The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-18
VOLUME .xII.-NUMBER %.

polls; the names Of Judges the appoint
inent Of members; and rccited the quali6.
cations OF voters. If II had been observed,
q Just and fair election would have reflected
the will of the people of the Tcrritoy.-
Before the election, false and infammatory
rumon were busily circulated among tho
people of Western Missouri. The number
and character OF the emigntion then pass
ing into the Territory were glossy exagger-
ated and misrepresented. Trough the active
exertions of many Of Its leading citizens,
aided by the secret societies before referred
to, the passions and prejudices Of the people
of the State were greatly excited. Several
residents there have testified to the character
Of the reports circulated among and credit
ed by the people. These efforts were sue
ccssful BY IN orgunlzed movement which
extended from Andrew Co. in the north to
jasper county in the south, and rs far east
ward as Boone and Cole Counties, companies
of men were arranged irregular parties and
sent into erery Council Disfrid in the 1trri-
tory, and info erery Representative Disirid
but one. The numbers were 30 disturbed
as TO control tho election In each District
They went to vote and with the ayowed de-
sign to make Kansas Slave State. They
were generally armed and equipped, and
carried with them their own provisions and
tents, and 30 marched into the Territory
The details Of this invasion, from the mas
Of the testimony taken by your COMMITTEES,
are 80 yolumnious that we can here state
but the leading facts elected.
A largcspacc in the report is devoted to
the relation Oft the outnges and frauds per-
petnted at this election. Asspccimens, We
gave the following only
FIRST pisrRlcT-NARcu 80, ls55.-LAw.
RENEE
The company Of persons who marched in.
to this District, collected in Ray, Howard,
Carrool, Boone, Ia Fayettc, Randolph, Si-
line, and Cass counties, in the State Of Mis-.
souri,. Their expenses were paid those who
could not come contributing provisions,
wagons, &c. Provisions were deposited foi
those who were expected to come to Law
rence in the house of William Lykins, and
were distributed among the Missourians
after they arrived there the evening before
and the morning Of the day of election,
about 1000 men from the above counties
arrived at lawrence, and comped In ra-
vine short distance from town, near the
plac. ef voting. They came In wagons
Of which there were over one hundred-and
and on horseback. under the command Of
Colonel Samuel Young, Of Boone county,
Missouri, and Claiborne +. jackson, Of
Missouri. They were armed with guns,
rifles, pistols, and bowie-knivcs, and had
tents, music, and flags with them. They
brought with them two pieces Of artillery,
loaded with musket balls. On their way
to Lawrence some of them met Mr.. n. B.
Banton, who had been appointed one Of tho
Judges Of Election by Gov. Rceder, and
after learning from him that he considered
il his duty to demand an oath from them
as to their place Of residence, first attempted
to bribe, 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 10 act as Judge.
The evening before the election, while in
camp, the Missourmns were called together
at the tent Of Capt. Claiborne +. jackson,
and speeches were made TO them by Col.
Young and Others. calling for volunteers 70
20 10 other Districts where there were not
Missourans enough to control the election,
and there were more at Lawrence than were
needed there. Many volunteered to 20,
md the morning Of the election, several
companies, from $50 TO 200 men each, went
jtf to Tecumseh, Hickory Point, Blooming.
ton, 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 time. Mr..
Blanton not appearing, another Judge was
appointed In his place-Col. Young claim
ing that, as the people of the Territory had
two Judges, IL was nothing moro than right
that the Missourians should have the .0ther
one, to look after their interests and Rob
'ert A Cummins was elected in Blantons
stead, because hc considered that every man
had right 10 vote IL he had been in tho
Territory but an hour. The Missourians
brought their tickets with them, but not
having enough, they had thrco hundred
more printed in Lawrence on the evening
before and the day Of election. They had
white ribbons in their button.holcs 10 die
tingnis themselves from the settlers.
The Missourians sometimes came up to
the polls in procession, two by two, and yo-
ted.
During the day the Missourians drove on
the ground some Of the citizens. Mr.. Stevens
Mr. Bond, and Mr.. Willis. They threat
sned to shoot Mr.. Bond, and crowd
rushed after him threatening him, and as
he ran frOm them some shots were fired nc
him, M he jumped Of the bank Of the river
and made his escap. The citizens OF tho
town went over in body. late IN the after
noon, when the polls had become compara-
lively clear, and voted.
The Missourians began 10 leave the AFTER
noon OF the day Of election, though sone
did not go home until the next morning.
In many cases when q wagon load bad
voted, they Immediately started for homo.
On their way homo they said that IL Gov.
Rccder did not sanction the election they
would hang him. 5000
The citizens OF tho town OF Lawrence, as
general thing, were not armed on the day
OF election. though some had reyolvers, but
not exposed, US were the arms of tho Mis-
sourians. They kept guard about tho
town the night after the election, In coise-
qucncc Of tho threats Of the Missourians,
in order to protect 1t. s-
The pro-Slsyery men Of the district at
tended the nominating Conventions OF tho
Free State men, and voted for and secured
the nominations Of the mon they considered
the most obnoxious 70 the Free State party,
in order ~ cause dissension in that party.
The whole number Of namss Appearing
upon the poll lists is 1854. After full cx-
animation, we arc satisfied that not over
232 OF these were legal voters, and s02 were
NONRESIDENT and illegal voters. This Dis
trict is strongly in favur Of making Kansas
frce State, and there Is no doubt that tho
FREQ State candidates for the legislature
would have been elected by largo majoritics,
| If none but the actual settlers bad yoted.
ELEVENTH prsrRicr-BioonNoroS
On the morning OF tho election, tho
Judges appointed BY the G,vcrnor, appeared