The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-20

/ lioillS'S. y Si;iNc STATE Tor Kansas, - y q
quarter for free state men," and other dcyic-
cS. and with bowicknivcs and rcvolycrs bore
down apon the polls, ous;ed the Judges and
clerks Of the election. and stuffed the boxes
with illegal ballots. IN this mode. and bv
such means. the first so called legislature of
Kansas was elected -four thousand nine
hundred and eight Illegal votes being pollcd
by MissourianS Only four davs had been
allowed to protest against the returns of the
election iud dgcs. and the formalities were at
tended to but iii SIX districts. in which
Governor Recdcr ordered new elections. At
these elcctions-May 222d, lSj5-al the free
state nominees were elected. except at Lcav-
cnworth CITY. whore the MisSourians PLAYED
their old game of invasion and illegal voting {:
and On the 18th. fcw DAYS subsequently,. a
pro-slavery meeting las held at which the
MiSSourians were -. led and the outrage
on Mr.. Phillips, trl.n state man, who had
been taken into Missouri. tarrcd and feather
ed, and sold at auction to a negro, endorsed
! The first meeting of the Missouri-cccted
Legislature Of Kansas took place at Pawnee
near Fort Riley. 1t appeared that there was
but one free state man in the whole council.
who Immediately resigned his scat. and the
legislature ou>tcd all the frcc->tatc members
of the house elected at the special election
ordered by Governor Reader. and gave their
seats to their pro->laycry opponents. Anac:
was then passed for the removal of the scat
of government to The Shawnee Mission. near
: The Missouri border. which was tinall, adopt
ed over Gov. Rcedcr> veto.
I All territorial officers were filled by these
"lcg!Sa'or>.' or by commissioners aproin-
ted hy them. and Coy. Rccdcr. who
stood up against the ;lI,@ @al assembly. and
their cMactmcnt>. was removed. the admins
tra'ion falling into the hands Of secretary
Nood>on. who actively co-opcratcd with the
pro->lavcry party.
\ code OF laws was enacted by the bogus
legislature, pronounced by Gen. Ca>s to be
"a disgrace 10 the age and having provided
for another election the fraudulent body adj
lourrcd sine die
On the 1>t of October Whitfield was re-
turned a> Delegate to Congress by a vote
of two Thousand eight hundred. tour-tiiihs of
which was poilcd by Ni>>ourans. as the free
state men refused to Vote
Wilson Shannon. having been appontc,
Governor Of kansas acted with the pro
slavery organization. took part IN their meet
in"S. and Subsequently, in response to call
from bogus >hcriiijoar> declared the trrritor:
in a state OF open rebellion. and issued orders
for the enlistment of men to enforce the ter
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The ."t" >"';'atl" - d r'-:Hn "'trrn - IL
All. ,'''.d.
IN t..' ;"ranv'i:!r ;'1i residents ot NJ
SIS #.:- aaG"p'"~ ia."a''ry m@">nfc> i,'F the
or-a i/,.ii"A "t a >'..' 80 rIhi.7'.t. ior ti.'
cIeri'"n Of q -. .a'1-r.;..i i"r a." projection
~ ;hrtF l'''> ~" ir".' '. IS M'li a> tol
securing N";rr IN die !"-i>E!.'t lrort"'.
h@>. 3n" me il!n@ q. official posts. Goa:
NrrNoH c1 III" people ~ nib..j II lawrlnc,
Aucu>, ll;h. l>I-'. r,pNd'a>s: Ii" au,horit.
of the late legislature. and RECOMMENDED I'll,
election e delegates oA the 18th. 10 meet Al
BIC Springs. S"i''mhor''th.to tor the cnnsitcra
tom of pni'Iic affair. y This convention Tho
bogus laws were also rcpudiatcd. ,x--ov"rno,
Rcod"r nominated as delegate 10 Congress
and a day appointed tor thc ,,,y,;un. q.
The 'ih Of September another co::Ncnt:a.
MAS held al Topeka t. make arrangements
for clcc'inS drlc@a.cS TO form Il tfcc->ta;'
constitution. This convention selected a,
executive committee. 10 were invested Will
the authority of 4 provisional -o.crnmcat. {,
provide for the complete organization. of
state government. Ocobcr 9th Icclcr wa
elected delegate to Congress by a vote Of
twcn':-four hundred. and delegates. 1t tn
same time. were elected 90 the constitutions
coHV2r;ion. This convention assembled i
= l"pcAa on tn" 2Jd, arG September ! iih sub
m,tcd constitution to the people. appoin,
: ing the th Of March. l>:j6 for organizing
state government. December 18th. 49,:
the Topeka constitution was voted upon b
the people. with TO outbreak. except a
LcavcnworIh City. where the election wa
\ prevented and tn" poll book stolen. On III
~ l'ih OF January. lS'6. officers were clccte
under the Topeka constitution. and Hobinso
u chosen governor On the l'h of March tn
state Legislature me; at Topeka, Govcrno
= ROBINSON ana other officers sworn. th
! executive committee discharged, and ex-lc4
: lsla'urc then adjourned to meet at Topck
July ith.
Although the proceedings were violatio
!, OF n" law ana demanded by the neccSsiti,
! OF the occasion: and although precedent an