Squatter sovereign., 1855-07-17
Kansas Legislature.
Tsster from the Senior.
PAwsEE. K. T. June 30th. 1856.

from Atchison, and can safely say that
the finest country have seen on the route
with the exception of the Pottowattomie
Reserve, is that extending from Atchison
to Osawkee. Every foot OF the land be-
tween those two points is good. and timber
enough for farming purposes. The various
,heads of Stranger all marked with timber,
and the waters of Grasshopper on the
right, make it the finest farming country I
have seen. After leaving the Pottowatto-
mie country, the lands are valuable, still
along the different streams Black Jack,
Rock Creek, Blue and Wild Cat. there are
some fine lands and good timber. The
hardy squatter is found on all of them, and
generally has fine fields of corn.
On arriving at Pawnee, must acknowl-
edge was disappointed in not finding
more Improvements, especially as Gov.
Reeder thought this the most eligible place
for holding the session of the Legislature.
The building designed for the Legislative
Hall, is a large stone warehouse, which
when we arrived or. Saturday, had neither
floor nor roof, but by working all day San
dag and Sunday aight, the roof and floor
was finished, but the doors were not COM
pleted while we stayed-so we had to
legislate with open doors. There are two
other houses, which, for the time, were
converted into hotels. put up at the one
kept by Mr.. KLorz, a very clever Penn
sylvanian, with an interesting looking wife,
and l can say truly, that no one under the
circumstances could have treated us better,
but SO far from market with no gardens
and no market of any kind, we had hard
time of it. Our house was crowded to its
utmost capacity, and still the larger por-
ton of the members had to camp out in
tents and wagons.
On Monday we met and organized,
electing the various officers, after being
sworn in by Judge JOHNSON, the Judge of
the Pawnee District.
The officers of the House are
Speaker. H. STRINGFELLow, of At
Gibson.
Chief Caerk-Mr. LYLE, Of Leaven-
worth.
assistant CEerk-Mr. MARTIN, OF Te-
cumseh.
Scrgeant-at-.Grms Mr.. CRAmER, Of
Nemaha.
Door-keeper-Mr. CAMPBELL, of Fort
Scott.
In the Council the officers are:
Presides,t-THos. Johnson, of Shaw
nee Mission.
Chief Clerk. A. HALDEmAS.
assistant Clerk-C. GROVER, of Kick
apoo.
Sergeant at .4rms-Mr. WHITEHEAD.
Door-Keeper GoDEFRoY, of Fort
Scott
On Tuesday the Governor sent in his
message, which you will find is very well
calculated to have its effect with the Penn
sylvania Democracy. If he was trustwor-
thy, I would be disposed to compliment the
most of it, but knowing how corrupt the
author is, and that 1t is only designed for
political effect in Pennsylvania, he not ex-
pecting to remain long with us, I will pass
it by.
Mr.. McMEEKEN introduced bill to To-
cate the seat of government temporarily
at Shawnee Mission, which passed both
Houses, and after keeping it nearly three
days, the Governor returned it with his OBJ
jections. The bill was then passed again,
only two votes in the House, and one in
the Council against it. Gov Reeder's
objections are so silly and absurd that
am not disposed to give him credit for half
the intelligence once accorded him. I
am afraid he will loose his chance for a
seat in the u. S. Senate, from Pennsylya-
MIA, if he writes many more such papers.
The committee on credentials In both
Houses reported adversely to those claim
ing seats under the second election of the
Governor, on the ground that he had the
right only to order the first. and all subse-
quent elections are to be provided for by
law. The gentlemen died hard, but had
to go.
The Governor assumes that no law that
we can pass at Shawnee will be valid, be-
cause he does not sanction the removal.
We shall see whether the Judges will SO
construe il !; whether law passed by the
people is to be declared null because the
Legislature would not sit at the Governors
pet town-whether the trainers of the bill
intended to give the Governor more power
than the people This would be popular
sovereignty with a vengeance. | have
not time to go more into detail, you will
receive full reports of our proceedings.
Friday morning the Legislature proceed