Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-08-03
The observation-disclosures Legislature.

The Iii>souri-kapzns Legislature.
The small mob of Missourlans temporarily
squattng Just over the Kansas border, and
assuming the name of the Kansas Legislature,
has only five members that profess to be re-
sidents of Kansas the remainder are, and
boldly avow themselves, citizens OF Missouri
You don't catch them putting . too fine n
point upon It," like their delicate arologlsts
hcrcabouts. They consider themselves the
conquerors of Kansas, and act accordingly.
They came within one vote of eectng as
clerk Of the House the present clerk of the
Missouri legislature. There would have been
entire rroprety in that, as Kansas is at pre-
sent only an appendage of Missouri, or rather
the subjugated province of the empire known
as Platte county, in which one Davy Atchi-
son is the head Of church and state, and one
Stringielow is his cxecutioner-those being
/ the only Offices required under tho very
simple form OF government prevailing there.
! The legislature, so called by way of Joke, is
! doing up legislation with rapidity quite I'M
! precedented. When the motion to adjourn
/ from Pawnee to the Missouri border was
made. Mr.. Hutchinson, a free state member.
/ urged some objections, but was cut short by
! speaker Stringtellow, who said there was no
use to spend time in discussing the matter as
they had determined two months ago what
]
was clncher. After the hegira to Shawnee
! mission had been accomplished, and the mem
bers had returned from week vacation AZ
home in Missouri, they determined to be no
longer embarrassed by talking minority,
and summarily expelled all the free state
members, without taking the trouble to 60
through the tedious process of investigating
their right 10 seats.
The committee on elections reported that
- l.. IL =
their hands by the governor concerning cleo
tion fraud, &c, but they had not opened
them. They had also concluded not to ex-
anime the persons elected at the May election
and holding seats by authority of the gov
ernor's certificates, as they had determined
before they came how to dispose of this
matter They would therefore recommend
that all persons elected at the first election
Of March 3lst, in Kanzas whether in the
opinion Of the 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 (Nr. 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 in the third representative
/ district. That early on the day Of election,
before many Of the settlers had come in, q
body of armed men from Missouri. number.
ing about three hundred, came to the poll.
and took violent possession of the balot-box
They drove away the officers appointed BY
the governor and put in some Of their own
number. They then proceeded to vote in q
prO-sayery delegation from this district. The
people repudiated it, and the governor set the
election aside rs illegal, and ordered new
one The result was, that at the next cleo.
tion the free soil ticket WAS elected by an
empowering majority. And he had no
doubt but that three fourths of the voters in
Kansas We're for making it a free state
Mr.. Wattles said that as his days of legis-
lauon were drawing to q close, he must ex-
press his admiration 10 the House for the
trankness and openness which had character
lied all their proceedings. lie then thanked
/ the chairman Of the committee on contested
elections for his frankness in disclosing 70
the House and the North this new and un-
hcdrd-of method of dealing with persons hold
ing contested seats He also thanked tho
speaker Tor his candor in stating that dis
cnsSiOn ON these questions was OF no use, a.
they were determined on by the pro-sla,ery
purity two months ago, and they had told
Gov. Recdcr 50. II, also thanked the House
tor eNpciling him from it as a member. They
had mir!y come out and made the issue lie
was ready to take II up as they had laid II
down, untranmcled and unemharra.sed by
any other question. Shall Kanzas be n free
state or a slave state let the sovereign
squatters of Kanzas determine this
Now of course all is plain sailing. and leg
islatiOn proceeds with beautiful harmony. To
give variety to the sport they play with Gov
ernor Reeder by sending their acts to him TO
be vetoed and then passing them ever his
tA tl.,r /
Is u bill providing that no person be per
mitted to take a scat in the legislature with
ont taking an oath to support the fugitive
slave law, and that all persons convicted of
Vroplgating or in any way circulating con
trdry sentiments or opinions be ineligible t.
any office OF honor, trust, or profit in the ter
ritury-lt WAS unanimously voted that tho
sergcant-at-arms furnish the House with
copy OF the laws Of Congress Of 1850 and the
laws of Massachusetts, Of 1855,
recent evening session was enlivened
by rough-and- tumble fight between Mr.
Miller, editor of the Westport News, and
Mr. Brady, public printer in the territory
Both are pro-slavery men, and the fight is
supposed to have originated in the difference
of their intensity of hate for abolitionsts
Mr. Woodson, secretary of the territory,
Is reported to have said he would assume the
reins Of government in case Gov Reeder
refused To recognize the legislature.
\ hill is before the legislature ordering all
persons accused or convicted of crime in
Kansas to be imprisoned in Missouri. which
would of course be highly appropriate. A
resolution was introduced to expel reporters
of newspapers who should traduce and Witty
the members. 1t was moved To amend, that
il any reporter vlify any member of his
House, said member be authorized and
expected to thrash him ~ But speaker
Stringiellow said he did not see the necessity
of any action lie would trust the members
To take care of themselves if attacked
With this understanding the resolution was
dropped.
The Lawrence H'raidot Freedom is informed
that the Legislature have u grand scheme in
view, by which the predominance OF slavery
in Kansas Is to he made certain. 1t is NJ
less than To re-anncx' the Platte purchase
to Kansas with its slave population. The
uuasi- legslature nf kanJas nnsanting Mis-