The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-12-05
kansas Alfalfa.

kansas Affairs.
The following remarks Of the New York
Journal Of Commerce are able and Judi
.%cious; presenting the Kansas question in
a fair light. We heartily commend it to
our readers:
1T is very evident to all fair minded
people throughout the country, that the
Kansas Legislature was elected by votes
imported from Missouri, and that the ac-
tual settlers were o%verbornc in the contest
by that fraud; and, although Gov. Reeder
is estopped by his formal recognition of
it from taking this g~round--a point he
was called upon to decide by virtue Of the
act of Congress-we yet feel pursuaded
that the fraud should induce the house of
Representatives. TO reject the claims of
Gen. Whitfield as a delegate. There is
no question that the fraud of the election
entered into the character Of every act
passed at Shawnee, and gave to them the
peculiar and The bad complexion by which
they are marked. BY legalizing them.
effect is given to the fraud, and it's repe-
tition is invited there and elsewhere, in
contests of the same character. The true
principles of the Nebraska act, which
seeks to give to the people Of the Terri
tory the complete regulations of their do
nestle concerns, is oyerthrown by a Con-
gressional recognition of an election for
members of the Legislature, the result of
which was due entirely to imported voters.
The actual settlers of Kansas were not
represented in that Legislature; they do
not sympathize with its proceedings; they
condemn its tone and its violence, and
they repudiate its acts, as being in truth
those of strangers, who come in, on the
day of the election, to shape the organi-
cation of the Territory so as to suit the
Institutions of the adjacent State. Gov
ernor Reeaer, who had ordered that the
Legislature should be held at Pawnee--
the spot Of his speculations in real estate
instead Of taking firm ground against
the legality of the election, recognized its
validity, and sent in his message as Gov
ernor to the Legislature thus elected.
at is true that this recognition of them
complicates the matter, inasmnch as he
was the person named by the act of Con
gress TO make a decision; but under the
power to regulate the Territories confer
ed Oh Corgr, IS, that body may obyiate
the difficulty by rejecting a fraudulent
election. and remandiug the whole CUES
ton back for settlement Gy the people of
the Territory. There are various reasons
of an imposing character for this policy,
some of which we proceed to present
If the fraud shall be persisted in, it will
keep alive a powerful organization having
for its object to correct the difficulty, which
will ultimately prevail, as indeed. it ought
to prevail, in o%verturning the fraud. 9.
The public mind, which was excited in
some quarters to a high pitch by applying
the principle of the Compromise bill as
respects Texas, Kansas and Nebraska,
Qeading to unfriendly feelings between the
North and South would return to its old
and safe track, if this fraud were repudi-
ated by those who appear to derive bene-
fit from it, but we cannot, i'll the long run,
owing to the inherent weakness and injus-
lice of an attempt to maintain what is
wrong. 3. The repudiating of the fraud
would quiet agitation now directed against
the principle Of popular sovereignty, which
agitation derives its chief aliment from the
circumstances attending the Inauguration
of the Territorial government of Kansas.
The claim of Gov. Reeder to be re-
cognized as a delegate seems to us to be
wholly preposterous. The act organizing
the Territory requires the time, place and
manner of holding elections for Congress
sional delegates, shall be prescribed by
law. 1t is not pretended that the cleo.
ton Of Reeder was conformed, in respect
Of time, place, nd>manner,' to the pre-
scription of law. The rejection of Whit
fed, therefore, can iii 10 degree impair
strength or color to the claim of Reeder
The claims OF both are so repugnant to +;
Just construction OF the law, is hart
5 to determine what advantage of argumen
either has in his favor. Ii the adherent
OF Whitfield assumed the cloak of law t.
cover fraudulent voting, the partlsans O
Reeder acted avowcdly without authorit,,
of law, and base their claim solely on th
: fact that, as actual residents of the Terri
' tory, they are the proper persons to dc
clare its will.
'sBut the voice of the people can onl
be expressed with legal force and eifeo'
: when it is uttered at the time and place
and in the manner, prescribed by law
The popular reclamation under whic
iReeder- claims q seat in the United State