Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-05-14

council, who Immediately resigned his seat,
and the Legislature ousted all the Free
State members of the House elected at the
special elections ordered By Gov. Reeder,
and gave their seats to their Pro-Slayery
opponents An act was then passed for the
removal Of the seat os Government to Shaw
nee Mission, near the Missouri border,
which was finally passed over Gov. Reeder's
veto.
All Territorial Offices were filed BY these
Legislators" or by Commissioners appoint
ed Uy them, and Governor Reeder, who
brsvely stood up against the Illegal Assem-
bly, and their enaciments, was removed, the
admin istration falling into The hands OF
Secretary Woodson, who actively co-ope-
rated with the Pro- Slavery party.
A code of laws was enacted by the bogus
Legislature, pronounced by General CasS
10 be "a disgrace to the nge;" and, having
provided for another election, the fraudulent
body a iiournei sine die.
On the Ist of October Whitfield was re.
turned as De egate 10 Congress by vote
OF 2 500, four-ffihs of which was poled by
Mssourians as the Free State men refused
TO v,te.
Wilson Shannon, having been appointed
Governor of Kansas, ac:ed with the Pro-
Slavery equalization, took part in their
meetings, and subsequently, in response to
a call from bogus Sheriff ones, declared
the Territory in stale of open rebellion.
al issued orders tor the enlistment of men
10 enforce the Territorial laws. An army
of invaders marched toward Law renee. scat
4 tering terror in their course, while Atch-
son and Strikgtellow appealed 'or aid to
the South "a Free State printing press was
destroyed at Leayenworth. and all the hur
rors OF war Of exiermination visited upon
the peaceful settlers. President Pierce lent
his sanction to the inv aders, and aurhorized
Shannon 10 cal out the United States
troops. Companies fri the purlIeus and
grog shops OF the Souh, under Major
BuIord, took an active part in outrsging the
Free State citizens, and the Territory pre-
sented the awful spectacle of region over
run by fire and sworI.
In the meanN hiie the actual residents OF
Kansas were adopting iniliatory measures
Tor The organization of s. ate Government
for the election Of a Legislature, and Ior
the protection of their lives and property,
as well as fer the securing a voice in the
Legislative proceedings, and the filling OF
Official posts. Convention of the people
assembled at Lawrence, August IA, 1859,
repudiated the authority of the late Legis-
lature, and recommended the election of del
egaies on the 25th, TO meet at Big Springs
September 5, for the consideration of pub
lie affairs. AT this Convention the bogus
laws were also repudiated, Ex-Gov Reeder
nominated as Delegate to Congress, and a
day appointed for the election. On the
nth day of September another Convention
was held at Topeka to make arrangements
for electing delegates 10 a Free State Con-
sttution. This Convention selected an
Executive Committee, who were invested
with the authority of provis lonal govern.
ment, to provide for the complete organiza.
ton of State Government. October 8
Reeder was elected Delegate to Congress
by vote of 2,4O0, and Delegates at the
same time were elected 10 the Constitution.
al Convention. This Convention assembled
at Topeka on the 23d, and September II
submitted Il Constitution to the people, ap.
pointing the 4th of March, 1856, for organ
izlng State Government December Is
1850. the Topeka Constitution was voted
upon by the people, with no outbreak, ex.
cePt at Leavenworth City, where the elec.
ton was prevented and the poll-b ok stolen
On the 10Th of January, 1856, officers were
elected under the Topeka Constitution, and
Robinson chosen Governor. On the 4th
OIL March the State Legislature met at To
peka, Gov Robinson and other officer.
sworn in, the Executive Committee dis.
charged, and the Legislature then adjourned
to mee: at Topeka July 4.
Although these proceedings were in vio
lation Of no law, and demanded by the ne.
cessities OF the occasion, and although pre-
cedent and authcrty could be found for the m
IN the history Michigan, Arkansas ans
California, the President of the United
; States issued a proclamation denouncinu
the formation OF Stale Government as an
act OF rebellion. and upholding and indors
ing the Bogcs Legislature. Acting upon
this proclamation, and in accordance Will
his own base instincts, Judge Lecompte
charged the Grand Jury to find isdictmt Mt.
ior high treason Hgainst all who had partic-
ipated in organizing the State Government
The Jury succumbed, found indictments
against Robinson, Lane, Reeder and May
others, and presented the Two Lawrence
newspapers and the Free State hotel az
nuisances.
Thu. affairs stood when the Congression.
al investigating Committee arrived in the
Territory. Many obstacles were thrown
in their Nay by the Pro-Slavery party, ant
every means adopted by which fair and
just investigation of Kansas affairs mrrh,
be prevented. But the Committee proved
equal TO the arduous responsibility which
devolred upon them, and well performed
noble duty. The result of their labors anC
the character OF tbeirreport are well known
IL substap Iated the illegaiity of every elec,
tion held under the enactments of the Bogu:
Legislature, and corrobora eC The truth O
all that the Free Stale men OF Kansas were
reported to have undergone.
Up to his time the Pro-Savery party hat
been guilty OF committing crimes at which
the blood curdles. J. w. B. Kelley ha,
i, been beaten and shamefully abused at Atch
ison; the Rev. Pardee Butler had beer
: lynched, tarred and feathered and sent dowr
the Missouri on trail raft; Collins had beer
cruelty murdered at Doniphan, and Dow a
, Hickory Point; Barber had been shot down
by Major Clarke, Government official, an.
Brown tortured to death near Leavenwurth
And yet the nurderers ran a, large, boastet
OF their exploits, and openly defed the law
Gov. Robinson was arrested, May s, at Lex
ington, Missouri, and sent back to Kansas
where, with six others, he was thrown inlC
prison and pit confined for TOUR months
On the lIth, Marshal Donaldson raised