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patched a messenger to carry this memorial to Washington. But before he reached his destination, the Administration had already determined upon the removal of Mr. Reeder, who was officially notified to that effect.

CHAPTER XVI.

CAUSES OF REEDER'S REMOVAL CONSIDERED.

The causes alleged for the removal of Governor Reeder were "speculating in town lots, convening the Legislature on a United States military reserve, and of speculating in Kaw lands." But the real cause was that he had not been obsequious to slave propagandists.

The eastern boundary of Fort Riley, as made by the survey in the summer of 1854, was on One Mile Creek, one mile east of the fort. Below this, for several miles, stretched a beautiful valley, upon which the officers of the fort, in imitation of their superiors at Fort Leavenworth, together with several free state men, proposed to build a town. They laid it out and called it Pawnee, after the Indian tribe that once owned the lands. It was considered by those at that time, that such a movement, if successful, would be a great advantage to the fort and surrounding country, by calling settlers there. Colonel Montgomery, the commander of the post, was the leader in the enterprise. The town was laid out with the knowledge and consent of the authorities at Washington, in the fall of 1854.

Such was the condition of affairs there when Governor Reeder took a share in the town by paying the usual prices. He having determined to have the Legislature meet there, the inhabitants had erected several hotels for the accommodation of the members.

Jeff. Davis, on receiving complaints from Missouri, cause d another military commission to make a survey, which again reported One Mile Creek as the Eastern boundary of the reserve. A map of this survey was prepared and sent to the Department, with red lines showing where the boundaries would be to exclude Pawnee, and blue lines showing where they would be to include Pawnee. The Secretary of War, seeing the town still excluded, took a pen, drew a red line around it, and wrote on it, "Accepted within the red lines," took it to the President and secured his signature to it. He then issued orders for the removal of the inhabitants from that part of the reserve. This order remained a

dead letter until the fall of 1855, when Major Cook arrived at Fort Riley, with one thousand dragoons, from Texas. He, upon seeing the order, immediately, but politely, informed the inhabitants that they must effect their removal or he would be compelled, with reluctance, to do it for them. Most of the townsmen complied with this requisition, but a few persisted in remaining. After being repeatedly warned to remove, their houses were finally assailed by the soldiers, torn down, and the inmates left exposed to the inclement blasts of winter.

Such, indeed, is the history of the ill-fated Pawnee, the first capital of Kansas. Such was the town referred to in the charge against Mr. Reeder "in speculating in town lots," and such the military reserve where he called the Legislature to meet. At Leavenworth the town was laid off and settled contrary to the most sacred treaties, but all such irregular proceedings were "winked at," because the leading property holders were pro-slavery men.

The half-breed Kaw lands extended along the north side of the river from Lecompton a short distance above Topeka, twenty-three miles in length and one in width. The owners of these lands could not sell them without the sanction of the general Government. A company, of which Governor Reeder was one, made arrangements to buy a portion of

this land at $4.00 per acre whenever the President's consent should be obtained. As this was never secured the whole thing failed. This was the half-breed Kaw land speculation for which Mr. Reeder was removed. The Delaware land, immediately adjoining these, was sold soon after for only $1.50 per acre. So it seems the "speculation" would not. have proven very lucrative if the purchase had been made. The conduct of Mr. Reeder in Kansas is beautiful and praiseworthy. He shaped his actions by principle and not by the influence of party. Indeed, he knew no party in the performance of his duty, and has been truly styled "the great non-committal." He acted and stood by himself because all others acted from political motives and looked to party triumph. With his eyes intently fixed upon the great and equitable principle of Popular Sovereignty, with ears deaf to contumely and applause, he labored only to see his principles impartially carried out. The consequence was he had few warm and substantial friends among eith er party. The free state men only admired him for many things, while the pro-slavery men despised him, not because he did not act in accordance with the principles of Squatter Sovereignty, but because he would not act as they wished him. His position was a trying one upon principle. A devoted Democrat himself, holding his office at the pleasure of a Democratic administration, surrounded by political friends who received him with outstretched arms, he had every influence to bend him from the convictions of duty; whereas there was little to gain in favoring free state men who in those days were held in the most abject contempt. But one act stains his administration, and that is his issuing certificates of election to the Missouri members of the Legislature.

One might suppose from the frequent accusations of speculation in lands that he was mercenary. While it can not be denied that, like Pennsylvanians in general, he liked a "good turn," yet his pecuniary transactions in the terri

tory were the most equitable and honest. He never owned but little real estate in Kansas.

Let the people of this Territory cherish the memory of its first Governor, who in the days of its weakness and trials was "faithful among the faithless found." Let aspiring young men imitate his adherence to principle, and posterity will award them their just meed of praise.

Although the members of the Legislature were willing to petition Mr. Reeder's removal for alleged land speculations, they did not deem it unbecoming in themselves to indulge in worse transactions. According to their enactment that empowered the Legislature to appoint officers in the Territory, they proceeded to create offices and elected their own members to fill them, unmindful of their constituency in Missouri. In this way W. P. Richardson was made MajorGeneral, and W. G. Stickler, Wm. Barber and Captain Sutler, Brigadier-Generals of the Territorial Militia. In the same manner pro-slavery Sheriffs, Constables, Judges, and Justices of the Peace were constituted. They created joint stock companies with extraordinary privileges, chartered prospective railroads, all the advantages of which charters and corporate franchises were chiefly conferred upon themselves. They located the capital at Lecompton, where a large sum of public money was to be expended. But the advantages shared by the members of the Legislature in this speculation were never fully known.

Such conduct as this by the members of this quasi-Legislature was very reprehensible in the eyes of their Missouri constituents. Many of the latter, who had spent time and money to carry the election, justly regarded themselves entitled to a part of the profits, and expressed great dissatisfaction at this speculative and official monopoly of the Legislature.

On the removal of Mr. Reeder, the Governorship was tendered to Hon. John L. Dawson, of Pennsylvania, who declined it. Hon. Wilson Shannon, of Ohio, was then ap

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