Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-26
The Recent Kansas Election.

friends of the journal out of q vast deal of
especial thunder
The Recent Kansas Election.
Stories of the most distorted character have
been circulated throughout the Union concern /
ing the recent election in Kansas. The cor
respondent Of the New York Tribune, partic-
ularlv, seems to have written when IN an
awful condition of excitement, his hair crisping
with the heat of his brain, and his neck al
most out Of Joint from sheer woltshness. Out
of the savagest of fanatic correspondence, the
ultra Freesoil papers have attempted to make
capital sufficient to last until the next slave
case" or " anti-Slave Convention" But now
the truth is gradually being ascertained, and
though many outrages certainly were commit
ted, nothing transpired so essentially awful
as the New York IITJ1mes correspondent
would have led one to believe. In the first
place, there was an immense quantity of bad
whisky consumed, as has always been the
case in bacl-woods or back-prairie elections
The lire-water has been a blighting curse to
the pioneers, North and South, and elections
in "new countries have been distinguished
for turbulence But this Kansas election has
been more disorderly than any of which we
have any knowledge, and this fact results
from the combination of whisky and the
slavery question, the two things that cause
most agitation in this country. When the
Missouri Compromise was repealed, 1t will be
remembered much was said in New England
about sending out emigrants, that Emigrant
Aid Societies were formed, and quite an ex-
raisea But, as is Characteristic
of the most fierce of anti-slaverv men, --T5rds
more multtudinous than deeds, more speeches,
circulars, editorials and "appeals T" were sent
forth, than emigrants; and the Missourians,
taking the hint, organized. to head of the Aid
Associatons-a great number of them became
Iona ftle settlers of tue new land of promise,
and forces were drilled to cross the frontiers
on occasion and vote.
Now it seems to us that if the eastern peo-
pie had not manifested such feverous fury to
foreStall the question of slavery in kans9s, by
sending out emigrants expressly because they
were hostile to the peculiar institution" and
had been content to leave the settlement of
Kansas to the natural and proper course, this
Missourian invasion would not have happened.
The flourish of trumpets in New England and
the stories of the many thousands that were
to bessent forth to conquer the new territory,
wax ed up the residents of the rich and popu-
lous counties bordering on Kansas, who OF
course felt very deep and special interest in
the matter agitated and being nearest the
scene of action they were first on the ground.
But the rumors Of this Missouri fOray are
gross exaggerations. Governor Reeder, who
is universally known to have no sympathy
with slavery, has granted certificates of cleo
ton to nine Councilmen (Senators) and fifteen
Representatives, comprising a majority OF
both houses, and of these certified members,
only one in each house is Freesoiler. The
rest of the districts have been contested, and
certificates withheld until the Attorney
Generals opinion is obtained as to Reeders
right to set aside any of the elections" 1t
certainly appears from this that in all cases
where Governor Reeder has granted cert IL
Gates, the election was not contested, or he
was satisfied that the exclusion of illegal votes
would not have changed the result.
The ultra Freesoil journals are in terri
bic way with the term 'pro-slavery," and
profess to believe that all citizens of Kansas
who decline to act with them are determined
TO make that territory a slave State. Gen.
Whitefeld was called "a pro-slayery man, "
but he says that he considers his election only
as an endorsement of the Nebraska Law.
The Kansas Herald of Freedom says:
"In our own election district We are assured
that very large majority of the settlers from
Missouri have expressed themselves in favor
ofm liking Kansas free, providing free negroes
can be excluded. IF negroes are TO he per-
mitted to locate in the Territory at ALL say
they, ''we are in favor of bringing them in
and retaining them as slaves They claim
that they left Missouri TO get away from the
NEGRO; and whether in bondage or outof it,
/ they have the same prejudice against them,
with the exception that they dislike the free
negro the worst.
4 "Many of our population from Iowa, Hi
nois and Indiana take the same position"
We are inclined to believe, from all the
/ evidence we can gather, that at the time OF
/ the late election, there was an honest bona fde
majority of Southerners in the territory, and
that there was not little trickery on both
sides. To learn that the emigration from
/ Missouri was very large, it is only necessary
/ to examine the Missouri and Kansas papers
/ One of our Kansas exchanges SAYS:
/ Both of the ferry boats at this place have
/ been busy during the past weeks, crossing
emigrants. Most of the people moving into
/ the Territory are from Missouri, and bring
l lOpS, &C. &C. over blc
crossed last week.
There is no occasion for the scorching ex.
element being discussed about this election,
and if every little row kiched up on the wide
and opulent prairies of Kansas among the
/ floods of emigrants pouring in there from all
sections, is to be magnifed and distorted into
a grands battle, and every wagon train from
Mssouriis TO be denomnated q caravan of in
vasion, the whole country will be kept in hot
water for the next five years, which is not
consummation that we wish.
The correspondent Of the New York TIL.
June, who has written such horrible and glow.
ing accounts of Missouri violence, is described
by correspondent of the New York Post
(also a free-soileC as "a very meddlesom,
man." who ''made his appearance at the polli
with notebook and pen, and proceeded t.
take down every remark made by any ont
holding pro-slayery sentiments"
Now this course of proceeding, while hi
eye rolled in fine frenzy, and he fancied him
%self engaged in the performance of a mighty
and tranScendental mission, soon excited ;
feeling of hostility, and he was ordered Il
leave the ground but he tarried and worked
hard and harder at his notes. until it was pro
posed to accelerate his movement by the ap
plication of gunpowder in connection with ;
small quantity of lead, and then, says the
writer in the Post:
Not being AT all partial to the "villainou
saltpetre," he took precipitate measures T.
secure a safe exit When last seen he wa
taking due west course at 2:40 pace. Thu
supposition is that he will not bring up befor
reaching Fort Riley. under the protection o
the guns of which he will no doubt plac
himself"
Now, that man should write good tong
story, after such an adventure, is not at al
strange, but his statements should, we imagine
be taken with liberal discount.
Here is another incident, as recorded in tn
Post:
Mr. Edwin Bonds, a prominent membe
of the Laurence Association, and addicte,
somewhat to the "manly art of Defence" o
! in other words, regular "Mose," from tn