Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-08-03
Corr, stondence Of The Indianapolis Journal.
Interesting Letter from Kansas.

orrt 81 ioEdence OF The Indianapolis journal
Interesting Letter from Kansas.
PAwNEE, Kansas Territory,
July 7tb, 1855.
MEesRs. EDIToRs: ~ ou will, no doubt,
be astonished at the new light thrown up
on legislation, constitutional law, and the
powers of Congress, by the Legislature Of
Kansas, which adjourned from this place
yesterday, after session of FIVE days The
first bill introduced after the House was or
ganzed, was to adjourn the Legislature
from this place to Shawnee Mission, or
Manual Labor School, located about two
miles from Missouri, near Westport.
Mr.. Hutchinson, a free State member,
made speech against it, arguing that the
organic act authorized the Governor to To-
cate the first Legislature, and determine the
place Of holding its sessions--that they
had no power to order the Governor to
move his Office and locate it permanently
at the Indian School; government had been
to the expense of fitting up large two
story stone building, sixty feet long by thir
ty wide, with suitable desks, &c.-and the
citizens had been at much expense in pre-
pairing for their accommodation-and the
officers at ,Ft. Riley had generously offered
them what accommodations they should
lack in the town, with carriage at their
service, free Of expense, to take them 10
and from their place of meeting-he tho't
it unwise, unnecessary, and contrary to ;he
organic act making it territory, DC. The
Speaker, Mr.. Sringfellow, said there was
no use in spending time 10 discuss this BILL
They had determined aCkat course to pur
sac tUo months ago. They had told Gov.
Reeder what to expect, DC. The bill final
| ly passed. The Governor vetoed il. 1t
was then passed by two-thirds majority.
A committee was appointed TO wait on the
Governor and tell him the result lie re-
piled, tAat by that act they had dissOlped
AemselVes. that he should not tollow them
nor take any further notice of their pro-
ceedings. Fhey Uere no longer legislature.
Early the first or second day of the ses-
sion, resolution was introduced appoint
ing a committee on contested elections,
with Instructions to examine persons and
papers. No seat was contested. No per-
son was sent for. But on the second day
after their appointment, the committee re-
ported that they had large bundle of pa
pers put in their hands by the Governor,
concerning election frauds, &c, but they
had not opened.
They had also concluded not to examine
the persons elected atthe May election, and
holding seats by authority of the Govern
or's certificate, as they had determined be-
fore they came here, hOO TO dispose of this
matter. They would therefore recommend
that all persons elected at the first election
OF March 3lst, in Kansas, rOAether an the
opinion of tie Governor they were elected
legally or illegally, should be entitled to
their seats, and that all those elected at the
second election Should retire This report
was adopted. And the members holding
free State principles we're expelled without
trial or examination.
One of them (Mr. Jesse) said as he had
not been heard before the committee, he
would state to the House that he was clerk
of the first election, held in the third rep
resentative district. That early on the
dag of election, before many of the settlers
had come in, body of armed men from
Missouri, numbering about three hundred
came to the polls and took violent posses
sion of the ballotb box. They drove away
the officers appointed by the Governor, and
put in some of their number. They then
proceeded to vote in a pro-savery delega-
ton from the district. The people repudi-
ated it, aud the Governor set the election
aside as illegal, and ordered a new one
The result was that at the mex: election
the free soil ticket was elected by an over
powering majority. And be had no doubt
but that three-fourths of the voters in Kan
sas were for making it Free State.
Mr.. Wattles said as his days of legisla-
ton were drawing to a close, be must ex-
press his admiration to the House for the
frankDess and openness that had character
lied all their proceedings. He thanked
the chairman of the committee on contested
elections for his frankness in disclosing TO
the House and the North, this new and un-
heard of method of dealing with persons
holding contested seats He also thanked
the Speaker for his candor in stating that
discussion on these questions was Of no use,
as they we're determined on by the pro-
slavery party two months ago, and they bad
told Governor Reeder so. He also thanked
the House for expelling him from it as
member. They had fairly come out and
made the issue. He was ready TO take it
up as they had laid it down, untrammelled
and unembarrassed by any other question
Shall Kansas be Free State or Slave
State? Let the sovereign squatters of
Kansas determine this.
1t is to such a place as this that they
want to 60, where they can intimidate and
overawe by violence, the Legislation of our
country.
This fall will be the time for emigrants
from the free States to roll in. Bring cloth
ing sheeting, DC, and send plows. The
question will soon be settled. Indiana can
settle it alone.