SANTA CRUZ
34th CONGRESS, ) HOUSE OF EEPBESENTATIVES. ( KEPORT
1st Session. $ J No. 200.
REPORT
THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
APPOINTED TO
INVESTIGATE THE TROUBLES IN KANSAS;
WITH
f HE VIEWS OF THE MINORITY
SAID COMMITTEE.
WASHINGTON:
CORNELIUS WENDELL, PRINTER.
1856.
IN THE HotrsE OP REPRESENTATIVES, July 2, 1856.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Elections, and printed ; and that leave
be given to the minority of said committee to submit a report at any time within ten days,
and to take additional testimony ; and when submitted, that the same be referred to the
Committee of Elections, and printed.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 23, 1856.
Retched, That twenty thousand copies extra of the reports of the majority and minority
of the Kansas Investigating Committee, together with the journal of said committee, and
evidence taken by them, be printed for the use of the members of the House.
Resolved, That one hundred thousand copies extra, each, of the majority and minority
reports of said committee (without the journal and evidence) be printed for the use of the
members of the House.
Attest: WM. CULLOM, Clerk.
MS /L /fifC
U5
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Majority report
Page.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT
Page.
Minority report _
68
Minutes of committee
110
Foreman, John W
17
Harding, Benj
15
TESTIMONY.
Jamieson, A. A.
16
Landis John.
347
Ekdion of November 29 1854 for Dele-
Larzelere Alfred
13
Scott John
931
Watterson T W
1ft
FIRST DISTRICT.
FA~OII "William . -
3
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT.
Gale H B
21
SECOND DISTRICT
Green J B
17
House, J. W
19
Uursou Harrison
2
Locran Campbell
22
Dunn James M
4
Logan, James W
1131
Wakefield John A
1
Potter, F. M
1£
Wattle? Augustus
3
Potter Joseph
1132
Williams Wiley
376
THIRD DISTRICT.
Kitchel, M. J
4
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT.
Eastin, Lucian J __...
30
FOURTH DISTRICT.
Few Samuel F
25
Keller George H .
27
Bassinger Peter
6
Lindsey John A
23
Fuller Perry.
8
Matthias W G
38
EEackett, Reuben
7
Moore, H. Miles
36
Elopklns Thomas
5
Noble Dr James
24
Tavens, John F.
8
Pattie, Adam T
. 32
Moore, William
9
Rively M. P. .
1133
Wt*tfall, Dr. B. C
10
Poll-lists of election of November,
1854
39
FIFTH DISTRICT.
Table of inhabitants and qualified
voters
72
RTillson, James W
10
Governor's precept to takers of census
72
SIXTH DISTRICT
Names of qualified voters according
to census returns
74
*rmce, John C
11
Election of March 30, 1855.
SEVENTH DISTRICT
Proclamation of governor
101
Boundaries of districts
101
ohnstone, W. F
12
Precincts places for polls, and names
Bad, Matthias A
11
of the judges of election
104:
Instructions to judges -
107
NINTH DISTRICT
108
109
•we, H. A
35
Apportionment of members, council
lobley C R
35
109
|sborn,'w J
1131
110
Reynolds, Thomas. .
33
Table of election returns
111
IV
CONTENTS.
Page.
Proclamation of governor creating
new election district ...... ------ 1 13
Proclamation of governor concerning
judicial districts ................ 112
TESTIMONY.
FIBST DISTRICT.
154
Abbott, J. B ..... - ..... -
Ackley, Ira W ...................
Allen, Lyman .................... «»
Allen, Norman .................. - "J
Babcock, C. W .................. 123'1^
Banks, John M ................... 161
Blanton,N. B .................... 148
Buckley, H. W ................ 167
Chapman, Edward ................
Churchill, George. ................ 145
Cummins, R. A. .................. 145
Davidson, John C. ................ 158
Davidson, Jordan ------ ....... ---- 157
Deitzler, Geo. W ................. 132
Doy, Dr. John
Elliott, R. G
Hopkins, Thomas ................. 150
Hornsby, Wm. B ................. 128
Jenkins, Gains ...... - ....... ----- 131
Ladd, E. D ...................... 114
Lyon, William ................... 154
Owens, Horatio. .................. 167
Pratt, CalebS ................. ..123,149
Robinson, Dr. Charles ............. 830
Vaughan, F. P ..... '. ............. 130
Wade, A. B ...................... 159
Whitlock, James ................. 165
Wood, Samuel N ................. 140
Yates, William ................... 12
SECOND DISTRICT.
Burson, Harrison _________ ........ 16:
Dunn, James M ------------------ 17:
Dunn, J. C ...................... 17
Jessee, William ................... 18
Jones, Samuel ........... _________ 18
Lahy, F. E ...................... 18
Mace, J. N ...................... 17
Macey, Dr. E. G .................. 17
Muzzy, H. C ..................... 18
Ramsay, Nathaniel ..... _ ..... ____ 17
Umberger, G. W ................. 18
Wakeficld, John A ................ 18
Ward, George W ................. 19
White, Andrew .................. 17
THIRD DISTRICT.
Berry, Geo. H .................... 21
Boggs, Wm. R ................... 20
Burgess, Rev. H. B ______ ........ __ 19
Hickcy, James ........ . .......... 20
Holmes, George .................. 21
Home, D. H ................ 20
Page,
ordan, Charles 199
xmg, John - 202
lerriam, J. F 208
litchell, M. J. 201
ublette, W. A 212
faughan, W. A. M 210
Wilmarth, L. C 205
FOURTH DISTRICT.
Bassinger, Peter 218
uller, Perry 217
Hackett, R 1133
avens, JohnF 220
ohnson, Andrew S 222
Kezer, B. S 224
Mockbee, Thomas 221
Moore, William .- 219
FIFTH DISTRICT.
Arthur, James M 232
Bouton, S. W - 233
hesnut, William 229
Gearhart, Joseph M .- 228
Westfall, Dr. B. C 225
Wilson, J. W 227
SIXTH DISTRICT.
Anderson, Jos. C 241
Arnett, T. B 245
Barbee, William 243
Cook, Emery B 238
Hamilton, John ._; 234,241
Williams, Samuel A.. 247
SEVENTH DISTFJCT.
Hoover, Absalom... - 261
Johnson, Andrew.. - 259
Johnson, Wm. F.. 256
Linkenanger, C. A,-- 257
Rice, Hallom 255
Rose, Marcus H 249,254
Stewart, James R 250,255
Titus, J. B „ -- 248
NINTH DISTRICT.
Lowe, H. A 278
McConnell, Andrew. - 263
Mobley, C. R 274
Reynolds, Thomas 272
Wilson, Robert. 264
TENTH DISTRICT.
Cantrell, John A 271 \
Garrett, M. A 266
Hascall, Isaac S 268
Osborne, W. J. 267
Stewart, Jose :>h 267
CONTENTS.
TWELFTH DISTRICT.
Baker, Augustus
Page.
269
Holliday, D
Page.
1135
1138
383
1137
369
384
424
1139
377
376
375
363
409
386
406
402
405
408
389
407
403
411
424
392
419
401
415
927
396
400
39-5
429
430
427
432
433
357
435
437
507
526
525
531
528
524
1140
527
563
530
532
King, Austin A
Martin, John W
D'Avis, John E.
269
Potter, F. M .
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT.
Chandler, Richard
286
Potter, Joseph ._
Rively, M. P
Rixey, Samuel
Shotwell, J. W
Dyer, G. M
291
Thompson, T. J
Godwin, W. H
282
Turnell, S. W
Hardh, Charles
289
Williams Wiley
287
Zimmerman, E. R .
Noble Dr James
283
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT.
Adams H J
Ross, J. B
279
Sharp, A. B
293
Tebbs 0. B
292
Tebbs Wm. H
. . 295
Brown David
Thorp Thomas - . _ . .
1134
Day, J. H
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT.
OC P
Eastin, L. J
Fisher, Adam
France, Matt
qqo
Hart, F. A
Brock, Benj. H
. .. 325
Johnson, D. J_ _ .
Kyle A. T ..
Carter, John R
. . 314
McAuley A
Creal, Henry S
330
Matthias Wm G . _
Cutler, Dr. G. A. ..
357
Minard T A
Dickerson Luther
349
Moore H Miles
Dillon Luther
307
Orr Patrick R
Duncan Benj
326
Pattie A T
Fizer David
351
Rees Amos
Forman, James F
...286,348
Forman, John W _
360
Gillespie, G. W.
331
Russell, Alex.
Hall, Willard P . .
321
Hamilton Eli
346
Hard in0* Beni
308
Heed Albert
337
Hulan Osborn
317
Jamieson A A
299
Kirk, R. L
353
Johnson, Thomas - —
Landis, John
361
EIGHTEENTH DISTRICT.
Baker DH
Larzelere, A
318
Lynch, James
351
Miller A M
329
Mitchell A M
329
Pattee J. W
350
Cutter Dr G. A _-.
Richardson W P
303
Scott John
894
Poll- lists of March election
Smith, John W.
317
Extracts from executive minutes con-
cerning March election, &c
Stewart C W
328
Stringfellow, Dr. J H
353
Election of May 22, 1855.
Tuck, Richard
343
Watterson, T. W
335
Whit^head C B
332
Whitehead J H
311 340
Dav J H
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT.
Bailey M T
373
Bourne Edward
379
Keller Geo H
Brewster 0 H
382
Crane J B
366
Hodges, Thomas..,
372
Poll-lists of May election
VI
CONTENTS.
Election of October 1, 1855, for Delegate
to Congress.
Cook, Emery B
Cox, Lewis M
Creal, H S
Field, D. W
Hamilton, John -- -
Holladay, D
Jenkins, Gaius
Landis, John
Lynch, James -
Moore, H. Miles
Morrow, Robert
Prather, L. A
Reed, James -
Richardson, W. P.. -
Stephens, John W
Warren, Geo. F
Weibling.H. G
Westfall, Dr. B. C
White, Andrew
Wol verton, T
Poll-lists of election of Oct. 1, 1855.
State movement, including election of A. H.
Seeder, delegates to constitutional conven-
tion, adoption of constitution, state offi-
cers, Sfc.
Blakely, Charles
Davis, James _
Deitzler, Geo. W
Green, J. C
Laughlin, Pat
Lowrey, G. P
Parrott, M. J
Roberts, W. Y
Wood, Dr. J. N. 0. P
Call for constitutional convention
Proceedings of Topeka convention _.
Proclamation for delegates to consti-
tutional convention
Constitution of State of Kansas
Proclamation for election to adopt
constitution
Proclamation for election of State
officers, &c
Memorial to the Congress of the
United States
Poll-lists of election of October 9,
1855
Poll-lists of election of December 15
1855 .'
Poll-lists of election of January 16
1856 ...._'
Emigrant Aid Society.
Charter of the New England Emigrant
Aid ^Company
Address of the executive committee.
List of officers of the corporation...
Names of parties in spring of 1855..
Page.
559
549
561
561
562
1142
549
559
562
563
547
550
556
558
553
558
1143
557
547
548
564
604
605
606
990
603
657
603
606
658
607
608
612
617
641
645
652
661
713
757
874
875
882
887
TESTIMONY.
Page.
Adams, Nathan .. ................ 840
Blossom, Henry M ____ ..... _ ..... 838
Bottom, T. E .................... 865
Chick, W. H ................. ____ 835
Donaldson, E. W_- ........ _ ...... 854
Donaldson, W. T .- ............... 851
Evans, J. B ................. _____ 846
Gilham, Alex ................. --- 848
Hunt, F. A .................. . 834,872
Ingalls, J. E .............. _______ 841
Kearney, C. E _____ .......... _____ 852
Kerr, Leander _ ................... 859
Lawrence, Amos A_ ....... . . _ ..... 873
Mace, Daniel. ....... _______ ...... 829
Mahan, F. M _________ ..... . ..... . 867
McCartney, E. C ........... _ ..... _ 855
Miller, Wm. H .................. . 862
Nicholson, B. F ................ .. 1144
Payne, M. J _______ ............ 837, 847
Redmon, J. B ................ ____ 864
Reed, J. T ............. . ......... 863
Riddlesberger, J ................ _. 844
Ridge, Isaac M ..... _ ............. 863
Robinson, Dr. Charles. .......... 830, 899
Smith, Samuel C _ ...... . ........ . 831
Slater, Benj ............... _____ 832,871
Spalding,C. C__ ................. . 856
Stone, Anson J ____________ ...... 886
Summers, W. H. ....... __________ 860
Thayer, Eli ..... _ ............... . 883
Walker, M. R .................... 897
Webb, Thos. W., (letter) ___________ 1143
Whitlock, James .. ............... 857
Secret Societies.
Conway, M. F ........
Davidson, Jordan
Francis, A J. ____
Laughlin, Pat
Lowrey, G. P
Prince, J. C
Reeder, A, H ____ __
Richardson, W. P
Scott, John ..... _
Stringfellow, Dr. J. H
Tebbs, Wm. H
Squatter associations.
Constitution of Delaware Association.
Salt Creek resolutions _____________
Stock bridge resolutions ........ ____
Leavenworth resolutions ......... _
Proceedings of meeting at White-
head, K.T .....................
TESTIMpNY.
923
902
910
905
921
902
947
901
894
925
930
951
953
954
955
95«
Mitchell, A. M
Wakefield, J. A
956
950
I
CONTENTS.
VII
Lynching of Wm. Phillips.
Page.
Johnson. D. J 1026
Payne, A ;-•% 965
'Rees, R. RJ -- 970
Warren, Geo. F r 963
Miscellaneous.
Abell, Peter T 1024.1037
Breeze, Thomas -- 1048
Brock, B. H 1021
Butler, Rev. P.. 960
Harding, Benj... 1021
Harris, James .- 1146
Hascall, Isaac S - - 1035
Lynch, John. __ 974
Lyon, A.B_ 975
Matthias, W. G_- - 1147
McKinney, Wm 1049
Oakley, Edward. _ 960
Smith. Samuel 958
Zimmerman, E. R 1023
Taking of ballot-box at Leavenworth City,
December 15, 1855.
Burgess, Wm
Hollis, G W
Hook, H. W
Johnston, H. H
Keller, G. W
Wetherell, Geo_ _ _
Murder of R. P. Brown.
Adams, Henry J
Bird, Joseph H.
Brown, David
Davis, Dr. James
Elliott, Josiah
Few, Dr. Saml. F
Green, J. C
Kookogey, S. J
Martin, Captain J. W
Motter, E. S
Park, Dr. J. G
Eively, M. P
Smith, Nick.
Sparks, Mrs. E
Sparks, Stephen
Taylor, Geo. A
978
980
980
973
980
979
985
981
996
1004
1147
1005
990
1016
1026
1007
1004
999
1006
1019
1011
1002
Wilfley, John ....... 1015
Williams, Wiley. ................. 1030
Murder of C. W. Dow.
Banks, John M ......... _ ......... 1056
Branson, Jacob ........... _ ....... 1060
Breeze, Thomas _ ......... '. ....... 1044
Coleman, F. M._ ................. 1052
Davidson, J. C ......... _ ......... 1047
Gleason, Salem ......... __________ 1042
Jones, Mrs. A .................... 1050
Jones, Daniel T ..... _____ ........ 1050
McKinney, N _________ ......... __ 1045
McKinney, Wilday _____ ...... _____ 1049
McKinney, Wm. ................. 1040
Owens, Samuel. ..... ____ ........ . 1051
Murder of Thomas Barber.
Barber, Robt. F .................. 1121
Colburn, Mrs. J. W ....... _ ....... 1125
Nichols, Harrison ________________ 1126
Pierson, T. M ........... _________ 1124
Phillips, Wm .................... 1127
Prentiss, Dr. S. P ..... ____________ 1128
Simpson, Henry M ............... 1128
Simpson, S. N ........ . ........... 1127
Siaje of Lavrrence.
Allen, Asaph _________ ........... 1114
Brewster, James ........ . ......... 1129
Brewster, 0. H ................... 382
Branson, A. B ____ ............ ---- 1094
Connelly, Thomas. ......... - ----- 1101
Cutler, Dr. G. A ............... --- 1110
Heyes, Homme _________ ....... -- 1093
Jessee, William ............ - ..... 1117
Legate, James F. - - ............... 1094
Leonard, Captain L ............... 1129
Lowrey, G. P ............ - ....... 1074
Phillips, Wm .................... 1112
Prather, L. A.. ...... - ........... 1065
Robinson, Dr. Charles ............. 1069
Shannon, Gov. Wilson ............ 1 102
Warren, Geo. F .................. 1097
Winchell, J. M ......... - ......... 1086
Woodson, Daniel ................ -
Ex Part* Testimony.
Appendix to minority report
34th CONGRESS, ) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. C REPORT
1st Session. $ ) No. 200.
KANSAS AFFAIRS,
Mr. HOWARD, from the Select Committee, made the following
REPORT.
[Mr. MORDECAI OLIVER submitted the views of the minority, herewith
printed.]
The Special Committee appointed to investigate the troubles in the Ter-
ritory of Kansas, having performed the duties required by the House,
beg leave to submit the following report:
A journal of proceedings, including sundry communications made
to and by the committee, was kept ; a copy of which is herewith
submitted.
A copy of the testimony has been made and arranged ; not accord-
ing to the order in which it was taken, but so as to present as clearly
as possible a consecutive history of events in the Territory from its
organization to tbe 19th day of March, A. D. 1856.
This copy and the original, with copies of the census rolls and the
poll-books of all the elections, are herewith submitted.
Your committee deem it their duty to state, as briefly as possible,
the principal facts proven before them. When the act to organize the
Territory of Kansas was passed on the 30th of May, 1854, the greater
portion of its eastern border was included in Indian reservations not
open for settlements, and there were but few white settlers in any
portion of the Territory. Its Indian population was rapidly decreas-
ing, while many emigrants from different parts of our country were
•anxiously waiting the extinction of the Indian title, and the establish-
ment of a Territorial government, to seek new homes on its fertile
prairies. It cannot be doubted that if its condition as a free Terri-
tory had been left undisturbed by Congress, its settlement ^would
have been rapid, peaceful, and prosperous. Its climate, its soil, and
its easy access to the older settlements, would have made it the
favored course for the tide of emigration constantly flowing to the
'West, and by this time it would have been admitted into the Union
as a free otate, without the least sectional excitement. If so organ-
ized, none but the kindest feelings could have existed ^ between its
citizens and those of the adjoining State. Their mutual interests and
4 m KANSAS AFFAIRS.
intercourse, instead of, as now, endangering the harmony of the
Union, would have strengthened the ties of national brotherhood.
The testimony clearly shows that before the proposition to repeal the
Missouri compromise was introduced into Congress, the people of
western Missouri appeared indifferent to the prohibition of slavery in
the Territory, and neither asked nor desired its repeal.
When, however, the prohibition was removed by the action of Con-
gress, the aspect of affairs entirely changed. The whole country was
agitated by the reopening of a controversy which conservative men in
different sections believed had been settled in every State and Terri-
tory by some -law beyond the danger of repeal. The excitement
which has always accompanied the discussion of the slavery question
was greatly increased by the hope, on the one hand, of extending
slavery into a region from which it had been excluded by law ; and,
on the other, by a sense of wrong done by what was regarded as a
dishonor of a national compact. This excitement was naturally trans-
ferred into the border counties of Missouri and the Territory, as set-
tlers favoring free or slave institutions moved into it. A new diffi-
culty soon occurred. Different constructions were put upon the
organic law. It was contended by the one party that the right to hold
slaves in the Territory existed, and that neither the people 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 restric-
tion virtually established slavery in the Territory. This claim was
urged by many prominent men in western Missouri, who actively en-
gaged 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
crossed into the Territory, held squatter meetings, and then returned
to their homes. Among their resolutions are tiie following :
" That we will afford protection to no abolitionist as a settler of
this Territory."
" That we recognise 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 substi-
tute the resolves of squatter meetings, composed almost exclusively
of citizens of a single State, for the deliberate action of Congress ac-
quiesced 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 conse-
quence, every officer in the Territory, from constable to legislators,
except those appointed by the President, owe their positions to non-i
resident voters. None have been elected by the settlers ; and youri
committee have been unable to find that any political power what-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 3
ever, however unimportant, has "been exercised by the people of the
Territory.
In October, A. D. 1854, Gov. A. H. Keeder, 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 po-
litical society was formed in the State of Missouri. (I) 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 pass-words, 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 proceed-
ings 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 Terri-
tory. Its avowed purpose was not only to extend slavery into Kansas,
but also into other territories of the United States, and to form a union
of all the friends of that institution. Its plan of operating was to or-
ganize and send men to vote at the elections in the Territory, to col-
lect money to pay their expenses, and, if necessary, to protect them
in voting. 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 effect-
ive instrument in organizing the subsequent armed invasions and fo-
rays. In its lodges in Missouri the affairs of Kansas were discussed.
The force necessary to control the election was divided into bands and
leaders selected. Means were collected, and signs and badges were
agreed upon. While the great body of the actual settlers of the Ter-
ritory 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 gather-
ing strength in a neighboring State, and would have been sufficient
at their first election to have overpowered them, even if they had been
united to a man.
Your committee had great difficulty in eliciting the proof of the de-
tails in regard to this secret society. One witness, a 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 general pur-
poses 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. It was appointed
for the 29th of JNovember, 1854. The governor divided the Territory
into seventeen election districts, appointed judges, and prescribed pro-
per rules for the election. In the first, third, eighth, ninth, tenth,
(1) Jourdan Davidson, J. C. Prince, John Scott, J. H. Stringfellow.
(2) W. P. Richardson. (3) J. C. Prince
4: KANSAS AFFAIRS,
twelfth, thirteenth, and seventeenth districts there appears to have
been but little if any fraudulent voting.
The election in the 2d district was held at the village of Douglas?
near fifty miles from the Missouri line. On the day before the elec-
tion 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
other judges were selected by the crowd ; all then voted. In order to
make a pretence of 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 proba-
bly killed, if he challenged a vote. (4) He was seized by the collar,
called a damned 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
recognised as residents of Missouri, and among them was Samuel H.
Woodson, a leading lawyer of Independence. Of those whose names
are on the poll-books, 35 were resident settlers and 226 were non-
residents.
The election in the fourth district was held at Dr. Chapman's, over
forty miles from the Missouri State line. It was a thinly settled re-
gion, containing but forty-seven voters in February, 1855, when the
census was taken. On the day before the election, from one hundred
to one hundred and fifty citizens of Cass and Jackson counties, Mis-
souri, 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 of the party on the way drove each a
stake in the ground, and called it a claim; and in one case several
names were put on one stake. The party of strangers camped all
night near where the 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 rivl of Dr. Chapman, a judge of the election, they sent for him to
come and see a sick man, and, 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 recognised 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, and 131 were non-residents. (6)
But few settlers attended the election in the fifth district, the district
(4) John A. Wakefield.
(5) Peter Bassinger.
(6) Thomas Hopkins, Keuben Hackett, Perry Fuller, John F. Lucas.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 5
being large and the settlements scattered. Eighty-two votes were cast;
of these between 20 and 30 were settlers, (7) and the residue were
citizens of Missouri. They passed into the Territory by way of the
Santa Fe road, and by the residence of Dr. Westfall, who then lived on
the western line of Missouri. (8) 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 Teagle, judge of the
court in Jackson county, Missouri, was present, but did not vote. (9)
He said he did not intend voting, but came to see that others voted.
After the election, the Missourians returned the way they came.
The election in the sixth district was held at Fort Scott, in the south-
east part of the Territory, and near the Missouri line. A party of
about one hundred men from Cass county, and the counties in Missouri
south of it, went into the Territory, travelling 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.
The most shameless fraud practised upon the rights of the settlers
at this election was in the seventh district. It is a remote settlement,
about seventy-five miles from the Missouri line, and contained, in
February, A. D. 1855, three months afterwards, when the census was
taken, but 53 voters ; and yet the poll-books show that 604 votes were
cast. The election was held at the house of Frey McGee, at a place
called "110." But few of the actual settlers were present at the
polls. (11) A witness, who formerly resided in Jackson county, Mis-
souri, and was well acquainted with the citizens of that county, (12)
says that he saw a great many wagons and tents at the place of election,
and many individuals he knew from Jackson county. He was in their
tents, and conversed with some of them, and they told him they had
come with the intention of voting. He went to the polls, intending
to vote for Flennigan; but his ticket being of a different color from
the rest, his vote was challenged by Frey McGee, who had been
appointed one of the judges, but did not serve. Lernuel Kalston, a
citizen of Missouri, was acting in his place. The witness then chal-
lenged the vote of a young man by the 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 have led to a fight if he challenged any more votes. Both
voted; and he then went down to their camp. He there saw many oj
(7) James W. Wilson.
(8) Dr. B. C. Westfall.
(9) J. W. Wilson.
(10) J. C. Prince.
(11) Matthias A. Iteed.
(12) William F. Johnstone.
8
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
who did not know him said, " There'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 not for Gen. Whitfield, cried out, " He is a damned abolition-
ist— 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-resi-
dents 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 voters in each district in
February following.
Abstract of census and election of November 29, 1854.
Districts.
'Place of voting.
Whitfield.
Wakefield.
Flenniken.
Scattering.
1
J*
E m.
> £3
tk. w
0 a
i
Legal votes.
Illegal votes.
First.
46
235
40
140
63
105
597
16
9
2
237
31
69
130
267
232
49
188
20
51
6
7
21
15
15
300
261
47
161
82
105
604
16
40
37
245
41
71
153
306
312
62
369
199
101
47
442
253
53
39
36
63
24
78
96
334
308
385
50
28
300
35
47
30
30
25
20
16
40
37
7
41
71
103
100
150
62
Douglas
226
Third
Stinson's
Fourth
21
4
131
52
80
584
'238
'"56
206
162
Fifth
H. Sherman's
Sixth
Fort Scott ' ...
" 110"
7
Eighth
Council Grove
Ninth '
31
29
3
•
Tenth
6
JEleventh
Twelfth
Marysville
9
1
Thirteenth
Fourteenth
Fifteenth
1
23
39
80
13
Harding's
Seventeenth
Shawnee Agency
Total
2,258
248
305
22
2,833
2,905
1,114
1,729
Thus your committee find that in this, the first election in the
Territory, a very large majority of the votes were cast by citizens of
the State of Missouri, in violation of the organic law of 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 them
voting. This may be accounted for from the fact that the settlements
were scattered over a great extent, that the term of the delegate to be
elected was short, and that the question of free or slave institutions
was not generally regarded by them as distinctly at issue. Under
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 extending slavery into
the Territory, even though it did not change the result of the election,
(20) John A. Landis.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
9
was a crime of great magnitude. Its immediate effect was to further
excite the people of the northern States, and exasperate the actual
settlers against their neighbors in Missouri.
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.
j
BQ
.
By whom taken.
Districts.
«
*
JD
I
1
1
1
1
1
f
1
i
|
s
£
>
i
1
h
to
I
H
C. W. Babcock
1st district
623
339
369
459
887
75
962
O. H. Brown
2d... do
316
203
199
237
506
19
i
7
519
T. W. Hayes
3d .... do
161
91
101
112
215
12
g
25J
O. B. Donaldson
4th.... do
106
71
47
97
169
2
i
1
177
Wm. Barbee
Do
5th. ...do
6th do
824
492
583
318
442
253
724
418
1,385
791
22
12
27
11
26
H
!,«/
fJlfo
J. B. McClure
7th. ...do
82
36
53
50
117
1
1
I
118
Do
8th .... do
56
27
39
28
76
7
13
10
83
M. F. Conway
9th... do
61
25
36
31
66
12
14
3
8S
Do
10th. do
97
54
63
61
108
23
151
B. H. Twombly. ...
llth. do
33
3
1 24
5
30
6
38
Do
12th. !!do
104
40
78
35
109
37
1
7
144
H. B. Jolly
13th. ..do
168
116
96
145
273
9
14
14
284
Albert Weed. ..
14th. do
655
512
334
301
46
1
35
•1,167
H. B. Jolly
15th. ..do
492
381
308
448
846
16
15
15
873
Chas. Leib
16th. ..do
708
475
385
514
1,042
104
48
33
1,183
Alex. O. Johnson . . .
17th. ..do
91
59
50
54
143
5
4
S3
15)
B. H. Twombly
18th do
59
40
28
51
97
1
99
Total
5,128
3,383
2,905
3,469
7,161
408
151
192
8,601
ELECTION OF MARCH 30, 1855.
On the same day that 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 apportionment 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 mis-
represented. Through the active exertions of many of its leading
citizens, aided by the secret society before referred to, the passions
and prejudices of the people of that State were greatly excited. ^Sev-
eral residents there have testified to the character of the reports circu-
lated 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, Missouri, companies of men^were arrange
in irregular 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 tneir
10 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
own provisions and tents, and so marched into the Territory. The
details of this invasion form the mass of the testimony taken by your
committee, and is so voluminous that we can here state but the leading
facts elicited.
FIRST DISTRICT. — Lawrence.
The company of persons who marched into this district was collected
in Ray, Howard, Carroll, Boone, Lafayette, Randolph, Macon, Clay,
Jackson, Saline, and Cass counties, in the State of Missouri. Their
expenses were paid ; those who could not come, contributing provi-
sions, wagons, &c.(l) 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. (2)
The evening before, and the morning of the day of election, about
1,000 men from the above counties arrived at Lawrence, and camped
in a ravine a short distance from town, near the place of voting.
They came in wagons (of which there were over 100) and on horse-
back, under the command of Col. Samuel Young, of Boone county,
Missouri, and Claiborne F. Jackson, of Missouri. They were armed
with guns, rifles, pistols, and bowie-knives ; and had tents, music,
and flags with them. (3) They brought with them two pieces of
artillery, (4) loaded with musket-balls. (5) On their way to Law-
rence some of them met Mr. N. B. Blanton, who had been ap-
pointed 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 him,
and then threatened him with hanging, in order to induce him to dis-
pense with that oath. In consequence of these threats he did not
appear at the polls the next morning to act as judge. (6)
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, as there were more at Lawrence than
were needed there. (7) Many volunteered to go, and on the morn-
ing of the election several companies, from 150 to 200 each, went off
to Tecumseh, Hickory Point, Bloomington, and other places. (8) On
the morning of the election the Missourians came over to the place of
voting from their camp, in bodies of 100 at a time. (9) Mr. Blanton
(1) F. P. Vaughan, Jourdan Davidson.
(2) Wm. Yates, C. W. Babcock, Dr. John Doy.
(3) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, William Yates, Wm. B. Hornsby, G. W. Deitzler, C.
W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, S. N. Wood, E. Chapman, Robert Elliot, N. B. Blanton,
Jourdan Davidson, Wm. Lyon, J. B. Abbot, J. W. Ackley, Dr. John Doy, A. B. Wade,
John M. Banks, H. W. Buckley.
(4) E. Chapman, Jourdan Davidson.
(5) E. Chapman.
(6) N. B. Blanton.
(7.) Norman Allen, J. Davidson.
(8) N. Allen, Wm. Gates, W. B. Homsby, C. W. Babcock, S. N. Wood, J. Davidson,
A- B. Wade,
(ft) E. D. Ladd.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. J]
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 ;(10) and Robert A. 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. (11)
The Missourians brought their tickets with them ; (12) but not
having enough, they had 300 more printed in Lawrence on the even-
ing before and on the day of election. (13) They had white ribbons
in their button-holes to distinguish themselves from the settlers.
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 with-
drawn, and Col. Young offered to vote. He refused to take the oath
prescribed by the governor, but swore he was a resident of the Terri-
tory; upon which his vote was received. (15) He told Mr. Abbot,
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 resi-
dent then, he should ask no more. (16) After his vote was received,
Col. Young got up on the window-sill, and announced to the crowd
that he had been permitted to vote, and they could all come up and
vote. (17) He told the judges that there was no use in swearing the
others, as they would all swear as he had done. (18) After the other
judges had concluded to receive Col. Young's vote, Mr. Abbot re-
signed as judge of election, and Mr. Benjamin was elected in his
place. (19)
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 house. (20) Afterwards, 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. (21) Col. Young asked
that the old men be allowed to go up first and vote, as they were tired
with the travelling, and wanted to get back to camp. (22)
The Missourians sometimes came up to the polls in procession, two
by two, and voted. (23)
During the day the Missourians drove off the ground some of the
(10) S. N. Wood.
(11) R. A. Cummins, Norman Allen, S. N. Wood, C. S. Pratt, J. B. Abbot.
(12) C. W. Babcock, Eobert Elliot.
(13) Eobert Elliot.
(14) G. W. Deitzler.
(15) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, S. W. Ward, C. S. Pratt, J. B. Abbot.
(16) Norman Allen, J. B. Abbot.
(17) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, S. N. Wood, C S. Pratt, J. B. Abbot.
(18) C. W. Babcock, J. B. Abbot.
(19) C. W. Babcock, S. N. Wood, C. S. Pratt, J. B. Abbot.
(20) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, C. W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, J. M. Banks.
(21) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, Lyman Alien,.
(22) Lyman Allen, E. D. Ladd.
(23) E. D. Ladd, Ira W. Ackley.
12 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
citizens — Mr. Stearns, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Willis. (24) They threat-
ened 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 hank of the river and made his escape. (25) The citi-
zens of the town went over in a body late in the afternoon, when the
polls had become comparatively clear, and voted. (26)
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. (27) Some of them voted several times, changing their
hats or coats and coming up to the window again. (28) They said they
intended to vote first, and after they had got through 1he others could
vote. (29) 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 Missouri, and had homes in Mis-
souri. (30) Others said they had a right to vote because Kansas be-
longed to Missouri,, and people from the East had no right to settle in
the Territory and vote there. (31)
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 the North wanted to elect a legislature that would not suit
them. (32) 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. (33) Some claimed that they had heard that the Emi-
grant 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. (34)
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. (35) They said each one
of them was prepared for eight rounds without loading, and would
go to the ninth round with the butcher-knife. (36) Some of them said
that by voting in the Territory they would deprive themselves of the
right to vote in Missouri for twelve months afterwards. (37)
The Missourians began to leave the afternoon of the day of election,
though some did not go home until the next morning. (38) In many
(24) E. D. Ladd, C. W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, S. N. Wood, N. B. Blanton, John Doy,
J. Davidson, Charles Robinson.
(25) E. D. Ladd, C. W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, S. N. Wood, N. B. Blanton, J. David-
son, Dr John Doy.
(26) E. D. Ladd, C. Robinson, A. B. Wade, J. Whitlock, J. M. Banks, H. W. Buckley.
(27) G. W. Deitzler.
(28) S. N. Wood, Ira W. Ackley.
(29) J. Davidson.
(30) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, Lyman Allen.
(31) W. B. Hornsby, C. W. Babcock, C. Robinson.
(32) William Yates, Thomas Hopkins, Ira W. Ackley.
» (33) Lyman Allen, J. Davidson.
(34) Norman Allen.
(35) Norman Allen, Lyman Allen, C. W. Babcock, S. N. Wood, E. Chapman, Thomas
Hopkins.
(36) Jourdan Davidson.
(37) J. B. Abbot.
(38) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, William Yates, W. B. Hornsby, G. W. Deitzler, C. W.
Babcock, C. Robinson, E. Chapman, Lyman Allen, Jourdan Davidson.
KANSAS AFFAIES. 13
cases, when a wagon-load voted they immediately started for home. (39)
On their way home they said that if Governor Keeder did not sanc-
tion the election they would hang him. (40)
The citizens of the town of Lawrence, as a general thing,, were not
armed on the day of election, though some had revolvers, but not ex-
posed as were the arms of the Missourians. (41) They kept a guard
about the town the night after the election, in consequence of the
threats of the Missourians, in order to protect it. (42)
The pro-slavery men of the district attended the nominating con
ventions of the free-State men, and voted for, and secured the nomina-
tions of, the men they considered the most obnoxious to the free-State
party, in order to cause dissension in that party. (43)
Quite a number of settlers came into the district before the day of
election, and after the census was taken. (44) According to the cen-
sus returns, there were then in the district 369 legal voters. Of
those whose names are on the census returns, 1*77 are to be found on
the poll-books of the 30th of March, 1855. Messrs. Ladd, Babcock,
and Pratt testify to fifty-five names on the poll-books of persons they
knew to have settled in the district after the census was taken, and
before the election. A number of persons came into the Territory in
March before the election, from the northern and eastern States, in-
tending to settle, who were in Lawrence on the day of election. At
that time many of them had selected no claims, and had no fixed
place of residence. Such were not entitled to vote. Many of them
became dissatisfied with the country. Others were disappointed at its
political condition, and in the price and demand for labor, and re-
turned. Whether any such voted at the election, is not clearly
shown ; but from the proof, it is probable that in the latter part of the
day, after the great body of Missourians had voted, some did go to the
polls. The number was not over fifty. These voted the free-State
ticket. The whole number of names appearing upon the poll-lists is
1,034. After full examination, we are satisfied that not over 232 of
these were legal voters, and 802 were non-residents and illegal voters.
This district is strongly in favor of making Kansas a free State, and
there is no doubt that the free-State candidates for the legislature
would have been elected by large majorities if none but the actual
settlers had voted. At the preceding election, in November, 1854,
where none but legal votes were polled, General Whitfield, who re-
ceived the full strength of the pro-slavery party, (45) got but forty-
six votes.
SECOND DISTRICT. — Bloomington.
On the morning of election the judges appointed by the governoi
appeared and opened the polls. Their names were Harrison Burson,
(39) S. N. Wood.
(40) Ganis Jenkins.
(41) E. D. Ladd.
(42) E. D. Ladd.
(43) A. B. Wade. ... ,
(44) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, C. W. Babcock, Charles Robinson, Lyman Alien, J.
M. Brooks.
(45) James Whitlock.
14 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Nathaniel Kamsay, and Mr. Ellison. The Missourians began to
come in early in the morning, some 500 or 600 of them in wagons
and carriages, and on horseback, under the lead of Samuel J. Jones,
then postmaster of Westport, Missouri ; Claiborne F. Jackson and
Mr. Steeley, of Independence, Missouri. They were armed with double-
barreled guns, rifles, bowie-knives, and pistols, and had flags hoist-
ed. (1) They held a sort of an informal election off at one side, at
first for governor of Kansas Territory, and shortly afterwards an-
nounced Thomas Johnson, of Shawnee Mission, elected governor. (2)
The polls had been opened but a short time, when Mr. Jones march-
ed with the crowd up to the window and demanded that they should
be allowed to vote, without swearing as to their residence. (3) After
some noisy and threatening talk, Claiborne F. Jackson addressed the
crowd, saying they had come there to vote; that they had a right to
vote if they had been there but five minutes, and he was not willing to
go home without voting ; which was received with cheers. (4) Jackson
then called upon them to form into little bands of 15 or 20, which they
did, (5) and went to an ox wagon filled with guns, which were distributed
among them (6) and proceeded to load some of them on the ground. (7)
In pursuance of Jackson's request, they tied white tape or ribbons
in their button-holes, so as to distinguish them from the " abolition-
ists. "(8) They again demanded that the judges should resign ; and
upon their refusing to do so, smashed in the window, sash and all,
and presented their pistols and guns to them, threatening to shoot
them. (9) Some one on the outside cried out to them not to shoot, as
there were pro-slavery men in the house with the judges. (10) They
then put a pry under the corner of the house, which was a log-house,
and lifted it up a few inches and let it fall again, (11) but desisted
upon being told there were pro-slavery men in the house. During
this time the crowd repeatedly demanded to be allowed to vote with-
out being sworn, and Mr. Ellison, one of the judges, expressed him-
self willing, but the other two judges refused ;(12) thereupon a body
of men, headed by sheriff Jones, rushed into the judge's room with
cocked pistols and drawn bowie-knives in their hands, and approach-
ed Burson and Kamsay. (13) Jones pulled out his watch and said he
would give them five minntes to resign in, or die. (14) When the
five minutes had expired and the judges did not resign, Jones said he
(1) II. Burson, N. Ramsay, James M. Dunn, Andrew White, Dr. E. G. Macey, H. Muzzy,
Wm. Jessee, John A. Wakefield.
(2) E. G. Macey.
(3) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, H. Muzzy, Wm. Jessee,
John A. Wakefield.
(4) J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefi eld.
(5) E. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefield.
(6) J. M. Dunn, J. C. Dunn, A. White.
(7) E. G. Macey.
(8) J. M. Dunn, J. N. Mace, A. White, E. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefield.
(9) H. Burson, N. Ramsay.
(10) J. C. Dunn.
(11) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. N. Mace, J, C. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, H. Muzzy,
S. Jones, J A. Wakefield.
(12) J. C. Dunn.
(13) Harrison Burson, N. Ramsay.
(14) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. C. Dunn, H. Muzzy, Wm. Jessee.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 15
would give them another minute and no more. (15) Ellison told his
associates that if they did not resign there would he one hundred shots
fired in the room in less than fifteen minutes, (16) and then snatching
up the hallot-hox ran out into the crowd, holding up the ballot-hox
and hurrahing for Missouri. (17) Ahout that time Burson and Ramsay
were called out hy their friends, and not suffered to return. (18) As
Mr. Burson went out he put the hallot poll-books in his pocket and
took them with him, (19) and as he was going out Jones snatched
some papers away from him, (20) and shortly afterwards came out
himself, holding them up, crying, " Hurrah for Missouri ! "(21) After
he discovered they were not the poll-hooks, he took a party of men
with him and started off to take the poll-pooks from Burson. (22)
When Mr. Burson saw them coming, he gave the hooks to Mr. Um-
berger and told him to start off in another direction, so as to mislead
Jones and his party. (23) Jones and his party caught Mr. Umberger,
took the poll-books away from him, and Jones took him up behind
him on a horse and carried him back a prisoner. (24) After Jones and
kis party had taken Umberger back, they went to the house of Mr.
Eamsay and took Judge John A. Wakefield prisoner, and carried
him to the place of election, (25) and made him get up on a wagon
and there make a speech ; after which they put a white ribbon in his
button-hole and let him go. (26) They then chose two new judges
and proceeded with the election. (2 7) They also threatened to kill the
judges if they did not receive their votes without swearing them, or
else resign. (28) They said no man should vote who would submit to
be sworn ; that they would kill any man who would offer to do so.
" Shoot him;" "Cut his guts out," &c.(29) They said no man
should vote this day unless he voted an open ticket, and was all right
on the goose ; (30) and that if they could not vote by fair means,
they would by foul means. (31) They said they had as much right to
vote if they had been in the Territory two minutes as if they had been
there two years, and they would vote. (32) Some of the citizens who
were about the window, but had not voted when the crowd of Missou-
rians marched up there, upon attempting to vote were driven back
(15) H. Burson, N. Kamsay, H. Muzzy.
(16) H. Burson, N. Kamsay, J. W. Mace, H. Muzzy, W. Jessee, S. Jones, J. A. Wahe-
field.
(17) H. Burson, J. C. Dunn.
(18) H. Burson, N. Eamsay, J. C. Dunn, A. White, H. Muzzy, Win. Jessee.
(19) H. Burson, J. C. Dunn.
(20) H. Burson.
(21) H. Burson, J. M. Dunn, E. G. Macey, Wm. Jessee.
(22) H. Burson, N. Ramsay.
(23) II. Burson, A. White, G. W. Umherger, Wm. Jessee.
(24) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, A. White, E. G. Macey, G. W. Umherger, Wm. Jessee, J.
A. Wakefield.
(25) N. Ramsay, J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, G. W. Umberger, Wm. Jessee,
J. A. Wakefield.
(26) E. G. Macey, G. W. Umherger, J. A. Wakefield.
(27) T. Lahy.
(28) J. C. Dunn, Wm. Jessee, S. Jones.
(29) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. M. Dunn, J. N. Mace, A. White, E. G. Macey, W. Jea
(30) N. Ramsay.
(31) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. M. Dunn.
(32) J. M. Dunn.
16 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
by the mob,, or driven off. (33) One of them, Mr. I. M. Mace "r:*t
asked if he would take the oath; and upon his replying that he would
if the judges required it, he was dragged through the crowd away
from the polls, amid cries of " kill the damned nigger-thief," "cut his
throat," "tear his heart out," &c. After they got him to the out-
side of the crowd, they stood around him with cocked revolvers and
drawn bowie-knives ; one man putting a knife to his breast so that it
touched him ; another holding a cocked pistol to his ear, while another
struck at him with a club. (34)
The Missourians said they had a right to vote, if they had been in
the Territory but five minutes. (85) Some said they had been hired
to come there and vote, and got a dollar a day, and by God they would
vote or die there. (36.)
They said the 30th day of March was an important day, as Kansas
would be made a slave State on that day. (37) They began to leave in
the direction of Missouri in the afternoon, after they had voted, (38)
leaving some thirty or forty around the house where the election was
held, to guard the polls till after the election was over. (39) The
citizens of the Territory were not armed, except those who took part
in the mob, (40) and a large portion of them did not vote. (41) Three
hundred and forty-one votes were polled there that day, of which but
some thirty were citizens. (42) A protest against the election was got
up and sent to the governor. (43) The returns of the election made to
the governor were lost by the committee of elections of the legislature
at Pawnee. (44)
The duplicate returns left in the ballot-box were taken by F. E.
Lahy, one of the judges elected by the Missourians, and were either
lost or destroyed in his house, (45) so that your committee have been
unable to institute a comparison between the poll-lists and census
returns of this district. The testimony is uniform, that not over
thirty of those who voted there that day were entitled to vote, leaving
311 illegal votes. - We are satisfied, from the testimony, that had the
actual settlers alone voted, the free-State candidates would have been
elected by a handsome majority.
THIRD DISTRICT. — Tecumseh.
On the 28th of March, persons from Clay, Jackson and Howard
counties, Missouri, began to come into Tecumseh in wagons, carriages,
and on horseback, armed with guns, bowie-knives and revolvers, and
with tents, and camped close by the town, and continued coming in
(33) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, Wm. Jessee, I. N. Mace.
(34) I. N. Mace, H. Muzzy.
(35) J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefield.
(36) J. M. Dunn, J. C. Dunn, A. White.
(37) N. Ramsay.
(38) J. C. Dunn, A. White.
(39) A. White.
(40) H. Burson.
(41) II. Burson, I. N. Mace, H. Muzzy, Wm. Jessee, J. A. Wakefield.
(42) H. Burson.
(43) S. Jones, J. A. Wakefield.
(44) Daniel Woodson.
(45) F. E..Lahy.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 17
and camping until the day of election. (1) The night hefore the
election, 200 men were sent for from the camp of the Missourians at
Lawrence. (2) On the morning of the election, hefore the polls were
opened, some 300 or 400 Missourians and others collected in the yard
ahout the house of Thomas Stinson, where the election was to he held,
armed with howie-knives, revolvers, and clubs. (3) They said they
came to vote and whip the damned Yankees, and would vote without
being sworn. (4) Some said they came to have a fight, and wanted
one. (5)
Colonel Samuel H. Woodson, of Independence, Missouri, was in the
room of the judges when they arrived, preparing poll-books and tally -
lists, and remained there during the attempts to organize. (6) The room
of the judges was also rilled by many of these strangers. (7) The
judges could not agree concerning the oath to be taken by themselves,
and the oath to be administered by the voters ; Mr. Burgess desiring
to administer the oath prescribed by the governor, and the other two
judges opposing it. (8) During the discussion between the judges,
which lasted for some time, the crowd outside became excited and
noisy, threatening and cursing Mr. Burgess, the free-State judge. (9)
Persons were sent at different times by the crowd outside into the
room where the judges were with threatening messages, especially
against Mr. Burgess, and at last ten minutes were given them to or-
ganize in or 1'eave ; and, as the time passed, persons outside would
call out the number of minutes left, with threats against Burgess if
he did not agree to organize. (10) At the end of that time the judges,
not being able to organize, left the room, and the crowd proceeded to
elect new judges and carry on the election. (11)
The free-State men generally left the ground without voting,
stating that there was no use in their voting there. (12) The polls
were so crowded during the first part of the day that the citizens
could not get up to the window to vote (13) Threats were made
against the free-State men. (14) In the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Gril-
patrick was attacked and driven off by the mob. (15) A man, by some
called "Texas," made a speech to the crowd, urging them to vote,
and to remain on the ground until the polls were closed, for fear the
"abolitionists" would come there in the afternoon and overpower
them, and thus they would lose all their trouble. (16)
(1) W. A. M. Vaughan, M. J. Mitchell, John Long.
(2) H. B. Burgess.
(3) Rev. H. B. Burgess, Charles Jourdan, James Hickey, Lewis 0. Wilmarth, D. H*
Home, J. M. Merriam, W. R. Boggs, W. A. M. Vaughan.
(4) John Long, L. 0. Wilmarth, George Holmes.
(5) L. 0. Wilmarth.
(G) Rev. H. B. Burgess, John Long, George Holmes. *
(7) H. B. Burgess.
(8) H. B. Burgess, George Holmes.
(9) H. B. Burgess, John Long, D. H. Home.
(10) H. B. Burgees, Charles Jourdan, D. H. Home.
(11) H. B. Burgess, Charles Jourdan, J. M. Merriam, George Holmes.
(12) H. B. Burgess, C. Jourdan, J. M. Merrian.
(13) L. 0. Wilmarth.
fl4) C. Jourdan.
(15) John Long.
(16) Charles Jourdan, James Hickey, D. H. Home.
H. Bep. 200 2
18 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
For making an affidavit in a protest against this election, setting
forth the facts, Mr. Burgess was indicted by the grand jury for per-
jury ; which indictment was found more than fifteen months ago, and
is still pending, Mr. Burgess never having been informed who his
accuser was, or what was the testimony against him. (17)
A large majority, four to one, of the actual settlers of that district
were free-State men, (18) and there cannot be the least doubt that if
none but the actual settlers of the district had voted at that election
the free-State candidates would have been elected. The number of
legal voters in the district, according to the census returns, were 101.
The total number of votes cast were 372, and of these but 32 are on
the census returns ; and, from the testimony and records, we are
satisfied that not over forty legal votes were cast at that election.
FOURTH DISTRICT.
A body of armed Missourians came into the district previous to the
election, and camped there. (1) Before the time arrived for opening
the polls, the Missourians went to another than the house appointed
for the election, and one of the judges appointed by the governor and
two chosen by the Missourians proceeded to open the polls and carry
on the election. (2) The Missourians said that none but pro-slavery
men should vote, and threatened to shoot any free-State men who
would come up to vote. (3) Mr. Mockbee, one of the judges elected by
the Missourians, had a store near tte boundary fixed by the proclama-
tion of the governor, while he cultivated a farm in Missouri, where his
family lived, (4) and while his legal residence is there, and is now.
The Missourians also held a side election for governor of the Terri-
tory, voting for Thomas Johnson, of Shawnee Mission. (5) The free-
State men finding the polls under the control of non-residents, refused
to vote and did ndt vote. (6) They constituted a decided majority of
the actual settlers. (7) A protest, signed by a majority of the residents
>©f the district, was sent to the governor. (8) The whole number of voters
{im this district, according to the census returns, were 47 ; the number of
'vates cast were 80, of whom but 15 were residents. The number of resi-
... den£s whose names are on the census rolls, who did not vote, were 32.
FIFTH DISTRICT.
/
Forborne days prior to the election, companies of men were organ-
ized in Jackson, Cass, and Clay counties, Missouri, for the purpose of
* (17) H. B. Burgess.
(18) H. B. Burgess.
(1) Perry Fuller, Peter Bassinger.
(2) Perry Fuller, Win. Moore, J. F. Javens.
(3) J. F. Javens.
(4) William Moore, J. F. • Javens, Thomas Mockbee.
(5) Perry Fuller, William Moore.
(6) J. F. Javens, Thomas Mockhee.
(7) Perry Fuller, W. Moore, J. F. Javens.
(8) Perrj Fuller, J F. Javens^
i
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 19
coming to the Territory and voting in the fifth district. (1) The day
previous to the election, some 400 or 500 Missourians, armed with
guns, pistols, and knives, came into the Territory and camped at Bull
creek, and on the Pottawatomie creek. (2)
On the evening before the election, Judge Hamilton, of the Cass
county court, Missouri, came from i the Pottawatomie Creek camp to
Bull Creek camp for 60 more Missourians, as they had not enough
there to render the election certain, and they went down there with
him. (3)
On the evening hefore the election, Dr. B. C. Westfall was selected
to act as one of the judges of election in the Bull Creek precinct, in place
of one of the judges appointed hy the governor, who, it was said,
would not be there the next day. (4) Dr. Westfall was at that time a
citizen of Jackson county, Missouri. (5) On the morning of the elec-
tion the polls for Bull Creek precinct were opened, and, without swear-
ing the judges, they proceeded to receive the votes of all who offered
to vote. For the sake of appearances, the judges would get some one
to come to the window and offer to vote, and when asked to he sworn
he would pretend to get angry at the judges, and would go away, and
his name would be put down as having offered to vote, but " rejected,
refusing to be sworn/' This arrangement was made previously, and
was perfectly understood by the judges. (6) But few of the residents of
the district were present at the election, and only 13 voted. ("7) The
number of votes cast in the precinct was 393. One Missourian voted for
himself, and then voted for his little son but 10 or 11 years old. (8)
Colonel Coffee, Henry Younger, and Mr. Lykins, who were voted for
and elected to the legislature, were residents of Missouri at that
time. (9)
After the polls were closed the returns were made out, and a man
claiming to be a magistrate certified on them that he had sworn the
judges of election before opening the polls. (10)
In the Pottawatomie precinct the Missourians attended the election,
and after threatening Mr. Chestnut, the only judge present appointed
by the governor, to induce him to resign, they proceeded to eJect two
other judges, one a Missourian and the other a resident of another pre-
cinct of that district. The polls were then opened, and all the Mis-
sourians were allowed to vote without being sworn. After the polls
were closed, and the returns made out for the signatures of the judges,
Mr. Chestnut refused to sign them, as he did not consider them cor-
rect returns of legal voters. Colonel Coffee, a resident of Missouri, but
elected to the Kansas legislature from that district at that election,
endeavored, with others, to induce Mr. Chestnut by threats to sign the
. — £ . —
(1) Dr. B. C. Westfall, Joseph M. Gearhart.
(2) Dr. B. C. Westfall, Jesse W. Wilson, J. M. Gearhart.
(3) Dr. B C. Westfall.
(4) Dr. B. C. Westfall.
(5) Dr. B. C. Westfall, J. W. Wilson.
(6)Di. B. C. Westfall.
(7) J. W. Wilson.
(8) Dr. B. C. Westfall.
(9) Dr. B. C. Westfall, J. M Gearhart.
(10) Dr. B. C. Westfall.
20 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
return, which he refused to do, and left the house. On his way
home he was fired at by some Missourians, though not injured. (11)
There were three illegal to one legal vote given there that day. (12)
At the Big Sugar precinct, the judges appointed by the governor
met at the time appointed, and proceeded to open the polls, after being
duly sworn. After a few votes had » een received, a party of Missouri-
ans came into the yard of the house where the election was held, and
unloading a wagon filled with arms, stacked their guns in the yard,
and came up to the window and demanded to be allowed to vote. Two
of the judges decided to receive their votes; whereupon the third judge,
Mr. J. M. Arthur, resigned, and another was chosen in his place.
Col. "Xoung, a citizen of Missouri, but a candidate for and elected to
the Territorial council, was present, and voted in this precinct. He
claimed that all Missourians who were present on the day of election
were entitled to vote. But 30 or 40 of the citizens of the precinct
were present, and many of them did not vote. (13)
At the Little Sugar precinct the election seemed to have been con-
ducted fairly, and there a free-State majority was polled. (14) From
the testimony the whole district appears to have been largely free-
State ; and had none but actual settlers voted, the free-State candi-
dates would have been elected by a large majority.
From a careful examination of the testimony and the records, we
find that from 200 to 225 legal votes were polled out of 885— the total
number given in the four precincts of that district. Of the legal
votes cast the free-State candidates received 152.
SIXTH DISTRICT.— Fort Scott.
A company of citizens of Missouri, mostly of Bates county, came
into this district the day before the election, some camping, and others
putting up at the public house. (1) They numbered from 100 to 200, (2)
and came in wagons and on horseback, carrying their provisions and
tents with them, and were generally, armed with pistols. They de-
clared their purpose to vote, and claimed the right to do so. They
went to the polls, generally, in small bodies, with tickets in their
hands, and many, if not all, voted. In some places they declared
they had voted, and gave their reasons for so doing. Mr. Anderson,
a pro-slavery candidate for the legislature, endeavored to dissuade the
non-residents from voting, because he did not wish the election con-
tested. (3) This person, however, insisted upon voting, a-nd upon his
right to vote, and did so. No one was challenged or sworn, and all
voted who desired to. Out of 350 votes cast not over 100 were legal,
and but 64 of these are found in the census taken one month before
by Mr. Barber, the candidate for council. Many of the free-State
men did not vote ; but your committee are satisfied that of the
(11) Wm. Chestnut.
(12)Wm. Chestnut.
(13) James McArthur.
(14) S. W. Bouton.
(1) John Hamilton.
f3) John Hamilton, E. B. Cook, F. B. Araatt.
($) Joseph C. Anderson.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 21
legal votes cast the pro-slavery candidates received a majority. Mr.
Anderson, one of these candidates, was an unmarried man, who came
into the district from Missouri a few days "before the election, and
boarded at the puhlic house until the day after the election. He'then
took with him the poll-lists, and did not return to Fort Scott until
the occasion of a barhacue, the week before the election of October 1,
1855. He voted at that election, and after it left, and has not since
been in the district. S. A. Williams, the other pro-slavery candidate,
at the time of the election had a claim in the Territory, but his le^al
residence was not there until after the election.
SEVENTH DISTRICT.
From 200 to 300 men from the State of Missouri came, in wagons
or on horseback, to the election ground at Switzer's creek, in the
second district,, and encamped near the polls, on the day preceding the
election. They were amed with pistols and other weapons, and de-
clared their purpose to vote, in order to secure the election of pro-
slavery members. They said they were disappointed in not finding
more Yankees there, and that they had brought more men than were
necessary to counterbalance their vote. A number of them wore
badges of blu« ribbon, with a motto, and the compaiiy were under the
direction of leaders. They declared their intention to conduct them-
selves peacefully, unless the residents of the Territory attempted to
stop them from voting. Two of the judges of election appointed by
Governor Eeeder refused to serve, whereupon two others were ap-
pointed in their stead by the crowd of Missourians who surrounded
the polls. The newly appointed judges refused to take the oath pre-
scribed by Governor Reeder, but made one to suit themselves. An-
drew Johnson requested the voters to swear if he had a claim in the
Territory, and if he had voted in another district. The judges did not
take the oath prescribed, but were sworn to receive all legal votes.
The Missourians voted without being sworn ; they supported H. J.
Stickler for council and M. W. McGee for representative ; they left
the evening of election ; some of them started on horseback for Law-
rence, as they said they could be there before night, and all returned the
way they came. The census list shows 53 legal voters in the district.
253 votes were cast ; of these 25 were residents, 17 of whom were in
the district when the census was taken. (1) Some of the ^ residents
present at the polls did not vote, declaring it useless. Candidates de-
clined to run on the free-State ticket, because they were unwilling to
run the risk of so unequal a contest, it being known that a great
many are coming up from Missouri to vote. (2) Nearly all the settlers
were free-State men, and 23 of the 25 legal votes given were cast for
the only free-State candidate running. Mobillon McGee, who was de-
clared elected representative, had a claim — a saw-mill and a house—-
in the Territory, and he was there part of the time. But his legal
residence is now' and was then near Westport, in Missouri, where he
owns and conducts a valuable farm, and where his family resides.
(1) James A. Stewart, M. S. Rose.
(2) W. F. Johnson.. f
22 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
EIGHTH DISTRICT.
This was attached to the seventh district for a member of the coun-
cil and a representative, and its vote was controlled by the illegal votes
cast there. The census shows 3y votes in it ; 37 votes were cast, of
whom a majority voted the free-State ticket.
NINTH DISTRICT.
Fort Kiley and Pawnee are in this district. The latter place was
selected by the governor as the temporary capital, and he designed
there to expend the sums appropriated by Congress in the construc-
tion of suitable houses for the legislature. A good deal of building
was then being done at the fort near by. For these reasons a number
of mechanics, mostly from Pennsylvania, came into the district in
March, 1855, to seek employment. Some of these voted at the election.
The construction of the capital was first postponed, then abandoned,
and finally the site of the town was declared by the Secretary of War
to be within the military reservation of Fort Riley. Some of the
inhabitants returned to the States, and some went to other points of
the Territory. Your committee find that they came as settlers, intend-
ing to remain as such, and were entitled to vote.(l.)
TENTH DISTRICT.
In this district ten persons belonging to the Wyandott tribe of
Indians voted. They were of that class who under the law were
entitled to vote, but their residence was in Wyandott village, at the
mouth of the Kansas river, and they had no right to vote in this
district. They voted the pro-slavery ticket. (2.) Eleven men, recently
from Pennsylvania, voted the free-State ticket. From the testimony,
they had not, at the time of the election, so established their residence
as to have entitled them to vote. (3.) In both these classes of cases
the judges examined the voters under oath, and allowed them to vote,
and in all respects the election seems to have been conducted friendly.
The rejection of both would not have changed the result. This and
the eighth election district formed one representative district, and
was the only one to which the invasion from Missouri did not extend.
ELEVENTH DISTRICT.
The 9th, 10th, llth, and 12th election districts being all separately
settled, were attached together in a council district, and the llth and
12th as representative districts. This election district is sixty miles
north from Pawnee, and one hundred and fifty miles from Kansas
City. It is the northwest settlement in the Territory, and contained,
when the census was taken, but thirty-six inhabitants, of whom twen-
ty-four were voters. There was on the day of election no white set-
(1) Andrew McConnell, R. W. Wilson, A. H. Reeder,
(2) M. A. Garrett. Joseph Stewart.
(& M. J. Osborne, Isaac S. Hascall.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 23
tlement about Marysville, the place of voting, for forty miles, except
that Marshall & Bishop kept a store and ferry at the crossing of the
Big Blue and the California road. (4) Your committee were unable
to procure witnesses from this district. Persons who were present at
the election were duly summoned by an officer, and among them was
F. J. Marshall, the member of the House from that district. On his
return, the officer was arrested and detained, and persons bearing the
names of some of the witnesses summoned were stopped near Lecomp-
ton, and did not appear before the committee. The returns show
that, in defiance of the governor's proclamation, the voting was
" viva voce" instead of by ballot. Three hundred and twenty-eight
names appear upon the poll-books as voting, and, by comparing these
names with those on the census-rolls, we find that but seven of the
latter voted. The person voted for as representative (F. J. Marshall)
was chief owner of the store at Marysville, and was there sometimes, (5)
but his family lived in Weston, Mo. John Donaldson, the can-
didate voted for the council, then lived in Jackson county, Mo. (6)
On the day after the election Mr. Marshall, with twenty-five or
thirty men from Weston, Mo., was on the way from Marysville to
the State. Some of the party told a witness who had formerly re-
sided at Weston, that they were up at Marysville, and carried the
day for Missouri, and that they had voted about one hundred and fifty
vdtes. Mr. Marshall paid the bill at that point for the party.
There does not appear to have been any emigration into that dis-
trict in March, 1855, after the census was taken ; and, judging from
the best test in the power of your committee, there were but seven
legal votes cast in the district, and three hundred and twenty-one
illegal.
.- TWELFTH DISTRICT.
The election in this district was conducted fairly. No complaint
was made that illegal votes were cast.
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT.
Previous to the day of election several hundred Missourians from
Platte, Clay, Boone, Clinton, and Howard counties, came into the
district in wagons and on horseback, and camped there. (1) They
were armed with guns, revolvers, and bowie-knives, and had badges
of hemp in their button-holes and elsewhere about their persons. (2)
They claimed to have a right to vote from the fact that they were
there on the ground, and had, or intended to make claims in the Ter-
ritory, although their families were in Missouri. (3)
The judges appointed by the governor opened the polls, and sonn*
(4.) Augustus Baker.
(5.) Augustus Baker.
(6.) T. E. D'Avis.
(1.) T. B. Ross, W. H. Godwin, Dr. James Noble, T. A. Minard, Charles Hardn.
(2.) T. B. Ross, W. H. Godwin.
(3.) T B. Ross, Dr. J. Noble.
24 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
persons offered to vote ; and when their votes were rejected on the
ground that they were not residents of the district, the crowd threat-
ened to tear the house down if the judges did not leave. (4)
The judges then withdrew, taking the poll-books with them. (5)
The crowd then proceeded to select other persons to act as judges,
and the election went on. (6) Those persons voting who were sworn
were adked if they considered themselves residents of the district, and
if they said they did they were allowed to vote. (7) But few of the
residents were present and voted, (8) and the free-State men, as a
general thing, did not vote. (9) After the Missourians got through
voting, they returned home. (10)
A foi rnal return was made by the judges of election, setting out
the fact, but it was not verified. The number of legal voters in this
district was ninety-six, of whom a majority were* free-State men ; of
the leg<*l voters 12 voted. The total number of votes cast was 239.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT.
It was generally rumored in the district for some days before the
election that the Missourians were coming over to vote. (1) Previous
to the election, men from Missouri came into the district and elec-
tioneered for the pro-slavery candidates,, (2) General David R. Atchi-
son and a party controlling the nominations in one of the primary
elections. (3)
Burr Oak precinct. — Several hundred Missourians from Buchanan,
Platte, and Andrew counties, Missouri, including a great many of
the prominent citizens of St. Joseph's, came into this precinct the
day before and on the day of election in wagons and on horses,, and
camped there. (4) Arrangements were made for them to cross the
ferry at St. Joseph's free of expense to themselves. (5) They were
armed with bowie-knives and pistols, guns and rifles. (6) On the
morning of the election the free-State candidates resigned in a body
on account of the presence of the large number of armed Missourians,
at which the crowd cheered and hurrahed. (7) General B. F. String-
fellow was present and was prominent in promoting the election of
the pro-slavery ticket, as was also the Hon. Willard P. Hall and
(4.) T B. Ross, Charles Hardh, N. B. Sharp.
(5.) T. B. Ross, C. Hardh.
(6.) T. B. Ross, W. H. Godwin. Dr. J. Noble, R. Chandler, T. A. Minard, C. Hardh,
G. M. Dyer, 0. B. Tebbs.
(7.) R. Chandler.
(8.) T B. Ross, Dr. J. Noble.
(9) T. B. Ross, Dr. J. Noble, R. Chandler, C. Hardh, O. B. Tebbs.
(10) T. B. Ross, Dr. J. Noble.
(1) Benj. Harding, John H. Whitehead, Alfred Larzelier.
(2) Benj. Harding. Willard P. Hall, Dr. G. A. Cutler.
(3) Dr. G. A. Cutler.
(4) A. A. Jamieson, W. P. Richardson, Benj. Harding, J. H. Whitehead, J. R. Carter,
A. Larzelier, Willard P. Hall. B. H. Brock, C. W. Stewart, A. M. Mitchell, H. S. Creel.
G. W. Gillespie.
(5) L. Dillon, G. W. Gillespie.
(6) A. A. Jamieson, Willard P. Hall, C. W. Stewart.
(7) A. A. Jamieson, W. P. Richardson, Benj. Harding,' J. H. Whitehead, A. Larzelier,
W. P. Hall, T. P. Blair.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 25
others of the most prominent citizens of St. Joseph's, Missouri. (8)
But one of the judges of election appointed by the governor served on
rthat day, and the crowd chose two others to supply the vacancies. (9)
The Missourians said they came there to vote for and carry the
election for Major W. P. Richardson. (10) Major Richardson, elected
to the council, had had a farm in Missouri, where his wife and daugh-
ter lived with his son-in-law, Willard P. Hall, he himself generally
going home to Missouri every Saturday night. The farm was gen-
erally known as the Richardson farm. He had a claim in the Terri-
tory upon which was a saw-mill, and where he generally remained
during the week. (11.) Some of the Missourians gave as their reason
for voting that they had heard that eastern emigrants were to he at
.that election, (12) though no eastern emigrants were there. (13) Oth-
ers said they were going to vote for the purpose of making Kansas a
filave State. (14) Some claimed that they had a right to vote under
the provisions of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, from the fact that they
rwere present on the ground on the day of election. (15) The free-
State men generally did not vote, (16) and those who did vote, voted
generally for John H. Whitehead, pro-slavery, for council, against
Major W. P. Richardson, and did not vote at all for members of the
..border town. (17) The parties were pretty nearly equally divided in
the district, some being of opinion that the free-State party had a
small majority, (18) and others that the pro-slavery party had a* small
majority. (18) After the election was over and the polls were closed,
the Missourians returned home. During the day they had provisions
and liquor served out free of expense to all. (19)
Doniphan precinct. — The evening before the election some 200
or more Missourians from Platte, Buchanan, Saline, and Clay
.counties, Missouri, came into this precinct, with tents, music, wagons,
and provisions, and armed with guns, rifles, pistols, and bowie-knives,
and camped about two miles from the place of voting. (20) They
said they came to vote, to make Kansas a slave State, and intended to
return to Missouri after they had voted. (21) On the morning of the
.election the judges appointed by the governor would not serve, and
others were chosen by the crowd. (22)
The Missourians were allowed to vote without being sworn, (23)
(8) A. A. Jamieson, W. P. Richardson, J. H. Whitehead, W. P. Hall.
(9) A. A. Jamieson, Benj. Harding, J. H. Whitehead, A. Larzelier, 0. Hulan.
! (10) A. A. Jamieson, W. P. Hall.
? (11) A. A. Jamieson, W. P. Richardson, W. P. Hall.
(12) W. P. Richardson, J. H. Whitehead, J. R. Carter, W. P. Hall, A. M. Mitchell, H.
S. Creel.
(13) B. Harding, J. H. Whitehead, J. R. Carter, W. P. Hall.
1 (14) W. P. Hall, H. S. Creel.
(15) B. H. Brock, C. W. Stewart, H. S. Creel.
(16) A. A. Jameison, W. P. Richardson, J. H. Whitehead, A. Larzelier, C, W. S. Creel,
(17) W. P. Richardson, C. B. Whitehead.
(18) A. A. Jamieson, B. Harding, A. Larzelier, C. W. Stewart.
(18) W. P. Richardson, J. H. Whitehead, W. P. Hall, Thomas W. Waterston, J. P Blair.
(19) W. P. Richardson, G. W. Gillespie. , . ,
(20) Richard Tuck, Eli Hamilton, John Landis, Luther Dickerson, J. W. Beattie, l>avia
Fizer.
(21) R. Tuck, L. Dickerson, J. W. Beattie.
(22) R. Tuck, E. Hamilton, J. Landis.
(23) B. Tuck, E. Hamilton, David Fizer.
26 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
some of them voting as many as eight or nine times ; changing their
hats and coats, and giving in different names each time. (24) After
they had voted, they returned to Missouri. (25) The free-State men
generally did not vote, (26) though constituting a majority in the pre-
cinct. (27) Upon counting the ballots in the "box. and the names on
the poll-lists, it was found that there were too many hallots, (27) and
one of the judges of election took out hallots enough to make the two
members correspond. (28)
Wolf River precinct. — But few Missourians were present in this pre-
cinct, though some of them threatened one- of the judges because he
refused to receive their votes ; and when he resigned another was
chosen in his place, who consented to receive their votes. (29)
Protests were drawn up against the elections in the various precincts
in the 14th district, but on account of threats that greater numbers of
Missourians would be at a new election, should it be called, and of
personal violence to those who should take part in the protest, it was
not presented to the governor ; (30) Major Richardson , the pro-slavery
candidate for council, threatening Dr. Cutler, the free-State candidate,
that if he contested the election he and his office should be put in the
Missouri river. (31) The number of voters in this district by the
census was 334 ; of these 124 voted. The testimony shows that quite
a number of persons whose legal residence was in the popular county
of Buchanan, Missouri, on the opposite side of the river, had claims
in the Territory. Some ranged cattle, and others marked out their
claim and built a cabin, and sold this incipient title when they could.
They were not residents of the Territory in any just or legal sense.
A number of settlers removed into the district in the month of March.
Your committee are satisfied, after a careful analysis of the records
and testimony, that the number of legal votes cast did not exced 200
out of 727.
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT.
The election in this district was held at the house of Mr. Hayes.
On the day of election a crowd of from 400 to 500 men(l) collected
around the polls, of which the great body were citizens of Missouri.
One of the judges of election in his testimony(2) states that the
strangers commenced crowding around the polls, and that then the
residents left. Threats were made before and during the election
day that there should be no free-State candidates, although there were
nearly or quite as many free-State as pro-slavery men resident in the
district ; most of the crowd were drinking and carousing, cursing the
abolitionists, and threatening the only free-State judge of election. A
(24) B. Tuck.
(25) E. Tuck, E. Hamilton, J. Landis, L. Dickerson,
^(26) John Landis.
(27) R. Tuck, John Landis, E. Hamilton, J. F. Foreman.
(28) E. Hamilton.
(29) Dr. G. A. Cutler.
(30) Dr. G. A. Cutler, John Landis, A. A. Jamieson.
(31) Dr. G. A. Cutler.
(1) T. B. Crane, Joseph Potter.
(2) E. B. Zimmerman.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 27
majority of those who voted wore hemp in their button-holes (3} and
their password was, « All right on the hemp.- Many of the MiL
nans were known and are named hy the witnesses. Several speech*
were made hy them at the polls ; and among those who spoke we*
Major Oliver, one of your committee, Col. Burns, and Laban William?
of Platte county. Major Oliver urged upon all present to use no harsh
words, and expressed the hope that nothing would be said or done fc
wound the feelings of the most sensitive on the other side. He gave
some grounds, based on the Missouri compromise, in regard to the
right of voting, and was understood to excuse the Missourians for
voting. Your committee are satisfied that he did not vote. Colonel
Burns recommended all to vote. They came to vote, and he hoped
that none would go home without voting. Some of the pro-slavery
residents were much dissatisfied at the interference with their rights
by the Missourians, and for that reason, and because reflection con-
vinced them that it would be better to have Kansas a free State ther
that day " fell over the fence. "(4)
The judges required the voters to take an oath that they were actual
residents. They objected at first, some saying they had a claim,
or held a claim, or owned a claim, or " I am here ;" but the free-State
judge insisted upon the oath, and his associates, who at first were dis-
posed to waive it, coincided with him, and the voters all took it after
some grumbling. One said he cut him some poles and laid them in
the shape of a square, and that made him a claim ; and another said
that he had cut a few sticks of wood, and that made him a claim.
The free-State men did not vote, although they believed their number
to be equal to the pro-slavery settlers, and some claimed that they had
the majority. They were deterred by threats thrown out by the Mis-
sourians. before and on the day of election, from putting up candidates;
and none were run, for the reason that there was a credited rumor
prevailing that the Missourians would control the election. The free-
State judge was threatened with expulsion from the polls, and a young
man thrust a pistol into the window through which the votes were
received. The whole number of votes cast was 417 ; of the names on
the poll-book but 62 are on the census rolls, and the testimony shows
that but a small portion, estimated by a witness at one-fourth of the
legal voters, voted. Your committee estimate the number of legal
votes at 80. One of the judges refused to certify to the governor that
the election was fairly conducted. It was not contested because no
one would take the responsibility of doing it, as it was not considered
safe, and that if another election was had the residents would tare no
better.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT.
-; For some time previous to the election, meetings were held and
arrangements made in Missouri to get up companies to come over
the Territory and vote ;(1) and the day before and the da}M
(3) E. R. Zimmerman, Joseph Potter.
(4) E. R. Zimmerman.
(1) H. Miles Moore, A. McAuley, L. Kerr.
28 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
tion large bodies of Missourians from Platte, Clay, Bay, Chariton,
Carrol, Clinton, and Saline counties, Missouri, came into this district
and camped there. (2) They were armed with pistols, howie-knives,
and some with guns and rifles, (3) and had hadges of hemp in their
button-holes and elsewhere about their persons. (4)
On the morning of the election there were from 1,000 to 1,400 per-
sons present on the ground. (5)
Previous to the election Missourians endeavored to persuade the two
free-State judges to resign by making threats of personal violence to
them ;(6) one of whom resigned on the morning of the election, and
the crowd chose another to nil his place. (7) But one of the judges —
the free-State judge — would take the oath prescribed by the governor,
the other two deciding that they had no right to swear any one who
oifered to vote, but that all on the ground were entitled to vote. (8)
The only votes refused were some Delaware Indians, some thirty
Wyandott Indians being allowed to vote. (9) One of the free-State
candidates withdrew in consequence of the presence of the Missouri-
ans, amid cheering and acclamation by the mob. (10) During the
day the steamboat New Lucy came down from Weston, Missouri,
with a large number of Missourians on board, who voted, and then
returned on the boat. (11)
The Missourians gave as a reason for their coming over to vote, that
the North had tried to force emigration into the Territory, and they
wanted to counteract that movement. (12) Some of the candidates,
and many of the Missourians, took the ground that, under the Kan-
sas-Nebraska act, all who were on the ground on the day of election
were entitled to vote;(13) and others, that laying out a town and
taking a lot, or driving down stakes, even on another man's claim,
gave them a right to vote; (14) and one of the members of the coun-
cils, B. B. Bees, declared in his testimony that he who should put a
different construction upon the law must be either a knave or a fool.
The free-State men generally did not vote at that election, (15) and
no newly-arrived eastern emigrants were there. (16)
The free-State judge of election refused to sign the returns until the
words "by lawful resident" voters were stricken out, which was done,
(2) David Brown, F. A. Hart, G. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, A. Russell, P. R. Orr, L. J.
Eastin, A. Fisher, M. France, H. M. Moore.
(3) D. Brown, F. A. Hart, G. F. Warren, A. Fisher, H. M. Moore, W. G. Matthias.
(4) F. A. Hart, L. J. Eastin, M. France, W. H. Adams, H. M. Moore.
(5) F. A. Hart, T. A. Minard, G. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, A. J. Pattie, W. G. Matthias.
(6) D. Brown, M. France.
(7) D. Brown, F. A. Hart, M. France.
(8) M. France.
(9) M. France.
(10) F. A. Hart, L. J. Eastin, W. H. Adams.
(11) D. Brown, F. A. Hart, T. A. Minard, G. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, L. J. Eastin, A.
T. Kyle, D. J. Johnson, M. France, A. J. Pattie, H. M. Moore.
(12) R. R. Rees, L. J. Eastirf, W. H. Adams, H. M. Moore.
(13) D. Brown, T. C. Minard, E. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, "H. M. Moore.
(14) D. Brown, F. A. Hart.
(15) D. Brown, T. G. Minard, G. F. Warren, F. A. Hart, M. France, H. M. Moore.
(16) L. J. Eastin, M. France, W. H. Adams.
md the returns made in that way.
md a new election ordered by
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 9g
The testimony is divided as to the relative strength of D!
hstnct. The whole number of voters in the district a cordW to
;ensus returns was 385, and according to a very carefully nr
1st of voters, prepared by the pro-slavery candidates and otLr r
ilavery men afew days previous to the election, there were 305 voter's
n the district including those who had claims but did not live on
;hem.(18) The whole number of votes cast was 964 ; of those named
m the census 106 voted. Your committee, upon careful examination
•re satisfied that not over 150 legal votes were cast leaving 814 ilia!
•al votes.
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.
The election in this district seems to have been fairly conducted
md not contested at all. In this district the pro-slavery party had
the majority.
EIGHTEENTH DISTRICT.
Previous to the election Gen. David E. Atchison, of Platte City,
Missouri, ^ot up a company of Missourians, and passing through
Veston, Missouri, (1) went over into the Territory. He remained all
ight at the house of Arnett Grooms, and there exhibited his arms, of
rhich he had an abundance. He proceeded to the Nemaha or 18th
istrict.(2) On his way he and his party attended a nominating con-
"ention in the 14tH district, and proposed and caused to be nominated
. set of candidates in opposition to the wishes of the pro-slavery resi-
jlents of the district. (3) At that convention he said that there were
L,100 coming over from Platte county, and if that wasn't enough they
:ould bring 5,000 more ; that they came to vote and would vote, or
ill every G — d d — d abolitionist in the Territory. (4)
On the day of election the Missourians under Atchison, who were
ncamped there, came up to the polls in the 18th district and voted,
aking the oath that they were residents of the district. The Misson-
ians were all armed with pistols and bowie-knives, and said there
vere sixty in their company. (5) But seventeen of the votes given
ihere were given by citizens of the district. (6) The whole number of
rotes was sixty-two. K. L. Kirk, one of the candidates, came into
.he district from Missouri about a week before the election and board-
id there. (7) He left after the election, and was not at the time a legal
'esident of the district in which he was elected. No protest was sent
(17) L. J. Eastin, M. France, W. H. Adams.
(18) L. J. Eastin, A. McAuley.
(1) H. Miles Moore. *
(2) Dr. G. A. Cutler, Arnet Grooma.
(3) Dr. G. A. Cutler.
(4) Dr. G A. Cutler.
(5) D. H. Baker, John Belew.
(6) D. H. Baker, John Belew.
(7) jQhn Belew.
30
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
to the governor on account of threats made against any who should
dare to contest the election. (8)
The following tables embody the result of the examination of your
committee in regard to this election. In some of the districts it was
impossible to ascertain the precise number of legal votes cast, and es-
pecially in the 14th, 15th, and 16th districts. In such cases the num-
ber of legal and illegal votes cast is stated after a careful re-examina-
tion of all the testimony and records concerning the election.
No. 1.
Abstract of census and returns of election of March 30, 1855, ~by election
districts.
%
a_
1
2
*
;i
8
9
$
2
;l
gt
Place ef voting.
I
o
E
1
£
781
318
386
78
377
199
74
34
315
211
17
23
27
2
328
Free State votes.
Scattering.
"i
o
H
Total of legal vote?.
Total of illegal votes.
CENSUS.
COUNCIL.
HOUSE
No. of voters.
f persons
sident.
O
9
1
B
f>
8
<J
•e
1
1
i
W2
1
o
1
o
1
0
6
to
0
1
253
12
4
2
9
65
17
70
35
23
17
52
42
21
1,034
341
372
80
386
264
98
104
350
234
37
75
69
23
328
11
33
239
346
78
306
417
964
59
62
232
30
32
15
13
75
32
104
100
25
37
75
48
23
7
11
33
12
802
316
338
65
380
191
59
369
199
101
47
962
519
282
177
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
2
3
4
1
3
2
1
1
Bloornington
]1
2
7
Stinsoa's or Tecumseh
Dr. Chapman 3s.... ....
Bull Creek
Big Sugar Creek
Little Sugar Creek....
Fwrt Scott
442
1,407
4
2
7
4
250'
209
"21"
253
53
39
36
63
810
118
88
86
151
5
3
3
6
10
8
1
'"i"
6
5
5
8
8
8
2
1
..... .
Isaac B. Titus'
Big Blue
Rock-Cre'ek
Mary^ville
321
24
36
9
10
9
9
1
St Mary's
4
12
233
313
57
256
412
7
19
6
30
15
2
"'2'
"'3'
6
48
5
5
Silver Lake
"236"
78
96
144
284
1
10
7
9
10
11
.... ^
Hickory Point
Wolf Creek
Burr Oak
200
530
334
1,167
7
8
1
11
12
13
14
o
2
2
3
80
150
59
17
337
814
' ' '45'
208
385
50
28
873
I., 183
150
99
9
10
1
7
]
2
899
43
48
60
16
14
Gurn Springs
Moorestovvn
1
....
,....
Total
5,427
791
89
6,307 |l,410
4,908
2,905
8,601
105
13
155
25
(8) Dr. G. A. Cutler.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
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32
KANSAS AFFAIRS
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KANSAS AFFAIRS.
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H. Rep. 200 3
33
34 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Your committee report the following facts not shown by the tables
Of the 2,905 voters named in the census rolls, 831 are found on the
poll-books. Some of the settlers were prevented from attending the
election by the distance of their homes from the polls, but the great
majority were deterred by the open avowal that large bodies of armed
Missourians would be at the polls to vote, and by the fact that they
did so appear and control the election. The same causes deterred the
free-State settlers from running candidates in several districts, and in
others induced the candidates to withdraw.
The poll-books of the 2d and 8th districts were lost, but the proof is
quite clear that in the 2d district there were thirtv, and in the 8th
district thirty-eight legal votes, making a total of eight hundred and
ninety-eight legal voters of the Territory whose names are on the
census returns. And yet the proof, in the state in which we are
obliged to present it, after excluding illegal votes, leaves the total
Tote of 1,410, showing a discrepancy of 512. The discrepancy is ac-
counted for in two ways : First, the coming in of settlers before tbe
March election, and after the census was taken, or settlers who were
omitted in the census ; or, secondly, the disturbed state of the Terri-
tory while we were investigating the elections in some of the districts,
thereby preventing us from getting testimony in relation to the names
of illegal voters at the time of election.
If the election had been confined to the actual settlers, undeterred
by the presence of non-residents, or the knowledge that they would be
present in numbers sufficient to outvote them, the testimony indicates
jfchat the council would have been composed of seven in favor of making
[Kansas a free State, elected from the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 6th council
.districts. The result in the 8th and 10th, electing three members,
would have been doubtful, and the 5th, fab, and 9th would have elect-
ed three pro-slavery members.
•Under like circumstances the House of Kepresentatives would have
been composed of fourteen members in favor of making Kansas a
free State, elected from the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, Tth, 8th, 9th, and 10th
representative districts.
The result in the 12th and 14th representative districts, electing
* five members, would have been doubtful ; and the 1st, 6th, llth, and
15th districts would have elected seven pro-slavery members.
By the election as conducted, the pro-slavery candidates in every
district? but the 8th representative district received a majority of the
votes ; -and several of them, in both the council and house, did not
f:f reside in " and were not u inhabitants of " the district for which
they were elected, as required by the organic law.
By that act, it was declared to be " the true intent and meaning
* of this act to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regu?-
late their domestic institutions in their own way, subject to the consti-
tution of the United States." So careful was Congress of the right of
popular sovereignty, that to secure it to the people, without a single
petition from, any portion of the country, they removed the restric-
tion against slavery imposed by the Missouri compromise. And yet
this right, so, carefully secured, was thus by force and fraud over-
thrown by a por.iion of the people of an adjoining State
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
35
The striking difference between this republic and other republics
on this continent is not in the provisions of constitutions and laws
but that here changes in the administration of those laws have been
made peacefully and quietly through the ballot-box. This invasion
is the first and only one in the history of our government, by which
an organized force from one State has elected a legislature for another
State or Territory, and as such it should have been resisted by the
whole executive power of the national government.
Your committee are of the opinion, that the constitution and laws
of the United States have invested the President and the governor of
the Territory with ample power for this purpose. They could only act
after receiving authentic information of the facts ; but when received
whether before or after the certificates of election were granted, this
power should have been exercised to its fullest extent.
It is not to be tolerated that a legislative body thus selected
should assume or exercise any legislative functions ; and their enact-
ments should be regarded as null and void. Nor should the question
of its legal existence as a legislative body be determined by itself, as
that would be allowing the criminal to judge of his own crime.
In section 22d of the organic act it is provided, that "the persons
having the highest number of legal votes in each of said council dis-
tricts for members of the council, shall be declared by the governor
to be duly elected to the council, and" the persons having the highest
number of legal votes for the House of Kepresentatives shall be declared
by the governor duly elected members of said house." The procla,-
mation of the governor required a verified notice of a contest, when
one was made, to be filed with him within four days after the elec-
tion. Within that time he did not obtain information as to force or
fraud in any except the following districts ; and in these there were
material defects in the returns of election. Without deciding upon
his power to set aside elections for force and fraud, they were set aside
for the following reasons :
In the 1st district, because the words " by lawful resident voters"
were stricken from the return.
In the 2d district, because the oath was administered by G. W.
Taylor, who was not authorized to administer an oath.
In the 3d district, because material erasures from the printed form
of the oath were purposely made.
In the 4th district, for the same reason.
In the 7th district, because the judges were not sworn at all.
In the llth district, because the returns show the election to hav-e
been held viva voce instead of by ballot.
In the 16th district, because the words "by lawful residents -wei
stricken from the returns.
Although the fraud and force in other districts was equally great as
in these, yet, as the governor had no information in regard to them,
he issued certificates according to the returns.
36
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ELECTION OF MAY 22, 1855.
The election to fill the vacancies caused "by the action of the gov-
ernor was held on the 22d of May, 1855. There was no illegal voting
at that election except in the 16th district, at Leavenworth. For
that district the pro-slavery party, while publicly refusing to acknowl-
edge the legality of that election, not only voted, but a large number
of the citizens of Missouri came over and voted as at the previous
election. (1) The majority of the judges decided that all that was
necessary to constitute a legal voter, was to have some one say he had
some interest in the Territory. (2) No one was sworn that day,
or even challenged. (3) The steamboat Kate Kassel came up, and
men from her came ashore arid voted. (4) Many free-State men did
not vote that day. (5) One of the free-State judges desired the words
"by lawful resident voters" to be striken out of the return before he
would sign it, (6) and only signed the return with those words in
under a misapprehension. (Y) It is impossible for your committee
accurately to decide which party would have had a majority of the
legal votes of the district, had no illegal votet been polled, on account
of the difficulty of determining who were legal and who were illegal
voters at that election.
Abstract of the returns of election of May 22, 1855.
* .
°1
0*
fc
Place of voting.
£>
us
II
» o
6 >
£
-2
1 8
§1
£
Scattering.
3
$
1
Lawrencee
288
18
306
2
Douglas
127
127
3
Stinson's
148
1
149
7
" 110"
68
13
79
8
Council Grove ... „
33
33
16
Lieavenworth
500
140
15
715
Total
560
802
47
1 409
Your committee have felt it to be their duty, not only to inquire
into and collect evidence in regard to force and fraud attempted and
practised at the elections in the Territory, but also into the facts and
pretexts by which this force and fraud have been excused or justified ;
and, for this purpose, your committee have allowed the declarations
(1) Wm. H. Adams, G. H. Keller, Amos Eees.
(2) M. France, Adam Fisker.
(3) Matt. France, W. H. Adams, A. Fisher.
(4) Matt. France, W. H. Adams.
(5) M. France, A. Fisher.
(6) Matt. France, Adam Fisher.
(7) Matt. France.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of non-resident voters to be given a evidence in their own behalf-
also, the declarations of all who came up the Missouri river as emi'
grants, in March, 1855, whether they voted or not, and whether thev
came into the Territory at all or not, and also the rumors which were
circulated among the people of Missouri previous to the election. The
great body of the testimony taken at the instance of the sittin^ dele-
gate is of this character.
When the declarations of parties passing up the river -were offered
in evidence, your committee received them upon the distinct statement
that they would be excluded unless the persons making the declara-
tions were, by other proof, shown to have been connected with the
election. This proof was not made, and therefore much of this class
of testimony is jncompetent by the rules of law ; but, it is allowed to
remain as tending to show the cause of the action of the citizens of
Missouri. The alleged causes of the invasion of March, 1855, are
included in the following charges, viz :
1st. That the New England Emigrant Aid Society, of Boston, was
then importing into the Territory large numbers of men, merely for
the purpose of controlling the elections ; that they came without
women, children, or baggage, went into the Territory, voted, and
returned again.
2d. That men were hired in the eastern and northern States, or
induced to go to the Territory, solely to vote and not to settle, and
by so doing to make it a free State.
3d. That the governor of the Territory purposely postponed the day
of election to allow this emigration to arrive, and notified the Emi-
grant Aid Society and persons in the eastern States of the day of
election before he gave notice to the people of Missouri and the Ter-
ritory.
That these charges were industriously circulated ; that grossly ex-
aggerated statements were made in regard to them ; that the news-
paper press and leading" men in public meetings in western Missouri
(aided in one case by a chaplain of the United States army) gave
currency and credit to them, and thus excited the people and induced
many well-meaning citizens of Missouri to march into the Territory
to meet and repel the alleged eastern paupers and abolitionists, in
fully proven by many witnesses.
But neither of these charges is sustained by the proof.
Ji April, 1854, the general assembly of Massachusetts passed an
act entitled " An act to incorporate the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid
Society/' The object of the society, as declared in the first section ot
this act, was " for the purpose of assisting emigrants to settle in the
West." The nominal capital of the corporation was not to exceej
five millions of dollars, but no more than four per cent, could
assessed during the year 1854, and no more than ten per cent, in any
one year thereafter. No organization was perfected or proc«t
had under this law. -.,
On the 24th day of July, 1854, certain persons in Boston. Massa-
chusetts, concluded articles of agreement and association for an ^mi-
grant Aid Society. The purpose of this association was declared to
Be, « assisting emigrants to settle in the West." Under these articks
38 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of association each stockholder was individually liable. To avoid
this difficulty an application was made to the general assembly ot
Massachusetts for an act of incorporation, which was granted. On
the 21st day of February, 1855, an act was passed to incorporate the
New England Emigrant Aid Company. The purpose of this act was
declared to be, " directing emigration westward, and aiding and provi-
ding accommodation after arriving at their place of destination."
The capital stock of the corporation was not to exceed one million of
dollars. Under this charter a company was organized.
Your committee have examined some of its officers, and a portion of
its circulars and records, to ascertain what has been done by it. The
public attention at the time of its formation was directed to the Ter-
ritory of Kansas, and emigration naturally tended in that direction.
To ascertain its character and resources, this company sent its agents
into it, and the information thus obtained was published. The com-
pany made arrangements with various lines of transportation to lessen
the expense of emigration into the Territory, and procured tickets at
reduced rates. Applications were made to the company by persons
desiring to emigrate ; and when they were numerous enough to form a
party of convenient size, tickets were sold to them at the reduced
rates. An agent acquainted with the route was selected to accompany
them. Their baggage was checked, and all trouble and danger of loss
to the emigrant in this way avoided. Under these arrangements
several companies went into the Territory in the fall of 1854, under
the articles of association referred to. The company did not pay any
portion of the fare, or furnish any personal or real property to the emi-
grant. The company, during 1855, sent into the Territory from
eight to ten saw-mills ; purchased one hotel in Kansas City, which they
subsequently sold ; built one hotel at Lawrence, and owned one other
building in that place. They held no property of any other kind or
description. They imposed no condition upon their emigrants, and
did not inquire into their political, religious, or social opinions. The
total amount expended by them, including the salaries of their agents
and officers, and other expenses incident to all organizations, was less
than one hundred thousand dollars.
Their purposes, as far as your committee can ascertain, were lawful,
and contributed to supply those wants most experienced in the settle-
ment of a new country.
The only persons who emigrated into the Territory under the au-
spices of this company in 1855, prior to the election in March, was a
party of 169 persons, who came under the charge of Charles Eobin-
son.(l)
In this party there were sixty-seven women and children. (2)
They came as actual settlers, intending to make their homes in the
Territory, and for no other purpose. (3) They had about their pei>-
sons but little baggage, usually sufficient clothing in a carpet-sack for
a short time. Their personal effects, such as clothing, furniture, &c.,
were put into trunks and boxes, and, for convenience in selecting arid
(1) Benjamin Slater, Charles Robinson.
(2) Charles Robinson.
(3) Samuel C. Smith.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 39
care
in
cheapness in transporting, was marked " Kansas party baggage • ei
of B. Slater, St. Louis." Generally this was consigned as freight .
the ordinary way, to the care of a commission merchant. This partv
had, in addition to the usual allowance of one hundred pounds to each
passenger, a large quantity of haggage, on which the respective
owners paid the usual extra freight. (4) Each passenger or party
paid his or their own expenses, and the only henefit they derived from
this society, not shared by all the people of the Territory, was the re-
duction of about seven dollars in the price of the fare, the convenience
of travelling in a company instead of alone, and the cheapness and fa-
cility of transporting their freight through regular agents. Subse-
quently many emigrants, being either disappointed with the country
or its political condition, or deceived by the statements made by the
newspapers, and by the agents of the society, became dissatisfied and
returned, both before and after the election, to their old homes. Most
of them are now settlers in the Territory. (5) Some few voted at the
election in Lawrence, (5) but the number was small. The names of
these emigrants have been ascertained, and thirty-seven of them are
found upon the poll-books. (5 J.) This company of peaceful emigrants,
moving with their household goods, was distorted into an invading
horde of pauper abolitionists, who were, with others of a similar
character, to control the domestic institutions of the Territory, and
then overturn those of a neighboring State.
In regard to the second charge, there is no proof that any man was
either hired, or induced to come into the Territory from any free State,
merely to vote. The entire emigration in March, 1855, is estimated
art 500 persons, including men, women, and children, (6) They came
on steamboats up the Missouri river in the ordinary course of emi-
gration. Many returned for causes similar to those before stated, but
the body of them are now residents. The only persons, of those who
were connected by proof with the election, were some who voted at
the Big Blue precinct in the 10th district, and at Pawnee, in the 9th
district. Their purpose and character are stated in a former part of
this report.
The third charge is entirely groundless. The organic law requires
the governor to cause an enumeration of the inhabitants and legal
voters to be made, and that he apportion the members of the council
and house according to this enumeration. For reasons stated by per-
sons engaged in taking the census, it was not completed until the
early part of March, 1855. (7) At that time the day of holding the
election had not been and could not have been named by the governor
As soon as practicable after the returns were brought in, he issued
his proclamation for an election, and named the earliest day consistent
with due notice as the day of election. The day on which the elec-
tion was to be held was a matter of conjecture all over Ue country
but it was generally known that it would be in the latter part
(4) B. Slater.
(5) Charles Robinson, Samuel C. Smith.
(5*) Anson J. Stone.
(6} W. H. Chick and J. Eiddlesbarger.
rt.) William Barbee.
40 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
March. The precise day was not known by any one until the procla-
mation issued. It was not known to the agents of the Emigrant Aid
Society in Boston on the 13th day of March, 1855, when the party of
emigrants "before referred to left. (8)
Your committee are satisfied that these charges were made the mere
pretexts to induce an armed invasion into ,the Territory as a means to
control the election and establish slavery there.
The real purpose is avowed and illustrated "by the testimony and
conduct of Colonel John Scott, of St. Joseph's, Mo., who acted as an
attorney for the sitting delegate before your committee. The follow-
ing are extracts from his deposition :
" Prior to the election in Burr Oak precinct, in the 14th district^
on the 29th of November, 1854, I had been a resident of Missouri,
and I then determined, if I found it necessary, to become a resident
of Kansas Territory. On the day previous to that election I settled
up my board at my boarding-house in St. Joseph's, Mo., and went
over to the Territory and took boarding with Mr. Bryant, near whose
house the polls were held the next day, for one month, so that I might
have it in my power, by merely determining to do so, to become a
resident of the Territory on the day of election.
" When my name was proposed as a judge of election, objections
were made by two persons only. * * * I then publicly in-
formed those present that I had a claim in the Territory ; that I had
taken board in the Territory for a month, and that I could at any
moment become an actual resident and legal voter in the Territory ;
and that I would do so if I concluded at any time during the day that
my vote would be necessary to carry that precinct in favor of the pro-
slavery candidate for delegate to Congress. * * * I did not
during the day consider it necessary to become a resident of the Ter-
ritory for the purpose mentioned, and did not vote or offer to vote at
that election.
" I held the office of city attorney for St. Joseph's at that time, and
had held it for two or three years previously, and continued to hold it
until this spring. * * * I voted at an election in St. Joseph's in
the spring of 1855, and was re-appointed city attorney. The question
of slavery was put in issue at the election of November, 1854, to the
same extent as in every election in this Territory. General Whit-
field was regarded as the pro-slavery candidate by the pro-slavery
party. I regarded the question of slavery as the primarily prominent
issue at that election, and, so far as I know, all parties agreed in
making that question the issue of that election.
" It is my intention, and the intention of a great many other Mis-
sourians now resident in Missouri, ivhenever the slovtry issue is to be
determined upon by the people of this Territory in the adoption of the
State constitution , to remove to this Territory in time to acquire the
right to become legal voters upon that question. The leading purpose of
our intended removal to the Territory, is to determine the domestic in-
stitutions of this Territory when it comes to bt a State, and we would
not come but for that purpose, and would never think of coming here
(8) Charles Robinson, Anson J. Stone, and Eli Thaycr.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
41
tut for that purpose. 1 lelieve there are a great many in Missouri
who are so situated.'
The invasion of March 30th left both parties in a state of excite-
ment, tending directly to produce violence. The successful party was
lawless and reckless, while assuming the name of the "Law and
Order" party. The other party, at first surprised and confoun ded
was greatly irritated, and some resolved to prevent the success of the
invasion. In some districts, as before stated, protests were sent to
the governor ; in others this was prevented by threats, i'n others by
the want of time, and in others by the belief that a new election would
bring a new invasion. About the same time, all classe-s of men com-
menced bearing deadly weapons about their persons — a practice which
has continued to this time. Under these circumstances, a slight or
accidental quarrel produced unusual violence, and lawless acts became
frequent. This unhappy condition of the public mind was further
increased by acts of violence in western Missouri, where, in April, a
newspaper press called the Parkville Luminary was destroyed by a
mob.
About the same time Malcolm Clark assaulted Cole McCrea at a
squatter meeting in Leavenworth, and was shot bf McCrea in alleged
self-defence.
On the 17th day of May, William Phillips, a lawyer of Leaven-
worth, was first notified to leave, and upon his refusal was forcibly
seized, taken across the river and carried Several miles into Missouri,
and then tarred and feathered, and one side of his head shaved, and
other gross indignities put upon his person.
Previous to this outrage, a public meeting was held(10) at which
resolutions were unanimously passed, looking to unlawful violence,
and grossly intolerant in their character. The right of free speech
upon the subject of slavery was characterized as a disturbance of _ the
peace and quiet of the community, and as " circulating incendiary
sentiments." They say " to the peculiar friends of northern fanatics,
go home and vent your treason where you may find sympathy."
Among other resolves is the following :
"Resolved, That the institution of slavery is known and recog-
nised in this Territory ; that we repel the doctrine that it is a moral
and political evil, and we hurl back with scorn upon its slanderous
authors the charge of inhumanity ; and we warn all persons not to
come to our peaceful firesides to slander us and sow the seeds of dis-
cord between the master and the servant ; for, much as we deprecate
the necessity to which we may be driven, we cannot be responsibl
the consequences." ,
A committee of vigilance of thirty men was appointed to observe
and report all such persons as shall, * * * by the expression of
abolition sentiments, produce disturbance to the quiet of the citizens,
or danger to their domestic relations ; and all such persons so offend-
ing shall be notified and made to leave the Territory.
The meeting was "ably and eloquently addressed by Judge Le-
compte, Col. L. N. Burns, of Weston, Missouri, and others,
the head of the judiciary in the Territory not only assisted at
(10) A. Payna.
42 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and bitterly partizan meeting, whose direct tendency was to produce
violence and disorder, but, before any law is passed in the Territory,
he prejudges the character of the domestic institutions which the
people of the Territory were, by their organic law, ' i left perfectly
free to form and regulate in their own way."
On this committee were several of those who held certificates of elec-
tion as members of the legislature. Some of the others were then,
and still are, residents of Missouri, and many of the committee have
since been appointed to the leading offices in the Territory, one of
which is the sheriffalty of the county. Their first act was that of
mobbing Phillips.
Subsequently, on the 25th of May, A. D. 1855, a public meeting
was held, at which K. B. Kees, a member elect of the council, pre-
sided. (11) The following resolutions, offered by Judge Payne, a
member elect of the House, were unanimously adopted :
" Resolved , 1st. That we heartily endorse the action of the commit-
tee of citizens that shaved, tarred and feathered, rode on a rail, and
had sold by a negro, William Phillips, the moral perjurer.
f( 2d. That we return our thanks to the committee for faithfully
performing the trust enjoined upon them by the pro-slavery party.
" 3d. That the committee be now discharged.
l< 4th. That we severely condemn those pro-slavery men who, from
mercenary motives, are calling upon the pro-slavery party to submit
without further action.
" 5th. That, in order to secure peace and harmony to the commu-
nity, we now solemnly declare that the pro-slavery party will stand
firmly by and carry out the resolutions reported by the committee
appointed for that purpose on the ' memorable 30th/ '
The act of moral perjury here referred to is the swearing by Phil-
lips to a truthful protest in regard to the election of March 30th in
the 16th district.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
The members receiving their certificates of the governor as mem-
bers of the General Assembly of the Territory met at Pawnee, the
place appointed by the governor, on the 2d of July, A. D. 1855.
Their proceedings are stated in three printed books, herewith sub-
mitted, entitled, respectively, " The Statutes of the Territory of Kan-
sas ;" " The Journal of the Council of the Territory of Kansas ;" and
1 The Journal of the House of Eepresentatives of the Territory of
Kansas/'
Your committee do not regard their enactments as valid laws. A
legislature thus imposed upon a people cannot affect their political
rights. Such an attempt, if successful, is virtually an overthrow of
the organic law, and reduces the people of the Territory to the condi-
tion of vassals to a neighboring State. To avoid the evils of anarchy,
no armed or organized resistance to them would have been made, but
the citizens would have appealed to the ballot-box at future elections,
to the federal judiciary, and to Congress, for relief. Such, from the
proof, would have been the course of the people but for the nature of
(11) K. K. Bees.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 43
these enactments and the manner in which they are enforced. Their
character and their execution have heen so intimately connected with
one branch of this investigation — that relating to "violent and tumul-
tuous proceedings in the Territory" — that we were compelled to ex-
amine them.
The "laws" in the statute-hooks are general and special ; the latter
are strictly of a local character, relating to bridges, roads, and the
like. The great body of the general laws are exact transcripts from
the Missouri code. To make them_, in some cases, conform to the
organic act, separate acts were passed defining the meaning of words.
Thus, the word "State" is to be understood as meaning " Terri-
tory ;"(!) the words " county court" "shall be construed to mean
the board of commissioners transacting county business, or the probate
courts, according to the intent thereof." The words " circuit court"
to mean " district court. "(2)
The material differences in the Missouri and Kansas statutes are
upon the following subjects :
The qualifications of voters and of members of the Legislative As-
sembly ; the official oath of all officers, attorneys, and voters ; the
mode of selecting efficers, and their qualifications ; the slave code,
and the qualifications of jurors.
Upon these subjects the provisions of the Missouri code are such as
are usual in many of the States. But, by the " IJansas Statutes"
every officer in the Territory, executive and judicial, was to be ap-
pointed by the legislature, or by some officer appointed by it. These
appointments were not merely to meet a temporary exigency, but were
to hold over two regular elections, and until after the general election
in October, 1857. (3) Thus, by the terms of these "laws" the people
have no control whatever over either the legislative, the executive, or the
judicial departments of the Territorial government, until a time, before
which, by the natural progress of population, the Territorial govern-
ment will be superseded by a State government.
No session of the legislature is to be held during 1856, but the mem-
bers of the house are to be elected in October of that year. (6) A can-
didate to be eligible at this election must swear to support the Fugitive
Slave law.CO and each judge of election, and each voter, if challenged,
must take the same oath. (8) The same oath is required of every offi-
cer elected or appointed in the Territory, and of every attorney a
mitted to practice in the courts. (9)
A portion of the militia is required to muster on the day <
tion.flO) " Every free white male citizen of the United States, and
every free male Indian who is made a citizen by treaty or (
(1) Statutes, p. 718.
(2) Statutes, p. 766.
(3) Statutes, pp. 1G8, 227, 712.
(4) Statutes, p. 330.
(5) Statutes, p. 4-75.
(6) Statutes, p. 330.
(7) Statutes, p. 333.
(8) Statutes, p. 332.
(9) Statutes, pp. 132, 339, 516
(10) Statutes, p. 469.
44 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and over the age of twenty-one years, and who shall be an inhabitant
of the Territory, and of the county and district in which he 'offers to
vote, and shall have paid a Territorial tax, shall be a qualified elector
for all elective officers/ '(11) Two classes of persons were thus ex-
cluded, who, by the organic act, were allowed to vote, viz : those who
would not swear to the oath required, and those of foreign birth who
had declared on oath their intention to become citizens. (12) Any man
of proper age who was in the Territory on the day of election, and who
had paid one dollar as a tax to the sheriff, who was required to be at
the polls to receive it, (13) could vote as an " inhabitant," although
he had breakfasted in Missiouri, and intended to return there for sup-
per. There can be no doubt that these unusual and unconstitutional
provisions were inserted to prevent a full and fair expression of the
popular will in the election of members of the house, or to control it
by non-residents.
All jurors are required to be selected by the sheriff, and "no person
who is conscientiously opposed to the holding of slaves, or who does
not admit the right to hold slaves in the Territory, shall be a juror in
any cause affecting the right to hold slaves, or relating to slave pro-
perty."
The slave code, and every provision relating to slaves, are of a char-
acter intolerant and unusual, even for that class of legislation.
The character and conduct of the men appointed to hold office in the
Territory, contributed very much to produce the events which fol-
lowed. Thus, Samuel J. Jones was appointed sheriff of the county of
Douglas, which included within it the first and second election dis-
tricts. He had made himself peculiarly obnoxious to the settlers by
his conduct on the 30th of March, in the second district, and by his
burning the cabins of Joseph Oakley and Samuel Smith. (14)
THE ELECTION OF OCTOBER 1, 1855.
An election for delegate to Congress, to be held on the 1st day of
October, 1855, was provided for under the same rules and regulations
as were applied to other elections. The free-State men took no part
in this election, having made arrangements for holding an election on
the 9th of the same month. The citizens of Missouri attended at the
election of the 1 st of October, some paying the dollar tax, others not
being required to pay it. They were present and voted at the voting
places of Atchison(l) and Doniphan,(2) in Atchison county ; at Green
Springs, Johnson county ;(3) at Willow Springs, (4) Franklin, (5) and
Lecompton,(6) in Douglas county; at Fort Scott, Bourbon county ;(7)
(11) Statutes, p. 332.
(12) Statutes, p. 34.
(13) Statutes, p. 333.
(14) Samuel Smith and Edward Oakley.
(1) D. W. Field.
(2) John Landis.
(3) Kobert Morrow, G. Jenkins, B. C. "WestfalL
(4) A. White, T. Wolverton, J. Reid.
(5) L. M. Cox, L. A, Prather.
(6) B. C. Westfall.
(7) E. B. Cook, J. Hamilton.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 45
at Baptiste Paola, Lykins county, where some Indians voted, some
whites paying the ^ dollar tax for them ; (8) at Leaven worth City (9)
and at Kickapoo City, Leavenworth county ; at the latter place under
the lead of General B. F. Stringfellow and Colonel Lewis Burns, of
Missouri. (10) From two of the election precincts at which it was
alleged there was illegal voting, viz: Delaware and Wyandott, your
committee failed to obtain the attendance of witnesses.
You committee did not deem it necessary, in regard to this election,
to enter into details, as it was manifest that from there heing hut one
candidate, General Whitfield, he must have received a majority of the
votes cast. This election, therefore, depends not upon the numher or
character of the votes received, hut upon the validity of the laws under
which it was held. Sufficient testimony was taken to show that the
voting of citizens of Missouri was practised at this election, as at all
former elections in the Territory. The following tahle will exhibit
the result of the testimony as regards the number of legal and illegal
votes at this election.
The county of Marshall embraces the same territory as was in-
cluded in the llth district, and the reasons before stated indicate
that the great majority of the votes there cast were either illegal
or fictitious. In the counties to which our examination extended,
there were 857 illegal votes cast, as near as the proof will enable us
to determine.
Abstract of poll-books of October 1, 1855.
Counties.
Townships.
& .
+3 T3
u V5
8J3
1*
•9*
d"-s
£
Scattering.
Total votes cast.
J
1
!
«M
0
z
J
g
1
•S
I
Grasshopper
7
Bourbon '' >
Shannon
131
242
4
4
219
242
4
50
4
192
Calhoun
Davis .
29
8
42
4
29
14
29
12
41
1
Iowa _
Wayne
31
66
59
31
62
59
4
Douglas
Washington —
Wolf River
Franklin _
53
86
42
251
53
23
42
63
Lawrence
Lecompton
101
103
332
•
53
60
Franklin,.
Willow Springs --
15
15
15 '
.----•
(8) B. C. Westfall.
(9) GK F. Warren, H. Miles Moore.
(10) J. W. Stephens.
46
KANSAS AFFAIRS
ABSTKACT— Continued
Counties.
Townships.
(H
?2
8<S
||
9$
^
6 >-3
jzi
Scattering.
+»
as
o
o
f>
1
J"
0
'S
bo
^
*
6
Jzi
J
o
I
|M
0
£
Jefferson .
42
3
45
Johnson
190
190
90
100
JjCftven worth
42
Delaware
239
150
1
50
Leavenworth
212
100
"Wyandott
246
5
895
Lykens
220
220
70
150
I/ynn
67
67
Madison
(See Wise county.)
Marshall
171
171
24
» 147
Neinaha
6
6
6
Riley
28
28
28
Shawnee
One Hundred, and Ten
23
23
Tecumseh
52
75
52
Wise
Council Grove
14
14
'14
THE STATE MOVEMENTS.
While the alleged legislative assembly was in session,, a movement
was instituted to form a State government, and apply for admission
into the Union as a State. The first step taken by the people of the
Territory, in consequence of the invasion of March 30, 1855, was the
circulation, for signature, of a graphic and truthful memorial to Con-
gress. Your committee find that every allegation in this memorial
has been sustained by the testimony. No further step was taken, as
it was hoped that some action by the general government would pro-
tect them in their rights. When the alleged legislative assembly
proceeded to construct the series of enactments referred to, the settlers
were of opinion that submission to them would result in entirely de-
priving them of the rights secured to them by the organic law. Their
political condition was freely discussed in the Territory during the
summer of 1855. Several meetings were held in reference to holding
a convention to form a State government, and to apply for admission
into the Union as a State. Public opinion gradually settled in favor
of such an application to the Congress to meet in December, 1855.
The first general meeting was held in Lawrence, on the 15th of
August* 1855. The following preamble and resolution were there
passed :
" Whereas the people of Kansas have been since its settlement, and
now are, without any law-making power, therefore be it
"Besolved, That we, the people of Kansas Territory, in mass meet-
ing assembled, irrespective of party distinctions, influenced by com-
KANSAS AFFAIRS 47
mon necessity, and greatly desirous of promoting the common good
do hereby call upon and request all bonafide citizens of Kansas Terri-
tory, of whatever political views or predilections, to consult together
in their respective election districts, and in mass convention or ' other-
wise elect three delegates for each representative to which said election
district is entitled in the house of representatives of the legislative
assembly, by proclamation of Governor Reeder of date 10th of March
1855 ; said delegates to assemble in convention at the town of Topeka'
on the 19th day of September, 1855, then and there to consider and
determine upon all subjects of public interest, and particularly upon
that having reference to the speedy formation of a State constitution,
with an intention of an immediate application to be admitted as a State
into the Union of the United States of America."
Other meetings were held in various parts of the Territory, which
endorsed the action of the Lawrence meetings, and delegates were se-
lected in compliance with its recommendations.
They met at Topeka on the 19th day of September, 1855. By their
resolutions they provided for the appointment of an executive com-
mittee, to consist of seven persons, who were required to "keep a
record of their proceedings, and shall have a general superintendence
of the affairs of the Territory, so far as regards the organization of a
State government/' They were required to take steps for an election
to be held on the second Tuesday of the October following, under
regulations imposed by that convention " for members of a convention
to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas,
and take all needful measures for organizing a State government pre-
paratory to the admission of Kansas into the Union as a State." The
rules prescribed were such as usually govern elections in most of the
States of the Union, and in most respects were similar to those con-
tained in the proclamation of Governor Reeder for the election of
March 30, 1855.
The executive committee appointed by that convention accepted
their appointment, and entered upon the discharge of their duties by
issuing a proclamation, addressed to the legal voters of Kansas, re-
questing them to meet at their several precincts at the time and places
named in the proclamation, then and there to cast their ballots for
members of a constitutional convention, to meet at Topeka on the 4th
Tuesday of October then next. .
The proclamation designated the places of elections, appointed
judges, recited the qualifications of voters, and the appointment
members of the convention. , ., .
After this proclamation was issued public meetings were held m
every district in the Territory, and in nearly every precinct in<
State movement was a general topic of discussion throughout the
ritory, and there was but little opposition exhibited to it.
were held at the time and places designated, and the return
sent to the executive committee.
48
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Table showing the number of voter H, and the number of votes cast for
<!•<• Legates to the constitutional convention, October 9, 1855.
FIRST DISTRICT.
Candidates.
I'M-' inctg.
Total.
Blanton.
Palmyra.
Lawrence.
' 'li.ulofl ftobJufton
If
1C
J. H, Lane «.*«...*...„.»
70
inilli
70
16
J. K, Ooodln
61
16
Edward Jones
30
16
MorrU Hunt
72
16
Abraham Still
40
Total
74
16
6580
643
• The poll-books of Lawrence precinct were not among the others, and are either mis-
laid or lost. The number of votes cast wan 568. «
SECOND DISTRICT.
Candidates.
Precincts.
Total.
Bcnicia.
Blooming-
ton.
A. Curtis
27
27
24
27
llfi
116
116
116
143
143
140
143
H. Button..-..-
J. A. Wftkefleld
Total
27
116
143
T1IIKI) DISTRICT.
3
I'ri'dm-ts.
Candidates.
Tcciun-
sch.
(•amp
Crock.
Topcka.
\Vasl. in:T-
ton.
Browns-
ville.
Total.
W. Y, Roberts.. . .....
31
7
94
33
19
1841
0 K 11,-llul.ir
31
7
104
33
19
104
J, Oowles
14
14
H U Wontworth
12
j«>
2
3
Scattering
3
3
P 0 Sohuylw
5
5
Ibtal
31
7
119
33
24
214
• Q. P. Lowrey, M. F. Con way.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FOURTH DISTRICT.
40
Candidates.
S. Mewhinney.
Wm. Graham.
Total
Precinct.
Wilson
Springs.
Total.
55
55
55
FIFTH DISTRICT.
Candidates.
Precincts.
o
H
I
&
bo
S
<u
1
o
c3
E
o3
1
6
rE|
&
<y
1
a
<u
1
o
1
1
O
i
m
W
o
5
1
1
cc
00
"fl
<u
13
^
i
S
w
William Turner
24
24
23
24
24
23
17
49
49
49
49
49
48
8
8
8
16
16
16
16
16
16
67
67
66
66
67
66
32
32
32
32
32
32
35
35
35
35
35
35
8
9
9
33
33
33
33
33
272
273
272
255
257
220
43
16
3
76
29
251
Jas. M. Arthur
M. T. Morris
Orville C. Brown _
Richard Knight
Hamilton Smith...
Hiram Hoover
13
13
David C. Forbes
16
N. S. Nichols _
3
64
1
Wm. S. Nichols
7
29
35
1
Isaac Woollard .
Fred. Brown
24
47
16
64
32
|
33
Total
24
49
13
16
67
32
35
13
33
282
H. Kep. 200 4
50
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTH DISTRICT.
Precincts.
•
Candidates.
House of R.
J. Fargird.
Scott Town.
Columbia.
Total.
W R Gnffin
12 3
12
John Hamilton
12
27
39
A W J Brown
12
12
"Wm Saunders
12
12
W J Griffith
27
27
T H Burgess
24
24
A H Brown
26
26
Jas H Pheris
20
20
Total
12
27
20
59
SEVENTH DISTRICT.
Precinct.
Candidate.
J. B. Titus',
Council City.
Total.
Ph. C. Schuvler . ^
60
60
Total
62
62
EIGHTH DISTRICT.
Candidates.
Precinct.
Total.
"Waubaunassa.
J H Pillsbury
27
27
P C Schuvler
27
27
Total
27
27
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
NINTH DISTRICT.
51
Candidates
Precinct.
Total.
Pawnee.
BobertKlotz
fr 0
A. Hunting
f\A.
53
54
Total
Tfi
10
TENTH DISTRICT.
_„ ^ __..,...
Candidates.
Precincts.
Total.
Rock Creek.
Big Blue.
Dr. A.
Robert
Hunting
30
30
64
73
94
103
Klotz
Total
30
89
110
ELEVENTH DISTRICT.
No return except Black Vermillion precinct — total, 14.
TWELFTH DISTRICT.
Candidates.
Precincts.
Total.
St. Mary's.
Silver lake.
—
M.
Jos
J. I
19
12
18
21
31
18
21
5. Thompson -
19
21
40
52
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT.
Candidates.
Precincts. '
Total.
Falls.
Pleasant Hill.
G-eo S Hillyer
43
41
43
41
43
43
Wm. Grigsbee __
Wrn. Hicks
43
43
J. Whiting ..
Total
43
43
86
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT.
Candidates.
Precincts.
Total.
Palermo.
Burr Oak.
Doniphan.
WolfKiver.
G-. A. Cutler
40
40
40
39
33
33
33
33
42
42
42
42
18
18
18
18
133
133
133
132
Jno. Landes . _
D. M. Field
0. M. Stewart
Total
40
33
42
18
133
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT.
Candidate*.
Precincts.
Total.
Crosby's Store.
Precinct.
CalebMay .
29
29
29
29
30
30
28
2
**
E H Crosby -
30
30
28
2
Jag g Sayle . -
H B Gale
Oh S Foster ,
Total..
29
30
^
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT.
53
Precincts.
Candidates.
j
Leaven-
worth.
Wyan-
dott.
Ridge.
Easton.
Delaware.
Total.
M J Parrott
492
38
47
fil
99
M W Delahay
495
38
47
fel
99
060
Matt France
493
38
47
61
99
boo
S W Lattie
493
38
47
61
00
ool
rfii
Robert Riddle
493
38
47
61
00
fifii
D Dodge
493
38
47
61
OO
fifil
Total
514
38
47
63
22
fiRA
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.
Candidates.
Precincts.
Total.
Mission.
Wakarusa.
Willian
Samuel
i Graham _ _ .
13
13
5
5
18
18
Mewhinney ___.._ _ _ .
Total
13
5
18
RECAPIPULATION.
Votes cast in eleventh district
twelfth district
thirteenth 3/strict
fourteenth district
fifteenth district
sixteenth district
seventeenth district ..
14
40
86
133
59
684
18
Total.
2,710
Votes cast in first district 648
second district 143
third district 214
fourth district 55
fifth district 282
sixth district 59
seventh district 62
eighth district 27
ninth district 76
tenth district 110
The result of the election was proclaimed by the executive commit-
tee, and the members elect were required to meet on the 23d day (
October, 1855, at Topeka. In pursuance of this proclamati<
direction the constitutional convention met at the time and pi*
pointed, and framed a State constitution A memorial to Congr*
was also prepared, praying the admission of Kansas into the Union i as
a State under that constitution. The convention also provided that
the question of the adoption of the constitution, and other qu
be submitted to the people, and required the executive commit!
take the necessary steps for that purpose. -
Accordingly an election was held for that
of December/1855, in compliance with the proclamation i
54
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
executive committee. The returns of this election were made by the
executive committee, and an abstract of them is contained in the fol-
lowing table :
Abstract of the election on the adoption of the State Constitution, Decem-
ber 15, 1855.
' Districts.
;
Precincts.
Constitution.
No Constitution.
General bank-
ing law.
Exclusion of ne-
groes and mu-
lattoes.
No. of votes cast.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
No.
1<
2^
3<
4
5-
'1
i
9I
J
11
„{
"I
15
16
17
Lawrence
348
72
11
48
137
18
135
42
24
35
72
21
18
12
39
42
32
56
39
30
21
20
14
19
45
54
22
23
12
28
1
2
225
59
9
31
122
13
125
41
22
23
39
16
5
G
21
33
4
33
32
23
16
83
14
3
15
11
4
9
1
o
M
11
33
12
16
6
19
13
33
20
7
6
5
20
14
1
29
34
14
16
11
20
13
6
18
4
12
9
1
19
133
48
12
48
113
14
69
42
22
35
69
23
20
12
25
42
33
38
25
10
20
20
14
7
40
50
21
22
12
28
16
45
19
6
18
14
30
71
1
223
20
356
76
12
53
137
18
136
42
24
35
72
31
21
12
43
60
37
59
44
31
21
20
14
19
45
54
22
23
12
28
20
47
19
7
Ulan ton
Palmyra
Franklin
2
15
4
64
Bloomington
East Douglas
Topeka - -
Washington -- - - - - -
Brownsville - -, -
2
Tecumseh
Prairie City
3
7
Little Osage
7
2
El0" Sugar
Neosho
Pottawatomie
3
18
18
2
5
17
15
19
1
Little Sugar
Stttnton
Osawatomie
1
5
Titus
Juniata
Ohio City
Mill Creek
St. Mary's
Waubousa .
17
15
19
5
7
1
8
7
37
11
5
3
Pawnee
Grasshopper Falls
Doniphan .
2
Burr Oak
1
Jesse Padons'
Oceana
Kickapoo
20
47
19
7
24
15
32
71
| ?
4
1
Pleasant Hill
Indianola
Whitfield
3
11
4
32
53
3
Wolf River
6
1
2
St. Joseph's Bottom
Mount Pleasant
15
33
73
7
Easton
2
Mission -
2
Total
|l,731
i
46
1,120 i 564
1,287
453
1,778
NOTE. — The poll-book at Leaven worth was destroyed.
1855. was 514.
The vote cast there October 9,
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ELECTION OF JANUARY 15, 1856.
The executive committee then issued a proclamation reciting the
results of the election of the 15th of December, and at the same time
provided for an election to he held on. the 15th day of January, 185G,
for State officers and members of the general assembly of the State of
Kansas. The election was accordingly held in the several election
precincts, the returns of which were sent to the executive committee.
An abstract of them is contained in the following table.
56
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Si*
'AY '
-.loads uqof
-3 -g
•uojsinqj, 'j\i -
-a 'S
•PP9HPM 'V T
•uosuqof -Ai 'S
'A\ 'O
-N -g
K
'H
C'J>coioco-^'aiioi
{- TJ< ,-H 01 co P3 rt ?3
I
'o -3
. .Tj<t-oo<N . -ao . -oo
coo»OQa'^'ajoiooca
•<*« r-t (N CO I-H CO <?J
-y •»
: :S : :g£S£
r-i i» (M <c c* co CT m m CM
•«OJJBJ -r -
'A 'M
•nosmqon
l=o
Jl*sf :!
•^B : : Jal
"S -"c 2 fe S
fi t;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. ey
The result of this election was announced by a proclamation bv fl*
executive committee. * l
In accordance with the constitution thus adopted, tbe members of
the State legislature, and most of the State officers, were on the dav
and at the place designated by the State constitution, and took the oath '
therein prescribed After electing United States senators, passing '
some preliminary laws, and appointing a codifying committee and
preparing a memorial to Congress, the general assembly adjourned to v
meet on the 4th day of July, 1856. The laws passed were all condi-
tional upon the admission of Kansas as a State into the Union. These
proceedings were regular, and, in the opinion of your committee the
constitution thus adopted fairly expresses the will of the majority of
the settlers. They now await the action of Congress upon their me-
morial.
These elections were not illegal. Whether the result of them is
sanctioned by the action of Congress, or they are regarded as the mere
expression of popular will, and Congress should refuse to grant the
prayer of the memorial, that cannot affect their legality. The right
of the people to assemble and express their political opinion in any
form,, whether by means of an election or a convention, is secured to
them by the constitution of the United States. Even if the elections
are to be regarded as the act of a party, whether political or other-
wise, they were proper, and in accordance with examples in both
States and Territories.
The elections, however, were preceded and followed by acts of vio-
lence on the part of those who opposed them, and those persons who
approved and sustained the invasion from Missouri were peculiarly
hostile to these peaceful movements preliminary to the organization
of a State government. Instances of this violence will be referred to
hereafter.
To provide for the election of delegates to Congress, and at the same
time do it in such a manner as to obtain the judgment of the House
of Representatives upon the validity of the alleged legislative assem-
bly, sitting at Shawnee Mission, a convention was held at Big Springs
on the 5th and 6th days of September, 1855. This was a party con-
vention, and a party calling itself the free-State party was then organ-
ized. It was in no way connected with the State movement, except
that the election of delegate to Congress was fixed by it on the same
day as the election of members of a constitutional convention., instead
of the day prescribed by the alleged legislative assembly. Andrew H.
Eeeder was put in nomination as Territorial delegate to Congress, and
«n election was provided for under the regulations prescribed for the
election of March 30, 1855, excepting as to the appointment of officers
and the persons to whom returns of the elections should be made.
The election was held in accordance with these regulations, an ab-
stract of the returns of which is contained in the following table.
68
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Abstract of the election of A. H. Beeder.
Name of district.
Name of voting place.
Number o
votes.
First district
557
77
16
116
Benicia
27
Third district
24
131
31
35
7
Fourth district
54
Fifth district
33
16
Stanton _._-_- - -
44
74
56
28
Little Su^ar Creek _
41
Sixth district
Scott-town - ____._-___
27
Columbia - - - - -
20
Fuqua's • ---
12
Council City
62
Ei<rlitli district
TVaubousa
26
A J Baker's
16
Pawnee
76
Tenth district
Bio- Blue
77
Bock Creek *
30
Eleventh district
Black Vermillion
U
Twelfth district
St Mary's
19
Silver Lake
28
Thirteenth district
Pleasant Hill
43
Falls Precinct _. _
45
Hickory Point
11
Fourteenth district
Burr Oak
33
Doniphan
43
Palermo
32
Wolf Elver
17
Fifteenth district
Ocena
32
Crosby's Store
39
Jackson Crane's
30
Sixteenth district
Leaven worth
503
Wyandott ,.
3d
Delaware
22
Easton
63
Ridge Point
48
Seventeenth district
\Vakarusa
7
Mission
13
Eighteenth district
Iowa Point
40
Moorstown
16
Total..
2,849
The resolutions passed by the convention which nominated Gov
ernor Keeder, indicate the state of feeling which existed in the Terri
tory in consequence of the invasion from Missouri and the enactment
of the alleged legislative assembly. The language of some of tjn
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
resolutions is violent, and can onlv be in^'fl^ •
attempt to enforce the grossest act's of SS anWT* °f *»
of guarding against a similar invasion in future ' PUrpOSO
In the fall of 1855, there sprang out of the PYI'QK™ A- j
excitement in the Territory Lo secret S^^^^
were defensive in their character, and were designed to form a pro eZ
tion to their members against unlawful acts of%iolence Sid insult
One of those societies was purely of a local character, and was con!
fined to the town of Lawrence. Very shortly after its organization
it produced its desired effect, and then went out of use and ceasec to
exist. (2) Both societies were cumbersome, and were of no utility
except to give confidence to free-State men, and enable them to know
and aid each other in contemplated danger. So far as the evidence
shows, they led to no act of violence or resistance to either real or
alleged laws. (3)
On the 21st day of November, 1855, F. M. Coleman, a pro-slavery
man, and Charles W. Dow, a free-State man., had a dispute about the
division line between their respective claims. Several hours after-
wards, as Dow was passing from a blacksmith's shop towards his
.claim, and by the cabin of Coleman, the latter shot Dow with a
double-barreled shot-gun loaded with slugs. Dow was unarmed.
He fell across the road, and died immediately. This was about one
o'clock p. m. His dead body was allowed to lie where it fell until
after sundown, when it was conveyed by Jacob Branson to his house,
at which Dow had boarded. The testimony in regard to this homi-
cide is voluminous, (4) and shows clearly that it was a deliberate
murder by Coleman, and that Harrison Buckley and a Mr. Hargous
were accessories to it. The excitement caused by it was very great
among all classes of the settlers. On the 26th a large meeting of
citizens was held at the place where the murder was committed, and
resolutions passed that Coleman should be brought to justice. (5) In
the mean time Coleman had gone to Missouri, and then to Governor
Shannon at Shawnee Mission, in Johnston county. He was there
taken into custody by S. J. Jones, then acting as sheriff. No war-
rant was issued or examination had. On the day of the meeting at
Hickory Point, Harrison Buckley procured a peace warrant against
Jacob Branson, which was placed in the hands of Jones. That same
evening, after Branson had gone to bed, Jones came to his cabin with
a party of about 25 persons, among whom were Hargous and Buckley^
burst open the door, and found Branson in bed. He drew his pistol,
cocked it, and presented it to Branson's breast, and said : " You are
my prisoner, and if you move I will blow you through." The^others
cocked their guns and gathered round him, and took him prisoner.
They all mounted and went to Buckley's house. After a time, they
went on by a circuitous route towards Blanton's bridge, stopping to
(1) Pat Laughlin, Dr. Francis, A. H. fteeder, and M. F. Conway.
(2) G. P. Lowrey and A. H. Keeder.
(3) G. P. Lowrey.
(4) Win'. J. Nichols, W. McKinaey, D. T. Jones and wife, Thomas Brown, F. BL
Caiman, and others.
(5) W. McKinney.
60 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
" drink" on the way. As they approached the bridge there were ]
in the party, several having stopped. Jones rode up to the prisone
and among other things told him that he " had heard there we]
100 men at your house to-day," and "that he regretted they we:
not there, and that they were cheated out of their sport. "(6) In tl
mean time the alarm had been given in the neighborhood of Branson
arrest, and several of the settlers, among whom were some who ha
attended the meeting at Hickory Point that day, gathered togethe
They were greatly excited. The alleged injustice of such an arrei
of a quiet settler, under a peace warrant, by "sheriff Jones," aide
by two men believed to be accessory to a murder, and who we]
allowed to be at large, exasperated them, and they proceeded i
rapidly as possible by a nearer route than that taken by Jones, an
stopped at the house of J. S. Abbott, one of them. They were o
foot. As Jones's party approached on a canter, the rescuers sudden]
formed across the road in front of Jones and his party. Jones halte
and asked : " What's up?" The reply was : " That's what we war
to know ; what's up ?" Branson said : u They have got me a prisoi
er." Some one in the rescuing party told him to come over to the:
side. He did so, and dismounted, and the mule he rode was drive
over to Jones's party. Jones then left. (7) Of the persons engage
in this rescue, three were from Lawrence, and had attended the mee'
ing. Your committee have deemed it proper to detail the particulai
of this rescue, as it was made the ground-work of what is known a
the " Wakarusa war." On the same night of the rescue the cabin
of Coleman and Buckley were burned, but by whom is left in dout
by the testimony.
On the morning after the rescue of Branson, Jones was at the vi
lage of Franklin, near Lawrence. The rescue was spoken of in th
presence of Jones, and some conversation passed between two other
in his presence, as to whether it was most proper to send for assistanc
to Col. Boone, in Missouri, or to Gen. Shannon. Jones wrote a de*
patch and handed it to a messenger. As soon as he started, Jon€
said : " That man is taking my despatch to Missouri, -and, by God,
will have revenge before I see Missouri." A person present, who wa
examined as a witness, (8) complained publicly that the despatch wa
not sent to the governor, and within half an hour one was sent to th
governor by Jones through Horgous.
Within a few days large numbers of men from the State of Missoui
gathered and encamped on the Wakarusa. They brought with then
all the equipments of war. To obtain them, a party of men, unde
the direction of Judge J. T. V. Thompson, broke into the United State
arsenal and armory- at Liberty , Missouri, and after a forcible deten
tion of Captain Leonard, then in charge, (9) they took the cannon
muskets^ rifles, powder, hammers, and, indeed, all the materials an«
munitions of war they desired, some of which have never been re
turned or accounted for.
(6) Jacob Branson.
(7) Jacob Branson.
(8) L. A. Pratb.er.
(9) Luther Leonard.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
61
The chief hostility of this military foray was against the town of
Lawrence ; and this was especially the case with the officers of the
law.
Your committee can see in the testimony no reason, excuse or pal-
liation for this feeling.
Up to this time no icarrant or process of any kind had been in the
hands of any officer against any citizen of Laivrence.(lQ) No arrest
had been attempted, and no writ resisted in that town. The rescue
of Branson^ sprang out of a murder committed thirteen miles from
Lawrence, in a detached settlement, and neither the town nor its citi-
zens extended any protection to Branson's rescuers. (11) On the con-
trary, two or three days after the rescue, S. N. Wood, who claimed
publicly to be one of the rescuing party, wished to be arrested for the
purpose of testing the Territorial laws, and walked up to sheriff
Jones and shook hands with him, and exchanged other courtesies.
He could have been arrested without any difficulty ; and it was his de-
sign, when he went to Mr. Jones, to be arrested, but no offer or at-
tempt was made to do so. (12)
It is obvious that the only cause of this hostility is the known desire
of the citizens of Lawrence to make Kansas a free State, and their re-
pugnance to laws imposed upon them by non-residents.
Your committee do not propose to detail the incidents connected
with this foray. Fortunately for the peace of the county, a direct con-
flict between the opposing forces was avoided by an amicable arrange-
ment. The losses sustained by the settlers in property taken, and
time and money expended in their own defence, added much to the
trials incident to a new settlement. Many persons were unlawfully
taken and detained, in some cases under circumstances of gross cruel-
ty. This was especially so in the arrest and treatment of Dr. Gr. A.
Cutler and G. F. Warren. They were taken without cause or war-
rant, sixty miles from Lawrence, and when Dr. Cutler was quite sick.
They were compelled to go to the camp at Lecompton, and were put
into the custody of sheriff Jones, who had no process to arrest
them. They were taken into a small room, kept as a liquor shop,
which was open and very cold. That night Jones came in with others
and went to " playing poker at twenty-five cents ante." The priflon-
ers were obliged to sit up all night, as there was no room to lie down
when the men were playing. Jones insulted them frequently, and
told one of them he must either "tell or swing." The guard then
objected to this treatment of prisoners, and Jones desisted.
Warren thus describes their subsequent conduct:
" They then carried us down to their camp. Kelly, of the squatter
sovereign, who lives in Atchison, came round and said he thirsted 1
blood, and said he should like to hang us on the first tree. Cutli
was very weak, arid that excited him so that he became delirious
They sent lor three doctors, who came. Dr. Stringfellow was one c
them. They remained there with Cutler till after midnight, and then
took him up to the office, as it was very cold m camp.
— ^ — ~
(1Q) Wilson Shannon, Charles Kobinson.
(H) G. P. Lowrey, Charles Kobinson.
(12) Charles Eobinson.
62 KANSAS AFFAIRS
During the foray either George W. Clark or Mr. Burns murdered
Thomas Barber, while the latter was in the highway, on his road from
Lawrence to his claim. Both fired at him, and it is impossible, from
the proof, to tell whose shot was fatal. The details of this homicide
are stated by eye-witnesses. (13)
Among the many acts of lawless violence which it has been the duty
of your committee to investigate, this invasion of Lawrence is the most
defenceless. A comparison of the facts proven with the official state-
ments of the officers of the government will show how groundless were
the pretexts which gave rise to it. A community in which no crime
had been committed by any of its members, against none of whom had
a warrant been issued or a complaint made, who had resisted no pro-
cess in the hands of a real or pretended officer, was threatened with
destruction in the name of "law and order," and that, too, by men
who marched from a neighboring State with arms obtained by force,
and who at every stage of their progress violated many laws, and
among others the constitution of the United States. (14)
The chief guilt must rest on Samuel J. Jones. His character is il-
lustrated by his language at Lecompton, where peace was* made. He
said Major Clark and Burns both claimed the credit of killing that
damned abolitionist, and he didn't know which ought to have it. If
Shannon hadn't been a damned old fool, peace would never have
been declared. He would have wiped Lawrence out. He had men
and means enough to do it. (15)
Shortly after the retreat of the forces from before Lawrence, the
election upon the adoption* of the State constitution was held at Leaven-
worth city, on the 15th of December, 1855. While it was proceeding
quietly, about noon, Charles Dunn, with a party of others, smashed in
the window of the building in which the election was being held, and
they jumped into the room where the judges of election were sitting
and drove them oif.(16)
One of the clerks of election snatched up the ballot-box and fol-
lowed the judges, throwing the box behind the counter of an adjoin-
ing room, through which he passed on his way out. As he got to
the street-door, Dunn caught him by the throat and pushed him up
against the outside of the building, and demanded the ballot-box. (IT)
Then Dunn and another person struck him in the face, and he fell
into the mud ; the crowd rushed on him, and kicked him on the head
and in his side. (18) In this manner the election was broken up, Dunn
and his party obtaining the ballot-box and carrying it off.
To avoid a similar outrage at the election for State officers, &c., to
be held on the 15th of January, 1856, the election for Leavenworth
district was appointed to be held at Easton, and the time postponed
until the 17th day of February, 1856. (19) On the way to the elec-
(13) Robert T. Barber, TTiomas W. Parson, Jane W. Colborn, and others.
(14) Article four of the amendments.
(15) Harrison Nichols.
(16) George Wetherell, George H. Keller.
(17) George Wetherell.
(18) George Wetherell, George W. Hollis.
(19) J. @. Green, Henry G. Adams, Joseph H. Reed.
KANSAS AFFAIES. /,«
DO
ion persons were stopped by a party of men at a grocery, and their
nms taken from them During the afternoon parties came up to the
)lace of election and threatened to destroy the ballot-box, and were
Kilty of other insolent and abusive conduct. (20) After the polls were
losed, many of the settlers being apprehensive of an attack re
pined m the house where the election had been held, until the next
lormng. Late that night Stephen Sparks, with his son and nephew
started lor home, his route running by the store of a Mr Dawson'
inhere a large party of armed men had collected. As he approached'
hese men demanded that he should surrender, and gathered around
dm to enforce the demand. (21) Information was carried by a man in
[he company of Mr. Sparks to the house where the election had been
leld. B. P. Brown and a company of men immediately went down
o relieve Mr. Sparks, and did relieve him, when he was in imminent
langer.(22) Mr. Sparks then started back with Mr. Brown .and his
barty, and while on their way they were fired upon by the other party.
[They returned the fire, and an irregular fight then ensued, in which
ji man by the name of Cook, of the pro-slavery party, received a mor-
tal wound, and two of the free-State party were slightly wounded.
Mr. Brown, with seven others who had accompanied him from
Leavenworth, started on their return home. When they had pro-
peded a part of their way, they were stopped and taken prisoners by
L party of men called the " Kickapoo Kangers," under the command
bf Captain John W. Martin. They were disarmed and taken back
lo Easton, and put in Dawson's store. (23) Brown was separated from
Ihe rest of his party and taken into the office of Dr. E. S. Motter.(24)
py this time several of Martin's party, and some of the citizens of
|he place, had become intoxicated, and expressed a determination to
till Brown. (25) Captain Martin was desirous to, and did do all in
pis power to save him. Several hours were spent in discussing what
ihould be done with Brown and his party. In the mean time, with-
Bt the knowledge of his party, Captain Martin liberated all of
Brown's party but* himself, and aided them in their escape. (26) The
|rowd repeatedly tried to get in the room where Brown was, and at
Ire time succeeded, but were put out by Martin and others. Martin,
fending that further effort on his part to save Brown was useless,,
left and went home. The crowd then got possession of Brown, and
anally butchered him in cold blood. The wound of which he died
Jvas inflicted with a hatchet by a man of the name of Gibson. After
he had been mortally wounded, Brown was sent home with Charles
Dunn, and died that night. No attempt was made to arrest or pun-
ish the murderers of Brown. Many of them were well known citi-
lens, arid some of them were officers of the law. On the next grand
jury, which sat in Leavenworth county, the sheriff summoned several
(20 and 21) Stephen Sparks.
(22) George A. Taylor, Stephen Sparks, J. H. Bird.
(23) Henry J. Adams, George A. Taylor, M. P. Bively, John W. Martin, Wiley >V illiams.
(24) Henry J. Adams, J. W. Martin.
(25) Wiiey Williams, J. W. Martin, H. J. Adams
(26) H. J. Adams, G. A. Taylor, J. H. Bird, W. Williams.
64 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of the persons implicated in this murder. (27) One of them was M.
P. Rively, at that time ' treasurer of the county. He has 'been exam-
ined as a witness before us. The reason he gives why no indictments
were found is, ct they killed one of the pro-slavery men, and the pro-
slavery men killed one of the others, and I thought it was about
mutual." The same grand jury, however, found bills of indictment
against those who acted as judges of the free-State election. Eively
says : " I know our utmost endeavors were made to find out wl*b
acted as judges and clerks of the election of the 17th of January last,
and at all the bogus elections held by the abolitionists here. We
were very anxious to find them out, as we thought they acted ilk)-
gaily."
Your committee in their examinations have found that in no case of
crime or homicide mentioned in this report, or in the testimony, has
any indictment been found against the guilty party, except in the
homicide *of Clark by McCrea ; McCrea being a free-State man.
Your committee did not deem it within their power or duty to take
testimony as to events which have transpired since the date of their
appointment ; but as some of these events tended ^seriously to embar-
rass, hinder, and delay their investigations, they deem it proper he?e
to refer to them. On their arrival in the Territory, the people were
arrayed in two hostile parties. Their hostility continually increased
during our stay in the Territory, by the arrival of Brined bodies of
men, who from their equipments came not to follow the peaceful pur-
suits of life, but armed and organized into companies apparently fbr
war, by the unlawful detention of persons and property while passing
through the State of "Missouri, and by frequent forcible seizures of
persons and property in the Territory without legal warrant. Your
committee regret that they were compelled to witness instances of
each of those classes of outrages. While holding their session at
Westport they saw several bodies of armed men, confessedly citizens
of Missouri, march into the Territory on forays against its citizens,
but under the pretence of enforcing the enactments bafore referred. to.
The wagons of emigrants were stopped in the highways, searched
without claim of legal process, and in some instances all their prop-
erty taken from them. In Leavenworth city, leading citizens were
arrested at noon-day in presence of members of your committee, by an
armed force, without any claim of authority, except that derived from
a self-constituted committee of vigilance, many of whom were legisla-
tive and executive officers. Some were released on promising to leave
the Territory; and others, after being detained for a time, were formally
notified to leave, under the severest penalties.
The only offence charged against them was their political opinions,
and no one was thus arrested for alleged crime of any grade.
Eesistance to these lawless acts was not made by the settlers,
because, in their opinion, the persons engaged in them would have been
sustained and reinforced by the citizens of the populous border
counties of Missouri, from whence they were only separated by the
(27) M.RKively.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
65
river In one case witnessed by one of your committee, an application
for the writ of habeas corpus was prevented by the urgent solicitatio
of pro-slavery men, who insisted that it would endanger the life of
the prisoner to be discharged under legal process.
While we remained in the Territory, repeated acts of outrage were
committed upon quiet, unoffending citizens, of which we received au-
thentic intelligence. Men were attacked in the highway, robbed
and subsequently imprisoned ; others were seized and searched and
their weapons of defence taken from them without compensation
Horses were frequently taken and appropriated. Oxen were taken
from the yoke while ploughing, and butchered in the presence of
their^owners. A minister was seized in the streets of the town of
Atchison, and, under circumstances of gross barbarity, was tarred and
cottoned, and in that condition was sent to his family. All the pro-
visions of the constitution of the United States securing persons and
property were utterly disregarded. The officers of the law, instead of
protecting the people, in some instances were engaged in these out-
rages, and in no ^ instance did we learn that any man was arrested,
indicted, or punished for any of these crimes. While such offences
were committed with impunity, the laws were used as a means of in-
dicting men for holding elections preliminary to framing a constitu-
tion, and applying for admission into the Union as the State of
Kansas. Charges of high treason were made against prominent citizens
upon grounds which seem to your committee absurd and ridiculous ;
and under these charges they are now held in custody, and are refused
the privilege of bail. In several cases men were arrested in the
State of Missouri while passing on their lawful business through that
State, and detained until indictments could be found in the Territory.
These proceedings were followed by an offence of still greater mag-
nitude. Under color of legal process, a company of about 700 armed
men, the great body of whom your committee are satisfied were not
citizens of the Territory, were marched into the town of Lawrence,
under marshal Donaldson and sheriff Jones, officers claiming to act
I under the law, and then bombarded and burned to the ground a valuable
I hotel and one private house, destroyed two printing-presses and mate-
jrial, and then, being released by the officers whose posse they claimed
to be, proceeded to sack, pillage, and rob houses, stores, trunks, &c.,
even to the clothing of women and children. Some letters thus un-
lawfully taken were private ones, written by the contesting delegate,
and they were offered in evidence. Your committee did not deem
that the persons holding them had any right thus to use them, and
(refused to be made the instruments to report private letters thus
>btained.
This force was not resisted because it was collected and marshal
lundcr the forms of law. But this act of barbarity, unexampled in tl
listory of our government, was followed by its natural consequent
'.11 the restraints which American citizens are accustomed to pay, ev<
the appearance of law, were thrown off. One act of violence Jed i
mother; homicides became frequent, A party, under H. (
>mposed chiefly of citizens of Missouri, were taken prisoners
irty of settlers, and while your committee were at Westport, a
H. Rep. 200 5
64 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of the persons implicated in this murder. (27) One of them was M.
P. Kively, at that time 'treasurer of the county. He has been exam-
ined as a witness before us. The reason he gives why no indictments
were found is, " they killed one of the pro-slavery men, and the pro-
slavery men killed one of the others, and I thought it was about
mutual." The same grand jury, however, found bills of indictment
against those who acted as judges of the free-State election. Kively
says : C£ I know our utmost endeavors were made to find out who
acted as judges and clerks of the election of the 1 fall of January last,
and at all the bogus elections held by the abolitionists here. We
were very anxious to find them out, as we thought they acted ille-
gally."
Your committee in their examinations have found that in no case of
crime or homicide mentioned in this report, or in the testimony, has
any indictment been found against the guilty party, except in the
homicide "of Clark by McCrea ; McCrea being a free-State man.
Your committee did not deem it within their power or duty to take
testimony as to events which have transpired since the date of their
appointment ; but as some of these events tended seriously to embar-
rass, hinder, and delay their investigations, they deem it proper hepe
to refer to them. On their arrival in the Territory, the people were
arrayed in two hostile parties. Their hostility continually increased
during our stay in the Territory, by the arrival of ,^rmed bodies of
men, who from their equipments came not to follow the peaceful pur-
suits of life, but armed and organized into companies apparently ibr
war, by the unlawful detention of persons and property while passing
through the State of Missouri, and by frequent forcible seizures of
persons and property in the Territory without legal warrant. Your
committee regret that they were compelled to witness instances of
each of those classes of outrages. While holding their session at
Westport they saw several bodies of armed men, coafessedly citizens
of Missouri, march into the Territory on forays against its citizens,
but under the pretence of enforcing the enactments bafore referred to.
The wagons of emigrants were stopped in the highways, searched
without claim of legal process, and in some instances all their prop-
erty taken from them. In Leavenworth city, leading citizens wepe
arrested at noon-day in presence of members of your committee, by an
armed force, without any claim of authority, except that derived from
a self-constituted committee of vigilance, many of whom were legisla-
tive and executive officers. Some were released on promising to leave
the Territory; and others, after being detained for a time, were formally
notified to leave, under the severest penalties.
The only offence charged against them was their political opinions,
and no one was thus arrested for alleged crime of any grade.
Kesistance to these lawless acts was not made by the settlers,
because, in their opinion, the persons engaged in them would have been
sustained and reinforced by the citizens of the populous border
counties of Missouri, from whence they were only separated by the
(27) M. P. Eively.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
65
river. In one case witnessed by one of your committee, an application
for the writ of habeas corpus was prevented by the urgent solicitat
of pro-slavery men, jho insisted that it would endanger the life of
the prisoner to be discharged under legal process.
While we remained in the Territory, repeated acts of outrage were
committed upon quiet, unoffending citizens, of which we received au-
thentic intelligence. Men were attacked in the highway, robbed
and subsequently imprisoned ; others were seized and searched, and
their weapons of defence taken from them without compensation.
Horses were frequently taken and appropriated. Oxen were taken
from the yoke while ploughing, and butchered in the presence of
their ^owners. A minister was seized in the streets of the town of
Atchison, and, under circumstances of gross barbarity, was tarred and
cottoned, and in that condition was sent to his family. All the pro-
visions of the constitution of the United States securing persons and
property were utterly disregarded. The officers of the law, instead of
protecting the people, in some instances were engaged in these out-
rages, and in no instance did we learn that any man was arrested,
indicted, or punished for any of these crimes. While such offences
were committed with impunity, the laws were used as a means of in-
dicting men for holding elections preliminary to framing a constitu-
tion, and applying for admission into the Union as the State of
Kansas. Charges of high treason were made against prominent citizens
upon grounds which seem to your committee absurd and ridiculous ;
and under these charges they are now held in custody, and are refused
the privilege of bail. In several cases men were arrested in the
State of Missouri while passing on their lawful business through that
State, and detained until indictments could be found in the Territory.
These proceedings were followed by an offence of still greater mag-
nitude. Under color of legal process, a company of about TOO armed
men, the great body of whom your committee are satisfied were not
citizens of the Territory, were marched into the town of Lawrence,
under marshal Donaldson and sheriff Jones, officers claiming to act
under the law, and then bombarded and burned to the ground a valuable
hotel and one private house, destroyed two printing-presses and mate-
irial, and then, being released by the officers whose posse they claimed
| to be, proceeded to sack, pillage, and rob houses, stores, trunks, &c.,
even to the clothing of women and children. Some letters thus un-
lawfully taken were private ones, written by the contesting delegate,
and they were offered in evidence. Your committee did not deem
that the persons holding them had any right thus to use them, and
refused to be made the instruments to report private letters thus
obtained. ,
This force was not resisted because it was collected and marshal
hinder the forms of law. But this act of barbarity, unexampled m tJ
tistory of our government, was followed by its natural consequence
'.11 the restraints which American citizens are accustomed to pay, ei
,o the appearance of law, were thrown off. One act of violence Jed i
mother; homicides became frequent. A party, under H. (
composed chiefly of citizens of Missouri, were taken prisoners
irty of settlers, and while your committee were at Westport, a c<
H. Kep. 200 5
66 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
pany, chiefly of Missourians, accompanied by the sitting delegate,
went to relieve Pate and his party. A collision was prevented by
the United States troops. Civil war seemed impending in the Terri-
tory. Nothing can prevent so great a calamity but the presence of a
large force of United States troops, under a commander who will,
with prudence and discretion, quiet the excited passions of both
parties, and expel with force the lawless band of men coming from
Missouri and elsewhere, who, with criminal pertinacity, infest the
Territory. In some cases, and as to one entire election district, the
condition of the country prevented the attendance of witnesses, who
were either arrested and detained while, or deterred from, obeying
our process. The sergeant-at-arms who served the process upon them
was himself arrested and detained' for a short time, by an armed force
claiming to be a part of the posse of the marshal, but was allowed to
proceed upon an examination of his papers, and was furnished with a
pass signed by "Warren D. Wilkes, of South Carolina." John Upton,
another officer of the committee, was subsequently stopped by a law-
less force on the borders of the Territory, and after being detained
and treated with great indignity, was released. He, also, was fur-
nished with a pass, signed by two citizens of Missouri, and addressed
to "pro-slavery men." By reason of these disturbances we were
delayed in Westport, so that while in session there our time was but
partially occupied.
But the obstruction which created the most serious embarrassment
to your committee was the attempted arrest of Gov. Keeder, the
contesting delegate, upon a writ of attachment issued against him by
Judge Lecompte, to compel his attendance as a witness before the
frand jury of Douglas county. William Fane, recently from the
tate of Georgia, and claiming to be the deputy marshal, came into
the room of the committee while Gov. Keeder was examining a
witness before us, and producing the writ, required Gov. Reeder to
attend him. Subsequent events have only strengthened the con-
viction of your committee, that this was a wanton and unlawful in-
terference by the judge who issued the writ, tending greatly to
obstruct a full and fair investigation. Gov. Reeder and Gen. Whit-
field alone were fully possessed of that local information which would
enable us to elicit the whole truth, and it was obvious to every one
that any event which would separate either of them from the com-
mittee would necessarily hinder, delay, and embarrass it. Gov.
Beeder claimed, that under the circumstances in which he was placed,
he was privileged irom arrest, except for treason, felony, or breach
of the peace. As this was a question of privilege, -proper for the
courts, or for the privileged person alone to determine, on his peril, we
declined to give him any protection, or take any action in the matter.
He refused to obey the writ, believing it to be a mere pretence to get
the custody of his person : and fearing, as he .alleged, that he would
be assassinated by lawless bands of men then gathering in and near
Lecompte, he then left the Territory.
Subsequently H. Miles Moore, an attorney in Leavenworth city,
but for several years a citizen of western Missouri, kindly furnished
the committee information as to the residence of persons voting akthe
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 67
elections ; and in some cases examined witnesses before us. He was
arrested on the streets of that town by an armed band of about 30
men, headed by W. D. Wilkes, without any color of authority, con-
fined with other citizens under a military guard for 24 hours, and then
notified to leave the Territory. His testimony was regarded as im-
portant, and upon his sworn statement that it would endanger his
person to give ^it openly, the majority of your committee deemed it
proper to examine him ex parte, and did so.
By reason of these occurrences the contestant, and the party with
and for whom he acted, were unrepresented before us during a greater
portion of the time ; and your committee were required to ascertain
the truth in the best manner they could.
Your committee report the following facts and conclusions as estab-
lished by the testimony :
First. That each election in the Territory, held under the organic
or alleged Territorial law, has been carried by organized invasion from
the State of Missouri, by which the people of the Territory have been
prevented from exercising the rights secured to them by the organic
law.
Second. That the alleged Territorial legislature was an illegally
constituted body, and had no power to pass valid laws, and their
enactments are therefore null and void.
Third. That these alleged laws have not, as a general thing, been
used to protect persons and property, and to punish wrong, but for
unlawful purposes.
Fourth. That the election under which the sitting delegate, John
W. Whitfield, holds his seat, was not held in pursuance of any valid
law, and that it should be regarded only as the expression of the
choice of those resident citizens who voted for him.
Fifth. That the election, under which the contesting delegate,
Andrew H. Keeder, claims his seat, was not held in pursuance of law,
and that it should be regarded only as the expression of the resident
citizens who voted for him.
Sixth. That Andrew H. Reeder received a greater number of votes
of resident citizens than John W. Whitfield, for delegate.
Seventh. That in the present condition of the Territory a fair elec-
tion cannot be held without a new census, a stringent and well-
guarded election law, the selection of impartial judges, and the pres-
ence of United States troops at every place of election.
Eighth. That the various elections held by the people of the Ter-
ritory preliminary to the formation of the State government, have
been as regular as the disturbed condition of the Territory would al-
low ; and that the constitution passed by the convention, held in pur-
suance of said elections, embodies the will of a majority of the people
As it is not the province of your committee to suggest remedu
the existing troubles in the Territory of Kansas, they content
'selves with the foregoing statement of facts.
All of which is respectfully submitted. ^ ^ HOWAED.
JOHN SHEBMAN
70 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
were appointed by him, with instructions as to how their places were
to be filled if they or any of them refused or failed to act ; that he
reserved the power to himself to judge, in the first instance, of the
election returns, and that he did so act ; that the returns were made
to him, and he did set aside the election of but nine members of the
twenty-six elected to the house of representatives, and three of the
thirteen elected to the council, and gave his certificate of election to
the other seventeen members of the house, and ten members of the
council, being a majority of both branches of the legislature ; that he
ordered new elections in thos« districts where he had set aside the re-
turns ; that the governor convened the legislature, thus constituted, ac-
cording to law, on the 1st of July, 1855, and communicated with them
officially after they were organized, and recognised them as a legally
and properly constituted law-making body ; and never, until August,
1855, after he was removed from the office of governor, did he objecl
to the election of a majority of the legislature, both in the council
and in the house of representatives, to whom he had previously given
certificates.
These great leading and essential facts, upon which the validity or
invalidity of laws, or "pretended laws," of Kansas must rest, are not
denied, or even assailed, by a particle of testimony taken by the com-
mittee ; and, with these facts unassailed and unimpeached, it is be-
yond the comprehension of the undersigned how the majority couh
come to the conclusion that the laws passed by the Territorial legisla-
ture were null and void in consequence of any illegality, even if such
had been proved, in the election of its members. All questions re-
lating to that election were closed by their waiver at the proper time
and without an investigation by the proper authority. This is a well-
fixed principle in all our representative institutions ; upon it they al'
rest, and with the correctness of it Governor Eeecler himself seems to
be duly impressed. This the testimony clearly discloses. In a letter
found in the streets of Lawrence, and proven before the committee to
be in the hand-writing of Governor Reeder, and bearing his genuin<
signature, dated in this city on the 12th of February, 1856, and ad-
dressed to a friend of his in Kansas Territory, he says :
" As to putting a set of laws in operation in opposition to the Terri-
torial government, my opinion is confirmed instead of being shaken
my predictions have all been verified so far, and will be in the future
We will be, so far as legality is concerned, in the wrong ; and that is no
trifling matter, in so critical a state of things, and in view of such bloody
consequences. * I may speak my plain and private
opinion to our friends in Kansas, for it is my duty. But to the pub
lie, as you will see by my published letter, I show no divided front.'
This letter, and another also found, were addressed, as it is understood
to Grosvenor P. Lowrey, his friend, and formerly his private secretary
while he was governor of Kansas ; and so important a bearing had the;;
upon the main facts of the case, which are the legality of the 'JTerrit&rfa
legislature and their enactments, that the majority of the committee
after they had admitted them as evidence,, as it was clearly understood
by all parties, attempted to reject them. The following is their
action in regard to them :
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 7J
-The counsel for J. W. Whitfield, having at Leavenworth citv
offered m evidence before the committee two letters written by A H
Boeder— the one dated Washington, January 20, 1856, the other dated
Washington, February 12, 1856— and, before offering the said letters
their authenticity, both as to the signature and hand-writino- in the
body of said letters, was proved to be the proper hand-writing and
signature of A. H. Reeder, and of which facts the committee were
satisfied ; but a majority of the committee — Messrs. Howard and Sher-
man— not^being satisfied, at the time, of the propriety of the admission
of such evidence, took the matter under consideration ; and now, at
this day, at the sitting of the committee at Westport, the question of
the admission of said letters as evidence came up for consideration and
decision, and a majority of the committee, Messrs. Howard and
Sherman — Mr. Oliver dissenting — decline to receive said letters in
evidence, and to be engrafted into and to constitute a portion of the
evidence taken by the committee in their investigations, upon the
ground that they, the committee, have not the rightful possession of
them ; they having been found in the street, and being clearly private
letters, or so declared to be by the majority of the committee. The
said majority of the committee take no objection to the relevancy or
competency of said letters as evidence ; but place their objection solely
upon the grounds above stated, not denying that said letters might be
evidence against said A. H. Reeder in a criminal prosecution. The
committee admit that the copies of said letters, furnished to the com-
mittee for the purpose of having them transcribed into the evidence,
are true and genuine copies of the originals offered in evidence, and
which said copies are hereto appended, marked (A) and (B), and made
part of this pretest.
" The counsel for J. W. Whitfield, and on behalf of the law and
order party in Kansas Territory, offer said letters in evidence for the
double purpose of showing the opinions arid admissions of A. H.
Keeder, in reference to the matters and subjects connected with the
elections of the 30th of March, 1855, in the Territory, and the con-
test now pending between Whitfield and Reeder in the House of Rep-
resentatives, as well as to show the complicity of A. H. Reeder in all
the troubles which have led to bloodshed and civil war in the Terri-
tory.
"To the refusal of the majority of said committee to receive said
tleters in evidence Mr. Oliver enters his protest ; and also the said
John W. Whitfield, by his attorneys, protests against the action of a
majority of the committee in refusing the admission of said letters m
evidence, as depriving him of his just rights in the investigatu
before the committee, and in showing to the country the true ground
and source of all the difficulties in Kansas Territory.
By Us Attorneys,
" AUSTIN A. KING,
« JOHN SCOTT.
" WESTPORT, Mo., June 7, 1856.
" The above protest was this day presented, and the accompanying
iA KANSAS AFFAIRS.
copies of letters, marked by rue ( Exhibit A, accompanying protest/
and 'Exhibit B, with protest/
"WM. A. HOWARD,
" Chairman K. O.
" WESTPORT, June 7, 1856."
But the undersigned insists that they were not only competent, but
pertinent to the main issue which the committee were sent out to in-
vestigate. He therefore incorporates copies of them in this report ;
he appends them to it, and makes them part of the same as fully as
if here entered at large.
These remarks, touching the general character of the majority's
report, and what has not been proved, are preliminary to such com-
ments as the undersigned intends to submit on the matters which
were elicited by the investigation. And another fact on the same
line of preliminary observations, deserving, in his opinion, to be no-
ticed, is, that witnesses were examined by the committee in but three
places in the Territory, to wit : Lawrence, Tecumseh, and Leaven-
worth city ; except that the testimony of Daniel Woodson, secretary
of the Territory, was taken informally at Lecompton, in regard to the
loss of poll-books in certain districts, and also a certain letter said to
have been written by him. All the places in which witnesses were
examined touching the election of the 30th of March, 1855, were in
districts where the elections had been set aside by Governor Reeder
himself, as before stated. All the testimony they took touching the
elections at other places, was given by witnesses sent for and exam-
ined out of the vicinage ; and much the larger portion of the testimony
taken at the instance of the contestant was taken at Lawrence, the
great rendezvous of the malcontents in the Territory. The object of
the testimony of the witnesses produced by Governor Reeder, was to
show that the election of the legislature on the 30th of March was
carried by illegal votes from Missouri, notwithstanding he had offi-
cially adjudicated that question as governor of the Territory.
And before proceeding to notice in detail the testimony, such as it
is, adduced for that purpose, it may be proper here to advert to some
strange inconsistencies in the report of the majority, and which are
apparent upon its face. They say, for instance, "this unlawful in-
terference 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 ; arid, 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 havo been elected by the settlers, and your committee have been
unable to find that any political power whatever, however unimport-
ant, has been exercised by the people of the Territory."
This is certainly very broad and sweeping language ; and who, after
having heard it read, was not surprised to hear the same gentlemen
admit, in an after part of their report, in speaking of the first elec-
tion for a delegate to Congress, November 29, 1854, and after giving
all the facts in relation to that election, that General Whitfield was
duly elected a delegate to Congress? They say, " of the legal votes
KANSAS AFFAIRS. ^3
cast, General Whitjield received a plurality," and was consequently ,lulv
elected. And if he was duly elected by legal votes, as they were- Yorci-d
to admit from the evidence, then the result could not have heen af-
fected by non-resident voters.
The undersigned does not deem it necessary for him to say more
upon the subject of that election, which was the first object of their
inquiry.
The majority admit that General Whitfield was duly elected by the
actual settlers of the Territory, and those who were entitled to vote.
This admission is a sufficient answer to their previous statement, that
no person had been elected by the settlers, and that they had been
unable to find that any political power whatever, however unimport-
ant, had been exercised by the people of the Territory. Like incon-
sistencies appear in their statements concerning the election of mem-
bers of the legislature on the 30th of March, 185'5.
They say in the first place, in relation to this election, that compa-
nies of m^n from Missouri ic were arranged in regular parties, and
sent into every council district in the Territory, and into every repre-
sentative district but one. The numbers were so distributed as to con-
trol the elections in each district. "
And then, under the head of " tenth district," they say, " this and
the c eighth election district ' formed one representative district, and
was the only one in which the invasion from Missouri did not extend.0
But under the head of " twelfth district/' they say, " the election in
this district was conducted fairly ; no complaint was made that illegal
votes were cast."
And again, under the head of "seventeenth district," they say,
" the election in this district seems to have been fairly conducted, and
not contested at all. In this district the pro-slavery party had a ma-
jority."
These contradictory statements, to the undersigned, seem wholly
inexplicable, and he leaves them for the majority to reconcile or^ ex-
plain as best they may. But the undersigned affirms, that the weight
of testimony shows that the majority of the legal voters in fourteen
out of the eighteen election districts in the Territory were in favor of
the party electing a majority of the legislature, as returned and cer-
tified to by the governor. And the testimony as to the other districts,
while it is contradictory on some points, is far from being conclusive
that a like majority did not exist in them. This, moreover, appears
from the report of the majority itself, without referring to the test
mony.
The Territory was divided into ten council election districts
fourteen representative districts. The first council district embraced
the city of Lawrence— the stronghold of the abolition or free-
partv, as it is called. In this council district, the whole entire i >te
cast 'for the free-State ticket was but 255. The whole numbe
legal voters in that district, by the census in February before, was
446. These figures are taken from the tabular exhibit given
majority themselves. And it is also in proof by Mr. Ladd, o
Gov. Keeder's main witnesses, that at least fifty illegal vote
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
given for the free-State ticket in Lawrence by eastern emigrants just
arrived, and not entitled to vote.
These figures and this fact show that the free-State ticket did not
receive a majority of the legal voters in this district; for if fifty be
taken from the 255 cast for their ticket, it would leave only 205, being
61 short of a majority of the 466 legal voters in the district. That
Missourians may have voted there illegally, does not, and cannot, vary
this result. But the election at Lawrence was set aside by Gov. Keeder
for informality in the return.
The undersigned has compiled tables, comparing the votes cast for
the free-State ticket in the several council districts and representative
districts in the Territory. This is taken from the tables exhibited by
the majority. It is part of their own showing. In it will be seen
the number of votes cast in each district for the free-State tickets,
compared with the number of voters at the time the census was taken
in each respectively; and from this it will appear that the free-State
votes fell far short of being sufficient to elect a majority in either
branch of the legislature, even if there had been no increase of voters,
by bona fide settlers, between the time the census was taken and the
election.
But the concurrent testimony of a number of witnesses establishes
the fact conclusively, in the opinion of the undersigned, that the emi-
gration of lona fide, settlers from the southern States was greater in
the month of March, after the census was taken, than in any equal
time previous.
Here are the tables :
REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
1.1
jjj
*H k'
J!£3
1
d
CD
||
^
O) £
-2 §
2
S-l EC
8.1
fH
•2^
§d
o ^O
O OQ
> ^
§"_>
O M
> 3
« §
«t-i ®
v-i 3
<M ^
**-< "S
^8
o
<*-! ^
«4-l g
° .^
o «
o i
O -*J
°jg
o °
o o
6 "S
d
d <~j "o
d
d
d
d CJ "S
o%
fc^
to
Jz5'
*
1
97
19
1
1
466
255
2
2
369
253
3
2
212
12
1
3
212
12
2
3
193
44
1
4
101
4
1
4
442
156
2
5
92
49
1
5
253
1
6
253
35
2
6
201
140
1
7
242
152
4
7
247
1
8
99
120
1
8
215
60
1
9
102
26
1
9
208
1
10
83
1
10
468
66
2
11
47
54
2
12
215
2
|
13
203
2
j
14
335
59
a
1
1
This shows that the aggregate of the votes cast in the Territory for
the free-State ticket fell short of 800, while the census shows that there
KANSAS AFFAIRS n-r
were 2,905 legal voters in the Territory in the Febma
The free-State picket, therefore did noKi^nJ&f CKi
voters of the Territory even if all be excluded from the account who
emigrated to the Territory after the census was taken
This fact was apparent to the majority of the committee But tW
attempted to break its force in two ways : First, by comparing the
names on the poll-books with those on the census returns, from whie
comparison they argue that only a fraction over 1,300 of the le<ral
voters upon the census returns voted at that election And secondlv
)y arguing that the abolitionists were prevented from votino- by vio-
ence, threats, and intimidation.
On the first point, the undersigned deems it unnecessary to say
more than that no comparison between the poll-books and the census
returns was made except by districts. Between the time of takino- the
census and the election, settlers had changed their residence from one
part of the Territory to another,, and doubtless voted in a place differ-
ent from that in which they were registered when the census was taken.
The committee did not compare the names on the poll-books with the
names on the census returns throughout the Territory, and the com-
Darison alluded to by the majority, therefore, by no means proves what
;hey claim for it.
On the second point the undersigned will barely state that there is
no evidence that any violence was resorted to, or force employed, by
which men were prevented from voting at a single election precinct in
;he Territory, or that there was any greater disturbance at any elec-
tion precinct than frequently occurs in all our State elections in ex-
citing times. A number of witnesses on both sides swear that men on
Doth sides had arms, guns, pistols, bowie-knives, &c., and made
threats, &c. But no one of them swears that any one was prevented
?rom voting by the use of these weapons in a single instance, to the
Dest of the undersigned's recollection. The testimony from beginning
;o end does not disclose the fact of a single assault and battery at or
about the polls, or on account of the side on which any one wished to
vote or had voted, in the whole Territory, on the day of election.
Some quarrels and fights occurred at two or three places, but not about
voting, and not as many in the whole Territory as the undersigned is
informed occurred at one precinct in this city at the late municipal
election.
The undersigned will now take up and proceed with the districts in
their order. He now refers to the election districts. There were
eighteen of these.
FIRST ELECTION DISTRICT.
The testimony in this district shows that a great many strangers
were present, some with wagons and tents ; that considerable excite-
ment prevailed. But there "is no positive evidence of but a very lew
persons, known, at that time to be citizens of Missouri, being present.
All else is hearsay, vague and uncertain. While this is so, Mr. fc
ster, in his deposition hereunto appended and made part <
testifies as follows :
76 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
" I emigrated into the Territory of Kansas in June, 1854, and set-
tled in the neighborhood of Lawrence, and have resided there ever
since."
{l My acquaintance was reasonably extensive in that district, I
knew about 400 voters who resided in the district, but I did not know
near all of the resident voters of that district. So far as I know, all
the resident voters of that district were present and voted."
uAt the time of the election of the 30th March, 1855, there was a
majority of pro-slavery residents in the Lawrence district. I was well
acquainted in the district. There were about 200 free-State resident
voters in that district, and there were from 300 to 400 pro-slavery
voters at the polls that day, whom I knew to be residents of that dis-
trict, and a great many of them voted in my presence, and the others
told me they had voted."
Besides this, the testimony of other witnesses shows that a large im-
migration of bona fide settlers from Missouri came into the district
after the census was taken, and before the election. (1) The parties,
says one witness, were pretty nearly divided — perhaps more of the
free-State than pro-slavery party ; but the free-State party were di-
vided, and many voted for the pro-slavery candidates. (2) There was
no intimidation or force used to prevent any of the free-State party
from voting, and all could have voted who wished to vote. (3) In the
afternoon gome one hundred men, who had come in with Dr. Charles
Robinson from the east, marched over to the polls and voted the free-
State ticket. (4) They were said to have come into the Territory that
very day. (5)
From this testimony, it is difficult for the undersigned to see how
the majority of the committee could come to the conclusion to which
they arrived, that even in the Lawrence district there was a majority
of the legal voters for the free-State ticket.
SECOND DISTRICT.
In regard to this district, the testimony is conflicting and contra-
dictory ; but the weight of the evidence, in the opinion of the under-
signed, shows that there were many settlers came into this district
after the census was taken, and before the March election. On the
morning of election the free-State judges took arms with them into
the judges' room. The free-State men, under the lead of Judge
Wakefield, took possession of the polls, and required all the pro-
slavery men to be sworn without discrimination, and did not swear any
free-State men. The pro-slavery residents objected to this, and de-
clared that both parties ought to be sworn alike. After some time
the free-State judges resigned, and other judges were selected by the
crowd. No intimidation was used to prevent the free-State men from
vefting, but all were asked to come up and vote. The pro-slavery
(1.) Horatio Owens, James Whitlock, A. B. Wade.
(?.) James Whitlock, A. B. Wade.
(3.) Horatio Owens, J. Whitlock, A. B. Wade.
(4.( J. Whitlock, A. B. Wade, J. M. Banks.
(5.) James Whitlock, John M. Banks.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. **
ticket had a majority in the district, as the free-State party were i
united on their ticket. 6 In addition to the general testi me
feting to th» district the undersigned begs to" call th ^ ftCtioVof
the House especially to the testimony of Parris Ellison, one of the
judges to hold said election, appointed hy Governor Reeder himself
which deposition, with others in relation to the election in that dW
trict, is hereunto appended and made part of this report. Mr Ell
son, in his deposition, among other things, says :
"The undersigned, Parris Ellison, states on oath- That I em
igrated from Missouri to Kansas, and settled at Douglas the
second district, in Octoher, 1854, and have resided there ever since
I was present at the election held at Mr. Burson's, in the second dis-
trict, on the oOth March, 1855. I was appointed hy Governor Reeder
as one of the judges, and Mr. Bin-son and Mr. Ramsay, I think, were
the other two. "We met at Mr. Burson's house in the morning be-
fore the hour to open the polls. Mr. Burson was a magistrate, ap-
pointed hy Governor Reeder, and he qualified me and qualified
Ramsay. Ramsay qualified Burson. We appointed the clerks, and
qualified them. George W. Taylor was one of the clerks. My son
Parris was very sick at the time, and I wanted to resign. I proposed
to resign if the other judges would permit me to name a man to serve
in my place. Judge Wakefield, one of the candidates on the free-
State ticket, was in the room, and interfered, telling the judges that
they had power to name the man. They refused to let me appoint a
man in my place, and I determined to serve, and did serve. I re-
marked to the other judges that we were sworn to act impartially
during the whole day. They said, Yes ; we are sworn to act impar-
tially. We agreed that, inasmuch as they knew a great many voters
that I did not know, and I knew a great many that they did not
know, that those whom I knew should vote without swearing, and
those whom they knew I would not require of them to he sworn, tinder
this agreement we commenced the election. After some twenty-nine
or thirty votes were taken, the pro-slavery party had some two to
one against the free-State party. The other two judges hegan to grum-
Ue. Dr. Brooks came up to vote. I knew Dr. Brooks had a claim
in that district, and had heen on it, and had put a house on it.
u Dr. Brooks was a single man, and afterwards "brought his mother
there, and has resided there ever since. At the time of the election Dr.
Brooks claimed to be a citizen of the district. I knew him to^ be a
resident, and under our agreement I wanted to take his vote without
swearing, but the other two judges refused to take his vote unless lie
would swear; this he refused to do, because he said that he had
understood that, under the agreement, if Mr. Ellison took his vote
without requiring him to swear, that was all that was necessary.
The other two judges still refused to take his vote. The doctc
stood at the window a long time, and said, that unless they would
him vote, as he was a citizen of the district, and had been *
time previous, no other man should vote there that day. I told
that if they refused his vote it would create a fuss and confu
(6.) George W. Ward.
78 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
that it would be violating the agreement made before the election be-
gan ; but still refused. Sherman Woffal then came up to vote ; but
they refused to take his vote without swearing. Sherman said that
he could prove by me that he was a citizen of the district, and had
been a citizen of the district from the fall before. I knew that Mr.
Woffal was a resident of the district, for he was living there when I
went to the district to live. I bought hay of Mr. Woffal before the
election, which he had made and cured the summer before. They
still refused to let him vote, unless he would swear. He refused to
swear because they, the judges, would not let him prove his residence.
He said he would not swear. I had not, up to this time, objected to
any of the persons that came up to vote which the other two judges
said they knew. I had kept the agreement made between us to the
word and letter. On account of this conduct on the part of the other
two judges, a fuss and confusion arose in the crowd outside of the house.
While the fuss was going on, I proposed to adjourn, as I told them I
thought it would be over in half an hour or so. Mr. Burson, there-
upon, adjourned for half an hour. He proclaimed the adjournment
aloud. I told each one of the judges to pick up a poll-book. I took
the ballot-box, which one of the judges tried to take from me. I
think it was Ramsay, but am not certain. Sharp words passed be-
tween us, but I kept the ballot-box, and they took the poll-books and
went off. A man by the name of Jones asked me where the poll-
books were? I told him that Burson and Ramsay had taken them
off. He followed them, and brought the poll-books back. I waited
until the half hour had expired, and the other two judges did not
come back. I waited ten minutes longer. I called them ; but they
did not come. I called them again, and they did not appear. I told
the people that I would wait five or ten minutes longer, and if the
other two judges did not come they would have a right to select tvro
men to act in their places. I waited ten minutes and they did not
come, and the people elected two men to act in their places, namely,
Sherman Woffal and Frank Labay. They were qualified. I asked
Mr. Taylor to repeat the oath to them, which he did ; but, by mis-
take, Mr. Taylor signed the oath instead of myself. Mr. Taylor had
been sworn in as a clerk by Mr. Burson and Mr. Ramsay. Messrs.
Woffal and Labay and I then opened the polls, and the election
went off quietly during the remainder of the day. We kept the
polls open until 6 o'clock in the evening. Andrew McDonald was
the pro-slavery candidate for couucil, and Judge Wakefield was the
free-State candidate for council. 0. H. Brown and Mr. Ward were
the pro-slavery candidates for the house of representatives, and Jesse
was one of the free-State candidates for the house, and the other
I do not remember. All the votes received after we began the
second time were for the pro-slavery candidates. The ballot-box
which I took possession of at the time of the adjournment I care-
fully preserved, and did not open it until 6 o'clock in the evening.
It was then opened in presence of the other two judges, who had
been selected by the people, and the clerks. The ballots were count-
ed, and there were twenty-one votes for the pro-slavery ticket, and
1
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 79
twelve votes for the free-State ticket. When we commenced tne
election the second time, we got another ballot-box.
"When I got there in the morning, there were some thirty or forty
men present about the house, and when I went into the house I saw
some fifteen or twenty guns standing in one corner of the house,
which had been brought there by the free-State men. When the
adjournment took place, the guns were taken away by the free-State
men. These guns were all the guns that I saw on the ground. I
did not see a gun in the hands of a pro-slavery man that day. There
was no charge made with either guns or pistols or other weapons at
the window, nor were there any threats of violence made by the pro-
slavery men. There was no violence committed by the pro- slavery
me 1*1 there that day to the judges, nor were there any threats of
violence offered, as I saw. I did not see Mr. Samuel Jones pull out
his watch and say to the judges, Eamsay and Burson, that he would
give them five minutes to resign, nor did I hear him afterwards say
to them that he would give them one minute to resign. If this had
occurred, I should have seen and heard it, for I was in the house all
the time, and was at the door when these two judges came out. I
did not see Samuel Jones in the house at any time while Ramsay and
Burson were there. In my neighborhood I was well acquainted with
the settlers there, and at the time of the election and before. The
residents were almost all pro-slavery. From what I knew myself,
and the information received from the census taker and others, I am
eatisfied that the pro-slavery party had a decided majority in the
second district."
This is the district in which it is represented that sheriff Jones
figured so conspicuously. The testimony of Mr. Ellison clearly dis-
proves all such allegations. Other depositions, ^herewith filed and
made part of this report, fully confirm the testimony of Mr. Ellison.
THIRD DISTRICT.
The testimony in relation to this district is, that the pro-slavery
party had a majority among the actual settlers of the district. (7)
FOURTH DISTRICT.
The testimony in relation to this district shows that the pro-slavery
party had a majority among the actual settlers. (8)
FIFTH DISTRICT.
In this district the testimony goes to shoTv that there was a major-
ity for the free-State party.
SIXTH DISTRICT.
The testimony goes to show that the pro-slavery party had a major-
(7.) Gee. Holmes.
(8) A. S. Johnson, T. Mockbee.
80 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ity of the actual settlers in this district, and also that most of the free-
State men voted for the pro-slavery candidates. (9)
SEVENTH DISTRCT.
The testimony shows that the pro-slavery party had a majority
among the actual settlers in this district. (10)
EIGHTH DISTRICT.
As to this district, no testimony was taken on either side, so far
as the undersigned now remembers.
NINTH DISTRICT.
The testimony shows that in this district the pro-slavery party
were in the majority among the actual settlers. (11)
TENTH DISTRICT.
The testimony shows that the election was conducted fairly in this
district, and the result would not have heen changed "by the rejection
of all me illegal votes on both sides.
ELEVENTH DISTRICT.
In this district there is no evidence to impeach the correctness of the
election returns as made to and sanctioned by the governor.
TWELFTH DISTRICT.
There is no evidence to impeach the correctness of the returns of
election for this district.
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT.
The evidence shows that there was a pro-slavery majority of the
actual residents in this district, and that there was no force or intimi-
dation used to prevent free-State men from voting. (12)
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT.
The evidence shows that the pro-slavery party was largely in the
majority among the actual residents in this district ; that the election
was peaceable and quiet, and that no intimidation was used to pre-
vent any one from voting. (13)
(9) Win. Barbee, Joseph C. Anderson, S. A. Williams, T. B. Arnett.
(10) C. A. Linkenaugcr, Andrew Johnson.
(11) C. R. Mobley, Thomas Reynolds.
(12) Wm. Tebbs, 0. H. Tebbs, and others.
(13) W. P. Richardson, Willard P. Hall, J. H. Whitehead, J. P. Blair, and others.
KANSAS AFFAIRE 81
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT.
The evidence in regard to this district shows that the pro-slaver
party were largely in the majority among the actual residents — prob-
ably ten to one — and that there was no force or intimidation used to
prevent any man from voting. (14)
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT.
The evidence shows that the election in this district was conducted
peaceahly and quietly, and no intimidation or force used to prevent
any one from voting. There was a decided pro-slavery majority
among the actual settlers in this district. (15)
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.
The evidence shows that in this district the election was conducted
peaceahly and quietly, and that the pro-slavery party were in the
majority among the actual settlers. (16)
EIGHTEENTH DISTRICT.
The evidence shows that the election was conducted peaceahly and
quietly, and that there was a decided pro-slavery majority among the
actual settlers in this district. (1*7)
Upon an examination of the testimony taken "before the committee,'
what the undersigned has affirmed in relation to these several district*
will he found to be sustained by the proof. And from all the testi-
mony collected, when compared and weighed properly, the under-
signed feels confident that it will appear to every unprejudiced mind,
not only that General Whitfield was duly elected, by the actual
and bonajide residents, a delegate to Congress at the first election,
in November, 1854, but that the free-State party was in the minority
in the Territory at the March election in 1855, for members of the
legislature; and that that election was not carried either by force,
violence, or non-residents, but that a majority of the legislature was
duly elected as certified to by the governor, and was properly consti-
tuted as a law-making body ; and, as a consequence, that the laws
passed by them, as far as they are consistent with the constitution
of the United States and the organic act of the Territory,, are valid ;
and, as a further consequence, that the sitting delegate, having been
duly elected a delegate to Congress under a Territorial law thus
passed, is entitled to a seat on this floor as such.
And having gone through this branch of the subject, the under-
signed now beg leave to refer to other matters alluded to by the ma-
jority of the committee in their report. They speak of a certain secret
political society formed in the State of Missouri, known by different
(14) John W. Marfm, N. Williams.
(15) W. G. Matthias, L. J. Eastin, K. B, Bees, Amos Bees, A. T. Pattie, J. H. Day, A.
McAulej^ and others.
(16) Cyprian Chouteau, Rev. T. Johnson.
(17) R. L. Kirk, J. W. Foreman.
H. Rep. 200 6
82 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
names, such as " Social Band/' "Friends' Society," "Blue Lodge/'
"Sons of the South" — the object of which was to send emigrants into
Kansas for the purpose of making it a slave State.
In reply to this part of their report it is only necessary to state
that the evidence shows that these organizations were formed for the
purpose of counteracting similar and other organizations, first started
at the east and elsewhere, for the purpose of colonizing the Territory
with persons for the avowed object of making Kansas a free State,
and in this way ultimately affecting injuriously the institutions of
Missouri.
The first society of this kind was formed in the city of Washington,
immediately after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. It was
composed of members of Congress of both branches, and others.
T&e undersigned refers, in this connexion, to the testimony of the
Hon. Daniel Mace, a member from Indiana, which is appended to
this report and made part thereof. In his deposition he states that
such an association was formed in Washington immediately after the
passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act. It was called the Kansas Aid
Society, the members of which subscribed various sums of money, he
himself subscribing $50 or $100, he is not certain which amount. The
object of the movement was to induce persons to go to Kansas who
would make that their home, and who would at all elections vote
against the institution of slavery. Mr. Goodrich, a member of the
House of Kepresentatives from Massachusetts, was the president of the
society.
Soon after this society was formed, other societies were formed in
the eastern States for the same object ; that is, for the purpose of send-
ing persons to Kansas to control the elections there. A society of this
kind formed in Boston, Massachusetts, commenced sending emigrants
to Kansas for this avowed object. To show the object of this last-'
named Emigrant Aid Company, the undersigned begs leave to refer to;
a letter written by Thomas H. Webb, corresponding secretary of the;
company, and which is among the testimony taken by the committee. .
It is as follows :
BOSTON, August 14, 1854.
DEAR SIR : By the pamphlet mailed you, much of the information
which you desire can be obtained.
The next party will leave here on the 29th inst., at quarter past
2 p. m. ; they will go via Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, Alton, and St.
Louis, and will disembark at Kansas City, near the mouth of Kansas:
river. The fare through will be about $25 for first-class accommoda-
tions; meals extra, which need not cost, on an average, more than;
twenty cents. Each person is allowed 100 pounds of baggage, and fon
all excess will be liable to pay about $3 per 100. Children underi
thnee years will be taken free ; between three and twelve, pay half-
price. No pledges are required from those who go ; but as our prin-j
ciples are known, we trust those who differ from us will be honest
enough to take some other route.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 83
The agent who located our pioneer party will accompany the next
one, and furnish all requisite information.
Yours, respectfully,
THOMAS H. WEBB,
Sec. Em. Aid a<*
A. JENNINGS, Provincetoivn, Mass.
The undersigned also refers to a pamphlet admitted in evidence be-
fore the committee, from which he submits the following extracts :
" THE PIONEER PARTY. — Charles H. Branscomb, esq. , one of the com-
pany's agents, went up with the pioneer party, and located them on a
beautiful tract of land previously selected by him as an advantageous
position for a town-site. This spot is situated six miles above the
Wakarusa, a tributary of the Kansas river, and about thirty-five miles
above the mouth of the latter stream, on its south side. For a brief
description, the reader is referred to the paragraph commencing on
page eleven, and continued on page twelve, of this pamphlet.
" Mr. B. travelled in various sections of the Territory, and says it is
impossible for one who has not been in that region to conceive of its
beauty and fertility ; he confirms all the statements that have been
made respecting it in our pamphlet.
" The second party left this city on Tuesday, the 29th of August.
They reached Kansas City September 6th, and entered the Territory
under the guidance of Charles Robinson and S. L. Pomeroy, agents of
the company. They were cordially received by the pioneer party,
and have made a joint settlement at the beautiful site selected by Mr.
Branscomb.
" The third party, under the guidance of Mr. Branscomb, (who has
returned twice from Kansas since July,) left Boston September 26th.
It numbered eighty-six persons, to which accessions were made at
Worcester, Rochester, and elsewhere westward. Messrs. Pomeroy
and Robinson are making great exertions to accommodate the parties
for the winter, and to provide the materials for the erection of houses
in the spring. This pressure of business involves a large expenditure,
which their experience will enable them to make with prudence and
discretion. But their drafts cannot be met with the funds in the
hands of the trustees, unless ' material aid' furnished by those who
wish for success to the enterprise shall be very much greater than it
has been thus far.
" The fourth party left this city the 17th of October. It numbered
123 individuals, to which sixty were added at Worcester, a number at
Springfield, Albany, Rochester, and Buffalo. At Chicago a large ac-
cession was anticipated, and ere leaving St. Louis the number will
exceed 250."
This was all in the summer and fall of 1854, and prior to the first
election for a delegate to Congress, in November of that year.
Whatever organizations, therefore, were formed in Missouri, of the
character alluded to by the majority of the committee, were formed
solely and expressly for the purpose of counteracting those organiza-
tions previously formed elsewhere. This the testimony abundantly
proves.
84 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The testimony also shows that emigrants going out under those
and similar organizations were supplied with arms and munitions of
war. Great numbers of Sharpens rifles and several pieces of artillery-
were sent to the Territory. And if arms were taken by emigrants
from Missouri, it was only for the purpose of defence against arms
in the hands of emigrants from other quarters.
The testimony shows that large numbers of persons sent out by
these eastern societies went into the Territory during the month of
March, just before the election, declaring it to be their intention to
vote ; that they came there for that purpose ; and in a few days after
the election, great numbers of these persons were seen returning to
the north and east, saying, many of them, that they had voted.* Tbe
testimony also shows that a large number of Missouri ans went over
to the Territory on the clay of election, merely to prevent illegal
voting on the part of these eastern emigrants, and few of these
Missourians, and only a few, are proven to have voted, and their
names given, by the testimony ; not as many in all as those of the
eastern emigrants, who it is proven voted illegally at Lawrence.
The majority of your committee in their report say, that the only
cause of the hostilities in the Territory was the known desire of the
citizens of Lawrence to make Kansas a free State, and their repug-
nance to laws imposed upon them by non-residents.
The undersigned, however, is unable to concur with them in that
allegation. On the contrary ^ he affirms, what he believes to be the
truth of the matter, that the cause of all the difficulties in the Terri-
tory of Kansas, from its organization down to the present time, is to
to be found, first, as before stated, in the various organizations of
members of Congress, and in the northern and eastern States, with
the avowed purpose of colonizing the Territory with persons of anti-
slavery sentiments, to the end of making Kansas a free State ;
secondly, that finding themselves defeated and thwarted in their pur-
pose of electing a legislature in favor of making Kansas a free State,
as shown in a former part of this report, being chagrined and morti-
fied, they, the anti-slavery party in the Territory of Kansas, in a fit!
of desperation, determined to set themselves up in opposition to, and
in resistance of, the laws passed by the Kansas legislature, and to
resist them to a ''bloody issue," if necessary to their defeat and utterj
subversion. Indeed, the undersigned affirms, that even before thej
legislature convened, there were propositions made to form an organP
zation of a military character, to resist any and all laws which might
be enacted by that legislature, by force of arms, even should sucW
resistance result in the subversion of the government of the Terri
tory, and to the peril of the Union itself.
In proof of this allegation, the undersigned begs leave to refer
the testimony of Dr. J. N. 0. P. Wood, which is as follows :
" I came into the Territory first about the 1st of April, 1854 ; }
located permanently in Lawrence about the fah of October, 1854 ; I
resided there until some time the last of March, or the 1st of AprL
last, and then I went to Lecompton. About the time 1 came there
CIT. M. Mahan, H. M. Blossom, and others.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 85
there was considerable difficulty between what was called the Law-
rence Association, of which Dr. Robinson was president, and the set-
tlfirs that were not members of this association. The members of the
association held a meeting two or three evenings after I got there, and
elected a judge, and a Mr. Grover marshal, and organized a compa-
ny, which I think they called the ' shot-gun battalion,' for the pur-
pose of preventing persons that did not belong to their association
from settling about the place, and taking timber and stone from the
claims of those who did live there. They said there was no law in
the Territory ; that the organic act was unconstitutional — made so by
the repeal of the Missouri compromise ; and that* they intended to form
an association, and make and enforce their own laws,, irrespective of
the laws of Congress, until there could be a change in Congress, by
which the Missouri compromise could be restored, and the organic act
set aside.
" There was no open opposition to the execution of the laws until
Governor Reeder appointed justices of the peace^ and one or two mem-
bers of this association were arrested. They refused to recognise the
power ol the justice of the peace, and refused to attend as witnesses,
and would only attend their own provisional court, as they termed it.
" When the legislature was about to be elected, they held a meet-
ing, and brought out their candidates. After the legislature was
elected, and before they met, there were several meetings held in
Lawrence, arid at those meetings they passed resolutions declaring
they would submit to no laws passed by that legislature. This was what
was called the Lawrence association, different from the town associa-
tion. It was composed of men sent out under the auspices of the
Emigrant Aid society, and Dr. Robinson was at the head of the asso-
ciation. Many belonging to this association lived in different parts
of the Territory. They were allowed to vote at the meetings of the
association, which I sometimes attended, and those who were not
enrolled as members of the association were not allowed to vote or
debate at their meetings. Some of them lived at Ossawatomie, To-
peka, Manhattan, and other places in the Territory. They resolved
not to obey the laws that would be passed by the legislature, and only
obey their own provisional laws until they could form a provisional
government for the Territory.
11 The first general meeting, while the legislature was in session,
was held in Lawrence in July or August, 1855. Before that time
their meetings had been of the association ; but this was the first gea-
eral meeting. That was the first meeting at which I recollect hear-
ing Colonel Lane take ground in opposition to the laws that the legis-
lature, then in session, should pass. All the public speakers that I
heard there, said they did not intend to obey the laws that should be
passed, but intended to form a provisional government for themselves.
After the legislature adjourned, the first meeting at which I heard
any declarations with regard to the resistance of the laws was held
at Blanton's bridge. Col. Lane, Mr. Emery, and Mr. John Hutchin-
Bon addressed the meeting, urging the people to resist the laws, let
the consequences be what they might.
" In private conversation with those men, they always expressed
86 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
their determination to resist the laws, and said the officers and posse
should not enforce the laws. They said they had a new code of laws
called Sharpe's Revised Statutes, and they were going to use them in
preference to any others. It was a common remark, that they would
use Sharpe's revised statutes in preference to any others.
" I think the first hox of rifles carne there marked Revised Statutes.
I think after Mr. Dietzler came hack he said he brought the rifles
with him. When they were brought to Lawrence they wanted to put
them in my warehouse. They were lying at my door, and I inquired
what they were, and -Mr. Salter, who was keeping the warehouse for
me, said they were emigrant aid guns. I objected to their being put
in -my warehouse, and they were taken and put in Mr. Simpson's
office. I told them I would not be the first to harbor guns brought
there for revolution.
"I often expostulated with Lane, Robinson, and others, both pub-
licly and privately, as to their course, and addressed the meeting at
Blanton's bridge in opposition to their course. They said they would
resist the laws regardless of consequences,
" The next public meeting I recollect of was the Big Springs con-
vention. At that convention I had but little conversation, except
with Governor Reeder and Judge Johnson. Prior to the meeting
several days, Governor Reeder came up to our place. I heard that
he was urging the people to resist the laws, and do so by setting a
different day for the election of delegate to Congress, on which he
should be voted for. I called on him at his room, and asked him if
he had recommended that course, and he said that he had intended
to have returned to Pennsylvania, but upon reflection he had con-
cluded that if they would take that course at the convention, he
would be a candidate for Congress, and had returned from Kansas
City, where he had taken his trunks and baggage. He said he had
understood since he came there that Lane, Roberts, and others, would
be candidates before the convention ; but if they would witladraw,
and the course he had indicated was taken, he would be a candidate
for Congress. He said it would give him an opportunity to bring
the matter before Congress, and with the majority they had then in
Congress against the democratic party he thought he could succeed
in ousting General Whitfield if elected.
" A meeting was held in Lawrence, and it was agreed upon that
a different day should be fixed upon for the election ; and the candi-
dates who were there — Robinson, Lane, and some others — agreed to
withdraw in favor of Governor Reeder. This was four or five days
before the Big Springs convention.
" I rode up to that convention in company with General Pomeroy,
who invited me to go up with him. At the convention I had another
conversation with Governor Reeder. We had always been on the
most intimate terms, and I talked with him as I would with any
friend. I talked with him, and said that I thought that by taking
that course, and thereby repudiating the laws, it would bring a state
of anarchy upon the Territory that he nor I would probably live to
see the end of. I said it would be opening the door and giving an
invitation to outlaws outside of the Territorv to come and make that
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 87
the field of operations ; that it would bring about a state of things
that would be injurious to the country, by preventing capitalists from
risking their means in such a country.
" He replied that he thought differently ; that they had determined
to adopt the platform of the Topeka convention, held before that time,
recommending the formation of a provisional government. I think
he took a pencil and draughted a resolution recommending the calling
of a convention to form a State constitution. He said he would offer
that resolution ; they could go on and form their State constitution,
appoint an executive committee to issue a proclamation calling for
the election of delegates to form a free-State constitution, and they
would elect their members to the legislature, pass their laws ; and if
Congress did not admit them, they would pass their own laws, and
go on independently of Congress, until such time as they could be
admitted.
"I remarked, that would bring them immediately in conflict with the
acts of the Territorial legislature, one or the other of which must
become supreme ; and I thought it would necessarily bring on a colli-
sion between the two opposing parties^ and involve the country in an
armed difficulty.
" He replied, that they had made up their minds to resist the laws,
and by forming a free-State constitution they could get the aid and
sympathy of the Noi'th to help them enforce their provisional laws ;
that they were determined to resist the Territorial laws. That was
about the substance of the conversation.
" In his speech before the convention, he urged them to resist
the Territorial laws at all hazards. I have read the speech of Gov.
Reeder as reported in the proceedings of the Big Springs convention,
in a printed copy now before me. I cannot say that it contains all
his speech. He spoke for an hour, or a little over an hour. I under-
stood him distinctly to say this : that he wanted them, if they had
any regard for their rights, not to appeal to the laws for redress, nor
answer others if appealed to. He called them ' bogus' laws, meaning
thereby the Territorial laws. That, I think, is about the substance of
what he said.
"I came down home, I believe, in company with Judge Johnson,
who disapproved of the course adopted. I had conversations with
Governor Reeder afterwards, but we held our respective positions.
" A proclamation was issued by what was called the Executive
Committee, calling an election for State officers and legislature, a con-
vention to form a State constitution having met and formed a State
constitution. I talked with Lane and Robinson often about this matter.
There were free-State men in Lawrence who opposed this course^ and
oppose it yet. I myself co-operated with the free-State party, until
they took these revolutionary steps, and then I left them.
" I lived in Illinois twelve years before I came to this Territory."
Indeed the undersigned affirmed, upon the testimony, that either
before the meeting of the legislature, or during its session, or after its
adjournment, there were other organizations formed, to resist by force
of arms the execution of any laws the legislature might pass, or any
which they had passed, at all hazards, even to the destruction of the
88 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Territorial government, and the dismemberment of the confederacy
itself. In proof of this assertion the undersigned begs leave to refer
to the testimony of Pat. Laughlin, and the testimony of Dr. Andrew
J. Francis.
Pat. Laughlin testifies, in substance, that he came to Kansas from
the State of Kentucky, in May, 1855. He settled in Doniphan, and
favored the free-soil sentiment. He became a free-soiler about the
middle of August, 1855, and had a meeting of that party on the 25tk
of the same month; at which meeting S. Collins presided.
The meeting — although it was one intended for all of the four-
teenth election district, as designated by Gov. Eeeder, in his official
proclamation governing the spring election of 1855 — had but about
forty members in it, and that, too, in a district far more thickly pop-
ulated than any other district in the Territory of Kansas.
This meeting was addressed by A. Lazelere, Dr. G. A. Cutler, C.
W. Stewart, B. Harding, and others, all of whom urged very strongly
on the meeting the necessity of forming a society something on the
order of ihe "Know-nothings," by which they could unite their small
party, and labor more effectually against the pro-slavery party. This
idea was received with general acclamation by every member of the
meeting but himself. He thought this a good sign of their " Know-
nothing" origin. He therefore opposed the manoeuvres they were
making; "told them if they went into such measures, they would find
in him an unrelenting enemy. They, sooner than cause any disturb-
ance in their yet feeble ranks, gave up all thoughts of such organiza-
tions. The meeting then went on; and, after disposing of all busi-
ness before it, we had speeches from several of the leading men — S.
Collins, Dr. G. A. Cutler, C.'W. Stewart, John Fee, A. Lazelere,
B. Harding, B. G. Cady, and others — many of whom strongly urged
that the people ought to rise in arms, and with their might resist the
authorities; and sooner than permit slavery in Kansas, or even to
submit to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, to go with al]
their might for a disunion ef the States ; and, in order to effect their
purpose, shed, if necessary, the last drop of their blood. Those
speeches were received with acclamation by the poor deluded listeners.
He was appointed at this meeting, together with several others, to
represent the people of this (14th) district at the Big Springs conven-
tion, to be held on the 5th of September. Next day several of the
delegates met, and solicited him to go before the rest several days,
that he might find out what our party was doing in other parts of the
Territory. He started for Lawrence on the 27th of August, and after
riding as far as Ocena, in Atchison county, he stopped at the house
of Mr. Crosby, and made himself known to him. He then made him
acquainted with the secret military organization, which organization
had been on foot from -the 4th of April, 1855. (There was another
society previous to this.) Mr. Crosby then gave him a letter of intro-
duction to G. W. Brown, of the Herald of Freedom.
He went to Lawrence, and after acquainting Brown with his busi-
ness, and giving him the letter of Mr. Crosby, he showed him a great
number of Sharpe's rifles — he supposed about 75 or 100 — and told him
they were sent to them by the Emigrant Aid Society, of Boston; that
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 89
tis society had also sent, and would continue to send, men and means
make Kansas a free State by force, if necessary. He told him that
the arms and munitions of war were sent generally as dry goods or
>ks to the agent of the society; and were sent concealed in this
tanner, that they might not he detected by the United States offi-
cers. He told him that when our regiment would number thirty
men, we could send a delegate to Boston ; but that he must first visit
Lawrence, where he would get letters of introduction to the society in
Boston, who would furnish us with as many rifles as we had men to
bear them "in the neighborhood; and, furthermore, that he would get
them gratis.
While in Lawrence, a box of goods came, directed to C. Kobinson;
it was taken into the room where they hold their secret meetings. A
friend of his invited him to go up with him to see the kind of goods
they received from the East. He went up, and, to his surprise, saw
in the box a lot of blue jackets and white pants for military uniform;
also a drum and drum-sticks.
The lookers-on winked with their eyes, as though they meant some-
thing. There was a large house, which answered the double purpose
of a hotel and fort, and with which the public is very familiar; it was
then in the course of erection by the Emigrant Aid Society of Boston ;
it had port-holes in it for guns. He was told by Mr. Brown, Mr.
Conway, Hutchison, and Lowry, and many other leading men among
the abolitionists, that this hotel was intended principally for a fortifi-
cation for their town, for they expected their conduct would bring
them, before long, into a collision with the authorities.
A. H. Reeder seemed very well acquainted with the secret military
order. Immediately after he told his business to Mr. Brown, and let
him know he was a member of the secret order, he had an introduc-
tion to A. H. Reeder. They both then got up and went into the
back room, where the rifles were, about twenty -five feet from him,
and stood in a position on the floor where he had a full view of them.
He could see from their actions, and from part of their conversation,
which he overheard, that he and the society were the principal topics
of their conversation. When they finished their interview a preacher
came in, and he was introduced as late of Boston. The three then
began a conversation, in which the topic was, what men and means
they could get by the next election, which was to come off in the fall,
for delegate to Congress. They spoke of a preacher who had gone to
Boston for the express purpose of getting voters and other means to
insure success at the coming election.
Pursuant to public notice, the convention of the abolitionists met
at Big Springs, on tne 5th of September, 1855 ; also the executive
committee. This committee claimed the sole right to govern the
Territory. He was introduced to this convention by A. H. Reeder.
His manner of introducing him was very strange, and he was made a
member without being proposed in his hearing. Shortly after he was
introduced to the committee a man whose name, he thought, was
McCullough, and whose accent and outward demeanor bespoke him to
be from the eastern States, offered the following resolution :
" .Resolved, That every reliable free-State man in the Territory be
90 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
furnished with a rifle, a brace of pistols, and a sabre, gratis ; and that
he be required to take an oath to come when called upon, and muster
into service under his superior officer, and to sacrifice his life, if
necessary, to rescue the person and property of any person who would!
be brought under the jurisdiction of the present laws of the Territory."
The above resolution was seconded, and received by loud stampings
in every part of the house, except the chairman, (C. Robinson,) who
remained silent a few moments, as though lost in deep thought. He
at last spoke up, and asked the gentleman to withdraw his motion,
and they would act upon it in a more private manner. All seemed
silent and seemed to wonder at the chairman's course. Another spoke
up, and said he thought the resolution interfered with provisions al-
ready made.
The chairman said he thought not ; but, for reasons he cared not
to give at present, he wished the gentleman to withdraw his re-
solution, arid let them act upon it in a more private manner. It
was then withdrawn. This committee, in assuming the government
of the Territory, appointed two governing committees of three men
each side of the Kansas river, whose duty it was to establish pest
offices, mail routes, and mail carriers, to carry and take care of all
free-soil and abolition mails, which was confined to the Territory.
These two governing committees had the power to appoint persons
who would arbitrate all difficulties arising in their respective districts.
Persons so appointed were subject to removal, and responsible to the
governing committee for any neglect of duty or abuse of power. In
like manner, the governing committees were responsible to the execu-
tive committee.
All expenses of the above-named officials were to be borne by the
executive committee, who would derive the necessary aid from the
eastern States and the Emigrant Aid Society of Boston. The execu-
tive committee issued orders for all free-State men to give into the
governing committees all the statements they could which would effect
anything in weakening the pro-slavery party. He being further
north than any of the other two who were on the committee with him,
he had all the statements to take of those north of him, and any other
direction that was convenient.
There were many who gave him their statements against the legis-
lature and private individuals. All those who gave him any state-
ments, had it in such language as was capable of being construed into
a more dangerous meaning for the pro-slavery party, than what the
real definition should be. Many of them told him they were making
use of language that would make the pro-slavery party appear to the
world more guilty than they in reality were ; and no matter how false
a meaning was put on their statements, they would be easy in con-
science if they could realize their object. Many told him, when called
upon, they were willing to swear that thousands of Missourians came
over and voted, although he saw none; but admitted to him that they
saw no Missourians vote, nor did they know of any who did. He had
heard A. H. Reeder urge the people to rebellion and bloodshed, while
they listened to him as though he were one of the prophets and patri-
archs of old. He had heard men say, who appeared to take and hold
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 91
a high position among the abolitionists, openly boast that they had
helped to run off negroes from the south into Canada, and hoped the
day was near at hand when they would succeed in all their designs,
and settle those gentlemen of color along the shores of Kansas, where
they could make war on the institutions of the South — particularly of
Missouri — till there would not be a slave left in it. Such are the prin-
ciples of those who keep Kansas in a state of rebellion, and such are
the men who are the leaders of the abolitionists — leading them on to
thievery, treason, and death.
He has heard Judge Johnson, of the United States supreme court
for the Territory, often instruct the people that, when called on to
swear in the Territory, they might swear to what suited them, and
they would not be perjured, as there was no law in the Territory.
Whilst in Lawrence as delegate to the convention of the free-State
men to be held at Big Springs, he heard many of the people say many
of their people returned after the spring election. There were a great
many camps at Lawrence then. Some of those forming the camps
told him that they would return to the States in the latter part of
the fall. At the fall and winter election for a delegate to Congress,
for a State constitution and the formation of a State government, the
judges of the polls had instructions publicly, that in case of Indian or
other troubles they might adjourn from day to day, and finally to
any other district in the Territory, to hold their election. But the
private instructions were, if pro-slavery men attempted to vote, and
were likely to have a majority, they must adjourn from day to day,
and finally to any free-soil district in the Territory. He heard
many of the people in Lawrence curse the Emigrant Aid Society of
Boston, and say if it did not pay them soon they would return to the
States, for it had failed to pay them for some time. He was told by
several of the emigrants in Lawrence that the Emigrant Aid Society
of Boston paid the expenses of all men who would come out to
Kansas to vote for it to be a free State.
The following is an extract from the deposition of Andrew J.
Francis :
" Offers were made to me by various persons to introduce me to a
secret political organization. The only name I ever received as a
member of the lodge was ' Kansas Regulator.' The next morning
I was conversing with Governor Reeder, Jas. H. Lane, G. P. Lowry,
and several others, one by the name of Chapman and one by the
name of Hornsby ; but both these gentlemen had merely come up to
us as we were standing on the corner of the street talking. I had
noticed black ribbons tied in the shirt-bosoms of several gentlemen ;
I noticed one or two tied to Governor Reeder's shirt-bosom. I made
the inquiry as to what those black ribbons meant. Colonel Lane
asked me to go with him, and he would show me something that
would please me better than what I had seen the night before. The
night before I had attended a masonic lodge. Colonel Lane was in
the lodge while I was there. I made some reply to Lane, as though
awaiting to go with him, saying that I would have to see something
that would please me extraordinarily well, if it pleased me better than
what I had seen the night before. I went with Colonel Lane to the
92 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
law-office of John Hutchison, as I afterwards found out. Governor
Reeder did not go into the room where I was initiated. Doctor
Robinson was standing just before the door, with a lady, I think.
Colonel Lane asked him to leave the lady and go into the office with
us. Robinson rather objected at first, but finally came in with us
and said he would explain the nature of the organization he was
about to initiate nie into. The substance of the explanation was
that Kansas was a beautiful country arid well adapted to freedom,
and the best territory in the world for the friends of freedom to
operate on, more especially for those who were engaged in the free-
white State cause. After proceeding in that strain for awhile, he
asked me if I was willing to pledge my word and honor that I would
keep secret what I saw there and who I saw there, provided he would
pledge his word and honor that there was nothing that would inter-
fere with my duties as a citizen, or that was disloyal in any respect.
