Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-12-08
KANSAS.

Ex-Governor Reeder delivered lecture
ut Trenton, n. j., on Thursday last in the
course of which he made the following im-
portant statement -
"He proceeded to state that after his ap-
pointment as Governor, and previous to his
leaving home, he received numerous intima-
tions that plot was concerted to overwhelm
the ballot-box by Missouri votes, and to
prevent the people of Kansas from governing
themselves. He thought it most judcious to
preserve silence concerning this matter, and
he communicated it only to him to whom it
was his duty to commit it, (meaning the Ma
tional Executive.) In st. Louis he was ap-
preached and the plot was avowed, and he
was asked if he would sanction the proceed
ing. He treated the matter as gently and
courteously as possible determined to avoid
exciting, if he could, any disorder, and hoping
the plot would not be put into execution.
But he soon found that it was no chimera
A secret society had been organized in Mis-
sonri for sending voters into Kansas. Es-
teeming the ballot box as the guardian of
freedom, he determined to guard it as sacred
ly as possible. He had no alternative bnt to
neglect his duty, forfeit his responsibility,
lose his self-respect, and damn himself to
everlasting oboquy, or to perform his duty in
storm of prescription, intolerance, and
menace, such as he had not expected.
There was but one course for an honest man
to protect the ballot box, to prescribe
careful forms of election, and stringent oaths.
This he did, and from that time to this the
storm has not ceased Before the March
election, 1854, he was again approached and
promised forgiveness and many other things,
il he would throw off responsibility upon the
judges Of election, and accept their returns
as valid, without examining or deciding on
them. lie again refused, but courteously
although irrevocably. He had previously
announced to his southern colleagues his in
tended course of action, and he detied them
to assert that it was not correct. In No
vember 1854, Whitfield was undoubtedly
elected Congressional delegate, even after
deducting illegal votes, the Free State party
being then in minority, and their strength
being divided.
The census was taken in the winter and
the election for members Of the Legislature
ordered for March The Mssourans and
pro-slavery men then determined to make
their grand struggle. Several weeks preyi-
Gus to the election, companies of armed men
numbering from so to 100 each, all having
weapons, and one of them couple Of field
pieces, began marching into the territory.
boasting that they would carry every election
district. They encamped around the polls
on the night previous to the election; in the
morning they took possession of the polls in
some Instances. in Others they ntimidated
the judges, in others drove them awav, and
In some cases used violence. When they
presented themselves to vote, the Judges de-
elared they must take the prescribed oath
they swore they would have no oaths, aud in
one place man drew his knife, and threa.
tened TO kill the first man that took an oath ;
IN another free state voter who went up to
tske the oath was thrown from the window.
AS supplement TO this statement, We
append the following from the St. Louis
Evening News of the 2Ith =
STARTLING REPoRT.--There was q report
At Columbia last Friday, that a general fght
had occurred in Kansas Territory, in which
ehirsg or forty were killed. The report needs
confirmation"