Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18

slave state 20 long as the slaves then iv-
ing in the Kansas, or any of their de-
scendants-''increase- should exist. Il
was also provided-apparently with The in
tention of excluding the free-state men from
voting that at the election on the con-
stitution each voter should he required b
take an oath to support tie consultation
under the penalties of perjury under tho
territorial laws. The precaution. how
ever, was unnecessary as the free-state
people with entire unanimity refused T.
take part in the election. Two elections
were provided for by the convention. the
] one Just alluded to, on the 2lst of Deceu-
, Der, and the other on the 4th of January
following, for the election of state Offices
under the constitution.
The convention adjourned on the TIL
day of November. In its action it had
violated every one of the solemn pledges
made in its behalf BY Governor Walker.
and according to his repeated statement,
made too, on the authority of President
Buchanan himself. that the people should
have free and fair vote upon the cOnsu
tuition. 1t was evident that the crowniag
outrage of a long course of villainy was
about to be attempted. The TERRITORY
famed with excitement. Public
meetings were held in every
city, village and hamlet. Ths
pressure to put the state government. IN
der the Topeka constitution, in immediate
operation was immense. A convention
was held in Topeka, presided over by Col.
G. X. Holiday, at which resolutions were
passed, requesting Governor Robinson t.
at once call together the free state legisla-
ture. A vigilance committee was ap-
pointed. A few days afterwards large
mass convention WAS held in Leaven-
worth, at which Judge Latta presided.
and which formally requested Acting Gov
ernor Stanton to call the rec
emily elected territorial legislar
ture together in special session.
and which on motion of General Lane
asserted that in case Acting Governor
| Stanton should decline to do so, no other
course would he open to the people but to
put the Topeka government in motion,
and pledging themselves to adopt that
course and stand or fall by it. A great
delegate convention of the whole territory
had been called, and was about to assem-
BILE at Lawrence. Finally a petition was
presented to Mr.. Stanton. signed
by majority Of the memoers Of the legis-
lature. and accompanied by letter
signed by Robinson, Lame and many other
prominent free state men. requesting him
| to call the Legislature together rs the only
means OF aycrting violence and blO0d-shed.
The crisis was imminent. To comply. Us
Governor Stanton we'll knew, meant a
| final break with the malevo!ent, uns<,rup-
ulous and vindictive slave power at Wash
| ington. To refuse meant tumult, convul-
| c,o 10 h.
| light of civil war at home In Kansas.
But emergencies are the occasions
which re ell greet mer, and
He called the legislature. For this brave,
sumnariy dismissed from office by the
president Before he could be removed
however, he had time to meet the legisla-
them together, and consult with them a.
to the proper course to pursue. The legls-
lature remained in session only few
days. Its most important work was to
provide by law for the submission of tho
1ecompton constitution to vote OF the
people on the 4th of January following
the same day that had been fixed BY
the Lecompton convention for tho
election of state officers under the Leeomp-
ton constitution. 1t. was, of course,
known that the constitution would b
voted down by an overwhelming niaSDrlty
of the people, and it was hoped, valnly, a
the sequel showed, that the administra-
ton at Washington would not have the
colossal stupidity and wickedness 70
champion constitution which, at fair
and legal election, held by the regular as-
thorized and recognized territorial author
tiles, had been demonstrated to be net the
choice of the people. But the
Capacity ofithe Buchanan administration-
that decaying dynasty Of the slave power
for pure, unad liberated meanness, and high
eanded, outrageous villainy had at that
date been vastly underestimate.
The election of December q was ono
sided affair, the free state people refusing
to take part in it. The total
vote was 6,l43 for the constitu-
ton with slavery, and 500 for
the constitution with no slavery. OF this
vote, over 5000 were subsequently, shown
to be purely fraudulent. In Kickapoo tho
Cincinnati dire tory was boldly copied to
The extent of nearly thousand names. In
Oxford the fraud rivaled that Of the
previous October election, which
Walker and Stanton had kicked out
No motive could be assigned for shesa
frauds except it was to swell The total
vote into something like respectable d.
mansions for eff-ct at Washington.
The elections of January 4. 1853. which
followed, presented curious phase Of
complication. First, there was an election
cor state officers under the Lecompton con-
.titution. and under officers appointed by
The president of the convention; and. SEQ
,ndly, there was on the same day. an cleo
lion upon the Lecomption constitution,
snder the regular territorial authorities,
provided for by the legislature at its special
session. This latter election the prO-sla7ery
party ignored. A large vote, however,
was cast, resulting In: For the constltu-
lion without slavery. %; for the cOnstitu-
len with slavery, l3a; against the consti-
luton. 1925.
The free state body. as a party, had re-
solved not to commit themselves by voting
FOR state officers under the Lecompton con.
stitution. An independent ticker. how
ever. had been nominated in opposition
20 the pro-slaverv ticket, and wa support
ID by a portion of the free-state people.
The total vote on governor, as returned for
This election, and now On record In