The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-09-25
Tn. rovu,.dou Of Kansas.

The vote at the recent election forms a
yery good basis for calculations as TO the
reputation OF Kansas. It has hecn de-
MED by the Pro-slavery members Of the
last Congress, that we had more than thir-
ty thousand inhabitants, and although we
knew it would exceed that number, we
were very doubtful whether We had a
population sufficient to entitle us to ad-,
mission as State, if strict Interpretation
of the Representation ratio was eaioreed-
Pie votes cast on the secoi.a Of August,
however, demonstrated that our powta-.
ton very nearly, if not quite, reaches 93,-,
600. The official proclamation nf the
Board 0f Commissioners, gives q vote Of
II. 800 against and ]. 1.78S for the propo-'
sition, making q total of l3.oSS votes
The precincts and counties thrown out by
the Board because Of some informality
in the returns, stand 1896 against 176 for
the proposition, or total of 1882 votes.
These two added together, and we have
total vote Of 1850 in the Territory
This estimate does not include the coun-
ties of Wilson, Godfrey, Washington and
Clay, which, however, contain q small
population, but certainly enough to swell
the vote to 1900, if precincts had been
established in them.
In southern Kansas, high waters pre-
vented thousands from exercising the
elective franchise. Many hazarded their
lives to get another kick at the hated Le-
compton Constitution, and we hear reports
that several were drowned in attempting
10 cross the streams swelled bank high
by the heavy rains. This prevented a
very large number from attending at the
polls. It must be remembered, also, that
net a man Of the large emigration that
came to Kansas this spring could vote, as
six months residence was requisite
This, of course, would require residence
since the End of February, before the Mis-,
souri, river was open, and before any en-
igrstion set in. II is 2 very low estimate
to place the spring emigration at 1000
voters, and Of course all Of these were lost
at the election. Full citizenship was also
required, and by this rule large propor-
ton of our German population---a very
important element in Kansas--were dis
franchised. We can safely put down the
votes lost by this rule, at l,50o. Sick
j ness, as in every State or Territory, also
prevented number from attending, and
Indifference as to the result as many
more. t,i s4
, These various causes combined to rem
der the vote small, and it is a very low
calculation to estimate the number who
did not vote from one or the other OF
/ these causes, at 5000, not including the
counties in which no voting precincts
were established. Add to this sum tho
number of votes actually cast, (l4,35o)
and the votes which the counties in which
J there were no polls opened could poll.
(probably ESQ., and you have total of
10000 votes, leaving the Indians, who
have become citizens of the United States
/ by treaty with the General Government,
and three-fifths of all other persons, as
the Federal Constitution provides, to
make Ep the deficit which might exist in
the calculation. In the States, the popu-
} laticn is generally estimated at six to a
vote, and it is reasonable to place the pop
ulation of Kansas at IL to a head
: Multiply the 10000 by this, and you have
total of $1,000, number greater than
. the population of two States which have
) been in the Union for years.
But to exhibit these figures more clear
ly, let US recapitulate
: Official vote as proclaimed by the
!. Board of Commissioners, l3,055
I Votes thrown out on account OF in-
formalty in the Judges re- -
turns, l'zoI
Estimated number detained by
: high waters, sickness or indiffer-
ence, or DISTINGUISHED by the six
months residence and full citi-
zenship rule, 5'ozo