Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-23
W1a. Barr Dry Goods 90, 18th e. Douglas.sts

Kansas resources. Morton, IN a scathipg
leader, denounced Lane and his schemes,
spoke of it as ROBBERY, and the men as u ''set
OF ragamufins'' and ''off scourIngs of crea-
tion." The paper containing this article had
scarcely been printed before a number of
Lanes men besieged the News Office, and
demanded the body of the editor, the latter,
however. had gone out the back door for re-
Inducements, and when he returned the
army" had evacuted. The doughty editor
thereupon sent a written challenge to mortal
combat to General Lane and his entire army,
and stating that when attacked by the SOL
diers he had been unarmed, but since then
had secured a number of "Colt's speaking
trumpets," and would use them on any of
Lanes men that came within shooting DIS
lance OF the News Office. General Lane
wisely declined to accept such a sweeping
challenge, and the trouble soon passed over.
The first election ever held in Nebraska
was IN November, 1854, to elect a delegate
to congress. o territorial legislature and
county officers, and was without doubt the
most exciting ever held in the state, espec-
tally was this true at Nebraska City. The
contest here was controlled by two rival fac
lions, known as the Baulware and Nuckolls
parties. The latter, to make sure of the
election, imported for the occasion about
half a hundred Iowa voters, and carried the
polls and election in q true southern shotgun
manner. The Boulwares. however, did not
look. silently on this fraud, but precipit ated
a pitched battle, in which guns, pistols.
pOiiSo III u ubCo, lilu dUOub "
the voting population was laid up for re-
pairs.
In 1855 Mr.. Morton was by q handsome
majority elected to the territorial legislature,
which then met in Omaha. Another member
from this county was DIR. j. q. Campbell,
VINO tells the following amusing anecdote of
that Legislative session:
Richardson COUNTY sent one member more
than IL was entitled to, claiming that the
extra delegate represented the Indian popu-
lation. The delegates from the North Platte
country fought bitterly against his admission,
but the South Platte members, with help
from the Sarpy county delegation voted him
IN. With this extra member the South
Platte could carry any measure they wished.
They, however, agreed TO nave their extra
man resign II the North Platte would expel
the members from Cumming county, who
were claimed to have been frauduiently
elected by imported Omaha voters, from q
county that did not contain a human inhabit-
ant. A resolution 10 this effect was intro
duced by the South Platte delegation and
vehemently denounced by the opposition,
during which DR.. George L. Miller directed
u vigorous fussilade of invectives against the
South Platte people, and the lie and id lie
were unfortunately passed back and forth.
until a member from Pierce (Otoe) county
jumped to his feet, pulled off his coat anu
Invited DIR. Miller out on the floor to settle
the dispute. The threatened combat, how.
ever. was averted by q halfway retraction
OF the doctors speech. The extra member
difficulty was finally settled by mis- agree
ment to resign il the North Platte people
would pay him his per diem for. the entire
session. They Immediately subscribed Sl25
and his resignation WAS handed in.
During his first term in the legislature Mr..
Morton made a reputation in opposing the
chartering of 'wild cat' banks, which
worked disastrously TO his candidacy for the
legislature in 1856. and he was allowed to re.
main at home and continue his editorial
work. His temporary retirement from active
politics, however, did not prevent him from
noung aud discussing one Of the most re-
markable legislnflge enactments ever passed
upon Dy the law makers of Nebraska or per-
haps OF the west-the entire repeal of the
criminal laws OF the state. There are differ
ent accounts as 10 the purpose of this piece
OF legislation and tho cause which led TO II,
but the correct one is undoubtedly that
which gives the credit of II to a shrewd law
yer with a desperate case TO win. Judge
Allen A. Bradford, u member of the terri
torlal council from Nebraska City, was the
father OF the bill, which was San act TO re-
peal certain acts OF the territorial assembly
OF Nebraska, passed at the first session of
said assembly
Accordingly, certain parts Of the criminal
code OF Iowa, approved March 10, 1855, and
an act relative 10 criminal laws approved
March 10. 1855, were repealed, leaving the
territory without a criminal code. Bradford
was al this time counsel in q murder case.
the first that had occurred in Nebraska City
In April OF 1855, Simpson Hargus became
involved In a quarrel with benjamin. Lacey
over q squatter claim which resulted Ia Har-
J gus shooting Lacey. II was proved to have