Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-24
NEW SERIES, NO. 81.
TERMS $3.50 strictly In advance.
HlCNlO, $500 at the years. end.


make Kansas slave state because the people
OF the North had sent persons out to make its
free state Some claimed that they had heard
the Emigrant Aid Society had sent men out to
be at the election, and they came to effect their
votes but the most Of them made no such
claim. Col. Young said he wanted the citizens
70 vote In order to give the election some show
oil fairness. The Missourianss said there would
De no difficulty, if the citizens did not interfere
with their voting, but they were determined to
vote-peaceably, if they could, but vote any
how They said each one Of them was pre-.
pared for 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 right to vote in Missouri for twelve months
afterwards.
The Missourians began to leave the afternoon
of the day of election, though some did not 60
home until the next morning.
In many cases, when wagon load had vo-
ted, they Immediately started for home. On
their way home they said that if Gov. Reeder
did not sanction the election they would hang
him,
The citizens of the town Of Lawrence, as q
general thing, were not armed on the day of
election, though some had revolvers. though
not exposed, as were the arms of the Missou-
rians. They kept guard about the town the
night after the election, in consequence of the
threats Of the Missourians, in order to protect
| it.
The pro-slavery men of the district attended
the nominating convention Of the free state
men, and voted for and secured the nomination
Of the men they considered the most obnoxious
to the free state party, in order to cause dissen-
sion in that party
Quite number of settlers camo into the
district before the day of election and after the
census was taken. According to the census re-
turns, there were then in the district 36l legal
voters. Of those whose names are on the CEN
sus returns, 1T are to be found on the poll
books of the 30th March, 1856, Messrs, Ludd,
Babcock and Pratt testify to the IS names on
the poll books Of persons they knew to have
settled in the district after the census was ia
ken and before the election.
A number Of persons came into the territory
in March, before the election, from the north'
ern and eastern states, intending to settle, who
were in Lawrence on the day Of election. At
that time many of them had selected no claims,
and had no fixed place of residence. Such
were not entitled to vote. Many Of them be-
came dissatisfied with the country. Others
were disappointed at its political condition, and
in the price and demand for labor, and re-
turned, Whether any such voted at the elec-
ton is not clearly shown ; but from the proof,
it is probable that in the latter part Of the day,
after the great body of the Missourians had
voted, some did go to the polls. The number
was not over so. These voted the free state
ticket. The whole number of names appear
ing upon the poll lists is l 1884.
After full examination, we are satisfied that
232 of these were legal voters, and SO2were nom
resident and illegal voters This district is
strongly in favor of making Kansas free state,
an there is no doubt that the free state can
didates for the legislature would have been
elected by large majorities, if none but the ao-
tual settlers had voted. AT the preceding
election in November, 1854, where none but
legal votes were polled, General Whitfield,
who received the full strength of the pro-slave-
ry party, got but 46 votes.
ELEvNTH Observation-Disclosures.
On the morning of the election the judges
} appointed by the Governor, appeared and open
ed the polls. Their names were Harrison Bur-
, son, Nathaniel Ramsay and Mr.. Ellison. The
Mssourians began to come in early on the
> morning. some 500 or 600 of them, in wagons
8 and in carriages, and on horseback, under the
s lead of Samuel j. Jones, then the Postmaster
If Westport Missouri, Claiborne F. jackson,
Q and Mr.. Steely, of Independence, Mo-, They
4 were armed with double barreled guns, rifles,
bowie-knives and pistols, and, had flags hoisted.
, They held sort of informal election, off at one
t side at first for Governor of Kansas, and short
' ly afterwards announced Thomas johnson, of
f Shawnee Missions, elected Governor.
8 The polls had been opened for short time
/ when Mr.. Jones marched with the crowed up
to the window, and demanded that they should
d be allowed to vote without swearing as to their
residence After some noisy and threatening
g talk, Claiborne F. jackson addressed the
crowed. saying they had come there to vote,
10 that they had right to vote if they had been
:. there but five minutes, and he was not willing
% to 20 home without voting which was received
!. with cheers. jackson then called upon them
,e To form into little bands of fifteen or twenty,
IA which they did, and went to an OK wagon filled
,e with guns, which were distributed among them,
Ia and nroceeded to load some of them on the
le ground
= In pursuance of Jackson's request, they tied
white tape or ribbons in their button heles, &C
e as to distinguish them from the abolitionists.
ID They again demanded that the judges shoult
v resign, and upon their refusing to do s.
ID smashed in the window, sash and oil, and pre-
ID sented ther pistols and guns to them, threat
d ing to shoot them. Some one on the outsid
lie cried out to them not to shoot, as there wer
+ pro slavery men in the room with the Judges
S. They then put pry under the corner of th
s, house, which was log house, and lifted it u
d few inches, and let it fall again, but desiste
q being told that there were pro-slavery men i
s. the house.
10 During this time the crowed repeatedly d.
e. manded to be allowed to vote without bein
a sworn, and Mr.. Ellison, one Of the judges, 9,
Of pressed himself willing, but the other tw
I'd judges refused thereupon body of mel