invasions and forays. In its Lodges in Missouri the affairs of Kansas were discussed, the forco necessary to control the election was divided in to bands, and leaders selected, means were col. lected, and signs and badges were agreed upon. While the great body of the actual settlers of the Territory were relying upon the rights secured to them by the organic law, and had formed no organization or combination whatever even of a party character, this conspiracy against their rights was gathering strength in a neighboring State, and would have been sufficient at their first election to have overpowered them, if they had in the Territory existed, and that neither the peo-instrument in organizing the subsequent armed ple nor the Territorial Legislature could prohibit Slavery that that power was alone possessed by the people when they were authorized to form a State government. It was contended that the removal of the restriction virtually established Slavery in the Territory. This claim was urged by many prominent men in western Missouri, who actively engaged in the affairs of the Territory. Every movement, of whatever character, which tended to establish free institutions, was regarded as an interference with their rights. Within a few days after the organic law passed, and as soon as its passage could be known on the border, leading citizens of Missouri cross-been united to a man. ed into the Territory, held squatter meetings and then returned to their homes. Among their resolutions are the following: "That we will afford protection to no Abolitionist as a settler of this Territory." "That we recognize the institution of Slavery as already existing in this Territory, and advise slaveholders to introduce their property as early as possible." Similar resolutions were passed in various parts of the Territory, and by meetings in several counties of Missouri. Thus the first effect of the repeal of the restriction against Slavery was to substitute the resolves of squatter meet ings, composed almost exclusively of citizens of a single State, for the deliberate action of Congress, acquiesced in for thirty-five years. This unlawful interference has been continued in every important event in the history of the Territory; every election has been controlled not by the actual settlers, but by citizens of Missouri, and as a consequence every officer in the Territory, from constables to legislators, except those appointed by the President, owe their positions to non-resident voters. None have been elected by the settlers, and your Committee have been unable to find that any political power whatever, however unimportant, has been exercised by the people of the Territory. In October, A. D. 1854, Gov. A. H. Reeder and the other officers appointed by the President arrived in the Territory. Settlers from all parts of the country were moving in in great numbers, making their claims and building their cabins. About the same time, and before any election was or could be held in the Territory, a secret politi: cal society was formed in the State of Missouri (1). It was known by different names, such as "Social Band," "Friends' Society," "Blue Lodge," "The Sons of the South." Its members were bound together by secret oaths, and they had passwords, signs, and grips by which they were known to each other. Penalties were imposed for violating the rules and secrets of the Order. Written minutes were kept of the proceedings of the Lodges, and the different Lodges were connected together by an effective organization. It embraced great numbers of the citizens of Missouri, and was extended into other Slave States and into the Territory. Its avowed purpose was not only to extend Slavery into Kansas, but also into other Territory of the United States, and to form a union of all the friends of that institution. Its plan of operating was to organize and send men to vote at the elections in the Territory, to collect money to pay their expenses, and, if necessary, to protect them in vot ing. It also proposed to induce Pro-Slavery men to emigrate into the Territory, to aid and sustain them while there, and to elect none to office but those friendly to their views. This dangerous society was controlled by men who avowed their purpose to extend Slavery into the Territory at all hazards, and was altogether the most effective (1) Jordan Davidson, J. C. Prince, John Scott, J. H. Stringfellow. Your Committee had great difficulty in elicit ing the proof of the details in regard to this secret society. One witness, member of the legislative council, refused to answer questions in reference to it (2). Another declined to answer fully, because to do so would result to his injury (3). Others could or would only answer as to the gene. ral purposes of the Society, but sufficient is disclosed in the testimony to show the influence it had in controlling the elections in the Territory. The first election was for a Delegate to Congress. ber, 1854. The Governor divided the Territory It was appointed for the 29th of Noveminto seventeen Election-Districts; appointed Judges and prescribed proper rules for the election. In the Ist, IIId, VIIIth, IXth, Xth, XIIth, have