The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-10-17

Kansas 20 prescribe the qualification OF
voters at every election but the first, does
the proviso or the organic act. prohibitsold-
iers and persons attached to thearmy '6g
reasosa Of their Icing on serriioe bserein'' rom
voting at the first, or all subsequent elec-
tons? This question was decided in our
favor, as his address fully shows Now
the Territorial enactment of Feb 20, 81,
declares that "aH citizens of the United
States, who have resided in the Territory
six months before the election, and none
other. shall be permitted TO vote" The
question: how was this organic law TO be
reconciled with the Territorial act on this
point? We understand that they were
reeonciled thus: that soldiers and persons
attached to the army could not Gote "by
reason of their being on service therein
but if they possessed all the qualification
of voters independent of such service, and
were citizens of the United States, and had
a bona .tide residence OF six months next
preceding the election in the Territory,
they had right to vote, under the Terri
torial law. That is, if soldier, teamster,
or mechanic resided with his family in
Missouri, he should not vote by reason of
his being Oh service here; but if such
soldier, teamster or mechanic was iona
fde resident here, independent of such SER
vice, especially if prior to his enlistment,
and had no other residence but this for the
six months next preceding the election
he had right to vote, not as soldier,
but as resident citizen.
These, too, were Gov Reeder's views,
as we chance to know under the same Or
ganic law, as several officers at Fort
Riley were permitted to vote as early as
1856, under the same constitution and
this right has never been previously ques-
toned. Gov. W., however. as we under
stand, did rot wish the soldiers TO vote; in
deed we are told when this question was
discussed at Fort Leavenworth for several
days preceding the election, Gov. ". ex-
pressed hope that the soldiers would not
vote, though he gave no order ON the SUBJ
ject, and had no right to give any. Now,
how did any of them come to vote We
may state, the election having passed off
quietly at Leavenworth on. the first day,
and goingoff with equal quietness on the
the Governor, as we understand from
second, Lieut.. Carr, sometime after dinner
on the second day, rode TO kickapoo, not to
participate in any barbecue, for none was
given there, not to take any part in the
election, nor to interfere in any way in the
proceedings. but to see that everything
was passing off quietly there, and then
to return to the Fort. Shortly after arriv-
ing at Kickapoo, as we have the state
ment from Lieut.. Carr, the Governor
was informed that several soldiers who
had obtained leave of absence from the
camp had voted, and they had actually
voted the Free State ticket. Gov. Walker
was then urged by citizens 70 withdraw
the expression ofhis wishes in order that
the other soldiers. if they desired, might
also participate in the election. After
considerable delay aud hesitation, he did
consent, provided those soldiers only
should vote, who, independent of their
being in the service, had the citizenship
and evidence required by law. And a
few of them, our Free State friends say,
to the number of forty, did vote but how
they voted or for whom, Gov. W. de-
clares, as Lieut. Carr states, he never
knew, and does not now know how they
voted, as the Governor rode away i'm
mediately to the Fort, and the election
was then drawing to close; but even if
they all voted the pro-slavery ticket,
which is absolutely denied, it would not
change the result, either for Delegate TO
Congress, or Territorial Legislature, or any
county officer.
But how as to johnson county, which
does change the result as regards the Ter
ritorial Legislature? Why Gov. Walker,
at the request of the Free State party sent
strong force, consisting of battery and
three companies of artillery, equal to a
force of 800 men, under the command
of Col. Brooks, formerly of Massachusetts,,
himself Free State man, to Shawnee in
johnson county, the supposed point of
danger, to prevent illegal voting, especial
ly from Missouri. Westport in Missouri,
but three miles distant from the Shawnee
precinct, was the anticipated point for the
concentration of the Missourians, and from
this point originally, they intended to come.
This was evident from previous expert
ence, as well as from what occurred before
and after the election. Col. Brooks ar
rived at Shawnee the day before the cleo
ton. When Col. B. arrived, he states,
that he was called upon by the celebrated
Col. Titus and also by Mr. anderson of
,Westport. vino complained bitterly of the
stationing of the troops there, and said
that "The people would be compelled
to vote at the point of the bayonet."
Col. B., however, remained firm at
his post, exhibiting Gov. W's address
against foreign voters as his letter of in
structions. What followed? Why the Mis-
sourians changed their place of voting and
went on the second day to Oxford, which
is twelve mile distant from Shawnee, and
some fifteen from Westport, point direct
ly on the borders of Missouri opposite the
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