Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-07
Reeder's Reply to the President
THE PRESIDENT A LIAR
WASHINGTON Cry. Jan %.

President Of the United States, communicated
yesterday to Congress, assails not only my
self personally, but also my constituents,
whom inclination as well as duty, mperiously
demands of me to justify and protect, En-
tiry satisfied as | am with the course adopted,
up to this time, by the people of Kansas
convinced that it has been dictated by de-
sire to preserve the peace, the reputation
and glory of our country-knowing that it
has, at every stage, been characterized by the
most conservative moderation and laudable
regard for the right of others-havng seen at
every step the plainest manifestation of an
anxious desire to avoid even the semblance of
encroachment or aggression, [ should be false
to every manly impulse and every sense of
duty, if | allowed the aspersions Of the mess
age to pass unnoticed
Unless the Message shall incite and stimu-
late to new invasions Of our Territory and
fresh outrage upon our citizens, it will pro-
duce to us no regret, as it has caused no sur
prise After having seen our people tram
pied on, oppressed and robbed, on the one
hand by the cnvaders of their soil, and on the
other by the influence, the authority and the
officers Of the present Administration; after
having witnessed the cold-blooded murder of
an unarmed and unof1ending citizen by an
officer OF the Administration, who is not only
unmolested by the law aud unrebuked by the
President wig appointed him, who has, pre-
haps, strengthen his official tenant and enhan-
cel his chances of promotion by the act; it is
not at all surprising that we should, by the
head Of that Administration, be misreprescn-
ted and perverted. After having seen the
Chief Magistrate, duering five organized in
vasions OF our Territory, uumoyed by sin
gle sympathy in favor of all unotfending peo-
pie, innocent of all wrong, and laboring only
to carry out faithfully for themselves the doc
trine Of self-goverment, and to build up and
extend the greatness of our country-after
having seen our invaders coming upon us
armed (without reproof if not with Official
permssion), from the contents Of the arsenals
of the United States, establishing system
of martial law over life and property rcgu-
lated only by the uncontrolled will of vindic-
tive and irresponsible men; a system under
which life was taken and property destroyed ;
the highways INSTRUCTED; travellers seized,
searched and detained all the pursuits of
life paralyzed, and the destruction and exter-
mnation of whole settlements threatened and
evidently intended-backed up by the sam
cton and authority OF the Federal officers,
who pledge publicly the cooperation of the
President, and all based upon the fact that a
man encouraged, perhaps aided, by his friends,
had made his escape from ali arrest on con-
stables peace wanant-atter having thus seen
our natural and legal protectors joining in the
most atrocious measuses of oppression and
wrong, it is no matter Of surprise to see mis-
representation of our position and onr objects
emanating from the came source.
This is not the mode nor the time in which
to discuss the themes OF this message. Elk.
pecting as have right to expect from the
clearness of the exclusive title am prepar
ed to show, that | shall enjoy a scat and q
voice on the floor of the House, | am willing
patiently to bide my time At the proper
time and place however, pledge myself tc
meet and expose the mis-statement of facts
and the errors of law and logic which it con-
tans. [ will show that there is nothing but
cold cruelty and insult in the request Of ar
appropriation to pay an army or posse to pre-.
vent the people Of Kansas from the commiss.
ion OF outrage and treason, will show
that the movement for a State Government is
mis-stated us to the fact of its origin and pro.
gress, and that all we have done in this di.
rection has been under the sanction of the
precepts and examples of all the great men
of the country for the last fifty years-of the
legislation of Congress and the action of the
Executive in repeated and wel-considered
case, and ola deliberate opinion of high
and distinguished Attorney General oil 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.
II it is illegaIity 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,
apd seven States stand in this Union by virtue
of illegal and reasonable proceedings-that
Congress has sanctioned revolution, illegality
and treason, again and again; and that the
rank and noxious weed has even hourished in
the White House and the Executive Depart
ment and, having vindicated the people, will
also, with the utmost confidence of success
proceed to the minor and secondary task of
indicating myself in such manner, trust
as to show the attack to have been ll-advised
and unfortunate.
As to the discussion in the message of the
point involved in the contested seat. | shall
meet them when the case is heard, and as the
House is the sole constitutional Judge CT the
qualifications of its own members, [ trust that
the minds of members may be kept open and
unprejudiced until they shall hear the law
aud the fact of the case, and that whether
the discussion by the Executive of the points
involved has been made because they were
incidental to another subject, Or aimed and
intended to PREJUDICE my claim, l hope in
either case that both sides may be heard be-
fore decision.
This hasty note swelled 10 an unpremed-
tated length. Its object is only to solicit
from the House and the public Il suspension
Of Judgment, as to the position and action of
our people-as to my right to seat, and as
to the charges against Inc in the message,
until can be heard.
Very respectfully yours,
A. H. REEDER.
GEN PIERCE IN HIS ALIVE STATE The Nam