Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-02-13

c.v-r..r Reeder r Reply :. The Pre.'.


Gcvernsr Reeder In Reply 10 The Presi-
The Special Message Of the President Of the
United States. communicated Yesterday to Con-
grels sssaiis not only myself personally, but also
INF constituents. whom inclination as well as dgi-
" imper;onsly demands Of me to Justify and pro-
tect Entirely satisfied rs / am with tho course
adopted, Up to this time by the people Of Kan
sas-convinced that II has been dictated be
desire to preserve the peace, the reputation and
the glory Of our copntry-knoxfng that it has
at every stage, been characterized by the most
conservative moderation and laudable regard for
the rights Of others-haying seen At every step
the plainest manifestation of the anxious desire
20 avoid even the semblance Of erfcroachmen, or
aggression, should be false TO every manly i'm
pulse and every sense Of duty, If allowed the
aspersions OF the Message to pass unnotiecd.
Unless the Message shall neite and stimulate
new invasions Of our Territory and fresh ou,ra-
pes upon our citizens. il will produce to us no re-
gret, as 1t has caused no surprise After having
seen our people trampled on. oppressed and rob-
bed on the one hand BIZ the invaders of Their
soil, and on the other BY the influence, the al
thorty, and the officers Of the present Admins
tration; after having witnessed the cold-blooded
murder of an unar med aud unofending citizen
by an officer Of the Administration, who is not
only anmolested by the laws and nnrebuked by
the President who appointed him, but who has
perhaps. strengthened his official tenant and en-
HANGED his chances of promotion by the act it is
not at all surprising that We should, by the head
| of that Administration be msrepresented and
perverted. Afier having seen the Chief Magis-
rate, during five organized invasions of our
Territory, rnmoved by single sympathy IN IA
vor OF an unoifending people, innocent OF all
wrong, and laboring only to carry out faithfully
tor themselves the doctrine of selt-government,
and to nuild up and extend the greatness OF our
| countr y-aiter having seen invaders coming up
on us armed without reproof ii not with Official
perm iission from the contents of the ArsenaIs OF
| the United States, establishing system of mar
hal law over life and property regulated only by
the uncontrolled will of vindictiye and irrespon-
sible men--a system under which life was taken
/ and property destroyed; the. highways obstruc-
ted; travellers seized searched and detained; all
the pursuits of life paralyzed, and the destruc-
| ton and determination of whole settlements
threatened and evidently intended-backed up
by the sanction and authority of the Federal Of
l Gcers, who pledge publicly the cooperation OF
| The President, and all based upon the fact that a
man encouraged, perhaps aided, by his friends,
| rad made his escape from an arrest on consta.
| ble's peace warrant. After having thus seen our
natural and legal protectors joining in the most
,trocious measures of oppression and wrong,sit
IS no matter or surprise 10 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. Expecting
| Is have n right to expect from the clearncss vi
| exclusive title am prepared to show, that
,hall enjoy a seat and voice on the floor OF the
louise, am willing patiently ITO bide my time.
At the proper time and place, however, pledge
myself to meet and expose the misstatements OF
| ant, md ha arrors nj law and lOpic which ii con
tains will show that there is nothing but cold
cruelty and insult in the request of an appropri
alton to pay army or posse to prevent me
yeopie of Kansas from the commission of outrage
and treason. | will show that the movement to'
= State Government is misstated as to the facts
Of its origin and progress, and that all we have
done in this direction has been under the pre-
cepts and examples of all the great men of the
country for the last fifty years-ot the Legislation
| of Congress and the action of the Executive II
repeated and well-considcred cases, and of de
Iiberatc opinion of high and distinguished AZ
torncy-tIencral of the United States, and which
as it is part of the archives of the Executive oe
| Dartment it is to be regretted the President dlt
not consult before the delivery of the Mesa ce
If 1t is illegality and incipient treason for new
State to be formed without an enabling Act Of
Congress, will show that fourteen Senators OF
the United States hold their seats, and seven
| states stand IN THIS Union DT virtue Oh lieSai aHt
reasonable proceedings-that Congress has
sanctioned revolution, illegality, and treason,
again and again; and that the rank and noHious
weed has even flourished i'll the White House
and the Executive Department; and, having win.
Dictated my people, will also, with the utmost
confidence of success proceed to the minor and
secondary task of indicating myself in such a
manner trust, as 20 show the attack to have
been ill-advised and unfortunate.
As to the discussion in the Messge Of the points
involved in the contested seat, shall meet them
when the case is heard; and as the House is
the sole constitutional judge of the qualifications
of its own Members, l trust that the minds OF
Members may be kept open and unprejud'c ed
until they shall hear the law and the facts o, tie
case, and that whether the discussion by the En-
ecutve of some otthe points involved has been
made because they were incidental to another
subject or aimed and intended TO PREJUDICE my
claim, l hope in either that both sides may
be heard before decision.
This hasty note has swclled to an unprcmcdi-
lated length. Its object is only to solicit from
the House and the public suspension Of judge
nient 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.
Very respectfully, yours,
A. II. FEEDER
Washington City Jan. %. 1856.