The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-08-16

Inc nOOrs were made OF uuplaneC
cottonwood, unailed 20 jOists; anC
when one end Of q board was step
ped upon the other would ifs
heavenward. The desks were plain
Imprinted tables, OF three By five
feet, with boxes, nail-kegs, or any
convenient article as seats. To bt
sure there were a few pine chairs
but the governor found his very un
comfortable before he was through
presiding over that hOt-headed
rabid assembly.
Near the capitol building stood
the house of Governor Reeder, {
large twO-stOry TOOmy mansion
for thus IL appeared to many
tent-cOveTed dame. TO be sure i
was built Of logs, but these log,
were the largest, longest anL
smOOthest in ali the region round
about. The military road divided
these two public houses, the Gov.
ernor's home and Legislative Hall.
The capitol building was fast as.
Stunning its desired proportions, Dul
those in charge feared the day sci
for the Legislature to meet would
find the Hall unfit for occupancy
Every available man was pressed
into service, working early and late
for in those days We heard not OF
eight hours, nor Of ten, but the
hours of labor were from early dawn
till darkness.
The great issue OF the day waa
thoroughly discussed; high-sOund-
ing and ill-fiavOred words were
hurled at opposing parties, and an
occasional set-tO resulted in tired
muscles, black eyes and broken
noses. Still all these were only the
fOre-runners of the disturbances
that were TO take place when the
Government officials came to assume
command, and the capitol was in
possession Of fradulently elected
legislators.
Great curiosity was evinced to see
the Governor aud staff, as was but
natural. Yet q still greater interest
was felt about the work they were
coming to do. CODjectures were
made, opinions expressed, but no
one guessed they tOOUid ito nothing.
Nearer and nearer drew the day
for the Legislature to meet, and still
the building was not ready for them.
IL was hurry from morning till
night, and the end seemed yet far
of.
On a certain Saturday evening il
became evident to the contractors
that Sunday work would have to be
done on the morrow, or the hall be
without floors for the Legislature.
Pawnee, though on the frontier,
was a Sunday-keeping community,
aud some hesitation was felt about
continuing the work on the next
day. The completion Of the hall
however, was felt to be an act OF
necessity, and the WOrkmen did not
intermit their labOrs on the Sunday
which followed. But this Sunday
work had a ludicrOus result. When
the Missouri Tuiiians who had elect
ed themselves members OF the Leg
islature arrived in PaWnee and
heard what had been done, they
Immediately became very piOus and
held up their hands IN holy horror
at the PROCLAMATION Of the sacred day.
why" said one of them after the
Legislature assembled, ibid not the
Almighty slay these wicked men in
the midst Of their infamous work p"
"Why, o Lord, " said another, "dOst
Thou withhold Thy vengeance p"
They put IL forth as a good reason
for abandoning the building aRd adj
jOurning to he Shawnee Mission.
One fiery advocate OF slavery who
came to PawDee attended by his
slaves, and threatened the lives Of
those who wanted to make Kansas
a free state, said, in the course Of a
lengthy speech: "NO good law
could ever be enacted within the
four walls that had witnessed such
Then looking around
as though he really feared that some
awful judgment was about to fall on
those present, he rOared out, "Gen-
tlemen, break not Gods command
ments."
The Governor and Representatives
we're guests Of the city Of Pawnee.
People came in from adjoining
claims, and work was generally sus-
pended. Excitement ran high, the
men hardly taking time for sleep or
The resident portion
II the population was In favor Of |
principles, while the visit |
ny lawmakers were never tired Of |
themselves for slavery, |
nd came armed TO the teeth TO en-
Orce slave laws.
These visitors brought with them