The Nevada Democrat., 1856-09-03
Gov. Reeder on Kansas Affairs.


The committe which visited Kansas under the
direction of Congress- composed of two Repub-
licans and one Democrat, in the discharge of the
duties required of them, have submitted two re-
ports, differing widely in the manner in which
facts are regarded, as well as in the deductions
arrived at. The bias which is eDgendered by
sectionalism is visible in these reports, and it
is only by a thorough examination Of all the
testimony educed, that we are enabled to arrive
at anything like an impartial judgement, in ref
ernce to the questions at issue.
Amongst the testimony brought to light, how
ever are letters written to private friends by
Gov. Reeder, which must seriously affect his
private, as well as his public character, and are
well calculated to impair the confidence Of dis
interested men in the cause which he and his
associates are promoting with zeal worthy Of
better cause The following extracts from
his pen, contained in letters to private individ.
uals, show very different state of mind with
regard to the conduct of the Free State party
from that which he has disclosed the public, and
is the best and strongest evidence that the Free
State party, in undertaking to set up legisla
ture and laws in opposition to those established
in conformity with the laws of the Udited States
have been wrong from the beginning
"NOr do see how you can raise, in the Su
preme Court, any point as to The vatidity ofte ldos
: except the one of their removal to the mission
/ have not however, examined the case; still,
should think that a fer free State men on the jur5
soould be a sper reliaace than the Supreme Court
| should hesitate long before spending my mon
ey on the latter"
Gas to putting set of laws in operation il
opposition to the territorial government, my
opinion is confirmed instead Of being shaken
my predictions have all beenveri.icd so far, ant
will be in future. We aciU be, 50 FIR as legaldy i
concerned, IN The wrong; and that is no tride in s,
critical a state of things, and in view of sucl
bloody consequences"
"But want you to understand, most distinct
ly, that ! do not talk thus to the public nor t.
our enemies. | may speak my plain and pri
vate opinion in letters to our friends in Kansas
for it is my duty: but to the public, as you vii
see by my public letter, show no divided 'front.'
Gov. Reeder's Letters
There is direct and palpable suggestion il
the first of the above extracts to pack jury, t.
) accomplish what he and his confederates ar
, afraid to trust to the Supreme Court. In th
language employed by Gov Reeder there is ex
hibited laxity of moral principle, which W
could scarcely have looked for in one occupy
/ ing the high social and political position, o
which he has been deemed worthy. In this too
speaking sincerely to private friends, he virtu
ally surrcnders every question as to the "valid
ity of the laws" enacted by the legislature o
Kansas.
In the second extract, the same admission o
the illegality Of the proceedings of those acting
in opposition to the territorial government is re
peated We arrive at the truth through tn,
channels Of of a bad morality, yet it is none o
the less the truth, for here Gov Reeder is speak
4 ing in private with frankness to a friend TIN
1 sincere convictions of his mind
s The concluding paragraph WILL above all
e challenge admiration on account of the cool au
: dacity with which the Honorable author avow
f his own turpitude. Many politicians who con
e ceal from the world their real sentiments, tr
y indeed to conceal the hypocracy from them
selves. A party which can follow and "shriel
p farfrecdom" under such leader as this must
( in the end, find itself demoralized beyond tn
: hope of recovery, and gather to itself all the oil
b loquy which belongs to the degraded characte
of the chief actor.