Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-06
Gov. Rceder and President Pierce.

reader any intelligence calculated 10 degrade
the Chief Magistrate of the nation. For, how
ever little respect we may entertain for the
miserable, vaciating, time-serving creature
who now occupies that station, yet our nation
al pride fOrbids that we should exult in the
humiliating spectacle of his official degrade
ton. These remarks have been suggested by
reading the following article from the Phila-
delphia Inquirer, which we think no true
American citizen can read without deep
sense of humiliation. No man in whose bosom
exists the smallest spark of national pride, can
peruse it without feeling that the country is
disgraced, to whatever extent such q creature
could accomplish such result.
We have no taste for such a picture, and
must commend its study to the democracy,
| the men who, for the spOls, have placed such
a creature in office. And we commend it to
their careful consideration with the remark
| that Gov. Reeder was one of those "sonnd
Northern Democrats" about whom Mr..
Stephens prated so much-who, be said, was
sent to Kansas by Pierce to make it free
State. He is now said to be ''cheek by jow"
with the Southern Democracy in the support
| of Buchansn-still, good ''sOund National
Democrat" He is st any rate Democratic
witness, who has given in his testimony under
the sacred obligations of an oath. Hear him:
LIZ
The publication of the testimony taken before
the Kansas Investigating Committee, has
brought to light some startling statements.
That of Governor Reeder is well calculated to
produce a sensation. He was removed on the
2Sth of July, 1856. 1t appears that he visited
Washington during the month of May preced-
ing, had conversation with the President,
who expressed himself perfectly satisfied with
his course.
But, continues the Governor, the President
also stated that the most pertinacOus com
plants of me had been made to him, and the
most urgent demands had been made for my
removal upon every ground that could be got
up; that General Atchison pressed it in the
most exciting manner and would listen TO no
reasoning at all.
At subsequent interviews the President GodS
prQfuSe IN has expressions Of approval Of my
course, but expressed himself deeply solicitOns
as to the probable consequences of my return
to the territory. He declared that, in the ex-'
cited state of the community he was fearful of
personal violence to myself; and that if vio-
lence was committed upon me the whole North
would be infamed, civil war would probably
ensue, and no man conld predict the result.
He repeated this, and enlarged upon it much
and often; said that it would be fearful Ca
lamity, the beginning of the end, &C., conclud-
| ing with the opinion that it would be unsafe
for myself and for the country that | should
return to Kansas in the capacity of Governor.
Governor Reeder objected that he could not
think of resigning things then stood, for it
would be an abandonment IF Kansas to the
prosecutions and expressions of the Missourian :,
caamtous to them and dishonorable to himself.
lie cOncurred in this view of the case, and
proposed to effect all that was desirable for the
| public safety and for the public good, By re
n1OUing me from office an a aody that to0uI OBJ
Ujdte all my objections, and proceeded at length
TO giUe his ideas as to Sohdt should be DONE lie
proposed that should make to him in writing
full report of all the proceedings in the Ter
ritory, with my views and opinions, referring
the whole subject and the remedy to him, aud
protesting my willingness to abide by any plan
lie should adopt for redressing the existing
wrongs, aud adjusting the present difficulties;
that he would reply in writing to this commu.
nication, and would take upon himself the re
sponsibility of removing me from office as
part of the remedy, and at the same time lcOuH
gre the most full satisfactory and uneguiUOcdL
appreciation of my course; that while he would
declare my removal to be necessary, in order
to allay the existing excitement, and bring
about more calm and sober state of public
feeling, and avert the dangers of violence or
outbreak, he wOuld erhOnerats me from all
blame an producing that excitement; that, in
order to testify the sincerity Of his dpprO6atiOn
he wouLd confer upon me some unnaistaEd6ie
mark Of his taUOr, and went on to say that the
mission to China would be very shortly vacant
by the return of Mr.. McLane, to which vacancy
he would appoint me 1t once.
| The foregoing tells the whole story, and it
exhibits on the part of the President of the
United States, degree of tmidity every way
discredtable. He was disposed to remove the
Governor in order to satisfy the master-spirits
10 Missouri, and at the same time was willing
to confer upon him another Office of the highest
responsibility. But this attempt to bride was
contemptuousy resisted, and the removal took
place under circumstances very discredirable
10 the National Executive.-AugustG ga }
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