Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-06-06

longing to that society voting at For
Scott--perhaps all, IL had for one 0
it's objects the making of Kansas /,
Slave State. they have passwords ant
signs. witness thought they we're
little hard on him, the members o
this society take oaths. they swear e
make Kansas a Slave State, the bes
way they can; to make Kansas a Slav,
State Is the object Of the society;
don't know Of this society existing Ia
the Territory. IL Is year since | had
any thing to do with Il. suppose thi,
society was instrumental ia sending
persons up here 10 vote. | don't kno v
that they raised money or issued circu
lars, presume that they had discuss
ed the sending of voters up into the
Territory, think there were large nun
Der Of persons belonging to IL: | lhinl
Il would result to my Injury IL l tolt
all I know about Il, and this is on,
reason why l don't wish to tell; IL
had known you were going to be SC
pinniug in your questions you woulc
not have found me anywhere around
here; I know Of persons coming on
here the 30th March.
William Chestnut, sworn--Live il
the Pottawatomie precinct, came into
Territory e9th Of October. 1854; came
from Come ,ticut. was at the election
3oih Of March. was appointed BY
Governor Reeder rs one Of the Judge,
Of that precinct, arrived at the polls a
8 o'clock, the other Judges were mol
there, clsined the privilege Of ap'
pointing two others, when man cam,
up armed with knife, revolver. &c.
and said he was from Missouri. and
his party would appoint the Judges
| demonstrated. he then told me II
made any trouble be would dispose o.
me very suddenly. he then asked me
with sneer. how | would have III,
election conducted. l told him accord
ing to the condi ions and restrictions
Of the Governors proclamation. hs
said the Governor had no right 10 i'm
pose such obligations; that their being
there constituted them voters. anc
they should vote, let the consequence,
be what they might. told him | should
act as Judge. and II they did not per
nit me to do that. / would Mt leas
stay and witness their proceedings. h,
said IL did so did It at my peril. h,
afterwards came 10 me and said. tt
prevent trouble, had better lot iheil
men vote and our own without swear
Ing them. | told him | should not d.
Il. they then appointed two Judges
one OF them q resident Of Missouri,
acted as clerk. they then commenced
voting, over four-ifths Of the votes
we're handed In by armed men, OBJ
jeeted TO the votes OF many, the othel
Judges would take no notice oil my
remonstrance, but take The ballot aut
put Il Ia, mt noon. one Of the Judges
Mr.. Wear. propose that we adiours
for about an hour for dinner. he said
hc would take care OF the ballot-box
took Il up and walked Oft with IL. I fol
lowed him. he met Mr.. Ferguson. ant
said Mr.. Wilkinson. the Pro.Slavcry
candidate, had invited him to dinner
| told him would 20 too. | followed
him through their encampment. they
wero cncamped both sides Of the road
lying round on the ground and II
wagons and some Of them under the
influence Of liquor, they were all arm
cd with knives. revolvers and rifles
we then went on, before we got there
Wear turned round and said to me
81 guess we WON'T 60 down there
we went back and opened the polls
again, at sundow wo closed the poll'
and counted tho votes. the other Jud
ges made out a certificate saying /
was a true election. and handed II L
me. for my signature. Itold them
could not sign Il without committing
perjury, the house was Immediately
iilled with armed men, General Coffee
one Of the candidates. made speech
saying II was very aggravating for
public officer not to do his evident du
", but he hoped there would be NJ
bloodshed. he then came TO me ir ,
familiar msnper, and requested me t.
sign Il. saying II would look better fo
me to do It. I told them i was at thei
mercy. but l would not sign it.the 9th
er Judges said they could get along
without my signature. ! then left. hat
| got but little ways when party o
men discharged their rifles. and hootet
at us, they continued hooting an.
yelling as long as / remained in sight
not over 20 legal votes were cast
there were 266 votes cast in all. doa'
know Of any person who came out un
der the auspices Of any Emigrant Ait
Society settled in our district. excep
myself, came out under the Kansas
League. paid my own expenses, at tha
time decided majority Of the people
were in favor Of making Kansas ,
Free. State, since then this majority
has increased; the witness said wheT
he objected to Ferguson acting Al
Judge. Ferguson said be had his wash
ing done at Pottawatomie. and tha
make him legal voter.
Rev. Pardee Butler, sworn-Csm.
To the Territory one year ago. came
in at St. Joseph and settled on slran,
ger Greek. about twelve miles from
Atchison, on the 18th August went te
Atchison TO take boat down The river
Kelley was acting postmaster there,
and co-cditor Of Squstter Sovereign,
I said 10 him should have become q
subscriber to your paper, only do no,
like the spirit Of violence that charac.
terises Ii. he said he regarded all
Free Sellers as rogues and that they
should BE- treated as such, l told him
I was a Free -soiler. and should vote
to make Kansas Free State. he said
! don't expect you will be allowed to
voss. nexs morning Kelley came TO my
boarding house with number OF men.
and showed me some resolutions cut
from the Squatter Sovereign aud pas
ted on a sheet Of white paper. and