Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-17

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ting. 1t also proposed to induce pro-savery
men to emigrate into the territory. to aid and
sustain them while there, and to elect none to
Office but those friendly 10 their views. This
dangerous society WAS controlled by men who
av wed their purpose to extend slavery into the
territory at all hazards, and was altogether the
most effective instrument in organizing the sub
sequent armed invasions and forays. In It's
Lodges in Missouri the affairs of Kansas were
discussed, the force necessary to control the
elections were divided into bands, and leaders
selected, means were collected and signs and
badges were agreed upon.
While the great body of the actual settlers
Of the territory were relying upon the rights sc.
cured to them by the organic law, and had
formed no organization or combination what
ever, even of party gathering strength in n
neghboring state, and would have been suihc-
cnt ut their first election to have oyerpowercd
them, if they had been united to man
Your committee had great difficulty in eliciting
the proof of the details in regard to this secret
society. One witness, member OF the Leglsta-
tive Council refused to answer questions in re-
ference to it, Another declined to answer fully
because to do 50 would result to his injury.
Others could not or would only answer as to the
general purpose of the society," but sufficient is
disclosed in the testimony to show the influence
it had in controlling the elections OF the terri
tory.
The first election was for delegate to Con-
gress. 1t was appointed for the 29th of Novein-
Der, 1854. The Government divided the terri
tory into seventeen election districts, appointed
judges, and prescribed proper rul FOR the cleo
ton. In the LIST, Sd, Sth 9th, 10th, 18th, 18th,
and 18th districts, there appears to have been
but little if any fraudulent voting.
The election in the I'd district was held at
the village of Douglas, nearly fifty miles from
the Missouri line On the day before the cleo
ton, large companies of men came into the
district in wagons and on horses, and declared
that they were form the state of Missouri, and
were going to Douglas to vote. On the morn
ing of the election they gathered around the
house where the election was to be held. Two
of the Judges appointed by the Government did
not appear, and other Judges were elected by
the crowd All then voted.
In order to make q prctence OF right to vote,
some persons of the company kept a pretended
register of squatter claims, on which any one
could enter bis name and then assert he had !.
claim in the territory. citizen OF the district,
who was himself u candidate for delegate to
Congress- was told by one of the strangers that
he would be abused and probably killed if he
challenged vote lie was seized by the collar,
called ID aboltionlst, and was compelled to
seek protection in the room with the Judges,
About the time the polls were closed, these
strangers mounted their horses and got into
their wagons and cried out, " All aboard for
Westport and Kansas City" number were
recognised as residents of Kansas Missouri, and
among them was Samual ii Woodson, a leading
lawyer of Independence, OF those whose names
are on the poll-books, thrty.fve were resident
settlers, and 226 we're non-resdents.
The election in the Fourth District was held
at DR.. Chapmans, over forty miles form the
Missouri state line. 1t was thuly settled re-
gon containing but II 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 Mo-, came into this
district declaring their purpose to vote, and tina,
they were bound to make Kansas a slave state
if they dill it at the point of the sword. Per
sons Of the party on the way drove each stake
in the ground and called it claim-and in one
case several names were put on one stake, A
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 drank, and to get rid of Dr.
Chapman, u Judge Of the election they sent for
him to come and see Il sick man. and in his ab-
scnce filed bis plucc with another judge, who
vas not sworn.
They did not deny or conceal that they were
residents of Missouri, and many OF them recog
nized as such by others. They declared tina,
they We're bound to make Kansas slave state
They insisted upon their right to vote in the
territory if they were in it one hour. After the
election they again returned to their homes
in Missouri, camping over night on the way.
We find on the poll books l6l names /; of thest
not over 80 resided in tho territory, l3l weri
non residents.
But few settlers attended the election in thu
9Th District, the district being large and the set
Element scattered. 82yotes were cast OF thcst
between 20 and 80 were settlers, and the residue
were citizens of Missouri. They passed int
the territory by way of the Santa Fe road ant
the residence of DR.. Westlall, who then lived
on the Western line of Missouri Some little
excitement arose at the polls as to the legality
of their voting, but they did vote for Genera
Whitfield, and said they intended to make Kan
sls slave statc-and that they had claims il
the territory. Judge Teazle, Judge of tn,
court, in Jackson county Missouri, was present
but came to see that others voted, After thu
election, the Missourans returned tho way the,
came.
The election in the 9th district was held IL
Fort Scott in the southeast part Of the territory
and near the Missouri line. party Of abou
one hundred men from Cass, and the countie
in Missouri south Of it, went into the territory
travelling about As miles. most Of them witt
their wagons and tents, and camping out
They appeared at the place of election. Som
attempts were made to swear them, but two 0
the judges were prevailed upon not to do 50
and none were sworn, and as many rs chos
voted. There settlement was sparse-about 2
actual settlers voted out Of l0j votes cast, leay
ing 80 illegal votes After the voting Was ovel
the Missourians went to their wagons and CON
mcnccd leaving for home.
The most shameless fraud practised upon til
rights of tho settlers at this election was in tn
lth district 1t is Il remote settlement, abou
Is miles from the Missouri line, and containc
in February A. D. 1855, three months alterward
3 when the census was taken, hut So voters; an
yet the poll book show that Col votes were cast
t The election was held at the house of Frey Nc
v Gee, at place called " no." But few OF tn
: actual settlers were present Mt the polls. l
f witness who formerly resided in Jackson county
Mo-. and was well acquainted with the citizen
of that county, says that he saw great man.
wagons and tents at the place of election, an
f many individuals he knew from jackson county
lie was in their tents, and conversed with SOM
, of them, and they told him they had come witt
the intention of voting, He went to the poll
intending to vote for FlennekiD, and his tickle
being of different color from tho rest, his vot
was challenged by Frey McGee who had beer
appointed one Of the judges, but did not serve
Lemuel Ralstone, citizen of Missouri, wa
acting in his place, The witness then challeng
ed the vote of n young man ny the name .
Nolan, whom he knew to reside in jackson
county, Finally the thing was hushe,l up, AZ
the witness had a good many friends there iron
that county, and it might lead to u fight if h,
ehu llnnual and unra vntoc. Roth vntau .,nS