The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-02

the power to locate the same was vested In him alone
the PRO slavery party as they were respectively called
endorsed the action Of the Legislature Governor Reeder
was in the meantime removed from office.
The free State party met at Big Springs and resolved 10
repudiate the acts Of the Territorial Legislature and
game State government Convention according
y called and held by them a Topeka the 4h Tuesday
OF October framed what; called the Topeka Conven
ton, and set foot State government which
resulted IN the indictments against the former for rea
sen, which followed.
Meanwhile finding opposition the principles o. tho
Kansas Nebraska act unavaing in Congress and under
the forms Of the constitution combinations were entered
into at the North To control the political destnes and
form and regulate the domestic institutions of these Ter
rores through the machinery Of emgran aid societies
by which means large numbers Of persons were for
warded 10 the debatable ground In order to give
ssency the movement surround il with the color
Of legal authority act Of incorporation procured
from the Of Massachusetts for an
by the OF the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid So
cety, the ostensble purpose OF which 10 enable
emigrsnts TO settle in the West 1t powerful
poration, with capital Of five millions Of dollars, in
vested in houses and lands, in merchandise and mills in
cannons and rifles, in powder and eadin all the imple-
menss o. arr, agrcu'ure anu war ana employing cor
responding number Of men under the management Of
duecors who remained at home and pulled the wires OF
this immense political automaton. In measure they
,cedec Thousands of these emgrans poured into the
Territory, armed with Shapes rifles and the word Of
Cod aud located themselves wherever their votes
most necessary. The result might have been antici
na.ed Under the influence Of inaammatory appeals
Ard apg by the irritating threats Of the free State men,
the intense % WAS 70 hs se'
near the Teri was thus the moet directly endan.
vereT Cannter psovemen, consequently ensued Bands
Of the State border r,ieuo a. ,ss
polls and both sides angry accusations os'V"eu uss
the elections carried by fraud and Violence ~ WIG
meantime statements entirely unfounded or grossly eA
Aggeraed concerning events within the Territory were
seduously diused through remote States to feed the
fame Of sectional animosity there and the nero
in turn exerted themselves TO encourage and stimulate
strife within the Territory.
During the Presidential campaign Of 1856 Kansas may
be said to have been in state Of civil war. Life was
nowhere safe. Armed men espcusing both sides Of the
question roamed throughout the country committing de-
predations and atrocities such find their equal only in
the records Of savage barbarity Men, women and
children were murdered in their beds, and few could
themselves either free states men proslavery
without danger Of being shot down in their tracks
1t during this period that the famous John Brown,
with his band made his appearance commenced those
vlanies for which he has since met Just reward upon
the gallows.
1885, memorial OF the Senators and Representatives OF
the called state Of Kansas accompanied by the consti
tuition adopted at Topeka, praying the admission Of the
same into the Union presented in the House Of Rep
resentaives and referred The Committee on Territories
reported bill to that effect, which rejected the
seth Of June by vote Of yeas 1o6, nays 107
On motion Of Mr. Barclay, Of Pennsylvania the ques
ton was reconsidered and the vote being taken on the
passage of the b was carried by yeas 1915 nays 1906
the above named gentleman changing his ballot, and one
other voting aye who was not present before.
The bill being brought before the Senate, that body
substituted for Il bill Of its own which returned to
the House, where no action was taken upon IT, Several
other attempts were subsequently, made in both the
the people Of Kansas 10 form constitution aud State
government but without successneither body endorsing
the act of the other
On the 2sh Of July 1856, bin reported by Mr.. Crow
from the Committee Territories tie annu certain
being before the House, Mr. Dunn, of Indiana moved
amendment TO the which substantially re-esta-
bshed the compromise Of 1870. This carried by
vote Of 80 yeas and II nays The bill reached the Senate
and report upon ii made by the Committee Ter
ritories the 1lth Of August, 1856 recommending that
be laid upon the table, which was done by test vote
of 35 to IL.
