The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-07-11
COPYRIGHT sEcUREpI
r,;n.m expressly for the Herald Of Freedom.
ACOMPEETE
HISTORY OF KANSAS,
FEox
,,st discovery by the French, TO
.he Close Of the Year 1857.
BY THE EDITORS
CHATTER VIII.

CHATTER VIII.
CONTINENT OF GOV. REEDER-HIs ADVENT
,sIo TIE TERRfToRf-yIsITs THE PEOPLE
.RgANGEs THE DISTRICTS, &C.
On the 3Oth of June, 1854, by and with
.bs consent Of the Senate, the President
,nfointed Andrew II. Reeder, of Penn
.rivania, Governor of Kansas, and Daniel
Woodson, of Virginia, Secretary; Sam
nj D. Lecompte, of Maryland, Chief JUS
.ce. Saunders \. johnson, of Ohio, and
Rnsb Elmore, of Alabama, Associate JUS
.ices; Andrew j. Jones, of Virginia, At
torney; and ]. B. Donaldson, of Illinois,
Marshal. These appointments were for
four years.
Governor Reeder and suite arrived in
tbe Territory in October, landing at Fort
Leayenworth. The three months delay
which had followed the appointment of
the Territorial officers, before their advent
here, had given the Missourians, who had
resolved on governing Kansas and guiding
is destiny, ample time to lay their plans
and perfect their schemes for carrying out
the arrangements which they deemed ne
cessary to accomplish that end. The
most talented men of the nation had la
bored for years to prevent Kansas from
beoominga free State. The most talented
men of the pro-slavery party were now in
daily council to devise WAYS and means TO
secure the advantage which the passage
Of the Kansas-N ebraska bill had given
them for establishing their peculiar in
.titution" on this new and virgin soil.
The plot and the plotters met Gov.
Recder at his first landing, and followed
him step by step, at first with fattery,
and then with curses, from his arrival to
his departure from the Territory.
Gov. Reeder was National Democrat.
He came herd we'll endorsed by the pro-
slavery party in power. He was consid-
cred pro-slavery man. He endorsed the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise. He
even regretted that he was not aslave-
holder himself, and would have gladly
done anything honorable to promote the
interests of that party. But when they
called on him, as they too often did, to
commit crimes, to surrender his judgment
10 theirs, to act as their agent in dishonor-
able, political trickery, he utterly refused.
They visited him, they waited on him
By committees, they addressed him by
letters-every influence within their reach
was brought to bear on his executive ac-
ton, in order to bend it to their purposes
and to use him in furthering their scheme:
with what success the sequel will show
The Territory at this time had a popula
ton of about 4, 600.
After resting few days at Fort Leav.
enwoIth, the Governor and suit commene.
ed a tour of observation through the Ter.
rtory. Passing UP the Kansas river, they
arrived at Lawrence, city of tents, moi
yet quite two months old. Here they were
received by the people with great enthu
siasm. The Governor was welcomed by
aspeech from S. C. Pomeroy, Esq, whicl
closed as follows
"SiT, in the name of all the interests W.
represent, in the name of our absent wives
sons and daughters, soon hope to b.
here, in the name of all the weather-beat
en-, yet noble countenances, which beam
upon you-having emigrated from every
State in this glorious Union, as we'll a!
from the Mother Land, VIC give you cor
dial hearty welcome" Loud Cheers.
Gov. Reeder replied
4 thank you for the friendly, earnes
aHd eloquent manner you have welcomet
he in behalf of the able, hardy, aud I'm
sharea men, as you have called them, ,tha
surround me-men who have come her
to make the wilderness blossom as tn,
'ose: Such a people as this. make tn
wealth of State, and the prosperity of
nation.'
lie continued at some length, givin
the people much satisfaction. After tn
ceremonies, all enjoyed an agreeable Sc
cal Interview. Friendly relations wer
established, and mutual understanding
commenced, which have never been inter
mpted. After very excellent publ
dinner, closed by sentiments and speeche
oythe leading men of Lawrence, the Gov
efhor arose to odepart. He gave to all pres
cat his hearty congratulations; compl
meAted the pioneer ladies, who so cheerful
!! had undergone many trials, and prove
themselves sufficient for any emergene,
and finally expressed the hope that h
peasant scenes and sentiments of tn
o'caslon might only be precursor
'nOSe even more eongenial and happy ft
al time to come. He left amid the chee
Of the multitude
lie stopped at the various settlemen
VI Ills journey, and was everywhere r,
.'i'ed with confidence and friendly gree
ings.
on arriving at Fort Riley, he was r,
'eiFed by Col. Montgomery, the con
nian'ier' and the officers generally, wit
s'ea' cordiality. In imitation of Mai,
Vsuen, of Fort Leavenworth, Col. Mon
S0mery had given his appreciation to Il
,ssihs of and building up of the town
~ssnee, near the Fort. In complimel
GOV. Reeder, thepropriesors gave hi
- interest, which was afterwards used
alsetext for his removal.
Iills journey was undertaken for Il
Purpose of learning the geography of Il
unity, the location Of the settlement
~ The distsicting Of the Territory for Il
@nIns election.