Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-09-29
FRANCIS BARRY.
ARR1
From the y. Y. Evening Post.
THE CASE OF THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS

As the settlement of Lawrence, in Kansas situa-
ted a about forty miles west of the Missouri boun-
dairy, there were, at the time of the late election,
about three hundred and fifty residents. who were
legal voters. The day before the election seven
hundred men, from Missouri, armed with rifles
and pistols, and bringing with them a feld-piece,
marched into the place under the command of a
fellow calling himself Col. Young. In the course
the day Young met one OF the three judges of
elections, q free state man, but of timid temper
and told him that he had come over, with his mem
to vote in the election, and that if he offered to pre-
vent them, he would have him hanged in an hour.
The menace had such an effect that the man re-
signed his place as judge of the elections.
AT an early hour, Young with his men, surroun-
ded the polls, and when they were opened deman-
ded the vote. Young presented himself and took
the oath that he was a bona .Rdd resident of the
territory. lie was then examined by Mr.. Abbott,
one of the judges of elections.
Do you intend to remain in the territory ?"asked
Mr.. Abbott.
.'That is none Of your business. I swear that |
am u bona fida resident Of the territory, and that
is enough to entitlc me to my vote.-lf anybody
insinuates that purjure myself, will tear his
head off"
81 cannot consent to your voting" said Mr..
ABBOTT, "unless you answer my questions s~atisfac-
torily. Your swearing that you are entitled to
vote does not make you 50. ] must be satisfied that
you are n resident or my oath compels mo to reject
your vote"
Young persisted in claiming his vote, without
answering further; the two associates of Mr.. Abbott
were inundated, and allowed it.-Mr. Abbott,
finding that he would have no support from them
resigned his place, and all of Col. Young's regi-
ment of Missourians were permitted to depositc
their votes, electing q pro-slavery member to the
Legislature. The affair was properly represented
to Gov. Recder. who declared the election illegal,
refused q certificate and ordered a new choice.
This time, a free State member was elected, with
out opposition. lie obtains his certificate of cleo
ton, and presented it at the assembling OF the
Legislature, but they rejected it, declared his place
vacant, and filled it themselves by clecting one Of
their confederates.
This is the manner in which the assembly rec
ognised Dy GOV. Shannon as the genuine Legisla'
ture of Kansas, was constituted. In other settle
ments the same means were used as at Lawrence
the Judges of election were overawed, or else
driven from their post ly the threat of murder.
But the real state Of the case was represented
to Governor Reeder only in a few instances
Throughout the territory, fve-sevenths of tho resi-
dents at least are decidedly against the introduc
ton of slavery, and would have elected a legisla
ture of that way of thinking if they had been per
mitted to vote.
We have thought it proper to recur to these cir
/ cumstances that they may serve as a sort of com
mentary on Governor Shannon's speech to hi
friends AT Westport. The means by which these
men procured their return to the legislature are az
piohiBaio hhQ pIutui no ~ pioouJ NNSiNSo "hhN'
Governor Shannon tells the people of Westport hi
goes out to enforce. We hear from the territory
that the people of Kansas are determined not tC
submit to them, and that they will give him an op
portunity Of satisfying himself whether he has hal
the power of fulfilling his threat. Is there any
man in the Northern States who does not sympa
thize with them in this manly resolution? Is there
any man worthy to live urdcr a free government
himself, who would refuse his contribution to thu
means by which these gallant men may be enabled
to defend their liberties against a course of violence
and usurpation which hardly deigns to cover itsel
with the thinest mask of legality.
Governor Shannonis intellect seems to be Of mucl
the same quality with his political honesty. Ill
tells the people of Westport that Kansas ought II
be a slave territory because Missoari lying coutig
ious to it, IS q slave State. BY the SAM rule Obi,
should be a slave State, because it lies on the Dor
ders OF Virginia and Kentucky. By the same rul,
Illinois, lying next to Missouri, should DO a slav,
State or we might reverse thu obligation, and sa,
that Missouri ought 10 abolish slavery because slh
borders upon two free States, Illinois and Iowa.