Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-07-19

time the polls wp1e clQsdd, these strangers m0unf-
ed their hSfees go SGT lihto ther yr&c7, ald
City" A number were recognized as residents
Of Missouri, and among them wasl Ssmuet II.
Woodson, q leading lawyer of Independence
Of those whose names are ON the poll books, 35
were resident settlers and 226wers non-residents.
The election in the Nv District was held at DR..
Chapman's, over 40 miles from the Missouri State
line. 1t was thnly settled region, containing
but Al voters in February, 1855, when the census
was taken. On the day before the election, from
100 to $50 citizens of Cass and Jackson counties,
Missouri, came into this district, declaring their
purpose to vote, and that they were bound to
make Kansas a Slave State, if they did it at the
point of the sword. Persons of the party on the
way drove stake in the ground and called it
claim--and in one case several names were put
on one stake.y The party OF strangers camped
all night near where the election was to be held,
and in the morning were at the election polls and
voted. One of their party got drunk, and to get
rid of DIR. Chapman, a judge of the election, they
seat for him to come and see sick man, and in,
his absence filled his place with another judge,
who was not sworn. They did not deny or con-
ccal that they were residents of Missouri, and
many of them were recognized as such by others.
They declared that they were bound to make
Kansas Slave State. They insisted upon their
right to vote in the territory, if they were il it
one hour. After the election they again returned
to their homes in Missouri, camping over night
on the way.
We find upon the pol-books l6l names; Of
these not over 80 resided in the Territory, l3l
were nOn-residents. N9a reues 81
But few settlers attended the election in the
With district, the district being large and the set
Element scattered. SO votes were cast of these
between 20 and 30 were settlers, and the residue
were citizens Of Missouri. They passed into the
Territory by way Of the Santa Fe road and by
the residence of DR.. Westfall, who then lived on
the western line of Missouri. Some little excite
ment arose mt the polls as to the legality of their
voting, but they did vote for Gen. Whitfield, and
said they intended making Kansas Slave State
| and that they had claims in the territory.
Judge Teaze, Judge Of the Court in Jackson
county, Missouri, was present, but did not vote.
lie said he did not intend to vote, but came to see
| that others voted. After the election, the Mis-
sourians returned the way they came. rs dlt
| The election in the With district was held ut
Fort Scott, in the southeast part of the territory
and near the Missouri line. A party of about
one hundred men from Cass and the counties in
Missouri south of it, went into the territory, trav-
| cling about 4) miles, most of them with their
wagons and tents, and camping out. They APP
| peared at the place Of election. Some attempts
| were made to swear them, but two of the Judges
were prevailed upon not to do SO, and none were
| sworn, and rs MANY as choose voted. There were
but few resident voters at the polls. The Settle
| ment was sparse-about 25 actual settlers voted
out of los votes cast, leaving 80 illegal votes.
After the voting was over che Missourians went
| to their wagons and commenced leaving for home.
The most shameless fraud practiced upon the
rights of the settlers ut this election was in the
VII district. 1t is remote settlement, about IS
miles from the Missouri line, and contained in
February, A. ID. 1856, three months afterwards,
| when the census taken, out 30 voters; and
| volt mol Ike CHI thatf
The election was held at the house of Frey NJ Gee
at Il place called ''ll0.' But few OF the actu,
settlers were present ut the polls. \ witness who
formerly resided i'll jackson county, NIiSsour
and was well acquainted with the citizens of tina
county, says that he SAW great many wagons ant
tents ut the place of election, and MANY indvid
uals he knew from Jackson county. lie was il
their tents and conversed with some of them, ant
they told him they had come with the intention
of voting. lie went to the polls intending L
vote for Flennekin, and his ticket being of diff
ferent color from the rest, his vote challenge,
by Frey Niece, who had been appointed one o
the Judges but did not serve. Lemuel Ralstone
a citizen Of Missouri, was acting in his place
The witness then challenged the vote of "a voun:
man named Nolan. whom he knew to reside il
J jackson county. Finally the thing was husho
mp the witness had great many friends thcr
from that county, and it might lead to fight
he challenged any more votes. Both voted an
he then went down to their camp. lie there sa,
many of his old aquaintances whom he knew
had voted at the election in August previous il
Missouri, and who still resided in that State. Il
"A careful comparison of the poll lists with tn
census rolls, find but II names on the pol
book who were voters when the census was take
three months afterwards, and satisfied nc
more than 20 legal votes could have been pole
at that election. The only residents who ar
known to have voted named by the wines;
and are l3 in number-thus leaving 5S4 illcga
votes cast in remote district where the settler
within many miles were acquainted with eac
other. tr a. . -e ~ ~