Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-02-06
C.7,rn-r Rsedsr's Respouse to President
Pierce.

terday to Congress, aSSails not only my
self personally but also my constituents,
whom incli' alton as well as duty i'm
periously demands of me to Justify and
protect. Entirely satisfied as am with
the course adopted up 10 this tin e ly
the people Of Kanzas-convinced that
It has been dictated by a desire to pre-
serve the peace, the reputation and the
glory of our COMMISSIONING hat 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
plalnest manifestation of an anxious de-
sire TO avoid even the semblance of en-
enactment or aggression-I should be
false TO every manly impulse and every
sense Of duty, if l allowed The asperSions
OF the message 10 pass unnoticed.
Unless the message shall incite and
stimulate new invasions of our Territory
and fresh ou:rages upon our citizens, il
will produce to US no regret, as il has
caused no surprise. After having seen
our people TRAMP led on, oppressed and
robbed, on The n hand, by the inva.
ders of their soil, and on the other bv
the influence, the authority and the
officers of the present administration
after having witnessed the cold -blooded
murder of an unarmed and unotfendins
citizen by an oticer-Ot the administration,
who is not only unmulested by the
laws, and %unrebuked by the President
that appointed him, but who has. per
haps, strengthened his official tenant
and enhanced his chances OF promotion
by the act; it is not al all surprising
that we should, by the head OF thai adj.
ministraticn, be mIsrepresented and per-
verted. Alter having seen the Chief
Magistrate, during FIVE organized inVa
sions of u Territory, unmoved by a
single 81 mpaihy in favor OF an unoffend-
ing people innocent of al wrong, and
laboring only to carry out faithfully for
themselves the doctrine Of self govern.
ment, and to buili up and < .tnd the
greatness of u country T; after having
seen our invaders coming upon US,
armed without reprool # hot with ofic-
ial ermission) from the contents OF the
prsenals of the United States, establish
ing a system of martial law over life and
property, regulated only by the uncon
Irolled will oil yindistive and ~irrespunsi.
bic men-a system under which lie was
taken and IIoperty destroyed ; the
highways INSTRUCTED /; travellers seized,
searched and detained /; all the pursuits
OF lie paralyzed, and the destruction
and determination of whole settlements
threatened and evidently intended, and
backed up by the sancuOn of the Fede
raj officers, who pledge publicly the co
operation OF the P~residenl--and all based
upon the fact that a man, encouraged,
perhaps aided, by his friends had made
his escape from an arrest on a constable's
peace warrant: after having thus seen
our natural and legal protectors joining
IN the most atrocIous measures of op-
preston ard wrong, it is no matter OF
surprise 10 see misrepresentation OF our
position and objects ~emanaling from the
same source.
This is not the mode nor the time in
which TO discuss The themes of this mes
sage. Expecting, as l have a right to
expect, from the clcarness of The exclu-
siye title l am prepared 20 show, that l
shall enjoy a seat and a voice on the
floor of the house, l am willing patiently
ITO abide my time" At The proper
time and place, however, l pledge my
self 10 meet and expose the mis-staIe-
ment of facts and errors of law and
logic which it contains. | will show
hat there is nothing but cold cruelty
and insult in the request of an a%ppropri-
alton TO support an army or posse TO pre-
vent the people of Kanzas from commits
sion of GU rage and treason. l will show
that the movement for a State Govern.
ment is mis-stated as TO The facts of It's
origin and progress, and all we have
done in this direction has been under
the sanction of the precepts and exam
Piles of all the great men of the country
for the last fifty years--of the leyisla-
ton of Congress and the action of the
Executive in repeated and well consid-
cred cases, and of a deliberate opinion
of a high and distinguished Attorney
General of the United States, and which
as it is a part of the archives of the Elk.
ecutive Department, it is to be regretted
the President cid not consult before the
delivery of the message. Ii it is lille
gality and incipient treason for a new
State to be formed without an enabling
act of Congress, ! will show that fourteen
Senators hold their seats, and seven
States stand in the Union by virtue of
and reasonable proceedings
kOngresS has sanctioned revolution,
illegality and treason, again and again
and that the rank and %nOxious weed has
even flourished in the White House and
Executive Department /; and, having
indicated my people, l will also, with
utmost confidence of success, pro-
coed TO the minor and secondary task of
indicating myself in sneh a manner, |
trust, as to show the attack 10 have been
advised and unfortunate.
As to the discussion in the message Of
points involved in the contested
seat, l shall meet them when the case
is heard and as the House is the sole
constitutional judge of the qualifications
fits members, | trust that The minds of
the members may be kept open and un.
prejudiced until they shall hear the law
and the facts Of the case, and that
whether the discussion of the Executive
Of some of the points involved has been
made because they were incidental to
another subject, or aimed and in,ended
prejudge my claim, l hope in ether
ease both sides may be heard before a
decision.
This hasty note has swelled to an un-
premediiated length. Its object is only
70 solicit from the House and public
a suspension Of judgement, as to the
and action of our people, as to
NY right TO a seat, and as TO the charges
against me in the MESSAGE. until can