Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-17
VI We publish the following letter for
whatever 1t may be worth, without endorsing
It's statements or its sentiments

~ H''t''i' 'AV ioiloNluS leloei iol
whatever it may be worth, without endorsing
Its statements or its sentiments
| From the New York Herald
The Late Election in Kansas Territory-Fuu
account OF the Late Contest-The Missouri
! Nersion-Gov. Reeder and the Abolitionists-
The Voting-Hlnts TO the Governor-Rattls-
snakes-Fever and Ague
BRUNSWICK, CHARLTON CoUNTY,l
Missouri, APrH 20, 1855.
Permit me TO give you the Missouri side Of
the late Kansas business which, you NAV be
assured, IS substantially correct, and which
coming events will prove.
In the first place such of the people in this
State as purposed making Kansas their home
after their crops were planted, were kept in
profound Ignorance of the time when the
election was to be held, until they learned it
from the Eastern cmigrants, and learned also,
that Gov. Reeder was in correspondence, if
not in partnership, with the AbOlitionists and
promptors of the specializing societies who are
sending ont settlers to secure pre-emption
rights the profits of which are 10 be shared
among them, and in that manner those ma
king advances are TO be reimbursed. The
knowledge Of these facts stimulated the Mis-
sourians to prompt action. They regarded
1
freemen, and the action Of the Abolitionists
as an offensive and menacing measure; for
with them il is matter of life and death.
Immediately Kansas meetings were held
in every county, and in many of them large
sums were subscribed. In this some $1,000
were placed in the hands OF the discussing
committee, and, as Mr., Reeder's plans were
secret. so were their proceedings, Ia some ex-
hai
&c, and agents on all their boats and along the
routes. But the main purpose was to supply
the means of going to Kansas to such as
might be deficient in money, aud had 1t in
contemplation to go thither at future day.
TO those the money was given, and no pledge,
no bond required for payment.
From five to seven thousand started--some
TO remain, but most to return to their fami-
lies, with IN intention, if they liked the Ter
T ritory, to make it their place OF permanent
abode at the earliest moment practicable.-
And such was precisely the purpose of the
Eastern men. If they liked the place they
; intended to remain-if not, they would re-
turn. But they intended to vote. Ii it were
abolitionized, they would like it, and remain
if not abolitionized, the Mssourians would
become permanent settlers. 1t was not abo
litionized.
But to the narrative. The Missourians
were, many of them, Doniphan's men, and
the conquerors of California, who recognized
in the Eastern emigrants the identical voters
who had made California a free State, and
who boosted of it, and said they were now
going to do the same thing in Kansas. There
were one hundred and fifty voters from this
county. Us from Howard, 100 from Cooper;
indeed, every county furnished its quota, and
when it set out IL looked like an army
They were armed. But they were woods.
men and hunters, and knew their only means
{ of subsistence would be the game they might
. kill. And as there were no houses in the
+, Territory they carried tents Although fond
of excitement and never averse To "scrin-
mage" they had no hostile purpose. Their
q mission was a peaceful one-to vote and ia
drive down stakes to mark their future homes
But the Eastern men became alarmed al
the sight of their encampment, and the Go
vernon himself fled in terror to the fort. And
he acted wisely. For it was soon discovered
S that the Judges of the election whom he had
appointed were not residents. No such men
. were TO be found No such names were IL
the country. But an express came up from
Bonneville with the intelligence that a boat
D, crowded with abolitionists was detained below
by an accident Perhaps the engineer was
member of one of the Kansas clubs. The
. list of names brought by the express showed
where Reeder's Judges of election were
2 abiding They were on the crippled steamer
ami could not be present at the election.
! ThiSdeyelopment incensed the Missourians
and they would consent to no postponement
, nor was it strongly urged. They demanded
other Judges and proceeded to vote. Now
h what / am about to say is true, let who vii
!. gainsay it: Nineteen out of every twenty o
the Missourans were not, never had been
,f and probably never will be, Shareholders
y Again, nearly one-half of the Eastern emf
q grants voted with them. Again, the delega
"a tons from Iowa took the side Of the Nilsson
J ranS. We all know the result
+ After the election, some fifteen hundred o
! the voters sent committee to Mr.. Reeder q
: ascertain if it was his purpose to ratify til
;, election. He answered in the affirmative
and said the majority at an election must car
\, ry the day. But it is not TO be denied tina
a the fifteen hundred, experimenting that tn
4 Governor might attempt to play the tyranl
since his conduct had already been insidiou
:, and unjust, wore in their hats lunches O
J. hemp. They were resolved if a tyrdnt at
q tempted to trample upon the rights of tn
! sovereign people, to hang him. This the
: would have DONE upon the same principl
!, that their forefathers warred against the Brit
q ish governors the minions of George Ill
!, They had real i'm history of the capture
q Governor Franklin, of New jersey, by Ger
. eral Washington. Franklin was the tyrar
\ Kings governor, and Mr.. Reeder was Pierce
- As further developments of Mr. Reeder
:, conduct became known, limitations wei
- conveyed to him that the path of safet
4 would be the route eastward. lie saw th
= officers and soldiers in the fort could not }
n relied upon against the indignant freeman
. They were not with him in sentiment, nC
n could they have withstood an assault Th
Y Governor did disappear, and it was suppose
q he had gone. But not SO. For several week
!. he could not have felt himself safe on any ,
% the boats, and after everybody believed hin
gone, he departed quietly; so | am informc,
Be that as it may, | doubt whether no IA,
TT any intention of returning. | would not if
d were in his place, for the men he has so grea
Is ly offended are the sort whose promises ia
e short of their performances.
a Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mi.
Il slssippi are now in agitation. Secret kanss
d clubs are being formed in every county,
1T One million of dollars will be subscribed in
T. month and one hundred thousand men enrol
q ed, to act as circumstances may require. The
are such men rs were commanded bv th
II brave Colonel who fell in Mexico Moreove
st the abolitonists have generally TO travel fiy
e. hundred miles through Missouri to reac
; Kansas, and all the boats are owned by Nj.
sourians On each of them are agents of tn
Kansas clubs.
= But how can any one live in Kansas till
d crop be grown? They will starve. 1t is nc
5. the season for game. Even the wolves al
furnishing, and at night leap into the window
: of the cabins. Without is heard the hiss G
re the rattlesnake. and beyond is the fever an
= ague. The Eastern men arc not accustome
to such thing, and should he warned to leav
their wives and children behind until house
L and bread are provided for them.