The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-31
PRESIDENT PIERCE AND GOV. REEDER-
CURIOUS REVELATIONS.

CURIOUS REVELATIONS.
Among the mass of evidence accompanying
the Report of the Kansas Investigating Com
mittee, just published, is that of the Hon. A. II.
Reeder. We have not room for the whole of
his interesting testimony, butthe following state
ments are too important to be passed over in
silence:
Governor Reeder states that, in the fall of
1854, subsequent to the November election, he
wrote to the President private letters, fully de-
failing the outrageous invasion by the Nilsson
rians, in the fullest confidence that he was anx-
ious to have the laws faithfully executed. Gov
ernor r. also wrote to the President early in
1855, prior to the election of March 30th,
that the same scenes of violence and outrage
were to be repeated. After the election, which
was carried precisely like that of November,
by Missouri votes, in violation of law, and in
subversion of the Territorial Government, Gov
ernor Reeder came to Washington, and, in IA
miliar conversations with the President, gave
him the fullest details of everything. He goes
on to state:
"The President, in our interviews, expressed
himself highly pleased and satisfied Nth my
course, and IN the most uneguiuOcdl language
approved and endorsed all / had done. He
expressed some regret, however, that my speech
in Easton had omitted all allusion to the ille-
galites of the Emigrant A id Society, and thought
it was perhaps unnecessarily strong in its de-
nunciation of the Missouri invasion. told him
l had no knowledge of the operations of the
Emigrant Aid Company, except what was be-
fore the whole public and 80 long as they had
not sent out men merely to vote, and not to
| settle, (of which l had no evidence, and which
did not believe / could not consistently de-
nounce their course as Illegal. He stated that
this Kansas matter had given him more harass-
ing anxiety than anything that had happened
since the loss of his son; that it haunted him
| day and night, and was the great overshadowing
| trouble of his Administration. He stated that
the most pertinacious complaints of me had
been made to him, and the most urgent demands
had been made for my removal, upon every
| ground that could be got up; that General ArCH-
| IsoN pressed IL IA the most erciting manner, and
sco,tld listen TO no reasoning at ALL As to the
charges of purchasing Indian lands and inter
ests in towns, he said he suas entirely satisfied
as TO tie former, that ii aoas all fair and hon.
oraJle, and that hundreds had done so before
me-ridiculed Mr.. MANYPENNY's objection to
it, and said he had rebuked him when he talked
TO him of it. He was nevertheless sorry, I'M
der the circumstances of this case that had
made any purchases, they made pretext
for my enemies to annoy him with demands for
my removal. As to the purchases of town prop
erty, he said he was entirely satisfied, from his
confidence in me, that they ,oere oil right !;
but be wished me to explain them to him, and
refer to the acts of Congress under which towns
laid mt m thot ha chit he rod ~
Justify me and himself, when the subject came
up before him. accordingly gave him all the
information on the subject, both as to law and
fact, which was in my power; and stated (what
was the fact) that in no one case had been
concerned as an original protector in the lay
ing out of any town, but in every case had
acquired my interest subject to the original
laying out. He expressed himself satisfied, ex-
cept that he thought the act of May %, 1874,
did not authorize the laying out of towns except
on lands which had been surveyed. | replied,
that the Commissioner Of the Land Office had
so construed the act as to recognise towns
which had been laid out before the survey, and
that fM Mr. % SHps94 Mould 50 state to him if he
right and necessary; for it was idle to expect
the Territory to be settled, if it was to remain
two years without towns. He expressed him.
self satisfied, and the subject was then dropped.
He wished no exploration nor found any fault
as to the contract for halfbreed Kaw lands ;
but, as have already stated, he expressed him
self, ia strong language, entirely satisfied as to
the fairness and honorable character of the
transaction.
"The second matter to which called bis at.
tention was the town site of Pawnee. / had
informed him that my proclamation named that
placed for the meeting of the Legislature, and
gave him as a reason for so doing, that it was
| remote from the influence of Missouri. He ap-
prOred Of IL rery cordially; and day or two
thereafter, ! complained to him of what con-
| sidered the unfair action of the War Depart
ment.'
1t seems that Governor Reeder and others
who were friendly to peace and order, were
anxious to locate the seat of Government in
the neighborhood of Fort Riley, at the town OF
Pawnee, on account of It's remoteness from
Missouri, as well as for its central situation in
the Territory. But the Secretary of War, JEFF
| ferson Davis, in order to keep the Territorial
Government in reach of the forays of the Dor.
der Rutfians, determined to Illustrate that pur.
pose. To accomplish this end, he ordered the
town to be included within the military reserva.
| ton. which it is usual to make around the forts
| or barracks. The survey of the reservation, il
seems, had already been made by Col. Mont
gomery, who, on the ground, was the best Judge
of its convenience and propriety; and his sur.
vey had been approved by Quartermaster
General Jesup. But Mr.. Jefferson Davis. the
right arm of the Oligarchy, instigated by Atchi-
son and Sringfellow, no doubt, ordered the in.
clusion of the town of Pawnee in the ressrva.
ton.
Governor Reeder proceeds:
"The two subjects to which /
have alluded were discussed incidentally du.
ring our interviews; but the principal ques-
ton which occupied our attention was the gen.
eral political condition of the people of the
Territory. He ,oas profnse in his expressions
Of approval Of my course, but expressed him.
self deeply solicitous as to the probable conse.
quences of my return to the Territory. He
declared that, in the excited state of the COM
munity, he was fearful of personal violence to
myself; and that if violence was committed
upon me, the whole North would be inflamed,
civil war would probably ensue, and no man
could predict the result He repeated this, and
enlarged upon it much and often; said that it
would be fearful calamity, the beginning of
the end, &C., concluding with the opinion that
it could be unsafe for myself and for the
country, that should return to Kansas in the
capacity Of Governor. told him promptly
and decidedly that would not resign the of.
fee; that two considerations forbade me to
think of it; that, as things now stood, the ex.
ecutive Office in my hands was the only means
of protection for the people against the perse-
cutions and expressions which had been perpe.
trated, and would be continued. from the State
of Missouri that it would be base and disbon.