Nebraska palladium. [volume] (Bellevieu City, Neb.) 1854-1855, 1855-04-11

Tors, except those appointed by the President, owe their positions to Sc
nonresident voters. None have been elected by The settlers, and your b
have been unable to find that any political power whatever, re
In octobu, A.. D, 1851, Gov. A. II. Reeder and the other officers al
appointed by the President, arrived in the Territory Settlers from W
,bJ p4 asi nj t ,95 G5 baIignr N ,5"r " eobnss y 4b m gi tc . nm@p 1me 4 a5 bgs y =
zeal society was formed 10 The State Of Missouri TWAS known by al
different names, such as Social Band" Friends Society" Blue Il
Lodge" The Sons ofthe South" It's members werebound together o
by secret oaths, and they had passwords, signs and grips by which o
die rules and secrets of The Order. Written minutes were kept of the
proeeedlngs oil tae Loosas. and the different lodges were connected
i9gsther Oy an enec'Ve organization. u embraced great numbers oil
The citizens of Missouri and was extended into other Slave States and
Slavery into Krnsas, but also into other Territory ofthe United States,
and to form a union Of all the friends OF that institution. rs plan Of
protect Them in voting II siro Sronosci 10 induce pro-sayery men
and to elect none 10 office but those friendly to their views This dan
the most effective instrument inorgauizing the subsequent armed in'a-
sions and forys. limits Lodges in Missouri, the affairs Of Kansas
were discussed, the force necessary to control theecclons weredlvided
INTO bands, aHd leaders selected means were COLLECTED aud signs ana
osdges We're agreed upon. WINE me great BODY OIL me actual settlers
ofthe Territory were relying upon the rights secured to them bythe
organic law, and had formed no organization or combination what
ever even OF a party character TINS conspiracy against tel ngn's
was gathering strength IA a ~nelghboring state, aHd would lave been
been united to a man.
Your Committee had great difficulty in eGcitng the proof Of the de
Aaotter declined 10 answer fnly. because to do SO would result 10 his
othe Society, but sufficient is disclosed in the testimony to show the
influence IT had in controlling the elections Of the Territory
The first election was for a Delegate TO Congress. 1t was appointed
for the 29uh Of November, 1851. The Governor divided the Territory
into seventeen Election Districts, appointed Judges, and prescribed
proper rules for the election. In The lei, 81, sth, OH, l0hi, 18th, 18Th
and l7h patne.s there oppears 2 have been but lHue It any hauau-
The election in the 81 District was held at the village OF Douglas,
nearly fifty miles from the Missouri line. On he day before the eec-l
ton, large companies Of men came into the District IN wagons and on
horses, aud declared that they were rom INC STATE OF missouri ana
Mere going TO Douglas to vote. On the morning Of the election they
gathered agoundthe house where the election was to be held. Two Of
we've elected by the crowd. Anthen voted. In onler to make a pre-
tente of right 10 vote, some persons Of the company kept a pretended
teghuer Of squauer claims, on which any one could enter his name
I and then assert he had a claim IN the Territory. a citizen Of the
District, who was himself a candidate for delegate 10 Congress, was
told by one Of the strangers that he would be abused AMI probably
u killed, fine challenged "a vote. Io was seized by the collar. called a
with the Judges About the time the polls we're closed, these strangers
mounted their horses and got into their wagons, and cried ot, All
Y as residents OF Missouri, and among them was Samuel Fl. Woodson,
e. a leading lawyer of Independence. Oftbose whose names are on the
r polbookS, 80 were resident sellers, and 22G were non-resideuts.
i The election 80 the 4h District was held at Dr. Chafmhns over 4u
Il miles from the Missouri State line. itwasa thinly seued region, con-
y tanning but ~ voters in February, 1855, when the census was taken.
4 On the day before the election, from 100 to 100 citizens Of Cass and
TO vote, and that they were bound TO make Kansas It Slave State, II
d lhey did IL an The point OF the sword. Persons Of the party on the way
: case several names were put OF one stake: a parry Of strangers
Y campoia all night where the election was to be held, and in the morn
ing were at the election polls and voted. One Of their party got
~ drunk, and 10 get rid OF DIR. Chapman, a Judge OF the election they
e sent for him to come and see a sick man, and IN his absence hHed his
place with another Judge, who was not sworn. They did not deny
IS or conceal that they were residents Of Missouri, and many Of them
ID bound to make Kansas a Slave state. They insisted upon their right
TO vote 10 the Territory if they were 10 IL one hour Alert the election
:" they oguin returned 10 their homes IA Missouri, camping over nism
f. on The way.
We find upon the poll books tGl names ofthese not over 80 resided
s. IN the Territory ~ were no%n-resdents
But few settlers attended the election IN the 9th District the District
ne being large and the settlement scattered. 81 votes were east ofthese
rs between % and 30 were settlers the residue were citizens Of Missouri
IN They passed into The Territory by way ofthe Santa Fe road, and by
the residence of DR. Wedfal, who then lived on the western line 81
II Missouri. Some little excitement arose at The polls as to the legality
i Of their voting. but they did vote for Gen. Withheld, and said they in
ID 49, 4 In &C. rANf Lff h~rL Nod gl4Mnu u fha