been but little if any fraudulent voting. XIIIth, and XVIIth Districts there appears to The election in the IId District was held at the village of Douglas, nearly fifty miles from the Missouri line. On the day before the election, large companies of men came into the district in wagons and on horseback, and declared that they were from the State of Missouri, and were going to Douglas to vote. On the morning of the election they gathered around the house where the election was to be held. Two of the Judges appointed by the Governor did not appear, and then voted. In order to make a pretense of other Judges were elected by the crowd. All right to vote, some persons of the company kept a pretended register of squatter claims, on which any one could enter his name and then assert he had a claim in the Territory. A citizen of the district who was himself a candidate for Delegate to Congress, was told by one of the strangers, that he would be abused and probably killed if he challenged a vote (4). He was seized by the collar, called a d-d Abolitionist, and was compelled to seek protection in the room with the Judges. About the time the polls were closed, these strangers mounted their horses and got into their wagons and cried out All aboard for Westport and Kansas City." A number were recognized as residents of Missouri, and among them was Samuel H. Woodson, whose names are on the poll-books, 35 were resia leading lawyer of Independence. Of those dent settlers and 226 were non-residents. The election in the IVth District was held at Dr. Chapman's, over 40 miles from the Missouri State line. taining but 47 voters in February, 1855, when It was a thinly-settled region, conthe census was taken. On the day before the election, from 100 to 150 citizens of Cass and Jackson Counties, Mo., came into this district, declaring their purpose to vote, and that they were bound to make Kansas a Slave State, if they did it at the point of the sword (5). Persons ground and called it a claim-and in one case of the party on the way drove each a stake in the several names were put on one stake. ty of strangers camped all night near where the The par (2) W. P. Richardson. (3) 0. C. Prince. (4) John A. Wakefield. (5) Peter Bassinger. election was to be held, and in the morning were at the election-polls and voted. One of their party got drunk, and to get rid of Dr. Chapman, a judge of the election, they sent for him to come and see a sick man, aud in his absence filled his place with another judge, who was not sworn. They did not deny or conceal that they were residents of Missouri, and many of them were recognized as such by others. They declared that they were bound to make Kansas a Slave State. They insisted upon their right to vote in the Territory if they were in it one hour. After the election they again returned to their homes in Missouri, camping over night on the way. We find upon the poll-books 161 names; of these not over 30 resided in the Territory, 131 were non-residents (6). name of Nolan, whom he knew to reside in Jackson County. Finally the thing was hushed up as the witness had a good many friends there from that county, and it might lead to a fight if he challenged any more votes. Both voted and he then went down to their camp. He there saw many of his old acquaintances whom he knew had voted at the election in August previous in Missouri, and who still resided in that State. By a careful comparison of the poll-lists with the census rolls, we find but 12 names on the pollbook who were voters when the census was taken three months afterwards, and we are satisfied that not more than 20 legal votes could have been polled at that election. The only residents who are known to have voted are named by the witness, and are 13 in number-thus But few settlers attended the election in the leaving 584 illegal votes cast in a remote disVth District, the District being large and the set-trict, where the settlers within many miles were tlement scattered. 82 votes were cast; of these acquainted with each other. between 20 and 30 were settlers (7), and the residue were citizens of Missouri. They passed into the Territory (8) by way of the Santa Fe road and by the residence of Dr. Westfall, who then lived on the western line of Missouri (9). Some little excitement arose at the polls as to the legality of their voting, but they did vote for Gen. Whitfield, and said they intended to make Kansas a Slave State-and that they had claims in the Territory. Judge Teazle, judge of the Court in Jackson County, Missouri, was present, but did not vote (9). He said he did not intend to vote, but came to see that others voted. After the election, the Missourians returned the way they came. The total number of white inhabitants in the XIth District in the month of February, A. D. 1855, including men, women, and children, was 36, of whom 24 were voters-yet the poll-lists in this District show that 245 votes were cast at this election. For reasons stated hereafter in regard to the election on the 30th of March, your Committee were unable to procure the attendance of witnesses from this District. records it clearly appears