M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-04-16
Kansas Affairs.

"hSAI 1SNN 1885, 49, 1890
there were quite willing to settle their
disputes az the ballot.box. The hope
of the Black Republicans to manufac.
ture a little capital, however, has in
duced them to do a very foolish thing,
and one which it is feared vii! re.
suit in the adoption Of Constitution
t~olerating domestic slavery, Not
withstandiug they boast of a large
majority of the legal voters of the ter
ritory, which We do not doubt, they
have resolved to absent themselves
from the polls, thereby virtually aban-
doning the territory to a party which
they declare is in favor of making
Kansas a slave State. Should they
carry out this resolution and a MAORI
~ of the Delegates elected be in ia
vor of slavery, how will the Repub-
licans clear their skirts ofthe respon-
sibilityl Ii, with a large majority of
the voters in favor of a Free State,
they refuse to express themselves SO at
the ballot.box, will they not be to
blame for the consequences 1t is no
use to say that the persons appointed
to take the census are "pro-slavery "
that will not excuse the Topeka
men for refusing to make Kansas a
Free State. Any unfairness can be
detected and punished quite as well
by voting as by not voting. To show
u readers that there is very little
chance for defeating the will of the
majority, we add the following ex-
tracts from the law. Among the
stringent provisions which punish il
legal voting is this
"SEc. 10. If any person, by me-
mace, threats OF force, or by any other
unlawful means, shall directly Or in
directly attempt to influence any
qualified voter in giving his vote, or
deter him from going to the polls, or
disturb Or hinder him in the free ex-
ercise OF his right Of suffrage at said
election, the person SO offending shall
be adjudged guilty Of amisdemeanor,
and punished by fine not less than
five hundred dollars, or by imprisor-
ment not less than three months nor
more than six, or by both"
All persons not qualified by law are
prevented from voting by the follow
ing stringent enactment;
"SEo. IA. That every person not
being a qualified voter according to
the provisions of this act, who shall
vote at any election within said terri.
tory, knowing that he is not entitled
to vote, and every person who, at the
same election, shall vote more than
once, whether at the same or at differ.
ent places, shall be adjudged guilty o.
a misdemeanor, and be punished by
a fine of not less than one hundred
dollars, nor exceeding two hundred
or by Imprisonment not less thar
three months nor exceeding six, Oh
both"
All official election frauds are
guarded against as follows:
"SEc. Is. Any person whatsoev
er, who may be charged with holding
the election herein authorized, whC
shall willfnlly and knowingly commi
any fraud or irregularity whatever
with the intent to hinder, or prevent
or defeat a fair expression ofthe pop
ular will in said election, shall b
guilty of a misdemeanor, and be pun
ished by fine, not less than five hun
bred dollars nor more than one thou
sand dollars, and imprisoned not les
than six months nor more than tWelV
months, or BOTH"
All the test oaths ofwhich the Free
State men in Kansas have complain
ed have been abolished by the Legis
lature. Under these circumstances
if the Free-State men in Kansas neg
lect to vote under the instructions
the Black Republicans in the States
they will be responsible if slavery,
legalized in the Territory, and will |
so held by the people. 1t will max
the fact evident to every body that ii
Black Republicans really desired sl
very in Kansas, in the hopes OF ere
ting political capital for them in Il
elections. The late editor ofthe Ken
Torch Light, in this State-a BlaC
Republican-does not like the dete
mination alluded to above. lie say
notwithstanding the many obst
Giles in the way yet have no hesit
ton in saying that, if were a Hans
politician, | should oppose the Ere
State men in the course which, und