Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-04
THE KANSAS INVESTIGATION.

iniquities in the territorial elections in Kansas
proceeded to Lecompton to fulfil the object o.
their appointment. a very large number o.
witnesses have been examined, all going to
show that the grossest frauds and outrages
| were perpetrated. The evidence taken is too
volumIous for our columns. but desire to
| give the public an opportunity of judging for
/ themselves, induces us to give synopsis of
the testimony OF a few witnesses, some of
whom are Missourians.
Jordan Davidson testified that he came from
Missouri to vote in Kansas at the legislative
election, March, 1855 contended that he had
right to do so; understood tina, Gov Reed
er had brought on anti-slaverv voters from the
East to make Kansas Free State, and had
| given prior and secret intelligence to the east
as to the day on which the election would be
held; witness had attended some meetings OF
secret society existing in Missouri, and he
supposed in other Slave States, intended to
plant Slavery in Kansas he Joined this socie-
ty in Cass County, Missouri, in Feb, 1855 it
was known as the 'Sons of the South" )" "Blue
Lodge" and by various other names; the
members were known to each other by secret
tied in button-hole Of the coat; witness rec
ognizcd some twenty five to fifty of his broth
er members Gin Missouri) at the poll held at
Douglas for the legislative election know no
anti-slavery man, not an actual resident of
Kansas, who voted at saiG election; witness
was one of the Judges of Election after the
original Judges left the ground. IAl this was
drawn out of him sorely against his will.
Much Of it Was corroborated by several other
witnesses.J
Hammond Muggy was likewise at Douglas
at the 30th March election saw a large crowd
there, and many wagons; got there just as Mr..
Mace did; he tried to vote, and when the pro-
slavery party saw that his vote was Free
State vote they said he should not vote it !;
| several men took hold of him by the collar
and pulled him away; he took hold of me and
we were both pulled away together from the
poll; they cried out, ssCut his throat" !" Estear
his ID heart out of him - saw one man
draw his knife upon him, without doing any
injury; saw 4 man with lever, trying to pry
| up corner of the cabin; others cried ont,
''don't do it until You have orders;'' saw Ell
lison come out of the cabin with the ballot
box in his hand, and cry out, ssHurrah for Mis-
souri!'' Ellison was one of the Judges; heard
Jones (nolc Sheriff. say he trould girc the (origi
nab Judges fire minutes 10 resign or die Jones
gare one more minute aud they then left; these
Judges were Ramsay and Burson, both Free
State men; was there when the other Judges
Davidson & Col were appointed the crowd
| then commenced voting; saw no Free-State
that day.
William Lyons testified that over one hun
dred Missourians voted at Douglas on that
day; saw some returning to Missouri that day
| and some the day after; they told him they
were from Missouri one of them told him he
knew of eight hundred Missourians who would
vote in Kansas that day. Witness testified to
similar voting by Missourians at the first cleo
tion of Whitfield, Nov. 1854.
Augustus Wattles corroborated this last tes-
timony.
George Embargo saw the original Judges of
election driven from the poll by threats of Vi
olence at Douglass about noon of the 30th of
March election; Sheriff Jones was one of the
party, and seemed to act as leader; Ramsey
cone of the original Judges) gave witness the
poll-books and charged him to take care Of
them; witness started for home, but was over
| taken by eight or ten hozsemen, surrounded
and poll-books taken from him Sheriff Jones
(not then Sheriff, even in pretense) was one
of the party forced witness to accompany
them back again; his life was threatened al
so that of Benson. (another of the Judges,)
who had escaped; saw some of the voters
start for Missouri.
James r. Stewart attended the poll in the
7th district; douglas is in the I'd 4 two of
the legally appointed Judges did not serve,
and their place was supplied by strangers;
many who lived in that district did not vote ::
those who did vote were nearly all strangers !;
they were encamped near the poll; recognized
two of them residents of Missouri the
strangers voted without being sworn, they were
armed; they went east toward Missouri af-
ter voting about 800 votes were there polled
nearly all for the pro-slavery candidates.
/. B. Titus corroborated this testimony
y. Horner testified to similar proceedings at
Switzer Creek; the strangers arrived and en-
camped the night before election; during the
election they adjourned for dinner, and took
the ballot-box down to their camp meanwhile
they had their provisions and fodder along
with them.
II. Rice confirmed much of the foregoing.
Marcus H. Rose testified that there are So
voters in the 9TH district, according to the Of
fetal census taken just before the 3Oth March
election; of these, seventeen appear by the
poll books TO have voted at that election