The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-11-05

the scope Of our duties, We deemed 1t essen
tial 10 truth and justice that We should
ascertain every fact calculated to refute Or
confirm the conclusions derived from the
face of the papers Accordingly. We went
to the precinct Of Oxford, (which is a vii
lage with six houses, includin. stores, and
without tavern aud ascertained from the
citizens Of that vicinity, and especially
those Of the handsome adjacent village OF
New santa Fe, Missouri, (separato! only
by street and containing about twenty
houses that altogether not more than one
tenth the number of persons represented
to have voted, were present on the two
DAYS of the election, much the smaller mum
BIER, not exceeding thirty or forty, being
present on the last day, when more than fl
teen hundred votes were represented as hay
ing been given. The people Of Oxford, a
well as those Of the neighboring village OF
Santa Fc were astonndei at the magnitude
of the returns and all persons Of all parties,
in both places treated the whole affair
with derison or Indignation, not haTing
heard the alleged result until several days
after il had occurred
In the course of our Journey 10 and from
Oxford we passed over much the larger part
Of the county Of johnson and We became
thoroughly satisfied that there is no popula-
ton in the whole county from which more
than one-thiri the vote Of that single pre-
cinct could have been given. We learned
that some very few persons, having cabins
on the Reserve, in johnson county, and
claiming residence therein, though gene
rally absent had voted al some of the pre-
cincts in that county but we are con
WINGED that bat very inconsiderable mum
ber. not REACHING xe. helievs, ~@f,a~ kst@lg,-sl
Of Nissourans or other persons having no
admitted right to vote, did claim or attempt
TO exercise that right, anywhere within that
county The people Of Missouri cannot be
Justly charged with any interference in the
late election, nor are they IN any degree
returns made from the precinct of Oxford.
These returns, beyond all doubt, are simu-
lated and fictitious.
Under these circumstances, We do not
feel embarrassed by any technical difficulty.
a. to our right TO 20 behind the returns.
We hold the returns themselves to be deie,:
tive in form and in substance, and therefore
inadmssible. We 60 behind them and In
qurc into the facts, only for the purpose Of
asccrtaining whether by these valid objec-
tons to the returns, our r lection OF them
will have the effect CT defeating the will Of
| the people, sought to be- fairly expressed at
| the polls In the event Of such conse-
quences, we might hesitate to reject vote
upon any defect of form, however essential
in law But in the present case, we feel
! ourselves bound TO adhere to the very letter
Of the law, in order to lcfea, gross and
palpable fraud.
/ The consideration that our own party, by
this decision, will lose the majority in the
! Legislative Assembly, does not make our
! duty in the PREMISE less solemn and impcr-
! atiyc The elective franchise would be ut
! terly v.ueess, and free government itself
| would receive deadly blow, if so great an
Outrage as this could be shielded under the
cover of mere forms and technicalitics. vs.
cannot consent, III any manner 10 give tue
sanction Of our respective official positions
to such transaction. Nor can We iecl JUS
tiled to relieve ourselves Of the proper re-
sponsibility OF our Offices. in case whre
there is NJ valid return, by submitting the
question to the legislative Assembly, and in
that very act, giving the parties that might
claim to he chosen by this spurious vote
the power to decide upon their own election
In view OF the condition o. affairs IN kan-
sas for several years past. OF the efforts so
long made to put IN operation here rcEo-
/ lutonary government, and 81 the fact that
this effort was suspended under the te.et
that the political difficulties of this territory
,t,,ht Of "a far nItu pl AT
polls if that adjustment should now be de-.
ieated aud the people deprived Of their right
ful power under the laws OF Congress. by
fictitious returns OF votes never given. II =
our solemn conviction, that the pacfcatioD
of Kansas through the exercise OF the Gee
tive franchise would become impractical
and that civil war would Immediately he ~
commenced III this territory, extending, We
fear. to adjacent States and subjectins tie
government Of the Union 10 imminent per-.
Because, therefore, the paper now under
examination ia not one of the original pol
books. by law required to be returned. and
from the absence Of the oath prescribed by
the territorial statutes for the Judges OF e,ec-
ton, the returns being thus clearly invalid.
and as We believe. fictitious and simulat,-i.
We have under the circumstances no alterua-
tive but 10 reject the whole return from til.
oxford pr cinct. and to give the certificates
to those who appear to have BEEN elected
by virtue Of the other regular returns.
T. j. WALKER
Governor q! Kansas Territory.
FRED. L. STANTON. Secretary.
Whi-Lry Root.