I replied that I was willing. He then gave me some other instruc-
tions that I do not now recollect, of about the same import as the
first. Colonel Lane then took me in hand and told me that he could
administer the grand obligation, which was done by my repeating after
him, as follows :
e I, of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty
God arid these witnesses, do solemnly swear that I will always hail,,
forever conceal, and never reveal any of the secrets of this organiza-
tion to any person in the known world, except it be to a member of
the order, or within the body of a just and legal council. I further-
more promise and swear, that 1 will not write, print, stain, or inditei
them on anything movable or immovable, whereby the least figure or1
character may become intelligible to myself or any other person. li
furthermore promise and swear, that I will at all times, and under all
circumstances, hold myself in readiness to obey, even to death, thei
orders of my superior officers. I furthermore promise and swear, that
I will at all times, and under all circumstances, use my influence to
make Kansas a free-white State. I furthermore promise and swear,
that all things else being equal, I will employ a free-State man in
preference to a Missouri man, or a pro-slavery man. I furthermore!
promise and swear, that all business that I may transact, so far as in
my power, shall be transacted with free-State men. I furthermore
promise and swear, that I will at all times, and under all circum-
stances, hold myself in readiness to take up arms in defence of free-
State principles, even though it should subvert the government. I
furthermore promise and swear, that I will at all times, and under all
circumstances, wear upon my person the regalia of my office and the
insignia of the order. I furthermore swear, that I will at all times,
and under all circumstances, wear on my person a weapon of death.
I furthermore promise and swear, that I will at all times, and under
all circumstances, keep in my house at least one gun, with a full
supply of ammunition. I furthermore promise and swear, that I will
at all times, and under all circumstances, when I see the sign of dis*-
tress given, rush to the assistance of the person giving it, even when
there is a greater probability of saving his life than of losing my
own. I furthermore promise and swear, that I will, to the utmost of
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 93
iy power, oppose the laws of the so-called Kansas legislature. I
furthermore promise and swear, that when I hear the words of danger
given, I will repair to the place where the danger is. I furthermore
promise and swear, that if any part of my obligation is at this time
omitted, I will consider the same as "binding when legally informed of
it. I furthermore promise and swear, that, at the first convenient
opportunity, I will commit this obligation to memory. To all of this
I solemnly swear, without equivocation or self-evasion, binding my-
self under the penalty of being declared a per juror before Heaven and
a. traitor to my country/
u I then remarked to Col. Lane, that that was a very serious obliga-
tion. He replied it was ; and also stated that it was necessary for me
to become acquainted with the signs and pass-words. The sign of
recognition is given by placing the right thumb under the chin, and
the fore-finger of the right hand by the side of the nose, quietly
scratching or rubbing it two or three times. The answer to it was
given oy placing the thumb and fore-finger of the left hand on the
lower lip, as if rubbing it. The grip was given by locking the
two first fingers of the right hand over each other. The words ac-
companying the grip are these: The one giving you the grip would
ask : £ Are you in favor of Kansas becoming a free State ? ' The
answer was: CI am, if Missouri is willing.' The means by which
persons procured admission into the council was, by going to the door
the sentinel would then present himself. The person applying would
say 'Kansas/ accenting the last syllable. The person would then
advance ta the centre of the room and salute the colonel, by placing
his right hand just above his forehead. The regalia was this: The
private members wore a black ribbon tied upon their shirt-bosoms ; the
colonel wore a red sash ; the lieutenant-colonel a green sash ; the
major a blue sash ; the captains white sashes ; the lieutenants yellow
sashes ; the orderly sergeant a very broad black ribbon upon the shirt-
bosom. Col. Lane then remarked to me that I had been made ac-
quainted with the principles of the institution, and that it was the
determination of the free-State party not to submit to the laws of the
legislature, or to any opposition that might come from Missouri or any
other quarter. I remarked to the Colonel that I was sworn to sup-
port those laws in taking my oath as a lawyer, and that I considered
that that oath was administered by a higher power than he exercised,
and hence I should not keep the obligation he had given to me ; and
under no circumstances would I do anything to subvert the institu-
tions of the country, or place myself in opposition to the laws ; and
he might depend upon it, I would expose it the first convenient oppor-
tunity. I also told him I could not consistently keep both obligations
that had been imposed upon me ; that I was also a member and min-
ister of a religious denomination, and that it would not be consistent
with my Christian duties to keep the obligation he had imposed on
me ; that I should most certainly, when the subject came up, expose
it. He stated then to me, that if that was my determination, and I
did express myself so publicly, I would hardly get away from the city
with my life. I replied to him that I would express myself so under
all circumstances, both in public and private/'
94 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
It now being most fully shown, as the undersigned believes, that
the anti-slavery party formed secret political organizations of a mili-
tary character to resist, with force of arms, the execution of the laws
of the Territory, and to defend themselves against any effort which
might be made by officers to enforce obedience to the laws and au-
thorities of the Territory ; after preparing the minds of the people
to embark in any measures, however reckless and desperate in their
nature and characters, the primary objects of these seditions, secret
associations were boldly developed at a convention held by the anti-
slavery party at Big Springs on the 5th and 6th days of September,
1855. But, before proceeding further in relation to this convention,
the undersigned deems it proper to remark, that after the legis-
lative election in March, 1855, Governor Reeder issued his procla-
mation, convening the legislature at Pawnee city, upon the express
understanding that if there were not sufficient accommodations
there for the members and officers of the legislature, they could,
strictly in accordance with the provisions of the organic act, adjourn
to any other point in the Territory, a^nd if they did so he would co-
operate with them. In proof of this, reference is made to the testi-
mony of the Rev. Thomas Johnson, a member of the council. The
legislature consequently met at Pawnee city. They remained there
but a short time, as they found no accommodations for the members
axul officers of the legislature, the great majority of them having to
camp out and cook their own provisions, there .not being boarding-
houses in the place sufficient to receive and accommodate them. The
cholera also broke out there, and several deaths occurred in conse-
quence. The legislature then adopted a resolution adjourning to
Shawnee Mission. It is evident that Pawnee city was not a suitable
place for the convening of the legislature, because of the absence of all
accommodations for members,, as well as being 145 miles from the
Missouri river, whence they derived chiefly their supplies for subsist-
ence. The house in which they were convened had neither doors nor
windows, and but a temporary floor. *
While in session, however, at Pawnee, the governor recognised them
as a legally constituled legislative body, as will be more fully shown
by reference to his message to that body ; but, after they removed to
Shawnee Mission, he vetoed all the bills they passed, of every de-
scription, upon the ground that they were sitting then at a place not
authorized by law — the only ground alleged.
Meanwhile, " The governor, instead of exercising constant vigilance,
and putting forth all his energies to prevent or counteract the tenden-
cies to illegality which are prone to exist in all imperfectly organized
and newly associated communities, allowed his attention to be divert-
ed from his official obligations by other interests, and himself set the
example of a violation of law in the performance of acts which [as it
seems] rendered it the duty of the President of the United States, in
the sequel, to remove him from the office of chief executive magistrate
of the Territory/'
The undersigned, in proof of the want of accommodations at Pawnee
city, refers to the testimony of Rev. Thomas Johnson, member of the
council, A. 8. Johnson, Thomas Barbee, Wm. Gr. Matthias, and other
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 95
members of the legislature, as taken before a justice of tbe peace,
and properly certified, which the undersigned begs to have consid-
ered a part of this report.
After the removal of Governor Reeder, chagrined as he evidently
was, he is found an active member of the Big Springs convention, held
on the 5th and 6th days of September ; at which convention, as it is
proven by the testimony of Marcus J. Parrott, a free-State man, and
a member of the free-State legislature, taken before your com-
mittee, the following resolutions, drawn up in the hand-writing of
G-ov. Reeder, were adopted. They are taken by the undersigned from
a certified copy of the proceedings of said convention, in evidence be-
fore your committee, and are as follows :
"JResolved, That we owe no allegiance or obedience to the tyran-
nical enactments of this spurious legislature ; that their laws have no
validity or binding force upon the people of Kansas, and that every
freeman amongst us is at full liberty, consistently with all his obliga-
tions as a citizen and a man, to defy and resist them, if he chooses to
do so.
"Resolved, That we will resist them, primarily, by every peaceable
and legal means within our power, until we can elect our own repre-
sentatives, and sweep them from the statute-book ; and that, as the
majority of the supreme court have so far forgotten their official duty,
have so far cast oft the honor of the lawyer and the dignity of the
judge, as to enter, clothed with the judicial ermine, into a partisan
contest, and by an extrajudicial decision, given opinions in violation
of all propriety, have prejudged our case before we could be heard,,
and have pledged themselves to these outlaws in advance to decide in
their favor, we will, therefore, take measures to carry the question of
the validity of these laws to a higher tribunal, where judges are un-
pledged and dispassionate, where the law will be administered in its
purity, and where we can at least have the hearing before the deci-
sion.
"Resolved^ That we cannot and will not quietly submit to surrender
our great ' American birthright ' — the elective franchise — which, first
by violence, and then by chicanery, artifice, weak and wicked legisla-
tion, they have so effectually accomplished to deprive us of, and that
we with scorn repudiate the ' election law/ so-called, and will not
meet with them on the day they have appointed for the election, but
will ourselves fix upon a day for the purpose of electing a delegate to
Congress..
" Resolved , That we will endure and submit to these laws no longer
than the best interests of the Territory require, as the least of two
evils, and will resist them to a bloody issue, as soon as we ascertain
that peaceful remedies shall fail and forcible resistance shall furnish
any reasonable prospect of success; and that, in the mean time, we
recommend to our friends throughout the Territory the organization
and discipline of volunteer companies, and the procurement and pre-
paration of arms."
And, finally, as the natural result of the foregoing proceedings of
the free-soil party in the Territory, the laws were violated, their ex-
ecution openly resisted by them, till at length came the difficulties at
Lawrence, in the fall of 1855, and after the Big Springs convention •
96 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
in regard to which, as the most reliable testimony taken by your
committee, the undersigned begs to refer to the^evidence of Governor
Wilson Shannon, which is as follows : "That, as to the origin, pro-
gress, and conclusion of the difficulties at Lawrence last fall, (1855,)
he begs leave to refer to his two despatches to the President of the
United States, with the accompanying documents — the first dated on
the 28th day of November, and the second on the llth day of Decem-
ber, 1855 — as containing what deponent believes to be a correct history
and account of those transactions."
The following are the despatches and documents referred to by the
witness :
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, SHAWNEE MISSION,
Kansas Territory , November 28, 1855.
SIR : Affairs in this Territory are daily assuming a shape of real
danger to the peace and good order of society. I am well satisfied
that there exists in this Territory a secret military organization which
has for its object, among other things, resistance to the laws by force.
Until within a few days past I have looked upon the threats of
leading men and public papers who have placed themselves in an atti-
tude of resistance to the laws, as not i-ntended by those who made them
to be carried into execution. I am now satisfied of the existence of this
secret military organization, and that those engaged in it have been
secretly supplied with arms and munitions of war, and that it is the
object and purpose of this organization to resist the laws by force.
The strength of this organization is variously estimated at from one
to two thousand, but I have no satisfactory data from which to esti-
mate its real strength, and I do not believe they can command for any
given purpose more than one thousand men. They are said to be well
supplied with Sharpe's rifles and revolvers, and that they are bound
by an oath to assist and aid each other in the resistance of the laws
when called upon so to do. Independent of the disclosures made by those
who formerly belonged to this association and the hints thrown out in
some of the public journals in their interest, the most practical proof of
the truth of these allegations consists in their own acts. A few days
since a difficulty took place in Douglas county,, some ten miles south of
Lawrence, between one of these men and a man by the name of Cole-
inan, from Virginia, in relation to a claim ; in which the former was shot
and died immediately. Coleman was taken into custody for trial, by
the sheriff of that county,, and to avoid all ground of objection as to
legal authority, Judge Lecompte was written to and requested to at-
tend at the county seat (it being in his judicial district) and sit as an
examining court. In the mean time a large body of armed men, said
to be from three to four hundred, collected at and near Lawrence for
the avowed purpose of rescuing Ooleman from the sheriff and executing
him without a trial. Coleman claims that he shot the man strictly in
self-defence, and is willing to abide a judicial investigation and trial.
On Monday last a warrant was issued against one of this band of men
for threatening the life of one of his neighbors, and placed in the
hands of the sheriff of the county for execution, who, with a posse of
gome ten men, arrested him on Tuesday night, and as he wasjxmvey-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 97
ing the prisoner to Lecompton, he was met about two o'clock in the
morning by a band of these men, consisting of between forty and fifty,
all armed with Sharpens rifles and revolvers, who forcibly rescued the
prisoner out of his hands, and openly proclaimed that there were no
officers or law in this Territory. In the settlement in which these
transactions took place there were from sixteen to twenty law and
order families, and about one hundred free-soil families. At the last
advices three of the houses of the former had been burnt down by this
armed band.
Cattle had been killed, and a considerable amount of corn and other
personal property destroyed, and the whole law and order population
of that neighborhood, induced by terror, had fled, except two families,
whose lives were threatened. Helpless women and children have been
forced by fear and threats to flee from their homes, and seek shelter
and protection in the State of Missouri. Measures were being taken
by the legal authorities to procure warrants against these lawless men,
and have them arrested and legally tried. Under these circumstances
the sheriff of the county has called on me for three thousand men to
aid him in the execution of the warrants in his hands, and to protect
him and his prisoner from the violence of this armed force. The force
required by the sheriff is far beyond what I believe to be necessary,
and indeed far beyond what could be raised in this Territory. From
five to eight hundred men will be amply sufficient, I have no doubt,
to protect the sheriff, and enable him to execute the legal process in
his hands. With the view of giving to the sheriff the requisite aid,
I have issued orders to Major General Richardson, of the northern
division of militia of this Territory — a prudent and discreet man — a
copy of which I send you herewith. 1 also send you a copy of a
request I have made of General Strickler, who resides in the adjoin-
ing county to Douglas. These are the only orders I have thought it
necessary to issue, by means of which I believe a sufficient force will
be raised to protect the sheriff, and enable him to execute the legal
process in his hands.
The time has come when this armed band of men, who are seeking
to subvert and render powerless the existing government, have to be
met and the laws enforced against them, or submit to their lawless
dominion. If the lives and property of unoffending citizens of this
Territory cannot be protected by law, there is an end to practical gov-
ernment, and it becomes a useless formality.
The excitement along the border of Missouri is running wild, and
nothing but the enforcement of the laws against these men will allay
it. Sioca the disclosure of the existence and purposes of this secret
military organization in this Territory, there has been much excite-
ment along the borders of Missouri, but it has been held in check,
heretofore, by assurances that the laws of the Territory would be en-
forced, and that protection would be given to the citizens against all
unlawful acts of this accociation. This feeling and intense excite-
ment can still be held in subordination if the laws are faithfully ex-
ecuted ; otherwise there is no power here that can control this border
excitement, and civil war is inevitable. This military organization is
looked upon as hostile to all southern men. or rather to the law and
H. Rep. 200 7
98 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
order party of the Territory, many of whom have relations and friends
and all have sympathizers, in Missouri, and the moment it is believec
that the laws will not furnish adequate protection to this class of citi-
zens against the lawless acts of this armed association, a force wili
be precipitated across the line to redress real and supposed wrong*
inflicted on friends that cannot be controlled, or for the mornenl
resisted. It is in vain to conceal the fact : we are standing on i
volcano, the upheavings and agitations beneath we feel, and no on<
can tell the hour when an eruption may take place. Under existing
circumstances the importance of sustaining the sheriff of Douglas
county, and enabling him to execute-,his process, independent of othei
considerations connected with the peace and good order of society, wil]
strike you at once ; and to do this by the aid and assistance of the
citizens of this Territory is the great object to be accomplished, t<
avoid the dreadfial evils of civil war. I believe this can be done ; ir
this, however, I may be mistaken. No efforts shall be wanting or
my part to preserve good order in the Territory, and I will keep yoi
constantly advised of the progress and state of things here.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
WILSON SHANNON.
His Excellency FRANKLIN PIERCE.
HEADQUARTERS, SHAWNEE MISSION,
Kansas Territory, November 27, 1855.
SIR : Eeliable information has reached me that an armed militan
force is now in Lawrence and that vicinity, in open rebellion againg
the laws of this Territory, and that they have determined that no prc
cess in the hands of the sheriff of that county shall be executed.
have received a letter from S. J. Jones, sheriff of Douglas count)
informing me that he had arrested a man under a warrant placed
his hands, and while conveying him to Lecompton he was met by a
armed force of some forty men, and that the prisoner wag taken 01
of his custody, and open defiance bid to the law. I am also dull
advised that an armed band of men have burnt a number of houseij
destroyed personal property, and turned whole families out of dooij
in Douglas county. Warrants will be issued against those men, anj
placed in the hands of the sheriff of Douglas county lor executioi
He has written to me, demanding three thousand men to aid him il
the execution of the process of the law and the preservation of peaoj
You are, therefore, hereby ordered to collect together as large
force as you can in your division, and repair without delay to Lecom
ton, and report yourself to S. el. Jones, the sheriff of Douglas counl
together with the number of your forces, and render to him all
aid and assistance in your power, if required in the execution of ai
legal process in his hands. The forces under your command are |
be used for the sole purpose of aiding the sheriff in executing
law, and for no other purpose.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
WILSON SHANNON
Major General WILLIAM P. KICHARDSON
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 99
HEADQUARTERS, SHAWNEE MISSION,
Kansas Territory, November 27, 1855.
SIR : I am this moment advised, by letter from S. J. Jones, sheriff
of Douglas county, that while conveying a prisoner to Lecompton,
whom he has arrested by virtue of a peace warrant, he was met by a
band of armed men, who took said prisoner forcibly out of his posses-
sion, and bid defiance to the execution of all law in this Territory.
He has demanded of me three thousand men to aid him in the execu-
tion of the legal process in his hands. As the southern division of
the militia of this Territory is net organized, I can only request you
to collect together as large a force as you can, and at as early a day
as practicable report yourself, with the forces you may raise, to S. J.
Jones, sheriff of Douglas county, and to give him every assistance in
your power, in the execution of the legal process in his hands.
Whatever forces you may bring to his aid are to be used for the sole
purpose of aiding the said sheriff in the execution of the law, and no
other. It is expected that every good citizen will aid and assist the
lawful authorities in the execution of the laws of the Territory and
the preservation of good order.
Your obedient servant,
WILSON SHANNON.
General II. J. STRICKLER.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, SHAWNEE MISSION,
Kansas Territory, December 11, 1855.
SIR : In my despatch to yeu'of the 28th ultimo, I advised you of the
threatened difficulties in relation to the execution of the laws of this
Territory in Douglas county. The excitement which then existed con-
tinued to increase, owing to the aggravated reports from Lawrence
and that vicinity in relation to the military preparations that were
being made to attack the sheriff and resist the execution of the laws.
The excitement increased and spread, not only throughout this whole
Territory, but was worked up to the utmost point of intensity in the
whole of the upper portion of Missouri. Armed men were seen rush-
ing from all quarters towards Lawrence, some to defend the place,
and others to demolish it. The orders I had issued to Major Gen-
eral Eichardson and General Strickler had brought to the sheriff of
Douglas county a very inadequate force for his protection, when com-
pared with the forces in the town of Lawrence. Indeed, the militia of
the Territory being wholly unorganized, no forces could be obtained
.except those who voluntarily tendered their aid to the sheriff, or to
Generals Eichardson and Strickler. The whole force in the Territory
thus obtained did not amount to more than three or four hundred
•men, badly armed, and wholly unprepared to resist the forces in Law-
rence, which amounted, at that time, to some six hundred men ; all
remarkably well armed with Sharpe's rifles and other weapons. These
facts becoming known across the line, in the State of Missouri, large
numbers of men from that State, in irregular bodies, rushed to the
100 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
county of Douglas, and many of them enrolled themselves in the
sheriif's posse. In this state of affairs, I saw no way of avoiding a
deadly conflict hut to ohtain the use of the United States forces at
Fort Leaven worth, and with that, view I addressed you a telegraphic
despatch, and received on the 5th instant your very prompt and satis-
factory reply of the 4th instant, a copy of which I immediately trans-
mitted, "by special despatch, to Colonel Sumner, with the request that
he would accompany me with his command to the scene of difficulty.
In reply, I was informed he would immediately do so, having no
douht that in due time proper instructions would he received from the
War Department. Information, however, which I received from hoth
parties, convinced me that my presence was necessary to avoid a con-
flict, and without waiting for Colonel Sumner, I repaired to the seat
of threatened hostilities, at the same time advising Colonel Sumner,
"by special despatch, of this movement. On my way to Lawrence, I
met a despatch from Colonel Sumner, informing me that, upon reflec-
tion, he had changed his determination, and that he would not marcin
with his command until he had received orders from the proper de-
partment, hut that he would he ready to move with his command the
moment such orders came to hand. I proceeded as rapidly as possible
to the camp of General Strickler, on the Wakarusa, six miles east off
Lawrence, and arrived in camp about three o'clock on the morning of'
the sixth instant. I found that General Strickler, as well as General
Kichardson, had very judiciously adopted the policy of incorporating
into their respective commands all the irregular forces that had
arrived. This was done with the view of subjecting them to military
orders and discipline, and to prevent any unlawful acts or outbreaks.
The great danger to he apprehended was from an unauthorized attack
on the town of Lawrence, which was being strongly fortified, and had
about one thousand and fifty men, well armed, to defend it, with two
pieces of artillery, while, on the other side, there was probably in all
near two thousand men, many of them indifferently armed, but having,
a strong park of artillery. I found in the camp at Wakarusa a deep
and settled feeling of hostility against the opposing forces in Lawrence
and apparently a fixed determination to attack that place and demolisl
it and the presses, and take possession of their arms. It seemed to b
a universal opinion in the camp that there was no safety to the law
and order party in the Territory while the other party were permittee
to retain their Sharpe's rifles, an instrument used only for war purposes
After mingling with all the leading men in the Wakarusa camp, anc
urging on them the importance of avoiding a conflict of arms, tha
such a step would probably light the torch of civil war and endange
the very Union itself, I still found that there was a strong desire with!
all, and a fixed determination with many, to compel the forces ir
Lawrence to give up their arms. Believing that such a deman
would lead to a conflict which, if once commenced, no one could tell
where it would end, and seeing no way to avoid it except by the ai
of the United States forces, I again wrote another communication tc
Colonel Sumner, and sent it to him by special despatch about three
o'clock on the morning of the 7th instant, requesting his presence
a copy of which I send you herewith, marked E. I received no replj
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 101
until my return to this place, after the difficulty had been arranged.
I send you a copy of this reply, marked F. Early on the morning
of the 7th instant I repaired to the carnp at Lawrence, and found
them "busily engaged in their fortifications and in drilling their
forces, and had a full and satisfactory interview with the committee
appointed by the forces in Lawrence, in relation to the impending
difficulties. So far as the execution of the laws w&s concerned, we
had no difficulty in coming to a satisfactory understanding. It was
at once agreed that the laws of the Territory should have their regu-
lar course, and that those who disputed their validity should, if they
desired to do so, test that question in the judicial tribunals of the
country; that, in the mean time, no resistance should be made to their
due execution, and the citizens of Lawrence and vicinity were, when
properly called on, to aid in the arrest of any one charged with their
violation, and aid and assist in the preservation of the peace and good
order of society; while, on my part, I gave them every assurance in my
power that they should be protected in all their rights and defended
against any unlawful aggressions. It is proper I should say, that
they claimed that a large majority of them had always held and incul-
cated the same views. The assurances I received entirely satisfied me
that no one against whom a writ had issued was then in Lawrence ;
that they had all fled, and that they were harboring, concealing, or
defending no one against whom a writ had been issued, and that here-
after there would be no combined effort made to prevent the service of
any process in the county of Douglas. This was entirely satisfactory,
and all that had been desired. But to satisfy the forces that sur-
rounded Lawrence, so that^ they could be induced to retire in order, was
the great difficulty to be overcome. To issue an order to the sheriff
to disband his posse, and to Generals Kichardson and Strickler to dis-
band their forces, would have been to let loose this large body of men,
who would have been left without control to follow the impulse of
their feelings, which evidently was to attack and disarm the people
of Lawrence. Early on the morning of the 8th, through the influ-
ence of some leading men, I procured thirteen of the leading captains
in the Wakarusa camp to be appointed a committee to confer with a
committee from the Lawrence camp, to meet at Franklin, midway
between the two hostile forces. I proceeded to the Lawrence camp,
and returned to Franklin in the evening, with the committee, where
.the proposed interview took place. This interview, which lasted for
some time, resulted in producing a better state of feeling, and the
committee from the Wakarusa camp were satisfied to retire without
doing anything more, and so reported to the army. This, wit-h the
active exertions of myself and others, produced a better feeling among
the men, and by daylight on the morning of the 9th, I felt I could
with safety order the forces to disband, and accordingly did so.
They retired in order, and refrained from any act of violence, but it
was evident there was a silent dissatisfaction at the course I had
taken. But I felt conscious I was right, and that my course would
be sanctioned alike by the dictates of humanity and sound policy. I
returned to Lawrence on the 9th, and remained until the morning of
the 10th, when, everything being quiet and safe, I returned to this
102 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
place. Everything is quiet now; but it is my duty to say to you,
frankly, that I have forebodings as to the future. The militia or
volunteer corps cannot be relied on to preserve the peace in these civil
party contests, or where partisans are concerned. A call on the
militia will generally only bring in conflict the two parties. I am
satisfied that the only forces that can be used in this Territory in en-
forcing the laws, or preserving the peace, are those of the United
States, and with this view I would suggest that the executive of this
Territory be authorized to call on the forces of the United States when,
in his judgment, the public peace and tranquillity, or the execution
of the laws, may require their assistance. Should there be an out-
break, it will most probably be sudden, and before orders can be ob-
tained from Washington the crisis will have passed. I send you
herewith the copies of rarious affidavits, letters, &c., which will give
you some information in detail touching the subject-matter of this
despatch.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
WILSON SHANNON.
His Excellency FRANKLIN PIERCE.
UNITED STATES OP AMERICA,
Territory of Kansas.
Be it remembered, that on this sixth day of December, in the year
A. D. 1855, personally appeared before me, J. M. Burrell, one of the
associate justices of the supreme court of the said Territory of Kansas,
Harrison Buckley, of lawful age, who being by me duly sworn, saith
that he is a citizen of the county of Douglas, and has resided therein
since 30th day of March last, and has resided during all that time ati
Hickory Grove ; that he was informed on good authority, and which i
he believed to be true, that Jacob Branson had threatened his life,,
both before and after the difficulty between Coleman and Dow,, whichi
led to the death of the latter. I understood that Branson swore that!
deponent should not breathe the pure air three minutes after I re--
turned, this deponent at this time having gone down to Westport, in
Missouri ; that it was these threats, made in various shapes, that made
this deponent really fear his life, and which induced him to make
affidavit against the said Branson, and procure a peace warrant t<
issue, and be placed in the hands of the sheriff of Douglas county
that this deponent was with the said sheriff (S. J. Jones) at the tim
the said Branson was arrested, which took place about two or three
o'clock in the morning ; that Branson was in bed when he was arrestec
by said sheriff ; that no pistol or other weapon was presented at th<
said Branson by any one ; that after the arrest, and after the company)
with the sheriff had proceeded about five miles in the direction of)
Lecompton, the county seat of Douglas county, the said sheriff and his
posse were set upon by about between thirty and forty men, who cam<
out from behind a house, all armed with Sharpens rifles, and present*
their guns cocked, and called out who they were ; and said Bransoi.
replied that they had got him a prisoner ; and these armed men calld
on him to come away. Branson then went over on their side, am
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 103
sheriff Jones said they were doing something they would regret here-
after in resisting the laws ; that he was sheriff of Douglas county, and,
as such, had arrested Branson. These armed men replied that they had
nola\vs,no sheriff, and no governor, and that they knew no laws but their
guns. The sheriff, being overpowered,, said to these men, that if they
took him by force of arms he had no more to say, or something to that
import, and then we rode off. This deponent further states that there
have been three houses burned in the Hickory Point settlement ; one
was this deponent's house, another belonged to Josiah Hargis, and the
third to said Coleman. All I had in the world was burned up, leaving
my wife and children without clothing. This deponent's wife and
four children fled to Missouri, where they still remain with their rela-
tives. The house of deponent was burned down, as it is said, shortly
before daylight in the morning. The wives and children of both Cole-
man and Hargis also fled to Missouri, where they still remain. There
were about fifteen or sixteen law-abiding families in the settlement
called the Hickory Grove settlement about the time these difficulties
sprung up ; they have all been forced by terror and threats of these
armed men to flee with their wives and children to the State of Mis-
souri for protection, and still remain there. These armed men have
repeatedly in my presence said that they would resist the law by force,
and there was no law in this Territory. These threats have been re-
peatedly made by these men for the last three months. And further
this deponent saith not.
H. H. BUCKLEY.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year above stated, before me.
J. M. BUKKELL,
Associate Justice /Supreme Court, Kansas Territory.
FNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
Territory of Kansas. ] SS' °
Be it remembered, that on this 7th day of December, A. D. 1855,
jrsonally came before me, S. G. Cato, one of the associate justices of
the supreme court of the Territory of Kansas, Josiah Hargis, of law-
ful age, who being by me duly sworn, deposeth and saith," that on or
about the 26th day of November, 1855, in Douglas county, sheriff
Jones called upon me, with nine others, to act as a posse to arrest one
Jacob Branson, under a peace warrant issued by Hugh Cameron, a
justice of the peace ; that he proceeded with said sheriff to Hickory
Point, in said county, and there arrested said Branson, with whom
they proceeded in the direction of Lawrence. When near a house on
the Wakarusa an armed mob of persons, amounting to between thirty
and forty, rushed from behind said house, and by force did rescue said
Branson out of the hands of said sheriff and posse, and in defiance of
of said sheriff's command, take said Branson and refuse to deliver
him to said sheriff. That the said sheriff told the said mob that he
held said Branson under a peace warrant properly issued by a legally
authorized officer ; and that he was sheriff of said county of Douglas,
104 tNSAS VVVA
and charged with the e\ . -:i of said writ. The leader of said mob
replied to said officer that they knew him as >ut not aa
sheriff of Douglas county. He then told them that he would call out
the militia to enforce the law. Their reply was that he could r.
men to enforce said law. He told their
governor for assistance ; to which the a replied that they had
no laws and no officers, and to pitch i their
gnus cocked and presented at the time of said res.
This deponent farther saith> one H. H. Buckley, of >
Dousrlas. was with said sheriff at the time of said .is one of
ieriff*s posse; that during the same night on which said
was made, said affiant saw a light in the direction of said Buckley's
house, and that he fully believes said house was at that time by.
That he believes, from circumstances within his knowledge, that said
bouse, together with his own, was burned by persons concerned with
said mob ; and that he has reason to believe that some of said houses
were fired by said Branson aforesaid, assisted by a German, commonly
called Dutch Charley ; and they were counselled and advised t
by one Farley. This affiant farther says, that at the time of tV.
coe of said prisoner he was at a house near Hickory Point, and that he
there saw three women, who told him that there had been an armed
force that day who notified them to leave, and all other pro-slavery
families in the neighborhood ; and since, said families have left said
neighborhood and fled to the State of Missouri. Said affiant says
that he believes there were at that time in said neighborhood about
fifteen pro-slavery families, nearly all of whom have fled. .- .• vresaid,
to the State of Missouri, for protection. Said armed force was repre-
ited to consist of from one hundred to one hundred and fiftv armed
men.
S. X. H AEG IS.
Sworn and subscribed before me. ^ G-. CATO.
Associate Justice of Kansas Territory.
*
In relation to events which have transpired since the apppointment
of your committee, the majority of your committee use this language:
• • Your committee did not deem it within their power or duty to take
testimony as to events which have transpired since the date* ~
appointment/* The undersigned begs to say, that the major i:
n committee did, however, take testimony as to events which
" transpired since the date of their appointnu : ed to
record the testimony of Pardee Butler, as to his being tarred and
cottoned at Atchison, and that of o: ;ching other <fve:-rs, all
happening after the date of their arrival in Kansas Territory,
consequently after that of their appointment. Having admitted tes-
timony as to some events of the kind, it was but justice to all pa
that counter testimony, relating to those as well as other events of the
same kind, should be admitted. And thus the undersigned, thoii-
when the counsel of General Whit field sought to introduce evid-.
as to the Pottawatomie Creek murders, and other outrages. Having
established a precedent, it was inconsistent for the majority of your
KANSAS AI 105
:rnittee to refuse to take such testimony upon the ground that they
had no " power," and that it was not their " duty" to ir. ; oc-
•' transpired since the date of their appointment."
f exercised .such a "power," and in part fulfil led such a "duty,"
v/hen they took testimony prejudicial to the pro-slavery party ; bufc
when testimony unfavorable to the free-State party was sought to be
introduced, it was then,, and riot till then, that the majority of your
committee concluded that it was not within " their power or duty to
take .-.••:•-.• i:;i >>i\y as to events which transpired since the date of their
appointment." But the majority of your committee extricated
themselves from the dilemma in which they had, in this regard,
placed themselves, by expunging testimony favorable to the free-
State party side — testimony already received in relation to alleged
violence shown to Pardee Butler and others, so that they could
•itly refuse to admit testimony as to outrages committed
by the free-State people, which in savage barbarity and demoniac
!tv have scarcely an equal in the history of civilized man. But,
notwithstanding that the majority deemed it without their " power
or duty" to investigate matters occurring since the time of their ap-
p->intment, they have reported, and in their report dwelt with much
warmth of expression upon, events which they admit "transpired
since the date of their appointment" — events for which they do not
claim to have a shadow of authority for their truth except vague
rumor, and for which in fact there is none as yet shown ; and the tes-
timony in regard to at least one of which events they had expunged
from the record, to wit, the tarring and cottoning of Pardee Butler.
The undersigned is of the opinion, that if the majority of your com-
irnttee are justified in reporting and dwelling upon occurrences for
the truth of which they offer no proof, he is equally, if not much more
strongly justified, in reporting and dwelling upon occurrences for the
proof of which he has sworn testimony. The majority of your com-
mittee having presented, in their report, scarcely anything but what
is favorable to the abolition party in Kansas and prejudicial to the law
and order party, the undersigned deems it a duty, no less to the House
than to the country and the cause of truth, to give some facts on the
other side favorable to the other party in Kansas, so that in present-
ly both sides, the world may have a fair chance to get at the truth,
and arrive at a just conclusion. The minority of your committee (the
majority having alluded, in their report, to events as to which they
efused to take testimony) has fortunately been furnished with sworn
estimony to which he desires to refer, and which he considers im-
)ortarit to lay before the House and the public. First in order of
imo are the murders committed on the night of the 24th of May, 1856,
ri Pottawatomie creek. In this massacre, it is known that five per-
ons were killed in one night, viz : Allen Wilkinson, William Sher-
nan, William P. Doyle, father, and William and Drury Doyle, sons.
'he undersigned begs leave to refer to various affidavits which he ap-
>ends to and makes a part of his report.
Allen Wilkinson was a member of the Kansas legislature — a quiet,
noffensive man. His widow, Louisa Jane Wilkinson, testifies, that
n the night of the 24th of May last, between the hours of midnight
106 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and day-break, slie thinks,, a party of men came to the house where
they were residing and forcibly carried her, husband away ; that they
took him in the name of the " Northern Army/; and that next morn-
ing he was found about 150 yards from the house, dead. Mrs. Wilk-
inson was very ill at the time with measles. Here follows an extract
from her affidavit: "I begged them to let Mr. Wilkinson stay with
me, saying that I was sick and helpless, and could not stay by myself.
My husband also asked them to let him stay with me until he could
get some one to wait on me ; told them that he would not run off, but
would be there the next day, or whenever called for ; the old rnan who
seemed to be in command looked at me, and then around at the child-
ren, and replied, i you have neighbors.' I said, i so I have, but,
they are not here, and I cannot go for them/ The old man replied,
'it matters not,' and told him to get ready. My husband wanted
to put on his boots, and get ready, so as to be protected from the damp
and night air, but they would not let him. They then took rny hus-
band away. * * * After they were gone I thought I heard my
husband's voice in complaint. * * Next morning Mr. Wilkinson's
body was found about 150 yards from the house, in some dead brush.
A lady, who saw my husband's body, said that there was a gash in
his head and his side. Others said that he was cut in the throat twice. ' '
Mr. Wilkinson was a poor man, and of course his widow was left desti-
tute ; but, regardless of this fact, they took away some property, in-
cluding the only horse they had. Mrs. Wilkinson was presented at
Westport, Missouri, with the necessary means to go to her father's in
Tennessee. She has two small children. Mrs. Wilkinson's descrip-
tion of the leader of the men who murdered her husband suits Cap-
tain John Brown, a well known character in the abolition party. She
says that her husband was a quiet man, and was not engaged in arrest-
ing or disturbing anybody. He took no active part in the pro-slavery
cause, so as to aggravate the abolitionists; but he was a pro-slavery
man.
The circumstaTices attending William Sherman's assassination are
testified to by Mr. James Harris, of Franklin county, Kansas. Mr.
Sherman was staying over night at the house of Harris, when, on the
night of the 24th of May, about two o'clock, Captain John Brown and
party came there, and after taking some property and questioning
Harris and others, Sherman was asked to walk out. Mr. Harris, in his
affidavit, says : "Old man Brown asked Mr. Sherman to go out with
him, and Sherman then went out with Brown. I heard nothing more
for about fifteen minutes. Two of the c Northern Army/ as they styled
themselves, staid with us until we heard a cap burst, and then these two
men left. Next morning, about ten o'clock, I found William Sher-
man dead in the creek near my house. I was looking for him; as he
had not come back, I thought he had been murdered. I took Mr.
William Sherman (body) out of the creek and examined it. Mrs.
Whiteman was with me. Sherman's skull was split open in two
places, and some of his brains were washed out by the water ; a large
hole was cut in his breast, and his left hand was cut off, except a little
piece of skin on one side."
In relation to the assassination of James P. Doyle and sons, the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 107
affidavit of Mrs. Mahala Doyle, tlie widowed mother, was procured.
William Doyle, one of the murdered, was twenty-two years of age ;
Drury Doyle, the other, was twenty years of age. Mrs. Doyle was
left very poor, with four children — one of them only eight years old —
to support. Mrs. Doyle testifies : '/That a party of armed men came
to her house ahout 11 o'clock, she thinks, on the night of the 24th of
May; they first inquired where Mr. Wilkinson lived, and then made
Mr. Doyle open his door, and went into the house, saying they were
from the 'Army of the North/ and asking them to surrender/7 Says
Mrs. Doyle : "Tlfey first took my husband out of the house, then they
took two of my sons — the two eldest, William and Drury — out, and
then took my husband and the two boys away. • My son John (sixteen
years old) was spared because I asked them, in tears, to spare him. In
a short time afterwards I heard the report of pistols — two reports ;
after which I heard moaning, as if a person was dying ; then I heard
a wild whoop. * * * I went out next morning in search of them,
and found my husband and William, my son, lying dead in the road,
near together, about two hundred yards from the house. They were
buried the next day. On the day of the burying I saw the dead body
of my son Drury. Fear for myself and the remaining children in-
duced me to leave the home which we had been living at, and I went
to the State of Missouri/'
The testimony of John Doyle goes to corroborate that of his mother.
Here follows an extract : "I found my father and one brother (Wil-
liam) lying dead in the road, about two hundred yards from the house.
I saw my other brother lying dead on the ground, about one hundred
and fifty yards from the house, in the grass; near a ravine. His fin-
gers were cut off ; his head was cut open ; there was a hole in his
breast. William's head was cut open, and a hole was in his jaw, as
though it was made by a knife, and a hole was also in his side. My
father was shot in the forehead and stabbed in the breast. I have
talked often with northern men and eastern men in the Territory, and
these men talked exactly like eastern men and northern men talk —
that is, their language and pronunciation were similar to those of
eastern and northern men with whom I had talked. An old man
commanded the party ; he was of dark complexion, arid his face was
slim. My father and brothers were pro-slavery men, and belonged
to the law and order party /'
There seems to be little or no doubt that a certain notorious leader
of the free-State party (as they call themselves) in Kansas, whose
name it is not here deemed proper to give, was at the head of the
party engaged in this fiendish massacre. Mr. Harris testifies that
one John Brown, one of the leaders of the free-State party, was en-
gaged in the killing of Sherman, and it will hardly be doubted that
they who murdered Sherman also killed the rest — all being murdered
on the same night and in the same neighborhood. Those who were
killed, it is testified, were pro-slavery people; and the undersigned
has no hesitation in saying that these ill-fated men were deprived •!'
their lives, and their wives and children made widows and orphans, in
consequence of the insurrectionary movements instigated and set on
loot by the reckless leaders of the Topeka convention.
108 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Next in order are the outrages committed on the property of Mor-
ton Bourn and that of J. M. Bernard. The affidavit of Mr. Bourn
shows that, on the night of Wednesday, the 28th day of May, 1856,
a party of abolitionists entered his house forcibly, threatened to take
his life if he did not leave the Territory immediately ; took all the
money he had, which they said they wanted to carry on the war.
They also took guns, saddles, and horses, and then rohbed his store
of various articles. Mr. Bourn, on oath, says: "I own slaves, and
have a crop of corn and wheat growing. Have never taken any active
part with the pro-slavery party, only voted the pro-slavery ticket, and
was for sustaining the la'.vs. * * * These men said I must leave
in a day or two or they would kill me, or hinted as much — said I
would not fare well, or words to that effect. I left for fear of my life
and the lives of my family. They said that the war was commenced,
that they were going to fight it out, and drive the pro-slavery people
out of the Territory, or words to that amount. The men that robbed
my house and drove me away from my property were abolitionists, or
free-soilers. * * * I believe they hated me so because I am a pro-
slavery man, and in favor of the Territorial laws, and because I served
on the last grand jury at Lecompton."
But the most flagrant case of robbery that occurred while your com-
mittee were in Kansas was the plundering of Mr. Joab Bernard's store
and premises. Mr. Bernard is quite a young man, and of highly re-
spectable family. While prosecuting his business, he was warned that
his life was in danger, and was compelled to leave his home for safety ;
and during his absence his store was robbed of nearly four thousand
dollars' worth of goods and money, and his premises of cattle and
horses 'of the value of at least one thousand more. The facts of this
case are testified to by Messrs. John Miller and Thomas S. Hamilton.
Mr. Bernard testifies himself as to his life being threatened, and the
amount of goods in his store and other property on the premises.
Messrs. Miller and Hamilton corroborate his testimony, and the un-
dersigned makes their depositions a part of his report. St. Bernard,
J. M. Bernard's place, is situated in Douglas county, on the Califor-
nia and Fort Scott road, about thirty miles from Lecompton. The
robbery took place on the 27th day of May, 1856. In his affidavit,
Mr. Miller says : " I was in the store with Mr. Davis. Whilst there
a party of ^ thirteen men came to the store on horseback, armed with
Sharpe's rifles,, revolvers, arid bowie-knives. They inquired for Mr.
Bernard. I told them that he had gone to Westport. One of them
said to me, 'You are telling a God damned lie,' and drew up his
gun at rne. Some of them came into the store, and the rest remained
outside. They called for such goods as they wanted, and made Mr.
Davis and myself hand them out, and said if we l didn't hurry' they
would shoot us. They had their guns ready. After they had got the
goods — they wanted principally blankets and clothing — they packed
them upon their horses and went away. Mr. Joab Bernard is a pro-
slavery man." Mr. Miller recognised one of the party as an active
free-State man. They on the next day came back with a wagon, and
took the remainder of the goods in the store, except about one hun-
dred and fifty dollars' worth — including flour, sugar, coffee, bacon,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 109
and all kinds of provisions, as well as two fine hordes, three saddles,
two bridles, and all the money there was in the store. In the conclu-
sion of his affidavit, Mr. Miller says: "When they first came, they
looked up at the sign, and said they would like to shoot at the name."
The affidavits accompanying this report are full and explanatory, and
the undersigned begs to make them a part of his report. They are
sworn to before a justice of the peace for Jackson county, Missouri,
and the seal of the Jackson county court is attached to the clerk's cer-
tificate, as to the official character of the justice of the peace. The
undersigned thinks that, in reviewing these outrages, he did not in-
appropriately characterize the Pottawatomie creek murders as instances
of "savage barbarity and demoniac cruelty," while the robberies of
Bourn and Bernard are almost without parallel in the history of crime
in this country. In this connexion, the undersigned deems it proper
to state that -the report so currently circulated throughout the country,
to the effect that the lamented Wilkinson, Sherman, and the Doyles
were caught in the act of hanging a free-State man, and were shot by
a party of free-soilers, is without the least foundation in truth — that it-
is entirely false.
In conclusion, the undersigned begs to report the following facts
and conclusions, as he believes, established by the testimony and sanc-
; tioned by the law: .
First. That at the first election held in the Territory under the
organic act, for delegate to Congress,, Gen. John W. Whitfield re-
| cived a plurality of the legal votes cast, and was duly elected such
delegate, as stated in the majority report.
Second. That the Territorial legislature was a legally constituted
body, and had power to pass valid laws, and their enactments are
\ therefore valid.
Third. That these laws, when appealed to, have been used for the
protection of life, liberty and property, and for the maintenance of
; law and order in the Territory.
Fourth. That the election under which the sitting delegate, John
W. Whitfield, was held, was in pursuance of valid law, and should be
I regarded as a valid election.
Fifth. That as said Whitfield, at said election, received a large
fj number of legal votes without opposition, he was duly elected as a
|| delegate to this body, and is entitled to a seat on this floor as such.
Sixth. That the election under which the contesting delegate, An-
drew H. Reeder, claims his seat, was not held under any law, but in
contemptuous disregard of all law ; and that it should only be re-
garded as the expression of a band of malcontents and revolutionists,
and consequently should be wholly disregarded by the House.
Seventh. As to whether or not Andrew H. Reeder received a
greater number of votes of resident citizens on the 9th, than J. W.
Whitfield did on the 1st of October, 1855, no testimony was taken
by the committee, so far as the undersigned knows, nor is it material
to the issue.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
M. OLIVER.
KANSAS AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE.
The Select Committee of the House of Representatives of the United
States, appointed to investigate the affairs of Kansas, met at the city
of Washington on the 27th day of March, A. D. 1856.
Present, William A. Howard, chairman, Mordecai Oliver, and John
Sherman.
Ordered, That the resolutions of the House, providing for this com-
mittee, be read and entered on the minutes.
T'hey are as follows :
"MAKCH 19, 1856.
"Resolved, That a committee of three of the members of this
House, to be appointed by the Speaker, shall proceed to inquire into
and collect evidence in regard to the troubles in Kansas generally, and
particularly in regard to any fraud or force attempted, or practised,
in reference to any of the elections which have taken place in said
Territory, either under the law organizing said Territory, or under
any pretended law which may be alleged to have taken effect therein
since. That they shall fully investigate and take proof of all violent
and tumultuous proceedings in said Territory at any time since the
passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act, whether engaged in by residents
of said Territory, or by any person or persons from elsewhere going
into said Territory and doing, or encouraging others to do, any act of
violence or public disturbance against the laws of the United States,
or the rights, peace, and safety of the residents of said Territory ; and
for that purpose said committee shall have full power to send for and
examine and take copies of all such papers, public records, and pro-
ceedings, as in their judgment will be useful in the premises ; and
also, to send for persons and examine them on oath, or affirmation, as
to matters within their knowledge touching the matters of said inves-
tigation ; and said committee, by their chairman, shall have power to
administer all necessary oaths or affirmations connected with their
aforesafd duties.
"Resolved further, That said committee may hold their investiga-
tions at such places and times as to them may seem advisable, and
that they have leave of absence from the duties of this House until
they shall have completed such investigation: That they be author-
ized to employ one or more clerks, and one or more assistant sergeants-
at-arrns, to aid them in their investigation ; and may administer to
them an oath or affirmation faithfully to perform the duties assigned
to them respectively, and to keep secret all matters which may come
to their knowledge touching such investigation as said committee shall
direct, until the report of the same shall be submitted -to this House;
and said committee may discharge any such clerk or assistant ser-
geant-at-arms for neglect of duty or disregard of instructions in the
premises, arid employ others under like regulations.
* ' Resolved further , That if any person shall in any manner obstruct
KANSAS AFFAIRS. Ill
or hinder said committee, or attempt so to do, in their said investiga-
tion, or shall refuse to attend on said committee, and to give evidenca
when summoned for that purpose, or shall refuse to produce any
papers, book, public record, or other proceeding in their possession or
control, to said committee, when so required, or shall make any dis-
turbance where said committee are holding their sittings, said com-
mittee may, if they see fit, cause any and every such person to be
arrested by said assistant sergeant-at-arms, and brought before this
House, to be dealt with as for a contempt.
" Resolved further, That for the purpose of defraying the expenses
of said commission, there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of
ten thousand ($10,000) dollars, to be paid out of the contingent fund
of this House.
1 ' Resolved further, That the President of the United States be and
is hereby requested to furnish to said committee, should they be met
with any serious apposition by bodies of lawless men in the discharge
of their duties aforesaid, such aid from any military force as may, at
the time, be convenient to them, as may be necessary to remove such
opposition, and enable said committee, without molestation, to pro-
ceed with their labors.
" Resolved further, That when said committee shall have completed
said investigation, they report all the evidence so collected to this
House."
" MARCH 24, 1856.
"The Speaker announced that he had appointed Mr. Lewis D.
Campbell, of Ohio ; Mr. William A. Howard, of Michigan ; and Mr.
Mordecai Oliver, of Missouri, the select committee under the resolu-
tion of the House of the 19th instant.
" MARCH 25, 1856.
" On motion of Mr. Lewis D. Campbell, by unanimous consent,
tc Ordered , That he be excused from serving ofi the select committee
Appointed under the resolution of the House of the 19th instant.
"The Speaker thereupon appointed Mr. John Sherman, of Ohio;
to fill the vacancy occasioned thereby/7
The following officers of the committee were appointed :
Clerks — Gr. Gr. Fogg, John S. Bowen, S. P. Hanscom, and John T.
Hughes.
Reporter — W. Blair Lord.
Sergeants-at-arms — John Upton, Amos Townsend, and H. J. Co-
mer.
Ordered, That each officer shall discharge such duties as may be,
112 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
from time to time, assigned to him by the committee, and that their
compensation shall be the same per diem.
Ordered, That the chairman be directed to draw the fund appro-
priated by the House, and out of it to pay the travelling expenses of the
committee and its officers, and to procure from the postmaster of the
House, or otherwise, the necessary stationery, books, papers, and
supplies.
The chairman was also directed to send to the sitting and contest-
ing delegates the following notice :
"WASHINGTON, March 29, 1856.
"SiR: The committee appointed to investigate Kansas affairs deem
it proper to advise you that it is their wish that the two contestants,
Hon. J. W. Whitfield and Hon. A. H. Eeeder, should be present at
examinations to be had by the committee, on terms of perfect equality.
You can therefore attend, if you choose so to do, at 'your own expense,
to look after your own interest in connection with said investigation.
Neither can; in any sense, be in the employ of the committee.
" Very respectfully,
"WM. A. HOWARD,
" Chairman of Kansas Committee."
Adjourned to meet on call.
WM. A. HOWARD,
Chairman.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 14, 1856.
The committee met. Present, Messrs. Howard and Sherman.
The following letter was received from Colonel Sumner, U. S. A.
" HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY,
"April. 1, 1856.
" GENTLEMEN : If you would prefer to hold the sessions of your board
at this post, it will afford me great pleasure to give you all the facili-
ties inymy power. There may be no excitement if you assemble
elsewhere, but thereVill certainly be none here.
" I am, with high respect, your obedient servant,
"E. V. SUMNER,
" Colonel First Cavalry Commanding.
"Messrs. SHERMAN, HOWARD, OLIVER,
1 ' Kansas Committee . ' '
To which the chairman made the following reply :
"KANSAS CITY, April 14, 1856.
" COLONEL : Your note of the 1st instant, inviting us to hold the
sessions of the Kansas investigating committee at the post under
your command, has just been received. We expect to hold our
Sessions at various points in the Territory, and, among others, in the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 113
vicinity of Fort Leavenworth ; when it will give us great pleasure to
be at liberty to avail ourselves of your very courteous invitation.
" With the highest esteem, your obedient servant,
"W. A. HOWARD.
"E. Y. SUMNBR, t
" Colonel First Cavalry, Fort Leavenworth."
I
The committee adjourned, to meet on call.
WM. A. HOWARD,
Chairman.
LECOMPTON, K. T., April 18, 1856.
The ^committee met. Present, Messrs. Howard, Sherman, and
Oliver.
Ordered, That the following official documents be copied :
The poll-books of the election in the Territory on the 29th of No-
vember, 1854.
The census of the voters taken in February, 1855.
The proclamation and instructions of Governor Reeder in regard to
the election of the 30th of March ; the returns of that election, and
the official action of Governor Reeder thereon.
The returns of the election held on the 22d of May, 1855, and
October 1, 1855,
All of which was done.
The following rules were adopted :
The examination of witnesses before the committee shall be open,
|md be governed by the rules of the common law ; and Greenleaf 's
j^vidence is adopted as the standard.
The sitting and contesting delegates are each invited, with an
Attorney for each, to be present at the examination of witnesses, and
i|nay put proper questions to witnesses in regard to all matters, per-
aining to their contest.
Mr. J. W. Whitfield, being present, was notified and requested to
koduce his witnesses for examination, and to furnish the names of
ersons whom he desired to be subpoenaed for that purpose. •
| Adjourned, to meet on call.
WM. A, HOWARD, Chairman.
LAWRENCE, April 23, 1856.
I? Committee met at 3 o'clock p. m. All the committee present.
llGren. J» W. Whitfield appears with Col. Wright, his counsel ; also
K, A. H. Reeder ; who are requested to produce their witnesses, and
]!» furnish names of persons to be subpoenaed.
| After much discussion, and a statement by the committee of their
nans for conducting the examinations, adjourned, to meet to-morrow
florning at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
H. Rep. 200 8
114 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
APRIL 24, 1856.
Committee met at 8 o'clock a. m. All present.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWAKD, Chairman,
The following communication was received from Gren. J. W. Whit-
field by the chairman in the course of the day, viz :
FREE-STATE HOTEL, LAWRENCE, April 24, 1856.
To Wm. A. Howard, Chairman of Committee:
DEAR SIR : Owing to the assassination of sheriff Jones, in this town,
last night, while in the prosecution of the duties of his office, and
that, too, while surrounded by a body of United States troops, detailed
to aid him in the execution of the laws of the Territory of Kansas,
and the excitement consequent upon the same, I am and shall be
unable to get my witnesses to attend the sitting of the committee at
this place ; they refusing, and with good reason, to expose themselves
and run the risk of being assassinated, whenever night shuts in, by a
lawless band of conspirators. One of my chief witnesses (sheriff
Jones) has already been shot ; on that account, others who are here
have determined to leave, and others whom I expected and notified to
be here have informed me that they will not attend while the commit-
tee sit at this place. I will further state, that there are others here
rendering me material aid in this investigation, and without whom I
cannot safely proceed, whom I cannot ask to remain and imperil their
lives in so doing, or at least subject themselves to insult and contumely.
I would most respectfully suggest to the committee to adjourn from
this to some more safe and neutral point, where witnesses and others
will not, be subject to the dangers and insults above alluded to.
In the event this committee shall conclude to adjourn to some other
point, I pledge in advance, and assure this committee, that from me
they shall have all the aid I can summon to a fair, full, and complete-
investigation.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
-J. W. WHITFIELD,
Hon. W. A. HOWARD,
Lawrence, K. T.
The chairman made the following reply :
LAWRENCE, April 24, 1856.
DEAR SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of this date. If, for any reason satisfactory to yourself, you do
not wish to bring your witnesses here to be examined, it will afford
the committee pleasure to hold sessions, at their earliest convenience, ,
at any suitable place, giving you ample notice and the benefit of our '
subpoena to collect as many witnesses as you may desire, at such place
as you may designate. In the mean time there are some witnesses,
we think, we can examine here, and we would be pleased to have you
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 115
attend in person, or by attorney, to cross-examine witnesses and aid
us generally in eliciting the truth.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
Hon. J. W. WHITFIBLD.
The above are true copies.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
Mr. Oliver submitted the following motion :
On account of the excitement now prevailing in the city of Lawrence
and surrounding country, growing out of the assassination of sheriff
Jones when engaged in the lawful discharge of his duty, which as-
sassination and consequent excitement he believes will deter parties
and witnesses from coming and appearing before the committee, he
objects to proceeding with the investigation further at this time at
this point, and suggests that the committee adjourn to Fort Leaven-
worth, and there proceed with the investigation until the excitement
above alluded to shall have subsided and order reigns supreme.
Which was not agreed to ; the committee declining to adjourn at
present.
N. B. — The committee had met at 8 o'clock this morning, (24th,)
ind immediately adjourned out of regard to Samuel J. Jones, who
ivas in the same building, and suffering from his wounds received the
light before. But he was removed to Franklin that morning, and,
|;he communications of General Whitfield and Mr. Oliver requiring
Immediate action, the committee met on special call, were all present,
knd the above action was had, and also the orders which follow.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
Oderedj That the compensation to witnesses shall be as follows :
For each day in attendance ,. $1 50
For each mile necessarily travelled, (circular) 0 5
Ordered, That the compensation of clerks and sergeants-at-arms
Shall be $4 50 per day.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
'
APRIL 25, 1856.
[et pursuant to adjournment. All present,
'he following forms of oath and affirmation were adopted :
You solemnly swear that the evidence you shall give to this com-
jittee, touching the investigation now pending before them, shall be
I.e truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth ; so help you
You solemnly and sincerely affirm that the evidence you shall
re to this committee, touching the investigation now pending before
116 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
them, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth;
and this you do under the pains and penalties of perjury."
Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 1. E. D. Ladd. No. 4. William B. Hornsby.
2. Norman Allen. 5. F. P. Vaughn.
3. William Yates.
Mr. Oliver objects to the admission of proof of the statements made
by the young man at his father's residence, in Clay county, Missouri.
Objection overruled.
No. 6. Gains Jenkins . No. 8. George W. Deitzler.
7. Lewis N. Cox, sworn but
not examined.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWAKD, Chairman.
APRIL 26, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee pres-
ent.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 9. C. W. Babcock. No. 13. Ira W. Ackley.
10. Charles Robinson. 14. Edward Chapman.
11. Lyman Allen. 15. George Churchill.
12. S. N. Wood, affirmed.
Adjourned, to meet on Monday morning at 8| o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
APRIL 28, 1856.
Committee met at 8| a. m. All the committee present.
A letter was received from Gen. J. W. Whitfield, as follows :
LAWRENCE, April 28, 1856.
The undersigned, in answer to your favor of the 24th instant, has I
the honor to propose that the witnesses he intends to present as original !
or rebutting evidence who reside on the north side of the Kansas riven
be examined at Leavenworth city, and those residing an the south
side of said river be examined at Wea Missions, at such times respect-
ively as the committee may designate.
Respectfully,
J. W. WHITFIELD.
Hon. W. A. HOWARD, Chairman Committee.
Mr. J. W. Whitfield appeared with Mr. S. H. Woodson, his at-,
torney.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 117
Witnesses sworn and examined, viz :
No. 16. Gains Jenkins, recalled.
Mr. Oliver files written objections to the mode of examination.
No. 17. Eobert A. Curnmins. No. 18. Kobert (I. Elliott.
Colonel Woodson objects to the admission of declarations by Sulli-
van, of Lexington, Missouri, as to his residence arid purpose in
making seven claims near Leavenworth.
Objection overruled ; Mr. Oliver dissenting.
No. 19. Harrison Burson. No. 23. John C. Dunn.
20. Nathaniel Ramsey. 24. Andrew White.
21. James H. Dunn. 25. Dr. E. G. Macy, affirmed.
22. J. N. Mace.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
APRIL 29, 1856.
Committee met. All the members present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, viz :
No. 26. Jordan Davidson. No. 31. George Umberger.
27. F. E. Lahay. 32. Marcus H. Rose.
28. William Lyon. 33. James R. Stewart.
29. Hammond C. Muzzy. 34. Absalom Hoover.
30. Augustus Wattles.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
APRIL 30, 1856.
Committee met by appointment. All the members present.
Witnesses called and sworn, as follows :
No. 35. Marcus H. Rose, re- No. 37. Isaac B. Titus.
called.
36. James R. Stewart, re-
called.
Ordered, That objection to the competency of testimony shall be
stated at the time, if they involve any question or principle not
already decided by the committee, and shall be reduced to writing by
the objector and attached to the testimony objected to, on or before
the next meeting of the committee.
Witnesses sworn and examined, viz :
No. 38. Hollam Rice. 41. Thomas B. Wolverton
39. Robert Morrow. 42. N. B. Blanton.
40. William Jesse. 43. Peter Bossinger.
118 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
No. 44. Thomas Hopkins. No. 45. Lewis M. Cox.
— . G. P. Lowrie, not ex- 46. C. S. Pratt.
amined.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWAKD, Chairman,
MAY 1, 1856.
Committee met agreeably to adjournment.
Witnesses sworn and examined, viz :
No. 47. Chas. Robinson, recalled. No. 49. Wm. M. McClure.
48. Samuel C. Smith.
The testimony of Wm. M. McClure, on objection of Col. Woodson,
was ruled out by the committee.
Witnesses sworn and examined, viz :
No. 50. J. M. Minchell. No. — . C. M. Babcock, recalled.
— . E. D. Ladd, recalled. 51. L. A. Prather.
— . C. S. Pratt, recalled.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow evening.
WM. A. HOWAKD, Chairman.
MAY 2, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee
present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 52. J. B. -Abbott. No. 54. William McKinney was
53. G-. P. Lowrie, recalled. sworn, and examined in secret
session.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
| WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
MAY 3, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee pres-
ent.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 55. Salem Gleason was sworn, No. 59. Dr. John Doy.
and examined in secret 60. Reuben Hackett.
session. 61. Homme Hayt,
56. Thomas Breeze. 62. Reuben Hackett, recalled.
57. Nicholas McKinney. 63. Chas. Robinson, recalled.
58. John C. Davidson. 64. Perry Fuller.
At the instance of Mr. Whitfield, one of the sergeants-at-arms
(Mr. Townsend) was sent to Franklin to ascertain whether sheriff
Jones could now be examined as a witness by the committee in his
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 119
room at that place. The sergeant-at-arms reports that -he was in-
formed by Mrs. Jones that, by the physician's orders, no person
could be allowed to see him at that time.
Adjourned, to meet at Tecumseh, K. T., on Monday next at 2
o'clock p. m.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
TECUMSEH, May 5, 1856.
Committee met at this place pursuant to adjournment. Present,
all the members of the committee.
Mr. Whitfield appears with Mr. R. R. Rees, his counsel. Mr.
Reeder also present.
Mr. Whitfield is notified and requested to produce witnesses, and
to furnish the names of persons to be subpoenaed to testify at this
place.
Witnesses sworn and examined, viz :
No. 65. Rev. H. B. Burgess. No. 66. J. M. Mitchell.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
TECUMSEH, May 6, 1856.
Committee met by adjournment. All the members present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 6V. H. B. Burgess, recalled. No. 73. Charles Jordan.
68. J. M. Mitchell, recalled. 74. Lewis C. Wilmarth.
69. John Long. — . J. M. Mitchell, recalled.
70. G. A. Cutler. 75. James Hickey.
71. John Long, recalled. 76. D. H. Horn.
72. A. A. Jamison.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
TECUMSEH, May 7, 1856.
Committee met by adjournment. All present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, viz :
! No. 77. James Reed. No, 81. John W. Stephens.
78. W. A. M. Yaughan. 82. Wm. R. Boggs.
79. Ed. R. Zimmerman. 83. Wm. F. Johnson.
— . W. A. M.Vaughan, rec'd. 84. Matthias A. Reed.
80. James F. Merriam.
Adjourned, to meet at Lawrence, K. T., to-morrow afternoon at
jj half-past 2 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
120 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 8, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, all the com-
mittee.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 85. Wm. Moore. No. 86. James M. Arthur.
— . Dr. B. C. Westfall. 87. Joseph Stewart.
Pending the examination of this witness, (Joseph Stewart,) and
while the committee were pursuing their investigations, William
Fane, claiming to be deputy-marshal, and to have been appointed as
such by J. B. Donaldson, marshal of the Territory, presented to A.
H. Reeder, then engaged in examining a witness in the presence of
and before the committee, a paper purporting to be a writ of attach-
ment, issued by D. Scott Boyle, clerk, and attested by Hon. Samuel
D. Lecompte, judge of the first district court for the first judicial
district of Kansas Territory ; and before serving said writ, A. H.
Reeder applied to the committee to secure to him the protection given
him by the constitution of the United States as a contesting delegate
of said Territory, and now in attendance before the committee, upon
its invitation.
After consideration, the committee determined that the privilege
from arrest given by the laws to the members of this committee, and
the sitting and contesting delegates, was not a matter for them to
enforce, and declined to make any decision whatever, or take any
action upon the application thus made.
The examination of Joseph Stewart was resumed, and
No. 88, Samuel Jones, was sworn and examined.
Adjourned, to meet at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman,
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
Committee met according to adjournment. Present, Messrs. How-
ard and Sherman.
Messrs. Reeder and W'hitfield being absent, the following witnesses
were sworn and examined by the committee :
No. 89. Joseph M. Gearhart. No. 96. Wm. Chestnut.
90. Jesse W. Wilson. 97. Rev. Pardee Butler.
91. Marshall A. Garrett. 98. A. Allen.
92. George W. Gillespie. 99. S. N. Simpson.
93. Augustus Baker. 100. S. B. Prentiss.
94.. John E. Davis. 101. Wm. Phillips.
95. J. C. Prince.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Cha
M man.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 121
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs. How-
ard and Sherman.
In the absence of the contestants and their counsel, the following
witnesses were sworn and examined by the committee :
No. 102. Jacob Branson, in se- No. 107. Kobert F. Barber.
cret session. 108. Mrs. Jane W. Colburn.
103. John A. WakefleR 109. Wilda McKinney.
104. Mrs. Almina Jones, in 110. Henry M. Simpson,
secret session. 111. Thomas M. Pierson.
105. Daniel T. Jones. 112. George F. Warren.
106. Win. Phillips.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock on Monday morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
Committee met by adjournment. Present, Messrs. Howard and
Sherman.
Witnesses sworn and examined by the committee, as follows :
No. 113. Geo. F. Warren, re- No. 120. James F. Liggett.
called. 121. George W. Deitzler, re-
114. Samuel Smith. called.
115. Edward Oakley. 122. Thomas Thorp.
116. James J. Jarvin. 123. W. Y. Roberts.
117. Samuel F. Tappan. 124. John Wise.
118. Joseph Oakley. 125. Capt. Samuel Walker.
119. A. B. Bronson.
Adjourned, to meet at Leavenworth city, on Wednesday next, at
2 o'clock p. m.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, May 14, 1856.
Met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
I No. 126. D. A. Baker. No. 127. Wm. P. Richardson.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 15, 1856.
Committee met at 8 o'clock. All present.
Witnesses sworn and examined as follows :
Fo. 128. Wm. P. Richardson, No. 130. George A. Taylor.
recalled. 131. David Brown.
129. Henry J. Adams. 132. M. P. Rivqly.
122 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Nos. 129, 130, 131, and 132 being examined in secret session.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 16, 1856.
Committee met by adjournment. All the members present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 133. Dr. James Davis. No. 137. Edward S. Motler, re-
134. Dr. G. J. Park. called.
135. J. C. Green. 138. J. C. Green, recalled.
136. Edward S. Motler. 139. Joseph H. Bird.
140. Nick Smith.
All of whom were examined in secret session.
No. 141. John Below.
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, May If, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee pres-
ent.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 142. Geo. H. Keller. No. 145. David Brown, recalled.
143. F. M. Mahan. 146. Francis A. Hart.
144. Samuel F. Few.
Adjourned, to meet on Monday morning next, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 19, 1856.
Committee met as per adjournment. All the members of the com-
mittee present. ^
Witness sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 147. F. A. Hart, recalled. No. 150. J. B. Ross.
148. Richard R. Rees. 151. H. B. Gale.
149. Wm. H. Godwin. 152. J. B. Crane.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, May 20, 1856.
Committee met as usual. All the members present.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
123
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 153. Dundridge Holliday. No. 158. Harmon G-. Weibling.
154. B. F. Nicholson. 159. Francis M. Potter.
155. Joseph Potter. 160. John W. House.
156. John Hamilton. 161. Emory B. Cook.
157. Joseph Potter, recalled.
* Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWOBTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
Committee met at usual hour. All present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 162. E. B. Cook, recalled. No. 168. Josiah Elliott.
163. John Hamilton, recalled. 169. Milton J. Payne.
164. Dr. James Nohle. 170. Wm. H. Somers.
165. Dr. Jas. Nohle, recalled. 171. Wm. H. Miller.
167. Alexander Grilham. 172. Matthew Walker.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWAED, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 22, 1856.
Committee met as usual. All present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 173. Charles Hardt. No. 177. Patrick K. Orr.
174. Willard P. Hall. 178. Edward Bourne.
175. T. A. Minard. 179. Stephen Sparks.
176. T. A. Minard, recalled.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
Committee met at the usual hour. All the members of the com-
mittee present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 180. John H. Whitehead.
General Wm. P. Richardson states to the committee, that a copy of
I A. A. Jennison's testimony was made by him without the knowledge
I of any member of the committee, or any of their employees, and that
| he was not aware that he was violating any rule of the committee!
124 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
No. 181. John R. Carter. No. 185. Benjamin Duncan.
182. Benjamin H. Brock, af- 186. Col. A. M. Mitchell.
firmed. 187. Henry S. Creal.
183. Benjamin H. Brock, re- 188. A. Langdon.
called. 189. Osborne Hulin.
184. Charles W. Stewart. 190. A. Grooms.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 24, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members of the
committee present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 191. Benjamin Harding. No. 194. Thomas W. Waterson.
192. Luther Dillon. 195. Albert Heed.
193. Thomas E. Bottom.
Adjourned, to meet on Monday morning next, at 8 o'clock a. m.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. Tv May 26, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee pres-
ent.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 196 John Landis. No. 205 Joel P. Blair.
197 W. A. Sublett. 206 Gary B Whitehead.
198 John W. Smith. 207 John Scott.
199 Allen B. Lyon. 208 Luther Dickerson.
200 James Lynch. 209 D. W. Field.
201 Eli Hamilton. 210 Joseph Beattie.
202 Andrew McConnell. 211 Joseph H. Gilbert.
203 Richard Tuck. 212 M. T. Bailey.
204 David Figer.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present.
Witnesses were sworn and examined as follows :
No. 213 George Wetherell. No. 217 W. H. Chick.
214 John Scott. 218 J. Riddlesberger.
215 Joseph B. Evans. 219 Adam T. Pattie. '
216 John W. Martin. 220 Dr. J. H. Stringfellow.
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 125
No. 221 A. T. Pattie, (recalled.) No. 224 J, F. Foreman.
222 Robert Wilson. 225 Peter T. Abell.
223 John W. Foreman.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
present.
Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 226 William J. Osborn. No. 232 Campbell Logan.
227 Thomas Reynolds. 233 J. W. Logan.
228 Dr. J. M. Ridge. 234 Wiley Williams.
229 H. A. Lowe. 235 Marcus J. Parrott.
230 Patrick Laughlin. 236 G. B. Redman.
231 C. R. Mobley. 237 Henry Adams.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
/The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
present.
The poll-books and returns of the three elections relating to the
State organization were filed, and retained to be copied.
Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 238 W. Williams, (recalled.) No. 245 Thomas J. Thompson.
239 John Wilfley. 246 S. W. Tannell.
240 Charles Blakely. 247 Alexander Russell.
241 John A. Linsley. 248 J. D. Clarkson.
242 S. J. Kookogy. 249 H. H. Johnston.
243 L. J. Eastin. 250 A. Payne.
244 J. T. Read.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning at the usual hour.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
LEAVENWORTH CITY,, K T., May 30, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
were present.
Witnesses were sworn and examined as follows :
No. 251. W. H. Tebbs. No. 254. Andrew T. Kyle,
252. Adam Fisher. 255. Amos Rees.
253. A. Macauley. 256. A. B. Sharp.
126 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
No. 257. 0. B. Tibbs. No. 260. D. J. Johnson.
258. G. M. Dyer. 261. William Burgess.
259. Kichard Chandler.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning at the usual hour.
WM. A. HOWAED, Chairman,
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 31, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
present.
Witnesses were sworn and examined as follows :
No. 262. Nathan Adams. No. 269. K. L. Kirk.
263. John A. Haldeman. 2I70. Matt. France
264. E. C. McCarty. 271. Samuel Kixoy.
265. James Davis. 272. H. M. Hook.
266. W. H. Adams 273. Kev. Leander Kerr.
267. George H. Keller. 274. Dr. J. H. Day.
268. G. W. Hollis. 275. M. P. Kively.
Adjourned, to meet at Westport, Mo., on Monday, June 2, 1856.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 2, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
present.
Seven blank subpoenas were given to General Whitfield.
Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 276. Thomas B. Arnett. No. 279. E. W. Donaldson.
277. Charles E. Kearney. 280. Andrew Johnson.
278. Cyprian Chouteau. 281. Eev. Thomas Johnson.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 3, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
present.
Witnesses were called, sworn, and examined, as follows :
No. 282. George Holmes. No. 285. William Barbee.
283. Thos. Johnson, recalled. 286. ' S. W. Bouton.
284. B. T. Keger.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
(KANSAS AFFAIRS. 127
WESTPORT, Mo., June 4, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
present.
Witnesses were called, sworn, and examined as follows :
No. 287. John M. Banks. No. 289. William A. Tebbs.
288. A. J. Francis.
Adjourned^ to meet at the usual hour to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 5, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
present.
Witnesses were sworn anc examined, as follows :
No. 290. W. Barbee, recalled. No. 294. Chas. A. Linkenangher.
291. F. M. Coleman. 295. Charles C. Spaulding.
292. Thomas Mockabee. 296. Andrew J. Johnson.
293. Isaac Hascall.
Adjourned, to meet at 7 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
WESTPORT, Mo.,, June 6, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
>resent.
Witnesses were called, sworn, and examined, as follows :
No. ,297. John E. Ingalls. No. 298. James Haines.
Mr. Scott offered in evidence certain letters of A. H. Reeder, referred
o in the testimony of (No. 225) Peter T. Abell.
The committee declined to receive and transmit these letters, on the
ground that they have not the rightful possession of them, they hav-
ng been found in the street, and being clearly private letters, and
mproperly obtained.
Mr. Oliver dissented.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 299. Horatio Owens. No. 301. Win. G. Mathias.
300. Joseph C. Anderson.
On motion, the copies of the executive minutes, of the census returns,
ind copies of all Territorial records in possession <©f the committee,
ire considered in evidence.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning at the usual hour.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
128 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
WESTPORT, Mo., June T, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
present.
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 302. William Donaldson.
G-ov. King and Mr. Scott, in behalf of J. W. Whitfield, presented
a protest, which, with copies of Reeder's letters, were marked as ex-
hibits by me.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
No. 303. George W. Berry. No. 304. John A. Contrell.
The committee adjourned to Monday morning, June 9, 1856.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman,
WESTPORT, Mo., June 9, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members
present.
The proceedings of the convention at Big Springs, held on the 5th
and 6th of September, 1855, were offered in evidence by Grov. King,
and received.
Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 306. Samuel A. Williams. No. 309. J, N. 0. P. Wood, af~
SOT. A. B. Wade. firmed.
308. Thomas Connelly,
Pending the examination of Dr. Wood, a communication in writing,
from a committee of citizens of Westport, was received, as follows :
" We, the undersigned committee, appointed by citizens of West-
port and vicinity, appear before the Congressional Investigating Com-
mittee, for the purpose of assuriDg them that there need be no appre-
hension on their part that any interruption will be offered to the pro-
ceedings of the committee, and that they will pledge themselves, and
fellow -citizens generally, to allow no interruption of their business,
or any indignity to be offered them personally, notwithstanding the
excited state of the public mind in regard to Kansas affairs ; and they
make this pledge with the full knowledge that they can fulfil it, which
they will do at any and every hazard.
" We have been told that the committee propose to adjourn imme-
diately, without completing their labors, on the ground of an appre-
hension on their part that personal indignity might be offered them.
" We would add,*that, in our opinion, the apprehension is entirely
without foundation ; but deeming it necessary to allay any misappre-
hension on your minds, we take this means to assure you that no in-
terruption shall be offered to your proceedings ; and nothing of the
KANSAS VFFAIRS. 129
kind has been intended or attempted by the citizens of this town or
vicinity or the county of Jackson ; any report to the contrary is false.
" WESTPORT, Mo., June 9, 1856.
"CHARLES E. KEARNEY,
" Chairman Committee.
4 c To the MEMBERS of the Committee of Investigation, now in session in
Westport, Mo."
Mr. Howard, the chairman, being absent on account of illness, Mr.
Sherman replied to the communication verbally — the committee of
citizens being present — as follows :
" GENTLEMEN : I regret that Mr. Howard, the chairman of the com-
mittee, is not present, on account of illness. We are very happy to
receive this communication from you, and shall enter it upon our
journal, and make it a part ot our proceedings, with great pleasure.
But it is our duty to say to you that we never have supposed that we
were in the least danger of any kind here, and have never felt in fear
of any.
" We came here, at the invitation of Mr. Whitfield, to take testimony
in his behalf alone. We did not anticipate personal danger, nor is
our action based in any degree upon the rumor you mention. We were
idle the most of last week because witnesses were not here. We were
told this was on account of the public disturbances in the Territory,
and we concluded to wait until this evening. To-day we have had
but little to do, and deem it our duty to adjourn, and for that reason
alone will do so. Since we have been here we have personally re-
ceived nothing but kind treatment from the citizens of this place, and
have no cause to complain of them.
" We deeply regret the unfortunate condition of affairs in this border,
and the excited state of the public mind here in regard to Kansas
affairs."
The committee having announced their determination to adjourn
forthwith, Gov. King, in behalf of J. W. Whitfield, filed the follow-
ing protest :
" WESTPORT, Mo., June 9, 1856.
" The undersigned, John W. Whitfield, represents that he is not
yet through with the evidence which he proposes to introduce before
[the committee, and is in hourly expectation of witnesses to be in at-
I' tendance for the purpose of giving such evidence. That for the last
[eight days the disturbances have been of such a character, and the ex-
citement so great in the Territory, that it has been impossible to pro-
[jcure attendance of witnesses, and, in several instances, to have them
J 3ven summoned. That he has witnesses summoned whose evidence
I s most important in reference to the election of the 30th of March,
111855, in the Territory, in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and
ikeventh representative election districts. That owing to the recent dis-
1 urbances in the Territory he has been wholly deprived of rebutting
'the evidence of witnesses examined by the contestant, A. H. Reeder,
in those districts. That 'if the committee will continue its sessions for
•wo days to come, he believes he will be able to procure the witnesses,
H. Rep. 200 9
130 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and avail himself of the benefit of their testimony, by which he will
be able fully and certainly to vindicate the legality of those elections,
and to rebut and repel much of the evidence taken by the contestani
in reference to those districts. That the witnesses expected are resi-
dents of the Territory, and of that portion of it where, for the last ten
days, there has been the most intense excitement, imposing an abso-
ute necessity on them to seek protection and safety for their families :
and that, although subpoenaed, for these reasons he has been unable as
yet to procure their attendance.
" The said John W. Whitfield therefore protests against the ad-
journment of the committee until a seasonable time be allowed him tr
get such testimony as these witnesses will afford before the committee,
and here files this' his protest in the matter.
."JOHN W. WHITFIELD.
" By liis attorney,
" AUSTIN A. KING.
" To the honorable the CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, now in session a<
Westport."
After receiving the" foregoing protest, the committee, for the reasor
that General Whitfield had already had opportunity to examine these
same witnesses, and inasmuch as he had left the committee for three
days to take part in the war during the time we had been in West-
port, adjourned.
WM. A. HOWAED, Chairman.
STEAMBOAT c c POLAR STAR,"
On Missouri river, June 10, 1856.
The committee met at 2 o'clock. All the members present.
Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows :
No. 310. Capt. Luther. Leonard. No. 311. Henry M. Blossom.
Adjourned.
Mr. Oliver left at Camden for Eichmond.
WM. A. HOWAED, Chairman,
STEAMBOAT " POLAR STAR,''
At Lexington, Mo., June 10, 185ft,
The committee met. Present,, Messrs. Howard and Sherman.
The following witnesses were sworn and examined :
No. 312. James Brewster. No. 313. 0. H. Brewster.
Adjourned, to meet at St. Louis on the 12th instant.
WM. A. UOWAED, Chairman.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 131
ST. Louis, Mo., June 12^ 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment, Messrs. Howard
and Sherman present.
The following witnesses were sworn and examined :
No. 314. Benjamin Slater. No. 315. F. A. Hunt.
Adjourned, to meet at Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday, June 17,
1856.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
DETROIT, MICH., June 17, 1856.
The / committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs.
Howard and Sherman.
On the 21st of June the committee adjourned to meet in New
York city.
WM. A. HOWAKD, Chairman.
NEW YORK, June 26, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs.
Howard and Sherman.
The following witnesses were sworn and examined :
No. 316. Amos A Lawrence. No. 317. Eli Thayer.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow at 9 o'clock a. m.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
NEW YORK, June 27, 1856.
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs. 'How-
ard and Sherman.
The following witnesses were sworn anc^exarnined :
No. 318. Gr. P. Lowry, recalled. No. 320. Anson J. Stone.
319. A. H. Reeder.
Adjourned to meet at Washington city, D. C.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
WASHINGTON, D. C., June 28, 1856.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs,
Howard and Sherman.
Report of the committee was read and adopted. Adjourned.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman,
132 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 1, 1856.
Committee met. Present, Messrs. Oliver and Sherman.
The following witness was sworn and examined by Mr. Oliver :
No. 321. Daniel Mace.
Adjourned.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman
WASHINGTON, July 4, 1856.
Committee met. Present, Messrs. Oliver and Sherman.
No. 322. Mr. H. C. Pate was called and sworn by Mr. Oliver.
Adjourned.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
WASHINGTON, July 11, 1856,
Committee met. Present, Messrs, Howard and Sherman.
No. 323. G. P. Lowry, recalled.
Adjourned.
WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman.
THE TESTIMONY.
ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 29, 1854.
JOHN A. WAKEFIELD testifies :
I came into the Territory in July, 1854, from Iowa, settled in the
second district, and have resided there ever since. I was present
at the election of the second district on the 29th of November,
1854, and was a candidate at that time for delegate to Congress. On
the evening of the 28th of November I started to Lawrence with
Colonel Safford, of Ohio, then a citizen here. I had made an engage-
ment to address the citizens of Lawrence that night. We came down
in a carriage, and on the road met a number of persons in com-
panies— at least one hundred and fifty in all — on horseback and in
wagons. Colonel SafFord asked some of them, in my hearing, where
they were from ; and they said i ( from the State of Missouri, and are
going up to Douglass to vote to-morrow/' We passed Judge Mil-
ler's, and came on here. On the morning of the 29th, in company
with perhaps three others, I wen^ to Douglass; found a crowd of
wagons, and a large gathering of men around the house where the
polls were being held. When I got out of my buggy, a man came to
me and said, " is there many more of the boys behind?" Supposing
e took me to be a Missourian, I said I thought there were a great
any.' Says he, "by God, half of Clay county will be here to-day,
ow," says he, " old man, I will tell you how to do, if you want
to vote. We have a parcel of clerks, and you will see them writing
on the heads of barrels. Do you go to them, and tell one of them
you want him to register a claim for you." I saw a number of persons
riting on heads of barrels. When I got up to the polls, I heard it
ied out that such a man was nominated for judge of election, and
e response was " ay, ay," all around. I heard no one vote in the
egative. Whether it was one or two judges they were voting for I
unot say. A man by the name of Gr. W. Ward was one of the
udges, and Paris Ellison another ; both of them residents of the
"erritory. The name of the other judge I do not recollect, but I
ever saw him before, and have not seen him since, that I know of.
on after the polls opened, a stranger came to me, and said he wanted
speak to me. He took me on one side, and said, "I understand
ou have come here to-day to challenge votes." I told him I had
ot come for any such purpose, and asked him why he asked me that
uestion. Says he, " if you challenge a vote here to-day, you will be
"ly abused, and probably killed ; and as you are an old man, I do
.ot wish to see you abused." I then remarked that that kind of talk
ould not frighten me, but I thought it was the duty of the judges
H. Eep. 200 1*
2 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
to see that all voters were legal voters. I asked him his name, and
he told me, but I cannot remember it.
That district was newly settled, and there were not exceeding fifty
men in it — I think not over forty. I think there were two hundred
and sixty-one or two hundred and sixty-two votes polled, and Whit-
field got two hundred and thirty-five votes, if my memory serves me
right. I got twenty votes, I think, and Flanigan six votes. I do
not think there were" actually more than thirty-five legal votes that
day. Those men were armed with revolvers, some with guns, and a
great many with clubs ; and a great many of our settlers, knowing
these facts, did not go to the election. They had barrels of liquor
there for all to drink who wanted to. I knew the citizens in the dis-
trict generally. I was one of the very first settlers in the district.
About the time the polls were closed, they mounted their horses, and
got into their wagons, and cried out "all aboard for Westport and
Kansas City." They then went off towards Missouri. A majority
of them I should think were very much intoxicated, and they were
very noisy. The language they used against the Yankees was
something like " damn the abolitionists, kill them/' One of them
came up to me and seized me by the collar, and said, " you are a
damned abolitionist." When I drew my cane on him, his brother
came up, and told me not to mind him, that he was drunk. One of
the judges then, it being right before them, invited me to come in
where they were, or I would be abused. I did so, and remained there
until the polls closed. When the polls were closed, I asked the judges
to give me their names. They hesitated somewhat, and one of the
clerks wrote out their names, and Efsked me for what purpose I wanted
them. I said that I might know them when I met them again. He
asked if that was all. I said " No, it is not." He then gave me the
names of the judges and clerks. I had a couple of men swear to
these facts, in order to contest the election. I drew up a petition to
the governor, and had the facts approved by Mr. Snyder and Mr.
McClellan. I took them to the governor, and showed him some other
affidavits taken by another person ; and he requested me not to show
him any more, as it was useless to contest the election there, unless I had
done so throughout the Territory. I find on the poll-books the name
of S. H. Woodson. There is a Mr. Woodson of Independence, Mis-
souri, that I know, but I did not see him vote. There was no one of
that name a resident in our district at that time. I recognise upon
the poll-list a number of names of persons I know in Westport and
other places in Missouri ; among them, Mr. Elkins, Mr. Huff, Mr.
Smart, Joseph Dillon, S. C. Coombs, and others.
JOHN A. WAKEFIELD.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
HARRISON BURSON called and sworn.
To Mr Eeeder :
I was at the election of the 29th of November, 1854. The number
of people in our district was very slim at that time. I should judge
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 3
there were three times as many people at the polls on that election as
there ireie voters in the district. I do not think there were 261 legal
voters in the distict at that time. This election was held at Doug-
lass. I was at the polls that day, and saw a great number of strangers ;
they left in bodies, in wagons, down the river. I came out in a com-
pany of ahout one hundred myself, but they overtook us and passed
us. There was but one man in this company of strangers that I
knev^; his name was Barnett, of Westport, Missouri. I know Wm.
H. Russell, and have seen him frequently. I do not recollect seeing
him that day. I have seer- him about Kansas City, but I do not knoV
where his residence is.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson:
Mr. WhitfielcL Mi. Wakefield, and Mr. Flanigan we e candidates
for delegate to Congies^. I know nothing about the residence of
Whitfield and Flanigan. Report said they were not lesidents, but
I do not know. Mr. Flanigan was not a resident, so far as I know.
1 knew nothing about it ; I do not know where he resides now, or
at what time he left after the election.
H. BURSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
i'^, AUGUSTUS WATTLES called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder:
I came into the Territory about the 1st of May, 1855, and settled
on Rock creek, in the second district, nine or ten miles from Law-
rence ; and my family has resided there ever since, though I have
been away on business, some, in other parts of the Territory. I have
examined the poll-list of the second district, for the 29th of Novem-
ber, 1854, in connexion with the census returns. I find 25 of the
census list of names in the poll-list, though some of them I never
knew, and I do not think they ever lived in the district. I do not
recognise in the poll-book any names of residents that were not in the
census, but some I think I was acquainted with in Missouri.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
I came here in May, 1855, and was put up as a candidate at the
second election, in May, 1855, and travelled over the district, and in.
that way became acquainted with a great many in that district.
I was not a resident of the district, and knew nothing of the resi-
dents of the district at the time of the election of the 30th of March,
1855. Mr. 0. H. Brown took the census in that district, and was
elected to the legislature.
AUGUSTUS WATTLES.
LAWRENCE, K. T. AptU 29, 1856.
WILLIAM LYON testifies :
To Mr. Reeder:
I voted here at the election of delegate to Congress in 1854 in No-
4 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
vember. A number passed my house where I lived, on the California
road, on the day before the election ; they were inquiring the way to
Douglass. It was understood from them that they were going to
Douglass to vote, and that they were from Missouri. The next day
(the day of election here) I met some as I was coining here to vote.
I do not know positively that any Missourians voted here on that
day. All that I inquired of, that passed my house, did not seem to
hesitate in saying that they were going to Douglass to vote. I should
think there were 100 or 150 who passed the house, and some of whom
I inquired. After the election was over, I saw what I took to be the
same company coming down the road they went up to Douglass, the
same evening, and some the day after the election. These men were
strangers to me. I do not recollect of seeing any women and children
or furniture with them, or any goods in their wagons, going either
way. I lived on this side of what I considered the Douglass line,
and I voted here. None of the voters of the Douglass district could
live down the road below me. The men seemed to be very noisy,
and hurrahed for Whitneld, and some for hell, and some for Whit-
field and hell both.
WM. LYON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 29, 1856.
JAMES M. DUNN called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder:
I was at the election of the 29th of November, 1854, and gave my
vote there. I was late in getting there^-not till about 11 o'clock.
The election was held in Douglass, at Mr. Ellison's house, I think.
I saw no violence used there. I saw persons who were from Missouri,
and knew a number of them, as I had been living in Missouri but a
few weeks previous. According to my judgment, I do not think
there were half the number of voters residing in that district that were
polled there — 261. According to the best estimation I can make, I
should not suppose that more than one quarter of those present that
day were actual residents of the district, as it was very sparsely set-
tled at that time. I saw a number of voters that I thought were not
of age, and one young man whom I asked told me he was not of age.
I knew him in Westport, and knew that he was not a resident of the
district.
JAMES M. DUNN.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
M. J. MITCHELL called and sworn.
I was here at the election of November, 1854, but was confined in
my room with a cut leg. The election was held in the room where
I was. They went on voting in the morning until up to ten o'clock.
There was some talk that there was an abolitionist to vote, and it
was said that the polls should not be disgraced by an abolition vote.
They said thev called an abolitionist any one who voted for Mr. t Chap
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
man or Mr. Flanigan. 1 then took a ticket out of my pocket, and
requested it to be put in the ballot-box, and my name put down on
the poll-list. They refused to do so at first ; but after some consult-
ing they consented to do so, and said that wonld be the only one that
should go in. The judges and clerk counselled each other about it,
and the°rest of the day there was no difficulty.
Cross-examined by Mr. Rees :
I think it was either 42 or 52 votes given that day. I think Mr.
Chapman had 1 vote, and Mr. Flanigan some 6 votes. It was the
clerk and one of the judges — either Mr. Watts or Mr. Homer, I do not
know which — who said that there should be no abolition votes given.
Greorge Holmes, of Westport, was the clerk. I do not know of my
own knowledge that he did not live here. If he has ever lived within
one mile of this town since I have lived in this Territory, he must
have kept himself very close, as I do not think any one has lived that
near town without my knowing it. I do not know that he did not
live within two miles of town. He had a claim near Mr. Stinson's
claim. There was no house on it, and if there had been a tent on it
I think I must have seen it, as I used to pass there nearly every day
before my leg was cut ; and I saw nothing of the kind,
M. J. MITCHELL.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
THOMAS HOPKINS called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
On the election of the 29th of November, 1854, I was at Doctor
Chapman's, in the fourth district. It was my first visit in that sec-
tion of the country, and I met a great many there I got acquainted
with in Jackson county, where I had made a crop that year — Mr.
Leander Deharney, Shepherd West, and a man named Lyons — I think
his name was William, but I will not be positive — and Henry Brack-
en. I also saw Mr. Berry, from Cass county. I do not recollect the
names of others at this time. A short time after the election I was at
old Judge Bracken's. He told me he outfitted 20 men, furnished
them with mules, and ways of getting here to vote. I saw these men
at Chapman's, and had conversation with some of them. Mr. Berry
introduced me to a great many of his neighbors, who told me they
eame here with the intention of voting They told me how many
there were of them, but I do not recollect their numbers now ; but I
think there were at that precinct between 80 and 150. Some of them
said they supposed Kansas was becoming a free State, and they
wanted to use their influence as much #s possible to make it a slave
State. I should suppose Chapman's was some 40 or 45 miles from
the Missouri State line. I do not know how far it is from the line of
the district ; but I think it is called some 4 miles from the Santa Fe
pad, which was the line at that time.
I do not recollect any further about the voting.
THOMAS HOPKINS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
6
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
PETER BASSINGER called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
I came into the Territory the first of September, 1854, from War-
ren county, Iowa, and settled at what was called Black Jack point, on
the Santa Fe road, in the 4th district.
I was at the first election after I came into the Territory, held at
Doctor Chapman's, in November, 1854. I saw a great many men
and teams travelling the Santa Fe road at the time of the election,
and I hardly knew what it meant until some 40 or 50 men camped at
my house. They came in the house off and on, and was talking and
was wishing to know how I would vote; and after their insisting, I
said, at last, I thought, if I did vote at all, I would vote the free-State
ticket. One old gentleman — Mr. Ralston, I think they called his
name, who lived between Westport and Independence — hooted at me,
and said they were bound to have Kansas a slave State, if they did it
at the point of the sword, and that it was not worth while for me to
kick up about it. A man who had stuck up a stake by my calf-pen,
said he had as much a claim there as he wanted. A gentleman rode
up that I was partly acquainted with, and we rode to the polls after
these men had started. One of their men had driven down a stake
which they said was their claim, and I jumped down and pulled it up;
and it had either 7 or 9 names on it, I do not recollect which. There
was no person sworn, but all voted. I voted The one I knew came
back and staid with me all night. After we got back, he said, as all
the fun was over, he would tell me the sport of it. He said that
one man got drunk, and they sent for Doctor Chapman to come and
see a sick man ; and when they got him off, they got another man in
his place a judge, who was not sworn in. These men at my house
told me, some of them, that they lived in Missouri. One of them
told me he lived in Jackson county. I have passed his house several
times since. There was one who drove up to my house in his car-
riage, who was from Missouri, and inquired the way to the election.
He said if he did not get to vote, whether he had been there long
enough or not, he would give his team. He said that every man had
a right to vote. I did not see arms about these men, except that
almost every man had revolvers and knives belted to them. I saw
arms in their wagons. I saw some guns there. After the election
was over, they went back towards Missouri. I started for Indepen-
dence the next morning, and some of them passed me that day. I
left my wife at home. I camped that night at Cedar creek, and seve-
ral of this party camped there. Some of them hallooed for Whitfield,
and some for Wakefield. The road seemed to be full of them. I
was not very well acquainted in my district at that time. I saw
others,, more than staid at my house, on the road going back to Mis-
souri.
his
PETER, 4- BASSINGES,
mark
LAWRENCE, K. T. Avril 30. 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
REUBEN HAOKETT called and
To Mr. Keeder:
Came into the Territory 6th June, 1854 ; settled on Ottawa creek.
Resided there since I moved my family there the 2--1 of September fol-
lowing. I came from Indiana to Illinois; and fr~m Illinois here. I
live in the fourth district. I was present at the e'oCfcicn in November,
1854, at Doctor Chapman's. My acquaintance ^as riot extensive in
the district, but I think the population was not great. I got to the
place of election between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning on the
day of election. I saw a considerable number of mex\ I was not ac-
quainted with. I saw many of my acquaintances there a3so. I do not
remember that I heard these strangers to me say where they had come
from, or what for. I never saw these strangers before, and have
seen but a few of them since, that I know. Those that I s&w coming
in, came from across the prairie towards Hickory point, and some
from the direction of "Eight-mile" creek. I am not well acquainted
with the district now, but I am acquainted with the persons on Ot-
tawa creek and above; but there are persons on " Eight-mile" creek
that I am not acquainted with. I have no knowledge of tik^ exact
number of families on "Eight-mile" creek.
I was at the election on the 30th of March, 1855. I do not recol-
lect about the population in the district between the census ac d the
time of election, except that it was increasing slowly. I saw a num-
ber of persons there I did not know to be citizens of the district. I
did not count them, and cannot judge correctly, but can estimate
them. I think there were some 80 odd votes polled. I should j^dge
there were about 20 or 30 persons there, perhaps more, I was
not acquainted with, that I did not know to be residents. There rare
persons in the district I was unacquainted with.
To Mr. Sherman :
Of the 80 odd who voted there, I probably knew some 30 odd j#*-
sons. I cannot form any correct opinion of what persons besides we e
citizens or were not citizens of the district.
To Mr. Whitfield:
It was peaceable and quiet at both elections.
REUBEN HACKETT.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
REUBEN HACKETT recalled.
I have examined the poll-books of the election of the 29th Novem-
ber, 1854, in the fourth district, and I find upon that poll-list 30
names whom I know to have been residents of the district at that
time, as follows:
B J. T. Keeser, Charles White, B. C. Moore, R. Hill, R. M. Wil-
liams, W. David, J. Bradbury, Gr. Simmons, H. Lowry, W. Grace,
C. Mayfield, Judge Bernard, T. Mockaby, A. F. Powell, J. Eddy,
A. J. Miller, A. B. Gilland, P. Bassinger, E. H. Bassinger, E. Hill,
8
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
J. M. Banks, E. Hackett, J. B. Davis, J. H. Lockridge, A. Hanna,
J. Curran, W. Ewart, 0. Hand, Wm. Moore, J. Chapman .
REUBEN HACKETT
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
PERRY FULLER called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Eeeder :
I came into this Territory about the 6th of September, 1854, and
settled on what is called " Eight-mile" creek, in the 4th district, and
have resided there ever since. I was at the first election, of 29th of
November, 1854.
I profess to be well acquainted with my district. I have examined
the poll-list of that election, and find a good many names there of
men who do not live in the district. There were 161 votes cast. 1
do not find over 24 or 25 names of residents at that time on the poll-
book. There might have been more, but I think not.
I saw a great many strangers there on the day of the election — some
of them from Missouri. I understood they camped on the ground
over night, They were there early in the morning. There was con-
siderable confusion on that day at the election polls. There were
severe threats that they were bound to make Kansas a slave State. I
did not know any of the strangers there.
7" I have looked over the list made out by Mr. Hackett, in connexion
with the poll-books, and think it is correct. I live some eight miles
from Mr. Hackett, in another settlement.
PERKY FULLER.
LAWRENCE, K. T.? May 3, 1856.
JOHN F. JAVENS called and sworn.
I came into the Territory the 29th of February, 1854, from West-
port, Missouri, and settled on the headwaters of the Marais des Cygnes,
and was the first settler who made a claim there. It was in the fourth
election district. I was at the election of November 29, 1854, at the
house of Dr. Chapman, when General Whitfield was elected, and I
voted there. There were citizens of Missouri who came there and
voted at that election, some of whom I had been personally acquainted
with for the last ten or twelve years. Among those I recognised, and
whose names I find on the poll-list of that election, are James Price,
G. W. Allen, H. T. Childs, A. B. Smith, Thomas Hall, John Price,
M. Simmons, J. Campbell, and others. I conversed with some .of
them, and they told me they came there to vote. I asked them if
they had a right to vote in Missouri and in the Territory too, and
they said they were told by citizens of the Territory they had a right
to come here and vote. They were armed, every man of them I saw.
Many of them were cursing the Free-State men of the Territory. Some
told me they had never been in the Territory before, and if they had
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 9
known I lived' in that section of the country, they would have made
their arrangements to have stopped with me the night of the election.
They said they wanted to see the Territory anyhow, and that was a good
* time to do so. That they could come and vote, and see the Territory at
the same time. When this was told me, some of the party were ready
to start home, and these persons told me they would have to go back
with the others, as their baggage was in the wagon, and but for that
they would have stopped with me that night. After I saw how they
were voting, and heard a number express themselves as being deter-
mined to outvote the Free-State party, if some of them, had to stay
and vote again, I left the polls and started home.
I find but a very few resident voters' names in the list, and I thought
I knew all of them. I have not examined so thoroughly as to say
how many there were. I saw three or four times as many armed men
from Missouri on the ground as there were resident voters in the dis-
trict at that time.
JOHN F. JAVENS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
WILLIAM MOORE called and sworn.
I came into the Territory about the 16th of August, 1854, from In-
diana, and settled in the 4th district, on the Ottawa creek, and have
lived there ever since. I was at the election on the 29th of Novem-
ber, 1854, in that district. My acquaintance was very limited at that
time. But in that district I do not think there were more than 25
or 30 resident voters. When I went to the election I saw a great
many strangers there, which surprised me very much, as I thought I
knew most in the district. I do not know that I recollect any conver-
sation distinctly on that day about that matter with any of them.
They were encamped some 200 or 300 yards from Dr. Chapman's
house, where t?.e election was held. I was not in their camp. They
were armed with double-barreled shot-guns, bowie-knives, and re-
| volvers. I heard them say they had as good right to come from Mis-
I souri and vote there, as others who were there and had come from
1 other States. They did not appear to claim any residence in the Ter-
ritory. The principal portion of them left an hour and a half or two
hours after I got there, in carriages, buggies, and wagons, and were
very noisy and profane, and appeared to be intoxicated. I saw a
great many of them vote that day.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver:
I knew a Mr. Thomas Mockaby, as he said his name was, who was
of this party of strangers. I think I heard as many as a dozen of
these strangers say they were from Missouri. I think I saw at least
as many as twenty-five of them vote.
WILLIAM MOORE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 8, 1856.
10 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Dr. B. C. WESTFALL testifies :
I saw a great many persons coming from Missouri to the Territory
at the time of the election, on the 29th of November, 1854, and I saw
them after they returned home. They were residents of Missouri, and
I was personally acquainted with many in our neighborhood, who
said they were coming out to the election to vote, and elect men they
considered suitable for officers in the Territory. After they returned,
they told me they had been in the Territory and voted. They told
me the precincts they had been to. I think some of them came to
Dr. Chapman's, on Ottowa creek, and some to Pottawatomie creek.
There was an uncommonly large tree had fallen at Pottawatomie
creek at that time, and as I came out with some of them afterwards,
they told me they had had a dance around it. They also told me
they came very near mobbing the man Wilkinson for being a free-
soiler, and who afterwards run on the pro-slavery ticket ; and it was
with difficulty they were prevented from taking him out and whipping
him. I lived near the line of the Territory, in the State of Missouri,
at that tim'e, and had lived in Jackson, Cass, and Johnson counties
tor the previous ten years.
B. C. WESTFALL.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 8, 1856.
JAMES W. WILSON testifies :
I came from Missouri into the fifth district in August, 1854. I
was at the election at Henry Sherman's, in that district, on the 29th
of November, 1854. There were but few settlers at the election, but
quite a number of non-residents there — a large number from Mis-
souri. I do not think there were more than twenty residents at the
polls at that time. There were eighty-two votes cast, of which I
think the principal part were from Missouri. Some of the same men
were there that were afterwards at the election at Bull Creek precinct
on the 30th of March, 1855. I saw some little excitement that day,
but not much, about the legality of their voting, but no fighting or
quarreling. The Missourians voted the pro-slavery ticket for Gene-
ral Whitfield, and said they intended to make Kansas a slave- State ;
that they had a right to vote, as they had claims in the Territory.
There was a number of them I have never seen or heard tell of being
in, the Territory since. Judge Teagle was there, managing the af-
fairs, though he did not vote. He said he did not intend voting, but'
intended to see others vote. He was judge of the court in Jackson
county, Missouri. He had several hands out there attending to cattle,
who voted, and I have never heard of their being in the Territory
since. Mr. Samuel Wade, of Jackson county, Missouri, near New
Santa Fe, voted that day. Wade is a farmer, and still lives where
he lived at the time he voted there.
J. W. WILSON
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 11
J. C. PJRINCE called and sworn.
I was at the election at Fort Scott in November, 1854. I lived at
that time in Cass county, Missouri, in a little town on the boundary-
line, called West Point. I Went out in company with some one hun-
dred men the day before the election. It was about forty-five miles
from where I lived to Fort Scott. A great number of the party had
their tents and wagons with them, and camped out. I went out to
Fort Scott, and staid there the night before the election. The most,
perhaps all, the party were from Missouri. They went to Fort Scott
to vote. On the day of election, Barbee and Wilson, two of the judges,
made some attempts to swear some of the men ; but they got them in
some way not to swear the voters, and I think none were sworn that
day. They all voted, so far as I know ; at least they told me so. I
think I was acquainted with about fifty who voted there, and who
lived in Missouri at that time. There were but very few resident
voters ; I should think not probably over fifty. There were some
there from Missouri who voted, with whom I was not personally ac-
quainted. I should suppose there were but about twenty-five legal
voters that day at Fort Scott. The settlement was sparse. Fort
Scott was a trading point, with but one store there, I think. The
voting was by ballot, and there was no violence there. There were
several men pointed out to me as eastern emigrants, who intended to
vote and leave, the same as the Missourians. They were strangers to
me, and I do not know that they voted. I voted on that day, and
upon examining the poll-list I find my vote put down as "No. 25,
J. H. Prince." After the voting was over, the Missourians went to
their wagons, and commenced leaving for Missouri. I did not leave
until the morning after the election. Some of the most influential
men of Missouri in the company that went urged me to go and vote.
And the morning before the election I started in my buggy for Fort
Scott, and staid all night at Colonel Arnett's, in Fort Scott. Whit-
field and Wakefield were the candidates. I live now in Osawatomie,
in this Territory, and have lived there about five months.
J. C. PKINCE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
MATTHIAS A. HEED called and sworn.
I came into the Territory from Jackson, Missouri, in August, 1854 ;
took a claim ; went back to Missouri, and came up the next month,
•and settled on the Wakarusa, in the seventh district, and have lived
there ever since. I was at the election on the 29th of November,
1854, held at Frey McGee's. I saw a good many men there I was
not acquainted with, and a good many men I had been acquainted
with in Missouri. I was in their camp there — in Mr. Boss's camp,
and John Flournoy's, and Abnet's. Samuel Kalston I saw there,
and he showed me where he had staked off a claim, and said he
had bought a large tree of Mr. McGee for timber. Some of them I saw
there have claims in the Territory now, and are living here now. I
12 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
do not know whether Mr. Ealston ever lived on nis claim or not,
though I understand he has "blacks working on it ; hut I do not know
whether he has any house on it or not. I judge I sa~w there about
one hundred men. I do not recollect that I heard any of those men
say what they had come for. I did not stay there until they left.
Cross-examined by J. W. Whitfield :
There were a good many men who came here and made claims that
fall, and I have not heard of them since — both pro-slavery men and
free-soilers. Some made claims, and came back in the spring.
To Mr. Sherman :
The district was tolerably thinly settled at that time, but I could
not tell how many actual settlers there were in the district. There
were not many settlers at the polls. I think I saw some twenty or
forty there. I was tolerably well acquainted in the district, though
I had not been there a long time.
his
MATTHIAS A. + KEED.
mark.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 7, 1856.
The witness could not sign his name, having cut his hand.
WM. F. JOHNSTON called and sworn.
To Mr. Eeeder :
I first came into the Territory to locate a claim in August, 1854,
and brought my family here in the fore part of November, 1854. I
settled on one of the branches of the Wakarusa, in this district. I
am from Jackson county, Missouri. I was at the election of the 29th
of November, 1854, at " One Hundred and Ten/' as I was considered
in that district then, being at a place called Brownville.
I saw a great many wagons and tents there, and many individuals
I knew, from Jackson county, Missouri. I was among their tents,
and I had a conversation with some there, and they told me they had
come with the intention of voting. I went up to the polls, and it ap-
peared to be very quiet. As I had a different colored ticket from the
rest of our party, who had intended to vote for Flanigan, it was chal-
lenged by Frey McGree, who had been appointed one of the judges,
but did not serve. Lemuel Ralston was serving in his place, and lives
on the road between Independence and Westport, Missouri. I had
been acquainted with him since the year 1847". I then turned and
challenged the vote of a young man by the name of Nolan, from Jack-
son county, I knew. I first asked if he had come over here and taken
a claim, and he said he had not. Finally the thing was hushed up,
as I had a great many friends there from Jackson county, and it
might lead to a fight if I challenged any more votes. We both voted,
and I went down to the camp. I saw a great many there I knew
who had voted in Missouri the August before, at which election I was
one of the judges. Among those I knew were Nathan Eoss and three
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
13
or four others in and around Independence ; and from the township of
Washington, that I lived in, there were some three or four Muirs,
some Nolans, and a young man hy the name of Case, but I did not see
him vote; some young Harpers and Esquire Smith, then acting justice
of the peace for Missouri ; a man hy the name of Abnett, and several
others I cannot now remember. I was in their camp while here, but
I did not see them leave, and but few came in, as they had principally
come before I had got here. I was surprised to see them here, as I
had heard nothing of their being here. There were several hundreds
on the ground, principally from Jackson county, Missouri. I should
suppose there were 300 or 400 at any rate — probably more than that,
though I cannot say exactly. I did not see any man vote more than
once that day. I left the polls immediately after the difficulty i had
started, and went into the camp.
Cross-examined by Mr. J. W. Whitfield :
There were a great many persons coming into the Territory af that
time, taking up claims; but a great many of those I saw there that
day I knew to be living in Jackson county, Missouri, for I have been
in Missouri since, and found them living there. Some of them that
day told me they stopped at Bull creek, and laid off a town, and took
each a lot there, and that was all the claim they had. There were
many who came in that fall and took up claims, and never came back
again.
The following is the list of all the residents whose names I know
on the poll-list: Greorge W. Berry, William Daly, Wm. Holly, F.
M. McGee, John Smith, Kobert Turner, M. W. McG-ee, M. A. Keid,
L. T. Cook, J. W. Brown, Wm. Handley, and Daniel Turner.
W. F. JOHNSTON.
TECUMSBH, K. T., May 7, 1856.
ALFRED LARZELERE called and sworn.
I came into the Territory with my family on the first day of March,
1855, from St. Joseph, Missouri, and settled in the Burr Oak pre-
cinct, in tiie 14th district, and have resided there ever since. I was
at the election on the 29th of November, 1854. My family was then
at St. Joseph, but I had made a claim in the Territory. I did not
come over for the purpose of voting at that election ; did not vote, and
did not think I had any right- to vote. Col. John Scott, Benjamin
Harding, and Mr. Bryant were the judges of election. Those judges
were elected, I think, after I arrived from St. Joseph. In the morn-
ing, when I got on the ground, I saw a great many citizens of Mis-
souri there, principally citizens of St. Joseph. There was consider-
able excitement at the time I arrived, which appeared to be arising^from
a dispute between the citizens of Missouri and the citizens of the Ter-
irtory, as to the right of Colonel Scott to act as a judge of election,
took no part in it. The issue was, that Colonel • Scott was selected
by the bystanders, the citizens of Missouri taking as active part in it
as those who were bona-fide citizens of the Territorv. Colonel Scott
14 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
resided in the city of St. Joseph, and held the office of city attorney
for the city of St. Joseph at that time. I heard him claim that he
was a citizen of the Territory, hut I do not recollect that I heard
him say what time he came over. He was selected and acted as
judge. On my return to St. Joseph I inquired if he had resigned his
office as c*ity attorney, and was told he had not. He has exercised
that office since, I think, up to the first part of last April. I forget
whether I left "before the polls were closed or not, hut I was there a
portion of the day. When I arrived on the ground I think there was
a majority of Missourians there. I think in the after part of the day
a good many of the Missourians had left "before I did. Several voted
tlien, hut I could not name any one now. They contended with me
that I had a right to vote, as they had, but I contended that such was
not the case. There was a crowd of some 30 or 40 when I first went
there, and I do not know as at any time there was to exceed 50 men;
hut the crowd was changing all the time. Judge Leonard, Wm. K.
Kichardson, and Reuben Middleton, seemed to be the most active per-
sons there from St. Joseph. Wm. P. Richardson was there also, and
I always considered him a citizen of Missouri up to that time. They
insisted that the citizens of Missouri had a right to vote there, espe-
cially every man who had any pretensions to a claim in the Territory
at that time.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott :
I remember but one of the judges of election appointed by the gov-
erned, and his name was Mr. Irwin, of Iowa Mission, and he was not
on the ground at the time I came up. Mr. Harding was there ; but I
do not recollect whether he was one of the judges appointed by the gov-
ernor. He acted as a judge. I did not learn that the dispute was in
consequence of Mr. Harding claiming the right, as the judge appointed
by the governor, to appoint the other two judges. The dispute then
was as to the right of Colonel Scott to act as a judge of election. I
heard Colonel Scott claim that he was a citizen of Kansas Territory,
and that he had come over and taken a claim, and I think he said he
had taken board for a month with Mr. Bryant. I do not know as
those remarks were addressed to any particular person, but I under-
stood them to be made publicly to the bystanders. There was a dis-
pute as to his right to serve as a judge ; and to establish his right, I
think he made those remarks. I do not recollect any argument that
a judge of the election was not necessarily required to be a citizen of
the Territory. I think it was generally understood by all parties that
a judge must be a citizen of the Territory. I understood him. to say
that he had made a claim, and had taken a month's board at Mr. Bry-
ant's. 1 recollect one instance of a man being asked to be sworn as to
his residence, and he refused, and did not vote, and went off swearing
because he was not allowed to vote. Mr. Harding, and I think Mr.
Bryant, acted as judges of the election, and were both actual residents
of the Territory at that time, I think.
A. LARZELERE,
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 23, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 15
BENJAMIN HARDING called and sworn.
I moved into the Territory in 1852. I resided in the Burr Oak pre-
cinct of the 14th district. I came from St. Joseph, Missouri, where I
had resided several years. I was judge of the election on the 29th of
November, 1854, appointed by Gov. Keeder. The other two judges
appointed by the governor did not appear at the time of opening the
polls. When the time arrived, I stated to the crowd that the other
two judges were not present; gave a statement of the governor's in-
structions for such a case, which was for the voters on the ground to
select other judges. I then nominated Mr. Waterson, and the crowd
present voted him down. Several came around me then, and told me
they thought there was no hurry, and that probably the other judges
would yet come, and advised that further proceedings be deferred ;
which was done — deferred until nearly 10 o'clock. During this time
there was a discussion arose as to the right of those on the ground to
vote for judges. My impression at the time was, that a large majority of
those present were from Missouri, residents of Missouri. Some one
nominated Mr. Bryant as a judge, and he was elected by the crowd.
The discussion still continued about the right of those to vote, and
contended for very strenuously by some of the leading men from Mis-
souri. Some one in the crowd had nominated Col. John Scott. It
was my impression that he resided in St. Joseph. Mr. Bryant came
to me, and stated to me that Mr. Scott had come to his house the night
before and engaged boarding for a month, and he considered him a
resident of Kansas on that ground. I still considered him a resident
of Missouri, and refused to put the vote to the crowd. After some
discussion Judge Leonard, of Missouri, stepped forward and put the
vote himself, and Mr. Scott was elected by the crowd, and he served
as a judge of election that day. Mr. Scott has never lived in the dis-
trict since, to my knowledge. I did not again see him in the Territory
for several months. I suppose a majority of the votes cast that day
were cast by resident settlers of the district ; probably a handsome
majority. Votes were cast by some I considered non-residents. I
should give as an approximation that two-thirds, and perhaps more,
were actual residents of the Territory. There were votes received
there from those I considered non-residents, upon their oath or affirm-
ation that they considered themselves residents of the district. I
objected to receiving those votes, but I was overruled by a majority
of the judges. I considered that it was the duty of the judges to ex-
amine voters with regard to facts only, and then to decide whether
they were entitled to vote from that expression of facts. Persons were
challenged and sworn, and I differed from the other judges as to their
right to vote from their statement of 'facts. The other judges thought
they were entitled to vote if they swore that they considered them-
selves residents ; and thus the majority overruled me.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott:
But one of the judges appointed by the governor, myself, was present
at the time the polls were to be opened. I did not undertake to appoint
other judges. I merely nominated one, and put the vote to the crowd,
and they voted him down. I claimed no right to appoint the other
16 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
judges. I did not call Squire Waterson into a reoni, and ask him, as a
justice of the peace, to swear me as judge, that I might thereby have a
right to appoint the other two judges. I undertook to claim the right
of judging whether those on the ground had a right to vote for judges.
I did not ask Squire Waterson to swear me at all before the other
judges were elected by the crowd. As an appointed judge of the
election, I claimed the right, before I was sworn in, to judge as to the
qualifications of persons present to vote for judges, for I considered
that a portion of my duty. I had received no private instructions
from Governor Keeder to that effect. I could not state that Colonel
Scott, of St. Joseph, declared, publicly or privately, that he considered
himself a citizen of Kansas Territory. Every man who voted that
day did not swear that he was an actual resident of Kansas Territory,
for those whom, we knew to be residents we did not require to swear
at all. I believe all those who were not known to the judges to be
actual residents, took an oath that they considered themselves actual
residents, before they voted. Judge Leonard, of Missouri, and other
persons, were refused permission to vote because they would not take
that oath. I asked Major Wm. P. Kichardson some questions in re-
gard to his residence, and he refused to answer me ; stating that Col.
Scott should question him, and that he would answer no questions I
might ask him. Previously to his refusing to answer my questions,
I might imprudently have asked him which he considered the head
of his family — himself or his wife. I intended it as a joke, and sup-
posed it would be taken as such. It was after that that he refused to
answer any questions put by me. I believe that the same questions
were propounded to and answered by him, as to and by other persons,
before he was permitted to vote. The other two judges, I think,
expressed their opinion that each man was the best judge as to his
own actual place of residence.
B. HAKDING.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 24, 1856.
A. A. JAMISON testifies:
To Mr. Eeeder:
I have examined the poll-lists of the 14th district for the 29th of
November, 1854. I found the names of the following persons I
know who then resided in Missouri. The following is the list: Alex-
ander Davis, Sidney Tenent, George C. Collett, Andrew Cox, F. C.
Hughes, William Turpin, and Oliver H. P. Craig.
A. A. JAMISON.
TBCUMSBH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
THOMAS W. WATERSON testifies :
To Mr. Scott:
I was at the election in the 14th district, at the house of Benjamin
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 17
Harding on the 29th of November , 1854. I was on the ground before
the judges of election were appointed that day. None of the judges
appointed hy the governor were present there, except Benjamin Har-
ding. The hour of opening the polls had about arrived when I got
there. Directly afterwards Mr. Harding invited me into his house.
I was then an acting justice of the peace, commissioned a short time
hefore. We had a good deal of conversation about the election, and
he asked me to swear him as one of the judges appointed by the gov-
ernor. This was before any of the other judges were appointed. I
told him he had better wait until the other judges had been elected,
and I would swear them all in at the same time. He stated that
there were a great many of them who were not entitled to vote for
judges, and he wanted to be sworn in, that he might decide who were
legal voters to vote for judges. I then told him that, in my opinion,
he had not the right to decide that, according to the proclamation of
the governor ; that it was for each man to determine for himself as to
his right to vote ; and, therefore, I declined swearing him in. He
then asked me what he should do. I told him I thought the best
plan was to take the law, read it to the crowd, and let every man
judge for himself; which he did. He also wanted me to serve a?, one
of the judges. I said I did not want to serve; but he put me in nomi-
nation, and I was votecf down by the crowd by a large majority. I
was an acting justice of the peace in and for the 14th district of Kan-
sas Territory.
T. W. WATERSON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 24, 1856. j
JOHN W. FORM AN called and sworn.
To Mr. King: ,- v
I came into the Territory from Missouri about the first of April,
1843. I removed to Doniphan, where I now live, in 1853. I was
appointed by G-overnor Reeder judge of the election of November 29 —
of the election of delegate to Congress, which was held at the house
of Benjamin Harding, in the 14th district. When the election came
;on, I was just recovering from a long spell of the typhoid fever, and,
much to my regret, I could not attend the election. The election was
held about 14 miles from my house. But few of my neighbors at-
tended. They were almost unanimously for Whitfield, against any
bther candidate running.
JOHN W. FORMAN.
LEAVBNWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1856.
J. B. CRANE called and sworn.
I I live on the Fort Riley road, about ten miles from here^ I moved
[here from Buchanan county, Missouri, on the 20th of August, 1854.
[". was at the election of the 29th of November, 1854, at Mr. Pensen-
H. Rep. 200 2*
18 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
au's, on Stranger creek. I am tolerably well acquainted in the south-
ern part of the district. One Mr. Frasier was one of the judges of
that election, and I think R. Riddle another; but I do not recollect
the name of the other. There were a good many people, pretty much
all strangers to me, at that election. I think there were some three
hundred votes polled there that day. I left the place of election
about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I saw one man there — a Mr. Lewis
Burnes, from Weston, Missouri, that voted. There was some dispute
about the polls, about the right of Missourians to vote — some saying
that any man having a claim in the Territory had a right to vote, no
matter where he lived. I should think, from what I saw and heard
about the polls, that not more than one hundred votes could be polled in
that district at that time. I think there were at least two hundred
votes given that day that were given by non-residents. There were
some of my neighbors who were not at that election. From the fact
that I know that some of the residents did not vote, and from all I
can form an idea of, I think there were not more than one hundred
resident votes given that day. I do not recollect of seeing any arms
there, except some few bowie-knives and pistols, and perhaps a few
guns. I saw some of these strangers coming in from towards the river —
some in carriages and some on horseback. I remained there until
some of them left, and they came back to wards the river. I saw some
of them vote. I saw no fighting, and no one was Drevented from
yoting that I know of.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
Mr. Whitfield and Mr. Flanigan were the two candidates at that
election. I voted for Mr. Flanigan. I d,o not know when he moved
iiito the Territory, and do not know where he lived. I never saw
him. [ do not know whether Mr. Flanigan resides in the Territory
now or not ; but I believe he does not. I do not know when he left the
Territory. I have heard of his being in the Territory since the election,
but do'not know what became of him. I was not acquainted in the dis-
trict, as a general thing, except in the south and southwest portion —
perhaps one-third of the district. I do not know the size of the district.
It is a large district, and included Kickapoo. I do not know about the
town of Atchison. I think the boundary of the district followed the
military road to the Stranger creek, and then went up the Stranger; do
not know how far. Some of the strangers I have spoken of might have
lived in the portion of the district I did not know, but I do not think
so. They might have lived there. There was. plenty of room for
them, but I do not think they did. I recognised but one man whom
I knew to be from Missouri. Of late it has been a pretty general
practice to carry arms in the Territory, but not at first; though a man
moving in generally had a rifle, but did not cariy'it about with him.
There were a good many persons about that time looking out for
claims in the Territory, but not so much as a short time before; and
but few did so where I was acquainted. I heard no complaints at
that time about a want of an organized government here in the ~
ritory.
j. B. CRANE
LBAVENWOKTH CITY, May 19, 1856
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 19
FRANCIS M. POTTER called and sworn.
I live about twelve or fourteen miles northwest of this, in the
fifteenth district. I came from Buchanan county, Missouri, to the
district, on the 16th day of October, 1854. I was at the election at
Pensenau's on the 29th of November, 1854. I think I know Jesse
Morin — Captain Morin, as we call him. I am not very well acquainted
in that district. There were quite a crowd of men at that election,
and I saw some from Buchanan county, Missouri. I saw James Elli-
son, Samuel Singleton, Allen Pullen, John Galbraith, and a man by
the name of Kirk, who has moved into the district since, but I do not
know where he lived then. I do not recollect about an encampment.
There were a great many people there, coming on horseback, and in
wagons, from towards the Missouri river. I should suppose there
were some three or four hundred persons there. I think not more
than half of the persons there were residents of the district. I did
not vote that day. I saw some of these people go away towards the
military road. There were a good many there when I left. I did
not see any man vote that day.
Cross-examined by Mr. Grover :
I am not certain as to the residence of Mr. Pullen. I frequently
saw him attending on a ferry on the Missouri, and my understanding
was that he lived on the other side. The ferry was at la tan, Mis-
souri, across the river. The way I got my understanding that he
lived in Missouri was, that I always saw him in latan when he had
nothing else to do. He may have lived in the Territory, but I never
knew of it. I think there was no settlement on the river opposite
latan ; if there was, I did not know it. I think Mr. Pullen did live
a while on this side of the river after that. I do not know as the
people of Atchison came to Pensenau's to vote. Atchison was a
small place then. I had been there. Men, in going from Pense-
nau's to Atchison, would go out towards the military road. I sup-
pose those also to Port William, Kickapoo, and Salt Creek valley. I
think probably these points would embrace more than a majority of
the votes in the district. I cannot tell how many I saw leave Pense-
nau's to go towards the military road. I could not state whether I
knew half of the resident voters of the district at that time or not ;
I may have ; it is likely I did not. I saw no one vote that day. I
do not know where Jesse Morin was living at that time. A week
or two before that election I saw Morin in De Kalb, Missouri ; but I
did not know where he lived then, and I do not know where he lives
now. The citizens of Kansas frequently went over into Missouri at
that time ; I did myself.
F M. POTTER.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
JOHN W. HOUSE called and sworn.
I live about six or seven mijes from here, on the military road, in
20 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
the fifteenth district, and have lived there since the middle of Septem
her, 1854. T was at the election at Pensenau's on the 29th of Novem-
ber, 1854 1 saw some persons there from Missouri, and some two or
three volte. There was quite a crowd around the polls. I voted that
day for Mr. Flanigan. I came into this district from Platte county,
Missouri, where I had lived some ten or twelve years. I know Jesse
Morin, who used to live in Platte City, and I understood he lived
above Platte City some six or seven miles, at the time of that election.
I know IraNorris lived in Platte City, and Hugh McKowan. I know
several John Millers in Platte county, but none in our district. I
know S. Johnson, Samuel Dickson, Isaac House, my brother, Leonidas
Oldham. I knew a J. B. Mitchell in Missouri, but know of none in
our district. I know Henry Debard, about Platte City. I knew a
Lapp, who lives in latan ; I know of none in our district. I know
John Groff, who lived in Platte county, but none in the Territory.
James Sweeney lives in Platte county. I know a Duncan, who lived
in the edge of Buchanan county ; he owns a claim here now, but I
cannot say where he lives. Thomas Douglass lived at latan. John
Bryan I know, as also Kobert Ely. William Digman, who lives in
Platte county, and A. W. Hughes, a Mr. Fisher, a Dr. Fisher, I
knew lived in Weston. N. K. Green lived in Platte City. Colonel
Lewis Burns lives sometimes on one side of the river and sometimes
the other. I know James Brooks. I do not know any Bowman in
my district, but I know one in Weston. I know P. Yocum, who
lived in Missouri. Allen .Pullen used to live in latan. I know
James Mulky, and James Bolton, wlio novr lives in the district. D.
W. Quimby used to live in Platte City; he never lived in our dis-
trict. I know Job Bobbins. Jonathan Lucy lived in the district at
that time, I think. A. G. Boyd did live in Kickapoo. James H.
Kessinger and J. D. Pepper lived in Platte county. S. H. Oliphant,
I think, lived in Platte City at that time. Samuel Pepper and War-
ren Blanton lived in Platte county. Phineas Skinner lives in Platte
county, and is a wealthy man. He never lived in the Territory to
my knowledge. Nathan Newby lived in Platte county, as did George
Kitchen. Asa Vanaldanham did live at Weston, but lives in this
city now, I think. I do not know any Staggs in our district. I
knew some in Platte county. I saw some of these people at this
election ; among them my brother, and my brother-in-law, Mulky,
and John Bryan. I had some conversation with them about voting.
Bryan allowed he ha-1 a right to vote, and so did others. My brother
did not live in the Territory at that time, and has never lived in the
Territory at all, unless he has moved into it within the last week. I
saw George Quimby here, and Jesse Morin. There were no persons
bearing the names I have given living in my district at that time,
that I know of. Some of these persons have moved into the Territory
since. I do not know when Groff moved over here. My brother
made no particular claim to vote, except that they had as good a
right to vote as those of the Aid Society had.
Cross-examined by Mr. Grover :
I think I saw some persons vote that day ; Isaac House, James
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 21
Mulky, and I think John Bryan, and some others, whose names I do
not recollect, who came over from Missouri. I voted for Flanigan
that day. I do not know Mr. Flanigan, and do not know whether
he resided in the Territory or not. I never saw him but once, and
did not know it was he until after he had gone. I heard of Flani-
gan's coming to the Territory before the election ; but whether before
Reeder came or not, I cannot tell. There was a general rumor pre-
vailing that Flanigan came with Reeder. I do not know of any Jesse
Morin who lived in the district at that time ; though there might have
been, as there were persons living within two miles of me I did not
know. There might have been a number of persons bearing the
names I have given, who lived in the district at that time, and I not
have known it, though I do not think so. I do not know that
Stephen Johnson and Ira Norris were not at Atchison, and interested
in the town company there, as I have not been there. I saw Ira
Norris at the election. I did not know that L. Oldham lived at
Port William at that time, or that John Gough lived above
Kickapoo. Some of the names I have given might have been of
persons who had moved over here, though they used to live in Mis-
souri, and some of them have lived there since. I heard Digman and
McKowan say that day they lived in Missouri. I am not generally
acquainted in the western portion of the district. I never was at
Atchison and at Port William, and am not acquainted above Kicka-
poo much. I tiever saw Flanigan after the election, but heard he
had gone back*- Jo Pennsylvania.
his
J. W. + HOUSE.
mark.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
H. B. GALE called and sworn.
To Mr. Howard:
I reside on the military road to Fort Riley, about ten miles from
here, and moved there the 22d of October, 1854, from Missouri, and
have lived there ever since. In the spring of 1854 I came from Mer-
cer county, Missouri, and went to Buchanan county, and remainod
there through the summer. I was at the election held at Pensenau's
house o.n the 29th of November, 1854, about six miles from where I
live. I am pretty well acquainted in the southern part of the district,
where I live. I voted at that election. I do not recollect the number
of votes polled. There were some non-residents there I knew to be
such ; some I knew to be from Missouri, and some came over here who
said they were from Platte county, about Ridgley, who said they
came to vote, and intended to make Kansas a slave State, and that
they had claims in the Territory. They mostly came in wagons, and
[ saw a great many vote — mostly for General Whitfield. I think
Flanigan got some 30 or 40 votes, I think Hickory Point was in that
district at that time, but I am not positive. I do not recollect how-
many votes Whitfield got that day, I cannot tell how many of those
22 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
who voted were residents, and how many non-residents. I should
judge there were between 200 and 300 at the election that day. I
cannot tell how many resident voters were there that day, as I was
not acquainted in the northern part of the district. There were quite
a number of persons there from Missouri; one I knew, and lived near
me when I was there. I heard some around the polls talk about com-
ing from Missouri. I heard many say they had the right to vote,
because they had claims here. This man who lived near me while I
was in Missouri, has been living there some time since. I should
judge there were, of those I heard talking about it, 40 or 50 from Mis-
souri. There were some 30 or 40 I knew to be residents of the dis-
trict there at the election. I saw no badge at that election. I cannot
say that I saw any I knew to be MisFOurians vote at that election. Some
of those I saw there I knew, were Mr. Burns, of Platte City, and John
Hamner, from Buchanan county, who told me he voted. I do not
recollect the names of any others. The town of AtCfhison, I think, is
in the district I live in.
To H. Miles Moore :
I heard when I got to the place of election that there had been a
speech, but I do not know who made it. There was something said
about there being no question of slavery in the election but I do not
recollect much about it.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : j
I saw Mr. Flanigan once, as he called at my nouse, out I never saw
him at any other time. I do not know where he resided. I under-
stood he came from Pennsylvania, but do not know as he said so. 1
have never seen Flanigan since I think Flanigan had no circulars
with him then. I think I have seen circulars put out both by Flani-
gan's and Whitfield' s friends, but I do not remember about the ques-
tion of slavery being put in issue. I do not know whether Flanigan
lives in the Territory or "not, but I understood he left immediately
after the election. I was not well acquainted in the northern part of
that district. It commenced near the Fort reserve here, and followed
the military road to the crossing of Stranger creek, and went up the
Stranger, but I do not know how far. I think it included Atchison.
I saw but two Missourians there that I knew by name, and did not
see them vote, and do not know for whom they voted. I do not recol-
lect of there being any complaint when I came into the Territory be-
cause it was not sooner organized, though I heard it through the fol-
lowing winter. The delay wa*> charged on Reeder. There were
many persons coming into the Territory that fall, hunting up claims,
H. B. GALE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 19, 1856.
CAMPBELL LOGAN called .and sworn
To Mr. Scott :
I resided, on the 29th of November, 1854, in what is now Atcmson
countv, about two and a half miles from Kickapoo, in this Territory.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 23
The candidates at the election of that date, which was held at Pense-
nau's, were General Whitfield, pro-slavery ; and some one on the
other side, I do not now recollect. I was not at the election that day
at all. I have never been at the place where the election was held.
James Logan, my brother, was not at the election that day.
[The remainder of the deposition is stricken out, according to
ruling at Westport, Missouri.]
CAMPBELL LOGAN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
JOHN A'. LINDSEY called and sworn.
1 was present at the election on the 29th of November, 1854, in
Leaven worth City. I was not much acquainted with the people here,
but from appearances believed there were a large number of non-resi-
dents here. I did not go to the polls to vote myself until the after-
noon ; but I took several persons up to vote, and there was quite a
crowd around the polls, and it was with great difficulty that 'they
could get to the polls. I think that they mostly voted. Right around
the window where the voting was going on, I think there must have
been from *75 to 100 persons, and the town was full of persons. There
were then about three or four houses in the town. When I went to
vote myself in the afternoon, there were some persons who kept in
front of me. I did not know any of them, except a man known as
Dick Murphy. When I would try to get in, they would pull me by
the coat, crowd me, and I could not succeed to get through the crowd.
I then went round and hurrahed for General Whitfield, and some of
them who did not know me said, " There is a good pro-slavery man,"
and lifted me up over their heads, and I crawled along on their heads,
and put in my vote. Then some one who saw my ticket cried out, " He
is a damned abolitionist, let him down!" and they dropped me. Many
others that I supposed to be pro-slavery men voted in the same way.
That was the way of voting by several persons in the latter part of
the day — by lifting them over the heads of the crowd to the polls, to
enable them to deposit their vote. I know of no free-State men, ex-
cept myself, who voted that way. All the free-State men on the
ground, whom I know, that day voted by crowding up through the
crowd, as voters generally bad to do, except those who were passed over.
Mr. Flanigan ran as a Nebraska democrat and friend of the admin-
istration. Mr. Wakeneld was called " the abolitionist's candidate."
Mr. Whitfield was running as a pro-slavery democratic canr.v p^n/JL
To Governor King :
I had every reason in the world to believe that they werfcot resi-
dents There were a great many settlers in the Territory t\t I did
not know, and such as these I could not distinguish fr«i other
strangers who may not have been residents of the Territor, I da
not recollect any strangers present that day, that I knew tjbe Mis-
sourians, for I never had been in that State but once, and tin only
to stav all night. I have no acquaintance with people of thl State.
24 KANSAS AFFAIRS. *
I saw no votes given in that day that I knew to be illegal. I saw one
man's vote challenged there, on the ground that he was a non-resi-
dent. This was the only man I saw challenged or objected to, and 1
don't know whether he voted or not. I was about the polls the fore
part of the day, but did not vote until the afternoon. The difficulty
was not at the polls, but in getting to them; and I thought that diffi-
culty grew out of the political opinions entertained by voters. The
pro-slavery men were handed over the heads of the people, and handed
back again without any trouble. I suppose that those persons around
the polls were persons who had voted, or were there to vote, as far as
I know. I can't say who voted, or who did not, but that they were
voting continually. All the houses I recollect of then in this city
were the hotel, the Kansas Herald office, Stevenson's grocery store, a
tin shop, and Dr. France's office. Dick Murphy, of whom I have
spoken, was a resident of this town, I believe ; and his conduct that
day, although it impressed me with the idea that he did not want me
to vote, yet it was in a laughing way ; but he always seemed to be
right in front of me whenever I endeavored to get to the polls. I tried
for an hour ©r an hour and a half, and then retreated. The reason I
did not get to the polls was a combination of the crowd and Dick
Murphy. I don't know whether this was a concerted combination or
not. J. A. LINDSEY
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
Dr. JAMES NOBLE testifies :
I was at Leavenworth City on the day of election, on the 29th of
November, 1854, and voted there, but not for Gen. Whitfield. There
was a large number of people here. I do not recollect of seeing any
one vote but myself. There was a large crowd around the polls, and
men pushing for the polls. Most of them were Missourians, and
hurrahing for Whitfield. I tried several times to get in before I
could get to the polls. There seemed to be no quarreling, that I
could see, but a good deal of crowding.
What I mean by Missourians is, that they lived over in Missouri.
I think a majority -about the polls, when I was about the polls,
were Missourians. I saw old man Hunt, from below Platte City; he
said he had as good right to vote here as any man, and was going to
vote. Pleasant Ellington lived up near Kidgley, in Platte county.
I do not suppose all the Missourians I saw there voted, for I heard
''•'O) ad not voted and would not vote.
^ross-exfimined by Mr. Whitfield:
I had be( jn living over on Stranger creek some time before that elec-
[0-B, but I do not recollect how long. My acquaintance was limited
1 the disti "let at that time. I do not know how large the district was
fc that tiiD ,e, but' I understood it was pretty large. I saw no on-e vote
myself . The canolidates on that day were Gen. Whitfield, Judge
n, and Judge Wakefield. I do not recollect of hearing the
of ( Chapman as a candidate. I never saw Judge Flanigan.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 25
The general rumor was, that Flanigan was from the east, and did not
reside here; that Judge Wakefield was here with his family, and
was a free-State man; that Gen. Whitfield was a Missourian, merely
an Indian agent here, and in favor of "bringing negroes in here. That
was the reason I voted in favor of Wakefield, and against Whitfield.
I understood Flanigan left after the election, but I do not know how
long.
Two of the judges of election were Neill Burgess and Mr. Twom-
bley, and I do not recollect of ever knowing the third one. I was in
town several hours, and sometimes about the polls. I saw no one at
the window, except those I thought were voting. I do not know as
there were more strangers here than usual. I think a great many
around the polls I knew ; some of them I did not know. I saw them
cutting up antics ; and it was pretty hard to get to the window, but
I was not frightened at all.
JAMES NOBLE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
SAMUEL F. FEW testifies:
I came into this Territory in 1854, from Virginia, and have resided
here since. I was here on the election of the 29th of November, 1854,
when Whitfield and Flanigan were candidates. I think I was the
first man who voted that day. I then left and went home. I did
not notice any persons, strangers, camped here that I now recollect
of. I know only that I voted. f here was a gentleman from Vir-
ginia, his family living in Missouri, who was with me. He had a
claim here, but had not his family, and immediately after the election
he went and brought his family here, and has been here ever since.
I cannot now say that I know of any persons coming from Missouri.
Many came from the island opposite here, but that is decided now to
be in Kansas Territory. There were many persons here, but I knew
but few persons then. There were settlers on that island at that
time. I knew but one man who lived on the island. I have no doubt
that there was a majority at that time in favor of General Whitfield ;
I thought it was a one-sided affair.
To Mr. Oliver:
I have no doubt there was a large majority here pro-slavery ; that
there was no need of assistance at that time. I never heard of Mr.
"^BHanigan till Governor Keeder came out here. The election came off
on Friday, the 29th of November, 1854. My family was at Independ-
dence, Missouri, and I went down shortly after the election, and Phelan
and Flanigan went down on the same boat with me, getting on board at
Kansas City, and I have never seen them since. I had not got the
returns of the election at this point, and I heard the final result at
Kansas City. Judge Flanigan told me he was coming back to this
city, proposed to buy my claim, and asked me to be his family phy-
sician. I told him I was not a candidate for practice as a physician.
I do not know that I saw any others going back to Pennsylvania with
26 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Flanigan, except Phelan. I think, if he had ever come here to this
city, I should have seen him. I heard once that he was on his way
back, but I never heard that he had got here. I -did not talk with
him about the election. I was tolerably intimate with Major Ogden
and Major Macklin. They wanted Major Ogden to be the candidate
here for Congress. I knew him to be a shrewd, calculating man.
I knew that Major Macklin was the owner of slaves ; and that they
were not willing to have Major Ogden enter the field if the slavery
question was to be sprung.
Major Ogden was regarded as a free-State man. Major Ogden de-
clined to run if the question of slavery was sprung. Major Ogden
was then the quartermaster at the fort. I know that Major Macklin
wanted Major Ogden to run. From all the means of information I
had, I am positive that on the 29th of November, 1854, there was a
pro-slavery majority here and I thought there was no need of assist-
ance here.
To Mr. Sherman :
I do not recollect the number of voters at that time. There was
but a small population on the Delaware lands at that time, compared
with the present. There was a pretty large settlement on Salt creek.
I paid but little attention to that election.
To Mr. Whitfield :
I regarded this as my residence from the time I first ca"me he*e.
My family were at Independence, Missouri, till I could build a house
here. The gentleman from Virginia who was with me on that day,
was similarly sibilated. I think there are now upon the Delaware
lands probably a population of 5,000. I recollect a circular put out
by Flanigan's friends at the time of that election; but I recollect but
one thing about it — that Mr. Alexander took the stump as the pro-
slavery advocate for Flanigan. But I do not recollect what names
were on that circular. Mr. Alexander still lives here in the Terri-
tory.
To Mr. Oliver:
I considered Judge Flanigan the Free-State candidate, and General
Whitfield the Pro-slavery candidate at that election.
To Mr. Whitfield :
Mr. Flanigan had no residence in the Territory that I know of. I
heard that Phelan and Flanigan bought a share in Leavenworth, but
they have never lived here.
To Mr. Rees:
I do not know who circulated the circulars for Flanigan. I only
know three persons whose names are attached to the copy of the. cir-
cular shown me — Mr. J.M. Alexander, B. H. Twombley, and Charles
iieib. If Doctor Leib is now a resident of the Territory, I do not know
it — certainly not about here. Alexander, I understand, is living at
Lecompton. Twombley is living near here.
To Mr. Howard :
I think Doctor Leib left here soon after he took the census.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 27
To Mr. Sherman:
I think I recollect that a counter-handbill was got up by General
Whitfield's friends, in reply to this of Flanigan's; but I do not recol-
lect the names.
SAML. F. FEW.
LEA YEN WORTH CITY, K. T., May IT, 1856.
GEORGE H. KELLER called and sworn.
I moved my family into the Territory on the Tth of October, 1854.,
and to this place. I kept then-Ahe only hotel in the place, up to June,
1855. I have resided here ever since I came here. I came here from
Platte county, Missouri, near Weston ; had lived there for 16 years,
except one year that I was absent. I was present at the election oi
the 29th of November, 1854. The settlement here was comparatively
small. The town of Leavenworth was laid out in August and Sep-
tember, 1854. Mr. Neil Burgess was one of the judges of that elec-
tion, but I do not remember the others. I was very busy in my hotel,
in one room of which the election was held, and was about the polls
at various times during the day. The election was held at my house,
from the fact that there was no other room in town suitable for that
purpose.
There were a great many strangers came into town the day before,
and on the day of election. They were camped all around here, like a
camp meeting, but I cannot tell how many there were. I do not
know that these men were armed. I was very busy, and could not
pay particular attention to their appearance. They generally camped
in tents, and part of them brought their own provisions with them,
and cooked them for themselves. I think they were camped in com-
panies, in messes in wagons, probably from 10 to 15, in a wagon.
There were no women with them generally, as I saw, and none in the
camp. They had no baggage besides their provisions, that I saw.'
I knew some of these men. It would be hard for me to recollect all
I knew ; but I can name some of them: Mr. John Wells, Judge Al-
mond from Platte City, Mr. John Vineyard, Mr. Washburn, Smith
Calvert, and a great many others I cannot now recollect without
hearing their names.
I heard some companies who came in, say they came from Clay
and Ray counties. Those that I have named were from Platte county,
and were my old neighbors. They said they came, here to vote.
\They said they had as good a right to vote here as anybody that
.comes from the east. They claimed to be residents of tl^e Territory,
from the fact that they were then present. Some of them remained
here until the next day, and then left. Some left the day of election.
I do not know that they said anything about their intention of going
and returning. I saw some of them vote. I was not there all the
time; but others, whom I did not see vote, told me they voted. There
was some excitement during the election, but nothing very serious —
"but a little knock-down — some of our old Kentucky election fights. -I
28 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
know some of the citizens who did not Vote, but only know the reasons
from them, I voted that day for Mr. Whitfield. The following are
the names of those on the poll-books who were residents here at that
time: Samuel F. Few, A. McAuley, Jerey Clark, James W. Rich,
Asa Smith, Francis A. Hart, David Brassfield, Nicholas Lockerman,
G. W. Riley, Green D. Todd, A. Russell, Zachariah Mills, Jeremiah
Howell, Wm. Dawson, Miles Shannon, Jas. Noble, C. McCrea, G-eo.
D. Stevenson, Stephen Noble, G. B. Panton, L. D. Pitcher, Adam
Linhart, S. H. Burgess, R. E. Saunders, John Thomas, John P.
Richardson, H. C. Dunn, H. D. McMeekin, J. B. Hyatt, Eli Moore,
John Reed, Wm. G. Mathias, J. Hoyt, Wm. Large, A. T. Pattie,
Win. M. Bukum, D. Scott Boyle, Hiram Rich, Wm. B. Simmonds,
R, H. Fielding, Thomas C. Bishop, Wm Wallace, John R. Mize,
Stephen Sparks, M. F. Conway, R. R. Rees, J. K. France, Thos. S.
Sloakum, Wm. Sparks, Zach. Sparks, Daniel Creech, J. T. Hook, E.
K. Adamson, Wm. L. Blair, Hiram Kelly, J. E. Grant, Franklin
Keyes, Floyd Shannon, A. Payne, A. Cunningham, Michael Kelly,
Daniel C. Ames, Wm. Tanner, John M. White, Godfrey Grase, F.
Engleman, John A. Lindsay, Adam Deitz, Robert. L. Ream, B.L.
Sellers, John Owens, Wm. Engleman, M. France, H. M. Hook,
John Wallace, T. B. Silkman, F. E. Bird, Clement. Naif, George
Keller, John J. Bentz, John Keffer, J. H. Day, L. F. Mills, L. J.
Eastin, Jos. H. Edsall, R. Coakland, Charles Leib, W. S. Yoke,
Saml. France, G. M. Fisher, Lewis N. Rees, Jones Creach, James
Skinner, N. Sage, Adam Fisher, Henry Smith, John Smith, (97 in
all.)
The following list are the names of persons on the poll-books I know
to have been residents of Missouri at that time ; the rest I do not
know, and cannot tell where they belonged : Malcolm Clark, Richard
Stoddard, J. Y. Chance, Jarret Todd, Thos. L. Owens, Geilin L.
Brown, Pleasant Ellington, Win. T. Yokum, John Moore, John
Dunn, Thos. Owens, Wm. S. Murphy, J. M. Guthrie, G. B. Red-
mon, James H. Hull, Robert Todd, Isaac Spratt, A. Dawson, J. C.
Thomson, C. D. Elliott, A. H . JScott, S. J. Johnson, George Young,
H. H. C. Harrison, John Drew, Robert Maddox, Dugan Fouts, (27
in all )
I do not recollect that these strangers told me whom they voted for.
They said they came here to make this a slave State. Mr. Yineyard
told me that he intended to vote, did vote, and* would come over hero
to vote at every election, as he thought it was right; and he wished
to make this a slave State, and he had the same object in the delegate
election. Flanigan was considered the Free-State candidate, and
Whitfield the Pro-slavery candidate. Some of these men came on
boats the morning of the election, and some in wagons the day before.
I knew a^ great many citizens of the district when I saw them, but I
could not call all their names. I was generally acquainted through'
the neighborhood here and at Salt creek, but not so well in other
parts of the district. I should think there were from 100 to 200 who
were strangers and came over from Missouri. I should not think
#e could poll more than 150 or 200 votes at that time. My house
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 29
and Captain Rees's house were the first built here, and there were
"but lew others here at that time.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
I could not tell where all the strangers came from ; some of thorn
told me they had come from Missouri. Some of the companies had
men who were acquainted with me, and who called on me and told
me they had brought a good company along. The candidates on that
day were Mr. Whitfield and Mr. Flanigan. I do not know where
Mr. Flanigan lived then, or lives now. He was here at that time,
and I understood he was from Pennsylvania. He told me he was
building a house on Salt creek, but I have never seen it. His nephew,
I think, occupied it, and occupies it now. He had a son with him, I
think. I cannot say how long he remained here after the election;
not more than a week, I think. I have never seen him in the country
since. I cannot say whether his son went with him or not, then.
His nephew, Mr. Phelan, I think, did not go away with Flanigan. I
cannot say who Mr. Flanigan came with to this Territory, but I saw
him here at times, for some two or three months before the election. I
think he was here before October. I cannot say whether he came
with, after, or before Governor Reeder. I know that he was here, but
cannot say exactly when he came or whom he came with. There
were some circulars put out, but I do not recollect the purport of them
now, as I had no reason to think about them. I do not know of any
other free-State men who were here and took a prominent part in the
election and left — except, perhaps, I should hear the names. I do not
recollect the name of Coates. I recollect a Dr. Leib who was here.
I cannot think of ©ther free-State men who were here at the time of
the election, who left immediately after the election. I think likely
I saw Flanigan' s circular that was out, but I have no idea what it
was. I took it for granted that most of the officers of the fort went
for you. I think Dr. Leib was appointed to carry out messages, but
I do not (know) what he was doing altogether. I thought very little
of the man, and therefore paid very little attention to him.
There were large crowds about my hotel all the time. I was very
busy, and was in my house most of tu.e time, being but occasionally
out. My business called me a gr"H,t many times down to the store
and office, after provisions and goods, and that was the most I attended
to. The people were encamped just about here in different places,
where they could get grass and water and be handy to town. I was
not in the encampment. I do not know who were there, except that
some of my most intimate neighbors told me that they were camped
there and had their own provisions, and made apologies for not pa-
tronizing me. I saw wagons there belonging to persons who were my
neighbors in Missouri. I heard some say that one of their reasons
for coming here to vote was, jthat a candidate had been imported here
upon them, and great efforts were being made to bring voters here
against them. I do not recollect what hobby Mr. Flanigan was run
on. I know I did not vote for him. There were at that time many
persons coming over into Kansas and moving about, and great excite-
ment about claims, &c. Some of them told me they voted, and the
30 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
major part of them I talked with told me they had voted or intended
to vote.
The companies from Clay and Bay counties told me they voted. I
do not know whether the majority of those people went back into Mis-
souri or about in the Territory. I know they left. A great many
Missourians have settled in this Territory. There were, I think,
many Missourians who came over that fall, made claims, did some
work upon them, went back and wintered in Missouri, and then came
back to the Territory in the spring. I do not know whether persons
in Missouri along the borders were waiting for the passing of the Ne-
braska bill, and the making of treaties with the Indians, to come over
here and make claims. I did not see more fighting here and excite-
ment at that election, than I have often seen at elections in the west-
ern country. It is a common thing to have fights at elections. I do
not (know) whether because they are put off till election day or not.
I think at that first election General Whitfield received a majority of
the voters of the district that I knew.
To Mr. Oliver :
I think there were 100 or 200 persons from Missouri. I conversed
with a great many from Missouri that I was intimate with. Many, a
freat many, who knew me would come in and give me the time of
ay, and we would have a little chat, and then they would go away.
I conversed with a gentleman who lives in Kock House prairie, in
Buchanan county. Mr. Jesse Vineyard told me their determination
to come here and vote on all occasions. That was prior to the passage
of the Nebraska bill. I do not think they told me about certain
associations from the east who intended to control the subject of sla-
very here. Jesse Vineyard told me that if the bill passed, they in
tended to come over here and stay long enough to vote at any rate,
and make this a slave State at all hazards. Judge Almond told me,
observing to me, " George, we intend to make this a slave State, if
we have to do it at the point of .the bayonet."
G. H. KELJ^R.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 17, 1856.
LUCIAN J. EASTIN called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I reside in Leavenworth City, and came here in October, 1854, and
was present at the November election of that year. It was conducted
as ordinary elections in Missouri and Kentucky, in which States I
formerly resided. I saw no one prevented from voting. There was
a large crowd around the polls, that made it difficult to get to the
window where the judges received the votes. I heard persons calling
to others to give way, to let others get in. These calls were made
by pro-slavery men. I saw no man vote whom I knew to be a Mis-
sourian, although I saw a good many Missourians here, many of
whom told me they did not vote. There were others among the Mis-
sourians whc had come over a day or two previous, and said they had
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 31
made claims, and intended to reside here, but might not he ahle to
remain here during the winter ; a good many of them are lesidents
of the Territory, who came in the spring following, with their prop
erty and families. This class of men may have voted, hut I do not
know that fact.
I had the list of legal voters of that election. The Pro-slavery
party at that election, as I "believe, had a majority of from sixty to
seventy-five votes in this district, as I was well acquainted with the
voters, and made out a list with other persons, who knew men that I
did not know ; and this was the result, after giving all the doubtful
/otes to the Free-State party. The last two hours before the polls
were closed, there were but few persons around the polls, and no dif-
ficulty in any one giving his vote.
To Mr. Sherman :
Mr. McAuley, I think, and Mr. Alexander, and some others, as-
gisted me in making the list. I took the names of such as I believed
to be legal voters, including some who had made claims in the Ter-
ritory, of the class I have above referred to, where $hey had made
statements to come over, and of having made claims ; we then classi-
fied the votes between the two parties. I can't state how many we
fave to each party, as the list is lost. I only remember the majority,
can only guess at the aggregate. I can't say how the aggregate
compared with the poll-books. This list was made out just before
this election. There were three candidates in the field at that elec-
tion. Flanigan's position, as he stated it to me, and to the public,
was that of a national democrat, though he preferred Kansas to be a
free State. Whitfield was considered a pro-slavery democrat. I did
riot see the Missourians, who were over here, vote. They came over
just to see how the election was going on, as they said to me. They
were mostly from Platte county — some from Weston, and some from
just opposite here, and other parts of Platte county. I cannot state
the number precisely ; but I think I saw fifty or more. They rode
over ; but I don't think they camped. They said they came over to
see what was going on. I did not want them to come, as I knew we
could beat the Free-State party, and especially as it was divided
between Wakefield and Flanigan ; and I think we could have beat
them if they had been united. My opinion is, if it had been
necessary to carry the election, they would have tried to vote ; but
they did not come for that purpose, as far as I know. The majority
of the judges at that election were free-State men. I did not see any
of the Missourians vote ; but I can't say whether they did or did not.
Mr. Twombley, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Burgess were the judges at that
election.
L. J. EASTIK
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K, T., May 29, 1856.
LUCIAK J. EASTIN recalled.
To Governor King:
Mr. Flanigun came out here with Mr, Keeder in October, 1854,
32 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and soon announced himself for Congress in the columns of my paper.
He was considered as Keeder's candidate, and made no permanent
residence in the Territory. He was defeated in the election, and left
immediately for Pennsylvania. He subscribed for my paper, and or-
dered it sent to that State. He said he was satisfied with Kansas,
and that it was not the country that he expected to find it. I over-
heard him say, in a conversation, that he and his friends had no press
here to defend them, and that their positions were misrepresented.
Quite a number of his friends, who acted with him and voted for him,
went away with him, or about the same time. Mr. John Phelan,
I think, his relative, of Pennsylvania, had handbills printed for
him, and left witb Flanigan. Eeeder had proclamations printed for
the election at my office, and the friends of Flanigan had handbills
printed at the same time. The friends of the latter took out for dis-
tribution the proclamations and handbills. Those who took the pro-
clamations were appointed by Keeder.
L. J. EASTIN.
LEAVENWORTH, CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
ADAM T. PATTIE called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott:
I was raised in Eastern Virginia. I reside now in Kansas Terri-
tory. I first came to Kansas in September, 1854, and have been here
ever since. I was at the election of the 29th of November, 1854, in
Leavenworth City. I was generally acquainted with the people in
this district. I was frequently at the polls on the day of election.
I voted myself, and I saw how it was conducted. I saw many per-
sons vote that day. A great many I knew to be residents of the
district. I saw nobody vote that clay who was not a resident of the
district at that time. I saw some Missourians .here that day, and
heard some of them say that their object was, and the general expres-
sion of opinion was, that if no non-resident free-soilers were allowed
to vote, they would not vote. They stated that they came over to see
a fair election, and not to interfere. The Missourians were armed
merely with pistols and knives, but not more than it was usual to see
in this country. I do not think I saw a gun on the ground. I saw
persons, residents of the Territory, of both parties, with side-arms
that day, as was customary here for all parties to have. I saw no
violence offered, or any interference with the election ; and I consid-
ered it as quiet an election as any I had ever seen in Maryland or
Virginia. There were frequent requests for persons to come up and
vote ; and I saw no objection to any one going up to vote. The
prominent candidates at that election were Gen. Whitfield and Judge
Flanigan, between whom the contest seemed to be. I was not ac-
quainted with Judge Flanigan, though I knew him by sight. I un-
derstood he had been in the Territory but a week or two before that
election, and never, to my knowledge, had any family in this Terri-
tory, though I have heard him say he had one in Pennsylvania. He
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 33
left in a short time after the election ; bnt I do not think he remained
here long enough to get the result of the election. I have never heard
of him since as heing in the Territory. Mr. Flanigan represented
himself to he the Free-State candidate, in opposition to Gen. Whit-
field, the Pro-slavery candidate. I never knew of Governor Keedei
having a family in the Territory, hut I have heard of his having one
in Pennsylvania. I know Mr. T. Conway, who was in this place at
that time, and took an active part in that election. I do not know of
his challenging any votes that day. He was not a candidate at that
election, that I know of. I have since become acquainted with Mr,
Jolly, who was appointed to take the census in the Kickapoo region,
or the 15th district. Mr. Jolly said he had a family; that his family
was in Iowa. I cannot tell how long he remained here after he got
through taking the census. He had an interest in the town of Grass-
hopper Falls, and I believe has now sold it ; and I do not know that
he eyer had any permanent abode in the Territory at all, or ever had
his family here. I am also acquainted with Charles Leib, who was
appointed to take the census of the 16th district. Ha said he had a
family in Pennsylvania. I never heard him say, just before he left,
that he never had his family in the Territory. I have not seen him
since then. These census-takers said Gov. Keeder told them to take
the census, so as to show where each man came from; and Charles
Leib said it was so that he could tell their sentiments upon the
slavery question. I think that in November, 1854, the Pro-slavery
party had a large majority in this district.
- A. T. PATTIE.
LEAVENWOKTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1856.
THOMAS BEYNOLDS called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott:
I resided at the time of the election of the 29th of November, 1854,
on what was called " Seven-mile" creek, near Fort Eiley, and the
election was held at my house. There were few resident voters — not
more than five^or six not connected with the army — in that voting
district. All the candidates at that election, we knew of, were Gen-
eral Whitfield and Judge Flanigan. I do not think any one in our
neighborhood knew where the election was to be, until the day before
the election. I was at the fort the day before the election, and Mr.
Wilson told me who were judges, and that the election was to be held
at my house the next day. That is the first I heard of it. I had
been acquainted with Mr. Whitfield, and I voted for Mr. Whitfield
as the Pro-slavery candidate ; and I regarded Judge Flanigan as the
Free-State candidate. I think there were some 41 or 42 votes polled
;that day, nearly all of which were given by persons who came from
about the fort, and were the employees of the general government
about the fort, and they came from the fort in government wagons.
Jjath flags flying with the motto of " Flanigan and Free-State."
I There were seven or eight of these wagons running back and forth all
H. Rep, 200 3*
34 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
day. Tnere were many about. Captain Lyon took an active part.
He told me lie was a stockholder in the town of Pawnee, and wanted
me to take a part in it. I do not know of his voting at that election.
Dr. Hammond was aboiit, and was the surgeon at the fort. He was
a stockholder in the town of Pawnee. He voted that day the Free-
State ticket. Col. Montgomery was in command at that fort. He
was also a stockholder in Pawnee — was president of the Pawnee Asso-
ciation. All the baggage-wagons that took the persons to the elec-
tion from the fort were under his command. The men were drinking
and hallooing ; and when they got near the house where the election
was held, the mules in one of the wagons ran off, and broke the wagon
all to pieces, and hurt several of the men. Two of the judges of
election belonged to the army; Mr. Lowe, the wagon-master, Mr.
Mills, head carpenter, and Wilson, a sutler, were those appointed
by Governor Keeder ; but Wilson did not serve. Nearly all the men
who came from the fort voted the Free-State ticket. Mr. Lowe, Mr.
Mills, and Mr. Twombley served as judges ; the two former belong-
ing to the army. I objected in the morning to the men from the fort
voting, or acting as judges of election, and they overruled me. Cap-
tain Lyon said I should not stay in the country unless I would go with
them. I took it that they meant I must not oppose Pawnee, or hav-
ing a free State, if I desired to stay in that part of the country ; that
was the general understanding there. - They said Pawnee would be
^the seat of government. I spoke to Gov. Eeeder to call a legislature,
that we might petition to Congress for a seat of government ; and I
recommended that plan, and suppose it was the first cause of Pawnee
iDeing laid off ; though when it was done, I had no part in it. I do
not recollect what Keeder said about a seat of government at that
time.. He said he thought he could do what he wanted without the
legislature. I had told him we wanted a seat of government, and
some mail-routes established.
Cross-<examined by Mr. Howard :
I voted in the evening of that day, after objecting to the election in
the morjiing as illegal, because the judges of election were connected
with the army. I had some hired men there, and some sons who
were not there, but there were only some five or six legal votes on the
ground that day. I did not consider those who came to the fort to
work and not be settlers, as entitled to vote. The carpenter is at the
fort yet, but never had any claim. I electioneered with some of the
men frpm the fort to vote for Whitfield, and they generally said if
they did they would be turned out of employment ; but I think some
of the men voted for Whitfield.
To Mr. Scott :
Governor Keeder was at the fort several days before the judges of
election were appointed. I think he staid at Mr. Lowe's house while
there. THOMAS REYNOLDS
LEAVEN\TORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 35
C. R. MOBLEY called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I resided, on the 29th of November, 1854, at Fort Riley, I was
staying with Lieutenant Folk's mess.
I was at the election of the 29th of November, 1854. Mr. "Wil-
son, Mr. Lowe, and Mr. Mills were appointed by Governor Reeder
as judges of election ; but I was appointed by the other judges in place
of Mr. Wilson, who declined.
General Whitfield was the Pro-slavery candidate, and Judge Flan-
igan the Free-State candidate at that election. Dr. Hammond, sur-
geon of the army at the fort, voted at that election the Free-State
ticket. The employees of the government at the fort voted that day,
and voted the Free-State ticket. I handed in the ballots, and they
generally told what ticket they voted. There must have been three-
fourths of the votes polled that day polled by the employees of the
government, and not as settlers. There was a good deal of talk among
them about claims, but I believe none of them had any claims. There
were two men who stated that they were from St. Louis, but formerly
from Ohio, who came the day before the election, voted there the Free-
State ticket, and left the day after the election. The employees of
the government went to the polls in government wagons. Colonel
Montgomery was in command of the fort at that time, and he and Dr.
Hammond said they were stockholders in the town of Pawnee at that
time, as did Governor Eeeder.
C. R. MOBLEY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T.? May 28, 1856,
H. A. LOWE called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I resided at Fort Riley on the 29th of November, 1854. I was em-
ployed by the government of the United States as wagon-master at
the fort. Governor Reeder appointed me one of the judges of election
on the 29th of November, 1854. I have no doubt Governor Reeder
knew how I was situated at the fort, as he stopped at my house while
he was at Fort Riley. Mr. Mills, the boss carpenter of the fort, and
Mr. Robert Wilson, were the other judges appointed by the governor.
Mr. Robert Wilson was sutler of the fort at that time. I have no
doubt that Governor Reeder knew the positions occupied by all the
judges at the time he appointed them. Mr. Wilson was at that time,
as I understood, a stockholder in the town of Pawnee ; but Mr. Mills
and myself were not, and we had no interest in any claims near
Pawnee at that time. Mr. Whitfield and Mr. Flanigan were the
candidates at that election — Whitfield the Pro-slavery, and Flanigan
the Free-State candidate. There was no other question in issue at
i that election, that I know of. Quite a number of men from the fort
and in government employ, but not soldiers, and not settlers in the
I Territory, were allowed to vote. I should judge about three-fourths
36 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
perhaps more, of the votes given that day were given by governme
employees, and all, I think, voted for Flanigan, the Free-State ca
didate. They were not given to flunder stand, so far as I know, th
if they did not vote for Flanigan they .would be turned out of emplo
ment. They went to the polls in-'conveyances belonging to the go
eminent. They were principally teamsters, some mechanics, w"
had permission to take the volarets and go down in them to the pol]
Colonel Montgomery told me to let these men have these conveyanc
to go down to and return from the polls. He was commandant ai
acting quartermaster of the fort, and a stockholder in the town
Pawnee. I saw one flag on one of these wagons, with the motto
<e Flanigan and a Free-State/' which came down to the polls abo
the middle of the day. No officer of the army except Dr. Hamnion
the surgeon, voted that day. He voted the Free-State ticket, aft
having sworn that he considered himself a citizen of the Territor
and that if he was ordered to leave the Territory with the army 1
would resign his commission. The judges thereupon considered hi:
entitled to vote. He was a stockholder in the town of Pawnee.
H. A. LOWE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY K. T., May 28, 1856.
H. MILES MOORE called and sworn.
I came into the Territory to reside in September, 1855, from wes
era Missouri, where I had resided for about five years, practising {
an attorney at law. I had resided in St. Louis a year previous 1
that. I came over to Leavenworth City on the 29th of Novembe:
1854, to attend the election for delegate to Congress. Arrangemem
had "been made throughout western Platte county, and western Mil
souri generally, as I have been informed, for the purpose of goin
over there and voting at that election. Messengers had been ser
from one portion of western Missouri to another, to notify. Meeting
had been held to make arrangements to come over here on that da
to vote. For a day or two* previous, large numbers had passe
through Weston to the Territory, on horseback and in wagons, wit
their forage and provisions, from the counties lower down on til
north side of the river — Clinton, Platte, and Clay counties. I sa-i
parties from each of these counties at the hotel ; among them, m
whom I recognised. The companies raised about Weston and Plai
county were generally sent to the back portions of the Territor
The lower counties sent men to the precincts near the border,
came over myself with a large party from Weston and Platte coun
to Leavenworth ; a large crowd was present then on the ground. T
election was held at the Leavenworth hotel, kept by Keller & Ky]
There was a great crowd around the polls all day. There was a go<
deal of excitement, and some quarreling and fighting. I remains
there all day till nearly night. General Whitfield was the
slavery candidate; Judge Flanigan was the Free-State candidat
All our party from Weston voted for Whitfield, I believe I v
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 37
yself that day for General Whitfield, but I do not see my name on
the poll-books. I should think there must have been from 150 to
200 Missourians who voted there that day. The other Missourians
who came over said, after they returned, that they went to the 14th
and 15th districts, and other districts farther back. I have carefully
examined the poll-books in the 15th and 16th districts, and the two
lists hereto attached, are the names of Missourians whom I know, and
whose names I find on the poll-books as voting on the 29th of Novem-
ber, 1854, at the election held in those districts.
The following is a correct list of names of persons who resided in
Missouri, and who voted at Leavenwor'th City, in Kansas Territory,
at the election held for delegate to Congress at that place, in the six-
teenth district, on the 29th day of November, 1854, as appears by
a copy of the poll-books of said election herewith shown to me :
Garrett Todd, John Williams, John Donaldson, James L. Thomp-
son, W. L. Murphy, William B. Simons, J. M. Guthrie, Kobert
Wear, Dougan Fouts, Pleasant Elingtoii, Joseph C. Anderson, John
Moore, Thompson Owens, James L. Hull, J. T. Woodward, Abner
Dean, C. F. Bedon, Joseph Fouts.
The following is a list of names who voted as above, as appears
from the poll-books of said election, on the 29th of November, 1854,
at the house of Pascal Penconson, in the sixteenth district, said per-
sons being residents of Missouri at that time: Jesse Morin, Ira Nor-
ris, W. H. Miller, Hugh McKowen, John Miller, G. H. Layton, S.
Johnson, Samuel Dixon, Isaac House, Leonidas Oldham, J. B.
Michell, James Henderson, Henry Debaud, A. K. Oldham, J. L.
Jenks, Samuel Sapp, Levi Beechen, N. L. Towasen, J. H. Thomp-
son, James Sweeny, K. F. Duncan, Oscar By waters, Thomas L.
Douglass, E. C. Mason, John Bryant, Kobert Ely, C. B. Hodges,
William Young, William Dryman, John- A. <Gr. Fisher, N. K.
Greene, Colonel L. Burnes, Craven Col vert, Samuel M. Bowman, N.
B. Laman, Benjamin Yokam, Allen Pullen, J. M. Mulkey, John
Cook, James Bolton, Z. J. Thompson, Levi Bowman, William Ful-
!on, G. M. Quimby, J. B. Crain, Job Kobins, Alfred Allen, Jona-
than Lacey, James L. Reisenger, J. D. Pepper, S. H. Oliphant,
Samuel Pepper, Warner Blanton, Jacob Metice, Phineas Skinner,
'iJames A. Burnes, Nathan Nuby, George Kitchen, Asa Vanlanding-
jbam, Henry Adams, E. S. Staggs, Judge H. B. Almond.
There were a great many names on the poll-books that I do not
hink were residents of the sixteenth district ; but I do not know
rhere they were from. I do not know the names of those from
he lower counties, as a general thing, and they came mostly to the
forder precincts. Since I have moved into the county of Leaven-
rorth, I have become acquainted with a majority of the residents
iere. The men who voted for J udge Flanigan had no chance to get
o the polls easily, as the mob about the polls kept them away. If a
aan hurrahed for General Whitfield, he would get to the polls easily.
Ir. Coates, now of Kansas City, was standing near the polls, and
xpressed his disapprobation of the way affairs were going on, and the
nob immediately drove him away, threatening him very severely.
Vhile the voting was going on, the window where votes were taken
38 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
was broken in by stones "being thrown at it. After we got through
voting, and the polls were closed, we returned to Weston, Missouri.
as we came, in wagons and on horseback.
H. MILES MOORE.
LEAVEWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
WM. Gr. MATHIAS called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I came to Kansas Territory, and landed at Leavenworth City, on
the 23d day of November, 1854, from Maryland ; and I was presenl
at the election of the 29th of November, 1854, at Leavenworth City,
Not having been in the Territory a great while, I did not know manj
people, or where they were from ; but I saw a great many faces thai
day that I have since recognised as citizens of that county. J. W,
Whitfield, pro-slavery, and Judge Flanigan, free-State, were the can-
didates that clay. The voting had commenced when I got to th*
polls. There was a considerable crowd about the window, which on
that account was somewhat difficult of approach. This difficulty was
experienced by persons of both parties. My position was known bj
men of both sides, and I attempted two or three times to get to the
window, and was crowded back. Malcolm Clark, and two others.
were appointed to assist persons to get to the window ; and even then
it was difficult. I had made my position known, in a discussion ic
the street that morning, and I suppose almost every one on the ground
knew that I was a Whitfield man. I saw a few men, of both parties:
with side-arms — not many, however ; and went to the election with
some six or seven friends of Flanigan, who all had pistols and
bowie-knives ; but I did not hare any myself. At the election I sa"\v
no unusual disturbance. I saw no attempt to hinder any one from
voting, whether pro-slavery or free-State. The tickets were of differ-
ent colors, so that all the votes given could be designated, and I sup-
pose the crowd were standing around the window to count the votes
fiven in, and thus see who was* ahead. I was introduced to Judg*
lanigan that day. He was boarding at Parson Kerr's, at the fort,
I do not think I ever saw him after the day of election. Shortly
after the day of election I went myself to board at Parson Kerr's, and
Flanigan had left.
WILLIAM G. MATHIAS.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 6 1856
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
39
December 4, 1854. — The judges of the several election districts made
return of the votes polled at the election held on the 29th day of No-
vember last for delegate to the House of Representatives of the United
States, from which it appears that the votes in the said several dis-
tricts were as follows, viz :
Districts.
J. W. Whitfield
received
J. A. Wakefield
received
K. P. Flenniken
received
ii
o£
. 8
M £
9 3
3*
Chas. Robhison
received
S. C. Pomeroy
received
P. Blood received
W. L. Garrison
received
First
46
188
51
9
2
2
1
1
Second
235
20
6
Third
40
7
1
-
Fourth
140
21
Fifth
63
4
15
Sixth
105
Seventh.
597
7
Eighth .
16
Ninth
9
31
Tenth
2
6
29
Eleventh
237
3
5
Twelfth
31
9
1
Thirteenth
69
1
Fourteenth
130
23
Fifteenth
2 7
39
Sixteenth
232
80
Seventeenth
49
13
Total .
2,258
248
305
16
2
2
1
1
December 5, 1854. — On examining and collating the returns, J.
W. Whitfield is declared by the governor to be duly elected delegate
to the House of Representatives of the United States, and on the same
day a certificate of the governor, under the seal of the Territory, issued
to said J/ W. Whitfield of his election.
FIRST DISTRICT.
List of voters at Lawrence, November 29, 1854.
1 Stafford J. Pratt
2 John N. Mace
3 Theodore J. Wells
4 Joseph Savage
5 John Bruce, jr.
6 H. C. Safford
7 Luke P. Lincoln
8 John Levy
9 Hamsin Williams
10 Calvin H. Survin
11 Edward P. Fitch
12 Otis H. Lamb
13 Tilly Gilbert
14 Orin C. Nichols
15 De Witt C. Barrett
16 John W. Carlton
40
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
1*7 Horace A, Hancock
18 David 0. Buffam
19 Robert Buffain
20 Ferdinand Fuller
21 John F. Wilson
22 James H. G-leason
23 Robert L. Mitchell
24 John C. Gordon
25 Joseph McKnight
26 Albert D. Searl
27 James Tegart
28 Hugh Cameron
29 Carnie W. Babcock
30 Joseph W. Russell
31 Ellis Bond
32 Samuel N. Wood
33 Ayro Hazen
34 George F. Earl
35 William Evans
36 George W. Partridge
37 Samuel Kimball
38 James F. Meriam
39 William B. Lee
40 Edward Clark
41 Oliver A. Hanscom
42 Erastus D. Ladd
43 Lyman D. Hubbard
44 Joseph Cracklin
45 John H. Dean
46 Rufus H. Waleman
47 Bryce W. Miller
48 Samuel N. Simpson
49 Brainerd B. Track
50 John Hubbinson
51 Ira W. Ackly
52 James B. Abbott
53 Daniel Lowe
54 Samuel E. Martin
55 Lewis L. Litchfield
56 John Frye
57 Josiah Miller
58 Robert G. Elliot
59 Bernard M. Partridge
60 William Ricker
61 Jonathan M. Burleigh
62 John Mack
63 William H. Hovey
64 Robert Hooton
65 Josiah G. Fuller
66 Orville D. Smith
67 Joshua Thaxter
68 Joshua A. Pike
69 Sidney B. Dudley
70 Horatio N. Bent
71 William Woniken
72 George W. Reed
73 Freeman R. Foster
74 John Armstrong
75 David Purinton
76 Frederick KimbaH.
77 John H. Lyon
78 David Condit
79 Leonard G. Higgins
80 George Tilton
81 David B. Leif kin
82 Albert Alverson
83 Philip Cook
84 Ansin H. Mallory
85 Stillman Andrews
86 John Collins
87 Hugh Pettingal
88 Amos Finch
89 George W. Chapin
90 John Wilson
91 Charles Blunt
92 Samuel Merrill
93 James A. Corlew
94 Robert J. Wolf
95 George Levy
96 James Whitlock
97 Daniel P. Hadley
98 Michael Albin
99 Jonathan F. Taber
100 Joseph Eberhart
101 William A. Gentry
102 Alfred V. Coffin
103 Henry S. Eberhart
104 Lewis J. Eberhardt
105 Edwin Bond
106 Jacob Etront
107 Wilder Knight
108 Luke Corlew
109 Fields Bledsoe
110 Josiah Hutchison
111 John Pearson
112 Washington Brians
113 Carless Day
114 Enoch Reed
115 John H. Doty
116 Daniel Sayre
117 John Pieratt
118 Frederick W. King:
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
41
119 Lewis Howe
120 Thomas C. Still
121 James M. Still
122 Orin Pettingall
123 Solomon Lapham
124 Henry W. Feck
125 Saphi H. Talsom
126 Jesse Whitrow
127 Josiah M. Keed
128 Henry T. Root
129 Jacob Shidoler
130 M. Soiley
131 A. Still
132 T. Roah
133 John Renell
134 M. D. Johnson
135 Robert McFarland
136 John McFarland
137 Sylvester H. Davis
138 John A. Lowry
139 John 0. Davidson
140 Chester 0. Grout
141 Henry Bronson
142 N. Heneck
143 L. Kibbey
144 T. G. Muvy
145 L. N. Dailey
146 N. B. Blouton
147 Henry Davis
148 Robert A. Gumming
149 Charles A. Gray
150 Enoch Houland
151 James D. Pooge
152 Alexander Sebastian
153 Ely B. Purdom
154 Marshall Miller
155 Abel F. Hutull
156 Henry G. Young
157 John C. Mopmon
158 Frederick Roff
159 Andrew White
160 Noah Cameron
161 Robert Hughes
162 L. Farly
163 James L. Stephens
164 David Eldridge
165 Clark Crone
166 John Morehead
167 Isaac Shoop
168 Samuel N. Shortwell
169 Benjamin Johnson
170 Solomon Wildis
171 Robert Wilkinson
172 W. Turner
173 James Turner
174 W. M. Davis
175 Robert Allen
176 H. Clarke
177 Absalom W. White
178 Clarkson M. Wallace
179 Joel K. Godin
180 James Williams
181 Alfred Payne
182 S. J. Willis
183 John C. Archabl
184 Forester Hill
185 Daniel H. Brooks
186 Charles Jorden
187 T. J. Stone
188 Ligon S. Bacon
189 Silas K. Holliday
190 E. Dizleo
191 Nathan F. Herrick
192 Henry D. Graves
193 William C. Gibbons
194 Thomas Henry
195 Clark Tefft
196 Edwin S. Dexter
197 Samuel Corner
198 Samuel S. Snyder
199 William Hale
200 John H. Miller
201 Solomon G. Durkee
202 Thomas Overfield, 2d
203 James Reed
204 Joseph Lovelace
205 William Feguson
206 Jonathan F. Morgan
207 George W. Kent
208 John Dog
209 Jared Carter
210 James Blood
211 Willard Colbourn
212 Sidney J. Case
213 John L. Crane
214 Francis 0. Tollis
215 Justin Lewis
216 Charles W. Dow
217 William Lyon
218 Albert T. Bercaw
219 James S. Cowan
220 Jordan Neil
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
221 Isom Taylor
222 Achilles "Smith
223 William Kitchingham
224 Hiram C. Covill
225 Chalmers J. Koberts
226 Harris Stratton
227 Silas Wayne
228 John H. Turman
229 Clark Stearns
230 Martin Adams
231 James A. Davidson
232 Thomas J. Ferril
233 Achilles B. Waide
234 Edward B. Johnson
235 JohVan Winkle
236 Granville 0. Mitchell
237 Joseph D. Barnes
238 G-eorge Strobridge
239 Moses Taylor
240 Carles Hall
241 John A. Shafer
242 Josiah H. Pillsbury
243 Simon Hopper
244 John H. Wilder
245 Charles W. Persall
246 Napoleon D. Short
247 Samuel Y. Lune
248 Charles P. Turnsworth
249 Edward Jones
250 Elmore Allen
251 Stephen Ogden
.252 Norman Allen
253 Levi Ferguson
254 William N. Baldwin
255 John N. Ladd
256 Calvin G. Hoyt
257 Henry T. Saunders
258 John Baldwin
259 Samuel C. Harrington
260 John Ogden
261 C. Howard Carpenter
262 Joseph K. Tewksbury
263 Francis Barker
264 William Corel
265 Levi Gates
266 Jackson Sellers
267 George E. Holt
2S8 Edward Winslow
269 Samuel Kennedy
270 Theo. E. Benjamin
271 Harrison Nichols
272 Asaph Allen
273 James M. Steele
274 George L. Osborne
275 William Yales
276 William Matthews
277 Jonathan
278 Charles Kobinson
279 Franklin Haskell
280 James S. Griffin
281 Samuel J. Johnson
282 John Hopper
283 William Lykins
284 Franklin Hopper
285 Van Kensselaer Morse
286 James Correll
287 David B. Hopper
288 John Anderson
289 Homer Hayes
290 Ransom Calkin
291 Caleb S. Pratt
292 Jeremiah Spencer
293 Joel Grover
294 John Mailey
-295 Thomas R. Wells
296 Charles Stearns
297 Samuel F. Tappan
298 Ephraim H. Dennott
299 Joshua Smith
300 James S. Emery
301 Jerome B. Taft
SECOND DISTRICT.
Poll-book, Douglas City.
1 William H. Russell
2 H. B. Lacy
3 W. H. Hymer
4 C. R. Barnes
5 G-. L. Potts
6 R. C. Ewing
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
43
7 J. J. Peart
8 C. B. Pearson
9 J. M. Weff
10 J. F. Stoneshut
11 W. H. Trigg
12 K. Crump
13 Job Phillips
14 W. K. Howard
15 H. C. Koon
16 Upton Hays
17 W. S. Wills
18 Simon Moon
19 J. E. Durritt
20 W. H. Beddoe
21 S. Hays
22 T. A. Smart
23 D. J. Penn
24 M. Beagle
25 J. Kirby
26 J. S. Warren
27 P. D. Elkins
28 J. W. Brooks
29 W. G. Wickerson
30 W. B. B. Brown
31 W. F. Griner
32 J. Hornbuckle
33 N. B. Thoors
34 H. H. Ratliffe
35 William Proctor
36 J. F. Berry
37 S. M. Duncan
38 William Rice
39 F. J. Drumond
40 E. W. Holbut
41 E. H. McClunnahan
42 J. L. Hoffman
43 D. Anderson
44 R. S. Atkins
45 B. B. Potts
46 J. P. Hardy
47 W. Thatcher
48 J. A. Barton
49 S. C. Coombs
50 W. F. Berry
51 J. H. Mosely
52 R. White
53 A. 0. Bangs
54 B. J. Taylor
55 R. S. Lorian
56 B. F. Biliary
57 M. L. Crustoe
58 J. V. Webb
59 J. West
|60 C. F. Dunkin
61 J. H. Pitts
62 J. Michalson
63 L. C. Haggard
; 64 J. Landis
65 H. C. Foreman
66 G. W. Walker
67 C. Smith
68 H. L. Simpson
69 M. J. Codin
70 T. M. Brooks
71 A. Hays
72 J. A. Price
73 J. Showaltef
74 C. J. Mericks
75 J. H. Gaines
76 R. J. Pongou
77 J. T. Wright
78 L. J. Adkins
79 F. J. Huffiger
80 J. F. Hawkins
81 J. D. Kinkado
82 J. Dillard
83 J. H. Wells
84 J. S. Huff ,
85 W. P. Boiler
86 M. S. Winn
87 L. J. Winchester
88 J. G. Adkins
89 J. W. Self
90 0. Smith
91 L. F. Robinson
92 L. Adams
93 J. D. Lahay
94 W. H. Scroggs
95 D. J. Cunningham
96 J. Morgan
97 F. Hatton
98 J. M. Ragan
99 D. Peters
100 F. J. Staples
101 H. J. Higgins
102 W. B. Mitchell
103 B. T. Brown
104 E. Waller
105 S. D. Hogar
106 E. Dickerson
107 B. F. Thompson
108 E. T. Crumer
44
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
109 J. Hockroday
110 E. S. Cramer
111 C. J. White
112 A. J. McCunnahan.
113 L. A. Talbot
114 W. J. Burnett
115 W. Wirn
116 G. W. Hall
117 H. E. Henshaw
118 A. Collins
119 J. E. Burnett
120 J. Mason
121 Wm. Leggett
122 S. Tilden
123 J. Perley
124 Wm. Nichols
125 J. F. Neill
126 H. Morton
127 W. W. Johnson
128 J. P. Bird
129 D. W. Mauley
130 J. King
131 J. W. Furritt
132 J. M. Dunn
133 E. M. Walbert
134 L, L. Bennett
135 F. K. Long
136 P. P. Lafarm
137 S. McGaughey
138 F. McMannetry
139 J. F. McLean
140 J. A. Winn
141 S. H. Woodron
142 J. Parsons
143 J. C. Coons
144 J. Anderson
145 J. Breton
146 N. L. Davis
147 G. H. Holbert
148 A. B. H. McGee
149 G. W. Ellis
150 K. H. Hix
151 W. H. Kerr
152 F. E. Lahey
153 K. H. Holyclaw
154 J. C. Bethicord
155 D. Trigg
156 T. A. Ogden
157 T. J. Smith
158 Wm. M. Strait
159 W. E. Boggs
160 A. Holyclaw
161 S. Crowait
162 J. F. Burton
163 J. W. Carman
164 J. F. Mills
165 G. F. Hughs
166 F. Myres
167 H. A. Hunter
168 G. W. Clark
169 J. Emmons
170 J. Ecton
171 A. Crompton
172 Levi Owen
173 D. Maloney
174 J. B. Nichols
175 G. Swalsoner
176 J. B. Crandle
177 A. Kinkade
178 B. T. Eisor
179 W. B. Evans
180 J. S. Campbell
181 J. C. Evans
182 W. D. Dickey
183 C. Adams
184 S. Tyer
186 Wm. Campbell
186 W; E. Thompson
187 Hardy Willis
188 V. Thompkins
189 T. Simmon
190 J. W. Chamberlin
191 Wm. N. Simmons
192 A. Eickton
193 J. B. Forman
194 Jas. M. Dunn
195 E. W. Custwood
196 Thos. Shaw
197 F. Bushford
198 Aug. Smith
199 John Scott
200 C. C. Kummey
201 John Snyder
202 Thos. Scott
203 David Simpson
204 G. H. Snyder
205 B. Callahan
206 J. T. Brady
207 L. P. Wills
208 H. S. McClemnar
209 N. Lydor
210 W. A. May
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
45
211 James C. Eanson
212 T. J. Lockridge
213 Wm. Justin
214 J. A. Smith
215 J. A. Wakefield
216 H. C. Addison
217 H. Alderman
218 J. H. Murphy
219 W. A. Hord
220 C. W. Smith
221 H. 0. Muzzy
222 Thos. H. Hensley
223 H. J. Noland
224 Jas. Shaw
225 T. A. Bailey
22e Geo. Biddle
227 Jas. W. Hix
228 H. H. Connor
229 H. D. Wakefielfl
230 L. Barnett
231 Wm. Luckett
232 C. Shoon
233 Geo. Davis
,234 Wm- WTarren
235 Lidbas Mason
236 J. J. Hiottom
237 B. Fendget
238 W. C. Beatie
239 Nath. Kamsey
240 H. Benson
241 W. D.Hall
242 E. Bell
243 0. Sprodling
244 A. Hendricks
245 Samuel Jones
246 E. Doke
247 J. Jones
248 T. Lahay
249 J. W. Hendricks
250 Wm. Kelley
251 F. H. Hendricks
452 Thos. Bond
253 M. Grant
254 Wm. Limmerick
255 W. W. Withers
256 Geo. W. Ward
257 P. Ellison
258 J. T. Cramm
259 E. Connor
260 J. Cathor
261 J. Yance
THIRD DISTRICT.
List of voters in the third district.
1 George Holmes
2 Thomas C. Shoemaker
3 Thos. N. Stensen •
4 J. W. Hays
5 G. M. Hollo way
6 Zephaniah Plummer
7 David Copeland
8 J. T. Swatzell
9 W. A. Suhlete
10 John Homer
11 L. B. Slateler
12 H. N. Watts
13 William E. Collins
14 James M. Herron
15 M. J. Mitchel
16 W. Vaughan
17 Anthony Ward
18 J. R. Warren
19 James M'Connell
20 John Andrew Jackson
21 James Wiseman
22 Horatio Cox
23 John Salivy
24 Jeremiah Preston
25 D. L. Crysdale
26 Robert H. Matthews
27 Charles Bougshea
28 William Matingley
29 Noble Barren
30 A. G. Brown
31 F. A. Wentwortn
32 Jesse Michiner
33 Preston Huifaker
34 Will. D. Owens
35 Stephen Scott
36 James M. Small
37 Hiram Dawson
38 Francis Grassmuck
46
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
39 D. Updegraff
40 Thomas Handlin
41 L. D. Chilson
42 Jeremiah Miccum,
43 J. Tyler
44 James N. Steward
45 Charles Jordan
46 Osborne Nailor
47 Alfred T. Byler
48 A. D. M. Hand
FOURTH DISTRICT.
List of votes given at an election held at the house of Dr. Jerrod Chap-
man, in the fourth district, Kansas Territory, on the 2$th day of No-
vember^. D. 1854.
1 Dr. J. Chapman
2 J. T. Kriser
3 Charles White
4 Wm. P. Hubhel
5 T. K. Kule
6 James Price'
7 W. H. Liguan
8 Evan Hall
9 G. W. Withers
10 S. S. McKinney
11 G. W. Allen
12 L. Kerr
13 B. C. Moore
1*4 G. H. McNiely
15 K. Hill
16 James Morrison
17 H. T. Chils
18 A. B. Smith
19 Otho Hall
20 J. W. Mamron
21 J. A. Finley
22 J. P. Withers
23 John Price
24 M. Simons
25 B. P. Wood
26 J. Campbell
27 S. P. S. Sitroll
28 Wm. HuU
29 John Scudder
30 W. T.Stewart
31 John Neil
32 James Gray
33 J. M. "Reynolds
34 Thomas Chandler
35 G. W. Shoemaker
36 J. S. Dawson
37 G-. Harper
38 W. H. Eussell
39 T. D. Cooper
40 Will. Grant
41 John Garrett
42 K. K. Ball
43 S. S. Bartleson
44 Charles Rover
45 H. C. Brooking
46 W. Hampton
47 C. A. Moon
48 L. S. Brandon
49 R. M. Williams
50 G. D. Skidmore
51 G. W. Hilton
52 H. P. Muire
53 J. T. Bartleson
54 Richard McCamish
55 W. B. Coats
56 T. J. Brown
57 W. T. During
58 L. M. Dehoney
59 Jesse Davis
60 W. C. Thruston
61 A. D. Harper
62 R. H. Thominson
63 W. A. David
64 A. Grouse
65 Joseph Bradbury
66 G. Simons
67 H. Lowery
68 C. R. Schull
69 E. Lamples
70 D. G. Cameron
71 James Croker
72 Thomas Turmun
73 0. H. Ripators
74 J. Lipscomb
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
47
"75 W. M. McKinney
76 L. West
77 J. Syme
78 J. R. McKinney
79 F. McKinney
80 N. M. Breman
81 Wm. Grase
82 F. C. Samerland
83 Champ. May field
84 Judge Bernard
85 Thomas Mockaby
86 A. F. Powell
87 John Eidy
88 H. Owens
89 S. E. Carpenter
90 Zach. Johnson
91 Thomas Pemberton
92 J. H. McNutt
93 H. Kurtz
94 J. S. Wood
95 W. H. Chase
96 R. S. Nowland
97 J. B. Townsend
98 J. B. West
99 Joel Scott
100 J. A. Morill
101 B. Saffington
102 F. M. Saffington
103 S. A. H. Townsend
104 D. B. Wood
105 0. Thompson
106 A. J. Miller
107 J. J. Herrin
108 A. B. Gillilkand
109 J. W. Wood
110 P. Basinger
111 E. H. Basinger
112 E. Hill
113 J. M. Banks
114 Joseph Johnston
115 B. J. Bowers
116 J. Cummings
117 Samuel Bradberry
118 R. Hackett
119 R. B. Young
120 J. B. Davis
121 J. H. Lockridge
122 A. Banner
123 Wm. A. Durfnee
124 J. H. McMurray
125 Richard Benny
126 Samuel Garrett
127 E. Bolwurr
128 E. J. Curley
129 Cyrus C. Miller
130 Samuel E. Thompson
131 R. J. Scott
132 J. Massir
133 J. P. Barnaby
134 R. M. Stish
135 John Curin
136 W. S. Ewett
137 0. Ranol
138 Wm. Moore
139 E. Moore
140 S. H. Moore
141 D. Hendricks
142 Perry Fuller
143 Charles Clarke
144 Thomas Dotry
145 Geo. Panius
146 Samuel Nukmon
147 John Goreus
148 F. Barnes
149 R. Watney
150 Isaac Watney
151 D. P. Kuzer
152 Samuel M. Whemig
153 G. R. Johnson
154 John Scarce
155 A. D. Dale
156 W. G. Lucket
157 Miller Essex
158 Robert Talley
159 David Luttz
160 Thomas Teach
161 Thomas Mclntirc
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIFTH DISTRICT.
A list of the names of voters who voted at the fifth district in Kansas
Territory, on the 2$th day of November, 1854, for delegate to Con-
gress.
1 John C. Northcut
2 W. P. Shonke
3 Jonas R. Ketmore
4 H. C. Hamilton
5 S. Groff
6 S. G. Shields
7 B. B. Brone
8 A. S. Davenport
9 W. King
10 G. W. Smith
11 E. Smith
12 S. Regen
13 G. W. Kemper
14 Stephen Derenport
15 Joseph Merrett
16 S. 0. Mure
17 Edward McPherson
18 Lot Coffman
19 Morgan Gill
20 Samuel Wade
21 W. N. Young
22 T. M. Poundexder
23 William Muer
24 W. T. Monro
25 W. S. Gregory
26 Stephen Ahstem
27 Cornelius Canine'
28 Henderson Rice
29 Allen Wilkinson
30 S. M. Ramond
31 N. W. Mooney
32 J. S. Weightman
33 J. M. Gearheart
"34 H. Steinfort
35 T. S. Cicom
36 H. T. Wiman
37 Jerome Cone
38 R. Callin
39 J. W. Wilson
40 Tohias Heath
41 H. G. Randall
42 Calvin Randall
43 Hiram Thorps
44 Animon Gotee
45 J. Armstrong
46 M. Marshall
47 0. T. Cleaveland
48 John Kenton
49 Francis Gokie
50 John Vanhorn
51 R. N. Kensey
52 S. M. Hay
53 Adam Case
54 J. H. Wisler
55 R. Kirhy
56 T. R. Harris
57 Albert Woodfin
58 S. W. Frogg
59 G. T. Terris
60 M. Crowcute
61 John Scuple
62 W. Chessnut
63 John Rose
64 Thomas Joal
65 J. D. Swift
66 0. C. Brown
67 F. Jones
68 W. C. Childers
69 David Lockens
70 W. N. Haskel
71 W. C. Kink
72 R. W. Sturgeon
73 D. West
74 P. J. Potts
75 W. H, Fenley
76 T. McCoy
77 B. P. Campbell
78 T. Totten (oath)
79 W. W. Tacket
80 J. Polk
81 R. Goulding
82 J. Buffington
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTH DISTFICT.
1 John Coyle
2 P. D. Cummings
S Robert M. Esslinger
4 Thomas D. Page
5 Isaac N. Mills
6 B. F. Wilkerson
7" James W. Arnott
8 Jacob Miller
9 William A. Randolph
10 Elihu Fox
11 Jefferson Copeland
12 F. Hord
13 G, A. Wade
14 John F. Detchemorn
15 William Ray
16 John R. Taggert
17 G. W. Wonkay
18 George Stern
19 R. A. Brown
20 W. H. Palmer
21 J. J. January
22 E. B. Cook
23 H. D. Palmer
24 George W. Simonds
25 J. H. Prince
26 John January, sr.
27 F. Dewint
28 William R. Wilmott
29 John C. Hearne
30 William Vermillion
31 James Ray
32 James T.Ray
33 Elisha McKinney
34 John January, jr.
35 Jesse Ray
36 Spencer H. Ray
37 Samuel Beaver
38 B. F. Coffey
39 J. B. Fleming
40 William Robinson
41 Alexander Green
42 John Thonton
43 Mathew Kirk
44 Andrew Kirk
45 David P. Fleming
46 William Irvin
47 W. T. Poston
48 W. Auston
H. Rep. 200 4*
49 John W. Denton
50 C. F. Moherlay
51 Thomas Cumins
52 T. S. Pearson
53 Jesse Copeland.
54 W. L. Hants
55 G. H. McDaniel
56 William Painter
57 William G. Ingram
58 G, W. Cluck
59 Mathew Sellart
60 Francis York
61 Jacob Simons
62 John A. McCoy
63 Thomas B. Arnott
64 James McHenry
65 William Givens
66 Thomas McMillan
67 J. F. Brookhart
68 T, J. Goodman
69 Harrison Ashley
70 T. E. Owen
71 J. W. Parkinton
72 J. H. Crackett
73 J. W. Sharp
74 W. G. Watkins
75 Thomas Jacob
76 A. J. Strumbaugh
77 B. F. Hill
78 R. T. Lindsay
79 William Dunlapp
80 Thomas Cummings
81 E. C. Haskill
82 Jacob Fudge
83 Alfred Pyhee
84 W. W. Salmon
85 G. D. Hansbrough
86 Thomas Watkins
87 George F. Royston
88 W. A. Thompson
89 H. T. Wilson
90 William Barbee
91 William Musgrave
92- A. B. Sloan
93 William Cass
94 William R. Morgan
95 J. S. Mitchell
96 Richard Beck
50
KANSAS
97 John
98 George Mosier
99 William W. 8, Burch
100 JMIOS Willson
101 B. L. Y. Peyton
m
uph Boiiinger
8iriNTB DISTRICT.
List qf voters m the seventh district at an election for delegate to Oon-
gress, held on the 29^ day of November, 1864.
1 James L. Bali
2 Gteo. F, Asberry
3 W. W. Amos
4 8. W. Asberry
5 P. D. Barker
6 B. B. Smith
7 J. B. Anderson
8 B. Fluraoy
9 J, 8. Glass
10 F. F, 8heperd
11 Thos, Cermwell
12 A, W. Ervin
IS John GK Agfa
14 John Passook
15 0. Bound
16 T. Bogtrs
IT J. 0. WasWrarn
18 B. 8imson
19 A F. Browa
20 J. a. Webb
21 GK W. 8mith
22 J. D, Hiasoa
23 Ohas. Whiting
24 B. J. Browa
25 John B. Baiabridge
26 J. M. Boswell
2T Ohas F. Boada"**»;
28 A. L. Ties
29 John J. Ingram
30 0. 0. Chiles
81 J. 8. Hamiltoa
32 1. T. Douglas
33 8. J. Fitegerel
34 M. Ewiag
85 J. B. Edwards
86 GK W. MoGowaa
87 a. A. Baker
38 W. 0. Clarkson
39 B. J. Austin
40 J. B. Warder
41 J. Fries
42 J.% W. Lawrence
48 8. B. Buckle
44 N. Oolson
45 P. T. Iroine
46 W. H. Fox
4T F. 8. Bobertson
48 W. B. Major
49 E. L. Hord
50 L, M. Major
51 B. M. Hudpeth
52 James Martin
58 M. King
54 A. M. Duham
55 J. 0. McHattea
56 M. L. Clarkson
57 J. Willis
58 B. E. McDaniel
59 J. 8. Bobersoa
60 J. H. Stevenson
61 L. B. Harwood
62 W. Bobertsoa
68 L. L. Washburne
64 W. D. Hufman
65 B. J. Headrick
66 W. J. Peak
67 J. F. Bay
68 W. 0. 8house
69 I. J. Joaes
70 8. GK Oalroa
71 Wm. Lauderdsle
72 B. L. Bell
73 J. M. Carter
74 E. B. Baraett
75 B. D. Harris
76 W. F. Burin
KANSAS AiTAIBS.
61
?7 J, Marland
78 G. W. Bake.
79 J, H. Douglas
80 J. Boberson
81 E, Booton
82 8, W, Hamilton
88 A, G, Steele
84 T. 0, Dogging
85 8, W, Banton
86 J. M. Grigsby
87 J. H, Sanders
88 E, Bright
89 J, B, Brown
90 F. F, Benich
91 8, W, Wheler
92 J, K, Garnett
93 J, H, Brown
94 W, M, Aiken
95 J, Trowside
96 A, Street
97 W, B, Btrnard
98 E, B. Elliott
99 B. W. Land
100 J. S, Jones
101 D, Vanmettr
102 G. B. Warfleld
108 W, H, Day
104 J, E. Clark
105 J, W, Brown
106 W, Jones
107 W, Boatright
108 J, Sinclair
109 G, Gillespie
110 J, Ivins
111 L, M. Alexander
112 B. M. Lanford
118 D, Oornill
114 C, E, Strou
115 W, 8. Booktr
116 J, 0, Bill
117 J. M, Brown
118 L. 0, Mason
119 J, H, Fish
120 J, Marshel
121 J, B. Belts
122 D, F. Greenwood
128 J, F, Parker
124 J, F. Bledsoe
125 0, Earris
126 J. Blley
127 G, W. Foster
128 W, W. Portsr
129 M. Whitaktr
ISO John MoFadin, Jr.
131 J. M McGirk
132 I, James
188 W, Buker
184 J, B, Dillard
135 J, A, Elware
186 A. 0, Stont
137 J, W, H, Patton
138 B, F, Earris
139 J. Johnson
140 J, Dillard
141 B, Kin
142 L, E, Merdick
143 J, A, Mahan
144 D, J, Falton
145 J. B, Fagt
146 J, Gant
147 J. Graves
148 J, Mann
149 L, N, Boss
150 8, Justice
151 J. Dolarson
152 E, L, Trundle
153 J, Dowty
154 A, Varren
155 J, E, Brown
156 E, Price
157 J, B. Warren
158 E, Whale?
159 J, Eoffttn
160 J. A, Jackson
161 J, T, Einton
162 C. Dear
163 B, G, Smart
164 E, V, White
165 J, M, Major
166 J. T. Major
167 I. J. Ihfor
168 J, W, Finley
169 D, A, Muir
170 W, Gbens
171 J, Pearson
172 G. E, Bellis
173 J, Coles
174 J, 0, Talbott
176 T, Windsor
176 J, 8, Percival
in A, B, Jacobs
178 A. B, Patterson
52
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
1T9 G. W. Muir
180 W. M. Hutchinson
181 W. D. Kelly
182 R. E. Simmons.
183 J. Flurnoy
184 E. C. Simpson
185 D. J. Waters
1.86 G. H. Gordon
187 S. G. Campbell
188 T. J. Ford
189 C. J. Kentley
190 W. L. Janny
191 W. Noland
192 D. Burge
193 S. Hill
194 H. C. Belles
195 J. H. Crooks
196 J. B. Shaw
197 F. C. Varrion
198 G. Lewis
199 B. M. Noland
200 J. Hicklin
201 W. M. Bradford
202 J. Hincle
203 D. B. McGirk
204 W. Hall
205 W. F. Dowden
206 S. Kenich
207 J. West
208 J. M. Fleming
209 H. Parrish
210 F. Abner
211 J. Chin
212 J. S. CogwellJ
213 J. Munson
214 J. M. Minesinger
215 R. A. Barnett
216 J. Smith
217 W. M. Cannan
218 A. Johnson
219 W. A. Parrish
220 R. D. Steele
221 D. L. Hunter
222 B. Greene
223 R. B. Bradford
224 W. C. Yerby
225 J. B. Rallen
226 B. T. Lankford
227 D. Payne
228 J. B. Devenport
229 G. L. Pitcher
230 A. M. Jones
231 J. Richerson
232 N. Man gall
233 J. Lewis
234 T. Crabtree
235 F. M. McGee
236 C. B. Griffin
237 J. W. French
238 J. Clatham
239 W. L, Ballard
240 P. Woods
241 W. Smith
242 W. Lenearay
243 E. W. Shumacher
244 H. Hanberson
245 N. Hinell
246 G. W. Hinell
247 J. C. Anderson
248 F. P. McGee
249 S. Ralston
250 J. W. Watts
251 W. M. Bowring
252 C. Jinks
253 P. Wolf
254 J. H. McGee
255 C. A. Linkenanger
256 J. Shotwell
257 William Parrish
258 L. Steele
259 G. W. Berry
260 J. Booker
261 R. S. Price
262 M. Green
263 William Ish
264 L. C. Cook
265 J. W. Brown
266 M. A. Reed
267 W. F. Johnston
268 W. J. Ellis
269 William Hanley
270 D. Turner
271 L. Z. Noland
272 Robert Turner
273 William Daly
274 J. D. Patrick
275 B. Hinson
276 R. E. McDail, jr.
277 William Riley
278 John Catron
279 M. W. McGee
280 T. P. Shroek
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
281 F. A. Counsalor
282 J. J. Flemming
283 J. Carnahan
284 0. B. Maddox ,
285 Preston Hoge
286 A. M. King
287 C. H. Whitington
288 T. Worthington
289 John Raulston
290 J. H. Merit
291 William B. Jones
292 C. G. Bans
293 James Critser, (rejected)
294 J. T. Benson
295 Solomon Allhores
296 E. G-. Walker, (rejected)
297 William McKinsey
298 William L. Perkins
299 A. J. Smith
300 James Harris
301 Charles Smith
302 John Jette
303 J. C. Calhoun
304 Peter Smith
305 A. H. Major
306 W. T. L. Smith
307 H. Clay, jr.
308 Joseph Smith
309 Thomas Smith
310 Henry Buey
311 Thomas Trigg
312 A. D. Bell
313 Thomas Bell
314 Isaac Rice
315 John Rice
316 Joseph Hider
317 John Lingo
318 John Bell
319 James McCiz
320 A. King
321 H. Smouse
322 John Banden
323 H. Folch
324 John Christy
325 John Davis
326 Amos G-ross
327 Alpha Gross
328 M. Boswell
329 Michael Wagner
330 John Wagner
331 John Hoffman
332 Abrarn Russell
333 John Hall
334 William Hill
335 Edmund Hill
336 David Rice
337 L. Buey
338 D. McBride
339 Joseph Hall
340 Martin Wade
341 Joseph Ail .
342 George Long •
343 Isaac Ruf'ner
344 John Swigert
345 Steven Russell
346 C. Knott
347 William Todd
348 A. G-. Hogus
349 W. Wintersmith
350 Robert Taylor
351 Jacob Mitchell
352 Charles Julian
353 Rufus Searse
354 John Watson
355 Robert Letcher
356 John Powell
357 J. Hershberger
358 J. M. McAustin
359 M. Barstow
360 Edward Zeglor
361 A. Dudley
362 John Hampton
363 B. Luckette
364 James Rupe
365 James Davidson
366 George West
367 James Batchlor
368 John Temple
369 Robert Blackborn
370 A. Pearson
371 Joseph White
372 Thomas Shockley
373 Gladder Brown
374 Hugh Ferrell
375 James Judge
376 David Passett
377 John Ruyon, (rejected)
378 M. C. Burgess
379 C. Hoard
380 William Bassett
381 John Balding
382 William Morand
64
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
388 John Earley
884 Upton Burgess
885 Worder Earley
886 Walter Waddle
887 J, W. Gray
888 Dan, Bunion
889 Ned Roff
890 W, Todhunter
891 John Roff
892 William Huey
898 Andrew Gibson
894 Adam Henderson
895 Edwin Dobins
896 0. Mitchell
897 L, X, Day
898 D. Gant
899 Andrew Floydt
400 Ben. Macky
401 Abner Hoard
402 M. B. Logan
108 0, Gruck
404 James Wilard
405 D. G. Williams
406 George Sharp
407 H, 0, Shotwell
408 F, H. Oirkpatriok
409 Eli Heed
410 E, J, Torpin
411 B, Bonard
412 Eanson Jones
418 John Kirkpatrick
414 William Mack
415 M, Gruber
416 J. V, Dier
417 Simpson Shernor
418 Zachariah Sherwood
419 John Harris
420 Samuel Goons
421 Peter Brooks
422 Henry Samuels
428 George Helm
424 William Conrad
425 F. Hants
426 Charles Williams
427 Jacob Gitt
428 Z, Corre
429 Eira Cline
480 W, Moart
481 Henry Putts
482 F. F, Danaway
488 Wm, Peters
484 Jaoob Louok
435 John Brand
486 W, W, Dillon
467 Henry Charles
488 G, H, Charles
439 Jaokson Bluff
440 Daniel George
441 M, Garver
442 D, Steel
448 Philip Day
444 W. Jacobs
445 Munroe Lore
446 Goodlow Long
447 A, C, H. Long
448 Jefferson Bledsoe
449 T, C, Ewing
450 William Epley
451 Jacob Barring
452 Henry Bathurst
453 G, Bupp
454 Peter Stone
455 P, M, Glolin
456 Franklin Beeder
457 B, Miers
458 Randolph King
459 A, Warner
460 Charles Warren
461 Z, Warner
462 John Lovejoy
463 A, Estill
464 W. Dillingham
465 George Bause
466 Samuel Barny
467 Obadiah Hulti
468 Charles Hultz
469 Abraham Chamber
470 S. Metcalf
471 B, L, Graves
472 N, A, Milton
473 Ben. Bich
474 J, Hodg
475 J. T. Moorehead
476 Joseph Gale
477 Frank Davis
478 J. M. Davis
479 P. T, Cann
480 B, G, Powell
481 W. Brown
482 William Mosby
483 John Mosby
484 K. Moss
AFFAIRS.
485 A. I
486 -
487 Char- «on
488 William Williams
489 J, P. Thomas
490 William Fort
491 J. McGawly
492 John Mason
493 William Bingham
494 J, 0. Young
495 J, W, Wilson
496 P, Griffin
497 John Bowman
498 Richard Hodge
499 Pen Mahon
500 Robert Goodlow
501 James Bennett
502 John Gilmore
508 N. H, Marrow
584 William Tomson
505 A, Rutherford
506 W, Green
507 John Lyon
508 E, McBride
50.9 A, Ridge
510 A, Noland
511 A. Bedford
512 N, Logan
513 J. Hassell
514 A, Crump
515 H, Wallace
516 E. N. Higgins
517 B, J. Hause
518 M. B, Stuard
519 P, Tyree
520 John Black
521 Oharles Fox
522 H. Willis
528 W. A. Clinton
524 J. H. Vernon
525 J. M. Kelly
526 M. J. Munroe
527 0. H. Chism
528 J, McFarlin
529 D. B. Williams
530 8. D, Hunter
531 G, W. Bledsoe
532 John Meadow
533 M. Bliss
534 8. Brockman
535 W. 8. Oaselman
Thomas Etter
f>3T V/IJy Thomas
• folm Curby
;r!es Curby
640 Joseph Zeaball
641 James Hollo way
542 Lewis Green
543 John Gann
544 Jonas Marion
545 James Marion
546 George Ferrell
547 Phares Ferrell
548 J. W. Renich
549 Jabal Cudiff
550 F. B, Burrell
551 B. A. 8nead
552 D. H. Bowring
553 William A. Gordon
554 G. 0. Adamson
555 E, P. Lee
556 J. 0. Young
557 D. Bates
558 J. A. Emerson
559 J. H. Chin
560 Jona, Dean
561 Charies Triplette
562 Abner Houston
568 Drury Crews
564 Benjamin Emerson
565 W. A. Ohausler
566 Thomas Harber
567 W. H, Pollard
568 B. 8. Lomax
569 Kibble Stonall
570 Richard Lee
571 Allen Jennings
572 Alfred King
573 J, A, HcHatten
574 E. W, Carpenter
575 8, Bonham
576 J, W. Jacobs
577 B, W, Sowers
578 M. Arnold
579 J. E, Myers
580 F. Myers
581 J, 8. Brown
582 J. T, Dodd
583 J. T. Worthington
584 William Carse
585 J. W. Mathews
586 F. J. Thorp
56
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
587 W. M. Liptwich
588 J. F. Kingcade
589 A. T. Simmons
590 John Elmore
591 Peter Mahan
592 Philip Cobbs
593 James Lomax
594 M. Pollard
595 E. Slade
596 J. Arnold
597 Kobert Lindney
598 Charles Pultz
599 Henry Somers
600 W. Metier
601 H. Snotgrass
602 L. Early
603 Peter Darby
604 Godlove Coon
605 S. C. Wear
606 J. D. Landewald
607 William Graves
EIGHTH DISTEICT.
