Squatter sovereign., 1855-03-13
NEW PAPER.

4 we EtCSifea tIllo HCCA GrSOpy OiAAiS
Kansas Free State, published at Lawrence
Kansas Territory. It is large well
printed sheet, and the editorials evince de-
cided ability. The .Free State seems to
be on good terms with the Governor, defen-
ding him from the charges OF delay in or
ganizing the Government, and in doing so,
virtually admits that the object of the Gov
ernor, is to have the election come off when
their forces are strong enough to carry the
election against the emigrants from Mis-
souri,. He reiterates the old charge, OF
Missourians having voted In the election OF
| Whitfield s#
This is now proven false by the census,
returns, which show that there are more ac-
tuaf resident votes, than were polled at last
election, and that too after very large
number Of the new England gentry had
left, (for they only came here to cote, and
having complied with the contract, LEFT
with Flenniken their imported candidate
The Free States further says. .'He has
only one complaint to make the Govern
or that is for having given Whitfield his
his certificate" alleging that he was elected
fraudulently led and claims for the Governor
the right to decide upon the qualification
of uoters. We here enter our protest
against any such assumption of power on
the part of Governor Reeder. We were
prepared to expect something. Of the kind,
from instructions given by him to the CEN
sus taker.
Gov Reeder has no right to define the
qualification of roter. The bill organi-
zing the Territory, is as explicit as Ian
guage can make it, and the Governor, nor
Judges of elections, have any right to re-
quire anything more or less than the bill
enjoins. The only way known in this coun-
try to prevent fraudulent voting is to swear
the voter, and if he takes the oath, his vote
! is good unless contest arises.
| The Free State further intimates that a
certain time should elapse after one arrives
in the Territory before he is entitled to
vote. He ridicules an articlein the From
tier News, which says: ''That one day
in the Territory constitutes actual resi-
dence, that the Judges of election have a
right to determine who is elected"
We would ask the 'Free State.' if he
will be good enough to tell us how many
days it takes to constitute "actuaI residelce?'
and who can determine the validity of
votes if the Judges of election can not?
The bill creating the Territory does not
fix any length of time for the Squater to
be in the Territory before being entitled to
! to vote.
What Constitutes actual residence?-
the answer is very simple. Its the pres
ence of and individualin the Territory with
the intention of remaining.
How can this intention be known! Ii
can only be knou, to the person himself,
and his oath, is only the evidence of that
intention his mind from some cause might
change; and he may leave the day after
| the election, and still not be perjured, for il
is the intention, not the act Of the person
that qualities him to vote.
Suppose the Governor should undertake
to say that an illegal vote had been polled
how could he ascertain the fact; would he
dare say that man who had sworn tha
this was his home and that he intended too
live here in future, had sworn falsely? car
he know a mans intentions? He is tt
shrewd to venture on such an experiment
Squaters are not slaces get.