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

leading citizens Of that town. and the
names OF many Of them are given by
the Witnesses. They generally insist
ed upon their right TO vote, on the
ground that every man having claim
IN the Territory could vote. no matter
where he lived. All voted who chose.
No man was challenged or sworn
Some Of the residents did not vote.
The purpose Of the strangers in voting
was declared to be to make Kansas q
Slave State. We End by the poll
books that SOC votes were cast-of
them we Ind bat 81 are on the census
rolls as legal voters in February fol-
lowing. Your Committee is satisfied
from the testimony that not over 100
Of these who voted bad any right SO
10 do. leaving at least 2o6 illegal votes
cast.
The election in the Sixteenth Dis
trict was held at Leavenworlh. 1t
was then a small village Of three or
four houses. located on tho Delaw are
reservation.
| There were but comparatively few
settlers then in the district. but the
number rapidly increased afierward.
On the day before and on the day OF
the election. great many citizens OF
Platte, Clay. and Ray counties cross
cd the river--most Of them camping
In tents and wagons about the town,
"like camp meeting"
They we're In companies or masses
Of ten 10 fifteen each. and numbered
Ia all several hundrrd. They brought
their own provisions and cooked |.
themselvss. and were generally armed.
Many Of them were known BY the wit
uessss. and their names given, and
their names ars found upon their poll
books. Among them were several
persons Of influence where they resi-
ded In Missouri. who held. or had
held high Official positions in that
State. They claimed TO be residents
Of the Territory. from the fact that
they were then present. and insisted
on the right 70 vote. and did vote.---
Their avowed purpose In doing so
was 10 make Kansas q slave State
These strangers crowded aroJnd the
polls. and Il was with great difficulty
that the settlers could get to the polls.
One resident attempted to get to the
| polls In the afternoon, but was crowd
cd and pulled back. lie then went
outside Of The crowd hurrahed for
General Whitfield. and some Of those
who did not know him said, "Thal's a
good Pro. Slavery man." and lifted
him up over their hands. 90 that he
crawled on their hands and put In his
vote. A person who saw from the
color OF his ticket that II was not for
General Whitfield, cried out. "Ile is
id abolilionist---let him down."
and they dropped him. Others were
passed 10 the polls In the same way.
and others crowded upin the best way
they could. After this mockery Of an
election was over the non residents
returned to their homes in Missouri.
or the sic votes cast. not over i50
were by legal voters.
The following abstract exhibits the
whole number OF votes at this election
Tor each candidate. the number OF le-
gal and illegal votes cast IN each dis
irict. and the number Of legal voters
In each district in February following :
[The abstract Of election returns for
Nov. 80. 1884. showing lila legal
votes, and i,729 illegal votes. Is here
omitted. M
Thus your committee find that In
this. the 6rst election In the Territory.
q very large majority Of ths votes were
cast by cilisens Of the State Of Mis-.
souri. in violation OF the Organic law
OF the Territory. OF the legal votes
cast. Gen. Whitfield received plu-
rality. The settlers took but little in
terest in the election. not one half OF
them voting. This may be accounted
for from the fact that the settlements
were scattered over a great extent
that the term Of the delegate TO be
elected was Shorthand that the ques-
lion Of free and slave institutions was
not generally regarded by them as
distinctly at issue. Under these cir :
cumstances, q systematic invasion from
an adjoining State. by which large
numbers Of illegal votes were cast 10
remote and sparse settlements, for the
@vowed purpose Of extending slavery
into the Territory. even though il did
not change The result OF the election.
was q crime Of great magnitude. It's
immediate effect was TO further excite
the people Of The Northern St.tes--in-
duce aets Of retaliation, and exasper-
ate the actual settlers against their
n.ishbors in Missouri.
In January and February. A. D..
1855. the Governor caused an
enumeration to be taken Of the inhabi-
tan,s and qualified voters In the Ter
ri,ory. an abstract Of which Is here
given:--
Here follows the abstract Of census
returns in tabular form, which we
omit.
On the same day the census was
completed. the Governor issued his
proclamation for an election TO be held
on the yoih Of March. A. d. 1856. for
members OF the Legislative Assembly
Of the Territory. II prescribed the
boundaries Of districts, the places OF
polls. the names u Judges. tie ap-
pointment Of members, and recited the
qualification OF voters. lfithsd been
observed. q Just and fair election would
have reflected the will Of the people ol
the Territory. Before the election.
false and in6ammatory rumors were
busily circulated among the people oi
] Western Missouri. The number and
character Of the emigration then pass
ing into the Territory were grossly ex-
aggerated and mi.represented.--
Through the active exertions Of many
Of its leading ci'isens. aided by tho Sc
cret societies before referred 10. the