The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-03-08
Kansas.


Ex-G Governor Reeder delivered 3 lee
tare at Trenton. n. j.. on Thursday Of
las week, in the course of which ne
made the following statement:
HE proceeded to state that after his
appointment as Governor, and previous
to his leaving home, he rsciyed numer-
Gus intimssions that plot was concerted
to oyerwheim the baliot-box by Missouri
votes, and to prevent the people of Kan
sas from governing themselves. de
thought it most judicious 70 preserve
silence concerning this matter. and ne
communicated it only 70 him to whom
it was his duty TO commit il, meaning
the National Executive. In St Louis
he was approached and theaplot was
avowed, and he was asked if he would
sanction the proceeding. BE treated
the matter IS gsntly and courteousiy as
possible, determined to avoid exciting. it
he could, any disorder, and hoping the
plot would not be put into execution.
But he soon found that it was no CHI
mera. A secret society had been organ
lied in Missouri. for sending voters into
Kansas. Esteeming the ballos-box as
guardian of freedom. he determined to
guard it as sacredly as possible. He had
no alternative, but to neglect his duty,
forfeit his responsibility. lose his self
respect, and damn himself to everlasting
obloquy, or to to perform his duty in
storm of prescription, intolerance, and
menace, such as he had not expected.
There was but one course for an honest
man-to protect the ballot-box. to pre-
scribe careful forms of election, and
stringent oaths. This be did, and from
that time to this the estorm has not
ceased. Before the March election.
1855, he was again approached and
promised forgiveness and many other
things, is he would throw off response
bility upon the judges of election, and
accept their returns as valid, without ex-
anliuiag or deciding upon them. He
again refused, but courteously, although
irrevocably. He had previously an-
nounced to his southern colleagues his
intende / course of action, and he defed
them to assert that it Was not correct
In Move nber, 1855. Whitfield was un-
doubtedlg elected Congressional delegate,
even after deductinglillsgal votes. the
Free State party being then in the mi
nority, and their strength being divided.
The census was taken in the winter,
and the election for members of the Leg
islsture ordered for March. The Mis-
sourians and spro,slarery men then de-
termined to make their grand struggle
Several weeks previous 70 the election,
companies of armed men numbering from
SO to 100 each, all having weapons, and
one ofthem couple of field pieces, be.
gan marching into the Territory. boast.
ing they would carry every election dis
trict. They camped around the polls on
the night previous to the election in the
morning they took possession of the polls
in some instances, in others they intimi-
dated the judges. in others drove them
away, and in some cases used violence
When they presented themselves to vote
the Judges declared they must take the
prescribed oath-they swore they would
have no oaths, and in one place man
drew his knife, and threatened to kill tie
first man that took an oath r.; in another 8
a Free State voter who went up to taks
oath was thrown from the window.