Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-09-25
Free-State Constitution adopted by her REQ

pie.
In the public demonstrations and professions
of the party, find banners and devices con-
taing brutal insults, in response to the appeals
of that people for protection against unparal-
leled wrongs, calculated, as no doubt they must
be intended, to prepare the masses for a con-
tinued refusal of justice and protection, and a
relentless persistence in outrage and oppres-
sion.
find all the Democrats South, and por-
ton OF the Democracy of the North, boldly re-
pudlating the Kansas Nebraska bill, by insist
ing that Slavery has right to go into the
Territories, in spite of Congress or the people :;
and that the inhabitants of the Territory have
no right to pass Territorial laws to forbid it
or exclude it. Democratic Representatives
from Pennsylvania even, in the Senate and the
ztouSe, hold and proclaim these opinions
while other Representatives from Pennsyva-
MIA, with Democratic leaders from other States
declare themselves publicly to be non-commit-
tai upon this keresy the inevitable tendency
OF which, IL is easy to show, will be to prevent
almost entirely the formation of any more Free
States 0 r.. p. sl-
Having originated movement myself. to
aid our people by sending them men and mo-
ney and having prosecuted it with the strict
est avoidance of party character and a studied
nutrality as to the political canvass, and hay.
ing earnestly asked the cooperation of men of
all parties, | have failed to enlist in it. to my
knowledge, a single Democrat In the Con
yenhons OF Cleveland and Buffalo, called with
out distinction of party, in furtherancc of this
enterprise, there was no Democrat present but
myself. This cannot have been from any want
OF generosity or OF means, but only lin Difference
10 the prevailing tone and sentiment of the
party which is enlisted upon the other side of
the question. And not only have they alb
stained from aiding the movement, but in their
presses and by their private influence they have
endeavorcd to cripple and retard it by snecr-
ing at 1t, warning the community against it Us
trcas0nable, and declaring that the money
would be mSapplied, thus endeayoring to pre-
vent contributions even from the friends of
measure
| might go on with this catalogue and emu
merate other indications, if necessary, showing
that the prevailing tone Of the party is hostile
to Kansas but | consider it only necessary
to add that what | have said relates but to the
North. The South, where the great mass of
the party is to be found makes no pretension,
as whole, to the advocacy of anything but
pure Border Rullianism
What, then have the FrecState men of
Kansas to expect from a Democratic AdmuiS-
tratiOn, even if presided over by Mr.. Buchan-
an? If he could be left to act upon his own
impulses, unaffected by external influences. and
from all pledges and obligations. express and
implied, the case wouId be very di lfcrent. But.
unfortunately, this is not so. His election
would rightfully be considered a decision against
us, whatever may be his own private feelings.
His offices at Washington, in Kansas and else
where, would necessarily to a large extent, be
filed with our enemies His information would
come through a distorted medium and lastly
he could not aid us without having first made
up his mind to be abandoned ard warrcd upon
by his own party. The South would charge +,
him with violating his pledges, and turn upon
him with the bittcrcst hostility, and at least
a portion of the Northern Democracy would /
follow their example HI would thus be left ,
without party to support his administration, |
unless hc should cast himself into the arms of
the Republicans. We canuot, it seems to me, !
either ask or expect him to 90 this upon a
question where party lines are so plainly drawn
before his election Like all other men in the !
samn 'i'hation, he must obey the party scnti- |
ment or which he is elected That there are |
III tillNN wanna VINO are lull OF III
dignati0n against the conduct of the South in /
regard to Kansas | am well aware, and that
they would use their influence to redress her
wrongs | am we'll satisfied but they are too
few in proportion to the whole party of the
Union to sustain his administration in a war
with his party. They have as yet been unable
to make their opinions appear and be felt in
the party, and, Of course, cannot do so hcreaf-
ter. | honor their good intentions but can
not believe in their power
| repeat that have been forced to these
conclusions after no slight struggle with my
feelings and inclinations: Should Mr. Buchan-
an be elected, and his administration be differ
ent from what my judgment compcls me to be-
lieve, ] shall give it my cordial appreciation |
and my feeble though willing support As |
believe now, must regard the Democratic |
party as fully committed to Southern Section
aliSm, toward which; for some time past, it has |
been rapidly tcndingj and quit it, we'll assur-
ed that my duty 70 my country demands this |
sacrifice of personal feeling.
Very truly yours, A. II. REEDER. !