The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-02-13
GOV. Reeder in Reply TO the Presi-
dent.

perously demands of me to justify and pro-
tect Entirely satisfied as | am with the
course adopted, up to this time, by the people
of Kansas-conyinced that it has been Indi
Gated by desire 10 preserve the peace, the
reputation, and the glory of the country
knowing that it has at every stage, been char
acterized by the most conservative modera-
ton and laudable regard for the rights Of
others--having seen at every step the plain
est manifestation of the anxious desire TO
avoid even the semblance of encroachment
or aggression, should be false to every
manly impulse and every sense of duty, if
all wed the aspersions of the message to
pass unnotlced.
Unless the message shall incite and stimu-
late new invasions of our Territory, and
fresh outrages upon our citizens, it will pro-
duce to us no regret, rs 1t has caused no sur
prise. After having seen our people tram
pied upon, oppressed and robbed, on the one
hand by the invaders of the 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 uuoffending citizen by an
officer Of the Administration, who is not on
II unmole Tested BY the laws and unrebuked by
the President who appointed him, but who
has, perhaps, strengthened his official tenent
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 mlsrepresented and perverted.
After having seen the Chief Magistrate
during FIVE organized invasions Of that Ter
ritory, unmoyed by single sympathy in ia
vor Of an unoffcnding people, innocen. of
all wrong, and laboring to carry out faithful
~ for themselves the doctrine Of self-gov-
eminent, and to build up and extend the
greatness of our country--after having seen
our invaders coming upon us, armed with
out reproof, if not without permission
from the contents of the arsenals of the
United States, establishing system Of mar
tial law over hfe and property, regulated on
Iy by the uncontrolled will of vindictiye and
irresponsible men-a system under which
property was destroyed and life taken; the
highways INSTRUCTED travellers seized,
searched, and detained; all the pursuits Of
life parayzed, and the destruction and exter-
mination of whole settlements threatened
and evidently intended--backed up by the
sanction and authority of the Federal Off
GERS, who pledge publicly the CO. operation Of
he President, and all based upon the fact
that man encouraged, perhaps aided by his
friends, had made his escape from an arrest
on constable speace warrant after hav-
ing thus seen our natural legal protectors
joining IN the most atrocious measures of
oppression and wrong, it is no matter of sur
prise TO see misrepresentation of our posi-
ton and our objects, emanating from the
same source.
This is not the mode nor the time in which
to discuss the themes of this message. Ex-
pecting, as | have right to expect from the
elearness and exclusive title | am prepared
to show, that shall enjoy seat and voice
from the floor of this House, | am willing,
patiently, TO s. bide my time" At the pro-
per time and place, however, pledge myself
TO meet and expose the advertisements of
facts, and the errors of law and logic which
il contains. will show that there is moth
ing but cold cruelty and insult, in the request
OF an appropriation TO pay an army or
posse TO prevent the people Of Kansas from
the commission of outrage and treason.
will show that the movement for State
Government Is misstated as to the facts of
its origin and progress, and that oil we have
done In this direction is under the sanction
Of the precepts and examples of all great
men in the country for the last fifty years
of the legislation of Congress and the action
Of the Executive in repeated and we'll consid-
cred cases, and of deliberate opinion of n
high and distinguished Attorney General of
the United States, and which, ms il is a part
of the archives of the Executive Department,
1t Is to be regretted the President did not
consult before the delivery of the Message
If il is illegality and incpient treason for
new State to be formed without an enabling
Act Of Congress, will show that fourteen
Senators Of the United States hold their
seats, and seven States stand in this Union
by virtue OF illegal and reasonable proceed
Ings-that Congress has sanctioned reyolu-
ton, illegality and treason, again and again:
and that the rank and noxous weed had even
hourished in the White House and Executive
Department; and having indicated nv peo-
pie, will also with the utmost confidence of
tuccess, proceed TO the minor IND secondary
TASK of indicating myself in such manner,
trust, as to show the attack to have been
ill-advised and unfortunate.
As TO the discussion in the Message of the
points involved in the contested seat. shall
meet them when the case is heard and az
the House is the sole constitutional Judge Of
the qualifications Of its own members, i trust
that the minds of members may be kept open
and unprecedented until they hear the facts
Of the case, and that whether the discussion
by the Executive of some Of the points in /
vowed has been made because they were |
Incidental to another subject, or aimed and
intended to PREJUDICE my claim, | hope in
either case that both sides may be heard
before decision.
This hasty note has swelled to an unpre- /
medltated length. Its object is only to soli
cit from the House and the public suspen-
son of judgment as to the position and action
OF our people-as to my right to a seat, and
as to the charges against me in the Message,
until | can be heard.
Very respectfully, yours,
A. II. REEDER.
Washington City, Jan. o, 1856.
CT A negro woman, soon after having
experienced religion, stole goose to make
merry with her consort from a neighborinc