that the votes cast could not have been by lawful resident voters. The best test, in the absence of direct proof, by which to ascertain the number of legal votes cast, is by a comparison of the census-roll with the poll-book-by which it appears that but 7 resident settlers voted, and 238 votes were ille The election in the VIth District was held at Fort Scott, in the southeast part of the Terri-gally and fraudulently given. tory and near the Missouri fine. A party of about one hundred men, from Cass and the counties in Missouri south of it, went into the Territory, traveling about 45 miles, most of them with their wagons and tents, and camping out. They appeared at the place of election. Some attempts were made to swear them, but two of the Judges were prevailed upon not to do so, and none were sworn, and as many as chose voted. There were but few resident voters at the polls. The settlement was sparse-about 25 actual settlers voted out of 105 votes cast, leaving 80 illegal votes (10). After the voting was over the Missourians went to their wagons and commenced leaving for home. From the The election in the XIVth District was held at the house of Benjamin Harding, a few miles from the town of St. Joseph, Missouri. Before the polls were opened, a large number of citizens of Buchanan County, Missouri, and among them many of the leading citizens of St. Joseph, were at the place of voting, and made a majority of the company present. At the time appointed by the Governor for opening the polls, two of the Judges were not there, and it became the duty of the legal voters present to select other Judges. The Judge who was present (13) suggested the name of Mr. Waterson as one of the Judges-but the crowd voted down the proposition. Some discussion then arose as to the The most shameless fraud practiced upon the right of non-residents to vote for Judges, during rights of the settlers at this election was in the which Mr. Bryant was nominated and elected VIIth District. It is a remote settlement about by the crowd. Some one nominated Col. John 75 miles from the Missouri line, and contained in Scott as the other Judge, who was then and is February, A. D. 1855, three months afterwards, now a resident of St. Joseph. At that time ho when the census was taken, but 53 voters; and was the City Attorney of that place, and so conyet the poll-books show that 604 votes were cast. tinued until this Spring, but he claimed that the The election was held at the house of Frey Mc- night before he had come to the house of Mr. Gee, at a place called "110." But few of the Bryant, and had engaged boarding for a month, actual settlers were present at the polls (11). A and considered himself a resident of Kansas on witness who formerly resided in Jackson County, that ground. The Judges appointed by the Mo., and was well acquainted with the citizens Governor refused to put the nomination of Col. of that county (12), says that he saw a great Scott to vote, because he was not a resident. many wagons and tents at the place of election, After some discussion, Judge Leonard, a citizen and many individuals he knew from Jackson of Missouri, stepped forward and put the vote County. He was in their tents and conversed himself; and Mr. Scott was declared by him as with some of them, and they told him they had elected by the crowd, and served as a Judge of come with the intention of voting. He went to Election that day. After the election was over the polls intending to vote for Flennekin, and he returned to St. Joseph, and never since has his ticket being of a different color from the rest, resided in the Territory. It is manifest that this his vote was challenged by Frey McGee, who election of a non-resident lawyer as a Judge was had been appointed one of the Judges but did imposed upon the settlers by the citizens of the not serve. Lemuel Ralstone, a citizen of Mis- State. When the board of Judges was thus souri, was acting in his place. The witness then completed, the voting proceeded, but the effect of challenged the vote of a young man by the the rule adopted by the Judges allowed many, it not a majority of the non-residents, to vote. They claimed that their presence on the ground, es (6) Thomas Hopkins, Rubin Hacket, Perry Fuller, John F. Lucas. (7) James W. Wilson. (8) Dr. B. C. Westfall. (9) J. W. Wilson. (10) S. C. Prince. (11) Matthias A. Reed. (12) Wm. F. Johnstone. (13) Benjamin Harding. pecially when they had a claim in the Territory, and wagons about the town, "like a camp meetgave them a right to vote-under that construc-ing" (18). They were in companies or messes of tion of the law they readily, when required, swore they were "residents" and then voted. By this evasion, as near as your Committee can ascer tain from the testimony, as many as 50 illegal votes were cast in this District out of 153, the whole number polled. ten to fifteen in each, and numbered in all several hundred. They brought their own provisions and cooked it themselves, and were generally armed. Many of them were known by the witnesses, and their names given, and their names are found upon the poll-books. Among them were several persons of influence