The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-10-13
The Meager Vote.

The m6aser SotS.
Every sort of an apology IS given by
the pro-savery papers for the meager
vote of that party on the ist inst. The
Leavenworsh Herald ascribes it to "That
Tax" and says -
Ne fear that many refused to vote
on Monday, thinking thereby to save the
necessary tax of one dollar, in their own
pockets. The tax will not be thus saved,
simply because it was a tax, and nsssst
be paid
The Kekapoo Pioneer ascribes it to
the same reason, as follows -
1--WE are sorry to see that the vote in
this county Leavenworth is not so large
asitwaslastspring foFmembersofthe Leg
islature; however, this can be accounted
for by many persons being engaged in
the surveying of their clrims, as also a
misunderstanding on the part of many
in regard to paying poll taxes-having
attended the election without dollar in
their pockets"
The Frontier News says =
"The aggregate vote is small sufi-
cient however, for all practical purposes.
Three obvious causes produced the mea-
ger turnout. The prevalence of chill
and fever, the dollar tax, and the alb
sence of excitement in consequence oi
there being no opposition to Gen. Whit
field"
"That tax, it seems, has operated
against the party by whom it was adopt
ed. 1t was designed as an instrument oi
oppression against the Free State Party
By the showing ofthe pro-slavery press il
has, Haman-like, operated against them
selves but not to the extent which our eli,
emies would have us believe. Money was
raised in great profusion in Missouri
and sent here for the purpose of paying
"that tax"
Chills and fever has prevented many
Free State men from attending the polls
but has not, to any considerable extent
operated prejudicial to the pro-slayery
party, from the fact that the pro-slayery
vote is made up almost entirely of West
ern men who have been acclimated; but
the Free State vote is made up of east
ern and northern men who principly
came hero in the spring, and are suffer
ing from the diseases. common to q
change of climate.
Every artifce was resorted to with
the view of getting up an excitement
with the view of importing large bodies
ofmen from Missouri, but their efforts
we're abortiye to great extent. The
illegal voting is seen along the border,
and away from the settlements. Wyan-
dot, the Shawnee Reservation, Kickapoo,
Willow Springs. Lecompton, &c, could
poll heavy votes, but these towns dens-
ly populated show no votes scarcely fol
the party.
1t is represented that Shareholders
did not pay their emissaries well in the
spring, and this is no doubt the real
cause why larger vote could not be got
this fail from Missouri. Thousands
came here in the spring who were
prompted by desire to see the country
together with the romance attending the
expedition. They were to be paid one
dollar day for their services, and have
their expenses bourne; and in some i'll
stances, were promised 16O acres o
land in addition. We have been furnish,
ed with numberless anecdotes showing
that the money as well as the land wer,
not forthcoming. One wealthy ole
planter who repudiated the obligation
was called upon for a payment out 0
his hide. His face was badly beatel
and his nose broken down, and is seel
to-day in Morgan county with his nasa
appendage badly Topped, with promis'
pending over him that the next time Il,
repudiates his obligations, it shall b,
Topped the othsr ,roy