The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-08-04
THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST >. 1855


THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST ., 1855
Kansas.
From the Kansas Tribune, of July II, we
gather some additional facts about the Kansas
Legislature. It seems that the Pro-Slavery
members, who were chosen by the Missouri
mob, declined to present the Governors GER
tihcates as evidence of their election, but con-
tented themselves with fling return OF the
fraudulent votes polled for them. The Free
State members presented the Governors cer-
tifcates as their credentials, which were re-
ferred to a committee. The Tribune tells the
remainder of the story thus:
"On Wednesday morning the House Com
mite on Credentials reported against all the
Free State men obtaining seats. They were
elected unanimously. except one vote-a Free
State man whose seat was undisputed. The
House adopted the Missouri Code of Laws.
(but the Senate had not acted upon it.) when
they adjourned to the Missouri State line
Shawnee Msson-to enjoy the healthful
breezes OF the Westport, (Mo.) Frog Pond and
other fumes equally reviving, always to be
found in that enterprising neighborhood.
The action Of the Council was very similar.
The Free State men were elected by about the
same process, but one man voting against 1t
Mr.. E. Chapman. of this place.
Both Houses refused to consider or hear the
protests, and affdavits in relation to the first
election and denied the right to go behind the
first Judges certificate of election. Such was
the position taken by all the Slavery
speakers They were bitter in their denun-
citation of Free State men, and declared that
so long as they hved Kansas should not be a
Free State any how.
The action Of this selfstyled Legislature is
but the carrying out of the fraud aud villainy
perpetrated at the pOlls--outrages unparal-
leled in the history Of this Government.
And so the Free State members legally cho-
sen were expelled. and the Missouri men claim
ing seats admitted in their stead. The Gov
ernor's certificates were treated with utter
contempt. The Legislature is now composed
almost exclusively of Missouri men. the citi-
zens of Kansas being excluded from all parti-
cipation in it. The Tribune adds:
1.-The adoption of the Missouri Code, we sup
pose, recognizes Slavery in Kansas, and for
aught we know-and by easier construction of
law than some we have heard--makes us col
ony of Missouri. Let them work. The people
cannot be made to succumb to invaders-their
tinue to proclaim their honest sentiments, and
act their honest convictions. despite of Mis-
souri, 1re-eatng mObS. whether they assume
the braggadocia and tyrant in the shape of leg
is alive bodies or as armed invaders Of our soil.
They will probably make it treason to denounce
Slavery as moral or political evil. Let them.
Who cares? For our part so long as we have
control of free press, we shall continue to
denounce it as 1.-The sum of all vilainies," and
| tn that it deserves anno1lafiOD hv
the conduct OF this corrupt selEstyled Legisa-
ture. We seek to invade no mans rights, but
the rights of the people cannot be trampled up
on, and we shall regard enactments of The body
in session at Westport as just as much binding,
and M more, as acts of the Leavenworth mob,
or the resolutions of the Weston SelfDe!ensive
Associaton-to be needed only as the rawlings
of Infatuated and misguided men,"
From the Boston Advertiser, July 2ad.
Letters received from Kansas OF Saturday
show that the affairs of the legislation of the
Territory have arrived nearly at crisis. We
had been already informed by telegraph that
the Legislature had adjourned from Pawnee-
town near the FORKS of the Kansas river,
where Governor Reeder had called ito the
Shawnee Mission. in the immediate neighbor-
hood of the Missouri line. Our readers will
also remember that Governor Reeder, undoubt-
eddy seeing the object ofthis procedure, vetoed
the vote for an adjournment. The Legislature
however passed the vote anew by more than
twO-thrds, over his veto.
The telegraph, as is usual with it in Kansas
matters, lost in its passage through the mega
tive electricity of Missouri, the much more
important news that the Legislature had first
unseated the eleven Free State" members,
who, in spite of Missouri invasion. had been re-
turned to the lower House. The fifteen men,
bers elected by the army of General Strngfel-
lew seem to have feared even the presence of a
mil GRITTY OF men legally elected, and so mi.
tiated Ibelr proceedings by yacating their
seats
They had ALSO We learn, with remarkable
rapidly, voted that the whole code of Missouri
should be the law of Kansas. IL was then that.
for after purpose, they adjourned to the imme-
date deighborhood OF that State, to the Shaw
nee Mission.
We learn from private sources that the
elected members of the Legislature were to
meet on the 18th at Lawrence. Meetings of
the people at different points through the Ter
ritOry are everywhere disavowing the author
ity of the worse than Rump Parliament. which
is forcing on ttem the laws of another COM
monwealth.
But We have much later news from Kansas than
the above bill has been introduced re-
curing citizens from Mass achusetts and other
Northern States, to take an oath of allegiance
to the United States before they can vote or
hold office!
Gov. Reeder refuses to recognise the legality
of the acts passed, and vetoes every bill placed
before him by the Missouri rabble. called Leg
islature, over which Stringfellow presides
Gov. Reeder's ostensible reason for vetoing
all the bills is that the acts are illegal, because
the selfstyled Legislature is not held at the
seat of government.
On the 18th the following interesting pro-
ceedings took place in Atchison and String
fellows assemblage of cut-throats:
"Mr. Anderson introduced a bill providing
that no person be permitted to take seat in
the Legislature without taking an oath to sup
port the Fugitive Slave law, and that all per-
sons convicted of propagating or in any way
circulating contrary sentiments or opinions be
ineligible to any office of honor trust, or profit
in the Territory. The bill was read for the first
time. =
"The Evening session was prefaced by a
rough-and-tumble fight between Mr.. Miller.
Editor of the Westport News, and Mr.. Brady.
pnblic printer to the Territory. Both are Pro-
Slavery men, and the fight is supposed to have
originated in the difference of their intensity
Of hate for Aboltionists.'
Mr.. Woodson, Secretary of the Territory
is reported to have said he would assume the
reins OF Government in case Gov Reeder re-