where they resided in Missouri, who held, or had held, high be residents of the Territory, from the fact that they were then present, and insisted upon the right to vote, and did vote. Their avowed purpose in doing so was to make Kansas a Slave State. These strangers crowded around the polls, and it was with great difficulty that the settlers could get to the polls (19). One resident attempted to get to the polls in the afternoon, but was crowded and pulled back. He then went outside of the crowd and hurrahed for Gen. Whitfield, and some of those who did not know him said, "that's a good Pro-Slavery man," and lifted him up over their heads so that he crawled on their heads and put in his vote. A person who saw from the color of his ticket that it was The election in the XVth District was held at Penseman's, on Stranger Creek, a few miles from Weston, Missouri. On the day of the elec-official positions in that State. They claimed to tion a large number of citizens of Platte County, but chiefly from Weston and Platte City, came in small parties, in wagons and on horseback, to the polls. Among them were several leading citizens of that town, and the names of many of them are given by the witnesses (14). They generally insisted upon their right to vote, on the ground that every man having a claim in the Territory could vote, no matter where he lived (15). All voted who chose. No man was challenged or sworn. Some of the residents did not vote. The purpose of the strangers in voting was declared to be to make Kansas a Slave State (16). We find by the poll-books that 306 votes were cast-of these we find but 57 are on the census-rolls as legal voters in February follow-not for Gen. Whitfield, cried out, "He is a ing. Your Committee is satisfied from the testimony that not over 100 of those who voted had any right so to do, leaving at least 206 illegal votes cast. The election in the XVIth District was held at Leavenworth. It was then a small village of three or four houses, located on the Delaware Reservation (17). There were but comparative ly few settlers then in the district, but the number rapidly increased afterward. On the day before and on the day of the election, a great many citizens of Platte, Clay, and Ray counties crossed the river-most of them camping in tents damned Abolitionist-let him down;" and they dropped him (20). Others were passed to the polls in the same way, and others crowded up in the best way they could. After this mockery of an election was over, the non-residents returned to their homes in Missouri. Of the 312 votes cast, not over 150 were by legal voters. The following abstract exhibits the whole number of votes at this election, for each candidate; the number of legal and illegal votes cast in each district; and the number of legal votes in each district in February following: ABSTRACT OF CENSUS AND ELECTION OF NOV. 29, 1854. Thus your Committee find that in this the first | Missouri, in violation of the organic law of election in the Territory, a very large majority of the votes were cast by citizens of the State of (14) J. B. Crane, Francis M. Peter, John W. How, Phineas Skinner, H. B. Gale. (15) J. B. Crane. (16) H. B. Gale. (17) George H. Keller, and John A.Lunday. the Territory. Of the legal votes cast, General Whitfield received a plurality. The settlers took but little interest in the election, not one-half of (18) Geo. H. Keller. (19) John A. Lunday, L. L Easdreau. (20) John A. Lunday. them voting. This may be accounted for, from I did not change the result of the election, was a the fact that the settlements were scattered over crime of great magnitude. Its immediate effect a great extent-that the term of the Delegate was to further excite the people of the Northern to be elected was short-and that the question States-induce acts of retaliation, and exaspe of Free and Slave institutions was not general-rate the actual settlers against their neighbors ly regarded by them as distinctly at issue. Un- in Missouri. der these circumstances a systematic invasion from an adjoining State, by which large numbers of illegal votes were cast in remote and sparse settlements for the avowed purpose of extend ing Slavery into the Territory, even though it In January and February, A. D. 1855, the Governor caused an enumeration to be taken of the inhabitants and qualified voters in the Territory, an abstract of which is here given: On the same day the census was completed, the Governor issued his Proclamation for an election to be held on the 30th of March, A. D. 1855, for Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory. It prescribed the boundaries of Districts; the places for polls; the names of Judges; the appointment of members; and recited the qualification of voters. If it had been observed, a just and fair election would have reflected the will of the people of the Territory. Before the election, false and inflammatory rumors were busily circulated among the people of Western Missouri. The number and character of the emigration then passing into the Territory were grossly exaggerated and misrepresented. Through the active exertions of many of its leading citizers, aided