Squatter sovereign., 1857-03-03
ATCHIsoN, KANSAS TERRITORY, TUESDAY, MARCH~3 1857

whose banner we rally. For the correct
ness of our course in the contests of the past
year, as a law and order party, we submit
these facts:
We have no argument to submit, show
ing that the laws enacted by the first leg
isiative assembly of Kansas, were legal
and binding upon the people of the terri
tory. This was done year ago. by the
Leavenworth Convention. and more ably
in the message of the President. and re-
ports submitted by Judge Douglas from
the Committee on Territories in the SEN
ate of the United States. Upon tina,
point We have only TO add. in reply to the
charge that our code of laws was forced
upon US by the people of Missouri, that
the first Census of the voters of the terri
tory showed large majority TO be from
slave States. Gov. Reeder directed the
men he appointed to take the first census, to
report also the State from which each voter
came. The reports made to him. and now
on file in the Secrstary's Office, show that
majority Of 700 of the voters in the
Territory, just before the first election of
members TO the Legislature, wers from
slave States, and that the emigrants from
slave States had majority, 10 all the
election districts Of the territory, except
three. That such a state of facts should
have resulted in the election of legisla
ture decidedly pro-slavery, must be ey.
dent to every one; and there is no man,
of intelligence. and truth, in the territory,
but know, and will admit. that though
Missourians voted at that election, yet the
complexion and character of the legisla-
ture was, by no means affected by that
vote. The charge that our code of laws
was forced upon US by Missouri Border
Rufiians" is easily made by Gov. Reeder.
and his associates, and as easily believed
by all Black Republicans. But the charge
is against the facts collected. by Governor
Reeder, in the census returns, aud recog-
nized by him, to be true in the organiza.
ion Of the legislature.
From the date Of the first eiec,ion, in
the territory, the effort has been made, by
Gov. Reeder, and his associate abolition
lists to produce the belief. that the people
of Kansas were for free State; but that
the interference of the BORDER RufTians''
prevented them from so making It. That
all the fres State men in the ierritory
were engaged, hand in hand, with the abo-
litionists and Black Republicans in fight
ing against the overpowering influence of
"Border Ruffianism." and that their united
influence was insufficient to resist the
power of Missouri that if the people Of
the territory, alone, were left to the deter
minatlon OF the questions Ia issue, the alb
olilonists and Black Republicans would
be enabled to elect all officers. and control
all legislation; and that the Topeka con-
spiracy was the result of the action Of tbs
people of the territory. In reply to this, il,
Is only necessary TO show that the aboli-
tionists and Black Republicans do not con-
stitu,e majority of the people of the ter
ritory; that they are the only men who
have been resisting the laws Of the ter
ritory, and that the Democrats and States
Rights Wings have no more to do with
az Sitionisn and Black Republicanism
hSre. than in Illinois, Indiana, Penasyiva-
MIA, or any other free State. The Tope-
ka Constitution was submitted to the vote
of what was called .the people OF Kan
sas,' in December 1855. The number
Of votes cast. for that counterfeit instru.
ment, was less than eight hundred In the
whole territory. No vote was cast agains
it. At that very time. Reeder and other:
of his friends were in Washington urging
the members of Congress TO adopt SAID
counterfeit Constitution, and were insisting
that there was at least, fifty thousand pso
pie in tbs territory. If there were fiftS
,housand people in the territory, there
i were al least, ten thousand voters; ane
vet, their Topeka constitution had receiv
ed less than one thousand votes, or, accor
ding to their own showing. not one yot'
in ten of all the vetes In the territory.-
] And this small party, under the lead o
Reeder, Lane and Robinson, was the on
ly party that offered any resistance TO tn
! execution of the laws of the territory ant
yet they were the people" The emlgran
Aid societies had, at that lime, togethe
: with the forces which Reedcr and Lane
had brought 10 their aid. not exceeding
/ the number Of votes CASTOR the Topek;
swindle. The men of this territory wh'
came here as voluntary emigranis are ai
, of them, either Democrats or States Right
/ Wings. the abolition and Black Republi
can enaigranss claim the aid, and come
mere under the protection Of the Aid So
Icie.;es- They save rnorey tv 80 doing