Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-05-24

by themselves, Threats Bnd violent demon
stratons were rife, and another clergyman,
for the ex"ression of his opinion, was assault
ted and beaten. The inhabitants OF the Dis
trict, powerless to resist the abundant supply
of arms and ammunition, the organized pre-
paraton and the overwhelming numbers Of
these foreigners, left the polls without vO.
ting.
In the Lawrence District, where was the
largest camp OF these invaderss speeches were
nude to them by leading residents of Missou-
ri in which it was said that they would car
ry their purpose if need be at the point of the
buyonet and bowie-knirc, and one voter was
fred at as he was driven from the election
ground. Finding they had greater force
than was neceas sary for that poll, some two
hundred men were drafted from the number
and sent of under their proper officers to
smother district after which they st'!l polled
from this camp over seven hundred votes.
( In the fourth and seventh districts, along
the Sunte Fe road, similar scenes were en-
acted. The invaders came together in one
armed and organized body, with trains OF
fifty wagons, besides horse ,and the night
before election pitched their camp in the Vi
cinity of the polls, and having appointed
their own Judges in place of those who, from
intimidation or otherwise, failed to attend
they voted without any proc! Of residence -
In these two election districts, where the
census show one hundred voters, there we're
polled three hundred and fourteen votes, aud
last fall seven hundred and sixty-fve votes,
although a large portion Of the actual resi-
dents did not vote on either occasion. 10
the sixteenth election district, Hundreds of
men came together as in other cases, eros.
sing the river; from ri .ouri the day before
the election, and encampng together; arm
ed and provsioued, made the tiercest threats
against the Ewes OF the judges, and during
the night called several times at the house
OF one OF them for the purpose of intimiia
ting him, declaring in the presence of his
wife, that a rope had been prepared to hang
him: and although we are not prepared to
say that these threats would have been car
riei out, vet they serv9I TO produce his re-
signa,ion, and give these Invaders, in tie
substitution, control Of the polls; anil on the
morning Of the election a steamtoat brought
from the town OF Weston, Missouri, to Lea
venw or h, an accession to their numbers Of
several hundred more. who returned in the
same boat. after deposting their votes
There were over nine hundred and fifty votes
locd besides from one hundred 10 one hun
dred anc fifty actual residents who were de-
tered or discouraged from voting; while
the census returns show but three hundred
aud eigh'y-ive votes in the district month
Later. Not less than six hundred votes were
here given by these non-rcsiJents of the
I'm, hair,
: 10 their qualifications, and Immediately after
the election returned to n sSouri-some OF
i them being incumbents Of important offices
. there Indeed, SO we'll was the character OF
this foreign vote understood, that the judges
struck out of the prescribed form of return
the words "bv lawf resident voters"
: We might continue the list ,f these sick
p, ening details until the blood of everv free
man would boil with indignation, bu. it is
l useless! One more instance alone we will
, refer to. In the eighteenth election district,
where the population was scarce,and no great
amount of foreign votes was needed to over
= power it, a detachment fr m Missouri, from
y sixty to one hundred, passed in with trGin
d of wagons, arms and ammunition, making
d their camp the night before the election near
/ Moorestown, the place o: the polls, without
even preteXt of residence, and returning
e Immediately 10 Missouri after the work was
t done, their leader and captain being a diSttn.
= guishsd citizen OF Missouri, but late The pres
{ iIine officer ofMe Senate Of the United States,
t and acho had bowie-knife and revolver belted a.
round him, apparently ready 10 shed The blood
d of any man whO refused to be ehstared. All
= these facts we ae prepared to establish, II
d necessary, by proof that would be competent
i in court ofjustite.
= From a careful examination Of the returns
l. we are satisfied that over three Thousand
n votes were thus cast by the citizens and res
n idents of the States, and that very large
r, portion of the residents were deferred or dis
81 couraged from going to the polls. If this
: condition uf things is allowed TO prevail, VIC
= ere reduced to the state oc a vassal province
;: and are governed by the State of Missouri.
1t would be mere affeciation in US to at
l. tempt to disguise the fact that the questi 1r
r of making Kanzas Free or Slave State is
If at the bottom OF this movement, aud that the
TO men who thus invade our soil and rob US o
to cur liberties, are from the pro-Slavery men o
st Missour, who are unwilling to submit th'
Ps question to the people of the territory, an
Sc abide the compact between the North an
If South, which the Kanzas-Nebraska bi
ne cont ,ins.
,ir The compact we want carried out, and b
nd titt test we want the question settled 1t
at cua be; but there arc few things that W
if would not prefer to the domination OF IRE
c. sponsble invaders from Missouri. Fiat er
actmcnt is not only law which States an
2 individuals are bound to obey, but it is con
ed pact between the North and the South
G. solemn covenant between the sovereig
W. States Of our Union, which none can VIZ
'as la'e without becoming recreant to the pril
is cipleS of honor and justice-withont the b.
~ travail of confidence reposed--without sue
tn breaking Of pligh,ed faith, as in an indv
a ual, would load MIN to the earth with sror
he and co ltempt, an drive him from the soc
cir ETY. o. honest men. The bill which NoFthe
Ia