Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-08-08

cOmpar ativeIV clear and voted. r.
| Before the voting had commenced
The Missourisns said, II the Judges
appointed by The Governor did not re.
ceive their votes. they would choose
other Judges. Some of them voted
several times, changing their hats OF
coats and coming up 10 the window
again. They said they intended to
vote first, and after thew had 20,
through then The others could vote. =
Some Of them claimed right TO vote
under the organic act. from the fact
| that their mere presence in the Terri.
| tory constituted them residents, though
they were from Wisconsin. and had
homes in Missouri. Others said they
have a rightto vote because Kansas be.
longed to Missouri. and people from
the East had no right TO settle IN the
Territory and vote there. They said
they came to the Territory 10 elect a
Legislature to suit themselves. as the
people Of the Territory and persons
from the East and Ncrth wanted to
elect a Legislature that would not suil
them. They said they had a righl
to make Kansas slave State. because
the people Of the North bad sent per-
sons out to make it free state
Some claimed that they had heard
that the Emigrant Aid Society had
sent men out 70 be at The election, and
they came to Offset their votes; bu1
the most Of them made no such claim
Col. Young said he wanted the cili
liens 10 vote in order TO give the cleo,
ton some show Of fairness. The Mis-
sourians said there would be no difIi'
Guilty, II the citizens did not interfere
with their voting, but they were de-
termined to voie--peaceabIy, II they
could, but vote any how. They said
each one Of them was prepared 70,
eight rounds without loading, and
would go the ninth round with The
butcher knife. Some Of them said
that BY voting in the Territory they
would deprive themselves Of the riphl
10 vote In Missouri for twelve months
afterward.
The Missourians began 10 leave
the afternoon Of the day Of election,
though some did not 20 home until
the next morning.
In many cases when q wagon load
had voted. they immediately started
for home. On their way home they
said that II Gov. Reeder dil not sane.
ton the election they would hang him.
The citizens Of the town Of Law.
renee, as q general thing. we're not
armed on the day Of election. though
some had rvvolyers. but not exposed,
as were the arms OF the Missourians.
They kept q guard about the town the
the night after the election. in conse.
queuce Of the threats Of the Missou-
rians. in order to protect il. se
The pro-slavery men Of the district
attended the nominating conventions
Of the free State men. and voted for
and secured the nominations Of the
men they considered the most obnox-
ious 10 the free State party, IN order
to cause dissension in that party.
Quite number Of settlers came
into the district before the day oI
election, and after the census was
taken. According 10 the census re-
turns. they were then Ia the district
$50 legal voters. OF those whose
names are on the census returns, III
are 10 DO found on the poll books oI
the 3oth Of March. 1855. Messrs,
Ladd, Babcock and Pratt, testify "a
55 names on the poll books Of per-
sons they knew TO have settled In the
District after the census was taken
and before the election. A number
Of persons came into the Territory in
March. before the election. from The
Northern and Eastern States, intend
| inp to settle, who were In Lawrence
on ! the day OF election. Atthat time
many Of them had selected no claims
and had no fixed place Of vesidence.
Such were not entitled to vote
| Many of them b came dissatisfied
with the country. Others were dis
appointed at i,s political condition. and
sst. - a a