List of votes given at an election held at the house of Arthur J. Baker,
in the eighth district Kansas Territory) on the 22th day of November
A. D. 1854.
1 John Druratt
2 Charles T. Gilman
3 Charles H. Hamilton
4 Allen Crowley
5 John A. Kelly
£ Eli M. Sewell
7 Torrence Brooks
8 F. M. Crowley
9 James C. Mothers
10 John F. Godell
11 Morgan De Lacey
12 Mitchell W. Hogtlr
13 D. Wright
14 Thomas S. Huffulor
15 G. M. Simork
16 A. J. Baker
NINTH DISTRICT.
List of the voters of the ninth district at the election held at the house
of Thomas Rennolds, in the ninth district of the Territory of
Kansas , on the 29^ day of November, 1854, for the election of dele-
gate to the House of Representatives of the United States.
1 W. C. Smith
2 Michael Bag an
3 David Jones
4 W. McNelley
5 W. A. Hammond
6 H. T. Karr
7 T. Con way
8 H. Westcott
9 James Glenmon
10 James Marten
11 George DeBotts
12 John Kodly
13 Kobert Willson
14 J. W. C. Pierce
15 T. Sonnameker
16 John O'Donnell
17 N. T. Boal
18 S. B. Hoin
19 S. H. Hackett
20 D. B. Perry
21 James Seals
22 Jesse Spencer
23 D. Ferrow
24 John Ferrow
25 T. Bowe
26 W. P. Widup
27 W. P. Moore
28 E. Connelly
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
5'7
29 A. J. Dolph
30 G. B. Von Ansdale
31 J. Westover
32 H. A. Lowe
33 C. R. Mobley
34 T. E. Wells
35 James i3ixon
36 P. Dixon
37 T. Dixon
38 E. F. Mezeck
39 T. Bunnells
40 Wm. W. Karr
TENTH DISTRICT.
List of voters of the tenth district at the election held at S. D. Dyer's,
November 29, 1854.
1 Benjamin 0. Dean
2 Enoch G-. Hinton
3 Marshal let Garntie
4 John W. Dyer
5 Joseph Stewart
6 Henry Greene, (oath)
7 William C. Dyer
8 William Seymour
9 George 0. Willard
10 Charles E. Blood
11 David Stevenson, (oath)
12 John Wilbour
13 Israel P Brayton
14 James Wilson
15 Henry Bird
16 Alden Babcock
1*7 Andrew Noll
18 Edwin M. Tripp
19 Wm. D. Wicks
20 Seth J. Childs
21 John Mclntire
22 Harleigh P. Cutting
23 S. D. Dyer
24 Francis Deregon
25 S. D. Houston
26 Samuel Whitehorne
27 Stephen N. Frazier
28 Zebulon Avy
29 S. P. Allen
30 Samuel Knapp
31 A. G. Allen
32 Abraham 0. Dyer
33 Moody B. Powers
34 Hatch Hall
35 George W. Ewbanks
36 William Carroll
37 J. E. Wood
ELEVENTH DISTRICT.
Poll-list of the election in the eleventh Congressional district, town of
Marysville, November 29, 1854.
1 Jacob Hahen
2 William Hayn
3 Jesse Mullen
4 David Bois
5 David Jems
6 Samuel Smith
7 Marcus Ladd
8 Joseph Laner
9 Joseph Hulster
10 Abraham Horgus
11 Levi Rooker
12 Peter Straub
13 Robert Beech
14 Edward Buckler
15 John Harny
16 Moses Macgrere
17 Henry Van Pelt
18 James Creigh
19 John Zenias
20 F. D. Purkins
63
£1 Abral ' 'ten
22 . na
23 liol--
24 Daniel
25 David GJimer
26 John Fries
27 John Tompkins
28 N. B Tompkins
29 Y, 0, Hoy
80 James Adams
81 E, 0. Bishop
82 John Dawson
88 G. Butcher
84 Thomas Horrp
85 Joseph Davidson
86 John Jackson
37 John Leech
88 James Beal ,'
89 Samuel Smith
40 Thomas Butcher
41 John Boir
42 A. W, Hawkins
43 J. Mitchell
44 S, Smith
45 E. Cheny
46 Y. 0. Eron
47 0. Butcher
48 B. S. Heart
49 William Miller
50 John Givan
51 William Tucker
52 John Manning
58 G. W, Gwin
54 James Honx
55 John F. Bigby
56 Elijah Bennett
57 J. B. Bitchfleld
58 John Hardin
59 H. Hunter
60 Thomas Goodwin
61 Jacobe Bell
62 John Spencer
68 William Hemingway
64 James Gordon
65 Daniel Bowler
66 W. B. Huhhard
67 Smith Younts
68 J. B. Owens
69 William Neal
70 D. 0. Allen
71 Alex. Sloughtenborro
• ",- .. .Irifj
. . • •
i?r
77 Harris brown
78 William Hendly
79 Thomas P. Smith
80 William Bruner
81 Eeson Field
82 Bicfcard Yarry
88 George W, Bates
84 John Cumins
85 Bird Cumins
86 James Savage
87 Hiram D, Coalman
88 B, G, Smith
89 Samuel Weldon
90 Michael Stubbs
91 James 0, Sage
92 James Demeron
93 Bichard Shoates
94 L, D. Dameron
95 D, Sampson
96 Wilson T. More
97 B, Neely
98 Jeremiah Sweat
99 A, McClelland
100 Alexander S, Clark
101 A, G, Woodward
102 Benjamin Plasters
108 J, W. Jefferson
104 S, M. Noy
105 L, M. More
106 Jessy Bicbardson
107 Jeremiah Tutman
108 Nathaniel Craveni
109 James Powers
110 Marion Stigall
111 B. G. Pheips
112 Charles W. Wood
118 John Praris
114 James Bastrop
115 William Lock
116 J&nes Lucas
117 Simon Buckhanan
118 W. Bead
119 David Weller
120 Philip Winberger
121 Henry Ferel
122 William Booker
KANSAS AFFAIRS,
123 Jessey Hoalman
124 William Heuston
125 W, P. Roland
126 J, S. Talbot
127 John Sanders
128 Joseph Brown
129 J, B, Henderson
130 Samuel W. Green
131 Lewis Moody
132 Stephen Hanoook
133 James Beatley
134 Johnson Menafee
135 John G, Blue
186 Peter Wilson
187 Sampson Long
138 Sampson Oliver
139 Levi Strous
140 John Toman
141 Ezra Eastern
142 J, 0. Owens
148 James MoGamy
144 William Sutzeler
145 William Magar
146 Jacob West
147 Ira Green
148 Reuben Fergerson
149 William Holt
150 John H, McDonald
151 Benjamin Oassorn
152 Patrick Coons
153 S, H. Bronson
154 Raley Haydon
155 Lewis Ooats
156 F, Fowler
157 James H. Gooden
158 Reason Sowards
159 Jefferson Lyons
160 Jacob Butts
161 Urial Coy
162 Marion Thiekild
163 B. P. Bell
164 Heram Brooks
165 Mack Robertson
166 John T. Griffith
167 J. P. Strother
168 Mioager Brown
169 Joseph Towner
170 William Longworth
171 L. Morton
172 H. R. Willis
173 Martin Sexton
174 Thomas Lee
175 J, F, Pendleton
176 John Stodorc
177 Sirus A, Cunningham
178 Leander Basey
179 Samford Cox
180 Richard M, Johnson
181 John T, Burch
182 J, D, Bullard
183 E. R, Smith
184 W, P. Davidson
185 G, A. Rowan
186 Stephen Funill
187 S, Y, Logan
188 William M, Proctor
189 Jessey Yearey
190 David Brown
191 M, F. Boffan
192 James Johnson
193 Benjamin Branin
194 John R, Black
195 Sanford Robinson '•
196 EHLovington
197 Jones White
198 EanezerRobb
199 P, H. Vaughn
200 James More
201 John Dulany
202 James Gorhan
203 Rodney Dungleson
204 Henry Long
205 Joab Duett
206 James Bernhard
207 Samuel Gail
208 John Morgan
209 James Summonds
210 Mason Ratliff
211 Albert Gibson
212 J. McCartney
213 James Grason
214 John Whitaker
215 Jacob Weber
216 Jones Fowler
217 John S. Sursey
218 Ben. Poe
219 William Slow
220 John Scott
221 William H. Henley
222 Henry Best
223 John Mefford
224 John Swope
60
HANS A 3 AFFAIRS.
225 John Pertell
226 Joseph Bane
227 Archibald Huder
228 Isaac Humphrey
229 Hieram Alcom
230 Dulany Perkins
231 Solon White
232 John Hekin
233 Hieram Hans
234 John Lay
235 M. B. White
236 John Craft
237 John Medill
238 John Grayham
239 Telford Todd
240 George Baxter
241 Hugh Baker
242 S. B. M. Homer
243 William Tullop
244 George Poal
245 John Stone
TWELFTH DISTRICT.
List of the names of the voters in the twelfth district, taken at the house
of Mr. R. C. Miller, on Solder creek, Kansas Territory, November
29, 1854, for delegate to Congress.
1 K. C. Miller
2 John Walker
3 Benj. Morgan
4 John Lennord
5 F. Trombley
6 J. J. Miller
7 Warner Miller
8 J. B. Hay
9 J. Hunk
10 Louis Vien (oath)
11 Paul Vien (oath)
12 Charles Vien (oath)
13 Jas. Lorton (oath)
14 J. C. Vanderpool
15 Jacob Mindes
16 E. G. Boothe
17 H. McDowell
18 G. W. Baker
19 E. M. Sloon
20 C. B. Randell
21 Bassel Grumer
22 Peter Nessent
23 N. K. Wingorner
24 Eron Kennedy
25 A. Melner
26 W. H. Wells
2*7 Samuel Cummings
28 Peter Prudehour
29 Louis Ogee (oath)
30 Battese Oscuni (oath)
31 F. H. Contramen
32 L. M. Cox
33 Charles W. Bobien
34 James A. Gray
35 Cass Alley
36 W. K. Wanton
37 A. A. Crane
38 Steph. Hopkins
39 Charles Dean
40 G. B. H. Gftbs
41 Wash. Gibbs
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT.
List of voters at the election in the thirteenth district, November 29,
1854, for delegate to Congress.
1 C. P. Buding
2 John De Roche
3 P. H. Collin*
4 Alexander Rodd
5 Charles Munn
K Nathan Isaac
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
61
7 J. S. Brudfield
8 J. B. Cockrill
9 Kemp M. Woods
10 J. B. Moore
11 Elijah W. Mann
12 James Williams
13 Alexander K. Elliott
14 Hugh Swaney
15 Alexander Milld
16 John Swany
IT Elbert 0. Muller
18 T. H. Bradley
19 J. C. Cockrill
20 W. G. Williams
21 Granville Adkins
22 Daniel F. Tebbs
23 James L. Taylor
24 Holman Banfield
25 C. J. Reager
26 Albro Pemberton
27 William Haddix
28 Silas M. Gordon
29 William E. Daniel
30 Samuel Johnson
31 Joseph A. McDaniel
32 Archibald Clark
33 William Pemberton
34 Benjamin Boydston
35 Charles Rodd
36 G. M. Dyer
37 D. M. Rinley
38 Wm. H. Tebbs
39 Henry C. Cukenville
40 A. Sidney Tebbs
41 Alexander Lubrick
42 Mathew Winston
43 Johnson Hughes
44 Samuel L. Winston
45 William Hinshaw
46 John Pate
47 Richard Chandler
48 Samuel Hudson
49 Baruck Prather
50 Thomas P. Chandler
51 Henry C. Cony
52 Henry S. Bretz
53 Elijah Harding
54 Henry C. Scul
55 John Cunningham
56 William Arthur
57 Barton D. McDowell
58 John Millier
59 John H. Myers
60 Samuel Hoy
61 Benjamin R. Morton
62 Joseph Walker
63 'Jackson Miller
64 Jesse Miller
65 0. B. Tebbs
66 John Plunt
67 G. Sprague
68 L. Shepard
69 Preston Monel
70 John D. York
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT.
Poll-look.
1 Hamilton J. Johnston
2 Andrew J. Doland
3 Wm. Jordan
4 Wm. M. Greer
5 Fleming Ridge
6 Nelson Abby
7 Benja. Dodd
8 James H. Merrill
9 Sinclair K. Miller
10 James Cannon
11 Paul Merriman
12 John Lovelady
13 John H. Whitfield
14 Uriah Griffith
15 Jas. B. Baker
16 Thos. C. Hawley
17 Auguste Moynes
18 Peter O'Roorke
19 Antoine Tezian
20 Wm. H. Hinchrnan
21 Charles Eggers
22 Philip James
23 Jas. F. Forman
24 Ephraim D. McLelland
C'J
KAN' .,1118,
25 James Grooms
26 Absalom Grouzua
27 Q-eo, M, Waller
28 Chas, Richter
29 Leander McClelland
80 Benj, B, Hazelwood
31 Sam'l Kirkpatrick
32 Peter Hoover
33 Arnott Grooms
34 Qolmore Newman
35 Biehard Boulware
36 Green McAfferty
37 Albert Head
38 Thomas Minston
39 John Doyle
40 Joel Blair
41 Jesse Brown
42 Joel Ryan
43 Jeffrey M, Palmer
44 Wra. P, Richardson
45 Mathew lies
46 James Kendall
47 Peter Monroe
48 Tuplejr Rolph
49 Eben'r Blackstone
50 Sam1! Montgomery
51 Wilson D, Moore
52 Henderson Sraallwood
53 Andrew A, Hayes
54 Carey B. Whitehead
55 Andrew J, Tfcrpin
56 Jesse F, Gaves
57 Henry H. Marsh
58 Squire V. Marsh
59 John P. Marsh
60 James P. Haymore
61 Wm, H. Davis
62 Frederick Reed
63 Benj. 8. Wharton
64 Wm. A. Mclntosh
65 Alexander Davis
66 Wm. A. Hill
67 Watson Stewart
68 John Fisher
69 Joseph Liceliff
70 Henry Smith
71 Robt. McSperran
72 James Campbell
73 John Trotman
74 Walker G. Reed
75 Cobv C. Gordon
.ClLridge'J. Robinson
77 Wm, Oa;
78 James W, Taylor
79 James B, 0"*''oole
80 Fernando A. Burgher
81 Dan'l Vanderslice
82 Emerson V, B, Rogers
83 John N. Granville
84 Nelson Rogers
85 Wm. Vanderslice
86 James Vanderslice
87 Harvey W. Forman
88 Lewis 0. W. Forman
89 Hardin Oritchflcld
90 John S. Pemberton
91 Nicholas White
92 Thomas J. Vanderslice
93 Frederick Treat
94 John Copeland
95 James Carson
96 Gershom M. Gilhiam
97 Lasiter Copeland
98 Alfred 0. Rice
99 Henry Thompson
100 Jacob Tounger
101 Sidney Tenant
102 Christine Donivan
103 George C. Catlett
104 John A. Van Ansdale
105 Robt, M. Whitsett
100 John Smith, sen.
107 Josiah Morris
108 too, W. Stillwell
109 James O'Toole, sen,
110 Th6mas W. Waterson
111 Francis Youpy
112 Hamilton Osborn
113 Peter Oadden
114 Anderson Cox
115 Charles C. Carson
116 Luther Dillin
117 Grandison R. Wilson
118 Robert Ewing
119 Geo. W. Gilfespie
120 Jacob Sharp
121 Ross Hinchman
122 Jesse R. Sharp
123 Charles Buxby
124 Edward Seuvey
125 Jefferson B. Baker
126 Reuben P, Briggi
KANSAS '
127 Fra>
128 Andre v.
129 Oliver
130 Johnson Oai^a
181 Mark Yogan
132 George Jamieson
133 Claudius A. Rowley
134 Francis 0. Hughes
135 Thomas E. Baker
136 John D. Armstrong
137 John Smith, jr.
138 Aaron Lewis
139 Aaron Quick
140 Edwin P. Weaver
.-] v " • ;
142 .; - '
. •- • ' • .. ' u
•
145 Guapui -Uii'sner
146 William Arthurs
14T Joker Fee
148 Milton Bryan
149 James B. Whitehead
150 Benjamin Harding
151 William Turpin
152 John W. Stevens
153 John 0. How
F
DISTRICT.
Poll-loolcs and returns of the election held on the 29M day of November,
A. D. 1854, at the house of Fasohd Pensenan, in the fifteenth dis-
trict of the Territory of Kansas, far delegate to Congress.
1 Jesse Morin
2 Ira Norris,
3 Dr. Stringfellow
4 W. H. Miller
5 Mathias Yocum
6 John Yocum
7 Edward O'Beily
8 Paschal Pensenan
9 Hugh MoKowen
10 Stanford McDonald
11 James L. Sale
12 Cornelius Sale
13 John Miller
14 George W. Layton
15 N. J. Ireland
16 S.Johnson. (under prot.)
IT Wm. Eliott
18 Samuel Dickson
19 Wm. L. Stephens
20 Thomas Dermain
21 Fred. Freeland
22 Dan Grover
23 J. M. Freeland
24 A. B. Elliott
25 Uriel Hiekley
26 Martin Weimar
27 B. B. Hays
28 Thomas B. Craven
29 Isaac House
30 Leonidas Oldham
81 Y. K. Bradley
32 Israel Swan
33 J. E. Hervey
34 Samuel Hays
35 Van 8. Graham
36 J. B. Mitchell
37 J. Y. Darnell
38 J. H. Bradley
39 D. J. Thomas
40 Thomas Faulkners
41 George Percy
42 Joseph Henderson
43 James Henderson
44 James Lewis
45 John A. Beckner
46 J. W. Anderson
47 James Browning
48 James W. Bedwell
49 Henry Debard
50 George Million
51 Adam Johnson
52 J. T. Bradley
53 A. B. Oldham
54 Joseph McBride
64
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
55 J. L. Jenks, (aff.)
56 Samuel JSapp
57 0. F. Doroty
58 Levi Bechien
59 Wm. Ducy
60 Marion Estes
61 Isaac Lincoln
62 Wm. H. Elliott
63 G. H. Mitchell
64 A. R. Davis
65 J. H. Brown
66 N. S. Townsend
67 Jefferson Roney
68 John Groff
69 J. W. Thompson
70 James Sweney
71 R. F. Duncan
72 J. B. Duncan
73 Wm. Daugherty
74 George H. Smith
75 Oscar Bywaters
76 G. Tomlinson
77 J. Cutter
78 J. Weddle
79 David Howard
80 Thomas L. Douglass
81 M. F. Bailey
82 J. M. Harrison
83 E. C. Mason
84 John Bryant
85 James Gooley
86 James Potter
87 Amos A. Gorndyke
88 H. B. Herrington
89 Robert Ely
90 C. B. Hodges
91 C. C. Redman
92 J. S. Hammond
93 Robert S. Blacygard
94 J. M. Alexander
9l5 Wm. Morton
96 John Weiser
97 H. C. Bradley
'98 John Waddell
99 George B. Wells
:100 Wm. Young
101 James W. Crawford
102 G. B. Gates
103 George Carter
104 Y. Scanlan
105 Wm. Digman
106 Thomas Scanlan
107 Jeremiah McCune
108 A. W. Hughs
109 C. H. Grover
110 Van Buren Hensley
111 Madison H. Clemens
112 G. Y. Charless
113 S. Y. Walter
114 Sidney Walters
115 John A. G. Fisher
116 N. A. Miller
117 N. R. Green
118 Col. Lewis Barns
119 George Wilson
120 Julius Newman
121 Craven Calvert
122 John Amberg
123 Melzor Cole
124 Wm. Martin
125 John Galbreth
126 A. Warmack
127 Thomas J. Carson
128 John W. Martin
129 Charles S. Foster
130 Jesse Welch
131 John L. Freed
132 Mason Hall
133 John Parker
134 John Welch
135 Wm. Welch
136 Caleb Wright •
137 James Welch
138 Martin Cline
139 P. Farrell
140 Harvey Welch
141 Wm. Baisely
142 Thomas Scott
143 Noah Antony
144 G. R. Searcy
145 John Hamner
146 James Brooks
147 Henry Plunkett
148 Lazarus Yocum
149 J. G. Downey
150 Jonathan Congrove
151 H. H. Williams
152 R. H. Dyer .
153 R. L. Kirk
154 Jesse Shephard
155 Samuel M. Bowman
156 N. B. Lamar »
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
65
157 B. Yocum
158 Allen Pullen
159 Thomas J. Huggins
160 J. B. Wiley
161 Wm. Dyer
162 Samuel Ross
163 W. D. Bonnell
164 J. M. Mulky
165 G. W. Thompson
166 J. H. Myers
167 Wm. Sharp
168 J. W. Foster
169 John Cook
170 E. Smith
1*71 James Bolton
172 Y. J. Thompson
173 E. D. Bishop
174 U. Y. Gennett
175 Levi Bowman
176 John Roberts
177 Wm. Fulton
178 R. W. Thompson
179 Silas Wells
180 G. S. Davis
181 G. W. Sharp
182 R. D. Davis
183 Martin Short
184 Wm. G. Mayfield
185 Joseph Taylor
186 George Mashens
187 M. N. Bland
188 John Taylor
189 S. M. Taylor
190 Heber Taylor
191 Wm. Brown
192 David Ross
193 E. M. Hale
194 Ira Hale
195 Ruse Bowman
196 J. S. Philip
197 Martin Berry
198 James L. Carter
199 James Hanley
200 Dr. J. S. Keller
201 Wm. Haskell
202 Benjamin Ross
203 J. Carson
204 G. W. Quinby
205 R. N. Davenport
206 J. B. Crane
207 J. S. Thompson
H. Rep. 200 5*
208 J. H. Myres
209 Wm. Cody
210 G. Clark
211 A. Cook
212 Job Robins
213 John W. Freeland
214 John Site
215 Charles G. Sites
216 John Freeland
217 Alfred Allen
218 B. F. Young
219 James J. Jones
220 C. P. Allgier
221 L. Fist
222 Jonathan Lacy
223 Henry B. Gale
224 R. S. Merchant
225 W. Hays
226 John House
227 John S. Ramsey
228 Henry Williams
229 David Atkins
230 P. L. Yervell
231 John McDonald
232 Wm. Oburn
233 J. W. Pate
234 Dr. Harris
235 S. W. Tunnell
236 A. J. Walker
237 Ottoway Smith
238 Wm. H. Wells
239 Richard Warren
240 Allen B. Haggard
241 A. G. Boyd
242 James H. Keisner
243 J. D. Pepper
244 S. H. Oliphant
245 Wm. G. Marsh
246 G. W. Grist
247 Samuel Pepper
248 Wm. Thompson
249 Warren Blanton?
250 David Murphy
251 Y. D. Killoe
252 R. W. Fox
253 Jacob Mortier
254 Robert Yoler
255 Wm. H. Coon
256 John Q. Grayson
257 Phineas S. Skinner
258 Lewis Sumpter
G6
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
259 Nathaniel Miller
260 James N. Burrus
261 Nathan Nuby
262 Nathan Shaler
263 Isaac Atkins
264 Michael Dean
265 John J. Carter
266 George Kitchen
267" James Martin
268 Thomas Pensenan
269 John G. Graham
270 Wm. Blackby
271 Jefferson Donohoe
272 James Harris
273 Douglass Hamilton
274 Samuel Morehead
275 Asa Van Aldenham
276 Mathew Robinson
277 Robert Loon
278 John Ramsey
279 Wiley P. Williams
280 James M. Davis
281 Martin Jones
282 Jonathan Wallace
283 B. F. Thompson
284 Wm. Berry
285 Wm. Johnson
286 Wm. E. Pitt
287 Thomas Doddard
288 Y. F. Golley
289 Michael Wilkins
290 Christoper Horn
291 A. M. Price
292 Robert S. Kelly
293 Henry Adams
294 Enoch Evans
295 A. 0. Hams
296 Thomas Elliott
297 David Brown
298 E. S. Staggs
299 P. Felix Brown
300 James Frazier
301 James Y. Buson
302 H. Y. Green
803 S. F. Ray
304 W. A. Lovelady
305 Win. Allen
306 H. B. Jolly
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT.
Poll-book of an election held on the 29$ day of November, A. D. 1854
at the house of Keller & Kyle, in Leaven-worth City, in the sixteenth
district of the Territory of Kansas, for the election of a delegate tc
the House of Representatives of the United States.
1 Samuel F. Few
2 A. Macauley
3 Jerry Clark
4 John Boyd
5 James W. Rich
6 Asa Smith
7 Wm. Boyd
8 Samuel D. Preston
9 James 0. Toole
10 Francis A. Hart
11 David Brasfield
12 John 0. Downing
13 George Leigan
14 Thomas Stearns
15 J. T. Moore
16 George Yates
17 Joseph Pennock
18 Nicholas Lockerman
19 Malcolm Clark
20 F. M. Tafts
21 Jas. Burgess
22 G. W. Riley
23 John A. Randall
24 Richard Stoddard
25 David Kennelly
26 Randolph Wolfe, jr.
27 Greene D. Todd
28 A. Russell
29 Albert Lander
30 Zachariah Mills
31 ChesleyFulks
32 Charles Hulb
33 Jeremiah Howell
34 Wmfield Numhill
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
67
35 Wm. Dawson
36 Miles Shannon
37 James Noble
38 Wm. Freebourn
39 Simon C. McElvaine
40 Eezin Wilcoxin
41 John H. Brown
42 George W. Warren
43 0. McCrea
44 Wm. Warner
45 Henry Clay Bishop
46 Jeremiah Rice
47 R. H. Hi^gins
48 Simon Phillips
49 J. C. Grinter
50 B. D. Casselman
51 M. N. Talbot
52 H. S. Godsey
53 D. K. Chapell
54 George D. Stevenson
55 Stephen Noble
56 A. J. Preston
57 G. B. Panton
58 Wm. Greene Woods
59 John Kissinger
60 T. P. L. Taylor
61 Calvin Tolson
62 S. Y. Chance
63 S. D. Pitcher
64 Adam Linhart
65 J. L. Evans
66 John Williams
67 S. H. Burgess
68 S. H. Mays
69 Jarrett Todd
70 James Scroggs
71 R. E. Saunders
72 John Thomas
73 Samuel Cummings
74 John Atkins
75 Thomas S. Owens
76 Wesley S. Davidson
77 Jas. W. McClintick
78 John Donaldson
79 John P. Richardson
80 Wm. C. Webster
81 R. C. Thomson
82 James L. Thomson
83 Gideon L. Brown
84 T. S. Otterbury
85 N. A. Kirk
86 H. C. Dunn
87 Wm. Cummings
88 Riley Todd
89 Pleasant Ellington
90 Simpson Parks
91 Jeffrey Woodward
92 Jos. C. Anderson
93 W. T. Yokum
94 John Moore
95 John Dunn
96 B. M. Crust
97 H. D. McMeekin
98 J. B. Hyatt
99 James Surritt
100 T. H. Talbert
101 Howard Conley
102 Thomson Owens
103 Eli Moore
104 John Reed
105 James Faster
106 George Brassfield
107 W. G. Carson
108 Wm. S. Murphy
109 Charles H. Pennick
110 Wm. G. Mathias
111 J. Hoyt
112 Thomas Cuming
113 Wm. Large
114 John Neely
115 James H. Fowler
116 Francis Rasdell
117 A. T. Pattie
118 J. M. Guthrie
119 J. M. Artrold
120 Wm. M. Beckam
121 H. T. Dagley
122 Wm. Hoy
123 G. B. Redmon
124 Wm. M. Edmonds
125 D. Scott Boyle
126 John H. McClintock
127 Barnabas Gable
128 J. T. Woodward
129 M. R. Grinter
130 Thomas Stewart
131 Hiram Rich
132 Wm. B. Simmonds
133 R. H. Fielding
134 Nathaniel Henderson
135 James H. Hall
136 Robert Todd
68
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
137 Thomas 0. Bishop
138 John Sparks
139 J. Parkinson
140 James Finley
141 Isaac Spratt
142 Wm. Wallace
143 Philip Zeigler
144 Jos. Graham
145 Kobert Ware
146 A. Dawson
147" Benjamin Foster
148 John B. Mize
149 J. B. Pennock
150 James G. Heck
151 T. J. Goforth
152 Stephen Sparks
153 Lucius ChafFee
154 Edward Garrett
155 Garrsft-d Levy
156 M. F. Conway
157 B. B. Beese
158 Cyrus Garrett
159 Samuel M. Lyon
160 Burrell B. Mize
161 J. K. France
162 Thomas T. Sloakum"1
163 Thomas F. Gregg
164 J. C. Thomson
165 Wm. Sparks
166 Henry Stoddard
167 Zach. Sparks
168 T. F. Brown
169 Wm. T. Bartz
F. Givinner (vote rejec'd)
170 Thos. A. Gregg
171 David Creech
172 Isaac Van Catup
173 Thomas Boherts
174 Travis Brown
175 Lewis A. Neil
176 David Gragg
177 J. T. Hook
178 E. K. Adamson
179 Wm. L. Blair
180 H. Nolan
181 Abner Dean
182 James H. Mize
183 Daniel A. Willey
184 Strother Hay
185 John Ussury
186 Currin Nervil
187 Wm. Borden
188 Hiram Kelly
189 J. E. Grant
190 Franklin Keys
191 Ellis Henshaw
192 Frederick Sprack
193 Floyd Shannon
194 A. Payne
195 A. Cunningham
196 John Argabright
197 Bussell Garret
198 C. D. Ellott
199 Houston Levy
200 Wm. H. Long
201 Nathan Boberts
202 Wm. H. T. Parker
203 Michael Kelley
204 Daniel C. Ames
205 Wm. Tanner
206 John M. White
207 Godfrey Grease
208 M. Dobson
209 S. Phillips
210 F. Engelsman
211 Levi Furguson
212 John A. Lindsey
213 Carrington Harris
214 AdamDeitz
215 Bobt. L. Beam
216 B. L. Sellers
217 A. H. Scott
218 James McDaniel
219 John Owens
220 H. Brown
221 Wm. Engelsman
222 Neely Harrington
223 M. France
224 David Goble
225 C. C. Harrison
226 J. H. Golden
227 H. H. Hook
228 Beuben Snellgo
229 Israel Gibson
230 C. F. Bredon
231 G. W. Walker
232 A. J. Bowers
233 S. J. Johnson
234 John Wallace
235 T. B. Selkman
236 George Young
Alfred Young
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
69
238 P. J. Cuming
239 Simpson Gobler
240 T. B. Hart
241 Hugh L. Campbell
242 Henry Mize
243 F. E. Bodd
244 S. R. Farr
245 John Hall
246 Peter McGill
24? John C. Newton
248 John Frazer
249 O. M. Thomas
250 Clement Naef
251 J. F. Wyatt
252 Wm. E. Roe
253 Geo. Keller
254 Jacob Rehm
255 H. H. C. Harrison
256 Squier Orton
257 John J. Beng
258 John Keffer
259 J. H. Day
260 L. F. Mills
261 L. J. Eastin
262 Jas. K. Edsall
263 Richard Conkland
264 Chas. Leib
265 Jas. 0. Sullivan
266 W. S. Yoke
267 Geo. Leonhard
268 Nathaniel Higs
269 Alex. Reed
270 Edward Zell
271 Samuel France
272 W. J. Osborn
273 G. M. Fisher
274 Wm. Saunders
275 Joseph Font
276 Daniel Smith
277 Wm. English
278 C. B. Roberts
279 Lewis N. Rees
280 John Drew
281 Robert Maddux
282 Jones Creach
283 Doregon Fouts
284 Josiah McLain
285 James Skinner
286 Henry Beng
287 N. Sage
288 Adam Fisher
289 Adam Corb
290 Henry Smith
291 Lewis Schiller
292 Asa Stewart
293 T. S. Abner
294 John Harris
295 Andrew Thos. Kyle
296 John Smith
297 Wm. McDowell
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.
i
List of voters at an election held on the 29th day of November) 1854,
in the seventeenth district of the Territory of Kansas, for the election
of a delegate to the House of Representatives of the United States.
1 RushEllmore
2 0. H. Brown
3 A. S. Johnson
4 F. M. Coleman
5 Andrew Monroe
6 M. C. McGuish
7 John M. Owen
8 James Gillpatrick
9 Isaac Parrish
10 R. N. Winslow
11 Frederick Chouteau
12 Joseph Parks
13 George Buchanan
14 Daniel Woodson
15 John A. Halderman
16 William Chouteau
17 F. E. Baley
18 A. H. Reeder
19 B. F. Robinson
20 Cyprian Chouteau
21 Thomas Johnson
22 James Mathews
23 Andrew J. Isaacs
24 William Donaldson
70
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
25 M. P, Randall
26 Richard Menenhall
27 A. Gregory
28 Peter Croco
29 William Jones
30 Charles N. White
31 Jeremiah Dummer
32 F. B. Sullivan
33 John Parks
34 William Rutlege
35 E. Evans
36 Charles Bowls
37" William Honeywill
38 R. C. Meek
39 Daniel Doffarnyer
40 Charles B. Garrett
41 Joel Walker
42 Robert Brown
43 Calvin A. Kirnatser
44 John H. Solomon
45 John Boyles
46 John Hall
4T Matthew Hall
48 L. C. Mathews
49 Horace Hall
50 Isaac Long
51 Philip Brown
52 John Pond
53 James Long
54 Joseph Boyer
55 Isaac W. Brown
56 Joseph White
57 Miller Moody
58 Ethen A. Long
59 Augustus Charles
60 Davis Thayer
61
62
John Parka
James Zanes
To his Excellency A. H. REEDER, Governor of Ko.nsas Territory :
Believing that a large number of the citizens of the State of Mis-
souri voted at the election of the 29th instant for delegate to Congress
representing Kansas Territory, we respectfully petition your honor
that the entire vote of the district receiving the votes of citizens of
Missouri be set aside, or that the entire election be set aside.
H. C. Sofford
J. J. Emery
Edmund Clarke
Legamus S. Bacon
C. K. Holliday
0. A. Hanscom
J. T. Memmon
R. G. Elliott
John Macley
C. Robinson
Luke P. Lmkon
J. M. Benby
Otes W. Lamb
J. C. Massmon
James Crocklen
W. A. Holmes
J. L.M.Whilcomb
Augustus H. Gertt
C. Thos. Roberts
Samuel L. Haley
Naculon Lobiame
George W. Kent
C. W. Dow
James Legart
W. B. Walling
William Norriker
S. J. Wells
John P. Hefek
William Lee
G. W. Reed
0. D. Smith
Stephen W. Felsom
L. G. Higgins
G. M. Chaffeur
L. T. Tappan, jr.
L. Lechfield
L. T. Lechfield
A. V. Coffin
E. Desbro
G. W. Patridge
John W. Waite
D. C. Barrett
S. G. Johnson
J. E. Gorden
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Justin Lewis
T. Z. Cook
Samuel Kenneday
Heron C. Covil
B. N. Cortendge
J. S. Co wen
J. M. Kukkey
E. D. Ladd
Fra. King
C. Stevens
S. N. Simpson
John Day
George Gilbert
Joel Grove
Samuel Kembel
D. S. Mott
Calep S. Pratt
H. N. Hancock
J. W. Carlton
Jos. B. Abbott
A. H. Mallory
K. M. Pearson
Frank Niskell
J. L. Storn
F. 0. Tolles
A. D. Surl
J. W. Hutchinson
J. M. Jones
S. N. Reed
Saml. T. Lewis
S. S. Snyder
Dunma Furrow
John Furrow
72
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
THE CENSUS
OF
THE TEERITORY OF KANSAS,
FEBRUARY, 1855;
THE RETURNS OP THE ELECTIONS OP MARCH SO AND MAY 22, 18§§?
AND
THE ACTION OF GOVERNOR REEDER THEREON
The persons appointed l>y the governor to make an enumeration of inhabi-
tants and qualified voters in the Territory having made their returns?
the following table of inhabitants and qualified voters in the several
districts is compiled therefrom.*
\
Districts.
|
By whom taken.
1
Females.
Voters.
1
Natives U. S.
Foreign birth.
Negroes. •
|
I
j
i
First
C W Babcock ......
623
889
869
459
887
75
962
316
203
199
237
506
19
t
7
819
Third
Fourth
T. W. Hayes .
0 B IXonaldson
161
106
91
Tl
101
47
112
97
215
169
12
2
......
6
1
252
171
Fifth
William Barbee
824
583
442
724
1,385
22
27
26
1,40T
Sixth
do
492
818
253
418
791
12
11
11
810
Seventh ....
J R McClure
82
36
68
50
117
1
1
1
us-
Eighth
do
56
27
89-
28
76
7
13
10
83
Ninth
Tenth
M. F. Conway
do
61
97
25
54
86
68
81
61
66
108
12
23
14
8
86
151
Eleventh ....
B H Twombly . .
83
8
24
5
80
6
36
Twelfth
do
104
40
78
85
109
8T
1
T
144
H B Jolly
168
116
96
145
273
9
14
14
284
Albert Weed
655
512
334
301
46
1
85
1,167-
Fifteenth ....
H B Jolly
492
381
808
448
846
16
15
15
873
Sixt eenth
Charles Leib
708
475
885
514
1.042
104
48
83
1,188
Sev enteenth
91
591
50
54
143
5
4
23
150
B H Twombly
5&
40
28
51
97
1
99
5,128
3,888
2,905
3,469
7,161
408
151
192
8,601
* Copied from the executive minutes, March 8, 1855.
PRECEPT
You are hereby appointed to take the census of the first election dis-
trict of the Territory of Kansas. The act of Congress requires not only
an enumeration of the inhabitants, but also of the qualified voters ;
and as the law commits solely to my discretion the mode of taking
and returning, I have caused books to be prepared which will exhibit
many features of our population interesting to the public and useful
in the way of statistical information, as well to the legislature as the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 73
people. la this book you will find columns prepared accordingly.
In noticing the age you write on the proper column for those under
twenty-one the word " minor;" for those between 21 and 30 the
figures 21 ; and for those between 30 and 40, between 40 and 50, be-
tween 50 and 60 and over 60, write always the lower number. In
noting males, females, natives of the United States, naturalized citi-
zens, declarants,, (meaning those who have declared before some proper
court their intention to become citizens,) qualified voters, negroes,
and slaves, it will only be necessary to insert a mark or figure on the
proper column. Those columns of marks or figures you will foot up
on each page, and at the end of the book you will bring together and
foot up the several columns of each class, so as to show the aggregate
of each. You will also ascertain and state the total of each kind of
occupation, and of each class found in the column of age. The
columns for occupations will, of course, be left blank for minors who
have none and females. In entering the place you will enter the
State or Territory of the United States, or the foreign country, which
was the last place of residence, and you will ascertain from this column
and carry to the end of the book the number from each place named.
You will not include army officers or soldiers of the army, or persons
attached to troops in the service of the United States, unless they in-
tend to remain and reside in the Territory when not on service, nor
will you include any Indians or persons of Indian blood. As this is
an enumeration of inhabitants and not of property, you will enter the
name of no man by reason of owning or claiming land here, or of his
intention to remain here, but only those who actually dwell here at
the time of taking the census.
In noting the qualified voters you must ascertain from your own
observation, and the best information you can procure, who are en-
titled to be thus considered and designated. A qualified voter must
be free, of white blood, twenty-one years of age, an actual resident of
the Territory, dwelling here with the bonafide intention of making it
his home, and a native or naturalized citizen of the United States, or
a declarant who has sworn to support the Constitution of the United
States and the act organizing the Territory.
As it may become necessary, in the formation of representative dis-
tricts, to divide your district, it will be well to preserve, by notes in
the blank pages, some information as to the number of the inhabi-
tants, with reference as to known localities and natural boundaries,vor
at least so as to take the enumeration, that you may communicate to
me such information on this head as that I may be enabled myself to
make the necessary notes.
You will also make a separate alphabetical list of the qualified
voters in the district and return the same personally to me, with your
enumeration and classification, on the tenth day of February next,
when you will be expected to take the oath entered at the end of this
book.
Issued this 22d day of January, 1855.
A. H. REEDER,
Governor of the Territory of Kansas.
W. C. BABCOCK, Esq.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIRST DISTRICT.
List of voters of the first election district of the Territory^ of Kansas,
according to the census returns taken by W. C. Babcock in the months
of January and February, 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Massachusetts
William W Hall
do
William H R Sykins
do
Ohio
John P Wood
. . .d0
...do
Daniel H Brooks
Massachusetts
....do
William Ricker . .
Samuel N Hartwell ......
William McReady
do
Orville D. Smith
Ohio
Silas B. Wayne
....do
George W.Reid
New York ....
.do ....
.do
Frederick Kinff . ... .
New York
Otis H Lamb ....
Ohio ....
do
Massachusetts
Clark Tiffit
Rhode Island
Frederick Kimball ...
New York...
Samuel Kimball . . • . . . .
Clark Stephens ..... .....
Francis O Tolles
William N Baldwin
Mathew H Spittle .
New York
....do
Gerome B. Taft
Massachusetts
Stephen J. Willis
....do. .......
Samuel S Snyder . . ....
H4ram C Cavil .... .
Ohio . . .
New York ...
....do
Hugh Cammeron » . ...
Dist Col
Forester Hill .
New Jersey . .
do
Wisconsin . . .
Charles W. Perril
New Ycrk . . .
Albert D. Searl
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania .
Hiram Clark. ..... .......
John H Daty
Ohio ...
Eli W Bennett
Charles W. Dorr
Ohio . . .
Ohio
William S. G Soule
Robert G Elliot
D. C. Barrett
Dist Col
Josiah Miller
William O. Wood
Charles F Garrett
Ohio
A. W. Gleason
Ohio
. do
do ......
Massachusetts
Caleb L Pratt
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
New York . . .
John ft. Miller
Massach usetts
Mass? chusetts
Pennsylvania
...do
Phelix P. Fowler
Vermont . f . .
New York . .
Erastus D Ladd . . . .
\Visconsin ...
Ellmore Allen
....do
John L Mott
Michigan . . . *
do
New York . .
...do
Marshal R Miller
Ohio
New York
Minnesota
H D Graves
Massachusetts
New York. . .
Ohio
Henry S McClelland
Pennsylvania
Missouri ....
Charles Stearns
Massach usetts
John C. Archibald
Massachusetts
Edward Fitch
....do
New York...
John H Wilder
....do
Robert Buffum
Massachusetts
John A. Lowrey . .........
Ohio
John W. Carlton
do
I F. W. Kinkle . .
Connecticut . •
David C. Buffum
. . . .do
Calvin C Kettle
Edward Clarke
New York . ,
Kentucky. ...
KANSAS AFFAIRS,
FIKST DISTKICT— Continued.
75
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Pennsylvania.
New York....
Ohio
Louis C Wilworth
Rhode Island.
Ohio . . .
John F. Taber
Massachusetts
Ohio
Rufus H. \Vaterman. .....
Massachusetts
Missouri
do. .
Ohio
William Yates
New York. .. ,
Massachusetts
do
Nathan F Herrick
Alphonzo Jone^ ............
Nathan Herrick. . . . . . ...
...do
James D Poao°e ...... .
Missouri .....
Massachusetts
Wisconsin . . .
. . do
Joseph H Pillsbury
N. Hampshire.
Massachusetts
N. Hampshire
Massachusetts
do
Leonard G. Higgins
George W. Kent
Sidney B. Dudly . <
Increase W'hitcomb
Wilder Bright
Massachusetts
Wisconsin. ....
Pennsylvania.
Virginia
. . . .do
Edward F. Knight
William Keller
Massachusetts
Vermont
Connecticut . .
New York....
Massachusetts
New York....
...do
....do...
James P. Carol .........
William Carol
Joshua Puckett ......
... .do .
Henry W. Feck
\Villiam Mathews .....
Illinois .
Jonathan MAthews »
...do
John N Powell . ...
"William Ketehingman
William Tipton
do
Henry H Carol
Virginia
Ohio
William Hale
James B Abbott. ...........
Massachusetts
Simartin V Harnsby
Missouri
. . . .do. . .
Ellis Bond
Philip Cook
Frederick Spring ......
Pennsylvania.
... do
William R Lee
New York....
do
John Anderson ......
...do
Thomas Anderson
. . do
....do
Hamer Hayes
Robert Banks
Massachusetts
Wisconsin . . .
Samuel Anderson
do
Michael R. Albin
Thomas S. Garvin
....do
Robert Garvin
....do
Connecticut . .
Massachusetts
....do
Flemmon Bridges ......
... .do
Elijah Purdom
Missouri . . . . •
Kentucky. ...
Iowa
Stafford J Pratt
Thomas Murray . ......
Missouri .....
David S Wallner
Daniel P. Hadley
N. Hampshire
Ohio
....do
Alfred J. Payne
Samuel S Hanan
do
Edward Winslow
Massachusetts
do
^^illiam Bridges
Samuel Johnson
David Burton
Missouri
Ailulis B Wade
Missouri
do
Clarkson M. Wallace
William H. Oliver
Daniel Sayer
Pennsylvania.
John G McClelland
Missouri
Pennsylvania.
. • do . .
Robert McFarland
John H. Dean
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania .
Kentucky. . . .
. . . .do . . • . .
John McFarland
Zeno B. Page
Thomas McFarland
do ...
John F. Wilson
Isom E Taylor
John S. Hopper.
Jurdon Neil
do ...
Simon Hopper
....do
Benjamin F. Hopper
do
John A. Chaflers
Iowa
....do
David R. Hopper
do
Napoleon D. Stuart
Missouri
. ...do..'
Kentucky ....
Massachusetts
....do
Vermont
Pennsylvania.
Vermont
N. Hampshire
Missouri
Minnesota ..
Missouri
New York . . .
....do
Missouri
....do
Levy Gates, jr
Ranson Colkin.
Anson H. Mallory
Ira M. Jones
Jeremiah Spencer
John H. Fernan ....
George H Hutchinson
do
Simon Cook
do
James A. Davidson
William Lyon
Newman Garwood
Ohio
....do
C. W.Babcock..,
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIRST DISTRICT— Continued.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Ohio
Missouri
Pennsylvania .
do
Pennsylvania
Illinois .....
T^rprlp-irk Roff
Henry Eberhart
Thomas B Wells
New York . .
Massachusetts
Missouri
....do
do
\Villard Coulborn • • •
James H Reed . . .....
Missouri
....do
Benjamin F McDonnel ...
....do.
Indiana
Missouri
do
....do.
Thomas J Farrell ••• . . . « .
Alexander Sebastion
Robert \Vilkinson. .....
. . . .do
Illinois
A E Colman .......
Massachusetts
....do
John Morehead ...........
Iowa ...
William Turner
Illinois
Kentucky. . . .
Illinois
Missouri
....do
Jackson Sellers
do
David Mencham
Ohio
do
Edward B Johnston ....
Illinois
do
Job Vanwinkle ............
....do .
William H Eao-on. .......
Ohio ,
Fitzhugh Collins
Charles Link ........ ..
Illinois
Missouri
..t.do
Indiana
Thomas D. Waller
Kentucky. . . .
Massachusetts
... do . .
Napoleon B. Blarston
Thomas J Stone ....
Missouri
do
do
William Whitlock
do
Indiana ...
... .do
Joseph Hutchinson ...4.....
Illinois
. . . .do
Missouri
Ohio . ..
do
John Hutchinson
James Whitlock
Maine
...do
Hugh Pettingill
Phillip T Hupp
Thomas B Smith
Connecticut . .
...do
New York ...
Ohio
...do
Ezekiel Beirus
N. Hampshire
Massachusetts
Missouri
Pennsylvania.
Mississippi . . .
Virginia
Ohio
do
Robert J Wolfe
Missouri
do
Allen B. H. McGee
New York . . .
Pennsylvania.
Massachusetts
Ohio
James Sullivan
James A. Jackson
Samuel G Johnson
Albert F Breeder
Sylvester H Davis ...»
Missouri ... . . .
do
...do
Rice Mattingly.
James W. Elserr
Virginia
Thomas McBee
Kentucky. . . .
Cuthburt McBee
John O. Talbot
...do
do
...do
William Curry
do
Kentucky ....
Ohio
Charles M. White
Indiana . .....
John H Lewis
Missouri .....
John S Perkival
...do
Indiana . .....
Massachusetts
Joshua Cummins. ..........
Missouri
Pennsylvania.
...do
William Wallace
...do
Missouri
Ohio
Ohio
Missouri
Vermont
Massachusetts
Ohio ....
Massachusetts
Missouri
Pennsylvania.
Missouri
Pennsylvania.
Wisconsin . . .
Missouri
....do
. . . .do. .......
....do
Tohn Fry
H A. Hancock
James M Still
...do
Massachusetts
...do
Harrison Budily
Thomas Bruze
...do
I
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SECOND DISTMCT.
77
List of voters of the second election district of Kansas Territory, ac^ord-
ing to the census returns taken ~by 0. H. Browne in the months of
January and February, A. D. 1855.
Paris Ellison.
Absolom
Georore W.
Levi<
M. Somers,
Henry White
B. Callaghan,
Edwin Marc,
Claude M.
Joseph A.
George W
Rufus P.
C. R. Hillinan
William
Fleming
Willis £
John M.
Augusta
Beverly
Richard
John Hockler.
Tipton Robins^
David Dickey,
James H. Har
W. W. Rand(
Ephraim Conn
William W. H
Henry Muzzey
Charles Smith
William Hood
F. A. Bailey,
Henry H. Co:
Francis Bark'
Mathew Hall
John Hall
James Turner.
Samuel Jones
Green Swezer.
Joseph Vance.
Milon Groub,
F. A. Muzzy.
F. C. Muzzey.
Owen Taylor
John A. Wak
Nicholas Sny<
H. S. McClei:
David Conner.
F. E. Lahav ,
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Missouri ....
Ohio .
Albert Yates
Missouri .....
do
M
do
James M Dunn
IS.
do ...
do
lite
George W Ward
New York . . .
Michier ......
Virginia
Carlos Hall
Ohio
Smith
. . . .do
Massachusetts
r Clarke
Arkansas ....
Missouri .....
[>0ke
....do
....do
Pennsylvania
Tennessee . .
)aneer ........
Illinois . . ....
. . . .do
latton ........ ..
Missouri .....
G. W Riddle
. .. do......
Warder
....do
New York
....do
John W. Chamberlin
Smith
....do
J S. Parker .... »
Kentucky . *
....do
William K Ruddall
liller
R. W. Custard
Kentucky . . .
A. J. Custard
Iowa
William M. Harper
Missouri . . . . .
& :
Missouri. ....
....do
D. H. Heindricks
....do
kler
....do
....do
....do
William Jacket
....do
....do
Nathaniel S. Ramsey .......
....do
andolph . . « • • .
...do
....do
1 llinois ....
....do ,
/ Hall
Massachusetts
William H Wood
Iowa
... .do ....
Henry C. Alderman ........
Illinois . . . .
nith ... »
... do ...
Massachusetts
lood
do
ev
Albin
Massachusetts
Andrew White
Missouri .....
[all
New York . . .
James S. White
....do
do
Absolem White
....do
Missouri .....
E. G. Macey
Ohio
....do
John Wilter
do
....do
ince.
....do
....do
>ub
Massachusetts
Isaac Davis ...............
^zv
do
Jonathan C Cosebier ....
do
Missouri
lor . . . . . • .
... do
....do
Vakefield jr ...
....do
«$nyder . . .
"lelland
do
...do
Missouri • • • • •
William M Davis
...do
enry
Ohio
George W. Brians
A B Collett
...do
...do
Missouri
John F. Russell * • •
...do.
,..do. ..
William H. Russell
...do
Fields Bledsoe
...do
78
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SECOND DISTBICT— Continued.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
•-.. j
Where from.
Missouri . . . . .
Mrssouri .....
Kentucky ...
.. .do
William 11 May
New York. . . .
Massachusetts
...do
do
Missouri .....
.do ....
Moses McCall
...do
Tennessee
R W' Dummer. ...........
Illinois . • . .
Missouri
Caleb Cotrell
do
.do ....
John G McClanaha^i ......
.. do
....do
. do
Westley Garrett
..do . ...
Kentucky. . . .
William Shirley
do
do
J S Bacon ..........
Missouri ....
..do ....
John O Talbot
do.
....do
Tennessee . . .
....do
John O Talbot •
Ohio
.do
Tennessee . . .
Endiott
do
Missouri .....
E H.Hastings
Pennsylvaria .
L M Oliver
Tennessee . . • <
Virginia .....
Ohio
Georgia .....
....do
New Mexico. .
Wm C. Roberts
Arkansas ....
James W Elred
Kentucky . . . .
John H Roberts
....do
W H Blackburn
....do
Joel Montgomery .........
Missouri .....
Emily Cline
Thomas Husley ...........
....do
Missouri .....
Lafayette Barret
...do
....do
Henry A Callue ... . . . .
...do
....do
S J Wafal
....do
A Roderique
Pennsylvania .
G W Garss
....do
Virginia . . . . •
Evan Todhunter . . . . . . . . .
...do
L W Hendricks
Arkansas ...»
John Todhunter. ...........
...do
James R. Davis
Missouri .....
Valentine Todhunter
Samuel Hufaker. ..........
do
....do
A. J. Buck
Peter Wendell
....do
....do
Martin Palmer
....do
..,.do
James Williams ............
....do
....do
"William Douglas
... .do. ......
O H Browne
....do
Thomas Todhunter
....do.
i - -
List of settlers on the Kansas Jialf -breed lands opposite Douglas
as enumerated by 0. H. Browne.
Names.
Alexander Bayne .
A. J. Smith
William F. Bayne.
S. H. Plummer...
Dudley Foley
James Scairgs
Thomas Scaggs.. .
Names.
Harvey Miller. . . ,
George Gray
Dudley Plummer ,
Jonathan Smoot. .
George Williams.
Samuel P. Jilton..
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
THIBD DISTRICT.
79
List of voters of the third election district of the
according to the census returns made by JFhornton
oj Kansas ,
W. Hays, esq.,
taken during the months of January and February } A. D. 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
W C Pickeral
Ohio . .
Kentucky. . . .
New York . . .
Kentucky. . . .
Virginia
England
Ohio
Massachusetts
do
C. O Nicholas..,
Pennsylvania.
Missouri
Pennsylvania .
Tennessee . . .
Kentucky. . . .
Missouri
New York . . .
Germany ....
Missouri .....
William A. M. Vaughan. . . .
William Godard
Duke W Hunter
Missouri
Ohio
J R Warren
New York . . .
Kentucky. ...
Virginia .....
Francis Grassmuck
William R Boggs
Germany ....
Indiana ......
Jerome TV Boles
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania .
Virginia .....
J P C Bouche ,.
Missouri .....
....do
Kentucky. . . .
. . . .do
Ohio
Massachusetts
Maryland ....
Ohio
Virginia ....
W A Sublett
do .......
M J Mitchell
William D Owen .
Kentucky ....
Ohio . . .
Virginia
Illinois ..... i
F A Wentworth .
Virginia
Georgia
Alabama
....do
R A.Edwards
do
do
A. P. Turner
William H Turner
Belbord Gilbert
William Matney, jr
Virginia
C K Holladay
Pennsylvania .
Connecticut . .
England . . . . .
Peter N Main
Solomon Coker ..........
Missouri
Michigan ....
W C Liniker
William A. Simmerville . . . .
E Chase
Massachusetts
Maine ..... i
Edwin S Dereter
Linsus T" Cook ....
Missouri .....
H. B. Burgess
New York . . .
Tennessee. . . .
Pennsylvania .
Indiana ......
John All
Abel Hatwell
Massachusetts
Ohio
William Dailey
J Tegart . . ....
Ohio
H. L. Roat
Massachusetts
Virginia
Tennessee ....
Missouri
....do
Charles V. Gray
Alfred Byler
T. J. Case
Pennsylvania.
N. Hampshire
Massachusetts
Maine
N. Hampshire
....do
Pennsylvania .
John Taylin ...............
Peter Croco. ...........
Ohio
Thomas G Thornton .......
H N Watts
T J Wells
Pennsylvania .
Milton C. Dickey
H J Strickler
Virginia
Illinois
A. A. Ward
S. A. Clark
N. Hampshire
Vermont
S W Hays
Kentucky. . . .
Phillip Briggs. .............
80
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FOURTH DISTRICT.
List of voters of the fourth election district of the Territory of Kansas,
according to census returns made by C. B. Donaldson, taken during
the months of January and February, 1855.
Names. Where from
Names.
Where from.
W S Ewart
Ohio . .
A F Powell
Tennessee . . .
D. Pultz
J B Davis
Georgia
E. H. Bagsinger do
D. J. Keser
G Y Keser
....do
Mississippi . . .
Missouri
. . .do
J D Skidmore
. . .do
A B Gilliland
W M Haris
. . . .do
J F Javens
... .do
A J Miller
p Fuller
Illinois ....
j s Edie
....do
....do
J C Hughes
Missouri
....do
...do
A F L Bisbee
New York . . .
C. Clark
W Moore
Indiana ......
Y Doty
Illinois .....
H Moore
..do
F Barnes .................
Missouri ...
„ Willson
New York . . .
Illinois
...do
M Carter
. . .do
" Mayfield
A. Dale
A C Tomberlin
....do
Illinois ....
C Mayfield
p, Young ........
Virginia
Indiana ......
A. Dean
A Williams
Pennsylvania.
Missouri ....
J. Chapman . . . . . .
A Hannah ....
...do
Y Veach
Ohio
Missouri
Arkansas . . . .
FIFTH DISTRICT.
List of voters of the fifth district of the Territory of Kansas, according
to the census returns taken by William Barbee, in tJie montlis of Jan-
uary and February, 1855.
Names.
; Where from.
Names.
Where from.
• Missouri
David Casteel
Missouri ....
"W^m Landen. ..4....... . .
• . . • • .do. . . . . .
Thos Heath
do
Abram Medlin
Wm Medlin
....... .do. .....
Alexander James
do
do
Wilson Medlin
.' do
do ....
Rob't Brady
...... .do. .....
do
Francis Marion
Benj. Ford
3 do
G. R. Sands
do
Arkansas
David C Finley
•I Tennessee .
G B Donell
.1 Missouri .....
Thos Donell
do
, . .do. . ,
do . . . .
,| do
Hiram Beckett
Sam'l Dillon....
.j do
James Lucenson
John H. Tate
do
J do
Wm. J. Hensley
Jas. Walker
do. . . . • .
do
Wm. Turner ,
J do
Sam'l Nichols
do
Middleton Hensley
,..do
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIFTH DISTRICT— Continued.
81
Names.
Etnbrey Nelson . . .
Levi Ward
Wyley A kins....,
Charles Polk
Thos. Puliv
Sam'l Brmvri
gam'l Stanton
John Bordennast..
Jas. Roberts
Jas. W. Ciirmon. ..
Andrew Tyl^r
Fineas T. Glover
Evan Evans
Jos. Adams
Solomon Adams. . .
Thos. Sears
Andrew Owens
Wm. Park
D. F. Park
Sam '1 Covey
John Esteps
Isaac Clunk
David Bunch
Ambers Reslly
Benj. F. Ford
Benj. F. Thompson
Carhaven Taggt-nt
Josiah P. Ford
Hugh L. W. Reagan
Jno. H nd lesion •
j Thos. Reason
1 Hiram Hondeshell
I Caleb W. Hargis
j John W. Jameso
I Henry Eidson
j Garret J. W. Holland
[Nathan L Lamarr
'John W. Elliott
| Jas. Lamarr
I Jas. G. Ray
jWm. Doolin
jChas Wagoner
jHenry Miller
jGeo. T. ^tein
|Jos. Montgomery
jAdam Pooro
(Allen Strwait,
John R. Driskell ..
JTIios. J. Duncan
William Hobsnn
J Hardin Coodall
[E. H. Hntchings
f Jackson Long
Harrison Smith
|Wm. R. Perry
Vm. Pike
aa. Winchester
iVm. Roger
onts Alexander
as. B. Roach
liften Eliis
ohn A. Wj.kefidd
V. B. Wi!!inms
iicholas Xisino-er
Where from.
Missouri
Illinois
do
Missouri
do
do
do
Illinois
Missouri
do
do
do
Kentucky. . ..
do
Missouri
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
Tennessee . . .
do
do
do
Illinois
do
do
Missouii
do
do
Illinois
Tennessee . . .
Missouri
Tennessee . . .
Missouri
do
do
Texas
Missouri
S. Carolina. . .
Iowa
Missouri
do
H. Rep. 200 8*
do
Illinois
. . . . . .do
do
Missouri
do
Illinois
do
do
do
Iowa or Mo . .
Missouri
do
Illinois
Missouri
do
Names.
Where from.
Aaron Thompson Kentucky.
Barry Richardson Mis ouri . ,
Jasper Dingen do. . . .
Joseph Oshen Illinois . . .
isiac Stollon ' do
William Murray Missouri .
Joseph Howard |. , . .do
Zacharia Roe
Benjamin Bunch,
Leandtr Fawts.
Elisha Tucker.
John E. Brown
Robert Hargrave,
Reuben E.
Henry Lilt .,
Jonah Daniel .do.
Reuben Daniel.... Illinois
William Daniel ..'....do..
. . . .do
ts
do
do
do
...do...
Missouri .
Illinois . .
Maryland
. . .do. . ,
John Steel
John Broils ....
John Robinson..
Korgus (Jraham.
John Dnnigan j Missouri .
Moses Dunigan '. . . .do. . . .
Joseph Gasaway '... do....
fngram Lusk '. . . .do.
William Moore ' do
William Field '. . . .do
Mr. Hill |....do....
John Par j. . . .do. . . .
Brisco Davis .do. .. . ,
David Dehonev '. . . .do. . . . ,
Hickmnn Smith.
Rerij;irniri Crabtree
Joseph Sandrrs.
William Cash.
James Fox ...
D. S. Raffan ' do
Lewis I lliott j. . . .do... .
William Driskell do
George Mallox .do.
Clahron Burnett I. . . .do. . . .,
L. M. Love '....do
Richard Graves |. . . .dr.. . .,
.ToRoph Eveihart .....!... .do.
William ^parkman '. . . .do
William Goodwin '. . . .do
Henry McKinney j. . . .do
James Dudley .do. . . .
Lewis Thomas.., ...'....do
ree
iViiss uri . . . .
Illinois ....
do -----
do.. . .,
Jo .....
John Wikle
u illiam Surman
William " tephens ...... .
William Ring .... ......... [. . . .do.
Alfred Smith! .............. ... -do.
Josiah Daniels ........... •<!... -do
Joseph E. Walking ......... ... -do
Robert M. Daniels ......... ---- do
Jesse "-pars ................ ... do
Jnmes Daniel .............. ... .do
" Robert Rose Braugh" ---- ---- ^
William Skidwell .......... . • • -do
William T. Kirk...'. ....... ....do
Robert Cottle .............. j Kentucky
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIFTH DISTKICT— Continued.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
William Kiel
Henderson Rice
John Shoemaker
Mahlon Morris
William S. Furguson
James Grant
John T. Grant
James W . Greer
John G. Morse
Peter Cams
William Sherman
Henry Sherman
Jonathan Wightman
Peter fehearman
Freeman Auston
Adam Carnes
Joseph W. Morey
Joseph H. Morey
Allen Wilkerson. .
Dennis VV est
Elder Barnolly....
Richard Golden. . .
Washington Jones
Theodore Jones. ..
George Patridge . .
M. Patridge
Thomas Stolen. ...
Robert R. Stergeon
Robert Long
Francis Myers. . ..
Valentine Ganarva
Jonathan S. Huff.
John V1- itzong
Peter Johnston
Joseph W. Grass
W. A.Baxter
John A. Eberhart
Jeremiah Buffington
Albert Woodson
Chester G. Grant
Samuel H Houser
James W. Houser
Andrew B. Jackson
Curtis Jackson
Edwin Fairbrother
John Carr
Joseph Stotts
John Lerpel
Thomas Hitchens
Robert A. Toby
James D. Swift
Noah W. Round
Lewis .1. Wilson
John Rose
William C Melvin
William Chesnut
Morgan Crokhyte
George Ferris
William Childers
James L. Childers
George Bradbury
William Gadling
John Tro
William
Illinois
....do
Holland. ...
Ohio
Virginia. . . .
New York . .
...do
Missouri
...do
Ohio
...do
. . .do. . ,
Virginia ....
...do
Pennsylvania
Ohio
New York . .
...do
Tennessee . .
, . .do. . ,
Missouri . .
...do
Iowa
New York.
Wisconsin
...do
Missouri
Virginia .
Missouri
...do
...do
...do..
. . .do. .
Illinois
...do..
Indiana . . .
Illinois
Missouri. . .
Vermont. . .
Ohio ..
.do.
Indiana . . .
. . .do
New York.
...do..
Indiana . . .
New York
...do..
...do
...do
Indiana. . . .
...do
...do..
...do
Connecticut
New York . ,
...do...
Missouri . , .
...do ,
...do
...do
Iowa ,
Indiana. . . . ,
John Vanhorn < Missouri..
H. Endricks .! Jowa . .
...do.
Ohio .
Iowa .
do.
Samuel Glen
John Freeburt . .
Eli Miller
Thomas Hurnon
M. Wood I Illinois . . .
O. C. Brown New York
John Whirl Illinois . . .
James Goodwin j Ohio
David Hall I Iowa . .
John Manes
James Scott
John Bradbury
James Bradbury
Illinois ...
Indiana. . .
Missouri. . ,
....do..
Iowa
...do
Indiana. . .
...do
...do
Missouri..
Porter Glen
Jesse Glen
Cyrus Shaw
Noel Shaw
Hiram Hanes ....
Josiah H. Damson
Benjamin C. Adkins do
James Adkins j . . . .do
Bloomer White do
Thomas McAboys do
William^H. Findley | Tennessee
Missouri. .
-...do
....do
vichigan .
Texas
Illinois ..
Henry Gillespie
Henry D. Parsons
James Parson
James H. Burkhardt
Bandan Cordam
Asher P. Wyckoff.
Fenton M. Bagley
James Walker
Henry Younger
John Hilton
John Evans
M ilton Hampton
Thomas H. Brown
C. S. Fleming
John D. Fleming
David P. Fleming
Samuel Fleming
Missouri. .
. . . .do
. . . .do
....do ,
....do..,
James Fleming .do
James W. Cox
Francis Lahardie
James W. Fehee
B. B. Taylor
Joseph Brian
William Brian
Robert Brian
William H. Stanford ..
Ephraim Kincaide
Joseph Hogans
Joseph W. Gayhart
.do
Michigan .
. . . .do
Ohio
Kentucky. ,
....do ,
....do ,
Missouri ..
....do ,
. ..do ,
Indiana. . . .
Barnet Hall { Missouri . .
Thomas Wilburn .do. . . .*
William Ferrill Kentucky.
William Snider do. . . ..
George R. Yocum do
G. Dunn do ,
John Yocum do ,
Andrew Gary do
Madison Marshal do
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIFTH DISTRICT— Continued.
83
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Kentucky ....
New York...
Missouri ....
Georgia ....
Tennessee . . .
Missouri
Missouri
Indiana
Hiram T I'haroe
William Mobley
II S Rindall
Missouri
Indiana
Missouri
O F Cleveland •
Peter J. Potts
John H Arbuckee. ........
Alfrprl T qw
....do
do
William A. Haskel
Virginia
Missouri
Michigan . . . .
B H Ames •
Missouri
Calvin Randall . . •
....do
Benazh. B. Campbell
S M Hayes
William Clark
John H Whistler
do
Missouri
... .do
Robert A Ring
John A. Hix
Pennsylvania.
Iowa '.
.. do
John B Scott .
Stephen White
do
John W . Vickery
....do
Missouri
... .do
do
Frederick Croxcull .......
do
. ...do
Peter J. Potts
do
J. M. Train
Ohio
do
Missouri
. ...do
1 homas Cummings
Rii.» Island,
do
William Jdcob
...do
Joseph E. Tindall
Marcus Gill
Missouri
. . do
do
Philip ti.nl
do
Lott Coffman
do
Massachusetts
Virginia .....
J. W. Parks
do
Dudley G- Hansbrough.. ..
William H. Findley
Michigan ....
do
Missouri
P.C.Poole
H. Z. Turnnel
Missouri
Tennessee. . . .
N. Carolina . .
Francis J Ao°new • • •
dn
William Jackson • • . .
.. do
G. H. Gordon
. ...do
M. B. Lankford
...do
Missouri
do
Kentucky. . . .
.. do
B. A Dysdale
...do
do
. ...do....
Tennessee ....
...d.
... .do .
Henry France. ........ ..
.. do
New York....
M n i n e .......
do
R A Barnett
Joseph B GooUw in
do
Tennessee ....
. . . .do
Francis P. Levine
Connecticut . .
John H. Cleaton
do
Robert Freaks. .....
do
John C. Clark
Indiana ......
Perry Freaks .....
do
John W Walker
Iowa .......>
\Villiam Hunt
do
lohn W. Freaks
..do
...do
tVilliam Shufars ......
do
Pennsylvania .
Illinois ......
Robert E Spotwood
do
B G. Steel
do
Massachusetts
Vermont
Wisconsin . . .
Ohio
William Wires ....
do
Jacob Hicklin.
New York ...
Virginia .....
Missouri
do
Cleveland Scott
W. C. Barns
"William Thomas * • •
Tennessee. .. .
Missouri
New York....
Marion P. Jackson
^ohn M. Keeton
Samuel L. Ring
Champion Reesley
Villiam S. Gregory
...do
...do
...do
...do
. • .do. .......
Eli Moore
Richard D. Richard ville
New York....
84
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIFTH DISTRICT— Continued.
Names..
Where from
Names.
Where from.
Missouri
' Samuel Wade
Missouri
do
... do
do
do
. . .do
. do
Hdi u mid Li Tryjjle
John R McDaniel
do
do
SIXTH DISTRICT.
List of voters of the sixth district of 1he Territory of Kansas, according
to the census returns taken by William Barbee in the months of Janu-
ary and February, 1855.
Names.
Where from
Names
Where from.
Michael McCann .........
Maine . . .
. . . .do
do
. .. do
Noali W Bennett
....do
Hir T Wilson
do
do
Thomas B Aniott
do
Nathan Arnctt ........... .
do .
William M:ir<>rave
. . .do
do
^Viiliam Watkins ..........
Kentucky . . •
. ...do
F Deivent
do
.. do
Tennessee ...
Ohio
Philander S. Moore
Missouri . . . . .
William Griffith
Pen n*sy 1 va n i a
Jefferson Coapstan.
David Gathey
. . do
Ernory B. Cook
....do
Missouri . . . . *
G. J. Endicott
Missouri
do
A. Ward
^Villi'im E'inin .............
Illinois
... do
John Hix
do
Rir-hard Beth
Pennsylvania
. ...do
do
....do
Tennessee . . .
....do
do
....do
. . do
do
. . .do ....
do
Reuben Fleetwood
. do ...
New York ...
Missouri . . . . .
do
do
do
do
John A. Bai bee ....... .
do
Henry Smirik
New York . .
....do
Charles Mitchell
Missouri
do
do
Charles Heard
do ...
Toel Catbinor ... .
Lewis Broils
Benjamin F. Wilkerson
John B Smith
do
do
do
J. C. Anderson
James Waldron
John R Wood
New York ...
Ohio ........
Tennessee
do
Geo ^V ReHnick .........
do
Robert T Reding
Iowa . . . • •
do
George Rocker .............
do
Wyle Patterson
A H Horton
do
Ch'i rles Mi la m ........ .
John A Mc'^oy ...........
Daniel F. Uuckhart
Ohio
Kentucky ....
Missouri . . . . •
Virginia . ,
Samuel S. Gilmore. . .......
....do
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTH DISTRICT— Continued.
85
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Ohio ....
John 1 ivas
Indiana
Jackson Fields
. ...do
Missouri
Illinois
....do
David Ward
do
Robert W. Getrcal
do
James Smith . . •
do
do
Joseph Smith
do
Francis Twombly
Missouri
Michigan . . . •
Missouri
do
Charles Stt phen . • . .
Missouri
Canada ......
D;uiiel B James *•«•
do
Ohio
Solomon Spears . . . • .
do
....do
....do
John Wakefield
do . . .
.. do
Illinois . r
do
do
Benjamin Fawbush
do
do
Charles Smith
Missouri . . . . ,
Missouri
....do
...do
... .do
John B Fleming ....... .
Indiana
. . .<)0
(Jeorge Wiikefield
William Morgan ... .
....do
do
James H F leming. .....
do
. ...do ,
New York . . .
Maryland ....
Kentucky. . . .
Arkansas ....
Kentucky. . . .
Missouri
Thomas Or-burn
....do
Tennessee ...
Missouii
Indiana,
Thonvis Dorland ..........
Janie** Andrian ....... ...
John Fleener
Aram Shapevveather .
lames Fleener ........
do
Peter Welch
John \VVston ......
Samuel Nelson
Geoigia
Missouri
Geo and Mo.
Ind. Ter
Georgia
do
Tennessee . . .
Missouri
do
Ira Gii thered
John Williams
Jermm Huloway
William Williams
James AVilli ims . . .
..do
....do.*
...do
....do
Joseph Kawls
Ohio
William Breess
... .do
A rkansas ....
Missouri
Massachusetts
Missouri
....do
Robert Kd wards
Alexander Warfield
do
William Ray
. ...do
Fielder Lewis
L. .lanny
W i 1 1 1 a m .la n ny
....do
. . .do
do
L. McKiney , ..
do
....do
Hiram Bledsot1 . ...
Ohio .
Arthur Ward
....do
do
Milton Eueing
Tennessee . . .
N. Carolina . .
Ohio
E. B. Cook
Ho
do
John Grant
Connecticut . .
do
Massachusetts
Delaware ....
Missouri
Thomas Wilson
Massachusetts
Kentucky. . . .
Missouri
...do
John Graves
do
Thomas Graves
William Haskins
Illinois
Natban Vestnll
...do
ReuSen Parker
....do
do
Lemuel Vestall
Missouri ....
do
Michael Dawson
Georgia
Jeremiah McNew
...do
Jonathan Evans
do
. do
Reuben *»pratt
do
..do
Jesse Fowler
do . . . .
Kentucky....
Georgia .....
Enoch Osborne
B. Piles
. . . .do
do
Manor Nichols
do
Missouri
...do
,..do..
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTH DISTRICT— Continued.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Missouri .
Ohio
Samuel Russell
do
E. S. Fishback
. . do ......
Elisha Fly
....do
Samuel Demirdly
do
do
William Underlull
do
do
John Fly
...do
Holland ....
William footer
...do
Italy
do
Prussia ......
H W Jones
Indiana
Ireland . . . . .
do
Missouri . . . .
Stephen Potter
Tennessee . .
Belgium . . . .
Delaware
Holland . .
do ...
O ' Donnel Thorn
Ohio
Patrick Phalin
do
do
. ...do
SEVENTH DISTRICT.
List of voters in the seventh district of the Territory of Kansas, accord-
ing to the census returns made by J. R. McClure in the month of
February, 1855.
Names.
here from.
Names.
Where from.
Ohio
Ohio
..do ...
New York
Ohio
F McGee
C C Coots
...do
John W. Freel
Iowa
J H Ratcliffe
..do . ..
Ithiel Streit
Pennsylvania .
Elliott Cusiwer
.do ' ..
Matthias A Reed . ...
do
... .do
William Hanley
do
... .do
do
Johnston Mclntire
....do
do
John W. Webb
William Webb
....do
....do
M H. Rose
....do
...do
....do
William Dailey ..'
Illinois ......
....do
Jeremiah Preston
do
do
Frank Oufrene .... ....
. . . .do
Robert Turner ... .
....do
do
D W Harold ....
New York
.. do
do
Iowa ......
Missouri . .
Charles ^Vatny • • •
do
.. .do
Illinois
J B Titus
Iowa
Allen Pierce
do
Devilla Wright
do
M. W. McGee
Missouri . . • •>
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
EIGHTH DISTRICT.
87
List of voters in the eighth election district of the Territory of Kansas,
according to census returns taken by J. R. McClure in the month of
February , 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Louisiana ....
Samuel Griffith
Kentucky ...
Maryland . . . .
Missouri .....
Pennsylvania
... do
Georffp AV Butcher
Charles T Gillmore
...do
do
do
Kentucky ....
....do
. . .do. .
Indiana ......
Missouri .
George M Gillour
Illinois ......
do .. .
Missouri . . . .
...do..,
do
....do..
Alfred Hyden
do
...do
A J Baker
loWil ........
do ..
William H Hogan
Missouri . . . . .
Ely M Sewell
W. D. Han-is
Missouri
....do
Iowa
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
"William Delancy
....do
Morgan Delacy ............
New IVIexico
George Diivis ... . »
Missouri . . .
John Goodie ...... . ..
New York
G. M. Sincock
• • • • • • •
NINTH DISTRICT.
List of voters in the ninth district of the Territory of Kansas, accord-
ing to census returns made by M. F. Conway in the months of Janu-
ary and February , 1855.
Names.
Where from
Names.
Where from.
New York . . .
William H Moore
Indiana. **••*•
Robert W ilson
Missouri ....
Ohio
^ illiam Price ...........
Ohio
Maryland . . .
Jeremiah Lnmb ............
Ohio
do
G. B Pen Arsdale
New York "
....do
Joseph Peals •••••••*•• . •
Kentucky
J. R. Mills
,...do
Robert Kloutz
Pennsylvania
J. R. McClure
John F Price
Kentucky. . .
Edward M. Tripp
Massachusetts
Edward Gleason ......
Illinois
Pennsylvania
John Welch ...
...do
William Cuddy
New York
. do
C. R. Mobley
Kentucky
.do
g. A. Treat
Ohio
John N Dyer ....
do
Lemuel Knapp
New York
....do ...
do
88
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
TENTH DISTRICT.
List of voters in the tenth election district of the Territory of Kansas^
according to census taken by M. F. Conway in the months of January
and February , 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Georjj" ^ Ewbanks .......
Missouri ....
Ohio
Illinois ......
Henrv Sheriff'
do . .
Hoy Hall
do
. do ....
....do
do
do
Horace A Wilcox
Rhode Island
do
J W Ressell .-
Iowa
do
Asel G Allen
Massachusetts
M issouri . • . .
Missouri . .
.. do
Samuel D Dyer
W CJ Over
do
...do . . .
Gfxmre Clopman
William D Wicks
Kent ncky . ...
do
1 W Leland
iVl assachusetts
Charles li Blood
Illinois .
William Seymour
Ohio
do
William S Seymour
do
Marshall A Garrett .
do ....
J. E Wood
Ohio
Vlitchell Vlathevv
Samuel \Vhitehorn ....
iVJichiffin .
Antony I asseer
Missouri
Israel P Brayton .... .
....do
1 lenry Rurnmell
Missouri .....
do
Washington Gibbs
Kentucky. ...
Charles^Wallerts
do
A nd re w Nail
Louisiana . . . .
Pennsylvania
Jiicob H Hard
i California....
Hmry Ebert
' Ppti'isy Ivania >
Aborn Martin.
. . do
Missouri . . . . .
Seth L. Child
Illinois ....
....do
Isaac S. Hascall
New York ...
I
ELEVENTH DISTRICT.
List of voters in the eleventh district of the Territory of Kansas, accord-
ing to census returns made by B. H. Ticombley in the months of Jan-
uary and February j 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
John E D Avis
Missouri
Tohn Jones , sen
Missouri
....do
. ...do
Robert Berber
.. do
...do
do
Robert C Bishop
George K Hubbard
Missouri . .
David Jones
. . . .do
Willitrn Hubbard
. . . .do
...do
Jerry Sweat
....do
do
<. N. B. Hulmes
do
do
William P McCuse
.. do
E S. Bishop
do
..do ... .
do
Francis J Marshall ..
.do
do
. do ... .
...do
John G Clarke . .
. do .
C D Stockwell
... do
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
TWELFTH DISTRICT.
89
lAst of voters in the twelfth election district of the Tirritory of Kansas ,
according to the census taken bt/ B. H. Ticombley in the montfts of
January and February, 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Perry Polk
Missouri
Michigan . . • «
Missouri
do
Thos McCartney
.. do
do
fin..
Jo
Ohio
...do
William Mortell
D. K. Palmer
Iowa
Michigan
do
Baptist Dutchame
Fox Boothe
Canad i
New York .. .
Do] os Allpn
" Wisconsin. . . .
Virginia
Fr.uice
France
Missouri
Alfred Mothers
Peter Dessuit
Baptist Ogee
do
i\ew York .. .
. do ! ! ! \ \
John Blouchard
R C Miller
....do
.do ... .
Oscar B. Dean
Louisiana ....
Missouri
do
. . do ...
Olie Oldson
Missouri
Ohio
L M Cox
Ohio
do
Ho
Frederick Counteamer
Canada ... .
Benjamin Dean . . . . .
New York ...
Missouri
do
Joseph Fox
Indi'ina .....
E. M. Sloan
Missouri
Ohio
do
Samuel M Bartlett
do
Missouri
Benjamin Poteet .... . .
Kentucky
Wisconsin . . .
Reuben P 1 1 aas
Pennsylvania.
Missouri . .
George Maulpy . .
Udlem Alley
John O'J,.oughlin .
Ohio
James O'Laufhlin
flo
Wisconsin . . .
Illinois
Joseph Mathews
Missouri
<|0
Samuel * 'umminffs .... ...
New York . . .
Iowa
John Belon
Wesley Hopkins
Geo W Baker
^arnuel J. Cramer
Virginia
Illinois
Missouri
John Fett
do
Arkansas ....
Jowa
do
j Lewis M Kennedy
Walter D Beels
Missouri
Ohio
; J B Ms?i"e
Missouri
Richard Clency
i J B Dnorinck
Kentucky. . . .
Illinois
Missouri
Iowa
W. W. Moore
Geo H Baker
Missouri
John Schultz
New York . . .
Indiana
Illinois
Andreas M;i?7(jlli
Jesse Adamson
Geo. B. Rey
Benpmin Foster
Daniel Doneen
John Putt on
Missouri
Kentucky. . . .
Ohio
Ohio
Missouri
do
Sebastinn Schlino'er
Peter Karle^'tind
Missouri
do
Benjamin Winkle
Ho
do
AtlfllSlns Brolly
Pennsylvania .
Missouri ....
,l«.
Lewis Wilson
John Winkle
Ho
E G Booth
....do
90
KINS AS AFFAIRS.
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT.
List of voters in the thirteenth election district, Territory of Kcwsas
according to census returns made ~by H. B. Jolly, taken during th>
months of January and February, 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
England
Walker William
Indiana . . • *
j D York
N Carolina
. .. .do
William Tillotson
Illinois . • •
M D Wade
Illinois ....
England .
JV1 issouri .....
A J Whitney
W C Lewis
Iowa . ....
Michigan ...
Robert Riddle
William Arthur
Henry Seals
....do
....do
. .. .do
T. D. Jolly
H. B. Jolly
J B Ro<=s
Illinois
....do
Missouri ....
....do
Thomas Mooney
do
do... .....
Switzerland .
Jos°ph Rodgers. ...........
Enfland
Kentucky. . .
O B Herbert
Kentucky ....
S J Scantlino* • . . . .
. . . .do
Silas Oilman
do
W. H. Trap.!
Missouri.. . .
. .. .do
William Kirkendall
do
do
....do
do
M E Riddle
do
do . . .
Robert Sheely
Joseph EllioH «« » •«•••
. . .do .
Charles C>sy
Missouri .....
,..do..
\Villiam Nations . « • . . . .
. do
. ...do
G M Dyze
do ..
Shelby Piles
do..
John Davis . • •
do
...do..
William Jibbs
Holman Bonfield
F John
....do
....do
do
J. B. Worit
J. H. Front
Richard Chandler ..........
Germany . . .
••••do
.Missouri ...
M Walker
do
Prater Chandler ...........
...do
Germany ....
do
J. W. Pate
do
B Boislv
Illinois ......
John Bradshaw .... . . . .
England
do
M issouri ....
. do ... .
do
Smith White
Robert Carter
do
George White
do
....do
Hubbard Holder,
do
....do
H. C. C<>ra
John Evans
..do
Ezra Cora
do
..do
do
James Jont ... .........
. do
Iowa .......
James Hopewell . ......
do
....do
Napoleon Hopewell .
do
...do
William Hunter . .
do
Indiana. .....
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT.
91
List of voters of the fourteenth district of the Territory of Kansas,
according to the census returns made by Albert Weed, esq., taken
during the montlis of January and February, A. D. 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Missouri
do
JVJ ichigun , . . .
Missouri ....
Ohio
Missouri
Charles Vinson
Arkansas ...
J C Wibley
Virginia
Missouri . . .
do
Kentucky ....
Whitson G Tale
Bonard Brady •••
iV'l issouri ....
...do
William O Robertson . .
Kentucky
Elisha H Rosill
Joseph W Batie
Missouri
....do
....do
....do
James W. Holland
do
S K Miller
....do
....do
John P Cordineer • • • . •
....do
do
do
Elys Hamilton
do
Zedock Martin .... .....
do,
William Smith
do
Washington F. Martin
James M. Holland .........
do.
Indiana
Amos Rutled^e ............
. do
Silvester Madison ........
Missouri
....do
....do
....do
'Joshua Sanders
.. do
....do
Richard Tuck
....do
Ohio
Jonathan Alexander
Illinois . ...
Richard Rest
.. do
....do
....do
William M Peppers
. do
W. W. Huddle
do
John C. Manuel
Kentucky ...
Missouri ....
Michael McCormac
Robert Glory
....do
.. do .
.. do
John Donley
....do
Dennis v'ullen
....do
Jameh O'Connell
....do
H. N. Beauchamp
....do
Illinois . .
Names.
Eli Acord
Jacob Acord, jr
William K. Shaw
J. W. Collins
Anderson Cox
Anderson Cook
Jacob Goshon
Matthew Fitzpatrick
John Grace
William Gains
Edward Deacon
Henry Moore
Parker A. Hooper,,
James C. Ditymore
Vlelchior Brown
Joel Byron
Peter Mintcer
Isaac Craig
Milton Nett
Josephus Nett
G. 11. Wilson
A. G. Rice
George Gay
Charles M illaman
Harvey W. Forman
Daniel Vanderslice
Thomas J. Vanderslice
William T. B Vanderslice ..
Harden Crichfield
William Vivis
William Sugg
Francis Bushnell
Nelson Rodgers
Anthony Gravil
Joseph Better
John Hullen
John B. Roy
Samuel M. Irvin
Cornelius McClain
James D. Irwin
Henry Buch
E P. Richardson
J. S Pemerton
Oliver Bealer
Jackson Bealer
Charter Searles
Thomas Davis
Eli Galbard
John McKauler
John Edward
John Greenfield
Daniel Million
Nicholas While
E. W. B. Rodgers
Silsas Stone
L. H. Pendleton
Uriah Griffith
Thomas W. Matterson
Where from.
Illinois.
Missouri,
...do...
...do.
...do.
...do.
,..do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do
.do
.do
,...do
Alabama. .
Ohio
1VJ issouri. .
....do
,...do
...do
...do
Kentucky,
...do
. . .do. . . ..
Iowa
Missouri. ,
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
...do...
...do...
Ohio ...
Missouri
...do..
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do,
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
92
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued,
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Missouri
do
Polete Levsee
Missouri
. ..dn ,
R. W Witsrtt
Willi im viathew-* '. .
Kentucky. . . .
Missouri
do . .
Doctor Wells
P. T. Transaway
. . . .do
....do
Rilpv Cl-tnii
do
William IVewman
Mi.-souri
do
....do
do
....do
Ili'-hard Baber
do
....do
do
....do
. .. do
Geoige Rhodes
Charles v| . Stewart
Jaco!) Driesselmier
D B Weldinu-
....do
Henry Lashiena
....do
4.Y1 issouri
do
do ....
do
do
do
do
Frederick Trent
.. .do
do . ..
Nelson Abhy
....do
... do
John W. Smith, sen
... do
. . .do
Philip James . . .
Kentucky. . . ,
Missouri
. . .do
Willi. in U. Hye
M issouri
...do
William Sharper
Ch i rh's Roilo'er^ .... ....
do
do
do .
Samuel Kirkpalrick
Missouri
do
do
do
John Cook
iV. Carolina. .
Missouri
....do
....do
do
James Craft
do
Laster Copland
Q. Lewis
Will am Chambeiiain
Patrick Wii.rht
Robert L Morris . . ......
. do
Q. W. Davis...
E. S. St.jns m
V. E. Morris
do
....do
. . .do
Jonathan Hurt
Cary B. Whilehead
do
do
T. M. Morris
do \
...do
G. B. Jones
do..
...do
"William .Vioigan ...
Vermont
Missouri
do
Lias Roa rk
Henry Moore
do
Kentucky
Ephraim Vfe01eland ;.
M issoun ....
John G. vicCleliind
Stephen N Bell
....do
....do
VJorjr in Osborn
James N Miller
....do
do
do
Garnett Kelley
do
Ab Groities .... . . .
do
A mot Tribble . •
do .. .,.
James Grotnes
Joseph H. Cisli'ee
Newton R. Carter
....do
....do
do
' liomns Ho\vell.
Willi mi Miller
...do
Jackson Pp ilils
Kdward Gill in m. ...........
Missouri
Illinois
. . .do
Nason ^'. Moss
. . . .do
do
John H. Gilliam
do
Henry Ada mi?
Douland Marrow
Missou.i ,
. . .df
do
...do
K]ii ih Merril ...
..do
....do 1
.lames G;i briel .
. do
...do
Richard Ward
.do
\Villiam P Richardson
...do '
Flus^el Ha/elhanan ....
do . .
...do
Pleasnnt Hanan
do ..... 1
John W. Stevens
Edward "r.bmider
William Skelton
...do !
...do
. . .do '
Riclmd ^hankes
' homas Duvanet
...do f
. do }
Jncob Iritflehart . . • . .
. do 4
...do '
Andrew I nibble ...........
do .]
. . .do !
do
...do '
Robon Shannon ..... .....
do
...do
do
...do
Pat. Tindle
do
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued.
93
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Daniel Tindle
John Wallace
Missouri
....do
Ohio
....do
do
...do
1 Archibald Willis
do
Ohio
....do
Evans Smith.
Indiana
Iowa
Pennsylvania.
. ...do
...do
Joseph Randolph
...do
William Brittain
Ohio
Daniel Montgomery
....do
. . .do
Benjamin Sprowl
....do
... do ..
do
do
do
....do
Qnincy Ball
, . . .do
do
Ohio
lohn L) Noble
Missouri
...do
Missouri *. . .
Albert H ead
do
. .. .do
do
E Blackslon
do
. . .do
Andrew B. Armstrong
. . . .do
do . .
A Hall
New Jersey . .
Missouri . .
. ...do
John B McCafferty
. .. do
William Arthur
do
...do
J.i mes R i 1 e y
do
John 1 Brady
..do
Constance Posna, ..... ....
. do . .
..do
do
....do
^ illiam Copeland
...do
....do
. ...do
...do
* illiam Rhodes
.'...do
Antwise 'ere ............
...do....
George P Rhodes
do
do
N. Hampshire
Missouri
\V illiam Palmer
. . . .do
do
Hamilton Osbourne
William McGrow
Henry lihodtjs
....do
John Lovelady
. . . .do
. do
John 'Wise
Ohio
H. P. Ruscal
:::!;::::::::
William Lanforgey ?
...do
...do
.. do
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT..
List of voters in the fifteenth election district, of 1he Territory of Kansas,
according to census returns made by H. B. Jolly, in the montlis of
January and February, 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Missouri
Missouri
. ...do
...do.
Horace Haley
Martin Glo^Kes ...... .....
....do
Germany . .
J. M. Martin
....do
Ireland
do
D. A. N. Grover...
,..do
J. P.Basket .,
Missouri
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued.
Names.
S. W. Tunnel ,
N. J. Shaler
Edward Oakley ,
A. G. Boyd
A. J. Walker ,
A. C. Hayne
E. S. Wilhite
D. Suell
H. P. Cady
J. H. Maxwell
A. M. Price -
W. S. Blanton
E. H. Evans
Isaiah Austin
J. C. Ellis
J. H. Large
Kyle Evans
J. W. Freeland
John Freeland
JB. F. Freeland
Uriah Higby
Thomas llearnier
William Novel
John Lurnpkins
H. M. >tory
E. R. Zimmerman
William Braham
J. W . Atkinson
E. M. McComas . . ,
James Knox
M. Hall
J. R. Caslle
Thomas Corny
William Kirkfnan
Robert Joler
Charles tf exton
A. A. Haggard
Washington Haze
C. Bishop
James Beagle
E. D. Bishop
J. W. Golden
W.H.Weils
R. H. Phelon
J. A. Lindsey
John Norton
R. M.Foster
R. W. Thompson
John Cook
E. J.Myers
M.Elliott
G. W. Thompson
G. W. Myers
M. B. Myers
G. S. Davis
Richard Davis
J. J. Thompson
J. S. ''hompson
John Branscome
J. F. Sapp
Daniel Sapp
Allen Henson
John Jones
Samnel Bowman
Where from.
Missouri
New York...
Pennsylvania
Missouri ....
....do
...do
...do
...do....
Wisconsin . .
Illinois
Missouri ....
...do
.do.
.do.
.do.
Kentucky . . .
Pennsylvania .
Missouri
...do
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
Kentucky. . . .
Illinois
Pennsylvania.
Iowa
Missouri
Ohio
Missouri
Pennsylvania.
Ohio
N. Hampshire
Missouri
...do..,
Iowa
Georgia ....
Missouri ....
. . .do
...do
...do
Pennsylvania
.do.
. . .do. . .
. . .do. . .
Missouri
Iowa . . .
Missouri.
. . .do. . . ,
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
Iowa . . .
Missouri.
...do..
...do...
. . .do . . .
. . .do . . .
Names.
Where from.
Jonathan Smith Missouri
James Douglas L . . .do
B. Douglas .do
Robert Smith ! do
H. C. Bradley ! do
George Speek j Georgia
John Bailey i Missouri
Franklin Goddard do
I homas Goddard do
Allen Pullen , . .do. . .
David H unt do
John Cotter Ireland ......
Edward Cotter do
Benjamin Wallace Missouri
E. Downing I. . . .do
William Downing | .... do
J. M. Medel,
James Smith,
J. H.
John Light
Lovi Rob ns.
Job Robins.
Peter Wade
James Crone
William Kei
Francis Stutz
Barbery Dowr
J. O. Hawley.'
J. B. Perry
George B. ^
William W
William Te
James Frily.
Stephen Frily.
Jesse Frily.
Francis Noyes.
Jim Johnson,
George Sharp.
William Sharp ( .
Robert Isaacs j . . . .do .
Silas Snoddy I . . . .do
Silas Willa .'...!... .do.
John Snoddy j. . . .do,
R. M. Lisby .do
Jamds Cunningham .do .
James Losten. . ...do.
el
Indiana ......
th
M issouri .
do
do
do
do
e
. .. do
nens ............
.. do
ence ......
...do
atz
do
do
....do
....do
Wells
.. do
fade
do
do
....do
d •
...do
. . do
do
larp
,..do..
Thomas Scantlin Ireland . .
J. McCune do
George Hollingsworth ! Missouri .
George Caton. . I England .
L. Yokem j Missouri .
Grafton Thomason 1. . . .do
William McCerea Ireland
George Sears «.
S. Dickens
David Pennick
N. J.Miyfield
N. .1. Allen
A. Newman
M. A. Branfield
Jesse Shepard
H. H. Williams
J. D. Durony
Andrew Cheny worth
Kentucky
Missouri . . .
....do......
Illinois ....
Missouri . . .
Germany . .
ri ...
....do
....do ,
....do ,
. . . .do i
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued.
95
— .
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Missouri
....do
H. F Power
Missouri
do
do
.do ....
O R Davis
New York. ...
Missouri .....
J S Wiser
do
Daniel Fisk
A.H.Allen
J H Stringfellow
....do
....do
S.F.Kay...
do
James Donnel
W. D. Adams
R. S. Kelly
....do
. . . .do.
....do
M. Coale
J. B. Crane
H. B. Gale
C S Foster
do
Missouri .....
New York....
Missouri . • . . .
William Hen^ler
do
William Dilla
. . . .do
Charles Eckles
do
Michael Wilkin
do
do
Ireland .....
....do
Missouri
Kentucky ....
J M Wallace
....do
James Buzzard
J. M. Sales
Cor. Sales
....do
....do
J T Sampson • .... . . .
E J Narvey . . . . . . .
G W Laber
....do
do
do
M A Phillips
Illinois ......
Kentucky. .. .
C B Graham
Missouri
. do * .
\Villiam Morton
Illinois ......
....do
Missouri
....do
de
John Waddle. . . T
do
Joseph Taylor ....• 4
...do
....do
George Clofsholder
Germany ....
Missouri
do
J M McBride
....do
Patrick Hancock . ....
....do
Eph Farwell .
....do
John Snider
F. L. fetutz
Christ Harn
....do
....do
do
Y. B. Gates
M. T. Bally
J W Baily
....do
....do
....do
B.L. Rich
....do
William Baily
do
J. H. Gilbert
....do
do
..do
do
David Fiser
Luther Dickerson ......
....do
T.T.Kelly
....do
....do
William McVay
....do
do
Dudley McVay
.do
J M Freeland
F. M. McVay
.. do
....do
do . ..
N W Hodges
....do
Patrick Boyd
England
K. J. Hamilton
J B Passly «
.do
Weal Higby
Missouri
. . .do
....do
Bond Thomas
j E Beckner
do
Daniel Thomas
do
J D Carban . ....
do
do
do
Harvey Large
Kentucky ....
Missouri
..do . ..
Martin Rickle
....do
William Crawford
....do
Gilbert Mulford
...do
Thomas Picktori
P Reed
....do
Arkansas ....
Ohio
J. M. Dean
....do
...do
.do
A. Culver
Michigan ....
Ohio . ..
do
Ira Boolman
Nathaniel Stephens
....do
do
John Bootman
..do
M. Moony
Missouri
Pennsylvania .
....do
do
M. P. Rively
do
B. E. Rively
96
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT.
List of voters of the sixteenth election district of the Territory of Kansas,
according to the census returns made by Charles Leib, taken during
the montJis of January and February, 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Virginia.
"•amuel France.. ...........
Ceo 11 Keller
S R Mcllvaine
Ohio
\ T Kyle
.do ....
Jas Kirkpatrick
Wm Philips
Jas. Grinter
do
John C. Possy
AUbarna
Israel Haff
Ohio
J. H. Day
John G Pratt ,
Massachusetts
W H Levy
do.....
A T Patiee
Augustus Russell
do
J. T. Hook
VerniO'it ....
A Wilson
Ohio .
John Rand ill
Pennsylvania
B L Sellers
Benj. H. Twomblev
Missouri
Michael Kelley
Ireland
Iv^ntiH'ky . • . *
Ohio
do
do
J P H icliardson ...... . .
do
David Z Smith
P. Riekseckor
.... do . .
Samuel ttider
Ohio .
John Ij'ick . ... ...
Scotland ....
' Gco M Fisher
do ....
Germany ....
Wm I ierce
F S A bney
do
do
do ...
Henry. (German) .........
do
do ....
L. R. Phirr
John Farrnll
John Rieffer
Ireland
A 1 vah Gregory
Missmui
Wm. Enjjlem in
do
do
C. Naef..
L). ''* Ames
Germany ....
Illinois
John M. White
Pennsylvani i
Knorlsind • .
James McGinty
Ireland ......
J. Howuld
Missouri .
A Foster
C. F. Bredovv
Germany
New York ...
Wm. H. Adams
Missouri
Augustus Parker
Hy. Smith
do
do
Robert L. Ream
Wisconsin . . .
Pennsylvania
L. N. Reed
R. R. Reed
Wm. Sauhders
do
do
......do.
Kentuckv ...
L. F. Mills
B. C. Card
Charles Mundee
G B Pa ri to u
Illinois
Huro-ary.
Coi'iH'cticut . .
Pennsylvania
SSinuel Phillips
Marylmd ....
Thos. J. Slonnm
D. S. Boyle
H. M. Hook
..... .do
Maryland ....
Pennsylvania
C. L-.icas !.'....
R. K. Wade
Hungary
Scotland
N. Sage
Michigan
r'Il'"»podo*"e M VI ix
T. E Bird
Jos. Me A leer
P. H. Robert-
Pennsylvania .
Wales
William M. Matthias
Maryland....
Ed. Saunders
Missouri
1 1&*U "
John K. France
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued.
97
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Ohio
Missouri
A. C. Fulks
Missouri . .
....do
P Dwyer •
Scotland .....
Kentucky. ...
G Gladdon
Missouri
Ireland ......
Michael Fallen
John Wilson
Patrick Woods
Maine
| reland . ....
Washington Gobel
do
Thomas S Rolus
Pennsylvania.
W. H H. Goble
. . do . .
Denmark ....
New York ...
do
B.B. Mize
John C Newton
Missouri
do
H Bradlers
Louisiana ....
Missouri
Thomas Bates
Asa fc>mith
Ohio
Missouri
...do
Riley Todd
Squire Overton . ..........
Isaac Buehler
Maryland ....
Tennessee . . .
Kentucky. . . .
Missouri
...do
P McGill
W Brown • . ....
Alexander Russell .........
J. Hoyt
New York . . .
do
William Williams
... .do
H B. Kelley
..do .
S Rutleo-e
. . do .
John Sperry
J O Sullivan
Illinois
Thomas A JVIinard
D. McMickle
England
Ireland .....
William Sparks ..........
Missouri ....
do
William Gaberts
Germany — .
Pennsylvania.
Germany ....
Joseph Waddill
....do . ..
Edward Zarl
Isaac Just .................
B. F. Thompson
New York ...
Ireland
Missouri ....
do „
Franklin Gaibor
....do
Switzerland . .
do
S. A. Dunn
Denmark ....
William Rose
Iowa . . .
E H. Smith
John Wilfley
do
S. B. Vanssyckle
Pennsylvania.
Iowa
Peter Sillaley
. do
W T. Marvin
Missouri
do
Tolbert Luer
do
Missouri • • .
Virginia
^cotland
John Moore
...do .
A. Reed
J. Kinfrow
do
AVilliam Blevins ..... .....
Pennsylvania.
Wisconsin ...
Germany ....
. . . .do
Find Soott
do
Daniel Smith
Germany
Missouri ....
...do .
S. M. Hickman
S. Pankake
H. Wells
W. Bohart
..do .
do
John Haxwell ..........
. do
Jacob Peterson
do
William Staley
Pennsylvania,
do •
J. White
Kentucky. . . .
Samuel Staley • .
Clark Trite ...
IVI HeifHand
Germany
Missouri ....
Minnesota . . .
Thomas Scott
Cole Melend
E Forsythe
Charles Jeromnx .......
F. G Bradin
Missouri ....
...do
Iowa
Daniel Wi'ley
Illinois ......
....do
C. P. Dunn
Massachusetts
...do
Alfred Young-
Francis Browning
....do
....do
George Young
do
John Tvler
Missouri
do .
....do
Joseph McGee
do
\Villiam Large .
do
....do
William Meloy . .
H. Hep. 200 —
....do
-f*
. . .do. . ,
98
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued,
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Missouri ....
....do
Missouri ....
. ...do
do
....do
Iowa
do
Missouri ....
.. do
do
Iowa
Jno. SSparks
....do
do
Missouri ....
...do
Jacob Adamson
....do
Germany ....
do
M.Weils
"W^ p Drummond
New York ...
Kentucky. . . .
A L Downey
Missouri ....
do
- Iddings ...........
do
Isaac V Camp ............
Joseph Litigan , .... . . . . .
Germany ....
do
James O Toole
Germany ....
. . . .do
H D McM>ekin ... .
Kentucky . . .
Missouri ....
Germany ....
Philip Frederick ..........
Christ'm Galsler
France
P Smith
Prussia . . . .
Philip Zeio-ler
Pennsylvania .
P A Hart
Missouri ....
Merrill Davis . .
John Hartsell
do
D A Mitchell
Missouri ....
Kentucky. . . .
do
William Wallace
...do
Joel Hyatt
George W. Thompson
D Thompson.
....do
do . ...
....do
Missouri ....
... .do ....
\Villiam Hooper ......
do
S D Pitcher
T Shilby Pyle
do
do
W. O. Webster
James G. .Hoick
Indiana
....do
Ohio
....do.
....do
Charles C Hood
Germany ....
Missouri ....
.. do
Thomas C. Bishop
F S Arterberry
Missouri
...do
James H Garritt
... do
Pennsylvania.
. . . do
.. do
J Pennock
George W Walker . .
do
....do
John Markham ...... .
Kentucky . . . .
Ho
Ohio ....
Barrett Markham . ...
^Villiam Dawson ... .....
Pennsylvania.
Ohio
England
Wisconsin . . .
Sol Snyder
Thomas Lockerman
Missouri ....
....do
Missouri
B M. Crust
W Heipple
Wisconsin . . .
. . . .do
....do
....do
William Coomnan .
Missouri . . .
Diivid Shearin
....do
F Paget
..do
Indiana ......
E F Stafford
do ...
John Copple
do
Nath Talbot .
Arkansas ....
D H Chappell
Ohio
William Cummings
Pennsylvania.
. . . .do
William H Osborn
New York . . .
Missouri ....
Illinois . .
William H Goode
Philip Good
do
..do
H f! Norton - -
Missouri
Ohio
J Willey
....do | AhfilarH fJiithrin . .
Missouri ....
do
George B Northup
Missouri
Ohio ....
do
. do .
....do
A. P Leary
Missouri
Chaides H Allen
....do
D Dofflenger
J M Tyner
....do
Ohio . .
J. G. Henderson
John Kissinger
....do
,..do...
N Richards
Indiana.
Missouri . .
S. Philips..,
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued.
99
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
Stephen Hunt
Christ Earle •••
Missouri
....do
New York . . .
Missouri . . . . .
Will G Woons
....do
do
Geonre F Cokley
..do
George B. White
....do
do ....
....do
do
VV W Jefferson
.. do ..
....do
W. A. McDonell
do
W H Lawson
. ...do
....do
C Baker
New York . . .
Missouri
Pennsylvania.
Alfred Lort
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.
List of voters in the seventeenth election district of the Territory of Kan-
sas, according to census returns made by Alexander S, Johnson, esq.,
in the months of January and February, 1855.
Names.
Where from.
Names.
Where from.
A H Reeder
Pennsylvania .
John McClacken
Pennsylvania
Virginia ....
Joseph Fager . ........ . .
M issouri ....
Maryland ....
. do
Kentucky ....
C. B. Donaldson
Missouri
Missouri
Kansas Terr'y
S. B Dusser
....do
Missouri
O H P Reppta
....do
R C Mecks
...do
E F Buckman
.. do .. ..
Robert Brown
....do
Louisiana ....
Talton Blass
William Rutlido-e
. . . .do
Augustus Charles ...........
Missouri
B F Robinson
do
^^illiam Donaldson . . « • .
....do
Judge Bouton
....do
do
do
.N. Carolina . .
do
do
do
Missouri
George Batman ............
....do
....do
James Gladden . ..........
... do
Perk. Randall f
do
New York . . .
John Owens
....do
Francis Berry .
Doctor Buchhauman ........
do
Ohio
do
do
Miller Woodey
. ...do
L. Chouteau ...............
. . • .do. ........
Richard Mendenhall •
...do
Charles Boles
....do
A Gregory . .
do
M apsaoh u se tts
100 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, > sg
Territory of Kansas. 3
On the 17th day of February, A. D. 1855, before the undersigned,
chief justice of the Territory of Kansas, personally appeared Alexander
S. Johnson, esq., who being duly sworn deposes and says : That the
foregoing enumeration or census of the seventeenth district of said
Territory is just and correct, to the best of his knowledge and belief;
that he has not intentionally omitte 1 or erroneously classified any in-
habitants or qualified voters ; that he has inserted the name of no
person except those legally entitled to be inserted, and that he has
made the said enumeration and classification of the said inhabitants,
and the designation of qualified voters, truly and correctly, as directed
in the foregoing precept, to the best of his judgment and ability.
A. S. JOHNSON.
Sworn and subscribed, February IV, 1855, before me,
SAMUEL D. LECOMPTE.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 101
ELECTION OF J^ARCH 30, 1855.
PROCLAMATION.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TERRITORY OF KANSAS.
To the qualified voters of the Territory of Kansas:
I, Andrew H. Reeder, governor of the said Territory, by virtue of
the act of Congress passed the 30th day of May, 1854, entitled uan
act to organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas," do by these
presents proclaim, order, and direct that an election be held in the
said Territory on Friday, the thirtieth day of March, A. I). 1855, for
thirteen members of council and twenty-six members of the house of
representatives, to constitute the legislative assembly of said Terri-
tory ; and the qualified voters of the Territory are hereby requested
to meet on said day, at the places of holding elections in their several
districts and precincts, as hereinafter specified, to vote by ballot for
the number of candidates hereinafter apportioned to the respective
districts ; and the said election shall be conducted in the manner here-
inafter prescribed.
List of Election Districts as heretofore erected.
First District. — Commencing in the Kansas river, at the mouth of
Cedar creek ; thence up said river to the first tributary above the town
of Lawrence ; thence up said tributary to its source ; thence by a direct
line to the west side of F. Rolf's house; thence by a due south line to
the Santa Fe road, and along the middle of said road to a point due
south of the source of Cedar creek ; thence due north to the source of
said Cedar creek, and down the same to the place of beginning.
Second District. — Commencing at the mouth of Big Spring branch,
on the south bank of the Kansas river ; thence up said branch to its
furthest source ; thence by a southerly line crossing the Wakarusa
river, on the east side of the house of Charles Matney, to the middle
of the Santa Fe road ; thence along the middle of said road to the
line of the first district; thence by the same, along the west side of
the house of F. Rolf, to the head of the first tributary of the Kansas,
above the town of Lawrence; and thence by the same tributary to the
Kansas river, and up the south bank of said river to the mouth of Big
Spring branch, the place of beginning.
Third District.— Commencing at the mouth of Big Spring branch,
on the south side of the Kansas river ; thence up the same to its fur-
thest source; thence by a southerly line to the north bank of the Wa-
karusa river, on the east side of the house of Charles Matney ; thence
up said river and its main branch to the line of the Pottawatomie re-
servation ; and thence by the southern and western line of said reser-
vation to the Kansas river, and down the said river to the place of
beginning. •
Fourth District. — Commencing at the Missouri State line in the
middle of the Santa Fe road ; thence along the middle of said road to
102 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Rock creek, near the 65th mile of said road ; thence south to the line
of the late Shawnee reservation ceded by the treaty of 1854 ; thence
due east along the south line of said reservation and the north lines
of the existing reservations of the Sacs and Foxes, the existing reser-
vations of the Chippewas and Ottawas, and the late reservations of
the Piankeshaws, Weas, Peorias, and Kaskaskias, to the Missouri
State line ; thence up the Missouri State line to the place of beginning.
Fifth District. — Commencing at the Missouri State line at the
southern boundary of the fourth district ; thence east along the same
to the northwest corner of the Sac and Fox reservation ; thence due
south along the western line thereof, and due south to the south branch
of the Neosho river, about seventy miles above the Catholic Osage
Mission ; thence down said river to the north line of the reserve for
New York Indians, and east along said line to the headwaters of Little
Osage river, or the nearest point thereto ; and thence down said river
to the Missouri State line, and up said line to the place of beginning.
Sixth District. — Commencing on the Missouri State line in Little
Osage river ; thence up the same to the line of the reserve for the New
York Indians, or the nearest point thereto; thence to and by the north
line of said reserve to the Neosho river, and up said river and the
south branch thereof to the head ; and thence by a due south line to
the southern line of the Territory ; thence by the southern and eastern
lines of said Territory to the place of beginning.
Seventh District. — Commencing at the east side of the house of
Charles Matney, on the Wakarusa river; thence due south to the
middle of the Santa Fe road ; thence westwardly along the middle of
said road to Rock creek, near the 65th mile of said road ; thence due
south to the north line of the Sac and Fox reservation ; thence along
the north and west lines thereof, and due south to the Neosho river ;
thence up said river to a point due south of the mouth of Elm creek ;
thence due north to the mouth of Elm creek, and up said creek to the
Santa Fe road, and thence by a direct line in a northerly direction to
the southwest corner of the Pottawatomie reservation ; thence along
the southern line of said reservation to the headwaters of the Waka-
rusa river, or the point nearest thereto ; thence to and down the said
river to the place of beginning.
Eighth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Elm creek, one of
the branches of Osage river ; thence up the same to the Santa Fe road ;
thence by a direct northerly line to the southwest corner of the Potta-
watomie reservation ; thence up the western line thereof to the Kansas
river ; thence up said river and the Smoky Hill Fork, beyond the most
westerly settlements ; thence due south to the line of the Territory ;
thence by the same to the line of the sixth district ; thence due north
to the head of the south branch of the Neosho river ; thence down
said river to the line of the seventh district; thence due north to the
place of beginning.
Ninth District. — Commencing on the Smoky Hill Fork, beyond the
most westerly settlements; thence down the same and the Kansas
river, to the mouth of Wild Cat creek ; thence up said creek to the
headwaters thereof; thence due north to the Independence emigrant
road ; thence up said road to the north line of the Territory ; thence
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 103
west along the same beyond the most westerly settlements ; arid thence
due south to the place of beginning.
Tenth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Vermillion river ;
thence up the same, beyond the house of Josiah D. Adams; thence
due west to the Independence emigrant road ; thence up the middle of
said road to the line of the ninth district ; thence by the same to the
head of Wild Cat creek, and down said creek to the Kansas river ;
thence down said river to the place of beginning.
Eleventh District. — Commencing in the Vermillion river, opposite
the north side of the house of Josiah D. Adams; thence up said river
to the head of the main branch ; thence due north to the military road
from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney; thence along the middle of
said road to the crossing of the Vermillion branch of the Blue; thence
due north to the northern line of the Territory; thence west along
said line to the Independence emigrant road; thence down said road
to a point due west of the north end of the house of Josiah D. Adams,
and due east to the place of beginning.
Twelfth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Soldier creek, in
the Kansas river ; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch ;
thence due north to the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort
Kearney ; thence along the middle of said road to the line of the ele-
venth district ; thence due south to the head of Vermillion river, down
Vermillion river to the mouth, and down Kansas river to the place of
beginning.
Thirteenth District. — Commencing in the Kansas river, at a point
three miles above the mouth of Stranger creek; thence in a north-
wardly direction by a line corresponding to, and three miles west of,
the several courses of said creek, to the line of the late Kickapoo re-
servation ; thence by the southern and western lines of said reserva-
tion to the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ;
thence along the middle of said road to the line of the twelfth district;
thence due south to the head of Soldier creek, down Soldier creek to
the mouth, and down Kansas river to the place of beginning.
Fourteenth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Independence
creek; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch, and
thence due west to the line of the late Kickapoo reservation ; thence
north along said line and the line of the late Sac and Fox reservation,
to the north line of the Territory; thence along said line eastwardly
to the Missouri river, and down said river to the place of beginning.
Fifteenth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Salt creek, on the
Missouri river; thence up said creek to the military road, and along
the middle of said road to the lower crossing of Stranger creek ; thence
up said creek to the line of the late Kickapoo reservation, and thence
along the southern and western line thereof to the line of the four-
teenth district ; thence by the same, and down Independence creek, to
the mouth thereof, and thence down the Missouri river to the place of
beginning.
Sixteenth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Salt creek ; thence
up said creek to the military road ; thence along the middle of said
road to the lower crossing of Stranger creek; thence up said creek to
the line of the lato Kickapoo ressrvation, and thence along the same
104 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
to the line of the thirteenth district, and thence by the same along a
line corresponding to the courses of Stranger creek, and keeping three
miles west thereof, to the Kansas river ; thence down the Kansas river
to the Missouri, and up the Missouri river to the place of beginning.
Seventeenth District. — Commencing at the mouth of the Kansas river,
thence up the south bank thereof to the mouth of Cedar creek; thence
up Cedar creek to its source, and thence due south to the Santa Fe
road, along the middle of said road to the Missouri State line, and
along said line to the place of beginning.
Eighteenth District. — Commencing in the military road at the cross-
ing of the Vermillion branch of Blue river; thence due north to the
line of the Territory; thence east along said line to the line of the
fourteenth district ; thence due south along said line to the aforesaid
military road, and along the middle of said road to the place of
beginning.
Precincts, places for polls , and judges of election.
t
First District. — The election will be held at the house of W. H. R.
Lykins, in the town of Lawrence.
Judges. — Hugh Cameron, James B. Abbot, N. B. Blanton.
Second District. — House of Harrison Burson, on Wakarusa river.
Judges. — Harrison Burson, Paris Ellison, Nath. S. Ramsey.
Third District. — House of Thos. N. Stinson, in the town of Te-
cumseh.
Judges.— Rev. L. D. Stateler, Rev. H. B. Burgess, Rev. H. N.
Watts.
Fourth District. — House of Dr. I. Chapman.
Judges. — Perry Fuller, David Pultz, E. W. Moore.
Fifth District. — This district is divided into four voting precinct*
as follows, viz:
Bull Creek Precinct. — Commencing in the Osage (or Marais dea
Cygnes) river, opposite the termination of the dividing ridge between
Pottawatoinie and Middle creek; thence by an easterly line, running
north of all the settlements on the waters of North Sugar creek to the
Missouri State line ; thence up said line to the line between the fourth
and fifth districts ; thence east along said line to the line between
the Peoria and Ottawa reservations ; thence south along the same to
the Osage river, and down said river to the place of beginning.
The election will be held at the house of Baptiste Peoria.
Judges. — John J. Parks, J. J. Clark, Stephen White.
Pottaiv atomic Creek Precinct. — Commencing in the Osage river on
the line of the Peoria and Ottawa reserves ; thence down said river
to a point opposite the termination of the dividing ridge between Pot-
tawatoinie creek and Middle creek; thence along said dividing ridge
beyond the head waters of said creeks, and thence by a line due south-
west to the line of the sixth district ; thence by the lines of the sixth,
seventh, and fourth districts, to the line of the Peoria and Ottawa
reservations, and down the same to the place of beginning.
Election at the house of Henry Sherman, on Pottawatomie creek.
Judges. — William Chesnut, Allen Wilkinson, 0. F. Cleveland.
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 105
Big Sugar Creek Precinct. — Beginning in the Osage river at the
Missouri State line ; thence up said river to the mouth of Big Sugar
creek ; thence up said creek to the mouth of Little Sugar creek ;
thence along the dividing ridge "between Big and Little Sugar creeks,
beyond the headwaters of "both ; thence by a clue southwest line to
the line of the fifth district; thence along the same to the Pottawato-
mie Creek precinct ; thence by the line of said precinct to the Osage
river ; thence by an easterly line, running north of all the settlements
on the waters of North Sugar creek, to the Missouri State line, and
down the same to the place of beginning.
Election at the house of Elisha Tucker, at the old Pottawatomie
mission.
Judges. — James M. Arthur, Elisha Tucker, John E. Brown.
Little Sugar Creek Precinct. — Commencing at the mouth of Little
Osage river; thence up the same, and along the line of sixth district,
to Big Sugar Creek precinct ; thence along the line of said precinct
to Osage river ; down Osage river to State line, and down State line
to place of beginning.
Election at house of Isaac Stockton, at crossing of Little Sugar
creek .
Judges. — William H. Finley, Alfred Osborne, Isaac Stockton.
Sixth District. — Election at the Hospital building at Fort Scott.
Judges. — James Ray, sen., William Painter, William Godefroy.
Seventh District. — Election at the house of J. B. Titus, on the Santa
Fe road.
Judges. — Eli Snyder, John W. Freel, Dr. Harvey Foster.
Eighth District. — Election at the Council Grove mission house, near
the Santa Fe road.
Judges. — A. J. Baker, Emanuel Mosier, T. S. Hoffaker.
Ninth District. — Election at the house of Robert Klotz, in the town
of Pawnee.
Judges.— A.. D. Gibson, S. B. White, Robert Wilson.
Tenth District. — This district is divided into two voting precincts,
as follows, viz:
Blue Piiver Precinct. — Commencing at the upper mouth of Black
Jack creek; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch;
thence clue north to the Independence emigrant road ; thence up the
middle of said road to the northern line of the Territory ; thence by
the northern, western, and southern lines of the district to the place
of beginning.
Election at the house of S. D. Dyer, on Blue river.
Judges. — Joseph W. Russell, Marshal A. Garrett, Joseph Stewart.
Rock Creek Precinct. — Commencing at the upper mouth of Black
Jack creek ; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch ;
thence due north to the Independence emigrant road ; thence down
said road, and by the continuous easterly and southerly lines of the
district to the place of beginning.
Election at the house of Robert Wilson, on Rock creek.
Judges. — Francis Bergerow, Henry Rammelt, James Wilson.
•Eleventh District.— Election at the trading house of Woodward &
Marshall.
106 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Judges.— Tr. J. Marshall, R. C. Bishop, W. P. McClure.
Iwelfih District. — This district is divided into two precincts, as fol-
lows, viz:
Silver Lake Precinct. — Commencing at the mouth of Cross creek;
thence up the same to the head ; thence due north to military road
leading from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ; thence by the con-
tinuous northern, eastern, and southern lines of the district to the
place of beginning.
Election at the store of Sloan & Beaubien, on Silver lake.
Judges. — Nath. Wingardner, E. M. Sloan, Evan Kennedy.
St. Mary's Precinct. — Commencing at the mouth of Cross creek ;
thence up said creek to the head ; thence due north to the military
road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ; thence by the northern,
western, and southern lines of the district to the place of beginning.
Election at the store of B. F. Bertrand, at St. Mary's mission.
Judges. — Dr. L. R. Palmer, Charles Dean, Rev. J. B. Duerinck.
Thirteenth District. — Election (except as hereinafter stated) at the
house of Samuel J. Hard, at Hickory Point.
Judges. — H. B. Cora, James Atkinson, J. B. Ross.
Fourteenth District. — This district is divided into three precincts,
as follows, viz :
Wolf River Precinct. — Commencing in the Missouri river one mile
east of Mosquito creek; thence by a line corresponding to, and one
mile east of, the several courses of said creek and the main branch
thereof; thence by a line due south to Cottonwood spring: thence
along the Pottawatomie road to the dividing ridge, two miles from
the crossing of said road at Independence creek; thence due west to
the line of the district, and by the westerly and northerly lines of the
district to the place of beginning.
Election at the house erected by Aaron Lewis, on Wolf river.
Judges. — James M. Irvin, Joel Ryan, E. W. B. Rogers.
Doniphan Precinct. — Commencing on the Missouri river at the south
line of Cadue's reserve ; thence by the same, and along the dividing
ridge between Cadue's creek and Lewis' creek, to Cottonwood spring;
thence by the line of the Wolf River precinct, and the western and
southern lines of the district to the Missouri river, and up the Mis-
souri river to the place of beginning.
Election at the store of John W. & James Foreman, in the town of
Doniphan.
Judges. — M. K. Shaw, Parris Dunning, W. L. Chudys.
Burr Oak Precinct. — Commencing on the Missouri river at the
south line of Cadue's reserve ; thence by line of Doniphan precinct to
Cottonwood spring ; thence by line of Wolf River precinct to Missouri
river, and down said river to place of beginning.
Election at house of Milton E. Bryant, on St. Joseph and California
road.
Judges. — Ebenezer Blackstone, Gary B. Whitehead, Osborne Hulen.
Fifteenth District. — Election (except as hereinafter stated) at the
house of Charles Hays, on the military road.
Judges. — Thomas J. Thompson, E. R. Zimmerman, Daniel Fisk.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 107
•
Sixteenth District. — Election at the house of Keller & Kyle, in the
town of Leaven worth.
Judges. — Matthias France, J. C. Posey, David Brown.
Seventeenth District. — Election at the Shawnee Methodist Church.
Judges. — Cyprian Choteau, C. B. Donaldson, Charles Boles.
Eighteenth District.— Election at the house of William W. Moore,
on St. Joseph and California road, at the crossing of the Nemaha.
Judges. — Jesse Adamson, Thomas J. B. Cramer, John Belew.'
Instructions to judges of election.
The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes with a slit
for the insertion of the tickets, and will assemble at their respective
polls at or before eight o'clock a. m. of the day of election, and will
make and subscribe the duplicate copies of the printed oath which will
be furnished them. This oath must be administered by a judge or
justice of the peace, if one be present ; and if not, then the judges can
mutually administer the oath to each other, which they are hereby
fully authorized to do. In case of the absence of any one or two of
said judges at nine o'clock a. m., the vacancy shall be filled by the
judge or judges who shall attend ; and if any vacancy shall occur
after the judges have been sworn, it shall be filled in the same man-
ner. In case none of the judges appointed shall attend at nine o'clock
a. m., the voters on the ground may, by tellers, select persons to act
in their stead. The judges will keep two corresponding lists of the
names of persons who shall vote, numbering each name. They must
be satisfied of the qualifications of every person offering to vote, and
may examine the voter, or any other person, under oath, upon the
subject.
The polls will be kept open until six o'clock p. m., and then closed
unless voters are present offering to vote ; and in that case shall be
closed as soon thereafter as votes cease to be offered.
When the polls are closed, the judges will proceed to open and
count the votes, and will keep two corresponding tally lists, on which
I they will simultaneously tally each ticket as it is called by the judge,
| who will open and call out the tickets, which must be done without
handling or interference by any other person. When the votes are
thus counted off, and the tally lists shall agree, the judges shall pub-
licly proclaim the result, and shall fill up and sign the duplicate cer-
tificates of return which will be furnished them. They will then
carefully replace the said tickets in one or both of the ballot boxes,
together with one copy of the oath, one of the lists of voters, and one
of the certificates of return, and will seal up and preserve the same,
to be produced if called for. The remaining copies of the oath, list
of voters, tally list, and certificate, will be sealed up, directed to the
governor of the Territory, and delivered by one of the judges in per-
son to the governor, at his office at the Shawnee Methodist mission,
on or before the fourth day of April, A. D. 1855.
In the fifth district the several return judges will meet on the day
after the election, at the house of Henry Sherman, on Pottawatomie
creek, and select one of their number, who shall take charge of and de-
108 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
•
liver the returns of all the precints. The return judges of the tenth will
meet at the house of Kobert Wilson, on Bock creek ; and those of the
fourteenth at the house of M. E. Bryant, and will make their returns
in the same manner.
All persons are absolutely forbidden to bring, sell, or deal out, in
the immediate vicinity of the election ground, any intoxicating liquors;
and the judges of election, whenever they shall deem this regulation
violated, so as to interfere with the proper conducting of the election,
may order the same to be removed ; and if the owner shall fail to
comply with such order, may direct constables, or other proper per-
sons, to take charge of such liquor till the polls are closed ; or, in case
of resistance, to destroy the same at once.
The constables of the territory will attend at their respective polls,
and will hold themselves subject to the orders of the judges for the
preservation of order at the polls, and securing free access for the
voters ; and, for this purpose, may call upon any citizens present tc
aid them in the performance of their duty if necessary.
Qualification of voters.
By the territorial bill it is provided as follows :
"That every free white male inhabitant above the age of twenty-
one years, who shall be an actual resident of said Territory, and shal.
possess the qualifications hereinafter prescribed, shall be entitled t<
vote at the first election : Provided, That the right of suffrage and o
holding office shall be exercised only by citizens of the United States
and those who shall have declared on oath their intention to becomi
such, and shall have taken an oath to support the Constitution of th<
United States and the provisions of this act : And provided further
That no officer, soldier, seaman, or marine, or other person in th<
army or navy of the United States, or attached to troops in the ser
vice of the United States, shall be allowed to vote or hold office in saic
Territory, by reason of being on service therein."
By the term " white," as used in this and other laws of a simila
character, is meant pure unmixed white blood. The man who ha
any mixture from the darker races, however small the proportion, i
not regarded as a white man. This has been repeatedly decided, an<
may be regarded as settled. When a voter has only declared his in
tention to become a citizen, he must be sworn by the judges of election
or by a judge or justice of the peace, to support the Constitution of th
United States and the provisions of the act of Congress, passed Ma;
30, 1854, to organize the territories of Nebraska and Kansas
When so sworn, the word "oath" should be marked opposite hi
name on the list of voters ; and a voter who has had this oath one
administered, will not, of course, be required to repeat it.
It will be seen that the act of Congress is drawn with much care t<
exclude non-residents from the polls. It provides that a voter shal
be an " inhabitant" and " an actual resident." A voter must dwel
here at the time of offering his vote ; he must then have commence*
an actual inhabitancy, which he actually intends to continue perma
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 109
nently, and must have made the Territory his dwelling-place to the
exclusion of any other home.
The meaning of the last proviso,, relative to the army and navy, is,
that the persons designated in it shall not vote if their inhabitancy in
the Territory is referable only to the performance of their duties. Lik
all other persons, it is riot enough that they should be in the Territory
but they must dwell in it as their permanent home ; and the officer or
soldier who would vote must have a residence here, irrespective and
independent of his presence here under orders.
Every voter must vote in the election precinct where he resides, and
not elsewhere. Experience has demonstrated this to be a wise regu-
lation, and it has been adopted in nearly all the States as a necevssary
provision against error, confusion, and fraud.
Contested elections.
In case any persons shall desire to contest the election in any dis-
trict of the Territory, they shall make a written statement, directed to
the governor, setting forth the particular precinct or district they in-
tend to contest, the candidates whose election they dispute, and the
specific causes of complaint in the conduct or return of the said elec-
tion ; which complaint shall be signed by not less than ten qualified
voters of the Territory, and with affidavit of one or more such voters
to the truth of the facts set forth therein. Such written statement
must be presented to the governor at his office on or before the fourth
day of April, A. D. 1855 ; and if it shall appear that the result of
election in any council district might be changed by said contest, a
day will be fixed for hearing the same.
Apportionment of members of the legislature, and list of districts.
APPORTIONMENT.
The entire number of qualified voters in the territory, as appears
from the census returns, is two thousand nine hundred and five. The
ratio of representation in council is two hundred and twenty-three,
and in the house of representatives one hundred and eleven.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
The first, fourth, and seventeenth election districts, containing four
hundred and sixty-six voters, shall constitute the first council district,
and elect two members of the council.
The second election district, arid so much of the thirteenth as is em-
braced in the Kansas half-breed lands, containing two hundred and
twelve voters, will constitute the second council district, and elect one
member of council ; and the voters thus detached from the thir-
teenth will vote at the place of election fixed for the second election
district.
The third, seventh, and eighth election districts, containing one
hundred and ninety-three voters, will constitute the third council dis-
trict, and elect one member of council.
The fifth election district, containing four hundred and forty-two
110 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
voters, will constitute the fourth council district, and elect two mem-
bers of council.
The sixth election district, containing two hundred and fifty-three
voters, will constitute the fifth council district, and elect one memher
of council.
The ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth election districts, contain-
ing two hundred and one voters, will constitute the sixth council dis-
trict, and elect one member of council.
The Wolf river precinct and Doniphan precinct of the fourteenth, the
whole of the eighteenth, and so much of the fifteenth election district
as lies north of Walnut creek and its main branch, and a due west
line from its source, containing two hundred and forty-seven voters,
shall constitute the seventh council district, and elect one member of
council ; and the voters who are thus detached from the fifteenth will
vote at the Doniphan precinct.
The Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district, containing two>
hundred and fifteen voters, will constitute the eighth council district,,
and elect one member of council.
The residue of the fifteenth election district, containing two hundred!
and eight voters, will constitute the ninth council district, and electi
one member of council.
The sixteenth and residue of the thirteenth election district, con-
taining four hundred and sixty-eight voters, will constitute the tenth,
council district, and elect two members of council.
REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS.
The seventeenth and fourth election districts, containing ninety-
seven voters, shall constitute the first representative district, and electt
one member.
The first election district, containing three hundred and sixty-nine1
voters, shall be the second representative district, and elect three
members.
The second council district shall be the third representative district,
and elect two members.
The third election district, containing one hundred and one voters,
shall be the fourth representative district, and elect one member.
The seventh and eighth election districts, containing ninety-two*
voters, shall be the fifth representative district, and elect one member;.
The sixth election district shall be the sixth representative district.,
and elect two members.
The fifth election district shall be the seventh representative dis-«
trict, and elect four members.
The ninth and tenth election districts, containing ninety-nine voters.- 1
shall be the eighth representative district, and elect one member.
The eleventh and twelfth election districts, containing one hundred']
and two voters, shall be the ninth representative district, and electj
one member.
The residue of the thirteenth election district, containing eighty-
three voters, shall be the tenth representative district, and elect oneij
member.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Ill
The seventh council district shall be the eleventh representative
district, and elect two members.
The eighth council district shall be the twelfth representative dis-
trict, and elect two members.
The ninth council district shall be the thirteenth representative dis-
trict, and elect two members.
The sixteenth election district, containing three hundred and eighty-
five voters, shall be the fourteenth representative district, and elect
three members.
r -, Witness my hand and seal of said Territory, this eighth
LL-S-J day of March, A. D. 1855.
A. H. REEDER, Governor, &c.
Attest : DANIEL WOODSON, Secretary.
Table of election districts, &c.
Election districts.
Council districts.
Representative
districts.
Precincts.
Counties.
Towns, townships and
precincts.
C
I
1
2
Doufflas . . ...... \
\Villow Springs . . . . ,
2
o
3
t\
3
3
4
\
Calhoun
T"ecumseh ....
4
1
1
Bull creek
i
Pottawatornie creek
5
4
7 •'
Bin* Sucrar creek
1
Little Sncrar creek . .
6
5
G
Bourbon
Fort Scott
7
3
5
"110"
(
iffi
5
{
IV' adisori.
Council Grove «
9
6
8
Riley
0 <
Big Blue
10
G
8
11
6
9(
Marshall
iVJarysville ..........
n <
Silver lake
12
6
9
St. Mary's
*13
10
10
,1 <
AVolf river . •
Doniphan ..........
14
7
11
Burr Oak
12
Burr Oak <
f!5
9
13
Atchison
I
Leavenworth
16
10
14
T
17
1
1
Shawnee M ission
J18
7
11
* Part of 13 (in Kansas half-breed lands) voted in 2d district. Grasshopper and Mount Pleasant towushidj
to Atchison.
tPart of 15 voted at Doniphan, 80 men.
jPort of llth, 12th and 18th districts.
112 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
PROCLAMATION.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
Territory of Kansas. \
To the citizens and inhabitants of the Territory of Kansas :
I, Andrew H. Reeder, governor of the said Territory, do hereby
proclaim and make known, that, under and by virtue of the authority
conferred, and the duty enjoined by the thirty-fifth section of the act
of Congress passed the thirtieth day of May, A. D. 1854, entitled
"An act to organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas," I have,
until otherwise provided by law, defined the judicial districts of the
said Territory, and assigned one of said districts to each of the judges
appointed for said Territory ; and have also appointed the times and
places for holding the courts in the said districts, as follows, that is
to say :
All of said Territory embraced within the following bounds shall
constitute the first judicial district, to wit : Commencing at the mouth
of the Kansas river ; thence up the Missouri river to the northern line
of the Territory ; thence along said line west to the line between the
eleventh and eighteenth election districts ; thence down said line to
the military road leading from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ,
thence along said road to the line between the twelfth and thirteenth
election districts ; thence down the same and the waters of Soldier
creek, along the western shore thereof, to the Kansas river, and down
the same, on the southern shore thereof, to the place of beginning,
including the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and eigh-
teenth election districts ; which said district is assigned to Chief Jus-
tice S. D. Lecompte, and the courts thereof shall be held at the town
of Leavenworth.
All of said Territory embraced within the following bounds shall
constitute the second judicial district, to wit : Commencing at the
mouth of the Kansas river ; thence up the same, along the southern
shore thereof, to the western line of the Pottawatomie reservation ;
thence along the western and southern lines of said reservation to the i
headwaters of the Wakarusa, or the nearest point thereto, and thence:
directly to and down the northern shore of the same to the east side
of the house of Charles Matingly ; thence due south to the middle of
the Santa Fe road ; thence westwardly along the middle of said road 1 1
to Rock creek ; thence due south to the north line of the Sac and Fox.|
reservation ; thence along the north and west lines thereof, and due
south, to the Neosho river ; thence up the southern shore of said river,,
and of the north branch thereof, to the head ; thence due south to
the line of the Territory, and thence by the south and east lines of!
the Territory to the place of beginning, to include the first, second,
third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventeenth election districts. The
said district is assigned to Hon. Rush Ellmore, and the courts thereof!
shall be held at the town of Tecumseh.
The residue of the Territory, comprising the seventh, eighth,
ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth election districts, shall constitute
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 113
the third judicial district; which is assigned to Hon. Sanders W.
Johnston, and the courts thereof shall he held at the town of Pawnee.
The regular terms of courts shall he as follows :
At Leavenworth, on the third Monday of April and third Monday
of October.
At Tecumseh, on the second Monday after the third Monday of
April, and second Monday after the third Monday of October.
At Pawnee, on the fourth Monday after the third Monday of April,
and fourth Monday after the third Monday of October.
Special and preliminary terms will be held at Leavenworth on
Monday, the 19th day of March next ; at Tecumseh on Monday, the
26th day of March next ; and at Pawnee on Monday, the 2d day of
April next, at 10 o'clock, a. in., at which times all persons bound by
recognizance or otherwise to appear at the first term of said courts,
will appear at the places so as aforesaid fixed for their respective dis-
tricts ; and all justices of the peace who have taken recognizances for
the appearance of any person charged before them will, at or before
the commencement of the said special or preliminary term, make re-
turn of the same to the clerk of their respective districts, or to A. I.
Lsacks, esq., the United States district attorney.
Witness my hand and the seal of the said Territory, this twenty-
aixth day of February, A, D. 1855.
A. H. KEEDEK, Governor, dc.
Attest: DANL. WOODSON, Secretary.
PROCLAMATION.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
Territory of Kansas. \
To the citizens and qualified voters of the Territory of Kansas :
I, Andrew H. Eeeder, governor of the said Territory, do hereby
proclaim and make known that I have erected an additional election
district, comprising portions of the present eleventh, twelfth, and
thirteenth election districts, to be called the eighteenth election district^
and to include the settlements on the waters of the Nemaha, bounded
and described as follows, to wit : Commencing in the Vermillion
branch of the Blue river, at the crossing of the military road from
Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ; thence due north to the line of
the Territory ; thence along the same east to the line of the fourteenth
election district ; thence south, along the line of the fourteenth and
fifteenth election districts, to the aforesaid military road, and thence
by the middle of said road to the place of beginning. The place of
election for said district will be at the house of W. W. Moore, where
the St. Joseph road crosses the Nemaha.
And further, that I have detached from the eleventh, and added to
the tenth election district, the following portion of territory, to wit :
Beginning in the Vermillion river, at the crossing of the Independence
H. Rep. 20f
114 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
emigrant road ; thence up said river beyond the house of Josiah Gr.
Adams ; thence due east, along the northern side of the said house,
to the said road, and down said road to the place of beginning.
Witness my hand and the seal of the said Territory, this 24th day
of February, A. D. 1855.
A. H. REEDER, Governor, &c.
Attest : DANL. WOODSON, Secretary,
FIRST DISTRICT. — Lawrence.
LAWRENCE, Friday, April 25, 1856.
ERASTUS D. LADD, being duly sworn, deposed as follows:
To Mr. Reeder :
I came into this Territory late in September, 1854, and have ever-
since resided in this town and district. I was here on the 30th of!
March, at the legislative election.
On the day previous to the election a number of teams and wagons*
loaded with armed men, and men on horseback, came into town.
They were strangers here ; they came in from the south and south-
west, and were preceded by two or three men, one of whom was sub-
sequently called or passed as Colonel Samuel Young, of Missouri, who
appeared to be the chief in command. I think " colonel" was his-
designation. They proceeded through the town, down on the bankk
of the river, and looked around for a time with the intention, as they?
stated, of encamping there that night. They had tents, and were
armed ; I saw private arms, and I saw rifles and other arms of that!
kind, double-barrelled shot-guns, revolvers, and knives. I saw them
encamped, and partaking of their provisions or refreshments ; but
whether they brought them with them or not I do not know. The
strangers continued to come in during the evening, and next morning
there had been a very large addition made to their number.
I went to the place of voting in the morning, and was there at th«
opening of the polls, and remained all day, except time for dinnerr
A very large company came from the camp in the ravine to the placr
of voting and surrounded it. There was some difficulty in the orr
ganization of the board, and delay in commencing the voting. Mrr
Abbott, one of the judges, resigned. A vote was offered, which !
saw, and a question of the legality of the vote was raised and wa*
discussed some time. During the discussion Colonel Young said he
would settle the matter. He crowded up to the front, the place bein
thronged with people. The other vote was then withdrawn and h
offered his vote. The question was raised as to the legality of h
vote. He said he was ready to swear that he was a resident of th
Territory. He took such an oath, but refused the oath prescribed. b
the governor. But one of the judges appointed by the governor wa
then acting. His oath was received. He then mounted the window
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 115
sill and proclaimed to the crowd around that the matter was all set-
tled and they could vote. I cannot repeat his exact words, but that
was the sentiment ; and they proceeded to vote. E. A. Cummins
was appointed in the place of Abbott. At noon I went to their camp,
and passed along the ravine, from one extremity to the other, and
counted the number of wagons and conveyances of different kinds
then on the ground and in sight. They had then commenced leaving.
I counted very near one hundred conveyances, such as wagons and
carriages. There were, besides, a large number of saddle horses. I
estimate that there were then on the ground about seven hundred of
the party ; in the estimate I do not include those who had left for
other places or for home.
[Here the witness was asked to detail declarations made by the
strangers., at the time of their voting, as to their intention and object
in voting, and as to where they came from.
To this Mr. Oliver objected. The objection was considered and dis-
cussed by the committee, and overruled ; and the witness was allowed
to state all that was said or done by any of the party of strangers who
voted.]
Witness resumed : Some of these men were on the ground when I
went there, before the polls were opened ; they came in bodies of, per-
haps, one hundred at a time, and voted. The voting was prosecuted
as rapidly as circumstances would permit, and continued all day.
[Mr. Oliver objected to the witness being allowed to tell whether
any person voted, unless he told their names and their places of resi-
dence.]
Witness : G-enerally speaking, these men were quiet and peaceable ;
they proclaimed at all times the right of every person to vote with
the rest. They were situated very compactly about the place of
voting, which was very much crowded during the forenoon, so much
i that most of the voters,, and for a long time all of them, were obliged
\ to pass over the roof of the house, by climbing upon the window sill,
jand then being hoisted up on the roof. After a man voted he was
hoisted up on the roof, as he could not get back through the crowd.
jit took myself — and I used my best efforts — about an hour to get from
ithe outside of the crowd to the place of voting. There was a passage-
jway for a short time, formed of two lines of persons, through which
jvoters passed to and from the polls. During another portion of the
jtirne, in the afternoon, they were formed in procession and approached
rthe polls two by two, passing along in front of the window and off as
sthey voted.
There were a large number who had arms at the polls ; some few
i had shot-guns or rifles, but mostly revolvers and knives during the
i most of the day.
About five o'clock there was a company of voters proceeded from
the town over to the polls in a body, perhaps a hundred, residents of
the town. The large number of persons who had been afeout the
I polls, and who were from Missouri and abroad, had left the polls, and
(they were comparatively clear. Most of those in teams had left the
| place during the afternoon, though many still remained. When these
b residents were coming over I was by the polls, and I saw some start
116 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
from the polls in their direction ; Mr. Wade was one of them, and I
followed out that way. He called them up and hallooed to them to
come on ; then they took their larger arms and came on.
Question by Mr. Howard: Who was this Mr. Wade?
Witness : He lived near here, and was a candidate for the legislature.
I heard a conversation a short distance from where I stood, and
approached pretty nearly. I stepped up on a small rise of ground
and saw quite a violent contest going on, of which Mr. Stearns of
this place was the object. It was a contest of words and threats but
not of blows or force ; while it was going on, I heard some one cry out
" There is the Lawrence bully." A rush was immediately made in
another direction, towards Mr. Bond of this town, and a cry was raised
to shoot him; "shoot the damned abolitionist," ," shoot the damned
bully," &c. He ran for the bank of the river, and the crowd fol-
lowed him. During the running I think one or two shots were fired.
When he got to the bank of the river, he sprang off out of sight.
They rushed to the bank, and guns were pointed at him while below.
But the cry was raised to let him go, and he was permitted to go on
without being fired at.
Another circumstance occurred in the latter part of the day. Mr.
Willis, who was then a resident of this town, was on the ground, and
a cry was raised that he was one of the men concerned in abducting a
black woman about which there had been some difficulty in the town
a short time previous. Several men raised the cry to hang him. Some
wtrA on horseback, and some were on foot. Movements were made
towards him by strangers armed with rifles and smaller arms. The
cry was repeated by a large number of persons to u hang him," ugeta
rope/' &c. At the suggestion of some friends he left the ground.
Question: How many citizens of the district voted on that day to:
the best of your judgment and belief?
[Mr. Oliver objected to the legality of that question; and objection!
sustained until the witness stated his means of information,]
Witness: I was tolerably well acquainted, particularly with thisi
portion of the district, but not particularly acquainted with the lowerr
extremity of the district.
In frequent conversations which I had with different persons of the-
party during the day, they claimed to have a legal right to vote ini
the Territory, and that they were residents by virtue of their being:
then in the Territory. They said they were free to confess that they:
came from Missouri; that they lived in Missouri, and voted as Missou-
rians. Some claimed that they had been in the Territory and mades1
claims, and therefore had a right to vote. But they did not claim to1
be residents in the Territory, except that they had a residence herea
from being at that moment in the Territory.
They had mostly left before sundown, I think. There were somea
here the next day, who were said to have come in from some other
point. •
They left during the afternoon, in single bodies, continuously, o
after the other, but not in a compact body. It seemed to be their
course, when a wagon-load had voted, to get in their wagons and start
away from town. They commenced moving before or about noon.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 117
Mr. Keeder stated that he was through the direct examination.
Witness desired it to be understood that when estimating the num-
ber of strangers here at TOO, he judged at the time he counted the
wagons, but did not mean that that was all that had come here.
In reply to Mr. Sherman :
I cannot state who fired the pistols at Bond. The cry " shoot him"
came from just immediately about the men who came here from Mis-
souri to vote. The citizens were not generally armed. There were a
few, I think, who had revolvers with them, but I saw none exposed.
The general claim made by the Missourians was that they were resi-
dents of the district and consequently had a right to vote.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
I cannot give the names of any others than Col. Samuel Young
that voted from Missouri. I do not remember the names of any others
that I learned ; I was present and saw the names of others recorded.
I cannot say how many — possibly 50 or 100. No effort was made on
the part of any person from Missouri to intimidate the people and
drive them from the polls, except the personal conflicts I have named.
As I have stated, a cry was raised at the first movement, " there is
the Lawrence bully/' and a rush was made towards him. I did not
understand that it referred to any name which had been presented at
the polls. The difficulty with Mr. Bond occurred about three or four
rods from the polls. I did not understand that the object was to pre-
vent his voting.
I understood the difficulty with Mr. Willis had no reference to his
voting. The only hindrance to voting that I saw during the day was
the crowd pressing round so as to prevent many from voting; I heard
of no threats with direct reference to voting ; it was frequently re-
marked by those present that all had a right to vote. I heard it said
that they had as good a right to vote as many who had arrived from
the east and were voting.
There were people arriving all fhe time. There may have been 100
arrived at this place within two weeks prior to the election ; I will
not state definite^, because my mind is not clear upon the subject ;
there may not have been so many. So far as I know, persons particu-
I larly interested in this election were looking anxiously for the ar-
j rival of persons from the east and north in view of the election. I
I cannot name any of those persons who voted. Some of them came
under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society. There were persons
jj arriving at that time, both before and after the election. I am not
I clear as to how many arrived before the election.
I did not understand that the Missourians referred exclusively to
those who had just arrived, but to all who had arrived. The procla-
mation that all had a right to vote was made in conversation ; they
announced that as their opinion as individuals.
Colonel Young's vote was received ; and I understood, as I stood
near the polls, that he took au oath that he was a resident of the Ter-
I ritory. He stood on the window-sill and said it was all right, that it
I! was all settled, and they could vote. I do not recollect that I under-
j stood him to state that he took the oath ; I saw what I thought was
118 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
the taking of an oath; the movements so indicated, though I did not
hear him take it ; I supposed such was the case from appearances.
I am aware of the fact that some did leave who had recently arrived
before that election ; I cannot say whether they ever returned and be-
came residents.
The candidates looked anxiously for these emigrants, because it was
expected an invasion would be made into the Territory by voters from
abroad,, and, also, that as large a free State vote should be polled as
possible. I am not prepared to say that the latter was the chief con-
sideration. I understood from these persons that their purpose in
coming to the Territory so early in the spring was that they came out
here to settle, and that they might be present at the day of the elec-
tion. I know of some of those who had recently arrived who voted ;
I can only approximate their numbers ; I should think there were
from 50 to 60. I think there were some who had arrived within 48
hours; I cannot say as to whether they made settlements in the Terri-
tory in that time. I know that some objected to voting these for that
reason, that they had made no settlements. I cannot say that those
who voted had made no settlements, nor can I say that any who
actually voted returned east. Many of those who were in this vicin-
ity when I settled here, a year ago, are now in other parts of the Ter-
ritory. There were a large number who arrived in this part of the
Territory under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society last season
who returned, but I cannot tell how many.
There was a disturbance in progress, if I recollect right, at the time
the Bond disturbance originated. It was in relation to Mr. Stearns
of this place, who was on the ground, it was said, taking notes which
he intended to publish in the New York Tribune. This disturbance
was not in reference to his voting, or of anybody else. So far as I
observed all of the Missourians were armed at the polls, but not all of i
them with their larger arms, but with their side arms, revolvers, andi
knives. I think some of the citizeifs of the town had arms.
By Mr. Sherman:
Judging from the conversations referred to in my cross-examination,.!
the persons who came here from the northern and eastern States camel
here to become settlers, so far as I know. I can state from my own:
knowledge that some of them returned because they were dissatisfied!
with the country, and disappointed in the circumstances that existed; j
here.
I think there were citizens kept from voting by the condition am
surrounding of the polls. I was told on the day of the election thai
there were a large number here to vote who came from Hickory Point,,
who returned in a body without voting. I saw some who residet
there. I did not see any of them vote. I cannot state what nurabei
of legal resident voters did not vote on account of the troubles, with-
out examining the poll lists and census rolls.
To Mr. Oliver:
They were kept from voting only in consequence of the crowd an<
the difficulty in getting to the polls.
To Mr. Keeder:
The Missourians did not claim to be residents here from their inten-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 119
tion to remain here, but that their mere presence created their resi-
dence. I do not remember that I heard any of them say that they
were here with the intention of remaining. I do not know of any
man who came here from the northern States for the mere purpose of
voting, and I never heard of one.
The side arms of these strangers from the camp were exposed, some
of them openly exposed, others partially so. There did not seem to
be any careful attempt to conceal them. I want to qualify a little
what I said in regard to men coming out here under the auspices of
the Emigrant Aid Society. I do not know of my own knowledge that
they so came out here, but it was so reported commonly and in the
public prints. That is the extent of my knowledge.
To Mr. Oliver:
I think I heard some of them say that they did ; that they came out
as members of certain parties that left Boston at such and such a time
under the auspices of such a society.
To Mr. Keeder :
I can merely state what I have heard, that the Emigrant Aid Society
has an office in Boston, with an agent, to give information by means
of which companies are organized for settlement in Kansas. The
action of that agency, in addition to thus collecting them together,
consists in sending an agent with the companies to make arrange-
ments with the different lines of travel, by which their expenses are
somewhat reduced, and they are furnished with mills and other mat-
ters to assist them. But they pay their own expenses out here, and
these mills are not furnished gratuitously, but merely built by the
society. I mean by "organized for settlement" that the organization
simply has reference to economy in travelling out here, but not to any
continuance after they got here.
To Mr. Oliver :
I am not aware that it is made a condition of the Emigrant Aid
Society that those who come under its auspices should be free State
men. I know of one individual who is said to have come out under
these auspices, who is now understood to be a pro-slavery man. I do
not know what he was when he came.
E. D. LADD.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 25, 1856.
Mr. E. D. LADD recalled.
To Mr. Sherman :
I have examined the poll books of the election of March 30, 1855.
My means of knowing the legal voters are, that I have been a resident
here from the first settlement of the place ; I had started a private
post office in town for the convenience of the country about, and in
that way had become familiar with the names of those here, and also
through the medium of being register of claims.
Question by Mr. Sherman: Please take the poll book for this district
of the election of March 30, and furnish us a list of those whose
120
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
names are on that poll book who were at that time residents of this
district. Please designate also those who were here when the census
was taken from those who came here to reside after that time and
before March 30. For this purpose examine carefully the census rolls
in connexion with Mr. Babcock, who took it, and Mr. G. S. Pratt, the
clerk of the election. Take time to prepare the lists and attach it to
your testimony before it is signed.
Answer. In connexion with Mr. Babcock, who took the census, and
Mr. Pratt, the clerk of the election, I have examined the census re-
turns and poll lists of March 30, 1855, and from these and our
knowledge of the residents, we find that of the residents who were
here when the census was taken, 17^ voted. The list marked "A,"
contains their names. There are 192 settlers, whose names are in
the census list, who did not vote, or, at least, their names are not in
the poll lists. We find in the poll book the names of 55 resident
settlers in this district, but who came after the census and before the
election. This list, marked "B," contains their names. There are,
perhaps, 50 others, and perhaps more, who came into the Territory in
the spring of 1855 as settlers, and who are now residents of different
parts of the Territory, many of whom we know. The others in the
poll list were not residents, as I believe.
E. D. LADD.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 1, 1856.
A.
Names on census-roll and poll-book , (District No. I,) for March, 1855.
Stillman Andrews
Samuel Anderson
Ellmore Allen
Norman Allen
Asaph Allen
William D. Atwood
Calvin Adams
Eobert Allen
John Baldwin
Lazarus S. Bacon
William N. Baldwin
George W. Brown
Henry Bronson
David C. Buffum
Jonathan Bigelow
Horatio N. Bent
Eli W. Burnett
Ellis Bond
Theodore E. Benjamin
C. W. Babcock
Napoleon D. Blanton
Albert F. Bercaw
John M. Banks
Thomas Burge
Thomas Brooke
Noah Cameron
Hugh Cameron
Hiram Clark
James S. Co wen
John W. Carlton
Edward Clark
John S. Crain
C. H. Carpenter
Simon Cook
James P. Corl
William Corl
Henry Corl
E. A. Colman
Clark S. Crane
E. A. Cummins
Luke Curlew
William Curry
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
121
Joshua Cummins
James H. Crooks
John Doy
S. B. Lindley
John H. Dean
James A. Davidson
Carlos Day
S. H. Davis
John C. Davidson
George F. Earl
William Evans
James S. Emery
Thomas Emery
L. J. Eberhart
Ed. P. Fitch
S. H. Folsom
J. H. Firman
John Fry
James Garvin
James N. Gleason
Joel G rover
John C. Gordon
H. D. Graves
George Gilbert
Levi Gates, jr.
Thomas S. Garvin
George Graves
S. C. Harrington
John Hutchinson
0. A. Hanscom
M. M. Hammond
G. W. Hutchinson
N. F. Herrick
William Hale
Franklin Ha seal 1
John Hutchinson
L. D. Hubbard
William A. Holmes
Thomas Hopkins
H. A. Hancock
John S. Hopper
Simon Hopper
B. F. Hopper
I). B. Hopper
F. Hill
Edward Jones
Theod. Johnson
Benjamin Johnson
Alphonso Jones
Ira M. Jones
S. G. Johnson
E. B. Johnston
Charles Jordan
James A. Jackson
Frederick Kimball
Samuel Kimball
Samuel Kennedy
William Kitchingman
Wilder Knight
G. W. Kent
Otis H. Lamb
E. D. Ladd
John A. Lowry
George S. Lenian
William B. Lee
William Lyon
N. B. Lewis
Samuel Y. Lune
George Long
George Lewis
John H. Lewis
Daniel Lowe
John S. Mott
H. S. McClelland
John C. Mossman
Jonathan Matthews
Thomas J. Murray
John H. Miller
John Mack
B. F. McDonald
J. F. Morgan
Harrison Nichols
J. B. Nichols
William H. Oliver
A. C. Pomeroy
C. W. Persall
Caleb L. Pratt
G. B. Page
David Pennington
Hugh Pettingill
S. J. Pratt
A. J. Payne
John Perott
J. S. Percival
Thomas F. Reynolds
Charles Robinson
G. W. Reed
William Randolph
James H. Reid
Albert D. Searl
Nicholas Snyder
0. D. Smith
122
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
John Speer
John Smith
Henry Smith
N. B. Short
J. E. Stewart
S. M. Salters
Thomas J. Stone
J. E. Stewart
James Sullivan
S. N. Simpson
Ah. Still
Daniel Sayre
Clark Taft
Francis 0. Toller
J. B. Taft
L. F. Tappan
John C. Wood
William C. Wood
Harrison Williams
S. J. Willis
J. H. Wilder
S. N. Wood
J. J. Whitson
Sol. Wildis
Ed. Winslow
A. B. Wade
J. F. Wilson
James W hillock
William Wallace
Rufus H. Wateman
B.
Names of those on poll-list and not on census-roll whom we know to
have voted at the election of 30£/i March, 1855.
James Christian
Sam. Merrill
G. W. Deitzler
H. E. Bahcock
Thos. Still
John Wallace^
Clark Stearnes
Oscar Harlow
J. W. Ackley
James Coyle'
C. G. Hoyt
Martin Adams
E. A. Landon
Horatio Dunbar
0. T. Bassett
Geo. Churchill
F. B. Ackley
C. F. Doy
J. A. Ladd
E. H. Dennett
Increase Whitcomh
George Perrin
A. B. Perrin
Sam. Reynolds
J. L. Baldwin
Ahram Wilder
Joshua Smith
Chas. S. Camphell
. Jacoh E. Strout
Adam Weilhart
L. Litchfield
Chas. L. Wilber
.Geo. 0. Willard
P. R. Brooks
David Brown
Lyman Allen
Jos. G. Fistler
E. F. Knight
H. W. Taber
Ahner Davidson
F. P. Yaughan
S. B. Sutherland
G. W. Goss
E. S. Scudder
John Lyon
J. Curlew
Wm. Harris
Chas. Harrington
B. G. Livingston
C. F. Keyes
Amos Trott
Jos. C. Miller
Chas. Dickson
F. J. Locke
Wm. Yates.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 123
C. W. BABCOCK recalled.
I assisted Mr. Ladd and Mr. Pratt in making out the lists of
voters from the poll-lists and census rolls, and whose lists referred to
in Mr. Ladd's testimony are correct to the best of my knowledge. I
have heard his statement in regard to them and concur in it.
C. W. BABCOCK.
LAWRENCE, K. T.; May 1, 1856.
C. S. PRATT recalled.
I assisted Mr. Babcock and Mr. Ladd in making out the lists of
voters from the poll-books and census returns, as referred to by Mr
Ladd in his testimony. Those lists are correct to the best of my
knowledge. I have heard the statement of Mr. Ladd in regard to these
lists and concur in it. I was one of the clerks of the election of the
30th of March, 1855.
CALEB S. PPvATT.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 1, 1856.
NORMAN ALLEN called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
I came into this Territory about the last of September, 1854_, and
settled in the town of Lawrence, and have resided in this district ever
since. I was here on the 30th of March, 1855. Several days pre-
vious to that time it was currently rumored here that there were
bodies of men organizing in the State of Missouri, for the purpose of
controlling the elections here. On the 28th of March it was reported
that a body of about 600 men were encamped on the Wakarusa,
about six miles below here. On the 29th companies were con-
stantly arriving here, consisting of strangers, some on horseback
and some in wagons, from three to a dozen in company. Some of
them came into town ; others passed through to the second ravine,
west of the town, and there encamped. There were a large number
of strangers in town, who said they came for the purpose of voting
and controlling the elections. Many of them told me this in con-
versation with them. They said they considered they had a right
to do so from the law, which gave residents the right to vote, and that
they were residents while they were here. I went out to their camp
on the night of the 29th, and strolled around from one camp-fire to
another, and had some conversation with persons there. At one of
the camp-fires they asked me what county I came from. I told them
I was a resident of Lawrence, and they would converse with me no
further. As I passed on, the cry of " spy " was raised. A few
moments after a person cried " Oyezy oyez ; all the companies are
124 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
requested to meet at Captain Jackson's camp forthwith on important
business." I followed them in that direction. A company from one
of the camp-fires came, headed by music ; a man beating a drum came
in. After they had all congregated, there were several speeches made
by some of the strangers whom I did not know. One of them I recog-
nised as Colonel Young, but I never heard his other name. They
said they were satisfied that the citizens of the town and vicinity were
not going to offer any resistance to their voting, and that they had a
larger number of men than was necessary to control this election,
and they wished about 200 of the young men ; the old men being
fatigued with the travel, would volunteer to go to the next district.
Quite a number volunteered while I was there, and when I left and
came away they were making up a company.
The next morning I went to the place where the election was to be
held ; I went about 8 or 9 o'clock. I found a large body of men
assembled there — many of them with guns, and most of them
armed in some way. There was a dense body of men against the
side of the house, near the window where the votes were to be received.
I got as near to the window as I could by crowding in, and found that
there was a delay occasioned by one of the judges, Mr. Blanton, fail-
ing to appear, and they were selecting another in his place. I believe
Mr. R. A. Cummins was chosen. The man that I recognised as
Colonel Young then offered his vote, which the judges refused to re-
ceive, considering him a non-resident, unless he would swear in his
vote. I could not understand all the conversation, but I understood
enough of it to learn that he refused to take the oath prescribed by
the governor. I thought he took an oath; and afterwards, in speak-
ing to those who were present, he stated that he had taken an oath.
I heard Mr. Abbott, one of the judges, questioning him ; he asked
him if he intended to make this his home, and the reply was that it
was none of his business ; that he was a resident of the Territory, and
that was all the law required. After he had voted he got up into
the window and made a short speech, stating what kind of an oath
he had taken — simply that he was a resident of the Territory. He
said other things which I do not now remember.
There was such a crowd at the polls that it took me nearly an hour
to get to the window to offer my vote, though I was assisted very
much by people leaving the window at the time of the disturbance
connected with Mr. Bond. At one time two lines were formed ex-
tending several yards from the house, under the superintendence of
Colonel Young and Captain Jackson. They stated that they wanted
the old men to go in first, as they were tired and wanted to return to
the camp. As I was in a hurry, T went in with the old men. I was
ordered out, but did not leave, and went in and deposited my vote-
After the men had voted, a large number decamped, and I saw them
passing through town that afternoon on their return towards Wa-
karusa. Some three hundred, I think, remained in camp that
night, and left the next morning in the same direction. I saw none
after 10 o'clock the next day. I cannot tell how many wagons
there were, but I should think there were over one hundred in all.
I counted as high as twenty coming in at one time in a string. They
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 125
a*
were generally armed with, rifles and shot-guns, and many of them
had "belts with bowie-knives and revolvers exposed, though some
were somewhat concealed by coat-skirts. I saw a large number vote
who came in this way, and were principally strangers to me. I do
not remember of seeing but one who was a resident of Missouri vote
whom I knew. His name was Mr. Cole, from Kansas City, Missouri.
I do not know as I should remember his name if he had not dared me
to challenge his vote.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
i do not know the name of but one from Missouri who voted that
day. He was Mr. Cole, the only one I knew, that I saw vote. I
should think there were some 400 or 500 at the polls who were armed
with shot-guns and rifles: They made no demonstration with their
weapons. In conversation with them the night before, and on the
day of the election, they stated, generally, that there would be no dif-
ficulty unless citizens tried to interfere to prevent their voting, but
they were determined to vote. I do not remember hearing them say
that there were many here who had recently arrived from the east-
ern and northern States who had no right to vote. I heard Colonel
Young say, particuarly, that he was anxious to have the citizens vote
so as to give the matter a look of fairness. I saw no force used to
restrain or intimidate the citizens from voting. I do not know how
many persons had arrived recently from the eastern and northern
States ; but I think that, a clay or two previously, a party of some-
thing like one hundred persons arrived here. None of them voted so
far as I know. I do not remember any disturbance connected with
the election, excepting those already stated. Judging from conver-
sations with different members of the parties encamped here the night
before the election, I should think there were from 800 to 900. I
should think there were nearly one hundred camp-fires. There were
but three whom 1 know: Claiborne F. Jackson, Mr. Cole of Kansas
City, and Mr. Waful of Westport. Mr. Coles and Mr. Young were
the only ones I saw vote. The Missourians said they expected assist-
ance here, but were satisfied that none would be offered.
Question ~by Mr. Sherman. How many on the poll-book, of which
here is a copy, are there of residents of this town before your name,
which is No. 58 ?
Answer. K. A. Cummins, Hugh Cameron, J. B. Abbott, C. S.
Pratt, J. Christian, Lucas Corlen, Mr. Sullivan, John J. Lowry, and
D. Parrington, are all I see.
My occupation was a merchant. I am from Missouri here. Two
years before, I came from New York.
To Mr. Oliver:
I knew of some recent arrivals from the east, who returned after-
wards. They were constantly arriving and returning, both before
and after the election, for several days, and one company returned
about eight o'clock the morning of the election, before the polls were
opened. I think that not more than one half who came out that
spring remained here. I think that perhaps three hundred or four
126 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
**•
hundred came into this district last spring, about half of whom [left
before and after the election.
To Mr. Keeder:
I think that no residents of this district got to the polls readily and
easily while I was there. Those who appeared to be leaders then
made lines reaching from the window on each side, so that they could
allow such persons to go up to the polls as they wished. Mr. Claiborne
F. Jackson stated that they wished the old men to vote first, as they
were tired, and wished to return to the camp. I do not know whether
Mr. Cole voted in his own name or another; I simply saw him pass in
his vote, when he was then lifted up on the roof the building, and passed
out that way. I think there were from eight hundred to nine hundred
Missourians in camp before the two hundred were detailed for the
second district. I should think there were about one hundred persons
arrived from the east shortly before the election, who came here for
the purpose of settling. I should think about one half left here — some
the day they arrived, and others in a longer time afterwards. Some
left before the day of election, and some the morning of the election,
before the polls were opened. The accommodations here for emigrants
were not very good — not equal to their numbers, and many complaints
were made because they did not find things as they expected, and
they left, many to settle in other parts of the Territory, and others to
return to the east.
To Mr. Oliver:
I am not able to state definitely the number of females who came
in the emigration of last spring. I should think there were more
than one lady to ten men. I saw some companies consisting of men
with their wives and families ; one from Pennsylvania, of fifteen to
twenty teams.
To Mr. Eeeder:
It has been frequently the case that men have first come here, made
their selections, sometimes built houses, and then returned for their
families. In the earlier days of the settlement of this Territory a
smaller proportion of the settlers brought their wives with them than
is the case now. I have known cases of families returning, but do
not recollect the number.
To Mr. Sherman:
I did not see any women with the company of Missourians who
encamped here the day before the election.
NORMAN ALLEN.
LAWRENCE, K. T.? April 25, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 127
40.
WILLIAM YATES called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
I came into the Territory in August, 1854, and settled in this dis-
trict, where I have resided ever since. I came from Illinois, stopping
two or three months in Cass county, Missouri. I was here on the
day of the election of the 30th March, 1855. On the evening "before
the election there was a large number of persons who came t in on
horseback and in wagons, and encamped across the ravine and remained
until after the election. On the evening of the 30th of March, along
towards night, a great many of them started back down the country.
There were encamped there, as near as I can guess, about six or seven
hundred. There were some two hundred detailed in the evening — so
I was told in the camp — to go to another district, as report said they
wanted help there, and they sent them. I heard them say this in the
camp. 1 went into the camp, and heard them say that they came up
from Missouri purposely to vote. Some in the camp I was acquainted
with. I was acquainted with one man particularly, whom I knew by
eight, that I fell in with a year or eighteen months before, coming up
from New Orleans, who lived in Howard county. I did not know his
name, but recognised him, and he recognised me; and he told me he
still remained in Howard county. There was another man, named
Snowdy, who lived in Carroll county, and others that I knew by sight
but not by name. They said nothing more about their intention than
that they came here to vote.
I did not see any but what had a bowie-knife, Revolver, shot-gun,
rifle, or something of the kind. As far as I knew they brought with
them the fodder for their animals. There was a lot of provisions de-
posited in a building used as the old post office, that was said to be
for their use. It was the house of William Lykins.J
I was at the election on the 30th. I cannot say whether all the
men from the camp voted or not. There was a great crowd around
the window all day until1 an hour by sun, or perhaps later. I did not
go to the polls until perhaps nine or ten o'clock. They were crowding
around, but I did not see all of them vote. It was very difficult for
me to get to the polls. I made one or two efforts, but did not get
there, and declined voting at all, but was over-persuaded by some of my
friends here to vote, and staid around until late in the evening, until
the crowd had dispersed, and then voted.
I saw none in the companies that had encamped there that were
settlers in the district at that time. I believe I knew almost every
man in the district. This large body of men were all strangers.
They had music, but I do not remember about the flags, though I
am of the opinion that they had some. They had a drum and a fiddle ;
a black boy waS playing the fiddle, and some man beating the drum.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver:
I could not tell how many I was acquainted with. I knew some
ten or a dozen by sight, and some by name. I could name several,
though I did not charge my mind with them I I could perhaps name
128 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
more upon sight now. I knew Mr. Snowdy and Mr. Robinson, from
Jackson county, I think, and Mr. McGee, from Jackson county.
These are all that come to my memory now, with the exception of
Colonel Young, whom I knew by sight. I had conversation with
some of these gentlemen. They said they came here for the purpose
of voting. They said it was for the purpose of electing a legislature
to suit themselves. I think they did say that they had understood,
and believed, that there were a number of persons not entitled to vote
who would vote to establish principles different from those they de-
sired to have established in this Territory.
I don't think anything was said in camp that night about legal or
illegal voting. They said there were a great number of persons here
from the east and north who wished to elect a legislature here they did
not desire. They said they would elect a legislature to suit themselves,
because the people of the Territory would not elect a legislature to
suit them. I don't state this as a fact, but as near as I can recollect.
I think they said they had as good a right to vote as men who came
from other States. I heard them say there were men here from the
east and north who came here to vote. They said that these men had
come here for no other purpose, and that they had as much right to
come here and vote as the others had ; and that was the reason they
gave for coming here.
They were armed. There was no violence offered, but crowding
and pushing. There was a larger crowd there than I had seen in the
Territory before. I don't think I ever saw quite so much crowding
and pushing at any other election in other places. I did not see any
violence used or weapons drawn.
Mr. Sherman. Look at this poll-book and state the number of your
vote.
Witness. It was 881. I do not live in town ; I live in the country.
1 am a farmer, and raise stock. My means of knowing the people
here was that the country was thinly settled. I had considerable
stock, and was riding through the Territory a great deal, meeting
persons here and there.
WM. YATES,
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 25, 1856.
WM. B. HORNSBY produced and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder:
I came into the Territory about the 17th day of August, 1854. I
resided formerly in Johnson county, Missouri. I settled on the Califor-
nia road, one and a half miles west of here, in this district, and have
resided in this district ever since. I was here on thePSOth of March,,
1855. On the 28th and 29th of March there were about one thousand
came into this district from Missouri, they said ; some came in wagons,
some on horseback. I do not know who their leader was, but believe
it was Claiborne Jackson. A great many of them were armed — the
principal part of them. They were all men, in my opinion. They
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 129
had drums, and fiddles, and flags. I saw no artillery or cannon.
They encamped across the ravine near here — at Wade's. I was in a
part of their camp — a small portion of it. I saw there Lewis Glover,
who lived in Lafayette county, Missouri, Kedman Robinson, of Jack-
son county, Missouri. There were a good many others there I knew,
but I cannot now remember their names. They were from Missouri.
I was pretty well acquainted with this district at that time. None
of the men I saw there lived in this district, so far as I knew. They
said they had come here to vote ; some of them said they did vote.
That was said after the election. They said they had a right to vote
here ; that this country belonged to Missouri, and they would vote.
I heard no speeches made in the camp. A detachment was sent off
the night of the 29th to a district above here. They said there was
not enough went up there to carry the election in that district. I
saw the same men at the election voting. I was not in the camp
till the morning of the 30th. I saw a great many of them going up
to the polls with tickets in their hands ; they said they were going to
vote. They left here, part that evening and part the next morning.
To Major Oliver:
I am not acquainted with Claiborne Jackson ; I am not sure that
he commanded the company ; I heard it said that he did ; I resided
since August, 1854, in this district ; I had conversations only with a
few ; I had knowledge of some of them. I conversed with Galloway
Adams ; don't remember only part of what he said ; he said he did not
come here to vote — he was not old enough. That is all that I con-
versed with ; only a few words to others, that I don't remember. I
think it was said that there were about a thousand ; I saw the men ;
did not count them ; I merely spoke to Lewis Glover ; had no conver-
sation with Redman Robinson. I saw some of them giving in their
tickets ; did not see Robinson, nor Adams ; I was out in the crowd
about the windows ; was not old enough to vote ; don't know who they
voted for. I said, that they said they had come here to vote. I heard
them say their reasons for coming was that they had a right to vote-;;
I heard them say at the polls that they had as good a right to vote, m.
others that had recently come into the Territory from other States ;
they said that persons from the east had no right to come here and
settle, and no right to vote ; does not remember who made the remark
that Kansas Territory belonged to Missouri ; heard it in camp,. My
age is twenty-two years now.
Re-examined by Mr. Reeder :
It was said that Jackson was the leader ; I do not recollect when ;
I heard the expression from several, I don't know how may, that per-
sons from the east had no right to come here and settle, and no right
to vote.
WM. B. HQRNSBY.
LAWRENCE, K. T.} April 25, 1856.
H. Rep. 200 9*
130 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
F. P. VAUGHN produced and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I came into the Territory of Kansas on the 26th of March, A. D.
1855, and into this district on the 2^th of the same month. I have
heen here ever since. Previously I resided in Macon county, Missouri;
had lived there about fourteen years. I saw some stir about some-
thing before I left home ; saw some persons going round about the
county seat, taking certain persons out and speaking privately to
them. On my way to Kansas I stopped a few days in Lynn county,
Missouri ; there seemed to be a good deal of excitement there in rela-
tion to Kansas elections. I saw several persons from Macon county
there ; they said they were on their way to Kansas. I passed on to-
wards the Territory, and as I travelled along I saw different individ-
uals whom I knew. Stopped a few days in Ray county, Missouri ;
there was more excitement there than in the other counties through
which I had passed. I then came on to Clay county, Missouri, and
saw a young gentleman, who said he himself was coming up to Law-
rence— that there were a company of three hundred others coming to
vote ; said they certainly would vote if the Yankees were allowed to
vote, and that if any resistance were offered, there would be a fuss ;
that the slaveholders of that county had offered to pay the expenses
of three hundred, and that he was one of those who had been engaged
to come ; and that this three hundred would be sufficient for fifteen
hundred votes, if they did as they had done in former elections of the
Territory ; that he knew of several men who, at former elections, had
voted fourteen or fifteen times apiece, by changing their hats and
coats and voting in the name of their neighbors ; that all of them had
voted four or five times apiece.
J crossed the river the next day with about a dozen men. One of
vtlwn. seemed to be a leader ; said my ferriage would be paid if I was
, coming to vote. From that time until I got up to this district there
were crowds of persons coming up in carriages, wagons, and on horse--
, backs and some walking. I passed some words with some of them.
In-eo&aing out this side of Westport I was challenged to know where
I waslrom. The person with whom I was speaking said that they
were from Independence, Missouri, and we are going up to vote — w^i
are.
I stayed all night at Mill creek ; there was a camp of Missourians
there, as I understood ; they were hallooing and keeping up a noise
all night. Next morning I had a conversation with one person, whoiru
I supposed to be of the same camp; he said he had laid a claim in the-
Territory, and that he had a right to vote, although his family were-
not there. I was here on the day of the election, on the 30th off
March, 1855. I saw several men that I had previously known ; they
were the Rev. Mr. Dysart and Mr. Morrow, of Macon county, Missouri,,
and a Mr. Mayo, of Randolph county, Missouri, and Mr. Hunson, or*
Huston, of Carroll county, Missouri. I saw these men at the place off
voting, in Lawrence. I was not in the camp. It is about two hundred l|
miles from. Macon county to this place; but not so far to Carroll county. .
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 131
I saw the body of men that camped near this town. I have never since
seen the men from Macon, and Carroll, and Eandolph counties.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
I do not know the name of the young rnan whom I saw in Clay
county ; his father lives on the road from Liberty to Randolph. I do
not know that he voted, but he was present at the polls in Lawrence
on the day of election, on the 30th of March, in company with the
Missourians. When we crossed the Missouri river, at Randolph, the
one I took to be the leader said the ferriage bills would be footed by
the persons sending ou£ the company. I do not know who the head
man was ; the company did not, to my knowledge, pay ferriage, but
a list of their names, or their number, was given to the ferryman.
To Mr. Oliver :
I think the young man before alluded to lived about six miles from
Liberty ; his father lived in a weather-boarded house ; there was a
small room north of the main building, and a passage between. I
came to this district to look around, and stay if it suited. Some ex-
citement prevailed in Linn county. I understood the cause of the
excitement in those far-off counties to be that they were fearful Kan-
sas would become a free State. But when I reached Ray county I
understood this to be the cause of the excitement. It was reported
that large numbers of eastern men were coming on the boats to Kan-
sas Territory, to be present at the elections on the 30th of March. I
understood several to say that they would vote, if the Yankees or
northern men voted.
I heard some of the people of Missouri say that they were willing
to leave the whole question to" be settled by the bona fide settlers of
the Territory ; others expressed a different feeling. A great many
persons in Missouri are opposed to the Missourians coming here and
meddling with the elections of Kansas.
F. P. VAUGHN.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 25, 1856.
G-AIUS JENKINS produced and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I was coming up from Kansas City, on the morning of the 31st
March, 1855. After leaving Westport, about two and a half miles
from there, I began to meet crowds of men, and as I approached the
timber this side of the Baptist Mission I was frequently detained as
much as fifteen minutes, allowing them to- pass in the road ; a good
many of them were quite wild and uproarious, and seemed to enjoy
themselves, frequently asking if I had seen Governor ^ Reeder.
Some of them said that if he did not sanction that election they
would hang him in the first tree, or something like that. I heard it
so frequently, I cannot give the precise words ; it was a general ^ re-
mark from the wagons at Ham's. At Mill creek they had been nooniug;
132 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and then there was a pretty general expression, asking if I had seen
Governor Reeder ; they said they were going into the Mission, I told
them that I supposed he was at the Mission ; they said they were going
in, and if he did not sanction the < lection, they would run him up to
the first tree, God damn him I They had "been drinking ; they stated
that they had been at the election ; they stated that they had elected
Chapman to the council, and named one or two others that I was not
acquainted with. I recognisad Cole, as one I was acquainted with ; it
was he that made the remark that they had elected Chapman. I
recognised others as being from Jackson county, as persons I had seen.
These persons were armed ; some had guns irt their hands — no side-
arms as I remember. Chapman was a candidate in this district. The
party was chiefly in wagons — more than half — the rest on horseback.
After leaving Mill creek, there was very little said to me ; but I con-
tinued to pass them until four miles this side of Mill creek, some eight
miles in all ; and straggling parties to Fisher's, some thirteen miles
further.
Cross-examined :
I did not know these men ; I recognised but could not name them ; I
saw Mr. McUee as one of the party, but heard him say nothing — the
one that lives in the brick house beyond Westport ; his first name I
think is Allen.
GAIUS JENKINS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 25, 1856.
GEORGE W. DEITZLER produced and sworn,
To Mr. Reeder :
I saw two persons here from Glasgow, Missouri, on the day of the elec-
tion ; they came on the day before ; one was Thomas Crews, keepen
of the Glasgow house ; his father keeps it ; the name of the otherr
I do not recollect. Mr. Crews called on me the day before the election!
and talked over matters ; he told me the boys were coming to vote ;:
I told him I thought it was wrong ; he said that was no considera-
tion with them — that they weie bound to make Kansas a slave State,,
or there would be trouble. 1 asked him whether he intended to start'
here ; he said no, he might at some future day go over to Kansas. He1
told me their party were from Missouri ; there were only six fromi
Glasgow. He told me about four hundred were on the Wakarusa ;;
this was when he came in the day before. I said, suppose the judges?
refuse to receive your votes? He said, in that case, damn them, theyv
would choose others. I saidf there might be trouble. At this time he1
took my hand and said I should not be hurt ; that he would be1
around. I did not see Crews vote here ; I saw him with a party oil
Misbourians that afternoon, and I saw him the next morning with the
party at the polls ; with the other persons I had very little conversa-
tion. I asked him what brought him up here ; he said he came
with the boys. I asked him. what for. He said he came to vote,
I also met Mr. Linney here, who was introduced to me on board;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 133
the boat as a member of the Missouri legislature. I don't know of
my own knowledge he was a member ; he was introduced to me by
Colonel John Doniphan, of Weston ; I saw him here on the morning
of the election. I told him, from what I had seen, I expected a great
many up, but had no idea I should see him here. Oh, said he, we
came here to teach you your interests.
The first party of Missourians encamped on the bank of the river,
close to town ; they afterwards collected on the ravines ; next morn-
ing they came in thick. I came to town rather early, and found the
place where the election was to beheld surrounded by these strangers;
I knew them to be strangers from the fact that they wore white rib-
bons in their button-holes. Very few citizens were about at that time ;
they did not seem to disguise their intentions, but spoke very freely
about it all day. I talked familiarly with them about it ; one of them,
to show that he was a citizen, took off his boots to show that he had
some Kansas dirt in it ; he said that made him a citizen ; they said
they were citizens of Kansas, all of them, when asked the question.
When asked where they were from, they said from Missouri, different
places. I returned to the polls about ten o'clock ; found it very much
crowded, so that it was almost impossible to get to the window. After
much difficulty, I deposited my vote. They asked me to pass over the
roof of the house ; that I could not get back out of the crowd. I refused
to do so, and then they asked me to get down and crawl tbrough
their legs and get out. I told them I should do no such thing ; that
I walked in, and should walk out. I fought my way out, I might say,
and was a long while doing it. I had had equal difficulty to get in. I
should suppose there were between seven and eight hundred at this
point; most every one had a gun, and all had revolvers and bowie-
knives, and took occasion to expose them, to let us see that they were
armed. Some of them left on the afternoon of the election ; and
others, the majority, staid till next morning.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
Mr. Crews told me that one of the reasons of the people coming into
this Territory was by endeavoring to justify their course, by referring
to emigrant aid societies in the east, which he understood were or-
ganized for the purpose of sending persons into Kansas to vote at that
election, and, as he understood, to vote at the 30th of March election,
and coming up the river for that purpose.
G. W. DEITZLER.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 25, 1856.
CARMIE W. BABCOCK called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I came here in September, 1854, previous to the proclamation of
Governor Reeder for the election of the 30th of March, 1855 ; there
was some talk about the Missourians coming here. I took the census
of this district, and as I was travelling about I often heard it said that
134 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
tlie Missourians would be here at the election. It was currently re-
ported here, for some weeks before the election, that the Missourians
were preparing to come up here, and had organized what they called
a Blue Lodge for that purpose. I was intimately acquainted with
several p^o-slavery men in this immediate vicinity, who were reported
to belong to that lodge, and whom I had every reason to believe did
belong to it, from conversations with them. The first thing I ob-
served that made me think they were coming was this : I had just
opened our post office here in a little log building with a partition in
it ; the building was owned by a young man named William Lykins,
who was deputy postmaster ; we occupied but one-half of the building.
The rats and mice made considerable noise in the other part of the
building, which was unoccupied, and I inquired of Mr. Lykins what
they were up to. He took me in there and showed me a lot of pro-
visions, consisting of a large quantity of bacon, some corn, and I think
some flour and meal, though I will not be certain about that. I do
not know when the provision was brought there, though I was told.
This Mr. Lykins was from Missouri, though a resident here at that
time ; he is now in Kansas City, Missouri.
On the evening of the 29th of March, 1855, a large crowd of men,
came in and encamped in the ravine just beyond the post office ; I
should think there were in that first company some five or six hun-
dred ; I was boarding then at Mr. Chapman's, just above the creek.
That evening, about 10 o'clock, I think, a party left the camp, and
started for the California road, and it was reported that they were
foing to the second district ; soon after, another company left.*
did not talk with any of them, and only heard it reported where
they were going. The first company went in the direction of Douglas
district ; the last company in the direction of Hickory Point. There
were to be elections at both places. I should think there were near
two hundred in each party.
On the morning of the day of the election, a little after sunrise,
another company commenced coming in. I was standing by Mr.
Chapman's house, and saw them in the distance over the hill, and
watched them until they passed the house and went into the camp
with the others.
I was in the camp on the evening before the election and on the
morning of the election, and was introduced to several persons there.
I heard them talking among themselves, stating that the Howard
county boys were located in such a place, the Clay county boys in
another place, the Cass county boys in another place, the Saline boys
in another place, and called over a number of other counties that I do
not now recollect. I was introduced to a man named Davidson, Mr.
Wade's father-in-law, who now lives in this Territory. I also saw a
man named Coles, from Kansas City, I think ; Allen McGee, of West-
port, who introduced me, I think, to Colonel Samuel Young. I will
not be positive about that, but I was introduced to him afterwards.
My impression is that Mr. McGee introduced me to him on the morn-
ing of the election.
Nearly all these men had guns of some description ; shot-guns and,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 135
muskets. Most of them had revolvers, and a great many had bowie-
knives. They had several tents and some flags and music.
When they arrived, the provisions in Mr. Lykins's house were taken
out and given to them. On once occasion a young man came up to
the house and asked for the provisions. I asked who they belonged
to, and he said they belonged to the company, and he wanted some ot
them. He took off a sack of corn for the horses. I delivered but that
one sack ; Mr. Lykins delivered the rest. I do not know what became
of the rest of the provisions. Mr. Lykins wanted to clear out that part
of the house for the election to be held in, and he set out several sides
of bacon and some corn, and I saw persons come up promiscuously
from the camp and get them.
I heard Col. Samuel Young make a speech on the morning of the
election. I heard but a part of it. as he wasVbout closing his remarks
when I came up. This was at the polls. He was cautioning the boys
to keep good order, as they would all be allowed to vote ; they must
not be noisy, must not disturb property, and he would see that all
had a chance to vctfe.
I was sitting in*the office, with the windows up, as they came up to
the polls. There did not seem to bo any military organization ; they
came up in little companies as they had camped. Most of them had
guns, some carrying them on their shoulders, some in their hands.
They made a great deal of noise and very much of a rush.
I talked with several of them and was introduced to many of them,
but do not remember their names. They said that their intention was
to vote ; that they wanted to do it peaceably ; did not propose to pre-
vent others from voting ; were willing for us to vote, but they would
vote too, as they had just as much right to vote as we had. That was
the general tenor of their conversation. They left about four or five
o'clock on the day of election.
Before they put in their votes I heard several of them take the oath.
I was in the next room and heard Col. Young swear that he was a
bonafide resident of Kansas Territory. He did not say he was a resi-
dent of this district, so far as I recollect, but that he was an actual
and bona fide resident of Kansas Territory, and owed no allegiance to
the State of Missouri. He told the judges that it was unnecessary to
swear the rest of the men, as they would all swear the same thing.
He was not a resident of this district when I took the census, and was
not a resident at the time of the election. I should have known it if
he had become a resident. I do not believe he has ever become a re-
sident of this district. I do not recollect that the judges asked him
any questions about his residence here when he took the oath.
I was in the other room, and looked through the cracks in the par-
tition when they changed the election board. Mr. Blanton being ab-
sent, Mr. Benjamin was put in his place. Mr. Abbott resigned, and
Mr. Cummins was elected in his place. This was when the board first
met. It is the duty of voters present to fill the vacancies in the elec-
tion board. The politics of Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Cummins were the
same as of those who had camped here. That party was supporting
Thomas Johnson and E. Chapman for the Council, and A. B. Wade,
136 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
James Whitlock, and, I think, John M. Banks for the House of Ee-
presentatives.
A few of this party remained in camp until the morning after the
election, hut the most of them left in the evening before.
In taking the census I followed, as near as I could, the directions
laid down in the precept. It was a correct return, to the best of my
knowledge, o4 all the voters in the district at that time.
I did not notice any mottoes on the flags of this party. I do not
think they had their tickets printed here, but brought them with them.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
I was personally acquainted with but few of the men who came
here from Missouri. Mr. Allen McGee was the only person I was
acquainted with that I conversed with concerning their objects in.
coming here. He informed me that they had come here to vote ; that
there was a large number of persons coming here from northern and
eastern States to be at that election, and the Missourians were coming
here to counteract that movement. I had a conversation with Mr.
Davidson, of Missouri — I think he was from Pleagant Hill, in Cass
county. He said he did not approve of their coming up here, and
that he would not vote ; did not believe that he had a right to vote
here. He stated that he did not want to come up here at all, but his
son-in-law was a candidate, and the people were all coming up, and
he came along ; but he would not vote, as he did not approve of it.
In conversation in camp I heard some of them say that this Territory
belonged to the Missourians, and that these eastern men had no busi-
ness here. That was the drift of their conversation. I heard others
say that they were coming here to vote against these eastern men, re-
ferring, I suppose, to recent emigration, though they did not say that.
I conversed with several, and told them I did not think they had any-
right to vote here. They said that all these men at Lawrence had
been sent out here with their families for the purpose of voting, and
they had as much right to vote as those men had.
There were some arrivals in the Territory after the census was
taken. There were, I should think, near one hundred here from
northern and eastern States, but I do not think all staid in this dis-
trict ; some of them went above.
To Mr. Keeder :
All the first part of the day, as fast as persons voted, they put them
up over the house, because there was so much of a crowd and rush in
front of the polls that they could not get back. The building was a
very low log building with a flat roof. The post office was open at
the windows at the time of the election, though the door was shut.
A great many of our citizens came to the window and complained
that they could not get near the polls arid could not vote.
Some time before noon, as I was in the office, I heard a gun dis-
charged. I came out and saw a crowd rushing towards the bank of
the river. I went down with the rest of them, and saw Mr.. Bond, a
citizen of this place, come up from below the bank. They said they
had shot at him, and he had jumped oif the bank. They said these
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 137
had been some conversation with him, and then some one called him
a damned abolitionist, arid then the mob pitched on him. I did not
see any other difficulty.
C. W. BABCOCK.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 26, 1856.
LYMAN ALLEN called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
I came into the Territory about a year ago the 24th of March last.
I settled here, in Lawrence, and have resided here ever since. I am
from the State of New York. I was here on the 30th of March, 1855.
In coming up the Missouri river I stopped at the various landing
places, arid, when we got up as far as Glasgow, we noticed persons
who commenced coming aboard. We came up on the " Sam Cloon."
They said they were coining here to vote, as a fund had been raised
for that purpose. They, with myself, landed at Kansas City, I think
between the 16th and 24th of March, 1855. I immediately came
through to this place, and on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of March, the
emigration was very flush. On the 29th, I think, there were not less
than from six to nine hundred came here. Most of them encamped
on. the Wakarusa over night. I came here the next day. I stopped
with my brother, about four miles from here, near the Wakarusa ; and
in coming here, I saw a large party pouring up the Wakarusa. There
was an election to be held in Bloomington that day. Several gentle-
men came into town, and seemed to be prominent men in this party.
They came from below to see if they would be allowed to vote, with-
out resistance. They said they were coming here to vote in sufficient
numbers to accomplish their object, and would vote — peaceably if they
could, forcibly if they must. They claimed a right under the organic
act to vote here. They said it gave them that right although they
were citizens in other States, because, according to that act, citizens
and residents were not synonymous ; they were residents wherever they
happened to be, but citizens where their families were. They consid-
ered it unfortunate that such an oversight had crept into the bill, but
they would claim the benefit of it. I came in town about T o'clock on
the morning of the 30th, and immediately went over to the place of
election. 1 remained there until dark, except when away for dinner.
I think these men had a darkey who drummed for them, and one who
carried a flag. They were generally armed, though many had no
guns. Colonel Young seemed to be the leading man. He had told
me, in conversation with him previously, what I have already stated
as to their idea about their right to vote. He said he should vote
here, though that disfranchised him in Missouri. The men who came
up to vote, refused to take the oath prescribed by the governor. Col.
Young said he would offer his vote, but would not take that oath.
He would make that the test ; and if he was allowed to vote without
taking that oath, the rest would probably be allowed to do so ; if not,
they would vote by force.
138 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I did not hear what oath he did take. When he came out, it Was
said that he had perjured himself. He declared he would like to
find the man who said so, and he would dispatch forty such men.
Mr. Abbott, one of the judges, resigned, because those who voted
refused to take the oath prescribed by the governor, and the other
judges received their votes. Hugh Cameron was one of the other
judges, but I cannot say whether the other was Mr. Benjamin or Mr.
Cummins. After Mr. Young had voted, about two hundred men
left here for Bloomington, as it was said they were not needed here.
The leaders in the matter then undertook to expedite the voting, as
it was impossible to vote from the crowd ; those who had voted being
compelled to crawl over the house, which was a low one, to get away.
About that time, Charles Stearns was found on the ground with a
book in his hands taking notes. He was surrounded by a company of
men, who said they would have no notes taken. They became very
much exasperated, and threatened to kill him, but Colonel Young got
him out of the crowd without his being injured. About 11 o'clock
the leaders of this company placed guards along from the window,
forming an alley, so as to allow persons to vote according to counties
as they came up — according to the counties from which they came in
Missouri. The oldest men were given the preference. I saw one
young man living in this town walk into the alley and go up towards
the window. He was asked what ticket he voted, and he said it was
his own business. The crowd gathered around him and threatened
him, but his friends got him away. I think he voted at that time.
Not long after, Mr. Edward Bond was talking with some gentlemen,
when he got into some difficulty. An attack was made upon him,
and as he was jumping off the bank of the river I saw a revolver
fired at him. I did not know the man's name at the time. He was
not a citizen of this district. I have been told his name since, but
do not recollect it.
Colonel Young stated that he was a citizen of Missouri, though a
resident of Kansas for the time being. I found a great many young
men who took the same ground as Colonel Young did; they had every
appearance of being educated men. After dinner, about two o'clock, I
attempted to vote ; there was a very large crowd, all bracing towards
the window, and about two hours afterwards I got there. There was
a crowd from every direction ; but our side was the strongest, and we*
pushed the others away. It seemed to be a contest with the "Free--
Soilers" and Clay county boys. I was with the latter, and they came;
in ahead. No one asked me my politics. I went in and voted, and!
was then taken by the boys and lifted upon and went over the house. ,
I saw during the day some of the company that came up on the boat
when I did; I saw them vote; I heard them say frequently they
were coming here to vote. I have since recognised several persons
as citizens of Jackson county, Missouri, whom 1 saw vote that day.
About four o'clock the ground was somewhat cleared, and the old
men began to leave, and they began to decamp. Some of the boys had
got considerably intoxicated, and we kept a guard about here during
that night. About half of those persons left I think before midnight, ,
and early in the morning ; the rest drove off in the direction from ;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 139
whence they came. There were several persons in the crowd when I
tried to vote — not very rugged persons — who "became faint and were
taken away. It was very laborious getting up to the polls.
To Mr. Sherman :
I think these men had their tickets printed in the " Free-State"
office in this place, at that time under the charge of Miller and Elliott.
Those nominations were made after they got here; they voted for Mr.
Chapman and Mr. Johnson for Council, and Mr. Whitlock and Mr.
Banks for House of Kepresentatives. I think there was one McGee,
who was with the committee, who came up from the Wakarusa camp,
but I am not certain about that; I think Colonel Young was most of
that committee.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
These persons also said, though not generally, that the position
they sustained towards the Territory made it necessary that this
should be a slave State. Their interest in the question was so much
greater than any other, that they had a right to vote here in self-
defence. I heard Colonel Young's speech ; I do not remember of his
Baying that they had as much right to vote as others who had
come here within two or three weeks previously. He stated that the
North and East had formed societies to send emigration here to make
this a free State, and they would beat them at their own game. I
think I heard them say they approved of the principles of the Kansas-
Nebraska bill, and were willing for the bona fide settlers in this
Territory to settle the question of slavery for themselves. There
were two young men I got acquainted with in coming here, and they
admitted in conversation that this thing was all wrong ; but as the
North had commenced it, they would come in under the same plan.
These two were some of those to whom I have referred in my exam-
ination in chief as having given reasons for coming here to vote. I
was with the persons who were here all day, but not in their camp, as
they were not in camp during the day. I do not recollect that I heard
any one say that they had as much right to vote as emigrants recently
from the north or east, but they claimed a general right to make this
a slave State, as the North had sent men here to make this a free
State. These reasons, I think, were given by the more moderate of
the party, who, I judged, came along as peace-makers ; the general
tone was different. I do not remember that Col. Young in his speech
said that there were a number of persons in this district who were
from the north and east, and if they were allowed to vote he would
claim that he and his party should be allowed to vote ; and if allowed
to vote peaceably it would be all right, but they would vote forcibly
if necessary. I had just arrived in the Territory, and voted at that
election. I do not know how many from the north and east who
had just arrived voted at that time.
When I was on my way here, a party from the east passed me at
Buffalo, and when I reached here a part of them were going back,
and persuading all to go back they could. Some of them went up
the "Big Blue" and settled what is now called "Manhattan."
140 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
'
Some of our own party got as far as John Ham's, on " Mill creek
about fourteen miles from Westport, and being obliged to sleep on
the floor, they got up the next morning and started back. I believe
about that time it was common for some to come here and stay over
night, and start back the next day. I do not think I could tell defi-
nitely how many voted of that spring's migration, except myself, as*
they were mostly strangers to me. The most of the party I came out
with went back. I had been here but eight or ten days before the
election. I brought my wife with me. It was the common practice
to take persons by the legs and hoist them up to the root' of the house,
as they could not get out any other way. It was not understood to
be any indignity or rudeness, and voters on both sides were treated in
the same way. When the crowd was thinned out, persons left the
polls in the ordinary way. This was the case after about three or
tour o'clock, but the crowd was dense be ore that time.
LYMAN ALLEN.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 26, 1856.
SAMUEL N. WOOD called and affirmed.
To Mr. Keeder :
I first came into the Territory in June, 1854, from the State of
Ohio. I settled in July, 1854, about five miles from here, in this
district, on the California road. I have resided in the district ever
since. I was here on the day of election of the 30th of March, 1855 ;
it was on Friday. On the Wednesday evening before, I saw some two
or three hundred men encamped on the ravine bottom near the ford,
who said they were from Missouri, and were going above to some place
to vote, and there would be about 1,000 more to vote at this place.
The next day, Thursday, they commenced coming in hereto Lawrence
on horseback, on mules, in wagons and carriages, frequently in long
processions ; they camped over most of the town, I think on Wade's
claim. I was all over their camp the night before the election. I
was introduced to Doctor Lomry ; he said he was from Missouri. I
was introduced to Col. Claiborne F. Jackson, who lives at "Arrow
Bock," Missouri. I do not recollect whether I first saw Col. Young
that night or the next morning. I recollect seeing a Dr. Earl, from
Westport, who was postmaster there. When I first came out here, I
also saw a man by the name of Cole, from Kansas City. There was
quite a procession came on the morning of the election, with flags
flying, from towards the "Wakarusa," I think from where Mr.
McGee lives ; I saw two McGee's in the party. When the polls were
opened, Mr. Blanton, one of the judges of the election, was absent ;
there was considerable trouble in choosing a judge in his place.
Colonel Young assumed to manage for the Missourians. It took
us at least an hour, 1 think, to settle on the third judge. Colonel
YToung claimed that the people here had two of the judges, and there-
fore it was nothing more than right that the Missourians should have
one to attend to their interests. They finally agreed upon Mr. Cum-
mins. Mr, Benjamin was appointed in place of Mr. Abbott, after he
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 141
resigned. It was found pretty difficult, when the polls were opened, for
any one to get to the window to vote, after the judges had voted. I think
Colonel Young was the first who offered to vote. One of the judges
asked him if he was a resident of the Territory,, and he said he was. He
was asked to he sworn, and he was sworn, and again said he was a
resident of this Territory. They formed two lines of them near from
the window out on the prairie, some three or four rods, standing
some six feet apart, and those who voted had to enter in at the outer
end of these two lines, walk up to the window, and vote ; and for a
time they were put up over the house to get out. After some voting
they formed another line from the window to let them out. Soon
after the voting commenced I heard quite an excitement a little to the
left of where i was standing. I supposed at first it was a kind of
what we call a side row, got up to get people away from the house, so
that others could vote. I saw a man running from the house towards
the river, and as many as a hundred running after him. I started
after them, and I was perhaps a rod from the man when he jumped
off the bauk ; and I saw it was a Mr. Bond, of this place. There were
some two or three pistol-shots fired after him. There was considerable
excitement on the bank. Several of them said they must drive all the
damned abolitionists off the ground. I remarked that it would be
difficult for them to do so, as there were men there who would be
willing to have their bodies riddled with bullets before they suffered
that to be done. Colonel Young carne up to me, and said that he
wished no difficulty, and if we would keep our men quiet they would
not allow any of us to be injured ; that they wanted to vote, and would
vote, at all hazards. I heard as many as fifty persons say that, I
think. One of the judges objected to Colonel Young's vote being
received, and when it was received he resigned. They appointed Mr.
Benjamin in his place; Mr. Benjamin was a resident of this district,
I think.
These Missourians had almost exclusive control of the polls until
late in the afternoon. This Benjamin had a claim near town, but I
do not know whether he was living on it or not. I recollect that a
man named Willis, who lived in this place at that time, came up about
the middle of the afternoon to vote, when about half of these Missou-
rians had left. When he carne up they raised a cry that he was a
damned abolitionist, a ne^ro thief, &c., and hallooed "Kill him 1"
"Shoot him I" &c. There were several of our men on the ground,
and they told them if they wanted to commence that game they could
do so, and that they would find the matter would not end here in
Kansas Territory; and they quieted down very much. I think
Willis voted. These men ran him. A Mr. J. 0. Shelby, who I
think lives in Berlin, Lafayette county, Missouri, took dinner with
rne that day. He said there were fifty who came from his neigh-
borhood with him to vote, and they were going to vote. He said
that if he had to swear that he lived* in this Territory he would not
vote, as he did not live here, and never expected to live here, nor did
the men who were with him ever expect to live here. I do not know
as I can name others who voted. I recollect of seeing E. M. McGee,
who lives between Kansas City and Westport. I also saw a number
142 -KANSAS AFFAIRS.
whom I had seen in Missouri, in Westport, Kansas City; Independence,
and other places, whose names I do not know. I think there were two
McGees here, hut I do not recollect the name of the other one. This
Shelby stated that there were ten thousand Missourians in this Terri-
tory, and one thousand of them were detailed to this place. When I
was in the camp the night before the election I recollect there was a
messenger came in to inform them that there were not men enough in
Bloomington — a district above this — and they must have two hundred
more men there. I heard this Lomry and Jackson talk about it, and
they agreed that night to send two hundred men. Quite a number
of the party left the next morning, about the time the polls were
opened here, and went off above somewhere. The majority of these
men, 1 think, had revolvers in sight. They had bowie-knives, I sup-
pose, though I do not know enough about them to tell whether they
were bowie-knives, though they were large knives ; and they also had
rifles and double-barreled shot-guns. They had drums and flags,
though I do not recollect what kind of flags they were. I think I
knew perhaps nine-tenths of the settlers in this district at that time.
These men who came here were all strangers to the district. After
the election they left, and I should think they were all out of the dis-
trict by noon the next day. They said they came here to vote, and
were going to vote. I heard the remark frequently that if the people
here made no opposition, and allowed them to vote, there would be
no trouble; but if there was any opposition they would drive them all
out of the neighborhood, or kill them, as they were going to vote
anyhow. I recollect, among others, seeing Mr. Owen here, who lives
near Lexington, Missouri. He had formerly been in the Territory,
and had a claim over north of the town. He was here at the first
election at Basyager's, and had a difficulty with a Dutchman, and shot
him. He then left the Territory, and had not been seen here since
until the day of the election of the 30th of March, at which he voted.
His claim was some twelve or fourteen miles from here to the south,
and I think in the district below here. I recollect that about a dozen
men who were strangers to me, but who said they were from Missouri,
took me one side on the day of election, and made inquiries about one
of their candidates. They said they were afraid he was not altogether
"sound on the goose question." They used to know him down in
Kansas City, but were afraid of him, and wanted to know if he had
not expressed some rather Free-soil sentiments up here. Colonel
Young, however, vouched for him., and they concluded to vote for
him. I tried to find out their candidates when I was in their camp •
the night before the election. I. should think I asked a hundred men
about them ; but the universal cry was, that they had no tickets, and
did not know who were their candidates. They said their leaders
would fix that up in the night, and get their tickets, and they would
know in the morning.
I was about the polls pretty much all day, with the exception of
about one hour at dinner time. These men from the camp voted. I
think I saw one man vote four times. They changed their coats or
their hats, and came up to the window again and voted, I do not .
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
know about the names they save. I asked them if they were going
to keep on and vote the whole season.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 26, 1856.
[Mr. Oliver objects to the witness stating anything the supposed
illegal voters may have said in regard to the election of the 30th
March, 1855, and insists that they, the alleged illegal voters, would,
if present, be competent witnesses, and that they should be subpoenaed
to appear before the committee to testify of their knowledge touching
the said election, and their connexion with the same. That the mode
of examination now pursued is in violation of the well-established
rules of evidence, as recognised by the standard authors.]
EDWARD CHAPMAN sworn.
To Mr. Eeeder :
I came into the Territory on the 28th day of December, 1854, and
settled in this district, and have resided here ever since, I was here
on the 30th of March, 1855. I saw a large body of men come in on
the day of the election, and encamped in the ravine below my house.
I suppose there were six or seven hundred of them before they sent off
the detachments, as near as I could judge. They were strangers, not
residents of the district at the time ; that is, a majority of them were
not. They participated in the election at the time. Most of them
left the day of the election — from 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon. A
small party were here I believe the next morning, and left that day,
the 31st of March. I was in their camp. There was no gentleman
there with whom I was acquainted but Claiborne Jackson ; I was in-
troduced to several. There was one gentleman to whom I w'as intro-
duced before, by the name of Harlow, and I was introduced to him
again on that day. I did not see any of the McGees there whilst
encamped. I saw Mr. McGee while they were assembled around the
election house — Allen McGee. I saw Mr. Coles, of Kansas City, at
the polls that day ; they both live in Missouri — Coles in Kansas City,
and I suppose McGee too — but McGee said he had a claim on the
Wakarusa.
Some time in the early part of the day, on the 30th, one detach-
ment was sent off to Hickory Point, in the neighborhood of one hun-
dred and fifty or two hundred, or more may be. Another detachment
followed, and that shortly — they were destined for the second district,
Bloomington — I should conclude from one hundred and fifty to two
hundred of them. They told me they came here to vote. They
claimed that they had a right to come here and vote ; all they asked
was to vote here peaceably, and if they could not do it peaceably they
must resort to some other means. Most of them had double-barreled
shot-guns, and guns of various descriptions, and most^of them had
side-arms. I saw a couple of pieces of artillery. Mr. Miller and my-
self went over to Mr. Wade's ; after Miller had finished his business
we came through a part of the camp j they were distributed in various
144 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
parties. We crossed the ravine, and came very near the house of the
election. Some gentleman hallooed to me ; I went hack, and we got
into conversation about the matter. He asked me if I thought there
was any prospect of difficulty here? I told him I thought not. He
said he was in hopes there would not he. I told him if there were,
citizens enough in the place to give them a fair fight they would do^
it. He thought there would he no use in doing that, and invited me
to go down a short distance with him. We went to a wagon, and he
lifted up a cloth and some blankets, and remarked to me that there
was a couple of "bull-dogs" they had, loaded with musket-balls.
They were all covered up in the hay, with the exception of the rims off
them ; they were a couple of brass cannon. I then left there, and!
went up to the house where the election was held. I suppose I was*
voted ior by them for member of council on that day.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
Those leading gentlemen, Mr. Jackson and others, said they came
here to vote to counteract the votes given by those men who were sent'
here under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society ; who had come
that spring, and were still coming to vote at that election — the 30th
of March. I heard Mr. Allen McGee say, that he would never have1
brought his company here, but for his understanding that there were1
a number of persons from the northern and eastern States en route on;
the Missouri, to reach here arid vote at the 30th of March election. I!
heard that remark made by Mr. Thompson, of Clay county, and others,,
and by most of those whom I heard speak of it at all. They thought
the whole thing wrong and irregular on both sides, and were only act-
ing in self-defence. They meant that the North and East had sent
persons here for the purpose of making this a free State. They claimed1
that they had as good a right to come here and vote as men from the
east or northern States. They further suited that, if it was not for
this eastern and northern emigration, they would not have come here
to vote. They claimed that the North and the East had formed what!
they called Emigrant Aid Societies, whose purpose was to send mem
here to vote. Mr. Allen McGee told me that he had reliable informa-
tion that there were between four and five hundred on a boat between;
St. Louis and Kansas City, of eastern and northern men, to be at this*
place and other points in the Territory at that election. Some of the1
same gentlemen said that they were willing and would abide by the-
principles laid down in the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and were willing;
that the actual settlers of the Territory should determine the question*
of slavery. They claimed that they had reason to believe that there
were a number ot persons from the north and east who were not actual;
settlers, who proposed to vote at that election. None of these men that
I conversed with at that time claimed to be actual settlers, except
Allen McGee. I have been told by several of them that they would
not have interfered with the election at all, were it not that these men
coming from the north and east were not actual settlers. None of
these leading men, whose declarations I have given in my examina-
tion in chief, made any threats that they would use violence on aur>
of the citizens of Lav/rence.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 145
To Mr. Keeder:
The first declaration stated by me in trie cross-examination was
made on the day of the election and the day before. Men that they
said were coming were said to be on the river on boats. I am ac-
quainted with the distances and modes of travel between this point
and Kansas City, on the 31st of March, 1855. It is as many as 45
or 50 miles. We had no public conveyances at that time. It gener-
ally took emigrants from a day and a half to two days with loaded
teams. They could come with light vehicles in a day.
E. CHAPMAN.
APRIL 26, 1856.
GEORGE CHURCHILL affirms.
To Mr. Reeder:
I came into the Territory on the 1st day of October, 1854 ; settled
at Lawrence, and have resided here ever since, except three months,
during which time I lived in Independence, Mo. I formerly resided
in New York; knew none of the men by name that were here on the
30th of March, from Missouri, but recognized the countenances of
several. I was present here on the 30th of March. I recollect of
seeing a young man here that day that brought me into the Territory;
he lived in Westport ; and also several that lived in Independence,
Missouri.
GEORGE CHURCHILL.
APRIL 26, 1856.
R. A. CUMMINS called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I came into the Territory, camping at Blue Jacket's, in August,
1854. I settled three miles southwest of here, in this district, and
have resided here ever since I came from St. Louis here. I am a Vir-
ginian by birth. I lived in Missouri before I came here. I was here
on the 30th of March, 1855. I was not appointed one of the judges
of that election by the governor, but was selected by the crowd in place
of N. B. Blanton. I was selected the day before the election as a suit-
able man for judge. I had no objection to serving my country in any
way. I was spoken to by Allen McGee, of Westport, now to act as
judge. He pretended to live here at that time. I suppose he did. I
entered on the duties of my office and discharged them conscientiously,
to the best of my abilities. Most all who were here were strangers to
me, as I was living in the country at that time, and knew but few
persons. I should think there were over one thousand votes polled
that day. Some from my neighborhood did not vote then. I was
not in the camp of persons here. I knew that there were camps, but
H. Rep. 200 10*
146 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
was not in them, as I was on duty from early in the morning till 12
o'clock at night. A man by the name of Colonel Young came up to
vote. I had no personal acquaintance with him. He was sworn, and
made oath that he was a citizen of the Territory, and would not vote
anywhere else hut here for twelve months. He did not say in what
part of the Territory he resided. My opinion is, that it was no busi-
ness of the judge to inquire ; that he had a right to vote if he had been
here but an hour. I do not recollect many of the particulars. I saw
one man vote who said he lived at Lexington. His name was Holli-
day_, but I do not know his given name. He said he lived in Lexing-
ton, Missouri, or somewhere in that vicinity. Allen McGee, when
he asked me to act as one of the judges, said something to me. I do
not know as I can swear positively to what he said, as it was a gen-
eral conversation. I don't think he told me anything about persons
corning here from Missouri. He had a house two miles west of where
I lived. He was there, and had a black woman cooking for him.
