Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1856-02-12
Gov. Reeder In Reply 20 the Presi-
dent.
To the Editor of Me " y z|i5sns:

To the Editor of The " y Tribune
SIR: The Special Message of the
President of the United States, communi-
Gated yesterday to Congress, assails not
only myself personally, but also my constt-
uents. whom inclination as well as duty i'm
periously demands Of me to justify and pro.
tect. Entirely satisfied as l am with the
course adopted, up to this time, by the peo-
pie of Kansas-convinced that it has been
dictated by desire to preserve the peace,
the reputation, and the glory OF ourcountry.
knowing that it has, at every stlge, been
characterized by the most conservative mod
Grafton and laudable regard for the rights
Of others--haying seen at every step the
plainest manifestation Of the anxious desire
to avoid even the semblance of encroach-
ment or aggression, / should be false TO ev.
erv manly impulse and every sense of duty,
if allowed the aspersions OF the Message
to pass unnOticed. .ei,, s.., Ia
Unless the Message shall incite and sim.
ulate new inyasions of our Territory and
fresh outrages upon our citizens, it will pro-
duce to us no regret, as it has caused no
surprise. After having seen our people
trampled on, oppressed and robbed, on the
one hand by the invaders Of their soil, and
on the other by the influence, the authority,
and the influence Of the present Administra-
ton; after having Witnessed the cold blood
ed murder Of an unarmed and unofending
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 sur
prsing that we should. by the head Of that
Administration, be misrepresented and per-
verted. After having seen the Chief Mag
istrate, during Eve organized invasions Of
our Territory, unmoved by single sympa-
thy in favor Of an unofending people, inno-
cent 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 having
seen our invaders coming upon us armed
without reproof il not with official permits
sion, from the contents of the Arsena.s of
the United States, establishing system Of
martial law over life and property, regulated
only by the uncontrolled will Of vindicative
and irresponsible men--a system under
which life was taken and property destroyed;
highways obstructed travellers seized, the
searched and detained; all the pursuits Of
life paralyzed. and the destruction and ex-
termination Of whole settlements threaten
ed and evidently intended backed up by
the sanction and authority Of the Fedora
officers who pledged publicly the coopefa.
ton of the President, and all based upon
the fact that a man encouraged, perhaps
|aided, by his friends, had made his ESCAPED
4 from an arrest on constable's peace war
rant. Af,cr having thus seen our natural
and legal protectors joining in the most tatro-
lCious measures Of oppression and wrong, il
lie no matter Of surprise to see misrepresen.
tation Of our position andoul objects cma'