New-York daily tribune., 1857-10-02

In cases Of contest, the Governor has no power to
receive or act Oh protests All must 60 through the
hands Of bogus officers.
These investigations before bogus justice must
have notice given. County elections are determined
in the bogus County Court, and there the matter 10
finally decided. Representative contests are carried
before the respective bodies the evidence OF
Legality" being taken before and certified to by
bogus justice. Ssch are the leading features Of the
law under which the election is 70 be held. The
Infamous spportiODment strikes of at least Onehsf
of the Free State power at one blow. The above
and Missouri voters are expected to overcome the
remainder. Need add that swiodle of this kind
ia an insult 70 the term " election, on which the
sacred institutions of RepuklicanisIn are founded
MATTERS AND THINGS.
Special Correspondence u The N. y. TnbuSs.
SHAWNEE RESERVE, johnson COunty,"t
Sept. "a, 1857.
BY some unexplained piece Of maneuvering on
the part of the Department. this tract Of land is not
yet legally open to settlement. It is still an Indian
reservation, from which whites are excluded by
the faith Of treaties, AMI all law save bogus law,
which has presumed to charter half dozen Bor-
der RI fl an towns in it, the trustees Of tho same
being the "pastieular fiends' of these legislative
bodies in and around Westport and Independence.
The state of affairs on this offers fit illus
trston Of the mode Of managing such things on the
part Of our Government rally-duplicity and
favoritism on the part Of the Government and
total disregard to treaties and other obligations on
the part Of the people. ALI the agents appointed
by the Government to take charge Of these
reserves ere intensely Border Ruflianish. IL is,
therefore, not at all surprising that the only ave-
pues of communication between the Government
and these interests should thus make al things
bear in that direction. The design 10 the first
place, with regard to this reserve, was to make it
a paddock for the pet SSOck Of Border Rut.iins.
The general impression is that these lands will be
worth at least $40 al acre almost Immediately after
purchasing, and here was very nice speculation
which might indemnify Missouri for ali her patrioslc
efforts in behalf of Kansas. IT is notorious fact
that many claims are held all throughout Kansas by
men who I've in the different to wns of Kansas visit.
ing them occasionally. That the people Of West
port and Independence who understs nd this science
of squatting to a hairs breadth, should have con-
sdered il proper to hold caims in the reserve, is
not at all surprising. Many Of these the holders
never saw, having received them through virtue OF
membership in the "Ass )ciation." The part of the
reserve lying out from Westport is, therefore, in a
very peculiar position. While it is all ostensibty
settled, there are really very few settters
III. l.
some directions without finding soul, but
the little squatters' shanties are as thick as peas
They are little seven.by-nine dog. kennels, which
would only cost q few dollars. The pretended
owners Of these are the Border Ruans of Missouri,
who have their homes and their business IN Mis-
souri. So complete is this, that the whole manage
meDt Of this bogus county is vested in Missouri
All the county officers (with one solitary exception
who holds q sort of "betweenit5" residsnce) are
residents of the State Of Missouri. The three mem.
bers elect Of the bogus Constitutional Convention
from this country are all residents OF Missouri
Two of them as have stated before, are residents
of Westport, one of them being the sub. editor OF
The Star Of Empire Of that place. The third
hailed from some unheard-Of town in johnson
County," and / supposed he at least was bona fde,
but since coming down ! have ascertained the
"tOwn" TO be myth, and the gentleman resident
Of the same patrOnziDg State with his compeers.
The cool, barefaced impudeDce OF all this is
amusing.
Toward the western end of the reserve there is
large number of settlers, almost exclusively Free.
State. Most Of these reside on their claims and
some four or five little towns have been started with
a house or two in them. These settlers, however,
are kept in constant uncertainty and anxiety about
their rights TO the land which they have squatted
Every few days some PrO-Shyery man, pretending
to be deputy agent, win come and order of some
of the squateIs from their claims, on the pretense
that they have squatted on Indian lands. Lately
some Of the Shawnees were melted by these Pro-
Slavery authorities 10 undertake driving Of the
Ffee-State squatters. Prior to coming down, /
heard frshtful stories about the Indians driving off
the settlers and expected to find that there had
been collision but learn that 30 for il has been
confined 10 threats and very bad feeling. The Mis-
sourians having the agents with them have every
thing their own way. At two or three Of the Free.
State towns and settlements volunteer com.
panies have been formed for the protection
Of the ballot box, but they are mostly
uDarmed, and lately great doubts have arisen 10 re.
gard to what action to take A few are intim3sted
by the order of Gov. Walker to disband. A few
more are half inclined to believe his promises that he
VIII have troops present. and that these will prevent
Missourans from voting. Most Of them however,
are ready to resist any invassn as far they can
but by these conflicting circumstances much natural
doubt and uncertsinty has been created. One thing
people are apt TO overlook, when they regard the
promise Of Walker that troops will be present to
protect the ballot box namely that the bsIlot.box
will be from the first in the hands of the Missourans
The County Judges, who fix the precincts and ap-
point Judges Of Election here, are Mssour.ans The
Judges they appoint will likely be, and at all events
they viii permit MissOurians to vote. On what pre-
tense could such men refuse them If Gov Walkers
promises were sincere, the ret thing for him to do
would be to strip these men Of their ill-gotten
authority. But he recognizes their power His
troops will merely protect them in doing what they
intend to do. Can any one be at a loss what to
expect Could anything De more intensely
absurd than this expectation Of fairness ~
Two days &C fatigling travel through this section
has demonstrated the extreme difficulty, almost i'm
possibility of managing this election so az to prevent
Missouri irom voting, and secure to the real settlers
the right Of voting. Nothing short Of securing
more impartial Judges Of election, and having force
enough on hsnd to protect them, would seem to be
adequate to such emergency Bas this would be