There were others there — some fifteen or twenty others — who were
strangers to me. Mr. McGee kept a kind of family grocery store there,
with plenty of provisions to sell, at enormous rates. He kept a kind
of hotel there for a few days. He had a large stock at the time of
election, but I do not know as it was larger than usual. He kept
groceries there for several months. He had a young man for clerk.
I have no doubt that Allen McGee was just as good a voter at that
time as I was, as he lived there. The only difference was, that I had
no other home and he had. I do not know where his other home is.
Cross-examined by Col. Woodson :
I know that McGee had been here at the time of the election, and
built a double log house — a one story house — and had a black woman
here, and was very anxious to bring his wife with him, but she was in
delicate health and could not come. He often spoke to me about that.
He has since sold out. He had built this house prior to the election
of the 30th of March, 1855. He had himself only been here a week
or two at that time, but frequently before that: He had been here
the fall before, at the election of a delegate to Congress. I often
heard of his being here. I was not acquainted with him the fall be-
fore. The house he built was about as good a house as there was in
the Territory at that time. He had made a claim here before I came
here, in May some time, I think, but did not build here until after I
did. He had a log cabin on his claim in the fall, where he usually
stopped when he was up here.
Re-examined by Mr. Sherman :
He sold out his claim a few weeks ago.
Re-examined by Mr. Reeder :
Mr. McGee came there with his cook a few days before the election,
I cannot state positively when. I do not know when these strangers;
came there. I think McGee himself went home in, a day or two after-
the election. I do not think the others were there at all after the:
election. He had a clerk in his house to attend to his store before:
he came up prior to that election, but there was no family there.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 147
The same clerk lived there for some time after McG-ee returned, after
the election. The clerk cooked his meals there for himself. The
store was occupied along in November or December, 1854, but I could
not state exactly when it was. The clerk occasionally had a hired
man living there with him. No one else lived there that I know of.
ROBERT A. CUMMINS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
ROBERT ELLIOTT called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I was residing in Lawrence on the 30th of March, 1855, and waa
one of the proprietors of a printing office at that time. I saw a large
number of men who said they were from Missouri, who visited the
office. They said they were coming here to vote. I was not in their
camp, but saw it at a distance. I saw large numbers of them arrive ;
they came in wagons and on horses. Most of them, I think, had
arms ; some of them had large clubs. I did not see any banners or
.flags. I heard music at a distance, but did not see them when para-
ding. When they came to the printing office the night previous,
they said they merely came to see an abolitionist, as they had never
met one, and had understood that the "Free State" printing office
was 'conducted by abolitionists. Mr. Whitlock, one of the candidates
for the legislature, came to the office on the day of election, just before
noon, and spoke about tickets He was the only one that I remember
of coming to the office. I think that Mr. Wade spoke to my partner
and myself about tickets. He was also one of the candidates. I
think Mr. Chapman spoke to rne about it. He was a candidate for
council, and was of this place. I do not know that any persons from
the party in camp spoke to me about those tickets. They stated they
had got their tickets printed before they came here, but had a larger
vote than they had expected, and wanted more tickets. Mr. Whit-
lock, Mr. Wade, and Mr. Chapman were running on the same ticket.
We printed three hundred of those tickets. Mr. Whitlock paid for
them, and, I think, took them away.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
This Chapman, Wade, and Whitlock, lived in this vicinity; had
families with them ; but I do not know about Mr. Whitlock.
To Mr. Reeder:
I learned the names of three or four of those strangers here. A
man named Colonel Walton, I think, a proprietor of a " hotel" at
Lexington, Missouri, was introduced to me, and called at the office, I
think, once; also a Mr. Graves, and a gentleman named Shroder,
who introduced himself as from Liberty, Missouri ; another gentleman
named Sullivan was here that day ; I was acquainted with him the
all previous; came up the river with him as liar as Lexington. He
tated that he had made some seven claims on " Salt creek," near
148 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Leavenworth ; he resided near Lexington, Missouri, when I got ac-
quainted with him, the fall before the election; he said on the boat
that he had taken seven claims on " Salt creek," in the vicinity of
Leavenworth, but not with the intention of settling in the Territory,
merely for the right of his friends, and to keep abolitionists off; he
stated that he resided in the vicinity of Lexington, Missouri. It was
about the 20th of November, 1854, that this took place.
To Colonel Woodson:
In this conversation with Sullivan nothing was said about any ex-
pedition here. It was an independent conversation on the subject of
claims.
B. a. ELLIOTT.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
N. B. BLANTON called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Keeder:
I came into the Territory the last of September, 1854. I settled
on the Wakarusa about five miles south of here, and have lived there
ever since; I came from Jackson county, Missouri; I was appointed
one of the judges of the election of March 30, 1855 ; I was down in
Missouri about two or three weeks before the election; I was sick
there, and started up home just before the election ; the first day after
I left there I stayed at Donaldson's, and the next day, the 29th of
March, I met a party of men coming up here ; I did not know any of
them ; they told "me they were coming up to Lawrence to vote ; some
two or three I talked with told' me where they came from ; some said
they came from Boonville, and one gentleman told me he was from
Columbia, Boon county.
After I had travelled on about ten miles, and they had found out
that I was one of the judges of the election, they wanted to know if I
would let them vote without swearing. I came about fifteen miles
with them ; I do not know how many there were in the company, but
I should suppose there were about one hundred ; a good many asked
me — first one, and then another — if I would let them vote without
swearing. I never saw any of them before that day, but saw some of
them up here afterwards at the election of the 30th March. I told
them I could not according to the oath I would have to take as judge
of the election, as they were not citizens of the Territory. They
argued that all the citizens of the United States had a right to come
here and vote if they wanted to; they got to trying to persuade me to
let them vote without swearing, saying the oath the governor had
prescribed was not right and legal. After a while one of these men—
an old man — said to me : "Go on, son, and act as judge, and let us
vote, and we will pay you for it." Two or three more spoke up and
said, if I did not let them vote without swearing that their men
would get enraged, and maybe hang me; and that I had better
resign. I did not then resign, but left them, and resigned on the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 149
morning of the election. I was here in town, close to the polls,,
though I did not go to them. I dfd not go into their camp here ; one
of their camps was on the Wakarusa, close to where I was "building a
bridge, about five miles from here. They came there the morning
"before the election ; they came over here to Lawrence the day of the
election; they started before I did, hut I saw some of them here;
there were about fifteen or twenty in that camp. 1 have looked over
a part of the poll-list ; I saw several there I knew were citizens of
Missouri — Mr. Hanly and Mr. Dexter — I cannot give their first names ;
a good many of them I cannot recollect, though I knew them.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
I did not know the men with whom I had the conversation ; I did
not know that they were speaking for the company, except when they
said their men would get enraged, and maybe hang me, if I would
not let them vote without swearing. They said their object in com-
ing here to vote was, in the first place, to get a legislature to suit
them, and then make Kansas a slave State. I think the emigrant
aid societies were mentioned several times, but I do not know as they
gave that as their reason, only that every citizen of the United States
had a right to vote, that the emigrant aid societies were sending men
to vote, and they had as good a right to vote as these men had.
I did not see as only one was hindered from voting here, but I saw
them run one man off over the banks of the river. I saw the man
running, but did not know when the difficulty commenced; I did not
know thejman's name then, but have understood since that it was Mr.
Bond.
N. B. BLANTON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
C. S. PRATT called and sworn.
'Examined by Mr. Keeder :
I was one of the clerks of election in Lawrence, in March, 1855.
Mr. Abbott and Mr. Cameron, two of the judges, were present after
opening the polls. Mr. Blanton was absent. There were about ten
or twelve persons inside of the polls, strangers to me ; they nominated
Mr. Cummins to serve, and he did serve. There was no conversation
in reference to the oath. Some said it was not necessary to swear to
the prescribed form, but to perform the duties of the office to the best
of their abilities. Mr. Cummins, to the best of my recollection,
swore to perform the duties of the office to the best of his abilities ;
I do not know how the rest swore. They then began to receive votes.
After they had opened the polls, a man, named Page, came forward to
vote. The judges asked him some questions, and two of the judges
were for allowing him to vote ; Mr. Abbott objected.
Before it was decided, Colonel Young told the men to step back and
allow him to come forward. He handed in his ballot, and the judges
commenced questioning him as they had the other man. Mr. Abbott
told him he could not consent to take his vote from information he had
150 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
got from himself. Colonel Young stated that he himself was compe-
tent to decide whether he was qualified or not. Mr. Abbott said he
considered it the duty of the judges to decide that. The other two
judges decided to take his vote, whereupon Mr. Abbott resigned.
After he resigned a man was sent in from the outside — Mr. Benja-
min— whom the judges consented to receive as a judge. I do not re-
collect about his being sworn. After that they commenced taking
votes, without questioning more than one man in eight or ten. They
would ask them they did question if they were residents of the Terri-
tory and would swear to it, and they did so. I do not think more
than one eighth or one tenth of the men were sworn. I do not recol-
lect whether Colonel Young was sworn or not. I was inside of the
house, and heard Colonel Young say that he had been forward and
voted, and all could vote without difficulty.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
I do not recollect whether Colonel Young was sworn or not.
CALEB S. PRATT.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
THOMAS HOPKINS called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I came into this Territory in June, 1854, from Carroll county, Mis-
souri ; I came to Missouri from Kentucky •; I settled in this Territory
some nine miles south of this, in this county ; I made my claim the
first of June, moved my family on it the tenth of August, 1854. I
have resided there ever since. I was at this place at the election off
the 30th of Marck, 1855. I was a stranger in this place, but when I'
got here that day I met a good many of my acquaintances from Car-
roll county. I found them about the polls and in their camps. Col-
onel William Austin, William Austin, again,, cousin of the other,,
Robert Dunde, John Snoddy, from Carroll county. They stated thai)
two others I was well acquainted with, Clarke Lindsey and James <
Wagnier, had gone up to Douglas. There was a Mr. Roy here, II
heard — I do not recollect his first name. They told me there was*
about twenty-five of my old neighbors and acquaintances there. Car-
roll county, I should suppose, was from one hundred and twenty-five?
to one hundred and thirty miles from here. It is twenty miles belo
Lexington, on the other side of the Missouri river.
They told me they had come here to vote, and intended to vote..
They stated that they were afraid if this became a free State they wouldl
lose their property ; and, moreover, that, if it was necessary, the
would come back again at the next election. They told me there
were supposed to be between seven hundred and one thousand fro
Missouri at this place. They also told me there would be, from th
best information they could get, between five thousand and ten thou-
sand voters from Missouri1, in this Territory, at that election. I do
not know as I recollect particularly anything further that they said.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 151
Cross-examined by Colonel Woodson :
It was said in this company that the Emigrant Aid Society were
sending on men here to vote ; that I heard before I left Missouri.
They said, also, that they had come in to aid the pro-slavery settlers
here, and to elect members of their own party. I think they did not
tell me that the first inducement to come here and vote was to coun-
teract this emigrant aid movement. I had heard it spoken of, but do
not know as that was their first inducement.
I am not able to say about that ; I did not hear it spoken of here upon
the day of the election, though I had heard it spoken of in Missouri.
They were voting when I got here ; there was one little skrimmage,
but I do not know the cause ; I do not think any free State man had a
chance to vote while I was on the ground, owing to the crowd of others
at the poll. I reached home before night, some nine miles from here ;
I reached there a half an hour or an hour by sun. I suppose it was
later than two o'clock when I left — I do not recollect what time I
went to the polls. As well as I can recollect, it was about one o'clock ;
they had commenced voting when I got here in the morning, and had
been voting ever since. I saw no violence offered at the polls. I sup-
pose there were some free State men voted that day, but not any while
I was here, that I knew. I voted that day here.
THOMAS HOPKINS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
JORDAN DAVIDSON called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I moved into the Territory in September, 1855, and settled about a
mile and a half from here in this district. I came from Cass county,
Missouri. I moved from Jefferson county, Missouri, into Cass county,
about the first of November, 1854. I moved from Franklin county
into Jefferson county in 1842. I moved from Kentucky to Franklin
county in the spring of 1836.
I came here with my neighbors to the election of the 30th of March,
1855, and voted here in this district. I should suppose there were
nine hundred or one thousand, though I did not count them, in that
company. I saw very few here from Cass county. I saw some said
to be from Jackson and Lafayette ; some from Jefferson, Howard, and
Saline counties. I saw some said to be from several counties, but I
do not recollect about others. I saw no arrangement by counties,
but, while they were in camp, they seemed to be intermixed.
The arrangement was to meet at Cold-water Grove, near the south
part of Cass county. But not all met there — not a general meeting.
A great many met there and left ; but I was not at a general meeting
until I got to camp. The most general meeting was at the encamp-
ment at Bull creek, as there seemed to be an understanding about the
meeting at Cold-water Grove.
The company that were here in this precinct returned home, some
on the evening of the election, and some the next morning. Colonel
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Young appeared to be the principal leader. I do not remember what
county he lived in, and was not acquainted with him until I saw him
here. I was told he was a Missourian.
The companies generally had arms for that occasion. I had none
myself. I think each individual bought and borrowed his own arms.
So far as I am acquainted with the arrangements in my own county,
Cass county, some who did not come put in provisions, some wagons;
and each one put in what he wanted for himself, provisions, wagon,
&c. I put in provisions in a wagon for myself, and fodder for nay
horse. 1 missed my wagon and provisions at Bull creek, and from
there I got provisions of other companies till I got here, when I lived
off provisions belonging to my son-in-law, A. B. Wade, who was a
candidate at that election for the house of representatives. He was
voted for by our party. The first I knew of his nomination was from
a letter he wrote me at Pleasant Hill, Cass county, saying he was
nominated. There was no confirmation of that nomination in Mis-
souri, to my knowledge. From there we all put out to support the
pro-slavery ticket. I do not know of money being raised. Men that
had not means to come could come with the provision wagons, and
were fed there. I became acquainted with Claiborne F. Jackson at
the Wakarusa. He was of the company here, and I thought he was
in the position of a lieutenant. The party from Bull creek went I
do "not know where, after I left them, the evening before the election.
I left them and came here by myself. At Bull creek I did not see
them altogether at one place, but I should think there might have
been between seven hundred and one thousand there in one encamp-
ment. Those at Bull creek did not come here.
There was another encampment there I did not go. to see. I under-
stood there were many in that other encampment, but I do not know
how many there were in it. The encampment was not in sight, but I
understood there was another there. I do not recollect of seeing any
here that I left at Bull creek ; but I think, probably., there were some
of them here. I started on horseback from Cass county, and expected
to overtake the provision wagon, but did not do so. I overtook a com-
pany at Wea, but that one had merely stopped there for dinner ; they
formed a portion of one of the companies at Bull creek • Bull creek
is somewhere from 40 to 45 miles southeast from here, and is a branch
of the Osage river. I do not know what district the encampment was
in, but it was south of the Independence and Santa Fe road ; I should
think, from a rough estimation, 25 miles. It was near Baptiste Pa-
ola, in this Territory. I did not see Colonel Young at Bui creek,
but saw him first here, on this ground. I first saw Claiborne Jack-
son on the Wakarusa, eight or nine miles from this place, the day
before the election ; I took dinner with him that day, on my way up
from Bull creek. There was a large encampment there, the third one
I had seen. I do not know how many there were there, as a large
portion had come on to Lawrence when I got there, and I think the
balance came on*that evening. I came on here after dinner. There
were some expresses came here the evening before the election, that
there were so many wanting at Douglas and Tecumseh, and perhaps
at One Hundred and Ten. There were three detachments of volun-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 153
teers sent off ; some started, I think, to go up on the river here some
twenty miles. There was one place where it was pretty hard to get
volunteers to go on the morning of the 30th, as they were tired of
riding. Colonel Young made a speech, and urged that, as an old man
had volunteered to lead them, they ought to volunteer to go. I do
not recollect whero that detachment was to go ; there were some, I
think, sent to Tecumseh and Douglas, and probably some elsewhere,
I understood that, of this encampment, some were from Jackson, La-
fayette, Clay, and Carrol counties ; and I saw a small company from
a small county way down in the State, where I have an uncle living.
I had a conversation with one, who lived close to my uncle. The
county my uncle lived in was Howard county, I think. I saw some
from Ray county, I think. I knew some men who were in the en-
campment at Bull creek. There were a great many men who left
Cass county, but I do not know where they went ; I saw but few in
the encampment at Bull creek who were from Cass county.
I heard of some cannon being along in the Lafayette company, but
I did not see, them. I may have heard after I came into the Territory
that there was a cannon along, but I do not recollect by whom I heard
it ; I heard of the cannon at Pleasant Hill. I rode with a gentleman
from the head of Bull creek, where I stopped on the Wednesday night
before the election, who told me that there was a cannon along.
Cross-examined by Colonel Woodson :
We understood in Missouri that Governor Eeeder had sent to the
east and mustered up a large force to come here, and we came here to
vote, too, though that was not all the inducement. We intended to
vote first here, and after we had got through we were willing to let
anybody vote who wanted to. I do not know of any persons coming
here to vote the free State ticket and then returning to the east. I
saw some men as I was going down home, who said they were return-
ing to the east. They hired my son and my son-in-law to carry them
on. I do not recollect that I saw them here at Lawrence. I heard
some conversation in that company about the election, and some two
or three said they had not voted. I did not hear the rest say anything
about it. There were free State men voted,, but I do not think any
were hindered from voting except, perhaps, Mr. Bond, who got into
a fuss and went off and did not come back again. He was run off
the ground, but I do not 'think it was to prevent him from voting.
He got into a personal difficulty, I understood, and they run him off
to the river. Just as he jumped down the bank a pistol was fired at
him, the contents going perhaps six feet over his head, though I do
not think it was aimed at him. The cry was "kill him," "kill
him." I do not know of any free State voters being brought hereby
the Emigrant Aid Society.
By Governor Reeder :
We did not understand that Governor Reeder had brought on voters
from the east, but that he made the day of election known there
before it was known here, in order to induce voters to come on here.
The other inducement we had for coming here was to extend slavery
into Kansas Territory. The general talk among our people who came
154 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
here was that they had a right to vote here. I contended myself that
I had a right to vote here.
LAWRENCE, K. T.? April 29, 1856.
JORDAN DAVIDSON.
WILLIAM LYON called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder:
I resided in this district on the 20th of March, 1855, and saw the
body of strangers encamped here participate in the election, and had
some conversation with some persons as I passed through the edge of
their camp on the day of election, and also with Mr. Shelby, here in
town. He told me he came something like one hundred miles to vote,
and I understood that he lived near the Missouri river. I asked him
how many of his party, citizens of Missouri, would vote here that
day, and he said about seven or eight hundred. In answer to my re-
mark that I supposed they would not lose a vote in Missouri in conse-
quence of their voting here, he said they would, as they would not
vote in Missouri for one year. That was their place of voting here, "
understood.
Cross-examined by Colonel Woodson:
Mr. Shelby said that he would not care whether there was slavery
in Kansas or not, if they could have security for their property, but
they were sure they could not. The conversation that I had in
coming through the edge of their camp had nothing to do with the
election, I thought it was not safe to say 'any thing about it. I saw
persons there armed with shot guns, pistols, and clubs, but no one
harmed me. Mr. Shelby named the place he was from, but I do not
recollect it now.
To Mr. Reeder:
He gave his name and address to the editors of the Kansas Tribune,
to which he subscribed.
WILLIAM LYON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 29, 1856.
J. B. ABBOTT called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder:
I was one of the judges of election in this city on the 30th of March,
1855. We got together at the time appointed, and Mr. Blanton had
resigned. After about another hour we chose another judge and
opened the polls. The first man who offered his vote was, I think, a
man named Page, and took the oath that he was a resident of the
Territory. I inquired of him if he had a home in any other place.
He said he had; that he lived in Missouri. I inquired if he intended
to make this 'Territory his home. He said he did not ; that he ex-
pected to go back after the election. I told him I could not consent
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 155
to his voting, and referred him to the rest of the board. Mr. Cameron,
noe of the other judges, had also stated that if he intended to go back
to the State of Missouri after he had voted, he could not permit him
to vote. He asked him one question further ; if he was a bona fide
settler of the territory. He said he was, and Mr. Cameron then said
if that was the case he did not think he could prevent his voting.
Before we had got through with him. Colonel Young came forward
and requested Mr. Page to withdraw his vote and allow him to vote.
Colonel Young said,, the manner in which he should present his vote
would be the manner in which all his people should present their
votes, and that if he was permitted, to vote all the rest could vote.
He was then put upon his oath. I questioned him as to his residence.
He stated he was a bona fide resident of the Territory. I inquired if
he had any home in any other State. He said it was/none of my
business or anybody's else. He said that if men swore they were
residents it was my business to receive their votes as legal voters of
the Territory. T told him it was the business of the board, as I un-
derstood it, to inquire and satisfy themselves as to that, and not let
voters decide as to their own cases. He refused to answer any other
question in any other form, except that he was a bona fide resident of
the Territory; but finally, in arguing the case, he said that in voting
here men would disfranchise themselves in his State for one year. He
said he could not and should not attempt to vote in Missouri for one
year after he had voted here. In asking him some other questions he
said he considered them impertinent, and that he was incompetent of
perjuring himself; and stated that if any one insinuated that he had
perjured himself, or was competent to perjure himself, he would tear
their heads from their shoulders. I told the colonel his threats would
probably make no difference in the minds of the judges, but they
would try to satisfy themselves as to the right of the voters. The
question was then taken upon his right to vote, and two of the judges
decided he had a right to vote, and his vote was received. I told the
board if they were going to permit men to vote upon such evidence as
that, I would have nothing more to do with them, and I resigned.
I came over the evening previous to the election, and had a consul-
tation with Mr. Cameron. There was a number of gentlemen at the
"Free State" office, at that time, from the camp; and one of them
came to us and advised us to resign, as our position was a dangerous
one ; and that if we knew the crowd that had come up as well as they
did, he did not think that they could be induced to sit as judges. At
that time both of us agreed we would go to the polls, let the conse-
quences be what they might. During the conversation with Colonel
Young, he told me he lived in Missouri, and also the county he lived
in, but I do not remember that.
I have resided in this district since the first settlement of it, and I
have never seen Colonel Young here since that time. From my know-
ledge of this district, I think he has never resided here. During the
consultation in the morning about Colonel Young's vote, Mr. Cum-
mins agreed that all persons who were here at that time were resi-
dents, and consequently legal voters.
JAMES B. ABBOTT.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 2, 1856.
156 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
IRA W. ACKLEY called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Keeder :
I came into the Territory on the 16th of September, 1854, from
Cataraugus county, New York, and settled in this district, and have
resided here ever since. I was here on the 30th of March, 1855. I
saw a party of strangers come in here, which I heard estimated from six
hundred to eight hundred or one thousand, and I should think there
were about that number. I think the most of them encamped in a
body. I saw their camp. They attended the election that day and
voted. They were armed ; the most that I noticed had rifles and shot
guns, and a great many had revolvers and bowie knives ; some of
them had clubs. There was music — a drum and fife — and they had
flags. They marched once, I think, with music to the polls, and fired
their guns. I tried to get to the polls a great many times during the
forenoon, but could not succeed ; and many who voted had to go over
the top of the house, as there was such a crowd they could not get
back. In the afternoon they formed in a column two by two, and
went up by the window. They stated their object in voting here was
to carry the election, and have slavery here. A good many of them
said that they would have slavery here, or dissolve the Union, or die.
After the election they left. I saw in the afternoon, after the line
was formed, some of them would vote and pass back to the end of the
line, and pass up and vote again. I noticed three do that, and thought
there were many more.
Cross examined by Mr. Oliver :
I do not remember the names of any of those who made the declara-
tion I have mentioned. One told me he lived near Jefferson city ; I
bought some Osage orange seed of him. I heard some declare there
were numbers here from the north and east who had no more right
to vote than they had. I do not remember of hearing them say that
there were societies in the north to make this a free State,, and they
would beat them at their own game. I heard them say that they un-
derstood a number from the northern and eastern States, who had
recently arrived, were going to vote, and they had the same right as
the others.
IRA W. ACKLEY.
LAWRENCE, April 26, 1856.
Points of objection by Mr. Oliver, touching the mode of examining wit-
ness, (&c., fled April 28, 1856.
As a member of the " Kansas Investigating Committee," the un-
dersigned makes the following points of objection to the mode of ex-
amining witness, as now pursued by the committee ; and, to the end
of rendering his points manifest, he, in the first place, begs to advert
briefly to the resolutions defining the powers and jurisdiction of said
committee.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 157
The first resolution provides, among other things, that said com-
mittee " shall proceed to inquire into and collect evidence in regard
to the troubles in Kansas generally, and particularly in regard to any
fraud or force attempted or practised in reference to any of the elec-
tions which have taken place in said Territory, either under the law
organizing said Territory, or under any pretended law which may be
alleged to have taken effect therein since."
Under this clause of the resolution, the undersigned maintains that
the only points, in regard to whicV the committee are authorized to
take evidence at all, are, as to whether there were any fraudulent or
illegal votes given at any election, or any other acts done in fraud of
the ballot box ; as, for example, force employed or used, or attempted
to be employed or used, in reference to any election in said Territory,
and which was intended to constrain, restrain, or intimidate voters ;
and also in regard to the troubles in Kansas generally. Then as to
the affirmation that illegal or fraudulent votes were given, the under-
signed maintains that the names of the persons alleged to have cast
illegal votes should be given, and that all such, being competpnt wit-
nesses, should be subpoenaed to appear before the committee to give
evidence touching their alleged illegal voting ; and the undersigned
objects to, and enters his solemn protest against, allowing witnesses to
state what they heard certain persons say on the day of or before the
election, or any of them, as to their having voted and not being resi-
dents of the Territory ; especially, when the witness is unable to give
the names of the persons of whose declarations he testifies. He in-
sists that this species of evidence (hearsay) is never allowable in courts
of law or equity ; and that to allow such evidence in regard to the
subjects of the committee's investigation would be, and is, unjust to
the parties whose rights or interests are to be affected by it ; and that
such evidence would be, and is, violative of the well established rules
! of evidence, as recognized by all standard works on evidence, and es-
1 pecially Greenleaf, on that branch of jurisprudence, whose works on
evidence the committee have, by agreement, adopted as the standard
i authority in their investigations ; and the undersigned insists on the
: application of the rules as laid down by that eminent author.
As to the affirmation that force was " attempted, or practised in
reference to any elections" in the Territory of Kansas since its organ-
ization, the undersigned maintains that these allegations should be
proven as any other facts ; and the only proofs that can legally be
admitted are to the effect that actual force was employed, or attempted
to be employed, to force and control the voters at any of said elections ;
and that the mere presence of persons, in great or small numbers,
armed, at or about the polls would not be sufficient, unless such per-
sons actually employed their power directly to control the ballot box,
or that they directly attempted to do so. Relying upon the foregoing
points, the undersigned maintains that the evidence should be limited
to the propositions of force employed or attempted to control said elec-
tion, by violently and forcibly interfering with voters in reference to
the election and their right to vote.
The undersigned desires this paper to be filed.
M. OLIVER.
158 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
JOHN C. DAVIDSON recalled.-
Examined by Mr. Reeder:
I was here at the election of March 30, 1855. I moved into the
Territory in July, 1854, from Carroll county, Missouri. I had moved
to Missouri from Virginia in 1839. I saw a large body of strangers
encamped here on the day of election in March, 1855. I was at one
camp composed of men I knew in Carroll county when I lived there.
I had conversation with two of them upon the subject of their being
here. I do not recollect that they told rne how many were here from
Carroll county, or from Missouri. They told me they came here to
vote; that they considered they had a right to vote here; that accord-
ing to the way the Kansas-Nebraska bill was drawn up they had a
right to vote here while they were residing here, and they were resid-
ing here while they were here. They said they came here to vote and*
intended to vote, and would not be driven from the polls ; that each
man of them was prepared to go eight rounds without loading and the
ninth round with the butcher knife. They said they had come into
the Territory some two or three days before the election and intended
to go back as soon as the election was over ; they said they did not
intend to settle here. The men I talked with said they came from
Carroll county. I saw men here from Lexington that I was acquainted
with, but had but little conversation with them. I do not recollect
of seeing any men from other places I was acquainted with .
By Mr. Woodson:
The men I was talking with said that eastern men were coming up
the river with pasted on the front of their hats, in large letters, that ,
they intended to make Kansas a free State, and that they considered
they had as good a right to come here and vote as the eastern men.
I did not hear any other reason given.
JOHN C. DAVIDSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
Dr. JOHN DOT called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
About two weeks previous to the 30th of March, 1855, 1 renewed!
an acquaintance with a person who went by the name of Red Robin
son, from Missouri. I asked him his business. He took me into
where the post office was then held, in Lykin's log house, on the other r
side of the ravine, and I saw a great quantity of provisions, bacon
flour, meal, corn, and oats, &c. He said that we were going to have
a number of boys shortly to help us to vote and this was to provision
them. In looking around I saw that the provisions seemed all arranged,
the bacon in a pile ; the flour in a pile ; the corn meal in a pile, and the
oats in bags in a pile, and the corn in bags in a pile. Before he bad
told me what the provisions were for I had bought some com and
ineal from him. At the time of the election I saw Robinson and
KANSAS AFFAIRS 159
William Lykins deal out the provisions to the companies here en-
camped in the ravine.
I saw among the different companies little flags with inscriptions
on them, such as "Clay county boys/' &c. I was with Mr. Bond
and Mr. Stearns when Mr. Bond was driven off the ground and shot
at. Mr. Milt. McGee, a Missourian, came up and pointed at Mr.
Bond, and said there was a Lawrence bully. Some four or five persons
made at him then, as I was standing close to him, and he ran round
the end of the building down towards the river. I heard a shot, then
Mr. Jackson Bush shoved aside a rifle that was levelled at Bond.
The same party came back, with an addition, with Colonel Young
with them, to where Mr. Stearns and myself were still standing.
Stearns was pointed out as an abolitionist, and Colonel Young took
him up in his arms and asked them if they intended to injure such a
little man as that, as he weighed but 125 pounds, balancing him in
his arms at the same time. After some preliminaries, Colonel Young
took Mr. Stearns away, off the ground. They then came back to me,
headed by George Thornton, of Independence, who pointed me out as
an abolitionist. He said he knew it by my discussion with him the
night before in the streets, against their corning here to take away our
political privileges, &c. I asked him if my time had come now, as
they had driven off Mr. Bond and Mr. Stearns. His lips began to
tremble, and he asked if I had intended to insult him by what I had
said the evening before. I said he knew I did not by the way we dis-
cussed the subject. He then turned round and said, "if you will say
you did not intend to insult me by what you said, that is sufficient.'1
He then requested the men to leave me and walked off himself. I did
not get an opportunity to vote until in the afternoon, towards night,
when I voted.
By Mr. Woodson:
This Jackson Bush lived in the Territory at that time, about three
miles from this place, and was a farmer. He came from Missouri into
the Territory, and formerly from Kentucky. He is living here now.
William Lykins I have spoken of is the son of Dr. Lykins, of Kan-
sas City, Missouri.
JOHN DOY.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
A. B. WADE called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I went into the Territory and made my claim on the 5th of June,
1854, and settled in the town of Lawrence. I was a candidate for
, the legislature on the 30th of March, 1855, and was elected. There
; were a great many emigrants came into the district from the time of
'•taking the census up to the election, and greater in the month of
March than at any time before, and as many as at any time since.
I did not canvass thut district much, and there was very little can-
160 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
vassing done. At the time of the election, from all I could know,
believe the free State party had a majority at that time, but not so
great as they themselves represented. The free State party were
divided, and many of them would not vote for their candidates.
I endeavered myself to get the candidates they nominated in order to
make this split. Mr. C. W. Babcock was a candidate for nomination,
but he was got to resign at the nominating convention. The pro-
slavery men were at that meeting, and we got them to nominate S.
N. Wood, who was known to be one of the rankest abolitionists there,
dnd we voted for him and for Mr. Gooden, so as to have the free State
party divided, and they were nominated. I know a great many free
State men who voted that day the pro-slavery ticket, I saw them vote
myself, and a great many came to me and got our tickets.
Dr. Kobinson had been gone east, so I was told, several weeks, and!
he returned to town the evening of the day of election, and the first
I saw of him was coming across from Lawrence to the place of elec-
tion with fifty or one hundred men, quite a string of them marching-
up to the polls. He marched them right up to the polls and they voted!
the free State ticket, and then he marched them back. They were alii
strangers to me, and he had just come in with them that day. li
knew most of the free State men residing in the district at that time.
From my knowledge of the district, and the way the free State mem
voted, I think if all the votes of the Missourians and these strange
eastern men had been thrown out, we would have had the same result.
I believe our ticket got a majority of the legal voters according to the
census. I saw nothing to intimidate the free State men from voting,
and all were invited to come up and vote, and they came in line with
the pro-slavery men and came up and voted.
The Missourians who came there said they came to rebut the illegal
votes they believed were coming from the east. I heard several of the-
principal men say if the eastern men kept away they would not molest:
the election. They were referring to the statements made about the-
eastern men on the day of the nomination. Mr. Brown, the editor off
the Herald of Freedom, stated on the day of the nomination, thatt
there need be no fear about their being beaten, as he had just receivedl
a letter from Mr. Slater, of St. Louis, informing him that there were-
between six and eight hundred eastern men on the river on their wayy
up, and would be up on the day of election, and three hundred
would be at Lawrence. This thing was well understood, and the Mis-
sourians heard of it.
A great many Missourians came there in the evening before the elecj
tion and camped, and on the next morning some two hundred went ofli
in squads in different directions, some saying they were going to Tej
cumseh, and others to different points. I think I heard the Missou-
rians express themselves in this way: that if the emigrant aid socie-
ties would let the Territory alone they would let the settlers settle the*
question themselves.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
I think all the hundred men who came up and voted with Robinson1
were eastern men, and all were strangers to me ; they voted in a body}
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 161
together, one after the other. I know that the following were old
residents there : C. W. Babcock; I know several Nichols and three
Aliens, a Mr. Forman, John Hutchinson, a Mr. Morgan, S. N. Simp-
son, H. Bronson, Ellis Bond, M. M. Hammond, S. J. Willis, J. A.
Ladd, a Mr. Lowe, Charles Robinson, a Mr. Johnson (but not his
given name,) also a Mr. Kimball, Edward Clark, 8. C. Pomeroy, but
not S. 0. Pomeroy. These names that I have given were settlers at
that time. I do not think these men were in that crowd of a hundred.
I do not know where Robinson had been, and I do not know that he
returned from Tecumseh that day. I do not know that Robinson voted
with that company that time or not, but he went up to the polls with
them.* I do not know that Mr. Babcock headed that company ; he
may have done so, but I do not recollect of seeing him about the polls
that day. There was quite an increase of the population in one dis-
trict that spring, and a great many pro-slavery and free-State men
came in. I think from all I could learn by inquiry, that the two
sides were pretty nearly divided ; there may have been more free-State
men than pro-slavery men ; I lived in Lawrence, and saw more free-
State men as they passed that way.
To Mr. King:
The names I have given without their given names, I do not know
whether they were the men on the poll-books or not.
To Mr. Whitfield :
I do not know whether they left the next day.
To Mr. Oliver :
I saw this company come up, and the greater majority of them were
strangers to me ; as they came up it was asked who they were, and
it was said they were Robinson's company, and had just come in. I
was in town the day before and heard nothing of him then.
A. B. WADE.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 9, 1856.
JOHN M. BANKS called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I moved into the Territory of Kansas about the middle of Septem-
ber, 1854, at what is called Hickory Point, on the Santa Fe road, in
I the first district. I was a candidate at the election of 30th of March,
. 1855, and was at Lawrence on the day of election. I was tolerably
. acquainted with the relative strength of the two parties in that dis-
, trict. I thought the two parties were pretty nearly balanced, but
'{ that, in a fair vote of the district, the pro-slavery party would have
the majority. I did not canvass the district very much ; I was in the
different neighborhoods, but made no general canvass.
When I got to the place of holding the polls one of the judges ap-
inted by the governor had resigned, and they were about choosing
H. Rep. 200 11*
162 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
one in his place. The appointment was made, and the polls were |
opened, and the people commenced voting.
There were a great many people around the polls, quite a crowd
ahout the window. I saw some gentlemen try to make a passage
through for the voters ; got ropes to do so, hut could not ; and then i
they got poles and put down there, and thus formed a passage, so that |
men could come up and vote and then pass along out.
At first it was so crowded that I saw some men lifted up over the
house, and some crawled along over the others' shoulders. There.-
were Missourians there, and I saw some of them, voting.
Whether they had made claims "before that I do not know ; I know*
that a good many of them had claims. Some five or six came over,
and laid claims and have worked on them and resided on them since,,
in my own neighborhood. There was a good deal said there that day,,
but I do not. recollect of hearing any of the Missourians say they hadi
come to counteract the votes of the eastern aid emigrants. I did notij
know many ; some four or five, who were not entitled to vote, had no»
claims, and have not seen them in the Territory since. There weree
four young men who were in my neighborhood some eight or ten days
before the election and made claims, but have not been back to therm
since. I did not know all the people there, and cannot say that li
know any one personally who voted there who had no pretence to av
claim, but were voting illegally. Almost every one I spoke to thai'
day either said they had claims or were going to make claims and!
live in the Territory. I saw no man kept from voting that day,.
All were privileged to get to the polls if they could get to the polk-
through the crowd. I saw free-State men and pro-slavery men there
in the crowd together pushing up to the polls. There was a pro--
slavery man from my neighborhood who would not push through th(
crowd, and after waiting till about an hour before the polls wen j
closed, without getting a chance to vote, he went home without
voting.
About an hour before the polls were closed, when, the crowd waw
pretty much all gone, a gentleman came along, I do not recollec ;:
who he was, and said Robinson was just coming into Lawrence wita
a hundred men. I suppose it was a quarter of an hour after tha :
I saw a parcel of men come across from Lawrence towards the hous< ;
where the polls were held. They came forward and marched up t( ;
the window and voted and went back to town without making arn-j
halt. I counted between sixty and seventy of them,, and there mighij
have been more of them. I did not count all of them, but turned
and walked away. There were between sixty and seventy of them!
marched up in one column.
I do not recollect whether I saw Dr. Robinson at that time, though
I had seen him during the evening some time. I had seen none otjj
these men about Lawrence before, and they were all strangers to ma'l
No one objected to their voting.
S. N. Wood and I were talking, and he said: " There are som«i
arrivals as well as Missouri arrivals." That was all I heard aboui
them.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 163
I think there were illegal votes on both sides, hut I thought that
there were more from Missouri than on the other side, until these
sixty or seventy came up in the evening, and then I could not tell
how it stood. I entered into no arrangement by which illegal votes
were to be brought there to secure my election, and did not desire to
be elected except by legal votes. The increase of emigration between
the taking of the census and the day of election was greater than
ever before, as that was a good country and emigration seemed to be
directed there, both free State and pro-slavery. I know a good many
who had been there during the fall and winter and made claims, who
were not there at the time of taking the census, but came in before
the day of election. Some of them had taken their families to Mis-
souri to spend the winter, and others had gone down there after their
families.
The governor ordered a new election in that district, but the candi-
dates of the pro-slavery party would not pay any attention to the
election, and their friends did not attend the polls. I do not know a
pro-slavery man who went to vote at the second election.
I am acquainted with Mr. Babcock, and knew him at the time of
the 30th ot March election, but have no recollection of seeing him at
the head of the party of sixty or seventy who came up in the evening.
He might have been in that company, but I did not see him. I
never saw any of the sixty or seventy strangers afterwards that 1
know of, though I might have done so. I was told that some of them
had returned to the east. I thought that the majority of those that
came in after taking the census and before the election were pro-
slavery men.
To Mr. Oliver :
I cannot say how many came in during that time. They appeared
to be taking claims all over the country during the month of March.
I never saw the like of it before. There were a great many of them,
but I could not say how many. They became residents, and I think
a decided majority of them were pro-slavery men. I do not refer at
all to Missourians or others who came on the day of election, but to
those who took claims and became actual settlers between the taking
of the census and the day of election.
To Mr. Howard :
At the time of election I lived at Hickory Point, near the Santa Fe
road, about ten miles south of Lawrence. I was pretty well acquainted
in Lawrence. The country was newly settled, and we were all
strangers to each other. I did not know all in Lawrence and its vi-
cinity, but I think I knew a majorty of the business men and men who
: lived there. 1 do not think I knew a majority of them who lived on
^claims within five miles around Lawrence. I was in the habit of
going to Lawrence quite often, but I cannot say that I went on an
I average of once or twice during the month of March, but I think I
|!did. I was travelling around considerable, but did not travel the
game road all the time, I do not know whether I knew ten of the
roters in the district or not by name, but I think I knew more than
164 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
that by sight. We were all strangers, settling in the district together, j
and we did not know each other very well. I suppose that betwixt j
two and three hundred settlers moved into the district after the census i
was taken and before the election, and a majority of them were pro- |
slavery men. I think they, as a general thing, became actual settlers j
and are living there, or have sold their claims and gone to other por- j
tions of the Territory, as is customary. I think the time I saw Dr. j
Eobinson was of this party of sixty or seventy that came up to the |
polls. He was towards the back part of the line and went up to the 1
polls, but I do not know whether he voted or not. I saw him just off !
the crowd, talking to some one about fifty yards from the polls, and j
then he went back to Lawrence. I understood that he was coming j
from Kansas City that day with the one hundred men ; I did not see them ;|
on the road, and not at all that day until I saw them coming across1!
to the polls. - I heard the person who told me that Kobinson was !
coming with one hundred men say that there were two or three hun-
dred more behind at Kansas City who could not get conveyances up..
I do not know who the man was who told me this, and whether he-l
was from the camp of the Missourians or not. I was standing talking: j
with some one else when he came up and told us this.
I think between two and three hundred actual settlers came in the j
district during the month of March, but I do not know as I can give |
many of their names. There was one near me by the name of Win.,
Cummins, and there were George Mermion and Perry Kipetos, who^j
moved into my immediate neighborhood. I cannot think of any more?*
now. I know one family, a widow lady with some five or six young.:'
men in the family, by the name of Hopper, who moved in in March-i
or the last of February, and settled about two miles from Lawrence.,
The Santa Fe road was the line between the first and fourth districts.,
I do not know how many voters there were in the Hickory Pointl
neighborhood. I supposed there were seven or eight hundred voters^
actual residents in the first district at the time of the March election..)
I do not recollect of going into the camp in the ravine back of thed
town where the election was held, though I saw several wagons and!
one or two tents over there.
I recollect of seeing one man carrying a shot-gun on his shoulder/,
and that was all the arms I saw going there that day. I know Coloneii
Samuel Young when I see him, and I saw him there that day. I arm
positive there were more than one hundred pro-slavery voters in thil
first district at that time, though I do not know how it is now. II
counted up something over forty near Hickory Point, and there wasi
quite a settlement on the Wakarusa, many of whom were pro-slavery?
men, and I think there were some in the vicinity of Lawrence,
To Mr. Oliver :
I believe there were three hundred pro -slavery voters in the district
at that time.
To Mr. King :
The man I refer to said that Eobinson had come into Lawrence witlal
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 165
one hundred men, and there were two or three hund ed down to
Kansas City who could not get up. I did not pay much attention to
what he said, and shortly afterwards I saw those sixty or seventy
coming up.
To Mr. Scott:
I moved into the Territory from Pennsylvania. I never attended
any election in the western country, except those in the Territory. I
did not know anything about the habits of the people here in carry-
Ing arms to elections.
To Mr. King :
I know Mr. Thomas Mockbee who keeps a store at Willow Springs.
Mr. Mockbee was keeping store there when I went into the Territory,
in September, 1854. His house is on the south side of the old Santa
Fe road,, but there is a road that is travelled during the summer
months which is north of his house. We understand the old Santa
Fe road to be the dividing line between the two districts. His store-
house is on the same side of the road with his house.
JOHN M. BANKS.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 4, 1856.
JAMJIS WHITLOCK testifies.
To Mr. King :
I was elected at the 30th of March, 1855, election, (at Lawrence,) a
member of the house of representatives of the Kansas Territorial
legislature. I have resided three miles south of Lawrence since Octo-
ber, 1854. I was present on the 'day of election. I did not canvass
the district at all, as I was sick most of the time after my nomination
and before the election. A great many I saw on the ground on the
day of election were strangers to me, but many of them I have since
found to have been citizens of the district. I do not myself know of
any votes cast there that day except by residents of the district.
There was, I think, a very great deal of emigration into the district
after the census was taken, and before the election. I believed from
the time I got the nomination that I would beat my opponent. This
I believed from what iny friends told me, for I was not out of my
room for three months before the election. It was rumored that the
free-State men would vote for the pro-slavery candidate, and from the
vote given I should think they did so. I do not know as any illegal
votes were given that day. It was said that some right fresh emi-
grants voted that day. Late in the evening of the day of the election
there was a noise among the multitude that stood around the polls,
that some emigrant aid men who arrived that day were going to vote.
The election was held a little west of the town. I saw some seventy-
five or eighty men, walking in double file, coming from the town to
the place of election. There was a gentleman they told me was Gen-
166 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
eral Pomeroy, whom I have got acquainted with since, at the head of
this party. He is known in Lawrence as the agent of the Emigrant
Aid Society. Some of the hystanders were in favor of not letting them
vote, for the reason that they were said to have just landed in the
Territory, that morning at nine o'clock. I told them this, and it was
the only thing I said during the day ahout voting : "Let them vote ;
1 want to see every man here vote, if he is entitled to vote." The
party went up and acted as if they were voting, and it was understood
that they voted. I do not know what ticket they voted, hut it was
believed by the people that they voted the abolition ticket.
There was among the people a feeling of difference between what
they call free-State men and abolitionists. I understood that the free-
State party tried to nominate their candidates, and were defeated by
the abolitionists,, and would not support their ticket, and my opinion,
founded upon rumors, is, that they did not support the abolition:
ticket.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard:
I had no knowledge of the strength of the parties in the district,,
except from my attending an indignation meeting some months before
the election. My opponents were considered mostly abolitionists. At!
the time of the election I considered, if there were no illegal votes
on either side at the election, that our party could beat the other par-
ties easy.
From all the information I have, I think General Whitfield is and
has been very popular among the pro-slavery party in that district,
and would poll a very fair vote of the party there at any election. Att
the last election I think there was some other person spoken of as a
candidate for Congress, but no one was run but Whitfield. At the
time of his first election I do not think there was any division in the;
pro-slavery party, but they voted for General Whitfield.
To Mr. King :
From the time of Whitfield's first election down to the election oil
the 30th of March, 1855, I should think there was an increase of resi-J
dents in the district of four to one. When I built my house I couldi
not see but one house from mine; now I can stand in my yard andlj
see forty or fifty houses around me. At the time of Whitfield's firsttj
election there were but two or three houses between my house andlj
Lawrence. At Whitfield's last election, as he had no opposition,
do not think there was a general turn out of the pro-slavery party, a
I know of some who did not go and vote. I was at the election, an
I do not think there was a general turn out of the pro-slavery party
To Mr. Oliver :
There was no interest taken in the election, as there was no oppo-
sition, and the pro-slavery party thought there was no use in thei
going to vote, as Whitfield would be elected any how.
JAMES WHITLOCK.
WESTPOET, MISSOURI, June T, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 167
HORATIO OWENS testifies :]
To Mr. King :
I have resided in the first district, Kansas Territory, at Hickory
Point, since June, 1854. I was at the election, at Lawrence, of the
30th of March, 1855. I am the oldest settler now at Hickory Point ;
the two who settled there before I did left. About the time of the
March election there was quite a heavy settlement around Hickory
Point. There were more came in during February and March than
I knew of before. The emigration in March was heavier than at any
other time. A great many came in before the 30th of March, 1855.
From *;he best information I could learn about the first district, at
that time, the pro-slavery men had the majority. I was not much
about Lawrence, but when I was over there at the election I got in-
formation that many were settling in and about Lawrence both before
and after the election. I lived twelve miles south of Lawrence. I
saw nothing that day like trying to prevent any man from voting.
I saw a number of men there I have never seen before or since. All
were strangers to me, except those who were from my immediate
neighborhood.
To Mr. Sherman :
I voted that day.
HORATIO OWENS.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 6, 1856.
H. W. BUCKLEY called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I moved in March,, 1855, to about fchree and a half miles from Wil-
low Springs, in the first district, and have lived there since. I was
on the ground on the day of election, on the 30th of March, 1855, at
Lawrence. There were a good many Missourians there that day, and
a great many eastern men, who were strangers, persons I had not
seen there before. I think, in the latter part of the day, something
near one hundred of these eastern men voted the free-State ticket. I
did not know any of the free-State men in this party of a hundred. I
was not well acquainted at that time in Lawrence, and had never
been there before the day of election. I think there were some 300 or
400 Missourians there that day, but there were a great many who did
not vote at all.
H. W. BUCKLEY.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 9, 1856.
168 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SECOND DISTRICT — Bloomington.
HARRISON BURSON called and sworn.
j
I settled in the Territory on the 27th of September, 1854, in the
second district, and have resided there ever since. I was there the i
30th of March, 1855, and was one of the judges of election in that
district, appointed by the governor. The judges met on the morning
of the 30th, and after being sworn, the polls were opened, as near as
I can recollect, about half-past eight o'clock. We proceeded to re-
ceive votes, and had taken some fifteen names, when a company, as^
near as I can recollect, of three hundred and upwards, came marching
up with flags hoisted. I believe they were generally armed. They
came to the polls and demanded to be allowed to vote. My reply was,
that if they were legal voters they should have that privilege. I toldJ
them that as the most of them were not known to me, the oath re-
quired by the law would have to be taken by them. This man Jones,,
known now as sheriff Jones, appeared to be the leader of the gang,,
and replied that they would not take the oath. His name is S. J..
Jones, and is now acting as sheriif. I replied that except they did!
take the oath they could not vote. Jones replied that they had come up.
from Missouri to vote, and they would vote, and they intended to make
Kansas a slave-State. They stated, also, that if they could not vote
by fair means, they would by foul. Jones, and others of the party,,
whose names I do not know, said this. They also stated ttat no man;
should vote there that day that would take the oath. Some men whc i
were about the window, and had not voted when this crowd came upj
upon attempting to vote were taken up and carried back by the mob..!
They then requested us to resign, if we would not let them vote. Oui i
reply was, that we should not do it. They then stated that if we did
not do so they would tear the house down and kill us. They made a<^
rush, and stove in the window and sash together, fixed pries to thce!
two corners of the house, and pried up the building some distance andl
let it fall back. It was a log house. At that moment one of thecl
judges, Mr. Ellison, gathered up the ballot-box and rushed to th«|
door, and said that if we did not close the polls there would be once
hundred shots fired in here in less than fifteen minutes, and we would :i
all be killed. He opened the door and ran out into the crowd, taking;!
the ballot-box with him, and hurrahed for Missouri. At that nioJ
ment numbers rushed in the door as fast as they could come in, witrJj
revolvers and drawn bowie-knives in their hands. They now filleoj
the house ; and Jones, one of the first who came in, requested us td
resign ; that if we did not resign they would kill us. Jones drewj
from his pocket his watch, and gave us five minutes in which to re- j
sign or die. He held the watch until the five minutes expired ; anoi
as we did not resign, he extended the time one minute longer. Aboun|
the expiration of the one minute, I was called out to see Mr. Wake- !
fieJd, telling Jones I would give him an answer about resigning wherj
I returned. After I got out of the house, my friends out there think-. i
ing it was dangerous for me to remain there any longer, judging fronj
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 169
the state of the crowd, and the number intoxicated there, persuaded
me not to go back into the house. Before I left the house, I had se-
cured the poll-books by putting them into my pocket. After consult-
ing, we concluded to go across, some quarter of a mile, to Mr. Kam-
say's, one of the judges, and wait to see if the rage of the crowd would
not cool down. This Jones made an attempt to take from me what
he thought was the poll-books, before I left the house. He seized
them and pulled them from me, but they were nothing but some
blanks. Finding that they were not the poll-books, they despatched
a company in pursuit of me. Upon my being informed of what they
wanted, I put the poll-books in the hands of one of my friends for safe
keeping. We both started off together from Mr. Kamsay's. Mr.
Umberger was the one I gave the books to. We saw a number of the
mob pursuing us. I told him to go on home, and I would take down
the other way, and as they would pursue me he could secure the
books. They missed me and pursued Umberger, and caught him just
before he got to the house, and made him prisoner. They searched
him and took the poll-books from him by force. I was in sight and
saw all this. They asked him where I was. I was close enough, con-
cealed in a hazel thicket, to hear their conversation. He told them he
did not know ; but pointing the way I was going, said the last he saw
of me I was going down that way. Jones then took CJmberger behind
him on his horse, and carried him back to the place of election. By
this time it was about 12 o'clock, and we went across to a neighbor's
for dinner ; I mean Mr. Jesse and myself. I saw the election going
on as I was standing at Mr. Wood's house, near the place where the
election was going on. Some time in the afternoon a detachment of
between sixty and eighty, as near as I could judge, started for Willow
Spring. I saw them leave after they got through voting. I knew
some of the party in the mob who were citizens of the Territory, but
not many of them. The Lehays — two, if not three, of them — were
there. I had seen in Missouri some of the strangers. Mr. Jones
lived in Westport at that time. I came here to this Territory from
Illinois.
Cross-examined by Col. Woodson :
I did my trading at Westport, and frequently saw Mr. Jones there.
[ heard him say, on the day of the election, that he came up from
Missouri ; but heard him say nothing of his residence. He was not
a resident of this Territory previous to his being appointed sheriff
here. Mr. Wood's house, I should judge, was about four hundred
yards from the polls. I was at a nearer point than that at one time,'
but not to the polls. I saw them voting, handing in their tickets at
the window, but did not know them. I saw different persons voting.
I could not recognise them from my place ; but I could tell they were
not citizens. I knew there were several citizens present who had not
voted, and had left the polls before I did. I could distinguish be-
tween the Lehays and the strangers by their dress. I did not see
any citizens vote at that time. What I mean by voting is, that I
saw them handing in their tickets. I had walked up where I was?,
about two hundred yards from the polls. There were one or two
persons with me ; Mr. Jesse was one. I am not positive that there
170 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
were any others. I understood these strangers were not residents,
because I knew most of the residents of the district. When they
first came up they said they came from Missouri, and I recognised the
crowd voting as the same crowd. I came to the Territory the fall
before the election, and by that time knew most of the persons in that
district. It was said there were many emigrants coming in that
spring, but not many in the district where I lived. Most of those
there were from Missouri and Illinois.
To Mr. Reeder :
This election was held in Bloomington, on the Wakarusa, some ten
or twelve miles from Lawrence, southwest from here.
To Mr. Sherman :
I do not know who has the poll-books of the second district. My
means of learning the residents were from travelling over the district
and laying down the lines. I knew the greater part, except men
who had just come in.
To Mr. Reeder :
I had been appointed and was acting as a justice of the peace.
To Mr. Sherman:
The citizens were not armed, as far as I knew.
H. BURSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
HARRISON BURSON recalled.
I have examined the list of voters for the second district for the
29th November, 1854. I find somewhere in the neighborhood of
thirty persons on that list who were residents of that district at that
time. I examined the list in connexion with the census returns.
There were two hundred odd votes polled at that election.
H. BURSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
NATHANIEL RAMSAY called and sworn.
I came into the Territory on the 2fah of September, 1854, from
Illinois. I settled on Wakarusa, in the second district, close to
Bloomington, and have resided there ever since. I was appointed
one of the judges of election for March 30, 1855. The polls were
opened about half-past eight o'clock, and we proceeded to take tickets
till about half-past nine o'clock. Some twenty-five or thirty tickets,
I think, had been polled up to that time. Some four or five of them
were not known to the judges as residents, and were sworn. A largo
number of men then came up in wagons and carriages, and on horse-
back. I should judge there were between two and three hundred of
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 171
them. They were strangers to me. I was tolerably well acquainted
in the district. They were mostly all armed with revolvers and
knives. Some few had doiible-harreled guns. There were several
flags in that company. Most of the company seemed pretty much in-
toxicated. They came to the polls to vote. We requested them to
prove they were actual residents of the Territory, or swear to it.
They refused to he sworn, and said if we did not let them vote peace-
ably, they would vote otherwise. There were several men they
called captains and lieutenants, whom I was not acquainted with. I
saw Mr. Jones, the sheriff now, with the company. Claihorne Jack-
son was there. I do not know where he resided. They would not
be sworn to vote, and they said no man should vote that day who
was willing to be sworn ; and while I was sitting as one of the judges,
they would let no man be sworn. They hurrahed around there, and
ran one or two men from the polls who said they were willing to be
sworn as to their residence. They then broke in the windows, and
pried up the house a little ways, and let it fall back again. Mr.
Ellison then took up the ballot-box, and ordered the polls to be closed
for the day. He carried the box with him out of doors to the company
around the house, and cried out " Hurrah for Missouri!" He then
walked back to the door, and called for the election of two other judges.
A company of some six or eight men then rushed in the door, with
knives and revolvers, and called upon us to resign, which we did not
do. Mr. Jones then took a watch from his pocket, and gave us five
minutes to resign in or die. The time expired, and he limited us to
another minute. At this time the company in there had their re-
volvers ready to shoot, and their knives in their hands ready to stab,
I then left the house with Mr. Bur son, and proceeded to my own
house, about a quarter of a mile distant. Mr. Burson left my house,
while I remained there. A party of about fifteen men rode up,
demanding the poll-books. I told them the poll-books were not
there. They then asked where Burson was. I told them he had
started off west from the house. They proceeded that direction. It
was some ten minutes before they returned. They stated, when they
returned, that they had found the poll-books, and taken Umberger as
prisoner. They arrested Wakefield at my house, and took him off as
prisoner. There was a company of about twenty-five ; some fifteen
were on horseback, and there was a wagon-load besides. I do not
know how many. When they came up and demanded Wakefield
from a company of men who were there, who refused, they said they
would take him dead or alive. They said if he would go back with
them, and explain something — I did not, hear what — there should not
be a hair of his head touched. They were all armed with revolvers.
They took him away with them. Wakefield returned in a short
time. I did not go back to the election ground that day. The resi-
dents left about the time we did, and went home. These strangers
said no man should vote that day, unless he would vote an open ticket,
and who was " right on the goose." They stated, at my house, that
the 30th of March was a very important day with them, as Kansas
was to be made a slave State on that day. I did not hear them say
172 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
where they came from. The greater part of them were strangers to
me. I was tolerably well acquainted in that district.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
They came to my house and told me this was an important election.
There were some fifteen of them. Mr. Jones was with them ; and
they said they must have the poll-books, as that was an important
election with them. Umber ger was a prisoner with them.
NATHANIEL RAMSAY.
LAWKENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
JAMES M. DUNN called and sworn.
I came into the Territory about the first of November, 1854, from
the State of Maine. I settled near Bloomington, in the second dis-
trict, and have resided there ever since. I was at the election of the
30th of March, 1855 ; I went to the polls very early in the morning.
We had heard that there was a great number of teams between Bloomr
ington and Westport, coming up from the States. After I got there,
teams arrived in such large numbers as to surprise me ; they continued
to arrive until near nine o'clock. I counted the teams, and made out
70 — two and four-horse wagons. There were 150 mules and horses,
saddled, hitched there after they arrived. At the opening of the polls,
all was quiet for some time. The wagons were pretty well filled, and
contained from four to six each, and, in some cases, as many as eight,
I should think. Things remained quiet for a time. This party went
to the west side of the house, and held a little caucus by themselves
awhile. Some twenty or more votes were polled. They then came to
the window where the voting was done, and went there to give in
votes. The judges of the election were not satisfied they were resi-
dents of the Territory, and wanted them to take the oath prescribed,
which they refused to do. The judges contended that they could not
act according to their instructions without doing so. The other party
said that; if they had been here two minutes, it was as good as two
years, and they had a perfect right to, and would, vote. The judges
still insisted upon their being sworn. They refused, and said they
would shoot any person who would swear. They then, to a great ex-
tent, left the window, and went to another spot, perhaps some fifty
feet distant, when a gentleman made a speech to them. I asked who
the gentleman was, and I was told he was Mr. Jackson, from Jackson
county, Missouri. He said, in his speech, that all knew what they had
come there for. They had come there to vote. uWe will," said he,
" peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must." That was the sentence
he used. The mob then went to a large wagon, hauled there by eight
oxen, and handed out a great many arms ; I did not count how many.
They were mostly revolvers that I saw. They tied a white tape or
piece of cloth in the button-holes of their coats, when those arms were
given out. They then came back to the window, with declarations
that they would vote, and demanded that the judges should resign im-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 173
mediately. After a good deal of noise, confusion, and threatening,
the judges left the house. I was not in the house, and do not know
what was said in there. I heard those outside of the house say that,
if they did not resign in five minutes, they would cut their throats. I
tried an hour and a half to get to the window to vote. They would
not let me vote without showing my ticket, which I did. They then
crowded me away by force, and I could not vote. My ticket was for
Wakefield for council, and Macey and Davis for representatives. The op-
position candidate was McDonald, I think, for councilman, G. W. Ward
and 0. H. Brown for the lower house. They were willing we should
come and vote after they got control of the ballot-box. Most of the
citizens went home ; but a few remained, though I know of none who
voted. I saw one man of this mob take a small man by the collar and
tell him he might vote if he would vote the ticket with McDonald,
Ward, and Brown on it. He would not vote that ticket, and they
thrust him out over their shoulders, as there was such a crowd he
could not get out any other way. One man said he was hired to come
there and vote, and by God he would vote. While these scenes were
being enacted, they were accompanied with a great deal of noise, con-
fusion, and swearing. These people were intoxicated more or less. I
knew S. J. Jones in Wesport; he was a very prominent man on the
day of election, and took a very active part. I considered him a leader.
I had been in the post office at Westport, and took letters out there
when he was postmaster there. I had never heard of his moving into
the Territory, and had no doubt he lived in Westport. I lived in
Westport some two months before I moved into the Territory, and he
tended the post office there, where my letters were usually directed.
I was on the ground the principal part of the day of election. I be-
lieve I was about the first man there. I went home at noon, about
one mile, for dinner, and came back and remained until it became dark.
This party brought Mr. Wakefield back to the polls. I could not say
how many there were in that party ; there were from fifteen to thirty-
five, and they were armed. I do not know who headed the party. I
had lived in the district from the previous November. We were fre-
quently called together in the district to erect log-cabins for one
another and for strangers, and by that means became acquainted.
This party who came there, upon inquiry of a number of them, con-
fessed to me that they were from Missouri. I asked one of them what
he would do if we were to go to their election and act as they did,
and he replied, " We would whip you out." I heard this gentleman,
who made the speech, tell his party what they came for, and, for one,
he was not willing to go away till it was accomplished. They gave
him three cheers when he closed his speech. I staid on the ground
till the last of this party left. They went away the road they came,
toward Westport, Missouri.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson:
I was acquainted with this man Jones before I moved into the Ter-
ritory. During the winter before the election I did not see Mr. Jones,
and do not know where he resided, only as report said. I suppose he
resided at Westport, as he kept the post office there. I do not know
174 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I
the time he was postmaster, hut have taken letters from the office
while he was there.
The wagons came in companies of two, five, and ten along the
road, and all arrived in the course of two hours. They had colors fly-
ing, but not in martial order. Some of them of whom I inquired
told me they were from Missouri. I supposed they were all from Mis-
souri ; because I asked them where they were from, and they told me
so. I do not know how many I asked that question of. It was usual
to ask every one, actual residents and all, where they were from; but
we knew nearly all in the district. I think I inquired of twenty or
thirty men, who told me they were from Missouri. Some who came
in that crowd did not vote,, and said they would not have come had
they known the conduct there would be thus.
I do not recollect that I personally know of Mr. Jones acting as
postmaster at Westport between the time I arrived in the fall and this
election. After the election I was in the post office and he handed
me my letters. I cannot be certain in regard to the time.
By Mr. Sherman:
I did not converse with any one that said he had come through
Lawrence, or had been there. Mr. Jackson, in his speech, did not
mention the place where they came from as I recollect.
JAMES M. DUNN.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
J. N. MACE called and sworn.
By Mr. Keeder:
I came into the Territory about the 1st of September, 1854. I se1
tied first in Lawrence. I moved into the second district about the las
of February, 1855, and have resided there ever since. I was at the
election of the 30th of March, 1855. I reached the polls somewhat
late, having seven miles to go. There was a very large crowd around
the window there, so that it was very difficult of access. I heard
cries from the crowd that "no damned Yankee should vote there that
day ; that the first man who took the oath, they would rip his guts
out." Those were the words they used. I went around the house,
as I could not get to the window from the eastern side. I attempted
to get through the crowd so as to put in my vote. After a struggle
of perhaps an hour, I got near the window. A man was at the win-
dow attempting to vote. The judges required the oath of him ; he
was willing to give it, but the persons on the outside told him if he
did so, they would instantly kill him. He then left, saying they had
lost one good vote, as he was "right on the goose." I then stepped
forward to the window, when a man on my right took hold of my
arm and said, "Unfold that vote and let me see it." I told him I
came there by the United States law 'to vote, and that law gave me
the right to vote by ballot ; and if I could not vote so, I would not
vote at all. They then asked me if I should take the oath. I told
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 175
them if the judges required the oath of me, I should take it accord-
ing to law. An old gentleman with a white string in the hutton-hole
of his coat then stepped up. They asked me to give way for him to
vote, as he was an old man ; and I did so. After he had voted, I
stepped forward, put my hand inside the window, and gave my name ;
when, at a word, from one of the two men who stood one on each side
of the widow, I was seized by the people in the crowd, and dragged
from the polls through the entire crowd. They made shouts of "Kill
the damned nigger-thief," " Cut his throat/' and many cries of that
kind. I saw revolvers cocked and bowie-knives drawn, all around
me, at that time. After I had been dragged out of the crowd I
regained my feet. I had a small American flag under my arm.
When I got to my feet, I unfurled it and held it over my head. I
told them that we were here, and had no law to protect us, and I
sought protection under the American flag, which was universally re-
spected in foreign countries, and I supposed it would be here. The
crowd did not seem to understand what it meant, and they let me
alone. Some of them asked what it meant ; and some one of their
party said they had better not kill a man when he was under the
American flag. I heard some voices say that flag was false, and
pointed to a flag waving over one of their wagons with one star in it,
and said that was the true flag. I then said, " Who calls this flag
false are traitors." One man who had a large cloak on, threw it off
and came up to me, and, thrusting his fist in my face, asked me if I
called him a traitor. I said, if he called that flag false he was a
traitor. Then another man stepped up to me, and told me to take
that back, at the same time opening a clasp-knife, and put it so it
touched the breast of my coat. Another man had a revolver, which
he held close to my ear. Another man struck at me with a club, and
a friend of mine turned it off with his arm, and it struck somebody
else. At this instant, a fight, or row of some kind, was got up at
; some distance, which attracted their attention, and they left me. I
then walked around the building, and saw some individuals with a
i large lever attempting to pry up the house, so as to take the logs out.
They did not succeed, as they could not lift the logs high enough to
i take one from under the other. While they were looking for a large
; fulcrum, a man came out of the house with a bundle of papers in his
I hand, and held them up, saying, "We have got the documents."
I 1 saw Mr. Ellison come out with the ballot-box, holding it up over
j the crowd, and hurrahing for Missouri; that is about all I saw. I did
i not know any of the crowd, or any there, except those who lived in
the district. I should think I did not see more than twenty residents
of the district in the crowd, the rest being foreigners. I did not hear
any of them say where they came from. I heard some of them say
they came there to vote, and they would vote in spite of the Presi-
dent, the governor, the laws, and the devil. I think I staid there till
about 12 o'clock— about three hours. I did not know S. J. Jones at
that time. I know him now by sight. I could not say whether he
was there or not. Almost all the people there had white strings in
their button-holes. The one of whom I spoke I knew by sight ; he
176 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
lived in the Territory. There were seven that went to the polls in
company with me, and we all came back without voting.
J. N. MACE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
J. C. DUNN called and sworn.
To Mr. Eeeder :
I came into the Territory in the month of December, 1854, and
settled on the Wakarusa, near Bloomington, and have resided within
the vicinity of Bloomington ever since. I was at the election of the
30th of March, 1855. I was one of the clerks to take down the names
of those who swore. I was on the ground about as soon as any one
there. All this crowd got there in about two hours from the time
they commenced to arrive. I supposed them to be people from Mis-
souri. I thought there were from 500 to 700 of them. They came
on horses and in wagons. They were principally armed with re-
volvers. There was a large wagon drove up in front of the door ; it
contained Colt's revolvers and a great many double-barreled shot-
guns. I saw that their arms were all capped and loaded. After
Ellison was called to the door, he went out and returned directly, and
stated there would be one hundred shots in less than fifteen minutes
if we did not leave. There was a cry outside not to shoot, as there
were two pro-slavery men there. At that time I was sitting by the
window as a clerk, and there was one on the outside who called out
for the crowd to get away from the window until he shot the God
damned white-headed abolition judge. The judges were given five
minutes to leave the house, or they would be shot and their throats
cut. The five minutes expired and they had not left ; and as I sat;
by the window, I could hear the revolvers cocking in almost every
direction. They had another minute given them to resign. During
this time there was a lever or pry rigged under the corner of the
house. The judges left and closed the polls, and said there would be
no election. At that time a man I took to be Jones came in and took
a package of papers off a box, and took them out aod shook them and
hallooed " Hurrah for Missouri I" After the judges left they then
proceeded to elect two other judges, and continued the election. I
was around there all the time, and was there the whole day. After
they had driven the judges from the house, they seemed to rejoice over
their victory. One of them said to another, he was hired to come
there to vote, and by God he would vote. They said that Tom
Johnson was their governor, and they swore vengeance on Governor
Keeder. I do not recollect of hearing what they were going to do
with him ; but they said, for one thing, they would like to cut his
heart out. 1 do not think that I saw Ellison do anything with the
ballot-box, though I have some faint recollection about it. They
wanted Mr. Burson and Mr. Eamsay to receive their votes without
swearing, as Mr. Ellison was willing to do. They said they would
not do it, but were going to discharge their duties according to law.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 177
I heard some man making a speech, but do not recollect what he
said, or what his name was. I saw one man there who was a doctor,
and kept an apothecary's shop in Westport, on the corner in front of
the Harris house. I do not recollect his name, but think I would if
I heard it. He recognised me, and came up to me and shook hands
with me. (Upon being asked) I think it was Dr. Earl. These men,
in my opinion, were strangers. I know that many of them asked me
the way to the precinct. I knew that the most of them were not resi-
dents of the district, because at that time I knew the greater part of
the residents by sight. I saw these men go away ; they all left within
two hours, I should think, from the time they started. They took
the road towards Westport.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
I was not acquainted with all the persons in the second district. I
do not know that there were more moving in there than usual. There
were some moving in, in the neighborhood of McG-ee's, and they laid
out a town there.
I think at that time I knew more than one-half of the residents
of the district by sight. These men I did not know to be residents
of Kansas, and some of them I did know to be residents of Missouri.
I heard them say, at different times, among themselves, that they
had come from Missouri to vote. I refer to those of the election of
the 30th of March. I should think there were from five hundred to
seven hundred came there, and from appearance they voted pretty-
generally. I do not say that every man voted, but they were voting
there for a great length of time. I heard two or three say, if they
had known what kind of people inhabited that place they would never
have been caught there, and would not be in such a muss again. As
far as I could ascertain, I should think the principal leader of the
gang was Steel, of Lexington, Missouri.
JOHN C. DUNJST.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
ANDREW WHITE called and sworn.
To Mr. Eeeder :
I came into the Territory and selected my place, where I now live,
on the 5th of June, 1854. I came from Missouri. I was formerly
from Morgan county, Missouri. I moved my family out here in the
fall, after having built houses on my claim here. I was at the elec-
tion in Bloomington on the 30th of March, 1855. I got there about
nine or ten o'clock, going up with the Missouri company who were
passing by at that time. I was acquainted with some of them, though
I do not know as any of them came from Cass county. I knew Clai-
borne Jackson, and had known him since he was a boy. I lived in
Missouri for thirty-five years. I do not know how many there were
in this company I went up with. They had been passing my house
for an hour, and the road was full as far as I could see, back and
H. Kep. 200 12*
178 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
before. They said they were going to vote at the election. I had
not much conversation with them on the road, but I talked with
them right smart after I got up there. I asked some of them their
reasons for coming up in our country to vote. They were young men
I was talking to. They said they were hired to come up, and got a
dollar a day. I stated that perhaps they would not be allowed to
vote. They said they had come to vote, and they would vote, or die
there. Those I was talking with, judging from their conversation,
were from Jackson county, or from the edge of the county east. I
knew him by sight, but do not recollect his name. I had no conver-
sation with Claiborne Jackson. I heard his speech. He got up and
said that they had come there to vote, and he thought they had as
much right to vote when they had been there five or ten minutes as
a man who had been there four or five years, and they would vote
before they left there, or die. The crowd cheered him when he got
through speaking. I think he ordered them to form into companies
of fifteen or twenty, and form around the window, and let no man
vote who was willing to swear. They did so. I heard Steely's name
called more than any other man's there. I should know him if I
should see him again.
About the time they formed themselves they got the white ribbons
or strings in their coats. As they formed around the window the
crowd was pretty strong there, and they got a big rope and wound it
around them so as to let no one get in there with them. They swore
they would let no man vote there who was willing to be sworn. All
this time they were arguing with the judges, and threatened to
destroy them if they did not either resign or take their votes without
swearing them. At last they said they would tear the house down,
and fixed a pry there, and pried the house up right smartly, but did
not get anybody out. In a few minutes they threatened if they did
not resign or let them vote, they would fill the house full of shot in
five minutes, I believe. The next I noticed was, I understood the
judges would close the polls and give them an answer directly. The •
polls were closed, and the judges came out and went off. I went ;
down under the hill. I went with them. Burson expected they '
would be after him for the poll-books. He gave them to Umber ger, ,
who took them and went off. I went up to Mr. Kamsay's, and saw
nothing more of Burson until the evening. Directly after, I got up to >
Kamsay's they came back with Umberger and the poll-books, andi
took them to the polls. They then came back and said they hadl
orders to take Judge Wakefield back with them. There were several I
of us who said they could not take him, and they swore they would I
have him, dead or alive. Some two or three got off their horses.
Judge Wakefield was in the house, and said he would not be taken \
by any such set of ruffians as they were, and I think he seized a gun. .
They stated that they did not want to hurt him, and he should not!
be hurt at all if he went with them peaceably. He told them if theyr
would give their honors he would not be hurt while he was there, he
would go with them if they had any business with him. He went off
with them, and returned back after being gone some time, not veryr
long. The company of residents then broke up, and mostly went;
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 179
tome. I went to the polls and staid there till night. Ellison con-
tinued to act as judge, but I do not believe I know the others who
acted as judges, I saw these people go away the same road back that
they came. They started two or three hours by sun. A party of
some thirty or forty were left about the house to guard the polls until
six o'clock. They were armed with revolvers and double-barreled
shot-guns. The rest went away when they had voted. I believe all
had arms. I did not notice any of them without. They formed around
the wagon about the time they said they would tear down the house,
and formed in small companies, and took rifles and shot-guns out of
the wagon. I did not look into the wagon. I think there were some
ox teams, but they were generally two -horse and four-horse teams,
and mule teams. They had some flags, but I did not notice them
very particularly, except they were common flags, such as armies
have.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
It was from these men I learned their residence. I inquired of a
dozen or so ; all I talked with told me they were from Missouri. I
should think there were five or six hundred altogether. Some of
them I knew by sight, but not by name, as I lived in Missouri for a
year, and had seen them near Westport and Independence. They
spoke it out publicly in conversation. There was no public speaking
except by Claiborne Jackson, I resided in Cass county, Missouri, on
what is called the High Blue, near Little Santa Fe. I formerly came
from Morgan county, Missouri, and have lived in Cooper county,
Missouri.
To Mr. Boeder :
I was well acquainted in the district. I do not think there were
more than half a dozen — there might have been a dozen — in this com-
pany who were residents in the district.
his
ANDREW + WHITE.
mark,
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856,
DK. E. Gr. MACY called and affirmed.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I came into this Territory about the middle of November, 1854, and
settled in the second district, and came from Butler county, Ohio. I
have resided in the second district ever since. I was at the election
of the 30th of March, 1855, £t Bloomington. The first thing that
attracted my attention after I got there was a large body of strangers,
who were holding a formal election in the front of Esquire Burson's
house. I heard the name of Thomas Johnson announced as our gov-
ernor. The polls were then opened, and there was a general rush
around the window. Two men, who were strangers, placed them-
180 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
selves one on each side of the window, and acted as foremen, and dic-
tated more or less to those who came up to vote, and told them they
should not qualify according to the directions in the proclamation.
The crowd that surrounded the polls was, I should think, some fifteen
men deep. It was impossible for me to get to the polls. I crowded
in for half an hour, and did not get more than half way to the polls
from the outside of this "body of men. I was recognised by some one
in the crowd, who cried out " There comes an abolitionist/' I went
back out of the crowd, by their help, a heap quicker than I got in.
Soon there was an announcement that Claiborne Jackson would address
the congregation. He took an elevated stand, and addressed the
people by saying that a few minutes' residence in the Territory gave
them as good a right to vote as though they had been in years. He
said that that was the order at California, and it should be so here ;
that Governor Eeeder had no authority to issue any such orders as
were in his proclamation ; that they had come here to vote, and they
would vote. He then called upon the people to form themselves in
companies of fifteen men each, or somewhere of that number ; they
proceeded to do so ; they had white strings and ribbons tied in their
coats. Immediately after those orders, I saw numbers of them over
the grounds, loading double-barreled shot-guns. A committee of
three, I think, was then appointed to wait upon the judges, to demand
that they should resign. After five minutes had expired, some gen-
tleman— I do not know who, as they were all strangers — took out
his watch, and said " We will give you one minute more ; if you do
not resign in that time, this house will be torn down." At that
period there was quite an excitement in the crowd — a great many
oaths and threats. I saw a lever placed under one side of the house 7
and I think the logs were raised some two or three inches, and let fall
in their places again, without doing much damage.
During this excitement, I heard a crash in the window, and saw a
confusion at the front door and a rush in the house. I passed around
where the front door was, and saw a man they called Mr. Jones come
out with a bundle of papers in his hands, and held them up and hal-
looed "Hurrah for Missouri !" I heard somebody call me, and I looked
around, and Esquire Burson, Judge Wakefield, and some others were
some fifty or sixty yards north of the house. I went to them, and we
went down under the bluff. There were some four or five of us, as
near as I can recollect. We concluded, after a short conversation, to
go to Mr. Kamsay's house. Esquire Burson had the poll-books in his
pocket. About that time we saw a crowd on horses and mules coming
towards Mr. Kamsay's, where they came and called for Esquire Bur-
son. Judge Wakefield told them positively .he was not there. They
were told the poll-books were not there. I saw these men ride down
across the prairie very rapidly, and they soon returned with George
Umberger, a neighbor of ours, behind*one of them. They came up to
Mr. Kamsay's house, and demanded that Judge Wakefield should go
up to the polls with them. He refused to do so ; when they drew re-
volvers, some of them cocking them and swearing that he should go,
dead or alive. The old man declared he would not go, and if they
took him there., they would take him dead ; but finally they pledged
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 181
their honor, if he would go, he should not be hurt. He walked up,
and they followed him on their mules shouting. I and one of the
judges followed them. Just as we got there, the judge came down off
a stand, or out of a wagon, where they had had him up making a
speech. He had a badge in his coat. I then left. I did not converse
with any of these strangers.
E. G. MACY.
LAWRENCE, K, T., April 28, 1856.
F. E. LAHY called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I was one of the officers in the second district election on the 30th
of March, 1855, after Mr. Burson and Mr. Ramsay left. I was ap-
pointed by the people on the ground. There were a crowd of people
there. I was sworn by Mr. Ellison, one of the judges. I do not re-
collect that I signed an oath attested by Mr. Taylor. I signed an
oath sworn to before Mr. Ellison. I did not swear before Mr. Taylor.
I was not there, as I remember, when the others took the oaths. I
was one of the judges of election. I saw the oaths, but do not recol-
lect that they were attested by Mr. Taylor. He was one of the clerks
while I was serving. After the election I took charge of the duplicate
papers not sent to the governor's office. They were afterwards put in
Mr. Waful's hands, one of the judges. I kept the books until the
legislature convened at Pawnee, of which I think Mr. Waful was one
of the clerks. Mr. Waful took them up there then, and brought them
back some five or six months ago. I have not these papers now.
They have been lost, destroyed, or something, while I was from
home — some time last November or the first of December. We had
no way of keeping them very safely ; and the children told me that
the box was open, and they did not know what the papers were, and
they got scattered around amongst the books, and we lost a part of
them then. Afterwards I found some and put them away, but am
not able now to find them. I have not been living where the books
were for some three months. One of the lists of voters — or one of the
sheets, for there were two of them — was one of the papers I found arid
put away. I put it away in some books I had. It was my father's
house, and I left him and his family in it. I saw the paper last some
time last winter, in January and February, in the place where I bad
put it. I put it back again in one of the books, in the same case, and
I have not seen it since. I made thorough search for it a few days
ago, and again to-day. I could not find it. I do not know what be-
came of it, for certain. My father has been accustomed to take sheets
of paper from the book-case, that my brothers had been scribbling
on, to wipe his razor on ; and he may have taken that, as it did not
seem to be of much importance. I asked my father about it, and he
was not certain what had become of it, though he thought it likely he
had done something of the kind, as he thought he recollected some-
thing about it. Sherman J. Waful acted as one of the judges of the
182 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
election, and he acted as the return judge of that election. I do not
know that George W. Withers, of Richfield, Missouri, acted as return
judge under the assumed name of Sherman J. Waful. I do not know
that George W. Withers brought these returns to Governor Breeder's
office.
I know that Mr. Waful started with the books, hiring a horse upon
the grounds. I started with him? and went a part of the way — for
four and a half or five miles. I do not know George W. Withers.
I left Mr. Waful at Allen McGee's house, and when I left he was
making preparations to go on, as it was late. That was on the even-
ing of the election.
F. E. LAHY.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 29, 1856.
HAMMOND 0. MUZZY called and sworn.
To Mr. Eeeder :
I was at the election of the 30th March, 1855, in the second district.
I saw a great crowd of people, and a great many wagons, when I first
went there. I tried to get to the window to vote, and got there just
as Mr. Mace did. He was just before rne, and when he offered his
vote some of the pro-slavery party said that it was a free-State vote,
and told him he should not vote it. Several men took him by the
eollar, and undertook to drag him away from the windows, and, as I
was by his side, they crowded me away with him. Some called out,
" Cut his throat I" " Tear his damned heart out I" I saw one fellow
draw a knife and present it to his side, as though he was going to
stab him. They finally left him without doing him any injury. After
that, I saw some men with a lever trying to pry up the corner of the
cabin. The leader of the party hallooed out to them not to do that
till they had orders. Soon after that,, I saw Mr. Ellison come out of
the cabin with the ballot-box in his hand, and he hallooed " Hurrah
for Missouri I" Mr. Ellison was one of the judges. I heard Mr.
Jones (now sheriff Jones) give Mr. Burson and Mr. Ramsay, the free-
State judges, five minutes to resign in or die. After that, he gave
them one more minute to resign in. The judges left, as has been
stated by others. I was on the ground a little while after the other
judges were appointed, and the crowd then voted. I did not see any
free-State man vote after that, and but three or four at any time. I
do not know whether sheriff Jones voted there or not that day.
HAMMOND C. MUZZY.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 29, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 183
GEORGE W. UMBERGER called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
I came into the Territory about the 24th or 25th of March, 1855. I
emigrated from Ohio, and wintered in Iowa. I settled in the neigh-
borhood of Bloomington, in the second district, and have resided there
ever since. I was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, in the
morning, probably for a half or three-quarters of an hour ; then went
away, and came back near noon. I started to go back to the polls,
and, seeing the judges coming away, I went to Mr. Ramsay's house,
where the judges came. I went into his house. There appeared to
be considerable excitement among the judges and the clerks, and the
few others who were there. I was there but a few minutes, when Mr.
Burson handed me the poll-books and told me to take care of them.
We started out ; I went towards home ; he went part of the way with
me, when he turned off from me down on the bottom. I continued
towards home, and was overtaken by eight or ten horsemen. I was
surrounded by them, and the poll-books forced away from me. I did
not know any of the party at that time, but I have known one since
then. His name was Jones — now sheriff Jones — and the only one of
the party I ever knew. I think Jones acted as the leader of the party.
After they got the poll-books, they wanted me to go back. I told
them my folks were sick, and I did not care about going back, and
should not vote if I did.
Finally, they said I must go. One man came up, swore a few
oaths, and tried to get hold of my collar ; I supposed to choke me.
I thrust his hand away, and told him to take care of himself. He
finally agreed if I would go along, I would not be hurt. I got on the
horse behind Mr. Jones, and went over to Mr. Ramsay's. They
wanted Judge Wakefield there. The judge refused to go at first.
They finally told him, as they had told me, that if he would go along
he would not be harmed. We both went over. On the road going
over, a man came running out of the house where the polls were held,
and said he would cut my throat if I did not take care. They took
me to the window, gave me a pro-slavery ticket, and wanted me to
vote. I refused voting that ticket. They handed me another, and I
refused to vote that either. I left shortly after that. They threat-
ened Burson's life. They wanted to get hold of him ; they supposed
I was Burson ; they threatened his life if they got him. They took
Judge Wakefield to the polls. He got up on a wagon and made a
speech to them. Shortly after I left, he came over where I was. As
far as I know now — I was not much acquainted at the time — I should
think there were a great many more people when I went back to the
polls than there were voters in the district. As I was coming up the
second time in the morning, I saw a great many going home, who said
they saw there would not be a fair chance there, and they did not care
about remaining.
184 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
I had been in the district but four or five days, and was a stranger
to the residents of the district generally.
G. W. UMBERGEB.
LAWRENCE, K. T.; April 29, 1856.
WILLIAM JESSEE called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I came into the Territory for the first time about the middle of De-
cember, 1854. I came to St. Joseph about the middle of November,
1854, and left my family there, and came over to look at the Terri-
tory. I came from McLean county, Illinois, and settled on the Wa-
karusa, in the second district, a mile and a half from Bloomington, on
the last day of January. I came there with a part of my plunder and
my oldest son. In about two weeks I went after my family. I moved
them there on the 28th day of February, 1855. I was at the election
of the 30th of March, 1855. A day or two before the election one of
the judges chose me for one of the clerks. On the morning of the
election I started very early to go to the polls, and, after I had started
a few minutes, I saw a wagon coming with a flag on the hind end of
it. It passed me before I got to the polls. I was not out of the house
much before the polls were opened, but went in to help them to pre-
pare the poll-books for the election. I saw a great many persons
going backwards and forwards before the door and windows. The
polls were opened and they commenced voting. Some persons came
forward and voted. Others came, and their votes were objected to
until they were proved to be actual settlers of the Territory. Some
were qualified, and others were proved, by men who were by, that
they were settlers. It went on in that way until there were about
thirty-three votes taken, if I recollect right, when one man offered his
vote, and the judges would not receive it unless he would be qualified,
or prove he was a citizen. He refused to do so. Others cried out and
swore that he should not be sworn, but that he should vote without.
He still continued to insist on voting, and the judges would not re-
ceive his vote. They then swore he should vote without swearing.
During this time others came up to the window to vote, and were
pulled away, and not allowed to vote. There were, I should think, a
dozen pistols cocked and pointed to the judges at the window, and
they swore they would blow their brains out if they did not receive
those votes or resign. I did not count the number of times these
pistols were presented, but I should think it was from eight to a dozen
times. They insisted those men should vote without being sworn.
They said they had come there to vote, and they would vote. One of
the judges (Mr. Ellison) then told the other two not to take any votes
until he came back. He stepped out for a few minutes, and then re-
turned. He proposed to close the polls, and said that in less than
five minutes the house would be thrown down and five hundred shots
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 185
thrown in the window. I felt the house jar with the pries, but I did
not see them. Mr. Ellison and Mr. Ramsay tried to gather up the
ballot-box, but Mr. Ellison took it away. I think the door was broken
open about the same time ; when Mr. Ellison ran out with the ballot-
box and hallooed " Hurrah for Missouri I" At the same time I took
up the poll-books, doubled them up, and handed them to Esquire
Burson. The house was filling up at the time, and I went out and
talked around through the crowd. In a few minutes a man came out
holding up some papers in his hand, which caused a great hurrah. I
then made my way through the crowd as near as I could to this man,
to ascertain what were the papers he had. When I got close enough,
I discovered it was a piece of blank paper that had been blotted in
making out the poll-book, and a certificate that there had been amis-
take made. I then hunted around for Esquire Burson and Mr. Ram-
say. I came across a man who told me they had but five minutes — or
one minute, I do not recollect which — to live if they did not resign
their posts as judges of election. I asked him why he did not go in?
He said he could not get in. I told him I was going in or would die,
and he said he would follow me. They were crowded before the door,
and I had to pull my way considerably. Nothing was said to me until
I got to the door. They asked me what I wanted, and I said I wanted
to get into the house to see Esquire Burson. They then let me in.
There was one man in there standing with a watch in his hand. I did
not know his name at that time, but found it out shortly afterwards.
I then went to Mr. Burson and told him he had better leave the house.
He said he hated to leave his own house. I told him that, under the
circumstances, I thought he had better leave, and he consented to it
and went out. Mr. Ramsay followed, and I went out after them.
We all three walked off down over the hill, some two or three hun-
dred yards from the house. There were probably fifteen of us. After
that we went to Mr. Ramsay's house. I asked Mr. Burson where the
poll-books were ? He answered he had got them, but I found them
in his pocket afterwards. He handed them to Mr. Umberger. About
that time there was a yell raised near the house, and men coming on
horses as hard as they could tear. Mr. Burson and Mr. Umberger
started off. These men asked if these poll-books were there, and we
told them they were not. They swore they believed they were, and
we told them they were welcome to try it. They then went off after
the others, and shortly returned and said they had found them. They
abused us most wretchedly, calling us almost everything they could
think of. Mr. Jones (now the sheriff) had Mr. Umberger behind
him.
About that time there was another yell, and some fifteen or more
came after Judge Wakefield, they said. They demanded that he
should go, and he refused, asking what they wanted, and he would
not tell them. Finally, three men agreed, if he would go, they
would give their security that he should not be hurt, and they gave
their names. Sheriff Jones was one of them ; the others I do not
recollect. He went with them, and they passed off. The inquiry and
search was still for Esquire Burson. I went and found him, and we
went off, and it was near evening before I returned to the polls.
186 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
-
When I got back the bigger part of the company had left — a few
them were still voting. I remained there half an hour, and then
went off again.
The man who was holding the watch in the election house I recog-
nised afterwards as the one who gave his name as Jones, the present^
sheriff, in Mr. Ramsay's house. What I saw of those persons, went1!
off east by my house. I was home part of the time, and saw a num-
ber of horses and wagons pass. I supposed there were near 400 i
strangers in the district then, so far as I knew. I have not seem
them in the district since. As far as I saw, they were pretty welll
armed with revolvers and bowie-knives. Some of them had two pis-
tols in a belt around them, and a bowie-knife or two. I do not know,
whether any settlers of the district voted after this difficulty aboutt
the judges took place.
WILLIAM JESSEE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
SAMUEL JONES called and sworn.
I came into the Territory the last day of October, 1854. I went!
into the district where I am living now the 2d day of November,, 1854..
I came from West port, Missouri, where I had been living for moce
than two years. I settled in the second district. I was at the elec-
tion of the 30th of March, 1855. I saw a good many of the people II
was acquainted with in Missouri. Some of them told me they hadi
moved into the Territory, and others that they had claims, but had notr
moved into the Territory; and others told me that they intended to'
come; and one of them that he did not intend to reside here. I heardl
these men threaten that if the judges did not resign, they would be
killed. Samuel J. Jones (now sheriff) was one who made this threat ; a
young man they called Dr. Johnson, who they said was from Independ-
ence, was another; and others, whose names I do not know, made
other threats also. I saw them fix a pry to the corner of the house,-
to pry it down ; and some of them told them there was a pro-slavery r
man in the house, and they took the pry away, and went to the door1
of the house. Just then the door was opened, I think from inside,
and Mr. Ellison came out with the ballot-box in his hand, at which i
there was a general shout. I do not recollect what Mr. Ellison said.
I was in camp with these men afterwards. I started that night to>
take a protest to Governor Reeder against the election. On the cross--
ing of the Wakarusa there was an encampment nearly half a mile
long, and, without stopping there, I found other camps on almost:
every creek as I went along. I found another camp in the morning,
where I stopped and took breakfast. They told me they were from
Clay county, Missouri, and they thought there were as many as six
hundred from Missouri at Lawrence, where they said they had been
at the election. I asked them if they had claims in the Territory,
and they said no ; that they only came to vote. I passed on, and rode
several miles with some men from Lafayette county, who told me that
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 187
they had claims in the Delaware country, but had not moved on there.
They said a good many had come to the election from their neighbor-
hood. About the time I got to the Shawnee Mission I saw a good
many going towards Missouri whom I had seen at Bloomington the
day before. On my way back I found the road full. As long as I
kept in the road I had frequent conversations with them. They said
they thought there had been from two thousand to eight thousand
Missourians in the Territory to the election.
SAMUEL JONES.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 8, 1856.
JOHN A. WAKEFIELD called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in July, 1854, from Iowa,, and jsettled in
the second district, and have resided there ever since. I was at the
election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Bloomington, in the second
election district. There were a number of men who staid at my house
the night before the election — some fifteen or twenty in number. We
all went over to Bloomington together the morning of the election.
When we got there we saw a large body of non-residents of the dis-
trict. They continued to come between one and two hours after we
got there, in wagons and on horseback ; they were all armed with
revolvers, guns, &c.; they had tents and wagons. I was called upon
by the judges to assist in filling up the poll-books. This gave offence
to the Missourians, and they cried out, "Get Wakefield out of there;
he has no business in there." The door was in the south side of the
house, the window where the votes were received in the north side,
and the table where the judges sat fronting that window. After the
poll-books were filled up I went to the north window to see if the
judges would take the oath prescribed by the governor. They all
took that oath. Paris Ellison, Harrison Burson, and Nathaniel
Ramsay were the judges. After they were sworn they opened the polls.
The actual settlers then commenced voting. A few of their votes
were given in, and then the Missourians crowded in and surrounded
the house, and demanded to vote. Esquire Burson told the first one
that he did not know he was a citizen of the Territory, and he would
have to swear to or from his citizenship before he would be allowed to
vote. This the person refused to do. By this time there was a great
excitement, a loud din of voices, and many threats against the judges.
They cried out, " Get Wakefield away from the window ; he has no
business there." They then pushed and shoved me to the outside of
the crowd. A man by the name of Gr. W. Ward came to me and said,
" Judge Wakefield, if you have any influence over those judges, you
go and tell them to let the men vote." I told him I never advised
men to do wrong. A man then, that I have since understood was
named Jackson, got on to a small log, and made a very inflammatory
speech. He told them to divide themselves off into companies, and
tie a white ribbon in the button-holes of their coats, that they might
know their party from the abolitionists ; and said that was the way
188 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
they had once done in California. The excitement by this time was
very great, and they were threatening to kill two of the judges,
Burson and Ramsay. At this time I saw a number of men with a
large piece of timber to pry the house over, and also a piece of short
timber for a fulcrum ; and another company came with a piece of short
timber to batter the door down. But before they attempted to batter
down the door, Parris Ellison, one of the judges of the election, opened
the door from the inside, ran out with the ballot-box in his hand,
hallooing out "Hurrah for Missouri!" He immediately returned to
the house, and as he did so the mob rushed in to get at Burson and
Eamsay. In a few minutes Burson and Ramsay came out where I
was, and asked me what we should do. I told them that we would
fo down to Mr. Ramsay's house — about three hundred yards off — and
would draw up a statement of the facts, and send it off immediately
to the governor. Sheriff Jones (Samuel J. Jones), at the head of a
party of men, immediately followed, and commanded Burson to go
back. I said, " Let us walk along, and not notice him." We went
to Mr. Ramsay's, arid all the citizens who had not left, about twenty
in number, signed a petition to the governor to set aside the election.
Just as we were finishing some of them cried out, "Yonder comes
the mob." I looked, and saw Jones at the head of a large number
mounted on horses. They rode up to the door and halted, and
demanded of Burson that they wanted the poll-books. As Burson
had just left, some one replied that he was not there. One man cried
out that there was a man going over the ridge, and that he had the
poll-books. They wheeled their horses, and followed the man at full
speed. They caught the man, whose name was Umberger, searched
him, and found the poll-books upon him. They then took him pri-
soner, and brought him back behind one of them — I think it was
Jones. As they came they cried out, "Take Wakefield, dead or
alive — damn him, take him !" I then ran into the house, and told
Mr. Ramsay to give me his double-barreled shot-gun, he having taken
it down and cocked both barrels when the mob first came to the house.
The mob rode up, and I should think a dozen or more presented their
pistols to me. I drew up the gun at Jones, the leader. "We stood
that way perhaps for a minute, A man professing to be my friend
undertook to take the gun from me, saying, " If you shoot we will all
be killed ; we can't fight this army." My reply was, to stand off, or
I would shoot him, which he did. Then one of my friends spoke in
a very calm manner, and said, "Judge, you had better surrender;
we cannot fight this army without arms." I then said I must know
the conditions, and remarked to the mob, " Gentlemen, what do you
want with me?" Some one said, " We want you to go back to the
polls, and state whether it was not you that persuaded the judges to
take away the poll-books." I said I could easily do that, as I could
not get in hearing of the judges ; but if I could have got in their
hearing, I should have done it. " But," said I, " if I go back,, what
security have I that I will not be mobbed or maltreated on the way?"
Some two or three of them spoke, and said they would go my security ;
that I should not be hurt. I said I would go, but go alone. I went
back with them, and got up in a wagon and made them a short speech,
KANSAS APFAIES. 189
stating to them that I had been an old soldier, and had fought through
two wars for the rights of my country ; and I thought I had a privi-
lege there that day. I then went on to state that they were in the
wrong ; that we were not the abolitionists they represented us to be,
but were free- State men, and that they were abusing us unjustly,
and that their acts were contrary to the organic law of the constitu-
tion of the United States. A man cried out while I was speaking,
several times, " Shoot him ! he is too saucy." I then made an effort
to those who gave their security that I should not be hurt. When I
got done speaking, and got off the wagon, a man came up to me and
told me he wanted to tie a white ribbon in my button-hole, or the
boys would kill me. I first refused, but he insisted, and I let him do
it ; and then I turned round and cut it out with iny knife. I then,
made an attempt to leave, and they cried out, "Stay with us and
rote ; we don't want you to leave." I thanked them, and told them
they could have it to themselves then, and I should leave them. I
then left them. I should think this was between eleven and twelve
o'clock. The citizens had gone, generally, before that, and there
were not a dozen of them on the ground ; and those that were
left there went home ; and I did also. I was a candidate at that
election for the Council. I drew up a statement of those facts, as I
have before stated. It was signed by a number of citizens — some
twenty or thirty — and sent to the governor, petitioning him to set
aside the election. He found some informality in it, sent the man
back, and a second petition was sent to him; and then the governor
declared the election null and void, and ordered a new election to
take place on the 22d of the May following. That election took place
at the time appointed. There were no foreign votes at that election.
The citizens assembled elected myself to the Council ; William Jesse
and Augustus Wattles to the House of Representatives. We appeared
at Pawnee on the 2d of July, were sworn, and took our seats as mem-
bers of the legislature then and there convened. When the Com-
mittee on Elections was appointed by the president of the Council, I
offered a resolution, which was adopted, calling upon the governor
for the evidence of the election of the 30th of March. The governor
furnished the affidavits of the facts, &c. The chairman of the Com-
mittee on Elections (Colonel Coffee) called upon me to know what
plea I had to make ; I pointed out to him on the poll-book the names
of the Missourians who had voted, and asked him if he did not know
some of them. He made very light of my remarks, and thought it
would avail me nothing. He made a long and elaborate report, to
the effect that one Andrew McDonald was entitled to the seat in the
Council. After the report was made, and before the vote was taken
upon it, I made a speech to the Council, in which I went into the
history of the evidence of the way McDonald was elected, and stated
to them that the people of New York, Georgia, or any other State,
had as good a right to vote in this Territory as the people of Missouri ;
and said that McDonald was elected by foreign votes. I told them
that the day I was there speaking (on the 4th of July) was a memor-
able day, and might become more so ; that their actions there might
be the means of lighting the watch-fires of war in our land. I stated
190 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
that I did not wish to stay with them, as they might meet me, and
give but a cold shake of the hand while the heart was not there. I
then remarked that I knew they would turn me out — that that would
he the result of their vote, and I knew it then. The vote was then
taken, and it was unanimous, with the exception of Chapman, to turn
me out. and give McDonald the seat.
JOHN A. WAKEFIELD.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
GrEO. W. WARD called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I reside on what is called the Wakarusa creek, within a mile of
Bloomington, in the second district, and have resided there since No-
vember, 1854. I was one of the representatives elected from that dis-
trict at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. I attended the election
at Bloomington on that day. The judges that the governor appointed
met in the morning and were qualified. Two of them, Mr. Harrison
Burson and Mr. Kamsay, had their friends who had arms with them,
and put their arms in the corner of the room and fastened the door.
I saw no demonstrations outside which warranted such a proceeding
on their part. When they got ready to commence the balloting, we
were told that we were to vote through the window. Judge Wake-
field and some other free-State men took possession of the window,
and it was with some difficulty we could get there. When we did get
up, we were required to be qualified without any discrimination. It
was the pro-slavery men, chiefly _, that were required to be sworn.
I saw no free-State men sworn, or required to be sworn. They
required men to be sworn whom they knew to be residents. That
created excitement. It was continued so for an hour or more, until
some thirty-odd votes were polled. The bystanders then insisted
that both parties should be sworn or neither be sworn, or that the two
judges, Burson and Eamsay, should resign. There were some threats.
They took a recess of half an hour to determine if they would resign.
At the end of the half hour they were called and did not appear. The
crowd gave them two minutes more; they were then called, and
another short period was given them ; and they were called the third
time and did not appear. Then Mr. Ellison named two judges, who
were sanctioned by the crowd, and they appeared and acted as judges.
The expressions of dissatisfaction were by the residents of the Terri-
tory. There were some strangers there who claimed to be residents.
But those I knew to be residents expressed this dissatisfaction. I saw
no demonstrations from any quarter of the pro-slavery party to in-
timidate the freetState men from voting, but, on the contrary, the free-
State men were invited by the new judges and others to come up and
vote. I know I invited twenty free-State men to come up and vote.
Our district settled up very fast between the taking the census and
the day of election — as much so, if not more, than at any other time
previous ; and I do not think the number of voters were less than a
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 191
hundred in that increase. It was always my impression, from can-
vassing the district, that I would he ahle to he elected easily. I do
not think the free-State men were satisfied with their candidates, and
I know very well that there were free-State men who voted for me. I
do not think, from all I could learn, that it was possible for the result
to have been changed by any illegal votes that may have been given
there that day. Mr. Brown and myself, the pro-slavery candidates,
ran pretty close together, within one or two votes.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
I reside now where I did at the time of that election. I do not
know of any illegal votes polled that day. The persons who were
there all claimed to be residents, and I took them to be such, though
gome of them were strangers to me. My opinions and conclusions
are all founded upon the idea that all who were there were residents.
I do not recollect that any who were strangers to me were sworn, or
that those strangers voted at all.
There was a pry put under the corner of the house at one time, but
I regarded it as mere fun, and not with any intention to tear down
the house. I saw sheriff Jones there that day ; I was not in the
house, and did not see him hold any pistol at the breast of Burson, or
know that it was done. I have seen Jones in the post office at this
place, (Westport, Missouri.) I do not know that he was ever post-
master here ; I have heard so, but my impression was that Colonel
Boone was postmaster here.
A portion of the free-State men were asked to vote, and refused to
vote ; the others said they would be in after a while, but I do not
know whether they voted at all.
After the new judges were elected, I do not recollect of seeing any
one sworn. I have never examined the poll-books, and cannot say
from any examination of them whether all who voted were residents
or not ; I considered a man who came into the district and made a
claim in good faith to be a resident, whether his family was there or
not ; all I knew there I considered to be residents.
I saw no camp of men there. I do not know Colonel Claiborne F.
Jackson ; I saw a man there they called Jackson, but do not know
whether it was Colonel Jackson or not. I did not hear him make a
speech ; I heard Judge Wakefield's speech, as he stood in the wagon,
after he was brought back ; I do not know who brought him back.
That was a peaceable, quiet election, with the exception of the in-
terruption before the new judges were elected. I saw no arms but one
double-barreled shot-gun, except those stacked in the house. I saw
no arms in the hands of these strangers ; if they had any, I did not see
them. I saw none used, and none were threatened to be used, that I
heard of.
To STr. King :
A portion of those who were prying up the corner of the house were
residents, and the others claimed to be. A great many of those I did
not know then, I have found out since to be residents of the district.
Sheriff Jones was up there previous to that time, and I know that he
192 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
had a claim there ; a man by the name of Smith claimed it, and has
possession of it yet. Mr. Jones was backward and forward there
from the time of making that claim till he went to Lecompton to live.
To Mr. Sherman :
Mr. Jones's family have always resided here in this place till lately,
and I do not know but they live here now. Mr. Jones was in about
Colonel Brown's store and the post office here until he was appointed
sheriff.
To Mr. King :
We recognised him as a citizen of the Territory in our district.
My understanding was that Smith jumped the claim which Jones had.
GEORGE W. WARD.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 9, 1856.
THIRD DISTRICT. — Tecumseh.
Rev. H. B. BURGESS called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I came into the Territory in October, 1854, about the middle of the
month. I came to Lawrence first, and came to this district the De-
cember following, and have resided in this district ever since. I came
from Conneaut, Ohio, here. I was appointed one of the judges of the
election, the 30th of March, 1855, and attended that election during a
part of the day. I arrived here about eight o'clock in the morning.
At that time the other two judges had not arrived. I saw in the yard,
about the window of the room to be occupied by the judges of election,
what I should think was a congregation of at least 300 men ; and,
from my knowledge of the district, and from their appearance, I un-
derstood them to be in the main non-residents of the district, there
being but few persons of that company with whom I was acquainted.
I went into the judge's room and found a gentleman there, who after-
wards informed me he lived in Independence, Missouri, preparing the
poll-books and tally-list.
[Mr. R. R. Rees, counsel for J. W. Whitfield, objects to this as
hearsay evidence; a majority of the committee overrules the objec-
tion ; Mr. Oliver dissenting.]
I soon went out of the door, not finding the other judges in the
room, to look for them. As they came into the yard, they were met
by a couple of gentlemen with whom I was acquainted, and stepped
aside into an unoccupied portion of the yard, and some three or four
gentlemen detained them in conversation some moments. During this
conversation I stepped up to them and introduced myself. I heard
a few remarks— but few- — of the conversation, and one of the remarks
from one of the judges was, " We understand it." One of the gen-
tlemen— I do not know whether it was the other judge or one of the
company there — said, " The thing is perfectly understood." We
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 193
rery soon went into the house, and the proprietor of tne house stated
to those there that it was the time for the commencement of the elec-
tion, and requested gentlemen to vacate the room for the judges, as it
was set apart for their express use. There was something like an at-
tempt to clear the room, and, after turning out some of my friends, I
think the outside door was then locked. The inside door, opening
into another room, remained so that it could he passed, and the room
remained as full as before. The first business of the board of judges
was, one of them proposed, I think Mr.. Watts, that the first business
was to elect a couple of clerks, and for that purpose they had brought
a couple of friends with them. To this I dissented.
To Mr. Oliver :
I cannot give the names of these friends.
Direct examination continued :
i
My ground of objection was, that the proclamation had given us
no such liberty ; had made no provision for clerkship outside of the
board of judges. This objection I stated. One of the judges, after
some discussion, proposed to discuss more important matters, before
we could organize.
To Mr. Oliver :
I think the judge was Mr. "Watts.
Direct examination continued :
That matter of importance was the taking of the oath prescribed in
the proclamation. Both Mr. Watts and Mr. Stateler claimed that the
governor had transcended his authority in prescribing that oath, as he
had no right to interpret the organic act in regard to citizenship, as
the judges claimed that any man in the Territory, no matter how
short or how long a time he had been in the Territory, was a resident,
and entitled to vote ; that they had as good a right to interpret the
organic act as the governor, and they refused either to take or admin-
ister the oath prescribed. There was then considerable discussion,
and some unpleasant feeling.
During this discussion the room was pretty thoroughly filled, and
a large crowd outside clamorous that the election should commence. I
sat near the window, and frequently heard the remarks : " The
damned Yankee" — "the God damned Yankee" — "the blue-bellied
Yankee should never come out there alive" — " put a knife in him" —
shoot him, damn him, shoot him," repeatedly; which expressions
I understood applied to me, and my course there. The term " abo-
litionist" was frequently applied to me. During this time the pro-
prietor of the house, Mr. Stinson — Thomas Stinson, I think — came
into the room from the inside door, in apparent rage ; stepped very
quick ; had a very heary hickory cane, with a grub-butt, which he
raised over his head I think with both hands. His first remark to me
was, as near as I can repeat it, i£ You G-od damned blue-bellied Yan-
kee abolitionist, you said that any man who would marry an Indian
was a damned sight meaner than if he had married a nigger, and,
H. Kep. 200 13*
194 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
God damn you, I will smash your brains out." I arose and spoke u>
him kindly. I had an overcoat on, buttoned up, and I put niy hand
into my pocket. I told him I hoped he would be reasonable : that I
was not aware that I had trespassed on any of his feelings, or his
rights ; that I came there as a citizen, and claimed the right of a citi-
zen upon a public day, and was in his house as a judge of election,
and 1 claimed the protection of the other judges and the company.
He receded a pace or two and lowered his club, and ordered me out of
his house, and I told him I would go. I spoke to the other judges,
and asked them to what place we would adjourn, as it seemed that it
was impossible to hold the election there. They seemed inclined to
say very little about it, and, considering the matter an urgent one, I
declared the election adjourned and stated that I should leave, and
began packing up my things to he off. I went to the outside door I
had come in at, and found I could not get out. It appeared to be locked,
and the key was not there. I started to pass out the other door, the
inside door, and this gentleman that I before spoke of, who told me
he was from Independence — I do not recollect the name — desired me
not to go, and had a few words with the other judges, and the amount
of it was that icit was rather an awkward position." I adhered to
my determination. He said that they would see Mr. Stinson, and
have the matter adjusted. About this time some gentleman I did not
know came in and remarked it was all right with Mr. Stinson. I was
titill unsatisfied, and he proposed to go and see him himself, and very
OQML returned and said he had seen Mr. Stinson, and Mr. Stinson said
I oeold remain until after the election, and he would settle with me
then ; upon which I resumed my seat.
After we had continued our attempt at an organization for, I should
think, about two hours, the people outside became very impat:
The reason why we had not organized was because I would submit to
nothing less than the oath prescribed by the governor, which the
other judges would not accept, and refused to administer it to me. A
suggestion was made by this gentleman from Missouri that we should
make a compromise, as they were the majority, and agreed upon their
plan of proceedings ; I being in a minority, would be obliged to sub-
mit to their proceeding, to which I was very ready to yield. Mr.
Watts suggested that there might be trouble in that, and asked if I
would send in a report offering it to the governor, and I think the
other judge asked if I would sign the returns if they proceeded in that
way. I said I would if they would allow me to send up with the re-
turns a statement of the facts.' This they would not accept, and pro-
posed that we should resign, and allow the people there to elect
judges to suit themselves. To that I objected, because the highest
officer in the Territory had appointed us to that office — the highest
trust in the Territory — and refused to vacate my seat. About this
time three gentlemen came in through the inside door, one of whom
I had seen in the crowd outside, and wished to know why the ele:
could not go on ; to which very little reply was made — that being
given by Mr. Watte, that they had not yet organized the board of
judges. The reply to that was, that they bad better be about it
damned soon, or some rach remark, and they retired. After about
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 195
from fifteen to twenty minutes another deputation of three came in,
and said the hoys were getting very uneasy. Their language was
gentlemanly. They said that if the election could not go on, they
would not he responsible for the consequences that might result from
it. They then retired. In ahout ten minutes more, I should think,
another deputation waited upon us, and the speaker then was a rough,
uncouth man, in language and manner. He wanted to know what in
hell was the matter that the election could not go on; and that
we had better he getting out of there pretty damned soon, er we
would catch hell. Mr. Watts replied to him, that there was no trou-
ble except with one of them, looking and nodding towards me across
the table. To which he replied, "if he knows what is good for him-
self, he will be getting out of here pretty God damn soon, or he would
catch hell." I said to him, "the room was ordered to be cleared,
and every friend of mine has been put out of the house, but the room
has not been cleared a moment." And I demanded the room might
be cleared for the sole possession of the judges, to see what they could
do among themselves, as persons had interfered with their ceuasel to
my great annoyance. He asked what time would do us, and I replied
give us ten minutes." I should have said, before this, that during
the time of the conversation with the deputation before this, Mr.
Watts, one of the judges, had become apparently very much excited,
and had withdrawn. I proposed to fill up the vacancy. Mr. Stateler
objected to his leaving us, and seemed very desirous for him to come
back, and was unwilling to have another appointed in his place.
When the last deputation came in, there were but two judges ; but
after they left, Mr. Watts resumed his seat, by invitation of Mr.
Stateler. We soon found that there was no chance for argument, as
neither weuld recede from the position lie had taken. Mr. Stateler
proposed that we should all retire, as we w<?re all ministers, and the
reputation of Christianity was at stake. I still persisted in not re-
signing. Yery soon we heard cried, outside-, ci Five minutes left." I
had heard prior to this, from the outside, " We have given them ten
minutes, and then, damn them, we will put them out," and the re-
ply, " Good! there are only ten minutes left then^ damn them." I
I heard the remark, " Hang the damned abolitionist, -damn him, hang
him ;" and then from others, " Hanging is too good f&: him." They
sang out, "Three minutes left," and "Two minutes left." When
the two minutes was sung out, Mr. Stateler rose and ssJdf "I will
not stay here any longer — I will not be responsible for tiic, conse-
quences." I said, " Do you believe, gentlemen, that there is c^Dger
to our persons by staying here?" Mr. Watts remarked, turning to
me in an emphatic manner, " that he was afraid of no danger — that
he was afraid of no violence." Mr. Stateler rose from his seat, hold-
ing on to it with one hand, and said, " I will not stay any longer ;"
to which I remarked, that I did not think it safe myself to stay. I
was asked if I would resign, and I promptly said " No." Mr. Watts
went to the window, and while he was rising said, " I will say we
•will resign." Mr. Stateler asked me if I would acquiesce in it, and
I said again that I would not. He asked, " What shall we do , our
time is out ?" I said to Mr. Watts, who was ready to speak from the
196 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
window, say 'we will retire, and you may conduct the election as yon
are a mind to, winch I had proposed to the judges "before. My things
were ready, and I left the room while he was speaking to the crowd
from the window, and what he said I do not know. I know what he
said was received with cheers and acclamations ; and as I passed ou1
around the crowd, they were nominating tellers for the new judges,
The outside door was open as I came out. A great many were rush-
ing into the room from the doors. During the ten minutes given us,
the room had been cleared of all hut the judges and the one gentle-
man from Independence. I hare never seen this gentleman since, bu1
think I should recognise him anywhere. The door was at the end o:
the house, and the windows at one side. I passed around the crowd,
which was very dense around the window, and met with no resist-
ance. I left the ground immediately.
I made it my business to know every man I came in connexion with,
and was considerably acquainted in the district, and think there wen
but few men in the district I could not identify. When I left I did
not take so minute a survey as when I came, but should think then
were 100 more than when I came ; that there were at least 400 per-
sons on the ground when I left. I do not think I saw, to recognise
them as citizens of the district once, 12 or 15 persons on the ground
•within the yard when I came away. ISTone of the deputations thai
came into the room were, so far as I knew, citizens of the district.
Cross-examined by Mr. Eees :
Among the citizens I recognised, I remember D. H. *ETorne, Mr. (]
think) Freeman Foster, a man by the name of Hickey, Mr. Stin-
son, Dr. Crogsdale, Mr. Vaughan, a merchant of this place, and s
young man boarding with Mr. Stinson. I do not remember to have
ever heard his name, but he was said to be from Kentucky. I cannol
now recall another name but the two judges, Watts and Stateler.
Shortly after leaving the ground I met quite a number of citizem
coming to the election. Philip Briggs, 0. K. Holliday, a French
Dr. Doms who lives in the valley below Topeka, a Mr. Stone, and
Mr. Clarke, were among them ; the others of which I do not now re-
collect.
To Mr. Reeder :
The greater part of those I met coming to the election turned back,
but some came on.
To Mr. Rees :
Mr. Holliday turned back, but I do not now recollect any of the
others.
Question. Was not the difficulty between you and* Stinson a private
affair, and did you not make use of the remarks Mi. Simpson alluded
to when he approached you ?
Answer. Mr. Stinson and I, at that time, were almost wholly ufc-
acquainted. I had called at his house at one time when he was sick,
and we had had a few pleasant remarks. I had passed him a few time*
upon the road, and there had been nothing but a pleasant recognition
"between us, and, to my knowledge, there had never been the least
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 197
personal ill feeling "between us — certainly none upon my part. As to
the latter part of the interrogatory, I have no knowledge of making
use of that or any similar language.
I am living upon a claim about two miles west of Topeka.
To Mr. Sherman :
I informed those I met coming to the election of what had occurred,
and the greater part of them returned.
The witness here stated that he wished to say, concerning the ques-
tion asked in relation to Mr. Stinson, that in a conversation some time
prior to the election, with a gentleman, one or two others being present,
the witness said he did not look upon it as proper for the separate races
to intermarry. There was nothing referring to or intended to reflect
upon Mr. Stinson, or any other person.
HENRY B. BURGESS,
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 5, 1856.
Rev. H. B. BURGESS recalled.
To Mr. Reeder :
I have examined the poll-list of the 30th of March, 1855, for this
district. I find there the names of 16 residents, as follows :
W. A. Sublette, T. N. Simpson, D. W. Hunter, H. N. Watts, H.
Cox, J. R. Wagsman, R. A. Edwards, E. A. Updegraph, Charles
Alexander, A. P. Bigler, H. J. Shickler, Dr. Crogsdale,Wm. Pickerel,
"W\ A. M. Vaughan, John Horner, W. R. Boggs.
There are other names on this list I am familiar with, but not so
familiar with them as to be positive about their given names. They
are as follows : J. M. Cavenaugh, J. Strother, C. H. Buggaud, J.
Niccam, James Herrin, F. Grassmuch, R. H. Matthew. I suppose
there were but very few men in the district at the time of the election
I did not know to recognise them, and could tell where they resided.
Some names I was familiar with, but did not know their Christian
names. I had been pretty mtfch all over the district, and had been at
different gatherings that brought the residents together. I know of
legal voters being discouraged and deterred from voting on that day.
I know that at Topeka, my residence at that time,, we were informed
by different persons, who were interested in the election.
SMr. Rees objected to this testimony being received as to reports
rumors. Mr. Reeder offered to prove that it was reported at To-
| pekathat there was a sufficient force here, or to be here, to control the
j elections, and to make all resistance useless, and residents remained
; away from the polls, and gave the above report as their reason for
I; doing so. A majority of the committee decide that Mr. Reeder may
prove the fact that there was such a report in Topeka, and that voters
| remained away, but not to prove the declarations of those remaining
IJ, away; ^Mr. Oliver dissents to the report being given on the ground
that it is but a rumor, and, therefore, incompetent evidence.]
There was a report in circulation, on the evening before the election
198 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of 30th of March, in Topeka and vicinity, that there was already ;
force from Missouri, from Texas, and from other different souther]
States here, for the purpose of controlling the election here ; and tha
if they had not already numbers enough to overpower us, they had il
the Territory, and they would be distributed as necessity might cal
for. It was also reported there, that there was another body sent fb
from Lawrence, to come during the night or in the morning, and
am pretty confident that it was reported that this extra force would b
200 in number. Some of the residents of Topeka and vicinity came
but did not vote, or but few of them, as I find but few names on th
poll-lists of those I know to be residents of Topeka and vicinity
Their names are Edwards, who lives about as near Tecumseh as To
peka ; Charles Alexander, who lived three miles above us, at th
Baptist mission ; Wm. Pickerell and W. K. Baggs, who lives tw
miles from Topeka ; and Dr. Crogsdale, who lived at the Baptist mis
sion, a candidate and elected. The most of those, however, I me
upon the road turned back.
To Mr. Kees :
All, save William Pickerell, who, I think, was at that time a free
State man — of which, however, I am not positive — of the names
have mentioned, were pro-slavery men. I stand now indicted by th
grand jury of this county for perjury.
To Mr. Keeder :
I was indicted for telling the truth in regard to the election, i:
making an affidavit in a protest against the election setting forth th
facts, and sent in to the executive of the Territory. I was not boun
over before a justice of the peace. I suppose the first complaint wa
made before the grand jury ; a warrant, I understood, was in th
hands of a deputy marshal of this Territory for me, and before it wa
served I hitched up my team and came down here, as I had undei
stood before this time a bill was found against me. I have neve
learned who my accuser was, nor upon what testimony the indictmen
was found. The indictment was found, as far as I can recollect, abou
a year ago, during the sitting of the court early last spring, and i
is still pending.
To Mr. Sherman :
Those residents who did not vote were, as far as I know, free-Stat
men. The following is a list of resident voters in the district, whos
names I do not find on the poll-books of the election of the 30th <
March, 1855, numbering sixty-eight.
Names of resident voters in the 3d election district lolio did vote on ih
30ZA of March, 1856.
Mortamer Gilbert Keuben Low
Delmater Ferrill Fred. Walman
James M. Herrin Castopher Coplin
JeMal Tyler Tim. Mclntire
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
199
J. C. Greenwood
Thos. G. Thorntoh
Daniel H. Howe
Milton 0. Dickey
M. C. Drinkwater
A. A. Ward
W. A. Sumrnerville
James Lacking
L. T. Cooke
Jas. B. Morhan
W. F. Johnson
John W. Brown
Alfred Bigler
Joseph West
Eb. D. Stinson
Charles Jordan
Osborn Nailor
J. M. Edwards
Peter Belanger
Belford Gilbert
C. K. Holliday
Peter N. Main
W. C. Lincker
E. Chase
Edward S. Dexter
H. B. Burgess
John All
Abel Hatwell
J. Teggart
S. A. Clark
Philip Briggs
W. C. Pickerell
Jacob B. Chaise
Charles Farnsworth.
C. 0. Nicolas
Claimore Shelter
Thos. D. Parkerson
Wm. Goddard
Jerome W. Boles
J. P. C. Bouche
Hiram Dansin
Charles H. Buzzard
Wm. D. Owen
F. A. Wentworth
Charles Matney
John Taylin
^Richard Cox
T. J. Wells
John Leroy
Jesse Newcum
Mr. Cove!
Dr. Martin
Wm. Liniker
John Doty
Mr. Foster
H. L. Kout
Chas. V. Grey
J. T. Case
Daniel Turner
A. P. Turner
W. H. Turner
The political opinion of the above men is free-State, or Free-soilers,
HENKY B. BUKGESS.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
CHARLES JORDAN called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I pitched my tent in this place on the 21st day of November, 1854.
I am originally from Virginia ; from that to Kentucky, then to Indiana,
Illinois, Missouri, and to Kansas. I have lived here ever since Novem-
ber, 1854, within a mile and a quarter of this place. I rented a
house in Clay county, put my family in it for two weeks, and came
on here to look at the Territory, and then went back for my family.
I was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. In the morning,
between nine and ten o'clock, I arrived at Mr. Stinson's, where the
election was held. Three others were in my company, and as we
were getting over the stile four young men, all armed, approached us.
200 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The front one accosted me as I stepped over the fence about in this
language : " You are well; how am I, God damn you/' or " by God/'
I am not certain which. As regards the positions of his arms, there
was a pistol revolver shoved down in his boot, a bowie-knife by his
side, and a large club in his hand. I passed him without heeding or
noticing him. My son-in-law, that was just behind, replied in some
way to him, but there was nothing of importance occurred. I went
to the west side of the house, where was the window to receive the
votes. There was a throng, perhaps six or eight persons deep, sur-
rounding the window. I heard a man speak, urging those in the
house to open the polls, and swore that if it was not done in ten
minutes they would force the polls and elect their own judges, as the
time fixed by the governor to open the polls had passed. I returned
just about that time to the south door, and about that time Mr. Watts,
one of the judges appointed by the governor, came out and informed
me that he had resigned, as he thought it was unsuited to his calling ;
and also, that he thought the instructions of the governor conflicted
with the law, which, the judges had and could construe for themselves ;
as that was the case, he had resigned. About that time, when I sup-
posed not more than ten minutes had expired, a tall spare man came
out and proclaimed that the judges had resigned, and they were
ready to elect new judges within by voting or tellers. He nominated
Horatio Cox, John Homer, and Mr. Small. I do not know his first
name. That being done, they went into the house, and it was pro-
claimed at the door that the polls were now open and ready for the
receiving of votes. There was considerable rush to the polls and a
hunt for tickets. There was one man in the yard who had a
ticket ; and *s it seemed he could not read, he inquired what kind of a
ticket it was, and some one said it was a free-State ticket, which he
seemed to doubt ; I looked at it and saw it was not our ticket, and I
had some tickets with our platform at the head of them. Seeing the
platform, it drew a considerable of a crowd about me ; they were
strangers to me, and all solicited tickets for the purpose of getting
the platforms, and I handed out a considerable number of them,
which some of them made no objection to. The flag was floating
over us just about where we were standing. I told them I had de-
fended my country ; that that was our true flag, the stars and stripes,
and under that flag I never intend to vote while it floats over a sedi-
tious mob. Just about that time Mr. Hearin, a neighbor of mine, a
pro-slavery man, came into the crowd and addressed himself to them,
saying I was a neighbor gentleman and a good citizen, and he wished
to speak to me. He advised me not to do anything in the matter,
and that I was in serious danger, as he knew. I said there was no
chance for justice, and we parted, and I started to go back to the place
of voting. There was a gentleman they called " Texas" ascended
the stile and proclaimed that they wanted everybody to come forward
and vote ; that it was everybody's privilege to vote, and he wanted
both parties to come and have the thing fairly tested. He concluded
with instructions to the pro-slavery party. He told them when they
voted not to leave the ground, but to. stay there till the polls were
closed, or the abolitionists would flock in, overpower them, and they
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 201
would lose all their trouble. He said he had come further, perhaps,
than the rest, and had undergone more than the rest, as he had been
four and a half days on the road. I never learned where he came
from. I then advised my party to leave, if hich we did, I think, pretty
generally. I then came home.
I should suppose there were 200, and perhaps more, when I was
here ; they were pretty thickly scattered over the yard, and in groups
about. I had attended some meetings for nominations, but beyond
that I was not much acquainted in the district. I did not know but
few in this crowd. I saw perhaps twenty or thirty there I knew, or
biad formed some acquaintance with. I saw the camps the day before
north and east of Stinson's ; passed by them, but did not speak to any
in there. The man who made proclamation, and the one who first
accosted me, and the man who took the vote for judges, were all
strangers. I did not vote because I saw we were entirely overpowered
}y the numbers from abroad. I was a free--State man. I saw we
lad to be perfectly silent on all political matters, or we would get
nto difficulty. When I referred to the flag, an old gentleman asked
me if I had seen any violence ; I said I had not, but had seen some
menacing, with insults added to injury, and would nc$ vote. I do not
remember positively who were the free-State candidates. I do not
mow that I am acquainted with the popular feeling of the district,
)ut I have no hesitation in saying that there was a considerable
majority of free-State men.
Cross-examined by Mr. Kees :
I saw no violence offered to any man who attempted to vote, .and I
saw no man deterred from voting by violence.
To Mr. Howard :
The free-State party are divided between what are called free-State
men and abolitionists. There are pro-slavery men, free-State men,
and abolitionists here.
To Mr. Oliver :
Judging from the vote on the constitution, I should judge there
were four free-State men to one abolitionist.
CHAKLES JOED AN.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
M. J. MITCHELL called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
I came into the Territory the last of October or first of November,
[854, and I have lired in this district ever since. I was not at the
election of the 30th of March, 1855, but was then in Missouri. I came
rom Liberty, Clay county, Missouri, to this place, and from Camp-
>ell county, Kentucky, to Missouri, and had lived in Clay county
nearly two years. I have examined the poll-list of the 30th of March,
202 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
1855, for this district, and find plenty of residents of Clay county
upon that list, as follows :
0. F. Dougherty, R. Jones, G. W. Withers, G. W. Hall, L. Ben-
net, George Buckle, S. Tillory, Emmet Allen, G. L. Withers, Garret
Long, F. Bevans, H. S. Keller, W. Eiley, A. M. B. Hughes, J. P.
Bird, 0, Duncan, H. S. Kout, J. Estes, B. F. Wallace, J. C. Coons,
A. J. Kelly, C. S. Starts, Jas. G. Adkins, A. H. Cravens, and J. Wal-
lace. There are more names than of persons from Clay county that
I am familiar with, but I cannot give their given names. George W.
Withers is a lawyer, and edits the " Richfield Enterprise" newspaper,
and George L. Withers is a lawyer. The George W. Withers I refer
to is a tall man, and lives in Richfield, and I think he is a lawyer,
having heard him attend to a small case on Fishing river, Clay
county, hefore a justice.
Cross-examined by Mr. Rees :
f I think I can give a majority of the names of those who are resi-
dents in this district. I heard some of those whose names I have
given as Clay county men when I was in Missouri, and who were
making preparations to arrive here,, say that they were coming here
to vote, and they inquired how many it would take to beat the abo-
litionists.
To Mr. Reeder: ^f
The following are the names of the residents of this district at that
time on the lists, which I find after an examination of the poll-lists of
this district for the 30th of March, 1855 :
J. N. Cavenaugh, W. A. Sublett, James McConner, T. N. Stinson,
D. W. Hunter, Jerry Nichols, James Herrin, H. N. Watts, J. M.
Small, T. W. Hoges, H. Cox, J. R. Wiseman, R. A. Edwards, P.
Croco, A. G. Brown, Ed. Updegraph, Francis Grassmuch, A. P.
Bigler, L. D. Chilson, H. J. Strickler, Dr. Crogsdale, William Pick-
erell, W. A. M. Vaughan, John Homer, J. Hitchner, F. A. Went-
worth, Robert H. Mathews.
M. J. MITCHELL.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
JOHN LONG called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I came into this neighborhood near a year ago the 10th of last
January, and settled in this district, so far as to commence building,
though I did not move my family up here until the first of March. I
came from Michigan to Independence, Missouri, where I lived a year,
and then I came here, and have lived here ever since. I was at the
election here the 30th of March, 1855. There were a great many
strangers here. The day before the election I was here in town ;
there were, I should think, about 200 men, strangers to the district,
as far as I know, many of whom I had known in Independence.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 203
They camped on the bottom near here, north of Mr. Stinson's, perhaps
a quarter of a mile west of here. I was in their camp the day before
the election ; was here nearly all day ; was acquainted with a great
many in the camp, and was round the camp with them. I do not
know as there were any arms in the camp, for I saw none, as far as I
recollect now. 1 had some conversation with those in camp, and
they told me they came principally from Jackson county, but some
from Clay county, Missouri. They said they came for the purpose of
voting. I was on the ground on the .day of election, and I saw a
great many of them vote. A Mr. Noland, an old gentleman I knew
in Independence, claimed the privilege of voting first. The party all
came to the polls, though, I think, not all at a time. I got to town
here, I think, about 8 o'clock in the morning, though I was not
around the polls all the time. The following names on the poll-lists
I know to have been residents of Missouri : Small wood Noland, Gill-
son Thomas, Reuben Johnson, L. Ruffrer, J. A. McBride, 0. C.
Stewart — -'(Stewart always has had his family in Missouri, though hue
had a claim here and had a house built on it, but he did not bring his
family here, I think on account of their health. I suppose he would
be considered a resident there, though he has merely stopped here
over night since then, generally at my house, and has made no more
improvements) — J. N. McBride, D. C. Patterson, J. P. Henry, 3\J.
Noland, A. J. Messes, J. McMurray, R. D. Wood, D. N. Ross, J.
M. Pitcher, E. A. Hickman, W. L. Farragh, J. T. Thomas, W. S.
Rogers, S. H. Woodson, D. W. Snanig, S. J. L. Porter, J. C.
Riggs, B. Miles, N. B. McMurray, J. C. McCoy, W. M. Akin, F.
Pitcher, J. W. Hockaday, James Jackson, and J. W. McMurray.
I know Samuel H. Woodson well ; he lives in Independence, Mis-
souri. I think he has represented the district in Congress ; that he
is a farmer and a lawyer, and at one time had a contract for carrying
the mails over the plains to Santa Fe, though I do not know whether
he has any interest in it now. He was one of the leading men here,
and I think took the part of Mr. Strickler against Mr. Owen C. Stewart,
when there was considerable contest as to which should be run for coun-
cil. Mr. Woodson was in the room with the judges before the voting
commenced. There were a great many men here that I knew resided
at or near Independence, but I am not familiar with their given
names, and cannot state positively that the names on the f>oll-listg
are meant for them, except so far as I have given them. I hearjl
considerable threatening outside at the time Mr. Burgess was in the
judge's room. There was a great deal of excitement and loud talk
and threats against the judges of the election. I do not know as I
could state the exact words. The crowd around the window were
threatening mostly against Mr. Burgess, if he did not receive their
votes, or was not put out. Just at evening, pretty near time to close
the polls, I had got on my horse to go home, and the Rev. Mr. Gil-
patrick (whose name I afterwards learned) was standing near the
door, and I saw some one strike at him, but I do not know who he
was. I got off my horse and went up to him. I think as I got up
to the door where he had been standing, he stepped into the opposite
room of Mr. Stinson's house, where the polls were held and claimed
204 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
protection of Mr. Stinson. I think Mr. Stinson's reply to him was.,
that he could not have protection there, and he opened the hack door
for him to go through the house. I had then just stepped in ; the
door was closed hy some one, and I opened it and asked him to come
out the front way that he had gone in at. He remarked that he had
been insulted ; that he had come there to vote and could not have the
privilege of voting. I remarked that it was not worth while, as there
was a great deal of excitement, and we had better not try to vote.
That was about all that was said at the time, and we left in a very
few minutes after that. He inquired of me for some friend of his,
and when I came away he had got out of the crowd, and was stand-
ing by the fence, and I think had found the friend he was looking
for. I think Mr. 0. C. Stewa'rt had talked to the man who had
made an assault on him, as he knew them, and had quieted them
somewhat. The first I knew of the difficulty was that I saw a man
striking at him ; but I do not know whether he struck him, though I
thought he did. There did not seern to be any in the crowd disposed
to befriend him, and he got away as I have stated. I saw no marks
or blood on him.
To Mr. Sherman :
I did not vote that day.
To Mr. Keeder :
One reason was, that I did not have the privilege of voting for men
I wanted to vote for. I did not feel inclined to vote. I thought there
•was no use in the settlers voting against the .people from Missouri, as,
on account of the numbers, they could not stand any chance of elect-
ing their candidates. I suppose there were two hundred Missourians
here, and I do not think there were over a hundred voters in this dis-
trict, though I did not know who were actual settlers here. 1 did not
know any persons except from Jackson county, Missouri.
Cross-examined by Mr. Eees :
I do not know the original cause of the difficulty with Mr. Gilpat-
rick. I think Mr. Stinson refused him protection, saying he could
not have protection there, and at the same time opening the door for
him to gd out. I was not prevented from voting at that election. The
reason I could not vote for the man I wanted was, that one of the men
I wanted to vote for was not a candidate. There was one candidate I
shcmLd have voted for if I had voted. I have been a western man for
some time. I think it is frequently the case that there are fights at
election, but I never saw much of it myself where I have been. I
have resided for nearly fifteen years in Michigan. Mr. Strickler for
councilman, and Dr. Crogsdale and Mr. Halliday for assembly, were
the candidates that day. I cannot say whether the free-State men
had any name on their tickets for council or not. I think the ma-
jority of them voted for Mr. 0. C. Stewart, and it is probable there
were tickets with his name on them. I think that Strickler was the
only regular candidate on the field for councilman, though I am not
certain. There was another man spoken of by some, but I do not
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 205
know whether there were any tickets with his name on or not. I
think he came from Brownville, hut do not recollect his name. One
reason why I did not vote was because I thought there was no use in
voting.
JOHN LONG-.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
JAMES HICKET called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
I came into the Territory on the 27th of November,, 1854, spent
a week in Lawrence, and got to Topeka about the 12th or 14th ol
December, and have resided there ever since. I was at the election
here on the 30th of March, 1855. I came here to vote, and saw a
very large crowd of people here. I was pretty well acquainted in the
Topeka part of this district, but not much in other parts of the
I district. I was at the polls here some two or three hours. I heard
jj one man at the polls make a speech, and say that he had come a good
:' ways to vote, and he was not going back until he had accomplished
his object, and advised them not to leave the polls until they were
closed. I did not pay a great deal of attention to his speech, and do
not recollect that he said anything about how long he had been coming
or how far he had come. I did not vote that day, as I was advised by
some of our men of Topeka that it was no use of voting. I saw no
camp, but I saw a great many wagons they had. They were gen-
erally armed. Almost every man had a revolver, and generally
^ticking out of his boot-leg, and most of them had large clubs. Al-
most all of these men were strangers ; and, out of the crowd, I do
not suppose I knew more than twenty who came from Topeka and
that neighborhood.
Cross-examined by Mr. Eees :
I saw nothing to prevent me from voting that day if 1 had desired.
JAMES HICKEY.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
LEWIS 0. WILMAKTH called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
I came into this district on the 2d day of February,, 1855. I was
it the election of. the 30th of March, 1855 ; I saw a large number of
trangers whom I took to be from the State below, and I knew some
f them to be from there, as I had seen them, as I had been down there.
do not know how they came here, as the first I saw of them they
rere here. I did not see their camps. I saw here from Missouri a
oung mechanic fromWestport — I do not know his name — and another
roung man named Holloway, that I knew in Westport ; I had no
206 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
conversation with them, as I was with the crowd, passing for one of
the crowd, and avoided those I knew, for they knew me and my prin-
ciples. I talked with quite a number of the crowd, and they said
they had come here to whip the damned Yankees ; but they were
afraid the Yankees were playing them rather a Yankee trick in not
voting. Several of them said they came purposely to fight, and they
wanted to get into a row. One man remarked, if he could get the
boys to join with him, he would go up to Topeka and wipe the people
into the river ; that he was good for half a dozen. They were all
armed with guns, pistols and clubs, which they brandished around
very much, rushing to that corner of the yard where there seemed
to be any excitement. I made several attempts during the first part
of the day to get to the window where the votes were received, but
could not on account of the crowd. In the latter part of the day they
gave out that they wanted us all to come and vote. I did not vote,
"because the judges were appointed in such a manner, and the whole
thing was conducted in such a manner as it was. I remained until
the whole party that I came with had returned without voting. I did
not hear them say directly where they had come from. They said
they were from below, and one man said he had been about a week on
the journey.
Cross-examined by Mr. Kees :
My object in going into the crowd was to see what they were going
to do, and to talk with them ; but I had nothing definite in view.
As I was sitting on the fence when I first came here, two or three
came and talked to me as though I was one of their number, and I
thought I would let it go so for awhile, to see what it would amount
to. I saw no violence offered to any one who desired and offered to
vote, though I heard a great many threats.
LEWIS 0. WILMARTH.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
D. H. HORNE called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder:
I came into the Territory the 1st of December, 1854, from Massa-
chusetts here. The last of March I went to Kansas City to meet my
family I expected there, but I did not find them there. Being con-
stable of this district, I felt it my duty to be present at the election.
I left Kansas City on the 28th of March, 1855. I saw a party of
horsemen cross the river there, and leave the same time I did. They
said they were going into the Territory to vote ; they asked me if I
was acquainted with the road, and I told them I was ; they asked me
if they were right on the road to Lawrence, and I told them they
were ; they passed me, as did many other horsemen and some teams
during the day. I reached Lawrence the day after I left, late in the
evening. A large party overtook me just as I got there. Somo
wagons had flags hoisted and a drum on board. I went into Law-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 207
rence with the mail-team, and took the mail on to Topeka, it being-
then "between 9 and 10V clock in the evening. Soon after I left Law-
rence a party passed me. I stopped at the springs until the next
morning, the day of election, and then came on here to Tecumseh. I
saw a good many men here who were strangers to me, who were
armed with clubs, knives, and revolvers. One of them stated that
Mr. Stinson would not allow thern^ to bring their guns inside the
yard, but they must deposite them outside and arm themselves with
clubs if they could get them easy. I was here when Mr. Burgess
came down from Topeka, and conducted him to the room of the
judges of the election. Soon afterwards Mr. Stateler and Mr. Watts
i came in with the ballot-box. I was requested by some stranger to
i me to wait outside, and I did so. After I had been out awhile the
crowd began to be somewhat uneasy because the judges did not
organize. Some one got up and said they should either organize or
! resign, and have ten minutes to do it in, and they sent a man in to
(the judges with that message. The man told them ; and afterwards,
| as the minutes would expire, he would inform them that he had so
i many more minutes. There was considerable excitement at the time;
>and they said if the damned abolition judge did not resign pretty
soon they would hang him. About that time Mr. Burgess, the free-
State judge, came out of the door. Several men. started after him as
he came out, and he called upon me to protect him. I went off with
him, and they followed a short distance, and then turned back. We
soon met some of our Topeka friends and advised them to go back.
Mr. Burgess told them how he had been used, and they said they
should not trouble the polls. He went home then. The people said,
or some of them, that they came there to vote, and they were going
;to vote, and would take no oath. I knew most of the persons in the
idistrict. I should think there were two hundred and fifty persons
around the polls that day,, the most of them when the judges first got
together. I do not think there were more than fifteen or twenty
persons there who were residents of the district. I did not vote. I
left when Mr. Burgess came out; and when he told me how he had
been used, and the demonstrations there, I thought it better not to
vote — that it was no use to vote the free-State ticket, which I should
vote if I voted at all ; and I thought a man might get himself into
difficulty. A great many residents of the district from Missouri said
that, if the free-State men would vote to keep the niggers out, they
would vote the free-State ticket. A large majority in the district, I
hink, were free-State men.
Cross-examined by Mr. Kees :
saw no violence offered to prevent any one from voting.
DANIEL H. HORNE.
TECUMSEH, K. T., Hay 6, 1856.
208 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
JAMES F. MERRIAM called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder:
I arrived at Lawrence the 22d day of November, 1854, and came
into this district the 7th of December, 1854, and hare resided at To-
pefefi ever since. I was at this place the day of election, the 30th of
March, 1855. I think I got here- not far from 9 o'clock in the morn-
ing, and left about noon, or a little later. I should judge there were
from 300 to 400 about the polls on that day. I saw very few resi-
dents among them that I knew ; the rest were strangers to me. I
did not go down to their camps. I met Mr. Burgess as I came down,
and he informed me of what had taken place here before he left. I
came down that morning from Topeka, and found some 300 or 400
men assembled around the window of Mr. Stinson's house, where the
election was held. The judges appointed by the governor, except one,
had left, and they were trying to agree upon others in their places.
The mob about the window chose two persons for that purpose. I
did not vote. The voting commenced, and I was absent among the
crowd, hearing their remarks, and looking on. There was a pretty
free damning of the abolitionists and Yankees, and remarks about
those who came in. While I was there, one who appeared to be a
leader, and the most respectable-looking man among them, mounted
the fence, and commenced a speech to the crowd, stating that he had
understood that the abolitionists were coming down from Pawnee and
Topeka, and other points, in the 'afternoon, and intended to take the
polls in their own hands to out-vote them. He said he had come as
far as any of them ; had a farm and home- in Missouri ; had been a
week from home, and was willing to stay a week longer, if it was
necessary. He wanted them to stay until the certificates of election
were given to their men, and he would then be willing to go home
with them. That was the substance of what he" said. I heard his
name, but do not recollect it. The crowd about here were armed,
and a good share of them appeared to be in liquor, and were very
noisy and boisterous. I saw a great many bowie-knives, revolvers,
and guns, and many of them had sticks or bludgeons, that appeared
to be freshly cut. I did not vote, because I did not consider the elec-
tion legally conducted.
Cross-examined by J. W. Whitfield:
I came into this Territory from Vermont . I came out in company
with a young man by the name of Hickey. At Albany we fell in
company with some 80 or 100 more, who were coming out here, and
we came out with them. There was one man who might be called a
leader, named Tafft, who made arrangements for the party. They
were not known by any particular name or organization.
To Mr. Howard:
I knew, by the papers, that a party was to start to come out, and I
went there to meet them, but had no appointment with them.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 209
To Mr. Whitfield:
All the control this agent took was, for instance, when we stopped
at Chicago the different runners of the hotels came on board, and he
made arrangements with one of them for dinner, &c. , and the most
of the company went there, but all of the company did not. The
company furnished their own means/as far as I know. I paid my fare
out of my own funds, and I know of no reduction being made. This
party came out under the auspices of the Boston Aid Company, so far as
to arrangements the Aid Company had previously made with different
lines of travel. This I understood, but I do not know of it myself.
I do not know that there was any agreement to comply with any
arrangement whatever. I made none myself, and I do not know that
any of the rest did.
I saw no one here prevented from voting. I know that I and the
free-State men did not vote, because there were no legal persons to
receive the votes. I think I had a ticket with C. K. Holliday and
Dr. Wood, and I think Mr. Stewart, on it. It was a sort of fusion
compromise ticket, as I can recollect now.
To Mr. Sherman:
Those candidates were not withdrawn. The free-State men came
here with tickets in their pockets, and finding the legal judges had
been ousted, and some persons chosen by the mob, who were not
legally entitled to receive their votes, they, as a general thing, did
not vote. I have no question that a majority of this district were
free-State men at that time. I am a dentist by profession. My
knowledge of the people of the district is not very extensive. I know
all the men in and about Topeka, many here, some down on the
Wakarusa, and in other parts of the district;1 and, so far as my
knowledge extends, I should think the proportion of free-State men
to pro-slavery men was 4 to 1.
To Mr. Whitfield :
On our ticket we agreed to, and one which I think I had at that
time, I think was Mr. Stewart's name, and he was a pro-slavery man.
It was a kind of compromise on the ticket, where one party would
allow the election of an opposite candidate if the other party would
return the favor. We were firmly convinced that this overwhelming
imajority would be here from Missouri on the day of election, and we
took this as the only course by which we would be likely to get a
learing.
By Mr. Reeder :
I do not know that the Emigrant Aid Company ever paid the pas-
sage of any one out here.
J. F. MERRIAM.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 7, 1856.
WILLIAM R. BOGGS called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I came into the Territory in February, 1855, to settle, though I had
ocated in the Territory about August, 1854. I located above Topeka,
n the third district, and have lived there ever since. I came from
H. Rep. 200 14*
210 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Howard county, Missouri, here. I was raised in Missouri, partly in
Howard county. I was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855,
and I found a great many strangers here, but I could not tell where
they resided ; I could not tell positively who were residents at that
time. I saw a great many men I had known in Missouri, hut I did
not ask them where their residence was there. I do not recollect of
seeing any of them in the district since that time. I had conversa-
tion with some I was acquainted with in Howard county, hut it was
not in regard to the election or their residence. I think some one or
two or them told me they came here to vote. I was in their camps ;
a portion of them camped north of this on the river, and there were
various other camps. I think there were about 100 here, though I
cannot tell positively whether there were more or less of them. I was
in the camp above here on the river the day of election ; I voted here.
To Mr. Sherman :
_I saw a great many vote there who were strangers to me.
^Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
The candidates of our party were Dr. Crogsdale and Mr. Strickler,
and some one I do not recollect whom. I think Mr. Holliday's name
was on the other ticket. I think there was some opposition to Mr.
Strickier. I saw no man prevented from voting, and nothing to pre-
vent any one who had any resolution about him. There may have
been a little more trouble here than at elections in some parts of Mis-
souri ; but it is common to have something of the kind at elections in
western countries. I saw many residents of the district vote.
By Mr. Keeder :
I do not know that I know any one who voted differently from
what those strangers did on that day ; but I was not around the polls
much; I do not know how they voted. The men I know from Howard
eounty were Dr. Morse, a Mr. Hughes — perhaps one or two of them,
one by the name of Clarke, and several others I do not now recollect.
WILLIAM B. BOGGS.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 7, 1856.
W. A. M. VATJGHAN called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder:
I was living in Tecumseh on the 30th of March, 1855. I first came
here on the first or second week in September, 1854, and have resided
here ever since. I moved from Nebraska Territory to Missouri and
remained there for a month, and then came to this Territory. I went
from Missouri to Nebraska in 1850 ; I went from Kentucky to Mis-
souri, and from Virginia to Kentucky. I saw a great many men on
the day of election, and both before and afterwards here, that I did
not know. Some of them came a-foot, some in wagons, carriages, and
buggies, and some on horseback ; some encamped here, and some
passed above. The largest encampment I saw was on the Shunga-
munga, about two hundred yards from Mr. Stinson's ; I was in the
camp once early in the morning of the 28th of March ; there was only
one wagon there then, and from three to five men. I was introduced
to two of them at that time — one of them was Henry or McBride, I
do not know which. I did not hear where they were from ; I remained
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 211
there but a few minutes. That camp increased afterwards, for I saw
a great number of tents there, but I was not in it afterwards. I saw
persons in town that I had seen some two months or three months
previous in Missouri ; I recognised some seven or eight of them. I
think the first time I saw them here was on the 28th. They were a
young man by the name of Bird, who had a claim near Douglas, but
now resides in Leavenworth city ; one by the name of Bennett, who
told me he had a claim near Douglas, but resides in Missouri ; a man
by the name of Kyland Jones, who I had seen previously in Mis-
souri, and since in Leavenworth city ; a man by the name of 0. F.
Dougherty, who resided in Missouri, and I have since seen him there.
I saw others there I do not recollect now. I have examined some
four times the poll-list ot this district for the 30th of March, 1855.
The following is the list of the names of those I find on the poll-lists
of residents of this district ; those having no remarks to the names
correspond with the names on the poll-list.
Residents of Third District.
George Holmes had a claim, but had not resided on it for some time, or until a few days
before the election ; McBride had a claim on Deer Creek— do 'nt know given name nor
time of residence ; Lowe, do'nt know given name ; O. C. Steward, G. Bowls, J. W.
Kavanaugh, J. R. F. Hooft, F. A. Wentworth, W. A. Sublett, G. M. Holloway, J. R.
Warren, J. Mitchener, J. Strother, J. Piles, C. H. Buzzard, P. Woods, J. McConnell, E.
G. Vaughan, Thomas Warren, J. Piles, S. Scott, D. W. Swearengen, W. Sutherwhite, T.
N. Stinson, D. W. Hunter, J. C. Riga-, J. McConnell, (should be Harvey McConnell,) R.
H. Mathews, J. Sarton, B. Wilks, N. M. Ilendricks, A. D. M. Hand, J. Acres, J. W.
West, J. Niccum, W. D. Owen, James Herren, H. N. Watts, James S. Piles, J. H.
Weaver, C. Copeland, Samuel D. McCutchen, James M. Small, T. W. Hays, Horatio Cox,
W. Matney, M. Rule, James K. Waysman, G. W. Berry, R. A. Edwards, Peter Crocco,
A. G. Brown, A. J. Kelley, Edward Updegraff, W. R. Boggs, W. H. Brady, L. B. Stateler,
James Corigal, Charles Alexander, F. Grassmuck, John Sailing, A. T. Byler, W. Stanley,
J. M. Edwards, Richard Steward, W. Mutney, sen.. L. D. Chilson, John C. Agee, (on
tooks, J. R. Agele,) Thomas Quesenberry, Richard Hunter, H. Z. Quesenbery, (on books,
H. G. Quesenby,) H. J. Strickler, D. Croysdale, W. Pickerell, W. A. M. Vaughan, John
Homer.
I find two J. McConnells on the list. I knew a J. McConnell and
a Harvey McConnell in the district who are brothers, and I think one
of the J. McConnells was meant for Harvey McConnell. A man b>
the name of Lowe lives in the district, but I do not know his give*
name. A man by the name of McBride had a claim on Deer creek,
but I do not know where he lived. When I speak of men living on
claims, I mean that I saw them alive before they went there, and I
saw them alive after they came back, and they also told me they lived
there. McBride came here a few days before the election, but I do not
know how many. I was one of the clerks of the election. I was out
in the yard talking; my name was called, and I went into the room,
and did not know for what purpose I was wanted until I got into the
room. I am a pro-slavery man. I have been in the mercantile busi-
ness ever since I have had my house up. I am postmaster here. I
am tolerably well acquainted here in the district. I do not think any
of the strangers here told me where they came from. I do not know
of my own personal knowledge that any of the men here on the day
of election lived in Missouri at that time. I know of my own know-
ledge that the names I have given on the list as residents of the dis-
trict were living here at that time. I am of opinion that those I have
given as residents of Missouri were residents of Missouri at the time
of the election, for I saw them there some two months before, and have
212 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
seen some of them since. Some of them had farms, and some of them
were in stores. I find the name of J. Estes on the list. I know a J.
Estes in Missouri, but I know he was not here. I did not see him
here. I know he was too old a man to get out here. Am keen to
swear he was not here.
The following is the list of the persons I allude to as being from
Missouri :
Smallwood Nowland, (know a man in Missouri by the name of Nowland, not given
name,) John Bland, (know such an one in Missouri,) O. F. Dougherty, (know such an one
in Missouri,) R. Jones, (know such in Missouri, now in Leavenworth city, K. T.,) G. W.
Withers, (know such an one in Missouri,) G. W. Hall, (know such an one in Missouri,)
L. L- Bennett, (know such an one in Missouri,) L. Tillery, (know such an one in Missouri,)
Emett Allen, (know such an one in Missouri,) G. Long, (know such an one in Missouri,) J.
J. P. Bird, (know such an one in Missouri,) H. L. Roustt, (know such an one in Missouri,)
J. P. Henry, (know such an one in Nebraska,) J. Estes, (know such in Missouri, who was
not here,) H. Morton, (knew him in Missouri and Philadelphia, Penn.,) N. R. McMany,
(have heard of such a name,) J. A. Laneheart, (know a Laneheart in Missouri,) A. B. Earl,
(know a Dr Earl in Missouri,) W". F. Gordon, (know a man by the name in Missouri,)
C. S. Stark, (know a man by the name in Missouri,) T. C. Cooms, (know a man by the
name in Missouri,) James G. Adkins, (know a man by the name in Missouri,) S. H. Wood-
son, (know a man by the name in Missouri,) W. W. Tilley, (know a man by the name in
Missouri,) James Hunter, (know a man by the name in Missouri,) H. A. Hunter, (know a
man by the name in Missouri.
WM. A. M. VAUGHAN.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 7, 1856.
W. A. SUBLETT called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott:
I resided on the 30th of March, 1855, at Tecumseh, in the third
election district. I went there in the fall of 1854. It was rumored
through the Territory that eastern men were to be sent to the Terri-
tory for the purpose of voting, to make Kansas a free State. The ru-
mors on the borders of Missouri were pretty much the same in regard
to the matter. I heard one man say that he had come for that pur-
pose. He was in company with another gentleman. He was speak-
ing of himself and a company of some six or eight others. There
were but those two persons present at the time of the conversation,
and the others were in camp close by. As near as I can recollect, he:
said he came with a company from Pennsylvania; that they had come
out through the influence of Governor Reeder, and for the purpose of
voting. He said that there were between forty and fifty behind on/
the river, coming up for the same purpose. It was before the time of
election. He told me that he knew of the election in Pennsylvania
before we knew of it here. I think this conversation took place in
February, 1855. These persons were all I knew of who professed
to have come into the Territory for the purpose of voting. I do not
know of any free-State men going out of the Territory just after the
election. I do not recollect that this person stated how they knew
the time of election in Pennsylvania.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard:
This conversation took place in my storehouse in Tecumseh. I do
not know what was the name of this man. There were two together
at the time. He stated that there was a company of forty or fifty be-
hind on the river ; so I understood. He himself had just come into
the Territory, and was on his way to Fort Riley. I think he stated
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 213
to me that he came by water. He did not state anything about his
leaving after the election. He stated that the time of election was
known in Pennsylvania before it was known here. I cannot say what
time this took place, except that it was between the first and the last
of February.
To Mr. Scott-
It was after navigation had opened on the river, because I think
this gentleman told me he had come up the river. I do not know
what time navigation did open. I cannot be certain that it was in
February, for I may be mistaken; but if my recollection serves me
it was in February, and after navigation was opened.
W. A. SUBLETT.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
GEORGE HOLMES called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I was a resident of the Territory of Kansas at and before the 30th
of March, 1855, in the third election district. The election was held
on that day at the house of Mr. Stinson, in Tecumseh. I acted as one
of the clerks at that election. I went over to the place of holding the
election, and one of the judges (Mr. Burgess) was there. I then
went over to the house of Mr. Stateler for him and Mr. Watts, the
other two judges appointed by the governor. They came over to the
polls, and Mr. Watts proposed the appointment of two clerks. Mr.
Burgess objected, saying that he could find nothing about clerks in
the instructions of the governor, and he thought he could do his own
clerking, and the other two judges could do the same. They then
commenced an argument on the qualifications of voters. I do not re-
member all the argument ; but Mr. Watts and Mr. Stateler were not
in favor of receiving all who offered to vote, as to whether they in-
tended to remain in the Territory all their lives or not. Mr. Burgess
said he would swear every man he was not personally acquainted
•with, that he was a resident of the Territory, and intended to live
there, and whether he had any family in the Territory. That is the
argument to the best of my recollection. Mr. Watts said every one
they were at all doubtful about they would question, and he would
have to swear or prove that he was a settler, and intended to reside in
the Territory. He said he was in favor of letting every man vote
who had a claim, and intended to make a permanent settlement on it.
As far as I could understand it, I do not think their object was to
lallow persons who came there merely to vote and then return to give
votes there that day. I do not think there were more than fifty on
the ground, perhaps one hundred, when I went after the judges. I
was in the room afterwards with Mr. Burgess, and do not remember
more than that being there in the morning. I knew most of the per-
pons I saw there, and considered them residents. The only violent
talk I heard during the day was while the argument was going on
between the judges. Mr. Stinson came in and asked Mr. Burgess if
he had said that every man who had married a half-breed ought not
to grumble at any one who married a nigger, or something to that
214 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
effect. Mr. Stinson had married a half-breed. Stinson had a cane in
his hand, and told Burgess if he had said so he would break his head.
Burgess denied having said so ; when some persons in the room inter-
fered, and told Stinson not to quarrel with him in his house at that
time, as it might interfere with the election. Mr. Stinson said he
would settle it with Mr. Burgess some other time, and then left the room.
I believe the judges could not come to any agreement ; and they
all agreed to resign, and allow the voters there to elect new judges.
Most of the voters I saw there I knew. They were standing at the
window at the time, and said it was past the time for opening the
polls, and wanted the judges to proceed with the election. They
were legal voters, so far as I knew them. Other judges were
elected, being residents of the Territory, and living there at the
time. I do not recollect their names. They appointed Mr. Vaughan
and myself to act as clerks of the election. I prepared the poll-
books myself. I have no recollection of any one from Missouri
there arranging the poll-books. I mean by preparing the poll-
books, taking the paper and ruling it into appropriate columns. I
think several votes were challenged during the day, and the judges
decided they could not vote — some for being minors, and some for
other causes. There were only few challenged. I always was of
opinion that the district was strongly pro-slavery. I had not been
about in the district a great deal, and did not know how many voters
were there. I knew the county round about was pretty thickly
settled, and it was one of the principal districts in the Territory. I
judged by the' election the "fall before, at which I was also a clerk,
that the pro-slavery party would be about eight to one. I had been
sick in the Territory, and could not be about much, and I was also
taken sick again while down here afterwards. There were a great
many persons who did not come to the fall election, as they lived a
long distance from the polls ; and I thought it was no use to come, a»
Whitfield would be elected any way.
I saw some on the ground at the election of March 30th that I had
known in Jackson county, Missouri, but I did not know whether they
were residents of the Territory or not. All that I spoke to that I did
not know of having claims there said they had claims, and intended
to improve them and become residents. I left the district shortly
after the election, and do not know who have moved there since.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
I first moved into the third district in August, 1854, and settled
near Tecumseh. I had no family at that time, but took a claim, and
afterwards improved it during the fall and winter, building a cabin
on it. I was part of the time, from August to November, in West-
port, where I had moved from, and part of the time in the Territory.
I do not know exactly how long I was in the Territory. I went up
in August, made my claim, came down here, and got a wagon and
horses, and went back with the intention of improving my claim, and
was taken sick in the Territory, and laid sick there three weeks at
Mr. Homer's. I then came down to Westport on business, and was
taken sick here again, and lay sick here for a long time, nearly up to
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 215
the time of the election in the fall. I then went back again, and
served as clerk of the election. When I came down here and was
sick, I was engaged in writing up some books, as I could do but little
to enable me to meet my expenses, but had no permanent engage-
ment, I returned here directly after the November election, and re-
turned to the Territory again not long before the March election. I
was engaged in business here during the winter, when I was able to-
make something to live upon, as I was a poor man. I had, however,
improvements going on in the Territory upon my claim at the same-
time. I do not know anything about other persons going up from
Missouri at the time I did, except myself and Mr. Hunter. I saw a
gentleman there on the day of election, who was said to be Col. Sam-
uel H. Woodson, of Independence, Missouri, but I do not know the
man, having heard of such a man only, and do not know him except
by reputation. The one called Mr. Woodson was in the room with
the judges and clerks part of the time, and part of the time he was
not. Several gentlemen made speeches that day, but I was busy
counting up the votes, and could not say positively whether Mr.
Woodson spoke or not. I do not remember who the gentlemen were
who persuaded Mr. Stinson not to interfere with Mr. Burgess. I con-
sidered that a man who was on the ground the day of election, and
had a claim, was a resident voter. I did not say anything to Mr.
Woodson about his having a claim, and do not know whether he voted
or not. The question usually asked by the judges, of those whom
they questioned at all, was whether they had claims in the Territory
or not. I do not remember how many were so questioned. I left
there a few days after that election, and have resided in Westport,
and am now engaged in business here. I left the Territory because I
could not make a living there.
To Mr. King :
I have my claim yet. There was a dispute about my claim when I
went up in the fall, and that was one reason why I left there. I told
Judge Elmore he might have the houses, but I believe the claim is
not taken by any one but myself yet. I tried to sell my claim for
some time, but could not do it.
Several speeches were made, but I was busy at the time, it being
after the election was over, and while the judges were counting over
the votes, and 1 was keeping the tally list as clerk. The voting that
day was quiet and orderly, and I saw no violence of any sort. Some
votes were cast for the free-State candidate, Holliday, and I saw noth-
ing to prevent any one from voting for him who wanted to do so.
To Mr. Sherman :
I never did vote in this State, as I was just of age when I went up
into the Territory in 1854.
To Mr. Oliver :
When I went up to the Territory and took a claim, I intended to go
there and cultivate my claim, and reside upon it, and make a living
there if I could ; and only returned here after having tried and failed
216 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
to make a living there. I had no intention, when I took a claim, o
taking it merely so that I could vote. I understood from many per-
sons about that time, that they had taken claims, and were making
preparations to take their families there. If a man said he had a
claim, and I believed it, I thought he was a voter, I considered all
voters who had claims, and were really intending to settle upon them.
GEO. HOLMES.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 3, 1856.
GEORGE H. BERRY called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I first located in the Territory of Kansas on the 1st of September?
1854, and moved my family there in November, eleven miles south of
Tecumseh, in the third district. I was at the election at Tecumseh
on the 30th of March, 1855. A majority of the people there were
strangers to me. I recognised a great many of them as citizens of
the country. I was not at the polls much, merely going down there
to cast my vote. I was not at the polls more than twenty minutes,
and not more than an hour on the ground, during the day. During
the month of March there was considerable emigration, and, as far
as I could see, more than at any time previous.
Some few days after the election — not more than seven or eight,
and perhaps not more than four or five days — I was coming down to
Westport on business, and I fell in with many men on the route*
And about noon I met with quite a number of men at Blue Jacket's,
on the Wakarusa. I drove into the body of the creek to get some
water, and some four or five men rode up to me, going into the Ter-
ritory ; and after talking with them a bit, I found them to be Mis-
sourians. We struck up a conversation, and while we were talking
a company of fifteen or twenty, who were encamped on the bank,
whom I supposed, from the direction of their teams, to be men going
into the Territory, came to the spring in the bed of the creek to get
water while I and the Missourians were talking. As they passed
from me going back to their wagons, I asked some of the Missou-
rians who they were, and where they were going. The answer was
given to me that they were Yankees, and I said that they had come
a little too late, and should have come before the election, and had
an opportunity to vote. The party had not gone out of hearing.
They turned around, some three or four of them, and thanked me
kindly, and said, " Sir, we have done that little thing, and are on
our way home." Some one or two went on to remark that they were
aiming to beat Missouri at her own game. I told them that was
right, and every man who could be beaten at his own game ought to
stand it. I travelled along the road, and saw some of them along the
way, and some of them here in Westport, and also in Kansas City.
To Mr. Sherman :
The Council Grove district is a little northwest of me. At that
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 217
time Mabillon McGee lived in that district, and now lives in this
vicinity. I know of no settlement west of Council Grove. My under-
standing from these eastern men was, that they had been at Lawrence
and had voted there. Where I met them was this side of Lawrence
some seven or eight miles.
GEORGE W. BERRY.
WESTPOKT, MISSOURI, June 7, 1856.
FOURTH DISTRICT. — Dr. Chapman s.
PERRY FULLER testified.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I have resided in the fourth district since September 6, 1854, and
profess to be well acquainted in the district. I have been doing busi-
ness, merchandising, ever since I came there, and have had a good
chance of becoming acquainted. I was at the election of 30th of
March, 1855, and was appointed one of the judges of that election.
I went to the place I was told it was to be, (the election was to be
held at Dr. Chapman's,) and got there half an hour before the time
prescribed for opening the polls, and stayed at Dr. Chapman's some-
thing like an hour, I suppose, and was then told the election was
being held half a mile from there, at another house, and going on at
the time. I went over there, and got there a short time after the
hour for opening the polls, and was told that some forty odd votes were
taken before I got there. I went and asked the question of one of
the judges why they opened the polls without the proper judges being
there ; the answer was that I had come too late. I then told the free
State party that it was a one-sided election, and advised them not to
vote, and think only two of them voted.
There was a good many men camped there, a good many wagons,
and a general display of guns and implements of war. They were
very rude ; the company was very insulting.
As near as I recollect, there were some forty-seven legal voters in
the district at that time. There were eighty votes cast at that election.
I have here a list of actual residents of the district who did not
vote at that election. There are twenty-nine of them.
There are only fifteen names on the poll list who were actual
residents of the district at that time. Their names are as follows :
Reuben Hackett, John H. Lockridge, D. S. Keezer, David Pultz,
J. B. Davis, Joseph M. Bernard, Alfred Dale, Charles Homer,
J. Chapman, Reese B. Young, C. J. Hartley, William G. Luckett,
Thomas Essex, Richard McCamish, and J. Wilson.
I was acquainted with one of the non-residents who voted that day,
T. J. Lockridge. Their camp was 150 yards, perhaps, from the
election.
They had two sets of poll books, one to elect a governor.
218
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I was disgusted with the proceeding, and left for home.
One of the judges appointed by the governor officiated. James B.
Davis and Thomas Mockbee were the other two judges.
The next day we met and got up a protest, which we sent in signed
by thirty-one persons, none of whom had voted, and all were residents.
The following is the list of twenty-nine names which I referred to :
John F. Javens,
Mansfield Carter,
Samuel Workman,
Thomas Doty,
Levi Doty,
Franklin Barnes,
J. C. Hughes,
Charles Clark,
William David,
M. Shore,
A. F. Powell,
S. T. Shore,
William Moore,
Silas Moore,
Edward Moore,
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
James Moore,
Jacob Clark,
Champion Mayfield,
Samuel Mewhinney,
P. Basinger,
A. B. Gilliland,
William Harris,
Wm. Mewhinney, sen.,
Kalph Mayfield,
Wtm. Mewhinney, jr.,
Amos Hanna,
Perry Fuller,
D. Hendricks,
A. G. Miller.
PERBY FULLER.
PETER BASINGER recalled.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I was not at the March election in 1855. I saw numbers of persons
going to the election,, and saw some going back after the election.
There was some man from Missouri, who was boarding at my house at
the time, who had come out to look at the Territory. Some of those
who were going to the election I knew were Missourians, and had
seen in Missouri, as I had teamed it a good deal that fall, and had
become acquainted with them. Some of them had been there in the
November before, but I do not recollect their names. I was the last
settler on the side of the district towards Missouri. I should suppose
some twenty or thirty persons passed my house before I left. One
person I knew, called Mr. Mockbee, stopped and got a cup of coffee,
as several of them did. Mr. White stopped there also ; I knew him.
I left home that morning about ten o'clock. Dr. Chapman's is, I
should suppose, about four miles from the Missouri line. I got back
home the evening of the day of the election.
PETER BASINGER, his x mark.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 219
WILLIAM MOORE testifies.
I came into this Territory about the 16th of August, 1854, from
Indiana, and settled on Ottawa creek, in the fourth district, and have
lived there ever since. I was at the election of the 30th of March,
1855. At that time I had become tolerably well acquainted with the
citizens of the district.
My son, Edward Moore, was appointed one of the judges. I went
with him early in the morning of the election to Dr. Chapman's
house, the place where the election was to be held. When we got
near there,, I saw no persons about. A little distance from that house
a couple of gentlemen came out of a cabin and told us the election
had been moved betwixt a quarter and a half a mile from Dr. Chap-
man's to a double cabin that was unoccupied, and that about sunrise,
or a little earlier, they had gathered there, and Squire Haskell of that
district had sworn in some men as judges. I met then with Mr.
Fuller, the other free State judge, and we consulted as to whether we
should go from Dr. Chapman's. We went, and when we got to the
top of a rise, we saw quite a number of carriages and buggies, and
perhaps a rise of a hundred men, who, with few exceptions, were en-
tire strangers. I do not think there were more than a dozen men
there who belonged to the district. We went up to the place where
they were voting. The principal part at that time, eight or nine
o'clock, had voted, had got off in little groups around, and appeared
to be playing cards and drinking liquor, and were quite noisy. They
said their liquor had about run out, and they started off, two or three
on horses, to hunt more liquor. We staid there perhaps an hour and
a half, until some more of our neighbors came in, and we concluded
we would not vote ; that we would draw up a protest, because the
election was illegal. We then left for our house. I had but little
conversation with those strangers, and did not hear them say much
about their coming there, or where they came from.
I recognized Mr. Thomas Mockbee, who was acting as one of the
judges of the election, as he had done the election before ; also a Mr.
Thomas Lockridge, who lives not far from Independence, where I have
seen him. There appeared to be two elections, one kept in an adjoin-
ing house, where one man was acting as receiver, judge, and clerk.
He said he was taking votes for a new governor. I asked him if
Governor Keeder was dead, and he said he had run away, arid more
than that, he was a one-sided governor, and they wanted one that had
two sides. His poll book appeared to be this red-colored wrapping
paper, and his pen one of these black pencils. He kept calling out for
more votes, saying they surely had not all voted that wanted a two-
sided governor. His name was Timothy Keezer, and he lived in the
district. I did not stay there more than an hour and a half or two
hours, and left between ten and eleven o'clock. I think some of these
strangers did not vote.
To Mr. Howard :
These men voted for Thomas Johnson — Uncle Tom Johnson, as
they called him — for governor.
*220 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
Mr. Thomas Mockbee, I understood, was not a resident, he did not
live in the district, and his friends always told me he did not live in
the Territory. I did not know his residence only from hearsay. He
had a store on the north side of the Santa Fe road, out of the district,
at what is called Willow Springs.
WILLIAM MOOKE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 8, 1856.
JoriN F. J A YENS testifies.
I came into the Territory on the 29th of February, 1854, from
Westport, Missouri. I settled upon the headwaters of the Marais des
Cygnes, and was the first settler who made a claim there. It was in
the fourth election district. On the morning of the election of the 30th
of March, 1855, I was at the house of Dr. Chapman, the place desig-
nated by the governor where the polls were to be held, and 'saw there
two of the judges of the election appointed by the governor. I saw,
about a half a mile distant, a crowd of men, who appeared to be voting
there. There was no voting done at Dr. Chapman's house while I
was there, and I left there with the judges while the election was
going on at the other house. I saw men from Missouri I knew, sta-
tioned along the road in sight of the house, and threatening to shoot
every free State man, abolitionist, or Yankee who should come there
to vote. They said to me they were determined no man who was not
a, pro-slavery man should vote: These men were around, and I knew
them personally, and that they were citizens of Missouri. I saw the
place of voting surrounded by armed men, and but very few citizens
among these armed men. The most of the citizens collected at Dr.
Chapman's house, and when they saw how things were going they
went home without voting.
I would not go to the place where the voting was going on, and did
not vote that day, because it was surrounded by armed men from Mis-
souri, who threatened every free State man who should come up there
to vote ; and the citizens, being unapprised of what was going to take
place, were unarmed and unprepared to defend themselves. The free
State citizens who were there, with myself as president, held a meet-
ing to get up a protest against the election, as it was controlled by the
citizens of Missouri^ and we considered it illegal. The proceedings of
the meeting we sent to the governor, signed, I think, by a majority
of the legal resident voters of the district. I have examined the poll
books of that election, and find on it not over fifteen or twenty names
of citizens that I was acquainted with, and I thought I knew all at that
time. I do not think there are more than fifteen, certainly not more
than twenty. The remainder were not residents, and many I knew
to be residents of Missouri at that time. Among them were some I
knew when they were boys. I find on the poll books among those I
know, and who are prominent citizens of Missouri, T. J. Lockridge,
Thomas Mockbee, (who had a trading house on the north side of the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 221
Santa Fe road, not in the fourth district, and resided himself in Jack-
son county, Missouri,) C. C. Hamilton, of Westport, S. Writter, of
Kansas City, and a number of others/ At that time there were a large
majority of the citizens of that district who were and are now free
State men. Many of them did not come to the polls at all, and did
not know of the meeting I have alluded to, and were not there.
JOHN F. JAVENS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
THOMAS MOCKBEE called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I became a resident of Kansas Territory in June, 1854, occupying-
the place^called Willow Springs, on the old Santa Fe road. I built
a store house and two warehouses there at that place. The ware-
houses? were built of stone. I also built some stone fence at the same
place. I remained there a little over one year, and sold goods, provi-
sions, &c., during that time. I also cultivated the claim, and raised
some provisions there in the year 1854. The old Santa Fe road ran
on the north side of my possessions. I had taken the responsibility
myself to change this road by a temporary fence. The old road threw
my building in the fourth election district. I was residing in the
fourth district at the time of the election of the 30th of March, 1855 ;
the old Santa Fe road being the line between the first and fourth dis-
tricts, according to my understanding. I was judge of election in the
fourth district on the 30th of March, 1855, being elected by the peo-
ple then present, citizens of the district. The judges appointed by
Governor Keeder came there. It was my understanding that the free
State party had the polls. The judges could, not agree, and two of
them resigned, and consequently persons were selected by the people
present to act in their places. I do not know who the two who
resigned were, or what party they belonged to. Mr. Young, I think,
appointed by Governor Keeder, acted as a judge of election. Mr.
Alexander Johnson and Mr. Powell for representatives, pro-slavery
men, were candidates at that election ; Mr. Powell was opposing Mr.
Johnson, and was on the free State ticket, but he had before that time
voted the pro-slavery ticket. I do not think he was nominated at all.
He*did not vote that day. I do not recollect the names of the candi-
dates for the council. There were about eighty votes cast that day, to
the*best of my recollection. I was acquainted with a great many of
the^ people of that precinct. I think there were one hundred and fifty
resident voters there altogether at that time, and the pro-slavery party
had the majority at that time, and always had had ; I should suppose
fromStwenty to twenty-five majority at that time. I think the voters
of the district were generally present that day at the place of election.
A few of the free State party voted that day, but a good many of them
did not vote. Everything was quiet at that election, and there was
no disturbance at all during the day, that I saw. The pro-slavery
222 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
candidate there was, without doubt, elected by a majority of the legal
Totes given that day.
To Mr. Sherman :
I moved from Jackson county, Missouri, into the Territory of Kan-
sas. I did not take my family with me, but I lived there myself, all
the time, for one year and upwards, and some of the time I had some
of the blacks of my family with me. I had a farm in Missouri at that
time, and still carried it on. My wife and the members of my family
remained on it, at times, and sometimes in other counties of Missouri,
and sometimes in the Territory. I had a clerk part of the time, and
part of the time a partner in my store in the Territory. After I sold
out in Kansas Territory, I returned to this State. I have not voted
in the Territory since I left there. The old Santa Fe road is north of
my house, in the Territory ; the new road, as travelled, is a small dis-
tance south of my house. I lived on the extreme verge of the district.
I never canvassed that district in any way. My information in regard
to the people of the district was derived from the nature of my busi-
ness there, they generally trading at my store, more or less, from all
parts of the district. I am not mistaken about the two judges
appointed by the governor resigning that morning of election. I am
certain I saw them there, then, before I was appointed to act as judge
of election. I do not know as they assigned any particular reason
for resigning.
THOMAS MOCKBEE.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 5, 1856.
ANDREW S. JOHICSON called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott:
I was born and raised in the seventeenth district of Kansas Terri-
tory, and was living at the Shawnee Mission, in that district, at the
time of the election of the 30th of March, 1855. I was not at the
-election in that district. I was a candidate for the house of represen-
tatives, and went about a week before election into the fourth district,
which was a portion of my representative district.
Thomas Johnson, my father, and E. Chapman, were the candidates
for council, pro-slavery, and S. N. Wood, and a Mr. Goodwin, free
State; and Mr. Powell, free State, and myself, pro-slavery, were the
candidates for the house of representatives.
The election in the fourth district was held at the house of Dr.
Chapman. I was at the place of election about 7" o'clock that morn-
ing. The judges of election appointed by Governor Keeder were Mr.
Fuller, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Pultz. The time came for opening the
.polls, and Mr. Pultz was the only judge present. The polls were not
held at Dr. Chapman's residence, but at another house on the same
.claim. According to the proclamation, Mr. Pultz appointed Mr.
Hockbee and Mr. Davis judges of election, in place of those who
were absent. I asked some one present at the time, and Pultz said
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 223
the time for opening the polls had arrived, and I heard several saying
that the polls should he opened. At the time the judges were ap-
pointed hy Mr. Pultz, I heard no one ohject to the polls "being opened
on account of the hour not having arrived.
When I got to Dr. Chapman's residence in the morning Dr. Chap-
man was not at home. Mrs. Chapman said that as some of her family
were unwell, and their house was small, she would take it as a favor if
we hold the polls at the other house on their claim. The house was
between three and four hundred yards off, unoccupied, in full view of
his residence. We held the election there as a matter of favor to Mrs.
Chapman. The houses were easy of access to each other. At the
time the new judges were appointed I cannot say that there were any
free State men on the ground that I knew. Mr. Pultz announced to
the crowd who the judges were whom he had appointed, and asked if
they were all satisfied with them, and I heard no dissenting voice.
Everything the whole day was carried on quietly and peaceably, no
threats or resistance of any kind were shown in regard to voting, and
all had an opportunity to vote their sentiments without molestation.
Mr. Mockbee was residing at that time, as he had been for several
months previous, at Willow Springs, about six miles from the place
of voting. I had been at his residence at Willow Springs. I knew
him to be a citizen of the Territory at that time, and not a citizen of
Missouri. I had not been in the fourth district for some time until
about a week before the election, and I visited most of the settlement
in that district during that week. My own party were of the opinion
that the pro-slavery party were much the strongest. I did not visit
the free State party but little. I was informed by some of them that
they thought they had the majority in the district.
I had no information in regard to the strength of parties in that
district except what I got that week. Soon after the polls were opened,
about ten or twelve of the free State party I was acquainted with
came up to the polls, and I think two of them voted. They then went
off and consulted together, and came back and said that these were
not the judges appointed by the governor, and they were not going to
vote. They went off some hundred yards from the polls, and were
joined by others of the free State party, and remained there for some
time. I sent three messages to them, requesting them to come up and
vote, explaining that the election was conducted according to the
governor's proclamation, and that I wished each party to have a fair
show.
I am acquainted with Mr. Javens_, and was before he moved from
Missouri into the Territory. I was acquainted with his reputation for
truth among his neighbors, and it was not good. I would not beliere
him under oath. I did not see him at the place of election during
that day, and am confident he was not there, as I did not see him. '
To Mr. Sherman:
I voted at that election.
A. J. JOHNSON.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, Jwus 5, 1856.
224 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
»
B. S. KEZER called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I lived in the fourth district on the 30th of March, 1855, and also
before that time, living on my claim there.
I was present at the election of that day at the house of Dr. Chap-
man, in Willow Springs precinct. To the best of my information, the
understanding with the judges of election was that, as Dr. Chapman's
family were sick, they would hold their election in another house on
his claim and belonging to him, he having requested them to do so.
I heard no objection from any one as to the propriety of that being
done. I saw nothing that day that indicated any disposition, on the
part of any one, to prevent any one from voting according to his sen-
timents.
I believe that, according to the time pieces there, the polls were
opened at the time fixed by the proclamation of the governor. I was
occasionally at the polls during the day. I do not recollect, particu-
larly, of hearing the judges swear any voters that day, or that any
one challenged the voters, for I was not immediately at the polls, but
generally among the crowd. Thomas Mockbee was one of the judges
of election who served.
All the judges did not appear at the time of opening the polls, and
as one of the judges were lacking he was appointed by the voters pre-
sent, according to instructions. As far as I recollect one of the judges
was elected by the people, but I do not recollect who it was. Mr.
Mockbee lived at Willow Springs and was doing business there at
that time, and I never heard any one dispute his residence there in
that district. I knew he lived there myself, and I was acquainted
with him. I saw numbers of persons there I was not acquainted with.
I saw none I knew to be illegal voters give their votes that day. I
saw some who said they had come to the Territory to live and they
voted. I am not acquainted with the relative strength of the pro-
slavery or free State parties in that district. I saw no hindrance and
heard no threats against any man coming up to vote who desired to
do so.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
I moved into that district some time previous to the election, I think
the fall of 1854. I occasionally live there now, as I still hold my
claim and have improvements upon it, and have a family living there.
My business calls me away a good deal. I have no family. I heard
Mrs. Chapman complain of being unwell that day.
Mr. Mockbee lives directly on the Santa Fe road. • I think he lived
at that time on the north side of the road. I do not know whether
he had his family there or not, or whether or not he had a store in
the State. I know he lired there himself, and I have called there to
see him. It was proposed on the morning of election, after a person
was nominated to be judge of election,, to put the motion to the crowd.
I put the vote as to whether they were satisfied or not, and they
answered "aye."
I did this that all should be satisfied. I do not recollect of any
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 225
announcement being made beforehand as to who should be selected in
the place of the judge who was absent. There were a great many
there who were strangers to me, and I do not know where they wer%
from. There were two or three that went with me, and who had been
living in Missouri, and expected to,, and thought it likely they would,
make Kansas their home. I did not see them vote, but they said
they voted. The other strangers I do not know where they lived. I
dicf not know all who lived in the district.
B. S. KEZER.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 3, 1856.
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Bull creek, Pottawatomie, Big Sugar, Little Sugar,
Dr. B. C. WESTFALL called and sworn.
I moved into the Territory about the 5th of January, 1856, from
Missouri. I had resided for three years previous at New Santa Fe,
Jackson county, immediately on the Missouri line, within ten feet of
it. Some few clays prior to the 30th of March, 1855, companies were
organized to go over the Territory to various places to vote, and some
of my neighbors prevailed upon me to go with them to Bull creek, at
Baptiste Peoria, in the fifth district. We went out on the 29th o f
March, probably thirty in the company I was with, and when we got
to Bull creek we found two encampments near there ; the one that I
camped in was principally from Jackson county and near the place of
election, and the other was about a mile off, and those there were
principally from ;Cass county, but some from Lafayette. I knew
personally a great many of them, perhaps half of them, as I had lived
in C'ass, Jackson, and Johnson counties for the ten years previous.
The evening we arrived there Mr. Park, from Kentucky, and Mr.
Payne, from Missouri, claiming to be two judges appointed by G-over-
nor Reeder, came to me and told me that the third judge the governor
had appointed would not be at the election, and requested me to act
as judge with them, as they had the appointment of judge in the ab-
sence of the other. I told them I would serve. About ten o'clock,
when the most of us had retired to our tents, Judge Hamilton, one of
the members of the county court for Cass county, Missouri, came in
from Pottawatomie precinct, and woke us all up and told us there was
not a sufficient number of men down at P otawatomie to carrry the
day, and requested us to send about sixty more down there if we could.
A portion of our company went with him to that precinct, about six-
teen miles from our camp. In the morning those who remained came
lo the house where the election was to be held. We judges convened
and opened the polls. I asked the other two judges what we would
do with regard to all the voters from Missouri, and whether or not
H. Rep. 200 15*
226 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
we could reconcile that with the oath prescribed by the governor.
They stated we were not to be sworn. We opened the polls and they
•ommenced voting. I think there were three hundred in the company
but I do not know how many voted. I think nine-tenths or more of
those who voted were residents of Missouri, as there were but few set-
tlers in that precinct at that time. The judges were not sworn. We
closed the polls and went to making out the returns, and the magis-
trate, or one who called himself a magistrate, certified to the governor
that he had sworn the judges. One gentleman by the name of Samue
Wade, near New Santa Fe, called out his name and we took it down-,
Shortly after he voted he came back and called out Jim Wade's name
and I am pretty confident that was taken down. Jim Wade was j
son of the old gentleman, some nine or ten years old at that time,
asked Mr. Wade afterwards why he had called out Jimmy's name a
a voter, and he said he had made him a claim on Bull creek, adjoin
ing his own, and he expected Jemmy would become a resident of the"
Territory and a voter. The returns were then made out and sent to
Governor Keeder. The men who went out were all heavily armed,
and asserted that if they were prevented from voting they would assert
their rights and vote anyhow. The party left for Missouri, a few the
evening of the election, but the main body of them the next morning.
They voted for Mr. Lykins for council, and Colonel Coffee for council,
also; Henry Younger, who lives in Jackson county, Missouri, Mr.
Haskell, Mr. Wilkinson, and Scott, for the lower house. Mr. Lykins
lived near Peoria, Missouri, at that time. Colonel Coffee did not have
his family on Bull creek at that time, though he has them there now.
I understood there that his family at that time were in Bates county,
Missouri. Mr. Wilkinson resided in the, district. I do not knosw
anything about Scott. Mr. Haskell, I think, was a citizenjof the di -
trict at that time. I had been acquainted with him for some time-
He had left Missouri then, and I had understood he was in that dis-
trict keeping a trading house. Henry Younger is a man of consider-
able wealth and has much land and many slaves in Jackson county,
Missouri. I have known him since the fall of 1847, and he resided near
Independence at that time. I do not know that he had moved into
the Territory, and I do not think he has ever changed his residence
since I knew him. I think he has never taken his family into the
Territory, as I never heard of any such thing, and I am, in fact, cer-
tain that he has never brought them out to the Territory "to live any
length of time.
To Mr. Sherman:
I do not recollect of any double voting on that day except that man
who voted for his son. I do not know how many had gone to Potta-
watornie. 1 was told by Payne and Park that they had been appointed
by the governor, but I do not know for myself how it was. No one
took command of our company at Bull creek. They generally went
in small bands of twenty or thirty.
To Mr. Howard:
I live in the fourth district now. I think I saw five hundred in
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 227
the two camps from Missouri, including those who went to Pottawato-
mie. I saw a great many who told me they went directly to Potta-
watomie and voted there.
B. C. WESTFALL.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 8, 1856.
B. C. WESTFALL recalled.
I find upon the poll books some memoranda under the names of
several persons — " rejected, refusing to swear." This was all got up
for effect, as some free State men were looking on. It was all under-
stood between the voters and the judges. When one of them would
•come to the window the judge would say., " I think you live in Mis-
souri, do you not?" To which the man would reply, "I have a claim
in the Territory." The judge would ask them if they would be sworn
that they were residents of the Territory, at which they would pre^
tend to get angry and threaten to whip the judges, and refused to be
sworn. The matter, however, was all arranged beforehand. No one
was sworn that day.
B. C. WESTFALL.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
JESSE W. WILSON called and sworn.
I came into the Territory the 26th of August, 1854, in the fifth
district, and in the Bull creek precinct. I moved there from Missouri,
Jackson county. I am well acquainted in the fifth district, and was
one of the first settlers there. I think there was but one white family
there before within ten miles of where I live. I was at the election
of the 30th of March, 1855. I reached the polls about ten o'clock,
having walked about ten miles to get there. I saw a great many men
when I got there, and I should suppose that there were not less than
200 men there non-residents ; some I was acquainted with, and some
I was not. I conversed with a great many of them, and they told me
they were from Missouri. I was acquainted, among the rest, with Mr.
Samuel Wade, Mr. Kauffman, and two sons-in-law of Wade, all from
Jackson county, Missouri, where I was personally acquainted with
them. They said they were coming here to vote, and that they came
to retaliate on the eastern Aid Society, who were sending out paupers
here to vote; and they were going to poll as many votes as these pau-
pers, and perhaps more. I do not know of any in our district who
came out here under the auspices of the Aid Society. Our settlers
were from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and other western
States, I think. Those persons I talked with said it was their inten-
tion to make Kansas a slave State. They said they had voted, though
I did not see them vote. These non-residents were armed with re-
volvers and Bowie knives, shot guns and muskets; and, as the saying
228 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
is, were armed to the teeth. I saw no disturbance created while I was
there. I do not suppose I saw more than twelve or fifteen men that
I knew to he settlers in our precinct, and I think they all voted. The
people of our neighborhood, as near as I can judge from conversation
with many of them, were in favor of making Kansas a free State. In
my judgment, if none but the settlers had voted that day, the free
State candidates would have had a good majority in the precinct. I
do not know of Mr. Younger ever living in the Territory, or of any
property or claim he has ever had in the Territory. Doctor Westfall,
one of the judges of the election, with whom I am personally ac-
quainted, was a resident of the State of Missouri at that time. I have
examined, with Mr. Gearhart, the poll books for the 30th of March,
1855, and we can find the names of but thirteen that we know to have
been residents of that precinct at that time. From our acquaintance
with the district, I am satisfied that if any other residents had voted
we should have known it. The names of these thirteen residents are
stated in Mr. Gearhart's testimony. I arn acquainted with Samuel
Wade, and know that he voted for his son, James Wade, a boy about
ten years old at that time.
J. W. WILSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
JOSEPH M. GEARHART called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in November, 1854, from Missouri, and
settled on the Marais des Cygnes river, in .the fifth district, in Bull
Creek precinct, and have lived in that district ever since. I was at
the election of March 30, 1855. I reached the polls about 10 or 11
o'clock. I saw a great many strangers there, and some I knew, from
the State of Missouri, with Joseph Christopher, Jack Yocum, James
Yocum, and others. These men lived in Cass county, Missouri, and
told me they came there to vote ; but I did not see them vote. Most
of the strangers to the district had shot guns and other arms. I rode
through the camp going to the polls, but stopped on going back after
the election at Lug Freeman's camp. I should reckon there were 200
persons there I did not know. I am acquainted with pretty near
every man in the district, and was one of the first settlers in it. The
district at that time was rather thinly settled. In the Bull Creek
precinct at that time I think there could not have been more than fifty
voters. There were some settlers on Bull Creek higher up I was not
well acquainted with ; some of them were these. But I do not think
there were ten from our neighborhood that were there. I heard be-
fore I started that men from Missouri were there ; and I heard before
I left Missouri that men from Missouri were coming over to vote ; and
as I was passing backwards and forwards for provisions, some of these
same men told me they were coming over to vote. I think I was once
in the State a month or so before the election, and some of these men
then told me they intended to come over and vote, as they had claims
in the Territory. I voted that day. I staid at the polls some two or
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 229
three hours. There appeared to be some difficulty, and considerable
noise and cursing. I did not myself see any of the Missourians vote,
though they said they voted. I do not know exactly, but I think Dr.
Westfall, one of the judges at that election, lived in Missouri. Mr.
Younger, a candidate elected for representative, was a resident of
Missouri, where I have seen his farm and house. I saw him once in
the Territory before this election, at a meeting at Dutch Henry's for
the purpose of nominating candidates for the legislature. Mr.
Younger made a speech, saying that he thought Missourians had a
right to come here and vote. He was a pro-slavery ' man. A Mr.
Fox got up and contradicted him, saying that he thought the men who
came here and smote down the trees and made the paths were the ones
to vote. Fox was a candidate of the free soil party. This was a few
days before the election.
No nominations were made that day by the pro-slavery party. I
do not know where Younger and other pro-slavery men were nomi-
nated. I never heard of their being nominated by any public meet-
ing in the Territory. Lykins and Coffee, for council, and Scott,
Younger, Wilkinson, and Haskell, for representatives., were voted for
by the Missourians that day. Younger 's house and farm is this side
of Independence. I have passed it twice. I do not think he has any
claim in the Territory now, though at the time of the election he said
he had a claim on Sugar creek. I never heard that his family ever
lived in the Territory. Some of the citizens remained away from the
polls, but I do not know whether it was from fear or not.
I have carefully examined the poll books in connexion with Mr.
Wilson, and I can find but the following names on the list of resi-
dents of this district, that I know to have been residents at that time :
Barnet Hall, James Shaw, David Lykins, James D. Keid, John Van-
horn, Isaac Jacob, Harrison Standiford, J. M. Marshall, Joseph M.
Gearhart, J. W. Wilson, Linge Ferris, and Mr. Linden ; 13 in all.
JOS. M. GEARHART.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
WILLIAM CHESNUT called and sworn.
I moved into the Territory on October 23, 1854, and settled uat
Ossawatomie, in the fifth district, and have resided there ever since.
I am a farmer. I came from Connecticut. I was at the election of
March 30, 1855. I was appointed by Governor Reeder as one of the
judges of the election at Pottawatomie precinct. I got there about
eight o'clock, or a little after, in the morning of the election. The
other two judges, except Wilkinson, who was a candidate, and there-
fore unqualified, were not there. I claimed the privilege of appoint-
ing two to fill the vacancies, when a stranger came forward and told
me he was from Missouri. He was armed with a revolver and a knife,
and had a rifle in his hand. He told me his party woujd appoint the
judges. I remonstrated with him, and named two persons for judges
that I thought were qualified. He told me that if I made any trouble
230 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
with, them they would dispose of me with very little ceremony. He
then asked with a kind of sneer in what manner I would like to have
the election conducted, and I said, in conformity with the instruc-
tions contained in the governor's proclamation. He said the gover-
nor had no right -to impose such conditions and restrictions upon
them ; that their being there that day constituted them legal voters ;
that they had come on purpose to vote, and I could see they had come
well prepared, and would vote, let the consequences he what they
might. I insisted that as I had been appointed I would preside, and
if I had not the power to prevent fraudulent voting, I would at least
be a witness as to the manner in which they did it. He said if I
insisted upon it, it would be at my own peril. A few minutes after
he came to me, and said he thought the better way to avoid difficulty
would be to allow their people to vote without asking them any ques-
tions, or requiring them to swear they were residents. He said there
was a large party from Boston on the creek above, who came on pur-
pose to vote, and his people had been holding a consultation and had
come to the conclusion that the best way was to allow our people to
vote without asking any questions, if we would extend the same privi-
lege to their people. I refused to consent to any such arrangement,
when, without any farther ceremony, they appointed two individuals
to preside as judges, one of whom I have since learned was a resident
of Clay county, Missouri, and, I think, was named Wear. The
other was named Fur guson, and was a resident of Bull Creek precinct,
and not entitled to vote at Pottawatomie, though he said he had his
washing done there and was, therefore, a voter.
One of the clerks was Barnaby. I insisted on taking down a list
of the names, and acted as clerk also. They then declared the polls
opened and commenced to take votes, which were handed as fast as we
could take them. Over four-fifths of the votes were handed in by
armed men, strangers to me. I knew at that time most every legal
voter in the precinct. I objected to several when they offered to vote,
believing they were not legal voters, and the other two that acted as
judges would immediately take the ballot and put it in the ballot box,
without taking any notice at all of my remonstrance, ex cept to say,
by way of reply, that they knew the gentleman, that he lived up the
creek and had a claim there.
We were kept pretty busy taking votes until about noon, when one
of the judges, Mr. Wear, I suppose, though I did not know him then,
proposed to adjourn for about an hour for dinner. He then picked up
the ballot box, saying he would take care of it, took it under his arm
and walked out with it. I followed him, and a short time after he
got out he stepped up to Mr. Fur guson and told him Mr. Wilkinson
had invited them down to his house to dinner. Wilkinson was one
of the pro-slavery candidates. I told them, as I was very well
acquainted with Mr. Wilkinson, I would go down too, determined to
keep in sight of the ballot box. We went down through their camp
to Mr. Wilkinson's house. They were encamped on both sides of the
road, some in „ tents, and more in wagons ; and the men were there
lying around on the ground in groups, some under the influence of
liquor, and all armed, generally with knives, 'revolvers, and rifles.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 231
When we came in sight of Mr. Wilkinson's house, the one who had
the ballot box turned round and looked at it for a moment, and
finally said: "I believe we wont go down there/' He then turned
and came back to Henry Sherman's house, where the meeting was
held. Shortly after one o'clock we again commenced to take votes,
and kept the polls open until sundown, though we did not take very
many in the afternoon.
We then counted over the votes. The tally list was presented to
each of the judges, with the request to sign it as being a correct
return of the legal voters in that precinct. When they handed it to
me for my signature, I remarked that I could not consistently put my
name to it, because in doing so I would commit perjury. The house
was immediately filled with as many armed men as could stand on
the floor. Until then they had all kept outside. General Coffee,
candidate for councilman, was among the crowd, and another person
I think they called Anderson, from Missouri. They both addressed
the crowd. General Coffee stated that he admitted that it was very
aggravating for a public officer to refuse to do his evident duty, but
still he hoped there would be no bloodshed, nor personal violence used,
on that occasion. After he got through, he came to me and remarked
that he thought the best way was to put iny name to it, it would look
better in the eyes of the public,, and there was no use in my making
any trouble about it. I told him that I had said I could not do it,
and had given my reasons, and I would not do it. I said I knew I
was entirely at their mercy, and they might keep me there until mid-
night if they saw fit, but I would not testify that that was a correct
return of the legal voters, when I knew it was very far from it. The
judges then said they did not see much use in saying any more on
the subject, as they thought they could make it answer without my
name. I then got up and came out of the house. On my way home,
when I had got about fifty or sixty rods from Mr. Sherman's house, a
party of armed strangers, who stood at a distance of probably fifty
rods from me, discharged a number of rifles. They called names,
and hooted and yelled as long as we remained in sight or hearing. I
then proceeded home.
Those strangers voted for Lykins and Coffee for councilmen. I am
pretty confident Coffee did not live in the district at that time. It
was generally understood that he lived in Missouri. They voted for
Younger, Wilkinson, Haskell, and Scott, for representatives. I was
not acquainted with any of the candidates but Wilkinson. I should
think there were not over fifty or sixty legal votes polled there ; not
over seventy-five, at all events. A good many residents I did not
know by name, but by sight. From the information that I possessed
at that time, and from watching the voting, I thought there were
frorn^ one hundred and fifty to two hundred illegal votes polled at that
election. I do not think there was one individual in the Boston com-
pany, the gentleman I have referred to spoke about, in the district.
I think the most of the settlers were from Iowa. I do not know posi-
tively of any who came out under the auspices of any aid society
except myself ; and I came out under the auspices of the New York
society, called the Kansas League. I paid my own expenses, and de-
232 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
rived no service from the society, except information about the bes
modes of getting here and the country here. They asked me no
questions about my politics. At that time I think a decided majority
of the residents were in favor of making Kansas a free State.
WILLIAM CHESNUT.
LAWRENCE, K. T., Mty 9, 1856.
JAMES M. ARTHUR called and sworn.
I moved my family into this Territory on the 7th of August, 1854,
from Indiana", and settled in the fifth district, and have lived there
ever since. I was in Big Sugar Creek precinct at the election of March
30, 1855. I was at the election. I was appointed one of the judges
of election by the governor, and also Elisha Tucker and John E. Brown.
We went on in the morning and opened the polls by swearing each
other in, as there was no justice of the peace there. We took the
oath as prescribed by the governor. About the time the polls were
opened, a large number of strangers came into the yard and demanded
to vote. I wanted to swear them as to whether they were residents or
not, and they refused to swear. Mr. Brown, one of the judges,, told
me then, I must take their votes or resign. I asked Mr. Tucker, the
other judge, what should be done, and he said he considered ,them
legal voters, without swearing or asking them any questions. I
thereupon resigned. Some eighteen or twenty votes had been given
when I resigned. They appointed Hickman Smith in rny place, and
went on with the election. I heard no questions asked of any voter,
whether he was a citizen or not, during the day. I think there was
some eighty or ninety votes polled there, and I think there were not
more than thirty-five or forty citizens there, and a great many of them
did not vote. I was tolerably well acquainted in that precinct, as I
had been riding around considerable in that precinct. Mr. Younger,
who was elected to the legislature, was there, and voted. He never
has been a resident of that district. He said he had a claim about
three or four miles below where I lived, and built a little shanty there
three or four days before the election ; but he has never covered or
floored it, and has never lived in it. I remained there until they had
closed the polls, and had done counting the votes I saw the strangers
have. They did not leave in a body, but went away at various times
as they got done voting. I had conversation with, them during the
day, but principally at supper, with those who remained there. I had
a long talk with Mr. Younger during the day. He said he had a
right to vote there, as he had a claim. I had a conversation with
several of the party, who said they were then living in Jackson county,
Missouri ; but they said they had claims in the Territory, and had a
right to vote. A great many of them I have not seen back since.
Mr. Younger said the Missourians had as much right to vote here as
the Yankees had, of whom some four boat loads had landed a few days
before, at Kansas City, Missouri. He said all who happened to be in
the Territory on the day of election had a right to vote, according to
Douglas' bill. To the best of my knowledge, the political opinion
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
233
of the precinct was greatly free State ; a very decided majority of the
whole district was free State, so far as I know anything about it. I
have been in almost every neighborhood of the district, and have
talked with all the prominent men about the matter, and I am satis-
fied that at that time a large majority of the district was free State.
These strangers were armed. They came principally in wagons, some
on horseback. One two-horse wagon was loaded with guns. I did
not see anything else in it. They unloaded it in the yard and stacked
their guns around a forked apple tree in the yard. They also had
very large knives — afoot or more in length — that looked like "they
were home made. Some of them had pistols. I have examined the
poll books of that precinct, and think the following list is the names
of resident voters of Big Sugar precinct, fifth district, at the election
of March 30, 1855:
17". J. M." Hampton,
1. A. M. Smith,
2. L. B. Willson,
3. Beubin Noel,
4. James E. Wadkins,
5. Thomas Smith,
6. Henry Littlejohn,
T. Silas Young,
8. William Cash,
9. John Gr. Robinson,
10. James B. Fleming,
11. James M. Freeman,
12. D. P. Fleming,
13. James M. Arthur,
14. R. M. Daniel,
15. Jonah Daniel,
16. Allen Stewart,
18. Lewis Thompson,
19. John B. Robinson,
20. Henryllclviney,
21. Ransom Elliot,
22. John Eliot,
23. William M. Smith,
24. L. M. Eliot,
25. J. W. Regan,
26. John Wykle,
27. Samuel Clark,
28. George Wykle,
29. M. C. D. Osburn,
30. L. M. Love,
31. J. E. Brown,
32. Elish a Tucker.
Some of the above names may not have been residents at that time,
but they are now.
JAMES M. ARTHUR,
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 8, 1856.
S. W. BOUTON called and sworn.
To Mr. Matthias :
I moved into the Territory in the month of May, 1854, and resided
here until April 1855, in the fifth election district. I was at the
jelection of the 30th of March, 1855, held at the house of William
j Stockton. The judges of election were David Finlay, William Stock-
;ton, and some one I did not know. I understood that those who
| served were those appointed by Governor Reeder.
There were something like one hundred votes cast, some sixty for
hthe free State, and some forty for the pro-slavery ticket. I do not
know of any one being there not entitled to vote, and the election was
orderly and quiet.
S. W. BOUTON.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 3, 1856.
234 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTH DISTRICT. — Fort Scott.
JOHN HAMILTON called and sworn.
I first came into the Territory in 1835, but I have been out andi
back at times. I came back last in March, 1855, and settled at Fort!
Scott, in the sixth election district. I emigrated from Pennsylvaniai
to Missouri, and thence to the Territory.
I was present at the election of the 31st of March, 1855, at Fort;
Scott. William J. Godefroy, Mr. Bay, and William Painter, were the
judges appointed by the governor. They served as judges. I went!
to the polls between nine and ten o'clock. There were strangers who
had collected near the polls the day of election and the day before,
from between one hundred and one hundred and fifty. They came
from the direction of Missouri, and came in wagons and on horseback.
Some encamped and some put up at public houses there. Some oj
these strangers I knew ; C. L. Harris, Mr. S. H. Loring, Mr. Benja-
min Eichardson, Dr. Stone, and a great many more whose names I
do not recollect. They lived in Bates county, Missouri. They were
with the companies who came in. I conversed with some of them the
evening before the election ; they said they came there to vote, and
seemed to think they had a perfect right to do so. They were armed
generally with pistols. They said they came to vote ; they did not
say what their purpose in voting was. I cannot say certain that more
than one of these men I knew voted, for I was not about the window
much. Afterwards, Mr. Loring and Mr. Kichardson, when the polls
were closed, came to me and said they came to me as friends, to know
if I intended to contest the election. I stated that if I had a majority
of the legal votes in the district I should certainly contest it. They
said if I did it would certainly be detrimental to the interests of myseli
and family. They said nothing further. The pro-slavery candidates fon
representatives were Mr. Williams and Mr. Anderson. William Mar-
graves was an independent pro-slavery candidate. I was a free State
candidate. William Barbee was the pro-slavery candidate for council,
and had no opposition. The election was held in the house I occupy,
and I was there at the opening of the polls, but was not present in the
room of the judges, and cannot say whether or not they were sworn.
William Barbee lived at that time in the town of Fort Scott. I do not
know where Mr. Anderson lived at that time. He was staying in our
district a few days before the election, and I presume was boarding,
there. I do not know where he came from to the district ; I do not
know where he lives now. I think he does not live at Fort Scott
now, unless since I left, four days since. S. A. Williams lives now
at the town of Fort Scott, but I do not know where he lived then,
though he had been around Fort Scott some days before the election.
He has a family, but I never saw them there before the election. I
do not know when and where Mr. Williams and Mr. Anderson were
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 235
nominated. I learned, first, several days before the election, that
they were candidates, but know nothing in regard to how they were
brought out. Some of these strangers told me they had voted, but
i not all of them for whom ; though some said they voted for me, but
I supposed they were joking with me. There were persons coming
• into the district at different times. I am acquainted with a great
many at different points in the district. The district was somewhat
: thinly settled. There was no town at Fort Scott at that time. It
; had been occupied as a fo-rt, and citizens occupied the place merely by
permission of the agent left in charge of the property,, and stayed
there. Some days after the election the property was sold. There
^was no disturbance at the polls. I do not know that any of the voters
i were sworn. I saw some votes handed in. I saw some strangers about
ithe windows, but there was such a crowd there that I could not see
what they were doing. I do not know whether or not any of the citi-
zens who came in that day went away without voting. I had not
canvassed the district. I believed that, at that time, a majority of
the settlers of the district were in favor of a free State. I know of
no double voting that day. I do not think the number of votes of
that district was more than 125. I have carefully examined the poll
lists of that election in our district of the 30th of March, and I have,
as near as possible, selected from them the names of all those I knew
to be resident voters at that time. After I had made that list, I com-
pared the poll lists with the census roll. The census was taken by
Mr. Barbee and his assistants. I have added the names taken from
the census rolls of residents. I did not know who voted on the 30th
of March, and I make 62 in all. This list includes the names of all
I know to have been residents, and whose names I find on the poll
books and the census. So far as I know, this would be a correct list
of the legal voters at that election. To supply those I did not know,
I examined the poll lists and census returns. There were many per-
sons coming in at that time. In this list I have included Mr. Ander-
son and Mr. Williams, whom I did not believe to be citizens, though
their names are on the census returns. The following is the list of
names on the poll books and census roll of the Fort Scott, or sixth
district, as I find them :
William Barbee, B. F. Wilkinson, K. Beth, William Breeze, L. S.
Broyles, T. B. Arnott, A. P. F. Davis, W. F. Alexander, F. Dewint,
John B. Smith, James Marr, Emery B. Cook, H. Watkins, E. Fly,
John Gnthree, William January, J. W. Sharp, Jerome Moody, A.
Ward, S. Potter, Jesse Eay, John Crook, James H. Fleming, John
B. Fleming, Michael McCann, Wm. Kay, Joseph Harrison, Thomas
H. Fox, Wm. A. Randolph, H. Bledsoe, James 'Waldron, Daniel F.
Burkhardt, Lewis Davis, L. Sharp, N. II. Bennett, John Graves, M.
Dawson, Samuel Beaver, Samuel Moore, P. S. Moor, J. Field, John
Culton, James Kay, Win. J. Godfrey, D. Guthree, William Painter,
P. D. Caning, J. C. Anderson, John Grant, Thomas Graves, Wm.
Watkins, John Brown, Charles Milan, Thomas Summers, J. Jefries,
J. W. Fly, William Musgrave, G. Wood, J. W. Arnott, Charles
Hurd, H. S. Wilson, William Ewing.
In addition to those not on the foregoing list, are twelve names of
236 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
persons resident voters not on the census returns, and whom I know
to have been residents :
J. N. Newmew, George W. Morris, J. M. Ward, T. Mathias, A.
Snow, John January, H. Varbal, M. Sellers, J. T. Ray, F. F. York,,
"Win. Humphries.
I find no other names on the census book that are also on the polll
list, except those I have given. The census list is alphabetically
arranged ; I took up the poll book name by name, and whenever I
found a name on the poll book that was on the census list, I put it
down in my list. I put on the list names I did not know, but I found
their names both on the census and poll lists. I have also given the
names of those I know to have been resident voters who were not on
the census returns, but were on the poll lists.
Upon examining the poll books, I found the names of persons I
know to be residents of Missouri at that time, the 30th of December,
1855. The following are their names:
G. Oldham, G. W. Oldham, P. Zeal, C. Mitchell, J. S. Mitchell,
H. C. Weire, John Knight, G. T. Jones, G. L. Harris, N. Godefroy,
E. Dean, Wm. March Banks, S. A. Williams, J. C. Anderson, Wm.
D. Lynde, William Merick, J. M. Newman.
I do not know with regard to the other names I find there. There
are names I am familiar with, but do not know the given names, and
do not recollect to have seen them on the ground. I do not know
where those live whose names I have not mentioned, and whom I find
on the poll list.
