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

north to Jasper In the south, and as
far eastward as Boone and Coils coun-
ties, companies Of men we're arranged
in regular parties and sent into every
Council district in the Territory. and
every Representative district but one.
The numbers were so distributed as to
con troll the election in esch district
They went to vote, and with the
avowed design to make Krnsas
slave State. They were generally
armed and equipped, carried with thtm
their own provisions and tents, and so
marched into the Territory. The de-
tails Of this invasion from the mass of
the testimony taken by youl Commit
tee, are SO voluminous that We can
here state but the leading facts elic-
tied
FIRST DrsrRrcr--MARcH 80, 1856.
LAWRENCE.
The company Of persons who
marched into this District. collected
in Ray. Howard. Carroll. Boone. La
Fay et.e, Randolph. Saline and Csss
counties. in the State Of Missouri
Their expenses were paid-those who
could not come contributing provisions
wagons. &c. Provisions were deposit
ted for those who were expected TO
como to Lawrence in the house Of
William Lykins, and were distributed
am any the Missourians after they ar
rived there. The evening before and
the morning Of the day OF election.
about 1000 mcn from the above coun-
ties arrived at Lawrence, and camped
in ravine q short distance from town.
near the place Of voting. They came
IN wagons-of which there were over
one hundred--and on horseback. un.
der the command Of COL Samuel
Young, Of Boone county. Missouri.
and Claiborne 4. Jackson. OF Nilsson
VI. They were armed with guns. ri.
fies. pistols and bowie knives, and had
tents. music and flags with them.-
They brought with them two pieces Of
artillery loaded with musket balls
On their way 10 Lawrence. some Of
them met Mr.. N. B. Blsnton. who had
been appointed one of the JUDGES Of
Election by Gov. Reeder, and after
learning from him that he considered
IL bis duty TO demsnd an oath from
them M TO their place Of residence.
Grst attempted to bribe. and then
threatened him with hanging. In or.
der TO induce him 10 dispense with
that oath. In consequence Of these
threats. he did not appear ut the polls
the next morning 10 act ~ Judge.
The evening before the election.
while In camp the Missourians were
called together in the tent Of Capt.
Claiborne, F. jackson, and speeches
were made to them by Col. Young
and others, calling for volunteers to
go 10 other districts where there were
not Missoulians enough TO control the
election, and there were more at Law
renee than we've needed there. Many
volunteered to 60. and the morning Of
the election. several companies. from
$50 TO 600 men each. went OF 10 Te-
cumseh. Hickory Point, Bloomington
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 y
time. Mr.. Blanion not appearing.
another Judge was appointed in his
place-Col. Young claiming that, as
the people Of the Territory had two
Judges, It was nothing more than
right that the Missourians shmh have
the other one. to look after their inter-
ests; and Robert A. Cummins was
elected In Blanton's stead. because l,e
considered that every man had right
to vote II he had been In the Terrific
ry but an hour. The Missourians
brou hit their tickets with them, but
not having enough. they had three
hundred more printed In Lawrence on
the evening before and the day of the
election. They had white ribbons In
their button holes to distinguish them
selves from the settlers.
When the voting commenced the
question Of the legality Of the vote Of
Mr.. Page was raised. Before 1t was
decided. Col. Samuel Young stepped
up TO the window where the votes
were received, and said he would set
tie the matter. The vote OF Mr.. Page
was Withdrawn. and Col. Young offer
ed to vote. He refused to take the
oath prescribed by the Governor. but
swore be was resident Of the Terri
tory, upon which mis- vote was recciv-
ed. He told Mr.. Abbott. one Of the
Judges. when asked II he intended to
make Kansas his future home. that Il
was nore Of his buainess; that il he
were n resident then he should ask no
more. After bis vote was received.
Col. Young got up on the window.siIl
and announced 10 the crowd that he
had been permitted to vote. and they
could all come up and vote. He told
the Judges that there was no use in
swearing the others as they would all
swear as he had done. After the
other Judges concluded to receive
Col. Young's vote, Mr.. Abbott resign.
ed as Judge Of Election. and Mr..
Benjamin was elected in his place.
The polls were so much crowded
until late in the evening. that for =
time. when the men had voted. they
were obi sed to get out by being
hoisted up on the roof Of the building
where the election was beiny held.
and pass over the house. Aftsrward
a passa2eway through the crowd was
made. by two lines Of men being
formed through which the voters could
get up to the polls. Col. Young ask
I'd that the old men be allowed 10 60
up first and vote. as they were tired
with the travelling. and wanted to get
back to camp.
The Missousians sometimes came
up to the polls In procession. two by
two. and voted.
During the day the Missourians
drove Oft the ground some Of the cit