Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-06
LETTER FROM GOV. 5EEDEBt
De Editor az the Ne,o Yo1b Iribns:

personally, but also my cog f'uch'S' "no'n IN
clination well as duty Reriousiy demands
of me to justify and protes. Entirely satisii-
ed as [ am with the cours adopted, up to this
time, by the people of K'lsas-convlncedt that
it has been dictated by desire 10 preserve
the peace, the rcputail ana the glory OF our
country-knowine tsa it has, at every stage,
been characterized S the most conservative
moderation and laudble regard for the rights
of othcrs-having Sc IN at every step the plain
est manfestion of te anxions desire to avoid
even the scmhIancof encroachment or ag-
gression, shouldee false to every manly i'm
pulse and every snse of duty if allowed the
aspcrsions of hefessage to pass unnoticed.
Unless the Meaagc shall incite and stimu-
late new invasios of our Territory and fresh
outrages upon Or citizens, it will produce to
us no regret, ast has caused no surprise. Af-
ter having seenour people trampled on, op-
pressed and rbbcd, on the one hand by the
invaders of tfair soil, and on the other by .he
influence, tho authority, and the officers of
the present Administration; after having wit
messed the cold-blooded murder of an unarm-
ed and unoffending citizen by an officer ofthe
Administration, who is not only unmolested
| by the laws and unrcbukcd BY the President
who appointed him, but who has, perhaps,
strengthened his official tenant and enhanced
his chances of promotion by the act; it is not
at all surprising that we should, by the head
of that Administration, be misrcpresented and
perverted. After having seen the Chief Mag
istratc, during five organized inyasons of our
Territory, unmovcd by single sympathy in
favor Of an unoffending people, innocent of all
wrong, and laboring only TO carry out faithful
ly for themselves the doctrine Of self-goYern-
ment, and TO build up and extend the great
ness of our country-aftcr having seen our in
yaders coming upon armed (without re-
proof if not with official permission,) from the
contents of the Arsenals of the United States,
establishing a system of martial law over life
and property, regulated only by the uncon-
trolled will of vindictivc and irresponsible
men-a system under which life was taken
and property destroyed; the highways obstruc-
ted travellers seized, searched and detained;
all the pursuits of life paralyZed, and the de-
struction and determination Of whole settle
ments threatened and evidently intended
Federal officers, who pledge publicly the CO.
operation of the President, aad all based upon
the fact that man encouraged, perhaps aided
by his friends, had made his escape from
rest on a constable'S peace warrant. After hay
ing thus seen our natural and legal protectors
joining in the most atrocious measures of op-
preston and wrong, it is no matter of surprise
to see Misrepresentation OF our position and
our objects cmanating from the same source.
This is not the mode nor the time in which
to discuss the themes of this Message. Ex-
pecting, as l have a right to expect from the
clearness of the exclusive title | am prepared
to show, that shall enjoy n seat and a voice
on the floor Of the House, l am willing patient
ly ssto bide my timc.'' At the proper time
and place, however, pledge myself to meot
and expose the misStatementS Of facts and the
errors of law and logic which it contains. I
will show that there is nothing but cold cruel
ty and insult in the request of an appropriation
to pay an army or a posse to prevent the people
Of Kansas from the commission of outrage and
treason. / will show that the movement for
State Government is misStatcd as to the facts
of its origin and progress, and that all we have
done in this direction has been under the sane
tion of the precepts and examples of all the
great men of tho country for the last fifty
years-of the Legislation of Congress and the
action of the Executive in repeated and well
considered cases, and of deliberate opinion
of high and distinguished Attorney General |
of the United States, and which, as it is part |
of the archives of the Executive Department, |
it is to be regretted the President did not con-
suit before the delivery of the Message. If it |
is illegality and incipient treason for new /
State to be formed without an enabling Act of |
Congress, l will show that fourteen Senators |
Of the United States hold their seats, and sew |
en- States stand in this Union by virtue of ille-
gal and reasonable proceedings-that Con-
gress has sanctioned revolution, iIIegality and |
treason, again and again and that the rank
and noxious weed has even flourished in the |
White House and the Executive Department;
and having vindicated my people, will also,
With the utmost confidence of success, proceed
% the minor and secondary task of yindicatinc
myself in such manner, trust, as to show the
attack to have been ill-adyised and unfortunate.
As to the discussion in the Message Of the
POINTS involved in the contested scat / shall
meet them when the case is heard; and as the
House is the sole constitutional Judge of the
qualifications of its own members, trust that
he minds of members may be kept open and
until they shall hear the law and
he facts of the case, and that whether the dis
ussion by the Executive of some of the points
involved has been made because they were in
idental to another subject, or aimed and inten-