Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-02-09
Ex-Gov. REEDER W.. PRESIDENT
PIERCE

FIERCE.
Gov. Reeder is not disposed to let the par.
il and unfair message Of the President 20
the country uncontradicted and has there.
re addressed the following letter to the
'ess -
Gents Tho Special Message of the Pre-.
lent of the United States, communicated
'sterday to Congress, nssails not only my
fpersonaly, but also my constituents, whom
clination as well as duty imperously de-
'ands of me to justify and protect. Entirely
ltisfed rs | am with the course adopted, up
, this time, by the people of Kansas--con.
inced that it has been dictated by desire
preserve the peace, the reputation and the
lory of our country--knowing that it has, Mt
very stage, been characterised by the most
onservative moderation and audable regard
,r the rights Of others--having seen at every
tep the plainest manifestation Of the anxious
esire to AVOID even the scmblance of en-
roachment or aggression, l should be false
every manly impulse and every sense of
uty, if | allowed the aspersions Of the mes
age to pass unnoticed.
lnlcss the message shall incite and stinu-
q" new invaTions of our Territory and fresh
nrrages upon our citizens, it will produce to
) uu regret as it has caused no surprise
iftcr having seen our people trampled on,
pprcssed and robbed, on the one hand by
le invaders of their soil, and on the other by
he influence, the authority, and the officers
{ the present administration after having
witnessed the cold-blooded murder Of an un-
rmcd uud unoiiending citizen by an officer
# the \ administration, who is not only unmo-
ested hy the laws and unrcbuked by the
President who appointed him, but who has,
,crhaps. strengthened his official tenant aud
.nhanccd his chances of promotion by the act;
{ is not at all surprising that we should, by
he head of that Administration, be misrcp-
'csented and perverted. After having seen
he Chief Magistrate, during FIVE organized
ryasions of our Territory, unmoved 10y sim
,ie sympathy in favor Of al unolltnding pco-
be. innocent Of all wrong, and iasoriHg uulv
@ carry out faithfully for themselves the doc
.rinc Of selr-rovernmeit. and to build up and
'Xtcnd the greatness Of our country--after
having seen our invaders coming upon us
armed without reproof if not with official
p'rmSsion,) from ne contents OF the ArseG-
,s Of the United States. establishing Il >rs-
tenn Of martial law over life and property re-
vulatcd only by the uncontrolled vii oi vim,
Nttivc an irresp, nsiblc men-a system under
sh.ch life WAS taken and property destroyed;
tIe Hl5HHdS5 u TuCicu tIhNt'sio HN'-'u,
tnarcnr,l and detained all the pursuits Of
lie paralyzcd. and the destruction and eXter-
minatiun Of whole settlements threatened and
evidently intendrI--backed up hy the sane
ton aud authority of the Federal officers. who
pledge publicly tie cooperation Of the Presi-
dent. and all based upon the fact that a man
encouraged, perhaps aided, by his friends, had
made bis escape from an arrest on q consta-
HES peace warrant. After having thus seen
cur natural and legal protectors joining i'll
the most atrocious measure Of oppression and
wrong. il is no matter or surprise to see mis-
representation of our position and our Objects
t,nanating from the same source.
This is not the mode nor the time in which
70 discuss the themes Of this message. EX-
IeCting, as have II right to expect from the
clcarness of the exclusive title am prepared
TO show that | shall enjoy seat and ro.re
on the floor Of the House, am willing pa
ticnlly ito bdc my time" At the proper
time aud place, however pledge myself 20
meet and expose the Measurements Ut Iucis
and the errors of law and logic wich ii con
tains. will show that there is nothing but
cold cruelty and insults in the Request oi an
appropriation TO pay an arny or II po&ic t"
prevent the people of Kansas from the c"'n-
mission Of outrage aud treason. ! viii show
that the movement for State government IL
misstated os to the facts Of its origin and pro
grpss. and that all We have done in this dircc-
lion has been uuder tho sanction Of the pre-
cepts and examples Of all the great men oi
thc country for the last fifty years Of the
legislation Of Congress and the action ot the
Executive in reIeatel and well considered
cases. d OF deliberate opinion oi u high
aud distingu.hed Attorney General Of the