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

he WIS from cleveland.
The Kansas Invasions ofR54-55.
REPRoT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.
TcoNTINUED.I
TWELFTH DISTRICT.
The election in this district was conducted
fairly. No complaint was made that illegal
votes were cast.
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT.
Previous to the day of elections several hun
dreds of Missourians from Platte, Clay, Boone,
Clinton, and Howard counties, came into the
district in wagons and on horseback. and
camped there. They were armed with guns,
revolvers, and bowie knives aud had badges of
hemp in their button-holes and elsewhere about
there persons. They claimed to have right
to vote, from the fact that they were there on
the ground, and had, or intended to make,
claims in the Territory, although their fami-
lies were in Missouri.
The Judges appointed by the Governor
opened the polls, and some persons offered to
vote and when they were rejected, on the
ground that they were not residents of the
district. the crowd threatened to tear the house
down il the Judges did not leave. The Judges
then withdrew taking the poll books with
them. The crowd then proceeded to select
other persons to act as Judges, and the election
went on. those persons voting who were
sworn were asked if they considered them
selves residents Of the district, and if they
said they did they were allowed to vote.
But few Of the residents were present and vo
| ted, and the Free State men, rs general thing,
did not vote. After the Missuurians got through
voting they returned home A formal return
was made by the Judges of election setting
out the facts, but it was not verified. The
number oil legal voters in the district was 269
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT.
| 1t was rnmored in this district for some days
before the election that the Missourians were
coming over 70 vote. Previous to the election,
men rom Missouri came into the district and
electioneered Tor the Pro-Slavrey candidates.
Gen David R. Atchinson and party con-
trolled the nominations in one of the primary
elections.
BURR OAK PRECINCT.
Several hundred Mlssourians from Buchanan,
Platte and Andrew Counties. Mo. including a
great many ot the prominent citizens OF, st.
Joseph came into this precinct the day before,
and on the day OF election in wagons and on
horse, and encamped there. Arrangements
were made for them to cross the ferry ut 81.
Joseph free OF expense to themselves They
were armed with bowie-kniyes and pistols, guns
and rifles On the morning of the election. the
Free State candidates resigned i'll body, on
account Of the presence of the large number OF
armed Missourians, ut which the crowd cheered
and hurraed. Gen. B. f. Stringiellow waa
present and was prominent in promoting the
election of the Pro Slavery ticket, as was also
Hon. Willard p. Hill, and others Of the most
prominent citizens of st. Joseph, Mo But
one OF the Judges of Election, appointed by
the Governor, served on that day, and the
crowd chose two Others to supply the vacan-
Cies.
The Missourians said they came there to vote
for and to secure the election Of Major VIM.
P. Richardson, elected to the Council, had
had farm in Missouri, where his wife and
daughter lived with his son in.law, Willard P.
Hail, he himself generally going home to Mis-
souri, every Saturday night. Tue farm was
generally known as the Richardson farm. He
had u claim in the territory upon which was
II saw mill, and where he generally remained
during the week.
Some Of the Missourians gave as their reason
for voting, that they had heard that Eastern
emigrants were to be at that election, though
no Eastern emigrants were there. Others said
that they We're going to vote for the purpose Of
making Kansas slave State.
Some claimed that they had right to vote
under the povisions of the Kansas Nebraska
bill, from tho fact that they were present on
tho ground on the day OF election
The free State men generally did not vote,
| and thosn uhn did votp1 OlpprullU tnr
John IL. Whitehead pro-slavery, for Coun-
Gil, aganst Major William P Richardson, and
did not vote at all for members of the Lower
House
The parties were pretty nearly equally d.
vided in the District, some being of opinion
that the free State party had II small majority
and Others that the pro slavery party had !
small majority After the election was over
aud the polls were closed, the Missourians re
turned home. During the day they had pro
visions and liquor served out free of expense t,
all.
DoNIPHAN PRECINCT.
The evening before the election some 200 o
more Missonlilns from Platte, Buchanan, Sa
line and Clay counties, Missouri came into tn
Precinct, with tents, music, wagons, and pro
visions and armed with guns, rifles, pistols, an,
bowie knives, and encamped about two mile
from the place of voting. They said they in
tended to return to Missouri after they haC
voted
!, On the morning OF the election the Judge
appointed by the Governor would not serve
and Others were appointed by the crowd 90 Tn
Missourians were allowed to vote without be
ing sworn-some of them voting as many a
eight or nine times changing their hats ant
coats and giving in different names each time
After they had voted they returned to Nilsson
ri The Free State men generally di4 not vote
though constituting majority in the Precinct
Upon counting the ballots in the hox and tn
names an the poll lists, it WAS found that Their
was to many ballots, and one of the Judges o
election took out ballots enough to make thu
two numbers correspond.
WOLF RIVER PRECINCT.
But few Missourians were present in thi
Precinct, though some Of them threatened on
of the Judges. because he refused to rcccv,
their votes, and when he resigned another wa
chosen in his place who consented to receive
their votes
:. Protests we're drawn up against the election
in the various precincts in the l4th District
but on account of threats that greater numbe
of Mssourians would be at new election shoul,
it be called, and of personal violence to thos