The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-02-06
Gov. Reeder in Reply to the Pres
ident.


Message. 1t will be read with interest.
WASHINGTON Cry, JAN 25, 1856.
CENTLeMEN:--Tbe Spccial Message
Of the President Of the United States.
communicated yesterday to Congress as
sails not only myself personally. but al.
so my constituents, whom inclination as
well as duty, imperiously demands oil fine
to Justify and protect. Entirely salts
fed as | am with the course adopted. IN
to this time. by the people Of Kansas
convinced that it has been dictated by n
desire to preserve the peace, the roputa.
ton aud the glory Of our country-krow.
ing that it has. at every stage. been
characterized by the most conservative
moderation and laudnble regard for the
rights of othcrs--havng seen at every
step the plainest manifestation of an anx-
ious desire to avoid even Tie scmblanco
Of encroachmont or aggression. should
be false TO every manly impulse and ev.
cry sense of duty, if | allowed the asper-
sions of the Message to pass unnoticcd
Unless the Message shall ncitc and
stimulate new invasions of our Terrific.
ry and fresh outrage upon our citizens.
it will produce to US no regret as it has
caused no surprise. After having seen
our people trampled on, oppressed and
robbed. on the one hand by the invaders
of their soil and on the other by the in
fucuce, the authority, and the officers of
the present Administration and having
witnessed the cold-blooded murder Of an
unarmed and unofrcnding citizen by an
officer Of the Administration, who is not
only unmolested by the laws and unrc.
bukcd by the President who appointed
him, but who has, perhaps, strengthened
his official tenure and enhanced his
chances of promotion by the act-it is
not at all surprising that we should. bv
the head of that Administration, be mis-.
represented and perverted After hav.
ing seen the Chief Magistrate during
five organized invasons of our Territory
unmovcd by a single sympathy in favor
of an unoffendng people, innocent of all
wrong, and laboripg only to carry out
faithfully for themselves the doctrines of
sclf.government, and to build up and OK
tend the greatness Of our Country,-af-
ter having seen orr invaders coming up.
on us armed Without reproof if it not
with official permission,) from the con-
tents of the Arsenals of the United
States, establishing a system Of martial
law over life and property. regulated on
ly by the uncontrolled will of vindictive
and irresponsible mona system under
which.life was taken and property de-
stroyed the highways cbstructed; trav.
elers seized. searched and detained all
the pursuits of life patalyzed and the de-
struction and determination Of whose
settlements threatened and evidently in
nded-backcd up by the sanction and
authority of tho Federal Officers, who
pledged publicly the cooperation OF the
President, and all based upon the fact
that a man, encouraged, perhaps aided,
ny 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 afro
cious measures o. oppression and wrong,
it is no matter of surprise to see misrep-
resenta,on of our position and or OBJ
jects emanaling from the same source.
This is not the mode nor the time in
which to discuss Tie themes of this IN cs-
sage. Expecting, as have right to cx>
rcct from the clearness Of the exclusive
title | am prepared to show, tina. | shall
enjoy a seat and a voice on the floor Of
Tie House. am willing patiently to
bde my time" At the proper time aud
place. however. | pledge myself to meet
and expose the mis.statcmeuts of facts
and the errors of law and logic which it
contains I will show that there is moth
ing but cold cruelty and insult in the re.
quest Of an appropriation to pay an army
o., pG>se TO prevent the pfoplc of ha0.
sos !, ON ti,,e commission Of outrage aud
treason 1 vii, show that the movement
for State Govern ent is mis- stated as
to the facts Of its origin and progress,
and that all we have done in tins direc.
ton has been done under tx SANCTION OF
the preecpts and examples OF all re
great men Of the country for the last III
ty ycars-of the legislation of Congress
and the action Of the Executive. in re.
peatcd aud wcllconsdercd cases. and Of
a deliberate opinion of high and distin-
guished Attorney General Of the United
States, and which, as ii is a part of the
archives Of the Executive Departmental
is 20 be regretted the President did not
consult before the delivery of the Mes.
sage. If it is iiegairy and incipient
treason for n new State to be formed