Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1856-07-29

b CounCll 0I0Ve - 90 - rlf %
ls LeavenwOrth $50 lao l6 7lt
Total $50 802 Al 1409
Although the fraud and force in other districts
was equally great az in these, yet as the Cover
nor had no information in regard to them, he is
sued certificates according to the returns.
Your committee have felt II to be their duty
not only to inquire into and collect evidence in
regard to force and fraud attempted and practised
1t the elections p the Territory but also into the
facts and preteSts by, which this force and fraud
had been excused and justified; and for Ibis puf-
pose your Committee have allowed the declara-
tions Of nom resident voters to be given as evil
dence in their own behalf also the declarations
of all who came UP the Missouri River as emf
grants in March, 1855, whether they voted or
not, and whether they came iptR the Territory at
all or not; and also the rumors which were circu-
lated among the people Of Missouri previous to
the election. The great body Of the testimony
of this character. :, . Ct.
When the declarations Of parties passing up
the river were offered in evidence, your Commit
tee received them upon the distinct statement
that they would be excluded unless the persons
making the. declarations were by other proof
shown to be connected with the elections. :, This
proof was not made, and therefore much of this
class of testimony is incompetent by the rules
of law, but u.s. allowed to remain, as tending 10
show the cause Of the, action of the citizens Of
! Missouri. The alleged causes Of the invasion Of
March, 1855, are included in the following
charges: y a., .,lS Sti - "
1 l. That the New England Aid Society of Bos-
ton was then importing into the Territory large
numbers of men, merely for the purpose of con-
trolling the elections. That they came without
women. children, or baggage, went into the ter
ritory, voted, and returned again. E
Northern States. OF induced to 60 to the Terrific
~, solely to vote, and not to settle, and by so
doing to make it . Free State.
/ Iii. That the Governor of the Territory pur-
posely postponed the day Of election TO allow this
1 emigration 10 arrive, and notified the Emigrant
Aid Society, and PERSONS in the Eastern States Of
the day Of election, before he gave notice TO the
, people of Missouri and the Territory
That these charges were industriously circula-
lted; that grossly exaggerated statements were
made in regard to them; that the newspaper press
| end leaiing men in public meetings in Western
Missouri, aided in one case by Chaplain IN the
j United States army, gave currency and credit to
them. and thus excited the people, and induced
many we'll meaning citizens Of Missouri to march
into the Territory to meet and repel the alleged
Eastern paupers and Abolitionists, is fully prov
en- by many witnesses.
But these charges are not sustained by the
lproof,
In April, 1854, the General Assembly of Mas
sachusetts passed an act entitled "An act to in
corporate the ''Massach usetts Emigrant Aid So
cietv." The object Of the Society, as declared
in the first section OF this act, was for the pur
pose of assisting emigants to settle in the West
The moneyed capital Of the corporation was no
to exceed FIVE millions Of dollars, but no NOR
than four per cent could be assessed during tn,
, year 1854, and no more than ten per cent in an.
: one year thereafter. No organization was per
fected, or proceedings had under this law.
On the oath day OF July, 1854, certain person
in Boston, Massachusetts,, concluded articles o
agreement and association for an Emigrant All,
) Society. The purpose of this Association wa
declared 10 be assisting emigrantS to settle il
the West" Under these articles of association
: each stockhclder was individually liable. II
4 avoid this difficulty, an application was made
the General Assembly Of Massachusetts for al
: act of incorporation, which was granted. 0
lihe 2ist day Of February, 1855, an act was passe
y to incorporate the New England Emigrant Al
4 Company. The purposes Of this act were de
e clared to be "difecting emigration westward
4 and aiding and providing accommodation for tn
emigrants after arriving at their place Of desti
q nation" The capital stock Of the corpora
4 ton was not to exceed one million Of dollar;
d Under this charter a company was organized.
# Your Committee have examined some Of il
officers, and portion Of its circulars and record
e 10 ascertain what has been done byit The pub
Il lie attention at that time was directed 10 tn
Y, Territory OF Kansas, and emigration naturall
e tended in that direction. To Sscertain its char
J. acter and resources this Company sent its ager
y into it, and the information thus obtained ws
!, published. The. Company, made arrangement
d with various lines Of transportation to reduc
+ the expense Of emigration into the Territor
and procured tickets at the reduced rates. Al
ic plications were made to tAe Company by persoI
mi desiring to- emigrate, and when they were n,
It Imerous enough to form . party Of conveniei
70 size, tickets we:e sold to them at the reduce
ly rates. An agent acquainted with the route WI
I, was checked, and altroublesand danger Of 10
as to the emigrant in this way avoided.
i, Under these ptIapgements, companies wei
ed into the Territory in the Fall Of 1854, under Il
al articles Of association referred to. The Compi
he any personal or real property TO the emigrant.
We The Company during 1855, sent into the Ter
r. tory from eight TO ten say mills, purchased ol
ey hotel in Kansst City, which they subsequent
Il. sold, built one hotel at Lawrence and own
er one other buildipg in thatplace. ,Insome case
re to induce them 10 make improvements, TOW
ed lots were given to them by town associations
d. this Territory, They heM no property Of q
u. other kind OF description, They imposed
nd condition upon their emigIants and did hot il
nd quiye into thefpoitice religious OF social OPT
is. ionss The total amopnt expended by them, i
it. cluding the salaries Of their agents and Office
to and the expenses incident to ali organization
,r. was less than 5000 PfE at'RdF}rh
w. Their purposes, as far as your Committee G
oil ascertain, were lawful, and contributed to su
n ply those Nants most experienced in the settl
ily ment Of new country. at
ng The only persons or company who emigrat
,se into the Territory under the auspices Of the Er
oy- giant Aid Society in 1855, prior TO the elect
- in March, was o party OF, 169, persons who ca
/ al under the charge Of ChiIles, Robinson $3.50.
de, In this party there were 81 women and childl
the (2so). They came as actual settlers, intendl
in 10 make their homes in the Territory, and for
The other purpose 2Ss). They had about their p
ma sons but little baggage; usually suficieLt clio
tn ling in carpet sack fora shot time. Their p
ec- sonal effects, such as clothing, furniture, 4
for, was put into trunks and boxes, and for eonye
R ence ip selecting and foy rcheapnes in transpt
'byl I2,1], Benz. Slater, Charles Robinson, r.
tha fI..uA fnqhI rkav1oe nshtuNnn f0l01 gan,