Cross-examined by Joseph C. Anderson:
I understood the district at that time commenced in the channel of
the Little Osage, and followed the stream up ; and there was no dis-
trict west of it in the Territory. It run to the southern boundary of
the Territory ; it was about seventy miles wide ; it included the
Indian lands and nations, and there was very little of it open to set-
tlement. I had been in the Territory about twenty days before the
election. I did not know the voters in the district, as I had not can-
vassed it ; there might have been many men there, legal voters, I did
not know ; I would not say all the names I have not given were ille-
gal voters. I heard no one say, as I recollect, what induced them to
come there to vote. I should judge, of those I saw there that day, \
two thirds were armed. It is customary for citizens of the Territory
to have arms. Those men generally had pistols. I was not induced
to any course of conduct by any threats made towards me. I had re-
peatedly stated I should contest that election if I thought I had a
majority of the legal votes there then. I did not contest it at that
time, because there was not time enough to contest it ; and I believed
at the time a majority of the votes were against me. There were
thirty-five votes counted out as given for me. I never have ascer-
tained that I received a majority of the legal votes there ; I do not
know of any more. I knew men from Missouri who voted for me ;
two told me they had voted for me. I did not send to my friends in
Missouri to come to that election, or intimate to them in any way that
I should like to have them come. I do not know that Joseph C. An-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 237
•.
derson had not been in the district before I came there ; I never had
heard of his being here. I think the census was finished a few days
after I came into the Territory. I find the name of Joseph C. Ander-
|i son on the census book, but do not know why it was placed there.
i! The grounds of my belief that Anderson was not a citizen of the dis-
i| trict, at the time of the election, were, that he left the next morning,
i| and I did not see him until after the adjournment of the legislature.
I do not know where Mr. Anderson was during that time. It was
understood in the district that while Mr. Anderson was away he was
in the legislature. I did not know that he had any other home at
the time of the election but at Fort Scott.
I do not think Mr. Williams was a resident of Fort Scott at that-
:|time any more than was Mr. Anderson. Mr. Williams did not buy
any property there, at the sale, that I know of, though I heard Mr.
Wilson bid off a house for them together. Mr. Williams occupies
ijthat house now with his family^ and has been residing there since the
i: election, and is now probate judge of that county by appointment of
;the territorial legislature. The pro-slavery party was and are very
favorable to the election of Mr. Anderson, so far as I have heard,
j There were many persons living in the houses at Fort Scott at the
'time of the election by permission of the agent. E. Oldham came the
night before the election, and went back not long after the election.
I do not recollect that I had any conversation with him, and do not
know anything that would go to show he intended to live there. I
jdo not know that there was any one frightened from the polls. So far
ias I know, the residents of the district who were there that day voted.
jjl do not know how many of the residents were not there. There were
people living there who had no horses and did not get to the polls,
but were not prevented from going to the polls upon account of fear,
'I think. I do not know how many strangers voted and how many
did not vote. No endeavors were made, to my knowledge, to prevent
;Mr. Loring from voting.
Question. Was it not the common rumor that there would be 500
inen sent out by the Emigrant Aid Company to control the election
at Fort Scott?
Answer. It was not a common rumor.
I was not round the polls all day. I lived in the house where the
voting took place, I was at the polls several times, but not much.'
E was not preyented from going to the polls by threats. If I mistake
;jnot I voted for William Barbee for council, and Mr. Margraves for
representative. I considered Barbee, from what he said to me, a free
; State man, until after the election. I was not aware of any caucus
held by the free State party on the morning of the election at Fort
Scott, to decide upon the question of bringing out a candidate against
Barbee.
I never heard tell of the Mitchells coming to Fort Scott until after
the sale, which took place on the 16th of April, 1855. They bought
j some property there, but did not move on it until some time after-
wards that I know of. They are now residents of Fort Scott. It
| may have been that some of the names I say I am familiar with, but
liilo not know the given names were legal votes. Some of the legal
238 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
voters in the district were not on the census hook. I was not myself
There were a great many came into the district after the census an<
"before the election, but I do not know where they came from.
By Mr. Sherman :
The following names in the list of sixty-two names are persons
-did not know to he citizens, but whose names I found in both censui
returns and poll lists.
F. Dewint, James Marr, E. Fley, J. W. Sharp^ S. Potter, Join
•Crook, James H. and John B. Fleming, H. Bledsoe, James Waldron;
D. F. Buckhardt, Lewis Davis, L. Sharp, John Graves, M. Dawson
J. Field, John Grant, Thomas Graves, Charles Milan, J. Jeffreys^
J. W. Fley, and G. Wood.
By Mr. Anderson :
There are many settlements in the district I am not acquainte'
with.
JOHN HAMILTON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
EMERY B. COOK called and sworn.
I carne into the Territory in March, 1854, and have resided nea;
Fort Scott ever since. I came from Ohio and Missouri, and thence t
the Territory. There were a few settlers at the Fort ; but none in m
neighborhood when I came. I am a mason by occupation. I am toli
erably well acquainted in the district ; and have been asked, and hav
gone, all over the neighborhood to house raisings. I should thin
there were about from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-fi v
voters in the district on the 30th of March, 1855. William Barbe
took the census of the district, and subsequently he run for council
I was present at the election of the 30th of March. There were a grea
many strangers came there the day before election, and on the day c
^election. A great many came from the southern part of Missour:
where I did the most of rny work as a mason. These men came thi
day before the election, in wagons, of four or five in company ; some
•times I counted as high as twelve in one wagon, and some as low aa
two or three. They had tents with them, and generally carried
demijohn, as I usually call a pistol. I did not know any of those ii
the wagons. Many came on horseback, on the day of election, wlioi
I knew. Those in the wagons brought their own provisions, but n
baggage, and no families, or signs of moving. I was at the polls beforr
it was open. I saw a great many of these people around the polls ; an
a, great many of them said they were going to vote. Afterwards, oni
man came to me and told me he had voted, and wanted to know why I di
not vote. I said I would vote when I got ready. There was a famil
•of Houcks, from Cooper county there, as they said that they came t
vvote, and it seemed to be understood that the north was imposing on th
south, and they were going to try to keep up with them. There was ODD
•or two persons there I had seen in Missouri, so. as to know their names'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 239
There was no claim that they resided in the district. I heard nothinS
said about the residences of the people there, except that the Houcks
said they were from Cooper county. I saw these men walk up to the
polls in bodies, generally, with tickets in their hands, though I did not
see the votes actually given in. I thought at first that there were two
hundred there ; but, after some had gone off on horseback, I think there
were but one hundred or one hundred and fifty. They were coming
and going all day. Some who came in wagons left the day of elec-
tion, and some the day after, going the main road to Missouri. The
most of those who came in wagons came from towards Missouri up
north. I voted that day. I think, as a general thing, the settlers
did not vote that day. I had been watching for some fifteen or twenty
I knew, and did not see them. I cannot say whether any there did
not vote. I have looked over the poll book, in connexion with Mr.
Hamilton, and we have drawn off a list we know to be legal voters ;
some few of them, such as we found on the poll books. . He recognized
some three or four names I did not, and I recognized two he did not.
They are all put in the list. William Barbee was candidate for coun-
cil in that district, and had no opposition. Mr. Anderson and Mr.
Williams were the pro-slavery candidates, and Mr. Hamilton the free
State candidate. Mr. Anderson was boarding in the district some
week or two, electioneering around amongst us, but I did not consider
him a resident. He left a short time after the election, and I think I
did not see him any more until he came back from the territorial legis-
lature in September last. There was a public pro-slavery dinner, as it
was called, the Saturday before the election, last fall. I did not attend
the dinner, though I had intended to go. I think I saw Mr. Ander-
son leave the next day after the election, and think I have not seen
him there since. I do not know where he resides now. I was at the
Fort the bigger part of the time last fall, and if he had been there be-
tween the two .elections I should probably have seen him. I do not
know anything about the residence of Mr. Williams at the time of
the election, though he moved into the district with his family after
he was elected. He was in the district himself some week or ten
days before the election. He resides in the district with his family
now. I do not know whether the persons named by Mr. Hamilton in
the latter clause of his deposition were citizens or not ; I do not know
any such persons in the district. I think I know all the names, be-
sides this latter clause, that he has furnished on his list, some forty-
eight of them. I have heard his deposition ; and so far as it relates
to the lists and the persons named, I think he is right, from all I
know of the district, and from my examination of the poll lists and
census returns. I think there were about fifty who voted that day
that I consider citizens at that time. What I mean by a citizen is
Qne who makes his only home in the Territory, and without regard to
the length of time.
Cross-examined by Mr. Anderson:
I know the various settlements in the district, but am not acquainted
with the mall. I am not well acquainted with the district far from
home, but I am well acquainted within 10 or 12, or 15 miles of my
240 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
home, but not with everybody. I am not acquainted with Mr. Guth-
rie's nephews, the Floys, though I am acquainted with the Gutliries.
I have, to the best of my knowledge, with Mr. Hamilton, prepared of
all I knew to have been residents, but I will not say that is all. I
was around the polls on the morning of the election and during the
day. I saw no men hindered from voting and heard no threats made
against free State men about voting. A good many free State men
did not vote. Some two or three of the herdboys said they did not
vote. They live about five, six, or seven miles above the Fort on the
Marmitau. They had been living there some three or four weeks be-
fore the election. I saw no others there, that I recollect of, who said
they did not vote. I never heard of any caucus of the free State party
on the day of the election to decide upon the question of bringing out
a candidate against Barbee. I know of a good many men of both par-
ties who did not come to the election, as they told me. I think these
strangers were armed more than was usual in this country. There were
persons who came in from Missouri in the morning and went back in
the afternoon. Some of them I knew to be from Missouri and to be
living there at the time ; about twenty I should say ; I cannot name
all, though I know where they lived. I can recollect A. G. Hay, John
Hay, William Hay, William Lynd, James Brown, a Mr. Woods,
another William Lynd, William Merrick, Elias Dean, James Logan,
William Hereford, (I think,) William Miller, Jacob Miller, C. D.
Ball, Dick Bond, N. Dodge, and Abraham Redfield. I do not know
whether those men voted or not. I heard Logan and Dean say that it was
right for every citizen of Missouri to vote. It was the general rumor
of the Missourians that they ought to vote, because the north came flock-
ing into the election and running out again. In the part of Missouri
where I worked it was rumored that one part of the General Aid So-
ciety's emigrants were coming to this Territory to live and make this
a free State, and another set coming in to vote and then go out again.
I voted on the 30th of March, 1855. These strangers, generally, con-
ducted themselves as well as people usually do at western elections.
A man came and asked to see my ticket, I showed it to him and asked
if it suited him. He said it did not. I asked him where he lived, he
said down on the Marmitau, between Henry Barber's and the line, but
I never saw the man there, though I have often been along there, and
I think have seen every man along the line. It is customary for per-
sons to live in temporary affairs, such as tents, when they first come
to the Territory. I heard several of these strangers say they were
citizens of the Territory, five or six of them, perhaps more. Some
men living in the western part of the district, I understood, left on
account of the Osage Indian difficulties, and the question of the New
York reservation has prevented some two or three from settling there.
I believe the strangers generally claimed that the citizens of Missouri
had a right to vote if these northern emigrants did. There were many
there in tents. These strangers, who were coming in and going from
the election during the day, were from towards Missouri, and as I lived
near the line I saw some of them go over into Missouri. Those who
were in tmts I do not know where they were from, though the Houcks
^ i *ae the company in their wagons were from Missouri. I do not
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 241
know that Joseph 0. Anderson was in the district "before the census
was taken, though he may have heen. I go to Fort Scott about once
a week during the winter. The first time I saw Mr. Anderson he was
introduced to me as a candidate. I work a good deal in the southwest-
ern part of Missouri, and Mr. Anderson could have heen in the district
between the election and close of the legislature and I not have known
it. I heard one man from Missouri say he had voted for Mr. Hamil-
ton, but I do not know of any who came over for that purpose.
By Mr. Sherman :
There was a rumor prevailing in the neighborhood of Fort Scott
that there were many persons coming over from Missouri to vote, but
I do not know that it was general, but in my neighborhood it was
generally believed.
By Mr. Anderson :
We generally believed that they were going to vote for the Missouri
party, as we called it, though some for Mr. Hamilton. I know the
rumor prevailed by hearing some few men say that they were going
to come over and vote.
E. B. COOK.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
JOHN HAMILTON recalled.
By Mr. Sherman :
There was at Fort Scott, before the election, a general rumor that
persons would come over from Missouri to vote on the 30th of March,
1855. That rumor extended so far as I had acquaintance. So far as
I know, the rumor was generally credited. I do not know whether
that rumor kept any one from the polls or not. There were settlers
who were not there, but I cannot state why they did not come.
JOHN HAMILTON..
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
JOSEPH C. ANDERSON called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I removed to the Territory, for the purpose of residing, in February,,
855, and settled at Fort Scott, in the sixth election district. I was
resident there on the 30th of March, 1855, was a candidate and
lected as a member of the house of representatives. From my infor-
nation, (and I tried to ascertain the strength of parties in thai
istrict,) I was of opinion that there were upwards of two hundred
nen in the district favorable to me and my party, and not more than
ifty on the free-State side. I heard one man I can name, who was
rom Missouri, say he had voted, but I did not see him vote. My
H. Kep. 200 16*
242 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
present impression is that I heard another Missourian say so. Mr,
Lor ing was one of them. I tried to keep him from voting. I re-
marked to him, 6{ Mr. Lorlng, you are not going to vote?" The ob-
ject of my inquiry was dissuasive. I told him I did not want him to
vote ; that I did not want men known to be citizens of Missouri to
vote there, for the reason that everybody was voting for me, and I
did not want to have my election contested, or have any trouble about
it. I told him that the free-State party had no confidence in their
candidates, and would vote for me before they would vote for thern,
and that there were but few of them. I told him this because I really
believed it. I used every argument to prevent him from voting that
I could think of at the time. He said he came there to vote, and he
was going to do it ; that the abolitionists were shipping men from
the east to vote, and he thought that the Missourians had a right to
come there and vote too. In the course of the evening Mr. Loring
told me he had voted. There were persons who were said to be Mis*-
sourians who were there, but most of them were strangers to me. It
was the current and credited rumor there that an armed body of abo-
litionists, emissaries of the Emigrant Aid Society, would be in Fort
Scott on the day of election and control it. Many of those Missourians
said they did not come to vote themselves, but to insure the people in
that part of the Territory the right to elect their own candidates with-
out interference, though they would vote if it became necessary to
counteract this Emigrant Aid Society.
I do not think I had any competitor. Mr. Hamilton was an op-
posing candidate, but he told me he was not running against me, but
against Williams. He said he could get as many votes from Missouri
as I did, and that pro-slavery men from Missouri would vote for him,
and he thought he and I would both be elected. He told me that fives
hundred eastern men would land at Kansas City and come down t<x3
Fort Scott at the election. He said this in the presence of Barber,
myself, and others. The Missourians, as they were said to be, said ii
those men did come, they would fight them, if necessary, as long as!
they could. Hamilton told me that his own political friends had voted!
against him, and he would give it up. It was the current report down
there, and believed among those with whom I talked, that the free*
State men knew when the election was to be ten days before the pro->-
clamation of the governor was issued. I talked with perhaps a dozen
about it, and we all believed it. I heard nothing about my having si
right to a seat in the Kansas legislature because I was a citizen of Mis-«
souri until towards the close of the legislature, and I took it to be 21
jest, and so regarded it at the time. I heard nothing of the kind'
talked of seriously until after this committee came out here. So faJi
as I talked with citizens of Missouri, and I talked with a good manj
of them, it was the expression of almost all of them that they woulc
not object or interfere in having Kansas a free State, if it was madd
so by natural and uninfluenced emigration of people from the east or
free States ; but that they intended interfering if the eastern peopld
resorted to abolition propagandism by organized societies, and thai
they would resist such interference as that, if it produced civil war
That was the universal feeling, so far as I could learn it.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 243
To Mr. Oliver :
I heard of the formation of the emigrant societies, and of the land-
ing of aholition emissaries here, before I heard of any contemplated
interference by people from Missouri.
JNO, C. ANDEBSON.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 6, 1856.
WILLIAM BARBEE called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I reside at Fort Scott, in the sixth election district of the Territory,
and have resided there since October, 1854. I was in the Territory
in the July previous. I was at the election of the 30th of March,
1855, in that district, and was frequently about the polls, but not all
the time. I think there were 350 votes polled that day, of which I
received, as member of the council, 343 votes. I think the members
of the lower house got all but thirty, or thereabouts. I was acquainted
with the greater portion of the people of the district, having taken
the census a short time before ; and when I took the census I obtained
the opinion of the people there on the question of slavery, as well as
I could, and found in the fifth council, or sixth election district, a pro-
slavery majority. I also took the census in the fifth election district,
and, as far as I could estimate, I found the district to be pro-slavery
by a small majority. I took the census in February, 1855, The
winter was very dry that year, and emigration was very heavy in
February and March, and many arrived after the census was taken,
and before the day of election, I think the Pro-slavery party had an
increased majority at the time of the election in the Fort Scott dis-
trict, as nearly all the emigration after the census was taken to the
time of election was pro-slavery. There were many persons at the
polls, as that was the only voting place in the district. There were
some Missourians present, but I do not recollect of any of them voting.
Some of them did not offer to vote. There was something said about
the floating vote that both parties had there, but I believe neither
party insisted upon receiving any such votes. All the judges ap-
pointed by the governor served there that day, and I saw no trouble
or difficulty. Mr. Hamilton, one of the free-State candidates, acknow-
ledged after the election that he had been beaten by. the votes of his
own party ; that is, a majority of the free-State men voted against him.
He talked of contesting the election ; but after examining the polls he
gave it up, stating that his own friends had voted against him. Every-
thing wound up peaceably, and we had no difficulty there at all.
Joseph C. Anderson, elected to the lower house, came into the dis-
trict before I had opened my books for the census, and I considered
that at his home, and all considered him a citizen, so far as I heard.
He proposed to go into partnership with me in the law ; but we went
into politics, both of us, and neither did anything about the law.
Mr. Williams, also elected to the lower house, came into the district
244 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
without his family, from Polk county, Missouri. After Mr. Ander-
son came into the district I made a claim, and had work done on it.
He remained in the district until after the election, and then started
after his family, and has "been a resident of that district ever since.
Governor Reeder took me to he a free-State man, and requested me
to hunt up suitahle free-State men for judges of election, when I took
the census, and said that he aimed to appoint two free soilers and one
pro-slavery man for judges of election. He did do that in our dis-
trict, and in those districts in which I took the census, which was
over half of the Territory in extent, so far as he could.
[Governor King proposes to prove the same facts hy this witness,
substantially, that he offered to prove hy Thomas Johnson, in refer-
ence to the conduct of Governor Reeder in calling the legislature
together.
The majority of the committee overrule the testimony offered, Mr.
Oliver dissenting, as in the case of Thomas Johnson.]
Cross-examined hy Mr. Howard ;
Governor Reeder took me to he a free-State man. I passed for a
free-State man with him, and that was the way I got the appointment
to take the census. I came into the Territory from Illinois, leaving
my family in Kansas City about two months, while I was looking
over the Territory. Governor Reeder aimed to appoint a majority of
free-State men in the district in which I took the census, though he
may have heen mistaken in regard to some of the districts. I made
my returns to Governor Reeder in just time hefore the election, some
two weeks or so. I made my returns as quick as I could, hut in ex-
tent of territory I had a very large district. When I made my re-
turns Governor Reeder immediately wrote his proclamation for the
press, and I took a copy or minute of it hack with me. I think I
made my returns the very day he wrote his proclamation. I think
my district of taking the census embraced some seven miles more than
half of the Territory. It run up to the south line of the Shawnee
lands, and extended back to the Rocky Mountains ; all that is now
included in the counties of Lykins, Lynn, Bourbon, and all south and
west of those counties, being Indian reservations a large portion.
To Mr. Sherman:
The settlements in the district I had to take the census of were con-i
fined in the counties of Franklin, Lykins, Lynn, and Bourbon, and
some little settlements in Allen county. Governor Reeder wrote me
a letter that my census books were ready, but it did not reach me
until three weeks after it was written, and I did not get my books
until after the others did. He spoke of the delay in receiving the
returns, and called the election immediately after they were made, as
soon as he could do so. I do not think he was to blame in not fixing
the election earlier, after taking the census.
To Mr. King :
I do not mean by this that Governor Reeder ought not to have
taken the census earlier.
WILLIAM BARBEE.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 5, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 245
THOMAS B. ARNETT called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I reside in Fort Scott, and have resided there from before the pas-
sage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. I am pretty well acquainted with
the bounds of the sixth district as laid off by Governor Reeder. On
the 30th of March, 1855, I was acquainted with a great many of the
voters of that district. There was quite a flood of emigration of bona,
fide settlers coming into the district after the taking of the census up
to the day of election. It was nearly a daily occurrence to have more
or less come into the district. My opinion is that there were some 90,
perhaps more, emigrants came in during that time. I kept a public
house at Fort Scott, and had a good opportunity of seeing the emi-
grants who came in. I was present at the 30th of March election. « I
saw men parading around through the streets, but saw none about the
polls. I saw nothing like an emigration of armed men. I saw no
usurpation of the right of voting. There were men who came in from
Missouri to vote, and the judges did not allow it. It was supposed
that there were two hundred men who came in to vote, and were not
allowed to vote — were expelled from voting, I know of no illegal
voting. It was supposed that some two hundred voters came there
who were not considered legal voters and were not allowed to vote.
The prevailing understanding was, that a fair vote of the Territory
should be taken. I know of no citizen of the district that was pre-
vented from voting, and I know of no attempt of the kind. I do not
know of any one who did. not vote from any expressed apprehension
of fear or violence in any way. The polls were opened by the judges,
and kept open for every legal voter and citizen of the Territory to
come and vote on his own will and pleasure. There were more free-
soil votes given than I anticipated were in our district, there being
some thirty-odd in all given. The polls were kept open for them as
well as for the pro-slavery party, and their votes were as amicably and
justly received as from the pro-slavery party. The vote of the pro-
slavery party was about as I anticipated it would be ; not higher than
I anticipated. My own opinion was that the pro-slavery party in that
district was even higher than the vote showed .they were on the day
of election. I considered the majority at least five to one. I heard
no complaints from free-State men on that day, that they had been
prevented from voting, either free-State voters or candidates.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman:
The election was held in the hospital building at Fort Scott, in a
room prepared for that purpose. I was engaged in my public house
part of the day, and part of the day I was out mixing among the people.
I was immediately at the polls some one or two dozen times during
the day, though I did aot make it my business to watch the polls. I
do not think I heard the vote of any individual challenged that day.
I do not recollect of it now. I do not think I heard the judges an-
nounce their opinion upon any question before them. I was not directly
at the window, as it was pretty crowded. I was only about the polls
a short time at any time I was up there. I understood from the non-
246 KANSAS AFFAIES.
residents themselves that they did not vote. They were encamped
down on the creek. I do not know how many told me they did not
vote, hut such was the general talk among the non-residents. I un-
derstood from them that they were ineligible to vote, and that was the
reason they did not vote. They came to vote, I suppose, and that
was their intention. I only heard such a rumor from them. The
reasonable presumption is, that th£ judges deterred them from voting,
but I do not know that myself. I do not recollect that they told me
why they did not vote. I think some of them said there .were votes
enough there without their votes, any how. I have some slight ac-
quaintance in Weston, Missouri. The persons in the camp came
from various parts in the western part of Missouri, from Cass, John-
son, Lafayette, Cooper, and Howard counties. I know a gentle-
man by the name of Oldham, but I do not recollect his first name.
The one I knew lived in Jackson county. There is an Oldham in our
district, now a settler. He had a claim in the district at the time of
the election, but his family was not with him. He was then pre-
paring for his family, and shortly afterwards brought them there. I
knew a Mr. Zeal living at that time in Bates county, but he had an
improvement in the Territory, with his family in Bates county, and
now is merchandising in the Territory. I know some Mitchells who
at that time lived in Vernon county, but they had claims in the Ter-
ritory before the election, and were there themselves, but their families
were not there. J. S. Mitchell and Carter Mitchell are now residents
of Fort Scott. Carter Mitchell opened a claim and made improve-
ments upon it, and sold it for $800. He is now in Fort Scott. Jos.
C. Anderson came in our place first during the latter part of Febru-
ary or the first of March. He boarded with me while he was there.
He left very shortly after the election, either the first or second day
after. He was a young man, without a family. I did not see him
at Fort Scott again until the barbacue in September. He remained
there but a short time after General Whitfield's election, and I have
not seen him there since. When he first came to Fort Scott he made
a claim and entered it upon our squatter's record, and that will show
he had a claim.
To Mr. King :
I heard some several of these Missourians who expressed themselves
willing to submit the case to the people of the Territory, providing
that the Emigrant Aid Society would not interfere. They said there
was such a flood of these emigrants coming in, they thought they had
ae good a right to come in and defend the rights of the people of the
Territory as those eastern emigrants had to come in.
To Mr. Sherman :
I saw none of these eastern emigrants in our district at that time,
and never knew of any of these emigrants who were shipped here
being in our district since.
To Mr. King :
It seemed to be the motto of most all of the Missourians, that see-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 247
ing none of the emigrant society voters there, who were not actual
settlers of the country, they were disposed to stand off and take no
part in the election.
THOMAS B. ARNETT.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 2, 1856.
SAMUEL A. WILLIAMS called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I reside now in Fort Scott, in Kansas Territory, in what was the
6th district, and have resided there since March 1, 1855. I was a
candidate for representative to the legislature from that district. I
was elected. I have resided there since that time. Joseph C. Ander-
son was in the district before I was. I was in the district there before
Mr. Hamilton, the free-State candidate, was, and he was living there
at the time of the election. I was considerably acquainted in that
district. My opinion is that that election was a very fair one. I do
not know of any illegal votes there that day. From the time I went
into the district the emigration was very heavy from Arkansas, Mis-
souri, and Texas, up to the time of the election, and settled on the
Neosho and the streams in that neighborhood, and the district. At
the time of that election I think the Pro-slavery party had a majority
in that district. A good many free-State men were dissatisfied with
their candidates, and many of them told me they voted for me and
Mr. Anderson, and I wrote the tickets for some of them myself.
SAML. A. WILLIAMS.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 9, 1856.
248 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
TESTIMONY AS TO ELECTION OF MARCH 30, 1855, IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT,
I. B. TITUS called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder:
I moved into the Territory, where I am now living, on the 1st day
of October, in the year 1854, in the seventh district, and have resided
there ever since. I was at home on the 30th of March, 1855. There
was a large camp across the creek from my house, which I estimated
to contain between two and three hundred. I was not at home the
day previous to the election, but arrived the night previous, and
found the camp there. I went into the camp the next morning ; I
saw some three or four persons in the camp that I had seen in the
district, and knew had claims there ; the balance were all strangers
to me. They were armed — I think, all of them — some with one kind
of arms, and some with another. I saw no flags or music along with
them. I don't know where they got their provisions and fodder, but
supposed they brought them with them, as I knew of no other way of
their getting them. Some had tents, and some slept in their wagons.
I had some conversation with them ; they said they were from Mis-
souri, and had come out on purpose to vote. One man said they were
disappointed, as they expected to find more Yankees there than there
were, and allowed that they had more with them than was necessary
to balance the vote. I do not recollect that I learned the names of
any of those strangers. I saw a great many of them vote, and
thought they all voted, as I was in or about the house all day. The
election was held in my house. They went back east, on the Santa
Fe road, in the direction of Missouri — some before the election was
over, and the rest afterwards. I have seen none of those strangers
in the district since, except a few passing through, freighting to the
Grove. I have seen a few of them in Missouri since.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson:
In the conversation I had in camp, they intimated that a good many
free-State people had come out to make Kansas a free State, and they
came to overbalance that vote. That was the inducement they gave
for coming. I came into the Territory from Iowa. I was well ac-
quainted with the district at that time, as I was one of the first in
it. I know the boundaries of the district, but do not recollect the
number of miles across it. I think I knew all the residents at the
time of election. There were not many came in there before the elec-
tion, of actual settlers, though considerable came out some time before
the election to look at the town site, and then returned before the
election. The population was very sparse ; and I should think there
were about twenty-five resident voters there at the time of election. I
know of none who came into the district and voted and then returned,
but Missourians. I know of none others who returned immediately
after the election. I did not trouble myself much about the candi-
dates at that time, as I was pretty neutral in politics. I may have
known them, but do not recollect them now. The "110" settlement
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 249
is about eight or nine miles from our settlement, and the Wakarusa
settlement is ten miles off. There were no other settlements in the
district at that time.
To Mr. Sherman:
My occupation is blacksmi thing. There is no other blacksmith-
shop in the district, I think, but mine.
To Mr. Eeeder :
There were about ten families in our settlement at the time of that
election. There was but one family at " 110," that I knew of then.
The Wakarusa settlement was considerably smaller than ours then.
The rest of the district, away from these three creeks, consisted mostly
of high prairie, and was not then settled, and is not settled yet.
I. B. TITUS,
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
MARCUS H. KOSE called and sworn.
To Mr. Keeder :
I came into the Territory about the 8th of November, 1854, from
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and settled about the 14th on Switzer
creek, a branch of the Osage, in the seventh district, and have re-
sided there ever since. I was at the election of the 30th of March,
1855, a short time. I did not intend to attend the election, seeing a
company coming in on the day before. I saw,, on the 29th, a large
company coming in about ten o'clock in the morning. I was about
starting for my cabin when they came in. My cabin is about three
miles from there. I was then at Mr. Hoover's. I did not count
them. They came in wagons and on horses and mules. I should
suppose there were about fifty wagons, but do not know how many
they contained. Some of the wagons had two horses and some four,
I should judge there were from thirty to fifty horses and mules. They
encamped a few rods from the house in which the election was to be
held, in the timber on the claim of Mr. Prentiss. I passed on down
home, after they had got into the timber and commenced chopping.
I remained home until some time in the afternoon of the day of elec-
tion. Mr. Stewart came after me. I declined coming up to the elec-
tion, but went up with him when he stated that they intended con-
trolling the election. When I reached the election-house there were
quite a number around the house still voting. Others were going
back the way they came. What I saw of these men were armed,
do not remember of seeing any flags. I was pretty well acquainted
in my immediate vicinity, but not extensively in the district I do
not know how many voters there were in the district at that time. I
do not know of any increase of settlers in the district between the
taking of the census and the day of election, but rather a decrease, as
some went away into other districts to work. Those men that came
250 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
there were strangers to me. I have seen none of the company there
since. I had no conversation with them.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
I understood that Mr. S trickier for the council, and McGee for the
assembly, were the candidates. Mr. Bice and Mr. Baker, I think,
were candidates for the assembly. I do not know the politics of the
candidates, except by report. I do not recollect the boundaries of the
district. I do not know the comparative numbers in the district at
the taking of the census and the time of election. My information
was very limited. The decrease I spoke of was in my immediate set-
tlement,
To Mr, Sherman :
I do not recollect who took the census, but think J. R. McClure was
the name. I held the office of justice of the peace at the time of the
election.
To Mr, Reeder :
J. R. McClure does not live in my district,
MARCUS H. ROSE.
LAWRENCE, K. T,; April 29, 1856,
JAMES R. STEWART called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
I came into the Territory about the 12th or 14th of November, 1854,
from Pennsylvania, and settled in the seventh district, and have lived
there ever since. There were a party of men in the district, that I
saw shortly after they encamped. I talked with some of them, and
ascertained where they were from. I had no personal acquaintance
with them, but recognised one or two as citizens of Missouri, whom I
had seen in Missouri. There were none in the company I recognised
as citizens of the district. 1 first saw them in camp between 12 and
1 o'clock the day they arrived, as they were pitching their tents.
This was on the 29th, the day previous to the election. I had con-
versation with some of them in their camp. I made inquiry of some
of their young men where the party was from, and they said from
Missouri. I asked what they came for, and they said to vote. I was
down to the election quite early, but not to the immediate vicinity of
the place where the polls were to be held, as I supposed they were not
opened. All the judges were present, but two of them did not serve.
I heard no reason why the two judges did not serve. The names of
the two judges were Mr. Harvey and John W. Freel. Mr. Snider
did serve. I do not know the others who did serve. They were
strangers. I did not see them appointed, but saw them acting. The
party from the encampment voted. They voted without being sworn.
Some of the residents of the district voted, but not more than one-half
of those who were there. The others did not, as they said it was of
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 251
no use. I was on the ground the principal part of the day. Their
men had arms — shot-guns, &c. There were a number of them who
wore "badges, and seemed to be leaders. The order was to "be peace-
ful, and create no disturbance, unless there was some resistance on
the part of the residents to their voting. As I understood it, their
badges were a blue ribbon, with a motto or something upon them,
about six inches long, attached to their coats and vests. They sup-
ported H. J. Striclder for council, and M. W. McGee for assembly.
M. W. McGee was in the district electioneering, but I do not know as
he lived there. I saw him, three or four days after the election, at
his house in Missouri. These men left the evening of the election.
Some of them started on horseback, saying that they were going to
some other point ; I think it was Lawrence, as they said they could
be there before night. They did not state, as I could hear, what they
were going for. All of them left the camp that evening before sun-
down. Those who left first started in the direction they came, as did
the others, as far as I could see. I have not recognised any of them
there since. I think there was not much change in the population of
the district between the taking of the census and the day of election.
At that time the district was very thinly settled. I cannot tell how
many families were in it. I do not know, exactly, how many votes
were polled on that day.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
I was near the polls the greater portion of the day. I saw no vio-
lence. The free-State men were allowed to vote without interference,
and some of them voted. In the conversation with some of the party,
I did not hear any inducement for coming into the Territory to vote.
One of the young men I was talking to said he thought the expedi-
tion would be of no consequence, as the election could not stand. I
am not acquainted with all the boundaries of the district. I know
every person for several miles around that vicinity, but not all the
parts of the district. A number of persons came to that neighbor-
hood for the purpose of settlement, and finding things different from
what they expected, they went into Missouri, and did not return in
time to be taken in the census. I think there were not as many per-
sons in the district at the time of taking the census as before that. I
think there were full as many at the time the census was taken as at
the time of the election. I was acquainted for several miles about
our settlement. The district is, I think, twenty-four miles square.
I know of but two other settlements in the district, and they were
small. One of the settlements — "110" — is now no larger than it
was then. I knew of no new settlements between the taking of the
census and the day of the election. The candidates who were elected
were Strickler for the council, and W. M. McGee for the assembly.
Mr. Baker was a candidate in the seventh district. He nominated
himself, and was a pro-slavery man, as was Mr. W. M. McGee. Mr.
Johnson was, I think, the free-State candidate for the council, and
Mr. Rice for the assembly. I never saw McGee in his home in the
district. I do not know of McGee's residing in the district with his
wife and servants.
252 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
To Mr. Reeder :
Those persons who made claims,, and went to Missouri, were eastern
folks, who went to Missouri to get employment through the winter.
I do not think there were any of them in the company who came to
the election. There is one settlement on Switzer, Dragoon, and
Soldier creeks; another on "110-mile" creek; some on the Waka-
rusa. I am acquainted with two settlements ; well acquainted with
the Switzer settlement, but not so well acquainted with the one on
" 110-mile" creek. These people did not come from the direction of
the Wakarusa settlement, or the opposite direction. The Wakarusa
is, I think,, pretty near due north from the place where the polls were
held. They came from the east, on the Santa Fe road.
To Mr. Howard:
The settlement at " 110-mile " creek was east from where the polls
were held, in the direction where this company came from. There
might have heen some from " 110" with them, but it was a small
settlement, and I know many there. I went into their camp before
the election, just after they arrived, before they were done pitching
their tents. They came in wagons, on horses, and mules. They re-
turned east after the election was over. There were two or three
hundred of them.
To Mr. Reeder :
They had their provisions and fodder along, as I supposed, and
cooked their own meals and fed their own horses in camp. I think
there were not so many at the time of the census as before. Some
time before the census was taken, a large party, I should think from
fifty to sixty, or seventy, came to Switzer's creek, and returned in
the course of a week to several places — some to Missouri, and some back
east. They were all eastern folks. That is what I mean by there
being more before the census than when it was taken. They came in
November, and there was very little emigration after that. I think
in January, 1856, there was but one family at "110-mile" creek,
Mr. McGree's. Some time previous there were other families living
there, but they had left. I do not think there were ten or a dozen
families there. Perhaps there were that many men there.
To Mr. Whitfield :
It was in November, 1854, that this company of fifty or sixty came
to Switzer 's creek. T^hey were organized as far as Kansas City, no
farther. It was not particularly under the control of any one. A man
named Albright assumed the leadership. I came in the same com-
pany. It was organized in Pennsylvania, and called the Pennsylva-
nia Kansas Company. Loten Smith did not bring a company with
him after I came ; but one or two came with him. He came out as the
agent of the American Settlement Company. He made improvements
there as the agent of that company. I had no connexion with Mr.
Smith's .company. The company with which I came disorganized at
Kansas City, and left for different parts of the Territory. The organi-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 253
zation of the company was for the purpose of saving expenses in trav-
elling.
To Mr. Howard:
The company dishanded in Kansas City about the 1st of November,
and have never been organized again. Our only object in organizing
was to save expenses.
To Mr. Oliver:
There were, I should think, two hundred in the company ; I should
think one-fourth of the men had their wives with them. I left with
them on the 29th of October, meeting them after they started. I
know of no other object of the company but to settle in Kansas, and
make money as individuals. There were arguments used in Penn-
sylvania to come here and make this a free State. We left before
there was much excitement upon the subject. I have heard more of
those arguments since I came here. As far as I know, the party were
free-State men. We paid our own expenses. We contributed a dol-
lar apiece to our agent, Mr. Albright, to go to Pittsburg to charter a
boat for us. But each one paid his own expenses. Our agent came
all the way through to Kansas with us.
To Mr. Whitneld:
We have no organization now. There is a plot of the town laid
out under the agency of Mr. Smith, and belongs to the members of
the American Settlement Company.
To Mr. Howard:
Some of our party are in the Territory, but I do not know how
many.
To Mr. Oliver :
I came from Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. Most of the company
assembled at Conneautville, Crawford county. I came through to
Rochester on a canal-boat. I was not acquainted with Gov. Reeder
in Pennsylvania.
To Mr. Reeder:
I never heard from any member of the company that Gov. Reeder
had anything to do with the company. The most of the Pennsylva-
nians came from western Pennsylvania ; some from Alleghany county,
Indiana county, but the most from Crawford county. Some of the
company came from the State of Ohio. Mr. Albright, I think, set-
tled at Fort Riley or Pawnee. This company, as I understood it,
was nothing more than a set of individuals who agreed to go together
for the purpose of getting out here as cheaply as possible, and it was
not contemplated that we should be a company any farther than Kan-
sas City; that was where the boat we chartered was to take us to.
Individuals in the company formed themselves into clubs or sub-divi-
sions of the company on the way, whenever they could agree to go
together. The company I speak of in connexion with our town, is
the American Settlement Company of New York city. I do not know
254 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of any in our company, or out of it, that came out here to vote, and
then go hack. I never heard of a pro-slavery man in Pennsylvania.
The company got here to Kansas City on the 8th or 9th of November.
They scattered to different points of the Territory, and many stopped
in Missouri. Some few remained at our town after they arrived there,
while the rest went away in ahout a week — went away hefore the elec-
tion. All that did go back, hut three or four, were gone hefore the
fall election. These men came out to settle in the Territory.
To Mr. Oliver:
I have seen several editions of the circulars of the New York Ameri-
can Settlement Company, hut they differ. I do not know the work-
ing of the company.
J. K. STEWART.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 29,1856.
MARCUS H. ROSE examined.
Q. Mr. Rose, have you examined and compared the census-rolls and
the poll-hook of the election of the 30th of March, 1855, in the sev-
enth district?
A. I have.
Q. How many votes are there on the census-rolls?
A. Fifty-two.
Q. How many are on the poll-list of those on the census-rolls?
A. Seventeen.
Q. Ahout how many names are on the poll-list altogether?
A. Two hundred and thirty-four.
Q. What are the names of those seventeen you find on the census-
rolls?
A. David Condit, John W. Freel, Wm. Graham, W. Foster Har-
vey, Abraham Hoover, Joseph Mclntyre, Thomas Russell, Mathias
A. Reed, Ithiel Streit, James R. Stewart, William A. Stewart, John
Smith, Loten Smith, Ely Snyder, I. B. Titus, Divilla Wright, and
Henry Smith.
There are the names of eight legal voters on the poll-list that are
not on the census returns, as follows: John Skidmore, Isaac Chatham,
Charles A. Linkenanger, L. S. Axtill, William J. Tillinghast, G-eo.
W. Barnes,, W. N. Haven, and H. Rice. Six of these persons were
away who had been there before the census was taken, had made
claims and built cabins. The other two were new comers.
Q. How many votes were polled at the first election, in November,
1854, according to the copy of the poll-book?
A. Six hundred and seven.
Q. From your acquaintance with the people, and the examination
of the census-roll, how many resident voters were there in your dis-
trict at that time?
A. There might have been twenty-five or thirty, though I was not
.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 255
much acquainted there. I have not examined the list of names on the
poll-list of that election.
MARCUS H. ROSE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
J. R. STEWART examined.
Q. Did you examine the census returns and poll-books with Mr,
Rose?
A. I did. I aided in preparing the lists he has given.
Q. Have you heard his testimony read?
A. I have.
Q. State whether or not you concur with him in his testimony on
those points.
A. I do.
J. R. STEWART.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
HALLOM RICE called and sworn.
I got to Switzer creek the day before the election of March, 1855,
and have resided there ever since. I came from Kansas City, Mis-
souri, to the Territory, and before that I was from Texas. It was
after sundown when I arrived at Mr. Titus' s with my family. I saw
a camp across from his house in the Grove, but I did not go into it.
I was only within about one hundred yards from the camp ; there
was, I should think, a space of ground about one hundred yards square
covered with wagons and tents. I was at the polls the next day ; I
had some conversation with a gentleman who said he was one of the
leading men there ; I asked him what their business was there, and he
said to vote ; I asked their pretensions to vote there, and he said they
had claims in the Territory ; I asked him what the shooting was on
the other side of the creek, and he said it was nothing but the boys
shooting at a mark ; I said that the women thought they were making
rather too much noise, and he said he would vouch for their conduct.
I live on the Dragoon creek, in the seventh district. After the elec-
tion was over, I saw some of the party that encamped there start east,
on the Sante Fe road, and I suppose all went that way.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
There were some coming in about the same time I did ; the country
appeared to be almost all on the wing. I did not know the actual
settlers ; I was told there were considerable many moving in ; some
half a dozen men came in with me. I was driving a team from Kansas
City to Council Grove during the winter, and saw considerable many
stirring in the district, but do not know how many settled there; I
made a claim in the district the fall before.
256 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
To Mr. Howard :
I believe I voted that day ; I would not be positive about it ; there
was a great deal of talk about the voting, and I believe I voted.
Things did not go off to suit me, and I did net charge my mind with
it.
To the committee :
I have no knowledge of any recent military organization in Kansas
Territory.
HALLOM KICE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
WILLIAM F. JOHNSON testifies :
The 29th of March, 1855, 1 received a letter from Topeka informing
me that I had been renominated as a candidate for the legislature on
the free-State ticket ; I sent word that I declined,, and I went over to
the seventh district. The election was held at Titus's. The night
previous to the election, Nolan, of Jackson county, Missouri, came
up to the house where I was, and invited me to go to the camp with
him. I saw a great many there I was acquainted with ; I was there
till a late hour that night, and conversed with a number there ; I
returned to the camp in the morning. The camp had about two hun-
dred in it, principally from Missouri ; a great many of those I had
seen at " 110" in November, 1854, were there. I asked Nolan why
he came with them, and he said it was to keep the boys from doing
some mischief, but did not intend to vote himself. They generally
voted at that election, but were very peaceable and quiet. I saw
nothing improper in the camp ; I was acquainted with rather more in
that camp than in the one at " 110 ;" there were Squire Nolan, Squire
Smith, Mr. Muir, the old man, and the Muir and Nolan family gen-
erally, a young man named Johnson, and some of the Lees, George
W. Case, William Dawson, and others I do not recollect. They told
me they came up to vote, and asked me if I was a candidate ; I told
them I was put up, but had declined running. They came up to me
with their bowie-knives and seemed to be pretty rabid, but Case and
others I knew quieted them, and all went on quietly after that. At
the polls they gave way and let a small company of settlers vote —
about twenty-three of whom voted. The judges that had been ap-
pointed by the -governor refused to serve, except Snider; there were
other judges appointed by the crowd in their places, but I did not
know them.
Some few settlers from Wakarusa, that belonged in that district, went
over there and voted. One old gentleman from Jackson county, who
told me his name, but I forget it now, stated to a number of men living
on Switzer's creek that he had no claim in the Territory, and did not
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 257
live there, and was paid a dollar a day for coining here, and he did
that because it was better than staying at home doing nothing. He
said he had voted ; but I did not see him vote. After the polls closed
they started off down the road towards Missouri. There was no dis-
turbance during the day that I saw ; they said their object in coming
here to vote was to defeat the free-State party. All the objection they
had to me was that I was inclined to be a free-State man. The Mis-
sourians voted for Mobillon McGree for- representative, and Strickler
for council.
Cross-examined by J. W. Whitfield :
I was the only candidate on the other side for council, and my
business over there was to decline ; but I believe I was voted for. I
did not consider myself a candidate, and my understanding was that
Strickler had no opposition. My principal reason for declining was
that I was unwilling to run the risk of so unequal a contest, as I had
heard that there were a great many coming up from Missouri. I had
always held the same opinion in Missouri as in Kansas. Mr. Baker
and some other one were running against Mr. McGree. I do not
know what Mr. Baker's politics were.
W. F. JOHNSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 7, 1856.
CHARLES A. LINKEN AUGER called and sworn.
\> Mr. Scott :
I live on the Dragoon creek, south of the Santa Fe road, near what
is called Council City, in the seventh election district. I went there
in August, 1854, and have lived there ever since. At the election of
March 30, 1855, I was in " 110" precinct; the election was held at
I the house of Mr. J. B. Titus, at Switzer's creek. I was present at
j that election. The election was going on when I got there. There
j were a considerable number of persons there when I got there. I
iwas very well acquainted in the Council City neighborhood. There
jwere persons in the precinct I did not know. All that I knew of the
(persons that were there that day were residents of the district at that
time ; some three or four of each political party. The pro-slavery
party were Strickler for council and McGee for representative. A
man by the name of Baker, I think, was running against McGree,
but I do not know what he was. I never had but little to say to
j persons in that district about their opinions upon the slavery question.
I think Baker got some free-State votes. I do not know how many
votes Baker got at that election, but I think it was a small number.
I think the free-State men of the district were there, at that election,
and voted. I saw no interference and heard no complaint by free-
State men of interference by any one to prevent them from voting.
H. Rep. 200 17*
258 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The election was quiet and peaceable while I was there. I voted
there myself without any difficulty. Mr. McGee was a resident of
that district at that time, and he went out there when I first did in
1854. He had a claim there and improvements upon it. I worked
a good deal for McGee, who had a saw-mill there. He had a house
there, and lived in it. I think that in the Council City neighborhood
I was acquainted with some sixty or seventy men who had claims
there, and buildings, and lived there at the time of the election.
There was quite an emigration coming in there every day. A great
many made claims and settled there that I knew nothing of until
afterwards. The two creeks, Switzer and Dragoon, where the Santa
Fe road crosses them, are about four miles apart, and the settlements
on those two creeks comprised nearly all the settlers in the district,
of whom I knew some sixty or seventy. There were considerable
many came in during the month of March and settled around there
who were strangers to me. I suppose some few persons from the
district went into Missouri to spend the winter. I came back at dif-
ferent times, but I do not recollect of any one who did so between the
1st and 30th of March. Free- State men were coming in during the
spring into the district, and considerable many of them in the month
of March. Some of them did not stay but a short time after the
election ; I speak of men who came with the American Settlement
Company, and had been sent by the Emigrant Aid Society. I had
frequent conversations with those men. They did not speak particu-
larly of what they came for, but of the way they were brought there,
and expressed themselves very much dissatisfied with the men who
had induced them to come. They said they were humbugged by men
who had come on here before and had gone back and stated to them
that they had picked out a place for a settlement and laid off a town,
and that by buying stock they could come on and go to improving ;
that there was work to be had for mechanics, who were needed, and
thus men were induced to come on with their tools, &c., and found
that the representations to them were all false. There was one box
of guns there, but what it was brought for I cannot say. The box
was brought to Council City ; they were revolving rifles, five or six
shooters. The agent of this American Settlement Company, named
Smith, took possession of these guns.
This American Settlement Company was composed of men froini
Pennsylvania, New York, and the New England States. They were
free-State men. I think those guns are in Smith's possession yet ;;
or, at all events, he had some last week, when a man got two of him. ,
I do not know whether he has any left now or not. I think, at the:
time of the election of the 30th of March, there were perhaps thirty
of these American Settlement people there. Three left shortly after:
the election. Those are all I know of leaving there. There are per--
sons coming in and going out of the district belonging to this same;
company. Of the original thirty, I think all are there now ex-
cept the three who left after the election, and some who are downi
here in the State now.
C. A. LINKENAUGEK.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 5, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 259
ANDREW JOHNSON called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I was one of the judges of the 30th March, 1855, election in the
seventh district in Kansas Territory. The polls were held at the
house of Mr. B. Titus, in Council City, at the place designated by
Governor Keeder, in his proclamation. I was appointed a judge in
place of Mr. John Freel, declining to serve because he could not sign
his name. He was one of the judges appointed by the governor.
Mr. Freel was considered a free-State man, though he voted for Mr.
McGee. I refused to serve at first ; but he, and the whole crowd,
insisted that I should serve. I heard no design or wish expressed
that I should be appointed so that all could vote who offered to vote.
There was some talk there about the voting, and I told them if I
undertook to be one of the judges there sould be no illegal voting on
either side, or I would not serve at all. I never saw the protest that
was sent in in regard to our election, though I understood that one
was sent in. Eli Snider, appointed by the governor, served as judge.
Mr. Chidington served in place of one originally appointed, but who
did not appear. Mr. Chidington and myself were appointed accord-
ing to the instructions of the governor, by the people present. I am
not able to tell where Mr. Chidington lived, though he told me he
had a claim near " 110," and we considered him a resident of the
district. I had lived in the district, at work on my claim, some two
months prior to the election, and considered myself entitled to vote
there, and did not consider that I had a right to vote anywhere else.
No one disputed my right to vote there that I ever heard of. I told
Governor Keeder, when I made my returns, how I came to be put in
as one of the judges, and he said it was all right. There were Mis-
sourians there that day. I think likely I saw wagons and men there.
I know that some four or five of the wagons had men who were
taking their stock up to their claims, and stopped there at the elec-
tion. One man had his family along with him. We swore one
another in as judges, as there was no magistrate there. A number
of persons offering to vote were challenged, and they were sworn.
Eight smart of them would not swear, and we would not take their
votes, unless we knew ourselves or were satisfied persons were legal
voters as they presented themselves. Some one of us administered the
oath to those who would take it. i do not know of any free-State
man who offered to vote and his vote was rejected. Mr. Smith, the
leading man among the free-State men, said, in the evening, when
the voting was dull, that he never knew an election that passed off
so peaceably and harmlessly as that did ; though he said he was
afraid in the morning the excitement would terminate rather badly.
I requested him to bring up all his friends and neighbors who wanted
to vote, and have them vote. I know but little about the correctness
of the census that was taken, for I paid but little attention to it, as I
was busy about my claim. I am satisfied there were many there who
were not included in the census, and I understood from my neighbors
that the census taker did not go round much, but just kept the road.
260 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I cannot say as to the strength of the parties in that district, nor
whether the vote on the day of election was a fair test of the strength
of parties or not,
Mobillon W. McGee was elected at that election a member of the
House of Kepresentatives.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard:
I was not very well acquainted in the district at the time of election,
or how many voters there were there. It was generally understood
that the pro-slavery party had a majority there. The oath we pre-
scribed to the men who offered to vote, and whom we decided to swear,
I think I can recollect pretty nearly. The form of oath for the judges
I did not feel willing to take, and did not take it3 and objected on that
ground to serving at first. We swore the voters whether they had
a claim in Kansas Territory or not, and whether they had voted in
any other district. That is about the way they were sworn, I think.
We would not swear, as judges, that we would live on our claims
as long as we lived, which we thought was the effect of the one pre-
scribed by the governor. We swore ourselves to take all legal votes
and no illegal votes, as far as we knew, and to conduct the election
legally as far as we knew.
I knew the people of four or five of these wagons, who stopped at
the place of election, were taking their stock along to their claims.
They settled in the seventh district, but lost their claims on account
of being determined to be on the Sac lands when the survey was
made.
I could not tell how many wagons there were there altogether. I had
my own wagon there that morning. My claim was some fifteen miles
nothwest of Council City and of the Santa Fe road. I lost my claim
by being on the Sac lands. When I came to the polls that morning I
noticed several wagons there. There were people moving in. and
Borne freighting out, and some may have been from Missouri for aught
I know.
I do not think the census contained as many names as there were
persons in the district making claims ; I know of nearly fifty persons
who moved in after the census, and before the election. I do not
recollect the name of the man who took the census, though I have
heard it.
There were some people encamped at the place on the day of election
that I know to be non-residents, but I would not say there were ten
who had no claims then in the district. There was a free-State man
there who said he had no claim in the district, but intended to live
there, and he said he had a right to vote, and he voted.
As well as I can recollect there were twenty, perhaps over that
number, of free- State voters there that day.
All the free-State men I saw there that day voted, and there was
no obstruction or hindrance to any one voting, that I saw ; and the
election passed off quietly and peaceably.
To Mr. King :
Since giving the above testimony, I have heard the protest from one
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 261
district read. As one of the judges of election,, I am willing and pre-
pared to state, that there are many things in that protest in which
those who signed it were mistaken. The judges were sworn, and any
man whom we did not feel satisfied had a right to vote was sworn
before we allowed him to vote ; and if he would not swear, he was not
allowed to vote. And, as a judge of election, I am willing now to
swear that we allowed no man to vote that we did not consider had a
right to vote. A great many of the people in that district whom we
considered legal voters came to the polls in their wagons, I have no
doubt, as I came there myself in my wagen. It is the habit of the
people of the Territory to go to gatherings in their wagons.
To Mr. Howard :
If a man was making a claim for the purpose of going to live on
it, and claimed his residence there, and had no other place of voting,
we considered him entitled to vote.
I did not live on my claim myself, but was coming out of the Terri-
tory at the time of the election,, when I stopped at the polls ; and I
considered I had a right to vote there, as I intended to live on my
claim, having made improvements upon it.
I did not consider that I had any right to vote in the State from
which I came.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WESTPOET, Mo., June 3, 1856.
ABSALOM HOOVER called and sworn.
I arrived at Switzer's creek on the 14th of November, 1854, and
settled there, and have resided there ever since. I came from Arm-
strong county, Pennsylvania. I was at Switzer's creek on the 30th of
March, 1855. On the evening before the day of election there were
quite a number of wagons, buggies, and men on horseback, came
along the Santa Fe road, and pitched their tents near the house where
the election was to be held. The next morning I went to the election
pretty early before the polls were opened. Mr. Freel and Mr. Harvey,
and another man I did not know, were appointed judges. Mr. Freel
and Mr. Harvey did not serve as judges, but I cannot tell whether it
was from fear or not. The company then elected a couple of their
own number as judges, who then went on to receive votes. I staid
there till they adjourned for dinner ; I saw one of the men appointed
as judge come out of the house with the ballot-box under his arm,
and he carried it down to the camp. In the afternoon I went back to
the polls and got acquainted with one of the men of the company, a
Dutchman, like myself. After some little conversation he said to me,
now let us go and vote ; I said I was not quite ready. He said
he would go ; and he went and put in his ticket. After he had voted
he came to me again, and I asked him whether he lived in the Terri-
tory or had a claim, and he said he did not. He also said they came
out on a wild-goose chase, as he called it, to vote at the election. I
262 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
asked him his name and he told me, but I do not now remember it.
After they had got through voting they all started back the way they
came. I thought there were between two hundred and three hundred
of them, but I did not count them. This company were all strangers
to me. They had some tents with them, and some encamped in their
wagons. They brought their tents, provisions, and fodder, along
with them. I do not know where they got their tickets ; I think I
saw some tickets for Strickler and McG-ee, but I do not remember of
seeing any before they came ; I did not ask the man with whom I
talked who he voted for. They came from the east, along the Santa
Fe road. There were not a great many settlers in the district east of
where the polls were held. I do not know how many families there
were at " One Hundred and Ten-mile creek. " I did not see any
judges sworn at all, though I was about the house when the election
was opened. I think the one I talked with said they came from
Missouri.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
My information was got from the Dutchman with whom I talked.
I came out from Pennsylvania in the same company with Mr. Stewart.
My main object in coming here was to get me a home. I do not know
what the main object of the company was ; I do not know how the
company was organized. Mr. Albright acted as leader of the com-
pany to get us out here as cheaply as possible. We had no articles
of agreement ; no written agreement or pledges, that I know of; no
other object, particularly of the organization, except to come here and
get homes. I never attended any of their - meetings but one or two,
and the most that was said was to come to Kansas and get us homes.
I know of no resolution passed at their meetings.
To Mr. Keeder :
I do not know as this was an organized company at all, but a com-
pany of men coming together for the sake of cheapness. I never
knew of any one having anything to do with our company except the
men who came out that trip. I knew of no man in our company or
out of it from the northern or eastern States coming here purposely
to vote and go back ; but there were others who went back after they
voted, as they got sick and got tired of the country. I know two
families of them who went back last fall.
ABSALOM HOOVEK.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 29, 1856.
IN THE NINTH, TENTH, ELEVENTH, AND TWELFTH DISTRICTS.
NINTH DISTRICT, at Paivnee.
TENTH DISTRICT, at | Kfe*.
ELEVENTH DISTRICT, at Marysville.
m DTSTRTPT at $ St' Mary's-
IWELFTH DISTRICT, at J
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 263
ANDREW MCCONNELL called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I resided, on and prior to the 30th of March, 1855, at Pawnee in
this Territory. I came into the Territory in May, 1854, from New
York. Mr. McClure hired myself and some fifteen or sixteen others
to go to Pawnee to huild a State-house. After I had "been there a few
days I left and went to Fort Kiley, heing discharged by McClure.
While I was hoarding at the house of Mr. Mohley, some six or eight
eastern men came there to hoard, and others went to Pawnee, to the
house of Mr. Knapp, where they formerly hoarded. They said they
were from Pennsylvania, and were going to stay until after the elec-
tion, and then they were going home again. They said that letters
that Keeder had sent to Pennsylvania had made false representations
of the country, and they were going back after the election. This
was about two weeks before the election ; and they said they had just
arrived from Pennsylvania. There were some twelve or fifteen who
came up in that party. I saw some four or five of them vote at Paw-
nee on the 30th of March, 1855. They said they had all voted the
Free-soil ticket, and had fulfilled the contract on their part, and were
going back to Pennsylvania. On the second or third day after the
election they hired a man named Blacksley to take them to Kansas
City, Missouri. They did not say what their contract was; they said
that they had come out under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid So-
ciety, and found that the conntry had been misrepresented to them,
and they were going back. Mr. McClure took us all to Pawnee with
him when we went to build the State-house. I heard him say that
all the men he had brought up were good free-State men, who would
vote the Free-soil ticket, and that they were the only kind he em-
ployed. I heard him state this to Merrick, the clerk of the sutler's
store.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
These men who came up to Pawnee said they had just come from
Pennsylvania, and they reached Fort Kiley nearly two weeks before
the election. I was hired by McClure, and commenced to work on
the State-house at Pawnee. I do not know how long the work was
continued. I left in April. McClure discharged me, saying that
they hired nothing but free-State men. There was no trouble, at the
time I was there, about Pawnee being on the military reservation.
These men from Pennsylvania said that this country and things here
had been misrepresented to them, and they were going back. They
said that they had come out under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid
Society, and it had been misrepresented to them. These men were not
among those hired to work on the State-house. There were some
twelve or fifteen in number. I talked with some of them at different
[ times,, and I heard them as they came to where I was boarding. I
' do not recollect any of their names now. They hired Mr. Blacksley
to carry them off after the election ; but I cannot say that they all went
off with him. They said they were going back to Pennsylvania. I
264 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
bought two guns of them, as they said they were almost out of money.
They seemed to be quite anxious to get back home. But speaking of
the Emigrant Aid Society, and of the letters from Eeeder to Pennsyl-
vania which they said falsely represented things to them, they said
they would fulfil their part of the contract, and then g.o back home.
I caunot call to mind the names of any of these Pennsylvanians.
They did not state particularly what Emigrant Aid Society they had
reference to. I saw some five or six of these men vote ; they voted
the Free-soil ticket, directly contrary to what I voted, which was the
pro-slavery ticket. They showed me their tickets at a grocery, and
said that was the way they were going to vote ; and we went from the
grocery to the polls and voted. I do not recollect what part of Penn-
sylvania they were from, except that some two or three said they were
from Bradford county. I do not know whether or not there was ever
an Emigrant Aid Society in Pennsylvania, and I never heard any one
else speak of one as being in Pennsylvania, except these men, whose
names I cannot recollect. I think they were there, to the best of my
knowledge, about a fortnight before the election. I got to Pawnee
about the 1st of March, and they got there somewhere about the middle
of March. Some of them were mechanics, and went to work on a
house at Pawnee, which they said was for Ileeder ; the rest were idle.
ANDKEW McCONNELL.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
EGBERT WILSON called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott:
I resided at Fort Kiley, in this district, on the 30th of March, 1855.
I went there in May, 1853, and resided there from that time to this.
I was at the election in that district on the 30th of March ; 1855,
held at Pawnee, and I was one of the judges of election. Pawnee is
about a mile from Fort Kiley. Persons commenced pouring in from
the eastern States about a week before the election, and continued to
come in until the day of election. They all voted at that election,
and voted the free- State ticket. A few of them had families, but most
were single *men. I cannot state how many there were of them, but
I should think some sixty or seventy of them. I do not know of more
than one or two of them that had families. They were all boarding
at the hotel, or in camp or tents. Most of them left a few days after
the election — some forty or fifty of them ; they left, some the next
day, and they were going for two or three weeks, until they were
nearly all gone. Nearly all of those persons voted. Some men who
came out with Mr. Sherwood, from Pennsylvania, he told me did not
vote for fear of prejudicing the legislature against Pawnee. Most of
these eastern men were from Pennsylvania, and a great many from
Easton, Pennsylvania. I did not learn from them under what influ-
ence they came out here. I heard some of them say, when they left,
that they were going back home. I had very little to say to them,
and had very little conversation with them. I did not learn from
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 265
them that any persons or society paid their expenses out here to have
them vote. I think Governor Reeder was one of the original stock-
holders in Pawnee, and I think owned some thirty-five or forty shares.
I sold him about twenty, and he owned ten before that. Each original
stockholder had ten shares, and there were twenty-six stockholders.
Governor Eeeder had a claim of about eighty acres near Pawnee, and
was interested in one or two other claims. His nephew, Col. Hutter,
had a claim near town. It was some time in February, 1855, that I
first heard Governor Keeder speak about locating the capital at Paw-
nee. I had heard that spoken of before then, but not by him. He
spoke of it after he had become interested in the town, and the real
estate near there. I do not think Governor Reeder had any interest
in Mr. Dickinson's claim, though he was very anxious to get it. I
heard Governor Reeder say that he thought Dickinson ought to be
got away from there, as that was the key to the town. The associa-
tion raised money to buy this Dickinson out. I understood Governor
Reeder had offered $1,200 for that claim, if it could not be got in any
other way. Prior to the time that the seat of government was located
at Pawnee, Governor Reeder tried to get an interest in real estate
property about there, and made several claims for his friends in Penn-
sylvania. I do not know of any proposition made by Governor Reeder
that the commander of the fort should take the Dickinson claim inside
the military reservation, so as to get the Dickinsons off it, and then
send a secret agent to Washington to get the reserve cut down, in
order that the association might get the Dickinson claims. Governor
j Reeder said to me that we ought to sell shares to the members of the
j legislature for less than we would to other persons, so that the capitol
might remain at Pawnee. I sold Judge Johnson five shares in that
| way, and with that understanding. I sold Governor Reeder some
[twenty shares, but I cannot say as it was with any such under stand-
jing as that. I did not sell many shares to members of the legislature,
j There were a good many shares sold by others. Pawnee is a little
I south of west from here, some 125 miles on the extreme western borders
of the population of this Territory, and will not be in the centre of
population unless we get a railroad. There are about three houses in
Pawnee now; two are owned by me, and one by the association. Two
of them are not occupied, and one is occupied by the chaplain of the
military post there. I have a two-story stone building, 25 by 40, and
the association has a two-story stone warehouse, about 100 by 90, with
a cellar. The other is a little frame building. The house of the asso-
[ciation has never been finished, and has no windows or doors in it;
I that is the house the legislature met in. Governor Reeder and myself
i were out riding one day, and he stated to me that he had understood
•that General Whitfield was trying to get a bill through Congress, to
; give the legislature the power to fix the seat of government ; and he
{thought he could head him off by letting out secretly contracts to
Jbuild the State-house by citizens of Missouri, so as to quiet them. I
i do not know as I have letters from Governor Reeder, in which he said
Hhe would maintain the seat of government at Pawnee under all cir-
cumstances. I have letters from him, in my possession, saying that
ijhe has learned that General Whitfield has introduced a bill in Con-
266 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
gress to give the legislature power to locate tlie seat of government ;
but that I need have no fears about the passage of that bill, but that
I should go on and finish the warehouse, and provide provisions for the
legislature. I decline to produce those letters at present before the
committee., until I get the consent of the gentleman to whom they
were directed. Those letters are in reference to the interest of the
company, and of Governor Eeeder in maintaining the seat of govern-
ment at Pawnee. I had no conversation with Governor Keeder in
regard to the illegality of the legislature before they met at Pawnee ;
and I never heard him say that any member of the legislature was
not legally elected prior to that time. I think I asked him after
most of the members arrived, if they would have a right to remove
the seat of government by a two-thirds vote,, and he responded they
would. I do not know that he ever advised the stockholders, as a
body, to secure the influence of at least one-third of the legislature in
favor of keeping the seat of government at Pawnee ; but he advised
individuals to sell shares cheaper to members of the legislature than
they would to others,, for that purpose, and also said he would sell
them that way himself; and he sold one to Mr. Marshall, of the lower
house, considered very influential there. He sold him a share at two-
thirds for what they would sell for there. I think Pawnee was an in-
convenient out-of-the-way place for the legislature to meet at. I am
acquainted with the handwriting of Governor Keeder. The letters
shown me are his handwriting.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
There were men coming in for a week before the 30th of March,
1855. Some few of them were employed, but the most of them were
doing nothing, and I do not know as they sought occupation. There
was pretty extensive building at the fort, but they had no lumber at
Pawnee. Some few left the day after the election, but some few aiv
there yet. Of those that left, none expressed themselves dissatisfied
with the country. Sherwood told me his party did not. These sixty
or seventy men were mostly from Pennsylvania. All that I knew, a
good many of them, were from Easton, Pennsylvania. It was some
time in August, 1855, and in a month or two after the legislature
adjourned to Shawnee 'Mission. The Secretary of War declared Paw-
nee on the military reservation, and that very quickly destroyed the
place.
KOBEKT WILSON.
LEAVENWOKTH CITY., K. T., May 27, 1856.
MARSHALL A. GARRETT called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in November, 1854, from Missouri, and
settled on the Big Blue. I was one of the judges of election in the
10th district on the 30th of March, 1855. There were a party from
Wyandott there, headed by Garrett and Walker ; some eight or ten
of them in the party who voted that day, and claimed to be entitled
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 267
to vote from having claims in the district. They were of the Wyan-
dott tribe of Indians, and some of them were locating Wyandott
floats, and others claimed to he in their employ. Some of them have,
and some have not, lived there since.
M. A. GARRETT.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
JOSEPH STEWART called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in June, 1854, and settled on Big Blue,
in the 10th district, in the Big Blue precinct. I was appointed "by
the governor one of the judges of election for the 30th of March, 1855.
J came from Pennsylvania to Iowa, from Iowa to Missouri, and then
jhere. I think some eleven or twelve came up, principally from the
Wyandott nation, to our precinct and voted ; some of them I did
(not know ; the principal man among them was William Walker.
He told me his home was in Wyandott city, and he calculated to
ireturn there. I told him I could not take his vote. The other two
pudges took his vote, and put it in the hallot-hox. There was another
igentleman "by the name of Walker that was sworn, and in answering
to the questions said he was a resident of the Territory ; and when I
iwished to ask him further, he answered me that I had asked him all
ithe leading ones, and a good many minor ones. I was not satisfied
$o receive the vote, hut the other two judges took it and put it imto
the hox. There were some eight or nine others who voted about in
jthe same way, except that some answered all the questions satisfac-
torily. The next morning a part of this party left, going towards
the Wyandott nation. The remainder of them left the second day,
in the same direction. None of them have been back, to my know-
ledge, to claim any residence, except Russell Garrett, who was run
as representative. He had a claim at that time there, and the party
voted for him.
J. STEWAET.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 8, 1856.
W. J. OSBORN called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I was at the Big Blue precinct, twenty miles this side of Fort Eiley,
at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. After the nominations
lad been made up there for the legislature, I was sent to the lower
>art of the district with proclamations to inform the people who the
lominees were, and on my return I fell in with some fourteen or
ifteen gentlemen from or near Easton, Pennsylvania, who came out,
they said, under the auspices of Governor Reeder. I saw eleven of
•them at the Big Blue precinct on the day of election. I challenged
several of their votes. I was induced to do so from the remarks they
piade the previous evening, where I had staid all night with them the
268 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
night before the election. I was overruled, and they were allowed to
vote. Those that I challenged were sworn as to their place of resi-
dence. I think about eleven of them voted. The balance of them
went to Fort Eiley. When I met them below they were very anx-
ious to get to the Blue on the day of election. They stated that theY
were aware what day the election would take place before they left
Pennsylvania. They informed me that they had been induced to
come out here by Governor Keeder ; that they had not found things
as he represented ; that they should return after they had voted ; and
it was upon this ground that I challenged their votes. I afterwards
saw some of them on their return. I met them at the St. Mary's
Mission, when they told me they were on their return home.
To Mr. Sherman :
I voted at the Big Blue precinct. My vote was challenged. I don't
remember whether I was sworn or not. I was a resident of that pre-
cinct. The men I challenged were sworn, examined, and their an-
swers being satisfactory to the judges, their votes were admitted. I
do not remember the number of their men that I conversed with. I
do not know that I can tell the number, because it seemed a general
conversation, and they all might and might not have participated.
I do not know whether these men are or are not now residents of the i
Territory. The legislative nominations were made by the pro-slavery
party at Dyer's, in the Big Blue precinct.
To Governor King :
I think the judges were Mr. Dyer, Mr. Garrett, and Mr. Stewart. ,
Dyer and Stewart were free-State men. The judges were not unani- •
mous in their opinion. Mr. Garrett dissented upon the question off
admitting these men, before spoken of, to vote.
To Mr. Sherman :
This was the same poll at which William Walker and others voted. ,
They claimed to be residents of the Big Blue precinct. A portion off
them, to my knowledge, own land there, and claim to be occupants^
of it. There were some there who voted who belonged to the Wyan-l
dott tribe of Indians.
W. J. OSBOKN.
LEAVENWOETH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
ISAAC S. HASCALL testifies :
To Mr. King :
I was at the Blue Kiver precinct at the election of the 30th of March, J
1855. Mr. Osborne was there that day. Shortly before the 30th of
March it was rumored that a body of Pennsylvanians were coming on
from Reeder's district in Pennsylvania, and just before the election
crowds of strangers came into the district representing themselves ast
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 269
Boeder's men. I should judge there were one hundred and fifty that
passed up on the Fort Biley road. They stated that they came at the
instance of Governor Reeder ; that they had hurried to get here hefore
the election ; that they did not know as they should stay here perma-
nently, hut came merely to see how matters stood. I know nothing
about their movements after they went to Fort Riley, except through
report. I saw some of the same company afterwards at Pawnee, after
the election. They stated they would not live in the Territory on
any consideration, but that they were going back to Pennsylvania,
where they could enjoy life. I was at Pawnee and Fort Riley after
(that several times, until the meeting of the legislature, and I would
meet one of them occasionally, and I do not know of but three of the
1 original party who remained in the Territory.
To Mr. Oliver :
They had no women with them. Some came in on wagons, and
feome on foot. The greater part of the men had guns ; some had re-
rolvers, but not often.
ISAAC S. HASCALL.
WESTPORT, Mo., June, 5.
AUGUSTUS BAKER called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in November, 1853, and went to Fort
liley and worked as a millwright, and made a claim on the Big Yer-
aillion in December, 1853, I think in the twelfth district, and have
ived there ever since. I did not vote at the election of November,
854, or March, 1855. The night after the election of the 30th of
£arch, 1855, myself and friend (John Baker) staid with Louis Trum-
>le, a half-breed Pottawatomie, on the Black Yermillion. That is on
he Independence road to California, about twenty miles this side of
Marysville. I am acquainted about Marysville, and know there was
LO settlement about there at that time for forty miles, except that
Marshall and Bishop kept a store and ferry at the crossing of the Big
Blue and the California road. I only know, by hearing, about the
llegal voting at Marysville. Marshall is there sometimes, but his
•amily lives in Weston. He stopped at my house some two years ago.
AUGUSTUS BAKER.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
JOHN E. D'Avis called and sworn.
I reside on the Big Yermillion. I moved into the Territory in
November, 1854. I was not at the election of November, 1854, or
[arch, 1855. The day after the election of the 31st of March, I was
j my store, about forty-five miles this side of Marysville. Mr. Mar-
nail, who lives in Marysville, and has a store there, came to my hous*
270 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
with about twenty-five or thirty men, the most of whom I had known
in Weston, Missouri. They camped for dinner near my store. I went
down to their camp, and some of them were at my store. I had some
conversation with them. They told me that they were up to Marys-
ville, and had carried the day for Missouri ; that they had voted about
one hundred and fifty votes, I think. They said that they would see
that Kansas should be a slave State. They were drinking and talking
freely. I had formerly lived in Weston, and tbey thought I was a
pro-slavery man. They said they went up the road from Weston, and
I knew that they lived in Weston when I was there. This Mr. Mar-
shall, who was along, afterwards served as a member of the legislature.
Marshall did not say much ; he inquired for hay for his mules, and
some provisions, and paid the bill for the party. They left together
towards Missouri. Donaldson, another member of the legislature,
passed the next day, coming down towards Missouri. He said he
thought he was elected ; that he had lost a good many votes about
Fort Riley, as the free-soil candidate got the most votes there, but
thought the votes at Marysville would save him. He lived in Missouri ;
I think in Jackson county. I have not seen him in our region since.
He had no claim that I know of in the district, and no business, except
election, coming here.
J. E. D'AVIS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
ISAAC S. HASCALL testifies :
To Mr. Sherman :
I lived at the mouth of Big Blue, and in that neighborhood, for six
months. I should judge it to be 120 miles from Kansas City to Big •
Blue. I have been at Marysville, in this Territory. I was there in <
the summer of 1855, though but for a short time. That is between 40 i
and 50 miles from the mouth of the Big Blue, according to the usual !
route. Marysville, according to the direct route from Kansas City, is,i
I think, about 140 or 150 miles. The Otoes have a reserve north off
Marysville. At Marysville, and in its vicinity, there is quite a num—
ber of settlers. There are not many there in the town. Marshall 1
and Woodward had a store there. That is the northwest settlement ;
of the Territory, and is not as well settled generally as the Nemaha i
region. Marysville is in Marshall county, in which county I think :
there are not as many people as in Riley county, though there may '
be as many as in Nemaha county for aught I know.
To Mr. Scott :
I think there is a route from Marysville to Pawnee of about 60 miles ; J
Pawnee is a little west of south of Marysville.
ISAAC S. HASCALL.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 5, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 271
JOHN A. CANTRELL called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I reside in Westport, Missouri ; I resided here in the spring of 1855,
and kept a livery-stable. Some time in March, towards the last of it,
I was employed by some nineteen men from Pennsylvania, and all
professed to be acquainted with Governor Reeder. One of them — a
mechanic — showed me a letter of recommendation to Reeder as a
workman. They employed me to take them up into the Territory.
took them up to the Big Blue river, in the neighborhood of Man-
hattan. They had no women or children with them, and their bag-
gage was generally a carpet-sack. There they left me, with the
igreement that I should wait for them to return, which I did ; and
after the election I brought the most of them back. They said they
wanted to go to the election, and, as it was difficult for me to go with
my teams, I waited there for them. They paid me by the day.
They told me after they returned that they had killed some Mis-
spurian votes, and I understood that they voted at the Big Blue pre-
cinct. The most of them returned with me ; and when they got in
the neighborhood of the Pottawatomie Indians, they wanted me to
take them across to Leavenworth city, but I would not go. They
settled with me, and went across by another conveyance; three of them
returning to Westport with me, and went right on down towards the
river in a wagon that I sent down to the river with them. All those
who were with me expressed their determination to return home ;
jtwo of them cursing Reeder for getting them out here. There was
?not much said between us, either one way or the other, about Emi-
grant Aid Societies, eastern men, &c.
To Mr. Sherman :
As well as I recollect, 19 of these men went up with me, and IT
started back with me and came down to where they turned off for
Leavenworth, with the avowed purpose of getting on a boat and going
back again. The other two crossed the river and said they would
meet me down below, but did not do so. Their complaint against Ree-
der was something about the capitol up there. Among them was a
3tone-mason, and also a carpenter, and they spoke of Reeder as having
got them out here to get work on the capitol. These were the two
men who came down on the other side of the river. I do not know
exactly why the others returned with me, but I understood that it
was something about being dissatisfied with the country, or with
something — I cannot tell what.
To Mr. King :
After they got to the end of the journey up in the Territory, they
jnade a contract with me to wait two days for them and haul them
jback. I got there in the evening, and I and my hands camped by
jpurselves, and the party camped by themselves. The leader of the
party came to me and said he wanted me to wait there until the day
ifter the morrow morning. I waited there two nights, and they came
272 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
in and started back with me, as I have before stated. The election
took place while I was there waiting for them. I contracted with the
men to take them up the country just as they got off the boat at Kan-
sas City. Some three weeks after I got back I saw these two men,
who came down on the other side of the river on their way home.
JOHN A. CANTRELL.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 7, 1856.
THOMAS REYNOLDS testifies :
To Mr. Scott :
On the 30th of March, 1855, I resided about five miles nearly west
of Fort Kiley, where I reside now, in what I think was the 9th dis-
trict. The election in March was held at Pawnee, in what was called
Klutz house. The pro-slavery candidates at that election were Don-
aldson for Council, and Garrett for House of Representatives ; the free-
State candidates were Con way for Council, and Houston for the House
of Representatives. I was present at that election. I was well ac-
quainted with the resident voters of that district ; perhaps more so
than any other person in that portion of the county. In that pre-
cinct I think there were some 70 or 80 legal voters, of which I thought
the pro-slavery party had the majority. I never thought the army
had the right to vote, though they always did vote. I did not at-
tend the polls very closely that day, and saw some connected with the
army vote, though the same were there that I had seen at the election
in the fall before. A great many strangers came into the district
shortly before the election. Report said that three hundred from
•Pennsylvania were there on the day of election. We who were op-
posed to their voting objected pretty strongly, and not a great many
of them voted. There was a great deal of talk about fighting, &c.,
on that day. I saw no women with these strangers ; they commenced
coming a week or ten days before the election. That is a very hard
country to live in, as there were but few settlers and few accommoda-
tions. They stopped at Mr. Twombly's and the Klutz house, in Paw-
nee ; that was in March, and it was quite cold, and they complained
very much of the country and of Reeder for sending them there,
and many swore they would not vote for Reeder 's men, as he had de-
ceived them, and he would go back home. There were a great many
people there living about in tents, but I did not know of any of these
having tents with them. They said, so far as I saw them and heard
them, that they were from Pennsylvania. I heard them say a great
deal about having their expenses paid out there; some said Governor
Reeder' s wife paid their way, and some that they paid their own way,
and would go back home and do as they please, and not vote that
day. They called the society that paid their expenses the Emigrant
Aid Society. They complained of Reeder for making misstatements
in saying it was a fine country, good place to get farms, and that it
was well supplied with coal, and they had been deceived. They
said that they came only from what Reeder wrote back to Pennsyl-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 273
vania, not what he had said to them himself, as he was not there.
They said that Keeder wrote back about iron mountains, and big
wages, &c., which they found to have been a misstatement. Myself
and some others were very anxious to know what district we would
be thrown in, and some who seemed to know better represented that
we belonged to the district below the Kaw river.
Some two or three days before the election two wagon-loads of emi-
grants came there and said they had the governor's circulars laying
off the Territory into districts, and said they had had them two
months before in Pennsylvania. That was the first we knew of the
districts, and we had not time to make our arrangements before the
election. After the election I saw some of them going in the direc-
tion of their home, and I do not know where they went. One wagon-
load left the day before the election. There are but few of them in
that portion of the country now. A good many, all that got wagons
to go in, started off the day after the election : they had no wagons of
their own. All that I heard say, said that their homes were in Pennsyl-
vania, near where Governor Keeder came from. I do not recollect of
hearing any who voted say they had done all they came to do, and
would then go back. I heard some say before the election that they
came to vote, and to vote for Governor Reeder and his men. They
said they wanted a free State, and that was the understanding with
Governor Reeder before they left home. It was reported, some two
weeks before the day of election, that it would be held at Pawnee,
and the day it would be held ; but we could not get his proclamation
to know what were the bounds of the district. I think, generally,
the people all over the district knew when and where the election was
to be. But I think the first proclamations with regard to the district
came on the Friday before the election on Monday, with those Penn-
sylvanians. All near the Pawnee precinct knew where their voting
place was to be, and I think were there on the day of election ; but I do
not know about the other precincts. The people in the neighborhood
generally called the Pennsylvanians <fReeder's men," though I do
not know as I heard the Pennsylvanians call themselves Reeder's
men. They were generally known, as they were better dressed men
than we were.
I have heard that Reeder was at that time a stockholder in Paw-
nee, but I never heard him say anything about it himself. I could
not say, only from report, whether Reeder had any interest in claims
outside of Pawnee or not.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I think that about the time of this election there were nearly seventy
i or eighty legal voters in the Pawnee precinct, and I think all voted.
Some of those Pennsylvanians voted after coming forward and swear-
' ing that they intended to reside in that district. I think that for
representative we had about thirty pro-slavery majority in the whole
district. The district embraced the Pawnee precinct and one on the
Big Blue, but I do not know the name of it. I think there were
more than seventy or eighty legal voters in the whole precinct. In
the Pawnee precinct I think we had some eighteen majority of the
H. Rep. 200 18*
274 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
pro-slavery party at that time* We did not canvass the precinct, but
we talked to one another, and we knew all in the precinct, and what
their politics were, hut we did not not take any memorandum. I do not
think that the report of there heing 300 Pennsylvanians on the
ground at the time of election was true^ though there were a great
.many there. I do not remember the names of any of those Penn-
sylvanians who went back. I understood that a Mr. Sherwood was
building a house there for Gov. Keecler. But those men who told
me Eeeder 's wife gave them money to come out here with were not at
work on that house, and I think did not work at all. 1 did not
hear many say that Eeeder's wife gave them money. I heard one
speak of it, and I think he said Mrs. Eeeder gave him $25, but I
do not recollect that he said what he came out for : but he complained
of the country not being so good as he expected, and of there not
being any accommodations. I heard several men, at different times,
say they had been sent out by the Emigrant Aid Society, but I never
knew their names ; they said that the society paid their way out here.
I first saw these circulars on the Big Blue, and two wagons' full of
Pennsylvanians from Westport were on their way to Pawnee, and
they had them. The circulars were some proclamation of the gov-
ernor fixing the time and place of election, and laying off the dis-
tricts. They told me they had them in Pennsylvania some two
months before that. This was some three or four days before the
30th of March, 1855. These Pennsylvanians gave us some of theii
circulars. I do not know the names of any of those Pennsylvanians^
and none are in the country now.
To Mr. Scott :
I think some of the pro-slavery men voted for Houston, the free-
soil candidate, and some did not vote at all. We could not get up i
regular ticket until we knew where the district was.
To Mr. Howard :
I think some of the pro-slavery menl voted for Houston, as the
was a split in the free State party, and some of the free State m(
would not vote for Conway.
THOMAS EEYNOLDS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., Hay 28, 1855.
C. E. MOBLEY testifies :
To Mr. Scott :
I resided on the 30th of March, 1855, in Fort Eiley, in the ninl
election district of this Territory. I was at the election on that da.
at Pawnee ; I was then acting as justice of the peace for that distric
under appointment of Governor Eeeder. I was well acquainted wili
most of the resident voters in that precinct, and, I think, castin
out all in the employment of the government, there were son;
thirty-five * or forty legal resident voters there. I took a gre>
deal of pains to inform myself of the sentiments of each inc
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 275
vidual on the question of slavery, and it was the opinion of the pro-
slavery party generally that they had a majority. I thought we had
about ten pro-slavery majority. There were quite a number of strangers
— as many as one hundred, I should think — arrived in the precinct
before the election. The Pawnee Town Association sent down and got
twentv or twenty-four men who had come up about two weeks before
the election; I mean by this association the stockholders of the town
of Pawnee. Dr. Hammond was the agent who went and employed
them, I think, but I am not certain. I do not know where the men
were brought from, but from some place outside of the district; I do
not know how long he was gone after them I heard Dr. Hammond
tell Mr. Wilson that they would be able to beat the pro-slavery party,
as he was bringing the right kind of men to come there and work,
and they would all vote right. The principal portion of these
strangers were coming for four or five days before the election. I was
keeping a boarding-house at the fort at that time, and quite a num-
ber stopped with me ; they had no families with them, and no bag-
gage but carpet-sacks. I think none of them arrived after the elec-
tion; no bodies of men, so large, have arrived there since. Some of
them boarded with me ; some at the Klutz house, and some of them
stopped in government tents. I do not know whether Col. Mont-
gomery knew or not of their occupying the government tents, though
I understand that Captain Lyon furnished them out of his com-
pany ; Captain Lyon was a stockholder in the town of Pawnee. I think
most of these persons that the judges would permit to vote voted at
that election. Almost all of them were at the polls, and claimed the
right to vote. I saw several of them vote; but I do not know the
number who voted. They commenced leaving the next day, and con-
tinued to leave as fast as they could get their carpet-sacks and
get away. The most of these men represented themselves as
being from Pennsylvania, and they said they came there to make
Kansas a free State, and intended to do it at all hazards ; that
they had the power to do it, and they would do it. They said they
could out-vote us, and could always be able to put more voters
in the Territory than the pro-slavery party could. Some of them
said they were furnished with money to come by the society ;
and some said Mrs. Eeeder had furnished them with money.
They were accused of being hired to come and vote, and they said
they had received $25 to come to the Territorry, and their voting
the free State ticket was considered a matter of course. Many expressed
dissatisfaction at Keeder for his misrepresenting the country to them,
and said they were going home. Some said they had done all they
had come to do, and were going home. They spoke of having voted.
There was one of them from New York, and there were "probably
more of them. The most of those from Pennsylvania spoke of Eas-
tpn, Pennsylvania; they were generally well-dressed men. The first
time I ever talked with Governor Keeder I asked him where he 'would
locate the seat of government? and, instead of answering my question,
he went on to ^ say what advantages Pawnee had for such purposes •
and when I said I wanted to locate near the seat of government he
said I could^looate near Pawnee, and have no fears about the matter
of the location of the seat of government. This conversation took
276 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
place at Fort Leavenworth in October, 1854. Governor Keeder had
just returned from his circuit of the Territory. I started the next
day after that to Fort Riley on Boeder's recommendation, and he
came to Fort Kiley, I think, in December following. The stock-
holders were making strong efforts to have the seat of government lo-
cated there, and for some time he held himself aloof and for two or
three days would not say what he would do, though they made
pretty liberal propositions to him. It was finally agreed that the
capital should be located there. I do not know as Keeder was paid
for this ; but I think Mr. Wilson was to let him have twenty shares
on liberal terms, though I do not know what those terms were. At
the same time I heard Reeder say that the present condition of Paw-
nee would not do for the seat of government, as it had the Fort re-
serve on one side, Bluffs on another, the Kaw river on another and a
lot of Irish on the other. The Irish commenced with their claims on
the river running to the Bluffs, and had six claims there. Four of
them were named Dickson. Governor Reeder told them that those
Irish should be got off if they wanted to build a town there ; and, in
his absence, the company suggested the plan of raising $1,200 or
$1,500 to offer them for their claims, and if they would not take that
they were to induce Colonel Montgomery to have the reserve surveyed,
so as to have Pawnee out and take the Irish in ; and then Colonel
Montgomery was to drive the Irish off their claims, and then they
were to send agents to Washington, Johnson and Sherwood being
named, to get the reserve curtailed; the matter being kept secret
until they could put men on these claims to hold them.
These Irish were driven off by persons under the command of
Colonel Montgomery, and their houses thrown down and destroyed.
The Irish then dug holes in the ground and lived in them, and the
roofs fixed over the holes were torn off, but they were never driven offi
their claims. I do not know that G-overnor Reeder ever acquired any
interest in those claims, though I understood that he and Judge John-
son were to have residences on those claims. They were both stock-
holders in Pawnee. I think that Mr. Sherwood and Mr. Klutz saidl
that they had a conversation with Governor Reeder, in which Reederr
said, if the Irish were driven off their claims, the capital will be all I
right. Colonel Montgomery was kept in ignorance of the reason fort
driving the Irish off their claims, as it was thought he would havef
conscientious scruples against doing so if he umderstood all about the<
reasons for doing so. The question of whether the seat of government I
was to remain or not at Pawnee was considered, and an arrangement!
agreed upon by which the members of the legislature were to have*
a certain number of shares on easy terms ; their object being, as I
understood, to secure their votes in favor of making Pawnee the per-
manent seat of governme it. I do not know of any shares being sold
lower to any members of the legislature than to other persons. Mr.
Donaldson said he had got a share of Governor Reeder, and he in-i
tended to vote for 'Pawnee being the permanent seat of government,!
but did not say why he should do so. I heard Governor Reeder say;
that the location of the capital was entirely in his power ; this was
before he located it. After the legislature had removed the seat of
KANSAS, AFFAIRS. 277
government, I heard Keeder say they had no right to do so ; but I
never heard him say anything about that matter after the election and
before the meeting of the legislature. The stockholders said-that a
majority of the members of the legislature were in favor of having the
seat of government remain there, and it would be necessary for them
to secure the votes of one-third of the legislature to keep it there.
These stockholders were Kobert Wilson, Captain Lyon, and Dr. Ham-
mond. I have heard Governor Keeder say that he had a wife and
children living in Pennsylvania, and that they had never been in the
Territory; this was in December, 1854. I think he never did hare
his family in the Territory.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
The Mr. Donaldson who got a share of Governor Keeder was
councilman for the Pawnee district. The 20 or 24 men employed by
Dr. Hammond were employed to work for the company in March.
1855, and for what was called a warehouse, quarrying stone, hauling
logs, &c. When Dr. Hammond told Wilson they could beat the
pro-slavery party, &c., Wilson said that the pro-slavery men could
beat the free State men, as they had the most voters, and would not
let the Hammond men vote. I do not know where those men came from.
I think those hired by the association did not belong to the Pennsyl-
vanians. One of the Pennsylvanians, who was hired by the Pawnee
Association as general engineer, said he had received $25 of the society,
and voting was considered as being a matter of course. I asked sev-
eral for the board they owed me, and they said they had no means, as
they had been furnished only money enough to come out here. John
McClellan said that Mrs. Keeder had furnished him with money, and
some two, or three, or four said the same thing. They were fre-
quently accused of being hired to come out and vote, and they said
they were paid their expenses out, and voting was considered as a
matter of course. I heard a Mr. Beckwith say his expenses were paid
by the society, and he said most of the others came out the same way.
Some of the others denied it, and some admitted that it was so, I
think. Beckwith was from New York. Lieutenant Hunter was one
of the stockholders, and several other stockholders being present,
who assented to it. Mr. Kobert Wilson, Mr. Sherwood, and Dr. Ham-
mond proposed to have the reserve surveyed so as to take in the Irish
claims, and have the reserve cut down, &c. This was at Mr. Wilson's
store, at the Fort, in December, 1854, while Governor Keeder was at
the Fort. There were persons coming in and going out of the store
all the time ; but I do not know as I could give the names of any of
them. This conversation was among themselves. The Irish were
driven oif that winter, some time before the March election — that is,
some of their families were taken off, and their houses torn down.
Captain Lyon at one time, and Lieutenant Hunter at another, with
some 20 men, went to do this. When the houses were torn down, the
Irish dug holes in the ground and put roofs upon them, and the roofs
were torn off.
278 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
To Mr. Scott:
The stockholders of the Pawnee Association — so I understood from
them — chose a number of trustees to act for them, but I do not know
how many there were of them. Colonel Montgomery, Captain Lyon,
and Dr. Hammond, I understood were trustees, and there were others,
but I do not know who they were. It was generally understood that
what the trustees did was binding on all the shareholders, at least
they told me so. I heard the matter of their getting the Irish off
their claims spoken of by all the stockholders and the trustees that
lived there, except Colonel Montgomery; but I heard him say he
would drive them off.
Q. How many houses, and of what size, were there in Pawnee on
the 1st of July, 1855?
Question overruled, Mr. Oliver dissenting.
Pawnee is a about 120 or 130 miles from here, in a southwestern di-
rection.
To Mr. Oliver:
There are three houses in Pawnee now — two stone and one frame
house. The chaplain of the Fort is living in one, and the others are
not occupied. The house in which the legislature vote there is un-
finished, and I think no doors,, except temporary ones, and no win-
dows. There is no lower floor there now, though there were floors
there once, but they have been broken down.
To Mr. Scott:
The stockholders built that house; some-said for a warehouse, and
others for a capitol. I do not know when the roof of the house was
put on, or the floors put in. There were very few settlements west
of Pawnee. I think Pawnee is generally a very healthy place,
though some persons died at the Fort, near there, of cholera, last
summer.
To Mr. Howard:
Pawnee City is now declared to be on the Pawnee reservation, and
I think that is to -a great extent the cause of its present condition,
though there were but few persons there when we heard about the
military reservation. We heard of it about September, 1855.
To Mr. Oliver:
There were five or six houses there at that time.
C. B. MOBLEY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
H. A. LOWE testifies :
To Mr. Scott:
I resided at Fort Kiley on the 30th of March, 1855, in the ninth
election district in this Territory, and was wagon-master at the Fort
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 279
at that time. I was at the election of the 30th of March, at Pawnee,
for a few moments only. The free State candidates were Conway for
council, and Houston for house of representatives ; and the pro-slavery
candidates were Donaldson for council, and Grarrett for house of rep-
resentatives. I voted at the election the free State ticket. Several of
the employees of the government, at the Fort, went to the polls that
day and voted the free State ticket, with the exception of one, so far
as t know. I judge that all the men of the Fort, with the exception
of one besides myself, were there merely because they were in the
employ of the government, and not as. residents of the Territory. I
saw a number of strange faces there at the time of the election, who
were said to be men from Pennsylvania. I did not talk with those
men much ; but the general appellation given to them was et Reeder's
men," and it was generally understood that they came to vote. I
think I have heard Colonel Montgomery and Dr. Hammond call them
" Reeder's men." Mr. Sherwood and one or two others, who were at
work on a house for Reeder, were the ones that Colonel Montgomery
and Dr. Hammond called " Reeder's men." A portion of these Penn-
sylvanians, some ten or fifteen, Mr. Sherwood and Mr. Hubbell and
others, had been there for some time. We thus came there some
three or four days previous to the election, as the boarding houses
were full. Some of them lived in camps and tents. Those that could
not get into the boarding houses. I was at the polls ; I saw a num-
ber of these men around the polls, but I saw none of them vote. These
men brought no baggage with them, as settlers usually do, and no
women and children. They disappeared after the election, and out of
all the free State votes given at that election I can make up but ten
there now, including government employes, a large party of these
strangers, &c. The free State men left that portion of the country
i before it was ascertained that Pawnee was on the government reserve.
I do not know whether Dr. Hammond was at that election or not. I
did not see him there. I think that Mr. Sherwood went to Pennsyl-
vania and brought the ten or fifteen men back with him just before
the election. About the 1st of March, I think.
H. A. LOWE.
LBAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT.- — Hickory Point,
J. B. Ross called and sworn.
I live on one of the tributaries of Crooked creek, about eighteen
miles from here, and have lived there since I first came to the Terri-
tory from Platte county, Missouri, in August, 1854. I was appointed
one of the judges of election on the 30th of March, 1855, at Hickory
Point, in the thirteenth district. I did not serve as judge during
that day ; I resigned early in the day, before any votes were taken.
280 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I gave up the polls because I was told I had to receive such votes as
were offered or give up the polls, or have the house torn down. I was
told this repeatedly by the crowd generally around the window. The
majority of the crowd were strangers to me. I was tolerably well
acquainted in the thirteenth district at that time. There were but
few residents there on the ground that day, not over thirty or forty
I should judge. I judge there were between 250 and 300 persons
present. I did not hear these non-residents say where they were
from,, though I know some were from Platte City, Missouri. Those I
knew from Platte City, Missouri, I cannot say had any badge about
them, though it was a pretty general thing to see a bunch of hemp
in the button-hole or around the hat, some made into tassels. William
Fox, that I knew to be from Platte City, was there. I do not know
as he voted. I knew no other non-residents there except those from
Platte City, and I do not know as I heard any of them say where
they were from. As near as I can recollect, some two or three per-
sons offered to vote, who, on examination, acknowledge themselves
to be citizens of Missouri, and we refused their votes. They then
remarked that we had to give up the polls or receive their votes, or
otherwise they would tear the house down.
Some of these men were armed with guns,, some with knives and
revolvers in their belts. It was repeated frequently about tearing the
house down, and they appeared to be very positive about it. I do not
know any man named Thomas in our district. I know a man by the
name of Gardner in Platte City, but I did not know his first name.
There is a Jesse Yocum in our district. I resigned without receiving
any votes, but remained about the polls till some time in the after-
noon. I do not know any men named 0. G. McDonald, G. C. Clin-
dey, J. S. Barbee, in our district. I cannot tell the names of the two
or three whose votes I refused. They claimed a right to vote because
they had a claim in the Territory, though they lived in Missouri,
The settlers I saw there did not amount to more than thirty or forty.
I saw none of them vote. All of the judges resigned at once, took
up all the poll books and papers, and left the room and took them up
to Governor Reeder. I do not think we announced our resignation.
I think three judges were nominated by some person, and all in favor
invited to walk out and form a line. So far as I recollect I do not
know any men in our district named . N. B. Hopewell, or William M.
Gardner, or Richard Chandler. I did not see the new judges receive
any vote. I did not vote, because I thought it would not be worth
while to vote where the judges were almost compelled to give up the
ballot box.
I reached Governor Reeder with the protest, signed by myself and
the other two judges, I think, on the 3d of April, some time in the
forenoon. I do not know as the protest was acted on, as there was
no special election called, to my knowledge. I did not see these men,
but I saw quite a number of wagons and tents. I had some conver-
sation with Mr. Fox about voting. He came to me and wanted to
know if I could not receive the votes of " our people," as he called
them, under the oath I had taken as judge. I told him I could not.
I have no means of telling by the census returns the number of voters
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 281
in that precinct, which gives some 80 odd. I do not know when these
men left. A portion left before I did, taking the military road towards
the river.
Mr. Fox stated no reason for voting over here, except that they had
a right to vote. At that election, I think the free State party had a
pretty good majority in that district. I have never heard of any free
State man who voted on that day. I do not recollect the candidates
at that election. I lived in Missouri some two and a half years, and
came there from Indiana. I did not vote, because I considered that
election illegally conducted.
Cross-examined by Mr. Kees :
I heard, more than once, from the crowd, that they would pull the
house down, and, I think, from different men. I did not know all
the residents of that district. I was acquainted with many in the
district. I thought the proceedings were illegal' from the time the
judges were not allowed to act. I had calculated to act at that elec-
tion before that time, and considered it legal up to that time. I
intended to vote for Samuel L. Hardh for representative, and Colonel
A. J. Whitney for council. I knew there were other candidates, but
never knew their names. Travelling in wagons is sometimes a very
common mode in this country, and I suppose people go to elections
sometimes in wagons. Some of these persons I knew were non-resi-
dents, but I do not wish to mention the names of any but Mr. Fox.
I consider a man who resides in the Territory with his family a resi-
dent. Some of these men told me they did not live in the Territory.
I think a majority of those there did not live in the Territory. The
first men who offered to vote said their families were in Missouri, and
their homes were there, and they had a claim in Kansas. There
were but two or three of them. I do not know when they made their
claims. They claimed to have a right to vote because, they said, they
had claims.
There were but few men in our district, who staid there, who had
not their families with them, and none, that I recollect of, who had
any families at all. The district ran west of Charles Hardh' s a con-
siderable distance,, but I never was to the boundary, and do not know
how far it ran. I do not know what was understood to be the dis-
tance. The protest I carried up was a return of the three judges,
which, I think, was not sworn to. I think I got it down to the gov-
ernor on the third day of April. I live some ten miles from Hardh's.
I did know a man in June, 1854, in that district, but I have not seen
him since. I do not know his first name.
To H. Miles Moore :
I know a David Hunt that lives some two or three miles from Platte
City. I know J. H. Winston, in Platte county. I do not know that
those men voted there. I knew them when they lived in Platte
county, but do not know where they live now.
To Mr. Howard:
I do not know any men of those names in our district.
J. B. KOSS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 19, 1856.
282 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
J. B. Ross recalled
I have looked over the poll lists for the election of the 30th of
March, at Hickory Point. There was a man named Whitehead who
lived on Crooked creek. I knew a James Kuykendall who lived in
the west part of the district, and a demons, who lived near Kuyken-
dall. G. W. Dyer lived near Osawkee; Jesse Yocum lived in the
district ; a Mr. Tibbs lived near Osawkee ; a William Dyer lived in
the district, as did Owen Tibbs. Those are all the names I find on
the list I recognize now as residents at that time. Eight in all.
J. B. BOSS.
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 19, 1856.
WILLIAM H. GOODWIN called and sworn.
I reside usually about five miles from here, in Salt creek valley. I
arrived in this place from Michigan the 16th March, 1855. I was at
the election at Hickory Point, in the thirteenth election district, on the
30th of March. The election was held at Mr. Hardh's house. One of
the judges I knew, by the name of J. B. Boss ; another was named
Cory; and another I did not know. I was present at the election for
a short time. For some reason the judges I have named did not
serve ; they left the polls before I left, and I did not see them take any
votes. Other men acted as judges, but I do not know how they were
obtained. I arn acquainted with some persons who were at the elec-
tion, but I am not acquainted in that neighborhood. There were a
great many people there, with camps and wagons, prepared to live
without going to houses. There were a great many people there ; I
should guess perhaps 600 or 'TOO of them, perhaps more or less, I
cannot tell. There were a good many armed, and a good many I
saw with no arms. I heard a good deal of talk but I did not pay
much attention to it. I did not vote because I had reason to believe
there were a good many there from Missouri, from what I heard there.
It was the talk among those I knew that such was the case. I could
have voted if I desired. I did not know any who were from Missouri.
I saw a great many there with hemp in their coats and pants and on
their hats, but I did not know where they came from. I think the
principal part of those I saw were camped in tents and wagons ; sev-
eral hundreds of them. I do not remember that I heard that day any
discussion about the rights of those there to vote. I left the grounds
early in the afternoon, perhaps 2 or 3 o'oclock. There was a good
deal of voting before I left. At times there was considerable noise
and confusion, but I do not remember any threat or fighting. There'
was a great crowd about the polls. When I went away the polls were
not so crowded. I do not remember of seeing any men in the tents
and wagons start off before I did.
Cross-examined by Mr. Bees :
I did not know the judges who acted at that election ; they were not
the same as those who commenced to act as judges. From the tents
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 283
and wagons I saw there I should judge there were from 600 to 700
persons there, perhaps more, perhaps less. I cannot tell how many
wagons and tents I saw there.
My object in coming from Michigan here so early in the season was
to get employment in the public surveys here.
By Mr. Howard :
I got employment as an assistant surveyor, and I have no other
business.
WM. H. GODWIN.
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 19, 1856.
DR. JAMES NOBLE called and sworn.
I reside northwest of this place about twenty- four miles, in the
thirteenth district, now called Jefferson county. I came into the Ter-
ritory in the fall of 1854, from Missouri — the northeast, Platte county.
I had resided in Platte county about two years at that time, and some
years before. I was at the election of the 30th of March, at Hickory
Point, in that district, at the house of Charles Hardh. I was tolera-
bly well acquainted in that district at that time ; I had been, I think,
in pretty much every settlement. There were a great many people
at that election. I do not know who were the judges ; I think there
were two classes of judges, but I do not know who were the first class
of judges. N. B. Hopewell was one of the second class of judges,
and, as such, told me^that he made the returns to the governor.
There were very few citizens at the election after I got there, which
was about twelve o'clock. I did not vote that day. I was not pre-
vented from voting by any violence. I was requested by some old
acquaintances from Clay county, Missouri, who were there then, to
vote, and grumbled at me for not voting. I did not go to the polls at
all, and saw no man vote.
I do not recollect more than eight or ten residents in the district I
saw there that day. I judge there were some two hundred in all on
the grounds that day. I do not know any one by the name of Barber
in our district. I never heard of but two men named Graves living
in our district. 1 saw a great many of niy old neighbors there that
day who did not live in our district, among them were Mr. Ellington,
of Platte county ; B. Prater, of Clay county ; Andrew Murray, form-
erly constable at Liberty, Missouri. I do not know of any Marshalls
in our district, or Rockholts, or Whitlocks, or Arnolds. I saw a Mr.
Thompson, from Clay county, there on the day of election. A Mr.
W. G. Baker, I think, is interested in our town plot of Jacksonville,
but I believe he is from Baltimore. I do not know a man in our dis-
1 trict named J. Harris, but I knew one in Missouri. I do not know as
I saw him on that day. Mr. Lykins, I think, formerly lived about
i Platte city ; I know of no man named Lykins in our district. I know
of no man named J. Weekly. I do not know L. Henshaw, or any
Millers in our district. I knew some Swetts in Missouri, but none in
284 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
our district. I have heard that some G-raggs are settling on the
Grasshopper, hut I do not know when they went there. I do not
know Mr. Keith. I do riot know of any Walker in our district. I
do not know of any Hatches in our district, though I know of some in
Missouri. I know of Henry Arnold, of Missouri, near Liberty. I do
not know A. C. Woods, as I know of. I know David Gentry, of
Boone county. Willia'ms is a very numerous name in Missouri, hut
I know of none in our district. I know a John Wilson, in Missouri,
hut no Wilsons in our district. John Cook lived in our district, I
think, and so did Colegrove. I did not know G. L. Merritt or any
Gardiner in the district, but a good many in Missouri. I formerly
knew a Crane, of Clinton county, Missouri, and John Hawkins, also
of Missouri. I have heard of a Lee in our district. I knew Whites
in Missouri and Kentucky, and two in the district, named George A.
White and Smith White. I do not know J. Carr or G. L. Parrish in
our district. I know of no Hunts or Carrs in our district, hut I know
of a David Hunt at Platte city. I never heard of any Ewing in our
district, or of J. Howard. I do not know of any Mitchells in our
district. I do not know of any Thachers, or Coxes, or Brooks in our
district ; I have heard that a Brooks lived near the line of our district,
and I think probably he was here on the clay of election. I know of
but one Mason in our district, George Mason.
I have lived forty-odd years in Missouri. I had some talk with my
acquaintances from Missouri about their right to vote, which they
claimed to be, because they were personally on the ground intending
to take up claims, or had done so. I contended that they had no
right to vote until they moved over here with their goods and chat-
tels. I saw no one vote that day. I do not recollect the candidates
on that day altogether. Mr. Tibbs, Mr. Easten, arid Mr. Kichard
Kees, were candidates, but I do not recollect the rest. I know of no
man in our district by the name of Breckenridge — know an Alexan-
der Breckenridge in Missouri ; saw no man by that name there. I
know Pembertons in Missouri, but none in our district. I did not
charge myself with the names of those I saw there. It appeared to me a
good deal as if I was now home in Missouri surrounded by my acquaint-
ances and friends. I know W. Carpenter, a merchant, in Clinton
county, Missouri ; John Keed was a neighber of Mr. Carpenter. I
know Shepards in Missouri, but do not recollect of seeing any here
on the day of election. J. Jeffries I i ves in Clay county — I know John
Myers, of Howard county, Missouri. K. Chandler was a citizen of
our district. Pleasant Ellington was from Missouri — I knew him —
I never knew of his having any claim in our district. I know Coxes
in Missouri, but none in our district.
I think I did not know at that time half who lived in our district ;
I think I knew more than half around the polls, for it appeared as if
I knew most all of those I met. I did not recognize more than a dozen
I knew to be residents of the district ; as to the rest I think I recog-
nized most as my old acquaintances of Missouri — I think there were
at least two hundred there in all. They started off home before I left.
I heard a number speak about the right to vote ; they contended that
the Territory had been open to settlement ; and that Atchison, I think,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 285
had proposed that a man should be here thirty days before he should
be entitled to vote, but he had been overruled in that ; and now any
man who was here, no matter how long, was entitled to vote ; and a
man was a citizen as soon as he stepped into the Territory.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
I had been in most of the settlements of the district at that time ;
the boundaries of the district, as I understood, commenced on the east
side, and run three miles west of Stranger creek, pretty nearly paral-
lel to it, up to a line north of Kickapoo or Atchison, to some three and
one-half miles north of Charles Hardh, and continued west to the
Grasshopper, across it, some eight or ten miles beyond ; then north
to Kau river, and then down to the Kau river to the place of begin-
ning. The district did not include Easton, I think. I did not know
that the district ran as far west as Soldier creek, only as far as Muddy
creek. I do not say this is the bounds of the district, but I under-
stand it so. I think I am as well acquainted with the district as any
man in it who has not been running lines. The district included
Grasshopper Falls, I think.
I was all about through the county before the election, and looked
at the country and people who were there. I do not know that
Mr. Ellington ever was, or ever claimed to be, a resident of the Ter-
rity at all ; I knew him in Missouri as a resident of Missouri. If
he has ever been a resident of the Territory I never knew it. I reached
the place of electon about 12 o'clock. The understanding was, that
most of the residents had gone away with the poll books, but I did
not see any of them go. I saw no quarrelling after I got there. I
was from Casey, now Boyle county, Kentucky, to Missouri. I knew
Smiths in Kentucky ; I left them when I was a young man ; men of
the same name I have mentioned as those I knew in Missouri might
have lived in Kentucky or Massachusetts, but these did not, they were
my old chums in Missouri. I saw no man vote that day.
I only knew that men from Missouri voted that day from what they
said themselves ; they said they lived then in Missouri, and had voted
that day. Barret Prater told me so of himself ; he was the only man
who told me so ; he appeard to be taking for the crowd, who were
all listening. I sometimes talk for the crowd, and sometimes for my-
self. He had said " we," and when I talk for myself, I say "I." I do
not know that Prater was talking for the crowd, but I took it so from
what he said — the whole crowd were listening to him — I do not know
that the crowd endorsed his opinions. Whenever a man comes in
with a crowd, or party, to accomplish a particular purpose, and he
comes forward and says, " we think this," or " we will do or have
done that," I take it he is speaking for that party or crowd. I do
not know that the crowd endorsed what he said.
Question. Was not the delay of organizing the territorial govern-
ment here the occasion of great complaint and dissatisfaction among
the people, and one of the primary causes that have led to the diffi-
culties that have taken place here ; and did not the people believe
that the delay was for the avowed purpose of allowing time to the
aid companies to ship a sufficient number of persons here to control
the election ?
286 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
(The question was overruled, Mr. Oliver dissenting.)
I recollect some of the names of my old chums I saw, but not all of
them ; among them, William Chandler, Barrett Prater, Andrew
Murray, Mr. Darbey, and others. In connexion with these people
they said they came to vote, and contended the way matters were fixed
up it was free for every man to come over here and vote. I do not recol-
lect of their giving any other reason for coming. I do not know that
these people did not have claims, some said they had chosen claims,
others that they were looking out for claims and intended to come.
To Mr. Howard :
The general rumor was that the free State party had a majority in
that district at that time, and ib is larger now. The rumor was that
the legal voters in that precinct (Hickory Point precinct) was about
forty-three, but I never knew what it was or what the census was.
To Mr. Whitefield :
Previous to my examination, some of the names on the poll books
were read to me by Mr. Propper, in order to see if I could recollect
any of the names of the Missourians.
JAMES NOBLE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
JAMES F. FORMAN was called <md sworn.
At the time of the March election I resided in the Doniphan pre-
cinct, fourteenth district, and was present at the 30th of March election.
I was present when the vates were being counted out, after the closing
of the polls. There was a discrepancy between the poll list and bal-
lots of one vote. The judges explained in a manner satisfactory to
all. If there had been a discrepancy of from five to fifteen votes be--
tween the tally list and polls, I think I should have noticed it, for
there would have been some questioning about it, but I heard nothing:
and saw nothing of the kind.
To Mr. Sherman :
I feel almost positive there was a difference of only one vote betweeni
the tally list and ballot cast. The only reason why I think there
was not more is that it would have excited attention.
JAMES F. FORMAN.
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 27th, 1856.
RICHARD CHANDLER called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver:
I first came into the Territory on the 3d of April, 1854, and stopped at
Osawkee, in the thirteenth district, and resided there until July, 1854.
I then went to Hickory Point in the same district. I was at the elec-'
tion at Hickory Point on the 30th of March, 1855, for members of the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 287
legislature. I was one of the judges chosen "by the people, after the
first judges appointed by the governor had resigned. The election
was orderly and quiet, so far as I saw. I saw no effort to prevent or
control any man in his voting. I am tolerably well 'acquainted in
that district, and have paid some attention to the relative strength of
parties there. I should think there were from 200 to 250 resident
voters there at the time of that election, and the pro-slavery party had
a majority of some four or five to one of the free State party ; so far
as I could judge the pro-slavery party turned out at that election
pretty well. I saw some free soilers there, but there were many I
knew that I did not see there. I saw some free State men vote there.
Some three or four free soilers were called on to vote, but they refused
to vote. The people there on that day,, so far as I saw, seemed to get
on very peaceably and friendly together, and I heard no disturbance
there in reference to the election.
I am acquainted with the general character of Doctor Noble for
truth and veracity, both in Missouri and in the Territory, and it was
very bad. He lived in Missouri some eight years, and his reputation
there was very bad for truth and veracity. I have been frequently in
his neighborhood hunting up cattle, and the people there generally
considered his character for truth and veracity as very bad ; and from
my knowledge of his general character I do not think I would believe
him under oath. I know something about the general character of
Charles Hardh for truth and veracity, and he is noted for his hard
yarns and tough stories, and his neighbors generally will not believe
what he says. I should believe him under oath, as I think he is too
proud and too good hearted to swear a lie. I know four men by the
name of Gardiner in our district. I know three Greggs — Thomas,
William, and another. I do not know any Arnold or Walker. I
know a man by the name of White, but none by the name of Breck-
enridge. I know the Pembertons and William Carpenter there, and
also John Myers ; he resided in the territory on the 30th of March,
1855. These men I speak of knowing were residents of the district
at the time of the election on the 30th of March, 1855. I also know
a Marshall there and some Jeffers there also at that time.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard:
There were at least one-third of the voters that were sworn. We
asked them if they considered themselves resident voters of the Terri-
tory. We had the governor's proclamation there, and followed the
form pretty strictly.
RICHARD CHANDLER.
LEAVEN WORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
T. A. MINARD called and sworn.
I moved into this territory with my family in August, 1854, from
Iowa. I came to western Missouri on the 10th of June, 1854, and re-
mained there until I came into this Territory and settled on Stranger-
288 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
creek, near Easton. I was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855.
The principal road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kiley passes my
house. On the day before the election there were large numbers of
men, some walking and some riding, who passed my house. There
was nothing said and done by them except that they would curse
Eeeder and hurrah for Atchison, or something of the kind. They
were in companies, some two or three wagons in a company, and they
were passing, more or less, all day. On the morning of the election
some passed on horseback. I had no conversation with these men on
their way out about voting. I came to Leavenworth that day, as that
was my precinct, and I returned in the afternoon, arriving at home
about sundown. I met men returning, whom I am confident were
the same who went by my house the day before, in wagons. I had
some conversation with some of them. On the way home I met quite
a number of wagons I recognized as some I saw pass my house the
day before. They inquired if we were right on the goose, and we
answered we were. They inquired how the election went at Leaven-
worth, and we generally said that the goose had carried it. After
passing these wagons, I rode along about two miles, and met a man
on horseback coming along, and commenced a similar kind of conver-
sation, and then he inquired if we had seen a wagon, describing it, on
ahead of him. I told him I did not recollect of seeing any of the de-
scription he gave. He then stated that his captain had agreed to camp
on Stranger, and he could not find him there. I inquired if he had
been at the election at Hickory Point ; he said he had. I asked
how the election went. He said that they had run out the judges
appointed by Keeder, and put in judges themselves. I then asked
him how many votes they had polled, and he said he did not know ;
that he had got drunk before the polls were closed, and did not hear
the votes counted. He appeared to be about getting over a spree when
I saw him. To the best of my recollection, he said he and the com-
pany came from near Liberty, Clay county, Missouri. He said he
was hunting for the captain of their company, as he had their provi-
sions, and he was afraid if he did not find him he would have to camp
out with nothing to eat. This was the substance of the conversation
we had. Several wagons camped along the Stranger, about a mile
from my house. I saw them as I was going home, but did not go
down there again. I recognized some as being the same who had
gone by my house the day before.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott:
I do not know where the men were going to the day before the elec--
tion, or where they did go. I heard but this one man say that they
had been to Hickory Point, or where they were from. I did not see;
the wagon he described as the one he was looking for. I rather ;
volunteered some remarks to Mr. Sherman, of this committee, in re--
gard to what I knew of this matter, because I was in a hurry to leave •
and wanted to be examined as soon as possible. I was not summoned il
by any request of my own, and did not wish it either. The member!
of the committee, after I had requested to be examined as soon as*
possible, invited me to talk with him upon another subject, and after i
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 289
we had got through, that I volunteered some remarks in relation to
this one. I think I said pretty much what I have said this time.
In other respects our conversation was rather on personal matters, not
proper to come hefore the committee perhaps. I think after we had
talked a few minutes, the remark which this memher of the committee
made, which induced me to speak of this matter, was to ask me what
I knew in regard to the election in the thirteenth district. That, I
think, was the only question asked me. No other memher of the
committee was present that I know of, though there were other
persons present when we had our conversation. I have heen accused
of "being an abolitionist, which was not true. I am a free State man
all the time.
I understood "by the term "right on the goose/' that there were
men coming here to control the country, and make this a slave State;
and when I answered that I was right on the goose, I wanted them to
understand that I treated them the same as they had treated me. I
did not wish them to think I was a pro-slavery man, for, if I had heen
asked, I should have told them I was a free State man. J answered
in that way so as to avoid difficulty.
To Mr. Sherman:
The conversation I had with Mr. Sherman was here in the room,
while the examination was going on. I was sitting about three feet
from the reporter who was taking down the testimony, and before all
E resent. I did not think any attempt was made at concealment. Mr.
herman made no remark whatever to indicate what direction I should
give my testimony, except to intimate, by some gesture, that he did
not wisli to listen to it.
THOMAS A. MINAKD.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May. 22, 1856.
CHARLES HARDH called and sworn.
I settled in the Territory on the 22d of June, 1854. I emigrated
from Missouri and settled in the thirteenth district, and reside there
still. I was one of the candidates for representative on the 30th of
March, 1855, and was a candidate up to the day of election, when I
• withdrew at the commencement of opening the polls the second time.
The reason I did so was because the judges appointed by the governor
(Were ordered away by some persons in the crowd who were strangers
to me. I then saw that there would be difficulty, and withdrew. I
voted that day. I do not know whether the citizens, as a general
thing, voted or not. I left, immediately after I withdrew, from about
the polls. I handed in my ticket to one of the persons acting as
judges about five o'clock in the evening. I did not see persons vote,
as I was not about the polls.
I knew some of the persons who resided in Missouri when I was
there. One was Colonel David Hunt, who had a claim on the
Stranger; but I do not know as he ever resided on it. I do not know
where his family resides. Mr. Tebbs was my opponent; there was
H. Kep. 200 19*
290 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
but one candidate on each side for representatives. Mr. Kees and Mr.
Eastin were the candidates for council. Twombly and Whitney re-
sided at Grashopper Falls,, but I never heard their names in connexion
with the candidacy.
Cross-examined by John Scott :
As far as I know, the judges appointed by the governor entered upon
the discharge of their duty according to law. There was a vote handed
in which they refused to take, and then the row commenced, so I
understood. The man who first handed his vote was Mr. Haley, of
Weston, Missouri, so he told me himself, and it was refused for some
reason, lie could not tell what. I do not know whether he was a legal
voter or not, except that he has a store in the Territory, but his family
resided in Weston. I do not know as there was any other head of
his family but himself; he lived in the Territory himself at the time
of the election. I understood it was on account of refusing to receive
his oath that the crowd became excited and ordered the judges to leave
the polls, and they quietly withdrew. I saw them come out with the
poll books in their hands. I do not know of any threats of violence
being used towards them, or whether they were quietly requested to
withdraw.
I do not know how other judges were appointed, though there were
persons acting as judges when I looked in in the afternoon at five
o'clock. I withdrew from being a candidate by the request of my own
party, who said they wanted to go home and would not vote at that
election. I was on the returns, notwithstanding, as a candidate. I
believe I got three votes. I requested of the recording judges to
scratch my name from the poll books, but, they refused, as they said I
must run as a candidate, having been brought out. I belonged to the
free State party, and voted for Tebbs, the pro-slavery candidate, as
there was a private arrangement between us that we should vote fon
each other. That arrangement was made in the evening of the elec-
tion, just as I voted. He handed me a ticket, and said that was one
of his tickets, and if I would vote his ticket he would vote mine. II
made the request of the judges to take my name off the poll books in
the evening of the day of election. There was some excitement about!
the polls when the first judges refused the vote offered ; some excite-
ment on both sides, but I don't recollect of being any threats.
To Mr. Sherman :
Bailey's store was at Osawkee, in the thirteenth district, about teni
miles from the place of voting. His son had charge of the store. I!
do not recollect of hearing him say whether he was asked to swear on
not. I believe I made the request of Mr. Tebbs for the arrangementl
I have mentioned between us, but it was mere childrens' play on myv
part than anything else. After the excitement in the morning, the<:
election went on very quietly, as there was but one side to it.
To Mr. Scott :
There was no more excitement at the polls, then, that day at anyj
time than was usual in western stores at elections.
C. HAEDH.
LEAVENWOBTH CITY, K. T., May 22, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 291
G. M. DYER called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver :
I first came to this Territory in 1853, and first stopped in the Pot-
tawatoniie country, and then went to Osawkee in July, 1854, and
have resided there ever since, in the thirteenth district. I was at
Hickory Point at an election held on the 30th of March, 1855, for
members of the territorial legislature, and was present at that elec-
tion. The judges appointed by Governor Reeder were Mr. Corey and
Mr. Atkinson, and one of them I do not recollect. They did not act
as judges during that election, hut resigned. I did not hear them
give any reasons for resigning. My brother applied the first man to
vote, and they rejected it because his family was not in the district,
though they had been in the Territory for seven years. My brother
had resided and done business in Osawkee since 1854, and has done
business there ever since. He had had a store there previous to 1854,
but had moved away for a time, going there in 1850 or 1851. At first
Colonel Ealey offered to vote, and his vote was rejected. He had resided
in that district many a year previous to that time, that is, he had been
doing business in Osawkee ; had his family there since November, 1854 ;
was appointed by Governor Reeder judge of elections,' and served as
such. Governor Reeder had stopped at Colonel Raley's house several
times. These judges then resigned, and others were chosen by the
people, in accordance with the instructions of the governor. That
election then proceeded in a quiet and orderly manner, so far as I saw.
I noticed no attempt to prevent any one from voting by any means.
There were a good many resident voters out that day. I saw free
State men vote that day. I went with three of them to the polls, and
they voted as quietly as any of the rest did. Dr. Tebbs, the one
elected to the legislature at that election, came to the Territory, I
think, in August, 1854, and has resided there ever since. I should
suppose there were no resident voters in that district at that time. I
was a resident in the district then, and had a pretty good opportunity
to find out who were the residents, and had been appointed postmaster
there. I think the pro-slavery party had five to one in that district
at that time. I came to that conclusion from all my means of infor-
mation. I do not think the pro-slavery party is so strong there now,
but I think they are two to one yet.
I am acquainted with the general character of Dr. Noble for truth
and veracity, and it is rather a bad one, so far as the prevailing sen-
timent goes. Do not know so much about it among his immediate
neighbors, as I lived some distance from him, but among those who
live four or five miles from him both parties speak very disparagingly
of him. Am pretty well acquainted with Charles Hardh's general
reputation for truth and veracity, and it is pretty bad. I do not think
he would tell the truth if he could find a lie to tell, but I do not think
he would swear to a lie. His neighbors will not believe what he says,
his reputation concerning truth and veracity is so bad.
I know of some free State men who voted for Dr. Tebbs that day.
Among them were two, Mr. Bushings and Mr. Carpenter, and Charles
Hardh told me he voted for him. I know three men in the district by the
292 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
name of Gardner, and one of them was one of the judges of the elec-
tion on the 30th of March, 1855. I do not know of any in the district
by the name of Gregg and Arnold. I know some by the name of
Walker and White. None by the name of Breckenridge or Pember-
ton, though I have heard of the Pembertons. William Carpenter
resided there, as did John Myers.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
My knowledge of the district at that time was confined more par-
ticularly to Osawkee and around there. The district was a pretty
large one. I do not know whether my brother and Colonel Raley*
refused to take the oath prescribed by Governor Eeeder, and I do not
know whether they were asked to take that oath or not. I did not
hear how the matter was decided at that time, but I understood from
my brother, Colonel Raley, and others, what were the grounds of re-
jecting their votes.
G. M. DYER.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
0. B. TEBBS called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver:
I resided, on the 30th of March, 1855, at Osawkee, in the thirteenth
district in this Territory, and had resided there since August, 1854,
and have resided there ever since. I attended an election at Hickory
Point, on the 30th of March, 1855, for members of the legislature.
I did not see the first judges appointed by' the governor, and who re-
signed. The second set of judges were Mr. Chandler, Mr. Gardner,
and Mr. Hopewell, and were chosen by the voters on the ground
after the first judges resigned, and, as I understood, according to the
instructions of the governor. I was an acting justice of the peace at
at that time, under the appointment of Governor Reeder, and admin-
istered the oath of office to the judges. I was tolerably well acquain-
ted in that district; and I should suppose there were two hundred,
perhaps a few more, resident voters in the district at the time of that
election. I was present during that election; and, so far as I saw,
the residents of the district who were there voted, except some few
gentlemen, who told me during the day that they had not voted,
and did not know as they would vote. I should suppose that the
pro-slavery party was five to one of the free State party, as the
district was almost exclusively settled by Missourians. I thought
the free State party was pretty generally out that day, as far as I
know — there ten or twelve of them. A party of over five or six did
not vote, as I saw, and they have since told me they did not vote.
Others of the free State party did vote. I saw no attempt that day
to intimidate men from voting. I was asked by Charles Hardh if
there was any danger, because he was a free State man. I told him
there was none. I did not consider that he was at all frightened.
Subsequent to the election, there was a personal quarrel between two
of opposite politics, and I stepped in and stopped that ; but it had no
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 293
reference to the election. The intercourse between all of both parties
that day seemed to be friendly and pleasant. My brother, who was
elected a member of the house of representatives of this Territory,
has been residing in the district the same time I have. He had a claim
at that time ; had a large number of cattle, and had hired persons to
put his claim in a state of cultivation. He himself devoted his tme
to practice as physician. He went there to reside permanently in Au-
gust, 1854. I purchased a claim for $250. He left his family in Mis-
souri, because he owned a comfortable house there they could live in,
and had not a comfortable house in the Territory. His wife was a
very delicate woman, and he did not desire to bring her into the Ter-
ritory, where he had such indifferent accommodations. He was advised
not to put up comfortable buildings on the lands then, as they were
Delaware lands, and we were liable to be driven off* at any time, and
therefore he did not put up any comfortable houses. We both went
out there for the purpose of settling permanently, and become bona
fide settlers ; and we have been residing there ever since, bringing our
families over shortly after the election. I considered that when I went
there I ceased to be a citizen of any other place, and a resident of Kan-
sas Territory in good faith. My brother had the same intention as
myself, I have no doubt at all. We had adjoining claims^ and were
interested therein together from the first.
I am tolerably well acquainted with the general character of Dr.
Noble for truth and verac;ty, and it is very bad. I have heard thirty
men speak of him, and all spoke of him alike. Both were from his
own immediate neighborhood, and from other places. I am also ac-
quainted with the general character of Charles Hardh for truth and
veracity. He is in the habit of telling long tales and yarns without
truth in them ; but I never heard that he ever told lies for any mali-
cious purpose. Dr. Noble was regarded as a malicious liar, and I
would not believe him under oath; but I could not say I would not
believe Charles Hardh under oath.
0. B. TEBBS.
LEAVEWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
A. B. SHARP called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver :
I resided at Osawkee on and prior to the 30th of March, 1855, and
'. located there in the fall of A. D. 1851 ; was at the election on the
30th ^ of March, at Hickory Point ; was clerk of that election; was
appointed by the judges appointed by Governor Reeder ; those judges
did not act during that election, but resigned. I think Mr. Dyer was
the first man who offered to vote ; the judges refused his vote on the
ground that his family was not living in the district. Mr. Dyer has
been living in the Territory since 1847, and had been doing business
at Osawkee since 1851, and had resided there up to the time of the
election, and has resided there ever since. Colonel Raley was the next
man who offered to vote. He had been appointed a judge of election
by Governor Reeder, at the election of the fall of 1854., His vote was
294 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
rejected by the judges and the judges then resigned. Colonel Raley
had been a resident some time previous ; he had been a judge of elec-
tion in November, 1854 ; he had been there frequently since that elec-
tion, up to March 30^ 1855, but was not there all the time ; he was
merchandizing there before the 30th of March, 1855, and has been
since ; he has a claim there now and had at that time. After the
judges appointed by the governor had resigned, other judges were
elected by the voters present, as I understood, in accordance with the
instructions of the governor. I do not remember what reasons the:
judges gave for resigning. Mr. Eastin and Mr. Eees for council, andi
Dr. Tebbs for house, were the candidates on our side, and Mr. Whitney1
and some one else for council, and Charles Hardh for the house, om
the other side. Mr. Cora, one of the judges appointed by the gov-
ernor, I do not recollect ever said anything to me about what he1
considered the qualifications of those voters who were rejected. II
am not very well acquainted with the strength of the two parties ini
that district, but I think that at that time the pro-slavery party had!
a majority of five to one. I suppose there were, at that time, two)
hundred, perhaps more, resident voters in that district. I think therec
is a pro-slavery majority there now as large as at that time. So fan
as I saw the election was conducted very orderly. I saw no force or;
opposition employed to prevent any one from voting, or any disturb-
ance with reference to the election. I do not personally know Dr.]
Noble. I am acquainted with the general character of Dr. Noble forJ
truth and veracity, and it is very bad. I am acquainted with theej
general character of Mr. Charles Hardh for truth and veracity, andi!
it is much like Dr. Noble's.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I think there were about two hundred voters in this district at the
time of that election, and pretty much all were pro-slavery voters. J
could not say how many free State voters were there. There rna)
have been fifty in the district. I have no accurate knowledge, nevei
made calculations, but my general impression is that the pro-slaverj
party had a large majority. I was living at Osawkee at the time o
that election, and Dr. Noble lived some seven or eight miles fron
there. When I speak of his reputation for truth and veracity, I refe
to the neighborhood around for eight or ten miles ; the county is no
very thickly settled, and Dr. Noble is considered in that neighbor!
hood ; I have heard his nearest neighbors say he was not a truthful
man. I heard his reputation for truth and veracity ever since ha
came into the neighborhood, and the common talk is, that he is n
liar I do not know how many I have heard speak of it, for I do no!
often listen to a man speaking of Dr. Noble, for it has been dirme<"
into my ears until I am tired of it. Some of the persons in this dis>
trict knew Dr. Noble before he moved there, and ever since he haa
been there I have heard this of him. Charles Hardh was never ;
very bad liar, but yet he is a pretty good fellow. He does not tel
malicious lies, or mean any harm by them, but yarns and such like*
I used to know him before he moved there, when he was boarding out
on that road, towards Fort Eiley. He used to haul goods for McDoni)
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 295
aid, who had a trading place at Osawkee. I have heard a number of
persons say they would not believe Dr. Noble, perhaps twenty, per-
haps fifty, I cannot tell ; the same may have told me the same thing
about hiin several times.
A. B. SHAEP.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
WILLIAM H. TEBBS called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I resided in Jefferson county in this Territory, formerly the thir-
teenth district, at the time of the 30th of March, 1855. I have
resided there since the summer of 1854. I bought a claim imme-
diately upon coming into the Territory, and have worked upon that
claim ever since. My family was not brought into the Territory
until more than a year afterwards, because I had not sufficient accom-
modations for a family. My family was small, and I preferred to
board them in Platte county, Missouri, while I myself lived on my
claim altogether. The only business I have carried on since I came
into the Territory was on my claim, and all the business I have done
out of the Territory has been to settle up my affairs in Missouri.
Previous to my election as a member of the Territorial legislature I
had a saw mill in operation, and had hired a man in Missouri to work
in my mill. That man sued me in Missouri, in company with my
partners in the mill. A summons was left in Missouri at the place
where I usually stopped when there, and where my wife boarded. I
believe a lawyer was employed by one of the partners, but I was not
present at the trial and took no part in it, and some justice of the
peace (so I have understood) decided that I was a resident of Platte
county at that time, but upon what ground I do not know. I had
previously acted in this Territory as judge of election, under appoint-
ment by Governor Eeeder, and was then serving in the legislature
under a certificate of election given me by Governor Eeeder. My
brother also came into the Territory with me, and was in company
with me in business here, and had the same kind of residence here as
I did. He was, on the 30th of March, 1855, acting as justice of the
peace in this Territory, under an appointment from Governor Eeeder,
at the time of the 30th of March election. I suppose I was as
generally acquainted with the residents of the thirteenth district as
any other man in it, as I had been there for months previously, and
had been generally a public man. So far as I knew the people of
that district I think I was acquainted with their sentiments upon the
subject of slavery,, and my opinion was, after making calculations, that
the pro-slavery party had a majority of three to one in that district.
One ground of my opinion was, that, at the previous election of
November, when the only question mooted was the slavery question,
General Whitfield, the pro-slavery candidate, received sixty-nine out
of the seventy votes given in that district. On the 30th of March,
1855, Messrs. Eastin and Eees for the council, and myself for the
296 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
lower house, were the pro-slavery candidates. As near as I can recol-
lect, Mr. Twombley and Mr. Whitney for counsil, and Mr. Hardh
for the house of representatives > were the freesoil candidates. Mr.
Biddle was an independent freesoil candidate, so I understood. The
election was held at the house of Charles Hardh at Hickory Point.
The judges of election appointed by Governor Eeeder were Mr. Carey,
Mr. Atkinson, and another I do not recollect. They opened the polls,
and, on some account, resigned shortly afterwards. One of the
judges, Mr. Atkinson, said that he resigned because he could not
proceed under the instructions of Governor Reeder and act fairly
and, to use his own words, " as he found the election was going all
right any how. He thought other judges could be appointed who
could act more properly than he could." He was a freesoiler, but he
was in favor of my election. I do not know that Mr. Hardh, the
free State candidate, withdrew from the election about the time the
polls were opened. There were some free State men who voted for
me that day. Mr. Hardh, the free State candidate told me himself
that he preferred my election to his own. And in a free State con-
vention to nominate a free State candidate, some time before the
election, I received within one or two votes as many as did Mr. Whit-
ney, who received the nomination for council.
On the day of election there was no interference with voters, as far
as I saw, and I heard no complaint of anything of that kind from
any one that day. A party of free State men were there who did not
seem inclined to take part in the election, and I went to them and
told them that they could come and vote for whom they pleased
without molestation from, any one. Other persons gave them the
same assurance. They replied to me that they thought it was
unnecessary. The only man I saw armed that day was a free State
man, one in this party to whom I spoke. I saw some persons on the
ground that I know do not reside in the district now, but I do not
know where they resided at that time. There were some there whom
I had known in Missouri, and I think may have resided in Missouri
at that time, and were so regarded by the free State party. There
may have been some twenty or more who may have been so regarded
by the free State party, and if all those Missourians had voted I
should have had a majority without their votes. The free State votes
alone that I received would have elected without their votes. At that
time I knew of no Lykins in the district, though there may have
been. I know one of them of the name of Gardner, and also some
by the name of Gregg. I do not know as I knew any persons there
by the name of Williams. I had heard of a Mr. Arnold in that
district. I knew a man of the name of Walker there ; two persons
by the name of White. I knew a man there named Albert Mason at
that time. I did not know a Breckenridge there, but heard of one
there before the day of election. I do not know whether a Mr. Mar-
shall resided there before the election or not. I knew two Pembertons
there, and a William Carpenter, frequently employed by me, and a
free State man. I knew a Mr. Jeffrey, and heard of another Mr.
Jeffrey there. John Myers had lived in the district for three years
previous to the extinguishment of the Indian title. I knew a Mr.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 297
Cox there. I knew Smiths in the district previous to that election.
I saw many resident voters on the ground that day. I should judge
there were at least 150 of them I knew to have heen resident voters.
There may have heen more or less. Some twenty-five or thirty went
up with me from the neighborhood of Osawkee. I do not know Dr.
James Noble personally, and I do not think there is a man in Jeffer-
son county who hears a worse reputation. His general reputation in
my neighborhood as to truth and veracity is, that he is a notorious
and unscrupulous liar. I know the reputation of Charles Hardh in
his neighborhood for truth and veracity, and it is very bad.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
At the freesoil convention I have referred to, I have been told that
there were some twenty persons there. I was not present myself, but
I was told, as near as I recollect, that I received nine votes and Mr.
Whitney ten votes for council. This conversation was held at Mr.
Hardh' s some time,, not very long, before the election. Of my own
personal knowledge I know nothing about it. I know only by hearsay.
I did not authorize my name to be presented to that convention. I
think Mr. Charles Hardh and Mr. Hudson put my name forward. I
tli ink I have heard there were pro-slavery men there at that conven-
tion, but Mr. Hudson is the only one I now recollect.
I consider a man a resident of this Territory when he has made a
claim here, and made a demonstration that indicated that he is going
to settle here ; is upon his claim and declared that he intended to be
and remain a resident, whether he had his family with him or not.
I think that three-fourths of those who voted in the Territory and
who are now residents, with no families with them at the time of the
election, because they had no accommodations for their families. I
resided for two years previous to my coming into the Territory, and
had lived there some five years before that in Platte county, Missouri,
and was pretty well acquainted with the residents there. I saw a
good many men on the ground the day of the election I formerly
knew in Platte county, but they may have all been residents according
to my definition. I knew two or three there on that day who now
live in Platte county : David Hunt, Green White, I think Lycurgus
Sheperd, formerly sheriff of Platte county, and others I do not now
recollect. There was a number of persons there I did not know. I
saw no man vote. I never knew of any arrangement or invitation for
voters to come in our district at that election. I was frequently asked
if men should be sent to our district from Missouri to vote, and I
always told Missourians who asked me that there was no necessity for
that as we could beat the freesoilers three to one, and I suppose for
that reason they did not come. I think there were upwards of 200
votes given that day, and I think I received all but three ; one of the
three I gave myself. At the previous November election I think that
TO votes were cast ; 69 for Whitfield and 1 for Flanigan. I know
men in our district who did not come to the election on account of the
distance. I lived about 10 miles from where the election was held on
the 30th of March. Mr. Gardner lived on Walnut creek, I think
about 4 or 5 miles from Hickory Point. He is a farmer, and came
298 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
from Missouri. Mr. Gregg lives on Cedar creek ; he made his claim
on the Grasshopper, ahout the time 1 came into . the Territory, and
afterwards sold out. Mr. Arnold lives, I think, on Crooked creek,
some three or four miles from Hickory Point. Mr. Walker lives on
the Grasshopper, ahout four miles ahove me ; I do not know what his
first name is ; before Whitfield's first election he lived in the district.
Mr. White lived on Big Slave creek, ahout four or five miles from
Hickory Point. I do riot know where Mr. Breckenridge lived; I do
not know as I should know him. Mr. Marshall lived on Crooked
creek, some four or five miles from Hickory Point, so I have under-
stood ; I do not know when he moved into the district, and do not
know him personally. The Pemhertons lived on Walnut creek, and
moved in the district ahout the time I did. William Carpenter, after
leaving his wife, went hack to Illinois. Mr. Jeffries told me he and
his sons had claims on Crooked creek ; he came |from Clay county,
Missouri. John Myers, I understood, had been employed by different
individuals to herd cattle, &c., for three years before the Indian title
was extinguished. Dr. Noble lives at a place he calls Jacksonville,
some 10 or 12 miles from where I live ; I have heard of him ever since
I have been in the Territory, but I do not know him personally ; his
reputation for veracity in my own neighborhood, so far as I know men
who know Mr. Noble personally, though there are few of them,
is very bad ; and I know persons in his own neighborhood who know
him, and they give him the same reputation ; among them is Mr.
Hopewell, an acting commissioner of the county of Jefferson, and
others I should not like to name. Mr. Hopewell his told me of Dr.
Noble's general character for veracity several times :- one time, I think,
during the last term of the circuit court held at (Xsawkee. I under-
stood from him that Noble was ordinarily a liar, and there was no
use in believing him. I have heard several persons who have so
stated ; I know those who so testified before the grand jury as to his
character. I have heard others say so elsewhere. Every person whom
I knew from his neighborhood gives the same account of him. Ii
know of other persons who speak of this but I decline to mention thein
names, as I do not think it is necessary. I do not know as I shoulcli
know Dr. Noble if I saw him ; I do not know as I ever saw him. II
first heard something said against his veracity about two months ago,,
about the time of the sitting of our court ; but even before the March i
election I had heard him spoken of quite hardly in connexion with thed
murder of a man named Davis in the district, and an effort~was madet
to indict him as accessory to that murder. Mr. Hopewell never hadl
anything to do with this effort at indictment and I never heard of itt
until it was brought before the grand jury, of which I was a member. .
Most of the witnesses were free State men I think. The murder II
think resulted from some quarrel about a claim. I am quite friendlyvj
with Charles Hardh and have long been on intimate terms with him ;
I voted for him and believe he voted for me. Common reputation!
among all who knew him, both in Platte county, Missouri, and in our
district, was that he was a liar ; I never heard any one call him as
truthful man. Charles Hardh is not a common associate of mine ; he»
keeps a tavern and I often find it convenient to stop there to take'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 299
meals with him,, and I regard him as I would a landlord and treat him
as such ; but I do not make a "bosom friend of him. So far as our in-
tercourse extends we are on friendly terms, in no sense enemies, hut I
do not regard him as a truthful man.
Question. What other persons have you heard "besides Mr. Hopewell
speak of the character of Dr. Noble for truth and veracity?
Answer. I have heard three or four or five respectable persons of
his neighborhood speak of it, but I decline mentioning their names.
Question. Do you decline to mention their names on the ground
that it would involve you in personal danger and difficulty ?
Answer. It is not upon the ground of apprehension of personal dan-
ger and difficulty to myself. But knowing the common prejudice in
regard to having their names brought into public in this connexion,
and being ignorant of the feelings of those who have made these
statements to me. out of respect to them I would decline giving their
names. I do not decline to give up the names out of any fractious
spirit, but if it becomes absolutely necessary I will give their names.
To Mr. Scott:
After the March election I never voted in Platte county, Missouri,
at any August election there. I was sitting as a member of -the legis-
lature for this vicinity at that time. The last vote I ever cast in
Missouri was in 1854.
WILLIAM H. TEBBS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T, May 30, 1856.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT. — Burr Oak precinct.
A. A. JAMISON called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I came to the Territory, I think, the first of October, 1854, and
settled four and a half miles west of St. Joseph's, near the Burr Oak
voting place in the fourteenth district. I came from St. Louis, Mis-
souri, to the Territory, but was formerly from Ohio. I have resided
in the fourteenth district ever since.
I was at the election of March 30, 1855, at the Burr Oak precinct.
On the 29th day of the month, in the afternoon, towards evening,
some ten or dozen wagons came over the ferry from St. Joseph's to
the place and camped upon the ground west of the place. They
brought provisions with them. There was a firing of fire arms
during the evening until late in the night. I saw them passing as I
was at the road. The next morning the firing begun again. I went
up to the place of voting early in the morning, and they soon began
to come in from St. Joseph's and continued coming. I did not count
them, but as near as I can make an estimate of the numbers who
were not citizens of the precinct, I should judge there were something
like two hundred.
300 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
They were well armed with riflels, pistols, Bowie knives, and even
" war clubs," as they termed them. About fifteen minutes before
the polls were opened the candidates of the free Slate party proclaimed
that the whole free State ticket would be withdrawn and the pro-
slavery party could have the field to themselves. General String-
fellow, of Weston, was there — I was not acquainted with him, but he
was pointed out to me by those who said they knew him — stepped up
to Major Fee, who was a free State candidate, and asked him to get up
on the fence and proclaim it aloud, so that the party might hear him.
He did so, and there seemed to be great rejoicing, hats flying, hallo-
ing, &c. There were two opposing candidates of the pro-slavery
party for the council, Major William P. Richardson and Captain John
H. Whitehead. Captain Whitehead mounted a stump and made a
speech, and told the company that he and Major Richardson did not
differ any as regards the slavery question. There was some misun-
derstanding in getting up the ticket ; some advantages, I believe, had
been taken by one of the party. He explained it to the audience,
and requested the Missourians to stand back and let the'actual resi-
dents of the district settle the question between him and Major Rich-
ardson, as the field was then clear. The voting commenced, and was
continued from that 'time till sundown. There was a party selected
towards evening of good fighting men to stand and protect the polls
until they were closed and they saw that all was right. Their rea-
sons for forming such a fighting party, as they said themselves, was,
that they were afraid the free State men would come in and vote
towards evening. There were some votes cast by the free State party ,
probably a dozen or fifteen — I cannot state particularly about that —
for Whitehead. I did not vote, and did all I could to prevent any of
the free State party from voting after their ticket had been with-
drawn. The reasons for withdrawing the free State ticket and my
not voting were that the numbers of the Missourians were too great
for the actual settlers of Kansas Territory, and also to prevent blood-
shed ; those were the reasons given. Through the day, some time
about the middle of the day, I noticed a barrel said to be whisky,
and I saw person^ drawing from ths barrel and drinking. I saw a
great many drunken men there that day. I saw a good many per-
sons there from St., Joseph's with whom I was well acquainted.
Some of them I saw vote. Their vote was challenged, and it was
requested to swear them, which they declined doing, and it was not ,
done. After the election they returned towards St. Joseph's. A great
many left before sundown.
Of the three judges appointed by the governor to act at that elec-
tion but one served, who was Corey B. Whitehead. He appointed
two to fill the vacancies of Albert Heed and H. J. Johnson. I saw
General Stringfellow writing, and I think he acted as clerk part of
the day. One of the two judges appointed by the governor that did
not serve was on the ground.
By Mr. Sherman :
I heard no threats of bloodshed myself in the morning before th
free State ticket was withdrawn. I asked many of these strangers
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 301
they resided and they said they lived in Missouri and came
aver to vote for Major Richardson.
By Mr. Reeder :
I was acquainted with nearly all who lived in that precinct, at least
a majority of the residents there. I do not think if the whole num-
ber of votes of the actual settlers of the precinct had "been polled they
would have numhered over 60, perhaps not over 50.
The threats I heard after the free State ticket was withdrawn, were
not to take life. I saw some fighting hy fisticuffs. I saw a man ahout
five minutes after he had been shot, but I did not see it done. I saw
others who had their heads badly cut with clubs and stones.
These Missourians said that they considered that five minutes gave
them as much right to vote in the Territory as any man had who had
been living there a year. Major Richardson made a speech, in which
he said he really hated a freesoiler, and he would get up at the latest
hour of the night and go a mile to disturb him. I have never been
at General Richardson's, though I have been within a quarter of a
mile of his house in Missouri. The first I knew of him he was resi-
ding in Missouri, about 2| miles east of St. Joseph's. He came over
to the Territory and took a claim and erected a portable saw mill on it.
It was a timber claim. I think the mill was erected in the fall to cut
lumber all winter, but it was not for sale. I know of but one man
who got a foot of it, and he was obliged to have it for certain purposes,
and there was none to be got on this side of the river except of Rich-
ardson. On the evening previous to the election, I saw Hon. Willard
P. Hall, of St. Joseph's, bringing Major Richardson's lady over in a
carriage on this side of the river. The clay after the election I saw
them returning to Missouri, Major Richardson being then in company
with them.
By Mr. Sherman :
To my knowledge that was the only time Mrs. Richardson has ever
ibeen in the Territory. Major Richardson still keeps up his house and
ifarm in Missouri.
By Mr. Reeder :
The lumber cut by Major Richardson's saw mill was for his farm in
Missouri, and was taken to St. Joseph's by Mr. Dillon's ferry. I do
,not know as I have seen Major Richardson in the Territory since last
•fall.
I saw no persons sworn on the day of the election, and do not know
that there were any sworn. The time was so short, I consulted with
a good many of our people in regard to it, that it was concluded not
to contest the election. I then proposed that we should write to the
government about it. That was one reason why the election was not
contested. Another reason was that threats had been made that ii
the election was contested there would be greater numbers at the next
election.
By Mr. Sherman :
I am well acquainted with that district, and have been living there
302 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
since October 1854. I took a claim when I first came, and I still
hold it. I have been in no particular business since I have been here,
but have been pretty much over the Territory, and know the most of
the persons in the precinct. I made it my business to go about and
ascertain the feelings of the people in regard to the slavery question,
and from what I learned I have no doubt that a majority of the resi-
dents were free State men, and we expected to elect our candidate if
these Missourians had not come over. Benjamin Harding for council,
John Fee and Alfred Larzelere for the assembly, were the free State
candidates.
I have examined the poll books of Burr Oak precinct, for the 30th
of March, and find thirty-four names of residents of the district there
which I know. My opinion is that there may be a few others there
who were citizens, but strangers to me. The rest I think were stran-
gers to the district. I have the names of persons on the poll books I
was acquainted with as residents of Missouri. There are twelve of
them, and I believe but one of them resides in the Territory now. I
saw several of them vote. There were many persons there I was well
acquainted with, who took an active part in the matter, but did not
vote. There were half a dozen attorneys from St. Joseph's, of which
Bela M. Hughes, Colonel A. M. Mitchell, Colonel Silas Woodson,
General Bassett, John Scott, Willard P. Hall, and Mr. Cunningham,
were of the number.
It is called ninety miles from Burr Oak to Shawnee mission, the
way we have to travel. I do not recollect that boats were running on
the river at that time, but judging from the season I suppose there
were.
Eev. William M. Irish, William Davis, Dr. F. Purcell, 0. H.
Craig, merchant of Savannah, Samuel Blair, A. G. Mansfield, F. A.
West, William K. Richardson, F. M. Morse, Charles M. Gilmore, B.
McCall, William P. Richardson, are on the list, and I know them to
have been there from Missouri. Two or three of these persons held!
claims at the time of the election, but were residents of Missouri,.
never having removed upon their claims. After they had sold their
claims, they still remain in Missouri, with one exception, who hasi
bought a claim in the Territory, and is now living on it ; that is, F..
M. Morse, of St. Joseph's. I do not know whether William P. Rich-
ardson has sold his claim or not.
I find on the poll lists the names of thirty-four resident voters ofl
the district, as follows :
Names of resident voters in the Burr OaJc precinct, whose names appe<arf
on the poll books.
E. Blacks tone,
William Deekerd,
A. Longshore,
J. D. Armstrong,
John M. Tracy,
R. Meyers,
H. Thompson,
John Copeland,
H. Smallwood,
B. H. Brock,
William Palmer,
John Fee,
James B. O'Toole,
Peter Caduc,
John Trotman,
H. L. Creal,
E. Copeland,
J. J. Lovelady,
M. E. Bryant,
John McCafferty,
Joel P. Blair,
C. W. Stewart,
Matthew Hes,
James O'Toole, sen.,
Thomas C. Stewart,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 303
Thomas W. Watterson,
A. Grow,
W. a. Fee,
J. R. Whitehead,
Laply Ralph,
Albert Heed,
Gary B. Whitehead,
H. J. Johnson,
William A. Hill.
Cross-examined hy Mr. Rees:
Major Richardson had a claim here at'the time of the election, and
had a house on it. I have never seen him on his claim, though I
have often seen him in the Territory. I do not know as he had any
stock on his claim. I know that he spends a good deal of his time
in Missouri, though I have never been at his house. I do not know
that he or his family are not frequently on his claim. I have not seen
him or his family in the Territory since last fall. I think he has but
an only child, a daughter, now married, so that his family consists of
his wile and himself only.
By Mr. Reeder:
This is the same General Richardson who had command of the
troops here last fall during the war.
By Mr. Rees:
Of the man who was shot I cannot say and do not know who shot
him, or the cause of the difficulty leading to his being shot. 1 do not
know what was the cause of the fist fight, though it took place at the
time of the shooting.
By Mr. Reeder:
No answer was made to the proposition of Mr. Whitehead for the
Missourians to stand back.
A. A. JAMISON.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
WILLIAM P. RICHARDSON called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Oliver:
I first came over into this Territory in May or June,, 1841, and
stopped at the Nemaha agency,, 24 miles from St. Joseph's, Missouri.
I was a resident of the Territory on the 30th of March, 1855. I went
into the Territory some two or three weeks before the election of No-
vember, 1854, and bought a claim and gave $250 for it. I was a
candidate for council at the election of March, 1855, in my district.
Benjamin Harding and Captain Whiting, Thomas J. Watterson, Joel
Blair, and a man by the name of Larzelere, and Mr. Fee were the
other candidates. This was in the fourteenth district. It is stated in
the evidence of Mr. A. A. Jamison that I was not at that time a citi-
304 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
zen of Kansas Territory. That is untrue; I was not a citizen of Mis-
souri, and to my knowledge did not own one inch of land in Missouri.
I did not hear of any man being shot at that election, and I do
not believe that any man was shot there. I was present at the elec-
tion all day.
There were a great many Missourians there; I should think 400 or
500, some say only 300. I knew a good many of them, and there
were a good many of them I did not know I believe were from Mis-
souri. I did not see one of them vote, though there may have been
some of them who voted.
The election of that day was orderly. The free State candidates
withdrew, I think, an hour before the election commenced. I did not
hear an angry word that day about voting, and saw no efforts to in-
timidate voters. The window at which votes were received was clear
half the day, and they were calling out for voters. There was a;
family living in one end of the house. I saw no arms that day oni
these men. I had weapons, but always have carried them since I was*
an Indian agent, but that day not because I thought there would be1
any difficulty. I saw none of the pro-slavery party offer any indig--
nity to the free State party. I heard of one difficulty between a free-
soiler and a pro-slavery man, but I did not see it. There were several
among the pro-slavery men along in the afternoon, as I heard, but I
did not see them. The first fight took place one hundred yards from;
the polls, at a liquor store, kept by a Frenchman, who I think is ai
freesoiler, but I am not certain, as he speaks very bad English. Mr.
Harding, Mr. Larzelere, and Mr. Fee, the free State candidates, with-
drew, Mr. Fee, for thenx, making a speech to that effect. Captain
Whitehead, I think, made a speech, and- 1 answered him. He was
my opponent. He says he is not a free State man. There was a pri-
mary election held, in which he was beaten, and he still run as a pro-
slavery man against me. There were no free State candidates that
day. I think I received 234 votes that day, and Captain White-
head 68.
I was not well acquainted enough in the district to tell the number
of actual residents there, but I thought I knew the relative strength
of parties there, and that the pro-slavery party had 50 majority;
others thought there were more majority. All the votes of that dis-
trict' both for councilman and representative, were taken at Burr Oak.
From my canvassing that district I was satisfied there was a majority
of the pro-slavery party in that district, and I told the Missourians
not to vcwte; and I do not know as one of them voted. Some of the
free State men voted -that day, I should think upwards of forty. I do
not think Captain Whitehead got more than twenty pro-slavery votes.
I think I got twenty free State votes. I could name many free State
men who voted for rne, and I think I received more free State votes
than he did pro-slavery votes ; and I think about fifteen free State
men went away without voting for either of us. One of the free State
men was very active in my behalf. I have no doubt if there had been
a free State candidate I should have received a majority of the votes
of the actual settlers of that district. I should be willing to say the
same in regard to the pro-slavery candidates for the house of repre-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 305
sentatives at that election. Blair and Watterson received a number of
free State votes ; they were on the pro-slavery ticket.
I conversed with many of the Missourians who were over there that
day and they said they expected an emigration of about 150 voters in
that precinct, and they came there for the purpose of objecting to their
voting, and if they did .vote they would vote themselves. They said
they would not have come but for that, and I begged them not to vote
because there was no necessity for their voting. There were but two
who said they would vote for me, though others may have done so,
but I do not know that they did.
In my speech that day I said this, "that I would get up and go a
mile bare footed over frozen ground to strike a blow at their princi-
ples, but I would legislate for them as I would for pro-slavery men,
and I thought if any free State men who were honest in their principles
were there they would vote for me, as I did not tote water on both
shoulders." I said nothing against the free soilers' persons, only
their principles.
My wife has been in Kansas Territory many times. I have a pretty-
good farm in the Territory and stay there most of the time, and have
from $5,000 to $7,000 worth of property in the Territory most of the
time, just as my servants pass to and fro. I go over to Missouri on a
Saturday night and come back Sunday night. I have about 250 head
of cattle in the Territory and have exercised no rights of a citizen.
of Missouri since I have been in the Territory. My wife stays most
of the time at Mr. Hall's, for he married our only child. She comes
over to see me at times and I go over to see her. I received thirty-
odd votes that lived within two miles of my cabin, and Mr. Jamison
has not given one of them in his list. Some of these thirty odd are
now residents of that district and all were at that time. The thirty-
nine Mr. Jamison has given are in his immediate neighborhood, in
the bottom opposite St. Joseph's, except two or three who live up
Peter's creek. I live in the bottom above that. James K. Whitehead
lives a mile and a half from me, and Mr. Jamison has given no names
above that; that is the nearest one to me. I do not remember of ever
seeing Mr. Jamison about my claim and never heard of his being there.
My wife was at home when the assessor came and he did not assess,
as he said at the time, correctly. He trusted me for some names and
I may have forgotten the names of some, though I thought I knew
all of them. I have paid no taxes in Missouri since I came to the
Territory, though at the time of the election I did owe some of the
previous years' tax in Missouri. I gave it to my son-in-law and have
had nothing to do with it or the profits from it myself since the elec-
tion, except the then growing crop.
Some of our boys came up from the grocery in the evening, where
we had something to eat and to drink set out there. The freesoilers eat
our provisions and drank our liquor. I asked them to come up.
Some of our boys who came up got into some little fights among those
of our own party.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
I emigrated from Missouri to the Territory from Buchanan county.
H. Kep. 200 20*
306 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I gave my farm, upon which I was living "before I went to the Territory,
to my son-in-law. The farm was spoken of generally as my farm ; I
had my servants and property there. I made the claim I now hold in
the Territory in November, 1854, and I remained there during the
winter, my wife living with my son-in-law, and that was the case at
the election. I was nominated in the Territory a few days before the
election. At the primary election I was voted for, I think by ballot,
and got the nomination. The free State men had no primary election.
They were withdrawn because I think they knew they would be beaten.
I do not know who paid the expenses of these Missourians who were
over then; I paid nothing of it. They said they came over to coun-
teract eastern votes. We heard of them and believed they were com-
ing. The only reason I ever heard assigned for these Missourians coming
there was to counteract the votes sent by the Emigrant Aid Society.
I never heard the free State candidates say when they were withdrawn
that they did so because there were non-residents there. Bela M.
Hughes, Colonel A. M. Mitchell, Colonel Silas Woodson, General
Bassett, John Scott, and Mr. Cunningham, I know are all lawyers,
and are all citizens of St. Joseph's. I cannot state the names of the
thirty odd persons I have stated as living near me, but will furnish a
list of them. General B. F. Stringfellow was about there at the time
of the election, but if he served as clerk of the election I did not know
it. I do not know that the free State candidates withdrew because the
Missourians were over there. I do not know how many voters there
were in that district. I do not think there had been a great deal of
emigration that spring. Some of the free State men were not there
at the polls, but the pro-slavery residents were generally there.
By Mr. Oliver:
The following are the names of the voters who lived in my neigh-
borhood of the district on the 30th of March, 1855: Elijah Merrill ;:
Tipican ; William Kidge ; Kobert Whitset ; James Watterson ;
G-. W. Baker; John Doyle; Bryan; Thomas J. Dowlin; M. F.
Sweeney ; Anderson Gladden ; Sabert Gladden, who was then at work,
at his brother's and since made a claim there; Dr. E. F. Wells ; Wil-
liam Nichols, who lived with Wells ; James Jolars ; Oldey Evans ; Wil-
liam H. Allen; Poleet, who is a Frenchman, but whose surname I do
not know ; Edward Snyder ; Anderson ; Joseph Ashley ;
Francois, a Frenchman; William Shelton; F. Trent; John W. Smith;.
E. M. Moyain, and brother-in-law, whose name I do not know;
Uno ; Charles Slimer; Kobert Keid; Matthias Kupp; George Shun;;
Joseph Shun, who is father of George, and George is brother-in-law^
of Kupp ; Hezekiah Jackson ; Peter 0. Kope ; Benjamin Duncan ; John)
W. Stephens; James Gillespie, and Dio.
The district from east to west in the largest part is twelve miles, as*
near as I can say. It is irregular in shape, owing to the river, and is-*
about fifteen miles north and south in the largest part. The average
width I cannot give, owing to its irregularities.
There are two bottoms or neighborhoods below me, in one of which
Jamison's names are, and I find none among his list from the other
neighborhood. There is also a neigborhood above me of which I have
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 307
given no names, in which neighborhood, I think, there were at that
election at least sixty voters resident. I cannot remember whether or
not all the free State men went to the polls from that neighborhood ;
some of them I know did. Jamison has not given all the names in
his neighborhood. The names I have given myself are of persons who
live within two miles from me. There are some names I give from
recollection_, as I cannot find all of them on the poll books. I know
some of them voted whose names I cannot find on the books, I think
because they are not correctly given, or else I have not got the correct
names. I made out a list of names and then compared it with the
poll books, of which I never saw a copy until I examined it this time.
I did not see them vote, but I saw them on the ground, gave them
tickets, and saw them go up. But there are some four or five names
I have given I cannot make out on the poll books. There were no
Indians in the district that I know of, and none voted there I believe.
I have never seen the original poll lists. I think from examining the
poll lists that all the free State candidates voted that day. I found
about a dozen names on the list I think were not residents ; some of
the dozen I know were not residents. I do not know whether there
are more there or not who were not residents, and cannot state whether
all were residents or not of these names I do not know. '
WILLIAM P. RICHARDSON,
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 14, 1856.
LUTHER DILLON called and sworn.
I was ferryman at St. Joseph's, Missouri,, on the 29th and 30th of
March, 1855. There was an arrangement with Captain Wright, one
of the owners of the ferry^ to carry over persons from St. Joseph's,
Missouri, to Kansas Territory, for the payment of twenty-five cents for
each man and horse carried each way. That arrangement was made
by Colonel Fouts and Samuel Carsons on the morning of the day be-
fore the election, who agreed to pay for some companies. On the day
of election Judge Leonard and Mr. Middleton made an arrangement
to pay for whoever crossed during the day, and told me to collect from
none of them without they were pointed to me. Captain Wright
pointed out all that were pointed out to me, and from those I collected
the fare. Our ordinary fare was thirty-five cents for a man and horse.
There was 217 horsemen in all, both going and coming. We called
them 400 footmen who crossed, though there was more there. There
was more boys than men, as they were going over and back all the
time as it was a free ride to them. What has been paid to me wag
paid by Alex. Davis, and Colonel Somerville, and some $40, odd,
were handed to Captain Wright by some one, I do not know whom.
I was told to look to the men who made this contract for the money.
That day, or the day before, Major Richardson's black boy took over
gome provisions in a wagon, and some kegs, but I do not know what
was in them. There was more that day crossing the river than was
usual at that season of the year ; but not more than there was a few
308 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
days afterward, when the emigration commenced. I heard some of
the persons who crossed say they were going to the election at or near
Bryant's. I was not there myself.
To Mr. Propper :
There was no arrangement made by which I could distinguish per-
sons who were under this arrangement, except to he pointed out to
me. The question about the pronunciation of the word "cow" was
not asked by any of the officers of the boat, so far as I know. The
usual price was charged those who were pointed out to me.
LU. DILLON.
.LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 24, 1856.
BENJAMIN HARDING testifies.
I moved into the Territory in 1852, from St. Joseph's, Missouri,
^where I had resided several years, and have resided ever since in the
Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district. I was a candidate on
the free State ticket for the council from that precinct, at the election
of the 30th March, 1855, and remained a candidate until the morning
of election, when I withdrew. Two days before the election, Mr. Fee
came to me and stated that, from what he had learned, he thought our
prospect of being elected was not very good, and that from informa-
tion he had received we would probably suffer an overwhelming de-
feat. He said that reports led him to believe that there would be a
large number of Missourians over with the intention of voting. I
contended that I had intended to run the race through, unless we
consulted our friends in the district. We met at my house the next
day with Mr. Larzelere. I had ascertained only from rumor of the
coming over of the Missourians. Our second conference resulted
pretty nearly as the first, with the agreement that we would decide
the next morning before the voting commenced. I went to the polls
the next morning. I saw a large number of persons from Missouri
there, and quite a number of citizens of the Territory. Some of the
citizens of Missouri were known to me. I only saw them on the
f round, as far as I now recollect. I could not say how many of them
took to be non-residents were on the ground, there ought have been
a hundred or more, but many were strangers to me. After conference
with Mr. Fee and Mr. Larzelere, it was decided, after we ascertained
who were to be the judges of the election, that we should all with-
draw, and we did so — Mr. Fee getting up and announcing to the
crowd the withdrawal of the whole free State ticket. I had taken no
particular steps to ascertain what the course of the judges would be in
regard to receiving votes. I understood, merely from rumor, that they
were in favor of what was called "Stringfellow's exposition" of their
instructions and duty. We did not know whether that was true or
not, but we believed it to be true. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Heed were
elected in the place of Mr. Hulan and Mr. Blackstone, the judges!
appointed by the governor. All the judges thus acting professed toi
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 309
be pro-slavery men. I had, some three or four days, been riding
around through the district and making some general inquiries for
the purpose of ascertaining the political sense of the people of the dis-
trict. Mr. Fee was with us most of the time, and, I think,, took more
pains for that purpose than I did myself. Mr. Larzelere was with me
but a portion of the time. It was my impression, from all I could
learn, that the free State party had a majority in the district of some
thirty or forty, perhaps more, and I was led to believe that the ma-
jority would have been larger if there had been no under influence
from Missouri before and at the election. Fears were expressed that
in consequence of the presence of Missourians on the ground there
would be disturbances if we continued as candidates, which we wished
to avoid. I cannot say that I had any very great fears of any such
thing myself. I think likely these fears, and the presence of these
Missourians, had some effect, with other things, in inducing the free
State candidates to withdraw. I had intended to go through with
the election and remain a candidate, and if there was much fraud
practised to enter a protest against the election. Many of the free
State men voted that day ; but I do not know how many or what pro-
portion of them voted. Some of them afterward told me they did not
vote. I voted for Captain Whitehead alone ; but cast no vote for
representative. I have looked over the poll books of that election and
I find on it the names of some I knew to have been residents of Mis-
souri at that time, among them are W. K. Eichardson, Sidney Ten-
nant, F. C. Hughes. I think that it is probable a majority of the
names on the poll books were of residents of the Territory at that
time, as I am not acquainted with the names. There were many per-
sons in the district I knew by sight but not by name. I saw persons
on the ground whom I knew to be residents of Missouri whose names
I cannot give now. I did not see much of the voting done, and can-
not tell who or how many voted. I was never at Major Richardson's
house in Kansas, but I have often seen him in the Territory and also
in Missouri ; but I do not know as I have ever seen him at his old
place in Missouri, now Mr. Hall's place, since he first came to the
Territory, in the fall of 1854. The exposition of General Stringfellow,
of the duties of judges and rights of voters, was circulated pretty
generally, I believe, in the district in the form of a circular. I saw
several copies of it. It was stated to have been his exposition and so
represented, but I believe his name was not attached to it. The prin-
cipal portion of it was an exposition of the oath prescribed by Gover-
nor Reeder. I have no copy of it, and do not know as I could obtain
one, and do not know that any copies of it are now in existence.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott.
Mr. Fee, Mr. Larzelere and myself, so far as I recollect, did not con-
clude to withdraw until after the judges who acted were appointed. I
recollect distinctly requesting Mr. Fee to wait until we learned who
the judges were to be, before we determined whether we should with-
draw. As far as I was myself concerned, I did not determine absolutely
to withdraw^more than five minutes before it was done. I did not tell
Gary B Whitehead, one hour before the new judges were appointed, thai
310 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
the free State ticket was to be withdrawn, and we were going to con-
centrate the free State vote on Captain John H. Whitehead. I do not
think I told any one any such thing. I have no recollection of
Mr. Fee so stating to Mr. Gary B. Whitehead, in my presence, and
my consent to it. I have no recollection of any conversation with
Gary B. Whitehead one hour before the judges were appointed, in
which he insisted that Mr. Fee and myself should run, and that the
pro-slavery party could beat us a hundred majority in our district. If
any such thing was said, I think it was not in my presence. I think
I had expressed my preference for Captain Whitehead over Major
Kichardson for council upon our ground. I had determined to cast my
vote, if I voted at all, for Captain Whitehead ; but I did not under-
take to pledge any man's vote, and am of the impression that even my
own vote was not pledged at all. I am not aware of having used any
under influence with regard to the vote of any person. I have never
attempted, that I am aware, to influence any man's vote, except sim-'
ply by argument. I made no agreement with Mr. Fee and Mr. Lar-
zelere to use our influence to elect Captain Whitehead ; and if they did
so, it was not in my presence. I had no particular partiality for either
Captain Whitehead or Major Kichardson; and voted for Captain
Whitehead merely because I understood him as pledged to use his in-
fluence for the passage of an election law, by which the rights of the
citizens of Kansas in elections should be protected. I used the same
argument with some of the free State men. I said that some free
State men told me they did not vote. William Keaton was one of them.
Mr. Keaton has told me himself he was a free State man. I mean
the old gentleman, the father of Jackson Keaton, that used to live in
St. Joseph's, Missouri. Mr. Jacob Sharps told me he had not voted.
He lives in the fourteenth district, on Walnut creek. He was not at
the election at all on that day. Mr. William Gaines was another of
the same class; and he told me he was not at the election. The per-
sons I have named told me they were about starting for the election
when they learned the free State candidates had withdrawn, and they
then determined not to go to the polls. I have no distinct recollection
of hearing any other persons say so. I stated that my opinion was
that there was a decided free State majority in that district at that
time, and that it would have been larger if there had not been undue
influences from Missouri, both before the election and at the polls. I
saw some leading men from Missouri passing about through our dis-
trict, and I understood from others that they were electioneering for the
pro-slavery party, and representing their institutions of slavery as
unsafe in Missouri if Kansas should be made a free State. I consider
that undue influences. I knew of no free State men from Missouri, as
I npw recollect, of travelling our district and advocating free State doc-
trines. There might have been free State men from Missouri in our
district advocating free State doctines. Mr. John K. Carter was over
in our district at work. He was a native of South Carolina, and a
citizen of Missouri, and he expressed himself to me as being in favor
of a free State here. I do not know whether on the night before the
election John E. Carter used the argument to me that the free State
candidates should withdraw, so that Captain Whitehead might be
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 311
elected. I recollect that he stated to me that it was his opinion I had
"better withdraw ; but I do not recollect whether it was one or two
days before the election. There was a large number of Missourians on
the ground on the day of election ; but I do not know as I can specify-
any undue influence that they exerted that day, except what has
been shown by evidence here, and by the poll books. I know several
persons in Major Kichard son's neighborhood, but I did not know par-
ticularly about relative strength of parties in his neighborhood, as I
did not go directly into his neighborhood during the canvass, and was
in that neighborhood less, perhaps, than in any other in the district.
I know two or three men, living between Major Richardson's and
Smithton, who have stated to me that they were true free State men —
John Hartman and Charles Skinner — but further than that I do not
now recollect. I was in Burr Oak Bottom a couple of times before
the election, and I think once afterwards. I cannot tell how many
persons of that neighborhood I conversed with before the election ;
probably more than a half a dozen of them — Mr. Roark, some Law-
horns,, and others, whose names I do not recollect. I cannot tell how
many persons I conversed with in regard to the election, before the
election, and after I was a candidate, in St. Joseph Bottom, or how
many in the Bottom below St. Joseph Bottom. I conversed with Mr.
Kincade, Mr. Randolph, and several others ; but I do not know how
many. I cannot tell how many voters resided in that Bottom. It was
my opinion that there were more than twenty voters there ; but I
never saw twenty men that I knew lived there. I do not know that
the truth of the population of the district was comprised in the
neighborhoods just mentioned, as there were other parts of the dis-
trict quite thickly settled. It was from conversations with these per-
sons in these neighborhoods, and with others from different parts of
the district that I formed my opinion that there was a free State ma-
jority in the district; but I could not specify names now.
To Mr. Sherman :
I wish to state, in regard to the statements, that there were rumors
that the free State candidates expected aid from eastern emigrants on
the day of election, that I did not expect or wish it myself, and heard
nothing of it except from persons of the pro-slavery party ; and, so far
as I know, it was without foundation. I am not aware that any east-
ern emigrants were at that election in that precinct.
B. HARDING.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 24, 1856.
JOHN H. WHITEHEAD called and sworn.
I moved into the Territory in the fall of 1854, from St. Joseph's,
Missouri, and settled about five miles northeast of St. Joseph's, in the
Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district. I was at the election of
the 30th March, 1855, at Bryant's. Myself, Major Richardson, and
Mr. Harding were candidates for council. Mr. Blair and Mr. Watter-
312 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
son on one side, Mr. Fee and Mr. Larzelere on the other or free State
side/ were candidates for the house of representatives. On the morn-
ing of the election Mr. Fee, Larzelere, and Harding, the free State
candidates, withdrew. On the day before election I held a conference
with Mr. Fee as to the position that we all occupied before the people
of the district, and our conclusion was that Mr. Hardin and Mr. Larze-
lere were not strong enough to carry the vote of the free State party,
consequently there was no chance for their success. He promised that,
when they met the next morning on the ground of election, he would
use his influence with those men to withdraw and cast their suffrages
for me. It was generally rumored among our people that the people
of Missouri were coming over to vote at our election ; I do not know
as it was generally credited or not, but it was believed by some and
not believed by others. Missourians did come over across on the day
before and the morning of election ; a good many of them, I should
suppose from one hundred and fifty to two hundred. I think some of
them voted. My acquaintance in and around St. Joseph's was about as
good as any man who lived there, I think, as I had lived there pretty
much since 1839. I was present at the polls most of the time, but
not all ; backwards and forwards during the day. My memory is bad
as to names, and I may not be able to call over now those I saw there.
I saw some of them vote. They claimed to vote because people were
coming from the east to vote, right into the Territory to the election,
and their voting was but a set-off to the others. I do not recollect
that they claimed any right to vote because of the provisions of the
Kansas-Nebraska bill ; I think the reason I have given was the only
one I heard given. The polls opened about eight or nine o'clock in
the morning. I think the judges appointed by the governor did not
serve, but 1 heard them assign no reasons for their not serving. Mr.
0. Hulan did not serve that day ; he was on the ground part of the
time ; I do not recollect whether he was on the ground before the
polls were opened or not. I did not hear there why he did not serve.
Mr. Blackester and Mr. Hulan did not serve, and I do not recollect
the third man appointed by the governor as judge. I do not know
how the judges who did serve were chosen, for it was not done in my
presence. Mr. Heed, Mr. Johnson, arid Mr. Whitehead, my brother,
served as judges that day, and were all residents of the district at that
time.
There were some objections made to the Missourians voting when
they went up to vote. I challenged one man's vote myself, the vote
of Mr. Newby, who lived in the east part of Buchanan county, Mis-
souri. I think he was permitted to vote. He was not sworn, to the
best of my recollection. I did not see any one sworn that day as to
their qualifications to vote, though there might have been. When I
challenged his vote, I do not know that any particular reason was
given why he should vote. We stood there awhile, and I asked the
judges if they wrere going to allow him to vote, and no answer was
made that I recollect of. I walked away then. He voted. I have
known this man since he was a small boy, and he is a man of family
now, and I was satisfied he had not resided in Kansas, even if he had
claim. I do not recollect now whether I stated to the judges the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 313
Grounds why I challenged his vote. I do not recollect whether or not
he stated the grounds why he claimed to have a right to vote. I
challenged no other vote that day. I heard Mr. Groomes, while I
was standing a little way off, challenge a vote, hut I do not recollect
the name of the man who offered to vote, or the disposition of it. I
think three hundred arid three votes were cast that day, and between
fifty and one hundred votes were illegal, and I thought at the time I
knew that many persons there who were not residents. There were
many strangers voted there that day, probably some of them were
legal votes, though I cannot say about that. Mr. Fee, one of the
candidates, withdrew himself the morning of the election, giving as a
reason that there was not a union among the party. He told me the
morning of the election that it was the understanding that the free
State ticket should be withdrewn entirely. I do not think the pre-
sence of non-residents had anything to do with it. Mr. Fee expressed
no apprehensions of danger to me, and I apprehended none myself,
from the presence of non-residents. I do not know who these non-
residents voted for on that day. I believe some of them voted for me,
though I requested them not to do so. I do not think the free State
men voted that day as a general thing. Some of them did vote and
some went away without voting, because there was no ticket of their
party in the field. If the Tote had been confined to the actual voters
of the district, I cannot say whether the result would have been the
same. If the lines had been strictly drawn, I think the pro-slavery
party would have beaten. I had taken a good deal of pains to inform
myself upon that point. If all three of the candidates for the council
had run, I cannot determine what the result would have been, but I
think it would have resulted as it did, for it would have driven men
to unite on the candidates of their party. I was running as a pro-
slavery candidate. I cannot explain why the votes for council were
more than for representatives. I cannot say whether the free State
men who voted, voted for representatives or not, though I supposed
they voted a full ticket. I thought the election on that day was as
peaceable an election as I ever saw. I never saw better order on the
election ground in my life ; all voted, so far as I know, who wanted
to. The contest was all on one side, except between Major Kichardson
and myself. Some of the free State men asked me if it was necessary
to vote for me. I told them to use their own pleasure, but cannot say
whether they voted for me or not. The free State men were very
greatly in the minority in the crowd about the polls, though there ap-
peared to be a great many about the polls the first part of the day.
I do not remember the names, or that I saw many persons there on
the day of election that held offices in Missouri. Mr. Scott was attor-
ney of St. Joseph's at that time, and was there on the day of election.
At one precinct Mr. Stringfellow was there, but I do not recollect
about those who held offices in Missouri at that time. A great many
of the leading citizens of St. Joseph's were there, but I do not know
what part they took in the election. I do not recollect of any speeches
made there that day, except by Major Kichardson.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott:
I understood when I had a consultation with Mr. Fee, the day before
314. KANSAS AFFAIRS
the election, that he was to use his influence with the free State can-
didates to withdraw and have the free State men vote for me. The
votes to he given by Missourians, I think, had no influence with either
Fee or myself. He had no right to think that the citizens of Missouri
would do anything to injure him, as he had long heen a citizen of
Missouri himself. The only apprehension seemed to he that he would
not get votes enough of the actual residents to secure his election.
Mr. Fee assigned as a reason for withdrawing, that Harding and Lar-
zelere were unpopular with their party,, and if he himself ran, he
would have to carry them, and therefore, he thought it best for all to
resign. When he announced on the morning of the election that he
had succeeded in making this arrangement, I understood it to be in
consequence of an arrangement of the day before.
JOHN H. WHITEHEAD.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
JOHN K. CARTER called and sworn.
I reside in Missouri, about a mile and a half of St. Joseph's. I live
within about three-fourths of a mile from the farm known formerly as
the Major Eichardson farm, and about a mile and a quarter from the
residence. I moved there in the spring of 1842, and have had my
residence there since then. I was in Kansas, at the Burr Oak election
precinct, at the time of the election of the 30th of March, 1855, build-
ing a mill for Messrs. Creel and Bryant. I was about the place of
election at different times during the day. I was not around the polls
at all, but I was at work, at odd times during the day, and was about
the place of election at times. I was working on the mill the day
previous to the election, and after dinner, perhaps the middle of the
afternoon, covered wagons drove up and camped around where I was
at work, containing Missourians, some of my neighbors. The first
one I saw, I think, was Craig Montgomery. Shortly after that, there
was perhaps to the amount of a hundred and fifty men, from various
sections, under their leaders, came up there.
Judge Leonard was there ; Dugan Fouts was there, with a party
from Kock House Prairie, in Missouri, down in the east of Buchanan
county. They appeared to be the most prominent men. There was
Walker Gr. Eeed, and three or four of the young Carsons, Isaac Thorn-
ton, of Saline county there, Preston Eichardson from Andrew county,
Jeptha Ford from Andrew county. There was a company from An-
drew county, many of whom I was acquainted with, but I cannot re-
collect their names. John S. Pickett was there, and a great many
others with whom I was acquainted, but I do not recollect their names. .
They were there with their wagons, and provisions, and two barrels <
of whiskey, and camped there, about two hundred yards, perhaps ai
little more, from Mr. Bryant's house, where the polls were held the
next day. -They camped all around where I was at work, on the hill I
side, and put their provisions in an old Indian shanty that was there. .
I had conversation, a good deal of it, with these men, many of themi
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 315
my old acquaintances and neighbors, and I remained there with them
till long in the night. I talked with Colonel Fonts, John S. Pickett,
and Isaac Morton about their mission over there to Kansas.
Shortly after they came there, Isaac Thornton took me out privately,
one side, and asked me if I was going to join their company. I said
I did not know, as I did not know what their object was. He told
me they had come over to guard the polls and see that the election
went oif right in Kansas. I told him that if he went my way I would
go with him, and if he did not I would not. He asked me if I would
join their company and go with them. I said if he would go my
way I would, but if he did not I would not. He said they were going
to support the pro-slavery candidates. I do not, as they were named,
but they were understood. I would not say that any told me they
came to vote, but rather to guard the polls. I told them I was a
, southern man, and would do all I could for Captain Whitehead, who
was a pro-slavery man, and if they would go for him I would go with
them. They said they would not go into that. When I went to the mill
that morning the men were around the camp. I saw some of them
around the polls that day, but they seemed to be about the Indian
shanty and the polls. They camped there that night, and some of
them told me I would have to get the countersign if staid till after dark.
I did not see any of these men vote. I was about the polls before
they were opened, and then I went away and did not come back until
dinner time, when men were voting at the polls. I did not vote my-
self that day. I paid no attention to the polls, staying but a few
minutes to get my dinner,; at Mr. Bryant's, and then I went back to
the mill. I have examined a list of names given to me to-day, and
said to be a copy of the poll books, and have made out of the list of
those I know to have resided in Missouri. At that time I got from
one of the judges of election a certified- copy of all the votes given at that
election. There was a very important city election going off the next
week at St. Joseph's, between the whiskey and anti-whiskey parties,
\ and I was requested to get a copy of the names of the citizens of St.
Joseph's who voted there in Kansas, which I did, and presented to
; the judges of the election^ to Dr. Harding, of St. Joseph's, and I
had marked on that paper the names of those I knew to be citizens of
: St. Joseph's with a star; and so did many other citizens of St.
Joseph's, as we were very much interested in the election. That is
the way my attention was called to this subject. The names I have
shown from the poll books furnished by the committee, are as follows :
J. W. Stephens, S. P. Blair, Isaac Thornton, Merrill Willis, Sidney
Tenant, Dr. George C. Catlett, 0. P. H. Craig, F. C. Hughes,
James M. Teagarden, William Carson, James Carson, Charles C.
Carson, Johnson Carson, and William K. Richardson, Peter Monroe,
S. W. Woodcock, Jacob Ostenberger, G. B. Groomes, eighteen in all.
Some of these names 1 have given reside in Buchanan and Andrew
counties. St. Joseph's is in Buchanan county.
To Mr. Propper :
When they told me I would have to get the countersign I did not
get it. I understood that they would have a regular military camp.
316 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Mr. Thornton told me when I said I was going to stay there that fe
night, that they were going to have guards, and that I would have I
to get the countersign, but I did not get any, and went off out of theij
camp along in the night without any trouble. I think Judge Leonard!!
and Colonel Fouts and men of that stamp appeared to be the leaders, j
Thornton, I think, and perhaps Fouts, told me they were going to
support the pro-slavery ticket.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott :
Mr. Thornton told me that it was rumored that there was to be
boat loads of emigrants coming from the east to be at the election and
vote the next day, and that was the cause why they came over there
to guard the polls- I think the term "abolitionists" was used most I
that day, perhaps "emigrant aid men," but I do not know whether
it was understood, or not, that they were arriving merely to vote, orrj
also to settle. I do not recollect that they said they were going to .»
vote, or what they were going to do. I told them I was a coloniza—
tionist, not an abolitionist; that I was a southern man with northern i
feelings. I was in favor of fair play on both sides, let every man vote/
to suit himself. I had friends on both sides, but I had no particular!
interest in Kansas, and took but little thought about it.
J. W. Stephens was a young man, and was about the neighborhood!
mostly where I lived ; I saw him come over the evening of the
election, and I think I had a conversation, and I think he said him-!
self that he was going to vote or burst. I do not know where he re-!
sided for the six weeks before the election. He said he came over the>;
river to vote, and he was going to vote or burst. I never saw Majonj
Richardson's mill in the Territory, and do not know that this Stephens!
was at work at the mill before the election. He was in our neighbor-!
hood previous to the election, and also since, though he might have-j
been in Kansas at work for six weeks or two months, though he has-!
been about our neighborhood for three or four years past. It was my>|
opinion that he was a citizen of Missouri, and to the best of my know- 1
ledge I believe he was. S. P. Blair lives about two miles southeast off!
me. To the best of my knowledge he was living there on the day ofi|
election. I had been with him surveying, and he had a claim onij
Peter's creek, in Kansas, and I was hunting a claim myself. I helped!
him run off a claim there, I think, in June, 1854. He made anotherr
claim adjoining it for a widow Bradley, of St. Joseph's. He had somet
cattle over there grazing, but I do not know as he ever improved his?
claim, and his family lives near me yet. He never went over to his*
claim, as far as I know, with his family, and I know he lives and has*!
lived near me. William K. Richardson was at the time a citizen off
St. Joseph's. I believe F. C. Hughes is also a citizen of St. Joseph's,,!
and Dr. George Catlett, Sidney Tenant. I have examined the copyvj
of the poll here, and those are the only names I know to have beemi
citizens of St. Joseph's. I do not know half the persons at St. Joseph's. .!
I know most of the old established citizens of St. Joseph's, but thereei
are a thousand there, probably, I do not know. Major Richardsomj
and myself have no dealings with each other.
KANSAS' AFFAIRS. , 317
To Mr. Propper :
I saw no eastern emigrants that day about the polls that I know of,
JOHN B. CAKTER.
LEAVBNWORTH CITY, May 23, 1856.
JOHN W. SMITH called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I reside in the 14th district, Burr Oak precinct, in this Territory,
and have resided there since April, 1853. I was very well acquainted
in that precinct with nearly all the principal citizens at the time of
election of the 30th of March, 1855. There were at that time general
reports in that precinct that Eastern people were to he sent there to
vote at that election. The Burr Oak bottom comprised the largest
neighborhood in the precinct, containing, I should suppose, upwards
of fifty voters, but I cannot state the exact number. In Major Rich-
ardson's neighborhood there were ten families. In St. Joseph's bot-
tom there were somewhere about fifty voters. I was not particularly
acquainted in any but these three neighborhoods at the time of the
election. I cannot state how many voters there were in the entire
precinct. Major Richardson lived, at the time of the election and be-
fore it, in what is known as the Bontown bottom, in Kansas Territory ;
he was one of the earliest settlers in that neighborhood ; I had fre-
quently visited his house before the election ; he had a quantity of
stock, cattle, horses, mules, and hogs there, some slaves, &c. He
had been a citizen there and kept house there, eating and sleeping
there. I was present at the election at Bryant's in that precinct on
the 30th of March, 1855 ; I noticed some of the voting done there
during the day ; I do not think all the legal voters of the precinct
were there at the polls, but they were there as a general thing. I
know of three persons who did not go at all — Mr. Poe, Mr. Howell,
and Mr. Gabell — who told me they were not there ; I heard no others
! say they were not there. These persons gave no reasons for not being
there. Mr. Gabell says he is a free State man, but I do not know
j about Mr. Poe and Mr. Howell. I could not state definitely whether
; others were absent or not ; there were some there who told me they
did not vote. Mr. Ben. Harding, and Mr. Smallwood, and I think
I Mr. Brock, but I am not certain about that. The pro-slavery party
; had a majority in that precinct at that time of perhaps one-fourth ;
i that is, a difference of one-fourth between the two parties. There
was no one shot at that election that I ever heard of. I saw no arms
there, and heard no guns fired.
JOHN W. SMITH.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
OSBORN HULAN called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in August, 1854, from St. Joseph's, and
settled in the Burr Oak precinct, 14th district, and have resided there
318 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
ever since. I was appointed by Governor Reeder one of the judges of ^
fclie election of March 30, 1855. I did not serve ; the reason I did not :
serve was, that I did not think I could serve as judge, and go accord- *
ing to the oath prescribed by the governor,, which I thought I ought
to act up to. Carrol Hughes, of St. Joseph's, met me on the road as <
I was going to town, the day before the election ; he told me he had 1
come over to advise me to have nothing to do with the election, that
he came as a friend ; I believe he was sincerely a friend to me in that. .
I told him I was very thankful for his advice, but I had positively
declined within myself not to serve, before I had seen him. I did note
think he came to frighten me at all. I had had a conversation withi
Mr. Whitehead, one of my associate judges, about this matter, the *
legality of voting, in order to see how our views were upon that sub--
ject ; we disagreed but little at the time ; but after I went home, and i
read the governor's proclamation, and reflected on it, I concluded that;
I could not and would not have anything to do with the election, as Itj
knew I could not do what I knew to be my duty without having some
difficulty. When I was talking with Mr. Whitehead we had before •
us, I knew, "Stringfellow's Exposition" of the oath prescribed by,
the governor. I do not think either of us agreed either for the one '
or the other decision in regard to the oath. I cannot say whether!
Wh (ehead approved of Stringfellow's Exposition or not, but he*
seemed to think that the governor's proclamation was no particular!1
criterion to go by ; but thought the oath prescribed would not pre--|
vent any one from voting who should apply, as he considered all inij
the Territory, and had a claim merely as residents, and entitled to*i
vote.
OSBORN HULAN.
LEAVENWORTII CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
ALFRED LARZELERE testifies.
I first made a claim in April, 1854, and the one on which I now
reside in May, 1854. I moved my family from St. Joseph's in March.)
1855; to this Territory, and settled in the Burr Oak precinct, in thet
14th district, and have resided there ever since. I was named as a
candidate for the free State party as representative at the election ol>
March 30, 1855, in connexion with Mr. Harding for council, andt
Mr. Fee for the house. I ceased to be a candidate on the morning ol>
election, when I withdrew. Mr. Fee, froin the extraordinary excite-1
ment became alarmed, and was afraid the election would result in si
row if we continued as candidates. Missourians from various quarter?
began to come over into the Territory some two or three days before
the election, some stopping about in the neighborhood, and otherfj
going further out. I think it was two days previous to the election J
Mr. Fee called at my house and expressed his fears as to the consequence'
of this excitement, and suggested the propriety of our withdrawing}!
our names from the contest. I opposed the measure very decidedly/!
as I was for running the race through as men of principle, if we dici<j
•
' • i
I
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 3 ] 9
not get any votes at all. We separated with the understanding of
meeting at Mr. Harding's house the next day, which we did. We
there had a consultation with some of our friends ; Mr. Harding and
I myself opposed this withdrawing of our names, and Mr. Fee urged it.
II do not 'know that any particular persons came over and stopped them
the day before the election from Missouri. But persons were coming
over for several days before, and the rumor was general that they
would come to the election. Mr. Harding, Mr. Fee, and myself, after
the consultation, left with the understanding that we were to meet on
the ground at the polls on the morning of election. We did meet
there; I was quite sick, and should not have left niy house but for that
appointment. We looked around and surveyed the crowd_, and came
to the conclusion that there must be from 200 to 250 Missourians on
the ground, and the general understanding was that they come there
prepared to vote. I think the number was sufficient, if they had voted,,
;to out vote the free State residents of the district. Mr. Harding^
Mr. Fee, and myself met, consulted, and reluctantly, so far as Mr.
Harding and myself were concerned, consented to have our names
withdrawn, as we believed the Missourians would out vote us, if we
run as candidates at that time. Our names were then withdrawn.
Mr. Fee announcing by our authority that the free State ticket would
be withdrawn. I had taken some pains to ascertain the state of feeling
in the district as to free State and slave State, and I came to the con-
clusion that the free State party had a decided majority in the district.
The fear of being out voted by Missourians, and the anxiety of Mr.
Fee, were the principal reasons for our withdrawing our names. I
did not really fear myself that there would be any difficulty. I
knew the instructions of Governor Keeder to the judges of election,
and it was generally rumored that General Stringfellow had issued
: another set of instructions to the judges. We declined to withdraw
, until we knew who were to be the judges, and what their course of
, proceeding was to be. Mr. Blackstone and Mr. Hulan, two of the
judges appointed by the governor,, were not there, and the places were
I filled by Mr. Albert Heed and Mr. Johnson, so that all the judges were
i pro-slavery. The free State men generally did not vote that day. I
] do not know how many came to the polls, as I went home early in the
I morning. On my way home I met some fifteen or twenty citizens, ta
i whom I told the circumstances ; some kept on and others said they
would turn back and not vote. I voted that morning myself for Capt.
Whitehead and no other person. I saw nothing more of the election.
I have examined the poll lists, and the following are the names of
some I find there I know to have been citizens of Missouri at that
time : S. P. Blair, who lives southeast of St. Joseph's, 0. H. P. Craig,
of Savannah, Andrew county, Missouri, Duncan Lenion, from the
bottom above St. Joseph's, William K. Eichardson, of St. Joseph's,
Young Owen, at that time a citizen of Buchanan county, but since a
citizen of Andrew county, Evan Richardson, from Buchanan county,
Emmet Fulkerson, from Andrew county. There are a good many
names there I am acquainted with, but am not acquainted with their
first names, who were citizens of Missouri at that time.
320 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott :
I was acquainted with a good many in the district in which I was
a candidate, and I knew many "by face I did not know by name. I
have been in almost every neighborhood in the district, though in
some of them I have not travelled much. I am best acquainted in
the bottom, below St. Joseph's, and the St. Joseph's bottom. I never
was in Major Richardson's neighborhood before the election, and did
not know who lived there, except from report. I have never been in
the Burr Oak bottom. I have been out the California road, seven or
eight miles, but did not call at any one's house, as I had no business
at any of them. I never traced the lines of the district by actual
observation, though I knew where they were, as they were published.
I learned, by making inquiries, conversing with different ones, that
the free State party had a majority in the district. I learned from
various persons that up in Burr Oak bottom the parties were pretty
nearly divided. Mr. Harding and Mr. Fee were up there electioneer- •
ing. Did not go out myself to canvass, but once, on account of sick- -
ness. I then went into the bottom below St. Joseph's bottom, and li
ascertained there, from the inhabitants there, that there were forty
voters, and only three pro-slavery men there. I think Mr. White
and, probably, Mr. Myers told me so. I think Nathan White, or
Wheith, who lives in that bottom, is the one I refer to. So far as II
learned, I heard of no dissensions in the free State party, though there3
might have been such a thing. Mr. Fee never urged that to me as a»j
reason for withdrawing the free State ticket ; the only reason he
urged to me was the fear of a defeat by Missouri votes, and perhaps ail
row. He did not urge that if we withdrew our ticket, which we
could not elect, and unite it on Captain Whitehead, we could elect f|
him to the council over Major Eichardson, though it was understood!
that if we voted at all it should be for Captain Whitehead. I stayed
at the polls but a short time after the polls were opened, perhaps an
hour or two. I state that the free State men did not vote generally
that day, because I understood they did not generally turn out, and I
know there were but few on the ground when I left, and I met others
on my way home, who said they would not go to the polls. I do not
know whether any of the fifteen or twenty men I met went to thei
polls or not; I left them standing in the road discussing the matter;
some of them said they would go back without voting. I do not
know positively that any one free State man did not vote that day,
but I understood there was not a general turn out. I think it wasn
not known before the morning of election, so far as I knew, or gave
any intimation of it, that the free State ticket was to be withdrawn.,!
If the free State ticket had not been withdrawn, it is probable persons,!!
would have gone out and urged to come to the polls those of the freetj
State party who might have been tardy in coming. I never receivedlj
a letter from Governor Reeder, while I was a resident of Missouri,,!
urging me to run as a free State candidate for the legislature in this«i
Territory. I was into the St. Joseph's bottom, some days before the?
election, and I saw many persons there strangers to me, and heard l|
that they were collecting, and there was a general rumor to that!
Affect. A. LARZELERE.
LEAYENWOETH CITY, K. T.? May 23, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 321
WILLARD P. HALL called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
My house and place of residence is about f of a mile from the cor-
poration limits of the town of St. Joseph's, Missouri. I have resided
there in that house since March, 1849. I was at an election, held at
Mr. Bryant's in this Territory, about 4| miles from St. Joseph's, on
the 30th of March, 1855. I believe that is called the Burr Oak pre-
cinct. There were a great many persons there from Missouri ; I sup-
pose about 250. My purpose and the purpose of those with whom I
conversed in going to that election that day, was to secure the election
of the pro-slavery ticket by all legal and fair means. The voting of
Missourians I did not consider fair and legal means of accomplishing
that object, as my position has always been that no one but actual
residents of Kansas Territory had a right to vote in the Territory.
There was great excitement in our section of the country, the Platte
county, and, I believe, throughout the frontier of Missouri at that
time. We heard that a great many men were coming from the free
States for the purpose of voting at that election, with a view of pro-
hibiting slavery in the Territory of Kansas. It was also reported and
believed that many of these men threatened that they would first
make Kansas a free State and then commence an attack upon the slave
property of Missouri. It was also reported that a large number,
several hundred, were expected on the boat the day of election to vote
at the precinct where we went ; we expected to challenge all such
voters. If it was determined by the judges that non-residents who
were opposed to slavery should be permitted to vote, it was supposed
that they would apply the same rule to non-residents who were in
favor of slavery. I was about the polls a good deal that day, as my
father-in-law was a candidate, and I felt a good deal of interest in his
election, as I considered him more reliable upon the slavery question
i than his opponent. I am not able to say what number of Missourians
voted. I believe I did see two vote, but those are the only two I no-
ticed vote. I suppose they voted from having gone up to the window
with their votes, though I did not actually see them vote. They were
Dr. Tisdale and Mr. Nap. B. Wood, of Savannah. There may have
been other Missourians who voted, but if so I did not know it. I did
not know the number of legal voters in that precinct except by report,
though I endeavored to make myself acquainted with the relative
strength of parties in that district, as I felt a great interest in the
matter. I conversed with every one of both parties whom I thought
were able and willing to give me any information upon the subject.
My opinion was, from all I learned, that there were about 250 legal
voters in that district, and about from 30 to 50 majority for the pro-
slavery party in that district. I am not acquainted with the residents
of the district generally, though I am acquainted with a great many
i who did reside there at that time. I saw a great many that I knew
to be residents of that district, some 50, or 60, or 70, who were at the
polls, and I saw a good number of them vote, but I cannot say how
many ; and some also that I judged did not vote. I attended a meet-
ing at old man Lohorn's, called by some of the candidates, I under-
H. Rep. 200 21*
322 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
stood, and Mr. Fee, Mr. Harding, and Captain Whitehead, candidates,
were there. That was two days before the election of March 30, 1855.
Captain Whitehead, Mr* Harding, and Mr. Fee addressed the meeting.
Captain Whitehead said he was a pro-slavery man ; the others ap-
peared to me not to express themselves very decided free State men,
but the drift of their argument was in favor of a free State. There
were not more than 12 or 15 voters, I think, at that meeting. I con-
versed with quite a number of them. I also made a little speech
there myself, in which I tried to persuade the people that they ought
to vote the pro-slavery ticket.
William P. Richardson, now member of the council of this Terri-
tory, resided at that time in the Territory of Kansas, about 6^ miles
from St. Joseph's, by the usually travelled road, and about 4 miles in
the most direct way. Major Richardson lived in my house until the
fall of 1854, September or October. He managed the farm, and at
the time he left my farm and house turned, it over to me, and I have
had the whole matter to myself, and he has had nothing to do with it.
He has never lived in my house or on my farm since,, only occasionally
visiting us. At the time he left my farm he said he was going to re-
side in Kansas Territory. I have been frequently at his house in
Kansas since that time. He has a farm in the Territory of Kansas ;
which he cultivates. Prior to and at the time of the election of :
March 30, 1855, Major Richardson had between 200 and 300 head of?
cattle in the Territory, and also some slaves, some two or three, some- •
times more. He also had horses and mules, and a circular saw mill.
He had also some hogs, I think. As to the amount of land he had i
under cultivation at that time, I cannot say, nor how much he had i
enclosed by fences. Major Richardson was an actual resident of Kan- •
sas Territory at the time of that election. Sometime during the day
of election, perhaps about noon, there was a fight. I got to the place •
of election prior to the opening of the polls. I heard of no quarrel-
ling or disturbance before the polls were opened, or any threats by per--
sons of any party. I was present when one of the candidates, I think;
Mr. Fee, got up and stated that the free State ticket was withdrawn. .
I heard a speech, all of it, delivered by Major Richardson on that oc-
casion. I cannot state the words, but I can state what I recollect ofi
the substance and drift of what he said. He said that he was a very/
strong pro-slavery man_, and yet he believed that the honest free State?
men would vote for him. He said he would get up at any time in thei
night to defeat the free State principles, and if elected he would ops*
pose their free soil principles in every way in his power, but in anyf
other respect he would represent them impartially. I think that m
about the substance of all he said upon that subject. I think thee
polls were closed when I left that evening. I got over the river before?
dark, and I think a little after sundown. I went over on a steamboat.!
I do not know how prominent and leading I was in the councils of!
the pro-slavery party 6n the ground that day. I was in consultatioail
with those I considered the leaders of the pro-slavery party at that*
time. There was no fighting committee appointed and left there fofl
the day, so far as I know. I think if there had been anything of thai
kind I should have known it, though there might have been such asl
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 323
thing without my knowledge. I never heard of anybody being shot
there that day until within a few days ago, and I do not believe there
was any one shot there that day. I cannot say how the Missourians
who went over there that day were armed. Some few I saw with
rifles, but the rest had no arms except they were concealed. I had
none myself. I remember of seeing a few guns on the ground, not
more than half a dozen, and I do not know that they were all in the
hands o*f the Missourians, and cannot say that I saw a single gun in
the hands of a Missourian. I do not think I saw a pistol or Bowie
knife in the hands of any one that day. I accompanied Mrs. Rich-
ardson on the third day before the election to the Territory. I rode
on horseback, and she went in a two horse wagon driven by a negro
boy. I left her there, and I believe she returned to my house the day
after the election, though it may have been later. I came home my-
self on the day of election. The day after she came to my house,
Major Richardson, Gary Whitehead, and one of the judges of elec-
tion, Mr. Blair and Mr. Watterson, representatives elect, left my house
for the purpose, as they said, of going to Shawnee Mission, where
Governor Reeder was, for the purpose of making returns of the elec-
tion, and getting certificates of election for the members elect.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I heard of these rumors that I have spoken of being in existence in
Missouri in regard to the eastern people coming on here to vote in the
early part of March, 1855. I heard the matter talked about a good
<deal. I did not hear about the steamboat load of passengers to come
at the election precinct where I was until about a week before the elec-
tion. I also heard that there was an emigration of some forty or fifty
coming to Iowa Point either from Iowa or through Iowa. The report
was that these persons were coming merely to vote and then return.
I know nothing about the truth of these reports. I know these per-
isons were not at the election where I was. It appeared to be generally
i believed, though I doubted it myself. I never tried to trace up this
i report to see where it came from, but I enquired a good deal about it
to see whether it was reliable or not. I enquired of a good many who
I said they had taken pains to enquire, and they said they believed the
'report to be true. I believe now that a great many did come under
| the influence of the free State aid societies merely to vote, and that
ithey did vote and then returned. I saw none at the precinct I was at
that spring, but I believe they were here at uthis precinct, and that
they came here that spring. I know nothing at this time about the
truth or falsity of the report. It was .my intention and those with
whom I conversed to go over to the election and challenge the votes of
these men if they were offered ; if they were ruled out we would have
been satisfied. If they had not been ruled out I would not have voted
junder any circumstances myself, because I thought I had no legal
:right to vote. I would have advised no one else to vote, though I be-
lieve there were many there, residents of Missouri, who would have
offered to vote if the judges had decided that the residents of Massa-
chusetts had a right to vote. I do not now remember that I saw any
324 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
newly arrived eastern emigrants there that clay, and from all I have?
learned I think there were none there. I saw two Missourians go up;
to the polls with tickets in their hands, and believe they voted ; one*
was Dr. Tisdall, who resided in Savannah, Andrews county, Missouri,,
but I do not know his first name ; the other was Nap. B. Wood, oi
Savannah. I did not hear any I knew to be Missourians say they had!
voted. From all I have heard I do not believe there were over teni
Missourians voted there that day, but I think there were about thaii
number of Missourians voted that day. I heard in almost every crowd!
and every little company, where Kansas matters were discussed at all.,
these rumors I have mentioned. I did not come over to Kansas till a*
few days before the election, for the first time that month. I think-
these rumors were very prevalent in our portion of Missouri. I do not
recollect who was the first one I heard mention this rumor ; I do nolr
think I talked with any but citizens of Missouri and pro-slavery merr
of Kansas about this rumor before the election. I think I heard ru-i
mors that there was information derived from steamboat captains aria
others perhaps, that there was a large crowd of these emigrants in Stt,
Louis waiting for a chance to come up the river. Gen. William P*
Richardson has a wife, and he has lived in this Territory from the fall
of 1854. His wife lived at my house in Missouri during that time1
and lives there yet. I do not think that, in the opinion of a souncc
lawyer, a man's residence would be affected by the fact that he lived in
the Territory and his wife in Missouri, for we hold that a wife's residencoj
follows Jhat of her husband. The farm I live on is sometimes desigjj
nated as Major Richardson's farm, but I do not think the title wa,tj
ever vested in him. When the house was built it was built upon land
that never belonged to Gen. Richardson. I was in Congress at th-ij
time, and when I came home Gen. Richardson lived in the house an«<
cultivated the farm, and it was commonly known as the Major Richard!
son farm. He cultivated the farm before he lived in that house
and continued to cultivate and manage it until the fall of 1854]
when he ceased to have anything to do with it. Plis wife has madij
her home with me and he has made his home in Kansas Territory, hit
wife never going over except on visits. Major Richardson has a fam
in Kansas, and I think since he has been there the most of his attenr
tion has been devoted to his cattle as the most important part of hii
farming operations. I do not remember that I know any Bird in tha
district where Major Richardson resides, or in this part of the State c<
Missouri, and do not think I saw a man by the name of Bird or c
Ashburn at the place of election that day. If there were 250 resii
dents in the district, I think I was acquainted more or less with
fourth of them. John Fee was a candidate before the day of election
but on the day of election, before any votes were taken, he withdrew
The following are some of the names of resident Missourians- 1 s
there that day : Solomon L. Leonard, Bela M. Hughes, F. C. Hughew
John Scott, George Hall, my brother, Gen. Jonathan M. Basset^
Reuben Middleton, Walker Read, Silas Woodson, Preston Richardson
John Graves, Wellington Cunningham, Squire E. S. Castle, Captaij
James Craig, Alexander Davis, James Carson, Bean Hamilton,
youth of some 15 or 16 years of age, Benjamin F. Stringfellow, COD
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 325
A. M. Mitchell, Mr. Todd, and a great many more that I do not now
rememher. I am not aware that the farm I live on has been known
as Major Richardson's farm since he moved to the Territory in 1854.
I think it is not.
WILLARD P. HALL.
LEAVBNWOETH CITY, May 22, 1856.
BENJAMIN H. BROCK called and affirmed.
To Mr. Propper :
I reside in about five or six miles of the Savannah landing, opposite
Savannah, Missouri, in the Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth dis-
trict. I moved in the Territory in the last of September, 1854. I
was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, in the Burr Oak pre-
cinct, at Bryant's. I got to the place of election after they had com-
menced voting. Harding informed me that the free State candidates
had withdrawn. The voting was going on. I then voted for Mr.
Whitehead, Blair, and Watterson. I saw numbers voting. I saw but
; one in&n vote that I knew to be a resident of Andrew county, Missouri ;
his name was Samuel W. Woodcock. There was a large concourse of
people there. I had seen a young man some time previous to that come
up and hand in his vote. I did not know the young man, and they
objected to his voting, and said he was not of age. One of the judges
presented the Testament or Bible to him. The young man would not
•• swear, but left. I asked the judges about the time Mr. Woodcock
voted if they applied the same rule to -every one who offered to vote as
Ithey did to this young man, and they told me they would call for me
when they wanted my advice. I saw a Mr. Castle there, and I had a
j conversation with him. I have known him for the last fifteen years;
he was a citizen of Andrew country, and is yet, I believe. His name
is E. S. Castle, Squire Castle, as they call him. He and I got to talk-
ing, and I told him jokingly that he must vote, now he had come over,
and he said he was not entitled to vote. The judges intimated as
much as if he could vote. It appears to my mind that they said
| he could vote. I think Mr. Whitehead was foremost, but I will
(not be positive about that. I was not very well acquainted in our
(district, and cannot say what the relative strength of parties then
'was. There were some men I met there I was acquainted with in
'! Andrew county,, Ex-sheriff Crook, two of the Davis's, or Davidson,
Fleming and Benjamin, I think, were their names, Dr. Baker, •
[ and many others whose names I cannot recollect. Mr. Teagarden
' and some gentleman I talked with claimed, as I understood, that they
;had a right to vote under the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and that every
' man ^ on the ground had a right to vote ; that their presence in ^ the
'Territory made them voters. Mr. Teagarden had an interest in a
1 claim over here. I knew nothing of any the others having claims.
: They agreed that a man coming here and laying out a claim here,
though still living in Missouri, had a right to vote here. I have seen
< a copy of the poll list furnished by the committee, and saw som*
S26 KANSAS AFI'AIRS.
names there I was certain were residents of Andrew county at that
time^Dr. Tisdale and P. 0. H. Craig, William K. Richardson, of
Bushman county. I left shortly after Judge Leonard got up and asked
the company to remain until the polls were closed, and I think he said
the poll-hooks certified, and then they would all return together. I
saw little disturbance, but it was some one hundred yards from the
polls, at a grocery.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott :
I saw but one man vote there that I was positive was not a resident
of the Territory. I saw numbers voting there. I will not be positive
that it was Mr. Whitehead who said to Squire Castle that he could
vote, but I am of the opinion it was.
To Mr. Sherman :
I emigrated from Andrew county, Misssouri, to Kansas. The
greater portion of those voting there that day were strangers to me,
and I do not know whether they lived in the district or not.
