Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-12-29
popular Sovereignty" in Kansas.

have just returned from a visit Il
Kansas Territory, and was an eyewitness
of the first practical demonstration Of "po
pular sovereignty" under Mr.. Douglas
Kansas and Nebraska bill. More dis.
graceful scenes than were enacted at the
late election for Delegate to represent
Kansas in Congress, have never been wit
messed presume, even in new country.
The game was entirely in the hands ofthe
fire-eating Missourians residing in the
counties along the river, who crossed over
by the hundred at all points, and took
iorcble possession of the polls, to the ex-
clusion of actual and bona-fde residents
of the territory. At the advice and under
the auspices of Senator A.chison, (who re-
sides in Platte County, associations we're
organized for the purpose Of importing
votes from Missouri, and boasts were open.
ly made that large sums Of money had
been raised to pay the expense. The real
voters of Kansas felt disposed not to make
the Slavery question an issue at this elec-
tion, thinking the young Territory had
bther interests that required all their pre-
sent attention, and that the "nigger ques-
ton" could be disposed of in due season
and at the proper time. The Pro Slavery
Missourians insisted on dragging the Sla-
very question into the issue, and fell upon
a Gen. Whitfield, who was an old Indian
Agent, who does not live in the Territory
at all. He resides in the town of Inde-
pendence, Missouri, and Louis Napoleon
would have about as much legal right |
to represent Kansas in Congress. Imust
say that Gov. Reeder acted the part of an
honorable B "a. , "a and honest mar, and endeavored,
election fairly conducted. He appointed
the best and most reliable men he could
end as Judges, with instructions to put
upon oath all who were suspected of COM
ing into the territory for the mere pur-
pose of voting. The territory was divided
into ninteen districts.
happened to be in Westport, town
only three miles from the river, and the
same distance from the Kansas line, the
Sunday and Monday previous to the elec-
ton, and saw all that was going on in
hat quarter. During the whole of Sun
lay, persons passed through that town in
Of from two to thirty, in bug
,ies, wagons, on horseback, and on mules.
Most of them came provided with the in
peculiar to the couutry-pistols,
,owie knives, and whiskey aud were not
It all choice in their language, particular.
y when speaking of those who dared to
litfer with them in opinion. Many of
hem registered their names in the hotels,
esiding at all the towns on the Missouri
ide of the river, and openly laughed at
he idea Of ever making their homes in the
Territory. On Monday morning the tide
# emigration recommended and continued
throughout the day. Every vehicle that
lad wheels to run, and every animal that
,ad legs to 60, were brought into requisi-
ion to carry these ''free independent" vo-
ers to the polls, and by Monday evening
here were scarcely men enoug b left in the
own to take care of the women and child
en-. Nearly the whole male population,
lawyers, doctors, editors, land
ords, merchants, and loafers, all had gone ,
,vcr to Kansas, to show by their presence
heir approval of popular sovereignty ="
Iost of these gentlemen went to point
;nown as "One Hundred and Ten," to
ast their votes, and when the returns ,
rom that district we're received it showed
poll of over sic hundred votcs-and all
or Whitfeld-when every man in Kansas {
,nows that there are not over fifty legal I
o.ers in the district.-Corre.pondence Of ,
he NJ y Tabune.
Kansas News. L
1t is known that some difficulty exists I
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