On the 18th OF July 1856 the committee appointed by
the House TO proceed 10 Kansas and investigate all mat
tiers connected with the contested election between
A. II. Reeder and Joins w. Whitfield, each OF whom
claimed have been elected delegate TO Congress,
made majority and minority report, Messrs. W. A.
Howard, of Michigan and Lewis Campbell Of Ohip, af-
nrmng that everything connected with the Territorial
Legislature and the election OF Whitfield was wrong and
Mr. Mordeca Oliver, Missouri. affirming that every
thing right and that Mr. Reeder not duly elect
ed according 10 law.
These reports were acted upon on the goth Of July
when Mr.. Whitfield was declared not to be entitled to
in the House by vote OF ITO yeas 20 90 nays and
Mr. Reeder was likewise declared not to be entitled to
seat vote OF IS yeas and 1l3 nays On the LIST Of
December 1856, however, Mr.. Whitfield having again
been elected delegate, was sworn in by vote Of liz
The effect Of this agitation in Congress upon the people
immense and every power that could be brought to
bear to influence the result way another was I'M
sparingly employed was almost the sole hinge upon
which, for time, swung the welfare Of the country.
tuition formed at Topeka, engrafted upon the
publican platform Of 1850, and arraigned at
by their standing with reference to this great question
Happily, however, the election Of Mr.. Buchanan threw
oil upon the troubled waters and with his Inauguration
the country reapsed once more into state of compare
tive quiet The predatory bands engaged in Kansas In
acts Of rapne under cover of existing political dstur
Dances arrested or dispersed the troops were with
drawn and tranquility restored TO the
hitherto sgitated Territory.
On the first Monday OF September 1857 a Convention
called together by virtue Of Of the Territorial
Legislature, whose lawful existence had been recognized
by various Of Congress to frame constitution
Fre A ynvtin nft ha rff not
think proper register their and vote at the cleo
ton for delegates but opportunity TO do this having
refusal to avail themselves of their right could in no
affect the legality Of the Convention But little
r eSsep, on s,n e hs shse bv
majority of only two 10 was decided 10 submit The quee
ton OF slavery TO the people -.
adopted constitution and the form of submission was
constitution with slavery" constitution without
slavery" great many people were Indignant, because
tho constitution made thus imperative, and more
than half stad away from the polls. The consttu
ton consequently adopted by the party voting for it,
with slavery. In that form it was suLmtted to the
President and the President submitted II 10 Congress.
After protracted discussion in both houses the admis
sion Of Kansas under that instrument defeated and
compromise adopted to submit the Lecompt0n
constitution back to the people, with the condition
that If accepted they should Immediately come
into the Union by proclamation OF the President and
that rejected they should wait until they had ninety
three thousand inhabitants TO be asceraned by census
They rejected the constitution by some ten thousand ma
jory In the meantime under the operation Of the Ter
rt0ra Legislature and the Lecompon Convention acting
in conjunction with each other the antsavery elements
rallied and elected anti-slavery Legislature. There
were however, bogus returns from two three coun
ties, which, If admitted wo1ld have changed the
complexion Of the Legislature into pro slavery body
But these cast out by Governor Walker, and the
Legislature thus left in the possession Of the free soil
party.
After the rejection OF the compton constitution the
people called another Convention which assembled At
Wyandot and adopted anti slavery constitution. This
they laid before Congress and al the time elected
Legislature and member Of Congress, the Legislature
electing In turn two Senator'S In anticipation OF the ad
mission OF the State under the wyandot constitution
The bill for the admission OF the State takou up in
Congress during the present session and passed, and
Wednesday, the Goth Of January returned TO Con-
gress with the signature Of the President thus forever
setting question which has 80 long disturbed the
country.
The following the State officers OF Kansas elected
under the wyandot constitution, and who will 10
administer the State goverpment;-
Gorrnor-Charles Robinson, formery OF Massachusetts
Lieutenant Gousrnor-J +. Root formerly OF Connec-
ticut
yecyytnry Of SyateJ w Robinson. formerly Of Maine.
7reasurr-wiam rholen, formerly Of New York
Auditor-George W. Hilyer, formerly OF Ohio.
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