To Mr. Scott :
I had never been to Major Richardson's place in the Territory. I
had never seen his mill. At the time of the election I did not know
what people lived in the neighborhood of Mr. Richardson.
BENJAMIN H. BROCK.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
BENJAMIN DUNCAN called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I resided in the 14th district of this Territory on the 30th March,,
1855, in the Burr Oak precinct. I was acquainted a good deal ini
that neighborhood at that time; I was acquainted with John W. Ste-
phens. I went over to Kansas in December, 1854, or January, 1855,,
and Stephens was living in the Territory at that time, at Major Rich-
ardson's, where I went myself. He continued to reside there until!
after the 30th of March. Some few days before the election he wentt
across the river on some business, and returned again. I knew Elijahi
Merrill, James Merrill, Mr. Tippican, Robert Whitsett, James Wa—
terson, Gr. W. Bahn, John Doyle, Thomas J. Dolan, Anderson Cried--
don, M. S. Swinney, Sabiot Gledon, 'Dr. E. F. Wells, William Mi-
chaels, (was working for Wells,) James Sellers, Olney Evans, William i
H. Allen, Polite Laravier, Edward Snyder, Anderson, Joseplf
Ashley, Franpois, a Frenchman, William Shelton, F. Trust, John W,|
Smith, E. M. Morris, Uno, Joseph Peters, Charles Sl.imer,
Matthias Rapp, Hezekiah Jackson, Peter O'Rouke, Benjamin Dun an,,j;
John W. Stephens, James Gillespie, Henry Lagua, were residents?,
of the district. Major Richardson was a resident of the Territory^
I worked for him about three months, and he was there pretty much'
all the time.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 327
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I have known John W. Stephens since I went to the Territory. I
heard from him that he was from Virginia. He was a young man,
without a family. Mr. Stephens lives near St. Joseph's, Missouri,
now. His parents are not living in Missouri. He left the Territory
shortly after the election, though he had a claim in Kansas then, but
has lost it now, so he told me. I think Elijah Merrill is a man of
family, and James Merrill is married. They both live in the neigh-
borhood of Major Kichardson, but I do not know whether they live
there now or not, as I do not live there myselt now ; they were there
when I went to the Territory. I do not recollect exactly where Tip-
pican lived then, and do not know where he lives now. I do not
know where he was from, or how long he had lived in the Territory
then, and do not know certain whether he has a family or not, but I
I think he has. I cannot say how old he was, and do not know as I saw
him on election day, or where I saw him last. I never knew him
anywhere else except in the Territory, and have never been very inti-
mately acquainted with him ; I recollect of seeing the man there.
Robert Whitsett had a claim there at that time, but I do not know
where his family was, but I believe he had one. I do not know where
he lives at this time ; I know that he lived on his claim on the day of
election, but I cannot tell how long he had lived there or where he had
come from. John Doyle had a place near where I was working, and
had his family with him ; and so with Thomas Dolan. I think that
a man who lives in the Territory, and has been living there for some
time, and has his family with him, if he has one, he is a resident. I
do not recollect much about M. F. Swinney. I think he was there on
the day of election, and I have seen him there at other times. He
ihas a family, and lived between three and four miles from Bryant's.
Mr. Gladden had a farm there, and his family with him. Mr. Wells
I was living there. Joseph Sollers is a farmer, and had a family there ;
!he came from Missouri, and is between twenty -five or thirty years old.
,1 left the neighborhood about two weeks after the election, and have
not been back to that neighborhood since. Mr. Anderson is a man of
: family, and had his family with him. I think Mr. Trent's business
I is a farmer. I do not know that any of them even had any other
j house. John M. Smith had a claim, and was living on it. E. M.
i Morris lives west of Major Richardson's place, and had a family, and
i was living there at the time of election ; he came there with his fam-
| ily sometime during the winter.
To. Mr. Scott :
I went from Major Richardson down on the bottom, opposite St. Jo-
seph's ; got married, and went to California by the way of Salt Lake.
I left my wife here on a claim I had. I got back the last part of
March, 1856.
BENJ: DUNCAN, his x mark.
LHAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
328 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
CHARLES W. STEWART called and sworn.
To Mr. Propper :
•I moved into the Territory on the 15th of January, 1855. I cai
originally from Indiana, by the way of St. Joseph's. I moved in
Doniphan County, in Burr Oak precinct, 14th district. I was at the
election of the 30th of March, 1855, at the house of Mr. Bryant.
There were a great many people there, more than I had expected. I
should suppose there were something like 300 people on the ground.
I arrived there about 10 o'clock in the morning, and the voting had
been carried on for some time. There were a great many strangers N
there, and many I knew to be citizens of Missouri. I am of opinion
that there was at least 50 persons from Missouri that I was acquainted
with. I had lived near St. Joseph's five years, or something near it,
and was acquainted with most of the citizens there at that time.
Some of those I knew were William Hughes, an acting justice of the
peace, F. W. Smith, Mr. James Clark, Merrill Willis, Evan Rich-
ardson, Mr. M. Moore, Mr. Northcut, the proprietor of a mill, Squire
Carson, and a great many others I know. Mr. CundifF, the editor of
the St. Joseph's Gazette, and Wm. K. Richardson were there. 1 am not
very well acquainted all through the district ; well acquainted in
some portions of the district, and not in others. At that time, I am
of opinion that the free State party had a majority of the regular legal
residents in that district. I voted that day. I think that the major
part of the free State men did not vote. My understanding with them
was that they would not vote, because the opposite party had driven
their candidates from the track, and they did not intend to participate
in the election. The crowd there broke up as persons usually break
up at elections, and went off I do not know where. Some were on
the ground when I left. I think I did not hear any speeches made
that day. I do not recollect of seeing any persons vote. I had some
conversation with some of them in regard to voting. They pretended
to say that there had been a rush of abolitionists to the Territory to
vote, and that they had an equal right to vote in the Territory. It
was contended by many that they had a right to vote, but I do not
know upon what ground except perhaps that they were present. They
gave as a reason for voting that it was in retaliation to the course
pursued by the abolitionists.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott :
I do not know what free State men left the polls without voting.
Matthew Isle told me he did not vote. I have looked at the poll
lists, and I do not find the names of some free State men I know. I
do not know of my own knowledge that any free State men went
home without voting. I do not recollect the persons who said that
the other party had driven off our candidates. I think Mr. Fee, or
Mr. Harding, I am not certain which, told me that they had withdrawn
their names to prevent bloodshed, as a party had come over from
Missouri the evening before with arms, and encamped upon the ground
near there. No one tried to prevent my voting that day. I voted for
Capt. Whitehead, and no one else. I made nothing like a speech
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 329
there. I said I was a candidate for " Congers/' as we used to say in
Indiana when we were boys, and used to go sparking old Congers
daughters, but I made nothing like a speech. I got some liquor at
., the °Indian wigwam, took it with Squire ^Carson, Major RichardsoM,
| and Judge Leonard, some whiskey the Missotirians had brought over.
Mr. Evan Richardson tantalized me by saying "what will you do
with your abolition sentiments to day, just look there/ ' pointing to
the wagons. There was not I think the very best feeling there
between the parties. I saw some guns in wagons, but am not positive
about seeing any upon persons. One gentleman in company with
Merrill Willis told me he was from. Grand river, and had come over
with a wagon in which there were some guns, and showed me his gun.
If I saw any person armed it was with nothing but side arms, but I
could not say I saw even that.
C. W. STEWART.'!
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
COLONEL A. M. MITCHELL sworn.
Question. Were you at the election at Burr Oak precinct ?
Answer. I was.
Question. How was that election conducted ; was it quiet and
orderly ?
Ansioer. I considered it as much so as elections usually are.
Question. Did you see many Missourians there ?
Ansiver. I did.
Question. Do you know the object of the Missourians being there ?
Ansiver. It was understood at St. Joseph's that two or three steam-
boats were to arrive about the time of the election loaded with
• Emigrant Aid men from the north, for the purpose of voting and
, carrying the election at this precinct for the free State men, and the
! people of St. Joseph's and vicinity determined they would be on the
ground in large numbers and prevent them from voting who had
! come there merely for the purpose of voting.
Question. Do you know where W. P. Richardson lives?
Answer. To the best of my belief he is a resident of Kansas.
Question. Do you believe he was a resident of Kansas on the 30th
of March, 1855.
Answer. I do.
Question. Have you a knowledge that he was a resident of the
Territory at the time of the first congressional election in the Terri-
tory?
Answer. I believe he was a resident there, and has been ever since.
Q uestion. Did you make a speech in St. Joseph's a few days before
the election ; and what did you advise the Missourians to do ?
A nswer. I did ; and advised them that they had no right to vote
in the Territory.
Questioned by committee :
Did not other prominent citizens of Missouri take a different view
330 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of the law, and claim that any one on the ground in the Territory on
the day of election had a right to vote ?
Answer. I know of no one hut General Stringfellow, who took that
ground at the puhlic meeting at which I spoke. I don't remember
that the other speakers defined their positions in that respect.
A. M. MITCHELL.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
HENBY S. CREAL testifies.
To Mr. Scott:
I was residing in the Territory on March 30, 1855, and was at the
election on that day, at Mr. Bryant's in Burr Oak precinct, in the
fourteenth district. I was acquainted with very many of the resi-
dents of the district, and I think the pro-slavery party had a decided
majority in the district at that time, seventy-five ; perhaps more on
the day of election. Major Kichardson resided at that time in Kan-
sas Territory. I know this from the fact that I was frequently at his
residence, and lie was our candidate for councilman. I took some
pains to inform myself as to the number of resident voters in the dis-
trict, and I think there was at least three hundred votes, and my
"belief is increased from the vote polled at our primary elections.
The weather was very bad, and we polled at the primary election
over one hundred votes, and I am satisfied not one-third of the voters
in the district were out at that time. I was acquainted with a great
many Missourians who were over there. Their object in coming, as I
understand, was to make Kansas a slave State if possible. It was
rumored there, and believed by many, that a great number of men
would be sent into the Territory by the eastern aid society to be at
our election, and that there would be some at our place of election,
and the Missourians came over there to prevent them from voting,
and to counteract their voting. I saw no arms there on the day of
election. There was no disturbance of any kind at the polls, and it
was as quiet and orderly an election as I ever saw. I think the free
State candidates were not driven from the field by any threats or op-
position. I did not hear Mr. Fee's announcement of withdrawal.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
The report about the Emigrant Aid Society was believed up to
the day of election. It was said at that time, and the name of the
captain was given, that many of these eastern people were on their
way up the river, and it was determined by the captain of the boat to
ground his boat below St. Joseph's. It was generally believed, I '
think. It was expected that these emigrants would arrive at the
precinct the day before the election. It is likely, if the emigrants
had been coming as was rumored, they would have landed at St,
Joseph's, as that would have been their most convenient point. The
boats going up and down the river almost always stop at St. Joseph's.
I presume if they had arrived, it would have been known at St. Jo-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 331
eeph's. Some of the citizens of St. Joseph's came over on the day of
election, and some the day before. It is likely those who came over
knew the rumor as to our district was not true in regard to these emi-
grants. The reason I heard given was that they came over in conse-
quence of this rumor, and they came over for the purpose of counter-
acting this emigrant vote and preventing their voting. I think that
rumor, judging from the actions of the leading citizens of St. Jo-
seph's, was helieved by them on the day of election. The claim was
made by myself and by others, as a matter of right, that the citizens
of Missouri had a right to vote in Kansas if they were on the ground
on the day of election. I do not know how far this was believed.
Some believed that and others did not, Some said they had no right
to vote, and others that they had a right to vote and would vote.
There was also the other claim in relation to counteracting the action
of this eastern Emigrant Aid Society.
To Mr. Scott:
I have heard resident Missourians claim that they had a right to
vote merely because of their presence on the day of election at the
polls in Kansas. The general doctrine was that if they were present
on the ground on the day of election, and lived in Missouri at the
same time, but had claims in the Territory, and intended to come
over here to settle, they therefore had a right to vote here. I have
no doubt but that Major Richardson got a majority of the legal votes
cast on that day. Very many of the freesoilers did not vote. I have
no doubt but what Major Richardson received at least two-thirds of
the legal votes cast that day.
To Mr. Oliver :
I saw no force resorted to on that day to prevent the free State men
from voting or attempted to be employed, and I do not believe such a
thing was thought of by any of my party. I never attended an elec-
tion where so much interest was felt where there seemed 'to be so
much good feeling between the people there.
H. S. CREAL.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
GEORGE W. G-ILLMPIE called and sworn.
I came into the Territory on April 11, 1855. On March 30, 1855,
I was at St. Joseph's, Missouri, on my way to the Territory, with my
teams and goods, and I crossed the river there and voted in the Ter-
ritory just below Whitehead's. There were a gjeat many at that
election. I should think there were two thousand of them. I had
no conversation with them, and as soon as I voted I crossed back. I
saw these men going up to the window where the votes were taken,
but I cannot tell where they were from. I do not recollect whether
they were armed or not. There was a dinner provided there free to
all who wanted to eat. I eat there and paid nothing for my dinner,
When I came over from St. Joseph's to vote, and 3 hen I went back
332 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
to meet my family on the road, there was a large crowd along. There
was no charge for ferriage either way. The boats were passing back-
wards and forwards all the day. After voting and returning I went
down the river to meet my family, who were on their way to the
Territory, and met them and crossed at Weston, some twenty-five
miles below, and came to the Territory and have been here since.
General Kichardson appeared to be the leader of the party that day.
The place of voting was just opposite St. Joseph's some fo*ur and a
half miles from the landing. I do not remember who were the can-
didates, except that Kichardson and Whitehead were running for
council. My two sons came over and voted at the same time, as did
my son-in-law. Upon examining the poll list of the fourteenth dis-
trict, Burr Oak precinct, I find that I voted No. 170. This I can
only tell by finding it on the poll books.
G. W. GILLESPIE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
GARY B. WHITEHEAD called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott:
I live in Doniphan county, in what was formerly Burr Oak pre-
cinct, in the fourteenth district in this Territory. I moved from St.
Joseph's, Missouri, in January, 1854, to the Territory; I made my
claim in July,, 1853. I am at present sheriff of Doniphan county; I
was one of the judges of election at Burr Oak precinct at the election
of the 30th of March, 1855, to which office I had been appointed by
Governor Reeder, and acted as judge at that time. I think I was as
well acquainted, perhaps better than any other man there, with the
residents of the district at the time of the election. I should judge
that at that time there were about four hundred voters in that pre-
cinct, though there may have not been over three hundred arid fifty.
There were no votes cast on the day of election but what we considered
legal at the time. I have been examining the poll books and I find
some names upon them I do not now recollect, and a great many I do
recollect. There are a number of French and German names which
I do not recollect now. There are French, German, and Norwegians
living in that precinct whom I know by sight but not by name, and
they were legal voters at that time and they voted. In looking over
the poll books I find the names of many who were sworn, as they were
not naturalized and had merely filed their intention to become citi-
zens. I know there were such persons living in the precinct at the
time of election, but I do not recollect their names. I have examined
the list of legal voters taken from the poll books and given in the ies- •
timony of Mr. Heed, numbering some 130, and I think I know pretty
nearly every man on that list to have been a legal voter at that elec-
tion. There are some few names I do not recollect. I have examined
the poll books of that election and have made out a list of eighty-one
additional names of legal voters, that I know the names of, and I
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 333
knew to have been legal voters at the election of the 30th of March,
1855, they are as follows:
B. E. Lowen, John Edmondson, Oby Evans, J. Peters, H. Doyle,
E. B. King, James Roberts, Sherrod Lawhorn, James Lawhorn, E.
C. Smith, C. L. Parker, Polite Levier, R. Dodd, S. M. Gardner, J.
Denoble, J. W. Stephens, Edward Snider, R. Osborne, James Lovel,
S. P. Blair, E. Moran, S. J. Floyd, William J. Roland, J. M. Parker,
Madison Osborne, Philip Manuel, W. H. Gillespie, William McGrew,
William Chapman, William Ayres, Porter G. Roberts, P. H. Rob-
erts, John P. Brady, J. Pecar, T. Reed, John Arnet, John Hender-
son, N. Holmes, Q. Ball, Elijah Merrill, F. Duvall, J. Randolph, J.
C. Stump, E. F. Wild, David Jones, Levi Lyman, J. P. Irvin, J.
Craft, William Davis, Benjamin Sprouse, John Kelly, S. K. Camell,
Levi Shepherd, F. Lariman, Thomas Howell, James Taylor, F. Pur-
cell, G. W. Gillespie, R. B. Ayre, J. Welsh, W. J. Copeland, C. M.
Gilmore, J. Morrow, Horace Teron, Henry Roat, Francis Murphy,
Gaspar Lariman, G. W. Davis, G. Armstrong, J. Beattie, Joseph
Gillespie, William Michaels, A. C. More, E. Taylor, Philip Kerlin,
Jacob Osenberger, Samuel Anderson, James Michaels, G. B. Groomer,
and William J. Palmer, eighty-one in all. There are in that county,
in what 'used to be Burr Oak precinct, two ferries from St. Joseph's —
one at Whitehead, one at Palermo, one at Bontown, one at Boston,
! one at Kelly's Ferry. They were all employing men, four to six
hands to each boat, and they lived in the Territory, and were con-
sidered legal voters, but I do not know all their names. There are
names on the poll books that I cannot recollect anything about, and a
good many that I know were present and voted, but I cannot recollect
now where they lived. There were a great many more legal votes
cast that day for Major Richardson than were necessary to elect him
over Captain Whitehead, even if Captain Whitehead had got all the
free State votes in that precinct ; and if all the free State ticket had
i run, I have no doubt they would have been beaten. I told the free
I State candidates that morning that I would bet them $100 that if
' they run wejwould beat them one hundred clean votes, and there
\ should be no illegal voting done that day. I went to the polls that
i morning tolerable early. Just as I got to the polls I met John Fee ;
I he was the first man I spoke to there. He spoke to me, and said he
; wished me to do my duty as judge of election on that day; that he
• and the other two free State candidates, Harding and Larzelere, had
; concluded to withdraw from the field, with the understanding that
i they were to use their influence for John Whitehead, my brother. I
asked him his reason for withdrawing. He stated that he had can-
vassed the district, and was satisfied their ticket could not be elected ;
he thought he himself might be elected, but he could not pack Hard-
ing and Larzelere. Just at that time Harding came up, and we con-
tinued to talk for some few minutes, and Harding himself acknow-
ledged that they had concluded to resign and use their influence in
favor of Captain Whitehead ; this was at least an hour or an hour and
a-half before the polls were opened or the judges elected. I told Fee
that the pro-slavery party could beat them one hundred votes in the
district ; that I had counted them and could tell him to a man the
334 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
difference between the two parties. I told them that from the best
calculation I could make the pro-slavery vote in that precinct was just
eighty-seven votes more than the freesoil vote, and I told them they
might run and we would show them that it was so. I tried to get
them to run for that purpose. I put a hundred cattle in the rush
brake, and I paid the Indians $50 for the privilege of doing so, and
have done so since 1852. In this way, and because I herded alto- •
gether about a thousand head of cattle, I had a better chance than
any one else to tell who lived in the district. Major Richardson
resided at that time in Burr Oak precinct, in Richardson bottom, or
Bontown bottom, or Big Trout Lake, about a mile and a half from i
the town of Whitehead. Major Richardson bought that claim in the *
latter part of the summer of 1854, from William Jordan, and gave •
$250 for it, and has been living on it ever since. I have staid withi
him, I should think, a hundred nights, and I rarely ever found him i
away from the place.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard:
By legal voters,, I mean that the greater portion were inhabitants <
of the Territory at that time. They had claims there, had property '
there, had houses there, and were living there, though some of them i
did not have their families there. Many came up arid offered their*
votes, and declared they were resident citizens of the Territory andi
were willing to swear to it. A number of them I did swear, and I[
called on the people standing round, that if they thought proper, then!
was the proper time to challenge their votes. I considered those per--;
sons legal voters who had claims and property there, and were living ;
on their claims, whether their families were with them or not. I knew '
at that time, and I know now where every man lived and lives that !(•
have put on my list. The jnost of them had claims, though some •
were hired out, some in the saw-mill, some on the ferry boats. I ami
not very well acquainted in Missouri. I recognized some names on i
the poll books that I.knew lived in Missouri at that time. Evan Rich-
ardson was there and claimed to be a citizen of the Territory, but he?
has not moved into the Territory since. He claimed to be a resident, ,
and said he had a claim, and we allowed him to vote. I have never'
seen his claim, and he has never moved on to any claim that I know '
of. A large majority of the men in the list I have given had claims,,
though all were not living on their claims, but some were out at workfi
for other persons. One young man came up to vote, said he was ai
citizen and had a claim, and ninety-nine men out of one hundred!
would have taken him to be twenty-three or twenty-four years old. .
The other two judges were about to let him vote, and I questioned him i
about his age, and he admitted he was not twenty-one years of age, ,
and he did not vote. J. W. Stephens is now in Kentucky, I think. .
He then lived in the district and worked for Major Richardson. He*
was a carpenter. Wm. K. Richardson was there. He had a claim in?
the Territory, and lived almost as much in the Territory as he does in f
St. Joseph's, where his family is, but I do not know as he has ever had 1
his family over there with him. He has a farm of one hundred and!
sixty acres on the prairie, all fenced in. I do not know whether the i
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 335
names I have given on my list were all on the census. The county
was settling every day after the census was taken, and has been set-
tling almost every day since. The men I put on my list came mostly
from Missouri. The most of our county of Doniphan is settled from
Buchanan, Platte, and Andrew counties, Missouri. I called all those
who had claims, made improvements, and lived on their claims,
whether they had their families with them or not, legal voters. There
were some Missourians who had cattle and claims in the Territory
without calling themselves citizens, though not many.
GARY B. WHITEHEAD.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
THOMAS W. WATTERSON called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott:
I reside in Doniphan county, Kansas Territory, and have resided
there with my family since June, 1854. I removed to St. Joseph's,
Missouri, from Butler county, Ohio, leit my family there some six
weeks, and then took them to the Territory. I am quite well ac-
quainted with the Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district, and
was about the second family that moved into that precinct after the
treaty was made with the Indians. On the 30th of March, 1855, the
weight of the populatiou of that precinct was contained in the Burr
Oak bottom, the St. Joseph's bottom, the neighborhood of Major
Richardson, and the Cadue bottom, or the bottom below St. Joseph's
bottom. To the best of my recollection there was very little over
thirty votes in other parts of the district. I was at almost every
'house in the precinct twice before that election. I was a pro-slavery
candidate for the legislature before the preliminary conventions of
;the pro-slavery party. I think there was five of us pro-slavery can-
didates, all desirous of receiving the nomination. The last time I
ipassed over that precinct was immediately before the election, not
exceeding two or three days. It was but a day or two before the elec-
jtion, when I got through canvassing that precinct. I took a good
ideal of pains in regard to finding out the number of voters in that
:precinct, and the way. they would vote on the slavery question. I
;had a memorandum book in my pocket, and I took down the names
;of those voters who were in favor of the pro-slavery ticket, and also
those in favor of the freesoil ticket, and also those who were doubt-
ful, making three classes. The object I had in doing this was to find
our strength. After dividing the doubtful ones among the pro-slavery
and free State parties, our proportion was about two to one. And we
had a decided majority if we gave all the doubtful ones to the free
State party. I do not recollect precisely the number of actual resi-
dents in that precinct, it was in the neighborhood of three hundred, a
few more or less. This I made out as near as I could. In the Cadue
bottom and the neighborhood, I should judge there was from fifteen
to twenty voters ; there may have been a few more. All that I know
about the division in the free State party, is what I heard one family
336 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
say who were called freesoilers. I cannot say anything except in this •
particular instance. My opinion is, that the free State candidates j
could not have got the full strength of the fresoil party, though iti
may not have fell short much. I have conversed with Charles Slimerf
a number of times, both before and after the election, and he has*
always expressed himself in favor of the pro-slavery party. I did nott
see him vote on the 30th of March, 1855, but he said that he voted!
the pro-slavery ticket. I was a justice of the peace, appointed byr
Governor Reeder in November, 1854, and held the office until the"
.assembling of the legislature. I went in company with those elected I
in the Burr Oak precinct to Governor Reeder for the purpose of ob--
taining our certificates, and we obtained them without any objections a
from any quarter. Governor Reeder told me we deserved credit forr
the manner in which our election was conducted.
I believe that on our way down we did not meet any men from the
east who had been here in the Territory and voted and was then on their
way back. We met some coming in the Territory who told me that I
they were to have been here before the election, and appeared to bei
very much out of humor because the officers of the boat did not de-*-!
liver them here as soon as they had promised. I was not acquainted i|
with any of them ; did not inquire their names. A large portion of>j
what I saw was after we got to the main road from Kansas City, Mis-*|
souri, into the Territory, between there and the Shawnee Mission^
and then we were hardly ever out of sight of groups of from two owl
three to half a dozen. Nearly all we met were men, on foot, withi
carpet sacks and bundles in their hands. They said the agreement'1!
was that they should have been landed here before the election. We
rather led them on to speak by saying' they were too late for the
election, and they said the agreement was that they should have beer
before the election, and seemed very much put out because the steam-i
boat had not got up sooner. They said nothing that I recollect on
about voting if they had got here in time. I asked where they werr
from, and they said from Massachusetts. I do not recollect that the]
said anything about the Emigrant Aid Society ; whether they were
sent, or came of their own accord. We remained at the Mission somu
five or six days, and as we returned we met a number of men travel
ling in a similar manner, going out of the Territory. I made no in
•quiry of them, and I do not recollect that any of our company didil
I could not say whether they were the same men or not that we mee
going in. My impression was that they were eastern men. I weif
over in a wagon to Willard P. Hall's, with Mrs. and Major Richardsonr
^at the time we started down to see the governor, some day or two afted
the election, the 2d of April, I think, though I may be mistaken as w
the time. Willard P. Hall was not in company wi+h us at the tim-ij
«of the election of the 30th of March, 1855. Major Richardson resideoj
in the Burr Oak precinct . Only two days before the election I was aai
his house, in what we called the Richardson bottom, about two miletj
•«ast from where I live. Mrs. Richardson came over while I was therr'
in a two horse or mule wagon, a black man driving. Major Richardi
son has a double log cabin as good as most of us have, some servant!
there, some hands employed, and all carried on as if they were livin
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 337
at home. I think it was in October, 1854, that he commenced house-
keeping there. I had eaten at his house-a number of times before the
election. He had cleared a pretty considerable field and prepared the
o-round, prior to the election,, for planting. Messrs. Fee, Harding, and
Larzalere did not canvass the district at the time of that election near
as much as we did. I heard of them once in the Cadue bottom, and
'once in the Burr Oak bottom, I did not hear that they had been
from house to house as I had. The Lawhorns told me they voted the
'pro-slavery ticket, but they had intended to have voted the free-State
ticket at first, but after they heard the speeches of the free-State can-
didates they determined to go for the pro-slavery ticket.
T. W. WATTERSON,
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T.5 May 24, 1856,
ALBERT HEED called and sworru
I live about four or five miles west of St. Joseph's, in this Terri-
tory, in the town of Watheua, arid have been living near there since
July, 1854, with my family, and without my family from April to
July, 1854. I was raised in Ohio, came to Missouri, and then to the
Territory. I was born in Virginia. I live in the Burr Oak precinct,
in Doniphan county, and have been since July, 1854. Governor
Eeeder appointed me to take the census of the fourteenth district,
which I did, and got me to distribute the election blanks in the
district, I consider I was pretty well acquainted with most every
person in the Burr Oak precinct at the time of the election of the 30th
of March, 1855. I had considerable conversation with Governor
Eeeder about that election, when I was down there and made the
census returns. He told me he expected a great many emigrants into
the Territory before the election, and a great many of them from the
east ; he came to speak of it when speaking of the annoyance he had
from the many letters of inquiry he received in regard to the Terri-
tory. He said he expected a great many into the Territory, especially
from Pennsylvania. I had been in Pennsylvania, and had a great
many connexions there. Some he knew, and that is the way the
Conversation came up. He asked me for information in regard to
laying off the different precincts in the district, which I gave him.
He said the only opportunity he had of getting such information was
rfrom those who had been taking the census. Burr Oak precinct was
laid off according to lines recommended by me. He made a good deal
of inquiry in regard to the politics of those in the district, and how
they stood upon the slavery question, and that alone. I represented
to him that in the lines of the Burr Oak precinct I proposed, there
was a free-State majority; this was while we were laying off the
district. I do not know as he expressed any interest in having a free-
State majority in the district thus laid out. I asked Governor Reeder
then what time the election would take place. He said he did not
know exactly, as there was one census return that had not come in,
and he could not appoint the time until the census returns were all
H. Rep. 200 22*
338 KANSAS APFAIES.
in. He said he should have some considerable trouble in apportion-
ing the districts. I think this was in the last of February or the
first of March, 1855. I was introduced by Governor Keeder to
General Pomeroy, and I have seen him but once since. I do not
know what his business was. I think General Pomeroy told me the
election would take place about the 27th or 28th of March ; this was
while I was down with the returns to Governor Reeder. I think I
was pretty well acquainted with most of the actual resident voters in
the Burr Oak precinct at the election of the 30th of March, 1855.
During the time I was taking the census there were emigrants coming
in almost every day. There were some few who had got in at the
time I finished the census, which I did not put down. I noticed that
as soon as I began to take the census they began to come in so as to
be on their claims. I do not recollect distinctly the number of voters
in that precinct. All the names of the voters for the district were
given in together. I think the number in Burr Oak precinct was
little over the proportion for two representatives and one councilman—-
that is, 215 ; but it was something near the proportion, so far as I
recollect. I do not know how many was there at the time of the
election ; there was more than when I took the census ; I think there
were about 300. A great many who came in — a large majority- — •
were pro-slavery men who came over from Buchanan county, Missouri,
who had made cla'mg and improvements previously, and who moved i
on their claims that spring. I have examined the poll-books of the
30th of March, 1855, and find there the following names that I know
to have been actual residents at that time :
E. Blackstone, Thomas H. Baker, Mr. Dix, Samuel Montgomery, ,
F. Ridge, B. D. Hodgwood, Wm. N. Irish, F. B. Anderson, E. G,
Robinson, James Sollers, James Watterson, Thomas Dolan, W. .
Thomas, Joseph Skinner, George Shaw, Wm. Jordan, A. A. Hughes,
Wm. Deckord, Wm. Ridge, A. Larzelere, Jerry Lewis, Peter O'Roke,
Matthias Rapp, Wm. M. Morgan, J. W. Smith, J. M. Morrill, W, .
H. Allen, Samuel Piles, J. D. Armstrong, J. M. Fay, John Doyle,
Anderson Gladden, Henry Lewis, Robert Whitsett, John W. Cope-
land, J. D. Lawhorn, N. Bell, Matthew Elliot, R. Nyax, Hezekiabi
Jackson, H. Thompson, M. F. Swinny, Wm. Skelton, L. D. Cooke, I
Charles Eggers, P. Lowry, O. Hulan, Joseph Ashley, J. Coke, E.J
P. Weaver, L. McLellan, J. Youder, S. L. Sollies, Wm. Matthews,;,!
Benjamin Duncan, L. Copeland, Wilson D. Moore, H. D. Adams,! |
H. Smallwood, J. W. Smith, W. B. Shoupe, J. M. Farmer, Samuel
Kirkpatrick, F. Trent, B. H. Brock, John Copeland, J. Kendall,!
Wm. Palmer, J. Groomes, John Fee, Philip James, James 0 Toole, j
Peter Cadue, Major Adair, Jarrett Treble, A. Treble, Charlew
Cradier, John Trottman, H. L. Creal, Charles Skinner, Eli Copeland,!
J. J. Lovelady, M. E. Bryant, Win. Laforge, Frost Snow, Benjamimj
Harding, John McCaiferty, Joel P. Blair, C. M. Stewart, Newtonij
R. Carter, Thomas Blanherslap, Francis Torry, Mathew Toles, W.j
Dodson, Joseph Seliff, James 0' Toole, sen., A. G. Mansfield, Thomas*'
Stewart, F. M. Morse, A. B Groomes, H. H. Churnley, Noah Vogan.fi
Richard Morris, S. E. Morris, R. L. Morris, Bart. McCall, Wm. P.JI
Richardson, Thomas W. Watterson, Albert Heed, W. Fee, D. O'Toolel
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 339
James B. Whitehead, 0. B. Whitehead, H. J. Johnson, Wm. A.
Bill, Wm. Arthur, Tapley Ealph, John H, Whitehead, Roberts,
— • — - Howe, -< Gilham, Findle, Pendleton, Kincade, Reed,
Treble— 130 in all.
There are a good many names on the poll books I cannot make
out. I was one of the judges of the election. At the time of the
election I was pretty well acquainted in St. Joseph's, Missouri, as I
had lived there some five years. I find upon the poll-books : Nathan
Newly, Nimrod Duncan, sen., William Salley, E. Richardson,
There is a young Himrod Duncan living in the district, and an old
man Nimrod Duncan lived in Missouri. I know an Evan Richardson
in Missouri, but no E, Richardson in the district. I thought Wm.
Salley was a legal voter at the time of the election, but now I think
he was not. There were other legal voters in the precinct I did not
know by name, or did not know their first names. Some few in the
district who were legal voters did not vote. Major Richardson was a
resident of Burr Oak precinct when 1 took the census, and I took din-
ner with him ; Mrs. Richardson was there and sat at the head of the
table. Mr. Blackstone, one of the judges of election appointed by
Governor Reeder, said he could not serve, as he had to attend to his
ferry opposite St. Joseph's. He was a pro-slavery man, and has been
ever since I knew him.
ALBERT HEED,
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 24, 1856,
JOEL P, BLAIR called and sworn.
To Mr, Scott:
I reside in Doniphan county, and in what was formerly the Burr
Oak precinct, in the fourteenth district, in Kansas Territory. I was
, <a pro-slavery candidate in that precinct at the election of the 30th of
March, 1855, regularly nominated on the ticket by the primary meet-
; ings in the precinct, I canvassed the precinct three days, and rode
pretty much all over it. My business was to learn all I could about
j the strength of the free State and pro-slavery parties, and I went
i around until I was satisfied that there was a majority on the pro-
slavery side of nearly two to one. I suppose I was acquainted with a
! majority of the voters in the precinct. Some neighborhoods I was ae-
•quainted in, and some I was not.
I was at the place of holding the polls on the 30th of March, 1855,
and was there when the announcement was made of the withdrawal
of the free State ticket. I saw no indication of hostility between the
two parties, either before or after the free State ticket was withdrawn.
1 have examined the poll-books furnished by this committee ot the
election of the 30th of March, 1855, in Burr Oak precinct, with a view
of finding what names of legal voters of that precinct I could find,
in addition to those furnished by Mr. Heed in his testimony, and I
found some twenty or so that are not on Mr. Heed's list.
Major Richardson live'd, prior to and at the time of the election, in
340 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
what was called the Bontown bottom. I was at his house in the win-
ter previous to the election several times, and spent the night at his
house. He had a double house, living as men do elsewhere, with bed-
ding, furniture, &c., and cattle and hogs on his place, and some dogs
about the place. He has been residing there ever since.
I went down to Governor Eeeder to get my certificate of election,
He told me his family was in Pennsylvania, and he was going for
them in a few days, and could not convene the legislature for some
two months. He did not say that his family had ever been in the
Territory, or how much family he ever had. I do not know as he
ever had any family in the Territory. I knew him while he was
boarding at the Shawnee Mission, after he came back, which was
nearly if not quite all the time the legislature was in session. Gov-
ernor Keeder gave me a certificate of election to the legislature without
any objection being made, as also to Major Richardson and Mr. Wat-
terston.
JOEL P. BLAIR.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856,
JOHN H. WHITEHEAD called and sworn.
I moved into the Territory in the fall of 1854, from St. Joseph^ \
Missouri, and settled about five miles northwest of St. Joseph's, in the
Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district. I was at the election off
the 30th of March, 1855, at Bryant's. Myself, Major Richardson, ,
and Mr. Harding were candidates for council, Mr. Blair and Mr,
Watterson on one side, Mr. Fee and Mr. Larzelere on the other, or free •
State side, were candidates for house of representatives. On the morn-
ing of the election, Messrs. Fee, Larzelere and Harding, the free State :
candidates, withdrew. On the day before the election I held a confer- -
ence with Mr. Fee, as to the position that we all occupied before the-
people of the district, and our conclusion was, that Mr. Harding and!
Mr. Larzelere were not strong enough to carry the vote of the free State
party, consequently there was no chance for their success. He prom--
ised that when they met the next morning on the ground of election, J
he would use his influence with those men to withdraw and cast theirrj
suffrages for me. It was generally rumored among our people thattj
the people of Missouri were coming over to vote at our election. I do/I
not know whether it was generally credited or not, but it was believed ll
by some and not believed by others. Missourians did come across om|
the day before and the morning of election, a good many of them — Hi
should suppose from one hundred and fifty to two hundred. I think ;j
some of them voted. My acquaintance in and around St. Joseph's?!
was about as good as any man who lived there, I think, as I had lived!!
there pretty much since 1839. I was present at the polls most of the*j
time, but not all — backwards and forwards during the day. My;^
memory is bad as to names, and I may not be able to call over now*j
those I saw there. I saw some of them vote. They claimed to vote
because people were coming to vote from the east right into the
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 341
ritcry to fhe election, and their voting was but a set-off to the other.
I do not recollect that they claimed any right to vote because of the
provisions of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. I think the reason I have
i given was the only one I heard given. The polls opened about
eight or nine o'clock in the morning. I think the judges ap-
pointed by the governor did not serve, but I heard them assign no
reason for their not serving. Mr. 0. Huron did not serve that
day. He was on the ground part of the time, I do not recollect
whether he was on the ground before the polls were opened or not.
I did not hear them say why he did not serve. Mr. Blackston and
Mr. Huron did not serve, and I do not recollect the third man ap-
pointed by the governor as judge. I do not know how the judges who
idid serve were chosen, for it was not done in my presence. Mr. Heed,
Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Whitehead, my brother, served as judges that
day, and were all residents of the district at that time. There was
some objection made to the Missourians voting when they went up to
vote. I challenged one man's vote myself, the vote of Mr. Newby,
who lived in the east part of Buchanan county, Missouri. I think he
was permitted to vote; he was not sworn, to the best of my recollec-
tion. I did not see any one sworn that day as to their qualifications
to vote, though there might have been. When I challenged his vote,
I do not know that any particular reason was given why he should
vote, and we stood there awhile, and I asked the judges if they were
going to allow him to vote, and no answer was made that I recollect
of. I walked away then. He voted. I have known this man since
he was a small boy, and he is a man of family now, and I was satis-
fied he had not moved to Kansas, even if he had a claim. I do not
recollect now whether I stated to the judges the grounds why I chal-
lenged his vote. I do not recollect whether or not he stated the
grounds why he claimed to have a right to vote. I challenged no
other vote that day. I heard Mr. Groomes, while I was standing a
little way off, challenge a vote, but I do not recollect the name of the
, man who offered to vote, or the disposition of it. I think three hun-
dred and three votes were cast that day, and between fifty and one
hundred votes were illegal, and I thought at the time I knew that
many persons there were not residents. There were many strangers
voted there that day ; probably some of them were legal voters, though
I cannot say about that. Mr. Fee, one of the candidates, withdrew
himself the morning of the election,, giving as a reason that there
; was not a union among the party. He told me the morning of
the election that it ' was the understanding that the free-State
ticket should be withdrawn entirely. I do not think the presence
of non-residents had anything to do with it. Mr. Fee expressed
no apprehension of danger to me, and I apprehended none myself
from the presence of non-residents. I do not know who these non-
residents voted for that day. I believe some of them voted for me,
though I requested them not to do so. I do not think the free-
State men voted that day as a general thing. Some of them did
vote, and some went away without voting, because there was no
ticket of their party in the field. If the vote had been confined
to the actual votes of the district, I cannot say whether the result
342 KANSA£ AFFAIRS.
would have been the same. If the lines had been strictly drawn,
I think the pro-slavery party would have beaten. I had taken a
good deal of pains to inform myself upon that point. If all three
of the candidates for council had run, I cannot determine what the
result would have been, but I think it would have resulted as it did,
for it would have driven men to unite on the candidates of their
party. I was running as a pro-slavery candidate. I cannot explain
why the votes for council were more than for representatives. I cannot
say whether the free-State men who voted, voted for representatives
or not, though I supposed they voted a full ticket. I thought the
election on that day was as peaceable an election as I ever saw. I
never saw better order on the election ground in my life. All voted,
so tar as I knew, who wanted to. The contest was all on one side,
except between General Kichardson and myself. Some of the free-
State men asked me if it was necessary to vote for me. I told them
to use their own pleasure, but cannot say whether they voted for me
or not. The free-State men were very greatly in the minority in the
crowd about the polls, though there appeared to be a great many
about the polls the first part of the day. I do not remember the
names, or that I saw many persons there on the day of election that
held offices in Missouri. Mr. Scott was attorney of St. Joseph's at
that time, and was there on the day of election at our precinct. Mr.
Stringfellow was there, but I do not recollect about those who held
offices in Missouri at that time. A great many of the leading citizens
of St. Joseph's were there, but I do not know what part they took in
the election. I do not recollect any speeches made there that day,
except by Major Richardson and myself.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott :
I understood, when I had a consultation with Mr. Fee the day
before the election, that he was to use his influence with the free- •
State candidates to withdraw, and have the free-State men vote for •
me. The votes to be given by Missoiirians, I think, had no influence-
with either Mr. Fee or myself. He had no right to think that the »
citizens of Missouri would do anything to injure him, as he had longj
been a citizen of Missouri himself. The only apprehension seemed to >
be that he would not get votes enough of the actual residents to j
secure his election. Mr. Fee assigned as a Veason for withdrawing, ,j
that Harding and Larzelere were unpopular in their party, and if he -j
himselt ran he would have to carry them, and therefore he thought it t
best for all to resign. When he announced, on the morning of the i
election, that he had succeeded in making this arrangement, I under--!
stood it to be in consequence of our arrangement of the day before,- ,j
and not in consequence of the presence of Missourians there. There 'i
was a report in circulation that the Missourians came over there that fj
day, because it was rumored that aid emigrants were to land there u|
that day and go to the polls, but I do not know where the rumor rj
came from. I inferred this much, that if the reports of the landing ;(
of these emigrants below were true, they, might land at our place, but
I knew nothing about the truth of those reports. I examined the
poll-books afterwards and found the names of a great many there
I knew to be actual residents of Missouri at that time, betvreen fifty\
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 343
and one hundred, but I do not recollect their names now. I estimated
the actual voters of that district at that time as between 150 and 200.
There might have been a few more or a few less. I made as good a
calculation as I could when I canvassed the district, and I was satisfied
that we had a majority of pro-slavery men in the district, twenty-five
or thirty, or more. Mr. Fee and myself had a great deal of talk,
and we concluded that the ticket could not have been elected even if
the free State men had a majority, because they were not united on
their ticket. • I reckoned that Major Richardson was a resident of this
district at the time of the election, and I so regarded him when I ran
against him. The first I heard of anybody being shot at the election
was when I was told that Mr. Jamison had so testified before the
committee. I saw none of the Missourians armed that I recollect of;
if they were, they had them concealed. I judge they were not more
80 than men here to-day. I do not think that Oeneral Stringfellow
acted as clerk of the election at any time that day ; if he did, I did
not know it, and I think I should have known it if he had so acted.
£f there was any fighting committee appointed, and left there that day,
I did not know of it,, and I saw no necessity for it.
To Mr. Sherman :
There was a difference of opinion as to the majority, each party,
the pro-slavery and free-State parties, claiming the majority in that
district. No eastern aid emigrants landed in our district that spring,
that I know of. * Ex-judge Leonard, of Missouri, was there that day.
In the evening,, just before the polls were closed, as the people were
going off in every direction, he got up and asked them to stop till the
polls were closed, and they would all go home together ; all of his
own company, I suppose.
JOHN H. WHITEHEAD.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT — Doniphan Precinct,
RICHARD TUCK was called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in the spring of 1854, and settled about a
mile below Doniphan. I came from Boone county, Missouri. I was
at the election at Doniphan on the 30th of March. I got to the polls-
very early in the morning. They had not commenced voting. There
were about 200 or 300 around the polls when I got there. The crowd
continued there during the day. Most of them were strangers to me.
I knew a great many of the people round where I lived, and knew the
settlers generally. Perhaps thirty or forty of the men around the
polls were settlers. I knew some of these used to live on the other
side of the river in Missouri. B. O. Wells, W. C. Wells, my father-
344 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
in-law, Mr. Moberly, of Kushville, Missouri, and another by the name
of Watson M. Starboard, were among them. I was in their camp the ;
night before the election. It was at the crossing of Independence
creek, about one mile and a half below Doniphan. One of their party
told me there were near 200 of them. They had tents, wagons, and
plenty of arms. Their arms were double-barrelled shot-guns, pistols,
bowie-knives, and rifles. Each man seemed well armed. They had
plenty of provisions, and whiskey and brandy together. They had
either three wagons of provisions, or drove up one wagon three timea j
I talked with some of these men at their camp — some five or six of j
them. They were free in talking about their purposes. They said i
their purpose in coming was to vote and make Kansas a slave State, j
They did not tell me why they brought so many arms. Some of theqi
said they were from Clay county, some from about Weston, and sornb
from Buchanan county. I supposed that some of them had claims out
back in the Territory, and asked them if they had claims, and theju
said they had taken claims as they were coming along up the riverj
by driving stakes down with their names on them. I asked them i(
they were ever coming back to their 'claims, and they said they mighili!
and they might not ; they didn't know as they ever would. They !
said nothing to me about any other inducements, except to make |
Kansas a slave State. They appeared to be all leaders; there was no H
one man who seemed to lead. They had no signs or ribbons attached 1
to their coats. They did not appear like settlers. All I could gather
from them was, that they were going to vote, and going back home
next day. I saw no women in their camp. I think I saw trunks and
carpet sacks. I saw no household furniture in the wagons. They
came up to the polls very early next morning. I live within three
hundred yards of where they camped, and went up to the polls at r.|
same time they did. I went up on foot, they in wagons, and had no
chance to converse with them. I noticed no flags. They had drums,
fifes and fiddles along. When they got near the polls they all got
huddled up around the window and went to voting. I saw them vote, i
I stood right there and watched them all day. Their votes were re-
ceived without objection. I did not see a man sworn that day as I!
know of. They stacked their arms up under the house they voted in. .
They voted in Mr. Foreman's store. It was a frame building, a foot!
and a half high from the ground. They staid there all day, until i1
they got ready to go home in the evening. They commenced stacking.1
their arms under the building, and filled the space so well, that if1!
there was any more room there I did not see it. About all I heard i;
the settlers say was that it was not worth while to vote. I don'tt|
know whether any of them went off without voting or not. Theyvj
commenced leaving tolerably late in the evening. I saw several vote1!
more than onoe. Sometimes a man would go up and vote,, and then »i
go back and change his hat or coat, and sometimes both,, and then gooj
up and vote again. They would halloo out a different name everyvj
time. I saw some of them vote as many as eight or nine times, and!
one man might have voted a dozen times. Some three or four menui
were pursuing this course of voting. I was standing close by where*]
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 345
I could see. I don't recollect as I sat or laid down all day. These
men, in the evening after they got through, said they had voted up
all their tickets and they would go home. The acquaintances whose
names I have given did not belong to this party, but belonged just
across the river. The large party made an arrangement in the even-
ing, right there at the store-door, where they would cross the Missouri
river. Some of them I saw cross at Doniphan, and some were to cross
at Atchison, and some were to come to Weston, they said. Those
who were to cross at Atchison left that evening and went down along
the river. I don't know that I have ever seen any of those men since.
If they had been settlers in the country about there I should have
thought I would have known them. If they had been back of Doni-
phan, they would have come in from the west a different road from
the one they did come. I was in Atchison the next summer after the
election. I know that a protest was got up against the election, and
I signed it. I do not know of my own knowledge why it was not pre-
sented. Dr. Stringfellow was there. I do not remember of seeing
Mr. Foreman there, the candidate for Council.
Cross-examined by Governor King :
I said there were three or four men engaged in double-voting.
They would stand right there and do it in the crowd ; sometimes they
would change their hats and sometimes their coats, and sometimes
both. I do not know that any person else saw it ; but if they had
been looking at them they might have seen it. Sometimes these
men changed their hats and coats with men who did not double-vote.
They had as many arms as they could well carry ; some of them had
their pockets full of pistols. I don't know what was in the trunks.
When the judges were selected, I may have been sitting round about
the house somewhere. I saw no line formed for tellers to elect judges.
I started from home about the same time the Missourians did to go to
; the polls, but some of them beat me there. Parris Dunning' was one
of the original judges. If a line had been formed to elect judges by
tellers, I think I should have seen it. I did not see any judges
elected, and don't know how they got elected. It is customary for
i people here to carry arms. I had very little acquaintance at Atchi-
i son. I know nothing at all about where those men came from, except
what they told me. I saw Dr. Stringfellow there from Atchison,
and perhaps one or two more that I knew from the same place. John
: Hunter was one of them, I think. Doniphan was the only place for
j voting by the people of Atchison, and down as far as Walnut creek.
There was a newspaper published at Atchison at the time, and some
seven or eight houses there. I never heard that there were a hundred
or a hundred and fifty voters down there, or anything of the kind.
I have heard that there was a right smart of voters down there —
others than the company of two hundred. I saw men coming as men
usually do at elections, and I recognised some of them as settlers, and
some of them I did not know. Part of the wagons were driven up in
front of the store that day. I don't know whether all of them were
or not. I don't know whether they put their arms in their wagons
346 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
or not. They put their shot-guns ^and rifles under the house, and <
filled the space up between the ground and sills of the house. There
were no political tights or disturbances there that day. I don't know -
but what the settlers all voted.
To Mr. Sherman :
I think the free-State men had the majority of actual settlers in the^
Doniphan precinct at the time of that election. If there had been no>
voting except by the actual settlers, the free-State men would havej
carried the day. Mr. Foreman had no opposition at that election. ;
My information relative to the political complexion of the precinct isi
based upon what I have heard others say.
To Governor King :
I have heard people say that the actual settlers would have no>
chance with the Missourians. I have heard them talking about the*
strength ot parties. I may have heard pro-slavery men say that they»r
had two to one against the free-State men of actual settlers, and If
have heard free-State men say that they had ten to one against thed
pro-slavery party.
his
RICHARD + TUCK.
mark.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
ELI HAMILTON called and sworn.
I came into the Territory on the 29th of May, 1854, and settled ind
the Doniphan precinct, 14th district. At the time of the election oil
the 30th of March, 1855, I was clerking for Mr. John W. Foreman J
then a candidate for the council. The election was held at Mr. Fore-»-
man's store-house. Mr. Tschudy and Parris Dunning were the only\
two judges of election I knew appointed by the governor. They dicM
not serve ; but one of them (Tschudy) was there, and I don't know
why he did not serve. The judges were then selected by the by^-
standers. The new judges were Mr. Ireland, Mr. Alexander Dun-i
ning, and Mr. Lamb. Mr. Tschudy brought the poll-books to th«<
store and left them, and the new judges got them. I do not recol-i
lect of seeing either of the new judges sworn. I do not recollect o:
seeing anybody sworn that day. My opinion is that some two 01
three hundred were around the polls through the day. I did noi»
know them generally. They were strangers to me. I was not mudtij
acquainted in the district. I had been in the store, off and on. evei
since I was in the Territory, as clerk, and was working for Mr. Fore^j
man nearly all the time. I do not know whether many ol these perrj
sons were or were not residents of the Territory. I was there until
the polls closed. There ivas a large crowd at the window voting mostf
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 347
! all the time. I saw one man challenged. His name was Hall, I
; think, arid he lived in the Territory. He was not old enough to
vote. That was the only challenge I recollect of now. . I was there
when the votes were counted out after the election was over. The
tally-list and the ballots did not agree. There was a difference of be-
tween five and fifteen ; the precise number I cannot say. The num-
ber of tickets were greater than the names. I saw one of the judges
1 raise his hand from the tickets and put it in his bosom. I saw no
tickets in his hand ; it was half closed. This was Judge Lamb. I
think they then made the tally-list and ballots correspond. I have
since examined the poll-list, and find upon it some six names of men
who I believe to have resided in Missouri. Their names are W. H.
Hinchraan, John Martin, William Dunning, R. Smith, B. G-. Wells,
and W. C. Wells. I moved into the Territory from St. Joseph, and
came there from Athens, Missouri. I was born in Indiana and raised
iin Illinois. I have taken no part in politics. I voted that day for
John W. Foreman, Dr. Stringfellow, and Dr. Cutler. The men I
saw at the polls were generally armed with guns and pistols. I saw
a great many pistols. They came very early in the morning. I saw
them go back the way they came, down towards Atchison. I saw some
crossing the river to Missouri. They were generally strangers to me.
I do not know but what they were legal voters, except those I have
named. There was a good deal of noise and confusion there that
day. There was a good deal more cursing and swearing at the
election than I have been accustomed to hearing. There was some
fighting about personal difficulties, not political.
Cross-examined by Governor King :
Smith was there at Doniphan, building a house, about the time of
the election, and keeping a grocery in Doniphan. His family was in
I Missouri, and he ate and slept in that State. Previous to the election
I sold Hinchman a claim, and w,as at the time putting up a house for
i him on it, and he boarded with me. Hinchman has since moved into
the house,, and is now living in it. He staid at my house two weeks.
He moved his family into the house a year ago this spring.
ELI HAMILTON.
LEAVBNWO'RTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
JOHN LANDIS called and sworn :
To the Committee :
I moved into the Territory in December, 1854, and into the Doni-
phan precinct, fourteenth district, and have resided there ever since.
I came from Buchanan county, Missouri. At the time of the first
election for delegate to Congress, I resided in Missouri. I was in St.
Joseph the day before that election, and also on the day of the elec-
tion. I was solicited there by some of my friends to go over into
348 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Kansas and vote. The inducements held out was to make Kansas a
slave State. I did not go. I knew a number crossed the river.
They said they were going over to vote. I saw them when they re-
turned. I had a conversation with one of them by the name of
Andrew Dysert, and he told me they had carried ths election. Mr.
Dysert, James Carson, Johnson Carson, William Carson, Colby Gor-
don, Harding Gordon, and Samuel Gordon severally told me they
were over the day before, and the morning of the election ; that they
were going over to vote. I went as far as St. Joseph with them, and
after their return from the Territory, went home with them. Quite a
number accompanied them whose names I did not know, perhaps 15
or 20. They were from the very neighborhood where I lived, which
is six miles from St. Joseph. I have examined the poll-books of that
election, and have seen the names of several on there that I arn ac-
quainted with.
Cross-examined by Governor King :
I suppose I could give the names of all that went if I could think
awhile. I don't know that any of them voted. I see the following
names on the poll-lists of my neighbors living in Missouri : Colby
Gordon, George Catlett, Charles Carson, Andrew Dysert, James Car-
son, Johnson Carson. Those are all I recollect at present. I refused i
to go over and vote. I have no idea how many crossed the river that
day, and don't know what they went for, except what they told me.
JOHN LANDIS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
JAMES F. FOREMAN was called and sworn.
At the time of the March election I resided in the Doniphan pre-
cinct, fourteenth district, and was present at the 30th of March election.
I was present when the votes were being counted up, after the closing
of the polls. There was a discrepancy between the poll-list and ballots
of one vote. The judges explained it in a manner satisfactory to all.
If there had been a discrepancy of from five to fifteen votes between
the tally-list and ballots, I think I should have noticed it, for there
would have been some questioning about it, but I heard nothing and !
saw nothing of the kind.
To Mr. Sherman :
I feel almost positive there was a difference of only one vote between i
the tally-list and ballots cast. The only reasons why I think there I
was not more is, that it would have excited attention.
JAMES F. FOKEMAN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 349*
LUTHER DICKERSON called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in October, 1854. I came from Saline
ounty, Missouri, and settled in the Doniphan precinct, 14th election
istrict. I was present at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. I
aw a company of strangers passing my house, three-quarters of a mile
outh of Independence creek and three miles north of Atchison. It
vas between three o'clock and sundown on the day be fore the election,
e company were in wagons, on horeseback, and some of them on
oot. I did not count them ; I should say safely that there were one
.undred. I did not count the wagons. I talked with them late at
jfche creek after they encamped ; I went down into the camp. They
ifcold me they came here to vote. They told me they came from Mis-
J9ouri ; they said they were from Platte, Clay, Saline, and Lafayette
•counties ; they said there was a large emigration from the east
coming to the Territory to vote, and they wanted to balance their vote,
land outvote them. I did not hear one of them claim to be a resident
pf the Territory. I did not know those men personally. I had a
(conversation with one man who said he lived in Saline county. He
knew my acquaintances there. I do not remember his name. He said
nothing to me about how they were organized. They had their pro-
ivisions with them and arms ; some of them shot-guns, pistols, and
some few I saw with bowie-knives. I think pretty near every man
had revolvers ; they were trying their weapons at the trees. I don't
think I heard them say that they would make any disturbance if they
were resisted. They said if the damned fanatics of the north came
there to vote they would have to have a fight before they voted. I
understood them to allude to men who were coming up the river to
vote. I left them there that night and went home. I saw them about
eleven o'clock the next day. A portion of them were at the camp, a
portion were along the road, and a portion at the polls. I went on up
to the polls and voted. I saw a portion of these strangers vote. They
were constantly running back and forward to their camp. Sometimes
new persons were coming up to the polls and sometimes the same. I
saw a portion of their arms lying under the sill of the house in which
the election was held. These were their heavy arms. I did not see
any double voting that day. I heard no objection made to any of
these men voting. The judges did not swear any of these men while
I was at the polls. I don't think all the settlers voted. I don't know
why. I never heard that Missourians were coming over to vote until
I saw them coming. I did not see any eastern emigrants arrive. So
far as I know, these strangers voted. I am acquainted about Atchison.
I am tolerably well acquainted between the two creeks — Walnut and
Independence. These strangers were not settlers in that region of
country. In coming up from Weston to Doniphan the usual crossing
place is Atchison. They told me they crossed at Atchison. Those
who would come from Saline and Lafayette counties would cross the
river twice. I am pretty well acquainted in the middle, eastern, and
southern parts of that precinct, but not so well acquainted in the ex-
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
trerae southern parts. The usual mode of making acquaintances inii
the Territory is by helping each other "by building, <fec., and the set-*
tiers generally become acquainted with each other as I did, I think:
the political sentiment iri Doniphan precinct was about equally divi-^
ded. I could not give an opinion, satisfactory to myself, which would I
have had a majority at that election if there had been a fair contest, J
and none but actual settlers had voted. These strangers returned the?!
same'way they came. I have never seen them since. They said theyr
voted the pro- slavery ticket.
Cross-examined by Governor King :
I don't know when they crossed the river from Missouri. They
said they came over the day before they came along there. The citi-
zens about Atchison came to the polls the day OL election: I did nott
know all the citizens of Atchison at that time, but I knew them nearly i
all. Some of these strangers in the company may have been citizens i
of Atchison, but if so I did not know them.
To Mr. Sherman :
I voted that day for Mr. Cutler alone.
LUTHER DICKERSOJS".
•LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
JOSEPH W. BEATTIE called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in August, 1854, from Missouri, Buchanan^
county ; I settled in the Doniphan precinct, and have been t lie re even
since. There was a party of men encamped near me on the evening
of the 29th of March, the day before election ; the camp wa* near myy
home, at the crossing of Indpendence creek, by the Doniphan road.
I suppose there was somewhere near a hundred of these strangers;
there were sixteen two-horse wagon loads, and some oji horseback.;
They applied to me to ferry them across, and I did so ; they had tents?
and provisions along with them ; they were armed. I asked them
where they were from, and they said they were from Missouri ; 1 askejillj
them where they were going, and they said they were going to Doni-i
phan ; they said they were going there to vote. They remained there
all night, and next morning went up to Doniphan. I went up also*
after they did. I did not see any of them vote, as I did not go to the*
polls until towards evening, when nobody was around the polls. They*
poked their guns under the sill of the building where they voted J
After the polls were closed they came back to my house, crossed the
creek, and went back to Atchison. I am not much acquainted about
Atchison. These men told me they crossed the river at Atchison.
Cross-examined by Governor King :
I knew Mr. Cutler and Mr. Sanders ; I do not hardly think theyj
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 351
could command the full strength of their party. I don't know whether
Dr. Stringfellow and Mr. Kirk would command the strength of their
party OJT not I don't know either of the men now.
JOSEPH W. BEATTIE.
LBAVBNWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
JAMES LYNCH called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I landed in St. Joseph on the 13th of March, 1855, and reached the
Doniphan precinct on the 14th of March, and have been residing there
ever since. I was at the election on the 30th of March, and present
every hour of the day ; I saw the voting going on ; there was no po-
litical quarrel or excitement going on. I did not know any Missou-
rians there except Major O'Driscall ; I took them all to be actual
residents, as I was myself. I heard nothing about the Missourians
being there to take the polls. I voted myself on that day ; I saw
no one prohibited there from voting. The order and quietness at the
election was better than I had been in the habit of witnessing in Ken-
tucky, where I have been residing.
To Mr. Sherman:
I did not see any arms under the sill of the building where the
election was held.
JAMES LYNCH.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
DAVID FIZER called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in August, 1854, from Missouri— from
Buchanan county, Missouri — and have resided here ever since. I set-
tied on the Doniphan precinct, fourteenth district. I was at the elec-
tion of the 30th of March, 1855. The day before the election, about
sundown, about one hundred men or upwards encamped near my
house ; they came in wagons, some on horseback, and some came
a- foot ; this was one mile from the polls ; they were armed, from double-
barrelled shot-guns down to butcher-knives — all of them had more or
less of arms ; I did not see a man but what had arms ; the fact is, 1
was astonished to see it. 1 might as well tell the thing just as it
was ; my attention was first called to them when they were about half
a mile off from my house, when I saw the wagons ; I then went down
to where they had encamped, and near enough to see them stretching
their tents. 1 did not know any of them — they came from towards
352 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Atchison. I had some conversation with a young man that evening,
and next morning I had a right smart chance with him. They "broke
up their camp about 9 or 10 o'clock next morning, and as I went to
the polls at Doniphan some were ahead and some were behind me. I
had some conversation that morning with a young man — -I do not re-
member his name ; he said he was the cook of the party. He asked
me if I knew any person in the neighborhood who wished to hire a
hand ; I told him I expected he could get work in the neighborhood.
I asked him if he lived in the Territory ; he said he did not. I asked
him where he was from ; and he told me he was from Missouri. I
asked him if they were all from Missouri ; and he said they were. I
asked him if he voted ; and he told me he did. I had no talk with
any other as to their purposes in coming. I went to the polls and
voted. The same men that I had seen in the camp were there ; they
went as I did, and, and put into the ballot-box a little piece of paper.
I staid until I saw fifteen or twenty of these men vote, and then not
feeling well I went off and sat down. I was at the polls some fifteen
or twenty minutes ; there was a pretty smart crowd around the polls ;
there was a right smart show of settlers there, but the great body were
strangers to me ; no objection was made to their men voting. I don't
know whether they claimed to vote in the Territory or not. Some
three or Four of the free State men that I knew went off, and told me
they would not vote ; I do not know that they were hindered, but they
said that there were so many Missourians there that there was no use
in their voting. A man by the name of Eph. Falcull and a Mr. Page
said they would not vote ; I don't know whether they voted or not.
I got home the after part of the day ; I went into a doctor's shop most
part of the time. Some of them crossed ' Independence creek that
evening, and some left the next morning. I saw some of the men at
the creek returning ; they had their provisions with them. I helped
one wagon through the mire going up hill ; I looked into it, and saw
bacon, bread, and cooked provisions ; they did not look to me like
settlers coming over to settle; I never saw the like of them, all armed
so, and cutting up. They were all pretty well — as we would call ik—
pretty well corned, and were noisy and boisterous. I have never seen
any of them since — I have never seen any of these men before nor
since ; if they had been settlers about Atchison I think I would have
known them ; I live within about three miles of Atchison and 2^ miles i
from Doniphan, and am some acquainted in both places, but better in
Doniphan than Atchison ; my trading is usually done in Doniphan.
I was in Atchison at the time of the sale of lots there, but I can't say
when it was.
Cross-examined by Governor King :
I know nothing about where they came from, only what the young ;
man told me. The road they came was the one leading from Atchi- •
son to Doniphan. It is usual for new settlers to camp out, but I never '
saw them in such large squads ; settlers generally bring women and !
"babies. Parties of men frequently come to seek claims in numbers)
of seven or eight ; it is usual for parties of men to come into the •
Territory to make their claims. I was not acquainted with the in-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 353
iabitants about Atchison ; I believe at that time I knew two below
Vtchison ; I knew two or three men in Atchison, at which place a
lewspaper was published. I cannot say I understood that there was
ji considerable number of inhabitants below Atchison.
To Mr. Sherman :
Persons crossing the river from Missouri, from Weston and below,
sross at Atchison, and come up on this side of the river.
DAVID FIZER.
LEAVBNWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
K. L. KIRK called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver :
I resided, on the 30th of March, 1855, in the llth representative
listrict ; the pro-slavery party had, in rny opinion, a majority of three
;o one. The llth representative district was composed of the 18th
ind parts of the 14th and 15th election districts.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
The whole of the eighteenth election district ; election held at W.
W. Moore's; the Doniphan and Wolf River precincts of the 14th elec-
tion district, election of the Wolf River precinct being held at the
bouse of Aaron Lewis ; parties of the voters of the 15th district were
attached to the Doniphan precinct, and voted then at Doniphan.
These together formed the llth representative district. My acquaint-
ance was pretty thorough in the llth district. I knew, I think, two-
thirds of the voters there. I think some 60 odd votes were polled in
the 18th district. I think there were some 150 to 200 voters from
the 15th district who were obliged to vote at Doniphan, the people
of the town of Atchison being obliged to go there. I do not recollect
how many votes were polled at Doniphan. I think some 60 or 65
votes were polled at Wolf River precinct. My opinion of the relative
strength of the parties is based on the district as above described.
R. L. KIRK.
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 31, 1856.
Dr. JOHN H, STRINGFELLOW was called and sworn.
I reside in Atchison, Atchison county, Kansas Territory. I moved
to Atchison in July, 1854, and I took my family there in the fall of
the same year, and have resided there ever since. The district was
changed at the 30th of March election from the district of the fall
before, according to which the census was taken in February, when
the snow was probably fifteen inches on the ground. Most of our
citizens were emigrants from the adjoining counties in Missouri,
having left friends and comfortable quarters in Missouri. A large
H. Rep. 200 23*
354 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
number of our citizens, about the time the' census was taken, were'
absent from their open cabins, temporarily, by visiting their friends
in Missouri. The consequence was, that a large number of our citi- ;
zens were omitted from the census returns. Knowing this fact, we
had the census taken by some of our citizens, which showed a gain of
about one hundred and fifty voters over the census taken by Jolly,
which when represented to Gov. Reeder induced him to append to
the census returns made by Jolly upwards of fifty votes. The rest.
were rejected, because the persons so taking the census would not
swear that the persons thus rejected were on their claims at the time.
After the census returns were made, the districts were re-arranged ; ;
so that the old district, the census of which Jolly took, was divided,
part in the Doniphan district and part in the Kickapoo district. The
list of voters furnished by Governor Reeder to the judges of the DoniJ]
phan precinct, purporting to be a correct list of all the persons enti- j
tied to vote at that precinct, did not contain the name oi any person
south of Independence creek, which said portion of territory thus:
omitted contained at least from two hundred and fifty to three hun-1
dred actual voters. This portion of the district thus omitted enJ
braced the town of Atchison,, being a breadth of ten miles north and
south on the Missouri river, and running back some fifteen or twenty
miles. The consequence was that a much larger vote was polled at
the Doniphan precinct than would have been supposed from the list '
of voters furnished to justices by the governor, as taken from the-
census returns taken by Jolly.
I was in the town of Doniphan the day after the election ; there
were about three hundred votes polled ; there was no disturbance of
any kind resulting from the election. I was one of the candidates for
the house of representatives of the Territory of Kansas. There was
no effort made to prevent any man from voting because of his political
sentiments ; on the contrary, urged upon Mr. Sanders, the free-State
candidate, to bring up all his friends and they should not be molested.
He brought to the polls a number of free-State men, and some of
them came from Buchanan county, Missouri. The last vote, I think,
that he brought was a boy about seventeen years old ; upon being
questioned by the judges, he admitted that he was not twenty-one
years old, and he was the only person presented by Mr. Sanders, who
did not vote. Mr. Sanders owned the ferry at Doniphan, and his
voters who crossed the river were known to be free-State men in
Missouri. They claimed, however, to have claims in the Territory ;
but their families were living in Missouri, and were allowed to vote*?
I knew a good many of the gentlemen who voted there to have
formerly resided in Missouri ; but a great many, if not all, had made
claims in the Territory, and many of them are now on those claims
with their families. From all the information derived from my per-
sonal knowledge of the Doniphan district, and from the various
elections held in said district, I am disposed to think that four-fifths
of them who have ever voted, have voted the pro-slavery ticket. At
that election I received some free- State votes myself. The day after
the election I started down to the Shawnee Mission in company with'
a good many other members elect of the legislature for the purpose of
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 355
protesting against the power claimed by Governor Reeder in his elec-
iion proclamation, to decide contested elections.
A committee was appointed to prepare a protest assigning our
reasons for this denial. A committee of three was then appointed to
ivait upon the governor, and present him the protest. The committee
jonsisted of Gen. Wm. P. Richardson, Samuel Williams, and myself.
We denied, in our interview with the governor, that he had any power
,o decide as to contested elections, and contended that that power was
with the legislative body; and that the presentation of the returns
>f the election formally made, were prima facie evidence of the right
>f members to their seats ; and to these propositions the governor
issented. We further contended, in our interview with him, that he
ad no right to order a second election, except in cases provided by
he organic act. To this last proposition the governor read us a
ommunication addressed to the Attorney General of the United States,
sking his advice as to all the matters in controversy between the
egislature elect and himself; asserting that if sustained in his opinion
y the Attorney General, he would order new elections in those districts
srhere the returns were informally made. But if not sustained, then
e would grant certificates to those persons who had received the
argest number of votes, or who had been returned as elected.
Hiring all this conversation there was no threat of any kind made
gainst Governor Reeder, and no angry words used; but, on the con-
rary, Governor Reeder was treated with the utmost respect due to
is station, and to the last day upon which I met him we were on
micable terms. We made our report to the members elect of the
3gislatiire ; and I assured them that the governor's decision would
e all we could require of him, as I was satisfied that he would grant
ertificates of election to a majority of each house, and recognise in
aat house their right to go behind his decision and investigate the
ntire matter. On the next day Governor Reeder made his decision
nown in writing to the members present, which was assented to by
icm, as it agreed with the assurance the committee made them on
the day before. And on this last occasion no insults were offered to
Governor Reeder, and no demonstration was made by him of anything
Like personal difficulty ; the whole affair went off, so far as I could see,
in the most amicable and friendly manner.
There was quite a large number of citizens of Missouri present on
the day of election, who were drawn there from the reports which
had reached us that large numbers of persons would be thrown in upon
us from the free States for the purpose of controlling the election.
The determination of the Missourians present was, to resist by all
means this operaton of free-State men upon us ; to prevent by mild
means, if possible, this forcible control of our internal affairs, or by
force if necessary.
[ have been controlling a paper ever since February, 1855, and
I have never urged any biit bonafide settlers to emigrate to this Ter-
ritory, either for the purpose of voting or for any other purpose.
There were numbers of Missourians at the polls on the 30th of
March, pro-slavery men, who did not vote, and were not solicited to
vote. I don't know that any citizen of Missouri voted; but some
356 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
may have done it, and I not know it. The result of the electi<
would in no manner have been changed, had the Missourians voted
or not voted.
To Mr. Sherman :
I never saw a circular purporting to be from General Stringfellow,
or any circular circulated on the day of election, advising Missourians^
to vote at that precinct. There was no such circular published at my^
office. I saw at my office one copy of a paper purporting to be a re-
view of Governor Keeder's proclamation, which spoke of the mannen
of conducting the election, and the returns thereof; and I think that!
portion of his proclamation ordering the judges of election to destroys
any whiskey that might be on the ground for sale. I don't know, but!
I do not believe that General Stringfellow wrote the paper referred to.,
JOHN H. STKINGFELLOW.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1856.
HENRY ADDOMS called and sworn.
To Governor King:
I first came into the Territory in 1847, and have been here since*
the organization of the Territory, and reside at Atchison. So far as-
I have heard the testimony of Dr. Stringfellow and J. W. Foreman, II
concur in it relative to the several elections in the Doniphan precinct. ,
I was born and raised in the city of New York, and in 1838 came ton
Platte county, Missouri. I know of the first excitement in Weston,
Missouri, in relation to the settlement of Kansas Territory ; which!*
was the report of the Emigrant Aid Societies which had been formed;
for the purpose of throwing vast quantities of men into this Territory
for the purpose of making it a free-State. The report was that there
were to be twenty thousand men sent forward, and the Emigrant Aid:
Society was formed by the principal abolitionists, who had been agi-
tating the United States for some years to make Kansas a free State,
and thereby to make it an entering-wedge for the making of Missouri
a free State ; which was believed by the people when they first saw the*
companies coming on from the east.
The object of forming organizations in Missouri was to bring per-1-
sons living in that State over into the Territory who designed to emi-
grate, and to counteract the movements of the aid societies. And II
believe^ but for the eastern movements, there never would have beeni
any more excitement in the Territory than is ordinary in settling
Territories.
HENRY ADDOMS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 357
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT — Wolf River Precinct.
Dr. G. A. CUTLER called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in February, 1854. I settled in the four-
teenth, district. I came from Andrew county, Missouri, here, and
from Tennessee to Missouri. I resided in the fourteenth district until
fche 4th or 5th of March, 1856, and then removed to Topeka. I was
among the first settlers in the fourteenth district, and practised medi-
cine there for fourteen or fifteen months. I knew most every person
,in the Doniphan portion of the district,, but did not in Wolf River
and California, or what was subsequently made into the eighteenth
district. ,
The day previous to the election of the 30th of March, 1855,, at the
Presbyterian mission, in the Wolf River precinct, commonly known
as the Vandersluyce, on the morning of that day a large body of men
came in in wagons, &c. ; they themselves said 80 persons in number.
There was considerable whiskey demolished there. They were all
armed to the teeth. I did not know any of them. While there, they
held a convention to unite on two men for the assembly. This crowd
was under the command of General Atchison. The pro-slavery citi-
zens there wished to have Mr. Thomas Vandersluyce and Joel Ryans ;
and Atchison's company wanted Stringfellow and Kirk elected. They
could not agree very well. A man got up and made a speech, and,
as near as I can recollect his words, he said: " Gentlemen, we want to
unite on one ticket. There are 1,100 coming over from Platte county,
and if that ain't enough we can send you 5,000 more. We came to
vote, and we are going to vote, or kill every God-damned abolitionist
in the district." I think he said " district;" but it was " district"
or "territory." I asked a man nigh to me, a stranger, who that
was, and he said it was old Davy Atchison. I never saw Mr. Atchi-
son before or since. The Missourians succeeded in uniting on String-
fellow and Kirk. The majority of that party started up to what we
called California or Nemaha, or in the eighteenth district, which I
understood was afterwards put with the fourteenth district for coun-
cil. Some of this party remained. The next day the election com-
menced at Wolf river in very good order, and everything went on
right for about two hours. The ice was running in the Missouri
river, and none could get across till ten or eleven o'clock. Finally,
a crowd of men came from Missouri, and came into the house where
the election was being held, stepped up to the ballot-box, and one of
them offered to vote. His name was Felix Blakely. He was a resi-
dent of Missouri, and made the town of Atchison his home. Mr.
Richardson — I do not know his first name — one of the judges of the
election, spoke to him and said : " Mr. Blakely, you are a resident of
Missouri, and have no right to vote in Kansas, and I cannot take your
vote." Blakely told him that he was as much a resident in Kansas
as he was, and that he had come there to vote, and would vote. Mr.
Richardson still persisted in refusing to let him vote, and told him
he had to take the oath as a judge, and he would not perjure himself.
358 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
There was a great deal of disturbance ; Mr. Kichardson was threatened
considerably ; they threatened to whip him if he would come out oh
doors, and wanted to do it in where he was, and he finally resigned]
As soon as he resigned they elected in his place a man by the name
of Mr. Wilson, a pro-slavery man, but I don't recollect his first name.1
After that they took all the votes that were offered. I went out, and*
advised my friends to go home, as there was no use in staying here.1
which a number of them did. I was a candidate for the assembly;
I started home, and on my way there I overtook a wagon load of men
going back. I asked them where they were from: they said they
were from Platte county, Missouri. I conversed with one of them.!
and he told me that he had voted, and a number of his friends hadf
also voted; that he did not live in Kansas, and never expected to. Hci
said he had not violated the organic law ; that Atchison had helped*
to make the bill, and had told them they had a right to vote, and hsi
knew a God-damned sight better than I did. I had his name on ai
slip of paper, but have lost it. I had a conversation with Mr. Thos.<
J. B. Cooper, judge of the election of the Nemaha district — the eigh-i
teenth district.
[Mr. Kees objected to the detail of this conversation, as being evi-i
dence.
Mr. Keeder stated he expected to prove that Mr. Cooper partici-f
pated with a large number of Missourians in their illegal voting ; wa&
elected by them as a judge of the election, and served.
The committee overruled the objection and allowed the evidence, witr.I
the distinct understanding that the declarations of Cooper will be ex<
eluded and erased, unless he is distinctly connected with the alleged
combination. From which Mr. Oliver dissented.]
Witness resumed : He said that the election was not conducted fairljj
in that district, but excused it on the ground that the Missourians haci
as much right to vote as the pauper emigrants from Massachusetts*
He said that there were about eighteen resident votes given, of which'
all but two or three voted for me. He said it was his firm belief that
there were not forty legal voters in the district. The eighteenth dis-v
trict lies about sixty miles west of the Missouri river, and runs to the<
Nebraska line — the voting place being about six miles from the line/
There is a large prairie, forty miles wide, to cross before getting to
the voting place. I am confident that there never was, up to thai'
time, in the fourteenth and eighteenth districts, an emigrant sent outi
by the Emigrant Aid Society, because I had made diligent inquiries^
all over the districts. The principal part, I suppose some four-fifths,
of the emigrants there, were from Missouri. I voted before these
strangers came to Wolf river, but required them to swear me before II
would vote.
I did not continue to canvass as a candidate, and advised my friends.'
to refrain from voting, because I saw citizens of a neighboring State*
coming over in sufficient numbers to control the election. I heard a;
great many threats in regard to contesting that election. Major Gen-
eral Eichardson said, in a crowd in Doniphan, that nc^self and office
should be thrown into the Missouri river if I contested the election on
sent a protest against it. We all believed that if a second electio:
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 359
held it would be a bloody one. I afterwards heard threats against
governor of the Territory — that if he failed to sign the certificates
should not live two hours. I heard these threats in Doniphan and
Missouri. I also received an anonymous letter, stating that if I
ntested the election I should be put out of my misery, or something
that effect. These threats were frequent.
I have examined the poll-list of Doniphan for the 30th of March,
855. I find on that list about fifty-five names that live there now ;
but a number of those have come over since, I think. I cannot tell
how many of the fifty-five have come since. I think some eight
or ten, I can be positive, have come over since, but there are others I
cannot be positive about. These Missourians professed to come from
E; Platte county, in which county I am not acquainted. I find on the
poll-lists some names of those who live in Missouri, right opposite, as
.follows: J. Christopher, B. G. Wells, William Christopher, W. C.
Wells ; Mr. Norris, whose first name I do not recollect ; Mr. Fenton,
: who keeps store in Rushville, Missouri ; W. Duning, B. 0. Driscol ;
Dr. Brown — I think his name is A. Brown ; a Mr. Mobley, a miller in
Rushville. I find the names of three boys on the poll-list — John
Thomas, Wm. Smith, and Ely Ward.
To Mr. Rees :
I saw no violence offered to any voter, except doubling up of fists,
&c. ; no blows struck. Everybody voted after Richardson resigned
that wanted to, so far as I know, until I left, which was a few min-
utes afterward. A few of Mr. Achison's party stopped at Wolf river —
a half dozen or more — for I went back with a wagon load.
Question. You speak of Missourians voting ; do you know they
, were citizens of that State at that time ?
Answer. — Those of Doniphan precinct I know to be residents of Mis-
souri. Those at Wolf River precinct told me they were.
Question. Do you know that the same names you have spoken of
were the same persons you knew in Missouri ?
Answer. Yes, sir ; I may be mistaken in two of them, Mr. Fenton
and Mr. Norris, whose first names I do not know, but I think I am
not mistaken.
Question Did you not propose to run on the pro-slavery ticket, in
that district, as a candidate for the legislature ?
Answer. No ; being from the South, when I first came to Kansas I
took no political grounds. In a conversation on the subject with John
W. Foreman, I told him I was not ultra in my views, and gave him
to understand that I was a free-State man, but not ultra in those
opinions, which I was not.
Question. Did you not state, .after you were a candidate, that you
were fooling the free-State party, and that you were all sound f
Answer. No, sir ; I did not.
Question ly Mr. Reeder. Was the name of the judge of the 18th
district Cooper, or Cramer ?
Answer. I find the name of the judge of the Doniphan district on
my memorandum a Thomas J. B. Cooper. Upon hearing the name
mentioned I am positive his name was Cramer. I wrote it, I think.
360 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
on my memorandum through mistake as Cooper, and have
thought of it since. He told me he was judge of election for the ISthl
district ; was a pro-slavery man, and was taking the returns to the
governor. At the time I had this conversation I was not acquainted
with Mr. Cramer, and put down the name at the time on my memo-
randum-hook as Cooper, and have not looked at it since. Since ther
I became acquainted with Mr. Cramer in Benicia, at Dr. Brooks' s, anc
am now positive that it is the same man I put down as Cooper.
GEO. A. CUTLER.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
JOHN W. FOKEMAN called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I was a candidate for the office of councillor for the fan council disw
trict, embracing the Donipban and Wolf River precincts, and 18th! j
district. I had no opposition that I ever heard of ; I was a pro-*-
slavery man, and known as such over the district. I attended thef
Wolf River precinct on the day of the election ; I was well acquainted!
with every man who voted that day, except perhaps one or two. The1
judges were James M. Irving, E. V. Rogers, and William Riehard-i-
son, all appointed by Governor Reeder. Richardson and Irving weret
known to be free-State men ; Mr. Rogers was known to be a pro-slavery*
man. The election was conducted very quietly and orderly through-
out the day. There were a number of gentlemen there — some five-
or six from Holt county, Missouri, which' lay across the river — with1;
whom I was acquainted. These neither voted nor attempted to vote*
that day, nor were there any illegal votes given that day, in my.
opinion, except two ; these were James Williams and Charles Blakely.
It was said that Mr. Williams was not a citizen of the United States,.
and had not filed his intention to become such ; he voted, and was not;
challenged at the time; he was recognised as a free-soiler. Mr..
Blakely's vote was challenged by Mr. Richardson, and he was sworn
to answer questions; and upon his answering was admitted by two of
the judges to vote, whereupon Mr. Richardson resigned. Mr. Wil-
son was appointed in his stead, after which but few votes more were;
taken that day.
There was a general attendance of the voters in the Wolf River pre-
cinct that day, and seventy-five or eighty votes cast, of which number i
the pro-slavery men got about sixty votes ; the balance of the votes'
were given to free-State men.
I have examined, very slightly, the poll-books of the Doniphan
precinct, and believe that a large majority of the names on the poll-
book were then, and are now, residents of the Doniphan precinct. I
noticed some on it that I believed were residents of Missouri and not
entitled to vote — Major Rucker and Mr. Moberly were among them.
There were a number of names on the poll-book with which I was not
acquainted, and do not know whether they were legal voters or not, as
I was not well acquainted in the Atchison part of the district. With
th<
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 361
e exception of the neighborhood of Atchison and on the Nemaha, I
knew nearly every man in the district.
The vote in the Wolf Eiver precinct I consider a fair test of the
strength of both parties ; the pro-slavery ticket may have overrun its
< 'Strength a little. Including the Atchison vote, I think there were
fully two to one pro-slavery men in the Doniphan precinct.
I was postmaster of Doniphan, and got through the post office north-
ern and other newspapers, by which we were led to expect that under
the auspices of the Aid Societies of the east a very large emigration
would be brought into the Territory prior to the election in March.
I remember distinctly an article published,, I think, in the New York
Tribune, about the middle of March, in wlifeh. it was stated that if
the elections were held before the opening of navigation, the free-
State, men would be routed or beaten ; but upon the opening of spring
; (an avalanche of free men would be poured from the North into the
Territory, and the slaveocrats would be routed. I recollect distinctly
that I was excited, as were my neighbors, \>y the obvious efforts of
: the North to abolitionize Kansas. I was an old settler in the Terri-
tory and a slaveholder in a small way, and I saw no reason why I and
my neighbors should be expatriated, while the fanatics of the North
were to occupy my place. The excitement was general on both sides
of the river.
To Mr. Sherman :
I was not on the 30th of March a resident of the Wolf Kiver pre-
cinct, but I was a resident of the Doniphan precinct.
JOHN W. FOREMAN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
JOHN LANDIS testifies :
I moved into Kansas Territory in December, 1854, into the Doni-
phan precinct, 14th district, from Buchanan county, Missouri. I was
on the Nemaha one night about a week before the election of the 30th
of March, and stopped at the house of Mr. Moore. Mr. John W.
Foreman was there, who is now a member of the Council from the
Doniphan district. We had some conversation relative to Mr. Kirk.
Mr. Foreman stated to Mr. Moore that he expected, in a few days,
that Mr. Kirk would emigrate into the 18th district. My understand-
ing was, at that time, that they would run Dr. Stringfellow, from
Doniphan, and Mr. Kirk, of the Nemaha, as representatives, and
Mr. Foreman as councilman. I met Gen. Atchison on Wolf river
the Monday before the election, which was held on Friday. There
were from six to twelve wagons in his party, containing six or eight in
each wagon. Some were on horseback, I knew Gen. Atchison, and
he was the only one of the party I did know. I met him as he was
going to the crossing of Wolf river, and told him that he would have
to turn back and take the other road, because .the bridge had washed
away. Pie turned back, and we rode half or three quarters of a mile
362 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
together. He asked me several questions about the Neman a country/
He wanted to know whether I was acquainted there or not. I told
him I had been up there and learned what sort of men they wereaj
He asked what sort of people they were, and I told him they werei
principally Pennsylvania Dutch. He made no reply, but some ofc
his men spoke up and said they were abolitionists, and they would
rout them. I was at the election of the 30th March, at Doniphana:
I went down there about 10 o'clock. When I came in sight, there!
were between 200 and 300 men there, probably, electing their judge*!
by forming a line and taking the vote by tellers. They elected a man*
by the name of Lamb, ajpd Ireland and Alexander Dunning, and then?
proceeded to receiving votes. The great body of those there werei
strangers to me. I knew a few of them. I knew B. Gr. Wells and:
another Wells. They resided in Missouri, across the river from Doni-i-
phan, and they were the only ones I knew, except those who resided:
in the Territory. I had no conversation with them. I did not see*
the two Wells vote. I voted mygelf that (day. I remained at thet
polls until late in the evening. I was a candidate for representative!
myself that day on the free-State ticket. I had taken some means t<x
canvass that district. At that time there were about 200 actual set-t-
tlers there ; of that number about 50 or 60 resided in Doniphan pre-'-
cinct. The Atchison precinct was attached to the Doniphan at that!
time, and contained more voters than the Doniphan precinct. Myj
opinion is that the majority of actual settlers in my district are "free-1-
State men," if the vote had been confined to the legal resident voters.*;
I did not think the body of men I saw there that day were residents*
of the Territory. I did not know them as such. I saw some 25 on
50 of them returning after the election, going across the river to
Missouri. I do not know that these men voted.
I saw one of the judges beckon to a man, who was a stranger toi
me, and he came up to the polls, and I heard either Judge Ireland!
or Lamb say to him, that all he had to do was to say that he was aa
citizen, and he could vote. The man made no reply, but handed ini;
his ticket. He was asked if he was a citizen, and answered that he^
was. He was a stranger to me, and I don't know whether he was a
citizen or not, nor do I know but the judge knew him to be a legal!
voter.
I took measures to contest this election. Dr. Cutler and myselfi
got up a petition that evening and got signers to it. It was agreed!
between us that he was to go down to the governor and attend to the*
matter himself. Then I returned home, supposing he would attend!
to it. I came down a few days afterwards, and he told me why he-
had not pursued the contest. No threats were made, that I heard!
myself, about the contest.
Cross-examined by Governor King :
From information I got, there were from 40 to 60 voters on theo
ground. I knew none of them except Moore and Baker. I do not!
know that the 200 or 300 men I saw at the polls were not citizens oft
the Territory. I knew but two men in the Atchison part of the dis—
trict at that time. I don't know, from my personal knowledge, thatij
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 363
f of tlie votes given in tlie Doniplian district that day were not
al, for I don't know their residence. I "did not know but one of
judges personally, but presume they all lived in the district. I
kaw no person prevented from voting that day. There were, accord-
ing to the census, 247 legal voters at the time of taking the census,
in February, 1855, in the 14th representative district. My opinion
is, that the increase of population between the census and the election
'was about one-fifth. My means of information on that subject was
I !by inquiry and by canvassing the district, except the Atchisoii dis-
trict. I know nothing of the increase of population in the Atchison
district.
By Mr. Sherman :
I believe I have looked over the poll-book of that district, and find
upon it the names of three persons I know to live in Missouri. Their
names are William Dunning, B. G. Wells, and his brother. The
other names en the list are generally strangers to me. The free-State
men did not generally vote that day. Some eight or ten of them met
there, and were there when I came, and declined voting. I persuaded
some few of them to vote. They said there was no use in voting, as
they were overpowered by the Missourians, and it would have no
effect. As far as I can judge, about ten or twelve of the free-State
party voted that day ; but there were a great many free-State men in the
district I did not know, and whether they were there or not I do not
know. I heard no general rumor prevailing that Missourians were
coming over to vote. I only heard one man say so. This conversa-
tion occurred in this way : I was arguing that we had a majority of
free-State men in that one district. He observed that if we had, he
would beat us by Missouri votes. At that time I had heard nothing
of eastern emigrants. This was Saturday before the election. The
man's name was Beeler with whom I had the conversation.
Cross-examined by Governor King :
All that I know about the free-State men not voting was what I
got from Collins and others on the morning of the election while the
voting was going on. I don't know whether these men voted after-
wards or not. Collins was one of the men I induced to vote.
JOHN LANDIS.
LBAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT — At Hayes's.
E. B. ZIMMERMAN called and sworn.
I came to the Territory in the beginning of December, 1854, from
Beading, Pennsylvania, 'and settled at Kickappo, and have resided
there, or near there, ever since. This is the fifteenth district. I was
at^ the election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Hayes's, about seven
miles from Kickapoo, on the/ Fort Laramie road. I was one of the
364 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
judges of the election. I went there the afternoon before the elec->
tion, and remained there all night. There were camp fires all around
there of persons who had come there in the afternoon. The next
morning hut one other judge, Jef. Thompson, appeared. Mr. Fisk,j
the other judge, did not make his appearance at all.
These strangers commenced crowding around the polls, and inn-i
sisted upon having the polls opened. The residents left when thd
crowd came up. Mr. Thompson and myself agreed upon a man by}|
the name of Bailey for the third judge, and also appointed two clerks/
whose names I do not now recollect. I had considerable difficulty inr
getting the other judges to commence the election. They would go out
and whisper to the crowd outside; both of the other judges were pro->j
slavery men. I finally told them there was no necessity for deferringcj
the matter longer, and we should open the polls. We all agreed thatj
it was not necessary to examine the votes much, and we agreed upond
a short oath to be taken by the voters before they would be allowed;
to vote. The first man who came up, when the oath was put to him,,
answered, " I'm here." The other judges were at first inclined toe
take the ticket, but I would not agree to it ; and then they told him;:
lie must swear he was an actual resident of the fifteenth district, on
his vote would not be received. After some grumbling, he took the*
oath. A number would come up, and when the oath was put to themr
would say they had a claim, or held a claim, or owned a claim,, on
was there, or something of that sort. But all who voted were obliged
to take the oath. As they came up from their wagons they had
hemp in their button-holes, and the pass- word that day was, "All
right on the hemp." A greater portion of the time there were meqi
stationed where the votes were received, and would examine the mem:
as they came up, and would announce that they were " all right om;
the hemp." I do not recollect that a man voted that day but what;
had hemp in his button-hole, or on his hat, or some other place-
where it could be seen. I did not go out to see any of the delega-
tions coming in, but I heard it announced that delegations were-
coming in, and I would hear cheers, &c. Speeches were generally
made to them as they came in ; but I did not go out to hear them. ,
There was a great deal of drinking and swearing that day ; curs-
ing the abolitionists ; and some intimated at the polls that II
ought to be taken out, but none interfered with me further than byv
threats. There were no regular free-State candidates at that election.
We had it in contemplation to nominate a free-State ticket ; but,
upon hearing that the Missourians were to come over in such force,
we abandoned it as useless, although I am confident that, at a fair
election, we could have carried that district. At the polls I had a
list of the regular voters as given in the census returns ; and as a man
gave his name, I would look on the list for it, and I found but very,
few names there of those who voted that day. This list has been
destroyed by fire since then at Kickapoo, at the time of the invasion.
Not finding any abolitionist to fight that day, having expressed &
strong desire to find one to whip, they got fighting among them-
selves. I saw one old grey-headed man, about fifty-five or sixty
years of age, and a boy about ten years of age by his side crying.
The old man was all bloody, having been beaten. Those men there
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 365
were armed, and one of them brandished a pistol in the window be-
fore my face. The man was drunk, and put the pistol in the window,
srith pointing it at me, though he said he would like to kill an
Abolitionist.
I heard a good deal of talking among them, but do not recollect
that I heard them say where they came from. I do not suppose one-
fourth of the actual residents of the district voted. There were two
pro-slavery tickets started ; but on the morning of the day of election
the ticket the Missourians were opposed to was withdrawn. Judge
Freeland for council, and, I think, Kellogg for the lower house, were
on the ticket withdrawn.
I heard it announced publicly where the delegations came from.
Kellogg, when he withdrew his name, said he did not want to run
when Missourians came over here to decide the elections. He was
cheered, but I heard no reply made to him. He was a conservative
pro-slavery man.
The reason the election was not contested, was because there was
no one there to take the responsibility of doing so ; and we thought
if we had another election, we would fare no better. After the re-
turns were made out, the officers wanted me to sign a certificate to
the governor that the election was fairly conducted, which I refused
to do. The other judges signed the certificate to that effect. Thomp-
son was the return judge at his own request.
Cross-examined by J. W. Whitfield :
D. A. N. Grover was the candidate for council, and Dr. Harris and
Mr. Weddell for the lower house were the candidates voted for on
that day. There were no other candidates run. Some withdrew
their names in the morning who were pro-slavery men. There was
no opposition to Grover, Harris, and Weddell. I did not see any one
prevented from voting, though there was a throng about the polls all
day. Grover, Harris, and Weddell did not get a majority of the legal
voters of the district. I saw Colonel Burns from Missouri there. I
have been in the Territory since December, 1854, and have never
attended elections in the western country except in Kansas. We
have generally been very peaceable at our free-State elections, though
when we had an invasion the elections were generally pretty stormy.
To Mr. Reeder :
I did not consider it safe to contest the election. As the delega-
tions came up, I heard it publicly announced that they came from
Missouri, but not from what part.
To Mr. J. W. Whitfield :
No threats were made to me regarding contesting the election ; nor
did I hear any particular threats made. I did not consider it safe,
judging from the common talk in the streets and groceries ; though I
do not now recollect the names of those I heard talking about the
matter.
EDMUND K. ZIMMERMAN.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 7, 1856.
366 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
J. B. CRANE testifies :
To Mr. Howard:
I attended the election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Charles Ha-«
gis's, about six miles from my house. I think a Mr. Fisk was one of j
the appointed judges ; Mr. Zimmerman another ; the other I do not *
rememher. Hagis's is a little out of Kickapoo. Mr. Grover was onee
of the candidates that day, but I do not remember much about them;;
I did not vote that day, because the party I belonged to had no candi-i
dates that day. I saw a great many people there that day, and saw*
them voting. I should judge that from the time I went there until If
left, there were at least four hundred there, coming and going all the %
time. The greater portion I saw come, came up the Fort Laramiei
road from towards the river. I saw no encampment. I should think c
there were more strangers and non-residents there at that election!
than at that of the 29th of November, 1854. I know some of thesea
non-residents : one Alfred Allen, of Platte county, and a Mr. Hodges, ,
I think, lived in Platte county, Missouri ; a Mr. Ray, from Mercer r
county ; but I do not know whether these people voted, though Mr. ,
Allen and Mr. Hodges told me that they came to vote. Mr. Hodges*
claimed the right to vote because he had a claim. Mr. Allen had no •
claim in the Territory, and did not say what right he had to vote. .
The most of these strangers were armed with bowie-knives and pis-
tols. I heard quite a number of persons say that they were from Mis--
souri. There were some speeches made there that day. Mr. Groveri
made a speech. A gentleman was speaking when I got there ; they,'
told me it was Mr. Oliver. I heard but little of it. I did not know?
what was going on all the time, as I stood pretty well back. A great t
many of these strangers had little wisps of hemp on their arms orr
their hats, or somewhere about their persons. I cannot say that li
heard anything in the speeches about the right of the strangers to >
vote, though I heard some talking there : one, who said that he cutfc
a few poles and laid them in the shape of a square, and that made
him a claim ; another, that he had cut a few sticks of wood, and that I
made him a claim ; and others, one thing and another.
To Mr. Oliver :
I saw no disturbance until just about the time I left. I saw none j
the fore part of the day, except some pretty rough talking. 'No fight-
ing ; no interruption of the voting. There was, as I understood, one.)
set of candidates.
To. Mr. Howard :
I do not recollect of hearing these strangers say in what county in
Missouri they came from. I should think one-half of the people on
the ground had hemp on, but I saw no one I knew to be residents ;
have it on. I should judge, from what I saw and heard that day, that ,
there was not over one-third on the ground, if that many, who resi-*
ded in the district. I know of no free-State men in the district who
voted that day, and I believe that the free-State party generally did
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 367
lot vote at that election. I did not vote because I was a free-State
nan, and there were no free-State candidates. A good portion of the
ime there was a considerable crowd about the polls, but I presume
<here would have been no difficulty in voting for the candidates who
,vere running. The word was, that the free-State party should have
10 candidates, and we brought none out. I heard the pro-slavery
,nen say that the free-State men, or abolitionists, as they called us,
ihould not run a candidate. I took it that they did not intend that
,he free-State men should run a candidate, if they could help it.
They made no threats to me — merely that statement. I think that
jvas the reason the free-State party did not run their candidates. I
lid not hear Mr. Keller resign. I heard but little of Maj. Oliver's
speech, and I heard nothing from him about free-State men not being
illowed to run a candidate. I heard from others on the ground, who
,vere strangers to me, that no abolitionist should vote. I have seen
i few of these strangers — hemp men — in the district since. Some
:wo or three have moved into the district since ; Mr. Hodges is- one of
;hem. I think one-half or two-thirds of those who voted that day at
Lhat election were strangers in the district. I do not know of a free-
State man in the district who voted that day. According to my best
knowledge and information, I think that at that time the pro-slavery
party in the district had a small majority, but I do not positively
know how many, perhaps twenty-five. I presume the majority has
not varied much since, though I do not know.
To H. Miles Moore :
I do not remember that in the speeches I heard, I heard any in-
ducement held out to strangers to vote.
Cross-examined by Mr. D. A. N. Grover :
I live about six miles, nearly south, from Hay's house, as we call it,
but I do not know what the exact distance is. I saw no one camping
in the neighborhood of the house where the election was held the
evening before the election. I saw the day of the election, some time
about noon, or after, a party with a flag coming up from towards
Kickapoo. I do not know who those men were, or where they came
from, though I heard some of them say they were from Missouri.
They did not tell me so, but I heard them tell others so. On the flag
'was a design of a negro breaking hemp, and was carried by some men
in a wagon, but I did not notice what was written on it. I know only
from what I heard said, that those persons came from Missouri. I could
not be positive those I . heard say they were from Missouri were that
party, though from all appearances I judged them to be so. They
might probably be of some other party. I do not know many of the
citizens who live in and around Kickapoo. I know there were a good
many settlers around and above Kickapoo. I know a great many of
them by sight, and where they live, but do not know their names. I
do not know the politics of those men as a general thing. Within
three miles of Kickapoo, up the river,, I know of but five or six free-
State men. Some of their names I have frequently heard. There is
a Mr. House. I do not know that House has voted for Whitfield, but
36g KANSAS AFFAIRS.
he has represented himself to me as a free-State man. There is a Mr.
Jones there, a free-State man, and several others there, whose names
I cannot tell. I know from their conversation that they are free-State
men. I do not know how many free-State men there are in my neigh-
borhood, though there are a considerable number. The family and
residence of Mr. Ray were in Mercer county, as I understood the term
residence. He has been over here frequently a week at a time, work-
ing on a claim ; but his family were not here. He has been contest-
ing a claim with Martin Hefferton, and I think he made improvements
on the claim, but I do not know whether he has got the claim. I date
my residence in the Territory from the 20th of August, 1854, when j
landed with my family. People generally attempt to hold their claims »,
from the time they make it, and some pretend to claim their residence^
from that time, but I do not think that is the general doctrine in theej
Territory. I think what constitutes a residence is when a man movesfj
on to a claim with his family and goods, though he may hold a claimns
until he gets a chance to move on it. In regard to citizenship, I would <Sj
relinquish all right and title I had to my claim before I moved on itl!
with my family. But I think a man does not become a citizen until!
he settles permanently on his claim. I think that a man's family,,
when he has one, makes him a citizen ; that is, where his family is,i,
there his home is. I do not know whether that is free-State doc---
trine. According to what I have stated I do not think Lewis Burns *
was a citizen on the 30th of March, 1855. I knew he had a claim,
and had built a house on it, but I did not know that he had lived
there with his family before that time. I did not know of my ownn
knowledge that he had not lived there with his family. The free-*!
State party did not run a candidate, so far as I know anything about!'
it. I intimated to the committee that the pro-slavery party meant l!
to intimidate the free-State party, so that they should not run a can^
didate, for I heard persons say so ; but they were strangers to me, and
I did not know where they were from ; and it is from the words of i
those strangers I inferred that the pro-slavery party of the fifteenth!
district meant to intimidate the free-State party. I cannot say that!
I heard any man of the pro-slavery party, that I knew personally}1
to live in the ninth coancil district, say that the free-State partyM
should not run a candidate. I do not know where those men livedlj
that I heard say so. I saw no one prevented from voting at Hagis's^l
on the 30th of March, 1855. I cannot say as I heard any one threat- -j
ened if he attempted to vote. I saw no fighting there before I left. I-
heard no quarrelling between free-State and pro-slavery men, and can-
not say that I saw any violence in any way. Hodgis has had a claimii!
in the district, and was over occasionally before the election, but did no ;
work except to move an old Indian cabin from an old farm to a claim he-j
made, and put it up. He has sold his claim and bought another, which'ij
he has moved on since. I do not know anything about Jolly taking^
the census of that district before the election. I think he went out to<j
take it in winter^ when there were three or four inches of snow on the*;
ground. I do not know of any one in my neighborhood who made &',
claim in the fall, lived there until the cold weather, went over into*
Missouri, and came back in the spring. I have no idea of the number ;•
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
369
If men I was acquainted with in the district. I think I knew one-
burth by sight, but I did not know their names. I was not well ac-
iuainted above Kickapoo and along towards Port Williams, though I
fave frequently rode through there hunting up cattle, and conversed
yith some I saw there. There were many men in Salt Creek valley
vhose faces I knew, but not their names. I do not know how many
ree-soilers I could point out. I know of many whose names I do not
tnow. I knew free-soilers in Salt Creek valley at that time — one was
i. Eiddle ; but I do not know as I knew others at that time. I think
jhere was a majority of pro-slavery men in the district. In my own
Neighborhood there are free-State men ; Mr. Nichols, three Mr. Ro-
binsons, Mr. Wiley, two Mr. Harrisons, Mr. Parks, Mr. Bucjmer,
Mr. Heath, Mr. G-ordney, Mr. Sutton, Mr. Foster, Mr. Klein, Mr.
3aker, and a good many more.
J. B. CRANE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 19, 1856.
JOSEPH POTTER called and sworn.
I live in Atchison county, in Mount Pleasant township, from thir-
teen to fifteen miles from here. I have lived there since the 16th of
October, 1854, and came from Buchanan county, Missouri. I was
born in Kentucky. I was at the election at Hagis's on the 30th of
March, 1855. I did not vote there that day. My acquaintance in the
fifteenth district was quite limited at that time. There was quite a
crowd there on that day ; I should judge from 300 to 500. I saw
some there from Buchanan county that day, and who lived there then,
I judged. I saw Benjamin Yocum, James and Lafayette Ellison, and
a young Mr. Dunlap — Allen Dunlap, I believe. I do not remember
that I had any conversation with these men. I judged they were resi-
dents of Buchanan county, because they formerly resided there, and
were my neighbors, and have resided there since. I did not hear of
any there from Buchanan county that I did not know. I saw some
there from other counties. I saw Major Oliver there, from Ray county,
and I think Laban Withers, from Platte county. I never knew of
any of these men I have named living in the fifteenth district. I
do not think the people on the ground were generally armed. I saw
one revolver, a bowie-knife or two, and some rifles. I left the
ground in the afternoon, and do not know whether these men voted
or not. I should judge from all I saw and knew of the people of the
district, and of Missouri, at least one-half of those on the ground that
day were not residents, perhaps more or less. There were many resi-
dents about Kickapoo i did not know. I paid but little attention to
what went on, that day. Major Oliver made us a fine speech. Col.
Burns, and I think a Daniel Burns, made speeches. I do not know
where they lived ; but they sold goods, and I think lived in Weston.
Major Oliver gave us some grounds, I think based on the Missouri
compromise, in regard to the right of voting. I was in no fix to listen
H. Rep. 200 24*
370 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
to a speech as a man ought to, for I was somewhat sick and did not*
pay much attention. .
To Mr. Oliver :
The first position Major Oliver took on that occasion was, to guar<
anty peace to us all. He was called on to speak by a number. ]
think the Major urged upon all present to use no harsh words ; ex-
pressed the hope that nothing would be said or done to wound the
feelings of the most sensitive on the other side. I think the speech!
was a first-rate speech, and was a peace speech. I voted for General
Whitfield at his first election, but on the 30th of March I fell over the<!
fence and became a free-State man. I took no exception to anything:
the Major said in his speech. The Major made a very fine speech, andij
a peaceable speech ; and said that he felt that all were brothers, whether
free-State or pro-slavery men, and that all had an equal right to vote: i
and undertook to guaranty that if there were free-State men there.)!
they would be protected in their rights, as would the others.
To Mr. Howard :
I do not recollect that I heard, in any of the speeches, about whafcj
constituted residence ; I think Major Oliver excused the Missourianjii;
for voting, but I do not recollect upon what grounds. Colonel Burm.;
said to the men there all to vote, as they had all come to vote, anot
he hoped none would go home without voting. I do not recollect ouj
his saying anything about counteracting the eastern emigrant vot^u
I do not know that I heard any one who lived in Missouri say any>
thing atout that. It appeared to me that the people there generally
voted, going up in order in a line of twenty or twenty-five. I go;ij
over the fence that day because I thought we had men enough in
Kansas to regulate our own affair s, and would have preferred to d<l<
so, and I fell over the fence in consequence of seeing so many there '.
thought were non-residents. I do not know of any free-State men
who voted that day, and do not think that any voted. I came from
Kentucky to Saline county,, Missouri, in 1836, then to Lafayettt
county, and then to Buchanan county.
Cross-examined by Mr. Grover :
I was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky ; lived some years in Jeij
ferson county, Kentucky. I never lived in Indiana ; merely passes-
through that State. I was at the election at Hagis's in the 15th dig
trict, on the 30th of March, 1855, but did not vote. I had intendei
to vote for Grover, Kellogg, and Harris that day. I was not pretj
vented from voting that day. I saw no one prevented from votings
I heard no threats made in regard to voting. I was at the election |
at Pensenau's on the 29th of November, 1854, and voted for Generaaj
Whitfield. I saw some strangers there, but they did not throw mij
over the fence, as the sight of strangers on the 30th of March did
because I had not then begun to study into matters right. I do ncx
know that the charge was made that I was a free-soiler before thi
30th of March, though I must say I began to get pretty tolerabll
softened on that subject before then. I had begun to look into publi
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 371
'affairs, and had about come to the conclusion that I would rather live
in a free State than *a slave State. I had come to that conclusion
pretty much before I went to the election of the 30th of March,
though I had not fallen over the fence then. I do not suppose the
free-State men were prohibited by the pro-slavery men from bringing
out a candidate.
To Mr. Oliver :
I heard Mr. Kellogg' s speech that day, in which he declined to run
as a candidate. I do not recollect what were his grounds for declining,
'as stated in his speech.
To Mr. Grover:
I was one of the supporters of Mr. Kellogg, and was somewhat dis-
; satisfied when he withdrew, as he was one of my friends I had known
in Missouri, and had been with me a great deal, and I thought a heap
of him, and that he was a man well qualified for the office. If Kel-
logg had run as a regular candidate that day, I reckon I should have
voted for him. He told me that the occasion of his withdrawing was,
that there were so many strangers there that day. I did not vote,
because Kellogg, whom I considered our regular nominee, did not
make the race that day ; and one cause why I did not vote was his
withdrawing. I was not generally acquainted through the district.
My acquaintance was quite limited. I do not suppose I know one-
fourth of the residents in that district, or even one-fifth. A great
many persons I saw that day might have been residents of that dis-
trict, and I supposed that all or the greater portion of those that came
from Kickapoo were residents, and many there that I took to be resi-
dents, were strangers to me. I can tell a resident, generally, when I
see him ; they are generally a little rougher dressed than those who
come across the river, though that is not invariably the case. I do
not know how many voters there were in the district at that time.
Kickapoo I supposed to be a pro- slavery place ; there was a majority
of free-State men in my neighborhood. It may have been that there
was a pro-slavery majority in the district ; though, in my opinion,
there was not far from a tie in the district of free-State men and pro-
slavery men. I saw several there that I supposed to be from Missouri,
and to the best of my knowledge they lived on the other side of the river,
and I have good reasons to suppose they were residents in Missouri. I
think I saw more than five there that day I had good reasons to be-
lieve were residents of Missouri. Mr. Benjamin Yocum is another
family from those who lived near Atchison. It may have been B. F.
Yocum, but he was called Benjamin Yocum ; and if he had a claim
on the Stranger I never knew it. I have good reason to believe that
all the names I have given were residents in Missouri. 1 do not
recollect whether I had been in Missouri that spring or not. I had
been over during the winter — some time, I think, in January, though
it might have been in February, or even in March. I saw some of
those men when I was there in Missouri, but not all. I saw James
and Lafayette Ellison there, but I do not think they talked with me
about coming over into the Territory that spring, and do not recollect
372 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
that I spoke to them. I saw those men in the town of De Kalb, I
think. I left them in Buchanan county, and found them there when
I was over there then, and also this spring ; and, therefore, I call
them residents of Missouri. I saw one revolver in the hand of a
young man who got up on a wagon to make a speech. I do not recol-
lect of seeing any other revolver. I think the men were not generally
armed ; if they were, they carried them ahout their persons. The
young man with the revolver had no difficulty with any one, and
made no threats against any one that I know of. I think he held
it in his hand during a part of his speech, and then put it away, but
did not notice what he did with it.
JOSEPH POTTER,
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
THOMAS HODGES called and sworn,
I reside in Platte county, Missouri, seven miles from Weston, north-
east ; I have resided there nearly seventeen years. There were a
good many of my neighbors made preparations to come here on the
30th of March, 1855. They were residents there and owned property
there. They said they were coming, and I saw them going and com-
ing. I saw Esquires R. Gr. Baber, Thomas Stockwell, Dr. Samuel
Rixey, and Wiley English, coming or making preparations to come ;
I do not know that they had provisions with them when they came
here. I had a good deal of conversation .with some of these men ;
Dr. Rixey said he would give me five dollars if I would come over
here and vote. I never asked or heard these people say what they
voted. Esquire Baber said he had voted ; I asked him how he felt
over it. He said he "did not feel very well ; did not think it was
right, and should not do so any more."
I know that persons were going and coming at that time ; there
were a number of persons going over with a view of voting, a good
many of them. That was the case more or less in regard to other
elections had, but not so much so as at the election of the 30th March.
They claimed that they had a right to vote by virtu© of the Kansas-
Nebraska bill ; that it fixed no limited time for acquiring the residence,
but they were merely to be here ; and that such was the interpreta-
tion given to the law by Mr. Atchison. They said they wanted to make
Kansas a slave State, and that they had as good a right to vote as the
people of the north who were coming to vote, and had come. These
are the substantial reasons I heard. I do not know as I heard these
men say anything about means or organization to carry out their ob-
ject. I do not know of any secret political society for the purpose of
making Kansas a slave State.
I never came over here to vote myself. I saw Mr. Baber and others
return the day after the election, and all my neighbors returned soon
after the election, and are now residents of my neighborhood.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 3Y8
Cross-examined by Mr. Grover :
I have lived in Platte county, Missouri, seventeen years next fall ;
was originally from Tennessee ; to Indiana, and then Ohio, where I
lived ten years, and then I came to Missouri. I did not volunteer to
come here and give my testimony, but was caught here in town to-
day. I live six or seven miles northeast from Weston. On the day
of election, the 30th of March, 1855, I was at home, and the day be-
fore I did not see the persons who were coming over here across the
Missouri river. I saw them on the road, and they said they were
coming. I did not see them come over the river to Kansas on the day
of election, or the day before.
[Mr. Grover objects to the testimony as to what was said by those
who were on the road coming, as hearsay testimony ; objection over-
ruled.]
I did not see Esquire Baber, T. Stockwell, Dr. S. Rixey, Wiley
English, cross the river at the time of the election. I saw all of them
but Wiley English pass Hughes' s mill, on the Weston road,, towards
Weston. I do not know whether they went to Weston, or where
they went. I don't know what day they came into Kansas. I never
saw those men in Kansas, for last night was the second night I ever
staid in the Territory. It was talked of freely in my neighborhood,
that large parties were coming from the north and east. I have heard
Judge Flannigan spoken of. I heard it said that Mr. Eeeder had gone
to Pennsylvania and brought out Mr. Flannigan to run for Congress,
and as soon as the election was over he returned ; but whether I heard
many or few say this, I cannot tell.
To Mr. Whitfield :
I have never said what I would swear before I came on the stand.
I told Mr. Patrick Orr, in private conversation, what I knew about
these matters.
THOMAS HODGES.
LBAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
M. T. BAILEY called and sworn.
To Mr. Grover :
I live on what is called the Round prairie, Atchison county, in this
Territory, on the military road, about a thousand yards from Hays's
house, where the election was held on the 30th of March, 1855. I
made my claim in June, 1854, and moved there in September, 1854,
and have lived there ever since.
I was at the election of the 30th of March, in that district, and
acted as one of the judges, the other two being Mr. Zimmerman and
Mr. Thompson. I thought at that time I was about as well acquainted
with those living in the district as any person in it. I knew a good
many in the district when they lived in Missouri. I have practised
medicine in Missouri, and also since I have been in the Territory, and
my acquaintance extends over portions of the Territory and Missouri.
374 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I had generally attended the meetings of the squatter associations
in our district, and at those meetings I had an opportunity of becom-
ing acquainted with a large portion of the settlers in the district. I
was at all the little claim disputes and neighborhood quarrels. It
was a general rule for persons when they got into a dispute about
their claims to call on their neighbors, and I generally attended them,
if nothing more than as a spectator. I thought a large proportion
of the voters of that district were at Hays' s house at the election of
the 30th of March, 1855, and the voting was conducted regularly
and orderly, as far as I ever saw at any election, all being allowed
to vote who were entitled to vote, whether pro-slavery or free-soilers,
and no persons tried to be kept from voting, and no threats made, as
far as I saw and heard.
D. A. N. Grover, H. B. C. Harris, and Jonah Weddell, were the
candidates on that day. Mr. Kellogg having withdrawn, there was
no opposition. I never heard that the free-State party had any can-
didates in the field, because I suppose they thought there was no use
in it, as they would be beaten. I never knew or heard of any pro-
slavery man preventing them from bringing out a candidate. At
that time I believe the pro-slavery party had at least two-thirds ma-
jority in that district, and the district has always been considered one
of the strongest pro-slavery districts in the Territory.
I think a large proportion of the resident voters in the district
voted there that day. Some of the free-State men voted the pro-
slavery ticket that day. My house is in plain sight of Hays' s house,
where the election was held. I do not think I saw any wagons
camped about Hays' s house the night before the election, though there
may have been and I not noticed it, as we paid but little attention to
such things, it being common for persons looking at the country to
camp out. I do not know anything of a crowd of strangers coming
around the polls and insisting upon the polls being opened, and did
not hear of such a thing until a year afterwards. I had no private
conversation with any one with regard to the election after I was
appointed judge by Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Thompson, in the place
of Mr. Fisk, one of the judges who had been appointed by the gov-
ernor and declined to serve. There was no agreement between me
and the other two judges not to examine those who offered to vote.
Mr. Zimmerman came and brought all the necessary documents with
him, and instructed us throughout according to the instructions of the
governor. At that time I had never seen or heard of the form of the
election law until Mr. Zimmerman showed it to us. Mr. Zimmerman
acted as foreman until we opened the polls. I had gone to the polls
very early in order to take a table for the judges to write upon, and
Mr. Zimmerman was there when I got there. I had no idea of serv-
ing as judge until I returned from breakfast. I received the tickets
of the men voting part of the time, and so did Mr. Thompson, while
Mr. Zimmerman sat there examining the census returns ; I turning
over the leaves, and now and then saying, "that man is right."
I heard nothing said about taking Mr. Zimmerman out of the
judge's room, or any threats of the kind. I do not know when the
canvass was taken. I heard that Mr. Jolly had been taking the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 375
census, but I never saw him in my neighborhood. About three
! weeks afterwards Thompson and Weddell came round and took a cen-
sus. I think it was in the winter that I heard Jolly was taking the
(census, but I do not recollect whether there were any more on the
[ground or not. There were many settlers in my district who had
'gone over in Missouri — some to bring their families over in the spring ;
I some on business, and were prevented from returning by the state of
the river ; and some went over into Missouri for the purpose of gather-
ing their crops, and with the intention of staying until the river
opened. I think a perfect census return could not have been made
during that winter, except the person who took it should go round
the district and inquire for all who really belonged in the district,
but happened to be away. I know of more than a dozen men who
moved before the election, and after Thompson and Weddell had
been round into the district, and live there yet.
I heard of no pass-word used on the day of election by any person
or party. I think on the 30th March, 1855,, there were some four or
five hundred actual resident voters in the district, and a large portion
of the settlers were from Missouri, because it was right on the border,
and people could easily come across. I think the heavy settlements
were made earlier in our district than in any other district in the
Territory.
M. T. BAILEY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
WILY WILLIAMS testifies :
To Mr. Scott :
I have lived in this Territory, in what was the fifteenth district, and
now Leavenworth county, since June, 1854. At the time of the elec-
tion of the 30th of March, 1855, I was pretty well acquainted in and
around Kickapoo for some two or three miles, and I should judge that
in that distance there were at least 300 legal voters. I should think
that there were at least ten pro-slavery votes to one free-State vote.
I was at that time acting as constable for that fifteenth district under
t commission from G-ov. Keeder, and my knowledge of the setiments
clthe people in and around Kickapoo was acquired by the opportuni-
ties that position gave me to associate with them. I was not at the
election of the 30th March, 1855,, on account of sickness.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
My opinion in regard to there being ten pro-slavery men to one
free-State man had reference to those in and around Kickapoo, where
my acquaintance was principally confined.
To Mr. Scott :
I have been living in this Territory since June 15th, 1854, on the
bank of the Missouri, at Kickapoo city, in what was formerly the
fifteenth district, and now in Leavenworth county, and have never
376 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
been absent from there at any one time more than ten days. I know
a good many of the Missourians who are residents in St. Joseph^
Weston, and Lexington, Missouri, having lived in all those places
myself. I have conversed with a good many of them concerning
eastern emigration, and the unlawful voting that was expected of thei
eastern emigrants. We had heard that a great many were being sent
here to the Territory for the purpose of voting and making Kansas a
free State, and then they would return home. I frequently told theroi
I heard they were coming over to vote in the Territory at our elections,!
in case these eastern emigrants who were shipped here came and
voted unlawfully, and asked if they thought it would be right for
them to do wrong because others did. They generally said, in reply,
that they were not coming to vote, but they had a right to come herei
and prevent eastern emigrants from voting, and they would do so j
but they would not vote themselves until they should come and get
themselves claims^ and stay here long enough to make themselves
legal voters. I did not know of any emigrants being shipped here,
as I was sick part of the time during the principal season of emigra-
tion, and never knew of any Missourians voting at any election here.
I was at the first Congressional election on the 29th of November,
1854, at Pensenau's. Gen. Whitfield was the pro-slavery candidate,
and Judge Flannegan the free-State candidate. I voted at that elec-
tion and saw a great many others voting, a large majority for Whit-
field. I saw some voting for Flannegan. I saw Flannegan 's nephew
there electioneering for Flannegan. He seemed to be considerably
excited, and I thought considerably intoxicated. I did not know him,
but I was told it was Flannegan' s nephew. He was very solicitous
and a little overbearing in favor of Flannegan. He offered me a
ticket, and said that Flannegan was the man. I told him I had a
ticket, and was a Whitfield man, and everybody had a right to vote
as he pleased. I saw him approach several others in the course of
the day with tickets. I saw no person do, nor heard any person of
the pro-slavery party say, anything out of the way to him in any way.
I saw no difficulty on any side. Both sides voted as peaceably and
quietly as I ever saw at any election. I remained there till pretty
near night, and when I left all was quiet. I saw some Missourians at
Pensenau's — Mr. Douglass and his son, I think, and a Mr. Johnson,
and others I do not now recollect. The Missourians did not interfere
by word or act, that I saw. I saw none of them vote. I asked one or
two Missourians if they came to vote, and they said no, as they had
no right to vote.
WILY WILLIAMS.
LEAVENWOBTH CITY, K. Tv May 29, 1856.
S. W. TUBNNELL called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I resided on the 30th March, 1855, in the fifteenth election dis-
trict, and have resided there since the 6th of June, 1854. I was
about as well acquainted with the people of that district as almost any
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 377
man in it, and was generally acquainted with their sentiments upon
the subject of slavery. I took no particular pains to find out their
sentiments, except to try and find out where each man stood on that
question, and at the time of that March election I should judge the
pro-slavery were two to one of the free-soil party in the whole pre-
'einct.
Kickapoo is ahout midway on the river in that district. I was at
that election that day. D. A. N. Grover for council, and Dr. H. C.
B. Harris and Jonah Weddell for the house of representatives, were
the pro-slavery candidates. Mr. Kellogg was a candidate for a time,
but withdrew the morning of the election. Kellogg claimed to be a
pro-slavery man, but was an independent candidate. I never knew
of the free-State party having any ticket for that election. I heard
Kellogg announce his withdrawal, but I do not recollect the reasons
he gave for withdrawing, and cannot say whether he gave any reason,
though I think he did. I think he withdrew before there was any
voting done. I saw no sign of difficulty about the election, either be-
fore or after the polls were opened, and no indications of interference
with any one voting. I do not know as I saw more than three or four
persons vote. I saw a great many residents there, but I did not see
them vote, though I think they did. I do not know that anybody
was prevented from voting. In the morning it was very crowded
about the polls, and persons might not be able to get to the polls when
they wanted to, but in the afternoon all could get up. I do not think
that at the beginning of the crowding at the polls there was a free-
State man among them. But as soon as the first crowd got to vote,
every one could vote. After that, and during the day, there were fre-
quent calls for more voters. If the free-State party had had a ticket
in the field, and there had been no Missourians there, I think the pro-
slavery men could have elected their ticket over all opposition by a
considerable majority.
S. W. TUKNNELL.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
THOMAS J. THOMPSON called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I reside some three or four miles northwest of Kickapoo, in Atchi-
son county, in what was formerly the fifteenth district of this Terri-
tory, and have resided there since June, 1854. At the time of the
election of the 30th of March, 1855, I was well acquainted with the
residents^ that district. In the winter of 1854 and 1855, the gover-
nor appointed Mr. Jolly to take the census in our district. He came
into the district in the very coldest of the weather, and seemed to be in
great^ haste, and we thought he was not making out a just census of
the district. I concluded I would take the census over on my own re-
sponsibility, and I did so, and made the returns to the governor on
the same day Mr. Jolly made his return. Our lists did not correspond,
I having made out some fifty to one hundred voters more than he did.
378 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The governor took my returns and paid me for my services. I made
it my business, while taking the census, to find out as far as possible
what were the sentiments of the people on the subject of slavery, and
I found that a great many men I count as residents of the Territory,
who had no other homes but in the Territory, had gone to Missouri to
pass the season' of cold weather there. These persons generally re-
turned before the election. I did not include these names in the census
list. The district was largely pro- slavery ; so I judged from all the
information I could get. People were all the' time coming into the
district from the time I finished the census to the time of election,
and thus there were many more voters there at .the time of election
than when the census was taken ; and there was a general complaint
among both parties that the census should have been taken, and the
district laid off, when many of the actual residents of the district were
absent for the winter in Missouri, with the intention of returning in
the spring. Mr. Jolly gave as an excuse for not having all the resi-
dents, that he was not acquainted with that portion of the country ;
and as it was pretty broken, he could not find all the little cabins stuck
round in the hollows, but he put down all he saw.
I was acquainted with a great portion of the residents who returned
after the census and before the election, and I was acquainted with a
great many settlers who were from Missouri, as I had lived in Mis-
souri some time and had known them there ; and pretty much, proba-
bly two-thirds, of the returning residents and the new comers were
pro- slavery. I attended the election at that precinct on the 30th of
March 3 1855, and was one of the judges of election appointed by the
governor. The other judges appointed by the governor were Mr. Fisk
and Mr. Zimmerman. Mr. Fisk did not attend. Mr. Zimmerman
and myself were on the ground early in the morning, and when the
hour for opening the polls arrived, which was 9 o'clock, Mr. Fisk was
not there, and we waited, according to our instructions, an hour, before
we proceeded to appoint one his place. At 10 o'clock we selected
Mr. Martin T. Bailey, and proceeded to open the polls immediately,
as soon as we could be qualified and choose our clerks. H. 0. B.
Harris and Jonah Weddell for representatives, and D. A. N. Grover
for council, were the pro-slavery candidates. There were no free-State
candidates running. Mr. Kellogg, for the lower house, withdrew
about the time the polls were opened. I think the free-State party
had not at any time a full ticket for that election ; I never saw nor
never heard of any. Mr. Kellogg gave some reason for withdrawing,
but I do not recollect what it was. I think, from all I could learn,
that he had brought himself out, and finding none of the free-State
party would vote for him, he withdrew. I was in the house, and I did
not see many who were on the ground. I had been living in the Ter-
ritory for nearly a year. I saw some men who had lived in Missouri,
but I did not know whether they lived there then or not. I have no
knowledge of their interfering with the election by voting, or in any
way. The election was as quiet as any I ever saw, and there seemed
to be good feeling prevailing on both sides, so far as I saw. I did not
know of any complaining of opening the polls so late, and leaving
without voting. Some said they wanted to vote soon, but I explained
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 379
fhy we did not open sooner. I told them that we would open at the
ime fixed, when one of the judges was ahsent. I knew of no one
hoing away on that account. The free-State men voted without any
dndrance, so far as they desired to vote. Some of them did not vote,
because they had no ticket. There were two hallots put in with the
fords " no slavery," hut with no names of candidates. Even if Mis-
lourians did vote, the pro-slavery ticket would have heen elected with-
out their votes. There may have heen some votes given by Missouri-
ins who had claims here, and were working on them, but had no
amilies here. The members elect called on us for certificates of elec-
ion, and Mr. Bailey and myself granted them, Mr. Zimmerman say-
ng he saw no use in it, but we could do as we wished ; he would go, as
le had some ways to talk. The poll-books had been closed and cer-
ified.
THOMAS J. THOMPSON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
EDWARD BOURNE called and sworn.
I live in what is called Atchison county, in this Territory, and
my family has been living there since November, 1854. I was at the
election at Charles Hayes's house, on the military road, on the 30th
of March, 1855. I was there a good portion of the day, but I did not
get there very early. I did not vote. I went there for the purpose
of voting, and a man came up and put a ticket in my hand, and said
if I did not vote that ticket I should leave. It was a man named
Jonathan Smith, who lived in the district, who said that to me. The
day previous to the election I had been across in Platte county, at a
lAace called latan. Some men there gathered around me, and wanted
tcfind out my political opinions, and how I would vote. I told them
that I did not exactly know ; that the question about this being a
slave or a free State was one I did not much care about. One or two
said that if I did not promise to vote for making Kansas a slave State
they would throw me into the river. One of them, named Creek
Gum, of Platte city, a son of one who keeps a hotel in Platte city,
pulled off his coat, and wanted to get a party to throw me into the
Missouri river. I came across the river that day safe and sound.
There was an immense body at the election, and as I was going to the
polls I met considerable bodies coming from the election polls. I got
there about ten o'clock in the morning. The man who attempted to
make me vote made me angry. The crowd was then around, and
shooting off their revolvers, and making a great noise. I knew a
number of the men in the crowd. I knew most of the residents in the
crowd, though some of them, probably, I did not know. I should think
there were three hundred men in a body, besides those who were coming
away. I saw a good many, while I was there, go up to the window and
hand in tickets. I saw several there I knew were not residents of the
district ; one of them was Captain John Reed, from Clinton county,
Missouri ; Mr. Brooks ; Mr. " Bungar," I think, from Clay county;
380 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Mr. Cuck, from Clay county, I think — I do not know his first namei
Mr. Gabbord, deputy sheriff of Platte county at one time ; N. J. Ales
ander, a merchant in Platte county ; Mr. Turner, a magistrate frcl
Platte county ; Mr. Seward, from Platte county ; Mr. Ellaford, from
Platte county, I think ; G-eo. W. Smoothe, from Platte county — ho
made a claim in the Territory, but never lived on it ; and severa
names I cannot call to mind. I was acquainted in three or foun
counties of Missouri. I saw Mr. Brasspeard, from Platte county ; Johi
and Wm. Forbes, from Camden Point, Missouri. I never have knows
of any one of these I have mentioned who had ever lived in the dist
trict. Captain John Keed said he had a perfect right to come here
and vote. I was talking with him about his making his claim, and
he said he did not know when he would make it. There were HttW
pamphlets in circulation as to the right of people to vote, and who
would have a right to vote. Captain Keed seemed to think that the
moment he landed here he had a right to vote ; and that appeared to
be a somewhat general impression. I think he told me he had voted,
and I think Mr. Brooks told me he had voted. I cannot now call tc
mind the names of any others who may have told me they had voted,
To Mr. Propper :
I think I know a good many persons in my district, but I do no!
know any James Moore in my district. I think I met a man from
Platte county there of that name, on the day of the election. I do nol
know a Mr. Oliver Sweeny in my district, but I know several Sweeny*
in Platte county. I do not know a Mr. G. W. Calne in our district,
There is a Calver living in the district. I do not know whethei
Thomas Baker was living in the district or not at the time of tiu
election, but I think not. I do not know a Mr. E. E. By waters in thf
district. I know some Bywaters in Platte county, but not the initial*
of their names. I know Enoch Stoggs, and he lives in Platte county j
I saw him the day of the election. I do not know Gr. W. Kyle in oui
district at the time of election. Gr. W. Smoothe lives in Platte county,
and I think he sold his claim before the election. A. B. Sesson lives
in Platte county, and I saw him at the election. I never knew him
to live in the district, though I heard of his making a claim and sell-
ing it again. He told me he had voted that day for peace. I kno'W
a Koss in our district, but cannot say whether there is a B. F. Koss 01
not. I know a Thomas Scott, and I think I saw him at the election :
I think he lived in Platte county. I know Lee Olham, but I nevei
knew of his living in the Territory, though I heard he made a claim
near Kickapoo. I should think about one-third of the crowd I saw al
the polls were actual settlers of the district. I cannot say how manj
legal votes there were in the district at the time of the election. I wenl
to the election because I was dared to go there, and they said they
would duck me ; and I went there to show that I would go. I am a
free-soiler myself, but I do not try to influence others. I came to
Kansas just to get a piece of land cheap.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott :
When they threatened to throw me into the Missouri river at Iatan;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 381
did not promise to vote the pro-slavery ticket, I would not promise
such, thing. They did not throw me into the river. One stripped
his hat, hut did not attempt to do it. Mr. Jonathan Smith put a
cket in my hand, and said if I did not vote that ticket I should have
leave there. I did not vote that ticket, and I did not leave there
mediately. No one else tried to make me vote hy coercion. Others
gued with me, hut no one prevented me from voting. I got mad
hen Mr. Smith said that to me, and I would not vote, especially as
ere was only one set of candidates— the pro- slavery candidates. I
now over one-tenth of the persons who live in the district, I think,
do not know how many lived in the district at that time. I have
ieen nearly over the whole district. I cannot state the exact numher
|f persons there are in the district. I know two hundred, I think, of
Jlne residents of that district, and I think there are more there. I think
here were persons there of hoth pro-slavery and free-State. I should
hink that at that time there were a majority of free-State men.
There were two men hy the name of Logan, and a Mr. Koberts, free-
State men. If I am obliged to tell who are free-State men, I will tell;
3ut I do not want to tell the names of men who do not want their
lames known, as they do not think it safe. I think there were more
:ree-State men there than now. I think there were free-State men
there, because I talked to them at different times. I have been beaten
ind bruised because of my political opinions, and had to show my
pistol to defend my life ; arid I think I am in danger now, when I tell
what I do here. My wife has scarcely changed her clothes for the last
six weeks, and a mob has come about my house and threatened to
hang me if I did not leave in ten days, and called me an abolitionist,
which I am not. The primary cause of my difficulty may have grown
out of a disputed land claim ; but politics has given it a different
complexion. Only one of the persons I had the difficulty with had
anything to do with the claim. The man who struck me, and the
man who drew the pistol on me, never had anything to do with the
claim. The man who drew the pistol on me I never spoke to in my
life. This difficulty did not occur on the claim, but at Kickapoo,
where I went to get some corn ground.
[Mr. Scott wishes it noted that he did not call out the account of
the difficulty on cross-examination, but that it was a voluntary state-
ment of the witness.]
One of the Logans is on the same claim with myself, and he pointed
me out to the Kickapoo bully that they might beat me. He is not a
free-State man now, but he told me at one time that he would not
live in Kansas if it was a slave State.
Captain John Keed told me his residence was in Clinton county,
Missouri ; that he came over to vote, and was going back home the
day of the election. Mr. Benjamin Brooks came up to me, and we
had some talk about claims. He asked me if I knew where he could
buy a claim. I think he acknowledged to me that he had voted, but
had no claim ; he owns land in Clay county. My understanding of
the matter is, that I should be living in the Territory before having a
right to vote, but I can live in the Territory without having a claim.
Brooks was on his way back to Clay county when I met him ; he was
382 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
in Kansas Territory when I met him, hut he told me he was on his
way hack to Clay county, Missouri. I think the residence of George
G-abhord was in Platte county, Missouri, at the time of the election.
I have never been there since. He has a farm and placer in Platte
county, and I never heard of his coming to the Territory to live,
and I am satisfied he never lived in our district. M. J. Alexander
was and is a merchant in latan. I saw 'Squire Turner on his way
home ; he was then acting magistrate in Platte county. M. Len-
mud's residence is near Mr. Turner's. I saw him coming from the
election. I do not know of any one voting except those who told me
they had voted.
To Mr. Grover:
I have been quite frequently in Missouri since I moved to the Ter-
ritory. I have been over there for four weeks at a time.
EDWAED BOURNE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. Tv May 22, 1856.
0. H. BREWSTER called and sworn.
I have resided in Lexington, Missouri, nearly four years, and came
originally from New York State. I was about three miles from town
here at the time of the difficulties at Lawrence, Kansas Territory,
last fall, working for Col. Ewing at my trade of carpentering. I
was there when the news of Governor Shannon's proclamation first
came. Col. Ewing urged his hands, just as soon as his house was
finished, to go up to Kansas. He stated as a reason that Governor
Shannon in his proclamation had called upon the citizens of Missouri,
and they had a right to go up there and enlist in the militia of the
Territory, and that Governor Shannon's proclamation was sufficient
authority for them to do so. I attended a public meeting afterwards,
and heard speeches made by citizens of this place, as far as I knew
them. Men were called on to enrol their names, and I saw quite a
number go up and write their names to go up to the Territory. It
was said that those who had no horses should be furnished with
them, and that provisions should be furnished them, and it should
cost young men nothing to go out to the Territory and come
back. I think a hundred or more went from here or through this
place, and I heard a large number state that they intended to
burn Lawrence and wipe out the abolitionists. I heard several
of them converse after they came back, and one, in particular,
(Captain J. Reese, a lawyer of this place) said that the Missourians,
with the militia, would have rushed into Lawrence and destroyed it
if it had not been for the Sharpe's rifles. I heard others converse,
but it amounted to about the same thing.
I have seen Major Oliver, the representative to Congress from the
district across the river. I heard him make a speech at the pro-
slavery convention for the State of Missouri, held in Lexington,
Missouri, on the 26th of June, 1855. It was the same meeting at
which President Shannon, of the State University, addressed those
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 383
)resent. A man by the name of Samuel Young, from Boone county,
ilso made a very strong pro-slavery speech. Mr. Young argued in
lis speech that it would he right to drive the free-soilers out of Kan-
las Territory and prevent them from settling there. Mr. Oliver
•eplied to him, and in the commencement of his speech seemed to
sondemn any unlawful movement ; but before he had finished he
^tated that he had been up to Kansas Territory and voted himself,
uid would go again under similar circumstances. He went on then
o justify his voting and the whole proceeding, on the ground that
he northern people had formed an Emigrant Aid Society and sent
nen out to the Territory of Kansas. He went on to describe the
Emigrant Aid Society, and stated that hundreds had been sent out
lere, and on this ground he justified his voting. He did not say at
what election, time, or place, he had voted in the Territory. I re-
>member very distinctly that he said he had gone to the Territory of
(Kansas and voted, and would go again under similar circumstances.
0. H. BEEWSTEE.
LEXINGTON, Mo., June 10, 1856.
[See affidavits of Mr. King and Mr. Shot well.]
JOHN W. MARTIN testifies :
To Mr. Scott:
I resided on Plum creek, about a mile and a half from Kickapoo,
in the fifteenth district of this Territory, on the 30th of March, 1855.
I was born in Kentucky, but when an infant was brought to Mis-
souri, where I was raised and lived until the 12th of June, 1854,
when I came into the Territory, and have resided in the fifteenth
district ever since.
I was present at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Mr.
Hays' s in the fifteenth district. There was but one set of candidates
at that election : the pro-slavery candidates, Grover, Weddell, and
Harris. I did not hear of any free-State candidates there. I saw
nothing done by the pro-slavery party to keep the free-State party
out. There was such a rush among our party to the polls that we
would crowd one another out, but that was all that I saw.
There were Missourians there, and some of them may have voted,
but I saw none of them vote. I was tolerably well acquainted with
the inhabitants of that district, and there was a general turn out of
the voters of the district that day. We have very few free-State men
there, I think, and all voted who desired to. I never heard any one
complain of not being allowed to vote. There were a good many
men from Missouri then on the ground at that election. I under-
stood they came there to counteract these emigrant aid voters who
were expected there, and if the aid-emigrants voted they intended to
vote themselves. I did not see any of them vote, and I did not hear
any of them say they would vote, except in the case of aid-emigrants
being allowed to vote. I saw many of the legal voters of the district
voting that day.
384 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
To Mr. Oliver :
I suppose the pro-slavery party had a majority of ten to one in thati
district, if not more. There were but one or two free-State men scat--
tered about, who were quiet men and did not care to take any part in
the election. Mr. Kellogg was out as a pro-slavery candidate, as I
understood, hut I did not hear him decline to run that morning, as
that took place before I got to the polls. The pro-slavery party had
no fear of being defeated by the free-State party, except by some such
thing as the Aid Emigrant Society were said to be getting up, and
we heard every day, and were told, that the election was put off in
order to allow the emigrants time to get here.
Major Mordecai Oliver made a speech and urged the Missourians
not to vote, as there was no necessity for it, the aid-emigrants not
having come in. He said that the reason for the Missourians coming
was to counteract the emigrant aid movement, and as the aid-emi-
grants had not come to that election in that district, there was no
necessity for Missourians voting, and they ought not to vote.
To Mr. Howard :
I have known the boundaries of the fifteenth district, but I cannot
give them exactly now. It embraced the upper settlements of the
Stranger creek, north of Fort Kiley military road, up to Walnut
creek, the Kickapoo settlement, Port William, &c. I should think
that in and about Kickapoo there were not more than one hundred
and twenty voters at that election ; in the Stranger settlement there
were about thirty or forty families, and about that many voters ; in
the Walnut neighborhood there were from eighty to one hundred
voters ; Port William I have included in Kickapoo and Walnut, thus
giving from two hundred and forty to two hundred and fifty voters
in the district. At that time, if the free-State men had had a ticket
in the field, I could not tell how many they would have polled. Sev-
eral free-State men voted the pro- slavery ticket that day ; but there
were two pro-slavery men on the ground to one free-State man, let
the free-State men vote as they may. I am better acquainted about
Kickapoo than other portions of the district, but I have estimated th«
relative strength of the two parties in reference to all the district.
To Mr. Oliver :
I had been over the district once or twice before that election, and
had taken a great deal ol pains to find out the relative strength of
parties, and I know that the pro-slavery party had a very large ma-
jority ; that there were very few free-State men at all.
J. W. MAKTIN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1866.
M. P. EIVELY testifies :
To Mr. Matthias :
I have resided in this Territory some five years, and came here from
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 385
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ; I was present at the election of the 30th
of March, 1855, at Mr. Hays's, in the 15th district. The pro-slavery
candidates were D. A. N. Grover for Council, and Dr. H. 0. B.
Davis and Jonah Weddell for the House of Kepresentatives ; I do not
recollect whether there were any free-soil candidates or not. There
was not much of a contest in the district ; there was quite a number
of persons at the polls, and voting when I got there ; there seemed to
be no objection to any one of either party voting. Calls were made
by persons on both sides for voters to come up and vote; I was pretty
well acquainted in the district, from the fact that I had a store there ;
and many, perhaps a majority of the persons in the district, were at
my store, and I was acquainted with the political views of most of
them. I think the pro-slavery party had a majority of at least three
to one ; the election was conducted peaceably and quietly while I was
there ; I saw no persons armed there. I do not know why the free-
State party took no decided part in the election by bringing out
candidates. They were not prohibited in any way from doing so. I
think Governor Reeder's conduct had the effect of making the people
dissatisfied here, by showing a decided preference for making a free
State of Kansas, in a short time after he was here, by choosing free-
soilers to do what business he had to be done ; by appointing free-soil
canvassers, and a majority of free-soil judges of election ; and letting
eastern people know when the election was to take place before he let
us know it here ; and thus leading the people to believe he would make
a good governor for the free-soilers, but not for the pro-slavery men.
Information was also received here that he was interested in the East,
in importing votes from Massachusetts and other States to make this
a free State. The people in Missouri became aroused, and they came
over here to the election to counteract the votes of the eastern men ;
that is about the cause, I believe, of all our difficulties here.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
It was a general rumor that Governor Eeeder was interested in
bringing voters here ; I had no specific information on the subject.
To Mr. Matthias :
I came into the Territory some five years ago from Philadelphia, Pa.
I was not present at the election of 29th November, 1854. General
Whitfield was the pro-slavery candidate, and Mr. Flannigan was the
free-soil candidate for Congress at that election. I was introduced to
Judge Flannigan shortly after he arrived at Fort Leavenworth ; he
pame to Fort Leavenworth with Governor Beeder. Shortly after he
irrived Judge Flannigan came out to Salt Creek valley, where I then
ived, and went to the house of John Cody, and announced himself as
:he free-soil candidate for delegate to Congress, and he made a free-
ioil speech to a number of free-soilers at Mr. Cody's ; this was pro-
mbly ten days after his arrival in the Territory. He made the race,
ind was defeated by General Whitfield. Some three or four days
Ifefter the election was over, Mr. Flannigan returned to Pennsylvania ;
It do not know where he resides in Pennsylvania. I have heard he had
H. Kep. 200 25*
386 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
a family in Pennsylvania ; he had none with him here in the Terri-
tory.
M. P. EIVELY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT — Leavenworth.
DAVID BROWN recalled.
I came into the Territory about the middle of September, 1854,
from Minnesota. I reside in Leavenworth city at present, and have
resided in this district since the 27th or 28th September, 1854. OE
the 30th of March, 1855, I was in this place in the forenoon ; I was
at the election, but did not vote. I had been appointed as one of the
judges of the election, but did not serve ; I resigned. I was here the
day previous to the election for the purpose of making some prepara-
tion for holding the election ; and that evening I offered my resigna-
tion to the other two judges, and told them they might fill my place
with some one else. I did not offer my resignation publicly until the
next morning, announcing it to the audience present. I concluded
that violence would come to my person if I served, and that I should
not be able to carry out the election as my instructions required me
to do. There was a difference of opinion between me and Mr. Rees,
one of the other judges, in regard to the oath to be taken by the
judges. He stated that there was something more required of judges
by the governor than he would subscribe to. I thought I could refer
it to no other authority but the governor, and if I acted I would have
to subscribe to the oath prescribed. He stated he would not subscribe
to the oath. The other judge, Mr. France, said he would subscribe
to the oath. Mr. L. N. Kees, Mr. M. France, and myself, were the
three judges appointed by the governor. A Mr. Panton was ap-
pointed in my place. I concluded that there was a portion of the
people present who wanted to vote, who wanted judges who would
not ask such questions as I would have asked; and Mr. Rees made the
preposition that we should' all resign, and let the voters choose judges
to suit themselves. I remonstrated against it. Mr. France likewise
remonstrated. After talking some time, I remarked that I saw no
opportunity to get a house for the election ; and owing to excitement
and some personal prejudices against me there, I said I would resign,
and I asked them to fill my place. He remarked, in reply, that he would
a little rather we would all resign. I then made the proposition that
we should take our seats as judges, and I would sit unarmed there
until the crowd should take me and sit me politely down in the street.
I had been interrogated previously in different matters concerning
the oath, and what I considered necessary to constitute a legal voter.
My answers had been, that I should want to ask a man if he was
a citizen or resident of the Territory. When they would ask me
what I should want further, I said if I doubted a man was a citizen,
I should ask if this was his only home, believing a man could not
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 387
have a home in New York and here at the same time. I insisted that
I should ask these questions, and that was one objection to me.
Another was, that Reeder, acting governor then, had appointed two
free-State and one pro-slavery judge here. These were the principal
causes. I thought they would want to get another man in my place
who would not subscribe to the oath prescribed. Oji the morning of
the 30th March, 1855, about 9 o'clock or after, I got up and cried out
to the audience that I, David Brown, being appointed by Governor
Eeeder as one of the judges of the election, under existing circum-
stances could not and would not serve. I do not state the reasons.
I will state, that when I proposed to Mr. Kees that I would take my
seat as judge unarmed until they politely took me off it, Mr. Eees re-
marked, that would be carrying the joke too far ; that neither he nor
any other man could control the people.
I remained around about the polls until somewhere near -noon. I
was but little acquainted in this district. From the time I came into
the Territory up to that time, I do not think I had seen the face of a
man I had seen before. The people I met here at the election
were strangers to me, except some I had got acquainted with here
and in Salt Creek valley. I should think there were from 300 to 500
persons in the forenoon when I was here, to make a rough guess. I
saw no encampments here. On two nights previous to the election
there were various parties camping about nay neighborhood — Salt
creek — some in tents and some in wagons ; three or four wagons to-
gether sometimes. I do not know where they came from or where
they went to. There was a good deal of stir and fuss around town ;
some pretty much in liquor, some wanting to get sight of an aboli-
tionist or a free-soiler. When they got up to the polls, a rope was
stretched from one corner of the building to a stake, then to another
stake, and then back again, so as to make a kind of square lot or pen.
I could hear the question asked, on my way up from the levee, "How
shall we vote, by messes or companies?" Others would say they
did not know how, but they would go in and vote. The voting was
done in a window, and there were few about. The word seemed to
be, " I am all right on the goose/7 As I belonged to the ganders, I
had but little chance. Some of them said they could tell an aboli-
tionist as far as they could see him. I heard no one say, while voting,
where he came from, that I recollect. A steamboat arrived here while
I was here from up the river, but I do not know her name. She had
a crowd of men on, who got off, and the boat lay here some time. I
saw none of those men vote, as I kept away from the polls and did
not notice who voted. I heard some men say that day, that a man's
presence constituted a residence here ; others, -that they had made
claims, or staked out lots, or laid out a town. Some two or three in-
dividuals were here that day that I considered residents of Missouri.
They earnestly urged me to resign in the morning, saying they would
offer my resignation for me. I told them I had a tongue of my own,
and would offer my resignation myself when the proper time came
around. One of these men was named Malcolm Clark, the one shot
by McCrea ; another was Charles Dunn. The reason I regarded them
as citizens of Missouri at that time was, that I had been to Mr. Clark's
388 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
house and place on the other side of the river, and his telling me that
was his home. This was a monthvand a half or two months hefore
the election. Mr. Dunn had a claim adjoining me, and was frequently
over to it. I had seen Mr. Dunn in Weston, and he had told me that
he was going to move over here. He moved in May, 1855, on his
claim, and has lived here since. These were the reasons why I re-
garded these men as non-residents, and should have objected, as a
judge of election, to their voting.
I did not vote, "because I thought I had no business crowding inside
that rope, where all were goose men ; and from the prejudice about
my appointment, and other circumstances, I did not think I would
have been safe in going up there to vote. I saw a great many men
with pistols and knives hanging about their persons. There was
rather more stir about the election than I have been accustomed to
see, and I felt it was my place to say but little, as they seemed to be
considerably excited against the free-State party. ,1 went home about
noon, and did not come back again that day. Previous to the elec-
tion , for some days, a good many had been running to me and soli-
citing me to resign ; and one gentleman came to my house, who said
he was from Missouri, and staid over night with me, and urged me
strongly to resign, and said that if I did not, the consequences would
be disagreeable. My family had heard the conversation, and as my
wife was much frightened,, I concluded I would be better at home,
after I had got through my business here, the day of the election.
I wish also here to state, that after I had been in here on the day
before the election, and had told the judges I would resign, and I had
returned home about ten or eleven o'clock at night, Mr. Charles Dunn
came to my house, and urged me to resign. He said that there was a
company of some four hundred men below Scragg's mill, at the mouth
of " Three-mile" creek, and that they were twisting a rope, and
making preparations to hang me if I did not resign, and he asked me
to authorize him to say to these men that I would resign. I told him
I had told the other two judges to fill my place. He afterwards told
me that that communication quieted these men.
[Mr. Oliver objects to this evidence, in regard to what was told wit-
ness by Dunn.]
To Mr. Oliver:
I had concluded to resign before I heard this of Mr. Dunn, and had
authorized the judges to fill my place.
Cross-examined by Mr. Rees .
I left the town on the day of election, somewhere near noon, be-
tween 11 and 12 o'clock. I saw no resistance offered to men voting.
I think I saw none I knew to be free-State party offer to vote. 1 saw
no further opposition to the voting of free-State men, except the con-
versation I heard about. I did not hear it proclaimed that day that
there should be free voting. I heard it proclaimed by some outside,
" Come on, we have the right kind of judges/' The rope was full
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 389
when I came away. I did not consider that necessary to afford facili-
ties for voting and keep the crowd away.
DAVID RROWK
LEAVENWOKTH CITY, K. T.3 May IT, 1856.
FRANCIS A. HART called and sworn.
I reside in Leaven worth county, some four miles, a little east of
south, from this. I emigrated into this Territory with my family on
the 20th of September, 1854, from Buchanan county, Missouri, and
have lived here ever since. I was here at the election of the 30th of
March, 1855. I am not very well acquainted out hack in this dis-
trict. I have lived from the 9th of November, 1854, till the 17th of
September, 1855, about a mile west of this. I was here all the day
of election, except a little time about noon, when I went home and
then came back. I was acquainted with many in this district, and
many I sa^r I did not know. I estimated the number on the ground
here the day of election and the day before, at from 1,000 to 1,400.
A great many were strangers, and a great many had hemp tied in the
button-hole of the coat, or about the waist, or in other places.
On the 28th and 29th of March wagons came near where I was
living, about a mile from here, and camped on both forks of Three-
mile creek. One wagon drove up to a shanty there, and I went over
to see about it, and observed to them that I had supposed probably
Fayette Mills had sold his claim, and they were commg to take pos-
session of it. They said they had not bought the claim, but had per-
mission to camp there. I then asked them where they were from ;
and they told me they were from Chariton county, Missouri, and that
there were about three hundred in their company, but they had not all
got in. It is this company that I refer to as having encamped on the
two forks of the creek. They did not tell me at that time what
they came for, that I recollect. On the 29th I saw a good many
down here, where the candidates were speaking, and also down here
, onfthe day of election. I do not know that I saw any of them vote.
I did not vote myself at that election. I heard something about
voting from some of these men, but I don't recollect what it was. On
the day of election, as I went home in the afternoon, some of the
wagons that came down to town did not come back. There was a
new party, some one or two wagons, and from twelve to fifteen men,
who were making their camp in the road to my house. They re-
mained there till next morning, when they left. Some of those men
who were there pitching their tent said they had voted, and were
from Missouri ; and a young man, whom I have seen before and since
in Missouri, said, as I came up, something about " All right on the
goose ; " to which I responded, " All right ; " and then he said some-
thing about voting, and said that they had come over to vote ^had
made claims, and he reckoned they were legal voters. I told him I
thought it was hard to find claims near here. He said they had just
gone up on the hill here, (pointing to Pilot Knob,) and stuck stakes,
390 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and said they did not care whether the claim was on any other claim
or not. Their object was merely to make a claim in order to entitle
them to vote, and they had done so. I then passed them, and went
towards home. There were a good many persons camped around
here at that time. It was a season when there are generally a great
many persons camped about here, intending to go across the plains.
There had been Mormons here, and I do not think they had all left at
that time. I thought that three hundred men, armed with bowie-
knives and revolvers, and eight hundred or one thousand more with
hemp tied in their button-holes, came from Missouri, and that Missouri
had run the thing into the ground that time. I thought all those
who had hemp came from Missouri, from the fact that I knew some
men from there that did have it. Malcolm Clark was here, and took
the most active part in the election of any man here. He lived at that
time opposite the fort, in the bottom, in Missouri. I had seen him at
his home there, but had never heard of his moving over here. The
greater part of the men here that day had hemp tied about them. I
do not recollect that any residents in Kansas had hemp tied about
them, but some may have had.
I heard a great deal of talking as I was passing about. I was fre-
quently close to the house in which the election was held. They had
a rope fastened to the building, or close to it, on each side of the
window, and run back some forty feet, widening out, and I saw the
hemp men crowding the lane. I saw tickets handed in and heard
names called, but I did not notice anything about voting. After
they had voted they passed usually on the west side of the lane, and
I saw some men come out at the end by the window, go round and
get in the lane, and come up again.
During the canvass there was nothing said about what constituted
a residence here. There was difference of opinion among squatters
about that matter. The pro-slavery party generally contended that
if a man had landed here but half an hour he was entitled to vote ;
that his mere presence here made him a voter. I did not consider
that as right. The greater part of the day there was considerable of
a crowd about the polls, but not so much in the after part of the day.
I did not vote myself, because I considered squatters directly in-
sulted by Missouri, by taking our rights in voting away from us ; I
thought if I went up to vote I would be insulted, therefore might get
into difficulty. I saw no fuss, or anything of that kind, except a
§reat pressure about the polls. I think there was a majority of free-
tate men in this district ; some from the west end of the district,
that I knew to be free-State men, did not come in. Most every man
that had the hemp had bowie-knives and one or two revolvers. They
all seemed to think they had a right to vote ; said that the candidates
and the papers had told them so. I saw no fighting that day, or any
one prohibited from voting. I saw a boat that was lying here that
had come down the river, and she went up the river. I saw it coming
down, but do not recollect as I saw it land. I saw a great many men
on it, but I do not recollect as I saw any women on it. I do not recol-
lect as I saw any hemp on the boat. I think more went up on the
boat than came down on it. I had lived in Buchanan county, Mis-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 391
souri, but about twelve months, and do not recollect of seeing any
from tbere over here. I do not recollect of having any conversation
with any men who represented themselves as Missourians, except
those I have referred to on the creek. I saw considerable many of
my acquaintances of the district here that day. I think there were
not many who went into the line the second time, so far as I saw at
the time of voting. I saw some try to crawl under the rope, but they
were prevented, and told to take their time. I would estimate the
resident voters in this district, at that time, at some four hundred or
five hundred, letting the district extend out as the governor prescribed
it in his proclamation. The candidates that day were Captain Eastin,
Mr. Kichard Rees, for council on pro-slavery ticket ; Mr. Twombly
and another I do not recollect, candidates for council on free-State
ticket. Mr. Mathias, Mr. Payne, and Mr. McMeekin, pro-slavery
candidates for house of representatives ; and Mr. France, Mr. Braden,
and another I do not recollect, free-State candidates for house of rep-
resentatives. Mr. Braden withdrew his name, in the midst of great
acclamation, before the hour for voting. I should judge twenty-five
or thirty, or forty, or fifty, came down in the boat on the day of the
election. It remained here till tolerably late in the afternoon.
Cross-examined by Mr. Rees :
I was here the greater part of the day of election. The crowd
around the polls the after part of the day was not so large as in the
forenoon. I think I heard some one call out for more votes, at which
time I did not see anything to obstruct the polls ; and from about
two hours by sun there did not seem to be many about the polls. I
heard, in the fore part of the day, something said about letting all
vote who desired to vote. I do not know of any having been prevented
from voting on account of his political principles. I did not vote,
but I saw no violence or resistance to any one's voting. I thought
that the crowd with bowie-knives and pistols, and hemp about them,
would knock down a man they did not want to vote. I did not see
anything the after part of the day to prevent any one from voting.
I do not know as there was anything to prevent any one from voting
the after part of the day. I suppose all could have voted who wished
to vote. I think I saw John Wells, of Rialto, on the other side of
the river, here, and Mr. Washburn, who was concerned with him.
I do not recollect the names of any others,, and I do not know that
these men voted. I do not know as I should judge the crowd with
hemp with them were Missourians, except that some told me they
were, and that I had seen some in Weston. Weston was not the
principal trading point for the settlers for this part of the country,
and I do not know of any who traded there. This town was the prin-
cipal trading place. There were some here who I considered Missou-
rians who had claims here, and who, I understand, now live on their
claims, with their families in Missouri. I do not know that any of
the men who came down on the steamboat voted that day. I do not
know how many votes were polled after 3 o'clock that day. I do not
know as I could say I saw any Missourians, whom I knew to be such,
vote that day. I do not know how many revolvers and bowie-knives
392 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I saw that day, but I saw a great number. Men wbo said tbey were
free-State men bave carried bowie-knives and revolvers ; and it is a
common thing for men of all parties to carry tbem here. I knew
Malcolm (Clark) had had a house built — a house on a lot in town
here, as I was told ; but I do not know as he had refused to rent it.
F. A. HAKT.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T.? May 1Y, 1856.
F. A. HART recalled.
I saw Judge Almond here on the day of election, whom I under-
stood to live in Platte county, Missouri. I saw him on horseback
riding round giving directions as to how the ropes should be placed
at the polls. I do not know that he lives in Platte county, but
judged so from what I heard him say. I saw persons I had seen in
Missouri go up to the polls with tickets, and heard names called, but
did not myself see their votes given in.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
According to the color of the tickets these men .gave in, I judged
they were pro-slavery tickets, because in the morning Mr. Panton,
who had been appointed judge of election in the place of David Brown,
observed to the voters to hold on, because the abolition tickets were
of the same color as theirs, (the pro-slavery tickets,) and in a short t
time they would have tickets of a different color. In a short time :
after this other tickets, of a different color, were printed and brought I
on the ground, and the men I spoke of had tickets of that color. 1 1
do not know that I read the tickets, and cannot tell, from my own \
knowledge, what side they were for. I do not know of any Missou- •
rians voting the free-State ticket. I know several from Missouri that j
live here and are free-State men, and vote the free-State ticket. I do >
not know of any free-State men from Missouri on that day, except :
those who live here. I saw H. Miles Moore here that day, or the day '
before, and heard him make a pro-slavery speech.
To Mr. Oliver :
I understood Mr. Moore lived in Weston at that time. I did not
know that he lived here, though I heard he was interested in town i
lots. I did not know that he was not a pro-slavery man, until the ;
nomination of delegates to the State convention here. I came here <
myself a pro-slavery man, and voted for Gen. Whitfield at his first t
election.
F. A. HART.
LEAVENWORTE, K. T., May 19, 1856.
T. A. MINARD, testifies :
I came into the Territory in August, 1854, and have resided here
since. I was at the election at Leavenworth, in the 16th district, on
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 393
the 30th of March. There was a large crowd here, 600 or TOO men.
[ knew a good many of the residents of the district. These were nearly
frll strangers. When I came into town, I unhitched my horses and
fastened them to the wagon, and started towards the place where the
election was held — the building of Mr. Wood, I think. I came up,
md there were two ropes fastened to stakes near the building, and
3arried out so as to form a lane, some fifteen or twenty yards long,
and that was crowded with men. I passed along outside of the
lane, and on the east side of the lane I met a couple of men I was
icquainted with — Mr. Cole Brown and his father ; I do not recollect
iis first name. They live 'about three miles back of Parkville, Mis-
souri. I have been at their house, and bought cattle of them. I
rpoke to them. I remarked " You have come over to help us to-day
with the election?" They said they had. I inquired of them if
many of their neighbors had come, and they said 200 or 300 had come
Tom their section. I then asked if they had voted ; they said they
aad not, but they intended to vote, and were waiting for the crowd to
yet through. I passed on down there, to see what was the intention
>f our candidates. I met Mr. Twombly, candidate for council, and
Mr. Browning, candidate for house of representatives. I inquired of
them what they intended to do, and Mr. Twombly stated that his
idvice was not to vote at all ; that there was no need of our voting,
md there would probably be difficulty if we did vote. I did not vote,
Decause of this advice. I never attempted to vote, but did not see or
aear of any hindrance by violence. The men about the polls seemed
:o be voting as fast as they could. There was one man, I think Mr.
Panton, who stood at the door where they were receiving votes, and
nen came up and handed their votes to him, giving their names at
;he same time, and he took their ballots and handed them in, repeat-
ng their names. I saw a number of votes given in this way, and
;hat is the way the votes seemed to be taken. I think Mr. Panton
Aras one of the judges. I could not say, positively, that it was Mr.
Panton, though he has been pointed out to me several times as Mr.
Panton. There were probably 100 to 150 about the polls. The ropes
were crowded full, and there were little groups standing about. I
ihink, probably, but 10 in 100 were citizens. Mine had been one of the
Irst white families settled in the district, and I had ridden all over
.t, and had become pretty well acquainted in the district. The only
nan I recognised as a resident was Mr. Hyatt, who lived on Five-
mile creek then, but now on Salt creek, and Mr. Panton. There
might have been more there, but the majority of these I did not know.
There were several persons I had seen in Missouri, and recognised at
the time ; but the only names I could give were the two Browns. I
recollect of seeing a boat land here, shortly after this, somewhere
towards noon ; I do not recollect the name of the boat, but my im-
pression is, that it was the Clara. There was a young man from our
neighborhood, named John Scott, who stood on the levee and handed
the men tickets as they got off the boat. I recognised some of my
acquaintances from Weston, Missouri, and spoke to and shook hands
with them. The boat was pretty well loaded— between 100 and 200
men on it. There was music playing on the boat while she was
394 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
lying at the levee. The boat came down the river, and I recognisec
Mr. Wood, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Conger, who were citizens of Wea
ton at that time. I presume they are yet. I saw none of them votej
as I did not go to the polls again. These men took the tickets Scoti
handed them as they came on shore ; and, after stopping awhile, soxad
one said, Let us go up and see how the election goes, and they started
off towards the polls. I left the city that day between 2 and 3 o'clock!
I think, and I think the boat was here when I left. A platform wan
raised down on the river, and several speeches were made there^
John Doniphan, who was the representative from Platte county, Mi&
souri, to the Missouri legislature, made a speech. Another mam
whom I was told to be Judge Almond, said that they had carried tint
polls, and they could do it again, and that Missouri would wade knee«
deep in blood before Kansas should be a free State. Mr. Doniphan
made rather a mild speech. H. Miles Moore also made a speech of £
moderate character, but a pro-slavery speech. He lived in Missouri
at that time, I think, though he had an interest in this town, CoL
Johnson, who lived here, also made a speech. All those men seemed
to take it for granted that they had a right to vote, because, if a man
was actually in the Territory on the day of election, he had a right tct
vote. The general expression was, that they had a right to vote,<
There was no violence here. There seemed to be a general good feel'
ing. I saw no here, more than is usual in this county. ]\
thought we had a respectable majority of free-State men in this dis-^
trict, judging from what I had heard. I thought it would be a pretty
close vote, but still that the free-State party had a majority.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott :
I saw but two persons at the polls from Missouri that I can name
now, but I do not know whether they voted or not, for I did not see
them. At that time we had no town or villages in the Territory,;
It was about the 15th of September, 1854, that I saw the Browns at
their home in Missouri, and I believe they live there to-day. I do not
know myself where these men have resided since September, 1854.^
In September, 1854, I lived in Kansas Territory, on Stranger creeki
about a mile west of Stranger creek, on the Fort Riley road. I know
one person who lived here on the 30th of March, 1855, who lived in
Missouri in September, 1854 — Mr. Langley ; and I have no doubt there
were a good many of these, as they were coming all the time at that
time. My impression was that the actual votes of the district, at thati
time, were between 300 and 400, not to exceed 450 at all events. I
live twelve miles from here. I was nearly all over the district, in two*
months before the election, hunting up my cattle, which had strayed*
away. There was considerable emigration coming in before the ele<x
tion, but few by steamboats, so far as I saw. I do not know positively]
that any man I can name voted on that day. The votes I saw handed'<j
in to the one I thought was one of the judges of the election, were-i
handed in by persons I do not know, or cannot recollect. I was difr*!
gusted at the election, because I was satisfied, as soon as I came up,»|
that Missouri had carried out her threat, and had come over to carry I
the election. I did not know those persons by name, except someJ
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 395
^w I could have named at the time ; but the two Browns are all I can
all by name now. My knowledge of the district,, and the members
ssembled here, and their appearance and language, convinced me
bat they were not residents of the district. They said they had come
ver here to carry the election ; it seemed to be a generally understood
hing in the crowd. It was not the free-State men I heard make these
ssertions. I did not see any man positively vote ; and I do not know
hat any citizen of Missouri voted, except from their own assertions.
have heard residents of Missouri say they voted on that day at that
lection. The men I knew from Weston, Missouri, Mr. Wood, Mr.
/onger, Mr. Walker, Mr. Neil Burgess, Mr. Dick Murphy, (now a
esident of this place,) told me they had voted. I believe I knew that
Ir. Conger, Mr. Burgess, and Mr. Walker, lived in Missouri at that
me, because I have been backwards and forwards, and knew them to
e residents of Missouri. I was in the habit of going to Weston
weekly almost, and might have been there three days before the eleo-
ion ; but I cannot tell exactly how many days before the election I
ras up there. I saw some of them land from the boat which came
own the river ; but Mr. Burgess came, I think, on horseback. They
light have come from Kickapoo, or Atchison, perhaps.
THOS. A. MINARD.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 22, 1856.
GEORGE F. WARREN called and sworn.
I emigrated from New Hampshipe three years ago last November.
came into the Territory March, 1855. I was running as carpenter
n board a steamboat between St. Louis and New Orleans, prior to
oming here. I first came into the Territory at Leavenworth city. I
ras present at the election of the 30th of March in that district. It
fas held in a small building west of the Leavenworth hotel. The day
Before the election people began to come up the river and down the
iver from Weston, Independence, Lexington, and other parts of Mis-
ouri. I was then clerking at the Leavenworth hotel. The house
^as very much crowded by these strangers. They said they came
here to vote. They said that the Emigrant Aid Society were send-
ng out men, and they had as much right to come as they had, and
srere entitled to vote under the Nebraska bill. They did not deny
hat they came from Independence and other places in Missouri.
They were armed with bowie-knives, revolvers, shot-guns, and rifles
--principally small side-arms. One man I noticed, from Platte
mmty, had a double-barrelled shot-gun, bowie-knife, two pistols, and
i large clever, such as butchers use. The morning of the election
:he polls were opened between 9 and 10 o'clock. There was some
lelay on the part of the judges. Only one of the judges that were
Appointed served. There were about 1,200 people at the polls at
;hat time. They put a rope round the polls at different places. A
lumber of men came forward and introduqed several men as captains
)f companies. They sang out, " Platte county boys, come this way,"
396 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and "Clay county boys, come this way." They did not vote bjj
companies. They rushed in together. I could not say that tl
crowd all voted. Some of the free-State men got together about 1
o'clock, and came to the conclusion not to vote any more. .1 thrjjjj
some 50 or 60 votes had then been polled by them. I saw no viq
lence. The polls continued open until about dark. They were votii^j
all day. These men voted for L. J. Easton and R. R. Rees for couu
cdl, and Mathias McMeekin and A. Payne for representatives
Three of these candidates, Rees, Eastin, and Mathias, resided ¥
Leaven worth. McMeekin and Payne resided in Weston, as they toll
me before they came down. I had made charges against them at thi
hotel. One or both afterwards moved into the Territory. The fr|j
State men withdrew because they were intimidated, and because thft
deemed the voting illegal in the presence of the force from Missouri
We contested the election afterwards. A protest was got up by tj
citizens, addressed to Governor Reeder. The steamer " New Lucg
came down from Weston with a large crowd of strangers on boarf$
and colors flying. I think there were 200 or 250 on board. The)
claimed to reside in different parts of Missouri. A great many o
them voted. Don't know whether they all did vote or not. The;,
declared their purpose to vote under the Kansas-Nebraska act. Thd
returned after dinner in the same boat. Other boats came up tbli
river on the morning of the election, and one came up the night ba
fore, late at night. People were on board from points in Missoujj
down on the river. They said they were going to vote, and some (i
them I saw vote. A portion of the party that came the evening bei
fore stopped at our hotel, and it was so crowded that we had to poj
thirty in one room. At that time there were but few buildings i:
Leavenworth. It was laid out the fall before the election. The|j
were about twenty frame buildings at the time of election. It I
situated on what is called the Delaware lands. There were but fl
settlers there then ; but emigrants were coming in fast. I kneiaj
most of the settlers in the town. If none but residents had voted
the day of election, the free-State party would have had a largj
majority.
G. F. WARREN.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
RICHARD R. REES re-called.
To Mr. Oliver
I was present at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. I do now
recollect of being present when Mr. David Brown resigned as judged]
the election. I do not think I can state the relative strength 01 tl
free-State and pro-slavery parties in this district at that time. I re
collect at about the time and prior to the election, we were making csik
dilations as to our chances of success, and we felt satisfied we hacH
clear and decided majority here, but I cannot now say, from my own
observation/ that there was a majority one way or the other. I TCW|
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 397
rtisfied there was a pro-slavery majority at that time of citizens living
ere, judging from the usual tests applied by candidates in canvassing
ae strength of parties. From consultations we had together, we
ime to the conclusion that there were from Y5 to 100 majority in the
to-slavery party. Mr. McAuley had a memorandum at that time,
ad from that and other estimates , I came to the conclusion I have
sated. The election for this district for the members of the house of
ipresentatives was contested, and an election was held on the 22d of
lay following. I was not a candidate at that election, and don't
jcollect of estimates, but presumed that the relative strength of par-
;es here remained about the same. The estimate I made in rela- .
'on to the relative strength of parties, was of persons who resided in
le Territory prior to the election. It was a general rumor and report
fe that time, spoken of generally and published in the papers, that
le abolition aid societies were sending out large crowds to abolitionize
lis Territory, and that they were to reach here before the election,
ad that the boats were crowded with such persons. I saw a great
lany men — large numbers of them — here on the day of election, whom
recognised as having been citizens of Missouri, and a great many of
lem I have recognised since as citizens of Missouri. I talked with a
reat many of them, who were my old acquaintances. I heard reasons
>r their coming here given about that time, and I think on that day,
nd these reasons were that an effort had been made by a forced
migration to abolitionize this Territory, and they felt justified in
sing the same means to counteract it. The prevailing sentiment
mong those from Missouri was, that they came to that election merely
) counteract the abolition movement, and that but for that they
rould not have come over here. I read some papers when I could get
hem, though we did not get papers very frequently at that time, as
his was a new country, and mail facilities were not as good as at this
ime. The men who were over from Missouri in companies and par-
ies, seemed to be actuated by the apprehension that this Territory
/ould be controlled by this abolition emigration, as they stated to me
Q conversation. It was rumored generally that the day of election
7as known in the northern States before it was known here. These
umors I believed myself, and those with whom I conversed who were
com Missouri said they believed it; the rumor was general.
I think the electiqn here on the 30th of March, 1855, could have
>een carried for the pro-slavery party without assistance from Mis-
ouri. It Was generally rumored here that there was a large number
rf emigrants at St. Louis, waiting to get here by the day of the elec-
ion. I was not a great deal at the polls on the day of election. I
vas near enough to notice how it was conducted, and I noticed that
.here was less fighting and confusion than I had been accustomed to
jee at elections. There was a large crowd on that day, and upon con-
jultation it was thought that the facilities for voting would be increased
}y stretching ropes from the window out, so that the voters could go
n to the polls in regular order and then pass out. I am satisfied that
ivas done not to prevent persons from voting, but aid them in voting.
[ was around in the crowd and saw no resistance whatever, or force
employed, or threats against any man who wanted to vote. There
•
3 8 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
were pretty hard things said against abolitionists, but that was
In the after part of the day the polls were clear, and I heard
judges calling out for more votes, and anybody could have voted
wished and was entitled to vote, whether he was an abolitionist 01
not.
To Mr. Whitfield:
I received a certificate of election as a member of the council from
Governor Eeeder, and took my seat there without any contest. W^
were informed by the governor, that Mr. Eastin and myself got ou)
certificates as councilmen on account of the votes at Hickory Point,
and not on account of the votes here. The affidavit of Phillips wan
sent up as a contest, but did not cover Hickory Point precinct. Ther<
were two representative districts in our council district — the 16th anc
a part of the 13th constituting the 10th council district. Mr. W. H
Tibbs, a representative from the 13th district, got his certificate on
the Hickory Point vote.
Cross-examined by Mr. H. Miles Moore: >
Of those who were here from Missouri on that day, I do not recollect
of seeing any one vote. The position I took as one of the candidates
and which was assumed by a good many others, both on the stumj
and on the ground, was, that any man who was present at the election!
was, under the Kansas -Nebraska bill, a legal and competent voter ij
that by the act of voting, he expatriated himself from the State froni!
which he came ; and I proclaimed it, that any man who held any!
other doctrine was, in my opinion, either a knave or a fool. Prior tell
that time, I knew Abel Gilbert to be a citizen of Weston, and I have
known him to be a citizen of Weston since. The following names 1
gee' on the poll-books are in the same position., as regards Plattef
county, Missouri : Dr. Thomas Baumont, A. T. Guthrie, George
Quimby, now a citizen here, Wm. Dicky, Wm. J. Norris, K. W.
China, now a citizen of this Territory, Wm. B. Almond, W. Chris-
terson, now a citizen of this Territory, Smith Calvert, N. A. Wilkin-
son, Jesse Vineyard, George W. Dye, John D. Harper, Wm. A.\
Galbott, Jacob Pitts ; I know Captain Conolly, of the New Lucy, but
not his first name; Joseph Holliday, Harvey Bunch, Michael Bunch,
and John B. Wells. I think there were altogether 1,000 or 1,200,
perhaps more, men on the ground that day ; and some from Platte
county, Clay county, and Chariton county. I saw a crowd here who
claimed to be from Chariton county ; Squire Hyde was here from
Chariton county. I think there were some here I had known in Clin-
ton county, and also from Carroll county, and from Ray county. 'U
saw companies of men here who claimed to have come from Missouri, •.
who had their tents, wagons, and provisions with them. I think
that within this district, and living here on the 30th of March, 1855,
upon a rough estimate, there were from 400 to 500 ; there may havi
been more, and there may have been less.
To Mr. Howard:
I think, from the best information I could get, there were from 75
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 399
to 100 majority in the pro-slavery party who lived in this district prior
ito that time. It was generally understood, that if our friends would
pome over here from Missouri and help us to counteract the movement
of the aid societies of the North, they would he very kindly received.
[ do not recollect of any circular for that purpose, though there may
have "been ; I recollect we kept our friends in Missouri pretty well
advised so far as we knew, hut I do not recollect any special person
gent over for that purpose. I recollect of a boat coming down from
Weston on that day with some men, hut I do not recollect her name ;
[ know of no William Connolly, who resides in this district, though
there may be. I think that the Missourians who came here came in
consequence of counteracting the abolition movement of the North,
%nd those who voted, voted with that understanding. I know that
Mr. McAuley was over at the circuit court in the year 1855, but I do
not know what he went for. I think I heard several Missourians state
}hat they had voted on that day, and for the reasons I have stated ; I
lo not recollect of hearing any other reason assigned. I think there
^ere but two or three boats here from St. Louis by the 30th of March,
1855 ; but I do not recollect of there being a large number of eastern
Bmigrants landed here, and I did not see many eastern emigrants
lewly arrived her e* by the day of election ; and as far as this district is
joncerned, I do not think many were here. We understood they were
Doming, and expected them at every point ; I cannot say how many
lad arrived here at that time. I heard many of the Chariton county
nen say that they intended to vote, for the reason that they construed
;he Kansas-Nebraska bill as I did ; some of them said they came here
;o vote.
By Mr. Oliver :
The Chariton men said they came here to vote to counteract the in-
luences brought to bear by the Emigrant Aid Societies, as they un-
ler stood many to be on their way here to be at the election. The
lames given by me from the poll-books I do not know as being the
>ersons I knew in Missouri, though the names are the same. I can-
lot undertake to say that they voted at this election except from the
)oll-books. The name of C. M. Burgess is on the poll-books. Mr.
Burgess claimed his residence here as early as the fall of 1854. I
inderstood he had a farm and negroes in Platte county, but he had a
laim in the Territory, I am not aware whether his family are here
»r not.
By Mr. Whitfield :
I saw no one vote here that day I did not consider a legal voter. I
Lo not recollect of seeing any free-soilers here from Missouri. I can-
tot say that I saw persons here from the eastern States whom I did
tot recognise as living here before.
[Whitfield objects to the question propounded to K. K. Bees in ref-
rence to the residence and right of the named persons to vote, for
he reasons —
1st. That witness does not know that any one of the persons named
•oted at all.
400 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
2d. Witness does not know them to be the identical persons whos«
names are upon the roll before the committee.
3d. They are competent witnesses themselves , and are within read
of the process which the committee have a right to issue.]
RICHARD R. BEES.
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 19, 1856.
ALEXANDER RUSSELL called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I came here on the 9th of June, 1854, and have resided here
since. I was judge of the last election, at which Whitfield was elected*
October 1, 1855. I was present at all the elections since I removes
here. At the October election the voting was conducted legally, and
so far as I know, no illegal votes were given. I was present on th
30th of March election, and the character of that election was abou
like all other elections that ever I attended, and was as quiet as any !|i
have ever been at anywhere. I did not see men voting who I thought
were not entitled to vote. There were a good many people here thai)
day, and, in order to promote the voting, they made a passage in fromi;
of the window by the use of ropes, to prevent crowding, and the vote™
passed through in single line. I went up to vote several times, ano|
in consequence of other men, some of whom I knew to be resident
citizens, I gave way until they had voted. I saw no disposition w
crowd to the polls. Tolerably late in the evening I heard some pert
sons at the windows calling for more votes. At this time the crowc'
of voters had generally dispersed. I have an extensive acquaintance
in the district, being one of the first in it. If any illegal votes wer<r|
given that day, I feel confident that the result would have been th«|
same, and I do not know as any illegal votes were given. It has ak!
ways been my impression that the pro-slavery men had a large mat
jority in this district. I have frequently made estimates which haw
satisfied me of this fact. The census taken by Dr. Leib was in veryj
cold weather. At the time it was taken it may have been correct, but
after the census was taken, and prior to the election, a great many
settlers came in, and who have lived here ever since.
To Mr. Sherman :
I saw a good many of the citizens of Missouri over here on the dayi
of election. I do not know whether or not any of these men votedy
but I heard some of them say they had not and would not vote. There |
may have been some voted, but I did not see them.
ALEXANDER RUSSELL.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 401
PATRICK R. ORR called and sworn.
I live about fifteen miles from here on the west side of Stranger creek,
in this district. I moved my family here to the Territory on the 15th
March, 1855, from Platte county, Missouri, where I had lived about
ten years.
I attended an election in this town on the 30th March, 1855. On
the day of election, and some two or three days previous, I had been
over the river in Missouri, on business. I reached here about twelve or
one o'clock, and crossed the ferry at Kialto, between Weston and the
Fort. There seemed to be a good deal of business done by the ferry
in the evening. I crossed over there in the evening, nearly at
twelve o'clock.
I was around the polls, and in the vicinity of the polls, after I arrived
here. I voted the free-State ticket that day. At the time I voted,
there was not a large crowd. When I came in here, it was about dinner
time, and there were a number of groups of persons that appeared to
have their meals spread on the grass, and were eating their dinners.
There were hardly any persons about the polls then, and I think the
polls were not open when I came in here. I was absent some two
hours, to a house of a friend, who lived some two miles from here.
I then came back, voted, and returned to Platte county, to attend to
business there which was unfinished. I recollect of seeing a boat
lying at the landing just below Weston, but do not recollect of seeing
it here. I was in Weston just before I started to come down here, and
[ saw a number of gentlemen who said they were fixing to come down
to this election here, and the boat was just coming out as I left ; but I
lo not recollect of seeing it when I got here.
There appeared to be considerable of a crowd on the boat when I
left. I do not recollect the names of those I heard say, in Weston,
they were coming here. I saw many persons here, I thought were
citizens of Platte county, on that day, and I had some conversation
with some of them about voting — but little, however. I think there
were probably five gentlemen in a group, acquaintances of mine, whom
[ asked how the election was going, and they said it was going finely.
{ asked them if they had voted, and they said all but Mr. James
Rees, and he could not be screwed up to it, and they thought his
conscience had got a little tender, and they could not get him to vote.
They did not express themselves as to their right to vote, as I now
becollect. These gentlemen were Mr. Stockwell, Mr. Cavenaugh,
ind Mr. Rees. The others I do not now remember. Mr. Stockwell
ind Mr. Cavenaugh lived northeast of Weston, some six or seven
miles. I never heard of these men residing in this district, and I
have seen them living on their farms in Missouri since that time.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott :
My family were residing at the time of the election about fifteen
niles west of this, and near Stranger creek. I do not recollect the
lumber of days I had been in Missouri previously to the election ; but
H. Eep. 200 26*
402 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
it was some days, to settle up some business, and IMudnrs ie-trtou
souri on the day of election.
I do not know how long it had been since I saw Mr. Stockwell and
Mr. Cavenaugh actually residing in Missouri. I know that these
men lived there on the day of election, exactly where they live nowy
and I know that of my own knowledge. I knew it, because I hadj
seen them from time to time, before and after the election, working on
their farms and about their buildings. 1 do not know which way the
boat went from Weston that day, for I do not recollect of seeing iti
after it started. I know the ferry had a good deal of custom in the
evening, because I saw a crowd of men there, and saw them go over.r
I saw about one hundred men and horses, and about nine wagons —
as many men, horses and wagons as could conveniently get on the
ooat — cross over when I did. I saw no other load go over except
when I went. I did not see and do not know of any other loadsl
going over that evening. There were but few persons about the polls!
when I voted, and no one objected or offered any hindrance to my
voting.
PATRICK R. ORR.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 22, 1856.
LUCIAN J. EASTIN testifies:
To Governor King :
I reside in Leavenworth city, and have done so since October, 1854/
and was present at the 30th of March election, in 1855, for member?
of the Territorial legislature, and was a candidate at that election foi
the council. I was not much about the polls on that day. Every
time I was at the polls, or in sight, the election was going on quietlji
and persons voting without difficulty. There were frequent calls
during the day for more voters. I saw a good many Missourians hercr
at that election. I do not recollect whether they had hemp badges oi<
not. I think I saw one man, a wild, rattling, drinking fellow, witbl
a piece of hemp around his hat. I did not see any votes given in Qfl
that day but such as were legal, so far as my knowledge extends, buii
I do not pretend to say that illegal votes were not given. Being a!
candidate, I was all over the county, and in the district. I was very]
conversant with the voters of the district, and think I know pretty!
near about the strength of parties. Our estimate was about two!
to one in the tenth council district in favor of the pro-slavery party.]
In the sixteenth representative district we made it about one and a
half to one. There was a protest filed against the election in this
district, setting forth that the free-State men were deterred from voting;!
I believe there was no ground for it. I believe that no one v/as de-j
terred from voting, either by force or violence ; and Mr. Phillips, one?!
of the signers of the protest, and the man who made the oath, ex-
plained it to me, that he was not afraid of violence or force, but'
believed that Missourians would carry the election, and that was what
he meant by being deterred. The conduct of the Missourians and
KANSAS AFFAIKS. 403
; pro-slavery men was of a character to prevent no one from voting who
wished to, whether legal or illegal. I, as a candidate, (nor do I know
i of any others who did,) did not invite or procure Missourians to come
i here on that day to vote. I did not want them to come, for I believed
and said we were strong enough to beat the free-State men easy, with
' the legal voters of the district. I heard a great many of the Mis-
sourians who were here at that election say that the Emigrant Aid
Society was importing voters into the Territory to abolitionize it, and
that they were determined to fight the devil with fire ; and that their
object in coming here was to counteract the efforts of what they under-
stood to be the aid societies. The general rumor, both in the Terri-
tory and in the border counties of Missouri, was that voters were to
be imported here into the Territory, for the purpose of carrying the
elections in favor of the free-State party. It was reported the night
before, arid on the morning of the election, that there were 300 voters
from the northern States who would be here that day.
To Mr. Sherman:
It is my opinion that a good many of the votes cast at that election
were cast by non-residents. I don't know whether or not all the free-
State men voted that day. There were about sixty or sixty-three free-
State votes cast at that election, and there were, in my opinion, more
than that number in the district. I think one of the free-State candi-
dates declined. He was here, and I heard him give some reasons for
declining, but I forgot what they were ; but I do not think the reasons
he gave were that he had been unfairly dealt by. The 300 emigrants
I have alluded to did not arrive, nor any portion of them. I have a
list, made before the election, of voters in the district. I think there
are nearly 400 names on the list. This included some who had made
claims in the district, but had not moved on to them, and of these I think
the pro-slavery party had about one and a half to one. Mr. France,
Lewis N. Rees, and George B. Panton were the judges. Upon refer-
ence to the proclamation, there were France, Posey, and Brown, but 1
think Rees' name was substituted for Posey by the governor. I do not
think France signed the returns. I don't think he challenged a voter ;
he told me he did riot, and gave some reason, that it was no use,
:or words to that amount. I don't remember exactly, but he remained
there during the whole time of taking the votes. I remember seeing
the " New Lucy" coming down that day from Weston, Missouri,
with a large number of persons on board, and returned the same day.
The list I speak of as having, may be of the first election. I will
look for the list and produce it, if I get it.
L. J. EASTIN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
A. T. KYLE called and sworn.
By Mr. Sherman :
I came into the Territory in June or July, 1854. I came from Platte
404 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
county, Missouri, since 1839. I settled in this city, and have resided'
here ever since. When I first came here I was one of the keepers oi
the Leavenworth hotel. The election of the 30th of March, 1855J
was held near my house. 1 have seen H. J. Wolfe, clerk of the courj
of common pleas in Weston, Missouri. The following persons I know
to live in Missouri: John B. Wells, Franklin Yocum. James Doni-i
phan, who I think is a lawyer ; Wm. Dicky, Joseph Nowers^ 0. E!
Woolfolk, Jesse Vineyard, Joseph Murphy,, George W. Dyer, J. 0'
Cockrill, Samuel Fernandis, Frank Gilbert, Harvey Bunch, H. Mile*
Moore, N. B. Brooks, John B. Harper, W. T. Woods, Joseph Holli^
day, and W. A. Newman. These men, to the best of my knowledge!
lived in Weston at the time of the March election, 1855. I think thti
steamboat New Lucy carne down the river that day. I saw some of
the men I have named here that day, but whether they came on thei
boat or not I do not know. I did not vote myself that day, because I wai
very busy, and 1 saw many persons here that I thought had no riglrf
to vote, and I thought I would not vote. I don't know whether thej
voted or not. There were a great many here who were not citizens*
to the best of my knowledge. They came around the polls. I know
Samuel J. Finch, editor of the Weston Eeporter. He has neveii
resided in this Territory, as far as I know. There are names on thi
poll-books, and I know persons living in Missouri whose family name*
are the same, but whose first names I do not know, and I have no\
included them in the list above.
To Governor King :
I did not pay much attention to the election that day ; was but littl
about the polls, and not at them at any time.
Q. How is it that you saw persons around the polls who were n$
citizens when you were not there, and when you state that you do no
know at what place the election was held on that day ?
A. I never went right up to the polls to vote, but I was where •
could see the polls, and see persons around the polls. To the best oj
my knowledge the polls were held at the Leavenworth hotel, in thii]
place. The window where the votes were received at the Leaveriwortl
hotel was at the south end of the building. This was the 30th c
March election.
A. T. KYLE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
A. T. KYLE recalled.
I wish to correct my testimony in this particular : The election o
the 30th of March was not held at the Leavenworth hotel, but at ;
little building about one hundred yards from the hotel. It was tfo
election of the 29th of November that was held at our hotel. Conr
to think of it, they applied to hold the election at our hotel, but w<v
declined, as -ve feared some disturbance.
A. T. KYLE
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 405
ADAM FISHER called and sworn.
To Mr. Sherman :
I came into the Territory in October, 1854, and settled in this
town. I came from the State of Illinois. I was here at the election
'of March, 1855, and at that time was well acquainted with the citi-
zens of the town. I first noticed the gathering of strangers here the
evening before the election. I was merchandising at that time, and
did not go out around much to see what was going on, but some men,
who said they belonged to companies that were outside of town, came
into my store. I did not converse particularly, except with one gen-
tleman, and he told me that he had come over from Cooper county,
Missouri, to vote. He asked me what my politics were, and I told
him I was in favor of making Kansas a free State. Then he asked
if I wasn't afraid they would kill me, and I told him I guessed not.
Then I told him what my policy was, and he told me, if that could be
the case he would go in with me. He then bought some little articles
and went out. He gave me to understand that they had companies,
but I did not ask him how many there were in them. There were a
great many men, apparently, around town that night ; they were
firing pistols and guns, &c., all night. I heard of no fights and
troubles that night. The place of voting was about one hundred
yards from my store, and I lived on the adjoining lot to my store.
The evening of the election there was a large crowd of people in town.
I don't recollect of seeing a very large crowd of people collected
around the polls, but they were around in the neighborhood. I did
not think at the time they were unusually noisy. Malcom Clark
told me that the captains of the companies said they had done
everything in their power to keep order, and we relied a good
deal upon him. I understood that Clark lived in Missouri. He
had an interest in the town ; he had dealt with me and had been
friendly. I am not positive, but I think I voted that day. After the
election this crowd dispersed. I don't know that I ever saw them
afterwards. I don't know whether these strangers voted or not, as I
was not about the polls. I am not acquainted in Missouri. I did
recognise the people about the polls as citizens of the Territory ; I
had not seen them before ; they were strangers to me. I was not
well acquainted outside of this town, and these strangers may have
been residents of the district ; if so, I have never seen them since.
To Governor King :
I believe Malcom Clark is one of the original proprietors of the
town. He built a house on the outskirts of the town. He was here
off and on, looking after his interests. He said he was going to move
here and make this his home. As far as I knew, everybody was
allowed to vote that wanted to. My impression is that I voted that
day ; but if I did not, it was not for the want of opportunity.
ADAM FISHER.
LEAVENWORTH CITY. K. T., May 30, 1856.
406 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
J. H. DAY called and sworn.
To Mr. Matthias :
I came into this Territory on the llth of October , 1854, from St.
Paul's, Minnesota Territory. I was present at the election of March
30, 1855, at this place. I was about the polls and town the most of the
day. The polls were held on Cherokee street. They were opened inr
the morning. There was considerable of a crowd here, and some persons*
acted as a kind of committee to arrange for the voting to he carried onr
as quietly as possible. Eopes were carried out from each side of»
the window so as to form a lane, in order to prevent the polls fromr
being too much crowded, as I understood, at the time. I attempted':
to vote myself the fore part of the day, and got into the lane and upi
to the window, but found I was on the outside and could get no chance'
to vote. I slipped out under the rope without voting, and did not till
the after part of the day ; and when the polls were clear, I saw no fuss
or riot, and saw no men prevented from voting, except by the crowd'
in the morning. The election passed off quietly ; more so than I have<
seen at elections before. I heard the judges crying out in the after--
noon for more voters. The polls, I think, were closed in the evening/
and the people went home without any unusual excitement. I wasij
tolerably well acquainted with the people in this portion of the district;'
and from all the knowledge I had upon the subject, and from a pretty<i
close count that we made at that time, I should judge we had some-
thing over three hundred voters in this district. There was consider-
able difference of opinion between the pro-slavery and free State'!
parties, as to who had the majority. The matter was considerably^
canvassed ; and from reports I saw, the district was shown to contain?!
something over three hundred voters, of which the pro-slavery party ^
had from sixty to ninety majority. That was before the March elee-*
tion. From that time to the election quite a large number of settlers
came into the district.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard:
I have no idea how many settlers came into the district before th*j
election. Public rumor was, that an immense crowd were to be her6"]
by the election. I cannot tell how much this district increased, j
Many from Missouri, who had claims here, had been in Missouri to
pass the cold weather, and returned in the spring. This list I have
referred to was being made up to within a few days of the election,
and was the one that Mr. McAuley testified about here.
To Mr. Matthias :
Actual settlers came into the district up to the time of the election >
and, I suppose, by that means the pro-slavery majority was increased-
J. H. DAY.
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 31, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 407
D. J. JOHNSON called and sworn.
To William Gr. Matthias :
I came to this Territory on the 17th of February, 1855, from the
State of Georgia, and have resided in Leavenworth ever since. I wa
i present at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. The polls were
opened at the usual hour; and when they were first opened there was
iquite a crowd around. Ropes were stretched out from the road, so as
,to form a lane for voters to come up in, that voting might be facili-
tated. To draw off the crowd, public speaking was proclaimed to take
place on the levee. After that there was no time in the day when the
polls were again crowded, and the election passed off in an orderly and
quiet manner. I saw no arms more than usual. I saw none but some
side arms, which were usual here at that time. Most of men in this
community carry side arms on all occasions. I never saw in the old
States a more quiet election than that was. If any persons had any
hemp badges on that day it escaped my notice. I was about the polls
and among the crowd all day. If any man of either party failed to
vote that day, it must have been from choice or false timidity. I
heard calls for all who were desirous to vote to come up and vote. I
was tolerably well acquainted with the voters in the district, and had
made it my business to become acquainted with them, and learn their
political views. Most of the residents I knew here voted ; though some
in town did not vote, I think. At that, I think, in this district, the
pro-slavery party had a majority of some eighty votes. When my
estimate was made, it was about the time of the nomination — some
ten, fifteen, or twenty clays before the election. After that estimate
was made, I think there were twenty, perhaps more, increase of pro-
slavery majority. Kichard B. Kees and Captain Eastin for council,
and William Gr. Matthias, Mr. Payne, and Mr. McMeekin were the
pro-slavery candidates for the house of representatives. I do not re-
collect the different candidates of the free State ticket. Mr. Braden
and Mr. Twombley, I think, were candidates. Mr. Braden declined
running that day ; but I do not recollect of hearing any reason for so
doing. The polls were held on Cherokee street, in this city.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
^ At the time of the pro-slavery nomination there was a majority of
eighty, I think, and some one hundred by the time of the election.
Some men in town took pains to find out the names and political oen-
timents of the minority of this district. I think this was done with a
great deal of care and thoroughness by Mr. McAuley, with the assis-
tance of others. This was some fifteen or twenty days before the elec-
tion. Men in Missouri had claims here, and moved over here before
the election to settle on their claims, and I judge that by the weans
the majority of the pro-slavery party here was increased about one hun-
dred. This is my opinion merely, and is not based, like the other
estimate, on any calculation.
To Mr. Matthias:
I knew H. Miles Moore on the 30th of March, 1855, and am pretty
certain he claimed to be a resident of the Territory, and so represented
408 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
himself to me at the nominating convention, some two or three week*
before the election, and received the nomination. I myself was tho
president of that nominating convention.
D. J. JOHNSON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K, T., May 30, 1856.
MATT FRANCE called and sworn.
By Mr. Sherman :
I came into the Territory in November, 1854, from Indiana, and
settled in this place. I was appointed one of the judges of election
of the 30th of March, 1855 ; L. N. Kees and Mr. Brown were also
appointed. There were persons who tried to persuade me not to act
as judge on that day. C. Cockrell, of Platte county, Missouri, wagi
one, and several others spoke to me. I don't remember that any
other residents of Missouri spoke to me except Cockrell; he said ]
had a brother who was a candidate, and it wouldn't look well ; I told
him I wouldn't resign on that account , and he replied that threats
were made, and he thought it would be dangerous for me to serve ; 1
told him I could not help it, and would serve now any how. Mr/
Kees proposed that we should all resign, as we could not go on withi!
the election unless we let all vote who came here. The idea he ex-
pressed was that we would have to let them vote or they would use*
violence. I concluded not to resign, and Rees said he would not re-si
sign unless I did. Brown resigned the morning of the election.
The conversation I have referred to was the evening before the
election. Mr. Eees and myself met at Mr. Keller's hotel, the place']
appointed for the election. Mr. Keller objected to its being held therer|
and we adjourned to WoodVsaddler shop, a short distance off. I took:
the oath prescribed by the governor. Mr. Eees declined to take that
oath, but took one of a different character. We appointed George B.J
Panton to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Brown. i
He took the same oath that Rees took, refusing to take the oath pre-'j
scribed by the governor. We op3ned the polls and proceeded to take
votes. I think I challenged the third vote offered that day, on thei
ground that I did not think him a resident. I asked him where he
resided: he replied that his family resided in Saline county, Missouri,!!
that he came into the Territory the day before, and intended to goi
back home immediately after the election. I then insisted upon;!
swearing him before I took his vote. The other judges decided that!
we had no right to swear any man, that every person on the ground !
was a legal voter. They would not administer the oath, and received |
the vote. I objected, and told them that I should insist upon every )
man being sworn whom we did not know. They objected to it, and
continued to take votes over my head. Everybody who applied to
vote that day voted, except some Delaware Indians. The Wyandotts
voted. There were a great many, probably several hundred, who
voted that day that I did not know and believed them to be residents
of Missouri. Panton,, one of the judges, seemed to be acquainted
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 409
with a good many of them, would talk to them as an old friend, and
would ask them where they came from, and they would mention from
different counties in Missouri. Mr. Panton tKen resided at the fort on
one of the farms. I think the free State men generally that day did
not vote. I was acquainted with them generally. There was a large
crowd around the polls in the forenoon, but in the afternoon the polls
were clear, and any one could have voted who wanted to after three
o'clock that afternoon, when the crowd commenced to disperse. I did
not vote. I did not consider anything legal about it, but remained to
see the thing through. I signed the return after scratching out the
words " lawful resident voters." After counting out the votes, we
proceeded to make out the return list. I objected to signing the
return unless those words were stricken out. After some discussion
between the judges, we all signed the return in the same way. They
decided that all who were on the ground were resident voters. Lewis
N. Eees, the judge, is a brother of Kichard E. Eees, the councilman
elect. About ten or eleven o'clock the steamer New Lucy came down
from Weston. There seemed to be a crowd come to the polls soon
after her arrival, but I do not know whether they came from the boat
or not. That crowd all voted. The New Lucy was billed to return
at four o'clock in the afternoon. Did not notice when she left, but
she was gone in the evening when we adjourned the polls. I saw a
number of camps below the town the night before the election. A
number of the persons on the day of the election had small bunches
of raw hemp either in their button-hole or on their hat, twisted in
their beards or around their waists. Most of them wore the hemp in
their button-holes. I noticed a great many, but I cannot say how
many. There were no disturbances that day except the crowding.
Eopes were stretched to facilitate voting, and no one was allowed off
the ropes, except in two or three instances where the crowd would
point out some one as their captain, and request that his vote be taken
outside the ropes. The total number of votes cast that day 964, over
30 of them were Wyandott Indians.
To Governor King :
I held on as judge of the election after I found that the election
was not to be conducted according to the instructions of the governor,
because I wanted to see how it was conducted, and such I believed to
be my duty. I told them at the time that I would not sign the re-
turns. The men with badges wore different kinds of hats. I carried
the returns to Governor Eeeder, and told him verbally the facts I
have stated.
MATT FEANCE.
LEAVENWOKTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
WILLIAM H. ADAMS called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I came from Missouri to the Territory, and settled in Leavenworth
City in August, 1854 ; I was among the first here and knew a great
410 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
many of the settlers, and was here at the election on the 30th of
March, 1855 ; I saw several Missourians here on that day, and think
I know the inducements which brought them here. For about a
month or six weeks previous to the election a general rumor pre-
vailed among the free State men in this place that a large number of
eastern emigrants would be at the election — this before we knew
when the election would be, and before the proclamation was pub-
lished. It was rumored that it was known in the east that the elec-
tion would take place here before we knew it ourselves ; and that there
would be a sufficient number of emigrants here to elect the free State
ticket. It was also rumored, and believed by the people here and by
the people in Platte county, Missouri, that this was the work of regu-
lar organized societies in the eastern and northern States. Owing to
those rumors, as they said, they came over at that election, or about
that time. I never heard any threat that they intended to take con-
trol of polls, or to take the election out of the hands of the bona fide
residents. They said that they came over here to offset the votes that
might be shipped up here by the Emigrant Aid Society. The first
notice that ever I saw giving the time of the election was in the Bos-
ton Atlas. I stated that it would be on the 22d of March. We re-
ceived the notice, and gave it to the public through the Kansas
Weekly Herald about two weeks previous to the election. I think we
had some three or four hundred majority in this election district if no
Missourians had voted. I think trie election was conducted orderly.
I saw no badges except one or two hemp badges on the hat ; one of
whom was a Wyandott, and one was a white man. I was here
when Felix Gr. Braden declined being a candidate of the " free State
party." He said he was in favor of making this a free white State,
but that he had made the canvass of this district and was thoroughly
convinced that it would be utter folly for him to run ; that the pro-
slavery party had a large majority in the district. He said he would
prefer seeing it a " free white State," but that he did not want to see
it an abolition or a free soil State, that he was neither himself. He
said by running, it would cause fathers and sons to have hard feel-
ings, and cause contention, and for that reason he would not run. H.
Miles Moore, whose name is said to be on the poll book, and who was
said to be a Missourian, voting here, was in the Territory at the time
of the election and before ; he was a shareholder here in this town,
said this was his home, was here at our nominating convention, made
a speech, and sought a nomination as candidate for a legislative office,
but was not nominated. I heard no one dispute the legality of his
citizenship. I looked upon him in the same way that I looked upon
many others who had property, and lived here most of the time. He
had no family or property that I know of in Missouri. He staid at
Weston a portion of the time ; said he intended to move here and stay
here all the time as soon as he could get an office here.
To Mr. Sherman :
Mr. Braden withdrew the day before the election at about eleven
o'clock. He made a short speech at the Kansas house ; he said h
•did not want to run as a candidate, and wanted his name off. There
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 411
were a good many people in the town at that time, say 250 ; there
was public speaking by the candidates in the town that day. It was
rumored that there would be several hundred emigrants at our polls
on the 30th of March, and this induced the Missourians to come over.
The eastern emigrants did not arrive that day. I cannot explain
why the Missourians voted, and I do not know how many did vote.
I know, as a matter of fact, that a great many of those eastern emi-
grants came up in a few days. They told they were eastern men, and
were generally Massachusetts emigrant aid men. They returned a
few days afterwards, and told me that they came here just to vote,
and did not intend to settle. They did return. I was one of the pro-
prietors of the "Kansas Weekly Herald" at that time, and am now.
I was here at the time Phillips was taken across the river in May. I
decline to sav what occurred there on the ground that it may impli-
cate me.
WILLIAM H. ADAMS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
A. MACAULEY called and sworn.
To Mr. Sherman:
I came into the Territory on the 23d day of November, 1854, from
Iowa. I know Frank Marshall, member of the legislature from Ma-
rysville, as I understood. I am acquainted with a man known as
Judge Almond,' living in Platte City, Missouri. I never was in Mis-
souri to induce people to come here to vote, unless they had a right to.
A number of persons had claims in this immediate vicinity, and were
temporarily absent in Missouri. Shortly before the census was taken
ordered by Governor Beeder, I notified persons who I thought ought
to have been taken in that census that I thought they had better be on
their claims,. so as not to be overlooked by the assessors. This notice
was without regard to party. I was in Missouri at another time, be-
fore the election of the 30th of March, and at Platte City during the
sitting of the circuit court. On that occasion there was a meeting of
citizens, and several speeches were delivered ; among the rest, I was
called, and gave them the best turn I could.
The object and purpose of that meeting was to discuss the affairs of
Kansas. The subject discussed in that meeting bore upon the subject
of the coming election and the affairs of Kansas generally. I did
make a list of what I considered to be legal voters in this district, and
took a good deal of pains with it, prior to the election of the 30th of
March. I included in this list none but those that I considered set-
tlers on the soil. It was for the purpose of giving information to the
pro-slavery party and to satisfy my mind. I now have in my posses-
sion, and in my hands, the list of voters made by me.
Question. Please either furnish a copy of that list or allow one of
our clerks to copy it.
[The witness desires time to determine whether he will allow it to
be copied.]
412 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Witness resumes : The number of names on the list is 305 . I esti-
mated 112 to be free State men and 192 to be pro-slavery men. I
fave general information of these facts to my party and friends, and
called in others to assist me, and, among others, Mr. Payne, one of
the candidates. I have made on the list my own private marks, to
designate the two parties. In this list there are a great many who
are doubtful, and all those I have put on the free State side.
By Mr. King :
At the meeting of Platte City subjects were discussed of the affairs
of Kansas and opposition to the Emigrant Aid Society. It was gen-
erally the belief, as expressed in the speeches, that the Emigrant Aid
Society was importing paupers into Kansas to control elections in an
unjustifiable and extraordinary manner, and to make Kansas a free
State. The majority of the speakers, and I think myself among
others, took the ground that the object of the Aid Society was to make
a thrust at the institutions of Missouri. This was the pro- slavery
sentiment of the people at the meeting. They expressed themselves
that, if Kansas was made a free State, it would be through these so-
cieties, and, if they succeeded, they might as well give up every nig- •
ger they had in the State.
This list I have was the best one I could make. It was taken
about the time the census was taken, and about the time I notified the-'
settlers that they had better be on their claims. After this list was <
made, and before the election of the 30th of March, a great many ad- -
ditional settlers moved into the district, and how'^many I have no -
means of knowing.
I was present in this place on the 30th of March. That election t
was a good deal like other elections. I am satisfied that no person i
was prevented from voting. I was satisfied of the strength of parties Ij
before the election as well as afterwards, and think that the pro- •
slavery party increased considerably before that election, and after my I
list was made. I do not believe there has ever been a time when the
pro-slavery majority has been less than one hundred in the district. ,
At the polls on the day of election the ropes spoken of by the wit- -
nesses were drawn to give men an opportunity to vote at the polls in i
two diverging lines, so as to afford an easy access for voters. Men i
were appointed to see that voters should be admitted, and to keep »
order.
[The witness here states that he will furnish a copy of the list.
The marks designating the political opinions of men will be explained i|
in the copy.]
At the meeting at Platte City it was a cause of complaint that
Eeeder was delaying the elections to give the eastern emigration time
to arrive, and I think it was also charged at that meeting that Greeley, ,
of the New York Tribune, knew when the election would come off be- -
fore we here in the west did, and this had a tendency to produce ex-
citement among the people.
A. MACAULEY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 413
List of Voters in the Sixteenth District, by A. Hacauley.
JPli^rinpl
D.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
Joel Walker
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
F. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. 8.
F. S.
F. S.
D.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
F. S.
P. S.
P. S.
F. S.
P. S.
D.
D.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
F. S.
F. S.
P. S.
D.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
D.
F. S.
D.
P. S.
P. 8.
P. S.
P. S.
D.
D.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
Win. Walker
Math. Walker
Mr. Daphelmyer
Rue Dennis
Mr. Suyhr
Mr Henderson
John Randero
J M Turner
F. Hicks
Chas H Allen
P. S.
P. S.
F. S.
P. S.
F. S.
Mr. McClane
F A Roberts
Q. McClane
Wra Bohart
John Anderson
John Pancake
Mr. Huggins -
Thomas Hickman
N. Kirk
Mr Syinpho
F. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
Alex. Russell
John Scott
J. Russell ...
A J Scott
J. Thomas
J Moore
Mr Mize
Mr "Narville
Mr Mize
Mr Hoppur
Isaac Cana
Mr Dawson
G. X. Young.
Minard _
J. Young
Unknown -
Z. Gruning ..
^Neighbor . _ .
P. Taylor
S Sparks
H. D. McMeekin
N Sparks
Passom Smith
S Sparks
Cole McCrea
J Sparks
J. Bickum
Mr Elliott
Mr. Bickum
Neighbor
James Chance
C. Cruch
Mr Rum
John Eight
Samuel Burgess
C. Mondu
John Burgess -
C. M. Burgess
Win. Borden _ .
J. Rice
Col. Brown
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P S
Hyats Naud
Miles Shannon
— Carman
F. Shannon
Hippie
G. Segin.
H. Lang
C. Hammond
F. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
F S
L Hurds
J. Renfroe
S McCray
G. Thompson
John Usry
John Renfro
Mr Stafford
J. Pyhs
Lyman Astor
Pyhs
Riley Ladd
Mr. Stewart
J Barbor
Mr. Syms
Mr Drummond
Mr. Syms
Peter McGill
Jim Thompson
J. Hurt
Mr. Thompson
P. H. Biddies
R. C. Briggs
James Blakely
James Wells
D Robison
H. Staffor....,
Jacob
Mr. Willis....
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P S
Peter Maainer
J. Finly
J. Mundy_
Mr. Gunter
Walk
Mr. Garrett
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
C. Garrett
E. A. Lang
H. C. Lang
• Thomas
J. N. Lang
James Lang
Clark
• • Churchill
Wm. Osborn
Dickey
414
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
List of Voters — Continued.
