The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-23
CURIOUS KANSAS REVELATIONS.
Testimony OF Governor Needer-kus Inter
view with President Pierce-singular DIS

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Testimony or Governor Reeder-Eus Inter-
view with President Pierce-singular Dis
The report of the Kansas Investigating Commit.
tee has just been published, together with all the
evidence taken in the case From the latter copy
the following testimony, given under oath by the
Hon. A. II. Reeder, appointed Governor of the Ter
ritory by President Pierce in regard to his subse-
quent removal from that Office
/ left the Territory about the middle Of April,
(s55), and came East for the purpose of taking out
my family, and attending to private business as
sident in regard to the state of things In the Terri.
tory. During my presence In the states, !
went to the city Of Washington, where l arrived In
GtS him on bs
state Of things in Kansas, which was protracted for
more than two weeks, and kept up almost daily.
gave him, in the fullest manner all the information
which had upon the subject, and endeavored to
impress upon him the conviction which was upon
my mind that unless some decided course was taken
the actual settlers of the Territory would be sub
jected to the most cruel persecution; that there
q settled determination on the part of the border
counties of MissOuri-strOng in men and means
to Deprive them Of the right Of governing them.
selves, and regulating their own affairs. stated to
him that the seizure of the polls at the two election
which had been held, together with the informed
ding and tyrannic spirit which pervaded the entir
action of our Missouri neighbOrs, c0ncurred with oil
the information had received to convince me tha
and force, to subjugate the Territory entirely to
their will, in defiance to the right of the majority
And the principle Of the organic law. had learned
some new facts since the grant Of the certificates OF
election, which also made known to him. Indeed,
stated to him all my knowledge and all my views
in the most candid manner, for had still the fullest
that he s an
had several times written him on this subject
from the Territory. Immediately after the election
of the 10th Of November at which the most das-
had hon cd / full 10
what had taken place, and expressed my views on
the subject without reserve. Previous to that eec-
ton had also written him, and that such an in
vasion was openly threatened, but expressed the
opinion that by careful provisions in my proclama.
ton, could counteract it, for did not then credit
that it would be carried to such extremes OF resk
essness and violence. A short time previous to the
election Of the 30th of March had again written
him that the same thing was again threatened.
These letters, however, were private, and now see
that committed an error in making them 80; but
then had confidence that he felt upon the subject
did, and that the cause Of truth and justice would
be best snbserved by entrusng the whole matter to
lis discretion without forestang or hampering his
The President, in our interviews. expressed him.
elf highly pleased and Satisfied cith my course, and
in the most unequirocaI language approved and en-
Ion sed all had done. He expressed some regret
l0wever that my speech in Easton had omitted all
illusion to the illegaities of the Emgrant Aid So
jety, and thought it was, perhaps, unnecessarily
strong in the denunciation OF the Missouri inva.
ZION. told him had no knowledge OF the ope-
ations Of the Emigrant Aid Company, except
What was before the whole public, and so long
Is they had not sent out men merely to vote, and
not to settle-of which had no evidence, and which
did not believe-I could not consistently de-
bounce their course as illegal. He stated that
IBIS Kansas matter had given him more harassing
nxiety than anything that had happened since the
1ss Of his son; that 1t haunted him day and night
nd was the great overshadowing trouble OF his adj
Illustration. He stated that the most pertinacious
COMPLAINTS of NE had been made to him, and the
lost urgent demands had been made for my re-
oya upon every ground sns. could os 60. up; ,aat
nd trould listen to no reasoning at all. As to the
harges of purchasing Indian lands and interests in
owns, he said he entirely saii:ed as to the for
tr, thaf IL ,cas all fair and honorable, and that
undreds had done so before me-ridiculed Mr..
[annypenny's objection to it, and said he had re-
liked him when he talked to him Of 1t; he was,
eyertheless sorry under the circumstances Of this
,se, that hadlmade any purchases, as they made a
retext for my enemies TO annoy him with demands
n my removal. As to the purchases OF town pro.
erty, he said he was entirely satisfied, from hi
,nfdence in me, that they tcere dH right, but b
lshed me to explain them to him, and refer to tn
It's of Congress under which towns were laid out
that he might be prepared TO justify me and
Imself when the subject came up before hin.
re subject, both as TO law and fact, which was IN
v power, and stated what was the fact, that In no
re case had been concerned as an original pro-
ctor in the laying out Of any town, but In every
se had acquired my interest subject 10 the orgna
wing out. He expressed himself satisfied excep
at he thought the act Of May %, ls44, did not au
orize the laying out Of towns except on lands which
the Land Office had 30 construed the act as TO re
pnize towns which had been laid out before the
ryey and that Mr.. Wilson would 30 state to him Il
would INQUIRE and that this construction was
abr and necessary; for it was idle to expect the
rritory TO lie setted il il to remain two years
thout towns. He expressed himself satisfied, and
subject was then dropped. He wished no expla,
n, fa.,lf IN fha fop hall
eed Kaw lands. but, as have already stated, n,
pressed hsnssit, in strong Ian gsage, entirely salts
a. 10 the fairness and honorable character Of u,
7 however. pressed that and another matter upon
attention. The contracts Of these lands had beer
fore him, with the accompanying papers, 10 the
,nth OF January previous, and upon Mr.. Nanny
pny a making a most violent aud high tempered
port against them upon the grounds Of unrairness
well "a Of technical want OF conformity to the
les of the department, he had returned them 70
!, simply declining to confirm them. now called
attention to them again, and as be had express
himself fully satisfied Of their honesty and fair
-, I requested him 10 examine the additional pa
rs and cepositions which he had procured TO sup
de 10 demonstrate. from the decisions Of the Su
me Court the acts OF Congress, and the opinions
the Attorney Generals, that the whole case and
we had to say upon was before MN, and re
csfed him to examine them and decide II. HI
sed me to hand the papers 10 Gov. McCleland
cretary of the Interior, and did go.
The second matter to which called his attention
the town site of Pawnec had informed hin
Ii my proclamation named that place for the meet
Of the Legislature, and gave him as reason fo
doing that il was remote from the influence o.
,souri. He approved Of u rery cordially; and da,
two thereafter / complained TO him OF what
,sdered the unfair action OF the War Department
ated to him that as soon "a II was ascertained o
pected that would call the Legislature togethe
that place, il was at once assaed through th'
"a and otherwise TO break II down; that free
Ne population recently had commenced settling
md around IL: that II was obvious lite natura
-autaaes would attract emigrants; that its dis
ce nom Missouri would constitute great objec
10 the projectors and friends Of the foreigI
aston OF our Territory while the same reason
1Id in few years make II a rallying point 70
rtbern men, and draw about II large settlement
Il il was forester by the Mssourians, and nenc
h hostility to il and their determination to breal
n; that had been informed by reputable AM
iIbe citizen Of Missouri that General Atchsol
written TO General (JeG) Davis On the subject