Kansas weekly herald., 1854-12-01
The Election and Probable
ROuakEafS0aa Of Klxaaslxa Ter.

1. On "Wednesday last the sovereign people
| Of Kansas Territory exercised the high
privilege Of the elective franchise. 1t was
the first election ever held in the Territory,
and was fora Delegate to Congress. AS
was to be expected, ii was a great day fora
new country, but now that the smoke of
battle is cleared away, We can survey the
field and count the cost.
Early in the morning the people began
to collect, and soon our streets were filled.
It's estimated by many that there were at
least six or seven hundred persons present.
Of that number were many of our neighbors
from across the river, who felt deep in
terest in the result of the election, and tho
some of them may have voted, yet there
must have been at least 200 who did not
vote as evidenced by the poll book, for there
were only about three hundred votes polled.
Considerable excitement existed. as was
to be expected at this the first election in
the Territory, and great anxiety mani
tested to have the polls opened at an early
hour, The preliminaries being settled af.
ter some objections were s1rged as to the
eligibility of one of the Judges, and supply
ing the place of one who had resigned,
the polls were opened at 10 o'clock, and
there was a general rush for the window
where the votes were received. The crowd
soon became restless at the slow process of
taking votes, the Judges having to examine
many as to their. residence and quaifca-
tions, and the excitement at times waxed
warmer and warmer. But never faltering
or growing weary, the crowd continued to
press forward, and never until the going
down of the sun, did they cease their efforts.
If Bingham had been here he could have
obtained a sketch that would far have ex-
ceeded his celebrated drawing of the 'sCoun-
Ity Election" 1t was one general push
along, keep voting, with an occasional OUT
burst Of feeling for their favorite candidate.
While in the distance might be seen some
one mounted on a rock or log, delivering a
harrangue at the top of his voice. and an
other on horseback crying vote boys, vote,
and another, now's the day and now's the
hour. All this while the crowd is pushing
forward, and some one having to give back
and determining to get his vote in, ties his
ticket to rock, and gives it all the force he
has, casts it In at the window-crying out
I belong to the Hards.
Take the election altogether It passed off
as quietly as could be expected, without any
fighting.
The election principally turned upon one
issue-slayery and anti-slavery It could
not be kept out of the canvass-whig and
democrat was lost sight of, and that ques-
ton absorbed all others. Gen. Whitfield
was supported as the pro-slavery candidate,
while Mr.. Flenneken received the votes of
the anti-slayery party. We presume every
man who is in favor of making Kansas
free State, voted for Mr.. Flenneken, and
the number is 81 all told. And if we are
to believe what was given out before the
election, he received the support of some of
both sides without reference to this issue.
If this is yhe case then it would reduce the
number of anti-slavery votes.
This election is claimed as great triumph
for the pro-slayery influence. And though
the Delegate elect may have nothing to do
directly with this question, yet the election
of Gen. Whitfield, will have considerable
influence abroad in determining a large
,u,,,bor IF ,,oreo,S f=oy,, .]o,,,b oI5;,, C+o4o.
to emigrate to this Territory. We hope it
may have this effect. for it will help to swell
our population.
The vote given at three districts, one of
them being very small, averages $50
Some of the districts yet to hear from, the
vote will exceed five hundred 1.-THE eigh-
teen Districts average 222 votes, it viii
make an aggregate of four thousand votes,
calculating five souls to each voter, which
is a low estimate, it will give a population
of twenty thousand inhabitants. Just think
Of it, only four months since country only
inhabited by few traders and the Indians;
now containing population of twenty thou
sand. And this too, has been brought
about at season of the year, when provis-
ions are scarce and very high, and winter
approaching so as to deter thousands from
moving. What may we reasonably expect
next season? In twelve months from this
time Kansas will have population of one
hundred thousand, and will be knocking at
the door of Congress for admission into the
Union, as one of the sovereign independent
States. -