Green D. Todd
P. S.
Mr Baker
D
Thompson Muller
P. S.
Mr Lain
D
George Graham
P. S.
James Y Hook
P S
H Noland
P S
P S
B M Crust
P S
D
D Crust
P S
D
C Shaw
P S
J Lusk
D
B Dallas
F S
Mr Lane
D
C. Harrison
P. S.
Old Dr France . _ _ -
P. S
Mr. Cummings
F. S.
J. M. Alexander _
P. S.
John Keefer
P. S.
J. B. Quim _ . _
P. S.
Mr. Howell
F. S.
Foster _
F. S.
G. B. Panton
P. S.
E. H. Rankin
P. S.
Dr. Phillips _
P. S.
J. L. McAleer
P. S.
Wm. Mathias _
P. S.
T. F. Slocum
P. S.
Leandes Kerr
P. S.
Young, at Mrs. Noble's
P. S.
Col. Rich
P. S.
J. M. Saylar -
P. S.
James Rich
P. S.
J. Campbell
P. S.
Wm. S. Yoke
P. S.
F. S. Abny, (shoemaker)
P. S.
J. C. S. Foss
P. S.
Y. S. Abny, (blacksmith) .
P. 8.
B Becke
D
Mr Thompson
P 8
B. C. Card
P. S.
Old Hart . . . .
F. S.
Theodore Mix
P S
Mr Tanner
F S
Wm. S. Murphy
P. S.
Wm. Henderson
P. S.
Julius Tromel
F S
Lyne Hart
F S
John Daily
P. S.
Joseph Hyatt . _
P. S.
Old Gould
F. S.
W. 0. Webster
P. &
J. Wallace
D.
Mr. Stoddard
P. S.
Mr. Parker -
D.
J. Hick
P. S.
Mr. Michell
D.
D. J. Smith
F. S.
Mr. Boles
P. S.
Mr. Daily, (shoemaker)
F. S,
B Markam
P. S.
Mr. Dunning
P. S.
Mr Arterbury
P S
Twombly
F^S.
J. Sirat . . . ..
P. S.
Englishman
D.
C. Harris - .
P. S.
John C. Gist
D.
Mr. Large - -
F. S.
George Russell
F. 5.
Matt France
F S
S D Picker
P S.
James Davis
P. S.
A. Payne
P. S.
G Davis
P S
Mr Wallace
D.
Neighbor
F S
George Walker
P. S.
H. B. Kelley
P. S.
Dr. Few
P. S.
Benj. McCrary
P. S.
R. E. Saunders
P. S.
W Carum
P S
Daniel Lon0"
P.'S.
Wm Sparks
F S
James Skinner
F. S.
James Zanes
P S
Frank Silkman
F. S.
I Zanes
P S
H M Hook
F.'S.
N Zanes
P S
N Sao-e
F- S.
Af Bateman
F S
Bird
F. S.
Mr Kightman
D
R B Roberts
F-TL
Mr Wolf
D
J R Edsell
F. S.
C Neff
D
Bowers
F. S.
Jacob Kehm
D
N J. Bateman
P. 8.
C F Millar
D
James M. White . ...
F. S.
W Turnell
P S
Samuel Farr
P. S.
Tusler Turnell
P S
Wm. Pur
F, R.
Amos Rees
P S
Mumford
P. S.
Mr Gilbert
P S.
A.T.Patty.
P S,
W G Wood
P. S.
W.H. Long
P. S.
W A McDowell
P. S.
Thomas Bishop
D.
Nathan. Roberts
P S
A Willson
P. S.
Rid1 ° !'•' ' ( 'ookley
D
Eli Moore
P. S,"
R N Rogers - - - -
P. S.
Wm. H. Hipsley
D.
Mr. Luice_-
D.
Wm. Cune..
P. S.-
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
List of Voters — Continued.
415
P. S.
D.
F. S.
F. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
John Bentz
P. S.
F. S.
F. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
P. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
Adam Fisher
A rp Kvlp
George Fisher ,._
T T? Grant
S. Scruggs . .
MTC>llv
J. Williams
Furgerson
Ta HIPS M Svle
J. Hall
Col Johnson
A. Macauley _
Posy
J. H. Day -
J Cunningham
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
P. S.
Ames
Ma°°inty
James Kirpatrick
Irish stone- mason at Keller's
Henry Brubaker
Irish stone-mason at Keller's
John Brubaker
L N Kees
J P Richardson
R R Rees
Jerry Clark
Wm Saunders
Dr. Fackler _
L J Eastin
A. Hood.
Wm H Adams
P. S.
P. S.
F. S.
F. S.
F. S.
P. S.
Adam Deits ._ .
J S Grun .
B. L. Sellers
John Owens •_.__ . _.
Wm. Phillips
Wm Engleman
Eddings
F Engleman
Edin^s
George Stephenson
Dr France
1
Pro-slavery . . . 187
Free State and doubtful-. Ill
Pro-slavery majority _ 76
Those marked P. S. are Pro-slavery.
Those marked F. S. are Free State.
Those marked D. are doubtful.
You ask this account of me,
And sure enough you've got it ;
But unless you have the key,
It's of no use — drot it !
You also want the key
To spread wide op'n the lock,
By which to let the Dashes see
Which way the Gander hops.
The right-hand hooks,
All, are for the Goose —
The left are for the Gander ;
The side which all the straight-outs chose,
I've left in doubt to wander.
A. MACAULAY.
ADAM T. PATTIE testifies.
To Mr. Scott:
I came from Virginia into this Territory in September, 1854, and
resided in the sixteenth district until after the 30th of March, 1855.
I attended the election of the 30th of March, 1855, in this district. I
should think there were eight hundred if not more voted in this dis-
trict then. I was pretty generally acquainted with the voters here at
that time. I think there were one hundred persons on the ground
416 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
the day of election. I was most of the day at the polls. All facili-
ties for voting were furnished, and all voters urged to come up and
vote. I think that Malcolm Clark, Captain Pitcher, and others were
appointed for the purpose of keeping the way to the window clear. I
saw Missourians over here then, many of whom I was acquainted with.
I saw nothing more of arms than is usual in the western country,
pistols and Bowie knives, hut not out except in a difficulty about some
liquor. I saw no guns here that I recollect of, though there may and
I not have noticed, as it was not unusual to see that here. The citi- .
zens and strangers were alike in regard to arms. I saw no violence,
and heard no threats in regard to voting. The election passed off as ;
peaceably as in the older States, and more so than some elections I have •
known in my native town. Mr. Rees, Mr. Eastin, for council, and
Mr. Matthias, Mr. Payne, Mr. McMeekin, for house of representatives, >
were the pro-slavery candidates. I forgot the free State candidates, t
as I cannot separate their candidates at the two elections last spring. ,
I was personally acquainted with all the candidates of the pro-slavery '
and free State party, and they were all residents of the district. I knew t
all the free State candidates except one, whom I only knew by sight;
I never heard how many votes the pro-slavery ticket got, but I think t-
that it got about eight hundred. The highest vote the free State ticket t
got was sixty-one. The pro-slavery party was gaining strength all]
the time from the first election, and at the time of the election of the a
30th of March it had a large majority, and on that day they polled ail
large majority of legal votes. I saw no hemp or other badge that I;
day used, either by Missourians or citizens. I saw persons voting 4
during the day, and I saw a great many- 1 knew to be residents heretj
vote. I knew nothing personally of any secret society of the free State ti
party at that time, but I have learned something since. There is an
secret society in the town in which I live, but I do not know what isi[
the gbject. There is a free State man living in my house for seven
months past, named Peter Taylor, an honest freesoiler. Mr. Taylor
went to one election in this district, the first one, and he then said he
never would vote again, because the free State men and abolitionists J
were working together. He went so far in the society as he told me,
and then drew back and would have nothing more to do with it. The
motives of the society he communicated to me in confidence, and I de-j
cline telling what it is.
I reside now at Grasshopper Falls, in this Territory, about thirty]
miles from here, and have resided there some time past. I have un-i
derstood that Patrick Laughlin started this secret society.
The election of the 30th of March, 1855, here was contested, and the
representative election ordered for the 22d of May following, by Gov-v|
ernor, Reeder. The free soil candidates had been changed for thftl
second election ; one was Mr. Gould, and another Mr. France, I fhinkl
I am sure that Mr. Gould was in the second election. The pro-slavery]
candidates were Matthias, McMeekin, and Payne, for the lower house,t|
and no council election. I was present at that election. It was contj
ducted orderly and quietly. There was a steamboat arrived here thato
day, and votes were polled off the boat, but I do not know what he*
name was, or where she came from, except from rumor ; said to bi
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 417
from Pittsburg. I saw Mr. Gould down on the boat, and tbose per-
sons on the boat came up to vote with him, he saying they had as
much right to vote as any one. Nothing was said about it, as we
knew we were too far ahead for that to affect us. They voted the
free State ticket. Mr. Matthias, Mr. McMeekin and Mr. Payne were
elected by a large majority. I did not see as many Missourians here
that day as at the March election.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I think there were from eight hundred to nine hundred resident
voters in this district on the 30th of March,, 1855 ; so I judged from
what I had seen of the district and knew of the town. I do not
know the limits of the district, and I judge $nly from the settlements
I knew here in the district. Leavenworth, and between that and
Alexandria, and Alexandria, the Stranger, and down beyond the
Stranger, towards the Kaw river. On the Stranger I include Alex-
andria, about northwest of here, and then up the Stranger to Dawson's,
or Eastin, as I believe it is called. There were a great many persons
coming in and looking for land. I think the population nearly
doubled between the 1st of February and 30th of March, 1855, mostly
from Missouri — some from Kentucky and Indiana. There were boats
up before that election, with a great many emigrants who got off here,
but I do not know how many. A good many had got off at Kansas
City and came up by land. Two men who said that they had come
out under the Emigrant Aid Society, and had got off at Parkville, Mis-
souri, came to me for work. I was then carrying on the carpenters'
business. I think there were fully six hundred in the district at the
time of election, and there might have been eight or nine hundred,
and on the 30th of March, I have no doubt there were eight hundred
voters. I cannot say how many were here who lived here and had no
other homes, but I suppose that all who lived here at the time were
about eight hundred voters. I should suppose there may have been
one hundred Missourians on the ground on the 30th of March, 1855,
those who lived in Missouri at that time, perhaps more or less. I do
not know of one who voted. I suppose I saw some two or three hun-
dred go up to the window to vote, and heard their names called. At
one of the elections that spring there was a boat down here from
Weston. I do not recollect the name of the boat, but I think it was
the New Lucy. I saw some of the citizens of Weston who said they
had come on it, and I saw other persons after they got off, but I can-
not tell whether a great many came on her or not. I do not know
how long the boat stayed here. She was here about one o'clock, but
I did not see her when she left. There were, I should think, one
hundred Missourians, more or less, here that day, but I saw none vote.
I heard them say they did not intend voting as long as the emigration
• from the east, they were expecting, did not get here. I have not got
my opinion of the number of voters in the district from the number
of votes polled, instead of what I knew of resident voters. The
county was pretty thickly settled. I saw no illegal votes polled on
the 30th of March, 1855, though there might have been. Malcolm
Clark was building in town here and his children stayed just across
H. Kep. 200 27*
418 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
from the Fort on some property he had there. I have heard him sta*
that as he did not vote in Missouri, he had a right to vote here. I d
not see him vote. Mr. Gould is living in this city yet. I do o
recollect the name of the boat from which the hands came and votet
She came from down the river. I took them to be hands from the
appearance. I think there were eight or ten of them who vote*
there might have been more or less. I do not know where these mi
lived. I went up to the edge of the ring and saw them cast tht
votes. They voted by ballot, I believe, and their ballots were difif
ent from ours in color — a red color. They stood around some tin
before they did vote. I do not recollect the color of the pro-slave
ticket, but I think they had two colors of pro-slavery tickets. I km
these men said they were going to vote for the man they were gob
up with. What I mean by ballot, is a ticket with the names I vo
for, which are read off when my name is recorded, and that I think<
the way it was done at that election. I believe Jolly made his hoi
at Grasshopper Falls, which I think was in this district at that tim
The district took in Osawkee, a town on the Grasshopper, and
about nine or ten miles beyond Hickory Point. I call it thirty rni/|
to Grasshopper Falls. This district extended beyond the Strangr
towards the Kaw river, some eight or ten miles, so far as I was f j
quaint ed, and I think it extended further than that, and I think ; ;
extends, up the river, to some little creek in Salt creek valley, abet
three or four miles beyond Fort Leavenworth.
I think it was in the spring or winter of 1855, that I first hea>
about the secret societies of the free State parties ; before the Mart|
election I think. I cannot say that I ever heard from any one wVi
belonged to this secret society what its object was, but rumor saysH
is to make Kansas a free State at all hazards, even at the point of if
knife, and to work together for one another's interests^ and help &:•'
aid each other in every way and form. This I have heard from prew
reliable men who were free soilers and who now say they will not vo<>|
I judge from the meetings held out our way that those secret societfj
still exist. I know persons who are not Odd Fellows or Masons m
attend those secret meetings. I am a Know-nothing, and that is rii
such a society. I was in favor of a counter lodge in this city to cod
teract the one that was exposed here. But I never heard of any secij
society in Missouri or Kansas Territory to make this Territory a slai
State.
To Mr. Scott:
I found out on the day of election that the tickets were to be of d<!
ferent colors; the pro-slavery, I think, using buff or yellow, and tj
free State some other color. In the first voting I had some tickets!
distribute to my friends, and some of my friends came to me and t0<|
them all away, and said the other side had the same colored ticket
and in a short time tickets of another color were given to me. I hai!
forgotten whether the names of candidates were read off the tick!
when they were handed in or not. I could tell who a person vot 1
for in some way besides the color of the ticket, as it was a gene*i
thing at the window to call out, "here is a free State ticket," a
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 419
"here is a pro-slavery ticket." I think Captain Pitcher held the
rope at the side as they came up, and let them out after they voted.
A. T. PATTIE.
LBAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1856.
H. MILES MOORE testifies.
I came into the Territory to reside in September, 1854, from, Wes-
ton, Missouri, where I had been residing for five years, practising as
an attorney at law. For seven weeks previous to the election in the
Territory, on the 30th of March, 1855, meetings of the Platte county
self-defensive association were held in Platte county. I also learned
that like meetings were being held in all the border counties of Mis-
souri, to make arrangements to come over to the Territory to attend
the election for members of the legislature and vote. I know that
iSecret meetings of what was called the Blue Lodge were held in the
Masonic Lodge room in Weston. I saw persons going up, and I learned
from members of the association that their objects and plans were to
come over to the Territory and vote on the 30th of March, 1855. I
did not myself belong to that association. From what I have heard
said, I have good reason to believe that the nominations for the pro-
slavery party for members of the legislature were decided upon at
these secret meetings at Weston and Platte City, so far as the fifteenth
and sixteenth districts were concerned. For two or three days pre-
vious to the election large companies formed through the City of Wes-
ton, en route for the Territory,, from Platte, Clinton, Clay, Eay,
Chariton, Carrol, and some from Howard and Harrison counties, Mis-
souri, bringing with them tents, forage and provisions. These men
were generally armed, some with guns, and others with revolvers and
t>owie knives. Some of these men were on horseback, and some of
them were in wagons. Among those from the back counties, that I
recognized particularly, were Squire Hyde, of Chariton county, who
said he had about seventy or eighty men with him, and several men
From Brunswick, Chariton county, who were not of his party, whose
names I do not now recollect. I also saw several from Howard county
and from the counties above mentioned. Most of the parties from
^latte county and those near by went to the back districts of the Ter-
ritory, as the}'' told me after they returned, to Hickory Point,, Marys-
pille, Nemaha, and Wolf river precincts, and that they made a clean
ihing of it. I saw a company under David K. Atchison as they
passed through Weston, and some of them told me they were going
:o Nemaha or the eighteenth district. I also learned that they were
?rom the counties of Missouri on the north side of the Missouri river,
»vere to go to the district on the north side of the Kaw river, and those
)n the north side went to the north side. Companies were formed
Tom Platte county and went over to Nemaha, and then to Hickory
Point, and then to Marysville, &c. Squire Hyde's company from
Jhariton county came to Leaven worth, together with a large number
420
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of citizens from in and about Weston. Some from Weston came i
carriages and some on horseback.
The steamboat New Lucy was lying at the levee at Weston, an
we chartered her to bring down from eighty to one hundred for $2 5C
round trip, meals included. I think each man paid his own fare ci
the boat, as this was considered rather a luxurious way of travellicj
here. As regards the other companies, money was raised to pay the
expenses, or a portion of them, to buy their provisions and outfit, 1
voluntary contributions from those who could not come, but w#
friendly to the cause. The captain of the New Lucy was Captai
William Conolly. The boat started from Weston and got down he
in the course of an hour. I should think there were one thousan
men on the ground here, armed with bowie knives and revolvers ge<
erally, some few guns among them. The citizens of Missouri we
generally distinguished by a badge of hemp in the button hole, >
elsewhere about their persons. A very large crowd was gathered a bo
the polls. Ropes were carried back from the window so as to formj
lane, up which persons went to vote and then passed out. Duriiil
the forepart of the day there was a great deal of crowding about tj
polls. The free State men, I think, did not take much part in thj
election. I voted that day the pro-slavery ticket, as the rest of tj
Missourians did. The pro-slavery ticket were Rees and Eastin 1
council, Matthias, Payne, and McMeekin for house of representative
I have carefully examined the poll books for that election and find I)
it the names of persons I knew to have been then citizens of Missour
as follows :
Thomas Baumont,
J. M. Guthrie,
James H. Hall,
John B. Wells,
George Grimsby,
William H. Spatt,
William H. Nems,
John Venemon,
Judge William B. Almond,
Joseph Guynard,
B. W. McGee,
N. A. Wilkinson,
R. M. Gordon,
Robert Pents,
J. M. Summers,
A. T. Guthrie,
R. B. Chinn,
E. F. Pierce,
John Many,
Jackson Summers,
R. W. Chinn,
John W. Beding,
F. Marshall,
Samuel B. Offutt,
B. W. Mitchell,
A. P. Walling,
Franklin Yocum,
Jeremiah Crabb,
D. S. Leech,
James Saunders,
T. R. Buckhart,
James Doniphan,
William Dickey,
W. A. Wilson,
John B. Camp,
W. Christiana,
Smith Collant,
Joseph Nowers,
C. E. Woolfolk,
R. H. Stewart,
Josse Vineyard,
W. S. Offut,
James Barber,
William A. Gabbet,
E. H. Pierce,
David Large,
Isaac Archer,
L. P. Stiles,
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
421
W. A. Guthrie,
G. W. Robins,
W. L. Dameal,
Joseph Murphy,
John Gunsollis, captain of
steamboat Golden State,
William Conolly, captain of
steamboat New Lucy,
George W. Peirce,
H. J. Woolf, clerk of Wes-
ton court of common pleas,
William C. Kimber,
H. Miles Moore,
John B. Wells,
D. A. Johnson,
N. B. Brooks,
John R. Congers,
John T. Owens,
George W. Dye,
G. U. Baumont,
W. W. Woods,
D. S. Gordon,
Israel Dougherty,
A. Gilbert,
J. C. Cockrill,
R. F. Fisk,
Samuel Fernandis,
Frank Gilbert,
Harvey Burch,
D. J. Pence,
John D. Harper,
P. K. Wagoner,
Jacob Pitts,
John Moor,
W. T. Barbee,
W. T. Woods,
Edward Duncan,
Am. Owens,
John W. Corser,
Joseph Holiday,
G. W. Robins,
George Kimper,
W. A. Newman,
Michael Burch. (89 in all.)
I should think there were 500 or more votes cast that day by Mis-
ourians, at the election at Leavenworth city. Several speeches were
aade by gentlemen from Missouri, and the candidates exhorting the
icople to vote, that they had a perfect right to vote under the princi-
»les of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. My opinion that most of those
eho came from Missouri to the Territory to vote were induced to do
o from representations made to them that there were large numbers
f emigrants coming from the north and east, under the auspices of
he Emigrant Aid Society, for the purpose of voting to make Kansas
. free State, and then returning. Such statements were published in
he papers through western Missouri, together with statements that
hese eastern emigrants threatened, after making Kansas a free State,
o^come over into Missouri and interfere with slavery there, and I
pink that very few of the free State men voted at Leavenworth at
his election . I had conversation with several free State men who re-
ided in Leavenworth city and its vicinity, in which they stated that
hey were disgusted with the manner in which the election was being
onducted, and that the free State men would not vote, but would
ontest the election. I tried to persuade them to vote, and their re-
ly was, that the people of Missouri were controlling the election, and
hey would not take part in it. I know those free State men I con-
ersed with were citizens of Leavenworth and vicinity from that I
.ad been one of the town proprietors from its inception, and I was
he first secretary of the town association, and these free State men
rere some of those who had bought shares and lots in the town, which
had transferred to them as secretary. I had attended all the public
ales of lots as secretary of the association, and had been here nearly
- very week on business connected with the association, as well as on
ly own business. The free State men generally had nothing to do
422 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
with the election. I did not see any attempts to prevent any oni
from voting. The polls were very much crowded during the fore pan
of the day. In the afternoon the polls were clear, and at times calll
were made for more voters, and I think any one could have voted whu
had so desired. Just before sundown the "New Lucy returned tf
Weston, there being more persons going back on the boat than carni
down on her in the morning. For several days after the election
many persons passed through Weston back into Missouri, arnona
whom I saw most of those I knew, and had seen going into the Ten
ritory, and they stated to me the several precincts they had been ttj
and voted, and said they had made a clean sweep that time.
I came into the Territory to reside in September, 1854. Shortli
after that an election for locating the county seat was held in thi
county, at which large numbers of Missourians, from Platte countyy
Weston, and Platte city, came to Delaware city and Kickapoo ano
voted at that election. I had believed that the Missourians had ha<i
some justification for endeavoring to come and control the territorial
legislation, in order to afford more security to their slave property ii
Missouri, and for that reason I had come with them ; but their cours-i
with regard to the mere local election for county seat was so highn
handed an outrage upon the rights of the people of the Territory, cxJ
whom I had then become one, that I came to the resolution that i
would no longer act with a party so regardless of the rights of othertj
that they would interfere in a matter in which they could have m
personal or political interest, I determined to act with the free Stati
party so long as they were actuated by what I considered proper mod
tives,ihough I would have continued to act with the pro-slavery parti;
had they not acted as they did. I therefore concluded to act with thnj
free State party so long as they were willing to act consistently witl
the principles of the organic act, and submit to the territorial law?)
while in force. At the election for county seat, Delaware county, witl
a population of not more than forty voters, polled nearly a thousand
votes. A large majority of the votes polled at Kickapoo were b;
Missourians. The people of Leavenworth polled between 500 an*
600 votes, all given by actual residents, so far as I was able to fine
out.
In consequence of my determination at this time to act thereafter
with the free State party I became obnoxious to the pro-slavery menj
both in Missouri and in the Territory. My person and property had
been frequently threatened with violence and destruction by them fo<
six months or more past. I was elected at the election for State offiij
cers, under the Topeka State constitution, attorney general of th^
State of Kansas. In March last I took the oath of office, with th«ij
express understanding that it should not be binding on me, and !|
should not enter upon the discharge of my official duties until Kansas
had been admitted into the "Onion as a State by Congress. On Wed<
nesday, May 28, 1856, 1 was arrested while standing at my office door
about noon, by Major Warren D. Wilkes, who had a posse with him!
of some twenty or twenty-five men, armed with United States musketi
and bayonets. At the time of the arrest I was conversing with Marcii!
J. Parrot and Hon. John Sherman, a member of the Kansas investi
tigating committee of the House of representatives. This possr
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 423
r, marched down the street in column in platoons of four, and when
m they reached my office they faced about and formed in a line, with
shouldered muskets. A man by the name of Eli Moore, who has been,
and I think is now, deputy sheriff of this county, approached with
* Major Wilkes, and pointed out to him Mr. Parrot and myself. Major
-j Wilkes said to us, " Gentlemen, I have to arrest you temporarily/'
, ftLr. Parrot said to Mr. Sherman, "What shall we do ?" Mr. Sherman
.said, "I can do nothing ; I am powerless in this matter." Mr. Sher-
*; man then turned to Major Wilkes, and asked him if he had a warrant
for our arrest, and he said he had not. Mr. Sherman then asked him.
by what authority he made the arrests, and he said, "By an authority
t| higher than my own ; Iain not acting on my own responsibility;"
V ind then holding out his hand with a crumpled piece of paper in it,
;. lie said, " I have a list of names here for arrests." I then went into
,; my office, locked up my desk, got my hat, and came out and locked
~ my office. I then inquired of Major Wilkes by what authority he
jj irrested me, or if he had a warrant from anybody for my arrest.
; Major Wilkes replied, " I have no time to parley ; take your place in
,. :he ranks;" which Mr. Parrot and myself did. Martin F. Conway
• md Mr. Weibling were then prisoners as we were. Mr. Sherman
;hen approached Mr. Conway, and inquired when he was taken. Just
. is he spoke the word of command was given to "forward, march."
is we started Mr. Conway turned to Mr. Sherman and said, "I have
eft the papers I was copying with Mrs. Sherman." We were then
y mrriedly marched down and placed in a warehouse of Captain Clark-
ion, and kept there, under a strong guard, until the next morning,
vhen I was sent for by the commissioner. A guard went up to the
iommittee room with me. The committee refused to examine me
vhile I was under guard, unless some legal authority was shown for
ny detention. I was then taken back. Subsequently, and while i
yas in custody, I was informed by Captain Clarkson that a secret
:ouncil had been held, and had determined that I must leave the Ter-
ritory. I asked him what were the charges against me, and if I
night not go before the congressional investigating committee and
bake some explanation. He said that I had taken a prominent part
n the free State movement, and had accepted an office under the State
irganization, and therefore I had become obnoxious, and with other
ree State men, a list of whose names they had, must leave the Terri-
ory. I expostulated with him, but it was insisted upon that I should
eave the Territory. I explained to him that I had great interest in
nis town, and I should be pecuniarily ruined if obliged to leave so
ummarily, and that I expected my wife here shortly, and looked for
ier to arrive on each boat. He said that under those circumstances I
rould be allowed a little longer time than otherwise, but I must leave
he Territory in a very short time, at all events, and his orders were
tnperative.
Being compelled thus to leave, I have been requested by Messrs,
toward and Sherman, who deem my evidence important, to give it
bus in private, believing as I do that my person and life would be
ndangered at this time should I give it in public.
H. MILES MOORE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
424 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SAMUEL KIXEY called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver:
I am acquainted with Thomas Hodges, of Platte county, Missouri
He lives one mile above me on Bee creek. I have never had any con
versation with Mr. Hodges in regard to any election in this Territory.
I have never countenanced him in any way, as I have always regardeo
him as an abolitionist, and never regarded him except with contempt!
and I declare the statement made by him, that I offered him fivt
dollars to come over and vote, or for anything connected in any wa:
with coming to this Territory to vote, at any time, is false. I hav-
not seen him since I understood that he was here testifying before thi
committee. I never heard of his testifying in regard to my offering
to bribe him until this morning. I have no recollection of eve
soliciting him to come to any election in the Territory. Mr. Thoma;
Hodges I refer to is the one I understood has testified before this com
mittee.
SAMUEL EIXEY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
WILLIAM G-. MATTHIAS testifies.
To Mr. Scott:
I came into the Territory of Kansas and settled at Leavenwortl
City on the 23d of November, 1854. I was present at the election cc
the 30th March, 1855, at Leavenworth. The candidates at that elec<
tion were L. J. Eastin and K. K. Kees for council, pro-slavery, an<w
A. J. Whitney and Mr. Twombley, free State, for council; H. DJ
McMeekin, A. Payne, and myself, pro-slavery, Felix Braden, Dn
France, and Mr. Browning, free State, were the candidates for thi
house of representatives. During this spring I was boarding at Foil
Leavenworth. There was a ferry at the Fort, and there was also
ferry above the Fort on government land, and all crossing at botl
ferries were necessarily compelled to pass along the public road alonji
by the Fort. During the month of March there was a great deal c<
emigration, wagons and people coming across the ferries into the Ten
ritory, so that I concluded that the resident voters of our district)
which extended out as far as Soldier creek, had increased very conr
siderably.
We were anxiously looking for the proclamation of the governor
so as to find out when the election was held. About the early pan
of March, about the first week, we heard a rumor that the election
was to be held on the 23d of March, and therefore the pro-slaverr
party called a convention on the 10th of March. At that time w\
had not learned positively when the election was to be, but I thinli
a messenger came there that night with the proclamation of thh
governor. We had given but four or five days' notice to the people o<
the district to meet in mass convention. There were over one hundrec
pro-slavery voters there at the convention of the 10th of March. Oil
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
the first ballot for candidates there were one hundr. McM^s given,
and there were a numher of pro-slavery men who were'S ; ^inere when
the hallotting was going on, and T do not remember of "seeing a man
there who lived further than Stranger creek. I was therefore satis-
fied that not half the pro-slavery men of the district were there. It
was always my impression, from all I could learn, that we had a large
majority in that district.
On the day of election there were a great many persons present
whom I did not know, but several hundreds I did know, having met
them in convention and in canvassing the district. I was about the
polls a good deal, but I could not tell that I saw more than one man
lli!vote besides myself. There were two ropes extended back from each
a?' side of the window some twenty or thirty yards, and there was a sort
C! of police to keep men from crowding on and breaking the rope down,
but near the window there were a great many persons, both inside and
outside of the ropes to watch the voting. Our tickets were red tickets,
and the crowd I suppose had ascertained that and were standing there
to see the red tickets go in. Before many votes were cast some of
those who were acquainted with free State men of Leaven worth dis-
covered they were voting red tickets also. It was proclaimed in the
crowd, by several men who got up in the crowd, that all pro-slavery
men who had red tickets should destroy them and not vote them. We
then had yellow tickets printed, and I remained at the printing office
until we had what we supposed were enough of yellow tickets. There
were sixty-one free State tickets polled that day ; I saw some of them
go inside the ropes, but I did not see them vote. I was acquainted
with thirty or forty free State men in town, and I called on several
who were near the polls to come up and vote, as several of them had
indicated they would vote for me, as they boarded at the same house I
did. A few of them have since told me they voted for me. I saw
i)i t some of those I spoke to go between the ropes and go up to the win-
dow, and I suppose they voted ; but several of those I spoke to said
they would not vote ; I asked the reason ; they said they thought
their party was badly beaten and there was no use in their voting.
The election passed off as orderly and peaceably as elections I had
attended in Carroll county, Maryland ; I knew of but one fight there
that day, and that I think was between two pro-slavery men. In
Maryland, where I came from, we frequently had half a dozen bruised
faces during the day. In mixing with the crowd at Leavenworth on
the day of election I noticed that most of them had belts on, and I saw
in some of them pistols and Bowie knives, but that was the custom of
the country. The citizens of the town I think were not armed. I
saw, I suppose, all the people who were about that day^ and I do not
think I saw three men in the whole crowd there of one thousand and
upwards with hemp about them ; I did see one man who had a hempen
cue fixed to his hair and hanging down behind.
I think we made four appointments to address the people while we
were canvassing the district; one at Alexandria, on Stranger creek, one
at Somerville, on Little Stranger, near Mr. Minard's, one at Salt
Creek Valley, and one at Leavenworth city. There were but few people
present at Alexandria ; they were all pro-slavery men, and we made
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The candidates of both sides went round the dis-
The next day we went to Somerville, where we
fc Mr. Twombley opened the discussion that day. We
g about the time the speaking commenced some forty or
^persons. Mr. Twombley continued speaking some three
,. In the mean time a fight occurred between a free State and
pro-slavery man, and the free State man was cleaned out, and from
the sides the people took we discovered many more there on our side
than we thought we had. We did not discuss any ourselves that day,
as there was not much time for it. Mr. Kees made some few remarks
just after Mr. Twombley closed, and while speaking made some refer-
ence to the Emigrant Aid Society, and some one in the crowd cried out,
" Don't you say anything against the Emigrant Aid Society, for they
sent me out here." The next day we had a discussion at Salt Creek
Valley : at that place I think there must have been some sixty per-
sons present. There was good feeling, as far as the candidates were
concerned, all the canvass through.
I was not much acquainted in the district until I commenced can-
vassing it; and from what I learned in every way during the canvass,
I concluded we had a large majority of actual residents in the district.
The election, I, think, was on Friday, and on the day before we spoke
at Leavenworth to a crowd of several hundred. Many of them I
knew to have been residents of the Territory, and I have recognized
many others since as residents. I do not think there were many
Missourians there at that public speaking. I think I must have seen
three or four hundred resident voters in the canvass in the district,
and there were some pro-slaverr men who were not at the election.
The crowd who were at the polls on the day of election did not
interfere with the voting of any one; and by three o'clock the bulk
of the crowd were gone, and during the day, a good portion of the
time, the bulk of the crowd were down on the levee listening to the
speeches that were made there.
The judges told me that I lost several votes, as, in cutting the
tickets apart, my name being on the bottom was cut in two, and they
would not count those tickets for me. The pro-slavery party were
united on their ticket, and I think I never saw more union in any
party at any election. I think I must have been acquainted with
probably four hundred resident voters on the ground that day, and
there were many there, I am confident, I was not acquainted with. I
think there were three pro-slavery to one free State man on the
ground.
That election was contested and a new election was ordered by
Governor Reeder. I think on the 3d of April the Doniphan,
Atchison, Kickapoo, and Leavenworth members elect left for Shawnee
Mission, and found most of the members elect in Westport, Missouri.
The next day we went to Shawnee and found a protest filed against
our election signed by some ten or a dozen persons. Governor Reeder
set the representatives elect aside in our district, and ordered a new
election, which was held on the 22d of May following. The same
pro-slavery candidates for representatives ran again. There were six
or seVen hundred votes polled that day. But there was not much
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 427
interest taken, as far as our side was concerned. Mr. McMeekin and
myself declared that day that we were not candidates ; that we did
not believe Governor Keeder had a right to set aside the first election ;
that we had heen elected before, and intended to claim our seats under
the first election. I had a conversation with some of the free State
men that day, and they acknowledged that that election was all fair,
and they had been beaten fairly.
I saw Governor Keeder several times before the legislature met at
Pawnee, and he said he would give us our certificates at any time.
No one appeared to contest our seats, and there were no persons in
Pawnee claiming seats for any districts except in those Governor
Reeder had set aside.
WILLIAM G. MATHIAS.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 6, 1856.
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.
Rev. THOMAS JOHNSON called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I have lived in Kansas Territory for nineteen years. I was elected
a member of the council of the territorial legislature, in the first
council district. I was present at the election on the 30th of March,
1855, at the Shawnee Methodist meeting house, in the seventeenth
district. Governor Reeder and Judge Lecompte were both present at
that election. Mr. Chouteau, one of the judges of election appointed
by the governor, asked me a few days before the election about the
nature of the oath prescribed by the governor, and I told him I pre-
: sumed it was substantially correct, and there would be no difficulty in
taking it. But I informed him at the same time that Judge Lecompte
| would be at the election, and he could consult with him about the
;oath. On the day of election, at the place where the polls were held,
[ heard the judges speak to Judge Lecompte about the oath prescribed
by^the governor. I did not hear all that passed between them, for I
,paid but little attention to it, but I understood that Judge Lecompte
i would and did make some slight verbal alterations, which met their
objections, but did not materially change the effect and nature of the
oath. He administered that oath to the judges of election, and after
that I asked Governor Reeder if the changes in the oath affected its
validity. He told me that it did not, that he did not see any necessity
for making any change, but still he considered it a good oath. I be-
lieve I was acquainted with all but three or four voters there on the
ground. [ had no knowledge of there being any illegal voting that
day, and those three or four I did not know were free State men, and
there were some questions passed between them and the judges as to
how long they had resided in the district, and then their votes were
allowed and received.
428 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Question. Will you state what conversation you had with Governor
Keeder prior to the meeting of the territorial legislature at Pawnee,
and after the governor had issued his proclamation convening them
there, concerning the propriety of calling them there, and the absolute
necessity of the legislature when they met there, removing to some
other place, and what the governor said as to the power of the legis-
lature to remove, and his co-operating with them in whatever they
should decide to do in reference to that matter?
[Mr. King here states that he proposes to prove that after the gov-
ernor issued his proclamation convening the legislature, the witness
had a conversation with him, in which the witness objected to the pro-
priety of calling the legislature together at Pawnee, stating that there
were no accommodations there that would be at all suitable for the
legislature, and that if the legislature was convened there, they would
certainly have to remove to some other place, where they could get ;!
suitable accommodations. Also that Governor Reeder admitted thatJ
there were no suitable accommodations at Pawnee at that time, but ij
said he had made arrangements for having suitable accommodations i
prepared, and that if, upon the meeting of the legislature, those accom- •
modations were not to be obtained there, it would be the right of the i
legislature to Adjourn to some other place where they could be suitably
accommodated, and that he would co-operate with the legislature and 1
acquiesce in whatever they might do in regard to that matter, admit- •
ting the right of the legislature to adjourn to any point they pleased.
Also, that the governor stated that if he could be satisfied before the ;-
meeting of the legislature that preparations could not be made for them i
at Pawnee, he would call them together at some other point. He also >
proposes to prove further, that on the same evening after the above \
conversation took place between Governor Reeder and the witness, a i
messenger came to the governor from Pawnee and informed him that i
it would be impossible to make suitable preparations for the accoinmo- •:
dation of the legislature by the time they would convene, and that i
the governor, instead of complying with the promise he had justi
made to the witness, still persisted in calling the legislature together
at Pawnee, and never undertook to give any explanation to the wit- •
ness as to the reasons for his course. Mr, King also proposes to prove $
further by the witness, that upon the meeting of the legislature at ;
Pawnee there were no sort of accommodations there for the legislature, ,
and they were therefore compelled to abandon the performance of their •
duties or to adjourn to some other place. Also, to prove that when i
the legislature assembled there the members had to make their own i
camps and camp out, and do their own cooking, unless they were for- *
tunate enough to get others to do it for them ; that there were no
boarding houses around in the country anywhere, except two little '
log shanties erected at the place, with no doors or partitions but
clothes hung up, and not sufficient to accommodate one tenth of those :
who were necessarily obliged to be there during the sitting of the leg-
islature. Mr. King also offers to prove further that the cholera was *
raging at Pawnee at that time, and that a man died of the cholera at ,
one of these shanties before the legislature removed from them, and
that several members had strong symptoms of cholera, and were \
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 429 '
prostrated by the disease. Mr. King states that his object in offering
this testimony is not to. show that the legislature had the right to ad-
journ from Pawnee, because Governor Keeder admitted it, but to ex-
hibit Governor Keeder 's conduct in the whole affair in what Mr. King
considers the proper light.
A majority of the committee overrules the question and excludes
the evidence offered; Mr. Oliver dissenting.]
To Mr. King:
My council district was composed of the 1st, 4th, and l*7th election
districts. I did not canvass the district, and know nothing about the
vote at Lawrence, and did not go there until after the election. I
objected to be a candidate, but was brought out by the party.
THOS. JOHNSON.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 3, 1856.
CYPRIAN CHOUTEAU called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
On the 30th of March, 1855, I was a resident of Kansas Territory,
and have lived in it some twenty or twenty-two years. I was one of
the judges of election, appointed by Governor Reeder, for the seven-8
teen th district, and served as such on the day of election, taking an
oath, administered by Judge Lecompte, in the presence of Governor
Eeeder. I heard nothing to lead me to suppose the judge and the
governor did not acquiesce in the oath administered. I knew a great
many of the legal voters of the district at that time. I allowed no
man to vote except those who lived in the Territory. In judging of
the qualifications of voters we applied the rule laid down in the
instructions of the governor. There was no disposition to prevent any
men from voting, and all whom we considered legal voters, and who
presented themselves, were allowed to vote. I know of no reason whj
any person in the district should not have voted that day; and I know
of no free State man in the district who did not vote. The pro-slavery
party had a majority, not very large, in the district at' that time. I
think the vote on the poll books is a pretty correct exhibit of the rela-
tive strength of the two parties in that district at that time.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman:
We had the printed form of the oath prescribed by Governor Reeder
before us. There was something in that oath to which the judges of
election objected, but I do not recollect what it was. We applied to
Judge Lecompte in reference to it; we told him we did not like to take
the oath, and he said he would put it in a different shape and it would
answer just as well. Some of the judges of election noted our objec-
tion to the oath, as prescribed by the governor, to Judge Lecompte, but
he expressed no opinion, that I know of, in regard to our objection, but
wrote, at^ the request of Mr. Bowles, a different form of oath, which
was administered to us. I am unable to say what was the objection
430 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
taken to the prescribed oath, or whether it was to the words, uby law
ful resident voters,," being in it. Mr. Bowles and Mr. Donaldsoi
were the two judges, beside myself. I do not think a different form
of oath was administered to the clerks from the one prescribed by thd
governor. The election was held at the Shawnee Methodist meeting
house. Governor Keeder was present at the time the oath was admin-i
istered to us, though he may not have been present when we statec
the objection to Judge Lecompte. I saw him and the judge talking,
together, but did not hear what they said, though I understood it waa
about the oath to be taken by the judges.
To Mr. King:
It was not the intention of the judges, in objecting to the oath ar
prescribed, to get any other form under which we could allow non-ij
residents to vote, for we allowed none but legal resident voters to vote 3
and when Judge Lecompte was applied to by us, being a judge of the
United States court, he told us he could put the oath in a different
shape and it would accomplish the same purpose.
CYPRIAN CHOUTEAU.
WESTPOKT, MISSOURI, June 2, 1856.
JOHN A. HALDEMAN called and sworn.
To Mr. Mathias:
I first came into this Territory in year 1854, from Kentucky. I
returned in July, 1854, to Kentucky, and then came back to the]
Territory again, reaching here about November !_, 1854. About two
or three weeks afterwards Governor Reeder tendered me the post of
private secretary, which I accepted. On March 30, 1855, I was aii
what is known as Gum Springs or Shawnee Missionary House, in thigi
Territory, about five miles from the Shawnee Mission, where the polls! !
were held for that precinct, according to the proclamation of the gov-
ernor. I was found at the polls during the day. There was no«
disturbance or fuss of any kind that I recollect. It is so long since-
that I do i\ot think I could name five persons there. I was ac-
quainted with but few of the inhabitants of that precinct, not ai
majority. There were not many persons there, among whom wast
Governor Reeder. That precinct comprises a great portion of the-
Shawnee reserve. I do not know whether Governor Reeder voted
that day or not. I left the polls after they were closed and returned
to Shawnee Mission. I was not in Leaveuworth making a speech '
according to the testimony of some persons before this committee, j
Governor Reeder and myself had been up upon the half-breed Kaw j
lands, and we got to Shawnee Mission on March 29, 1855. I do not;
recollect of making a speech during that canvass. I had riot been!
in Leavenworth before or after the 30th of March for some weeks.
To Mr. Howard:
I was not in Leavenworth at the election of November 29, 1854?i
or the election of May 22, 1855.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 431
\
To Mr. Mathias ;
I knew Judge Flannigan before November 29, 1854, but do not
now what induced him to come out here to run as candidate for
Congress. Judge Flannigan reached the Territory about the first of
November, 1854, perhaps before, I am not certain. He ]eft in a few
days after the election of November 29, 1854, and I have never heard
of his being back in the Territory afterwards. I do not know
whether he was a man of family or not. Governor Keeder has told
me he himself had a family in Easton, Pennsylvania. No one of
his family has been in the Territory to my knowledge. I think if
any one of his family had been here 1 would have known it. I acted
as the private secretary of Governor Keeder till about the middle of
June, 1855. The following candidates at Gum Springs were Thomas
Johnson and Edward Chapman for council, and Alex. Johnson for
house of representatives. I think S. N. Wood was one of the candi-
dates of the free State party for council ; the other candidates I do
not recollect. I think the free State party had a full ticket. After
the returns of the election of March 30, 1855, were made to the gov-
ernor, I think certificates were given to the pro-slavery candidates in
the Shawnee Mission district. He also gave certificates to General
William P. Kichardson, John W. Forman, L. T. Eastin, K. K. Kees,
D. A. N. Grover, William Barbee, Mr. Lykins, Mr. Coffee, Martin
F. Conway, for council for other parts of the Territory; to Alex.
Johnson, Mr. Younger, Mr. Heiskell, Mr. Scott, Allen Wil-
kison, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Williams, Dr. Tebbs, Dr. Stringfellow,
Mr. Kirk, Mr. Waterson, Mr. Blair, Mr. Houston, Mr. Marshallr
A. J. Baker, for the house of representatives. There may have
been others who received certificates whose names I do not recol-
lect. There were protests filed in some cases, and new elections
ordered. I am not prepared to say whether all the protests received
were received before the certificates were issued to the persons I have
named above. I think protests were so filed in the sixteenth repre-
sentative district, in the first, second, and third districts. I do not
remember about the Fort Kiley district, whether Governor Keeder
appointed a day to hear the case of Conway and Donaldson or not.
The certificate was issued to Conway I know. I think the matter
of some districts for new elections was held in abeyance by Governor
Keeder for some days, and I do not know whether any protests were
received after the certificates had been issued or not. I do not know
of any.
To Mr. Howard:
There was a time fixed by the proclamation issued previous to the
election for protests to be received. I do not know whether any pro-
tests were received after that time or not. None to my knowledge.
JOHN A. HALDEMAN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T.; May 31, 1856.
432 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
EIGHTEENTH DISTRICT. — Moorestoivn.
D. H. BAKER called and sworn.
I came into the Territory about July 10, 1854, from Indiana, an-
settled on the Nemaha, at the crossing of the California road from SHj
Joseph's, in what is now called the Nemaba county, in the eighteen!
district. I was present at the election of March 30, 1855. The ele(
tion was held at W. W. Moore's at what was called Moorestown.
was there between eight and nine o'clock, before the polls werij
opened, Thomas Cramer, Mr. Belew, and Elijah Adamson were tMj
judges. I think there were about seventeen or eighteen settlers <i|
the district at the election, and I thought I knew all in the district
Some persons there told me they were from Missouri looking fc
claims, and had a camp about two miles off, but I was not in rij
They told me there were about sixty of them. All I saw there wen!
armed with shot guns, bowie knives, and pistols. I should thin
about forty voted. They said they were hunting claims, and the*
said Cramer said that all who were on the ground had a right to voU
Some of those told me they were from Missouri. They said the<
came to hunt claims and vote. Some said they had taken claims, hi
I do not know as I have seen a man of them since. I was not preset
when the voting commenced. I think there were some sixty vote;
cast at that election. I did know the number for I was there when tb
polls closed. I heard no threats used or saw any resistance. Afte-
these men voted they went to the camp, and I did not see anythinr
more of them. They did not claim to be residents of the district-
They agreed that their residence was there at that time, and the
had a right to vote. But they did not claim to be citizens. I di
not know any of those men. I did not see General Atchison thii
-day, or, if I did, I did not know him. The following names on tti
poll books are settlers: S. J. Cramer, George H. Baker, John Bat
lou, S. Ji B. Cramer, Samuel Crozier, Greenberry Keys, Benjami
Winkles, H. M. Newton, Thomas Newton, Isaac B. Miller, Jes^
Adamson, Nath. D. Beals, Richard Clancy, W. W. Moore, Jaim
0. Laughlin. There is one more citizen who voted whose name I d
not recognize on the list, making seventeen in all. The others aw
not settlers of that district, and I have never seen them there sim
that day. The arms they carried were not concealed. There an
two crossings on the California road, about half a mile apart.
live on one and Mr Moore on the other. I saw some companies,
few days before the election, who said they were going out to the Biv
Blue to take claims. One company had about fifteen men in i!
They raid ncthi?i£ about voting, and I did not see them returr:
They had guns with them. The election at the Big Blue was i\
Marysville where the crossing is.
Cross-examined by J. W. Whitfield :
Some few of these men told me they were from Missouri. The-
said they were 60 in number, but there were not that many that voted
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 433
Some who told me they were from Missouri I saw vote. There had
been none along so early in the year before to look up any claims, as
it was most too cold for that. They had arms. A great many who
go out on the prairie carry arms, and a good many do not. I came
down here without any. All of them I saw had arms. Mr. John
W. For man was candidate for council, and I think got all the votes
that were cast, for all parties voted for him. I heard no threats made;
I saw no violence ; no one was prevented from voting that I know of.
To Mr. Sherman :
I thought the judge of the election, Thomas Cramer, was the leader
of these men, and he went out and called for more votes. They came
up in a body and stacked arms, and then voted one after another. I
do not know that any were deterred from voting in consequence of
threats. I think not exceeding three or four staid away. Our district
was attached to the district down towards St. Joseph's at that election.
To Mr. J. W. Whitfield :
Mr. Cramer, the judge of the election, was a citizen of the district.
I did not go with these men when they went away. I do not know
that they went to Missouri. Sometimes men go from one part of the
Territory to another for claims.
To Mr. Sherman :
Dr. G. A. Cutler and John Landis were the free- State candidates
for the house of representatives , and J. H. Stringfellow and Mr. Kirk
were the pro-slavery candidates. The settlers who voted that day
were generally free-soil, all but three or four of them. Our settlers
are from Virginia, New York, Indiana, and Missouri, the majority of
them from the western States.
To Mr. Whitfield :
Some of the free-soilers told me they had come from Missouri and
settled in that district.
G. H. BAKER.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 14, 1856.
JOHN BELEW called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in April, 1854, from Illinois to St. Joseph's,
and thence to this Territory and settled in the 18th district, commonly
called the Nemaha district. I was one of the judges of election for
March 30, 1855, appointed by the governor, and served as such.
There were but few settlers in my district, some twenty or twenty-two,
I think. I believe I knew nearly all about there by being around
with them, helping them to raise houses, &c. Some of them were
from Iowa, some from Illinois, who had lived in Missouri. They
were generally from the western States. There was no village there.
The election was held at the house of W. W. Moore. I think nearly
all the settlers voted that day. Others voted also, who came up on
the day of the election just about the time the polls were opened.
H. Rep. 200 28*
434 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
There were a little over forty of them, from forty to forty-five,
were armed with pistols and bowie-knives, but I do not recollect OD
seeing any guns. They came generally on horseback. They saia
they had taken claims round through the Territory and came there it*
vote. They said that some of them had done work on their claimssj
and others intended to come back to work upon them. I never sa\*
one of these men after the day of election about our place. I do no"
know as they said upon what grounds they claimed the right to vote
They took the oath prescribed by law, and all were sworn. N«
objections were made to taking the oath. The judges had all beerr
sworn. After they voted they all disappeared, and I saw nothing-
more of them. The following are the names of those on the poll-book^
I know to have been residents at that time : S. J. Cramer, Geo. Hi
Bohn, John Belew, S. J. B. Cramer, Samuel Crozier, Grimburg Key,
Benjamin Winkle, H. M. Newton, Thomas Newton, Isaac B. Miller.
Jesse Adamson, Walter D. Beeler, Kichard Claney, W. W. Moore,
James 0. Laughlin, John 0. Laughlin. K. L. Kirk came to my housei
about a week before the election, and boarded there until the day aften!
the election. He said he had bargained for a claim and intended to!
settle on it. I do not know where he lives ; I have not seen him since: j
I do not know the residence of any of these men. I have not seeno
them anywhere to know them. Mr. Owen and Mr. Davis, who
remained at my house the second night before the election, told m&j
they were just over from Missouri and had taken claims. They leftl!
the next day, but were there on the day of election and voted. I haven
not seen them there since.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
I do not know exactly the size of my district. I was one of ther
judges of the election. I regarded no vote I received as illegal, as II
went by the oath that was taken by them. The election was generally^
peaceable and quiet, more so than at some elections I have seen..
There has been a good deal in Kansas of men coming and taking;)
claims and then never coming back. I do not know where all theses)
people live; they may live in Kansas now for what I know. I wassj
subpoenaed at Iowa Point by a man named Weaver. I have under- -
stood that he lives near Lawrence. I have never voted, or had any--
thing to do at any election but the one in March, 1855, and the »
1st of last October. It is very common lately to see men passing;
through the Territory armed. In speaking of taking claims, they
named Four Mile creeek and Big Timber or Walnut creek as where '
they had taken claims, but I do not know to this day whether it was »
in our district or not.
By Mr. Sherman :
I do not know that it is usual for armed bodies of men — 40 or 50 >
men — to come together to take claims. I was at the election of the
1st of October last, and I do not know of more than eight or ten who
voted. As far as I know, Nehama county is pretty much the same as >
the eighteenth district. W. W. Moore's house in Nehama county is
back in the country, about 60 miles from Iowa Point, and between 80
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 435
90 miles from St. Joseph's. I was subpoenaed to go to Lawrence,
and went there, and then came here.
By Mr. Whitfield:
I saw no man take claims, and do not know when these men took
their claims that they said they had taken. I did not see 40 or 50
men go to the polls together. I saw them ahout the polls, but do not
know that many came together.
By Mr. Sherman:
I think the largest number I saw come together was about 15 or 20 ;
about the first who came.
By Mr. Whitfield :
At the last October election I did not understand that there was any
opDOsition to the election of Gen. Whitfield.
JOHN BELEW,
LEAVENWOETH, K: T., May 16, 1856.
AENET GEOOMES called and sworn.
I came to the Territory in April, 1854 ; I settled in the Burrdoch
precinct in the 14th district, and have lived there since. On the Sun-
day night before the election, which was on Friday, General David
E. Atchison stopped with me to stay over night. A partner of Mr.
Johnson, of Platte City, a General Dorris, introduced me to General
Atchison. One of them asked to stay, and I refused ; he said he had
a, company of men and had lost them, &nd wanted to stay all night.
I said I was not fixed to do so. He said he would let his horses stay
in the lot without anything to eat, and he would lay down on his
blanket. I then said he could get down, and I would let him have
what little I had. Both persons were present at the time. After
they came into the house both were particular in their inquiries as to
whether their wagons had passed. I said that I had been to St. Jo-
seph's and had seen them cross, and supposed they were on the Kan-
sas side up about the widow Briggs' claim. He said he had been to
Blackstone's and Thompson's, and could not make out where the
wagons had taken off. Mr. Dorris then got up and introduced me to
General Atchison, and also to himself. General Atchison took me
with a candle to look in his blankets for a Bowie knife he said he had
lost, and while he was looking for that I saw the handles of two or
three Bowie knives and some revolvers. They were not on his person,
but in his blankets, and he said he had lost one of his Bowie knives.
I turned away when I saw that, as I was surprised to see a man with
more than one knife or pistol. The next morning we had another
conversation about the wagons, which General Atchison seemed to
think were ahead. He said he had about eighty men and twenty-
four wagons. I asked him where he was going with them. He said
John Bold had sent for him to come up above, as there were persons
coming over there all the nime to take the polls. I asked what he
436 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
was taking so many men up there for ; and one of them said, I do not
know which one, that they were going up there to guard the polls,
and not let certain persons vote. I asked him if they were not going
to see a little town called Atchison, and he said he might and he might
not, but he did not know. About that time some of his men and!
wagons came up. I did not see as many men or wagons pass at thatd
time as I had understood from him there was. I went to the electioni
on the 30th of March, 1855, at Mr. Bryant's, in the 14th district ; lij
saw one illegal vote given, and I objected to it very strongly. It wassj
a man by the name of Charles Gilmor; when I objected, Colonel!
Craig was sitting in place of one of the judges or clerks who was gone •
to dinner I supposed. I objected to Cary Whitehead, one of the
judges. They took the vote, and said I had no right to object. I
asked them to swear him, and they said they had no right to swear
him. This Gilmor was not a citizen, and I never heard of his being:
a citizen of the Territory since.
Cross-examined by M. Scott :
I judged, from what General Atchison said, that the persons refer- •
red to by John Boler were coming over from Iowa, but I do not know r j
as that was so. I do not know as I saw more than two Bowie knives *i
and four pistols at the time General Atchison was looking for the-
Bowie knife. Gilmor said at the polls that he had no claim, andtj
that he had come from Illinois to get a claim, and would have one. II
was born in Virginia, married in Kentucky, and raised a family ittkj
Missouri.
his
AKNET x GKOOMES
mark,
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 437
Copies of the returns of the election held in the Territory of Kansas on
the 30th day of March, A. D. 1855, taken from the official returns on
file in the office of the Secretary of the Territory^ in Lecompton, on
the ISth day of April, A. D. 1856, by the special committee of the
House of Representatives of the United States.
FIKST DISTRICT.
Form of oath to be taken by the judges of election, taken from printed
form filled up and on file.
I, Hugh Cameron, do swear that I will perform my duties as judge
of the election to be held this day at the house of William H. E.
Lykins, in the first election district of the Territory of Kansas, to the
best of my judgment and ability ; that I will keep a true, correct, and
faithful record or list of all persons who shall vote at said election ;
that I will poll no ticket from any person who is not an actual inhab-
itant and resident of said Territory on the day of election, and whom
I shall not honestly believe to be a qualified voter according to the
provisions of the act of Congress organizing said Territory ; that I
will reject the votes of all non-residents who I shall believe have come
into the Territory for the mere purpose of voting ; that in all cases
where I am ignorant of the voter's right, I will require legal evidence
thereof by his own oath, or otherwise ; and that I will truly count
and record the votes received, and make a true and faithful return
thereof to the governor of said Territory.
HUGH CAMERON,
Sworn and subscribed March 30, 1855, previous to opening the
polls, before me,
J. S. EMERY,
Justice of the Peace.
Each judge will subscribe, at the right hand, two of these oaths,
and the person who administers it will sign on the left. One copy
of which will be deposited in the ballot-box, and the other three en-
•closed with the returns of election.
[Similar separate affidavits., subscribed by Robert A. Cummins and
James B. Abbott, and sworn to before J. S. Emery, and also one sub-
scribed by Theodore E. Benjamin and sworn to before Hugh Cameron,
as judge of election, are on file.]
List of voters — First district,
1 Robert A. Cummins 8 James Christian
2 Hugh Cameron 9 J. A. Fenly
3 J. B. Abbott 10 C. H. Thornton
4 C. S. Pratt 11 Geo. N. Talbott
5 J. H. Page 12 Geo. N. Bryant
6 Samuel A. Young 13 C. C. Mann
7 Wm. C. Jones 14 Geo. Young
433
KANSAS AFFAIRS,
15 W. F. Stewart
16 Thos. Campbell
17 Luke Corlud
18 John W. Clark
19 Win. B. Cockrell
20 E. P. Gordon
21 E. Crooke
22 M. B. Waddle
23 S. N. Warren,
24 W. S. Parr
25 J. A. Smith
26 Jesse Noland
27 John Ferguson-
28 E. F. Rucher
29 John J. Lowry
30 J. F. V. Thompson*
31 Geo. W. Allen
32 J. W. Wayland
33 A. F. Henley
34 James McSullivac,
35 Wm. Grimes
36 Wm. Varible
37 Hezekiah Muir
38 Thos. C. Gordon
39 P. L. Peake
40 Jams V. Lyon
41 W. T. McGlassor>
42 John Hicks
43 F. C. Virian
44 Henry Lamite
45 Jere. R. Rippey:
46 David Clifton
47 Joseph Allen
48 Stephen Lacey
49 Smith B. New
50 Wade Moseley
51 Taylor Cave
52 Peter Virian
53 Reuben Samuels.
54 J. H. Hewins
55 D. Purington .
66 Dudley Hopper
67 A. Jones
58 Norman Allen
59 C. R. Schull
60 Colos Day
61 Samuel Barker,
62 Joseph Wolf
63 Benj. Vaughn
64 John Price
65 S. W. Long
66 C. C. Rumbly
67 G. R. Page
68 W. A. Withers
69 Geo. Quisinburyr
70 R. G. Irvine
71 John Peratt
72 Jas. H. Reed
73 Geo. Lechlan
74 Sol. Wildes
75 Alfred King
76 L. W. Roberts
77 M. T. Harrison-
78 N. B. Lewis
79 Peter Withers,
80 L. Clafflin
81 0. R. Burns
8-2 Clay S. Cunningham
83 Wm. Davis
84 Jas. A. Hawley
85 R. H, Coutts
86 L. P. Wills
87 Lewis R. Harrison
88 W. C. Schuck
89 Thacker B. Webb
90 F. N. Davis
91 J. P. Powell
92 Michael McGill
93 Jefferson Morrow
94 Nathan Baker
95 W. Halbert
96 R. S. Crystal
97 Wm. H. Oliver
98 Wm. F. Harris
99 N. M. McClellan
100 Joseph Chancellor
101 S. C. Harrington
102 Wm. Hale
103 Geo. Go-when
104 L. J. Pratt
105 Stephen A. Walker
106 Thos. J. Slade
107 Jos. S. Carlisle
108 Jos. N. Hargess
109 C. H. Loyd
110 Jos. G. Foller
111 R. S. Wildes
112 R. Crawford
113 C. H. Carpenter
114 J. B. Taft
115 Wm. Drake
116 J. M. Neff
117 James Crawford
118 John J. Barker
119 Allen McGee
120 Elick Leasson
121 Ed. R. Fitch
122 L. M. Maxey
123 Michael Hunt
124 N. C. Ewing
125 F. N. Paine
126 M. H. Mitchell
127 Albert Wright
128 John B. Nichols
129 Eram Price
130 N. J. Burgamer
131 John S. Jones
132 W. J. Patten
133 Higgins Bothom
134 John Z. Matthews
135 Wm. Mulky
136 Stillman Andrews-
137 Geo. Muer
138 Samuel Merrill
139 Meredith Fowler
140 T. M. Lewis
141 F. M. Smith
142 John A. Porter
143 Harvey McHadden
144 Young Gwin
145 Andrew Kilgora
146 J. Riddle
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
439
147 Monroe F. Matthew
148 Wm. Martin
149 Wm. L. Smith
150 John H. Price
151 John M. Gwin
152 Robert Anderson
153 Chatham L. Gwin
154 Charles M. Dennis
155 John R. Willis
156 Henry Anderson
157 Thomas Emery
158 Lewis Wilbert
159 Thomas E. Fristor
160 Christo. Estell
161 Philip Warren
162 B. J. Collins
163 John H. Birch
164 John Lothing
165 Henry Rhodes
166 William Cirtly
167 John Yager
168 J. Campbell
169 Alex. McCansby
170 Joshua Cummings
171 G. R. Christian
172 Geo. Wm. Johnson
173 Patent Huatt
174 D. J. Cunningham.
175 Wm. Campbell
176 L. W. Ficklin
177 C. Dillard
178 J. W. Liftwick
179 R. F. Dunwiddie
180 William Foster
181 John J. Simmons
182 Samuel M. Salter
183 Jos. M. McDowell
184 John Gallagher
185 F. M. Tucker
186 Jas. F. Robertson
187 Iron Hunter
188 Thomas Nelson
189 Alfred McDaniels
190 John Speer
191 Thomas Stark
192 Newton Mallaiy
193 G. H. Gordon
194 John J. Holliday
195 Isaac A. Luaddy
196 J. J. Hickison
197 Jas. E. Corbitt
198 Jas. R. Anderson
199 Robert Nelson
200 Thomas Shelby
201 1
202 Bosely Powers
203 N. Knight
204 W. W. Fiend
205 James Scott
206 John Neff
207 F. E. Knight
208 J. W. Fleece
209 Reuben F. Humes
210 Wm.Edmundson
211 W. W. Wills
212 H. Smith
213 W. Goode
214 Jas. Fitzpatrick
215 John Grider
216 Marshall W. Houston
217 George Lewis
218 G. W. Rening
219 James H. Lynck
220 Hampton Green
221 John F. Woodsoa
222 Wm. Hocker
223 Thos. Hudson
224 Thos. Callagan
225 John F. Houston
226 L. N. Pile
227 J. F. Swatroa
228 E. R. Barnet
229 C. L. McGrue
230 John Lee
231 Rudolph A. Manger
232 James Woodson
233 Jas. H. Cooper
234 Wm. Harrison
235 John Duncan
236 Jos. Whitlock
237 Randall Sullivan
238 Jas. G. Moore
239 R. M. Patton
240 Michael Groogon.
241 R. Caskins
242 M. D. Ramsay
243 Peter Spenakle
244 Anderson Hadley
245 Jas. H. Moore
246 E. J. Lanchart
247 George W. Carr
248 Henry C. Fen-imam
249 E. P. Armstrong
250 John Runell
251 C. T. Wood
252 Charles Smith
253 L. H. Ballew
254 Clifton Tonley
255 William Grinon
256 N. Grant
257 Berry man Brown.
258 Thomas J. Murray
255 Samuel Drysler
260 J. Walker
261
•262 John Belt
263 L. R. Swader
264 H. N. Bent
265 John Sims
266 Henry M. PoweD.
267 Thomas Field
268 Jos. Roberts
269 Daniel W. Roberts
270 J. L. Jenkins
271 Gustavus Brown.
272 Hendley Cooper
273 E. D. Ladd
274 James Mangon
275 Thomas J. Jones
276 J. R. Campbell
277 J. H. Edward
278 Berry Tager
440
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
279 C. C. Catron
280 W. B. C. Brown
281 Levi Gates, jr.
282 G. W. Dietzler
283 J. L. Price
284 Zenas Kirkpatricfe
285 H. P. Mitchell
286 John Hutcheson
287 Horace W. Faber
288 James Wither
289 H. H. Pearson
290 J. H. Kimbali
291 F. O. Jolles
292 N. Thomas
293 Francis A. Abbott
294 C. C. Kemp
295 J. C. Mossman
296 R. M. G. Price
297 Simon Hill
298 Lashell Carson
299 John W. Hubbar<$
300
301 John "W. Barker
302 H. R. Bledsoe
303; H. R. Toban
304 Lyman Allen
305 Andrew Winn
306 Brown Chancellor
307 W. L. Halsley
308 J. J. Fleming
309 Samuel Bell
310 John Levi
311 Daniel L. Crigler
312' J. W. Page
31£SetkW. Tucker
314 Charles Dicksou>
315 Isaac Neal
316 F. M. Colman
317 O. P. Ripatoe
318 Thomas Route
319 William P. Goodsois
320 Zach, Johnson
321 Josh. Lewis
322 B. E. Evans
323 F. M. Adams
324 G. F. Wood, jr.
325 Job Van Winkle
326 Milton Hull
327 John Powell
328 William Saundera
329 James Harris
330 Samuel B. Mago
331 Thomas Mago
332 Newton Duncan-
333 John Milligan
334 A. Lambert
335 J. E. Staples
336 James F. Kemp
337 Jonah Wagoner
338 John A, Lowry
339 John Bishop
340 William Kitchenmaiu
341 William Marshall
342 Richard Andrew
343 William Brady
344 Nimrod Miller
345 Thomas B. Rogers
346 William J. Barker
347 A. C. Smith
348 S. F. Tappan
349 David Nail
350 John Smith
351 H. S. Crane
352 John Hagan
353 Thomas E. Jorberft
354 W. L. Glove*
355 James Shelton
356 William Gores
357 James D. Carpenter
358 J. B. Chouteau
359 A. N. Johnson
360 Elbridge G. Ross
361 D. H. Barney
362 G. W. Cunningham
363 William Evans
364 E. W. Bennett
365 Simeon Cook
366 Newman J. MitcheB
367 Clark S. Crane
£68 William Allen
369 John Wood
370 James E. Drake
371 Ellick Collins
372 J. G. Price
373 Andrew J. Kason
374 Lewis Koon
375 John B. Clayton
376 Stephen Stafford
377 William RobiusoD
378 John Miller
379 'Jonathan Roberts
380 J. F. Withart
381 R. Woodson
382 Samuel Stewart
383 James Neff
384 Henry S. McClellaa
385 Edward Gray
386 E. B. Johnson
387 James E. Page
388 J. H. Wilder
389 L. S. Bacon
390 J. H. Samson
391 E. S. Simms
392 H. E. Babcock
393 James T. Chapman
394 John Doherty
395 Samuel MufEan
396 William Cummings
397 A. N. Wilbright
398 J. A. Price
399 George Neff
400 Laden Maneueld
401 Joseph P. Webo
402 Charles F. Mago
403 George Long
404 M. B. Collins
405 John Snoddy
406 W. J. Hewes
407 William N. Baldwin*
408 J. F. Baker
409 Jackson Schizen
410 C. E. Cole
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
441
411 J. N. Bledsoe
412 A. G. Tncker
413 A. J. Hendrick
414 C. W. Fristoe
415 R. S. Dinwiddie
416 Henry Humphreys
417 Thomas H. Browning
418 Alonzo Morrow
419 Hiram Crocker
420 Harrison Grouse
421 Leven S. Dockin
422 Hendley Cooper
423 N. C. Finch
424 Wm. Weeden
425 Leroy Davis
426 James Dysart
427 F. M. Sappington
428 E. W. Lane
429 David McLane
430 Wm. Smallwood
431 Wm. M. Owen
432 J. M. Hines
433 Wm. McKeever
434 John Eoland
435 B. C. Brown
436 S. L. Carey
437 J. P. Lay
438 J. Turner
439 W. H. Holmes
440 Albert Walder
441 Jas. G. Baker
442 J. Lee
443 John Early
444 Eli Miles
445 Robt. Allen
446 Wm. T. Anan
447 Thos. E. Carlisle
448 Wm. H. Cooper
449 John A. Barker
450 Wm. A. Jones
451 Adam Meinzelger
452 W. Chin
453 Jas. Fleming
454 Robt. Edgar
455 J. R. Johnson.
456 R. Retter
457 E. D. Lucas
458 W. S. George
459 Thos. Angell
460 Wm. Boatwright
461 Wm. D. Cox
46"2 John Austin
463 Thos. Russell
464 Jas. F. Samples
465 W. C. Buffington
466 Simon Hoffer
467 Frank Girard
468 J. W. Hudson
469 Lucien Earles
470 John R. Chandler
471 Silas Woods
472 F. A. Bush
473 John W. Golden
474 James H. Hayden
475 L. H. Karon
476 Lewis Criggler
477 C. H. Stewart
478 T. W. Robinson
479 Samuel Scott
480 Samuel F. Hickan
481 George W. Virian
482 James R. Chipley
483 David Russell
484 A. L. Graves
485 Jeff. R. Howard
486 L. G. Higgins
487 Lysander White
488 Ryland Dillard
489 Wm. H. Drummond
490 James Adams
491 Wm. Delainey
492 Ambrose Callo way
493 George B. Tollson
494 B. W. White
495 Solon Shephard
496 James R. Myers
497 Lindley F. Pettre
498 James H. Pitts
499 Jas. C. Ban
500 Wm. C. Yerby
501 Chas. F. Overstreet
502 John Cooper
503 Samuel Bonham
504 Richard Patten
505 Wm. Lay
506 A. J. Fort
507 Wm. Lansbell
508 Geo. Graves
509 J. Ragsden
510 Wm. Curry
511 John Crump
512 Joel Morris
513 C. M. Neat
514 John F. Renwick
515 Lafayette Watts
516 Abner Davidson
517 R. C. Johnson
518 Jas. A. Davidson
519 Wm. Thorp
520 Edward Walker
521 Calvin Adams
522 Stephen Campbell
523 Francis Anderson
524 James Zorh
525 J. F. Snoddy
526 Henry Burnett
527 Walter H. Wilrnot
528 J. J. Whitson
529 Thos. Burge
530 Geo. W. Shoemaker
531 M. Beall
532 Geo. W. Parker
533 David S. Rice
534 G. D. Duroir
535 Jas. A. Hall
536 Geo. Young
537 Jona. Morse
538 Saml. Chickskall
539 John 0. Talbert
540 John B. Fletcher
541 James H. Crooks
542 Thos. N. Gosney
442
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
543 James H. Overstreet
544 Chas. Selby
545 Thos. Hopkins
546 Alonzo Boone
547 Wesley Forney
548 Wm. T. Reed
549 Benj. Cornelius
550 M. P. McGore
651 Marcus Kentfro
652 F. M. Poindexter
553 C. R. Campbell
554 C. M. Callahan
555 Robt. C. Duncan
556 Thos. H. Cooley
557 Geo. L. Hodges
558 Philip Linehart
559 Wm. Wallace
560 Thos. H. Morse
561 Hamilton Thornhill
562 John Kinkade
563 James Digby
564 Jackson Crowley
565 James McCrorey
666 Sumpter Suddard
567 Zadoc Llewellyn
568
569 Wm. Stanley
670 John Broadhurst
571 Parkerson Hopper
672 N. H. McQuirk
573 Henry D. Keaton
574 David Thompson
575 Milford Jennings
676 Gilbert Jennings
577
578 Henry Enson
579 John Aberbach
580 John Honk
581 David Stewart
582 Thos. Still
583 F. P. Vaughn
584 Wm. C. Griffin
585 J. B. Thomanson
586 E. S. Ballow
587 J. R. Saltonstall
588 Cyrus W. Ballow
589 James Jackson
590 Carter Dale
591 John W. Kinkaid
592 R. T. Gorham
593 Wm. Willard
694 C. W. Cline
595 G. W. Coffee
696 George Bopet
597 Wm. Groove
598 Jos. Warden
599 John Peters
600 Jas. Jackson
601 Jas. H. Vicehart
602 Laskell F. Cooper
603 John Wallace
604 Jesse Cornelius
605 A. J. Barnard
606 A. B. Hill
607 Wm. Alexander
608 John Stewart
609 JohnF. Bristoe
610 Benj. Thorp
611 A. P. Thompson
612 C. Coleman
613 Lewis George
614 Horatio Owens
615 Thos. Swearringgin
616 F. N. Moore
617 John Smith
618 F. Smoot
619 R. F. Wagland
620 J. W. Christian
621 N. T. Sullivan
622 Marcellus Care
623 Geo. Morris
624 R. Fisher
625 J. T. Dysert
626 Benjamin Bedford
627 Daniel Nulley
628 T. S. Firman
629 Edward Smith
630 G. L. Taylor
631 J. S. Percival
632 J. W. Winn
633 W. W. Thornton
634 Eli Murray
635 James Moseley
636 R. M. Steiff
637 H. F. Moore
638 John Wood
639 Wm. Wood
640 Wm. Griffin Tates
641 Isaac Allen
642 Alexander C. Rogers
643 Wm. Musgrove
644 J. J. Waddle
645 James A. Calloway
646 Lucius Miller
647 Philip H. Pitts
648 Jackson F. Bunham
649 Benjamin H. Tollner
650 P. P. Colt
651 T. D. Smart
652 M. Mitchell
653 M. Mitchell
654
655 G. S. Elgin
656 Erias Payne
657 Win. T. Gordon
658 Wm. S. Lynch
659 John C. Neal
660 John R. Rayner
661 R. A. Cornelius
662 Mathew Arnand
663 T. G. Lowry
664 John P. Sebree
665 H. C. Hawley
666 Miles Baldrich
667 C. M. Oliver
668 James Howard
669 P. W. Walton
670 Wm. H. Bush
671 Wm. W. White
672 John M. Watts
673 James Williams
674 Morgan A. Taylor
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
443
675 James C. Ross
676 Robert Doherty
677 Warren Smith
678 Thomas R. Graves
679 J. 0. Shelby
680 T. L. Edgar
681 George G. Allen
682 J. F. Haskell
683 John M. Jager
684 R. J. Southard
685 Judson Cockran
686 George Smith
687 Samuel Hardin
688 John Rogers
689 Geo. Bruchere
690 John J. Price
691 Reese B. Mathews
692 Wm. C. Jackson
693 Wm. Arnold
694 Ebram Sparer
695 Charles Martin
696 James C. Ellis
697 Nathan Herrick
698 Mallory Cove
699 Leander Holt
700 John Groom
701 John A. Robinson
702 L. F. Robinson
703 Wm. F. Thomson
704 Benj. F. Barnes
705 Stephen Clement
706 Thos. Barker
707 Green B. Ellis
708 John Cleringer
709 J. F. Becket
710 Adam Gutsier
711 Douglas Patterson
712 J. H. Kinkaid
713 Geo. H. Viley
714 N. M. Moore
715 John M. Brown
716 D. A. Graves
717 W. H. Mendenhall
718 Wm. Hotchkiss
719 David Hudson
720 Wm. Snow
721 Alison Vanvirder
722 Charles Niely
723 Wm. Sherf
724 Henry Luse
725 J. C. Roy
726 M. H. Kee
727 David R. Hooper
728 John L. Hopper
729 Robert Allen
730 Conrad Fifer
731 Wm. W. Randolph
732 Jas. W. Briggs
733 Wm. Harmon
734 B. Lee
735 Robert Cobb
736 Wm. C. Berry
737 Henry Curl
738 Imilar Franklin
739 Richard Sherman
740 Chas. Preston
741 Frederick Donnely
742 Patrick Donelly
743 N. 0. Clayton
744 S. H. Davis
745 Francis Edrics '
746 John C. Davidson
747 H. A. Gallagher
748 Victor Dunoff
749 Clark Stearns
750 Addison John
751 .
752 Samuel Brown
753 David Muncas
754 Wierd Wells
755 Stephen H. Folsom
756 Albert Hastings
757 Jordan Davidson
758 Ira Luddard
759 John F. Wilson
.760 Thos. Mallochs
761 Ambrose J. Burk
762 N. D. Short
763 Jas. Sharp
764 B. F. Wood
765 B. F. McDonald
766 Oscar Harlow
767 0. A. Hanscom
768 J. D. Wisely
769 J. J. Fort
770 Howny W. Lewis
771 G. C. Thompson
772 Benj. Cooper
773 Samuel McMahon
774 D. 0. Carver
775 Wm. E. Radford
776 J. C. Fore
777 A. Wilhelm
778 I. W. Ackley
779 James M. Clay
780 John Fry
781 N. F. Herrick
782 John Scudder
783 Charles Jordan
784 John W. Robinson
785 D. M. K. Barnett
786 Wm. A. Holmes
787 Wm. W. Austin
788 S. Y. Lum
789 H. S. Major
790 A. Payne
791 J. J. Payne
792 Joel Grover
793 J. Ligon
794 Thomas Johnson
795 James Coyle
796 C. G. Hoyt
797 J. S. Nott
798 E. F. White
799 John Ritchie
800 Horatio F. Archer
801 John E. Stewart
802 George H. Wallace
803 Martin Adams
804 E. Munroe
805 Henry W. Gilhart
806 F. R. Long
444
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
807 James Miller
808 J. Chin
809 John Mash
810 E. A. Landon
811 J. B. Smith
812 J. A. Corlew
813 L. W. Plumb
814 Hiram Dunbar
815 J. I. Foster
816 John Alexander
817 E. A. Colman
818 Hugh Pettingill
819 Joseph Law
820 J. A. Lewis
821 Edward Picket
822 Anthony Howell
823 David Morris
824 Abram Still
825 A. Hyde
826 Thomas Conner
827 Wm. D. Wells
828 Locke Adkins
829 C. Willes
830
831 Henry Roff
832 John L. Gordon
833 David Pate
834 Henry S. Everhart
835 Henry D. Graves
836 Edward Dickinson
837 Wm. Lyon
838 Lewis J. Everhart
839 Michael Grover
840 John W. Carlton
841 A. T. Bassitt
842 0. D. Smith
843 John Ester
844 F. Hill
845 C. W. Rensall
846 George Churchill
847 George W. Reid
848 F. B. Ackley
849 Lysander Oliver
850 Reuben Cornelius
851 M. Gilmore
852 Thomas Reed
853 Thomas Garvin
854 James Richmond
855 James Campbell
856 Samuel Anderson
857 William Herris
858 Oliver Hayes
859 Ira Jones
860 James Garvin
861 Samuel H. Davidson
862 Edward Jones
863 Jonathan Bigelow
864 Daniel Sayre
865 John L. Crane
866 Austin Cristman
867 Charles A. Haskell
868 Robert Maddock
869 J. W. Hague
870 G. S. Leonard
871 W. D. Atwood
872 C. F. Doy
873 John Howard
874 John Derby (oath)
875 G. W. Hutchinson
876 J. S. Emery
877 S. B. Sutherland
878 Jona. Matthews
879 Hiram Clark
880 Charles Harrington
881 William Yates
882 J. F. Jalen
883 S. G. Johnson
884 G. W. Kent
885 R. H. Waterman
886 G. F. Earle
887 F. Haskell
888 S. N. Wood
889 A. D. Searles
890 C. Teft
891 N. Snyder
892 N. Snyder
893 A. S. Potter
894 H. A. Hancock
895 M. Lewis
896 A. F. Ricard
897 John M. Bank
898 C. P. Farnsworth
899 G. W. Burgess
900 S. 0. Pomeroy
901 Thomas Bond
902 B. G. Livingston
903 Edward Clark
904 Samuel Kimball
905 B. Johnson
906 John Davis
907 Charles Robinson
908 Daniel Low
909 F. J. Locke
910 J. A. Ladd
911 S. J. Willis
912 M. M. Hammond
913 Ellis Bond
914 John H. Deane
915 L. D. Hubbard
916 H. Bronson
917 J. H. Miller
918 J. H. Eliason
919 B. W. Gannt
920 E. H. Dermett
921 Increase Whitcomb
922 0. H. Bineham
923 A. A. White
924 C. C. Preston
925 John Baldwin
926 A. B. Wade
927 John Hutchinson
928 J. F. Morgan
929 E. W. Goss
930 J. H. Firman
931 Dorril Merrill
932 Jas. S. Curran
933 Asaph Allen
934 George Perrine
935 J. P. McCogee
936 A. B. Perrine
937 T. C. Webb
938 Elnor Allen
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
445
939 Hermann Williams
940 J. C. Gordon
941 C. W. Babcock
942 Harrison Nichols
943 Geo. A. Gordon
944 S. N. Simpson
945 Wrn. B. Lee
946 Z. F. Reynolds
947 Lemuel Reynolds
948 John Haynes
949 E. W. Brown
950 J. L. Baldwin
951 S. B. Dudley
952 Charles Munroe
953 David Conger
954 Frederick KimbaH
955 J. T. Grant
956 Curtis F. Keyes
957 Abram Wilder
958 Thos. J. Stone
959 George Gilbert
960 Joshua Smith
961 D. C. Buffum
962 0. H. Lamb
963 William Cheny
964 Edward Winslow
965
966 John Day
967 Charles Campbell
968 Samuel Kennedy
969 Jacob E. Stewart
970 J. L. Merrill
971 D. L. Wells
972 Adam Wilbart
973 J. A. Brown
974 James Carll
975 B. F. Hoffar
976 William Carll
977 Win. B. Burke
978 John Floyd
979 Samuel Gray
980 Loyd McHerrindin
981 B. R. Hubbard
982 Josiah Abbott
983 Albert Irish
984 N. E. Ridder
985 William Marshall
986 George Ballinger
987 S. Hollister
988 George French
989 William Gookin
990 Jos. W. Emerson
991 AmosTrott
992 William R. Rutter
993 James C. Disney
994 George G. Kimball
995 A. F. Whiting
996 Orlando Rawlinson
997 G. L. Crosby
998 N. C. High
999 L. Litchfield
1000 H. M. Severance
1001 H. C. Harman
1002 Parsons Haskell
1003 Edmund Jones
1004 Charles Liscom
1005 Jos. P. Lockey
1006 Anson Abrason
1007 John W. Luce
1008 Converse L. Greaves
1009 James McGubaums
1010 Francis Davis
1011 Moses Hubbard
1012 Arthur Mecan
1013 Wm. W. Henderson
1014 Charles L. Wilber
1015 H. F. Fisher
1016 D. H. Moore
1017 Wm. H. Brown
1018 Edward Plummer
1019 J. M. Fogg
1020 Z. P. Page
1021 Samuel Hall
1022 H. C. Gardner
1023 David F. Richer
1024 E. S. Scudder
1025 Josiah Reed
1026 Charles Hathaway
1027 G. H. Folsom
1028
1029 Province McDaniel
1030 Luther Dame
1031 Jos. C. Miller
1032 Rufus Learey
1033 Geo. W. Ryner
1034 Gordon F. Carrier
1035 David Ambrose
1036 Geo. A. Willard
1037 H. F. Fort
1038 Theo. E. Benjamin
1039 Noah Cameron
1040 Jas. P. Wood
1041 Holland Sumner
1042 P. Richmond Brooks
1043 David Brown
1044 Thomas Brooke
10 less for errors
1034 total.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of W. H. E. Lykins, in the first
election district, for the election of members of the council and of the
louse of representatives, for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify
;hat the following is a true and correct return of the votes polled at
mch election, [by lawful resident voters,]* viz :
The words in brackets were erased from printed form.
446 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
For members of Council. For members of House Representatives-!
Thomas Johnson 780 James Whitlock 78n
Edward Chapman 783 A. B. Wade 78i
Joel K. Goodwin 254 John M. Banks 78|
Samuel N. Wood 255 John Hutchinson 25 I
Charles Garrett 1 E. D. Ladd 25^
Noah Cameron 1 P. P. Fowler .... 25
Samuel C. Pomeroy
D. L. Crogsdale
A. F. Powell
Wm. D. Atwood
K. G. Elliott
HUGH CAMERON.
ROBERT A. CUMMINS.
THEODORE E. BENJAMIN.
MARCH 30, 1855.
We, the undersigned, judges for the second representative distrid
in Kansas Territory, do certify, that pursuant to a proclamation issue*
hy Governor A. H. Reeder, dated 8th day of March, 1855, the electio
was called to order by Hugh Cameron and James B. Abbott, two t|
the judges appointed by said proclamation. A. B. Blanclon not beinf
present, the said two judges filled his place by appointing Robert Aj
Cummins to fill the vacancy ; and James B. Abbott resigning, tl'ij
other two judges filled his place by appointing Theodore Benjamin 1]
fill the vacancy. The election was then called to order by said judge*
and proceeded to receive votes.
James Whitlock received for representative 780 vote*
A. B. Wade " i( 781 " «l
JohnM. Banks " " 781 " <J
E. D. Ladd " " 253 "
John Hutchison "• i( 252 "
P. P. Fowler " 254 "
James Whitlock, A. B. Wade, and John M. Banks receiving tfr|
largest number of legal votes for representatives, are declared dulij
elected.
Given under our hands and seals this 30th day of March, A. I
1855, at the house of W. H. R. Lykins, in the town of Lawrence.
ROBERT A. CUMMINS.
THEODORE E. BENJAMIN.
To Ms excellency Andrew H. Reeder, governor of Kansas Territory :
We, the undersigned, residents of the first district, Kansas Terr!
tory, being duly sworn, would respectfully submit the following fact™
We have resided for several months in the above district, and knoij
most of the present residents in said district.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 447
On the 29th and 30th days of March, A. D. 1855, according to our
best judgments and estimation, between six and seven hundred armed
men, to us unknown, came on the road leading from Kansas, Mo., to
this place, and encamped in the vicinity of the polls for this district.
On the morning of the 30th, before any voting, most of the above
number collected around the polls and kept them in their possession
until late in the afternoon, preventing nearly every citizen of this
place from voting before about four o'clock p. m., thus occupying the
time in casting their own votes.
During the day, violence was threatened to the citizens of this place
by these strangers, and as we understand and believe many were
thereby put in fear, left the polls and did not vote. During the after-
noon of the same day, and during the ensuing night, the whole com-
pany started back towards Missouri.
We heard several of the most prominent among their number say
that they had come from Missouri for the purpose of voting, and that
they should not take the oath required by your excellency, and they
intended after voting to return to Missouri. And we further under-
stand and believe that two of the judges of election, officially ap-
pointed, resigned, and that their places were filled by men selected
by the leaders of the crowd of foreign voters. We believe that Joel
K. Goodwin and S. N. Wood for the council, and John Hutchinson,
Erastus D. Ladd, and Philip P. Fowler for the assembly, were elected
by a majority of the legal votes cast in this district, and should they
not receive a certificate of election from your excellency, we would
hereby petition that the election of E. Chapman, Thomas Johnson,
James Whitlock, A. B. Wade, and John M. Banks, in this district,
be declared void, and therefore set aside.
Samuel F. Tappan J. C. Gordon
Harrison Williams Samuel C. Harrington
0. A. Hanscom G. F. Earles
C. H. Carpenter G. W. Hutchinson
Edward P. Fitch John W. Denis
J. S. Emery S. Y. Lum
A. D. Searl G. W. Brown
Norman Allen A. H. Mallory
Sworn and subscribed before me this 2d day of April, A. D. 1855.
JOHN SPEER, J. P.
A. Allen J. H. Gleason
Joshua Smith John Doy
H. Nichols
Sworn and subscribed before me this 2d day of April, A. D. 1855.
JOHN SPEEK, J. P.
UNITED STATES, )
nerritory of Kansas, \ ss '
N. B. Blandon being duly sworn, deposes and says, that after his
ppointment as a judge of election for district No. 1, and immediately
448 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
preceding the election -lield on the 30th inst., he was accosted by cer
tain individuals who represented themselves as citizens of Missouri-
and then on their way to Lawrence to vote ; and he was asked if h|j
should permit them to vote, and upon his saying that he could note
upon his oath, allow citizens of Missouri to exercise the right of fram
chise in Kansas Territory, the said individuals attempted to bribj
this deponent, offering him money and other inducements to disregard
his oath as a judge of election.
And deponent further says, that the persons aforesaid threatened
to kill him if he would not allow them the privilege of voting at th>h
said election ; and through fear of them and their threats made ai
above, this deponent did not dare to act as a judge of election on thl
30th instant ; and deponent says, upon his information and belieJf
the said individuals were present and voted at the said election.
NAPOLEON B. BLANTON.
Subscribed and sworn before me this 31st day of March, 1855.
J. S. EMERY, J. P.
I, Harrison Nichols, of Lawrence, district No. 1, Kansas Territory
of lawful age, being duly sworn, say that I am constable for the Id
district, and that I was present at the polls all the time of voting o«
the 30th instant, except about one hour ; that I have lived in thft
district several months, and know by sight or name nearly all tfoj
residents in this district. I saw nearly every person who cast hlj
vote while I was present, and should say that over six hundred persoi>j
that I never saw until the day of the election, or the day previoui|
voted. I saw several who I think came into this place on the dai
previous to the day of election, vote without answering any question!
and without being questioned by the judges of election. That a mn
jority of those unknown to me did not take the oath required by yomj
excellency, but only said they were residents of the Territory an
district. I heard Mr. Cummins, one of the judges, say he did nir
regard the oath required by the governor, and that he should nc
carry out his instructions.
I saw on the 30th and 29th instant some eight hundred person
come into this place, who remained until the afternoon or night afV
election, and then started back towards Missouri.
H. NICHOLS.
Sworn before me this 31st day of March, 1855.
J. 8. EMERY, J. P.
I, David Conger, of Lawrence, Kansas Territory, being duly swon
say, that I was present at a meeting of a company of several hundre
persons, who came into this place, as I understand, on the 29th day \
March, A. D. 1855. That I heard a man called, I believe, one Gran
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 449
from Liberty, Missouri, state, in a speech, that they came here to
establish squatter sovereignty. That they would, on the morrow,
defend this principle, if need be, at the point of the bayonet and
bowie-knife. That they had some three hundred more voters than
would be required to carry the election, and that two hundred could
foe spared for Tecumseh ; and he called upon that number to volun-
teer for that point. That a large number did march out for some
point,
DAVID CONGEE.
•Sworn to before me this 31st day of March, A. D. 1855.
J. S. EMERY, J. P.
Further verified by the affidavits of Edwin Bond and Samuel Jones.
SECOND AND EIGHTH DISTRICTS.
This is to certify that the returns of the election held on the 30th
day of March, A. D. 1855, in the 2d and 8th election districts in the
Territory of Kansas, together with the poll-books, were delivered with
fche other returns of said election to a committee of the Territorial
legislature in July last, and that they were mislaid or lost, and are
not now OR th«e files of the executive of said Territory.
THIRD DISTRICT.
1, James M. Small, do swear that I will perform my duties as judge
rf the election, to be held this day at the house of Thomas N. Stin-
son, in the third election district of the Territory of Kansas, to the
best of my judgment and ability ; that I will keep a true, correct, and
faithful record or list of all persons who shall vote at said election ;
bhat I will poll no ticket from any person who is not an actual in-
labitant and resident of said Territory on the day of the election ;
* * *(1) and that I will truly count and record the
,rotes received, and make a true and faithful return thereof to the
governor of said Territory.
JAMES M. SMALL.
Sworn and subscribed, March 30, 1855, previous to opening the
Dolls, before me,
JOHN HOMER,
Justice of the Peace.
(l)A.t this point the following language is erased with a pen : — " and whom I shaU no
ortex&y believe to be a qualified voter, according to the provisions of the ad of Congress organizing said
^erritory ; that I wiU reject the votes of all non-residents who I sfiall believe have come into the Terri-
yryforthe mere purpose of voting ; that in all cases where lam ignorant of the voter's right, I wiU
equire legal evidence thereof, by his own oath or otherwise."
H, Eep. 200 29*
450 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
For Council. For Representative.
H. J. Strickler 370 D. L. Croysdale 3
Andrew McDonald 1 C. K. Hollidy
G. W. Ward
The undersigned, judges of the election held on the 30th day
March, 1855,, at the house of Thomas W. Stinson, in the town:
Tecumseh, in the Territory of Kansas, according to the proclarnati
and instructions of the governor of said Territory, certify, that 1
judges of said election, appointed by said governor, did, on said 3C'
of March, and after the hour of 9 o'clock a. m., each severally reft
to join in holding said election ; and that after said refusal, the votl
on the ground did, by tellers, select the undersigned as judges of s;
election ; and they further certify, that the above is a true and perj
tally-list made out, according to the instructions of said governi
from the list of votes polled on that day at said election.
JAMES M. SMALL j
HOEATIO COX.
JOHN HOBNER.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30tl
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Thomas N. Stinson, in the th
election district, for the election of members of council and of j
house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby < i
tify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following i ji
true and correct return of the votes polled at such election by lavi
resident voters, viz :
1 Smallwood Noland 28 E, F. Stegers
2 John Dane 29 L. Ruffner
3 D. Richmond 30 W. Houx
4 John C. Anderson 31 M. Groverer
5 John Bland 32 J. A McBride
6 David Milton 33 T. Phelps
7 W. H. Linam 34 G. Long
8 0. F. Dougherty 35 W. Riley
9 R. Jones 36 D. Payne
10 G. W. Withers 37 S. Chandler
11 G. W. Hall 38 C. B. Lawe
12 John Jones 39 J. McGuire
13 L. L. Bennett 40 Otho Hall
14 Gilson Thomas 41 A. Daniel
15 John W. Johnson 42 J. M. Adams
16 George Remick 43 Thomas Pernberton
17 L. Tillery 44 J. F. Beman
18 W. H. H. Candiff 45 H. S. Kelley
19 T. A. Hollo way 46 G. Clevenger
20 Reuben Johnston 47 J. M. Baber
21 H. H. Ratliff 48 R. Groutt
22 Emett Allen 49 A. N. B. Hughes
23 J. S. Journey 50 0. C. Steward
24 W. P. Reeder 51 J. L. Whittington
25 G. L. Withers 52 J. N. McBride
26 J. R. Hanson 53 T. Proctor
27 T. W. Johnson 54 R. Strouse
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
451
55 M. McConnaii
56 H. Waterhouse
57 J. P. Bird
58 B. Cherry
59 C. N. Robinson
60 C. Linsey
61 J. W. Lawrence
62 W. H. Euple
63 L. Disert
64 G. P. Johnson
65 W. Hall
66 R. Tompson
67 R. H. Robinson
68 L. H. Shedd
69 R. Mayberry
70 C. Carter
71 C. Duncan
72 G. T. M. Harrison
73 G. Bowls
74 C. M. Palmer
75 H. L. Routt
76 D. C. Patterson
77 J. Com
78 W. W. White
79 J. P. Henry1
80 W. M. Clark
81 J. M. Cavanaugh
82 W. Penn
83 J. Estes
84 J. Gooden
85 S. L. McKinney
86 L. Dunham
87 P. D. Pollard
89 M. Nolan
90 T. Windsor
91 R. S. Dukes
92 W. S. Poindexter
93 A. W. Lawe
94 Thomas Smith
95 J. H. Combs
96 A. J. Mapes
97 W. Houston
98 R. O. Steel
99 R. J. Long
100 J. R. F. Hooft
101 F. A. Wentworth
102 J. C. Louse
103 W. A. Sublett
104 Philip Chisman
105 G. M. Wright
106 J. M. Liddle
107 J. B. Davenport
108 J. McMurry
109 R. D. Wood
110 G. M. Halloway
111 J. C. Ervin
112 L. N. Ross
113 J. M. Pitcher
114 J. R. Warner
115 A. C. Overstreet *
116 E. A. Hickman
117 Jacob Sevabargh
118 M. Wilson
119 M. J. Collins
120 J. Shelton
121 W. L. Farrah
122 J. Michenor
123 A. Campton
124 John Little
125 L. Hays
126 S. Smith
127 J. Journey
128 W. B. Howard
129 E. Y. Shields
130 E. A. Wile
131 L. Madocks
132 G. A. Yeste
133 Joseph Vaughn
134 W. H. Matocks
135 J. A. Barton
136 R. P. Matocks
137 T. J. Carter
138 J. Strother
139 J. Piles
140 J. Collson
141 H. Morton
142 N. Hays
143 C. H. Buzzard
144 E. P. Smith
145 P. Woods
146 D. Colston
147 J. McConnell
148 D. D. White
149 J. McConnell
150 J. J. Fox
151 J. L. Wyatt
152 E. G. Vaughan
153 J. C. Mason
154 J. F. Thomas
155 John Crud
156 Thomas Warren
157 H. Kerley
158 F. McCruan
159 R. Barren
160 Beal Green
161 A. N. King
162 J. V. Emerson
163 J. Piles
164 W. S. Rodgers
165 L. Scott
166 H. Stickhall
167 W. Riley
168 L. W. Swarengen
169 C. A. More
170 H. Hamilton
171 T. L. Fogle
172 G. W. Smith
173 S. J. L. Porter
174 W. S. Shortridge
175 W. Salerwhite
176 J. CoUins
177 L. Steel
178 James Hunter
179 Charles Coward
180 T. N. Stinson
181 D. W. Hunter
182 W. Smith
183 J. Smith
184 W. Botts
185 R. H. Levuggs
186 John Book
187 R. Flornay
452
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
188 J. C. Riggs
189 G. W. Hinckle
190 E. W. Donaldson
191 R. H. Mathews-
192 R. Stone
193 S. West
194 J. Laston
195 A. McGruddy
196 J. T. Wesley
197 J. Stavestreet
198 B. Wills
199 N. M. Hedrick
200 A. D. M. Hand
201 J. Acres
202 H. A. Chancellor
203 N. R. McMurry
204 J. A, Laneheart
205 J. W. West
206 J. S. Wood
207 U. G. Reese
208 J. Mecum
209 W. Dowen
210 B. F. Wallace
211 H. A. Hunter
212 Jaines Herron
213 H. N. Watts
214 G. B. Warfieldl
215 James S. Piles-
216 J. H. Weaver
217 J. Imkerson
218 C. Copeland
219 John Homer
220 Samuel D. McCutchera
221 James M. Small
222 T. W. Hays
223 Horatio Cox
224 A. G. Douglass
225 A. B. Earl
226 W. B. Sterrett
227 L. B. Kerr
228 W. Mattenny
229 M. Rule
230 W. Coker
231 Thomas Strode
232 George Parker
233 J. Leddle
234 J. K. Waysman
235 W. C. Staples
236 G. W. Berry
237 J. H. Warton
238 W. Hill
239 J. M. B. Mauss
240 L. Liagarden
241 J. B. Clark
242 E. K. Atterberry
243 B. W. Brown
244 L. L. Kingsbury
245 F. M. Grimes
246 J. H. Hughes
247 Solomon Coker
248 A. E. Tyne
249 D. C. Baggs
250 R. A. Edwards
251 G. W. A. Patterson
252 R. Brown
253 Peter Croco
254 A. G. Brown
255 J. C. McCoy
256 T. C. Coons
257 G. H. Brown
258 A. J. Kelley
259 J. T. Vance
260 J. W. Young
261 W. F. Gorden
262 G. C. Beck
263 M. Morton
264 Ed. Updegraff
265 James Robinson
266 Timo. Malie
267 W. M. Aikens
268 W. R. Boggs
269 Peter Simmona
270 W. Haines
271 A. G. Mosely
272 Ed. Byrnes
273 T. Pichar
274 J. Ellis
275 J. T. Rickets
276 F. Jackson
277 Thomas P.
278 James Price
279 M. George
280 J. Anderson
281 B. F. Thompson
282 R. H. Hicks
283 Eli Nolan
284 C. S. Stark
285 James G. Adkins
286 Thomas Strickland
, 287 A. H. Cravens
288 George Brown
289 E. C. Strode
290 W. H. Brady
291 Thomas Hough
292 James Hollen
293 L. Jemmerson
294 R. J. Lamb
295 B. S. P. Xley
296 M. A. Chuslear
297 B. M. Leach
298 W. Presby
299 C. H. Vincent
300 L. Haugh
301 B. J. Thompson
302 J. H. Payne
303 J. M. Allen
304 J. N. Nelson
305 J. Dunlap
306 J. Wallas
307 L. B. Slateler
308 James Waland
309 Thomas Johnson
310 Jas. Dyer
311 James R. Leach
312 J. Murris
313 W. S. Henry
314 James Caragili
315 W. H. Abbott
316 J. B. Wiley
317 James Young
318 Charles Alexander
319 John Ward
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 453
320 Francis Grassmuck 349 W. Stanley
321 Thomas Johnson, jr. 350 John A. Winn
322 H. J. Walker 351 James H. Cowherd
323 H. A. Hutchersoa 352 E. J. McClannehan
324 J. M. Dunkland 353 J. M. Edwards
325 Jos. Jeffers 354 J. A. Lobby
326 Hugh Brent 355 Samuel H. Woodson
327 Thomas Aringtom 356 W. Daley
328 W. H. Henry 357 William Sumer
329 M. Steward 358 A. D. Mallery
330 John Sailing 359 Frank Moon
331 -Fisher Pruett 360 Richard Steward
332 Samuel Hayes 361 James Brant
333 W. H. Maug 362 Thomas J. Crusve
334 George Ward 363 Jos. Drennen
335 A. T. Byler 364 William Mateny, sen.
336 Thomas H. Hendricks 365 J. H. McMurry
337 John Waller 366 L. D. Chilson
338 John R. Price 367 John R. Ageh
339 Robert Collins 368 Thomas Guesenbery
340 W. C. Price 369 W. W. Sellery
341 Thomas J. Shaw 370 Richard Hunter
342 J. F. Stonestreet 371 H. G. Guesenbery
343 E. H. McLanaham 372 H. J. Strickler
344 J. H. Hockaday 373 D. L. Croydale
345 James Jackson 374 William Pickerel!
346 L. Mason 375 Win. A. M. Vaughan
347 David Anderson 376 George Holmes.
348 L. ToUiner
JAMES M. SMALL.
HORATIO COX.
JOHN HOMER.
FOURTH DISTICT.
Ve, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of
Irch, A. D. 1855, at the house of Dr. J. Chapman, in the 4th
lotion district, first council and representative district for the elec-
4 of members of council and of the house of representatives for the
'critory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of
il election, that the following is a true and correct return of the
ois polled at said election.
For Councilman. For Representative.
homas Johnson *78 A.S.Johnson "77
.. Chapman T8 A. F. Powell 3
IN. Wood 2
«. EL Goodin 2 80
160
DAVID PULTZ, )
THOMAS MOCKBEE, [ Judges.
J. B. DAVIS, )
Poll List.
1 B. T. Kezer 3 Reuben Hacket
2 John Johnson 4 W. W. Mitchell
454
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
5 Wm. P. Rally
6 J. H. Price
7 J. 0. Bangs
8 J. F. Lock
9 Sam'l W. Hamilton
10 J. H. Lockridge
11 John Thompson
12 Wm. Care
13 John Homer
14 George Rhodes
15 Milton Row
16 W. R. Hamilton
17 John H. Sanders
18 Wm. P. Bruce
19 P. W. Holly
20 J. B. Cracker
21 B. B. Brown
22 J. C. Sherman
23 C. Martin
24 J. Wilson
25 Ben. T. Brown
26 W. H. N. Daniel
27 Daniel Cushenbery
28 Rees B. Young
29 W. W. McFartere
30 B. M. Steele
31 John Johnson
32 E. T. Douglass
33 S. E. Thompson
34 Sam. Kimsy
35 John Ball
36 J. T. Eezer
37 J. M. Wells
38 David Tate
39 R. Ball
40 Joel Liscomb
41 George Harper
42 H. C. Harper
43 E. Poage
44 A. H.
45 G. W. Pool
46 S. Hamilton
47 Joseph Bradbury
48 Joel Crumton
49 J. D. Basy
50 William Goraut
51 John Cutleet
52 F. H. Lane
53 T. J. Lockridge
54 D. J. Kezer
55 A. R. White
56 Ebenezer Dixon
57 David Pultz
58 Thomas Mockbee
59 T. B. Davis
60 C. M. White
61 Joseph M. Bernard
62 W. G. Collins
63 C. C. Hamilton
64 Henry 0. Lowdry
65 Thomas J. Linch
66 Elizer Hill
€7 John Edie
68 Alfred Dale
69 Wm. G. Lucket
70 Thomas Essicka-
71 R. B. Harris
72 C. J. Hartly
73 Wm. Essicks
74 S. Writter
75 Chas. Haming
76 Richard McCamrnish
77 A. S. Johnson
78 Henry Kuntz
79 Robert Acles
80 J. Chapman.
We, David Paltz, Thomas Mockbee, and J. B. Davis, do s«
that we will perform our duties as judges of the election to be<ji
this day at the house of Dr. J. Chapman, in the 4th election diiii;
of the Territory of Kansas, to the best of our judgment and ab:J;
that we will keep a true, correct,, and faithful record or list c<|l
persons who shall vote at said election ; that we will poll no 1
from any person who is not an actual inhabitant and resident of>
Territory on the day of election, and whom we shall not honest! :
lieve to be a voter, according to the provisions of an act of Coor
organizing said Territory ; and, further, that we will deliver, asi
as possible, the papers to the governor of said Territory.
DAVID PALTZ.
THOMAS MOCKBI
J. B. DAVIS.
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 30th day of March, A.D.
KEUBEN HACKETT, J.r
FOURTH DISTRICT, K. T., March 31, 1855.
Pursuant to a call, we, the actual residents, met at the ho
Silas H. Moore, in said district. On motion, John F. Javin^
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 455
called to the chair ; B. Mayfield, secretary. On motion of the house,
the president stated the object of the meeting to he to contest the
^lection of the 30th of March, 1855. On motion,, a jjommittee was
appointed to draught the cause of complaint. On motion, Mr. J. C.
Carpenter, Silas H. Moore, S. T. Shore, Samuel Workman, John
Wilson, C. Hill, Charles Clark, Peter Barringer, A. B. Gilliland, and
J. W. M. Shore, were the committee.
The committee brought in the following report: We, the com-
mittee, set forth the cause of complaint to be, that we assembled at
the house of Dr. J. Chapman, in the 4th district of Kansas Territory,
the place designated by the proclamation for the election to be held
for the offices of council and representative, at the hour appointed.
The doors of said house were closed, and no persons assembled at the
said house. And we, Perry duller and E. W. Moore, the appointed
judges for holding said election, were informed that the polls were
opened some half mile above by David Paltz, James B. Davis, and
Thomas Mockbee ; that said polls were opened about 8 o'clock a. m.,
and that there were some fifty or more non-residents voting indiscrim-
inately, without questioning or oath, with their fire-arms surrounding
the polls ; and we, the residents and actual settlers, did not consider
the election legal, consequently did not vote at said polls, and retired
to our homes.
We, the citizens, do hereby, in witness hereof, annex our names,
without reference to party.
John F. Javens, President. William B. Hogden,
K. May field, Secretary. David Hendricks,
A. F. Powell, James Scott,
D. A. Barker, J. E. Carpenter,
James J. Moore, Perry Fuller,
John S. Soil, E. W. Meire, %
Franklim Barnes, John Wilson,
Thomas Ditez, P. Baringer,
Thomas Shurlez, J. W. M. Shore,
Mansfield Carter, A. B. Gilliland,
William Moore, Samuel Wortmain, sr. ,
William Grace, Jamuei T. Shore,
E. Hill, Charles Clark,
Samuel T. Shore, Silas H. Moore,
E. H. Berginger, E. Hill.
Christopher Ward,,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Territory of Kansas.
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, an acting justiee
of the peace, on the 31st day of March, 1855, Perry Fuller and E.
W. Moore, and stated that the within cause of complaint is true and
correct, to the best of their knowledge and belief.
PERKY FULLER.
E. W. MOORE.
456
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 31st day of March, 1855.
REUBEN RACKETT,
, Justice of the Peace,
JIFTH DISTRICT.
Returns of Little Sugar Creek Precinct*
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day c<
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Isaac D. Stockton, at Little SugaJ
creek, in the fifth election district, far the election of members of COUM
cil and the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, da
hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the fol>]
lowing is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such electiosi
by lawful resident voters, viz :
For Council.
A. M. Coffee
David Lykins
Mahlon T. Morris
James P. Fox..
f 1 S. W. Bbwton
2 Andrew Tyler
3 Charles Polk
4 Thomas Sears
5 Enoch Estep
8 John Estep
7 Thomas Wine
8 James Adams
9 Zachariah Rowe
JO M. M. Martin
11 G. W. Joyner
12 Charles Waggoner
13 Julius Willhote
14 Harden Goodall
15 Andrew Owens
16 Ambrose Ripley
17 David C. Finley
18 Surges Wright
19 Calvin Ford
20 William Griffith
21 John H. Dwill
22 Abner Hargus
23 William Hargas-
24 G. R. Sands
25 T. W. Folk
26 Alexander James
27 William Doolm
For Representatives.
31 William A. Heiskell 3:'
34 Allen Wilkinson 3!'
62 Henry Younger... 3:
TO Samuel Scott 3:
John Surpell 6f
Adam Pore 6*
Samuel H. Houser 6f
William Jennings 6
William Dyer
J. D. STOCKTON, >
WM. PAKK, ( Judges.
HIRAM HOWDESHELL, >
28 Thomas Hargas
29 Nathaniel Vestill
30 Lemuel Vestill
31 John Brown
32 James G. Ray
33 William Hobson
34 Lemuel Medling
35 William Medling
36 B. F. Ford
37 F. E. Mans
38 PhineasT. Glove?
39 Hiram Smith
40 James B. Pile
41 J. P. Ford
42 Abraham Gardner
43 Hiram J Dingus
44 Francis Medlin
45 John Medlin
46 Clayton Ellis
47 James M. Howel
48 Benjamin Bunch
49 Asher P. WyckofF
50 Henry A. Gibbs
51 Thomas R. Julian
52 William Murrey
53 Samuel Nichols
54 Daniel N.McQuickly
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 457
•*
55 Nathaniel Lamarr 81 Isaac Hargis
56 James M. Hagins 82 C. W. Hargis
57 P> J. McHenry 83 Francis D. Ford
58 John Fonts 84 G. J. W. Holland
59 J. B. Reece 85 William Young
60 John C. Jameson 86 William Williams
61 A. F. Jackson 87 James Osborne
62 Henry Eidsoii 88 Henry Miller
63 Matthew Kirk 89 Allen James
64 Levy Ward 90 BenjammJ&rtmoss
65 Thomas Duncan 91 John Michiel
66 John Field 92 Isaac Bledsoe
67 Martin B. Reece 93 John Beckett
68 Barney Richardson 94 L. H. Grimes
69 B. F. Thomson 95 Adam Pore
70 Jesse McNew 96 John 0 Starr
71 L. C. Susnange 97 John B. Hedelson
72 Wiley B. Pengry 98 Thomas Reece
73 Daniel T. Ficklin 99 Samuel Scott
74 William T. Ficklin 100 James P. Fox
75 Philip Copple 101 Hiram Howdeshell
76 Leandren Fowts 102 William Parks
77 Alexander Fowts 103 Isaac D. Stockton
78 Peyton Williams 104 David W. Carmon
79 McCailel Canovan 105 E. H. Hutchinson.
80 C. F. Peecket
(No affidavit of the judges of Little Sugar creek is on file.)
Returns of Pottawatomie Greek Precinct.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Henry Sherman, in Pottawatomie
creek, in the fifth election district, for the election of members of
council and of the house of representatives for the Territory of Kan-
sas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election,, that
the following is a true and correct return of the vote polled at 'such
election, by lawful resident voters, viz :
For Councilman. For Representatives.
A. M. Coffee 199 William A. Heiskell...'.. 198
David L. Lykins 199 Allen Wilkinson 198
Mahlon T. Morris 65 Henry Younger 198
James P. Fox 63 Samuel Scott 198
JohnSurpell 61
Adam Pore 54
Samuel H. Houser 64
William Jennings 62
J. Shuff .- 11
Scattering 6
SAMUEL C. WEAK,
W. S. FUKaUSON,
FIFTH DISTRICT.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of an election opened and
held at Henry Sherman's, in the fifth district of Kansas Territory, as
458 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
well as the voters in said district, do hereby certify that the usual oath'!
was administered in due order to William Chesnut, one of the judged
of said election, (who was appointed by his excellency,) who acted]
through said election as one of the judges, and boasted that the saidj
election was conducted with quietude and harmony, and that he OD-VJ
jected to but one vote, which was set aside by the judges. Previous tc«i
which time he had furnished this same voter, Mr. Devitlers, with aa
free- soil ticket, thinking he would use it, but, upon seeing this voteiij
offer a pro-slavery ticket, he challenged his vote, and it was set aside, j
Testified by us this 30th day of March, 1855.
SAMUEL C. WEAK.
W. S. FURGUSON.
L. P. BARNEBEY, Clerk.
0. ANDERSON.
0. S. HEATH.
A. CAENES.
(No oath or other certificate on file.)
A list of voters taken at Pottawatomie Creek precinct., in the Fifth
trictj Kansas Territory.
1 W. L. Boyce 37 N. Carder
2 G. J. Morce 38 D. Cockerill
3 F. Austin 39 J. Walker
4 A. Wilkinson 40 J. Hinton
5 J. Calaway 41 W. L. Harris
6 J. Callaway 42 J. M. Smith
7 T. F. Shortridge 43 J. Goodwin
8 W. Austin 44 G. 0. Washman
9 T. Neal 45 L. G. Fulton
10 Edward Robinson 46 J. F. Brockhart
11 B. Brown 47 J. L. Merill
12 R. Samuel 48 H. P. Callaway
13 W. Benton 49 W. R. P. Poston
14 B. West 50 H. Whalley
15 J. M. Young 51 James Wyhat
16 J. N. Willett 52 J. R. Williams
17 Wm. Hutchins 53 N. H. Reader .j
18 A. W. Moiri 54 J. E. Atchison
19 R. Brayton 55 F. M. Scott
20 J. Hamilton 56 J. M. Hamilton
21 J. Baker 57 L. M. Berven
22 Wm. H. Williamson 58 J. F. Webb
23 J. Bryant 59 J. E. Fulton
24 J. Dorcev 60 J. H. Meanche
23 E. Fox 61 J. Hogin
26 W. Giffin 62 J. M. Taylor
27 C. Scott 63 W. F. Brown
28 C. A. Brown 64 T. Green
29 A. Patterson 65 J. Robinson
30 H. C. Boostlast 66 J. Easton
31 F. Leyvanee 67 H. Ronalds
32 F. Collins 68 A. Castle
33 W. C. Bounds 69 R. W. Ranghoyle
34 J. McFaden 70 J. Collins
35 E. Corder 71 T. Wilcox
36 J. Young Sherman 72 A. Corden
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
459
73 A. J. Willson
74 E. B. Smith
76 W. R. Maxwell
77 W. E. Bosworth
78 A. Whitsit
79 S. McCallem
70 A. Jackson
81 A. Bemberton
82 T. Green
83 J. D. Haker
84 L. Bemberton
85 Wm. Mills
86 J. Bemberton
87 J. Martin
88 C. Blackburn
89 E. Haskell
80 C. P. Payne
91 A. Ervin
92 J. A. Harris
93 H. Ansberry
94 W. H. Earlin
95 W. D. Payne
96 J. F. Yokehim
97 W. Bullock
98 W. Woods
99 T. Elsie
100 H. Sassifer
101 H. Shepin
102 H. Mills
103 P. Longnice
104 J. P. Goodwin
105 E. Farmer
106 D. G. Water
107 A. D. Farmer
108 J. Preston
109 T. Good
110 R. L. Bell
111 F. Smith
112 S. T. Sabbin
113 W. Burford
114 J. Foster
115 J. P. Macer
116 J. W. Warrens
117 J. Austin
118 F. Walker
119 S. Swatto
120 I. J. Smith
121 K. Austin
122 C. Dailey
123 W. H. Blanton
124 J. C. Brooks
125 W. S. Bauldwin
126 J. Bristo
127 J. A. Green
128 J. Ment
129 A. D. Bearson
130 S. Vanmeter
131 Wm. Yellow
132 T. F. Freeman
133 D. Brookhart
134 H. Asher
135 R. Maxwell
136 T. Parker
131 C. Christin
138 M. Adams
139 L. B. Ellis
140 G. W. Henry
141 B. L. Burbege
142 T. P. Scamans
143 Minor Childs
144 L. W. Frazier
145 J. Preston
146 J. Frazer
147 C. F. Thompson
149 J. Bufford
150 C. Muffler
151 J. Anderson
153 F. M. Thomas
154 S. Tucker
155 C. Jackson
156 J. H. Houser
157 J. H. Morse
158 A. B. Jackson
159 J. B. Hook
160 H. Bleedso
161 J. F. Smith
162 J. W. Green
163 F. Horde
164 F. Mori
165 Roldin Girth, (oath)
166 W. Long, (oath)
167 T. Thrinle
168 T. Atchison
169 W. H. Day
170 E. Elliott
171 N. Williams
172 A. Finch
173 S. J. Chaffee
174 C. G. Grout
175 J. S. Haffort
1'76 W. W. Jones
177 A. G. Stompall
178 P. E. France
179 W. R. Willmott
180 J. R. Underwood
181 J. Grant
182 J. Ragan
183 S. M. Hays
184 J. Rayold
185 W. Eberhard
186 J. Hitchings
187 0. F. Oleaveland
188 A. Laros
189 H. Dace
190 R. Tovey
191 H. Cock
192 T. Crawford
193 W. H. Pinnell
194 J. Denn
195 J. R. Ferris
196 S. L. Adair
197 J. Yockum
198 L. Shields
199 W. Tayling
200 J. Rose
201 H. P. Morse
202 C. N. Arroll
203 W. C. Melborn
204 Adam Curran
205 A. Carpenter
206 A. Carr
207 W. H. Kincade
460 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
208 T. B. Morse 238 H. Humphrey "i
209 N. T. Morris 239 J. P. Barnaby
210 A. D. Carey 240 Wakeman Partridge
211 J. Stotis 241 J. Lesem
212 J. E. Yokeuin 242 H. Taylor
213 J. Jackson 243 A. Taylor
214 J. D. Swift 244 J. Smilie
215 0. C. Swift 245 N. Billinaby
216 T.Jones 246 C. Mellet
217 J. Yelton 247 C. Heath
218 S. M. Merrit 248 J. Hughes
219 L. N. Burt 249 S. Gleason
220 E. E. Franklin 250 S. H. Honser
221 H. Bice 251 J. Swingane
222 G. W. Patridge 252 W. Bradley
223 S. Sarmond 253 J. Burr
224 W. Cromphite 254 H. Walton
225 E. Vanorbike 255 B. F. Harris
226 J. M. Hayes 256 D. E. Mclnney
227 T. Blair 257 J. McCulloch
228 E. Moodie 258 T. Ewbanks
229 W. Moodie 259 H. Sherman, (oath)
230 T. G. Blair 260 T. Whitsit
231 Dudley 261 W. Chesnut
232 J. Callaway ' 262 S. C. Weare
233 P. Carrens 263 W. S. Furguson
234 J. Whiteman 264 H. Harmon
235 P. Woodbury 265 E. Clayton
236 H. Evans 266 E. W. Sturgeon.
237 J. Heckland
Poll-book of an election held at Bull Creek precinct, in the fifth election
district , in the Territory of Kansas, at the house of Baptiste Peoria,
on the 3Qth March, 1855, for the election of four representatives and
two members of the council for said Territory, begun at 9 o'clock a. m.
1 William King 28 Howell Lewis
2 Enos McDaniel 29 Joseph Saunders
3 LotCoffman 30 Eichard Marshall
4 G. Thomason 31 Isaac Vanbibber
5 John Wells 32 Alex. Griffith
6 W. C. Hall 33 Smith Keith
7 Ed. McPherson 34 Walker John
8 C. Caniso - 35 H. L. Trunell
9 A. Harris 36 Thomas Carter
10 Ed. West 37 Alby Edgar
11 Wm. Templeton 38 Albert Williams
12 Jonas Alford 39 M. Graham
13 G. W. Willson 40 H. T. Young
14 P. T. Eeynolds 41 John Harper
15 J. W. Campbell 42 William Eyan
16 John Coonse 43 H. G. Plunkett
17 Thomas Sharp 44 Jo. Kimberly
18 Henry Alico 45 John Taylor
19 William McKinney 46 H. C. Taylor
20 Henry Melville 47 E. S. Eichie
21 J. Eobin=on 48 Elijah Doman
22 Jacob Hicklan 49 Charles Woods
23 Hugh Dickinson 50 Hyram West
24 James Barrett 51 John M. Gentry
25 Humphrey Dobbins 52 John Strong
26 Marcus Gill 53 J. C. Christian 4
27 John Hicklin 54 N. Byllingsle.v
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
461
55 T. J. Smarchigin
56 William Saunders
57 E. White
58 Kobert St. Clair
59 William Spain
60 John Wilson
61 Jer. Morgan
62 Thomas Clayton*3
63 C. S. Thornton
64 William Davis
65 W. Lewis
66 Mark Lasum
67 Dewit Williams
68 T. V. Ellis
69 Thomas Annut
70 Jacob Everhart
71 A. M. Nelson
72 James Atkinson
73 W. T. Eubanks
74 J. Dobbins
75 N. Dix
76 G. Jones*
77 J. Hackersmith
78 Sam. Blackburn
79 C. W. Dickley
80 E. Marrion
81 W. W. Dunkon
82 William Junkins
83 G. C. Pulliam
84 C. J. Drake
85 T. G. Curtis
86 Abner Hicks
87 Shelby Carter
88 James McFarland
89 J. North
90 James Sydnor
91 J. Smiley
92 C. Mullett
93 G. W. Zion
94 James Marshall
95 J. M. Adams
96 Thomas Cummins
97 D. 0. Glasscock
98 Thomas Milan
99 J. Snyder
100 T. H. Wilson
101 George Jackson
102 W. Payne
103 James Scroggina
104 H. L. Barksdale
105 T. Williams
106 Thomas Peyton
107 J. M. McCulloch
108 A. G. Nugent
109 T. Myers
110 William Bridgwater
111 Calvin Powell
112 Henry Chilton
113 E. Triplett
114 J. P. Jackson
115 H. W. Davidson
116 Charles Tracey
117 J. D. Walker
118 J. Charles
119 William Walker
120 William Glasscock
121 Henry France
122 J. H. Warren
123 Harris Jackson
124 F. M. Green
125 Thomas Hall
126 C. Mockaby
127 Samuel Wade
128 P. W. E. Winston
129 R. Winston
130 W. W. Britt
131 James Landers
132 0. P. Thompson
133 Thomas Hilton
134 P. Tyree*
135 J. W. Reynolds
136 Horace Humphreys
137 J. S. Whitsett*
138 Jesh. Kyle
139 Noah Redford
140 Nat. Hunter
141 A. Bradley
142 R. McCord
143 Thomas Emmerson
144 David Hinkle
145 F. Young
146 A. Carter
147 W. M. Ervin
148 William Rice
149 Noah Shaw
150 J. A. Armstrong
151 F. R. Fields
152 Thomas Loman
153 J. C. Dinwidie
154 W. R. McBride
155 A. W. Pipes
156 George McBride
157 William Parker
158 Lewis Ward
159 John Cox
160 W. T. Gillinwater
161 Jo. Dart
162 W. G. Bifs
163 T. Toliver
164 G. T. Bohon
165 S. J. Robinson
166 George Shelton
167 James McFadden
168 S. Butts
169 Stephen Hobkins
170 John Brady
171 A. Young
172 Wildie McKinney
173 Jo. D. Campbell
174 P. J. Potts
175 Jo. F. Brooks
176 J. C. Plunkett
177 Green Beats
178 James Cushingthoy
179 William K. Jones
180 F. G. Staples
181 L. P. Scroggins
182 J. E. Lightner
* Rejected, refusing to swear.
462
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
183 James Potts
184 Daniel Bryant
185 M. B. Lankford
186 W. Branden
187 T. J. Hawkins
188 D. P. Cook
189 B. K. Bowles
190 Dav. Wright
191 Henry Calvin
192 Chas. St. Clair
193 Wilson Smith
194 Joseph Dougherty
195 Alex. Gregor
196 J. L. Jackson
197 A. G. Hayden
198 Pat. Woods
199 E. F. Nettle
200 Aimer Ward
201 Anderson Warren*
202 John Fauntleroy
203 Mark Cole
204 Jas. Wadef
205 Kobert Gryer
206 John Dillard
207 Martella Ferrill
208 Ed. Price
209 V. M. Brady
210 John Fulkerson
211 Henry Shields*
212 JohnTocum
313 J. B. Hogdon
314 M. D. Warren
215 James White
216 G. W. Williams
217 T. J. Hughes
218 Jesse Hargrave
219 William Shaw
220 A. B. Taylor
221 John Jackson
222- W. M. Brown
223 John Westerhouse
224 Hyrara Stephens
225 B. Hall
226 Thomas Mclvey
227 James French
228 Brah Cooper
229 William Fields
230 H. Palmer
231 C. Shaw
232 Ben. Eice
233 James Nichols
234 J. Colier
235 J. P. Dodd
236 James Martin
237 James Earl
238 S. W. Asherry
239 A. Carder
240 James Sweet
241 M. T. Wells
242 ST. McKinney
243 O. C. Gann
244 John Childress
245 Levin Merrill
246 Albert Maxwell
247 Thomas Glover
248 John Bell
249 William Baker
250 N. Morgan
251 W. L. Freeman
252 B. P. Campbell
253 Lewis Porter
254 Samuel Smith
255 David Lyons
256 T. T. Young
257 Jesse Smith
258 Kichard Kirby
259 A. Woodfin
260 W. Sch water
261 W. A. Moberly
262 J. McCord
263 J. J. Pool
264 E. Edwards
265 H. N. Bullock
266 Samuel T. Thistle
267 James E. Davis
268 Thomas Simpson
269 James Youngl
270 T. Dicks
271 J. Alison
272 Spencer Barton
273 W. Sanford
274 S. B. Williams
275 Thomas McMillan
276 William Jones
277 Jeremiah Farmer
278 L. B. Pellitt
279 John Blaxstun
280 John Atkinson
28 1'Elsey Triplet t
282 T. F. Price
283 Alex. Ferly
284 Miles Griffin
285 James McHenry
286 William Artman
287 W. H. Finley
288 Thomas Boyce
289 Joshua Stewart
290 John Cook
291 J. H. Barton
292 J. McKeaton
293 E. M. Sellers
294 Vance Johnson
295 Eobert Walker
296 Charles Sprinkle
297 J. A. Hicks
298 W. T. Mitchell
299 J. M. Gearheart
300 S. G. Hopkins
301 Hiram Yeary
302 A. H. Mitchell
303 William Fleming
304 Silas Seward
305 W. T. King
" 306 John Bogan
307 James Shew
308 E. Howerton
309 David Lykens
310 J. D. Kedd
Rejected, refusing to swear.
f 9 or 10 years old.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
463
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
Hamilton Warren
T. C. Warren
James Skeggs
J. S. Hartman
J. C. McDaniel
J. H. Arbuckles
James Brame
William Bush
Henry Snyder
J. L. Farris
Isaac Jacob
James S. Ball
G. W. Stillwell
John Vanhorn
Jackson Black
John Hinkle*
H. L. Lyon
J. H. Falkerson
Harrison Standerford
James 0. Packard
Eli Miller
J. A. Tugle
Madison Marshall
Joseph Beats, jr.
W. L. Ballard
W. P. Tym
T. J. Hanmon
J. C. Christopher
J. R. Jones
Henry Bracken
James L. Childress
Ben. Johnson
J. W. Wilson
G. W. Bradbury
W. C. Childress
James Shelton
James B. Hart
Alex. Houston
Ben. Kingcaid
Israel Standiford
Leonard Bradbury
Thomas Jefferson
353 Alfred Jones
354 J. G. McDaniel
355 James Beats
356 B. F. Payne
357 B. C. Westfall
358 John J. Park
359 John H. Clayton
360 P. N. Smith
361 John Webb
362 Samuel Webster
363 J. C. Coleman
364 John Benmisey
365 William Wade
366 W. M. Cooper
367 Harrison Standifer
368 R. P. Ellis
369 Josiah Atkinson
370 Peter Charles
371 E. C. Robertson
372 James Moore
373 Robert Hale
374 Samuel Williams
375 L. A. Scott
3,76 A. H. McFadden
377 Edwin Goodall
378 Charles White
379 James Black
380 L. Washburn
381 H.L.Newman
382 J. W. Goodwin
383 F.M.Thomas
384 Samuel Henderson
385 George Wilcox
386 Samuel Shannon
387 George Burtis
388 A. P. Sprinkle
389 Arch. Oliver
390 N. E. Harrison
391 Robert B. Hiley
392 W. F. Barker
393 Lewis Peckham.
That the above is a true and correct list of the votes polled at the
election as mentioned in the caption hereof, we hereto set our hands
this 30th day of March, 1855.
J. J. PAKK, Judge.
B. C. WESTFALL, Judge.
B. F. PAYNE, Judge.
J. J. Park, B. C. Westfall, and B. F. Payne, judges of election,
were sworn by Adam Games, justice of the peace, according to printed
form.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Baptiste Peoria, in the fifth elec-
tion district, for the election of members of council and of the house
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon
our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a true and
correct return of the votes polled at such election by lawful resident
voters, viz :
* Rejected, refusing to be sworn.
464 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
For members of the Council. For members of House of Representatives \
A. H. Coffee 377 W. A. Haskell 3V!
D. Lykins 376 A. Wilkinson 3V!
M. T. Morris 9 H. Younger Stf
J. P. Fox 9 Sam. Scott 3V,
Jno. Surfell
A. Pore
S. H. Houser
W. Jennings
Witness our hands this 30th day of March, A. D. 1855.
J. J. PARK, )
B. F. PAYNE, C Judges.
B. C. WESTFALL, }
At an election held at Bull Creek precinct, in the fifth election diij
trict, in the Territory of Kansas, at the house of Baptiste Peoria, «
the 30th of March, 1855, for the election of representatives and men
bers of the councillor said Territory, J. J. Clark and Stephen Whitt
two of the judges of said election, appointed hy the governor of saa
Territory, heing absent at nine o'clock a. m. of said day, no>\
therefore, I, John J. Park, a judge appointed by said governor fi]
said election, being the only one present, do hereby fill the vacancy
caused by the absence of said Clark and White, by appointing B. ]1
Payne and B. C. Westfall judges of said election, and they, sat'
Payne and Westfall, are by me hereby appointed such judges.
Given under my hand, at 9 o'clock a. m., this 30th day of Marc ]
A. D. 1855.
J. J. PARK, Judge. \
KANSAS TERRITORY, April 3, 1855..
We, the undersigned, legal voters of Kansas Territory, respectfo
ly represent to your excellency, that at the election held in Bull Cree*
precinct of this Territory, on Friday, March 30, 1855, for membee
of council and assembly, the persons who acted as judges of said elei
tion were not duly sworn in accordance with your excellency's instrunl
tions, and were not, therefore, competent to act as judges of the saw
election ; they therefore pray that no certificate of election for sari
precinct may be granted, and that the said election may be set asidl
And we furthermore represent, that one of the persons who actdj
as judge at said election was not a resident of the Territory.
James B. Abbott Lyman Allen
George W. Deitzler George F. Earl
P. Grover John C. Gordon
Richard Mendenhall A. D. Searl
George L. Osborn Francis Barker.
S. N. Wood
James B. Abbott being duly sworn, deposes and says the withi*
statements are true to the best of his knowledge and belief.
JAMES B. ABBOTT.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
465
Sworn this 3d day of April, A. D. 1855, before
SAML. D. LECOMPTON,
County Justice, Kansas Territory.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Elisha Tucker, in Big Sugar
Oreek precinct, in the fifth election district, for the election of mem-
bers of council and of the house of representatives for the Territory
)f Kansas, do hereby certify upon our oaths, as judges of said elec-
ion, that the following is a true and correct return of the votes polled
it such election by lawful resident voters, viz :
For Councilmen.
1 Fames P. Fox 16
. Mahlan 17
i;A. M. Coffee 74
3 David Lykins v.... 74
For Kepresentatives.
John Surple IT
Adam Poce 16
Samuel H. Hanson 17
Wm. Jennings IT
Wm. A. Haskill 74
Allen Wilkinson T4
Henry Younger T4
Samuel Scott T4
JOHN E. BKOWN,
ELISHA TUCKER,
A. H. SMITH,
Judges of Election.
John E. Brown and Elisha Tucker, judges of election, were each
worn by the printed form before James M. Arthur, as he certifies,
iefore opening the polls, March 30, 1855 ; A. M. Smith and James
.. Arthur by John E. Brown.
We, the undersigned, judges of the present election, do certify this
be a true poll-book of the present election at the house of Elisha
ucker, in Big Sugar Creek precinct :
1 A. M. Smith
2 Richard Goldon
3 L. B. Wilson
4 Rubin Noel
5 James E. Wadkins
6 Thomas Smith
7 Wm. L. Farman
8 Henry Littlejohn
9 Silas Young
10 William Cash
11 William Perry
12 Thomas J. Goodman
13 John G. Robinson
14 William Clark
15 William H. Gibbin
16 Robert Osburn
17 J. B. Fleming
H. Kep. 200 30*
18 James M. Freeman
19 T. B. Crowder
20 Ervin Parker.
' ' I, James M. Arthur, have served to take
down the first twenty names, and could not
take the twenty -first, by reason of illegality, .
and resigned."
21 T. J. Baley
22 D. P. Fleming
23 G. C. McMich
24 C. S. Fleming
25 Josiah Dan el
26 Richard Simpson
27 W. C. McMich
28 Reuben Dunnels
466
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
29 J. M. Arthur
30 R. M. Danel
31 Jonah Danel
32 B. F. Wall
33 J. M. Wall
34 W. A. Hinkel
35 Allen Stewart
36 Jesse Davis
37 A. J. Steel
38 J. W. Hylton
39 J. M. Hampton
40 J. W. Hyton
41 John Overstreet
42 Ignatius Freeman
43 Lewis Thomas
44 David Thomas
45 H. W. Younger
46 James Murry
47 Robert Hargrave
48 J. J. Reynolds
49 John B. Robinson
50 Henry Makiney
51 Jesse Siero
52 A. J. Long
53 S. H. Moore
54 Charles Therby
55 Andrew Smith
56 Clabern Burnett
57 Patrick Ryons
58 Ransom Eliot
59 James Walker
60 Lewis Smart
61 John Eliot
62 Wm. M. Smith
63 L. M. Eliot
64 J. W. Ragon
65 John Mikel
66 George Mikel
67 William Yealock
68 Thomas Jackson
69 James Jackson
70 James Priskel
71 Edmund Bradford
72 George Bolan
73 Nimrod Fohson
74 Wm. T. Hensley
75 Stedman Smith
76 Benjamin Linch
77 James Winsor
78 Elisha Smith
79 Adam Ortman
80 James demons
81 Samuel Clark
82 Claborn Booth
83 John Perkins
84 Milton Cruh
85 Wm. B. .Long
86 David A. Wakins
87 M. C. D. Osborn
88 L. M. Love
89 L. S. Bridgewater
90 J. E. Brown
91 Elisha Tucker.
SIXTH DISTRICT.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held the 30th day
March, A. D. 1855, at the hospital building at Fort Scott, in t)
sixth election district, for the election of members of council and I
the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do here!
certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the folio wii
is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election, 1
lawful resident voters, viz :
For Council.
William Barbee
343
For Representatives.
Joseph C. Anderson 3
S. A.Williams $
John Hamilton
William Margrave
JAMES BAY,
WILLIAM PAINTER,
WILLIAM S. GODFREY,
Judges;
Oaths of the foregoing judges according to printed form in distil
No. 1, before William Margrave, justice of the peace.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
467
List of votes polled at the hospital building at Fort Scott, in the sixth
district of Kansas Territory, on the 30th day of March, A. D. 1855.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
Win. Barber
G. Oldham
G. G. Roland
G. W. Oldham
B. T. Wilkinson
W. T. Oldham
T. Oldham
H. Martin
R Beth
P. Zeal
Wm Breeze
J. N. Cottrell
Jno Baker
M H. Lourie
Jno. C. Seal
A. H Gilkasen
David A. Jones
James Miller
W W. Craig
C. Mitchell
Jas. Hysart
A. Kirkpatrick
Geo. W. Morris
H. C. Stevens
P. D. Fulkison
J. N. Rogers
J. N. Ward
R. L. Negle
Wm. Rogers
J. M. Newman
A. M. Perry
Wm. D. Davenport
E. B. Conway
P. Carmichael
M Houx
R. W. Houx
J. D. Davis
A. Ingland
T. M. Windron
L. S. Broyles
T. B. Arnett
E. Gilkeson
S. H. Haynes
L. Fickas
A. P. F. Davis
A. Carpenter
Wm. Kirkpatricfc
T. Watkins
F. Divers
T. Findley
J. S. Mitchell
E. J. Donahue
Wm. Force
J. S. Jones
O. W. Houx
H. Davenport
J. L. Hall
T. D. Houx
R. B. Dawson
T. T. Huff
C. L. Bomar
J. R. Courtney
63 W. B. Major
64 W. Morrow
65 C. F. Mercer
66 J. S. Collins
€7 R. R. Mayers
€8 W. F. Alexander
69 A. Spuyer
70 J. H. Royston
71 Chas. Tyler
72 C. H. Collins
73 F. Dunn
74 S. McKenn
75 A. M. Riding
76 Jas. McKeebau.
77 J. B. Logan
78 T. A. Wyatt
79 Wm. G. Buckner
80 A. Snow
81 Wm. J. Rogers
82 Jas. McGraw
83 G. M. Tucker
84 Jas. Marr
85 Jas. Moye
86 Lewis Parker
87 F. De Witt
88 J. B. Smith
89 Geo. Greer
90 Preston Tucker
91 T. F. C. James
92 J. B. Ford
93 C. M. Haynes
94 E. Allison
95 H. C. Weire
96 Jas. Greer
37 E. C. Roystoa
98 J. W. Davis
99 T. J. Whitlocfc
100 Win. Davis
101 H. Grimshaw
102 J. T. Barker
103 S. J. Russell
104 R. S. Young
105 E. Fly
106 S. D. Garth
107 Wm. Kendrick
108 Jas. Sandy
109 J. G. Ogden
110 D. Gillas
111 Jno. Guthree
112 G. C. Bright
113 A. B. Foster
114 Wm. Stevenson
115 Thos. Jacob
116 Wm. Gilhart
117 W. J. Dunn
118 E. B. Cook
119 W. F. Foster
120 Wm. F. Carpenter
121 L. H. Clowers
122 H. S. Cornneford
123 S. Jackson
124 H. Watkins
468
KANSAS AFFAIRS,
1W R. W. Potts
126 M. Johnson
127 W. H. Davis
128 Jno. W. Stevens-
129 W. C. Epperson
130 H. Logan
132 J. A. Stollings
133 S. Thompson
134 H. Vartal
135 P. McKeehan
136 J. H. Webster
137 W. F. Jame&
138 D. Scott
139 Jno. Briggs
140 S. B. Kinder
141 Jas. Moseby
142 T. A. Huff
143 S. J. Huff
144 Jno. Huff
145 W. H. Finch
146 J. Moodey
147 T. P. Halley
148 E. Bailey
149 G. Kirkpatricfc
150 M. Calliver
151 W. S. Malcomb
152 J. M, Duke
153 Jno. January
154 Wm. January
155 W.Ainett
156 B. Owen
157 Joseph Price
158 0. Owen
159 J. W. Sharp
160 E. Endrix
161 F. Alexander
162 G. B. Oaks
164 Wm. J. Hawie
165 J. B. Hancock
166 M.Eeutch
167 S. Hornspuckle
168 Geo. Bledsoe
169 Wm. Howard
170 M. Doyle
171 D. Hampton-
172 J. Harrington!
173 Jno. Knight
174 M. Sellars
175 J. M. Foster
176 N. G. McKinzie-
177 J. N. Wilson.
178 S. Potter
179 A. Ward
180 J. Weller
181 S. P. Ashbey
182. H. Ashbey
183 Wm. Robinson?
184 J. Groom
185 A. Copushratte
186 Jno. Harrison
187 W. J. Middletois
188 M. McCann
189 Wm, Warwick
190 E. Baily
191 G. B. Grees
192 S. Divers
193 A. Divers
194 G. P. Lowrl©
195 Jno. White
196 M. Wickles
197 Jno. Wickles
198 A. J. Jones
199 A. Grinstead
200 J. T. Gillam
201 T. A. Cookley
202 C. T. Oglesby
203 Wm. Ray
204 H. Scybot
205 J. C. Rothwell
206 J. Thyrman
207 A. T. Blanton
208 J. Harrison
209 Thos. H. Fox
210 Jesse Ray
211 H. Coates
212 G. T. Jones
213 W. P. Mayers
214 B. Smith
215 Jno. Crook
216 Jas. H. Flemming
217 Jno. B. Flemming
218 J. T. Ray
219 B. R. Coneyres
220 Jno. Handerson
221 Wm. A. Randolph
222 Geo. H. Simmons
223 W. P. Hubble
224 D. S. Harden
225 W.M.Cogswell
226 Thos. Owsley
227' J. S. Hawkins
228 H. Smith
229 Thos. Taylor
230 J. Bohanom
231 H.Bledsaw
232 Jas. Waldron
233 G. W. Depp
234 Geo. Sivels
235 D.Buckhardt
236 Geo. Brecker
237 N.Godfrey
238 J.A.Lew
239 E. Dean
240 S.C. Blevings
241 James Warson
242 C.S.Harris
243 B. C. Ridge
244 A. H. Major
245 T.S.Foster
246 W. W. Rentsh
247 J.H. McNeil
248 S.Reed
249 Geo. W. Renrick
250 Lewis Davis
251 Thos. Norr
252 J. Irving
253 S. Sharp
254 N.H.Bennett
255 A. Moodey
256 B.F.Hill
257 B.Parker
258 Jno. Graves
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
469
259 S. Webber
260 J. A. Russell
261 M. Dawson
262 W.A. Wortham
263 Jas. Sharp
264 Wm. Swindel
265 A. V. Bradley
266 Jas. H. Hudson
267 Henry Cor win
268 "Wm. Thornton
269 J. G. Callison
270 G. W. Cortney
271 A. Mickles
272 L. Flocker
273 G. C. Paine
.274 S. W. Dodge
275 Alex. Halstead
276 Saml. Beaver
277 J. Parrick
278 Wm. D. Lynd
279 Saml. Moore
280 P.S.Moor
281 J. Field
282 J.H.Adams
283 S. T. Williams
284 W.Bledsaw
285 H. Sharvers
286 R. P. Bradley
287 Chas. Bartlett
288 D. L. Bradley
289 Jno. Culton
290 J. Houssinger
291 Jas. Ray
292 Wm. Marchbanks
293 Wm. J. Godfrey
294 J. J. Adams
295 T. J. Coldwell
296 Wm. Bartlett
297 F. F. York
298 A. Raney
299 H.Pitts
300 F. A. Taylor
301 Wm. C. Mitchell
302 D. Greenlee
303 E. Poge
304 J. W. Canton
305 D. Guthree
306 W, M. N. Smallwood
307 Z.aMorriss
308 K W. Walker
309 Jno, Hamilton
310 Wm. Painter
311 S. A. Williams
312 P. D. Cummings
313 Levi Krie
314 J.C. Anderson
315 J.Cottrell
316 R.S. Bradley
317 D. H. Lesser
318 Jno. Grant
319 J. Catling
320 J, B. Sorting
321 R. A. Davis
322 W.D.Cefuss
223 Thos. Graves
324 Wm. Watkins
325 Chas. Passmore
326 Wm. Bowling
327 Thos. P. Wood
328 A. H. Wood
329 J. W. Arnett
330 Chas. Hard
331 S. H, Leving
332 H.T. Wilson
333 Wm.Erving
334 Jno. Brown |
335 Wm. Merrick
336 Chas. Milan
337 Thos. Summers
338 H. W. Hudson.
339 A,Hadson
340 RHandcock
341 J.Jefferis
342 Wm. Harris
343 E. C. Scaley
344 Wm. Humphrey
345 Allen Dogal
346 V. Adams
347 Jno. W. Bradley
348 John W. Fly
349 Wm. Margrave
350 G. Wood.
Tatty-List.
For Council.
Wm. Barhee 343
For Representatives.
Joseph. Anderson 315
John Hamilton 35
S. A. Williams 313
Wm. Margrave 16
SEVENTH DISTRICT.
tne undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day
ol March, A. D. 1855, at the house ol I. B. Titus, in the seventh elec-
470
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
tion district, for the election of members of council and of the houn
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upo<
our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a true ami
correct return of the votes polled at said election by the lawful voter ii
L. H. CHIVINGTON,
ANDKEW JOHNSON,
ELI SNYDER,
Attest : HIRAM LIGHTNER, Clerk.
WILLIAM W. DEDHAM, Clerk.
1 Strother Eeniefc
2 Jno. P. Smith
3 David Keeney
4 Wm. Searcey
5 John Dinsey
6 G. W. Kimfer
7 Levi Bradley
8 W. F. Deering
9 Jno. S. Hour
10 C. J. Barclay
11 J. D. Scoggs
12 J. W. Hudspetb
13 A. M. Noland
14 M. B. Hadding
15 Wm. B. Oldharn
16 J. H. Cox
17 Wm. Parish, sen.
18 E. N. Rice
19 E. McHenry
20 W. P. Tucker
21 J. B. Griffith
22 W. A. K'arrish
23 T. J. Hickman,
24 Geo. Scimmons
25 H. S. Jones
26 Reuben Clay tars
27 H. M. Senxcort
28 W. C. Teate
29 R. L. Green
30 H. C. Parish
31 F. M. McKee
32 Jas. F. Mure
33 J. H. Brown
34 B. G. Jeans
35 D. D. Burgess
36 Wm. E. Franklirj
37 E. F. Ferrel
38 Chas. Griffith
39 Jas. L. Jeans
40 Wm. 0. Thompson
41 Finis F. Renick
42 Wm. Cabe
43 Jas. R. Hickman
44 H. E. Shafer
45 Wm. C. Cook
46 L. H. Spanhoer
47 R. B. Chiles
48 Jas. Johnson
49 C. L. Parrish
50 J. T. Bartleson
51 E. L. Bowler
52 J. W. Gilbreath
Judges.
53 J. S. Huff
54 W. L. Cottingham
55 N. B. Brush
56 Sam. P. Sanders
57 John R. McKinney
58 G. W. Shoemaker
59 Wm. Hampton
60 R. A. Hudspeth
61 J. D. Bagley
62 Geo. Pole
63 J. J. Balwer
64 V. C. Cushingberg
65 J. F. Ray
66 Jesse Morrow
67 Jno. M. Dixon
68 Jno. Buckner
69 Wm. J. Douglass
70 S. Franklin
71 Wm. A. Young
72 Jno. L. Gregg
73 Thos. Smith
74 J. D. Hunter
75 Dan'l A. Mure
76 J. W. Dorton
77 W. McKinn. y
78 Thos. Keeney
79 H. H. Rice
80 G. B. Webb
81 J. H. Stevall
82 C. C. Chiles
83 .Jno. Keeney
84 W. E. Hanson
85 S. M. Webb
86 Caste B. Griffin
87 Jno. Bung
88 Thos. i. Brewer
89 Jno. W. Watts
90 Chas. A. Linkinanger
91 R. S. Price
92 Founlain Keeney
93 B. B. Bravghwan
94 Wm. Johnson
95 Jno. L. Sease
96 F. M. McKinney
97 E. J. Cevley
98 Jas. S. Snow
99 W. C. Hockensmith
100 Drias Gregg
101 Wm. H. Kenick
102 Chas. S. Easby
103 Archibald Handle} i
104 Collins Walker
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
471
105 Thos. Wolfe
106 Jno Russell
107 Wm. H. Franklin
108 T. M. Walton
109 Jno. W. May
110 C. B. McRoberts
111 Nelson Shull
112 S. D. Mure
113 Jno. G. Holloway
114 David Oasley
115 Jas. S. Nowland
116 Jos. Sutrell
117 Stephen J. Snow
118 John Taylor
119 B. B. Cave
120 P. P. Hall
121 Geo. Tosh
122 J. Bennett
123 Isaac Winfrey
124 L. W. Colcord
125 J. Howls Lee
126 Wm. R. Creasen
127 Isaac L. Coltin
128 A. Coger
129 C. M. Lee
130 B. D. Scribner
131 L. M. Webb
132 Jas. H. Douglass
133 T. H. Chiles
134 S. J. Smith
135 R. B. Fulkinson
136 Riley Jones
137 C. C. Coutes
138 Jas. J. Murphy
139 Martin R. McDowell
140 Wm. J. White
141 Jno. W. Clark
142 Jno. W. Sharp
143 Jas. A. Bolley Jack
144 Jas. C. Easl>y
145 Jno. D. Scidmon
146 E. C. Rice
147 Jas. H. Daniel
148 Geo. W. Priddey
149 Geo. W. Case
150 Sam' I Robinson
151 Chas. Duncan
152 Geo. W. Redman
153 Wm. Mure
154 Wm. F. Snow
155 A. J. Levgacre
156 Henry Hughes
157 Jacob Gregg
158 Wm. M. Harris
159 Jas. Watson
160 F. M. Hambright
161 Elijah Spainham
162 Isaac Chatham
163 S. S. Martleson
164 J. W. Cox
165 E. Carriger
166 Jno. R. Franklin
167 R. Snow
168 H. W. King
169 Asbury Humphrey
170 Ed. T. Noland
171 Amos Noland
172 W. W. Cox
173 Wm. Ish
174 Wm. M. King
175 Warham Barley
176 Rolley Williams
177 Rob't W. Buckner
178 M. A. Reed
179 Chas. G. Brockman
180 Minor T. Smith
181 D. W. Williams
182 David L. Hunter
183 E. M. McKee
184 Wilson McTaylor
185 Milton McMurray
186 Thos. White
187 T. J. Bradley
188 Win. J. Tucker
189 Jas. S. Cogswell
190 Wilbur Cunningham
191 Jas- Johnson, sen.
192 Joseph Howard, juft-
193 Wm. C. Estes
194 Rufus King
195 C. C. King
196 B. C. Moore
197 L. Cottingham
198 Andrew Jackson.
199 Atheiel Strite
200 David Condit
201 L. S. Axslel
202 Johnson Mclntre
203 Wm. A. Stewart
204 Wm. F. Harvey
205 Lotan Smith
206 John Smith
207 Isaac B. Eree
208 J. B. Titus
209 D. Wright
210 Absalom Hover '
211 Geo. W. Brattan
212 Geo. M. Barnes
213 Warren M. Haven
214 Wm. Grayham
215 Joseph McEntre
216 M. W. McKee
217 Allen Crowley
218 John Stevenson
219 Francis M. Crowley
220 John W. Freel
221 John Walking
222 Henry Smith
223 Thomas Russell .
224 Wm. J. Tillinghast
225 James Stewart
226 H. G. Wood
227 Hollom Rice
228 A J. Hyder
229 Andrew Johnson
230 Eli Snider
231 L. H. Chivington
232 W. W. Dedham
233 H. Lightner
234 Oliver Philip
472 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
COUNCIL CITY, March 31, 1855. j
To his Excellency A. H. EEEDBR, Governor of Kansas Territory:
We, the undersigned, citizens of the 7"th election district, do herebtj
protest against the election of H. J. Stickler for councilman, and W
W. McGee for representative, for the following reasons, viz : We be»|
lieve there was a sufficient number of voters from the State of MIJ
souri, who elected the above named persons in opposition to the will
of the legal voters of the district. Our reasons are, on the day b€^
fore the election, about fifty wagon-loads, besides quite a number ox
horseback, came in and camped near the house of Mr. Titus, and soo);
after voting, they returned back the way they came. Besides, w
heard quite a number acknowledge that they lived in Missouri, ant
did not intend to live in Kansas. There was but one of the origina
judges present, and one of those appointed by the remaining judg
was a resident of Missouri, by his own acknowledgment, and froDi|
the best information we can get, and our asseveration is that the judge*!
were not sworn in. Nor was an oath or affirmation required of anjij
voter.
Hallom Kice Wm. T. Tillinghast
J. B. Stewart Isaac D. Earl
David Condit Absalom Hoover
Joseph Mclntire Jas. H. Young
P. S. Axtell Edward C. Johnson
Johnston Mclntire Ithiel Strict.
THE TERRITORY OF KANSAS,
United States of America. } ss'
Before me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace of the fan district!
of said Territory, personally appeared Hallam Kice and James Ei|
Stewart above named, who being duly sworn according tolaw_, dotlij
depose and say,, that the facts set forth in the above protest are tru«J
to the best of their knowledge and belief.
HALLAM EICE.
J. E. STEWAET.
Sworn and subscribed before me, this 31st day of March, A. Di
1855. MAECUS H. EOSE, J. P.
NINTH DISTRICT.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th oi<
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Eobert Klotz, in Pawnee, Kansas
Territory, in the ninth election district, for the election of members oi
council and of the house of representatives for the Territory oi
Kansas, do hereby certify, upon oaths, as judges of said election,
that the following is a true and correct return of the votes polled at
such election by lawful resident voters, viz :
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
473
1 C. E. Mobley
2 E. Conley
3 W. A. Hammond
4 Fox Booth
5 Chs. E. Hammond
6 E. A. Hammond
7 Jno. A. Dyer
8 C. Albright
9 M. F. Conway
10 Wm. Cuddy
11 A. J. McConnel
12 G. W. Marsten
13 J. H. Loder
14 Wm. H. Moore
15 F. G. Lovimaker
16 John 0. Long
17 Abram Barry
18 Eichard D. Wilson
19 John Hamilton Scott
20 S. N. Bradford
21 Horace Bucklin
22 Chs. Werdknecht
23 Jacob Sheir (sworn)
24 Joseph C. Welfelt
25 Stephen L. Horn
26 Warren Becwith
27 Benj. F. Green
28 James Lowery
29 Joreb Cutcher
30 Jacob Shelling
31 John Ochel (sworn)
32 Eeuben Klintop
33 John S. Price
34 William Bring
35 Aaron Dutret
36 George Taylor
37 Wm. Mellman
38 S. K. Mills
39 L. Sanders
40 Benj. Dickerson
41 J. E. Sands
42 James Fleming
43 Eobert Wilnn
44 E. W. Sweet
45 A. Eldridge
46 Jacob Schoonmaker
47 Samuel Billings
48 Nelson Morris
49 H. A. Lowe
50 G. F. Gordon
51 Jaris Mott
52 Lemuel Knapp
53 Jacob Swartwout
54 Ira Cobb
55 W. W. Carr
56 E. N. Tripp
57 Henry Schup
58 Thos. Merriman
59 Ulyssus McCoy
60 Joseph Seals
61 George B. Vanasdale
62 John Eeynolds
63 S. A. Treat
64 Thomas Eeynolds, sr.
65 D. E. Perry
66 Thomas Eeynolds, jr.
67 S. B. White
68 A. D. Gibson
69 G. W. Hubble
70 John Dixon (sworn)
71 John Macluckiar
72 John Westover
73 E. S. Gardner
74 A. J. Dolph
75 William Erskin.
S. B. WHITE, )
A. D. GIBSON, }
EOBEET WILSON, )
Judges.
NINTH DISTRICT— City of Pawnee, K. T.
For Council. For Eepresentative.
:John Donaldson 23 S. D. Houston 56
M.F. Conway. 50 E. Garrit 18
In council box there was one blank.
We, the undersigned, hereby certify that the above is a true tally
of the votes in the 9th district of Kansas Territory.
S. B. WHITE, )
A. D. GIBSON, } Judges.
EOBEET WILSON, )
Eobert Wilson, J. B. White, and A. D. Gibson were sworn a«
judges, according to the printed form.
474 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
TENTH ELECTION DISTRICT. — Rock Creek Precinct.
James Wilson, Francis Bergeron, and Henry Rammelt, sworn tj
judges according to printed form.
List of Voters.
1 J. W. Leland 13 Joseph A. Myers
2 Kobert Berger 14 Michael Rapp
3 Wm. D. Wickes 15 Gabriel Cellar
4 James Wilson 16 Francis A. Dakel
5 Henry Ramwell 17 Theophilus Dakel
6 Francis Bergeron 18 Michael Flois
7 J. D. Adams 19 J. B. D. Frapp
8 Robert Wilson 20 Julius Berger
9 Win. Seymour 21 John Clark, (sworn)
10 Andrew Noll 22 Hjnry Rodicks
11 J. H. Hait 23 Henry Rodicks, jr.
12 Matthias Flois
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Kobert Wilson, in Rock Creej
precinct, in the tenth election district, for the election of members < j
council and of the house of representatives for the Territory
Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election'
that the following is a true and correct return of the Votes polled i j
auch election by lawful resident voters, viz :
For Council. For Representatives.
Martin F. Con way 21 Samuel D Houston...' $|
John Donaldson . . 2 Russell Garrett. . ,
Witness our hands this 30th day of March, A. D. 1855.
JAMES WILSON,
HENRY RAMWELL,
FRANCIS BERGERON. .
TENTH DISTRICT — Big Blue Precinct.
March 30, 1855, Marshall A. Garrett, William C. Dyer, Josepj
Stewart, sworn as judges, by S. C. Dyer, according to printed form i
oath.
List of names supposed to be poll-list.
1 Nathaniel R. Wright 12 Aseph Browning(oath)
2 Luke T. Lincoln 13 James Bishop (oath)
3 S S. Hascall 14 Jerome E. Wood
4 J. F. Goodnow 15 Joseph Winterworth (oath)
5 Z. Avey 16 David Gorman (oath)
6 Newel Trafton 17 John Soupine (oath)
7 John Fla^g (oath) 18 S. D. Dyer
8 Abraham () Dyer 19 Lewis Soupine
9 W. J. Osborn(oath) 20 W. F. Moses
10 A. Leroy Prentiss 21 Malacha Glenn (oath)
11 John Hoar (oath) 22 T. R. Burney (oath)
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
475
23 J. L. Sledman (oath)
24 W. S. Dykes (oath)
25 Faulkner Kennedy (oath)
26 Abraham C. Martin
27 John Alexander (oath)
28 John McYntire
29 Cyrus Garritt (oath)
30 Isaac P. Walker (oath)
31 S. R. McElvain (oath)
32 Joseph White
33 Wm. Walker
34 E. G. Hinton
35 H. P. Cutting
36 George Frasier
37 John Dial
38 David Hays
39 S. D. Houston
40 Wm. Karl
41 Wm. Hannah
42 Henry Green
43 C. E. Blood
44 S. Whilehorn
45 J. Stewart
46 J. P, Brayton
47 John Wilbur
48 D. A. Russell
49 Alden Babcock
50 W. D. Clardy
51 M. A. Garrett
52 S. J. Childs
53 C. H. Lovejoy
54 Geo. W. Lockwood (oath)
55 J. Edgar Bissell
56 Geo. W. Eubank
57 A. A. Garritt (oath)
58 Wm C. Dyer
59 G. Jilton
60 A. G. Allen
61 E. M. Thurston
62 M. B. Gowers
63 A. Gowers
64 S. Hayes
65 John Hayes
66 T. Blackler
67 G. W. Debots
68 Henry B. Gage
69 Hatch Hall
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of S. D. Dyer, Blue River precinct,
in the 10th election district, for the election of memhers of council
and of the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do
hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the
following is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such elec-
tion by lawful resident voters, viz:
For Council.
Whole number votes cast 69
iMartin F. Conway 42
John Donaldson . 27
For ^Representatives.
Whole number votes cast 64
Samuel D. Houston. c 43
Kussell Garrett 21
JOSEPH STEWART.
. M. H. GARRETT.
WM. C. DYER.
ELEVENTH DISTRICT.
George W. Pence, Wm. P. McLane, and S. K Spratt, severally
sworn as judges according to printed form.
The undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of March,
A. D. 1855, at the house of Marshall & Woodward, in the eleventh
election district, for the election of members of council and of the
house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby cer-
tify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a
true and correct return of the votes polled at such election by lawful
resident voters, viz :
476
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
For Council.
John Donaldson 328
M. F. Conway 3
For Eepresentative.
Francis J. Marshall.,
WM. P. McLANE, )
S. N. SPRATT, V Judges.
G. W. PENCE, )
List of votes polled at an election held at the trading house of MarsJm
& Woodward, in the eleventh election district, Kanzas Territory, o\
Friday, March 30, 1855, in pursuance of a proclamation of A. .Bj
Reeder, governor of said Territory, for the election of a member c
council and delegate to the house of representatives.
Council.
Ho. of
Reps.
Council.
Ho.-
Rep
j
Conway.
Marshall.
Donaldson.
Conway.
"3
1
S
i
i
....
i
i
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|
i
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i
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i
1 Samuel Smith
50 John T. Greenwood
51 A S.Clark
1
52
1
1
4 Philip Wimbarger
53 Geo. F. Hubbard
5 John Boyd. . .
54 Robt C Brown ... . .
55 H.' G. Wodard
7 J. G. Blue
8 N. B. Tompkins
57 B. F. Bell
58 Wm. Brunder
59 John G Clark
1
60 Lewis Riney
I
61 Samuel Weldon
62 James Fulks
,
14 Richard Jacks
63 John Kennedy
,
64 Michel Stubbs
I
66 John Covis
18 Wm. F. Tolston .
1
1
1
1
1
68 R. C. Bishop
69 Rufus Hoy
1
21 Geo.W. Bates
71 G. M. Hunt
j
26 Jesse Bailie
75 John Winn
1
76 J. F.Allen, jr
1
28 B. C. Clark
78 James McCaller
79 John Reed . . .
1
80 John F. Allen, sen
32 F. L. Michell
1
1
.'.'.'.'..
33 Thos. Clark
82 Wm. B. Hubbard
34 Wm. Holt
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
83 A. Dolson
35 Willis Grimes .
84 G Hunt.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
....
36 Lewis Mooders
85 Thos. B. Awl... <
37 J. Tolbert .
86 W.Reid
38 Wm. Miller
89 Samuel Adams
88 S.M.Knox
40 S F Binum .
92 Elijah Silbers
1
1
A. S Brown
94 W. F. Cowton
'.'.'.'.'.
46 JohnNorris
1
1
1
1
47 Thos. Mackey
96 S. C. Brown
48 J. C Owens . ...
97 Wallace Kirkwood
49 Richard Taney...,
98 Wm. Hendlers. „
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
List of votes — Continued.
477
•
Council.
Ho. of
Reps.
Council.
Ho. of
Reps.
Donaldson.
t
Marshall.
Donaldson.
O
S
S
99 Robl Hoy
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
173 John P. Stonmanar
1
1
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i
i
i
i
i
i
i
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i
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i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
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i
i
i
i
i
i
i
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i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
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i
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174 John Dawson
175 John N. Pervis
1
02 S Mitchell • •«
176 D.B.Allen
1
03 R Field •
177 Alex. Lanch
1
04 L tl Moore
I
178 Wm. James
1
05 Elisha Witt • • « •
1
179 John James
1
180 Thos. J. Wilkerson.
1
j
181 Jos K Hardy
1
08 S Owen . •
1
182 R. Dowkens
1
183 Wm Strattham
1
1
184 John Huston
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
185 F.D.Perkins
1
12 H D Goldman
1
186 Daniel Gilmer
1
1
187 Wm. Townsend
1
14 J. R. Vance
1
188 John Flinch
1
15 A D Hamilton .
I
189 Richard Clark
1
16 Wm. C. Webb
1
190 Smith Younts
1
17 James Welch . ....
I
191 Chris. Carpenter .. .
1
1
19 James Savage
I
1
JO Geo. M. Pirth
194 John Lovel
1
11 Joseph W. La Fare
I
195 George Leviet
1
32 A. K. Lambs
1
33 Willis Cole
I
197 J. Leviet
1
34 James Ransdall
I
198 John Hocks. .
1
55 John Spencer
I
1
J6 J. Bullard
1
200 Charles Wool...
1
!7 H. G. Smith
201 Wm. Bucks
1
{8 Samuel McCall
1
202 N. F. Todd ....
1
!9 H. N. Beacum
203 Wm. Craig
1
10 J.McDill
1
204 Aaron Gates
1
tl B. Bremer
12 M. Bogin
I
205 Jerry Yatman
206 Henry A. Bailey
1
1
....
!3 Ralph Amen
1
14 T. C. Aaron
208 John W. Cox
1
(5 John Crabb
I
1
210 Daniel Witler (?)
1
!7 PaulKish
1
1
I
211 John Handcock
1
'8 Marion Franklin
212 John View. . . .
1
:9 J.R. Black
213 Wm. Baker
1
SJohn Henry
214 A.P.Dow
1
215 Wm. Smith
1
2 James Lumens
I
1
217 Samuel Hargus
1
4 B. S.Hart
1
218 John Heels
1
5 N. C. Boone
219 Benj. Wallace \
1
6 Jesse Scrock
1
1
.
220 Richard H. Wallace
1
7 James Shadcock
1
1
J Wm. Cook , ....
222 John H. Perkins
9 Jacob Thadis
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
j :
223 H. McLean .. ..
1
) David Shelton
224 John S. Mothershead
1
L M.C.Robinson...
225 B.L.Jackson
1
1
a Wm. Head...
1
1
1
# Abraham Hicks...
228 Thos. T. Mullins
5 James E. Sage .
B Jacob Butts . . .
230 T. S. Brown
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
..'.'.'.'
7 John Ramsey
231 Philip Bridges
B Johnson Merryfield
232 Joseph Davidson .
9 Stephen Hancock....
233 Milton Farrier
D C. Butcher
234 R. G. Bagby
U James Beitler
235 Wm Hockston
B Jeflerson Lands
236 John G. Brick
J Moses Shoemcher
237 D Bowine. .
Wm. Vaugn
238 Nelson Woods
> Stephen Fieling
239 C. Lynch
> Silas Parvan
240 Thos Berry
John H. Dobson
241 Wilson Tinson
James Goodman
242 Robt. Webster
Hern Van Helt
243 John Tinner
244 J N Bruton
M.F.Carrol
i T. Fowler
246 David McQuitty. •
478
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
List of votes — Continued.
Council.
Ho. of
leps.
Council.
Ho. 1
Hep
i
a
Q
|
Marshall.
1
Conway.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
M
|j
!
1
T
j
1
1!
1
1
248 Robt Bucher
291 W T Jackman
249 N Tyer
292 Silas Bur on
250 C. M. Woods, jr
293 Joseph Brown
094 g p Jacks . ...
252 Henry Nailor
296 Richard King
1
1
1
1
1
1
254 C M. Darby
297 Francis Woods
255 Thos Moore
298 Thos Carter
257 E N Price jr . .
300 George Wassaman . .
258 Sidney Douglass
301 Charles West
259 Wm.McCon.
302 Peter Higgins
1
260 F.B.Browning
303 Henry Gearhart
1
262 H Clay Cunningham
i
i
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
305 P R Mitchel. . . .
1
306 Thos. Radcliff.
1
264 Cyrus Bridges
i
307 Clark Warren
1
265 James Crigh .
i
1
266 John Ci*by
i
309 John Stone
1
267 Thos. Kellers
i
310 John Asher
1
268 J. L. Prior
i
i
311 John H. Fennison
1
269 Ham Martin
312 A. McClelland
1
1
270 Wash Higgins
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
313 i hos Caldwell
271 John MoMichel
314 Wm. Rowland
1
272 Peter Strun^. .
315 R. M. Clark
1
273 O M Brock man
316 George Codey
1
1
274 J. Walpscale
317 W.P.Hamilton
318 John Jones, jr
1
276 Washington Berry
319 Oliver Burtchett
1
277 Wm McMutlin
320 Sampson Levy
1
278 David Wise
321 B Wilson.
1
279 Martin F. Fisher. ...
322 John Pierce
1
280 Jonathan Frost
323 Jeremiah Sweat ... .
1
281 John Wallace
282 T. W. Thornsbury
324 J T Jenks
1
1
325 J. Muby
283 L. Church
326 A. J. Mackey
1
1
1
1
1
'.'.'.'.'.'.
284 Launer Woodward
i
i
i
i
!:!
327 J.W.Johnston
328 Ace Wiggins
286 Moses Wilbut
329 Wm. P McLure
287 John Stone
330 George W. :'ence
288 A. J. Johnston . .
i
i
••
331 S. Neal Spratt
289 F. M. Woodward
S. N. Spratt and George W. Pence, sworn according to printed form?
as in district No. 1, before Wm. P. McLure, judge and J. P., and Wnn
P. McLure, before S. N. Spratt, judge, as judges of the election, held £
the house of Marshall & Woodward, in the eleventh election distric*
TWELFTH ELECTION DISTRICT. — Silver Lake Precinct.
John H. Welles, E. K. Kennedy, and N. K. Winegardner, swori
as judges according to printed form.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of Marcbll
A. D. 1855, at the store of Sloan & Bobean, in Silver Lake precinct]
in the 1 2th election district, for the election of members of counckj
and of the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, dt
hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the fol'
lowing is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election
by lawful resident voters, viz :
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 479
For members of Council.
Martin F. Conway received 17 votes.
John Donaldson received 12 "
For members o f the House of Representatives.
Homan McCartney received 19 votes.
S1. J. Marshall received 12 "
Witness our hands and seals this 30th day of March, 1855.
N. K. WINEQARDNER, [L. s.l
JOHN H. WELLES, FL. s.l
E. K. KENNEDY, [L. s.]
List of voters.
1 H. Wild 17 Robert Aims
2 E. Stephens 18 G. W. Benker
3 D. J. Thomas 19 John H. Welles
4 Job P. Abkert 20 N. R. Wyangardner
5 Joseph Ogee 21 E. Kennidy
6 John G. Ogee 22 T. Denevan
7 Trugett Allin 23 John Murphy
8 Robert McNown 24 Wilburn A. Eby
9 E. L. Young 25 Thomas Fogarty
10 M. B. Bolien 26 Charles Coyle
11 L. H. Ogee 27 Charles H. Bololier
12 B. T. Anscum 28 Robert Sheehy
13 B. N. Harris 29 P. Fogarty
14 R. M. Jones 30 M. Birch
15 E. W. Finch 31 F. H. Cimtryman
16 M. A. G. Bistick
TWELFTH DISTRICT. — St. Mary's precinct.
Palmer McCartney, Luther K. Palmer,, and Alvah Higbee were
sworn as judges of election, according to printed form.
Poll list.
1 J. D. Lusley 7 C. Milot, (sworn)
2 A. Higbee 8 0. H. P. Polk
3 Basil Greenore 9 Thomas Quigley, (sworn)
4 L. R. Palmer 10 Philip Wymer
5 G. Booth 11 J. L. Wilson
6 P. McCartney
[Signed by judges.]
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of
March, A. D. 1855, at the store of B. H. Bertrand, in St. Mary's
precinct, in the twelfth election district, for the election of members
)f council and of the house of representatives for the Territory of
Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election;
ihat the following is a true and correct return of the votes polled at
such election by lawful resident voters, viz :
For member of Council. — The whole number of votes given for
;ouncil was eleven : John Donaldson received four votes for council,
linth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth districts ; and Martin F, Conway
•eceived, for council, seven votes,
480 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
For member of the House of Representatives. — Palmer McCartney!
received seven votes for representative.
F. J. Marshall received three votes for delegate, eleventh anc.|
twelfth districts ; and Frank J. Marshall one vote for the same.
L. R. PALMER.
PALMER MCCARTNEY.
ALVAH HIGBEE.
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT.
We, the undersigned, judges selected by tellers, this the 30th day]
of March, 1855, do solemnly swear that we will act as judges of th(<|
election to he held at Hickory Point, in the thirteenth district, ODI
the above-named day, for the purpose of electing members of thdj
council and house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas >|
and that we will conduct this election impartially and to the best oj
our ability in accordance with the act of Congress organizing thd
Territories of Nebraska and Kansas.
RICHARD CHANDLER.
N. B. HOPEWELL.
WM. M. GARDINER.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above namedu
0. B. TEFF, J. P.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of Marchli
A. D. 1855, at the house of Charles Heard, of the Territory of Kami
sas, in the thirteenth election district, for the election of members o>
council and house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, d<i
hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the foil
lowing is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election
by lawful resident voters, viz :
R. R. Rees, for council... 233 votes*
D. J. Eastin, for council 233 "
W. H. Tibbs,for representative 23*7 "
B. H. Tombly, for council 6 "
A. J. Whitney, for council 6 "
C. Hard, for representative 3
Two blanks in the ballot-box.
N. B. HOPEWELL, )
WM. M. GARDINER, V Judges.
RICHARD CHANDLER,)
List of voters.
0. G. McDonald Edward Williams
G. C. Clendy G. Adkins
J. S. Barbee W. E. Collins
J. T. Graven H. W. Marshall
F. Jackson J. Harriss
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
481
J. W. Pate
D. Kockholt
J. C. Hawkins
M. Lee
T. J. Gurddy
G. K. White
J. McDaniel
W. H. Arnold
J. Parr
R. Thompson
T. L. Parrish
A. Whitlock
J. Lord
F. Walker
J. Duncan
C. G. Whitlock
W. W. Arnold
W. C. Baker
W. Thompson
L. Likins
J. Weekly
W. Moutre
E. Henshaw
J. L. Miller
A. Everett
A. Gregg
P. Keith
W. F. Walkup
W. Thatcher
H. C. Arnold
A. C. Woods
D. Gentry
W. R. Davis
J. Williams
J. T. Wilson
Jno. Wilson
Jno. Cook
E. Colegrove
G. L. Marret
W. M. Gardner
W. Rogers
A. Crane
J. W. Parrish
C. Marin
H. Whitlaw
A. Chesterson
D. Hunt
J. Walkup
W. H. Brown
R. C. Ewing
J. S. Malotte
T. Chinn
S. Almot
T. Gregg
J. Belcher
W. P. Judy
J. Hammond
J. W. Woods
J. W. Mitchell
W. Brightwell, (oath)
J. Thatcher
A. T. Young
J. B. Cox
J. T. Gardiner
J. F. Gregg
A. J. Lawrence
H, Eep. 200-
-31'
S. J. Brooks
E. W. Mason
J. Duncan
W. S. Carr
W. C. Snail
M. Anderson
W. Walter
P. Bradley
T. Kenedy
J. S. Dorsey
W. B. Mitchell
F. Sprague
J. Brackenridge
D. S. Wood
T. J. Richards •
R. Whitehead
J. W. Gow
H. Banfield
<X Storer, (oath)
O. Smith
8. Tolson
W. Crown
A. Wills
A. Pemberton
O. W. Grason
J. White
A. Ecten
J. Estis
J. N. Wilardson
W. D. Kimsey
F. N. Gardner
O. Parrott
C. Vincent
J. Kurkendall
M, B. Menier
J. Falkner
W. Pemberton
E. D. Neely
W. Booth
L. Hinckle
W. T. Parker
J. Tipton
D. Conway
B. Prather
J. Bretz
L. B. Hoy
H. Powell
A. Hammond
W. A. Burton
C. Moulton
J. Brooks
O. F, Clemens
W. Faulkner
W. White
R. S. Jones
G. T. Hughes
Jackson Vivion
A. A. Ross
D. Thatcher
T. Ashes
T. Marshall
E. Fox
J. Morris
W. Hoy
W. M. Jenkins
J, W, Thompson
482
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
D. Johnson
J. C. Lillard
J. W Rickman
W. Sprague
J. W. Jones
W. P. Cox
R. F. Allen
C. Hedvicks
G. W. Bridges
J. Gallaway
H. Waller
T. J. Fielding
E. Marshall
J, W. Young
J. Homer
J. Miles
J. Williams
J. B. V. MgCall
A. R. Murray
P. Fleshman
A. Lanehart
R. Parker
J. Peters
T. J. Jones, (oath)
B. Bugby
J. A. Reed
A. L. Darby
T. Marshall
G. W. Dyer
W. Carpenter
H. Holder
G. H. Holbert
L. Sheppard
J. Davis
D. Gregg
M. Christerson
J. Chandler
L. Cobb
P. J. Collins
P. Clem
J. Berry
A. Judy
R. Rauge
S. Gotleff
R. K. Grant
J. Yoacum
James Gardner
W. A. Fox
M. Thomas
M. Woods
J. Busby
T. Crone
S. S. Crosswhite
J. W. Duncan
R. R. Coram
A. Hollyclaw
H. W. Jinks
C. H. Larmar
W. R. Wanton
B. Brinton
A. Clark
R. J. Fulton
P. Elington
D. F. Tibbs
Q. F. Broadhurst
P. Dufer
J. R. Beagle
D. T. Jones
W. Meridith
T. Huntington
J. Ecton
W. G. Berry
N. B. Lamar
S. Hudson
J. W. Winston
W. F. Dyer
A. Estis
A. J. Morrow
N. Humber
J. L. Graves
L. M. Graves
W. G. Graves
R. Grant
T. P. Chandler
W. T. Smidtson
C. Alson
C. B. Tibbs
R. H. Dyer
A. B. Sharp
R. Chandler
W. M. Gardiner, sen.
N. B. Hopewell
W. H. Tibbs
John Bradshaw
Antout Poss
Chas. Harris
John Myers
John Jeffries
R. M. Carter
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT. — Second return.
H. C. Cory, S. B. Boss, and J. Atkinson, were duly sworn :i
judges, according to the printed form.
We, the undersigned, judges appointed to hold an election in 1
thirteenth district, to be held at the house of Charles Heard, in si»|
district, after having met at the place and time appointed, and havi'!
taken the oath prepared for said judges, we proceeded to open m
election, and to receive votes. But on account of the vast number
citizens who had come over from the State of Missouri, and assemb.ii
themselves together for the purpose of illegally changing the res !
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 483
said election by their illegal votes, and also by assembling in
great numbers in and around the window when the legal voters
wished to deposit their votes, to the great prevention of the citizens
of the Territory, which caused many of the said legal voters to leave
said election without voting, on account of the little respect shown
them by the citizens of Missouri, which we, the said judges, appointed
by your excellency to hold said election, seeing the strong determina-
tion on the part of citizens from Missouri to vote, and no citizens of
said district voting or offering to vote, we thought it our duty to
lecline sitting as judges at said election on account of said illegal
roters.
We,, the undersigned judges, certify that this is a true return of the
"acts and proceedings of this day, in a very brief manner, to the best
>f our knowledge and belief.
Yours, truly,
S. B. BOSS.
H. C. CORY.
J. ATKINSON.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT — Burr Oak Precinct*
Albert Heed, H. J. Johnson, and Gary B. Whitehead, judges, were
luly sworn according to printed form, in district No. 1, before Thos.
vV.'Watterson, J. P.
List 'of the voters of Burr Oak precinct at an election held at the house
of Milton E. Bryant, on the 30th of March, A. D. 1855, before the
undersigned judges, duly qualified and sworn by Gary B. Whitehead \
Albert Heed, and //. J. Johnson,
1 E. Blackston 26 J. Lewis
2 Thomas H. Baker 27 Peter A. Eoke
3 M. Die 28 Wm. M. Morgan
4 Samuel Montgomery 29 Mathias Rapp
5 F. Ridge 30 J. W. Smith
6 B. D. Hazel wood 31 J. H. Merrill
7 B. E. Lowen 32 W. H. Allen
8 Wm. N. Irish 33 Samuel Pills
9 F. B. Anderson 34 J. D. Armstrong
10 E. G. Robinson 35 J. Peters
11 James Sellers 36 John M. Tracy
12 James Watterson 37 John Doyle
13 Thomas J. Dowlen 38 Anderson Gladder*.
14 John Edmonson 39 Henry Lewis
15 William Thomas 40 H. Joyl
16 Oly Evans 41 Robert WhitseH
17 James Graham 42 John W. Copeland
18 Jackson Thornton 43 J. D. Lawhorn
19 Josepii Shurn, (oath) 44 N. Bell
20 Georjrc Shum 45 Mathew Elliotte
21 William Jordan 46 R. Myers
22 Andrew A. Hare 47 H. Jackson
23 William Decherd 48 H. Thompson
24 William Ridge 49 M. T. Sweeney
2J A. Li-;:.h:n 50 E. K. Kinq;
484
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
01
192
03
;94
:$.!>
'9,6
97
98
9;9
ilOO
101
102
103
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
James Roberts
Theod. Longtour
William Shelton
James Loughton
L. D. Cook
E. Eggans
E. Smith
C. L. Parker
P. Lowrie •
R. Todd
Wm. A. Tubble
S. M. Gordon
J. Denoble
0. Herlen
Joseph Ashley
J. Coke
J. W. Stephens
Edward Snider
F. Beausun
K. Asborn
E. P. Weaver
Leander McClellan
Jacob Sender
James Loud
S. L. Sellers
W. Matthews.
S. P.Blair
Pael Meumon
Presteii Riones
Benjamin Duncan
E. Mason
S. G. Floyd
Wm. J. Roland
L. Copeland
J. H. Parker
J. C. Copeland
W. D. Moore
M. Osbun
B. Kern
H. D. Adams
F. Mowrie
H. Smallwood
W. H. Gillispie
Wm. McGreu
W. Chapman
W. Ayers
Isaac Thornton
Daniel Morrow
Merrill Willis
C. Mowrie
J. W. Smith, jr
Wm. B. Shoupe
C. H. Rodgers
P. Y. Roberts
J. M. Pormer
S. Kirkpatrick
John F. Bradley
John Pecan
T. Reed
T. Trunt
B. H. Brock
John Arnold
John Henderson
John Copeland
J. Kendall
W. Palmer
118 J. M. Grooms
119 N. Holmes
120 Q. Ball
121 E.Merrill
122 F.Duval
123 J. Randolph
124 J. C. Stuneff
125 John Fee
126 E. F. Wells
127 Dona James
128 Jacob Cogdell
129 H. G. Gorden
130 John P. Munch
131 Philip James
132 J. R. Gibson
133 Thomas Chaffee
134 Steward Cameron
135 H. H. Woodson
136 Andrew Cowen
137 Levi Lynn
138 J. P. Ewin
139 A. D. Dougherty
140 J. Couffin
141 J. Craft
142 William Davis
143 John Daugherty
144 H. G. McClintock
145 Benj. Sprouse
146 James O'Toole
147 Sam. Gordon
148 L.Teagarden
149 Peter Cadue
150 Major Adair
151 JohnKelley
152 Lont Tribble
153 G. Kelley
154 S. K. Cambell
155 A. Tribble
156 Chiles Cravein
157 Levi Shepherd
158 John Trotman
159 H. L. Creal
160 John Truman
161 F. Larun, (oath)
162 C. Slemmer
163 Alex. Newby
164 Thomas Howel
165 James Taylor
166 Isaac Legar
167 Count Forien
168 Robert Reed
169 Doct. T. Pierce
170 G. W. Gillespie
171 H. A. McClintock
172 R. B. Agee
173 Ely Copeland
174 J. Welch
175 Johnson Carson
176 J. W. Collins
177 J. J. Lowelady
178 Moses McMahafi
179 Wni. J. Copeland
180 S. H. Roscoe
181 C. M. Gilmore
182 W. H. Burns
183 W. Stuneff
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
485
184 M. E. Bryant
185 George Kincade
186 Win. Laforge
187 Ed. Walto
188 Joseph Baker
189 J. F. Dezeal
190 J. Morris
191 D. A. Pugh
192 Horace Lyon
193 Frost Snow •
194 Chas. B. Weightman
195 Henry Root, (oath)
196 Francis Murphey
197 John Wise, (oath)
198 Casper Lorman
199 Benjamin Hordenly
200 G. W. Davis
201 A. F. Burns
202 A.Armstrong
203 John Beattee
204 0. H. P. Craig
205 E. M. William
206 James Howel
207 Benjamin Samuell
208 John McCafferty
209 Joel P. Blair
210 C. W. Stewart
211 Newton R. Carter
212 Nimrod Duncan, sr.
213 E. M. Gilliam
214 G. W. Baker
215 G. W. Davis
216 Thomas Bloukenship
217 Francis Young
218 D. B. Tendal
219 J. P. Hopman
220 Mathew Ibis
221 William H. Davis
222 Franklin Kune
223 William Salley
224 William Dodson
225 James Shaw
226 M. Moupin
227 T. B. Gorden
228 M. M. C. Williams
229 Joseph Succliff
230 James Otval, sr.
231 S. H. Pendleton
232 Yarnig Owen
233 Allen G. Mousfield
234 Thomas C. Stewart
235 C. L. Hardy
236 T. A. West
237 John K. Jo'hnson
238 W. Craig
239 James Gillespie
240 John S. Tisdale
241 Charles V. Bird
242 M. Ashhurn
243 M. B. Wood
244 E. Campbell
245 H. B. Sparks
246 W. K. Richardson
247 James M. Teagarden
248 T. M. Moss
249 A. D. McDaniel
250 Frank Kensler
251 E. Richardson
252 W. R. Roberts
253 Peter Munroe
254 S. W. Woodcock
255 Samuel Vincent
256 W. M. Drake
257 William Nichols
258 Wm. P. Richardson
259 T. W. Waterman
260 William Robertson
261 Emmet Fulkerson
262 E. M. France
263 H. C. Wrose
2*64 L. F. Carpenter
265 Absalom Grooms
2€6 Elig Gilliam
267 JohnHobain
268 A. J. Bouson
269 H. H. Chamley
270 E. Taylor
271 DavidToddj "
272 Philip Korlen j
273 Hyram Karam
274 S. D. Cowen
275 Mark Vaughan
276 MmrodBachele
277 B. Dodd
278 Samuel Anderson
279 Jacob Osenburger
280 James Wichel
281 Abram Lynch
282 John C. Wood
283 William Authine
284 James W. Davis
285 James McGraffc
286 E. S. Stutson
287 Richard Morris
288 S. W. Morris
289 S. E. Morris
290 R. L. Morris
291 Hiram Davis
292 G. B. Groomer
293 W. J. Palmer
294 Burtes McCaul
295 William G. Fee
296 William Gregor
297 J. R. Whitehead
298 D. Otval
299 Tapley Ralph
300 Albert Herce
301 Gary B. Whitehead
302 H. L. Johnson
303 Wm. A. Hill
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day
>f March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Milton E. Bryant, in the
Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth election district, for the election of
nembers of council and of the house of representatives for the Ter-
486 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ritory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oath as judges of SE
election, that the following is a true and correct return of votes poll!
at such election by lawful resident voters, viz :
For Council. For Representatives.
Wm. P. Kichardson 234 Joel P. Blair 2S
JohnH. Whitehead 68 Thos. W. Watterson... 2',
John Fee
Which were all the votes polled on the day and year above me-
tioned.
CAKY B. WHITEHEAD, )
H. J. JOHNSON, \ Judges*
ALBERT HEED, )
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT — Doniphan Precinct.
N. J. Ireland, judge of Doniphan precinct, subscribed and SWCK
to the oath, per printed form, before William P. Lamb, anotrlj
judge of election, and then administered the same oath to Willie;'
P. Lamb and A. H. Dunning.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th dayvj
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of J. W. and J. F. Foreman, Doi»|
phan precinct, in the fourteenth election district, for the election^
members of council and of the house of representatives for the Territc
of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said el;
tion, that the following is a true and correct return of the vo
polled at such election by lawful resident voters3 viz :
1 W. H. Hinckman 27 Nath. C. Squier
2 George Mitchel 28 Wm. Bro vu
3 W. E. Ruckei 29 Wm. Button
4 Jesse Elliott 30 N. H. Jacobs
5 John Phelps 31 J. Newman
6 John N. Johnson 32 A. J. Pluiners
7 R. E. Stuttard 33 F. B. Davidson
8 W. E. Golden 34 John A. Thomas
9 Isaac T. Lewis 35 F. G. Oxley
10 Richard P. Haw 36 L. L. Bowles
11 Wm. Robiason 37 W. C. Geter
12 Thos. A. Morris 38 John W. Harris
13 Geo. A. Morris 39 N. R. Green
14 Adam Needles 40 Wm. K. Alexander
15 James M. Holland 41 Wm. L. Davis
16 JohnG. Downing 42 J. T. Reed
17 Thos. P. Knight 43 John E. Ball
18 W. N. Bragg 44 B. Crabb
19 E. J. Ray 45 Jas. J. White
20 B. F. Lucas 46 M. A. Lovelady
21 J. 0. Bywaters 47 Henry Deer
22 W. S. McDaniel 48 John H«:rris
23 Robt. M. Offutt 49 John Christopher
24 John Crum 50 David Frank
25 Allen Favue 51 Henry C. Grove
26 P. W. By waters 52 James Jacobs
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
487
53 Robt. Cobbell
54 John M. McCormack
55 F. Scanlin
56 W. D. Adams
57 And. Chenowith
58 John Bennett
59 W. H. Martin
60 Congrave Warden
61 Leonardo. Crabb
(52 James H. Davis
63 Amos Crutchfield
64 Wm. Isaachs
65 Jesse Shepherd
66 B. R. Wilmott
67 S. T. Harper
68 D. W. Martin
69 W. Simons
70 John H. Farmer
71 H. J. Cowes
72 W. W. Reynolds
73 Albert Fletcher
74 W. F. Martin
75 Sidney S. Canter
76 J. K. Dixon
77 M. B. Wilson
78 John H. Briscoe
79 Luther Bartlett
80 John Ingram
81 John Doyle
82 Alfred Dodson
83 W. S. Hughes
84 Wm. Bywaters
85 B. M. Bradford
86 Calvin Wilkison
87 James V. Cross
88 Wm. Powell
89 Noah Pincher
90 R, B. Slaton
91 Thomas Murphy
92 Geo. T. Chalice
93 D. H. P. Hammons
94 James Wallace
95 W. H. Cook
96 Absalom Tagart
97 C. W. Spencer
98 EH Hamilton
99 Mathew Hall
100 Wm. Moore
101 Win. E. Thomas
10? Hugh Garnett
103 Ocohuell Smith
104 R. N. Darr
105 Chas. S. Nevley
106 L. F. Hume
107 M. A. Clemens
108 Robt. H. Stephenson
109 Thos. J. Plummers
James Plumers
11,0 Thos. Faulkner
111 E. F. Perkins
112 J. M. Plumers
113 Wm. H. Miller
114 Leonidas Oldham
115 A. W. Hughes
116 John Robinson
117 Clinton Right
118
119 PaytonTydus
120 S. K. Wagers
121 Joseph Taylor
122 A. C. Johnson
123 J. M. Hazard
124 W. V. Odus
125 J. B. Regney
126 John Wiser
127 H. Taylor
128 John Taylor
129 Wm. Ninemens
130 V. Thomasson
131 Alfred Fentoa
S.32 Daniel Smoot
133 S. T. Walters
134 Thomas Rhea
135 R. S. McCubbin
136 Matkew Wills
137 Samuel Taylor
138 James Carter
139 Charles Place
5.40 Geo. A. Ringo
141 C. Newma-a
142 Isaac B. Williams
143 Thos. C. Doxy
144 F. M. McVey
145 Albert Krira
146 J. H. Blassingame
147 Coleman Riddle
148 E. S. Mitchell
149 Geo. W. Carp
150 H. W. Hudnell
151 Jesse Mercer
152 Jesse Morin
3.53 Samuel Collins
a 54 A. Merrill
155 S. J. Garter
156 Geo. V. Little
157 Geo. Million
158 Thos. J. Stratton
159 H. W. Cross
160 Wm. Doxr
161 Jos. B. Stockton
162 Alfred Rocker
163 Joseph Crumwcll
164 Jonson Congrove
165 Joshua Sanders
166 Uriah Miller
167 W. G. Tate
168 Drake McDowell
3.69 Wm. Young
170 Abm. Blinker
171 W. F. Tate
172 Isaac Martin
173 Richard J. Williams
174 Daniel Sharpe
175 Etam Emerson
176 Ira Nor r is
177 JohnGalbray
178 Noah Gore
179 G. Page
180 G. L. Gore
181 John Martin
182 Dudley McVay
183 D. C. Judy
184 Jas. Mitchell
185 LeroyBean
488
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
186 B. S. Whorton
187 Wm. Black
188 Pat. McVey
189 Geo. M. Waller
190 W.C. McVey
191 Thomas Sweeton
192 J. H.Robinson
193 J. A. McVey
194 J. F. Pendleton
195 E. Watson
196 Wm. Jackson
197 John B. Mobley
198 John Grace
199 R. Black
200 Wm. Smith
201 Wm. Galbreth
202 John Wisehart
203 Charles Gumming*
204 W. Stewart
205 W. Black
206 John Satmders
207 F. Pepper
208 A. Taylor
209 E. B.Dixon-
210 H.B. Watson
211 Richard Vosfc
212 J. H. Canlee
213" I>. S. Young
214 Josh. McQueen*
215 L. A. Rutledge
216 H. Zutt
217 Jas. Black
218 David Fiser
219 Geo. Holinswortb
220 John Snydeir
221 H. Adams
222 Thomas PlimBaoa&
223 Josiah Howard
224 Wm. McGinnis
225 Jerry McCune
226 Francis Mitchell
227 E. C. Mason
228 Sam. Dixon
229 James Cornell
230 Wm. Irvia
231 Geo. Cate*
232 Eli Ward
233 C. W. Hubbard?
234 Henry Williams
235 W. H. Elliott
236 John Cnmmings
237 Alex. Vineyaid
238 R. Hudson
239 B. Brady
240 S. Hudson
241 B. 0. Driscoll
242 D. B. Hart
243 Wm. Christopher
244 Geo. W. Ledingtoc
245 Wm. Ager
246 R. Bly
247 J. H. Gilbert
248 Wm. Twedell
249 John Hammer
250 Wm. Thomas
251 Norman Alexander
252 John Barker
253 B. M. Hancock
254 Smith Kennell
255 P. M. Lucas
256 J. B. Black
257 E. Harris
258 Samuel Swinney
259 W. S. Pennington
260 Robt. English
261 Aaron Stanton
262 Isaac Cheniworth
263 Joseph Bath
264 Geo. Sumner
265 J.T.Hinton
266 A. Brown
267 W.C. Barker
268 Eli J. H. Russell
269 John McNamee
270 George Buck
271 H.C.Davisj
272 J.Carson
273 C.J.Yeary
274 H. B. Yeary
275 J.H. Yeary
276 J.C.Marion
277 C.W. Barker
278 A. Cox
279 David P. Ringo
280 William Denning
281 J.M.Perce
282 J. P. Cordonia
283 Andrew Abbott
284 Richard Hisell
285 Daniel Lamb
286 John Silverthorn
287 Robert Ewing
288 John Allcorn
289 Pettis Wade
290 Wm. Vineyard
291 R. Smith
292 Robert Davis
293 J. L. Campbell
294 Robert Shortridge
295 Henry Chubb
296 Squire Wade
297 W. Allen
298 Thomas Saunders
299 Wilhelm Poppys
300 James F. FormaQ
301 Joel Snider
302 George Wilson
303 G. T. Noxley
304 Henry Judah
305 Jacob Goshor
306 William Moore, jr.
307 H. J. Johnson
308 R. T. Gillespie
309 J. H. Stringfellow
310 Andrew Jackson
311 L. Dickerson
312 E. Falwell
313 B. W. Jones
314 Henry McCune
315 Robert H. Newton
316 George Gheeter
317 Henry Stapert
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 489
318 James Lynch 333 Thomas H. Covington
319 D. D. Hendricks 334 Rohert Hockey
320 Matthew Fitzpatrick 335 William Chamberlain
321 James M. Crawford 336 J. N. Snyder
322 Allen M. Baker 337 Wm. C. Wells
323 Richard Tuck 338 Wm. Roberts
324 John Chandler 339 Joel Ryan
325 B. G. Wells 340 George Wells
326 John McQueen 341 W. P. Lamb
327 Aaron McQueen 342 M. J. Ireland
328 Phineas B. Page 343 Alex. H. Dunning
329 John Landis 344 J. A. Vanarsdale
330 William T. S. Chudys 345 R. S. Kelley
331 J. J. Graves 346 John Burns
332 J. B. Griffin
And we further certify that, on the day aforesaid, none of the judges
of the above-named election being present at 9 o'clock, a. m., at the
above-named precinct, the undersigned were, by the voters of the
aforesaid precinct, duly elected judges of said election.
WILLIAM P. LAMB, >
N. J. IRELAND, V Judges.
ALEX. H. DUNNING, )
We, the undersigned, judges of the election held at Doniphan pre-
cinct, hereby certify the whole number of votes received to be 346.
For Council. For Representatives.
James M. Forman 343 J. H. Stringfellow 313
Richard L. Kirk 292
G. A. Cutler 30
T. Yanderslice 4
John Landis 25
Joel Ryan 18
S. K. Miller 2
Given under our hands this the 80th day of March, A. D. 1855.
WILLIAM P. LAMB, )
N. J. IRELAND, V Judges.
ALEX. H. DUNNING, )
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT — Wolf Creek Precinct.
^ Emerson V. B. Rogers, Granderson R. Wilson, and James M. Ir-
vin severally subscribed the printed form of oath, but no signature is
attached to the jurat.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Aaron Lewis, in the Wolf River
precinct, 14th election district, for the election of members of council
and of the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do
hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the fol-
lowing is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election
by lawful resident voters, viz :
490
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
For Council.
John W. Forman..
For Representatives.
J. H. Stringfellow..
Kichard L. Kirk
G. A. Cutler
J. Kyan
T. J. Vanderslice
John Landis
E. V. B. ROGEKS, >
G. K. WILSON, V Judges
J. W. IRWIN, )
List of voters.
1 Daniel Priehard
2 Daniel Graves
3 Anderson Sharp
4 Henry Welsh
5 A. Q. Kice
6 John Freeman, (oath)
7 Samuel Yerkley
8 George W. Delamore
9 Wm. B. Dunking
10 H. W. Foreman
11 W. B. Beeler
12 D. Vanderslice
14 Nelson Eogers
15 Richard Leach
16 Aaron Lewis
17 Isaac E. Craig
18 George Brown
19 J. S. Pemiton
20 Peter Minbeer
21 Wm. Vickers
22 Amos Critchfield
23 Harding Critchfield
24 F. M. Tufts
25 Jas. Vanderslice
26 Laban Prichard
27 Wm. Vanderslice
28 P. A. Hooper
29 Silas Stone
30 H. O'Neal
31 Thos. Martin
32 G. A. Culer, (oath)
33 Wm. Hammer
34 Samuel Berright
35 R. Dunkin
36 S. G. Fish
37 Geo E. Glass, (oath)
38 W. W. Jugg
39 Aaron P. Gyrick
40 David Bogard
41 Isaac Buster
42 John Acord
43 W. Lewis
44 Daniel Johnson
45 Alfred Gillmore
46 G. W. Gay
47 John Allpey
48 John P. Johnson
49 Milton Ult
50 Rhanalph Stallard
51 Thos. Allen
52 David E. Martin
53 George Jesse
54 Jas. Martin
55 C. Serls
56 Harden Riddle
57 R. M. Gillmore
58 Josephus Ult
59 W. M. Gillmore
60 G. R. Willson
61 Thos. Fitzhugh
62 Lewis Davis
63 Samuel Williams
64 James Williams
65 Jackson Becker
66 Chas. Blakelay, (oath)
67 E. B. Richardson
(Judge resigned)
68 Jonathan Springer
69 Henry Embry
70 E. V. B. Rogers
71 James M. Ervin
72 A. F. Ansburn
73 Eli Gabber d
74 Joseph Rice
75 A. J. Rice
76 Robert G. Maxwell
77 C. McCain
78 Morgan Jones
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT.
V^e, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the thirtiet
day of March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Charles Hayes, in the filij
te' nth election district, for the election of members of council and c i
the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereb^
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
491
certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is
a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election, by law-
ful resident voters, viz :
For Councilman.
D. A. N. Grover 411
J. Freeland 1
For Representative.
H. B. C. Hams ..412
J. Weddle 412
In testimony whereof, we, as judges of said election, have hereunto
set our hands and seals, this 30th day of March, A. D. 1855.
E. R. ZIMMERMAN.
T. J. THOMPSON.
M. T. BAILEY.
Oaths of the foregoing judges, according to printed form, in district
No. 1, before E. R. Zimmerman and T. J. Thompson.
1 S. W. Tunnel
2 M. J. High
3 John Eldridge
4 F. F. Couch
4 Win. Logan
5 B. A. Jones
6 J. H. Gant
7 Thomas Vizinli, S
8 Win. Bumel
9 E. Palmer, S
10 Henry Weathers, S
11 G. D. Gant
12 W. S. Gant
14 J. L. Johnson, S
15 Isaac Palmer
16 W. H. Midleton
17 G. Jones, S
18 J. H. Ricks, S
19 T. J. Medingly
20 G. W. Spenser
21 D. B. Kenshel
22 Lewis Warner
23 Andrew Baydson
24 J. T. Baley
25 C. C. Brodman
26 J. T. Moore
27 Benjamin Dunkin
28 J. W. Man
29 J. Dean
30 J. W. Foster
31 S. K. Hays
32 Wm. Jackson
33 Wm. Lacy, S
34 J. B. Dean, S
35 Robert Kid, S
36 R. C. Combs
37 J. M. Mayo, S
38 George Kitctoin
39 J. Steel
40 George Shotridge, S
41 H. W. Lyon, S
42 Benjamin Smith, S
43 J. M. Bradley
44 J. Dillard, S
45 Thomas Barber, S
46 Thomas Godard
47 James Hodges
48 James M. Owen, S
49 E. E. By waters
50 John Devenport
51 D. A. Stout
52 A. B. Mitchel
53 G. W. Culver
54 J. Dunneyhoe
55 Isaac McOwin
56 J. Holmon, S
57 K. Woods, S
58 Samuel Smith
59 B. Griffin, S
60 John Jones
61 J. W. Smith
62 John H. Hightown
63 John M. Browning
64 F. C. Hercey
65 J. Covington, S
66 Israel W. Swon
67 0. H. Jackson, S
68 J. W. Mcore
69 W. J. Furgeson, S
70 J. B. Byeistaff
71 A. M. Creek, S
72 John Weathers
73 B. J. Chapman
74 J. W. Chester
75 M. M. Winmer
76 J. B. Gurnett
77 B. F. Browin
78 J. L. Hall, S
492
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
79 Warren Saball
80 Samuel Thomas
81 H. Sweny, S
82 JolmFurney
83 P. T. Easby
84 J. J. Alexander
85 G. S. Farmer
86 W. C. Sinnford
87 Peter Orsion, S
88 H. M. Crumbo, S
89 Kobert Hooks, S
90 James Atkins
91 Perry Collins
92 Thompson Monuel
93 J. Basfield
94 W. White, S
95 Loson Maser, S
96 John Pankie
97 James Moore, S
98 Oliver Swinney
99 H. Block, S
100 Madison Alison
101 George Jones
102 B. S. Guitan, S
103 T. W. Long
104 D. C. Farron
105 F. T. Godard
106 S. M. Hale, S
107 J. M. Lewis
108 Isaac Dale
109 J. D. Long
110 Thomas Onley
111 W. W. Blond
112 D. W. Rusel
113 S. M. Bomon
114 L. Leach
115 J. M. Pendleton, S
116 Wm. Hanson, S
117 John Covington, S
118 C. C. Perkins, S
119 N. Mapin, S
120 B. F. Moore, S
121 J. Black, S
122 A. Loward, S
123 J. W. Shotwell, S
124 N. Walker, S
125 0. Ramsey
126 Wm. Grooms
127 James Cooley
128 John Ramsey
129 T J. Bohanan
130 M. V. Thomas
131 D. Johnson
132 W. S. Jordon
133 H. J. Baley, S
134 W. Paton
135 J. Telery, S
136 A. B. Owen, S
137 J. H. Richardson, S
138 John Lewis, S
139 Charles Patten, S
140 Henry Essex, S
141 J. Packer, S
142 Wm. Mugonson, S
143 Thomas Henderson, S
144 James Johnson, S
145 James Douglas, S
146 A. S. Fry
147 B. Cuck
148 J. F Spears
149 H. B. Colehan
150 C. S. Kilman
151 C. M. Hays
152 Jamer Blake
153 J. Slanmon
154 Jos. Hamlet
155 A. Allen
156 J. H. Bradley
157 George Croosey
158 J. M. Chrismon
159 James Lewis
160 John Welch
161 John Keller
162 J. A. Henderson
163 B. G. Brooks
164 John Goff
165 G. M. Tilford
166 Joseph Henderson
167 H. Gilbert
168 David Ross
169 Samuel Ross
170 C. Jones
171 E. Monzier
172 W. G. Mosh
173 E. F. Persons
174 A. C. Alexander
175 J. M. Lacy
176 J. M. Robinson
177 J. McCracken
178 M. Anims, S
179 Charles Rutherford
180 P. C. Flerney, S
181 W. Ashcroft, S
182 W. G. Noble, S
183 Wm. Baley
184 Benj. Yakmon
185 James Elson
186 Charles Mensend
187 John Butledge
188 W. W. Beckman
189 C. H. Shotwell
190 J. S. Bosley
191 T. S. Helm
192 C. Ray
193 D. Shanks
194 James Kane
195 John Newton
196 W. J. Wilcox
197 J. F. Clenox
198 John Reed
199 William Turner
200 J. W. Martin
201 J. W. Freeland
202 E. Hathety
203 S. Waller
204 J. W. Fisher
205 R. D. Davis
206 S. H. Serums
207 R. S. Merchant
208 P. Smell
209 F. B. Mitchell
210 B. F. Freeland
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
493
211 L. Burns
212 R. B. Hall
213 S. T. Ray
214 G. Henderson
215 H. Welch
216 K W. Hodges
217 N. C. White
218 M. Freeland
219 Joseph Lipscomb
220 F. M. Stenaly
221 J. L. Datson
222 G. W. Thompson
223 F. P. Penister
224 J. L. Cotter
225 R, L. Smith
226 A. Steavens
227 J. Meteror
228 John Freeland
229 S. Huntsacker
230 G. W. Mayers
231 E. C. Thomas
232 L. Elson
233 A. Kirkpatrick
234 A. Perlin
235 C. H. Mayers
236 Jacob Mayers
237 Joseph McBride
238 A. H. Durlap
239 J. P. Ermgton
240 James Welch
241 Geo. W. Jacobs
242 W. Eliot
243 C. Taylor
244 J. T. Brush
245 T. H. Mayers
246 P. Worner
247 Lewis Seadorel
248 P. S. Lumkins
249 H. Debord
250 A. Snider
251 S. T. Preston
252 L. J. Boles
253 N. Newby
254 W. Thompson
255 Charles Byington
256 A. M. Price
257 J. C. Cook
258 Geo. W. Davis
259 J. A. Beekner
260 J. B. Stokes
261 J. M. Steavens
262 G. W. Gates
263 D. L. Steavens
264 T. L. Fortune
265 A. G. Whitington
266 W. B. Stonaly
267 Jaines Boatman
268 William Welch
269 John M. Hays
270 C. H. Grover
271 P. H. Calvert
272 H. H. Hary
273 Jefferson Dyer
274 D. Hamilton
275 J. A. Miller
276 J. M. B. Smith
277 J. L. Page
278 Calvin Mayers
279 M. M. Blonn
280 Benj. Bonefont
281 J. B. Low
282 G. W. Smoote
283 G. W. Kile
284 W. Browley
285 E. B. Bishop
286 W. Dogney
287 B. W. Calvert
288 A. B. Sesson
289 T. Gladen
290 E. S. Dorington
291 Samuel Hodges
292 Thomas Deermin
293 J. H. Keninger
294 P. McMannanna
295 Joseph Smith
296 William Calvert
297 Jefferson Rows
298 N. V. Stevens
299 J. Elliot
300 George Steavens
301 N. J. Alexander
302 J. Smith
303 C. Hemson
304 W. W. Dorherty
305 E. J. Johnson
306 Daniel Goser
307 R. B. Mitchel
308 Thomas Donohoo
309 Geo. W. Gabbord
310 James Hunley
311 Lewis Calvert
312 A. Richards
313 B. J. Johnson
314 R. B. Toler
315 R. S. Graham
316 E. F. Slaggs;
317 F. Thomas
318 A. Bufford
319 B. F. Ross
320 B. Wallace
321 G. W. Sharpe
322 Johnson Adams
323 E. J. Cotton
324 T. W. Dowell
325 T. J. Kelly
326 S. Willis
327 D. Haladozer
328 B. F. Marron
329 Thomas Scott
330 S. H. Morsterson
331 J. R. Sheps
332 E. Downs
333 E. M. Brown, S
334 Daniel Kets
335 H. E. Bishops
336 John Graham
337 J. G. Bollard, S
338 John Collins
339 John Meyers
340 W. G. Shorpe
494
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
341 Win. Brown
342 0. Brown
343 B. K. Jacobs, S
344 Wm. Moore
345 T. A. Duval, S
346 A. Groves
347 E. J. Honey
348 J. E. Season
349 Wm. Callery
350 T. J. Stockwell
351 J. Wedale
352 W. J. Young
353 W. J. Baley
354 W. Martin
355 A. B. Hazard
356 P. Grimes
357 James Morten
358 J. K. Cassel
359 John Turner
360 A. Warner
361 F. L. Duglas
362 G. F. Shipherd
363 Daniel Hicken
364 Thomas Bonas
365 D. Penick
366 S. Adkins
367 H. B. C. Haris
368 Samuel Wallace
369 Jesse Johnson
370 Wm. Penick
371 John Davis
372 Jefferson Carter
373 W. H. Welle, S
374 M. P. Kevils
375 J. Maxwel
376 B. E. Eevely
377 H. Glum
378 W. M. Hays
379 A. J. Dorsen
380 John Thomshuger
381 John Wedale
382 Samuel Fuller
383 J. L. Eldridge
384 P. L. Thomshuger
385 W. B. Fulton
386 D. K. Anderson
387 W. J. Aliphant
388 W. J. Bell
389 John Dale
390 John C. Elece
391 Felix Brown
392 J. H. Wallace
393 L. Oldham
394 J. L. Carter
395 J. T. Simpson
396 Thomas Snody
397 James Weathers
398 N. Pi. Grun
399 Jacob Eyler
400 John Hart
401 A. W. Hughs
402 Washington Hays
403 Unson Jones
404 W. C. Finley
405 James Sego
406 B. T. Thompson
407 T. S. Kobins
408 J. S. Thompson
409 D. G. Short
410 S. G. Peerson
411 C. B. Hodges
412 E. K. Zimmerman
413 T. J. Thompson
414 H. B. Hendond
415 K. W. Thompson
416 M. T. Bailey
417 H. F. Roach.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held at the house o<
Charles Hayes, in the fifteenth election district, Kansas Territory, or
the 30th day of March, 1855, for councilmen and representatives, dd
certify, that the above is a true list of the names of voters taken a«
said house, on this the 30th day of March, 1855.
P. S. — The above is a true copy of the certificate on tally list, bun
not signed by any of the judges. A. T.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT — Leavenworth .
Matt. France was sworn as judge of the election, according to the
printed form, before George Kussell, justice of the peace.
Lewis N. Rees and G-eo. B. Panton subscribed the following, to wit:
We, Lewis N. Eees and George B. Panton, do solemnly sweau
that we will support the constitution of the United States, and thai
we will faithfully demean ourselves in the office of judge of the elec-
tion for the sixteenth district of Kansas Territory, and faithfully carry
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 495
out the provisions of the act of Congress organizing the Territories of
Kansas and Nebraska, to the best of our knowledge and ability.
LEWIS N. KEES,
G. B. PANTON.
Sworn to and subscribed before me —
GEO. RUSSELL, J. P.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th d'iy of
March, A. D. 1855, (called) at the house of Keller and Kyle, an I ad-
journed to the house of B. Wood, in the sixteenth election district,
for the election of members of council and of the house of represe ita-
tives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths
as judges of said election, that the following is a true and correct re-
turn of the votes polled at such election :
R. R. Bees candidate for council, received 896 votes.
L. J. Eastin do do do 893 "
B. H. Twombly do do do 60 "
A. J. Whitney do do do 59 "
James Kirkendall do do do 1 "
And of the candidates for representatives —
William Gr. Matthias received 899 votes.
