The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-11-03
DEMOCRATIC MEETING AT LEcoMPToN, KANSAS
GOV. WALKERS PROCLAMATION

nondsy evening, the 18th nlt in the convention hall
Dr. Little OF Bourboun was called 10 the chair and Mr.
Iapb, OF johnson, appointed SECRETARY. fp,f
After many able and energetic remarks il resolved
that committee be appointed to express the of the
meeting Whercupon the chair appointed the following
TO report at adjourned meeting TO be held tomorrow
night
VIM Weir, Of Leavenworth, chairman L. A. Mac
lean Of Douglas county McKown, of johnson county
Hamilton, Of Mctiee county Reid OF Shawnee county
Wilson OF Bourbon county Jenkins Of Marshall county;
Greenwood, of Dorm county kuykendali OF Calhoun
county Rnndplf OF Atchison county aud Reynolds, OF
Donphsn county.
The meeting then adjourned till tomorrow evening at
7,pm.
OCTOBER 20, 1851
The meeting convened pursuant TO adjournment when
the following resolutions offered by the chairman Of
the committee:
Whereas the democratic strength In the legislature has
been reduced to bare majority, in consequence Of tho
many illegal votes cast by the black republicans in the
various counties Of this Territory at the late election in
duoed to great extent by the construction Of
the election law promulgated by Gov Walker the
of said election and whereas further, by late proca-
nation eInanating from Gov Walker and Secretary Stan
ton announcing their intention to refuse certificates of
election to the democratic members Of the legislature
turned from the counties of johnson and Douglas and TO
grant them to their opponents, thus virtually destroying
the democratic vote in the Legislature; therefore,
Reserei That we, members Of the democratic party
accidentally assembled in Lecompton from various por
ns Of the Territory deem it due 10 the county and our
ighaded and illogdl usurpatot Of power the part
Of the governor and secretary Of this Territory.
Rcsolro That the assigned for the Outrage al
legged in the proclamation ungroundcd Illogical and
insulting to the of every citizen, and the
resort them to Justify their conduct only be
counted for by the fact mentioned in the proclamation
that tbe disposition to be made of the supposed vote
Oxford votc) Is all important from the fact that the pot
a character Of the legislative assembly will be exhibited
thereby and which disposition made by the procla-
nation, will make that assembly almost unanimously
akcpublican by giving to that party the power Of
carrying out their avowed designs of throwing out the
remaining democratic delegations in the legislature.
Reolred In answer to the statements Of that proclama
ton
l. That this meeting will not initiate the unworthy
ample Of the governor and secretary by going into in
vesgation Of the fact whether the Oxford returns
contain illegal votes The decision of this import
ant question Is placed by the law in the hands Of the legi
ative assembly and in them alone, where all parties
be heard 10 any contest that may arise.
The governor and secretary have right to infer that
Johnson county is to any degree uninhabcd from the
fact that settlements upon its soil are Illegal We who
have lived in Kansas and know something of its history,
of the fact that the most thicky settled por
ons Of Kansas were the Delaware trust lands where set
Elements also Illegal
The law does require the election returns to show
that the Judges Of election sworn that the poll
book returned OF the original poll books kept at the
election The returns and certificate in the Oxford
in exact accordance with the aw and the rule adopted
in the proclamation would throw out every poll book in
the Territory as. . .,.e.ra...
a. 1t is gross in the governor and secretary to
declare opposition to the certificates of the Judges that
it physically impossible to write down the votes in the
time prescribed by law
fraudulent because only black republican vote
poled is strange to be given by democrats for
destroying democratic vote thus dcnouncng it's
nimty and that, too when number Of poll books
returned and approved with not democratic vote
them. bsyf
G. That the visit Of the governor and secretary to Ok
ford to smell out democratic frauds is an impudent
sumption Of power, there being law requiring
thorizing such procedure, and indicates to the party
throughout the Union love for the democratic party
particularly they have made similar attempt ut de-
tcctng frauds at black republican precincts though the
fact of there being many such is notorious f."
T. That the governor and secretary have been guilty of
gross violation of law In going behind the Oxford
turns and of unprecedented insult to the honesty of
the legislature in refusing them the power of deciding the
question to fraudulent votes insult openly expressed
in the proclamation @ #.4
g. The peaceful settlement of the Kansas question has
now been again endangered by this wanon act Of ran
nya tyranny which has sought to interfere in cleo
tonswhich has expounded the law contrary to the in
tent of the wakcr and carried the exposition thus
made to the judges of the election at the point OF the
bayonet which has thwarted the administration Of the
local officers, and has consrmmatcd its designs by
openly Iampng under foot the laws of the Territory and
placing the power Of the government In the hands Of
those who boldly proclaim their intention to abolish all
law and plunge the Territory into all the horrors of
anarchy. tt#
8. That the candidates voted for by the bacl-repub
can party and to whom the governor and secretary pur
pose to give certificates of election returned in poll
books obnoxious to all the objections made against the
Oxford poll, while the candidates themselves dis
qualified by the laws from holding the offices assigned
them
TO- This meeting reiterates its determination to
press sentiments to the legality legality OF the
votes pocd Mt Oxford but leaves that question with the
legislative assembly, required by law, having full
confidence in tho integrity Of that body to do ample JUS
lice and to set aside illegal votes given both sides
That view Of the fact that the delegates to the
sttutonal convention, In session, have for the last
three weeks embracing the time of the cection been
with their constituents and therefore fully competent
express the Vows Of the democratic party throughout
the Territory therefore, -
Rescird That the persons composing said convention
be requested to meet convention Of the democratic
party, in connexon with such other democrats may
assemble from all parts of the Territory and express their
views regarding the political issues at present affecting the
Territory kE
On motion of Gen Wer, that yesterday the extra
ordinary spectacle presented of armed mob. head
ed by the notorious sjim Lane marching into the cap
al OF the Territory, with the avowed design Of forciby
dplacng the constitutional convention then in session
The execution OF which design only prevented by the
visible determination of tho friends of law and order
sustain the peace OF the community at all hazard
Rs'tsd That this meeting administer to the governor
the Territory unanimous cbukc for his failure to bring
70 the all Of the convention the United States troops under
his command then camped but miles Off notwth-
standing he had notice OF their intention 20 hold this
lawful assembly on the previous Saturday evening and
refused to the arrival of the troops until the Tues
day morning following, when tho danger wholly
past f9} 7tlf 9f} F tGg