Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-26

which Michigan was erected into Territorv, pro-
vided that population Of sixty thousand should
entitle the State to admission. Having STAINED
more than thaspopusfion, Michigan formed a State
constitution, and was admitted into the Union in
June, 1886, with the single condition that the
United States should fx its southern boundary,
and that the assent of the State TO this boundary
should be given through "a convention of delegates
elected by the people OF the State for the sole pur-
pose OF giving the assent herein required" Con-
gress had power to fix this boundary without such
assent. There were two conventions held one
asserting to and the other opposing this boundary;
but on the 18th Of January, 1887, Congress de-
clared that "a convention of delegates elected by
the State of Michigan" "did assent" to the bOun-
Diary. This is all there is in it. There Is no par,
allel between this case and that Of Kansas.
An impartial review of facts, in the opinion of
the undersigned discloses that the authors of this
Kansas movement have committed series Of grave
errors and have placed themselves in the wrong
from the very beginning of the controversy.
So soon a the Kansas~Nebraska bill was passed,
active and noisy movements we're set on foot to
throw into Kansas a mass of voters from distant
States for the svoSed purpose of controlling its
elections, and making it free State. For this
purpose Emigrant Aid Societies were organized in
the New England States; millions of money were
subscribed; and with VociferOus agitation against
slavery, large NUMBERS OF persons were pToCuIeu
20 enter the Territory with exaggerated boasts OF
their popular prowess, preparatory to the first cleo
ton The people of Missouri, excited and arous-
ed by the menacing throngs of these emigrants as
they passed through that State on their way to
Kansas lying upon its western border, were slim
uated to active counter-exertiOns and threw bodies
OF emigrants into the Territory to counterfeit
the movements of the Emigrant Aid Societies. The
first election occurred in November, 1854, for
Il nd 1ko fran 10
party were defeated. Those who had set in motion
this unusual and unjustifabe interference from
abroad with the local affairs of Kansas then raised
an outcry against the Missourans for apparently
farly beating them at their own game. They i'm
mediatey renewed the struggle for the ensuing Leg
islative elections, which occurred in March, 1855.
They charged that they beaten by frauds,
and by the votes of non residents. But il is worthy
of note, that no attempts were made to prove the
truth of these general charges Notwithstanding
Governor Reeders proclamation, prescribing the
time place. and mode Of election, had required an
oath by the judges of election to permit person
TO vote who was not qualified voter and actual
resident of the Territory, and to make a true and
faithful return of the votes to the governor; and
notwithstanding it also expressly provided that it
there should occur any fraudulent voting, vot
ing by nOn-residents, the persons so charging
should make a sworn statement of the facts to the
governor and that the irregularities should be
rected; yet the public records show that neither
the judges OF election, nor any other person per-
SOUS in the Territory, did make such allegt>
tons or returns and that there never any proof
shown, or attempted to be shown, that .any such
Irregularities had an existence. Governor Reeder
himself, it will be remembered, certified the legal
itv of the election.
But the defeated party renewed their efforts,
still relying chiefly upon the operations of the or
ganized Emigrant Aid Societies of New England :;
and they again made loud boasts of the large num-
bers they pouring into the Territory, prepa-
tory to the spring elections This in turn naturally
excited renewed counter~exeTtons on the part of
Missouri and the Southern States The result was,
that in the legislative cleo tons in March, the free
State party were again defeated. The returns hav-
ing been made Gov. Reeder, that officer certified
the legality of election Of an overwhelming majority
of the members Of both houses of the legislature
and subsequently, both before aud after that body
met and organized, he again and again recognized
it as properly constituted legislature There
few districts in which be did object the returns
the of illegal voting, and in these instances
he ordered new elections. But they were so few,
that had all those members been excluded from
seats, it would not have prevented the legal and
efficient organization of the legislature The re
cords show that there no preence set up of liz
legal voting in the election OF eleven counties out
of thirteen and of seventeen representatives out Of
twenty"six. At the special elections, ordered by
the governor, to fill vacancies where Illegal voting
was alleged, the same persons were again chosen 10y
the people, except in the case of one councilman
and one representative. The Legislature then stood
confessedly legally organized
But that body, soon after the organization, adj
journed its sttings from Pawnee Mission to Shawnee
Manual. Labor School, and on that account, and that
only, the governor subsequently, refused to sign
the bills passed by the egislsture; and thereupon
general movement made by the iree-State par
ty to resist the laws which were passed. whether
by two-thirds majority over the governors veto,
or by an ordinary majority and the signature OF his
successor, after Governor Reeder's removal by the
President CT the United States. Batfled chagrined
and glowing with impassioned resentment, Gov.
Reeder and his friends then loudly charged that the
elections had been controlled by armed citizens of
Missouri, and on that account the legislature a
spurious body and its acts not entitled to obedience
or observance by the people of the Territory. This
was some months after the elections. Smultane-
ouslY, the series of movements in defiance of law
and ORDER set foot which led to the organic
atom OF military companies; the arming with
Sharpes rhes the setting up pretended laws, and
holding elections, in defiance of the laws and elec~
tons of the Territorial government the irregular
election Of this same Governor Reeder delegate
to Congress; the framing State constitution and
the election under it Of members of legislature
and OF Senators in Congress; the counseng the
people to resist the Territorial government, and the
application which is now made 10 admit the rebell-
ious new State thus formed into the Union.
Surely a calm review of the facts here briefly
limited at ought to carry with it the conviction that
these misguided men, by continued acts OF au unu.
sual, exciting, and aggressive character, have
brought upon Kansas all the turmoil, collision and
agitation which have unfortunately distinguished it
from the other Territories and that to countenance
the admission into the Union of 'the State OF KAN
sas," unprepared with population as it is, and at
tended with all the anomalous and forbidding cir
cumstances which have been cited, would be one
of the gravest and most dangerous errors ever
committed by the American Congress.
In conclusion, the undersigned begs leave to
suggest that at the proper time be desires to offer,
in lieu of the bill reported by the majority; the
following substitute.
F. K. ZOLLIC0FFER.
Il BILL 10 authorize the people ofthe Territory
Of Kansas TO form a constitution and State
government, prepatory to their admission into
the Union, sCheH they hare the requisite pop