The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-07-18

wagons, and cried ont, All ABOARD Ior
Westport and KAnsAs. City, A number wcro
recognized as residents Of Missouri, and
among them was Samuel ii. Woodson,
leading LAWYER of Independence. OF those
whose names are on the poll-books, thirty
FIVE we're resident settlers, and two hundred
and twenty were non-residents.
In the 4th district the election was held at
DR.. Chapman's, forty miles from the Mis-
souri, line. The number OF votes cast was
lCl, of which not over 80 were legally
cast.
In the llth district 80 votes were cast, not
over 20 By actual residents, the balance by
Missourians.
In the 9th district, the polls we're held at
Fort Scott; l25 votes were cast, 80 of them
by Mssourians.
OF the eth district, the Committee say:
The most shameless fraud prsctiocd upon
the rights of tho settlers at this election was
in the seventh district. 1t is q remote set
Element, about seventy-6ve miles from the
Missouri line, and contained in February,
A. D. 1855, three months afterward, when
the census was taken, bot 6fty-three voters,
and vet the poll-books show that six hum
dred and four votes were cast. The election
was held at the house of Frey McGee, Mt =
place called CLIO" But few Of the actual
settlers we're at the polls. A witness,
who formerly resided in jackson county,
Missouri, md was well acquainted with the
citizens Of that county, says that he
saw q great many wagons and tents at the
place Of election, and many individuals nc
knew from Jackson county. lie was in their
tents and conyersed with some Of them, and
they told him they had come with the inten
tion of voting. lie went to the polls, in
tending to vote for Flennekin, and his ticket
being OF different color from the rest, his
vote was challenged by Frey McGee, who
had been appointed one Of the judges, but
did not serve. Lemuel Ralston, q citizen Of
Missouri, was acting in his place. The wit
ness then challenged the vote Of young
man by the name Of Nolan, whom he knew
to reside in jackson county. Finally, the
thing was hushed up, rs the witness had a
good many friends there from that county,
and it might lead to n fight il he challenged
any more votes. Both voted, and he then
went down to their camp. He there saw
many Of his old acquaintance whom he
knew had voted at the election in August
previous in Missouri. and who still resided
in that State. BY careful comparison Of
the poll list with the census rolls, we find
but twelve names on the poll book who were
voters when the census was taken three
months afterwards and We are satisfied
tina, not more than twenty legal votes could
have been polled at that election. The only
residents who are known TO have vot ed are
named by the witness, and are thirteen in
number; thus leaving five hundred and
eighty four illegal votes cast in remote
district, where ths settlers within many miles
were acquainted with each other.
The total number Of white inhabitants Of
the eleventh district in the month Of Febru-
airy, A. D. 1855, including men, women and
children, was thirty-six, Of whom twenty
four were voters yet the poll lists in that
district show that two hundred and forty five
votes were cast ut this election. For reasons
stated hereafter, in regard to the election on
the 30th Of March, your committee were un-
able to procure the attendance OF witnesses
from this district From the record it clear
ly appears that the votes cast could not nave
been by lawful resident voters. The best
test, in tho absence Of direct proof, by which
to ascertain the number of legal votes cast
is by comparison Of the census roll with
the poll book, By which it appears that but
seven resident settlers voted, and two hun.
dred and thrty-eight votes were illegally and
fraudulently given.
In the l4th district, the election was helt
at the house Of Benz. Harding, a few miles
from st. Joseph, Mo. Out Of l53 votes, 81
were illegally cast.
In the 18th district, the election was held
a. Pluseman's, on Stranger Greek, few
miles from Weston, Mo. BOG votes wer,
cast. Only 81 are known to have been lie
gally cast, and not over 100 could have bee
so. ~
In the 10th district, at Leavenworth, 81:
votes were cast, and not over $50 BY lega
voters.
At this election q tabular statement Of tn,
committee, comprising returns from nil tn
districts and the number Of legal voters j
each, shows that there were cast LILA lcga
votes. and l,729 illegal votes.
| OF the result Of this election, the commit
tee say
Thus your committee find that, in this tn
FIRST election in the Territory, very larg
majority Of the votes were cast BY citizen
Of Missouri, in violation of the organic la,
Of the Territory. Of the legal votes cas-
Gen Whitfield received a plurality. The set
tiers took but little interest in the election
not one half OF them voting. This may
accounted for from, the fact that the settle
ments were scattered over q great extern,
that the term Of the delegate to be electc
was short, and that the question Of Ere
and Slave institutions was not general
regarded BY them as distinctly ut ISSUE
Under these circumstances systematic in
vasion from the adjoining State, by whic
large numbers % illegal votes were cast
remote and sparse settlements, for the xyow
cd purpose Of extending Slavery into tn
Territory, even though it did not change til
result Of the election, was crime Of grcs
magnitude. Its immediate effect was I
further excite the people Of tho Northcr