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


On the same day the census was completed,
the Governor issued his Proclamation for an cleo
ton to be held on the Both of March, A. u. 1855.
for Members of the Legislative Assembly of the
Territory. 1t prescribed the boundaries of Dis
tricts; the places for polls; the names of Judg-
es; the appointment of members and recited
the qualification of voters. If it had been OBJ
served, just and fair election would have re-
hected the will Of the people of the Territory.
Before the election, false and inaammatory rumors
were busly circulated among the people of Wes-
tern Missouri. The number and character of the
emigration then passing into the territory were
grossly exaggerated and msrepresented. Thro'
the active exertivns of many Of its leading citi-
zens aided by the secret societies before referred
to-, the passions and prejudices of the people of
that State were greatly excited. Several resi-
dents there testified to the character of the re-
ports circulated among and credited by the peo-
pie. These efforts were successful. BY an or
gaDized movement which extended from Andrew
County in the North to Jasper County in the
South, and as fur eastward as Boone and Cole
Counties, companies of men were arranged in
regular parties and sent into every Council Dis
trict in the Territory, and into every Representa-
tire District but one. The numbers were 50 dis
tributed as to control the election in each Dis
trict. They went to vote and with the avOwed
design to make Kansas n Slave State. They
were generally armed and equipped, carried with
them their own provisions and tents, and SO
marched into the territory. The details of this
invasion, from the mass of the testimony taken
by your Committee, are so voluminous that we
can here state but the leading facts elected.
LIST DIsTRicr-MARCH Both, l855.-LAwRExCE.
The company of persons who marched into
this District, collected in Ray, Howard, Carroll,
Boone, Lafayette. Randolph, Saline and Cass
Counties, in the State of Missouri. Their ex-
penses were paid-those who could not come,
contributed provisions, wagons, &c. Provisions
were deposited for those who were expected to
come to Lawrence in the house of VIM. Lykins,
and were distributed among the Missourians af-
ter they arrived there. The evening before and
the morning of the day of election, about 900
men from the above counties arrived at Law
renee, and camped IN a ravine a short distance
from town, near the place of voting. They came
in wag0ns-Of which there were over one hum
dred-and on horseback. under the command of
Col. Samuel Young, Of Boone County, Missouri,
and Claiborne +. Jackson, of Missouri. They
were armed with guns, rifles, pistols and bowie
knives, and had tents, music and flags with them.
They brought with them two pieces of artillery,
loaded with musket balls. On their way to Law
renee, some of them met Mr.. N. B. Blanton, who
had been appointed one of the Judgeseof Elec-
ton by Gov. Reeder, and after learning from,
him that he considered it his duty to demand an
oath from them as to their place Of residence,
first attempted 10 bribc, and then threatened him
with hanging, in order to induce him to dispense
with that oath. In consequence of these threats,
he did not appear at the polls the next morning
to act as Judge.
The evening before the election, while in camp,
the Missourians were called together at the tent
of Capt. Claiborne F. Johnston, and speeches
were made to them by Col. Young and Others,
calling for volunteers to 60 to other Districts
where there were not Missourians enough to con-
troll the election, and there were more at Law
renee than we're needed there. Many volunteered
to 60, and on tho morning of the election, sew
eral companies, from $50 to 200 men each, went
OF to Tecumseh, Hickory Point, Bloomingson,
and other places. On the morning OF the election
the Missourians came over to the place Of voting
from their camp, in bodies Of one hundred at a
time. Mr.. Blanton not appearing. another Judge
was appointed in bis place Col. Young claiming
that, AZ the people Of the Territory had two
Judges, it was nothing more than right that the
Missourians should have the other one, to look
after their interests; and Robert A. Cummins