStsS
! in itself and the entire surrender of the
right of self government. They may
advocate these doctrines, if they please,
| but they can neither commend them to
me as desirable, or make any sensible
man regard them as test of national
political orthodoxy.
/ Strange as it may seem, however, l
find in the Presidential official organ of
0ctober-some of these. assertions and
inuendoes calculated and intended to
peryert and mislead and which in justice
to my associates and myself, | cannot
allow to pass unnoticed.
/ l am gratifed at the fact that one of
its editors was absent from Washington
at the time of the publication, and as to
its authorship all who know the charac-
ter and habits of the Chief Magistrate
and the close supervision which he gives
to his official organ will believe with me
that the article was either written or SUI
pervised by himself. Among many
other things which it might be pleasant
and profitable to notice, if time admitted
the organ says
Notwithstanding the present associ-
atoms of Gov. Reeder we are not dis
posed to credit the charge that he was
unsound when appointed. We believe
he was national man then, whatever he
may have become now"
| The first thing that strikes me, al
though it creates no surprise, is the
cowardice of the inuendo, which care
fully avoids any distinct averment or
specification and leaves every hole open
for escape. In whatever sense it may be
understood, however, as charging any
act or declaration, or the entertaining of
any sentiment at war with my former
!. well known political opinions, pro-
nounce it untrue and defy the proof
No such proof has been or can be pro-
duced. But let us retrospect little to
understand the point. In order to con-
ciliate the men who repudiated and
trampled upon the Kansas bill, by the
invasion of our polls, the President
made vacant an office which had been
conferred without solicitation, and which
| could surrender without regret.
The reasons alleged were of charac-
ter to impugn my private reputation
On the far off Western Frontier I re-
manned quiet under this state of things,
making no appeal or reply. And yet,
almost the whole country, as one man.
: including portion of the Northern
, Democratic press, and numberless politi-
, cal meetings Of our own party, besides
both the Free State and Pro-slavery
Parties in Kansas, have pronounced the
: alleged reason a pretext and subterfuge.
J How then stands the case? The Presi-
dent of the United States, charged with
sacred trusts and heavy responsibilities,
who has the keeping of his country's
character as well as his own, who must
be base if he is not the very impersona-
ton of high honor, pure integrity, good
faith and elevated sentiment, stands con-
victed before the country, by the verdict
of his political friends, of subterfuge,
: hypocracy and deceit, and by the same
| process am vindicated, and all necessi-
, ty of defence is superseded Here al
low me to make a slight depression fol
the expression of feelings which 1 can
, not and ought not to suppress. Among
all the instances of support and vindica.
ton, none conveyed to meso much pleas.
, ure as that which came from my native
{ home-from the old time-honored Tenth
| Legion of Pennsylvania Democracy
, Here, in district which has often saved
| the party in the State from defeat, which
rolls up Democratic majorities that nc
Congressional district in the State car
: equal, it was pleasant to know that wa:
: indicated, even at the expense of de
nouncing the President they had aided
| to elect; that although an election wa.
, approaching, and the party was marshal
ing and arraying Its forces forthe contest
, not one of the five noble counties of the
5 legion could be brought to pass the usua
4 complimentary resolution to the admin
istration, which never before had beer
5 omitted, whilst some of them substituted
! strong denunciation, and all of them vim
| Dictated and sustained me. To the stur
dy and fearless people who did this
r whom no official influence can intimidate
| or expected favors lure from the pursui
5 of truth and justice, who are never foune
''To crook the pregnant hinges of the knee,
t That thrift may follow fawning,n
I return my grateful thanks. I should
be heartless indeed, did | not seize upor
; this first opportunity to express the graf
itude feel for this and similar demon.
STATIONS, from the press as well as the
people.
But to return. The Chief Magistrate
failing lessons. and perhaps stung by the
probing of his motives and the defiance
of his power, which his act had provoked
follows it up by a fresh attack upon me-
who had up to that time remained silent
and in angry retaliation extends it tc
: those who had sustained me.
In reply to this, it is obvious that il
my course has been departure from the
f doctrines have always professed, then
: is the great mass of the Democratic Par
: ty of Pennsylvania, and large portion
of the Pennsylvania Democratic press
: as far wrong as myself, and the old Tenth