The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-08
COPYRIGHT sEcJKED.l
r.a... sspressiy for the Herald Of Freedom.
4 COMPLETE
HISTORY OF KANSAS,
FROM Hs
.,-st discovery by the French, to
tbe Close Of the Year 1851.
By THE EDITORS.
BY THE EDITORS.
CHAPTER Y.

.,,,,zxTs FOLLOWING THE ELECTION GOV.
SgfDyR GOES T0wAsHiNGT0S-THE PRESIDENT
-GRy. sTgIsGFELL0W -AEETISGs AT LAW
,vScg asD PAwSEE-CoySAY's 8 RESIGNATION.
The most intense excitement followed
he election Of March 3oth. All parties
belisyed that Gov. Reeder would never
.anction it by giving certificates to the
.uccessful candidates. But in order to
compel him to do so, very large force,
wiring from 500 to 600, from Missouri,
rrrounded him at the Mission, night and
aay. threatening death or compliance
.ih their demands. The proposition
ys short-"Sign the certificates, resign,
q hang" They became so violent at
bis apparent reluctance, that Gen. Pome-
y7 sent a messenger in the night to
lawrence for a body guard, to defend
hin in his room from violent assaults
A small body Of men. well armed, went
% him, and remained at the Mission till
the danger passed.
Afer the time designated in the procla-
nation for contested elections had expir-
cd, he gave certificates to a majority of
those elected, thus pacifying the mob, and
throwing the Territory into the hands of
The invaders. He knew as well as any
nan in Kansas, of the illegality, fraud
nd force practised here. His residence
Fas but two miles from Westport, the
lead quarters of the enemy. He knew
4 the plans formed in Missouri before
he election. He knew the facts after
he election. He was an eye witness to
he damning deed. He saw the muster
ng forces. He saw the invading army
aarch into the Territory, with flags fly
ug and drums beating, with cannons, and
nth wagons loaded with small arms and
mmunition. He saw the return of this
ame victorious army, and heard their
mnken shouts and revelry. And yet,
uch was his respect for the forms of law,
hat he gave certificates of election to the
Surpers, because no one came forward
nd contested their right. The public
as been divided on the motives which
lduced the Governor to pursue this
curse. Some think he was overawed,
nd forced into it. Others, that he hoped
0 conciliate the pro-slavery party by CIV
ng them the lions share, and thus. salts
Y them by enabling them to control the
ature legislation and destiny of the Ter
itory. But his friends adhere to the first
0stion, that he was governed by legal
nd technical considerations alone.
Certificates of election were given to
lcvcn members of the Council, and to
.ghteen members of the House of Repre-
entatives, leaving two Councilmen and
eleven Representatives TO be chosen at the
new election.
Soon after the successful candidates had
received their certificates of election, they
held meeting and demanded of theGov-
srnOr that he should call an immediate
session of the Legislature, either at Fort
Leavenworth or the Shawnee Mission,
Aad informing him at the same time that
It was useless to waste time in calling a
second election, for they would set il
aside and expel the members thus elect.
ed, and admit these whom he had re-
jeeted.
Within week after the election, Gov,
heeder started for the East, to visit his
family in Pennsylvania, and to see the
PRESIDENT at Washington. On his way
iFom the Shawnee Mission to Kansa.
uty, ne heard that as soon as he was
gone, Secretary Woodson would convene
'ae Legislature, and they would go on
win their schemes oftyranny to enslav,
'he inhabitants of the Territory. On re
ceivlng this Intelligence, he Immediately
returned to the Mission, and issued his pro
ciamation for calling another election il
'he contested districts, to be held on tn
I'd day of May, and also for eonvenin,
'Ae Legislature at Pawnee, on the I'd da,
OfJaly.
de then proceeded to Washington, an,
'here met the ISLANDERS which his enemie
Haa been so ingenious in inventing, il
c'uer to destroy his standing with tn
resident. The frauds of the election
we're too notorious to be denied, and th
laisehOods concerning the Governor to
'ahsparent to affect his character iniuri
V'eis. Consequently, the President fel
Anself in very delicate position. A
honorable, high minded man, who ha
''OOd bravely up to his duty in perils {
~ 10 ordinary character. was appealing {
aim as Chief Magistrate of this great ma
sOn' Tor justice to himself and protectio
" 'he people over whom he had bee
paced as Governor. The Presiden
WIN Characteristic weakness, was unabl
y decide between the contending partiel
~ avoid disagreeable subject, he offel
u uov. Reeder the mission to China, {
'0ule other lucrative Office, if he woul
lesisn' and allow new Governor to be AZ
po.n'ed IN his stead. This, Gov. Reeds
,''sed' unless he could have assurance
''as the people of Kansas would be pr
''s1ea. His interviews with the Pres
uent ended enthusiastically. and he r,
,ufned again to Kansas. On his arriv,
As found letters from the President +,
qaiflng y explanations concerning his pu
Naase OF certain halfsbreed Kaw lands.
~ tins Gov. Reedsr replied that b