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

citizens of Kansas, was filed on the 18th
inst, against fraudulent returns Of the Ok
ford precinct, johnson county, in reply to
which, after personal investigation, Cover
nor WALKER and Secretary STANTON pub
lished proclamation in the Herald Of Free
dom Of 10th, expressing the determination
to reject the entire vote Of Oxford, and give
certificates to the free state candidates.
The proclamation produced intense excite
ment among the extreme proslayery men.
Threats Of vengeance were made against the
Governor and Secretary. On the 18th
protest was made against the assembling OF
the Constitutional Convention ut lecomp
ten. OF course this action Of Gov. WALK
ER will bs the signal for renewed attacks
upon him by the abolition press. No mat
ter how fairly he acts, his motives, opinions
and actions are misrcpresented. 1t is appa-
rent that the hatred existing against WALK
XIX is based upon the fact that he is quietlng
the difficulties in Kansas. and securing the
triumph OF the FIRE. State men. This, COM
ing from Democrat, and an appointee OF
the Administration, is the severcst blow the
bowling shrekers have ever received.
LArER.--We are enabled to present the
proclamation Of Gov. WALKER and Secre-
tsry STANTON, entire. We received it last
night. hv the Northc'n ligk. ,,~-.,-..'''..- .'
LKcoxrroS, Oct. 10, 1857.
u the Psup,- % Kansas.
by the sd Section OF the Organic Act
establishing this territorial government, it IS
provided in reference to the election OF
delegate to Congress, that the person hav-
ing the greatest number Of votes shall be de-
cared by the Governor 10 Dr. duly elected,
and u certificate thereof shall be given ac-
cordingly."
BY the 18th Section Of the act OF the
Territorial Legislature Of Kansas, entitled
IAN act to regulate elections, 1t is made the
duty OF the Secretary to examine the returns
in the presence OF the Governor, and to give
to the person having the highest number OF
votes in their respective districts certificates
OF their election to the Legislative Assem-
bly,
Under these two provisions of the laws
prevailing in this territory, the recent gen
eral election has presented for the joint con-
sidcration Of the Governor ard Secretary. a
question OF the gravest Importance, not only
to our Ow.. people, but also 10 those OF the
whole Union. This question arises upon
the extraordinary returns made from the pre-
cinct of Oxford, in the county OF johnson
What purport to be the returns OF the cleo
ton held at that precinct on the 9th and
9th inst, have been received by the Sccre-
,ary, containing sixteen hundred and TWEEN
ty-cigll, names of pretended voters, or near
~ onc-half the number given IN the whole
Representative District. The disposition to
be made OF this supposed vote is rendered
all important by the fact, that the political
character OF the Legislative Assembly will
he controlled by the addition of three Conn
cilmeu and eight Representatives to the
strength Of one party or the other, accord
ing 10 the adoption or rejection OF the IT.
turns in question.
In point of fact, i, ia we'll known. that
even the whole county of Johnson, compris
ing rs il does, part OF the Indian reserve,
which. upon examination OF the law, We find
is not vet subject to the settlement or pre-
rnpiion can give no such vote as that which
ia represented to have been poiled at this IN
considerable precinct Of Oxford. But while
this unofficial knuwledgc, well established and
universal as 1t may be, could not become the
ground of decision and action upon election
/ returns, in themselves regular and authentic,
the legitimate effect OF an apparent enormlty,
such aS that in question. would necessarily
be 10 induce close examination Of the pa
per presented, and To require for its accept
ance IA perfect compliance with all the e.
s,n,ial provisions OF the law. Such an eN-
animation of this document, consciously and
imparlialIy made, has brought Us to Oh" con.
clusiou that the returns from Oxford pre-
cine: in johnson county must b. wholly re-
ieeted Tor the following reasons
lst IL does not appear on the lace oi the
document presented 10 Us. or in any other
manner. that the Judges of Eection took tnc
oath impra,ively required by the statute, To
secure the impartial discharge Of their du-
ties according To law.
"a. |, does No, APPEAR that the papr pre-
snted Ia III Was one OF thc original poll-books
kept at the election. ~ required by law; brt
on the contrary. il does APPEAR. from unmis-
taxable Internal evidence. that the paper is
either copy of some other document or
has been made up for the nccnson, and j. not
the genuine record OF the votes taken al the
election. Th. law requires one Of the poll.
books Ia b. returned Ia the Secretary. the
other to be deposited with the Clerk o, the
b Board Of Commissioners TO the proper
county.
3D. A. the vote ofeach elector WAS to I've
recorded for each one OF twenty-five candi-
dates. and in more than hundred cases for
twenty five. and that by r'ru roce vote. il
was a physical inpossibiity that the num-
Der Of voters pretended TO have been taken
on the second day, being more than fifteen