The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-04-28

foreign usurpatlon III defenceless Terrific
ry OF the United States to be tolerated, II
only it be successful? And is the govern
ment de facto, by whomsoever usurped, and
with whatsoever tyranny exercised, entitled
TO demand obedience from the people. and to
be recognized by the President of the nited
States Why does he plead that, ''whatey-
or irregularities may have occurred, it is now
too late to raise the question:" Is there
nothing left but endurance to citizens Of the
United States, constituting a whole political
community of men, women, and children
nm incpient American State - subiurated
and oppressed? Must they sit down in
peace, abandoned, contented, and despised
! Why does he plead, that sat least it is a
| question rs to which, neither now, nor at any
previous time, has the least possible legal
authority been possessed by the President Of
the United States ?'' Did any magistrate
ever before make such an exhibition Of am
bilious imbeciity? Cannot Congress clothe
him with power to act, and is it not his duty
! to ask power to remove usurpati0n and sub
vert tyranny IN Territory of the United
States? Are these the tone, the tenor, and
the staple Of defence, where the accused is
guitless, and the crimes charged were never
committed The President virtually con.
fesses all the transactions charged, by thus
presenting connected system Of maxims
and principles invented to Justify them.
cLINcmING.
proceed, however, 10 clinch conviction Nv
direct and positive proofs First. the state
ments Of the party which has been over
borne. Gen. Pomeroy and bis associates, in
behalf of the State of Kansas, makes this
representation concerning the Congressional
election held in the Territory on the Both Of
November, 1854 -
''Ehe first ballot box that was opened upon
our virgin soil was closed to US by overpow-
ering numbers and impending force So
bold and reckless were our invaders that they
cared not to conceal their attack. They
came upon us, not in the guse Of voters, to
steal away our franchise, but boldly and
openly, TO snatch II with astrong hand. They
cam directly from their own homes, and in
compact and organized bands, with arms in
hand and provisions for the expedition,
marched 10 our polls, and when their work
was done, returned whence they came. Ii is
unnecessary to enter into the details it il
enough to say that in three districts. in
which, by the most irrcfragible evidence,
there were not one hundred and fifty voters.
most of whom refused to participate in the
mockery of the elective franchise, these IN
yadcrs polled over u thousand votes.''
! In regard TO the election Of the Both Of
| March, 1855. the same party states -
/ "They (the Missourlans) arrived at their
several destinations the night before the
election, and having pitched their camps and
placed their sentres, waited for the coming
day. Baggage wagons We're there, with arms
and ammunition enough for protractei fight
and among them two brass field pieces
ready Charged. They came with drums beat
ing and flags dying, and their leaders were
OF the most prominent and conspicuous men
Of their respective STATES. In the morning
they surrounded the polls, armed with guns.
bowie knives, and revolyers, and declared
their determination TO vote at all hazards,
and in spite Of consequences. II the Judges
could be made TO subserye their purposes,
and receive their votes, and if no obstacle
was cast in their way. their leaders exerted
themselves to preserve peace and order in
the conduct of the election; but Mt the same
time did not hesitate to declare, that if not
allowed 10 vote, they would proceed TO any
extremity in the destruction Of property and
life. Ii the control Of the polls could not
be had otherwise, the judges were, by in
| tlmldation, and, II necessary, by violence
prevented from performing their duty, or if
unyielding IN this respect, We're driven from
AaGii pOSts ald tilG fdCdltCy ililIu III lDTul UN
the persons on the ground and whenever BY
auy means they had obtained control OF the
board, the foreign vote was promscuously
poured in, without discrimination or reserve.
or the slightest care TO conceal its nefarious
illegality. AT one Of the polls, two Of the
Judges having manfully stood up in the face
Of the armed mob, and declared they would
do their duty, one portion Of the mob com
menced to tear down the house, another pro-
ceeded to break in the door Of tina Judges
room, whilst others, with drawn knives, post
ed themselves at the window, with the pro-
claimed purpose Of killing any voter who
would allow himself to be sworn. Voters
were dragged from the window, because they
would not show their tickets, or vote at the
dictation Of the mob and tn invaders de-
clared openly, ut the polls, that they would
cut the throats of the Judges, il they did not
receive their votes without requiring an oath
as to their residence. The room was finally
| forced, and the judges surrounded by an
armed and excited crowd, were offered the
alternative resignation or death, and five
minutes were allowed for their decision
The ballot-box was seized, and amid shouts
OF 'Hurrah for Missouri was carried into
the mob. The two menaced Judges then left
the ground, together with all the resident
citizens, except few who acted in the out
rage because the result expected from il cor
responded with their own views
'When an excess of the foreign force was
found to be had at one poll, detachments
were sent to others. A minis
ter of the Gospel, who refused to accede to
the demands of similar mob Of some 400
armed and organized men, was driven BY
violence from his post and the vacancy filled
BY themselves. Another cler-
gyuan, for the expression of his opinion, was
assaulted and beaten. The
inhabitants of the district, powerless to re-
sist the abundant supply of arms and am
mnnition, organized preparation, and over
whelming numbers of the foreigners, left the
polls without voting. In the