Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1856-07-29
1 1871 461l2O 564 1887 1881

Total 1881 As 1920 564 1887 453 ITS
N. b. Poll Book at Leavenworth was destroyed.
The Executive Committee then issued proc
lamation reciting the results Of the election OF
the 18th Of December, and the same time pro-
vided foran election 10 be held on the 10th day
Of January, 1885, for State Officers and members
Of the General Assembly of the State Of Kansas.
An election was accordingly held in the several
election precincts, the returns OF which were
sent 10 the Executive Committee. An abstract
Of them is contained in the following table:
Here follows another lorg and difficult table,
giving an abstract of votes given at the election
Of January, Is, 1855, for State officers and mem
bers Of the General Assembly, which we omit.
The result Of this election was announced by
proclamation by the Executive Committee.
In accordance with the Constitution thus
s,opted he members Of the State Legislature
and most Of the State officers met on the day and
at the place designated by the State Constitution,
and took the oath therein prescribed.
A After electing United States Senators, passing
some preliminary laws, and appointing Codlfy-
ing Committee and preparing Memorial to Con-
gress, the General Assembly adjourned to meet
on the 4th dayof July, 1856.
The laws passed were all conditional upon the
admission Of Kansas as State into the Union.
These proceedings were regular, and in the opin-
ion Of your Committee the Constitution thus
adopted fairly expresses the will Of the majority
~ the settlers. They now await the action of
Congress upon their memorial.
These elections, whether they were conducted
in pursuance Of law or not, were not illegal,
Whether the result Of them is sanctioned by
the action Of Congress, or they are regarded as
the mere expression of popular will, and Con-
gress should refuse grant the prayer Of the Me-
moIial, that cannot affect their legality The
right Of the people to assemble and express their
political opinion in any form, whether by means
Of on election or convention, is secured to
them the Constitution Of the United States.
Even if the elections are to be regarded as The
act of a party, whether political or otherwise,
.hey were proper, in accordance with examples,
both in States and Territories.
The elections, however, were preceded and
followed by acts Of violence on the part OF those
who opposed them, and those persons who ap-
proved and sustained the invasion from Missouri
were peculiarly hostile to these peaceful move
ments preliminary 10 the organization OF Slate
Government. Instances of this violence will be
referred tohereafter.
To provide for the election Of Delegates to
Congress, and at the same time DO it in such
manner as to obtain the judgment Of the House
Of Representatives upon the validity Of the aleg-
cd Legislative Assembly sitting at Shawnee Mis-
SION, Convention was held at Big Springs on
the 9th and 9Th days Of September, 1855. This
was a party Convention, and party calling II
self the Free State party was then organized. 1t
was in no way connected with the State move
inent, except that the election Of Delegate to
Congress was fixed by it on the same day as the
election of members Of q Constitutional Conven-
tlon, instead of the day prescribed by the alleged
Legislative Assembly. Andrew H. Reeder was
put denomination as Territorial Delegate to Con-
gress, and an election was provided for under the
regulations prescribed for the election oi March
80, 1855, excepting as TO the aprontmentot OF Off
GERS, and the persons to whom the returns OF the
elections should be made. The election was
held in accordance with these regulations, an ab-
stract OF the returns ofwbich is contained in the
following table: aua