I

would never think of coming here but for that purpose. believe there are a great many in Missouri who are so situated."

It was plainly the duty of Governor Reeder to have set aside this election as fraudulent and irregular. The Organic Act empowered him so to do; he was fully aware of the enormous frauds perpetrated; the free state men urged the subject upon him, pledging him protection and support. Such a step on the part of Governor Reeder would have thwarted the efforts of the Missourians to force a government upon the people of Kansas, and might have averted the fierce conflict which ensued.

But the members of the Legislature thus elected immediately demanded of Mr. Reeder certificates of election, as required by the Organic Act, threatening him with assassination in case of refusal. With pistols cocked and pointed at his breast, he examined the election returns, and painfully witnessed the evidences of fraud. He hesitated and wavered; he scarcely knew what to do. As he hesitated he was more sorely pressed; as he wavered danger was more thickly menaced. He faltered, gave way, issued the certificates, and thus, so far as he could, legalized the election. It was a sad misstep, and grew out of the want of sufficient fearless and undaunted firmness.

But few protests against the election frauds reached Mr. Reeder before he issued the certificates, the people being remote and ignorant, in many instances, of the proper remedy, or intimidated by the threats of pro-slavery men. Without deciding upon his power to cast aside elections for illegality or fraud, thus going behind the returns, he set aside the election in six districts on account of informalities in the returns, and ordered a new election in the same.

The pro-slavery men were highly incensed at Mr. Reeder in daring thus far to question the legality of their proceedings. They held their meetings, and decided not to pay

any attention to the newly ordered election in every district except at Leavenworth. They declared that the Governor had no right to decide upon the legality of an election, but was bound to issue certificates according to the election returns.

The contested election came off on the 22d of May, and free state men were elected unanimously, except at Leavenworth, where about five hundred Missourians came over and "played their old game."

CHAPTER XIV.

THE CONSEQUENCE.

The free state men keenly felt the outrages committed upon them by the people of Missouri. The whole North was deeply moved and incensed at these glaring acts of injustice and oppression. All felt the danger and weakness of these isolated emigrants thus over-ridden in Kansas. All began to understand the desperate, reckless character of the men who led and composed these invaders. The designs and plans of slavery propagandists in subduing Kansas and planting slavery there at every hazard, began to be discernable. Dark and ominous clouds, foreboding a bursting storm, began to lower over the beautiful fields of this Territory. All felt that a storm was gathering and dreaded the bursting of that storm.

The free state men demeaned themselves under such indignities and acts of violence with the forbearance of christians and the coolness of patriots. They believed in a just God that would rectify their wrongs and looked to the general Government as His appointed deliverance. They could not but hope that the United States would extend its strong arm of protection over the infant Territory from the oppression of a neighboring State for which they most filially petitioned Congress. They could not believe that those who had so eloquently declaimed against intervention in the affairs of a Territory by Congress, would be the first to excuse and apologize for like conduct on the part of a State.

Thus feeling, believing and hoping, they determined to suffer and wait in patience.

The people of the Border were jubilant over their triumph. The pro-slavery newspapers went into ecstacies on receiving the news. The Platte Argus declared "it must be admitted that they-the Missourians-have conquered Kansas. Our advice is let them hold it or die in the attempt." The Squatter Sovereign resounds, "OUT WITH THE GUN! WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND THEY ARE OURS! WE HAVE ACHIEVED A GLORIOUS VICTORY." Meetings of congratulations were held in various Border counties, at which the perpetrators of these outrages were complimented for their patriotic achievements.

In all these newspaper announcements, in all the public meetings, called by the news of the election, an exhortation was made "not to let the good work stop but carry it on until every abolitionist (alias free state men) was exterminated from the Territory. Many means could be devised whereby these unbearable nuisances could be removed; but the most effectual method that occurs to our mind is to inflict instant punishment upon the offender. We are not, except in extreme cases, an admirer of Judge Lynch's code of practice, nor of self-constituted powers, but under the circumstances we opine the organization of a Vigilance Committee throughout the Territory, for the protection of slave property, would not only be a judicious policy but one fully justifiable in the premises. As a first step the town of Lawrence should be rid of its pestiferous inhabitants."

Thus sustained by the press and public sentiment, the mobatic spirit knew no bounds. Mr. Reeder, who went to Washington soon after the election, was threatened with lynching if he returned to the Territory. A convention was accordingly called by the people of Platte County, Missouri, to be held at Leavenworth on the 28th of May, for the purpose of taking into consideration the question of deposing Governor Reeder and electing a new Governor.

This movement was doubtless designed to intimidate Mr. Reeder and hasten his resignation; at least the convention never met. From this time dates the mobatic reign of terror in north-west Missouri and in Kansas.

On the 14th of April the mob collected in Parkville and destroyed the printing press of the "Industrial Luminary.” They first paraded it in the streets with a white cap drawn over its head, then carried it to the Missouri River and threw the press into its waters. It was their intention to tar and feather Messrs. Park and Patterson, the editors, but the former was absent and the latter was saved from their fury by the affectionate interposition of his wife. This paper supported Mr. Benton and opposed Mr. Atchison and his friends, by which it had incurred their displeasure. After the election in Kansas Territory, it mildly condemned the course of the Missourians. The followers of Atchison, perhaps, inspired by their chief, decreed its destruction, and were not long in carrying out their purposes. After having accomplished their work, they passed resolutions requesting the two editors to leave the country under severe penalties in case of refusal. They also forbade all ministers of the Northern branch of the Methodist church from preaching in that vicinity.

In a few days afterwards meetings held at Liberty and Weston endorsed the action of the mob at Parkville, and extended the resolution in reference to Methodist preachers to all ministers from free States, or those who were not known to be friendly to slavery. They resolved that "every person who shall in any manner speak or publish doctrines or sentiments calculated to bring reproach upon the institution of negro slavery, 'shall be expelled from the country."" In accordance with the above resolutions, several pious, devoted and talented ministers of the Gospel were compelled to leave the State on account of their opinions.

On the last day of April, at a squatter meeting in Leavenworth, an altercation took place between a Mr. Clark and a