The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-07-28
Kansas Affairs.

The Missouri legislature of that territory is
rushing matters TO a crisis. They are ertre-
ly too cagar and fierce to carry their point
they oyerdo the thing so immensely, that
they must inevitably defeat themselves
We have in the st. Louis papers two or
three days moro proceedings of that strange
legislative body, and were the subject not
too grave, VIC should be tempted to publish
them as among the richest comedies ofreal
life.
1t viii be remembered there were two
sets Of members elected from number of
diStricts-onc set whose election was set
aside by the Governor us fraudulent, and
the other set elected in their place We'll,
the first set were admitted 10 seats on the
certificate Of the judges Of election, while The
other set, who had the certificate Of the
Governor the only proper certificate under
the Kansas law, were not permitted even to
show their ccrti!icatcsl
\ bill has been introduced, which it is
said will pass, T,lpiriag ciii.d1s cmiJratiag
rem massachusetts,, or other a0rihern states,
which have annulcd or may nullfy the laws
Of the L. S. (the fugitive slave law on a.
tcrjag haasas 10 take an cath OF allegiance
to support the constitution and h,cs of the
T. s. and the lars Of the territory
Another bill has been introduced and re.
cciycd with favor establishing a poll tax Of
81 on every voter in the territory, and lat cleo
lions hereafter whoever has paid this poll
tax shall be allowed to vote, no matter if he
has been but an hour in the territory, while
whoever has failed to pay it loses his right
to vote.
Now the free state men have concluded
not to recognize the acts of this legislature,
and it is affirmed Gov Reedcr has also deter
mined no longer to do so. Then if they
CO.. to vote at the next election, and have
not paid the poll tax, is there not "smart
chance for row?
We have an account of some of these
Kansas legislators, a gentleman rambling in
that region writes that-"lIc stopped one
night with a farmer named McGCc, near
Wcstport, and about twelve miles from the
Kansas line, in Missouri Mr.. Niece,
showed his commission as member Of the
Kansas Legislature, and was then busy en-
gagged in making arrangements to attend the
session. He spoke without reserve said he
had never lived in Kansas and never in
tended TO, but should remain where lie was,
on his farm. Several other members in
Missouri were also making their arrange.
mcnt. to 80 over and lcgi5latc for the people
of Kansas
Now for the twentieth time, let us say,
these acts Of outrage and folly, for they are
nothing else, can no more be charged to
the Kansas law, than the mobbng Of Judge
Douglas in Chicago can be charged to the
riot act. Men who will thus openly set at
defiance the fundamental law Of that terrific
ry would pay certainly as little, and We have
no doubt, mnch less respect, to the Missouri
Compromise act Had the act organizing
Kansas passed without any reference to that
compromise, these things would have oc-
CURED all the same. The Mi,souriaus Dc
nying the authority Of that act, would have
made rush for the territory, and Massa-
chuseits Immigrant Md Societies would have
organized all tie same to out vote them
when they come to form constitution and
ask admission as state
These things, However, should not be So.
The wise, democratic, and equitable proyis-
ions Of the kausas-Ncbra.ka law should be
enforced in that territory at all hazards,
without fear or favor The very violence Of
the men who now have rule there will com.
pei this, either by executive or congrcssion-
al interference. The people Of Kansas must
govern Kansas.