Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-01-30
KANzAs.
Coz. Rseasr !. lssply % .he rse..aen..

WASHIes1nO CIlY, Jan. %, 1856,
Gentlemen: The Special Message of the
PRESIDENT of the United States, communicated
yesterday to Congress, assails not only myself
personally, but also my constituents. whom
inclination as well as duty, imperiouslv de-
mauds of me to justify and protect. Entirely
satished as l am with the course adopted, up
10 TINS time, by the people of Kanzas-con-
Flnced that 1t has been dictated by desire to
preserve the peace, the reputation and the
glory of our country--kDowing that it has at
every stage, been characterized by the most
conservative moderation and laudable regard
fot the rights of others-having seen at every
step the plainest manifestation of an anxious
desire to- avoid even the semblairce of en-
croachment or aggression, should be false to
every manly impulse and every sense of duty,
II allowed the aspersions of the Message to
pass unnoticed.
Unless the message shall ineite and stimu-
late new inyasions of our Territory, and fresh
outrage upon our citizens, it will produce to
JUS no regret as it has caused no surprise. At
ter having seen our people trampled on, OPP
pressed and robbed, on the one hand by the
invaders of their soil, and on the other by the
influence, the authority, and the officers of
the present administration after having wit
messed the cold blooded murder of an unarm-
ed and unotfending citizen by an officer Of the
Administration, who is not only unmolested
by the laws, and unrebuked by the President
who appointed him, but who has, perhaps,
strengthened his official tenant, and enhanced
his chances of promotion by the act; it is not
at all surprising, that we should by the head
OF that Administration, be misrepresented and
perverted.
After having seen the Chief Magistrate, dur
ing i've organized inyasons of our territory,
unmoved by single sympathy in favor of an
unottending people, innocent of all wrong,
and laboring only to carry out faithfully for
themselves the doctrine of self-government,
and to build up and extend the greatness of
our country-after havin. seen our invaders
coming upon us armed, (without reproof, if
not with official permission) from the con-
tents of the Arsenals of the United States, es.
tablishing system of martial law over life and
property regulated only by the uncontrolled
will of vindictive and irresponsible men-a
system under which life was taken and prop
erty destroyed the highways obstructed-
travellers seized, searched and detained all
the pursuits of life paralyzed and the destruc-
ton and determination of whole settlements
threatened and evidently intended-backe
up by the sanction and authority OF the Fed
eral officers, who pledged publicly the co. op-
Grafton Of the President, and all based upon
the TACT that man encouraged, perhaps aid
an arrest on constables peace warrant-af-
ter having thus seen our natural and legal
protectors joining in the most attrocous
measures of oppression and wrong, it is no
matter OF surpise to see misrepresentation of
our position and our objects emanating from
the same source.
This is not the mode nor the time in which
to discuss the themes of this message. Ex-
pecting, as l have a right to expect from the
clearness of the exclusive title l am prepared
to show, that shall enjoy seat and voice
on the floor of the House, 1 am willing pa.
-tiently "to bide my time At the proper
time and place, however, pledge myself to
meet and expose the mis- statement of facts
and the errors of law and logic which it con-
tains. | will show that tt ere is nothing but
cold cruelty and insult in the request of an
appropriation to pay an army or posse to
prevent the people Of Kaazas from the COM
mission OF outrage and treason. l will show
that the movement for State Government is
mis-stated as to the facts of its origin and pro-
gress, and that all we have done in this di-
rection has been under the sanction of the
precepts and examples. of all the great men
of the country for the last fifty years-of the
legislation of Congress and the action of the
Executive in repeated and well-considered
cases, and of q deliberate opinion of high
and distinguished Attorney General of the
United States, and which. as it is mart Of the
aronIyes OF the Executive Department, it is
to be regretted the President did not con.
suit before the delivery of the Message
If it is Illegally and incipient treason for
new State to be formed without an enabling
act of Congress- l will show that fourteen
Senators of the United States hold their seats,
and seven States stand in this Union by virtue
of illegal and reasonable proceedings-th that
Congress has sanctioned revolution, illegally,
and treason, again and again; and that the
rank and noxious weed has even fourished in
the White House and the Executive Dapart-
ment; and, having vindicated my people,
will also, with the utmost confidence of sue
cess, proceed to the minor and secondary task
of vindicating myself, in such manner, I
trust as to show the attack to be i'll advised
and unfortunate.
AS to the discussion in the, Message of the
points involved in the contested seat, / shall
meet them when the case is heard, and as me
House is the sole constitutional Judge of the
qualification of its own members, trust that
the minds of members may be kept open and
unprejudiced until they shall hear the law and
the facts of the case, and that whether the dis
cussion by the Executive of some of the
points involved, has been made because they
were incidental to another subject, or aimed
and intended to PREJUDICE my claim, hope in
either case that both sides may be heard be-
fore decision.
This hRsty note has swelled to an unpre-
meditated length. Its object is only to solicit
from the House and the public, a suspension
of judgment, as to the position and action of
our people-as to my right to a seat, and as TO
the charges against me in the Message, until
can be heard. atrvFesIs
Very respectfully, yours,
A. H. REEDER.