The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-07-11

have not scrutinized him closely You
have mislead and rnistranslated him.
!; He has understood your character better
than You have understood his. Affable
: and polite in outward manner, but cold,
guarded and designing within-the ex-
ternal manner ola man wholly engrossed
with self-aggrandizement and the steady
accomplishment of his own private pur-
poses. Possessing many qualities that go
to make up strong man, the executive
character is yet deficient in one great es-
sential. An infirmity of purpose, and a
weak, nervous oscillation of mind, are
idiosyncrasies with the Governor of Kan
sas. Governor he Is, and would be Sen
ator hereafter! He is not without ambi-
tion-would play false-would wrongly
win, and yet he fears to do it boldly, like
a man. He is small nonpareil edition
of Talleyrand and Metternich combined,
without spark of Jackson's eternal in his
whole composition.
Isolated and alone upon the frontier he
stood. In the midst of gentlemen of high
official character and talent, the great
'non-committaP was distant and repul-
sive; for without the Encouragement of
friends, he dared not proclaim publicly
that he was Free Soiler, and would do
all, consistent with his official oath and
dignity, to make Kansas free State, as
he had right to say, and right to do;
an impulsiye people, reused to their high
est pitch in an exciting contest might
hurl around his devoted head. No doubt
in his midnight dreams, his Excellency
saw his Honor Judge Lynch, with his
grave judicial aspect, sitting at the foot of
his bed, remarking, with all the politeness
of Riehelieu to Baradas, that the court
had taken his case in consideration, and
decided that the air of Kansas did not
agree with him.,n
An election for delegate to Congress
was called, to take place on the 29th Of
November The candidates were Col.
]. w. Whitfield, NJ. Flenniken, and j. A.
Wakefield. J.W. Whitfield was brought
forward by the pro-slavery party. He was
formerly of Tennessee, and an officer in
the Mexican war;
He is tai, energetic young man, ofgood
address, unfinished education, and strong
ly biased by party.
Mr.. Flenniken was Gov. Reeder's par
ticular friend-a lawyer-and came to the
Territory strong National Democrat,
with the hope of being elected to Con-
gress.
Judge j. A. Wakefield was a settler,
had come out with his family, was living
on a claim, had been Whig, was now a
Free Soiler-and ran on the ticket as hos
tile to slavery. He is rather past middle
age, somewhat corpulent and has had
much experience in public life.
/ But the Free State candidates had no
chance to be elected All Western Mis-
souri, organized, and pledged to come to
Kansas to vote, whenever the leaders de-
manded.
The leading men of the State, and of
the South, had been consulted in getting
up the plan, while the immediate execu-
son, Ex-Vice President of the United
) States, and to Gen. b. F. Stringfellow,
aided by other gentlemen of wealth and
talent, on the borders.
From published Speech made at
: meeting of the citizens of Platte coun-
ty, No., just before this election, by Hon.
David R. Atthison, the following extract
is given, illustrative of the position taken
by Missouri, and which it was expected
Gov. Reeder would sanction and sup
port
, "When you reside within one DAYS
journey of the Territory, and when your
peace, your quiet, and your property depend
{ upon your action, you can, without an
, exertion, send five hundred of your Young
men, who viii vote in favor of your in
, stitutions. Should each county in the
| State of Missouri only do its duty, the
r question will be decided quietly and
r peaceably, at TIE ballot box. five are
: defeated, then Missouri and other South
ern States, will have shown themselves
recreant to their interests, and will de-
. serve their fate"
l The 29th of November came, and with
itover LOO voters from Missouri, to vote
e for the Missouri candidate, who was
o ''triumphahtly elected"
T J. W. Whitfield received 2,26S votes
o Judge Wakefield, : 249 90
: M Flenniken q 305 "
Whitfield's majority was greater thai
: the whole number of legal voters in the
i Territory.
Notwithstanding this outrage, witnessed
as it was by the Executive and all the of
ficials of Kansas, Whitfield received
certificate of election, and took his seat il
Congress.
Here was the first false step of Gov
Reeder. He hoped to conciliate by con
:, cessions. He hesitated, he faltered, h
j. fell. Had he taken ground here, peae
! might have been saved to Kansas. Blu
: he saw the coming storm, and feared t
brave it. He made for the nearest har
:, Dor, and foundered upon the quieksand
: of expediency.
4 Before the Courts were organized, be
fore the Legislature had met, the Judici
airy of the Territory took active, partiza
: sizes on the all-absorbins question 6
# slavery, and prejudged the case before
II hearing Judge Lecompte was one of
n public meeting held in Kansas, compose
: :, mostly of Missourians, which passed tn
Al following
y .sResozUei, That the Institution of slay
De cry is known and recognized in this TeI
E. ritory; that we repel the idea that it is
te moral and political evil, and we hurl bac
T. with scorn upon its slaHdereus authors.t tn
e. charge Of inhumanity; and we warn a
- -G..N 4--ar