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

on te 23h OF March, persons tom Clay, Jackson, and Howard IA
s@i W 6orssBack, armed with gum, bowiokn,yes and rcyolyersi and d
with ihrsats, encampci close by the town, and continued camping "
nnli he day Of election. The night before the election, two hua- ie
drel men were sent for from the camp Of Missourans at Lawrence. a
on the morning Of the eosion, before The polls were opened L
some thrae hundred or four hnllrei mtss9lHans W. others were ~
leaed in the yard about the house Of Thomas Sunson, where the q
election was to be held, armed with bowie-kntyes rcvolverA and clubs s.
They sad they came to vote, and whip 'e damned ian,eos, anu
would vote without being sworn. some s'i lhey came 70 nave
W. ~S ,oWyJ,sts md remained tbcrs d1i2ing their attempts 10 Or
s.augers The Judges could not agree concerning The oath to- be
Burgess desiring to administer the oath prescribed by the Governor
and tc other Two Judges opposing IT, During this discussion between
the Jodges, winch lasted some Time, me crowd outside became eAcIu
and noisy, threatening and cursing Mr. Burgess, the free state Judge
Persons were sent az different times by the crowd outside into the
against Mr. Burgess, aud a last ten'minutes were given them o or
mi seree 10 organize, At te end ofhnt time, the Judges not being
ape ~ oraaHize. LEFT the room and the crowd proceeded r to elect nine
Judges and carry on the election. The free state men generally
len ihe ground without voting stating that there was no use of this
voing there. The polls were so crowded during the first part Of
the day that the citizens could not get up to the window to vote
lhfeats were made against me Ns state men +" We afternoon
the Rev. Mr.. Fitzpatrick was attacked and driven of by ,he mob
A man by some called Go Texas, made "a speech to the crowd urging
them 20 vote aHl 70 remain on .ne grout' ~, L' ,o pou5 "e,i closeu1 nr
soas ta T G%55 MI B"reess was indicted iy the G,ond JSry' for gef5
aHl pending, M. Burgess never having been informed who his occuI
ser wos, OF whot was The testimony against hun. a large majority
four 10 one, Of the actual settlers of Tie district were free state men, and
,hie eau not be the least doubt that if none but the actual settlers Of
the district had voted ut the election, the free slate candidate would
have been elected. The number ofegai votes in the district accord
ing io the census returns, was IUi. The total number of V0es asst
was 372, and Of those but - are on the returns and from the tesu-
oons and records we are satisfied that not over forty legal votes were
cast b the election. A body Of armed Missouians came into the dis
trt previous 10 the election, and encamped there Before the time
The iowu appointed for the election and one ofthe Judges appointed
by be Governor and two chosen by the MIssourians proceeded to open
the polls and carry on the election. The Missourans said none bu.
1yosy men should vote, aud threatened TO shoot oey Zee state.
man who Should come up TO vote Mr. Mockbcc, one Of the Judges
eieciel by the Mlasourians, had "A store near the boundary, fixed by
the PROCLAMATION of the Governor, while he cultivated "A farm in Mis-.
and i now. The Missourans also held a side election for Governor
of ie Territory, voting for Thomas Johnson Of Shawnee Mission.
The free state men, finding tc polls under the control of uou-resIdems
ref1scd to, Ud did not vote. They constituted a decided majority of
The actual settlers. A petition signed by a majority of the residents,
Of the district was sent TO theGoyernor. The whole number of voters
E ia Chs district, according to the census returns was a. the number of
dens whose names are on the census rolls, who did not vote, was 30
For some days prior 10 the election, companies 90 men were organ
lied in Jackson, Cass aud Clay counties, Mo- for the purpose ofcom-
ing 10 the Territory and voting lu the 9TH district. The day previous
toihe election, some 400 Tor 500 Mssourians, armed with guns, pistols
and knives came into the Territory and campcd, some at Bull Creek
anl others al Potawetamie Greek. Their camps were about l6 miles
Cas- County Court, Mo, came from the Potawatamie Creek camp to
Bull Creek for 60 more MissouranS as they had not enough there to
rem r the election certain, and about that number went down there
weh him. On tie evening before the election Dr. y. G. Wesfil was
ciar- la place of one Of The Judges appointed by the Governor, who 1t
was said, would not be there the next day. Dr. Westfall was at that
tme a citizen Of Jackson county, Missouri On he morning of cleo
tiop, the polls Tor Bun Greek precinct were opened, and, without
8~eaung the Judges, they proceeded to receive the votes Of all who
Oderd 10 vote. For the sake Of appearance, they would get some one
topmc to The window, and offer to vote, and when asked 10 be sworn
and his name would be put down as having offered to vote, buI
*fe eHed, refusing to be sworn This arrangement was made pgevi-
oasg, and perfectly understood by the Judges. But few Of the resi-
ceHs OF he District were present al the election, and only - voted.
Ie number OF votes cast in the precinct was }3.
Ds Missuurau voted for himself and then voted for his little son,
but lOor II years old. Col. Golfer, Henry Younger, and Mr.. Lyhlna
wp we're voted for aud elected to the Legislature, were residents OF
Missouri at the time. Col Golfer subsequently married in the Terri
Mt0fy After the polls were closed The returns were made, and a man