by the secret societies before referred to, the passions and prejudices of the people of that State were greatly excited. Several residents there have testified to the character of the reports circulated among, and credited by, the people. These efforts were successful. By an organized movement, which extended from Andrew County in the north to Jasper County in the south, and as far eastward as Boone and Cole Counties, companies of men were arranged in regular parties and sent into every Council District in the Territory, and into every Representative District but one. The numbers were so distributed as to control the election in each district. They went to vote and with the avowed design to make Kansas a Slave State. They were generally armed and equipped, carried with them their own provisions and tents, and so marched into the Territory. The details of this invasion from the mass of the testimony taken by your Committee, are so voluminous that we can here state but the leading facts elicited. 1ST DISTRICT-MARCH 30, 1855.-LAWRENCE. The company of persons who marched into this District, collected in Ray, Howard, Carroll, Boone, La Fayette, Randolph, Saline, and Cass Counties, in the state of Missouri. Their expenses were paid-those who could not come contributing provisions, wagons, etc. (21). Provisions were deposited, for those who were expected to come to Lawrence, in the house of William Lykins, and were distributed among the Missourians after they arrived there (22). The evening before and the morning of the day of election, about 1,000 men from the above counties arrived at Lawrence, and encamped in a ravine a short distance from town, near the place of voting. They came in wagons-of which there were over one hundred-and on horseback, under the command of Col. Samuel Young, of Boone County, Missouri, and Clayborne F. Jackson, of Missouri. They were armed with guns, rifles, pistols, and bowie-knives, and had tents, music, and flags with them (23). They brought with them two pieces of artillery (24). (21) F. P. Vaughan, Jourdan Davidson. (22) Wm. Tates, 0. W. Babcock, Dr. John Day. (23) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, Wm. Yates, Wm. B. Hornsby, G. W. Dietzler, C. W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, S. N., Wood, E. Chapman, Robert Elliott, N. W. Blanton. Jourdan Davidson, Wm. Lyon, J. B. Abbott, Ira. W, Ackley, Dr. John Day, A. B. Wade, John M. Banks. H. W. Buckley. (24) E. Chapman, Jourdan Davidson, loaded with musket-balls (25). On their way to Lawrence some of them met Mr. N. B. Blanton, who had been appointed one of the Judges of Election by Gov. Reeder, and after learning from him that he considered it his duty to demand an oath from them as to their place of residence, first attempted to bribe, and then threatened him with hanging, in order to induce him to dispense with that oath. In consequence of these threats, he did not appear at the polle the next morning to act as Judge (26). The evening before the election, while in camp, the Missourians were called together at the tent of Captain Claiborne F. Jackson, and speeches were made to them by Col. Young and others, calling for volunteers to go to other districts where there were not Missourians enough to control the election, and there were more at Lawrence than were needed there (27). Many volunteered to go, and the morning of the elec. tion, several companies, from 150 to 200 men each, went off to Tecumseh, Hickory Point, Bloomington, and other places (28). On the morning of the election, the Missourians came over to the place of voting from their camp, in bodies of one hundred at a time (29). Mr. Blanton not appearing, another Judge was appointed in his place-Col. Young claiming that, as the people of the Territory had two Judges, it was nothing more than right that the Missourians should have the other one, to look after their interests (30); and Robert E. Cummins was elected in Blanton's stead, because he considered that every man had a right to vote if he had been in the Territory but an hour (31). The Missourians brought their tickets with them, (32); but not having enough, they had three hundred more printed in Lawrence on the evening before and the day of election (33). They had white ribbons in their button-holes to distinguish them. selves from the settlers (34). When the voting commenced, the question of the legality of the vote of a Mr. Page was raised. Before it was decided, Col. Samuel Young stepped up to the window where the votes were received, and said he would settle the matter. The vote of Mr. Page was withdrawn, and Col. Young offered to vote. He refused to take the oath prescribed by the Governor, but swore he was a resident of the Territory, upon which his vote was received (35). He told Mr. Abbott, one of the Judges, when asked if he intended to make Kansas his future home, that it was none of his business; that if he were a resident then, he should ask no more (36). After his vote was received, Col. Young got up in the window-sill and announced to the crowd that he had been permitted to vote, and they could all come up and vote (37). He told the Judges that there