The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-05-09
freedom for Kansas by a numerical

/ The time came at last for electins
a Territorial Legislature and Dele
gate to Congress. How this election
was carried is a matter of history
The MissOurians poured into the Ter
rItory. violated the sanctity of thu
ballot-box, outraged all law and decen.
cy, thwsrted the voice and the will O
the actual residents. This was on thu
Both of March, 1S55-a day never tc
beforgotten-- when the invading hordes
with insulting banners, on which were
inscribed, "Deata to the ID Alb.
olitionists." "a slave state for Kan.
sas," ''No quarter for Free State
men," and other devices, and with
bowie knives an revo!vers, bore down
upon the polls. ousted the Judges and
clerks of the election, and stuffed the
boxes with illegal ballots. In this
mode. and by such means, tee first So
called Legislature of Kansas was cleo
ted-four thousand nine hundred and
eight illegal votes being pollel by
Missourians. Only four days had been
allowed to protest against the returns
of election judges, and the formalfties
were attended to but in six Districts,
in which Governor Reeder ordered
new elections. At these elections
May 22I, 1955-all the Free State
nominees were electel, except at
Leavenworth City, where the Nilsson
fians playe,l their old game of inva-
sion and illegal voting, and on the
18th, few days subsequently. a
Pro-Slavery meeting was held at
which the Missourians were endorsed,
md the outrage on Mr.. Phillips, a
Free State man who had been taken
into Missouri, tarred and felthered,
and sold at auction to negio. en-
dorsed.
The first meeting of the Missouri
elected Legislature of Kansas took
place at Pawnee. Aear Fort Riley. Il
appeared that there was but one Free
State MN in tn. Council. who imme-
diately resigned his seit, AMI the Leg
islature ousted all the Free-State mem
bers of the House elected at the spe-
cial elections ordered by Governor
Reeier, and gave their seats 10 theii
o-Slavery opponents. An at WAS
then passed. for the removal of the
seat of government to Shawnee Mis-
sion, near the Missouri border. which
was finally adopted over Gov. ReeIer'~
veto
All Territorial offices were filed by
these. Legislators" or by Commits
sioners appointed by them, and Gov.
Raed,r who bravely stood up against
the Illegal Assembly, and their enact
ments, was removed. the Administra-
tion falling into the handS of Secrcta
ry Woo lson, who actively co-opera-
ted with the Pro-Slavery party.
a cole of laws was enacted by the
bogus Legislature pronounced by Gen
eraI CaSs to be ga disgrace to the age" :"
and having provided for another cleo
ton the fraudulent body adjourned
sine die.
On the 1st of October Whitfield
was returned as delegate to Congress
by a vote of two thousand eight hun
dred, four-fifth of which was polled
by Missourians. as the Free-State men
refused to vote.
Wilson Shannon, having been ap-
pointed Governor of Kansas. acted
with the Pro-Slavery organization,
took part in their meetings, and sub
sequently. in response to a call from
bogus-sherlff Jones. declare the Ter
ritory in state of open rebellion and
issued orders for tn. enlistm mt oil
men to enforce the Territorial laws
An army of invaders marched TO-
wards Lawrence. scattering terror i'll
their course, while Atchison and
S.ringfellow appealed for aid to the
South-a Free-State printing press
was destroyed at Leavenworth. and all
the horrors of war of extermin Ition
visite.l upon the peaceful settlers.-
Pre- ,ilent Pierce lent his sanction to
the invaders and authoriz d Shannon
TO cal ont the United States troups.
Companies from the puriieus and gros-
shops of the South nndtr Major
Baior,l, took an active part in outrag-
ing the Free State cilizens, and the
Territory presented the awful spetta-
Gle of region overrun by fire and
sword.
Inthe meanwhile the actual residents
| of KanSas wora Adapting initsainrv
measures for the organization OF a
S. ate Government. for the election ol
| L .gislature and for the protection OF
thar lives and properly, as well as ior
,Ac securing voice in Legislative
proceeding, and she filling OF official
posts. A convention of the people
assembled at Lawrence. August l4th,
1856. repuliated the authority of the
late Legislature. and recommended
III, elscion of delegates on the 25,h
to meet at Big Springs, September
9th, for the consideration o. public
atflirs. At this Convention the bogus
laws were also repudiated. ex-Goser
nor Reeder nominated as Delegate to
Congress and day appointed Tor the
election. On the l7ta of s ,ptenibe,
another Convention was held at Tops-
ka to make arrangements for elett.ng
delegates to form i Frea-Stste Con>ti-
tuition. This Convention selected an
Executive Committee. who were in
vested with the authority of proyis-
ional government. to provide for the
complete org .nization OF u State gov
ernmant. October 9th Reeder was
elected Deleg lte to Congress by vote
of twenty four hundred. .and Delegates.
at the same time. were elected to
the Constitutional Convention. This
Convention assembled at Topeka on
September 28l. and October llth sub
miste.l Constitution TO the people. ap-
pointing the 4sh of March. 1856. for
Org ganiz Ing State Government. De-
cember 18th, 1855, the Topeka Con
stitution was voted upon by the peo-
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