The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1855-06-02
LAWRENCE, Kansas Territory. J

hpfu Isl, 1000.
We have had stirring TIMES in Kansas,
the week that has just passed. 1t was
the first election OF candidates to the Ter
ritorial Legislature on the 30th of March.
Now | suppose you know that in the
slave States, there is what is called the
Blue Lodge a secret organization,
which has for its object the extension of
the peculiar institution; this organization
IS now lending every energy. to make
Kansas slave State yesterday was a
great day-great in the history of Kan
sas. big with shame to the minions of
slayeocracy.
All the week, preceding the election,
men were arriving from nearly all the
slave States in the Union. Four hundred
in one party came overland from Ken
lucky, avowedly with no other purpose
than to drive the actual settlers from the
polls, and choose their own men to the
Legislature. From other States, over
two thousand men came here, at the ex-
pense oftwenty thousand dollars, each man
having his passage paid, and one dollar
per day besides, and their leaders from
fifty down to twenty dollars per day.
Those from Kentucky would be absent
fifteen days, none of them less than FIVE,
SO said their leaders, who were not at all
secret with their intentions, but said they
had come here to vote, and would in spite
of Governor, President, laws, and the
ID, this last would not be likely to
hinder them. They had men enough
to outyote US, and they would do it peace
ably if they could, if not, they had fire.
arms and force enough to compel us to
vote on their side. The whole week they
were encamped all up and down the
roads, like filthy piague-spots. on the face
of these beautiful prairies. Drunk and
loathsome, sight to make the heart sick,
over one thousand of them. were in and
about Lawrence during the week.
The Governor being aware of all these
things, had made proclamation of a form
of oath, which, was to be administered to
those whose names were not on the CEN
sus list. It was, that they had come to
Kansas, with the intention of making it
their home. and forsaken all other resi-
dence but that In the Territory.
Well, day before yesterday came at last,
as all great days will come, and every
man was on tramp early for the field of
action. Hardly man could be met with
out his bowie, knife, pistol or gun, and
some with all three. / went along with
the rest. Being out of the Lawrence
district, had to go about seven miles to
the place of voting. On arriving there,
saw such a spectacle, as ! hope may
never look on again, especially at such a
place as the ballot-box. There We're
about FIVE hundredof the most desperate
looking beings that ever wore the human
form.
l fastened to get near the box, when |
heard them say, no Yankee should vote
there to-day, and the first man who took
the oath required by the law, should lose
his life Iuse the words as Iheard them.
/ then felt that old Massachusetts, called
on me, as her SON, to plead her. cause at
the ballot-box that day. had with me,
at that time, a small American flag,
which had taken along with me, not
knowing but mighthaye some use for it.
This flag is the one made by some ladies
of the Celebration Committee, for the
top of the cap of Liberty. l felt the
American flag had never been so disgra-
ced. / thought, can ever look upon
this beautiful emblem of Equality and
Liberty, without thinking that / have
added another stain to Its already blotted
escuteheon Can 1 look upon it, and
not feel that the fingers of the ladies', who
stitched this bunting into shape, would
be pointed at me in scorn, if / did not
try to drag it from the dust which the re-
mains of slavery had cast over it? All
the patriotic blood in my veins was at the
boiling point. ] forced my way, after a
desperate struggle, to the ballot-box,
which was placed inside the window of a
log-cabin, at which the judges or vote
receivers were seated, ready to receive
the votes. A man was trying to pass in
his vote. whose name was not on the list.
The Judges required of him the oath.
The mob threatened him with death the
moment he should say he would take it.
He was at last frightened away. as the
judges could not take his vote without
the oath, and the rabble would not let
him take it, though the vote was of their
stamp. It now came my turn. Imoyed
forward. There were two of these des-.
perate fellows at the window one at each
side, as came up with my vote folded.
One of them took me by the coat, and
said, "0pen tina. vote, and let us look at
it,, said, I came here under the pro-
lection of the United States to vote: it
guarantees to me the right to vote by bal
lot, which is to vote secretly, and I viii
show no man my vote. He then said to
me, "Will you take the oath?" I said,
If the judges require of me an oath,
viii give it according 10 the law. An old
man then came up. and they asked me if
Iwould give way for him TO vote. ! at
once did 50. Meanwhile. / was asked