Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-31

1
ened DR.. Cutler, the Free State candidate
that if he contested the election be and his office
should be pat in the Missouri River.
The number Of votes in the district by the
census was 334-of these IA voted. The ties
tinony shows that quite number OF persons
whose legal residence was in the populons
country of Buchanan, Mo-, on the opposite
of the river, had claims in the Territory
Some ranged cattle, and others marked out
their claim and built a cabin, and sold this in
spient title where they could. They were mol
residents of the Territory in any just or lega
sense. A number of settlers moved into the
District in the month of March Your Com
mittee are satisfied, after a careful analysis Of
the records and testimony, that the number OIL
IT. 7sg~' VOTES Cast N'' NV 'N ~
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT.
The election IN this District was held in The
house of Mr. Hayes. On the day OF election
crowed of from 400 to 500 men collected
around the polls, OF which the great body were
citizens of Missouri One of the Judges o.
Election, in his testimony states that the stran-
gers commenced crowding around tho polls, ano
that then the residents left. Threats were
made before and during the election day, that
there should be no Free State as Pro-Sldvery
men residents in the District. Most of the
crowd were drinking and caroasng cursing
the Abolitionists a d threatening the only Free
State Judge of Election. The majority oil
those who voted wore hemp in their button
holes, and their password was all right on
the hemp" Many of the Missourians were
known and are named by the witness. Sever
al speeches were made by them Dat the polls,
amongst those who spoke were Major Oliver,
one oil your Committee, Col. Burns and Lee
Ian Williams Of Platte County. Major Oliver
urged upon all present to use no harsh words
and expressed the hope that nothing would be
said o, done to harm the feelings of the most
sensitive on the other side. He gave some
grounds, based on the Missouri Compromise in
regard to the right of voting, and was under
stood to excuse the bIssourians for voting.
Your Committee are satisfied that he did not
vote. Col. Burns recommended all to vote,
and he hoped none would 60 home without vo-
ting. Some of the Pro Slavery residents were
much dissatisfied at the Missourians, and Tor
that reason-because reflection convinced them
that it would be better to have Kansas Free
State they =" fell over the fence"-The judges
requested the voters to lake an oath that they
were actual residents. They objected at first,
some saying that they had claim, or s. am
here" But the Free State judge insisted upon
the oath, and his associates who at first were
disposed to waive it, conceded with him, and
the voters all took it after some grumbling
One said he cut him some poles and laid them
in shape of squar and that made him claim
and another said that he had cut him few
sticks Of wood, and that made him claim
The Free State men did not vote, although
they believed their Numbers to be equal to the
pro-Slavery settlers, and some claimed that
they had the majority. They were deferred by
threats throughout by the Missourians, before
and on the day Of election, from putting up
candidates were run, for this reason-that
there was u credited rumor previously that the
Missourans woald control the election The
Free State Judse was threatened with expal.
sion from the polls, and Il young man thrust a
pistol into the window through which tbs
votes were received The whole mum er Of
votes cast WAS All Of tho names on the pol
books but 62 are in the census rolls, and the
testimony shows thata small portion, estimated
by one witness ut one quarter Of the legal voters
voted. Your Committee estimated the number o
legal voters at 80. 0 re Of the Judges referred tc
certified that the election was fairly conducted
1t was not contested because no one woulc
take the responsibility of doing it, as it wac
not considered safe, and that If another cleo:
ton was had, the residents would fare no b.
ter.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT.
For some time previous TO the election, meet
ings were held and arrangements made in Mis-
souri to get up companies to come over to thu
Territory and vote, and the day before and OF
the day OF election, large bodies of Mssourian
from Platte, Clay, Ray, harton, Carol, Gin
ton and Saline counties, Mo-, came into this dis
lrict and camped there. They went armed viii
pistols and bowleknivcs, and some with gum
and rifles, and had badges of hemp in Their but
ton holes and elsewhere about their persons.
On the morning of the election there wer
ftcm 1000 to 400 persons present on the ground
Previous to the election, Missouriaus endeavoret
to persuade tho two Free State Judges to resigl
by making threats of personal violence to them
one of whom resigned On the morning of eec
ton and the crowd chose another to fill hi
place. But one Of the Judges the Free Stat
Judge, would take the oath prescribed by tn
Governor the other two deciding that they ha,
no right to swear any one who offered TO vote
but that all on the ground were entitled to vote
The only votes refused were some Delaware
Indians, some thirty Wyando,te indians being
allowed to vote.
One of the Free State candidates withdrew il
consequence of the presence of the Missourians
amid cheering and acclamatons by the Missouri
ans During the day the steamboat New Luc,
came down from Western Missouri, with larg
number of Mssourians on board, who voted anc
then returned on the boat.
The Missourans gave as a reason for thei
coming over To vote, that the North had tried tt
force emigration into the territory and the,
wanted to counterfeit that movement. Some u
the candidates and many of the Missourians tool
The ground that, under the Kapsas-Nebraska acl
all who were on the ground on the day of cleo
ton were entitled to vote, and others, that layn
out town, stalking lot, or driving down stakes
even on another mans claim, give them RICH
to vote. And one of the members of the Coun
Gil r R. Rees declared in his testimony iha
he who should put different construction upol
the law must be eli hei knave or a fool
The Free State men generally dig not vote a
that election aud no newly arrived Easter
emgrants were there. The Free State judy
of Election refused to sign the returns until IN
words . by awful resident voters were stricl
en- out, which was done. and the returns mad
in that way. The election was contested, and
new e eclion ordered by Gov. Reeder for the %
of May.
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.
The election in this district seems to ha,
been fairly conducted. and not ontested at al
In this district the Pro-Slavery party had III
majority.
EIGHTEENTH DISTRICT
Previous TO the election Gen David R. Atcl
ison of Platte City Mo-. got up compan,
Missourians, and passing through Weston, Mo
went over into the Territory. He remained a
uight at the house of -. and then exhibe
his arms, Of which he had an abundance. ii
, proceeded to the Nemohaer US) District q
his way he and his party attended Noninaiin
, Convention in the l4th District, and propose
iad &c an.,dil..