Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-02-14
Gov Reeder's Reply to the President


To the Editor of the N Y Tribune.
Sir: The Special Message of the President OF
the United States, communicated yesterday to
Congress- assails not only myself personally,
but also my constituents whom the Inclination
as well as duty imperiously demands OF me 10
justify and protect Entirely satisfied as am
with the course adopted, up to this time, by the
people of Kansas-conyinced that III mas peeh
dictated by desire to preserve the peace the
reputation and the glory of our country-know-
ing that it has, at every state, been characserlz-
ed by the most conservative moderation ana iau-
dabe regard for the rights OF others-having
seen at every step the planest manifestations Oh
the anxious desire to avoid even the selnDiance
of encroachment or aggression should be ialse
to every manly impulse and every sense OF dusy'
if allowed the aspersions of the Message 10
pass unnoticed.
Unless the Me ,sage shall incite and stimulate
new lnvasions of our Territory ana Hesn out-
RACES upon our citizens, it will produce 10 us no
regret as it has caused no surprise Alter nav
ing seen our people trampled on, oppressed and
robbed, on the one hand by the invaders of their
soil, and on the other by the influence the au-
thority and the officers of the present admins
tration: after having witnessed the cold biooded
murder Ofan unarmed and unoiFcndng citizen by
an officer of the administration, who is not only
unmolested by the laws and unrebuked by the
President who appointed him, but who has per-
haps, strengthened official tenancy and enhanced
his chances of promotion by the act, it is not at
all surprising that We should, by the head of the
administration, be rIisrepresented and perver-
ted.
After having seen the Chief Magistrate during
five organized invasions of our territory, unmoy-
ed by single sympathy in favor of All unotiend-
ing people innocent of AL wrong, and iaboring
only 10 carry ont faithfully for themselves the
doctrines of sef-government, and to bald up
and extend the greatness of our country-after
having seen our invaders coming upon us armed
(wIthout reproCf if not without official pernlis-
sion,) from the contents Of the arsenals CT the
United States establishing q system OF marital
law over hte and property, regulated only ny
the uncontrolled will of vindietive and lrrespon-
siG.e men-a system under which life was taken
and property destroyed; the highways oDstruc-
ted ;-travelers seized, searched and detained
all the pursuits of life paralyzed, and the de-
structions and determination OF whole settle
ments threatened and evidently intended--back-
ed mp by the sanction and authority OF the tede-
raj Officers, who pledged publicly the co-opera-
tion OF the President and all based upon the
fact that a man encouraged, perhaps aided by
hiss friends, hal i.lade his escape from an arrest
on constable's peace warrant After having
thas seen our natural and legal protectors JONI
ing IN the most atrOciOus measures OF opprcs-
sion and wrong, it is 10 matter of surprise to
see misrepresentation from the same source.
This is not the mode nor the time in which to
as | have right to expect from the c.earness OF
the exclusive title am prepared to show, that
| shall enjoy seat ami a voice on the floor OF
the House, am willing patiently to bide my
time.' At the proper time and place. however,
pledge myself to meet and expose the ms-state-
mcnt of facts, and the crrcrs Of law and logic
which it contains. will show that there is
nOthlrg but cod cruelty and insult, III tie re-
quest of an appropriation to pay an army or
posse, to prevent the people of Kansas from the
commission Of outrage aii treason | will STOW
that the movement for a state government Is
mis- stated as to the facts of its origin and pga-
gress, and that all we have done in this direction
has been under thc sanction of the precepts and
examples Of all the great men OF the country for
the last fifty ycars-of the legislation OF Congress
and the action of the Executive i'll repeated and
welcOnSdered cases, and of Il deliberate opinion
of high and distinguished Attorney General of
the United States, and which, as it is a part Of
the archives of the executive department, it is
to be regretted the President did net consult be-
fore delivering the Message.
If it is illegality and ineipient treason for a
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 proceedings-that Congress has
sanctioned revolution, illegality, and treason,
again and again, and that the rank and noxious
and the Executive Department; and, having
INDICATED my people, | will also with the ut
msot confidence of succC SIS proceed to the minor
and secondary task of indicating myself in
snch manner, | trust as to show the attack to
.iave been ili-advised and unfortunate.
AS to the discussion in the Message of the
points involved i'll the contested seat, ! 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
the minds of members may be kept open and
unprecedented until they shall hear the law and
the facts of the case, and that whether the dis
cusson by the Executive of some of the points
involved has been made because they were incl
dental to another subject, aimed and intended
to prejudice my claim, l hope in either case
that both sides may be heard before 4 dcci-
sion.
This hasty note has swellcd to an unpremed
itatcd length. Its object is only to solicit from
the House and the public suppression of judg-
ment 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,
\. II. REEDER.