was no use in swearing the others, as they would all swear as he had done (38). After the other Judges concluded to receive Col. Young's vote, Mr. Abbott resigned as Judge of Election, and Mr. Benjamin was elected in his place (39). The polls were so much crowded until late in the evening, that, for a time, when the men had voted, they were obliged to get out by being hoisted up on the roof of the building where the election was being held, and pass out over the (25) E. Chapman. (26) N. B. Blanton. (27) Norman Allen, J Davidson. (28) Norman Allen. Wm. Yates, W. B. Hornsby, C. W. Babcock, S. N. Wood, J. Davidson, A. B. Wade. (29) E. D. Ladd. (30) S. N. Wood. (31) R. A. Cummins, Norman Allen, S. N. Wood, C. S. Pratt, J. B. Abbott. (32) C. W. Babcock, Robert Elliott. (33) Robert Elliott. (34) E. W. Dietzler. (35) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, S. N. Wood, C. 8. Pratt, J. B. Abbott. (36) Norman Allen, J. B. Abbott. (37) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, S. N. Wood, C. S. Pratt, J. B. Abbott. (38) C. W. Babcock, J. B. Abbott. (39) C. W. Babcock, S. N. Wood, C. S. Pratt, J. B. Abbott. house (40). Afterward a passage-way through the crowd was made, by two lines of men being formed, through which the voters could get up to the polls (41). Col. Young asked that the ola men be allowed to go up first and vote, as they were tired with the traveling, and wanted to get back to camp (42). The Missourians sometimes came up to the polls in procession, two by two, and voted (43). During the day the Missourians drove off the ground some of the citizens, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Willis (44). They threatened to shoot Mr. Bond, and a crowd rushed after him threatening him, and as he ran from them some shots were fired at him as he jumped off the bank of the river and made his escape (45). The citizens of the town went over in a body, late in the afternoon, when the polls had become comparatively clear, and voted (46). Before the voting had commenced, the Missourians said, if the Judges appointed by the Governor did not receive their votes, they would choose other Judges (47). Some of them voted several times, changing their hats or coats and coming up to the window again (48). They said they intended to vote first, and after they had got through then the others could vote (49). Some of them claimed a right to vote under the organic act, from the fact that their mere presence in the Territory constituted them residents, though they were from Wisconsin, and had homes in Missouri (50). Others said they had a right to vote, because Kansas belonged to Missouri, and people from the east had no right to settle in the Territory and vote there (51). They said they came to the Territory to elect a legislature to suit themselves, as the people of the Territory and persons from the east and north wanted to elect a legislature that would not suit them (52). They said they had a right to make Kansas a Slave State, because the people of the north had sent persons out to make it a Free State (53). Some claimed that they had heard that the Emigrant Aid Society had sent men out to be at the election, and they came to offset their votes; but the most of them made no such claim. Col. Young said he wanted the citizens to vote in order to give the election some show of fairness (54). The Missourians said there would be no difficulty if the citizens did not interfere with their voting, but they were determined to vote— peaceably, if they could, but vote any how (55). They said each one of them was prepared for eight rounds without loading, and would go the ninth round with the butcher knife (56). Some of them said that by voting in the Territory, they would deprive themselves of the right to vote in Missouri for twelve months afterward (57). The Missourians began to leave the afternoon of the day of election, though some did not go home until the next morning (58). In many cases, when a wagon-load had voted, (40) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, C. W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, J. M. Banks. (41) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, Lyman Allen. (42) Lyman Allen, E. D. Ladd. (43) E. D. Ladd, Ira W. Ackley. (44) E. D. Ladd, C. W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, 8. N. Wood. N. B. Blanton, Ladd, C. W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, S. N. Wood. N. John Dey, J. Davidson, Charles Robinson. (45) E. D. B. Blanton, J. Davidson, Dr. John Dey. (46) E. D. Ladd, C. Robinson, A. B. Wade, J. Whitlock, J. M. Banks, H. W. Buckley. (47) G. W. Deitzler. (48) S. N. Wood, Ira W. Ackley. (49) J. Davidson. (50) E. D. Ladd. Norman Allen, Lyman Allen. (51) W. B. Hornsby, C. W. Babcock, C. Robinson. (52) Wm. Yates. Thos. Hopkins, Ira W. Ackley. (53) Lyman Allen, J. Davidson. (54) Norman Allen. (55) Norman Al len, Lyman Allen, C. W. Babcock, S. N. Wood, F. Chapman, Thos. Hopkins. (56) Jourdan Davidson. (57) J. B. Abbott. (58) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, Wm. Yates, W. B. Hornsby. G. W. Dietzler, C. W. Babcock, C. Robinson, E. Chapman, Lyman Allen, J. David son. |