H. D. McMeekin do 897 "
A.Payne do 895 "
Felix J. Braden do 59 "
gamuel France do 59 "
Francis Browning do 58 "
LEWIS N. REES, )
G. B. P ANTON, } Judges.
MATT. FRANCE, )
Poll-books of an election held at the town of Leaven worth, on the
|30th day of March, A. D. 1855, for the election of two members of
fthe council from the tenth council district, and three members of the
house of representatives from the sixteenth representative district, in
jthe Legislative Assembly of Kansas Territory.
lPoll-book of an election at Leavenworth — House of Representatives of
the Legislature.
1 Asa Smith 13 Eli More
2 Jeremiah. Clark 14 Green D. Todd
3 C. C. Brown 15 Travis Sterner
4 G. B. Redman 16 Edward N. Drodson
5 William Hodge 17 Samuel Paul
Francis Brown 18 Jeremiah Eice
7 Josiah Brown 19 w. L. Blanton
P. C. Grinter 20 Thomas Boyle
Thomas C. Bishop 21 W. W. Brown
10 William Cummins 22 T. P. L. Taylor
Holland Vanderhoor 23 Laschel Brown
12 Floyd Shannon 24 Hiram Frugate
496
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
25 John McConn
26 Denis 0' Kief
27 Horris Elliot
28 C. M. Burgess^
29 William Todd
30 N. Morrison
31 James Reding
32 JohnKeyes
33 Morris Ames
34 Thompson Mullins
35 Jesse Carter
36 Martin Darrell
37 Louis Marshall
38 Thomas Letch worth
39 Alpheus Keyes
40 N. A. Kirk
41 J. P. Gee
42 L. Miles
43 A. G. Davis
44 Arthur Wythers
45 Thomas Baumont
46 W. S. West
47 Robert Pence
48 Thomas Grubs
49 Frank Yonem
50 J. M. Guthrie
51 J. M. Sumners
52 E. H. Lee
53 Riland Shackleford
54 T. T. Jones
55 John Bryant
56 Matt. R. Walker
57 Jeremiah Crabh
58 E. G. Winchester
59 George Bottom
60 William S. Carroll
61 James H. Hall
62 A. H. Burgess
63 Benjamin F. Hickey
64 George R. Wood
65 W. Thornhill
66 G. B. Nuzum
67 George H. Rose
68 J. J. Smith
69 A. P. Rooker
•• 70 James L. Taylor
[,71 A. T. Guthrie
72 George F. Lickenbury
; 73 Houston Long
Q74 James M. Iddings
75 D. S. Leech
76 W. T. Henderson
? 77 A. T. Pattir
78 Thomas Steward
79 Samuel Runey
80 William Runey
81 Jas. W. Littlejohn
82 John E. Wells
83 William H. Stone
84 John C. Carr
85 Wm. W. Pullings
86 Dudley Thomas '
87 James Scrimrey
88 H. S. Butts
89 William R. Evens
90 Oscar S. Thomas
91 William B. Thomas
92 Jacob Snowden
93 Wesley S. Davidson
94 Simeon Marshall
95 John Smith
96 F. Arnold
97 Benjamin Robuc
98 Edward Sanderson
99 James Fox
100 C. L. Robberts
101 Lindsey Greening
102 Joseph Denigan
103 John M. Taylor
104 Robert L. McCaskey
105 Matthew M. Gun
106 William Sanderson
107 J. K. France
108 A. Russell
109 Leban Phillips
110 G. W. Barrus
111 Andrew Gusten
112 JohnTalbert
118 0. Griffith
114 Adam Talbert
115 James Sportsman
116 James Kincaid
117 B. G. Frazer
118 William Freeman
119 John Freeban
120 James Stone
121 Louis B. Chinn
122 James Sanders
123 George Quimby
124 Newton Beardon
125 Landon T. Carter
126 William N. Baldwin
127 George W. Baker
128 John Gibbs
129 E. H. Talbert
130 E. T. Pense
131 T. R, Buckhart
132 H. Garrett
133 H. C. Williams
134 LeviBras*her
135 Ephraim Clark
136 J. Zane
137 Noah Caton
138 James E. Dysart
139 William R. Redding
140 A. P. Leary
141 Alphonso More
142 David McCullum
143 Daniel Stuart
144 G. W. Jones
145 Walter Kunckels
146 John Anderson
147 D. P. Lewis
148 D. H. Peterman
149 William Spratt
150 A. N. Clarkson
151 N. R. Perkins
152 E. R. Williams
153 Thomas E. Waugh
154 John D. More
155 John W. Williams
156 Thomas H, Williams
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
497
157 Richard Dicken
158 Eleazar G. Stephenson
159 J, C. Hutchingson
160 John Applegate
161 J. Murray
162 John R. Fridley
163 Leander Kerr
164 Robert Scarce
165 James Dempsey
166 Rob. Wise
167 John T. Burnet
168 Moses Foss
169 Andrew Quince
170 William Pickering
171 Milton Darnold
172 John L. Brents
173 John J. Grinstead
174 Benjamin E. Horn
175 Garnold E. Mappin
176 John Vincent
177 John Bentz
178 Alpheus Cellars
179 H. S. Havings
180 Louis N. Best
181 James L. Hickman
182 John Venemon
183 N. J. Rucker
184 William N. Cannon
185 Michael McCaif
186 James N. Hands
187 William H. Adams
188 E. D. Porter
189 D. S. Collier
190 John D. Chapman
191 William Dickey
192 Benjamin Kinsey
193 Robert Harris
194 John Drew
195 John Thomas
196 James M. Smith
197 Mace Rust
198 Jackson Summers
199 J. V. Chance
200 H. C. Long
201 D. D. Brown
202 William J. Norris
203 R. C. White
204 J. F. Lawson
205 H. F. Rogers
206 Charles Shannon
207 John J. Ewing
208 David Tombs
209 William H. Letcher
210 R. W. Chinn
211 William L. Large
212 Silas Armstrong
213 John McNevin
214 Francis Vanderpcol
215 William Webster
216 Isaac Long
217 R. P. Smith
218 W. A. Wilson
219 William Hanley
220 B. F. Woods
221 Francis P. Garret
222 Jesse W. Clark
H. Eep. 200 32*
223 J. H. Horton
224 Arthur M. Nicholson
225 Samuel H. Burgess
226 David W. Reynolds
227 S. W. Harper
228 Benjamin R. Bell
229 William B. Almond
230 Francis Carter
231 Warner J. Miller
232 John W. Redding
233 M. B. James
234 A. Landree
. 235 Ellis Brooks
236 L. G. Patrick
237 William H, Arnold
238 H. C. Loflin
239 E. McD, Coffee
240 James M. Long
241 William D. Long
242 J. L. Guillet
243 Thomas Shirnmin
244 Daniel C. Ames
245 W. Brockman
246 William Cox
247 James Burnett
248 Thomas Stone
249 John Randall
250 Charlton Frey
251 W. C. Applegate
252 Henry Godsey
253 John Stone
254 J. C. Clark
255 John C. Berry
256 William Bussay
257 J. W. Morland
258 Thomas N. Smith
259 Thomas Smith
260 James M. Scott
261 William Beal
262 John P. Williams
263 George W. Graham
264 William M. Edwards
265 John Nursery
266 L. F. Hollingsworth
267 Ed ward M. Wood
268 Reason Wilcoxon
269 J. S. Burgess
270 William G. Hardin
271 John B. Camp
272 Joseph Grinnard
273 N. B. Hedges
274 F. Marshall
275 Rub. Sutton
276 JohnKincaid
277 John Barnett
278 John T. Hardy
279 William R. Franklin
280 Louis Pippin
281 Michael Russell
282 J. I. Clark
283 James K. Vanderpool
284 A. J. Norwood
285 W. Christerson
286 William C. Davis
287 James Swan, (Wyt.)
288 John R. Courtney
498
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
289 B. W. Magee
290 L. B. Carter
291 John Merchant
292 Lance Woodward
293 William H. Marlon
294 Samuel R. Offend
295 W. P. Gibson
296 C. H. Kelsey
297 W. N. Thompson
298 Andrew Craig
299 R. H. Hyde
300 William Guess
301 Willis J. Kaimes
302 G. M. Pryor
303 Burrell Lee
304 JoabLann
305 George Callihan
306 Smith Calvert
307 Jackson Hanley
308 James T. Bohanon
309 N. A. Wilkenson
310 H. C. Dunn
311 Joseph Courtney
312 Luke Jefferson
313 Thomas Kinsley
314 Allen Crowd er
315 J. F. Minter
316 I. C. Nicholson
317 F. G. Montgomery
318 William H. Good
319 F. Brown, jun.
320 B. Lampton
321 M. R. Granton
322 Ransom Henry
323 John G. Miller
324 T. C. Berryman
325 A. H. Conley
326 C. F. Bredan
327 John H. Berryman
328 Nathan Ames
329 Sam'l T. Brookin
330 Jno. W. Greason
331 John J. Arnold
332 John Kinnon
333 Hugh More
334 Payton T. Smith
335 B. W. Mitchell
336 H. R. Pollard
337 Matthew Splitlog
338 JoelHockins
339 Kaleb W. Right
340 Ellen Williams
341 John Adkin
342 Newton Head
343 R. G. Bever
344 R. A. Owens
345 John Cokely
346 R. F. Dunkin
347 Milton Adkinson
348 John G. Pratt
349 N. N. Neagles
350 John T. Plummer
351 A. E. Chitham
352 H. Carpenter
353 Joseph Norvens
354 Thomas Dorris
355 Jefferson Park
356 William Hammack
357 R. M. Gordon
358 Amos Lewis
359 Chisley Brastfield
360 James S. Cushmberry
361 Washington Bennett
362 Thos. Scott
363 W. L. Wolford
364 Jas. H. Melopin
365 John L. Dagley
366 A. McClure
367 Wm. Smith
368 Jeptha Woodward
369 D. C. Hollingsworth
370 Wm. M. Douglass
371 David C. Bogy
372 Z. M. Auford
373 John J. Winn
374 John E. Stone
375 Andrew J. Scott
376 Ambrose Murray
377 John H. Dennis
378 B. S. Powall
379 J. H. Hollingsworth
380 A. P. Walling
381 Joseph Simpson
382 J. R. Stephenson
383 C. E. Walfork
384 J. M. Hawkins
385 Howard Conlay
386 H. Downing
387 John S. Swinegine
388 C. H. Pinock
389 W. M. Samuel
390 J. B. Dunkin
391 M. L. Walton
392 M. S. Twoman
393 T. J. Carson
394 C. B. White
395 C. D. Chance
396 William Williams
397 I. S. Townsand
398 Wm. Peters
399 Sam'l F. Few
400 Wm. N. Davis
401 A. Wilson
402 David Willis
403 Thomas Cuming
404 Thomas Warren
405 Robert Young
406 Eze Downing
407 Mortimer C. Park
408 Lemuel H. Evans
409 Jeremiah Johnson
410 Vance Woodward
411 John Ramsay
412 J. C. Richardson
413 I. Welch
414 Milton Dale
415 Newton Denny
416 T. J. McClelland
417 Sam'l Duncan
418 Thomas R. Moppins
419 Sydney Willey
420 John C.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
421 Wm. Wallace
422 Wm. N. Phillips
423 Marion Todd
424 Henry Varner
425 Jos. Hicks
426 Sterling Swinegin
427 Joseph Stygers
428 Dan'l Allen
429 Wm. Sanders
430 I. Albright.
431 Geo. Brown
432 N. C. Norton
433 S. Lanning
434 Jos. M. Long
435 K. H. Stewart
436 C. C. McKinney
437 A. T. Harper
438 Lewis Jones
439 J. R. Tanner
440 E. Taney
441 Louis Clark, (Wyt.)
442 J. G. More
443 Absolem Wallon
444 C. Starnes
445 I. T. Kobberts
446 Dan'l M. Francis
447 Wm. J. McLoney
448 John W. Davidson
449 H. S. Parton
450 A. C. Powell
451 E.F.Hix
452 J.C.Griffith
453 E. B. Jacks
454 W.W.Vincent
455 James G. Hack
456 John Flint
457 Louis Minch
458 Eph Bailey
459 David Nichol
460 J. E. Davidson
461 Nicholas Hedrick
462 Wm. Kince
463 Geo. W. Anderson
464 H. T. Dagley
465 Anson Dolen
466 David Churchill
467 D. J. Morgan
468 And. J. McClure
469 G. W. McClure
470 J. E. Thompson
471 Henry Busey
472 W. Myers
473 Thos. Starnes
474 D. Gellespie
475 Wm. Johnson, (Wyt.)
476 Jason Cyane, (Wyt.)
477 Mason Hall
478 Chas. Hunt
479 Wm.G.Raney
480 Wm. E.Oliver
481 A. G. Williams
482 Matthew Murditor, (Wyt.)
483 Eli Sweet
484 James McKinster
485 Geo. B. Dunkin
486 Henry Miller.
487 G, R. Conhan
488 R. H. Stephenson
489 J. R. Congers
490 Nathan Crawford
491 R. E. Sanders
492 Traverse Brown
493 Isaac Simpson
494 John Y. Owens
495 Wm. Vineyard
496 Jesse Vineyard
497 Graham Turner
498 James Bruce
499 Thos. H Turner
500 C,A. Perrin
501 C. M, Hooker
502 Alex. Baker
503 John Buckham
504 Elias Jacks
505 Joseph H. Thompson
506 Evin Timberlick
507 James Tate
508 James C, Turner
509 George W. Dye
510 Geo, I. Clark
511 Calvin Norville
512 John C. Posey
513 Thomas Coneyhack, (Wyt.)
514 Noel McGuire
515 A. J. Ouden
516 Dan'l Baker
517 Bolin Baker
518 Thos, Baker
519 J.S. Gates
320 James Coy
521 Thos. Herndon
522 Hugh Archy
523 Nat Hays
524 Jas. Foster
525 Barnabus Gubille
526 W.S,Offutt
527 J, R. Faulkner
528 AmosRees
529 John Timberlick
530 John Herndon
531 Jacob Heck
532 KD. Long
533 John Allen
534 John Lewis, (Wyt.)
535 R.M. Maggot
536 J. Harper
537 A.J. Leney
538 Geo. W.-Conley
639 Geo, E. Craft
540 James Pearce
541 A. Boon
542 John Comstock, (Wyt )
543 John Creamer
544 M. D. Gough
545 A. T. Force
546 George Rathburn
547 Wm. Birch
548 J. W. Simmons
549 And. A. Downing
550 C. H. Jones
551 E. W. Brown
&52 W. Browa
500
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
553 John K. Frey
554 John C. Gist
555 David Bransfield
556 Saml. H. Ferguson
557 Sol. Buxton
558 G. N. Bomont
559 Jas. Maine
560 John W. Williams
561 H. W. Frey
562 Saml. E. Jacobs
563 S. E. Phar
564 William Yates
565 G W. Craven
566 John Maggett
567 Jos. H. Conley
568 Geo. Brassfield
569 Wm. Jacks
570 Asbury Wilson
571 Amos D. Martus
572 John J. Throgmartoa
573 H. M. Hook
574 N. Timberly
575 J. W. Carter
576 J. L. Condrell
577 Isaac N. Brockmais
578 Nat. Shrewsbury
579 Willis Cartwright
580 Chesley Foot
581 L. J. Eastin
582 Ambrose B. Jones
583 Wm. A. Gabbiot
584 G. Sprague
585 Jacob Pitts
586 Benj. W. Marsh
587 F. S. Anterberry
588 Wm. K. Fisher
589 Jesse C. Stovald
590 John C. Scott
591 W. W. Woods
592 G. W. Allbright
593 Nat. J. Conley
594 Geo. W. Taylor
595 Wm. Thomas
596 Fontin P. Bradly
597 Jas. Barber
598 Wm. Black
599 John Boyd
600 Wm. Wings
601 Jas. A. Harrison
602 Thos. S. Owens
603 T. R. Manson
604 James Ringold
605 R. C. Thompson
606 Thos. H. Porter
607 W. M. Scott
608 P. R. Wagner
609 D. S. Boyle
610 C. F. Robinson
611 Geo. Woodhouse
612 W. D. Short
613 E. K. Goviet
614 W. S. Chuk
615 G. W. Frederick
616 J. M. Love
617 W. H. Wite
618 Wm. A. Clapp
619 S. A. McCreary
620 D. S. Gordon
621 Jos. Hulin
622 T. L. Johnson
623 B. F. Young
624 W. Hyde
625 A. McAnley
626 A. R. Lasley
627 W. E. Cunningham
628 Wm. C. Briskey
629 John More
630 F. W. Johnson
631 Joseph Todd
632 Bristin Pierce
633 G. W. Ray
634 W. H. Long ,
635 Clinton C. Morgan
636 Squire Grier (Wyt.)
637 Nelson Hanley
638 J. C. Thompson
639 Geo. Staggers
640 E. H. Pence
641 E. E. M. Rankin
642 A. J. Damascus
643 John Elliott
644 Wm. Thompson
645 James McDonald
646 Morgan Kay
647 Wiley M. English
648 Allen Sloan
649 H. B. Kelley
650 A. W. Mason
651 E. T. Johnson
652 James Drais
653 Wm. T. Scott
654 Marion Burkett
655 J. H. Withers
656 M. Daring
657 John Doss
658 James Larrett
659 Hugh McCowan
660 Geo. Spybuck (Wyt.)
661 Chopelark
662 J. P. Dunham
663 J. I. Long
664 Jim White
665 Wm. Boyd
666 F. E. Hulen
667 Wm. Phillips
668 Richard H. Lawson
669 Wm. M. Common
670 C. B. Garrett
671 I. Munday
672 Wm. Yokum
673 C. H. Allen
674 H. C. Hollaway
675 Israel Dorrity
676 J. Rogers
677 W. T. Barbee
678 T. B. Wright
679 D. Large
680 J. L. Lamnel
681 H. F. Powers
C82 S. Cates
683 Jer. Short
684 R. Redding
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
501
685 D. B. Kellog
686 B. M. Crust
687 M. Smith
688 A. Wilson
689 J. P. Russel
690 J. Hoyt
691 J. Spratt
692 Wm. L. Stephens
693 W. Moley
694 James O'Toole
695 A. W. Harvey
696 A. S. Parker
697 F. A. Eobberts
698 A. J. Porter
699 Nat. Campbell
700 C. McCrey
701 L. T. Olliver
702 Win. Hedrick
703 Sam E. Frazer
704 James L. Thompson
705 John R. Miller
706 Isaac Anher
707 H. H. Harrison
708 I. K Henderson
709 W. H. Piere
710 John S. Prat
711 R. M. Johnson
712 Wm. G. Matthias^
713 Jos. Booles
714 Steph. Hedrick
715 J. R. Coffman
716 M. L. McDonald
717 W. T. Woods
718 Henry Herndon
719 John C. Stephenson
720 Wm. Holt
721 David McCollum
722 A. Gilbert
723 B. D. Spenser
724 Abel Henderson
725 W. P. Loan
726 W. L. Blair
727 B. S. Richards
728 Ed. O'Riley
729 P. Frederick
730 Lewis Wilkes
731 J. F. Pitts
732 W. H. Golden
733 J. B. Eldred
734 J. Chana
735 J. F. Clarkson
736 J. M. Alexander
737 James B. Craig
738 J. C. Cockerell
739 A. Brady
740 Martin Hefferlin
741 C. C. Coon
742 J. C. Clarkson
743 E. Forsythe
744 Sam Stable
745 John Stanton
746 R. M. Prather
747 James Hall
748 Jas. M.Davis
749 W. Redding
750 Ethen A. Long
751 A.KChii
752 Jo. Sanders
753 Edwin Rawson
754 Joel Basham
755 W.A. Guthrie
756 Patrick Hall
757 John Roe
758 Ed.Garrett
759 Amt. Owens
760 KD,Cord
761 R.F,Lisk
762 G. L, Brown
763 J. C. Gentry
764 Lucius Chafers
765 J. H. Brown
766 Myron Phillips
767 J.W.Todd
768 J. P. Crosswhite
769 Moses Whitsoa
770 J, W, Brown
771 L.P. Stiles
772 Edward Duncan
773 J. McGuire
774 Q. C, Tritt
775 G. W. Gobie
776 G. Wood
777 Jno. Watson
778 W. F. Dodge
779 J. Flemmings
780 David Bevens
781 Alfred Stoker
782 Jas. S. Gillin
783 George Smith
784 R. C. Miller
785 David Sprat-fc
786 D. B. Craddock
787 N. M. Miller
788 Alex. Kelley
789 Sam'l Fernandes
790 Rub. Snellgrove
791 James Finley
792 J. W. Corser
793 A. H. Scott
794 G. W. Ring
795 James M. Rothwell
796 W. D. Hickson
797 Win. Cornelius
798 L. D. Pitcher
799 A. Dawson
300 R. R. Rees
£01 G. W. Roberts
802 Jacob Whitecron
803, 'Battiste
804 John Lerriearst
S05 F. Gilbert
806 James McGintee
#07 John L. True
,808 George Evang
509 John Arms
810 Jacob Colnian
811 Aug. Smith
812 John S. Wilkinson
813 William Callahan
814 Joseph Halliday
815 Charles Hanley
816 J. H. McBride
502
KANSAS AFFAIRS,
817 L. W. Holland
818 Sam'l Phillips
819 C. C, Harrison
820 A. F. McAffee
821 8. Leach
822 A. Lanter
823 W. S. Durneal
824 John S. Slaughter
825 Joel Hiat
826 Isaac Carver
827 Harry Burnett
&28 William S. Yoke
829 William Lillie
830 G. F. Warren
831 William McLean
832 Samuel Finley
833 Michael Kelley
834 Simeon Scroggs
835 A. J. Bowers
836 Thomas McLan.®
837 Ed. MeLane
838 J. H. Day
839 Aug. White
84.0 W. S.Boone
841 H. C. Pence
842 G. W. Copely
843 Maleom Clark
844 Greenberry White
845 William Giffias
846 William F. Murphjr
847 Lawrence Kennedy
848 George H. Keller
849 B. B. Boberts
850 William Pents
851 Geo. W. Bobbins-
852 John Dailey
853 B. McCreary
854 Samuel Polk
855 Eneas Curnininga
856 L. T. Doolittle
857 Jos. Murphy
858 James K. Edsel
859 John Petit
860 John M. White
861 F. E. Bird
862 James McGower*
863 D. J. Pence
864 Edward Dunn
865 G. S. W. Jessie
866 G. J. Pence
867 L. D. McLeaa
868 G. B. Panton
869 L. A. Bees
870 Joseph S. MeAlee?»
871 James M. Lyle
872 Bandolph Moxley
873 Michael Birch
874 Matthew Doyle
875 Henry J. Williams
876 James Beswick
877 J.B. Ewell
878 John Foster
879 John Dunn
880 James Foster
881 Perry Yocum,
882 George Froze*
883 Thomas Brown
884 Willey Williams
885 E. W. Hathaway
886 R. M. Davenport
887 W. A. Newman
888 William Conley
889 John Gunsollis
890 Smith Turner
891 Bobert Grant
892 George Kimper
893 Alexander Hamilton
894 John M. Feckler
895 ClisbyCox
896 Isaac Williams
897 H. I. Wolf
898 Gilbert Scott
899 Malhone Bullock
900 B. H. Foster
901 Buren Anderson
902 William McKenney
903 William C. Kimber
904 H. M. More
905 Jacob Sears
906 Benjamin Hugin
907 Samuel Brown
908 John W. Wallace
909 J. E. Glines
910 James Biche
-911 George McCalligher
912 Lewis Webber
913 Caleb Dunham
914 Joseph Kelley
915 H. L. Lee
916 W. F. Boyd
917 John B. Wells
918 Clark Tritt
919 Levi Furguson
920 Nat. Henderson
921 B.W. Budd
922 P. B. Orr
923 Abraham Hellem
924 Samuel Campbell
925 James W. Baker
926 Aaron Groover
927 A. Payne
928 D. A. Johnston
929 John W. Hendley
930 G. W. Walker
931 W. W. Counn
932 L. F. Mills
933 P. G. Low
934 Jonathan Hall
935 Noel B. Brooks
936 H. D.McMeekin
937 George Carson
938 Willis Hughes
939 John Boles
940 B. F. Smith
941 W. B. Holdman
942 Charles Levere
943 John Frazer
944 John Keeffer
945 Lester Tennal
946 Benjamin T. Luce
947 John J. Luce
948 Benjamin Wycoff
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 508
949 W. Saunders 957 Jonas Screach
950 Sam'l Fryar 958 William R. Hall
951 Robt. N. Rogers 959 Rob. Ranson
952 E. Oldhauser 960 Wm. A. McDowell
953 Israel Gibson ^961 Rob. D. Mahain »
954 B. Peck 962 James Glenning \
955 Jefferson Copeland 963 W. F. Wyant
956 Joshua Copeland 964 J. E. Grant.
PROTEST.
We, the undersigned, citizens of the sixteenth election district of
Kansas Territory, hereby protest against certificates of election being
given to the following named persons to the legislature of Kansas
Territory : For council, E. E. Eees and L. J. Eastin ; for represen-
tative, Win. G. Mathias, H. D. McMeekin, and A. Payne ; and for
the following reasons : That two of the judges of the election did not
take the oath of office required by your excellency. That residents
of Missouri came here on the 29th and 30th of March ; that they voted
for the above named individuals, and then immediately returned.
That the New Lucy, a boat, on the morning of the day of election,
started for Leaven worth from Weston, with citizens of Missouri ; that
the citizens of Missouri on said boat did vote at the polls of the six-
teenth district, and then immediately returned on said boat to
Missouri; that many citizens of said district were deterred from
voting by the conduct of citizens of Missouri.
We therefore pray that your excellency will appoint a day on
which a hearing can be had.
Wm. Phillips T. A. Hart
James K. Edsale N. Fays
E. B. Eobe,rts Aaron Foster
Cyrus Austin Geo. Brubaker
Jonathan Kelly G. B. White
Geo. Woodhouse N. Adams
J. E. E. Howald H. D. Streeter.
2b His Excellency A. H. EEEDER, Governor of Kansas Territory.
William Phillips being duly sworn, makes affidavit that the above
statement is true, to the best of his knowledge and belief.
WM. PHILLIPS.
GEO. EUSSEL, J. P.,
Sixteenth District, Kansas Territory.
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of
March, A. D. 1855, at Shawnee Methodist church, in the seventeenth
election district, for the election of members of council and of the
louse of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify
ipon our oaths, as judges of said election, that the following is a true
tnd correct return of the votes polled at such election, by lawful
esident voters, viz :
504
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
For the council : Thomas Johnson received forty-two (42) votes
E. Chapman received forty -three (43) votes ; Samuel N. Wood received
sixteen (16) votes ; Joel A. Gooden received sixteen (16) votes.
For representatives : Alexander S. Johnson received forty-thre
(43) votes; V. F. Powel received sixteen (16) votes.
CYPKIAN CHOUTEAU.
C. B. DONALDSON.
CHAKLES BOLES.
Poll-book of an election held on the 30th day of March, 1855, at till
Shawnee Methodist church, in the Territory of Kansas, for the pun
pose of electing two councilmen and one representative to the
ture of said Territory.
1 Stephen F. Payne
2 Samuel Garrett
3 Hopson Perry
4 Samuel D. Lecompte
5 Andrew Monroe
6 Daniel Doffirmune
7 John Tole
8 Wm. Donaldson
9 Samuel F. Hoffaker
10 John A. Hildermon
11 William Arnold
12 Joseph Porks
13 Christopher Deskims
14 H. A. Davis
15 Isaac Parish
16 Joseph McDowel
17 Kobert Brown
18 Isaiah Hadley
19 Peter Shunberry
20 B. T. Kobinson
21 Augustus Charles
22 William P. Johnson
23 George Buchhomnam
24 T. P. Bailey
25 F. B. Dreper
26 Frederick Chatian
27 John Dunoth
28 John Owens
29 Frederick Booker
30 ElihuOsens
31 Henry Coffrnan
32 Joseph Frazer
33 L. C. Mathews
34 Charles Chrudur
35 B. F. Johnson
36 Coyfemar Chouteau
37 Samuel Paul
38 Eichard Menderihall
39 Samuel M. Cornatzer
40 Thomas Johnson
41 C. B. Donaldson
42 C. Bowls
43 J. K. Johnson
44 Felen L. Ferrell
45 Phillip Cook
46 W. Shinhurg
47 A. Gueone
48 M. P. Randall
49 J. C. Pollard
50 Joseph West
51 Daniel Wodson
52 Eli Wilson
53 James Bowles
54 Milton Woodey
55 Isaac Hencha
56 Siras Rogers
57 W. H. Byrnes
58 John Loman
59 John Montgomery.
Tally papers of an election held on the 30£A day of March, A. D. 185F.
at the Shawnee Methodist church, in the Territory of Kansas, for flJ\
purpose of electing two councilmen and one representative to the legit]
lature of said Territory.
For Councilmen.
Thomas Johnson 42
E. Chapman 43
Samuel N. Wood.. 16
JoelH. Goodin.. . 16
For Representative.
A. S. Johnson 43
A. T. Powell., . 16
I, John Montgomery, do solemnly swear that I will perform tfc
duties of clerk of the election of the l*7th district of the Territory <
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 505
i Kansas according to the best of my ability, and according to the law ;
i»nd that I will strictly endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit, and abuse
in conducting the same.
JOHN MONTGOMERY.
I, Richard Mendenhall, do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare
and affirm that I will perform the duties of clerk of the election in
the 17th election district of the Territory of Kansas according to law,
and to the best of my ability ; and that I will studiously endeavor to
prevent fraud, deceit, and abuse in conducting the same.
RICHARD MENDENHALL.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) . .
Territory of Kansas. )
I hereby certify that John Montgomery and Richard Mendenhall,
clerks of the election held in the 17th election district of the Territory
of Kansas, on the thirtieth (30th) day of March, A. D. 1855,
(eighteen hundred and fifty-five,) were severally, the first named
sworn, and the last named affirmed, as the law directs, previously to
entering upon the duties of their office.
SAMUEL D. LECOMPTE,
Chief Justice, Territory of Kansas.
We, Cyprian Chouteau, C. B. Donaldson, and Charles Boles, do
solemnly swear that we will severally perform the duties of a judge
>f an election, in and for the 17th district of the Territory of Kansas,
iccording to law, and to the best of our abilities ; and that we will
studiously endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit, and abuse in conducting
the same.
CYPRIAN CHOTEAU.
C. B. DONALDSON.
CHARLES BOLES.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) .
Territory of Kansas. J S(
I do hereby certify that Cyprian Chouteau, C. B. Donaldson, and
Jharles Boles, judges of the election held in and for the 17th district
xf the Territory of Kansas, on the 30th day of March, A. D. 1855,
Vere severally sworn, as the law directs, previously to entering on
.he duties of their office.
SAMUEL D. LECOMPTE,
Chief Justice, Territory of Kansas.
EIGHTEENTH DISTRICT.
Jesse Adamson, Thomas J. B. Cramer, and John Bellew were
worn as judges— printed form of oath.
Adamson administered oath to Cramer, and he toother two judges.
506
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Pott books of election at the house of Wm. W. Moore, on the Nemeha.
1 S. J. Cramer
2 Geo. H. Baker
3 Joseph H. Walker
4 Robert Sate
5 Wm. Cain
6 G. Dorriss
7 Jeremiah Vardeman
8 William Hayter
9 Benjamin Raton
.10 Bluford Adkins
11 Jesse Hodges
12 Wm. Baldwin
13 James C. Gwynn
14 Wm. Sandy
15 Joseph Stone
16 A. K. Head
17 P. Cooper
18 James Simpson
19 W. Owen
20 R. L. Kirk
21 John Johnson
22 John Hay den
23 James S. Durnall
24 Clay Cook
25 James Clancy
26 Joel W. Moore
27 John Wilson
28 John Belle w
29 S. J. B. Cramer
30 Elbert 0. Walker
31 John Jott
32 Edward Homer
33 Samuel Crozier
34 Greenberry Key
35 Benjamin Winkles
36 Hiram H. Lanham
37 H. M. Newton
38 Thomas Newton
39 John W. Brown
40 Jesse Miller
41 Daniel Yolt
42 Jonathan Berry
43 Sampson Park
44 Thomas Edwards
45 R. C. Cain
46 Thomas Lincoln
47 John Cain
48 John Fry
49 Richard Garths
50 Edward Layton
51 Jesse Adamson
52 Melchior Biown
53 Henry Coons
54 Walter D. Beales
55 Isaac B. Miller
56 Richard Clancy
57 George W. Wait
58 James Dryden
59 Amos Porter
60 W. W. Moore
61 James O'Laughlin
62 John O'Laughlin.
JUDGES' RETURNS.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th da*
of March, A. D. 1855, at the house of W. W. Moore, in the eighteenti
election district, for the election of memhers of council and the houa
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do herehy certify, upo*
oar oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a true au-i
correct return of the votes polled at such election hy lawful resides
voters, viz :
For Representative.
J. H. Stringfellow 4
R. L. Kirk 5
Joel Ryan
a. A. Cutler
John Landis 1
Witness our hands this 30th day of March, 1855.
JESSE ADAMSON.
THOMAS J. B. CRAMER.
JOHN BELLEW.
For Council.
John W. Forman ............. 61
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 507
EXTRACT FROM THE EXECUTIVE MINUTES OF THE TERRITORY OF KANSAS.
April 5, 1855. — The governor, with D. Woodson, secretary of the
Territory, and J. A. Halderman, executive clerk, proceeded to open
md examine the returns of election for members of council and house
)f representatives in the several districts of the Territory, held on
;he 30th day of March last, when it appeared that the following re-
turns and other papers had been received :
Council District. — Second Representative District.
jist of voters .................................................................. 1,044
Oaths of J. B. Abbott, Hugh 'Cameron, Theodore E. Benjamin,
nd Eobert A. Cummins, in form^rescribed.
Tally List.
For Council. For Representative.
'homas Johnson ............. 780 James Whitlock ............. 780
1. Chapman .................. 783 A. B. Wade .................. 781
L K. Goodin ................. 254 J. M. Banks .................. 781
i. N. Wood .................. 255 John Hutehinson ............ 252
E. D. Ladd ................... 253
P. P. Fowler .................. 254
S. C. Pomeroy ............... 1
D. L. Croysdale ............. 1
A.F.Powell .................. 1
W. P. Atwood ............... 1
K. G. Elliott .................. 1
; Return of Hugh Cameron, Robert A. Cummins, and Theodore E.
lenjamin, in form prescribed., with an erasure of the words "by law*
11 resident voters, ' ' showing —
For Council. For Assembly.
r.bomas Johnson ............. 780 James Whitlock ............. 780
award Chapman ............ 783 A. B. Wade .................. 781
oelK. Goodin ............... 254 John M. Banks .......... ..... 781
fcmuel N. Wood ............ 255 John Hutchinson ............ 252
Garles Garrett .............. 1 E. D. Ladd ................... 253
bah Cameron ............... 1 P. P. Fowler .................. 254
Samuel C. Pomeroy ......... 1
D. L. Croysdale ............. 1
A. F. Powell ................. 1
P. Atwood .................... 1
R. G. Elliott .................. 1
Second Representative District. — Fourth Election District.
I$b of voters .......... , ................ 80
508
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Oaths of David Pultz, Thomas Mockabee, and J. B. Davis, omi
ting as follows: "That I will reject the votes of all non-residen
who I shall believe have come into the Territory for the mere purpoj
of voting ; that in all cases where I am ignorant of the voter's righ
I will require legal evidence thereof by his own oath or otherwis<
and that I will truly count and record the votes received, and make
true and faithful return thereof to the governor of said Territory."^
And adding in lieu thereof the words: "That we will deliver, ;
goon as possible, the paper to the governor of the said Territory/'
Tally List.
For Representative.
A. S. Johnson
A. F. Powell..
For Council.
Thomas Johnson 78
E. Chapman 78
S. N.Wood 2
J. K. Goodin.. . 2
Eeturn of same judges in form prescribed, omitting the words
lawful resident voters," showing —
For Council.
Thomas Johnson 78
E. Chapman 78
S. N. Wood 2
J. K. Goodin.. . 2
For Eepresentative.
A. S. Johnson
A. F. Powell..
Seventeenth Election District.
List of voters
Oaths of Judges C. B. Donaldson, Charles Boles, and Cyprian Chlj
teau, that they "will perform the duties of judges of election in i \
for the seventeenth district of the Territory of Kansas, according)
law and the best of our abilities, and will studiously endeavor to ]]•
vent fraud, deceit, and abuse, in conducting the same."
Tally List.
For Representative.
A. S. Johnson
A. F. Powell..
For Council.
Thomas Johnson 42
E. Chapman 43
S. N. Wood 16
JoelK. Goodin.. ..16
Keturn of said judges in form prescribed by proclamation^ shl
ing—
For Council.
Thomas Johnson 42
E. Chapman 43
S. N. Wood 16
Joel K. Goodin 16
For Representative.
A. S. Johnson .'.
A. F. Powell..
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 509
Protest of Samuel F. Tappan and twenty others, claiming to be
residents of the first election district, to declare void, to set aside the
returns and election in said district, or that certificates he given to
Joel K. Goodin and S. N. Wood lor council, and to John Hutchin-
son, E. D. Ladd, and P. P. Fowler ; for the reason that six or seven
hundred armed men encamped in the vicinity of the polls on the 29th
and 30th of March, collected around said polls and kept them in their
possession, on the day of the election, till late in the afternoon, and
who left the district during the afternoon and the ensuing day. Said
persons were strangers, helieved to come from the State of Missouri;
Citizens of the district were threatened with violence and prevented
From voting. Affidavit hy all the signers, together with affidavits of
Harrison Nichols, Edwin Bond, David Conger, N. B. Blanton, and
Samuel Jones, tending to prove threats, violence, and non-resident
noting.
Protest of Perry Fuller, E. W. Moore, judges appointed to hold
ihe election, and twenty-nine other persons, claiming to he residents,
complaining that the said election was opened hy unauthorized judges
it eight o'clock a. m., and at a place different from that prescribed
n the proclamation, and that non-residents surrounded the polls with
ire-arms and voted indiscriminately. — Affidavit of Benjamin Fuller
ind E. W. Moore.
Second Council District. — Third Representative District.
List of voters 341
Oaths of F. E. Lehay, Paris Ellison, and Sherman J. Waful, in
form prescribed. Affidavit before G. W. Taylor.
i Eeturn of same judges, showing the following result :
.For Council. For ^Representative.
&, McDonald 318 G. W. Ward 318
f. A. Wakefield 12 0. H. Brown 318
Isaac Davis 12
E. G. Macy 12
Keport of Harrison Burson and Nathaniel Ramsey, under oath,
,tated that they entered upon their duties as judges of election and
iolled some few votes, when they were driven from the room by a
ompany of armed men from the State of Missouri, who threatened
heir lives and commenced to destroy the house and beat in the door,
lemanding the right to vote without swearing to their place of resi-
.ence ; that having made their escape with the poll-books and certifi-
'ates, they were followed by said persons and the said papers taken by
brce.
Protest by A. B. Woodward and nineteen other persons, claiming
o be citizens of said district, against the election in said district of
L McDonald, 0, H. Brown, and G. W. Ward, for the reason that
everal hundred men from the State of Missouri presented themselves
:> vote at said election, and upon being required by the judges to
510 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
swear to their place of residence, they threatened to take the lives o
the judges and tear down the house, and prepared to demolish thi
house. One of said judges ran out of the house with the ballot-box*
and the other two were driven from the ground ; that the citizens c
the district then left, and the persons from Missouri proceeded to elec;
other judges and hold an election ; with affidavit of J. C. Archbol
and G. W. Umburger, with an additional affidavit of Jos. N. Mace*
tending to prove violence and threats of the death to (of?) any votet
swearing to his residence, and that he was dragged by force from tB:
window and prevented from voting.
Third Council District. — Fourth Representative District.
List of voters 31l
Tally list.
For Council. Ror Representative.
H. J. Stickler 310 D. L. Croysdale 3(
A. McDonald 1 C. K. Holliday
G. W. Ward
With certificate annexed that the judges appointed by the proclaim!
tion did, after the hour of 9 a. m., severally refuse to join in holdmj
said election ; and the subscribers, James M. Small, Horatio Cox, aiti
John Homer, were selected through tellers, by voters on the groumj
to act as judges of said election, and that the same is a true and pej
feet tally list made out according to the instructions of the governs
from a list of votes polled at said election.
Oaths of James M. Small, Horatio Cox, and John Homer, judge
in form prescribed by proclamation, except the following erasun
" And whom I shall not honestly believe to be a qualified voter a
cording to the provisions of the act of Congress organizing said Td
ritory ; that I will reject the votes of all non-residents who I sh*
believe have come into the Territory for the mere purpose of votin
that in all cases where I am ignorant of the voter's right, I will i
quire legal evidence thereof by his own oath or otherwise.
Fifth Representative District.
List of voters , 2
Tally list.
For Council. For Representatire.
H. J. Strickler 211 M. W. McGee 2
Wm. F. Johnson 23 E. Baker
H. Kice ,
With certificate of L. H. Whittington, Andrew Johnson, and 3
Snyder, as judges, in form prescribed by proclamation, omitting t
word " resident."
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 511
Eighth Election District.
List of voters * 37
Tally list.
For Council. For Representative.
Strickler 17 Baker 25
Rice 17 McGee 12
F. McGee 2
Oaths of Emanuel Mosier, Thos. S. Huffacker, and Samuel B.
Smith, in form prescribed. Keturn of same judges, in form pre-
scribed, showing —
For Council. For Representative.
[lice 17 A. J. Baker 25
Strickler 17 M. McGee 12
Protest of T. J. Thornton and fifteen other persons, claiming to be
^oters of said Territory, and third council district, complaining that
udges appointed in said district failed to organize the board in con-
equence of two of them refusing to take the oath prescribed, and that
hrough fear of personal violence the said judges were compelled to
-acate their seats and permit the people assembled on the ground to
hoose a board of their own number, and that the actual residents
pere either driven from the polls or intimidated from offering their
•otes by from three to six hundred persons, actual residents of other
Itates, and that few, if any, of the votes were cast by citizens of the
^erritory, and praying that the election may be set aside as illegal
nd void ; with affidavit of A. G. Adams, Daniel H. Home, H. B.
>urgess, and F. E. Foster.
Protest of Hallam Rice and eleven other persons, claiming to be cit-
sens of the seventh election district, protesting against the election of
I. J. Strickler and M. W. McGee, for the reason that they were elected
y a number of voters from the State of Missouri, who arrived the
ay before in about fifty wagons, and on horseback, and returned after
oting — they lived in Missouri, and did not intend to live in Kansas,
nd that one of the judges appointed on the ground was a resident of
lissouri, and that the judges were not sworn ; that no oath or affir-
mation was required of any voter ; with affidavit of Hallam Kice and
E. Stewart,
forth Council District.— Fifth Representative District.— Bull Creek
Precinct.
list of voters 393
Tally list.
For Council. For Representative.
M. Coffee 379 Wm. A. Heiskell 377
Lykens , ,,376 A. Wilkinson 375
512 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
M- Gr. Morris 9 Henry Younger ....37!
Jas. P. Fox 9 Samuel Scott 37;!
John Serpell
Adam Poore
S. H. Houser
Wm. Jennings
Oaths of B. F. Payne, B. C. Westfall, and J. J. Parke, in for:i
prescribed. Certificate of J. J. Parke, judge, that two of the judgj
appointed by proclamation being absent at 9 o'clock, a. m., ]j
had filled the vacancies by appointing B. F. Payne and B. C. Wea>j
fall.
Keturn of same judges, in form prescribed, showing —
,
For Council. For Representath e.
A. M. Coffee 377 W. A. Heiskell ,.
D. Lykens 376 A. Wilkinson 3!i
M. T. Morriss 9 Henry Younger 3
J. P. Fox 9 SamuelScott 3
John Serpell j
A. Poore ;i
S. A. Houser !
Wm. Jennings i
Pottawatomie Creek Precinct.
List bf voters '. 2,
Oaths of Samuel C. Wear, W. S. Furguson, and Wm. Chesnut,! j
form prescribed.
Tally list, with certificate of return prefixed, showing —
For Council. For Representative.
A.'M. Coffee 199 Wm. A. Heiskell 1
D. Lykens 199 A.Wilkinson ]
M. T. Morriss 65 Henry Younger 1
Jas. P. Fox 63 Samuel Scott 1
John Serpell
A. Poor
Samuel H. Houser
Wm. Jennings
J. Huff.
Cronklitt
C. H. Craul
Oscar C. Brown..,
Big Sugar Creek Precinct.
List of voters
Oaths of Jas. M. Arthur, A. H. Smith, JohnE. Brown, andEE
Tucker, judges, in form prescribed*
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 513
Tally-list.
Coffee ........................... T4 Houser ......................... ^
_,ykens ......................... T6 Jennings .... ..... . ............ IT
?"ox .............................. 16 Heiskell ........................ T4
IT Wilkinson ........... ...;;;.... T4
11 Younger ....................... T4
ore ............................ lb bcott .................... : ....... T4
; Keturn of John E. Brown, Elisha Tucker,, , and A. H. Smith,
udges of election, in form prescribed, showing —
For Council. For Eepresentatives.
"as. J. Fox ................... 16 John Serpell.... ..... ......... IT
lorriss ......................... IT A. Pore ........................ 16
L M. Coffee .................. T4 S. H. Houser ..... ............. IT
). Lykens ..................... T4 Wm. Jennings ............... IT
Wm. A. Heiskell ............ T4
.,<\ Allen Wilkinson ............ T4
Henry Younger .............. T4
Samuel Scott .......... ........ .JT4
o JoH t t>-ii riW . 8 fau
Little Sugar Creek Precinct.
Oaths of Wm. Parks, Isaac D. Stockton, and Hiram Howdeshelly
idges, in form prescribed.
1st of voters ................................................... v. ...... ,-;•• ........ 105>
/r 77 7- j. ?>& ............ flofeblfinod rnJoT,
lally-list. Ofl ;
as. P. Fox TO Samuel Scott...
For Council. For Representatives.
. M. Coffee .................. 31 'Wtn.? Heiskell ................ 33
1 Lykens ..................... 34 Allen Wilkinson ...u..^>>>/32
I. T. Morriss ................ 62 Henry Younger .............. ;&§i
10 ™~ ^ .Samuel Scott ...... , ........... ,3^r
John Serpell.. ................ 62
Adam Pore .................... 62
S. H. Houser Ih.fjyi.vi.v%« ...... 64
Win. Jennin
Wm. Dyer.v.
'Return of same judges, in form prescribed, showing-— ,
For Council. For Eepresentatives. ™^lll
4 M. Coffee .................. 31 W. A. Heiskell.. ....... ...... 33
L Lykens ..................... 34 Allen Wilkinson XfcV.W&.^3SK
T. T. Morriss ............... 62 Benry YottngeflQ&W&GaCl Jff4tfE»
Jls. P. Fox ................... ^0 Adam Pore ................... 62
John Serpell .................. 62
H. Kep, 200- 33*
514 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Protest of James B. Abbott and ten others, claiming to be legs
voters of Kansas Territory, alleging that the persons who acted al j
judges at the Bull Creek precinct were not duly sworn, and praying
that the election be set aside.
Fifth Council District. — Seventh Representative District.
Oaths of James Eay, Wm. J. Godfrey, and Wm. Painter, judget
of election, in form prescribed.
List of voters.... r 35 >
Tally-list.
For Council. For Representatives.
Wm. Barbee 343 Joseph C. Anderson....... 31!
S. A. Williams 31,1
John* Hamilton 3!
Wm. Margrave l!
Sixth Council District. — EigWi Bepy-esentative District. — Ninth Elect
tion District.
Oaths of S. B. White, Robert Wilson, and A. D, G-ibson, in forcr
prescribed.
List of voters 71
Tally-list, iviih Certificates of judges, showing —
For Council. For Kepresentatives.
John Donaldson 23 S. D. Houston 5'
M. F. Conway 50 E. Garrett ,.... ... M
Tenth Election District. — Blue Biver Precinct.
Oaths of Joseph Stewart, Wm. C. Dyer, and M. A. Garrett, in
form prescribed.
List of voters 6$
Tally-list.
For Council. For Representatives.
John Donaldson 27 Russell Garrett 2:j
M. F. Conway 42 S. D. Houston 4Jlj
Return of above-named judges, according to form prescribed, show]
ing —
For Council. For Representatives.
M. F. Conway 42 S. D. Houston 4iij
John Donaldson 27 Russell Garrett I
Bock Creek Precinct.
Oaths of Henry Rammelt, James Wilson, and Francis Bergerow^
according to form prescribed.
List of voters .....,,...,.,.... 2S
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 515
Zally-list*
For Council. For representatives.
I. F. Conway 21 S. D. Houston 21
John Donaldson 2 Russell Garrett 2
Eleventh Election District. — Ninth Representative District.
Oaths of Wm. P. McClure, S. W. Spratt, and George W. Pence,
jdges, according to form prescribed.
1st of voters , 331
Tally-list.
For Council. For Representatives.
ttfm Donaldson 328 F. J. Marshall 328
I. F. Conway 3
Eeturn of same judges, in form prescribed, showing —
For Council, For Representatives.
Jhn Donaldson 328 F.J.Marshall 328
IF. Conway 3
St. Mary's Precinct.
Oaths of L. E. Palmer, P. McCartney, and Alva Higbee, judges, in
fern prescribed.
1st of voters 11
Tally-list,
For Council. For Representatives.
IF. Conway 7 F. J.Marshall 4
tJihn Donaldson 4 P. McCartney 7
Beturn of same judges, according to form prescribed, showing —
For Council. For Representatives.
Jhn Donaldson 4 Palmer McCartney 7
&' F. Conway 7 F. J. Marshall 4
Silver Lake Precinct.
> baths of E. E. Kennedy, John H. Wells, and W. K. Windgardner,
jifges, according to form prescribed.
•1st of voters 31
Beturn of same judges, according to form prescribed, showing —
For Council. For Representatives.
MP. Conway 19 Solomon McCartney 19
Jhn Donaldson.. 12 F.J.Marshall.. .... 12
Tatty-list*
For Council, For Representatives.
Jan Donaldson „ 12 F.J.Marshall 4
MF. Conway...., .,. 19 S. McCartney 19
516 KANSAS AFFAIRS
»
Protest of M. F. Conway and ten others, claiming to be qualified]
voters of the Territory, against the election of John Donaldson anc
Thomas J. Marshall, complaining that upwards of 300 votes wer(;
given by non-residents of the Territory at the Marysville precinct |
and that the ballots received at the said precinct were opened anc;
read by the judges before they were deposited in the ballot-box
together with the oath of M. F. Conway in support thereof, with the
affidavit of Col. McCrea, that upwards of 200 non-residents of tin
Territory passed west on the Leavenworth and Eiley road Wednes i
day and Thursday next preceding the election, declaring that tliej
intended to vote at the Marysville precinct, and then returned to tliei:
residence in Missouri; and that on the following Sunday and Monday
he saw many of the same persons returning towards Missouri river- 1
some of whom stated, in the presence of their associates, that the;
had voted, and done the thing up right.
Seventh Council District. — Eleventh Representative District. — Wol
River District.
Oaths of G-. K. Wilson, James M. Irvine, and E. Y. B. Eogersrj
judges, according to prescribed form.
List of voters ......................................................................
Tally-list.
For Council. For Eepresentatives.
John W. Foreman ............ 74 J. H. Stringfellow ............ 5:
E. L. Kirk ..................... 5,
a. A. Cutler ................... 1
J. Kyon ..........................
T. J. Vanderslice .............
John Landis ....................
Eeturn of same judges in form prescribed, showing —
For Council. For Eepresentatives.
John W. Foreman ............ T4 J. H. Stringfellow ............ 5 |
E. L.Kirk ...................... 5
G. A. Cutler ................... l!
J. Eyen
T. J. Vanderslice
John Landis
Doniphan Precinct.
Oaths of A. H. Dunning, K" J. -Ireland, and William P. Laml
judges, according to form prescribed.
...... ,.,.. JflifBlJjM ,1, .1 8T
List of voters,. .,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 517
Tally-list — none .
Return of same judges, showing—
For Council. For Eepresentatives.
Tohn W. Foreman 343 J. H. Stringfellow 313
R.L.Kirk 292
G. A. Cutler 30
T. Vanderslice 4
John Landis 25
J. Ryon 18
S. K. Miller 2
Eighteenth Election District.
Oaths of Jesse Anderson, Thomas J. B. Cramer, and John Belew,
idges, according to form prescribed.
i'dst of voters 62
Tally-list.
For Council. For Representatives.
ohn W. Foreman 61 J. H. Stringfellow 48
Kirk 50
Ryon 1
Cutler 14
Landis 13
Return of same judges in form prescribed, showing — '
For Council. For Representatives.
)hn W. Foreman 61 J. H. Stringfellow 48
R. L. Kirk 50
Joel Ryon 1
G. A. Cutler 14
John Landis 13
lighth Council District. — Twelfth Representative District. — Burr Oak
Precinct.
_ Oaths of H. J. Johnson, Cary B. Whitehead, and Albert Head,
jdges, in form prescribed.
1st of voters 303
Tally-list.
For Council. For Representatives.
fniliam P. Richardson.... 234 Joel P. Blair 256
fthn W. Whitehead 68 Thomas W. Waterstm 258
John Fee 2
518 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Keturn of same judges in form prescribed, showing — -
For Council. For Eepresentatives.
William P. Richardson.... 234 Joel P. Blair 2J
JohnH. Whitehead 68 Thomas W. Waterson 2,;]
John Fee . .
Ninth Council District. — Thirteenth Representative District.
Oaths of M. T. Baily, E. R. Zimmerman, and Thomas J. Thom?|
son, judges, according to prescribed form.
List of voters 4-
Tally-list.
For Council. For Eepresentatives.
D. A. N. Grover 411 H. B. C. Harris..,
Freeland 1 J. Weddell
Return of same judges, showing —
For Council. For Eepresentatires.
D. A. N. Grover 411 H. B. C. Harris 4,
J. Freeland 1 J. Weddell 4
Tenth Council District. — Tenth Representative District.
Oaths of H. B. Cory, J. B. Ross, and J. Atkinson, judges, aceoi<:
ing to form prescribed.
Return of same judges, stating that, having been sworn, they pr|
ceeded to open said election and receive votes, but that a vast numl !
of citizens from Missouri assembled on the ground for the purpose
illegal voting, who surrounded the window and obstructed the citize
of the Territory from depositing their votes, and caused many of i
said legal voters to leave without voting ; and that the said judges,
consequence of the determination of citizens from Missouri to vo
and no voters of said district voting or offering to vote, they left 1
ground.
Oaths of Richard Chandler, N. B. Hopewell, and Wm. M. Ga:
ner, judges, that they will act as judges of the election, and will c(
duct said election impartially and to the best of their ability, in i;
cordance with the act of Congress organizing the Territory.
List of voters S
Tally-list, with certificate of return prefixed, showing —
For Council. " For Eepresentatives.
R. R. Reese 233 W. H. Tebbs 2
L. J. Eastin 233 C. Hart
B. H. T^mbly 6
A. J. Whitney 6
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 519
Fourteenth Representative District.
Oaths of Lewis N. Beese and George B. Panton, that they will sup-
port the constitution of the United States, and will faithfully demean
themselves as judges of the election, and will faithfully carry out the
provisions of the act of Congress organizing the Territory.
Oath of Matt. France, in form prescribed.
List of voters , 964
Tally list,
For Council. For Representatives.
Eeese.. 896 W. ft. Mathias 899
Eastin 893 H. D. McMeekin 896
Kuykendall 1 A.Payne 894
B. H. Twombly 60 Felix a. Braden 59
A. J. Whitney 59 Samuel France 59
F. Browning 58
Keturn of same judges, omitting the words " by lawful resident
voters, " showing —
For Council. For Representatives.
B. B. Beese 896 Wm. &. Mathias 899
L. J. Eastin 893 H. G. McMeekin 89T
B. H. Twombly 60 A.Payne 895
A. J. Whitney 59 F. G-. Braden 59
las. Kuykendall 1 S.France 59
F. Browning 58
Protest of Wm. Phillips and thirteen others, claiming to be citizens
)f the sixteenth election district, against the election of B. B. Beese,
L. J. Eastin, Wm. Gr. Mathias, H. D. McMeekin, and A. Payne, for
;he reasons that the judges of election did not take the required oath
)f office ; that residents of Missouri came to the same district, voted,
tnd immediately returned to Missouri ; that many of the citizens of
said district were deterred from voting by the conduct of citizens from
Missouri, supported by the affidavit of Wm, Phillips.
Protest of Andrew McDonald and others, against the governor's
3ower to hear and decide between contestants for seats in the legisla-
ive assembly, as a usurpation of power not granted by the act of
Congress organizing the Territory, and founded upon a misconstruc-
;ion of the said act ; that the governor is bound to recognise as legal
rotes all those received under the restrictions imposed by the organic
tct of the Territory and the proclamation ; and that illegal votes are
hose where the returns show a non-compliance with those restrictions,
md claiming from the governor certificates of their election.
^ Communication from A. M. Coffee and David Lykens, claiming cer-
ificates as members of the council from the fifth election district, and
520 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
claiming that they were elected by a majority of the legal voters c
the district.
April 6, 1855. Decision of the governor upon the returns of elecl
tion held 30th March, 1855.
First Council District.
Besides the protest filed against the election at Lawrence for imr
portation of voters, there is a defect in the return. The words "lav?
fill resident voters" are stricken out. The Lawrence election is there
fore set aside, and a new election must be had for representatives.
Fourth Election District.
Besides the protest filed in this, there are material omissions in oatl
and return purposely made. This must also be set aside.
....
Seventeenth Election District.
The form of return is correct as prescribed, and no protest for illd;
gal voting. The form of oath differs from that prescribed, but is I
searching one, and nearly, if not quite, equivalent to that prescribed
and perhaps ought to be sanctioned. If so, this district will elec
Thomas Johnson and Edward Chapman to the council, and A. £
Johnson representative.
Their election is, however, not declared at present, but held unde
advisement.
M
r r
Second Council District.
....
The judges were sworn by G-. W. Taylor, who had no authority
administer the oath. In addition, there is a protest complaining o
importation of voters and violent expulsion of the original judges
For want of sufficient oath, the election is set aside, and a new e!eo-j
tion for council and representative ordered.
Third Council District.
Besides the protest for violent expulsion of the judges at the Te
cumseh polls, and for illegal votes, there are material erasures in tfol
oath purposely made ; return in form prescribed. This is held undei
advisement for the present, but will probably be set aside ; and if so
a new election will be ordered for representative.
Seventh Election District.
Besides the protest complaining of a large number of illegal votes
the judges do not appear to have been sworn at all. This poll i
therefore set aside.
Eighth Election District.
No protest is filed, and the proceedings in regular prescribed formij
A majority of votes for members of the house of representatives ar
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 521
3ast for A. J. Baker, esq., and lie is declared elected in the fifth rep-
resentative district. For council the vote is a tie between H. J.
Strickler and H. Kice, so that as to council the result still depends
ipon the Tecumseh poll.
Fourth Council District.
i Of the four precincts, Bull creek is the only one contested, that
rrom Pottawatomie creek being withdrawn. Suppose the complaint
co be true, if successful it cannot alter the result. The remaining
>hree precincts are uncontested, and in form, and gave a majority to
A.. M. Coffee and David Lykens for council ; W. A. Heiskell, Allen
Wilkinson, Henry Younger, and Samuel Scott, for the house of rep-
-esentatives, and they are declared elected.
Fifth Council District.
The returns are all in due form, and no protest. William Barbee
or council, and Joseph 0. Anderson and S. A. Williams for house of
•epresentatives, are declared elected.
Sixth Council District.
The ninth and tenth election districts are in form as to their re-
iurns ; no protest. S. D. Houston is declared elected representative
n the eighth representative district.
In addition to the protest against the eleventh election district,
'being the poll at Marysville,) the returns show a fatal defect. In-
itead of conducting the election by ballot, it must have been held
riva voce, as the manner in which each person voted is recorded at
mce opposite his name. As the proclamation required the election
;o be by ballot, and the tickets to be counted after closing the polls,
t is impossible to sustain this return. It is acordingly set aside.
The residue of the district gives M. F. Conway a majority for council,
tnd he is declared elected.
In the ninth representative district, the Marysville poll being set
iside, the returns of St. Mary's and Silver Lake give Solomon
McCartney 19, F. J. Marshall 16, Palmer McCartney 7, and Solomon
\IcCartney is declared to be elected. It is alleged there is no such
nan, and that the vote for him was cast under mistake of the name
if Palmer McCartney. A slight difference in names should always
)e disregarded to carry out the will of the voter, but the difference
lere is too great to be reconciled. If these facts are shown as alleged,
he vote for Solomon McCartney is a nullity, and the certificate will
>e granted to Francis J. Marshall.
Seventh Council District.
/
^ The returns in form, and no protest. John W. Foreman for coun-
il, and J. H. Stringfellow and E. S. Kirk for house of representa-
ives, are declared elected.
522 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Eighth Council District.
The returns in form, and no protest. William P. Richardson! fc
council, and Joel P. Blair and Thomas W. Watterson for house «
representatives, are declared elected.
Ninth Council District.
Keturns in form, and no protest. D. A. N. Grover for the council
and H. B. C. Harris and J. Weddle for house of representatives,
declared elected.
Tenth Council District.
Besides the protest filed against the Leavenworth poll for ille
voting, it appears that the judges purposely struck out a materi,-
part of the prescribed form of return, to wit: that the votes wei
polled " by lawful resident voters." This poll is set aside, and 1
new election for representative becomes necessary.
In the 13th election district, the protest filed has been withdra
and the result stands upon the return of the judges who conductor,
the election and a counter statement of the judges appointed by tif
proclamation, who, after having taken the oath and entered upon thj
performance of their duties, abandoned the polls and left the ground
because, as they say, a large number of non-residents were on tK
ground demanding to vote and obstructing the polls, and because ri
lawful votes were presented. This is not a protest as provided for r
the proclamation, and even if regarded as a report or return by the>j
relative to the performance of their official duties, does not diseloic
sufficient reason for vacating their posts. They were not drawn awa
by force. If illegal votes were offered, it was their duty to remai»
and reject them. If the polls were obstructed, it was their busines:
at least, to endeavor to clear them, and at all events to endeavor T
remain at their posts, in the performance of their duty,, until tb
time for closing the polls, unless driven away by violence. TF
place they left was filled by other judges, appointed according to tli
proclamation, and their return, which is in form, and no protest bji
fore me, shows a majority for L. J. Eastin and K. R. Eees for council
and W. H. Tibbs for house of representatives, who are according!,
declared elected.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, >
Territory of Kansas. J
I, Andrew H. Reeder, governor of the Territory of Kansas, d
r -, hereby, under and by virtue of the act of Congress, passed tb-
J 30th day of May, 1854, entitled "An act to organize the Tei j
ritoriesof Nebraska and Kansas," proclaim and direct that the legit)
lative assembly of the said Territory of Kansas will convene at tbl
town of Pawnee, in the 9th election district of said Territory, on tb
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 523
first Monday of July next, in the building which, will be provided for
that purpose.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Territory, this sixteenth
day of April, A. D. 1855.
A. H. KEEDER, Governor, &c.
By the Governor :
DANIEL WOODSON, Secretary.
MAY 29, 1855. — Returns received from the elections held on the
22d May, in pursuance of the governor's proclamation of the 16th of
April, to fill vacancies, and filed away for the action of the governor
upon his return to the Territory.
JUNE 25, 1855. — The governor declares John Hutchinson, Erastus
D. Ladd, and Philip P. Fowler to be duly elected to the house of
representatives from the second representative district ; John A.
Wakefield to be duly elected a member of the second election district,
and Augustus Wattles and William Jessee to be duly elected mem-
bers of the house' of representatives from the same district ; Jesse
D. Wood to be duly elected a member of the council from the third
council district; William G, Mathias, A. Payne, and H. D. McMeekin
to be duly elected members of the house of representatives from the
fourteenth representative district; and C. K. Holliday to be duly-
elected a member of the house of representatives from the fourth
representative district.
AUGUST 16, 1855. — Governor Reeder announces to the legislative
assembly his removal from office.
AUGUST 10, 1855. — Wilson Shannon, of the State of Ohio, is com-
missioned governor of the Territory by the President of the United
States.
SEPTEMBER 7, 1855. — Governor Shannon takes the oath of office.
LECOMPTON, KANSAS TERRITORY,
Secretary's Office, May 8, 1856.
At the request of the Committee of Investigation of Kansas affairs,
[ hereby certify that the returns of the 30th of March election, held in
; 1855, for the 2d and 8th election districts, have been misplaced or lost.
They were handed over to the committee on credentials at Pawnee,
in July, 1855, and I have not seen them since. It is believed that
they were misplaced by the committee, as, upon examination after-
wards, they were not found among the papers that were returned by
the committee.
It is proper to state that there were no suitable places or rooms at
Pawnee for the committee to hold their sittings or keep their papers ;
hence it is not at all surprising that some of them were mislaid or
lost.
DANIEL WOODSON,
Secretary Kansas Territory.
524 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ELECTION OF MAY 22, 1855.
MATT. FRANCE testifies:
To Mr. Sherman:
I came into the Territory in 1854, and settled in Leavenworth city
I was one of the judges of the special election, held on the 22d of Ma,}
1855, for three representatives of the Territorial legislature. Tt
other judges were J. M. Lyle and Adam Fisher. There was som
excitement here at that time on political suhjects. It was just aftt
the mohhing of Phillips. The election was at the hack part of the Byrod
saloon, at the house of George Leegadder. Every one voted on tht.i
day who wished to. The question was talked of "between the judge;
The decision was, as made "by Lyle and Fisher, that we could da
nothing else but take all the votes that were offered. No man warf
challenged that day, and whoever wanted to vote, voted. Fishc
gave, as a reason, that we should he mobbed unless we took all til
votes offered. There were a great many persons that voted that daj]
that I believe were non-residents of the Territory. I was well a"<
quainted with the men of this district, and I have not seen those peri
sons since, and had not seen them before. There was a boat came il
that day, the name of which was "Kate Kassel." There were soml
men came to the polls soon after and voted. Some voted one ticket
and some another. There were different colored tickets used thf
day by the different parties, so that we could distinguish them. Til
other strangers voted the pro-slavery ticket, which I think was of 1
green or bluish tint. The free-State ticket was white. Nothing wsj
said about the residence of voters when they came up, at all. Thl
election passed off quietly. There was some fighting in the evening
but it was not of a political character. The free-State men did n<
all vote that day. There were some in town that I know did not votiij
I voted that day. We all signed the return.
Question. Why did you sign the return of that election witho
erasing the words, " by lawful resident voters?"
Governor King objects.
The witness resumes : I was under the impression that the w
were scratched off when I signed it. I had scratched it off of
blaok certificate, and handed it over to the other judges to be fi
up, and they or the clerk filled up a certificate and handed it to
to sign, and I did so without further examination, and did not no
that it was not the same one from which I had erased the words, '
lawful resident voters," until some two months afterwards.
The above answer, by a decision of a majority of the commit
being allowed to be made, it is objected to by Governor King, on
ground that it is in effect allowing the witness to stultify him
falsifying the certificate, and that he has no right to do this unless
was signed upon duress.
The majority of the committee allow the witness to make the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 525
planation, solely for the purpose of showing why the certificate differs
from his testimony.
Witness resumed : I took an oath of office at the election onjthe
22d of May. as one of the judges of election, as prescribed by the gov-
ernor. The other judges took the same oath. I consider myself a
conservative man. Myself and Mr. Fisher were in favor of making
Kansas a free State. The reason why we took so many illegal votes
was, because I was overruled. The other judges must explain their
own conduct themselves. Mr. Fisher and I never spoke about admit-
ting votes until we got into the room where the poll-books were.
The question was sprung upon me when we were in the room taking
votes, and it was decided against me by the other judges. This de-
cision was made upon a challenge, but whether by me or somebody
else I do not know. The pro-slavery men all voted, or generally so.
There were no political fights, but there was some political excite-
ment, but I do not know that there was more than usual on days of
election. I saw nothing there to deter me from doing my duty as
a judge of the elections.
MATT. FRANCE.
LEAVEXWORTH CITY, K. T.5 Hay 31, 1856.
J. H. DAY testifies:
To Mr. Matthias :
I came into the Territory on the llth of October, 1852, from St.
Paul's. Minnesota Territory, and settled in Leavenworth city,rand
have lived here ever since. I was present at the election of the 22d of
May, 1855, in this city. The candidates of the pro-slavery party
considered that the governor had no right to set aside the election o
:he 30th of March, 1855, and order a new election; and they took
but little interest, and left the people to do as they pleased about it.
[ do not recollect as I voted that day. There was no crowd of stran-
zers here on that day, and the election passed off quietly. I do not
recollect of hearing an angry word that day. I never heard the
legality and fairness of that election questioned by any one, unless in
this way — that the governor had no right to ord'er it. I think the
number of legal voters was larger on the 22d of May in this district
than at the previous March election ; and my opinion is, that the
majority of the pro-slavery party had increased. I could not desig-
nate any legal voters of*the district who were not present at the elec-
ion of the 22d of May, because my memory is not clear on that point,
Dn account of the number of elections that have been held in this city
since then. When I first came into the Territory I brought a letter
)f introduction to Governor Reeder, which I presented to him in a
jhort time after I arrived ; and at that time, and also afterwards,
when I was appointed by him a justice of the peace, I endeavored to
earn from him what time the Territory would be probably organized
ind the legislature called together, but I could get no satisfactory
inswer from him ; and by the time of the March election there was a
526 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
feneral dissatisfaction at the delay in organizing the Territory, and j
have no doubt if the Territory had been organized as soon as theij
Territory of Nebraska was, there would have been no difficulty here, i
I think the primary cause of the difficulty in the Territory was thej
operation of the Emigrant Aid Society. Subsequently to that Governor/
Beeder seemed to co-operate with them — so the general impression]
seemed to be ; by keeping the elections back from fall to spring was tot
produce a different result. It is my opinion that if the governments
had been organized immediately after the governor had arrived hereyi
there would have been no difficulty, as parties could not have had times]
to be got up to raise excitement on the political questions of the day.i'j
The people were also dissatisfied in regard to the time when the
census was taken, which was in mid-winter, when many of the actuali
residents were in Missouri, to pass the cold weather and settle up their* j
business, intending to return into the Territory in the spring ; andV
those persons were not enumerated in the census that was taken,;
because the census takers said the governor had ordered them to take-
the names of none but those then in the Territory. The people werei
frequently consulting and conversing about doing something to im-sl
portune and induce the governor to proceed and organize the Terri-ij
tory. I became so much dissatisfied at the delay myself, that I sent !
in my resignation to the governor as justice of the peace, about thoJ
1st of March, 1855.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I think that the operations of the Emigrant Aid Society is generally^
regarded as the primary cause of the difficulty here. My understand- !
ing of the operations of the society, formed from the New York |
Tribune and some publications purporting to be from, the society/
were, that they formed an association to assist emigration in the west,
and through this emigration to obtain valuable possessions, property,
&c., in the Territory, to make Kansas Territory a free State ; and then
the emigrants were to pull up stakes and move to other places to doii
likewise. The Tribune, I think, said that when they had employed-
their operations here they would carry the war into Africa ; meaning,'
I suppose, that they would commence operating in Missouri. This I
understood to be the case before I came into the Territory. If I had
proof conclusive that such was not the object and operations of the
Emigrant Aid Society, then I should say that the general belief that
such was the case was still the primary cause of the difficulty here.
J. H. DAY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
WILLIAM H. ADAMS, testifies :
To Governor King :
I was residing here at the May election, and had resided here since
August 1854. At that election, the same candidates which had been
elected at the 30th of March election, and which election had been
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 527
St aside by the governor, were re-elected on that day, though they
lid not proclaim themselves as candidates, from the fact that they
Dnsidered their previous election legal. I never heard a charge that
fie election of the 22d of May was carried by illegal voters. They
iave it up, considering that they were in a minority in this district ;
tiat the pro-slavery party was the strongest. I did not see many
lissourians here on the 22d of May. Some few of them I saw vote,
ut some of them said they considered themselves residents of this
istrict, and had property here. I think we had five hundred nia-
>rity in this district at that time.
On the day of the election, I saw a steamboat called Kate Kassell.
;saw one of the free-State candidates on the boat. I couldn't tell
rhat he was doing. He was on the lower deck among the hands.
Jter that, some twenty or thirty of the deck hands came up and
bted the free-State ticket. From my knowledge of the Missourians,
'ho voted here that day, I think it was about a fair stand off. That
as always been my impression.
To Mr. Sherman :
I was on the " Kassel" that day myself. I know those men voted
le free-State ticket, by the color of their ticket. I do not know why
ley were not challenged. I was present at the time. I do not know
uat any one was challenged that day. We did not consider that
lection as a legal election, as the candidates had before been elected,
icannot say whether there were more than fifty illegal votes that day,
lore or less.
WM. H. ADAMS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31 , 1856.
GEO. H. KELLER testifies :
i To Mr. Howard :
I was here in Leavenworth city at the called election of the 22d of
lay, 1855, for members of the legislature. I do not now recollect
d the judges of elections that day. Mr. France was one, I think.
%.Q pro-slavery candidates were Mr. McMeekin, Mr. Mathias, and Mr.
.ayne. I was so very busy in my hotel at that time, that I cannot
•ill to mind all the particulars about these elections. I think Mr.
.ranee was one of the judges at the May election, though it may have
"ben the March election. I do not think I voted on the 22d of May.
Jwas not around among the voters much, but I noticed as I passed
trough the streets, that the crowd was very great, and perhaps as
lany as on the 30th of March, 1855. A great many persons from
latte and Clay and Bay counties whom I knew, and who told me they
^ere from those counties, were here. I lived in Platte county for
ateen years. ^ The election looked very much like old elections I
"Bed to attend in Platte county, as there were so many familiar faces
f me. I did not see any of these persons vote. A gentleman by the
Erne of Gaitin came to my house in the morning, and said he had
528 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
brought over a pretty good company, some sixteen or seventeen, j
think he said, to vote. He was from Clay county,, near Liberty, M
souri. I recollect of talking to another man, who told me he ^
from Ray county, here, and I do not recollect his name. He said
had brought along a pretty good company; but I do not recolW
that he told me how many he had with him. I do not know as M
Graitin told me on that day what induced him to come here to vot
or in regard to their right to vote. He told me that it was the caltf
lation to come here and vote, and to have those with him vote. I di
not attend the polls, and cannot say whether any of these men vot>
or not.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
I do not recollect the name of the person who told me his pan
came from Ray county. I think he said he came from somewhe
near Richmond, Ray county. I should recollect the man if I show
see him ; but I cannot tell his name, and do not know as I could i
collect his name if I heard it. I do not think he told me how maul
he had with him, but he said he had a company with him. I haa
seen the man here since this committee came here. I do not kno«
that he lived in Ray county, except that he told me so, and that
intended to come to the Territory. If I am not mistaken, he s»t
something about having a claim in the Territory. I do not recolldj
whether he said anything about the others having claims here. Qppj
hearing the name of Wilkinson, I think it sounds something like t't|,
name of that man, though I cannot be at all 'positive about it. I <
not know that any persons from Missouri voted. I noticed no di
turbance, or effort to control the vote of any one. I was not at t!ft
polls at all. I know but little of what was going on. I did not vot*
not because I was afraid, but I did not want to push myself throng
the crowd , and take up so much time in voting, and because I undeh
stood Missourians were there. No one from Missouri told me he vottl
the free-State ticket, that I know of. I do not recollect of any ge't
tlemen coming down from Weston, Missouri, and saying they woui
vote the free-State ticket, if they voted at all. I did not see any mo
from Missouri I knew to be free-State men.
G. M. KELLEY. .
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T.; May 31, 1856.
ADAM FISHER called and sworn.
By Mr. Sherman :
I came to the Territory in October, 1854, and have resided he*
ever since. My occupation is that of merchant.
I was one of the judges of the election in May, 1855, for the electkt
of three representatives ; and appointed by Governor Reeder. The]'
was considerable excitement in the community at that time.
There had been different constructions put upon who were leg!
voters and who were not. On the morning of the election the judg<;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 529
appointed by the governor met at the place of election. The question
, was not raised before the opening of the polls. The question was
raised along as the vote proceeded frequently, but at what stage it
,was first raised I do not know. France frequently made the ob-
jections. My own opinion was, from what I heard and from the ex-
planations of lawyers, that a man having a claim or interest here, and
intending to move here in future, had a right to vote. I cannot be
positive as to whether anybody was refused the right to vote. No
challenges were made outside. For my part, I allowed no man to
vote but such as I have described. I know that Mr. France made
frequent objections ; but whether we overruled him or not in every
case,, I cannot say. I don't think I ever held, that merely because a
man was here, he could vote. He must have some show of interest.
My impression is that we did not administer an oath that day that
I recollect of, but we were asked many questions, and in many cases
the friends of the voters would tell what interest they had, and we
would take it so, and allow them to vote. I do not know that we
allowed any people that came up in a steamboat that day to vote. I
don't know that we took the vote of any total strangers without ask-
ing them some questions. I do not know but we received the votes
of some men who had homes in Missouri, as the ground I took was, that
3very man who had any interest here had a right to vote. There
were many citizens of Missouri who had interests here — at least they
said so, and I believed it ; and in all such cases Lyle and I received
their votes, France in many cases objecting. I cannot state what
proportion or number of persons voted that day who had interests
here, who resided elsewhere. I can't state what number of free-State
oaen refused to vote that day, but I know that some of them did not
vote, and would not vote.
At night, when we were making up our return, Mr. France con-
tended that the words "by lawful resident voters" should be stricken
>ut. I did not take any interest in that question, and do not re-
nember distinctly whether it was done or not. I know that he con^
-ended for it at night, and differed with us in many cases as to who
/vere legal resident voters during the day. I did not feel frightened
nyself, but if we had excluded the Missourians from voting I do be-
ieve there would have been a fuss. I mean by Missourians snch men
is claimed to have an interest. I thought they would have insisted
ipon their Toting strongly. I don't know that this influenced me in
ny opinion. I acted upon my own opinion — upon what was law —
ipon what I heard other men say.
-
To Governor King:
Myself and Mr. "France were what were called free-State men. I
lo not know of any free-State men being deterred from voting that
.ay on account of his political views, and if they had wanted to vote
hey had an opportunity to, so far as I know. I don't know that any
rowd that came off of a boat voted that day. I don't remember
hat any crowd of twenty or thirty men, distinct in their appearance
rom other men, voted a mixed ticket or otherwise ; and as far as
can now remember, I cannot state whether there were different
H. Hep. 200 34*
530 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
colored tickets that day or not. I let no man vote that day, hy ir;j
decision, whom I did not consider to be entitled to vote. I was satin'
fied with the certificate of election, as prescribed by the governor,
the time I signed it.
To Mr. Sherman :
I don't know whether the words "by lawful resident voters :
in the certificate or not. I don't remember whether they were in
not. I did not allow any one to vote unless he had some interest
the Territory. Many never voted whom we did not ask any question!
When we would ask a question the voter would either say he haduj
claim, a town lot, or some interest, and we would believe it,
allow him to vote. The reason why I thought there would be a
if we excluded the persons I speak of, was, that I heard men swearir^
they would vote, and from their motions outside. Those men
voted, and of whom we asked no questions, I cannot state whetl
knew or not.
To Governor King :
We supposed that those men whom we let vote without asking qi
tions were such as had a right to vote without the necessity of)
question. The certificate of election appended to the poll-books:
the possession of the committee seems to be like the one I signe
do not know whether I objected to or consented to an alteratic
the certificate — I did not care to have it altered myself or not.
ADAM FISH:
LEAVENWOKTH CITY, K. T., May 31,1856.
AMOS EEES testifies :
I moved into the Territory in July, 1855, and have lived in
souri since 1818, and am a practising lawyer. I was present at
election held at Leavenworth on the 22d of May, 1855, for three1'
presentatives. My impression is that I did not vote at that electii
The slave party took no interest in it, thinking that Keeder had
right to set aside the former election, and took but little interest in ;.
and I may and may not have voted myself. I know a great m*
citizens who voted. I know the following persons to have lived
Missouri at that time: Ex-Judge Wm. B. Almond, Kobert Ka
William K. Kane, Malcolm E. Green, Joseph Cocrill, M. Pemberi •],
Daniel P. Lewis, L. Shepherd, John Venoman, James H. Heac ,
(now clerk of the court of Atchison county, K. T.,) S. P. Styles, Wl-
By waters, Isaac House, (now in Kickapoo, K. T.,) A. W. Hughs, , |-
ner Dean, John Wilson, Edward P. Duncan, Hugh Sweeney, Wind
Norris, Samuel E. Orfutt, Wm. H. Bell. The last named has a cL-p
in the Territory with improvements. He has two sons here living
the claims. I know George Quirnby. He had previously lived ji
Missouri. His family was still there. He was largely interestecjJ
the town of Delaware.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 531
He had a house built here, and kept a grocery-store and livery-
stable, and was interested in the ferry. He professed to be trying to
dispose of his property in Platte city, to move to Delaware. He has
isince sold it and now lives there. I looked upon him as a settler, in
the same light that I did myself before I moved.
The John Wilson whom I know,, I am satisfied never voted at any
election in the Territory. W. G. Bonnell is in the same condition of
Quimby. Francis J. Marshall, who was a member of the legislature,
f understand lives in Marysville, in the eleventh district. I am satis-
fied that a great many men who were here from Missouri at that elec-
tion did not vote. I cannot state how many did vote. I don't know
that any single man voted. I did not watch the polls, or pay much
attention to the matter.
AMOS KEES.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
LUCTAN J. EASTIN testifies :
To Governor King :
I have resided in Leavenworth city since October, 1854, and was a
candidate for the council at the 30th of March election, 1855. Gov-
srnor Keeder set aside the election for representatives in the sixteenth
election district, and ordered a new election, which was held the May
following. The candidates at this election were the same as at the
March election, and whose elections were set aside by the governor.
[ suppose there were about 715 votes polled at that election. I believe
they were mostly, if not all, legal voters. The free-State candidates
\vere, Edsall, Gould, and Pennock. I saw a number of votes given for
their candidates by deck-hands and others from the steamer Kate
Oastle, lying at the levee. Some of them, I think, went up with Mr.
{jould, one of the free-State candidates, or they seemed to be along with
trim. I saw probably about six or seven M.issourians on the ground.
There was no voting, or attempting to vote, that I know of. They
believed the election to be illegal, and therefore took no interest in it.
[ heard one of the pro-slavery candidates say, on the morning of the
alection, that he was not a candidate, and this was the expression of
\11 three of the candidates — -that they did not recognise the right of
(jrovernor Keeder to set aside that election, and, therefore, they con-
kidered the election was invalid. The legal voters here determined to
50 into the election, believing they had the strength. I think the
najority was from three to four hundred for the pro-slavery party,
oelieve that the poll-books show about the strength of parties, for I
saw about five or six Missourians and the deck-hands I spoke of, about
;he polls. I never have examined the poll-books to know whether the
voters were residents or not. I could not say whether or not the num-
)er of votes in the district was seven hundred.
L. J. EASTIN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
532
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Returns of an election held in the first, second, third, seventh, eight'*
and sixteenth districts of the Territory of Kansas on the 22d day
May, A. D. 1855.
[Joel Grover, William Yates, and Josiah Miller were sworn
judges, according to printed form.]
FIRST DISTRICT — Lawrence.
1 Beekman Mead
2 Solomon Wildes
3 Michael Albin
4 Hiram Shields
5 James Sawyer
6 John Hutchinson
7 ErastusD. Ladd
8 Hiram Dunbar
9 Morris Hunt
10 W.M.Patterson
11 E. D.Lyman
12 John E. Stewart
13 R.T. Elliott
14 Asaph A. Faxon, (oath)
15 William A. Holmes
16 Edward Jones
17 S.N.Wood
18 S.J. Willis
19 H.Stevens
20 Samuel Anderson
21 John Doxey
22 Charles Dickson
23 John L. Crane
24 Levi Gates
25 Turner Sampson
26 C.A.Haskill
27 Leonard Litchneld
28 Lyman Allen
29 F. O.Folles
30 George Cary
31 Norman Allen
32 George W. Hunt
33 William Esterbrook
34 George W. Dietzler
35 William Benson
36 Samuel G. Ladd
37 Ernest Smith
38 C. S. Pratt
39 R. P.Mooro
40 0. A. Hanscom
41 R. M. Wilkinson
42 W. A. Gentry
43 Joseph Cracklin
44 Charles Campbell
45 0. D. Smith
46 Henry D. Graves
47 John W. Stevens, (oath)
48 Samuel Merrill
49 Ransom Calkins
50 Horace C. Manning, (oath)
51 Jeremiah Spencer
52 Philip S. Huff
53 E. A. Coleman
54 Eben Goddard, (oath)
55 Paul Jones
56 Nelson Eagle
57 Hugh Pettingall
Oren Pettingall
58 Samuel Kimball
59 S. N. Simpson
60 Henry S. McLelland
61 Allen Ham
62 L. D. Colman
63 Lewis Farley
64 D. H. Wright, (oath)
65 Increase Whitcomb
66 Zeno B. Page
68 E. Jones
69 James J. Brown
70 John R. Griffith
71 David S. Morris
72 Charles Robinson
73 Otis Potter
74 William Lyon
75 Wilder Knight
-76 James Jamison
77 Thomas Little
78 J. E. Rice
79 Calvin G. Hoit
80 B. Johnson
81 W. H. Hovey
82 David Harmon
83 J. M. Jones
84 T. Clemens
85 Ezra Pierce
86 J. R. Ladd
87 John Stanton, (oath)
88 Geo. W. Gingrich, (oath)
89 Henry S. Everheart
90 John Bigelow
91 M. M. Hamaron
92 Lewis J. Everheart, (oath)
93 Joseph W. Russell
94 James D. McLain, (oath)
95 J. L. Spice
96 Daniel W. Palmer
97 Charles Jordan, jr. , (oath)
98 Stephen Ogden
99 J. L. Merrill
100 L. S. Bacon
101 A. E. Claverson
102 S. T. Lum
103 R. J. Horton
104 Lewis Howell
105 Henry Atherton
106 George Gilbert
107 John Ogden
!
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
533
108 Samuel Gill, (oath)
109 N. F. Herrick
110 Ira W. Ackley
111 Fred. J. Locke
112 James Lain, (oath)
113 Thomas J. Stone
114 Stillman Andrew
115 Franklin Haskill
116 E. F. Mayo
117 Simeon Gilson
118 A. S. Addis
119 C.H.Thomas
120 N. B.Howland
121 John Pike
122 Edward Clark
123 Charles Harrington
124 Samuel Phillips
125 Edwin Bond
126 Ferdinand Fuller
127 M. S. Wright
128 S.B. Smith
129 John Wild, (oath)
130 John S. Mott
131 James Clark
132 N.W.Maxwell
133 E.D.Maxwell
134 David Burton
135 A. D. Searl
136 William Robbing
137 KH.Mobray
138 J.F.Morgan
139 G. W. Goss
140 John Michael Ecalhap, (oath)
141 Leverett Haskcll
142 James Fuller
143 Charles Pettingall
144 0. H. Lamb
145 S. L. Lapham
; 146 V. L. Purse, (oath)
; 147 E. A. Landon
148 J. W. Wayne
i 149 John Derby
150 L. W. Plum
151 James Whaley
152 Francis Killam
153 J. D. Heald
; 154 M. J. Parrott
: 155 G. W. Brown
156 Enoch Rowland
; 157 James Clark, sr.
; 158 G. W. Nichols
159 F. A. Bailey
160 Albert F. Bercall
161 George Churchill
162 Amora Soule
163 F. P. Vaughan
164 L. H. Bascomb
165 J. H. Gleason
166 J. S. Cowan
167 N. H. Smith
168 Philip P. Fowler
169 Josiah G. Fuller
170 John H. Wildes
171 Edward Windon
172 Charles Garrett
.173 W. J. E. Blackmail, (oath)
174 E. Gray, (oath)
175 Joseph Boges
176 G. K. Smith
177 H. F. Landas
178 W. D. Atwood
179 S. M. Saltus
180 M. L. Gaylord
181 John Roe
182 D. W. Bentley, (oath))
183 Thos. Chapman, (oath
184 H. N. Bent
185 David Brown
186 Charles Legge
187 J. C. Gordon
188 John Armstrong
189 Daniel Low
190 William "Meains
191 J. D, Barnes
192 Thomas Wells
193 Carlos Hall
£94 Ezra A. Potter
195 George Earl
196 William Gibbons
197 James A. Dale
198 J. W. Junkins
199 Henry Newman
200 J. T. Cummings
201 James M. Fuller
202 Henry Hurd, (oath)
203 Abijah White
204 William Marshall
205 B. S. Richardson
206 Hamson Nichols
207 William Whitlock
208 George H. Croches
209 Charles W. Hanley
210 W. D. Jennerson
211 John G. Croelen
212 James M. Gillis
213 A. D. Todd
214 Robert Vanwinkle
215 Seth Roderbough
216 Salem Gleason
217 Jacob E. Strout
218 S. B. Dudley
219 D. G. Vanwinkle
220 F. M«D. Hunt
221 Bryce W. Miller
222 G. W. Fitz
223 Samuel C. Smith
224 John Spear
225 C. Hornsby
226 William Mathews
227 George Mathews
228 Joseph Savage
229 H. J. Tadder
230 Wm. Hornsby
231 David Penington
232 Curtis H. Keyes
233 Reuben Randall
234 Oscar Burroughs
235 Charles M. Docknew
236 J. B. Abbott
237 B. W. Wood
238 Clark Stearns
239 H. A. Hancock
534
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
240 Paul R. Brooks
241 C. W. Babcock
242 H. Clark
243 Eobert McFarland
244 Thos. McFarland
245 Wm. Hutchmson
246 John Fry
247 Thomas Garvin
248 Henry E. Babcock
249 A. Wilder
250 Daniel Mailey
251 P. B. Harris
252 Amory Wetherbe©
253 0. Harlow
254 T. Johnson
255 Henry B. Gage
256 S. S. Snyder
257 John Gingerick
258 John Wise
259 S. J. Pratt
260 Levi Ferguson
261 John Anderson
262 Homer Hoges
263 G W. Hutchinson
264 R H. Pierce
265 K. G. Livingston
266 John K. Longhead
267 Thos. S. Weeds
268 John A. Lowry
269 G. W. Kent
270 Francis M. Littlefield
271 Wm. Savage
272 John P. Wood
273 Harvey Jones.
274 Robert Garvin
275 J. M. Graham
276 Joshua Smith
277 Wm. Worriker
278 C. W. Peasall
279 Asaph Allen
280 A. B. Wade
281 T. E. Benjamin
282 Harvey N. Street
283 Martin Adams
284 Caton Adams
285 Willard Colburn
286 John G. Richer
287 Wm. Cleland
288 JohnClery
289 Wm. J. Schaeff
290 James Garvin
291 Robert Ervin
292 Henry Bronson
293 P. 0. Conner
294 G. W. Reed
295 Alfred Payne
296 John Mack
297 Joel Groves
298 Josiah Miller
299 William Yates
300 J. S. Emery
301 L. B. Kerns
302 Silas Green
303 Noah Cameron
304 E. S. Scudder
305 A. C. Harrington
306 Wm. Blair
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d of Mdj
A. D. 1855, at the house of Wm. H. E. Lykins, in the first electiH
district, for the election of members of the house of representatives r
the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges-j
said election, that the following is a true and correct return of 1
votes polled at such election, by lawful resident voters, viz :
Philip P. Fowler.. 288
John Hutchinson 283
Erastus D. Ladd 286
G. W. Brown 16
. N. Simpson 10
Edwin Bond.
Samuel Hoyt....
0. A. Hanscom,
Peter Farley....
John Lowry —
H. N. Bent...
10
2
1
1
3
1
G. W. Kent
E. T. Horton
John Biglow
Dr. John Day
S. N. Wood
Mrs. C. J. H. Nichols.
Orville D. Smith
Wm. Lyon
Lyman Allen
Blank..
WM. YATES,
JOEL GEOVEE,
JOSIAH MILLEE,
Judg\
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 22d day of May, 1855.
J. S. EMEEY, -J. Pi
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SECOND DISTRICT.
535
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day of
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of Harrison Burson, in the second
election district, for the election of memhers of council and of the
louse of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certi-
y, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a
;rue and correct return of the votes polled at such election^ by lawful
•esident voters, viz :
For Council. For Representatives.
John A. Wakefield 127 Augustus Wattles 124
Wm. Jessee 127
H. BUKSON, J
N. KAMSEY, V Judges.
WM. SIMMONS, )
Poll-look of an election held in the second judicial district, in Kansas
Territory, for the election of one councilman and two representatives,
May 22, 1855.
1 G. W. Cossley
2 John H. Woods
3 T. M. Pierson
4 Thos. Barber
5 J. J. Miller
6 T. W. Barber
7 Henry Pauf
8 G. W. Chafin
9 J. B. Swain
10 D. C. Buffune
11 J. B. Choat
12 Thos. B. Wolverton
13 J. G. Snodgrass
14 Wm. Tackett
15 N. Ramsey
16 Augustus Wattles
17 Harrison Benson
18 Wm. M. Haseltine
19 Thos. Bickerton
20 Alex. Love
21 E. B. Haseltine
22 Lewis Duffee
23 T. E. Herd
24 Isaac Stull
25 John A. Wakefield
26 J. H. Firman
27 J. H. Lyon
28 J. H. Mussey
29 E. B. Night
30 Owen T. Basset
M G. W. Purse
32 Dennis C. Blakely
33 H. R. Rawson
; 4 lludolph Thommen
35 Hen. W. Fick
36 Wm. B. Lewis
37 Jas. H. Thompson
38 Henry Learned
39 E. W. Smith
40 Horris Hobbs
41 Hugh Gaston
42 Owen Taylor
43 J. M. Tuton
44 Alfonso C. Jones
45 J. L. Hardin
46 Edward Oakley
47 A. J. Smith
48 A. Hilfelt
49 Samuel Smith
50 Joseph Oakley
51 Jas. M. Duna
52 T. W. Sletter
53 W. W. Hall
54 H. T. Wakefield
55 0. L. Spradling
56 J. N. Mace
67 Wm. Draper
58 Jos. Bryant
59 Peter V. Whiteneck
60 George W. Zinn
61 Isaac Shurley
62 Dudley Bryant
63 H. C. Muzzy
64 Chas. W. Smith
65 Wm. Glenn
66 Geo. Taylor
67 Robt. Huse
68 Wm. Wilbensherry
69 Andrew White
70 J. S. White
71 F. A. Mussey
72 M. E. Grimes
73 Milan Grout
74 Able Yates
75 John Moss
76 Madison Clayton
77 H. C. Alderman
78 Abr. Hendricks
79 Stephen Dunken
80 Jackson Roberts
81 G. H. Snyder
82 N. Snyder
536
KANSAS AFFAIRS,
83 Henry H. Conner
84 Henry L. Baldwin
85 Andrew S. Baldwin
86 A. J. Corbitt
87 F. Barker
88 Saml. Jones
89 David Ward
9ft Saml. Comer
91 J. W. Hamilton
92 Saml. Coffin
93 Nathan Herric
94 J. C. Dunn
95 Wm. Watson
96 Wm. Biesly
97 Henry Hine
98 Alfred Peak
99 G. W. Umberger
100 Joseph Anderson
101 David Kenzie
102 John Scott
103 David Jackson Casafoere-
104 J. B. T. McFerson
105 Robt. Allen
106 Saml. Casebene
107 John C. Archibald
108 R. J. Haseltine
109 Ebenezer Archibald
110 Saml. Walker
111 Thos. Burnett
112 George Anderson
113 Thos. J. Nichols
114 Benj. Stowe
115 Warren Stowe
116 Allen C. Platt
117 Jared Carter
118 Ebenezer Dishro
119 Jos. Gardner
120 Chas. R. Smith
121 E. J. Macy
122 Edwin Gardner
123 Wm. Gansen
124 E. Huddleson
125 John Macy
126 Wm. Reikett
127 Aaron Sims
Nathaniel Ramsey and Wm. Simmons sworn, according to prin
form, as in district No. 1, (first election,,) before H. Burson, justice
of the peace, and H. Burson before N. Ramsey, as judges of election!
THIRD DISTRICT,
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day c«i
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of T. N. Stinson, in the third eleetioi
district, for the election of members of the council and of the hous
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upo:
our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a true an<
correct return of the votes polled at such election by lawful residen
voters, viz : the whole number of votes cast for councilman was om
hundred and forty-six, of which Jesse D. Wood received one hundre^
and forty-six.
The whole number of votes cast for representatives was one him
dred and forty-eight, of which Cyrus E. Holliday received one hun
dred and forty-seven, and F. W. Giles received one.
DANIEL H. HORNE,
JOHN RITCHEY,
AMOS G. ADAMS,
Judges of Elections.
List of votes polled at the election held in the town of Tecumseh, in th
third election district, on the twenty-second day of May, A, D. on
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
1 D. W. Cleveland
2 Daniel Sayer (?)
3 H. B. Coles
4 Joshua Ahbott
5 S. J. Case
6 Henry Stofiel
7 Jos. C. Miller
8 A. Swift
9 Timothy Fessenden
10 David Stofiel
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
11 Kinsey Stofiel
12 Sanford Henry
13 George F. Brown
14 James McKenarry
15 J. P. Perin
16 Elnathan Trask
17 Alexander Leslie
18 Israel Zimmerman
19 D. W. Home
20 Robert L. Mitchel
21 Wm. H. Brown
22 Hy. P. Waters
23 J. N. Frazier
24 Andrew S. Waters
25 Thomas G-. Thornton
26 Ambrose W. Ford
27 George Davis
28 William R. Miles
29 Philip Briggs
30 Samuel Gray
31 J. T. Jones
32 Charles Jordan
33 L. Y. Cook
34 G. H. Pool
35 W. W. Philips
36 John M. McBride
37 James Tegart
38 Enoch Chase
39 C. G. Howard
40 C. N. Gregg
41 Jonas E. Greenwood
42 Jos. C. Wollfelt
43 E. S. Dexter
44 Samuel Hall
45 Lewis C. Wilmath
46 William F. Crites
47 Charles Crites
48 George B. Freness
49 McC. Martin
50 Abner Dow
51 Timothy Mclntire
52 Orlando Bawson
53 Charles A. Sexton
54 A. F. Hartwell
55 P. R. Hubbard
56 Francis Davis
57 Moses Hubbard
58 F. W. Giles
59 Robert Wileman
60 J. F. Meriam
61 D. H. More
62 Hiram H. Wentworth
63 Edward F. CaUan
64 E.R.Moffatt
65 J. W. Emerson
66 William R, Dyer
67 A. W. More
68 J. C. Colter
69 John A. Wirt
70 Jos. H. Weaver
71 A. G.Adams
72 John Ritchey
73 Alexander Bliss
74 George W. Hathaway
75 William W. Johnson
7G Daniel H.Horric
77 William Scales
78 L. Farns worth
79 L. G. Cleveland
80 L. P. Haskell
81 J. G. Thompson
82 Charles Moiiey
83 Charles L. Wilbur
84 William E. Bruker
85 Parsons Haskell
86 H. G. Young
87 Robert M. Luce
88 Leonard WendaU
89 Edward Plummer
90 Samuel A. Wynn
91 S. E. Martin
92 Edward Seagrave
93 Jesse Stone
94 Andrew Wynne
95 Albert Wish
96 Charles Morland
97 Barney Miller
98 H.C.Coole
99 H. B. Burgess
100 L. C. Atwater
101 Isaac Wynn
102 Augustus H. Bernard
103 James G. Bolles
104 Benjamin Getchell
105 William H.Weymouth
106 M. C. Drinkwater •
107 H. Fletcher
108 Robert Todd
109 Samuel Cavender
110 James M. Hammond
111 Charles C. Preston
112 Daniel Turner
113 George S. Holt
114 David P. Hammond
115 J. W. Brown
116 Etiomn Bollette
117 Gilbert Billiard
118 Claud Chambonnion
119 Eugene Dumey
120 M. AntoniaCampdoraa
121 William F. Johnston
122 James Pierce
123 Orlando Mofiatt
124 Hy. Griffin
125 James Goodrich
126 Hy. Hanson
127 David P. Leonard
128 Jos. N. Fogg
129 W. Y. Roberts
130 A. J. Acklin
131 Joseph Morton
132 A. J. Kelley
133 Samuel Updegraff
134 William Jones
135 Jesse B. Ramsey
136 William Riley
137 Theodore Porter
138 BarnetFoyle
139 Merril Thulkeld
140 Solomon G. Riffle
141 George S. Ramsey
142 George W. Gilmore
538 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
143 Thomas B. Bush 147 M. C. Dickey
144 A. Brower 148 George F. Boyd
145 W. K. Frost 149 Osborn Naylor
146 Caleb Aubram
Amos Gr. Adams and John Ritchey sworn according to the printed
form, as in first election district, (1st election,) before Daniel H. Home,
judge, and D. H. Home before A. G. Adams, judge.
SEVENTH DISTRICT.
Tally of votes cast for councilman for the third council district
the Territory of Kansas in the seventh election district, May 22, 1855:
Jesse D. Wood 66 votes.
Charles H. Worthington 8 "
C. H. Worthington '. 2 "
Jesse B. Wood 2 "
C. H. Witherington 1 "
We certify that the foregoing tally-list is correct, and that Jesse
Wood received sixty-six votes, Charles H. Worthington receivec
eight votes, TJ. H. Worthington received two votes, and C. H.* With
erington received one vote, for the office of councilman in the thirc
council district in the seventh election district, the whole number o
votes cast being seventy-nine.
Dated May 22, 1855.
JOSEPH McINTYRE,
HENRY HARVEY,
JOSEPH MCDONALD,
Judges of the Election.
ISAAC D. EAND,
GEOROE M. HARVEY,
Clerks.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day o
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of Isaac B. Titus, in the seventh elec
tion district, for the election of members of council and of the hous*
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify!
upon our oaths or affirmations as judges of said election, that th
following is a true and correct return, of the votes polled at suci
election by lawful resident voters, viz :
JOSEPH McINTYRE,
HENRY HARVEY,
JOSEPH MCDONALD,
Judges of Election.
1 Joseph Brown 5 Win. Lord
2 Marcus H.Rose 6 David Condit
3 Ithel Strier 7 Marcus C. Rose
4 Samuel Scott 8 Lucian Fish
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
539
9 Thomas Russell
10 Alex. Millison
11 Jas. J. Miller
12 Johnson Mclntyre
13 John W. Frul
14 Isaac Chatham
15 Hy. Hardy
16 Isaac D. Earle
17 Edward C. Johnson
18 Geo. M. Harvey
19 Darius W. Harold
20 Thos. Crabtree
21 Wm. J. Tillinghast
22 Hy. Williams
23 Jos. Mclntyre
24 Fred. C. Upton
25 Jos. McDonald
26 John Smith
27 Isaac B. Titus j
28 Warren N. Haven
29 Alphonso Prentiss
30 Jas. E. Stewart
31 Ami Smith
32 Joseph McKenn
33 Sam'l A. Allison
34 John Drein
35 Lovredge S. Axtell
36 Sam'l B. Hardy
37 Geo. S. Young
38 Wm. Graham
39 John Miller
40 Thos. Armour
41 Stephen D. Smith
42 Hiram Graham
43 Elijah A. Bunker
44 Oliver Philips
45 Abel Polly
46 Absalom Hover
47 David Hoover
48 James Bostrel
49 John E. Cazier
50 John W. Akin
51 Hy. Stanley
52 Josiah Stanley
53 Wm.A. Kerr
54 De Witt Wright
55 Geo. Bralton
56 John C. Gould
57 James H. Young
58 Wm.A. Smith
59 Fred'k Serini
60 Wm. Howard
61 Hy. Smith
62 John D. Scidmore
63 Chas. H. Linkenangen
64 Wm. M. Harris
65 Chas. W. Fish
66 Edmund Fish
67 Solomon Wyatt
68 Lewis Wyatt
69 Eli C. Maxwell
70 Hy. Morrill
71 Victory McDonald
72 John G. Morrill
73 Picking T. Cook
74 Wm. Stuart
75 Henry Epinon, (sworn.)
76 Henry Martin, (sworn.)
77 Eob't Smith
78 Thos. Black
79 Emery P. Lockhart
ISAAC D. EAND,
GU30. M. HAKVEY,
Clerks.
Joseph Mclntyre, Henry Harvey, and Joseph McDonald sworn ac-
cording to the printed form, as in first district, (1st election,) before
Marcus H. Eose, justice of the peace, as judges of the election.
EIGHTH DISTRICT.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day of
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of the Council Grove Mission, in the
eighth election district, for the election of a member of council for the
Territory^ of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of
said election, that the following is a true and correct return of the
votes polled, by lawful resident voters, at said election, viz :
Charles H. Washington has received 33 votes.
THOMAS J. ADDIS.
THOMAS S. HUFFAKER.
J. W. RATLIFF.
540 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
List of voters.
1 John B. Addis 18 James Connell
2 N. D. Trimble 19 Lawrence Bradley
3 J. A. Dunegar 20 John Connell
4 T. J. Addis, jr. 21 A. Crowley
5 S. W. Eowe 22 G. M. Suncock
6 William Delaney 23 T. R. Furbay
7 George McJulord 24 T. S. Hamilton
9 Joseph Hearn * 25 C. Columbia
10 E. M. Sewell 26 John Goodale
11 A. T. Hyder 27 C. F. Parish
12 F. F. Hoffaker 28 Robert Gillespie
13 T. J. Addis, sr. 29 Thomas W. White
14 J. W. Rodleff 30 John Kelley
15 A. J. Baker 31 C. T. Gillman
16 Morgan Delacy 32 Henry Parish
17 H. T. Halmon 33 A. G. Hyden
Thomas S. HufFaker, John W. RatlifF, and Thomas J. Addis, sworn j
according to the printed form, as in first district, (first election,) be«j
fore J. L. Baker, justice of the peace, as judges of the election.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT.
Messrs. James Lyle, Adam Fisher, and Matt. France, several!^
took and subscribed to the oath of office, as judges of the election heir
on the 22d day of May, 1855, at the house of G. Luzadder, in the six*
teenth election district of the Territory of Kansas, according to th<i
printed form.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day O'l
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of George Luzadder, in the sixteenth!
election district, for the election of the house of representatives fo:<
the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judge
of said election, that the following is a true and correct return of tht
votes polled at such election, by lawful resident voters, viz :
W. G. Mathias 55?
A. Payne 56('
H. D. McMeekin 56)
James K. Edsall 14(>
J. E. Gould 131
H. L, Pennock , 141
JAMES M. LYLE.
ADAM FISHER.
MATT. FBANCE.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
541
Pott-list of an election field at Leavenworth May 22, 185 5, for three
representatives to the Territorial legislature of Kansas Territory.
1 Asa Smith
2 M. T. Quarrells
3 Robert Tate
4 James Walker
5 Thomas Turner
6 Thomas C. Bishop
7 Jefferson Park
8 E. B. Hamer
9 John Cain
10 Jacob Honk
11 William Furnish
12 Eobert White
13 Daniel Cairy
14 Jeremiah Cockner
15 John Swinney
16 R. T. Darnell
17 Jesse Hodges
18 Jackson Miller
19 Archelus Hughes
20 Samuel Wineton
21 Joseph Settle
22 Daniel Stewart
23 William B. Almon
24 F. Marshal
25 John Rice
26 Robert Cain
27 William R. Cain
28 John English
29 William Highter
SO Moses Miner
31 C. C. Brown
32 Nicholas R. Green
33 J. Hollingworth
34 J. Sidner
35 E. D. Nelly
36 L. W. Barnard
37 James L. McAleer
38 H. Clark
39 J. Mitchell
40 Josiah Brown
41 V. C. Hollingsworth
42 John A. Thompson
43 William Lewis
44 L. B. Hoy
45 William Toltston
46 William Nash
47 J. G. Hayden
48 Thomas C. Ball
49 J. Cockrell
50 StraherHoy
51 T. H. Starnes
52 S. M. Gorden
53 Barnabas Gable
54 L. H. Whittakei'
55 William Stergis
56 M. H. Winston
57 Ely Moore
58 Jesse Miller
59 William H. Brown
60 John S. Dawson
61 John Wallace
62 L. F. Hollingsworth
63 M. Pemberton
64 G. C. Cockrell
65 William H. Adams
66 Joseph M. Cresman
jS£^ 67 D. J. Johnson
^ 68 Henry E. McCee
69 J. C. Green
70 George Quimby
71 William L. Murphy
72 F. M. Mason
73 J. W. Jones
74 E. K. Stephens
75 W. D. Clardy
76 Thos. C. Hugehes
77 Charles T. Crawford
78 Bluford Adkins
79 Peter Dupy
80 G. M. Smith
81 William T. Marvin
82 John C. Posey
83 L. D. Pitcher
84 Edmund G. Curd
85 James M. Norton
86 William H. Starks
87 William G. Bonnell
88 William G. B. Rainy
89 Jacob McMendors
90 William D. Bull
91 H. F. Rogers
92 Charles Venible
93 Thos. Bishop
94 G. B. Redman
95 John E. Bird
96 Floyd Shannon
97 Ervin Timberlick
98 James Pierce
99 B. C. Vivion
100 J. C. Hughes
101 James Saire
102 Daniel P. Lewis
103 Francis Brown
104 John H. McBride
105 William F. Mahn
106 Carrington Harrison
107 G. F. Warren
108 C. F. Brede
109 L. J. Eastin
110 James Davis
111 Charles Bennett
112 Benjamin Jennings
113 Joe T. Moore
114 John Tumblin
115 John W. Barber
116 Christopher Gisler
117 C. J. Rager
118 Aaron Foster
119 Abt. Title
120 B. J. Murphy
121 Philip Frederick
122 Alexander Russell
542
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
123 Chestley Brasfield
124 G. Donis
125 James Huson
126 William Tanner
127 J. E, Edsall
128 F. A. Hart
129 M. J. Emmitt
130 G. Honwath
131 A. Gates
132 Asa Stewart
133 George A. Morris
134 L. Shepherd
135 J. S. Townsend
136 T. Hemden
137 Ealph Hast
138 John Vernemon
139 Adam Lenhart
140 James Frost
141 G. C. Smith
142 William Baker
143 Wm. Lockim
144 B. T. Luce
145 Lewis Johnson
146 John J. Luce
147 W. S. Blair
148 James H. Headley
149 W. K. Brien
150 Wm. Butler
151 Amos Eeese
152 Jeremiah Johnson
153 Z. M. Offutt
154 Geo. Walker
155 William Wallace
156 W. W. Eunnells
157 E. F. Dunkin
158 O.K. Carter
159 Henry Howe
160 J. M. Alexander
161 Simon Scruggs
162 John F. Grant
163 F. B. Mitchell
164 James McGarvin
165 Samuel Phillips
166 John J. Moore
167 James Wallace
168 Granville Atkins
169 Joel Hiatt
170 Finley Furgurson
171 Frederick Emory
172 James Bruce
173 Wm. Bevin
174 Lewis Carter
175 M.D. Short
176 Miles Shannon
177 G. D.Todd
178 Win. Craigg
179 F. S. Ottaberry
180 Lewis Walter^
181 J. W. Todd
182 Weston Pierce
183 L. W. Holdred
184 M. H. Comstock
185 Marion Todd
186 Joseph B. Lockey
187 F. E. Barre
188 John Olvis
189 Aaron Grovin
190 Wm. M. Line
191 G.H. Folsom
192 C. Shendollar
193 J. K. Miller
194 James S. Taylor
195 John McCoron
196 Joel Moore
197 Isaac Vanvecton
198 Elbert 0. Waller
199 G. A. Shields
200 M. C. Park
201 John Alexander
202 Joseph Todd
203 John J. Fulton
204 Thos. Stewart
205 Thos. E. Short
206 David E. Burton
207 John Currens
208 Wm. C. Berry
209 Wm. Connan
210 Wm. Powers
211 Henry Delphkey
212 Nehemiah Sage
213 A. S. Downey
214 Samuel F. Few
215 A. H. Scott
216 Charles Hendley
217 Wm. Baldwin
218 Simpson Park
219 Jackson Dearing
220 Wm. Eedman
221 Wm. McGee
222 John S. Skinner
•223 David Dodge
224 David Brown
225 John S. Nubold
226 Leander Ker
227 H. H. Johnson
228 Bailey Marms
229 John Scott
230 S. B. Pankake
231 James M. Davis
232 David Brasfield
233 Thomas Eeed
234 W. W. Corane
235 Simon Brown
236 J. Wescott
237 J. Mulendore
238 James Hickey
239 Travis Brown
240 John L. Webster
241 John McNevin
242 Hugh McCorone
243 Wm. Brunsur
244 Wesley S. Davidson
245 J. D. Pennebacker
246 Wm. G. Mathias
247 Benj. F. Simmons
248 John J. Kerr
249 David S. Erwin
250 James Adams
251 J. E. McMuller
252 J. E. Grant
253 Adam Himbook
254 Wm. Eight
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
543
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
Frank Lumner
Michael Kelly
David Z. Smith
Peter Keitzeker
W. Christonson
B. L. Sellus
K E. Saunders
L. P. Styles
F. M. Johnson
Joshua Eshum
James Pratt
Thomas F. Hustin
D. L. Cooper
Thos. E. Miller
C. M. Burgess
Alexander Baker
Wm. Hippel
R. S. Watkins
A. Dean
A. W. Hughes
Wm. Large
H. Carpenter
Isaac House
Wm. G. Sharp
Houstin Long
James Rich
A. McCauley
Wm. By waters
T. G. Cockrier
Oscar By waters
E. D. Bishop
Wm. H. Elliott
John Thomas
Henry W. Sisby
Richard Thomas
John Vardiman
A. T. Scott
Henry Embry
M. P. Reiby
D. Snell
James Brooks
Wm. A. McDowel
Thomas Smith
Wm. 0. Webster
Samuel Gilbert
Dennis O'Keef
E. T. Better
H. C. Watson
Jos. Simpson
Robert S. Jones
Joe Hooper
Thos. Moore
H. D. McMekin
James Sirrett
W. L. Camell
Geo. W. Sharp
John Tumberick
John Manning
W. T. Berry
P. W. Roberts
John Moore
Richard Kitchen
J. Sash
B. Willerspoon
Wm. Alexander
John Harden
322 Wm. Guess
323 Madison West
324 Sanford Fenney
325 Alfred Williams
326 A. T. Pattie
327 Samuel H. Burgess
328 R. E. Stallard
329 David Scott
330 Patrick Kafinall
331 Robert Garvey
332 Porter Fleming
333 Moses Foss
334 John Stouffer
335 R. Loan
336 R. Covington
337 Albert Burgess
338 John Davidson
339 Francis Sutton
340 Peck A. Chaplte
341 Joel Lediken
342 James Tate
343 Edwin Ross
344 John Wilson
345 James Henderson
346 Hood Craven
347 Thos. McGruder
348 Wm. Camron
349 Wm. Toltston
350 James Quinn
351 J. P. Dunham
352 C. C. Harrison
353 A. G. Street
354 Thomas Scott
355 Peter Yeaney
356 Ed. P. Duncan
357 Joseph Dawson
358 F. A. Roberts
359 James Thompson
360 Hugh Swaney
361 Perry Collins
362 Frederick Webber
363 C. H. Allen
364 Joel Lamb
365 Thomas Stearnes
366 David Bevins ^
367 Wm. Groom ^
368 Henry C. Briskey
369 Ezekiel Downing
370 Thompson Mullins
371 John C. Downing
372 Carvin Norvillej
373 James Bureaut
374 C. L. Burge
375 Martin A. Rorix
376 Milton Stanley
377 Thomas Hickman
378 Isaac Hoover
379 Thomas Gamble
380 Wm. Cassell
381 W. W. Williams
382 Charles Starnes
383 Wm. Zebriska
384 K. C. Earl
385 Nathaniel Henderson
386 T. S. Lake
387 H. C. Bishop
544
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
388 Wm. Sharp
389 George Graham
390 Josa Humphries
391 John Bray
392 C. Neff
393 E. Inshan
394 Frank Walker
395 James McGoun
396 JohnBoyd
397 Orgis Kessler
398 Joseph Greenwell
399 Wm. White
400 James Patton
401 James Nevin
402 Daniel Heath
403 Reason Wilcocks
404 Samuel Paine
405 Henry Smith
406 George Williams
407 L. F. Mills
408 L. H. Dolison
409 James Finley
410 R. S. Martin
411 James Weaver
412 John Borhes
413 Wm. Gist
414 Jos. Thompson
415 J. W. Wheeler
416 Larance Barrester
417 William Hawkins
418 Ed. Mellain
419 John Rickner
420 Wm. J. Norris
421 Washington Hays
422 Ed. 0. Reiley^
423 Joseph Pennock
424 J. W. H. Goldin
425 Thomas O'Reiley
426 Paul Dowland
427 Win. H. Long
428 Beverly Bick
429 Alexander Reed
430 John Stone
431 Henry Dill
432 Berry Harrison
433 John Smith
434 Solomon Buxton
435 A. C. Martin
436 Isaac Beeler
437 Wm. Clark
438 Peter Black
439 C. W. Hauberroy
440 Hugh Archer
441 T. J. Harper
442 J. P. Russell
443 Nathan Campbell
444 J. V. Chance
445 W. S. Rider
446 Geo. Cubage
447 C. Scider
448 Wm. Corinth
449 John Critchfield
450 John F. Wilcockg
451 N. D. Brooks
452 James Dorall
453 James Lamb
454 James McMekan
455 John M. Damall
456 Morgan Wright
457 W. M. Tenable
458 J. Dunham
459 N. B. Sharp
460 B. Jerry
Isaac Williamson
461 D. B. Cradock
462 G. E. Bishop
463 James Maur
464 James Beding
465 David Creek
466 A. S. Parker
467 R. S. Merchant
468 Robt. Todd
469 Lewis J. Moore
470 L. B. Simmons
471 John Reed
472 Robt. M. Shearer
473 Samuel Hall
474 William Caugher
475 E. C. Nailor
476 James McDaniel
477 John C. Gist
478 James Higgins
479 W. Lane
480 J. M. Hickson
481 Thomas Faulkner
482 Robt. Offut
483 Jonathan Kelley
484 W. J. Green
485 Siras Austin
486 E. M. Koffee
487 B. Collon
488 Charles Bee
489 Thos. Morgan
490 Reuben Leeton
491 J. J. Hope
492 Samuel M. Lyon
493 Wm. Morgan
494 A. J. Bishop
495 Benj. Tolson
496 Albro Pemberton
497 Thomas Flanery
498 Isaiah Umphreys
500 C. J. Wilkinson
501 Isaac Baker
502 JohnBurris
503 J. W. Comstock
504 JohnBoyd
505 Thos. Gregg
506 W. A. Lash
507 F. M. Lowe
508 D. H. Glover
509 Tibbs Parker
510 Wm. Phillepron
511 A. W. McDonnell
512 Chas. McDonnell
513 H. M. Hook
514 J. E. Gould
515 Isaac Henderson
516 Christian Beck
517 Joseph Thomas
518 W. Falkner
519 Solomon Bishop
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
545
520 A. C. Quinn
521 G. W. Hollis
522 Suris Veix
523 Jacob Reden
524 Joseph Wial
525 Martin Sutler
526 Davis Pe Be Thorum
527 H. Kendall
528 John Leach
529 James Renfro
530 George Shuer
531 W. T. Barbe
532 E. C. Cockrill
533 H. C. Bradley
534 Wm. W. Walker
535 George Russell
536 Adam Deitz
537 P. W. Cowell
538 Theo. Gash
539 J. W. Ford
540 Thomas Johnson
541 Isaac Russell
542 Cooper Stuck
543 J. Richardson
544 E. C. Boye
545 James F. Wardea
546 John B. Moore
547 John Hanekan
548 Levin N. Lewis
549 James G. Heck
550 W. S. Vower
551 Griggby B. Metzkar
552 U. T. Shipp
553 John A. Sawyer
554 A. T. Homer
555 W. H. Fulkison
556 Robt. Downs
557 Frank Sterling
558 P. A. Mourer
559 Wm. George
560 Alexander Mann
561 John Clint
562 Marion Henderson
563 A. G. Reed
564 Samuel Brown
565 J. C. R. Howell
566 May Berton
567 William Beeving
568 Augustus Storm
569 John Fuss
570 Samuel Griffith
571 Wm. McGluffin
572 Patrick Woods
573 C. G. Hicock
574 Andrew Edington
575 Charles Dixon
576 Augustus Nicholas
577 S. R. Offert
578 John Hornan
579 J. B. Penrick
580 James P. Salsberry
581 J. C..Stallard
582 H. S. Pennock
583 John Wien
584 Levi Mitchell
585 T. J. Abshire
H. Kep. 200 35*
586 Samuel France
587 Thomas Irvin
588 Nicholas Lockeman
589 John Beasley
590 R. E. Dugan
591 H. C. Gardner
592 Harrison Collins
593 Daniel Wilson
594 James Fergurson.
595 John J. Bentz
596 Charles Johnson
597 Frank Robinson
598 E. S. Berthond
599 Robert Manegfee
600 John Maloney
601 Wm. P. Shockery
602 George Burbaker
603 John Johnson
604 R. G. Baber
605 N, S. Prentiss
606 J. H. Day
607 Wm. Beckum
608 Daniel Comstock
609 William Pennock
610 John A. Lindsay
611 R. R, Rees
612 C. H. Pennock
613 John Farry
614 George B. White
615 William Englishman
616 Mason Hoard
617 M. C. Early
618 R. H. Pheland
619 B. F. Barnard
620 Samuel Dawson
621 James Davidson
622 Lewis Sheller
623 F. Englisman
624 L. M. Burchenow
625 J. Quinn
626 J. F. Wiat
627 R. B. Roberts
628 Daniel C. Ames
629 Wm. Berchnell
630 H. B. Herndall
631 W. H. Clark
632 James Kirkpatrick
633 John Reefer
634 Henry Blickner
635 Riley Blevins
636 F. M. Bell
637 James Cooper
638 Thomas Bay
639 George M. Myers
640 George W. Luzetta
641 B. M. Crust
642 John Lawson
643 L. P. Pathy
644 David Henderson
645 Dennis 0' Sullivan
646 J. N. Bradley
647 H. Reves Polland
648 Joel Pennington
649 M. H. Walker
650 John Dailey
651 Joseph Goodin
546
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
652 Lewis N. Rees
653 James Thomas
654 Jacob Haynes
655 Wm. Fracker
656 Wm. Saunders
657 Thomas Ruble
658 W. H. Goodwin
659 H. C. Fields
660 George Scott
661 J. Hampton
662 Benjamin Morton
663 Morgan Kay
664 Wm. Wilkinson
665 L. E. Angle
666 James P. Downey
667 Henry Brown
668 John M. Lockney
669 Miles B. Locknaney
670 E. W. Trowbridge
671 J. P. Errickson
672 R. James H. Brown
673 M. B. Tompkins
674 George Stevenson
675 Feeling Bevins
676 W. T. Nicholson
677 J. Critchfield
678 E. M. Lyon
679 T. W. Davis
680 George Cresman
681 J. W. Renick
682 George Lenard
'683 J. L. McAlee
684 W. H. Bell
685 Henry Kitchen
686 John Allen
687 A. Payne
688 W. G. Smith
689 Jeremiah Rice
690 W. Phillips
691 W. F. Dodd
692 J. Phillips
693 L. B. Snow
694 Frederick Sprigg
695 R. Shadd
696 J. Kruer
697 J. H. Stovall
698 H. Rich
699 D. W. Scott
700 James Rickens
701 J. M. Lyle
702 M. France
703 A. Fisher
704 J. G. Rieson
705 D. S. Boyle
706 James Pitts
707 Joseph Pitts
708 Pete Burns
709 F. Seybolt
710 H. Godsin
711 S. Walden
712 E. M. Rankin
713 Adam Kuier
714 W. R. Butter
715 G. H. Underwood.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 547
ELECTION OF OCTOBER 1, 1855.
EGBERT MORROW called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I reside in this district. I was in Kansas City on the 1st of October
last, and started with a load of goods. I was at Westport probably
about 9 o'clock in the morning, where I saw a good many persons
corning this way and getting ready to come. I was passed, I should
fchink, by forty or fifty people within the next six or eight miles. As
far as I could see, these people who passed me all stopped at a place
called Gum Springs, or the Council House, a place from six to eight
miles from Westport. I was probably a couple of hours driving from
Westport to that place. After passing by Gum Springs, coming this
way, I do not think anybody passed me during the day. There was
i crowd of about one hundred, I should think, about 11 o'clock, around
the place where they were voting at Gum Springs, and as many horses
hitched to the fence. I did not know any of these persons. They
travelled principally in buggies and on horses and mules. When
they were on horses they generally travelled three or four in com-
pany. This place of election was on the Shawnee reserve, but I do
aot know in what county. Upon looking at the map I find that it
ivas in Johnson county.
By Mr. Woodson:
Westport is some two or three miles from the Kansas line, but I do
aot know particularly how far. The people of the Territory about
3ruin Springs, I should think, did their trading at Westport or Kansas
pity. I have been at Westport but two or three times.
By Mr. Reeder:
I do not know of any white people about Gum Springs. The popu-
.ation is principally Shawnee Indians. I have understood that white
men are not allowed to settle there.
By Mr. Woodson :
All the white settlers that I know of are about the Mission houses.
ROBERT MORROW.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
ANDREW WHITE recalled.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I was at the election at Willow Springs on the first of last October.
. saw the voting going on there. I am not so well acquainted with
•hat district as I am with my own. I do not think there was much
548 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
voting by the citizens. Many of the citizens who were pro-slaver
men would not vote, as they did not like the arrangements. BiJ
those who came from Missouri paid their dollar and voted pretty freely
Some of them told me they were from Missouri, that they lived ther-
then. They came up in companies of three, four, five, and perhapj
a dozen together. I would walk away to them and inquire what pan
of .Missouri they lived in, and they would tell me. While I wa
there I think there were at least fifty who lived in Missouri who votedi
I came away in the evening before the voting was done.
By Mr. Woodson:
My information was from these men in conversation, hut I did no
see an}'' there I knew. Most every company that came up I Avould IE;
quire of two or three, and they would tell me they were from Missouri
his
ANDREW x WHITE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856,
THOMAS WOLVERTON called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I came into the Territory llth of April, 1855, from Ohio. I settle'!
in the second district, near Bloomington. I was from Preble count} j
Ohio. I was at the election at Willow Springs on the 1st of Octobd
last, and I saw persons voting there ; I saw men voting there that to!4
me themselves they came from Missouri. I mixed up with them ani
asked them where they lived ; they came there generally on hors(
back; there were two or three wagons. I conversed with some <
them; I was a stranger there myself, and no person knew me, I w£
presented with a ticket soon after I got there ; I told them it was ai
right; I doubled it up in my hand and kept it for a free pass; :
served me as such, I saw persons coming up, and asked then
where they were from. Some told me they were from Missouri, am
some told me it was none of my business. I stayed until afternoon
until 2 o'clock, and they were getting rather drunk and could notstaai
longer peaceably. One gentleman told me he came from Missouri, am
camped at Bull creek ; that he came very near freezing and swoc
that it was the last time he was going to come. Several others toll
me they were from Missouri. The one who told me he camped o
Bull creek, I believe, did not tell me how many there were with him
he did not say who camped there, nor how many. He said that the
had come to vote; that he had come to vote on the 30th March, am
that this was his second trip. I cannot tell whether the men wh
gave the number of the party were of it or not. One of them told m
he lived in Missouri; the other did not tell me where he lived. I sa*
the first one just after he got off his horse, in a store. He said h
came to vote to make Kansas a slave State and to elect Mr. Whitfield!
He said there were forty in the party.
I
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 549
, By Mr. Woodson :
I was a stranger in the district ; I saw the voting, but no obstruc-
tions to the voting. Gen. Whitfield was a candidate ; the only one
on that day that I know of.
THOMAS WOLVERTON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
G-AIUS JENKINS recalled.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I left Kansas city on the morning of the day of the election last
fall, and started to come up to this place past Gum Springs. The
election was held under the authority of the legislature for congress-
ional delegate. Before leaving Kansas city I was asked by Mr. Milton
McGee to go over to Wyandott and vote ; I said I had no right to
vote as I was then a resident of Kansas city. I met very many be-
tween Kansas city and Westport shouting hurrah for Whitfield, and
going towards Kansas city. After leaving Westport and coming this
way, (it was then afternoon I should think,) I met some 150 between
there and Shawnee meeting house, returning from the polls at the
meeting house. Some were just coming from the polls. I do not
recollect any of their names. At the time I recognized some as citi-
zens of Jackson county, Missouri; chiefly citizens of that county.
After that I met no more after leaving Shawnee meeting house. The
polls for Johnson county were held at Gum Spring or Shawnee meet-
house, as it was called. Milton McGee lived about a mile from Kansas
city^ on the Westport road. Towards Kansas city was the usual route
'from Westport to Wyandott.
By Mr. Woodson :
I do not now recollect the names of any one I met there. I was not
present at the election, and saw no one vote. I do not know of any
one in Kansas city to go into the Territory to vote for Governor
: Reeder. I did not vote for Governor Reeder.
GAIUS JENKINS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 28, 1856.
LEWIS M. Cox called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I first came to the Territory in 1849. I have lived in different
parts of the Territory. I came into this district last October. I re-
moved from the Pottawatomie country, where I had been living, to
Parkville, Missouri, and removed from there to this place. I came
into the Territory in 1849, from Ohio. I left Kansas City a day or
two previous to the last October election, on my way to the Pottawat-
550 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
omie payment. I came up through Franklin and this place on
day of the election. I saw a crowd both at Franklin and this pi
at the polls, as I passed through the places. There were five of
who came up ; we were all going to the Pottawatomie payment.
Some persons passed us on the road whom I saw in Franklin, and re-
turning. I should suppose there were as many as a dozen passed us on
the road as we were coming up. We stopped and fed our mules on
the Wakarusa, and, while we were there, there was one wagon and
five or six men on horseback came up to the Wakarusa and stopped
and fed within twenty yards of where we were. We came in through
Franklin. I do not recollect any one, that I could name, any one I
saw in Franklin, that had passed us on the way. I know some two
or three that passed us. There was a Mr. Simpson, who lived in
Westport. I do not know as I could name any one else there. There
were two or three whom I had frequently seen in Westport. The
party at the Wakarusa were those that passed us coming up.
There was not a word spoken between us in regard to the election.
We made a halt of about five minutes in Franklin. I merely stopped
and spoke to a friend of mine there. I came right on to this place,
and stopped here a half an hour or perhaps longer. We passed
other polls that day.
L. M. COX.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
L. A. PRATHER called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Keeder :
I got to the town of Franklin, near where I now live, in July,'
1855. I came there from Missouri, but am a Virginian by birth.
I was below Independence, Missouri, in September last, and a short*
distance below there. There was a body of men overtook me, of
whom I asked, where they were going, and their object. Different •
persons of them told me they were going to Kansas to vote, and that
they were from Saline county, Missouri. I passed them at Independ-
ence, and when they overtook me at Westport, I found that their
number had considerably increased. We came on together, and I i
camped with them one night. I know that a portion at least voted,
from the fact that I stood as near the polls in Franklin as I could, i
and saw and heard them vote. I saw some of them afterwards in >
Missouri, and know that they were the same men, and they told me
they lived in Missouri ; one of them in Independence. Before we got
to Westport, or when I first got there, I saw a hemp stalk sticking
up in the rear end of one of the wagons, and I asked them what it
meant, and they said it was to hang the abolitionists with. I also
saw a hemp rope hanging to the side of one of the wagons on a forked
stick standing up. On a short conversation with a gentleman, who
told me his name was Kobert Grant, and whom I heard called " Bob,"
generally, when he discovered,, from my conversation, that I was so
much opposed to their coming here to vote, he told me I would be the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 551
irst person rewarded with that rope ; that I would be hung up if I
lid not look sharp. That was about a half a mile below Independ-
ence. They claimed the right to vote, and that was claimed gener-
illy, and I was obliged to concede it to them, under a law of what we
sailed the Shawnee Mission legislature, of being allowed to vote by pay-
ng a dollar a head. I put the question distinctly to different persons
)f that party : Do you claim to vote as residents of the Territory?
ind they said, no. We claim a right to vote under that law.
There were about sixty of them, they said. I could not make any
Better estimate of their number than they gave me. I supposed there
^ere about sixty of them.
1 One of them, when I was expostulating with them about their
Doting here, used these words, " We have a claim in the Territory/'
3ne of them remarked, " Jim, what is the use of telling that damned
ie ; we are doing just as we did the 30th of March, at the last elec-
ion."
In conversation with them in reference to their threats or violence
against Lawrence, they said it was their determination to whip the
nen, tear down the damned town, and slide it into the river. They
isked me at different times why it was that the abolition party, as
hey termed it, was not going to vote on the 1st of October. I stated
hat my understanding of the thing was, that we heard there was to
)e an invasion from Missouri, in which the free State party was to be
Iriven from the polls, and it was done to avoid a fight. That was
>ne reason. Another reason was, that they were opposed to the law
mder which the election was held. The question was asked me what
ve expected to gain. I answered that I thought the free State party
sxpected to elect, on the 9th, Governor Keeder delegate to Congress.
Che same Kobert Grant, and two others, said, "God damn Governor
feeder ; he will not be alive that day." Robert Grant stated that he
FoulJ. shoot him whenever he could be pointed out to him. When I
tsked him if he would not feel bad in killing other men, in killing
Tovernor Reeder, he said, "No ; that the more abolitionists he could
fill at a fire the better." The party in general also expressed a great
.eal of vindictiveness against Colonel Lane, and threatened his life
Jso. They asked me if I was going to vote on the first of the month ;
,nd when I answered them "No, " they told me I was worse than any
f the abolitionists, for I was a damned southern traitor. There was
;. great deal more violent language of the same tenor. They threat-
lied me toleiably well until I told them I was going to vote for neither
reneral Whitfield or Governor Reeder, as I was opposed to them
•oth.
On Monday, when the polls were opened, by some means, I was
ailed upon by a body of people to act as judge of election. I refused
3 serve, in consequence of my opposition to the law, and of these men
:om Missouri being there to vote. The Missouri men threatened me
ome, but the residents of the Territory more, for refusing to serve,
nd treated me pretty roughly, Mr. Whitlock particularly. That was
he^same Mr. Whitlock, I had understood, had been a member of the
Bgislature. He did not use any very violent gestures, but he was
-ery angry.
552 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
When the election was going on, I placed myself in as convenu
a place as I could, though I had to move frequently during the
and, with a pencil, tried to mark down, as near as I could, the numl
of votes polled, both by the Missourians and the people of the Tei
tory. According to the estimate I made, which was only an appn
mation, I made sixty-three foreign voters, and, if my memory sei
me right, from twelve to fifteen that I knew to be resident voters.
would know the names of very few non-resident voters.
Some of those who came up with me did not go to Franklin,
who passed me on the road, who told me he was Mr. Stonestreet, frc
below Independence, said he was going to Lecompton to vote.
The election, so far as order was concerned, was as orderly as el<
tions generally are. I saw no disorder there until after the polls
closed.
By Mr. Woodson :
General Whitfield was the only candidate I heard of on that da,}
Governor Reeder was not mentioned as a candidate there. I und<
stood Governor Reeder to be a candidate for delegate to Congress,
to be voted for on the 9th of the same month.
By Mr. Sherman:
The voting was intended to be viva voce, though the name wai
written on the ticket for the purpose of jogging the memory only, a
we had it in Missouri.
By Mr. Reeder :
Robert Grant told me he lived in Saline county, Missouri.
L. A. PRATHER.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 1, 1856.
JOHN W. STEPHENS called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I came into the Territory the 18th day of May, 1855, from Ohio,
and settled in Kickapoo City. I was present at the election on the 1st
day of October, 1855, and voted there. About eight or nine o'clock
in the morning, a party of about twenty-five men, from Platte county,;
with the most of whom I was acquainted, came across the ferry, and
went to the polls and voted. They were under the lead of General
Benjamin F. Stringfellow and Colonel Lewis Burns. After spending!
some time on the streets, they went to the polls and voted. Other
persons from Platte county came over during the day and voted.i
There was cosiderable tumult during the day, and some talk about
not allowing any one to vote who would not vote for General Whit-
field. I was not allowed to vote during the fore part of the day.
Considerable difficulty was caused by a gentleman named Lawrence
from Massachusetts attempting to vote. He was a free State man,
and it was not till after some time his vote was received. I think he
was allowed to vote, but I am not certain. At the time he came up
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
553
t vote, James P. Blake, a very prominent pro-slavery man in the
jace, asked him whom he was going to vote for. He said he would
[pt tell them, as it was his right and privilege to vote for whom he
}eased. Some difficulty arose, but was prevented from resulting se-
nously hy some others who were present. There were threats made
^at we should not be allowed to vote for Governor Reeder, as no
•amned abolitionist should be allowed in town.
The following are the names of the legal voters of the district I
tfcd upon the poll list:
John Freeland
S F Rhea
Curtis Huffman
„ -, ^ _....-„, Thomas Degarmon
A G Boyd John G Williams
Wi'iiJom TT^Vkc. g ~\ff Tannell
Joseph M Hall
Charles B Norris
Washington T Woods
H P 0 Harris
A G Boyd
William Hobbs
A M Price
Charles Sexton
James Beagh
William Braham
William G Sharp
E M McCowers
James T Musgrave
Simon Hackett,
H A Dawson
George W Thompson
MMNagle
Stephen Sale
Samuel Ripley
Marine Robertson
Isaac House
William H Cook
Warren Calvert
John H Lewis
George W Plays
Allen B Hazzard
J Stephens
Lewis Calvert
John H Freeland
J B Newman
DAN Grover
C B Hodges
C H Grover
Jonah Widdle
James P Blake
A J Snider
John M Lochman
Peter Montgomery
Benjamin F Freeland
D F Basket
B K Jacobs
H N Harley
E S Wilkits
M P Beny
Robert W Thompson
William P Merchant
Willy Williams
John P Thompson
John M Daniel
Meiggs Hunt
John W Stephens
James Basket
John H Taylor
The following are the names of those I knew to have been residents
f Missouri at that time:
Jesse Conrad
Thomas McLean
William Layman
William Morpin
Alexander Ralston
H C Branch
S R Harfut
P Buchanan
Lewis Burns
James A Anderson
Giles Anderson
Harry Coleman
Christ. Kance
James M Calvert
William R Guthrie
554
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
There are others here that came over with the Missourians
voted that are not residents of the district, and are as follows :
J A C Wehh
John T Elkins
M A Owen
W B Wilson
P Glynn
Samuel M Barrowman
Samuel Hays
J R Duncan
A Boulhy
James G Douglass
Charles Whitecarver
Aldrich Carver
E C Stuttward
J C Richardson
Joseph Brooks
Phineas Skinner
Samuel Doyle
Sandford Leach
John GrrofT
Thomas Douglass
The rejst of the names I know nothing about, or cannot rernembtj
about them. I took a memorandum on the day of the election of
these matters. Mr. Skinner, mentioned here, lives on Platte rivd
and has a large mill there. He has never been in the Territory sini
that election.
By Mr. Whitfield:
I am now living at Indianola, but shall consider my residence as *
Kickapoo as soon as I dare go back again. I was forced to lea*
Kickapoo because I dared to be a free State man. I came to Leavei|
worth city from Kickapoo. I have been to Port William but onc«
and that was when I took some papers for the free State election
members of the legislature. I was living in a house in Kickapoo.
was broken open while I was from the city. I am certain no chargtj
were made concerning matters found in my house. I profess to knoi
a large majority of the men in the Kickapoo district. I state, on mi
oath, that Lewis Burns was not living in the district at the time t
that election, but was living at Weston, Missouri. He had come ovfl
into the Territory and made a claim in Salt Creek valley. His famil
was not brought over here at the time of the election, though the
have resided for a week at a time on his claim since then. To mi
knowledge Lewis Burns had not lived in the district before the ele$
tion. I have lived at Kickapoo since last June, until some time i]
January. Colonel Burns' claim is three miles from Kickapoo, and il
he had been living on it I should have known it. The candidate*
( voted for on that day were John W. Whitfield and Andrew H. Reedew
One man voted for Mr. Reeder. I did not see any man except M»l
Lawrence prevented from voting. I cannot tell whether Mr. Reedet
was a candidate on that day. I know he would have been the choiol
of that district if they had been allowed to vote without intimidation*
I will swear, before God Almighty himself, that a majority of tha-
district are free State men.
By Mr. Reeder :
Previous to the election held by the free State executive committee
on the 15th of January, 1856, I was requested by them to take witfc
me blanks of the election returns and poll books for the different pre-f
cincts in that district. I did so, and delivered them safely to some o
the precincts. I came into Kickapoo on the Wednesday previous t(
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 555
ife election. After I had been in town some hour and a haif, Messrs.
6 W. Tunnell and William H. Elliott informed me that they had
fen appointed to find me and bring me down into town. I asked
ifem what they wanted. They swore I was a damned abolitionist
kd had to answer for it. I went with them, and was examined he-
fee the self-styled committee; was released, with the distinct promise
Hide by me that I would appear and answer all charges that might
tx preferred against me the following morning at nine o'clock before
tls committee. I did appear. The committee were composed of Mr.
T.nnell, D. A. N. Grover, formerly a member of the territorial legis-
pure and still a member of the council, John H. Shaler, and some
piers I do not now recollect. I was examined touching my crimes
p,d misdemeanors for carrying round poll-books and papers for the abo-
tionists, and, as a matter of course, pleaded not guilty. Nothing was
ltd or done until half-past ten o'clock, when, having left the place
S&ere I was tried, I was waited on by James P. Blake and Samuel Mar-
clint, who informed me I would have to leave town by three o'clock
tkt afternoon, and if I did not, I would be ducked in the Missouri
rier. I requested time to arrange my business before I could leave,
pd was informed that no time could be granted ; that I must finish
JF business by three o'clock, or leave it in the hands of some other
mn. I then told them I should leave when I got ready, and if they
dl not like that, they could put me out of town. Three o'clock
jjoae, and four o'clock passed, and I was still arranging my business,
ftd had not left. At half-past four o'clock I was waited upon by the
sme committee and two other persons, and again brought up for
tial. My trial was had, and the sentence of the court was, that I
ebuld be ducked in the Missouri river. Mr. Grover made a speech,
ad told them they were all law and order men, and he thought they
hd better rescind that part of the sentence and march me out of the
ttvn. Colonel Thompson, of Doniphan, advised the same. I was
fially permitted to go to my boarding-house and select my clothing,
aid then escorted a half mile out of town, with the intimation that if
jfyver came back again, I should be strung up to the first tree they
cme across. I have been back twice since.
By Mr. Whitfield:
The election of the 15th of January was for members of the general
trembly and State officers under the State constitution. The election
pipers I had to distribute I got at Lawrence, from the executive com-
rittee. There were no other charges against me in Kickapoo. I
Us not regarded as a hard case about town, and I think I left Kicka-
po with as fair a character as any man in Kickapoo. I heard that
lis committee were sitting here, and as I was very anxious to give in
y testimony here, I came down here and was subpoenaed here.
JOHN W. STEPHENS.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May T, 1856.
656 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
JAMES REED called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I live at Washington creek, about five miles from Willow Spri
I have been living there going on two years, and came from Misi
I am tolerably well aquainted in Willow Springs precinct. I
pose I know about half the people in that precinct.
I was at the election at Willow Springs the 1st of October,
and voted there. I saw a great many people there from diff<
parts; 1 saw some there from Missouri, but I did not see them
though I find their names on the poll book. The following pe
live in Missouri: R. 0. Steele, J. H. Lockridge, I think liv
Misssouri, as I do not know any Lockridge in the district, thou
am not certain of the given name. E. Pouge, I think, for I know
Pouge who lives in Missouri, though I did not see him on the groua
I know of no Pouge in the district. L. Steele, William A. Parris
C. L. Parrish, H. C. Parrish. I saw the Parrishes and Steeles «j
the ground. They live in Missouri, near Westport. I find the nauJ
of R. Flournoy on the poll book. I used to know Flournoys in JacJ
son county, but did not see any on the ground the day of electioj
I know of no Flournoy in the district. As to Wm. E. Baker, J. (
Baker, and A. Street, I do not know them if I see them. I ha^
heard of the names of siich persons in Westport keeping store fj
several years. I do not know of any person of that name living:/
our district. The following persons on the poll book I know to ha'ti
been residents of the district at that time: G. W. Bryan, Josepi
Bradbury, B. B, Brown, F. Brown, and T. Brown, one of themn
think, for I know one person of the name of Brown in the distrio
though I do not know his given name; J. P. Saunders, G. W. Pool
Josiah H. Wagner, Z. Johnson, W. Cummins, I think, for I knofc
one Cummins in the district, but not his first name; B. F. Bounds
R. R. White, I think, for there is one there, but I do not know h
given name; S. L. Clark, Thomas Emery, L. Graham, Wilda
McKinriey, H. 0. Loury, H. Owens, R. B. Matney, William Russel
L. Reed, E. B. Reed, (J. B. Davis, L. H. Davis; I know two Davis*
one given name William, the other I do not know ;) A. B. Collottt
James Reed, John Carroll, John M. Banks, Joiia. Shepherd,, Tlioma
Breeze, and Charles Martin, I think; N. McKinney, William Rhodes
James S. Campbell, and J. R. Campbell; Silas Sutton, J. M. Russell
Robert Carlow, John W. Bennett ; E. P. Skeezer, I do not know, bu!
I know a man of the name of Keyzer; Jared Chapman, I think;
O'Conner, Wm. O'Couner, Milton Boone, Levi Herrin, P. N. Wattef
I think, though I do not know his given name, and the same wa;
with S. Creel, and also with Henry Kerns, and also D. Burton, am
M. H. Bui-tin, J. Owens, John Burton, W. W. Williams, John MrLa
ren, Charles Matney, C. W. Carey, R. W. Carey, S. Shepprnl:
know a Sinchell, on Ottawa creek, but 1 do not know his first namer
I know Wm. McKinney, F. M. Coleman, William Curry, and I
Fletcher. The rest of the names on the list I do not know.
By J. W. Whitfield:
I think I know about half in the district, but I am very littlt
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 557
acuainted at the Sac agency. The men over there did not vote on
tlit day at Willow Springs, as a general thing. Those I have named
iir pro-slavery men, as the free State men did not vote on that day.
1 o not know who were the candidates that day. I heard Mr. Reeder
:tn Mr. Whitfield spoken of, but I suppose Mr. Reeder did not run,
as. think he got no votes there. There was some little drinking and
ing in the evening just among themselves, but I did not hear of any
jeig prevented from voting. They very often have a little fussing
an drinking in the western country the evening of the election.
5y Mr. Reeder :
* tfr. Whitfield was a candidate on that day, and I think Mr. Reeder
9>ie eight days afterwards. Each had their own election. There
ifs a gentleman came there to vote on the 1st of October, but went
amy without voting, as he said Mr. Reeder 's name was not on the
pd books.
JAMES x REED.
mark.
PECUMSEH, K. T., May 7, 1856.
B. C. WESTFALL testifies.
! saw a great many that I knew to be residents of Missouri, at the
taie of election, in October, 1855, in companies of from twenty to
itrty persons, coming to the Territory. I lived in Jackson county,
Jfesouri, near the line, at that time, and was keeping a hotel there.
|im pretty extensively acquainted in Jackson. Johnson, and Cass
aanties. I saw these persons after they returned, and they told me
ifey had been here and voted, and some of them showed me the re-
$cpts for the one dollar tax they had paid for the privilege of voting.
: these receipts I read. At that time I lived about twenty-five
nrles. I think, from the election place of Lykins county, at Baptiste
ttoria. The election I refer to was the first election in October last.
I had conversation with a great many of those persons when they
due back, and they told me they had voted and carried the day, and
bksted of having intimidated the Yankees and driven them away.
Qe of the receipts for the payment of the dollar tax that I read was
oe that M. Christopher Mann had. He lives in Jackson county,
kssouri, about two and a half miles east of New Santa Fe, and has
b^n a resident there for several years past. I think I did not see less
ikn five hundred men pass at that time for the election, on the one
fcad near me. A great many of them stopped with me, both going
Hd coming back. When they were going out they said they were
ting to elect Whitfield, and 'when they came back they said they
lid elected him. and as there was but one candidate running it would
(hive made no difference if they had not come out, as he would have
ben elected any way. I heard a good many of them say that they
bd gone up to Lecompton and voted, and a good many went to the
rnee Methodist Mission, Johnson county, and also to Baptiste
558 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Peoria or to Pottawatomie, I am not certain which. I heard tl
state that a good many Indians voted at Baptiste, and they also
that some whites there, friends of the candidate, made up considei
money to pay the poll tax, as the Indians would not do it.
B. C. WESTFALL.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 8, 1856.
GEORGE F. WARREN testifies.
I was at the election in Leavenworth City, Octoher 1, 1855, wh
General Whitfield was voted for. There was a large company y
strangers came in, armed to the teeth, from across the river in M:.
souri. Quite a number stopped at the Leavenworth hotel. I did n
see any camp. They said they came to vote, and that they hack
right to vote under the organic law, and contended that if the!
families did live in Missouri, they were entitled to vote as long as thi
were on the ground in the Territory. These men voted, and all
saw vote paid the dollar tax. I recognized some who voted that liv«
at Platte City. I should think that there were some 200 on the grounl
who voted. I should suppose some 100 residents voted, and the reJ
were the strangers I speak of. A great many more came than votei
after they saw the free State men did not intend to vote. I do n !
think it was safe for free State men to go to the polls. I was pretrt
well acquainted in the district, and knew most every man in it. Aft-
these strangers voted, some went down the river, and others wefl
across to Missouri on the ferry. The free State citizens took no pa(j
in the election.
A week after this election there was another election for locatiD
the country seat in Leavenworth City, and, as I understood, in otto
points in the county. The contest was between Krckapoo, Leaven
worth City, and Delaware City. I was at that election in Leavenwort
City. The polls were kept open until a little after dark, and wagor
were employed to get the voters in. I think none but residents vote
that day. The election was orderly, and no violence used that I sa^.
G. F. WARBEN.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
WILLIAM P. RICHARDSON recalled.
Examined by Mr. Whitfield :
I was at the election of October 1, 1855, held at Smithton, in th
house of John W. Smith. There were some 40 or a few more wh
voted there, as very little interest was taken and no turn out. Bti
few of my neighbors were there, some because some of their familie
were sick, and others because they did not like to pay the dollar pol
tax. I saw no illegal voting that day, and I think none voted bu
those who complied with the law and paid their tax, for I saw th
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 559
gferiff giving receipts for it. The principal reason, doubtless, for
E-re votes not being given, was because there was no opposition to
Gneral Whitfield. He did not get the pro-slavery vote of my neigh-
khood, nor of the county, as far as I know.
WM. P. RICHAKDSON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 15, 1856.
JOHN LANDIS testifies.
[ was present at the election of October 1, 1855, for delegate to
Cngress. General Whitfield was the only candidate. The election
ws held in the town of Doniphan. I saw persons, not residents in
tb district, vote that day. Their names were B. Gr. Wells, Kandolph
Siith, William Christopher, and B. 0. Driscoll. All of them resided
irMissouri at that time. I had no conversation with them. Those
tht 1 saw vote I believe to be residents of the Territory, except those
I iave named. The one dollar tax was generally paid that day. The
fee State men did not vote at that election that I saw. The number
cdvotes polled that day, as shown by the poll books, was about 66.
Dross-examined by Governor King :
The free State men were not prevented from voting that day. I
nerved my vote for the election of the 9th, and, in my opinion, the
oter free State men did the same.
I\Ir. Driscoll had an improved claim in that district at that time,
bt did not live on it. He lived in St. Joseph, but now resides in the
Trritory. Christopher also had a claim in the district at that time
bt lived himself in Missouri. He has since sold his claim. Kan-
dlph Smith had a grocery in the town of Doniphan, in the Territory,
ad was keeping it at that time. At that time when he kept his
gpcery there, I kept the ferry and set him over to Missouri every
n^ht and morning. He lived in Missouri. He owned an unfinished
d'elling-house in Doniphan, but did not live in it. He subsequently
d;d. before his house was finished.
JOHN LANDIS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
EMERY B. COOK testifies.
I came to the Territory in March, 1854. I have resided within a
nle of the Missouri line since that time, near Fort Scott. I am a
mson by trade and usually worked in southeastern Missouri when I
fist came there. I was at Fort Scott on the day of election on the 1st
Q: October, 1855. I went up to the polls on the day of election. On
jJb Friday evening before the election there were a great many came
iifrom Missouri in wagons towards Fort Scott, apparently a pretty
catinued travel. On the next day, Saturday, there was a public pro-
560 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
slavery dinner, free to all who favored tlie party. I saw a good mai
come in by my house on the Monday of the election on horseback fro
Missouri. I do not think many of them who came in wagons to t]
dinner returned until after election. I was at work in town at n
trade and boarding at the hotel. It was very crowded. There was
camp in the bottom close by, apparently a good many there, but
cannot tell how many. I saw a great many of these strangers the
on the day of election. I had no particular conversation with
strangers.
As I was going backwards and forwards on the day of electi
stopped once or twice ?t the polls, but I did not vote. These stra
were around the polls, some with pieces of paper in their hands,
saw them go to the window, reach their hands up and then go awa<
I cannot say that they really voted, but I thought they did. I thougjj
but very few of the citizens voted, not to exceed fifty. This I thougl •'
from what I heard and saw there. There was some vexation and irn
tatiori, and some excitement among the citizens in regard to the eleij
tion. I did not vote that day. I am satisfied from what I saw ih&\
do and what they told me, that about thirty I knew voted. I do m
think a majority of the settlers were at the election ; about one-hm|
who were there did not vote. I should think at that time there we;^
in the neighborhood of two hundred and fifty residents in the coiml*
of Bourbon. There was a general convention amongst us, and son^
concluded it would be better not to vote that day in order to prever<
a riot ; others were angry because both parties did not run on thi
day, and some contended it was an unlawful way to do business, 11
run one candidate one day and therefore they would not vote at all!
1 thought it was a rascally business all round. Some did not vote oj
account of the dollar tax ; some paid it, and some did not pay it but g<;|
receipts, though I do not know whether they promised to pay after ware (
or not. I know that some got receipts without paying the dollar ta
at the time. I do not think these strangers generally paid the taj-
I have carefully examined the poll list of the election of October >
1855, and find in it the names of residents of the district amoimtin;
to forty-two, (42.) There are many of these whose first names I d j
not know or cannot recollect, but from my knowledge of them am
. seeing their names on the poll list I believe they are the persons
Whenever I have found a family name, and know a similar famil
name in the district, but did not know or remember his first name,
have included him as among the residents.
Cross-examined by Mr. Anderson :
I did not count them but believe there were two hundred strangers
about that time there were a good many moving in and the Territor
was settling up, but not many around there. A great many of th
strangers who were there on the day of election were those who cam
to attend a barbecue the Saturday previous. It rained on Saturda
and there were a good many women there from the State, and ther
were many women there on Saturday from the Territory. I do no
know about the strangers voting, except that I saw a good many c
them going to the polls with papers in their hands. Two told m
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 561
Hey had voted, and two told me they were citizens of the Territory.
;.t the time of election I knew some had the ague, and I think some
<>uld not come for that reason, but not many. I knew the Mill Creek
jttlement, and I believe two-thirds came from there, but I cannot say
4rtain. There are some twenty-five or thirty voters there. There
te in the Manitou settlement about thirty odd voters, of whom I don't
how that any were kept away by chills. Some from there who came
dd not vote,, and I think one-half were there at the election. Two of
lem told me they did not vote. These were the two largest settle-
lents in the county. I expect a good many stayed away because
iere was no opposing candidate. The reasons I have given why the
isidents did not vote were generally given by both parties. I heard
&me men of the pro-slavery say it was rascally all round, and I said
te same myself, as I belong to the free State party.
There was no difficulty that day, but many feared it. No threats
•ere made that I heard. It appeared to be the desire that all parties
aould vote that day. I don't know a man who was refused the right
t vote because he had not paid the dollar tax. I know that some of
te strangers did not pay the tax, or at least at the time they got their
p,pers. I don't know whether they paid it or not, before or after,
ecept from what they said. I can't say for certain how many resi-
ents did not vote. I know certain that three did not vote, of whom
Iwas one.
E. B. COOK.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
HENRY S. CREAL called and sworn.
I was present at the election of the 1st of October, 1855, in Doni-
nan county, at Mr. Morse's tavern. I was one of the judges of
section. I know of but one illegal vote at that election, and I am
i)t certain about that. His name was Dr. Henry, and he had a
cairn in the Territory. I considered his vote illegal, as I thought he
ked in St. Joseph's. I think all the other votes were legal. There
^sre some sixty votes cast.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scott:
I do not know that Dr. Henry was over there with his negroes,
cttle, and stock, but he told me so at the election. He lives in the
rJ3rritory at this time.
H. S, CREAL.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 23, 1856.
D. W. FIELD called and sworn.
By the committee :
I reside in Doniphan county, Wayne township. I was present at
te election of a delegate to Congress at Atchison,, on the 1st of Octo-
l}r, 1855. I think Eli Mason was one of the judges. I was there
H. Eep. 200 36*
562 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
about an hour the middle of the day, from twelve to one o'clock. 1
saw one man vote, a resident of Missouri. His name was Davis. I !
saw no tax paid. Men came to vote and said they had no dollars,
and were allowed to vote. The judges then told them to hand in
their tickets, and they did so. I think no receipt or certificate was
exhibited. I saw one minor who I supposed, from what I saw, voted
that clay. Some one urged him to vote, and he said he was a minor.
He was told that he had a good beard on his face, and would pass.
I saw him take the ticket arid go up to the window, and, as I suppose,
voted without challenge. I saw no receipt or certificate for the dollar
tax exhibited by any one who voted that day. I returned home to
the Doniphan precinct, and was there about an hour before the polls
closed. I saw three votes cast by land surveyors, who I did not
believe had a right to vote-. One was Mr. Crane, the others I did not
know.
D. W. FIELD.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
JAMES LYNCH certifies.
To Governor King:
I was one of the judges of the election in the Doniphan precinct on
the 1st of October, 1855, at the congressional election. I recognized
all the voters as citizens. Randolph Smith was recognized by me as
a citizen of Doniphan, and entitled to vote. His vote was not chali
lenged at the polls by any one, but I heard his vote disputed after-
wards. I knew him to be a citizen of Doniphan at the time, holding
and owning valuable property there. Not a man of the free State
party came there to vote that I know of. Every man before he voted-
was required to present his certificate that he had paid his dollar 01
county tax.
JAMES LYNCH.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
JOHN HAMILTON testifies.
I first came into the Territory in 1835, but did not settle unti
March, 1855, in the Fort Scott district. I came there from Weston-
Missouri. I was in the town of Fort Scott on the 1st of October
1855, but did not go to the polls until late in the evening, and did no;
vote. I noticed on the day of election, and two or three days before-
quite a number of persons whom I knew to be from Missouri, and alsd
many strangers whom I did not know. I had no particular conversa-
tion with any of them in regard to that election. I paid no attention
to this election at all, as my mind was on other matters, I having-
buried a son two days before.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield.
General Whitfield was the only candidate on that day I know of
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 563
ETort Scott is between four and five miles from the Missouri line. It
.8 a very common thing to see Missourians over to Fort Scott, where
fhere are three stores to trade, as it is the trading point along that
)ortion of the line. They come in from Missouri to trade there ; but
L do not know as they come over generally on other occasions. There
^as a barbecue given at Fort Scott the Saturday before. The notice
that I saw in regard to that dinner was, that all favorable to slavery
jhould come. 1 received no invitation myself.
JOHN HAMILTON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
H. MILES MOOKE testifies.
I was a resident of Leavenworth City at the time of the congressional
slection of the first Monday in October, 1855 ; but I was not present
it that election, being absent in Lexington, Missouri,, for the purpose of
obtaining testimony for a case I was employed in in western Missouri.
[ have been told by free State men that they did not vote on that day.
The following is a list of the names of persons who resided in Missouri,
and who voted at Leavenworth City, in Kansas Territory, at an elec-
tion held for a delegate to Congress, on the first Monday in October,
1855, as appears by a copy of said poll books of said election, herewith
shown to me :
Sixteenth District.
William H. Miller, W. H. Pence, J. C. Cockell, John Fanier, Ab-
ner Dean, Isaac Archer, K. F. Duncan, Samuel J. Finch, editor of
the Western Reporter, Missouri, Jeremiah Crabb, John B. Wells, C.
L. Beeding, P. J. Collins, Hugh Sweeney, Nathaniel Terry, James
Buckhart, E. S. Darnell, George Adams, James Saunders, John
Winslow, John Yenamon, Clinton Cockell, Robert Ely, J. H. Darnell,
P. W. Elington, Z. D. Washburn, D. L. Leech, W. B. Bell.
The most of the names in the above list are names of persons resi-
;dents of Missouri, who also attended and voted at previous elections
in this Territory.
H. MILES MOORE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
H. MILES MOORE testifies.
At the time of the contested election, ordered by Governor Reeder
to be held in Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, on the 22d of May,
1855, for members of the territorial house of representatives,, I was a
resident of Weston, Missouri, where I had been a resident for some
five years. I came down here with a great many others from Weston,
as I had done at previous elections, in obedience to calls issued by the
pro-slavery men in this district, to all who felt an interest in the pro-
slavery cause to come here and aid them in the election. There were
564 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
not near as many men on the ground at the election as at the eleo
tion of the previous March. I think that more free State men vote-
in May than at the March election. I have examined the poll hoob
of that election, and find upon it the names of persons then resident
in Missouri, many of whom I saw vote, as I had seen Missourian
vote at the previous elections in the Territory that I had attended'
The following is a list of resident Missourians, whose names I find upoi
the poll books of the 22d of May, 1855, in this district.
A list of names of persons who resided in Missouri, and who vote*
at Leavenworth City, in Kansas Territory, at a contested election-
held for members of the house of representatives, on the 22d of May*
A. D. 1855, as appears by copy of said roll book of said election
herewith shown to me :
Sixteenth District.
Judge William B. Almond, Frank Marshall, of Marysville, K. T.i
Kobert Kane, W. K. Kane, Nicholas K. G-reene, Joseph Cockle, S. Ml
Gordon, M. Pemberton, George Quimby, William D. Bonnell, Dame;
P. Lewis, L. Sheppard, John Venomen, James H. Headly, Z. M
Offert, J. E. McMallery, L. P. Stiles, Oscar Bywaters, William By;j
waters, Isaac House, A. W. Hughes, Abner Dean, John Wilson, Ed
ward P. Duncan, Hugh Sweeney, Henry Smith, William J. Navisi
T. J. Harper, William T. Barber, L. E. Offert, J. P. Erickson, Wili
Ham H. Bell.
The election was quietly conducted, so far as I saw. After thil
election was over, I returned to Weston, Missouri, with those who hao
come down by land as we came in the morning. The pro- slavery can
didates we voted for that day were Matthias Pegne and McMullin.
do not recollect anything about the free State candidates, except tha>
John E. Gould was one of them.
H. MILES MOOKE.
LEAVENWOKTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
Copies of the poll books of an election held in the Territory of Kansas on
the first Monday of October, A. D. 1855, for a delegate to Congress
as taken from the papers on fie in the office of the Secretary of th
Territory by the Kansas Investigating Committee.
COUNTY OP ATCHISON. — Grasshopper Township.
OCTOBER ELECTION, 1855.
Territory of Kansas, country of Atchison, ss:
We do swear that we will impartially discharge the duties of judges
of the present election according to law and the best of our abilities.
B. F. TRIMBLE,
K. H. GOODING,
H. N. EILEY.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 565
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 1st day of October, 1855.
JAMES M. GIVEN.
territory of Kansas, county of Atchison, ss:
We do solemnly swear that we will faithfully discharge the duties
If clerks of the present election according to law and the best of our
-bility.
WM. C. NUTT,
CHAS. CONNER.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 1st day of October, 1855.
JAMES M. GIVEN.
Names of voters for General J. W. Whitfield.
R H Cahill W C Nutt
James Givens
George W Simmons
Charles Conner
R H Gooding.
B F Trimble
Abstract of votes.
For J. W. Whitfield, T votes.
Territory of Kansas, county of Atchison, ss:
We, the undersigned, judges of the election held in Grasshopper
township, in the Atchison county election district, certify that tha
foregoing is a correct list of the votes given at an election held on the
irst day of October, A. D. 1855.
Witness our hands this day of October, A. D. 1855.
B. F. TRIMBLE, )
R. H. GOODING, V Judges.
H. N. RILEY, )
Attest :
WILLIAM C. NUTT, ) rj ,
CHARLES CONNER, J ° erKS'
COUNTY OF ATCHISON. — Shannon toivnship.
POLL BOOK, OCTOBER ELECTION, 1855.
Henry Addoms, N. J. Ireland, and J. Bennett sworn as judges,
and John G. Downey and J. M. Hazard sworn as clerks, before
James A. Hadley, judge of probate court of Atchison county, accord-
ing to form on page 1.
1 Jessy Morin
2 H Blassinghine
3 J M York
4 J W Lincoln
5 N R Green
Names of voters,
GAM Comie
*7 Lyman Waid
8 H J Galbraith
9 John Robertson
10 William Thomas
566
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
11 J A Headly
12 John Norris
13 G-rafton Thomason
14 James Merchell
15 J N Hinton
16 L Chindler
17 W B Brockett
18 P P Willcox
19 G W Grayson
20 A Kinser
21 W McVay
22 P Ferris
23 G A Kings
24 John Taylor
25 Joseph Taylor
26 Patrick McVay
27 R L Berk
28 Alexander Hays
29 Hiram Hays
30 Merit A Brumfield
31 John Parker
32 Patrick Boil
33 A A Groundike
34 T Poesteet
35 James Wiglesworth
36 S Dickson
37 0 B Dickinson
38 Levi J Boles
39 JMunson
40 J Poteet
41 G B Well
42 L L Boles
43 B Ross
44 J Large
45 H Large
46 Joseph Ferry
47 Thomas Rhea
48 James Daniel
49 H R Waterman
50 A Burcheet
51 J W Randolph
52 P Shariton
53 J Kasy
54 M Hampton
55 J McCune
56 A Shaw
57 0 Hetherly
58 J B A Ewell
59 J H Stringfellow
60 Sam. Walters
61 Sidney Walters
62 J Ashcroft
63 Ira Norice, jr
64 A H Allen
65 John P Hunnicutt
66 Dudley McYay
67 Charles Riding
68 Thomas Davis
69 David Williams
70 Samuel C Glenn
71 L T Ellison
72 N J Zone
73 J Cummins
74 Jonathan Street
75 R S Kelly
76 Jessy Isaacs
77 William T Shuman
78 William Wade
79 James Cravin
80 D C Judy
81 Rice S McCubbins
82 J H Wills
83 F M McVay
84 0 D Willace
85 John Amburgh
86 William Jackson
87 Isaac Williams
' 88 John Wiser
89 Robert Finny
90 H Martin
91 Billy Isaacs
92 William Martin
93 J B Logan
94 Daniel Kitchen
95 William S Dicks
96 Sanford Kyle
97 M J Francis
98 Thomas 0 Holly
99 Jessy Shepherd
100 John Alin
101 J C Roswell
102 John Roberds
103 P F Allen
104 A McPherson
105 D C Davis
106 J A McVay
107 C M Gilmore
108 W Stord
109 Lenius Page
110 Charles Woolfolk
111 Silas Smith
112 John Hamlin
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
567
113 Stephen Johnson
114 Jeremiah Barton
115 J Wilcocks
116 M Kames
117 E Oldhorne
118 J G Morrow
119 Nelson Taylor
120 George William
121 L Yocum
122 J M 0 Bayly
123 W W Andrews
124 William M Grimes
125 Henry Addoms
126 N J Ireland
127 John Bennett
128 E 0 Mason
129 J M Hazzard
130 John G Downie
131 J W Wood
132 Francis McDowell
133 Stephen English
134 William E Barnes
135 A Taylor
Certified to by judges and clerks according to form on page 2
copy.
of
Abstract of votes for delegate to Congress.
J. W. Whitfield -
A. H. Keeder
Total number of votes polled
Certified according to form on page 2 of copy.
131
4
135
FORT SCOTT.
Territory of Kansas } county of Bourbon, ss.
The undersigned, having been appointed by the proper tribunal
judges of an election, lawfully appointed to be held, for a delegate
for said Territory to the Congress of the United States, on the first
Monday of October, in the year 1855, and having been duly sworn,
according to the provisions of the act of the legislative assembly in
such cases made and provided, do certify that on the day aforesaid
such election was held at the town of Fort Scott, in said county,
A. Hornbeck and K. G. Roberts being clerks sworn to the faithful
discharge of their duties, when and where the following votes were
given.
A. W. HAZELRIGG, )
THOMAS J. WHITLOCK, } Judges.
G. OLDHAM, )
1 T B Arnett
2 Thomas Wadkins
3 John T Ricks
4 W S Houts
5 W H Taylor
6 James Grages
7 Elias Dean
8 William T Gilham
9 Stephen Diners
10 James B Logan
11 Noah Tisson
12 Thomas Marshall
13 William H Shawnesle
14 William Watson
15 F M Logan
16 Watson Kinsey
568
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
17 J W Sharp
18 Henry C Booker
19 Solomon Eead
20 James McKhan
21 H Russell
22 J W Young
23 Taylor Linsy
24 L W Groves
25 J W Newman
26 J G Davis
27 Rubin Dugan
28 J L Dillard
29 William Newman
30 J Robinson
31 C D Bell
32 J H Walton
33 Elvis Hutchins
34 Francis Divers
35 J T Herenten
36 W G Collins
37 P M Ray
38 Noah Kyton
39 James McKool
40 Hugh Logan
41 Dillard Welch
42 J W Cameron
43 J B Stoops
44 B Conler
45 J Thurman
46 J W Sterns
47 H Nevil
48 J R Lane
49 Oskes M Nelson
50 John Gant
51 G L Dook
52 William Mor banks
53 C S Ogleby
54 C M Ogleby
55 GW Hopkins
56 T M Smith
57 P Piar
58 Levi Welch
59 John White
60 C C Sharp
61 G W Walker
62 J M Forster
63 Marks Morgan
64 R S Piper
65 William Forster
66 Robert Gragg
67 Samuel Smith
68 W Smith
69 William Anderson
70 A Ramey
71 S Elevens
72 R Marchbanks
73 C Hays
74 D B McDonald
75 Ryland Dillard
76 William Gibbons
77 John Nail
78 John Wight
79 W Smith
80 P Button
81 J Spears
82 W M Hutchison
83 J S Camperfard
84 W Hock
85 W W Woodson
86 D M Greely
87 Elijah Ray
88 L M Oliver
89 J Rogers
90 C Bondurant
91 J B Richardson
92 T S Marlow
93 E Ross
94 R Wells
95 A Thornton
96 S H Lowering
97 R S Woods
98 W James
99 D Neil
100 J D Tucker
101 William Bartlett, jr
102 J Know
103 W Rogers
104 E A Cox
105 J W McFarland
106 A G Hall
107 J Denton
108 G Morris
109 A Dickson
110 A J Russell
111 D L Harrison
112 James Barker
113 J S Corwins
114 S Hert
115 John Rye
116 A Baker
117 E S Wegend
118 J C Anderson
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
569
119 D F Greenwood
120 C Bartlett
121 E Ray
122 R A Barnett
123 J D Ferguson
124 W Fryar, sen
125 W Shelly
126 T Snoder
127 N J Barnes
128 S A Williams
129 OS Ferguson
130 J Weber
131 GRoss
132 S Weber
133 J W Denton
134 M Kirk
135 S Foster
136 J D Thompson
137 J Miller
138 W Snow
139 S M Stratton
140 GDorson
141 A Dorson
142 P H Procter
143 GHSymons
144 A Moody
145 J Randolph
146 W W Jackson
147 Henry Herriford
148 S H Herriford
149 JH Herriford
150 W H Herriford
151 J Pritchett
152 S A Dasert
153 C 0 Lorrell
154 J Douglas
155 J January
156 J S Mitchell
157 John Alexander
158 P Dunking
159 M M Kincanon
160 A C Cogswell
161 N S Hancock
162 W R Miller
163 B Alexander
164 F Sherby
165 A Kennedy
166 W January
167 J P Avery
168 J W Maxey
169 G J Entcott
170 J Bolinger
171 J P Hampton
172 W R Morgan
173 R Morrow
174 W J Line
175 J R Beard
176 J Gross
177 J T Ray
178 J 0 Simons
179 J White
180 J Ray
181 P Zeal
182 W W Cogswell
183 H M Thornton
184 G W Shoemaker
185 J H Brown
186 W F Alexander
187 J Daniel
188 W H Ward
189 T Summers
190 F K Morgan
191 H R Kelso
192 J N Mige
193 W Bollinger
194 W Breeze
195 T Pickeral
196 Jonathan Denton
197 A C Horton
198 W Panter
199 C Lewis
200 H W Linn
201 D Crews
202 J Pickeral
203 A W Gage
204 J Brown
205 J N Cotrell
206 J M Brown
207 A T Nalor
208 J Morrow
209 T M Cook
210 P D Cummins
211 J M Bryan
212 N G Bukner
213 N M C Moore
214 M Linn
215 H T Wilson
216 M J Rand
217 D F Dewitt
218 R Beath
219 C Mitchell
220 C Cox
570 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
221 W D Horn
222 H C Weathers
223 L Hedges
224 S Wagoner
225 W Cox
226 W Moffett
227 J W Cummins
228 C B Wingfield
229 S Bage
230 H Wingfield
231 W P Wingfield
233 T S Spinkle
234 N Pearson
235 A Hornbeck
236 K G- Roberts
237 G Oldham
238 T J Whitlock
239 A W Hazelrigg
240 H Varhell
241 B F Hill
242 W H Kilton
243 W Margraves
232 W Wadkins
Territory of Kansas , Bourbon county, ss:
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held at Fort Scott o:
the first day of October, (it being Monday,) for delegate to Congres-
of the United States of America, do certify that there were two hum
dred and forty-two votes cast for John W. Whitfield, and for A. H'
Reeder one vote, which were the whole number of votes cast at saiii
election on said day, which is a fair and complete list of all of sain
votes.
Given under our hands, as judges of said election, at the town o
Fort Scott, K. T., this 1st day of October, A. D. 1855.
A. W. HAZELRIGG,
THOMAS J. WHITLOCK, } Judges
G. OLDHAM,
Attest :
R. G. ROBERTS,
A. HORNBECK,
BROWN COUNTY.
Poll book of the election held at the house of W. O. Foster, in the counfo
of Brown and Territory of Kansas, on the first day of October, A. D
1855.
W. C. Foster, William Purket, judges ; and H. Woodward, M. L
Saurin, B. Winkles, clerks of said election, were severally sworn ai
the law directs, previous to their entering on their respective offices.
1 W C Foster
2 Marcellus Saurin
3 William Purket
4 Henry Woodward
5 Benjamin Winkles
6 E W Short
7 John C Poe
8 Franklin J Robins
Names of persons voted for and for ivhat office, containing the number oj
votes given for each candidate.
Delegates to Congress — John W. Whitfield
For license
Against license
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
571
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Brown county, Kan-
is Territory, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes
iven at an election held on the first day of October, A. D. 1855, as
•itness our hands this the first day of October, A. D. 1855.
W. C. FOSTER, )
WILLIAM PURKETT, V Judges.
H. WOODWARD, }
B WINKLES, ) (JM^ f Election,
M. L. SAURIN, J J
CALHOUN COUNTY.
We and each of us do solemnly swear that we will impartially dis-
harge the duties of judges of the present election according to law
jid the best of our abilities.
PERRY FLESHMAN,
G. P. DORRISS,
SAMUEL S. LOCKHART. •
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this first day of October, A. D.
L855.
JAMES KUYKENDALL, J. P.,C., K. T.
We do solemnly swear that we will faithfully discharge the duties
)f clerks according to law and the best of our abilities.
WILLIAM L. KUYKENDALL,
J. M. KUYKENDALL.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this first day of October, A. D.
1855.
PERRY FLESHMAN.
Poll book for Oalhoun county.
For Congress — John W. Whitfield
Andrew H. Reeder
For license - - ^ ! -
Against license
29
0
14
5
Names of voters.
J M Hands
E M Sloan
George L Young
William Alley
Charles Polk
G- P Clark
James S Wilson
G P Dorriss
S S Lockhart
Perry Fleshman
J M Kuykendall
W L Kuykendall
James Kuykendall, sen
Raleigh J Fulton
Creed Fulton
Richard P Beeler
James 0 Daniel
Thomas F Monford
Russell Gurrett
William Wilson
Lucius ChafFee
Joseph White
William H Morgan
Jacob Baker
John D Susie
Bozeil Greemore
0 H P Polk
Edwin G Booth
Benjamin Boydston,
572 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Territory of Kansas, Calhoun county, ss:
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in number one electioi
district, certify that the foregoing is a true and correct list of the vote)
given at an election held on Monday, the first day of October, A. D
1855, as witness our hands this first day of October, A. D. 1855
PERKY FLESHMAN,
G. P. DORRISS,
SAMUEL S. LOCKHART.
Attest: J. M. KUYKENDALL,
W. L. KUYKENDALL.
DAVIS COUNTY. — Delegate to Congress.
A H Reeder 4 (four) | J W Whitfield 8 (eight)
Names of voters.
1 Samuel Berry
2 J Preston
3 H J Hector
4 E J Howard
5 John H Rodman
6 John T Price
7" Jess Spencer
8 George M Switezen
9 GH Harris,
10 Alexander Dean
11 John Wallace
12 S H Sarber
ec-
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Davis county el
tion district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes
given at an election held on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855, as
witness our hands this 1st day of October, A. D. 1855.
N. B. We have nut deemed it necessary to exact the proof of pay-
ment of the territorial tax.
GEORGE H. HARRIS, )
GEORGE MEIKEL SCHWEZER, V Judges.
JESS SPENKER, )
Attest : ALEXANDER DEAN, ? „,, , , .
JOHN WALLACE, J C er/cs °J €
LECOMPTON — Douglas County.
To Ellison, Waffel, and Ward:
You are hereby appointed judges of an election for delegate to Con-
gress, to be held at the office of the town company in the town of
Lecompton, on Monday, the first day of October, A. D. 1855.
By order of the board of commissioners.
Attest: JAMES CHRISTIAN, Clerk D. C.
Poll book for Lecompton.
1 James B Hall
2 J F Taylor
3 R W Williams
4 F H Alexander
5 James Alexander
6 G P Johnson
T William Fisher
8 J R Henry
9 A H McClenahan
10 N Riley
11 T F Stone
12 J R Winn
13 Edward Wiles
14 Monroe Booz
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
573
15 W R Scott
16 J M Muse
17 J F Stonestreet
18 J N Enbey
19 J F Bilt
20 H C Spurtoch
21 Thomas Todhunter
22 Thomas Walter
23 A. F Hereford
24 D W Williams
25 J J Cremner
26 0 C Spalding
27 Timothy McClane
28 J B McClenahan
29 Dudley Plummer
30 S H Plummer
31 Thomas Scaggs
32 James Scaggs
33 H C Owens
34 J F Jackson
35 A E Tyry
36 WFoly
37 W S Thompson
38 A J McClenahan
39 F Thompson
40 John Wells
41 S J Wofert
42 Paris Ellison
43 David Kendal
44 Samuel D Jones
45 J D Todhunter
46 L Barnett
47 a M Taylor
48 K C Bishop
49 W H Wilson
50 William A Thompson
51 Wills Garrett
52 Lewis Owens
53 George W Johnson
54 James Borland
55 John Boatman
56 E Teschmaker
57 John S Winters
58 James M Davidson
59 J S Ketchen
60 F Webster
61 Benjamin Bartling
62 G M Clam
63 Frank McDowell
64 William Rhine
65 Harry M Reynolds
66 Aaron Botts
67 John M Smith
68 Juan Todhunter
69 Charles F Terchmaker
70 John Mason
71 James Ubanks
72 W Robertson
73 David W Runnels
74 William Prewitt
75 Samuel B Patterson
76 Jack Anderson
77 Daniel Trigg
78 Madison Frost
79 J R Critcher
80 Henry Carlile
81 J F Smith
82 William Benson
83 A F Davis
84 G H Harrington
85 A H Porter
86 Andrew McDonald
87 Fleming Hatton
88 William Johnson
89 J P Pitcher
9.0 William Riley
91 William Blayney
92 John Stewart
93 William F Halsey
94 William C Willoch
95 B C Brook
96 William Doho
97 Rufus Doho
98 D F Reese
99 Frank Brady
100 Jacob Hard
101 John Handcok
We, the undersigned judges, do certify that Hon. J. W. Whitfield
received 101 votes.
PARIS ELLISON,
DAVID KENDALL,
JAMES D. TODHUNTER.
We, the undersigned judges of the election at Lecompton, Kansas
574
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Territory, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes give
at an election held on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855, as witne*
out hands, this the 1st day of October, 1855.
PAKIS ELLISON, )
DAVID KENDALL, V Judges.
JAMES D. TODHUNTER, )
Attest:
WILLIAM T. WILSON,
E. C. BISHOP.
(No oath of judges and clerks on file.)
Poll book of Franklin Township, Douglas county.
S Z Sheet
John M Jackson
J W Jimmason
John M Hays
J F Thomas
R M Grant
James M Hambuck
8 Nathan L Simpson
9 A H Tinman
10 Joseph H Boid
11 George Holmes
12 R Simpson
13 B R Piper
14 J N Harvey
15 WH Chase
16 Benomas Sapington
17 S Houston
18 John Harris
19 William C Camell
20 R S Harvey
21 John R Metcalf
22 John M Sappington
23 J A Twiman
24 0 B Pearson
25 Thomas Jackson
26 Ruben Coruilus
27 John 0. Lockhart
28 Joab Yanwick
29 C. J Lewis
30 George Foulman
31 0 B H McGee
32 Ambros Floughmany
33 Samuel Justin
34 F E L Hay
35 F L Cohin
36 J C Evans
37 Christopher Mubao
38 P H McGee
39 M McMurry
40 C R Shell
41 Jon B Lewis
42 W S Hunt Doel
43 John A Gouldin
44 E D Hart
45 James A Colins
46 H P Muir
47 Z J Walton
48 R J Wolf
49 E B Johnson
50 S C Wair
51 Arch. Pax ton
52 J T Clark
53 E G Leak
54 Peter Doran
55 Peter Burns
56 Charles M Denis
57 E McCane
58 Alex Sebastian
59 James T.urner
60 Toby Lahay
61 Peter Behan
62 John D Lahay
63 B C Lady
64 William Justins
65 Antonius Lahay
66 Alfred Justice
67 George Blenejacket
68 Thomas Rogers
69 A C Smith
70 D L How
71 Isaac Shass
72 B F McDaniel
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
575
73 David Wallace
74 M P McCarty
75 J M Grain
76 H T Grain
77 W J Jones
78 Isaac Burt
79 G P Johnson
80 Edward Wild
81 Samuel Grain, sr.
82 James Whit-lock
83 D T Carlno
84 John Smith Norris
85 W L Parr
86 John N Wallace
Certified to by James Whitlock, D. T. Conlin, and Samuel Crane,
en., as judges ; and William T. Parr and J. Smith Norris, as clerks,
ccording to form, on page 2.
Poll book of Lawrence.
1 J H Crocket
2 Calvin Adams
3 Franklin Kerrans
4 S M Saltus
5 W J Shaerff
6 T W Phillips
7 Peter Crockett
8 L B Kerns
9 James Christian
10 A J Bush
11 Robert Allen
12 J F Belt
13 J F Jackson
14 E Wilds
15 H C Owens
16 Martin Adams
17 W H Oliver
18 Fields Bledroe
19 John F Rumel
20 A C Hinmon
21 James R Hilman
22 G W Kemper
23 H C Hamilton
24 Edmond Smith
25 William Iron
26 G W Smith
27 B B Bernoe
28 Thomas Winship
29 Garland Webb
30 Daniel D White
31 John Ferrill
32 Henry A Carlen
33 William Corel
34 S C Were
35 James Garvin
36 R J Merkerson
37 James Green
38 John F Wilson
39 E Y Shields
40 Alfred Wilhelm
41 J W Wilhelm
42 Thomas Smith
John W. Whitfield received forty- two votes. Certified to by Peter
Clockett and W. SchaerfF, judges ; James Christian and L. B. Kenas,
clerks, according to form on page 2.
Poll book, Willow Spring, Douglas county.
Voters' names.
1 G W Brian
2 Joseph Bradbury
3 R 0 Steel
4 R B Brown
5 M L Benson
6 J P Sanders
7 John Montgomery
8 Thos D Jones
9 GWPool
10 A Smith
11 Jonah H Wagoner
12 Z Johnson
13 W Cumins
14 J H Lockridge
15 B F Bounds
16 R H White
576
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
17 S L Clark
18 Thomas Emery
19 M Boune
20 L Graham
21 Wildie McKing
22 H 0 Lowery
23 J D Cunningham
24 H Owens
25 K B Motny
26 B T Brown
27 William Kussell
28 L Reed
29 E B Eeed
30 J B Dairs
31 M Reynolds
32 S W Fisher
33 Oscal Young
34 John Jones
35 A B Collotte
36 James Reed
37 S H Davis
38 John Carroll
39 John M Banks
40 Jonathan Shepherd
41 Thomas Breeze
42 Charles Martin
43 E Poage
44 N McKinney
45 John Macklin
46 Wm Roads
47 James S Camphell
48 L Steel
49 Wm A Parrish
50 C L Parrish
51 R Flournory
52 R J Long
53 H C Parish
54 John Eadlehart
55 Joseph Hager
56 Silas Sutton
57 J M Russell
58 Rohert Carlan
59 John W Benett
60 Alfred Laws
61 L Dent
62 G P Skezur
63 Wm A David
64 Wm Donaldson
65 Wm E Baker
66 William Isbell
67 Jared Chapman
68 P 0' Conner
69 H 0' Conner
70 Wm 0' Conner
71 A Street
72 J G Baker
73 Aaron Case
74 John 0' Conner
75 Levi Herren
76 A Bell
77 P N Watts
78 S Creel
*79 Henry Kauz
80 D Burton
81 Newton Cary
82 John Burton
83 W W Williams
84 John McClarau
85 Charles Matny
86 G W Cary
87 R W Cary
88 C F Cleveland
89 S Shepperd
90 Wm G Lucket
91 Thomas Esseeks
92 Wm McKenney
93 M H Burton
94 F M Coleman
95 D T Jones
96 Win Curry
97 J M Tanett
98 J B Campbell
99 CM White
100 G W Hurr
101 James Campbell
102 Milton Boon
103 D Fletcher
For Congress.
JWWhitfield - 103 | A H Reeder 0
We, the undersigned, judges of the election at Willow Springs, cer-
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
577
•fy that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given at an election
i the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855.
M. BOONE, )
D. FLETCHER, > Judges.
JAMES CAMPBELL, )
best:
C. M. WAITE, ) Ql ^ f dection,
J. B. CAMPBELL, J
IOWA TOWNSHIP. — County of Doniphan.
.oil book of the election held at the house of William Beeler, in Iowa
Point, Iowa township, county of Doniphan, Territory of Kansas, on
the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855.
Robert H. Fitch, George Brown, and J. B. Matlack, judges, and
]aniel W. Flinn and James Glenn, clerks of said election, were sev-
(ally sworn, as the law directs, previous to their entering on their
ispective offices.
Names.
1 Jesse Lewis
2 William Williams
3 Harry Foreman
4 George E Glass
5 W D Beeler
6 Charles Balkely
7 Madison Walker
8 W H Hawkins
9 Jackson Rany
10 Thomas Smart
11 Perry Glenn
12 A D Rainy
13 George Penny
14 Isaac Crouch
15 X K Gout
16 William No wland
17 D K Anderson
18 Thomas Leas
19 Mikle Bird
20 Ezekiel Hobbs
21 A M Downing
22 F H W Young
23 W W Felton
24 'Jackson Baker
25 Pryor Plank
26 Samuel Hollman
27 R H Fitch
28 D W Flin
29 George Brown
30 Doctor Shepherd
31 Joseph A Brown
32 James Glenn
fames of persons voted for, and for what office, containing the number
of votes given for each candidate.
Hegate to Congress- -John W. Whitfield -
Lr license - -
gainst license -
30
11
18
We, the undersigned, judges of election in Iowa township, county
o Doniphan, and Territory of Kansas, certify that the foregoing is a
crrect list of the votes given at an election held in Iowa Point, on the
H. Rep. 200 37*
578
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
1st day of October, A. D. 1855, as witness our hands this d
of October, A. D. 1855.
EOBEKT H. FITCH, )
GEORGE BROWN, V Judges.
J. B. MATLACK, )
Attest :
DONIPHAN.
Poll book of the election held at the hotel of John W. Forman, in ?
town of Doniplian, Wayne townshipj county of Doniphan, and Ter
tory of Kansas, on the 1st day of October,, A. D. 1855.
William Sublette, D. M. Johnston, and James Lynch, judges, a
J. H. Thompson and J. A. Van Arsdale, clerks of said election, w
severally sworn, as the law directs, previous to their entering ontb!
esp ective duties.
1 A J Dunning
2 Jacob Mat hews
3 C J Yeary
4 S K Miller
5 David Frank
6 G M Waller
7 William Christopher
8 B G Wells
9 Jacob J Scott
10 Benjamin Twedell
11 John Tracy
12 R Smith (license)
13 William F Tate
14 Jeff Button
15 Benjamin Hutton
16 Calvin Lewis
IT 0 Brown
78 B O'Driscoll
19 John Walker
20 George Hancock
21 John W Philips
22 S C Hudson
23 John Rice
24 Keron Grable (license)
25 Joseph Frates
26 Colonel Newman
27" Joseph Grabla
28 J B Baker
29 William Beauchamp
30 John W Forman
31 Josiah Howard
32 Daniel S Young
33 E McCall
34 Campbell Baker
35 Jacob Grorhen
86 Andrew McLaughlin
37 W G Tate
38 GRFormen
39 John Martin
40 Richard Vest
41 Benjamin Wharton
42 J H Thompson
43 J A Van Arsdale
44 James Lynch
45 William Sublette
46 D M Johnston
47 Joshua Laundis
48 William H Hivehman
49 James Raney
50 Benjamin Wilcox
51 John S Pemberton
52 H W Swisher
53 Guelman Cox
54 G W Lidingter
55 D G Sharp
56 James Roberts
57 William Froman
58 John Abahart
59 Amos Rutledge
60 G A Crane
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
579
61 C C Alverson
62 Joseph Cook
63 G W Parker
. 64 G L Gore
65 T H Gallaher
66 Alexander Hall
les of persons voted for, and for what office, containing the, number
of votes given for each candidate.
Th it field 66 No license 44
Eeder - 0 License — s: 17
Certified by judges and clerks of said election according to form on
tige2.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
NL ~book of the election held at the house of M. F. Moss, near Milton
Bryant's, in Washington township, county of Doniphan, and Territory
of Kansas, on the first day of October, A. D. 1855.
Jeffrey M. Palmer, H. S. Creal, and William Matthews, and James
I Whiteheadj and D. Scott Bogle, clerks of said election, were seve-
rlly sworn previous to their entering upon their respective offices.
1 Hamilton Osborn
27 William J Copeland
2 Hamilton J Johnson
28 John Coke
3 Timothy Bancroft
29 James H Merrill
4 James Petch
30 John Bolinger
5 C B Donalson
31 William Lalley
6 D Scott Bogle
32 G L Gore*
7" James B Whitehead
33 W H Allen
8 Milton E Bryant
34 William Palmer
9 J M Palmer
35 F M Mahon
10 William Matthews
36 Girard B Jones
11 Peter Monroe
37 Levin A Benson
12 A Heed
38 Samuel Montgomery
13 J P Blair
39 J B Owens
14 Leander McClelland
40 John Lovelady
15 William Morgan
41 William Fee
16 HS Creal
42 Hiram Gilbert
17 Miles Collins
43 James Lyn
18 Uriah Griffith
44 Sabert Gladon
19 Edward Leary
45 John Duncan
20 Daniel Miller
46 Hamilton Kirk
21 Stephen M Bell
47 John T Montague
22 Daniel 0 Tool
48 Wilson D Moore
23 William Robertson
49 Constadt Power*
24 D E Benson
50 Peter Vergent
25 Daniel L Henry
51 James B O'Tool
26 Elias Copeland
52 John Trotman
* 64 Doniphau township.
580
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
53 James O'Tool, sen.
54 Henry Chumley
55 Gary B Whitehead
56 Francis Young
57 James Bliss
58 Samuel Flint
59 Henry Thompson
60 Kily Millrap
61 Evan Evans.
Names of persons voted for, and for what office, containing the num
of votes for each candidate.
John W. Whitfield, for Congress - '•'» 59
General J. W. MouskikaofF, for Congress - 2
For license - 39
Against license
Certified by judges and clerks according to form on page 2.
BURR OAK.
Poll-book of the election held at the house of John W. Smith, at
ton, Burr Oak toivnship, county of Doniphan, and Territory of.
sas, on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855.
Judges and clerks of said election were severally sworn as
directs, previous to their entering on their respective offices.
1 L T Lolan
2 T W Watterson
3 James Watterson
4 Joseph Crippin
5 S E Morris
6 W P Kichardson
7 John W Smith
8 Porter Eoberts
9 Nimrod Duncan
10 J W Stevens
11 J W Smith
12 Charles Slimmer
13 A F Barnet
14 Eobert Keed
15 James Craft
16 William Burtoutt
17 William Bryant
18 Philips Mannel
19 Francis Bogair
20 Kobert M Whitsett
21 Thomas Bankenship
22 Charles Taylor
23 Robert L Morris
24 Francis M Morris
25 Mathias Rapp
26 H D Adams
27 A H Trible
28 D B Tindel
29 James Gabriel
30 Hezekiah Jackson
31 William C Gilliam
32 E C Gilliam
33 A J Gilliam
34 Thomas Duvall
35 Asa K Hubbard
36 Obadiah Evans
37 Jared Treble
38 William Treble
39 J W Treble
40 E C Smith
41 Jesse Cot
42 Henry James
43 Richard Morris
44 H C Moore
45 John Henderson
46 L D Cook
47 Thomas H McCulloch
48 Benjamin Caststeel
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
581
fimes of persons voted for, and for ivhat office, containing the number
of votes given for each candidate.
John W. Whitfield, for Congress
For license
Against license
42
39
5
Certified to by John A. Henderson, Richard Morris, and Henry C.
foore, judges, T. H. McCulloch, T. D. Cook, clerks, according to
f™m on page 2.
LAEH TILLAGE. — Wolf TWtT township.
till looks of the election held at the house of Milton Utt, at the Laeh
Village, in the Wolf Biver township, comity of Doniphan, and Terri-
tory of Kansas, on the first day of October, A. D. 1855.
G. B. Wilson, A. P. Quick, and A. Q. Rice, judges and Josephus
Itt and Thomas J. Yanderslice, clerks of said election, were sererally
srorn as the law directs, previous to entering on their respectire
<nces.
1 R Baldwind
2 A B Sharp
3 D Yanderslice
4 David Bogard
5 James J Yanderslice
6 Hardin Critchfield
7 William T B Yanderslice
8 Nelson Rodgers
9 Milton Utt
10 M C Modie
11 James W Oliver
12 J G Yates
13 A J Yates
14 R M Gilmore
15 S D Gilmore
16 S a Fish
17 G W Dowell
18 S D Bright
19 J J Reynolds
20 Richard Leach
21 William Craig
22 Henry Smith
23 James Brooks
24 James Cameron
25 William Smith
26 William Webb
27 M D Brown
28 M Brown
29 Isaac Craig
30 William Yickers
31 Joel Ryan
32 Milford Gilmore
33 Samuel Potut
34 Isaac Chase
35 Henry Chase
36 Josephus Utt
37 A Q Rice
38 G W Gay
39 G R Wilson
40 A P Quick
41 T J Yanderslice
42 William Lewis
43 George Jones
44 J J Smith
45 Maidson Osborne
46 Sidney Gwinn
47 N Kimberlane
48 John Kimberlane
49 Wallace Smith
50 Peter Monter
51 K Murray
52 William McGathney
53 D Utt
582 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Names of persons voted for, and for what office, containing the
of votes given for each candidate,
John W. Whitfield, for Congress, 53.
For license, 29 ; against license, 8.
Certified to by the judges and clerks according to form page 2.
Poll book for Middle Creek.
1 Alexander Smith
2 Samuel M Kobertson
3 John Payne
4 Edward Payne
5 D H Leeper
6 Thomas Totton
For J. W. Whitfield, 6 votes.
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Franklin com
held at the house of Thomas G. Blair, certify that the foregoing j
correct list of the votes given at an election held on the first da. )f
October, A. D. 1855, as witness our hands this first day of Octo
A. D. 1855.
FREDERICK BROWN,
D. H. LEEPER,
his
EDWARD + PAYNE,
mark.
Judges of election
Poll book of Pottowatomie Creek, Franklin county.
VOTERS' NAMES.
1 R Golding
2 A Wilkinson
3 J S Wightman
4 H Sherman
6 George Wilson
7 J P Barnebey
8 William Sherman
9 Jeremiah Buffington
5 H S Britton
For J. W. Whitfield, 9 votes
We, the undersigned, judges of the election at the house of Hd
Sherman, in the county of Franklin, certify the foregoing is a cor:
list of votes given at an election held on the first day of October, .
D. 1855. As witness our hands, this the first day of October, A.
1855.
JOHN G. MORSE,
SAMUEL MACK,
JOHN S. W1GHTMAN.
Attest :
A. WILKINSON, ) rii—fa nf election
J. P. BARNEBEY, J Cler/c* °feie<*lon-
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Poll list of Jefferson county, Kansas Territory.
583
Names of voters.
Votes for
J. W. Whitfield.
si
|a
<
&
Names of voters.
2
*l
R !>
*'">
O .
>£
•-*
k
A
>K
<
&
1
1
1
1
24. Webster Withers
»•••••
25. Jacob Downing
26 Joseph Downing. .......
27 Samuel Hudson
28 Robert K Grant ...
......
••••••
29 W H Tibbs
30. W. F. Dyer
31 Richard Grant
32 John Sharp
1
33 A Christian
i. Judge O. B. B. Tibbs
34 D R Sprague
......
.....
1
\ William Carpenter
37 H Combs
1
1
1
1
1
38 Benjamin Danson ......
39 R C Combs
T S R Burpee
40 J E Haddic
3. H. Banfield
.....
41 . E. Cornett
......
). Joseph AV. Thompson . . • • .
42. James Mclntire ........
). J. R. Smith
43. Hiram Combs
I Ellis Downing , ..........
1
1
1
44 John Patton I . . . .
2 C Withers °.
3 J L Prior
We, the undersigned, judges of election, certify that the above and
sregoing is a correct poll cast at Osaukee3 Jefferson county, Kansas
territory, at an election held this first of October, 1855, for delegate
o Congress, viz : For Whitfield, 42 ; for Reeder, 3. Total, 45.
D. R. SPRAOUE,
A. CHRISTIAN,
PETER DUPUY.
Attest :
M. CHRISTISON.
W. H. DYER,
Gkrfo.
cast at the county seat of Johnson county, Kansas Territory, on
the 1st of October, 1855, for delegate to Congress.
1 Smallwood Noland
2 N J Cord
3 G W Gordon
4 J D Harvey
5 N K Thomas
6 R D Harris
7 Jos S Ball
8 Albert Wright
9 Ch's Packard
10 A Jones
11 A H Hough
12 S W Asbury
13 John Berry
14 J Q Cupp
584
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
15 K F Moore
16 T Doniphan
17 A Kerr
18 Richard Pitcher
19 S F Furnace
20 G T Williams
21 F H Carton
22 F G Campbell
23 E S Fishback
24 Jesse Noland
25 Thos Huckell
26 R Thorpe
27 J B Shelly
28 Wm Duggins
29 M McGill
30 R L Bell
31 B F Claggett
32 Wm Groom
33 GSRathborne
34 G Hopkins
35 T S Boyce
36 L A Talbott
37 F Cering
38 CV Lincoln
39 A Hassell
40 John Falkerson
41 Pleasant Ellington
42 J H Ware
43 Wm M Groom
44 J L Steadman
45 R C Miller
46 S L Doty
47 C Monroe
48 G W Baker
49 J Q Atkins
50 J D Stivens
51 GWShowalter
52 Wm Gillespie
5S Jas Fleming
54 Wm Semple
55 WmKentley
56 John A Collins
57 T B Covan
58 C C Wallace
59 A J Zerpin
60 H Gening
61 S Maguaghay
62 A F Patton
63 J B Shaw
64 Otho Hall
65 Samuel Barnaul
66 W L Haltron
67 A Ritcher
68 A T Farce
69, John McFadder
70 John Lyrch
71 Silas Evans
72 J R Atkinson
73 John Halbut
74 J Lauderdsde
75 Davis Vogle
76 Silas Combs
77 T S Ham
78 Jos Hicklin
79 H Bailey
80 H H Harrison
81 H McHahan
82 John Shannon
83 WmRice
84 Joel Liscomb
85 F M Huchison
86 Charles Chotian
87 U L Boyer
88 0 Latinar
89 J Napier
90 Danl Duffelmin
91 J F Mills
92 Wilson Shannon
93 Geo Buchanan
94 John S Johnson
95 T J Lockridge
96 Jos Tooley
97 Fred Clotian
98 J M Harrison
99 Wm Donaldson
100 J Blackstone
101 J W Ellis
102 Benj Clotian
103 John Wornall
104 G Ridley
105 Rush Elmore
106 J L Duncan
107 James Adams
108 Joseph Dilland
109 Wm Ish
110 John Ish
111 B F Johnson
112 H C Pate
113 John S Davis
114 S J Huffaker
115 Cyprian Chouteau
116 T H Ellis
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
585
117 John Johnson
118 P Dansby
119 Wm Sponger
120 John Parks
121 Nathan Guthrie
122 Charles Blujacket
123 Dan'l Woodson
124 Charles Tucker
125 Captain Klockhoof
126 John Pumpkin
127 WmB Coots
128 Jeremiah Frazier
129 Y D Broom
130 J B Warfield
131 J D Piery
132 A B Emor
133 Chas Kohealan
134 Wm B Howard
135 H A Huchison
136 Charles Bowles
137 H A Hunter
138 Henry Coifman
139 William Clotian
140 J T Barton
141 D W Stone
142 Billy Wolf
143 Coleman Smith
144 H G Burton
145 P Booker
146 G W Walkei
147 J F Lunley
148 Win Surpin
149 GEagan
150 T A McLain
151 Jesse Harris
152 G W Rice
153 J M Bernard
154 J T Lawtzel
155 John Me Arty
156 M P Randall
157 J C Pollard
158 W Massy
159 W Bailey
160 Henry Meguire
161 C L Conner
162 C R Low
163 F M Davis
164 Jo Day
165 John Profit
166 Joseph Flint
167 Jas Keyser
168 Joseph Jack
169 Samuel Gannets
170 B T Keyser
171 Eli BlockhofT
172 T Deagle
173 Alfred Lee
174 D Dodson
175 T K Moore
176 Geo McDougal
177 Jas Peterson
178 H F Henford
179 H H RatclifT
180 W M Clark
181 A Hoff
182 Richard McAnish
183 John Talboot
184 A C Davidson
185 C Arrington
186 Moses Silverheels
187 Tobe
188 Kashowaypenshek
189 S Kimberlaird
190 Henrv De Shain
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in • election dis-
trict, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes cast at the
Section held on the 1st day of October, 1855. As witness our hands
-Ms first day of October, 1855.
C.
C.
z.
Attest:
JNO. S DAVIS,
H. BAILET,
Clerks.
CHOUTEAU,
BOLES,
J. HUFFAKER,
Judges.
586
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
LEAVEN WORTH DISTRICT.
Poll book of an election held at the city of Leavemvorth, in Leavenwon
township, in the county of Leavenworth, in Kansas Territory, on tl
first Monday in October, A. D. 1855, for delegate in the thirty-fourti
Congress of the United States.
Names of voters.
1 Hiram Bich
2 James K Water
3 William H Miller
4 C L Beeding
5 John Vendamon
6 J W McNutt
7 James Depsey
8 Floyd Shannon
9 S D Lecompte
10 Andrew Gardner
11 H H Estis
12 W H Pence
13 W P Judy
14 M A Groom
15 Q A Weeling
16 H L Trundle
IT W T Nicholson
18 John Estes
19 William Boyd
20 Joseph Welding
21 D A Thompson
22 J Mothershead
23 J E Emmerson
24 Thomas C Bishop
25 J W Gardner
26 S Greenfield
27 Bartly Estes
28 PH Collins'
29 W H Chowning
30 John Chrisman
31 J G Williams
32 J Spear
33 J C Posey
34 H Corrun
35 John E Bird
36 J L Goran
37 Clinton Cockrill
38 E C Naylor
39 R C Thompson
40 Abraham Estes
41 James Swing
42 James Tenson
43 James McGowan
44 Jesse Summers
45 Joseph Skagg
46 J L Bowen
47 J D Trice
48 John Sweany
49 J Cockrill
50 Joel Hyatt
51 J B Donaldson
52 John A Hald email
53 G Atkins
54 E B Sandford
55 W S Hughes
56 J M Alexander
57 G P Dyke
58 0 H Swiney
59 B B Brown
60 J P Womack
61 Hugh Swiney
62 D J Johnson
63 B F Simmons
64 R R Rees
65 Leander Kerr
66 W C Baker
67 Simeon Scruggs
68 John J Berry
69 W H Adams
70 G H Hale
71 John McKonn
72 Q H Day
73 Samuel F Teem
74 N N Wilkinson
75 Amos Rees
76 J H Berryman
77 H D McMeekia
78 S W Holland
79 J F Mason
80 L Cox
81 James L Hickman
82 Henry Miller
83 Jere Clark
84 R E Sanders
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
587
85 W S Karr
86 Robert Scarce
87 Y Y Jones
88 B K Burnett
89 Kobert Ely
90 John Long
91 William Laye
92 Samuel Paul
93 Thomas Stewart
94 L McArthur
95 M Mills
96 James Kich
97 John Farrier
98 W W Corwin
99 Charles Stames
100 Charles A Mann
101 Joseph Duncan
102 Daniel Thatcher
103 John Thatcher
104 S H Oliphant
105 W J Green
106 Jeremiah Johnson
107 C M Burgess
108 Nathaniel Learey
109 B F Hale
110 G W Roberts
111 A Parker
112 T Staggitt
113 Thomas N Gosney
114 Thomas Smith
115 Isaac Archer
116 John Keeler
117 Thomas N Smith
118 A J G Westbrook
119 G B V McCall
120 James Edgins
121 Michael Kelly
122 Thomas E Downing
123 Richard Goddin
124 John Bryant
125 Lewis Chinn
126 W Todd
127 James Adams
128 James B Hall
129 P W Ellington
130 James H Connelly
131 Abner Dean
132 James Buckhart
133 Marion Todd
134 John Flint
135 J W Darnell
136 R T Darnell
137 Levi Wilson
138 Thomas Mullins
139 C C Redman
140 Peter Ganey
141 H Rives Pollard
142 Jonathan Hartman
143 Eli Moore
144 F S Atterbury
145 Joseph Cromwell
146 H H C Harrison
147 Z D Washburn
148 J Huntingdon
149 Joseph Chrisinan
150 Silas Gordon
151 R F Duncan
152 J C Thompson
153 George Adams
.154 William A Parrott
155 Thomas F Scott
156 James McCrury
157 P Keith
158 P N Kennelly
159 J P Russell
160 D S Leach
161 Samuel J Finch
162 Hugh Archer
163 Nathan Campbell
164 Levi Sykins
165 FNRoyall
166 William H Bell
167 William G Mathias
168 James Sanders
169 Vandeman Cockrill
170 M P Rively
171 M Smith
172 B E Rively
173 S B Goodrich
174 John Daily
175 W Sanders
176 J M Hackler
177 Jeremiah Crabb
178 B Crabb
179 W S Caldwell
180 G W Hill
181 J Q Murphy
182 William Long
183 Daniel Stewart
184 Roderick Tate
185 John McVevin
186 James Tate
187 William G Norris
188 Barnabas Gable
588
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
189 J W Broaddus
190 J S Hook
191 W D Bull
192 W H Bailey
193 Jackson Handley
194 A J Isaacs
195 Jackson Smith
196 Hiram Kelly
19T John Wells
198 Charles Dunn
199 John Munford
200 K C White
201 John Winston
202 William Gist
203 B McCreary
204 C A Russell
205 Green B Todd
206 Thomas C Hughes
207 James M Lyle
208 G B Panton
209 0 Y Harrison
,210 William Alywan
211 Joel B Collins
212 W S Yoke
John W. Whit field received 212 votes.
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Leavenworth elec
tion district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the vote*
given at an election held on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855, a*
witness our hands this day of October, A. D. 1855.
G. B. PANTON, )
ALEX. RUSSELL, V Judges.
BENJ. McCRARY, )
Attest :
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP — Leavenworth county, K. T.
Poll book of an election held at the house of William H. Spratt, in D(
ware township , in the county of Leavenworth, in Kansas Territory, on
the first Monday in October, 1855, for delegate in the thirty-fourth!
Congress of the United States.
1 Josiah Farly
2 W T Darmal
3 Sam'l Hoy
4 Isam Thompson
5 A W Hughes
6 Washington Berry
7" John H Thompson
8 Nathan Leonard
9 Hoy Cooper
10 John Durnal
11 Marion Pemberton
12 William Beal
13 Ephraim Jessy
14 J C Hughes
15 Edward M Dobson
16 T J Bui
It Thomas Turner
18 Noah Pitcher
19 Dabner Perkins
20 Archibald Hughes
21 Thomas Perkins
22 W W llenshaw
23 William Bedman
24 William Wallace
25 John Chrislison
26 Daniel Stewart
2*7 Robert Tan-
28 William Pemberton
29 James Esenage
30 Aaron Cox
31 J McDaniel
32 M M Clemins
33 J Colvin
24 Richard Darneal
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
589
35 Jam os Wnllis
36 William Dickey
37 William Cane
38 V Cock rill
;:'.} A Clark
40 James Me Daniel
41 William Kin
42 M C Morris
•III Thomas Arnold
44 ,1 (i Haden
45 John Alvis
•1i; II L Merrill
47 F M Kinsey
IS W 1) llimalo
49 James Littlejohn
50 Hen jam in Kinsey
51 James Kinsey
.VJ flames T I la \ den
53 Alexander Tab
54 John A Scdrner
55 L V Barnate
50 J Miller
57 J Y Roberts
58 John I'rooks
51) Kllis Henshaw
60 David Clarke
61 Joseph Dunnigan
62 J F Snow
<):; 15 Lurkin
64 W J Millar
65 L Oudkam
6(1 John Ecton
67 James Kmhrid^e
68 John W Rogers
*'.'.) lUchard Ducat e
70 Samuel S I {rooks
71 Thomas Brooks
7ii dosej)h Bruse
73 1'ady Cooper
74 0 F Warren
7f> (JB Redman
76 Jesse Smith
77 Joseph Little
78 Alexander liaker
79 James Nash
80 Levi Ferguson
81 Mat Winston
82 Albro IVmherton
S:i John (:;inc
84 Rob't Cane
85 William Hoy
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
101
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
I'.urrtord Adkins
Silas A Quissy
W W Quissy
Brooker Homer
Samuel Finley
May Burton
William Brunston
William Toatston
James Mooro
James M Churchill
William Davis
William Henston
< Miarles Crawford
Thomas Starnes
Daniel Heath
Joseph Walker
Sai.iuel Taulston
V Molhershawl
Samuel P Beraine
Adolphus B Hoolin
Thomas Kinsey
Owen Duly
John Brightwell
Granville BrightweJl
J F Wardon ,
J G Slayers
A K Elliott
Frank Gains
Simpson Parks
John H Wilkinson
J N Hutchison
Black Richards
Ho well Jenkins
M J Moore
D J Moore
William i; Almond
John E Brooks
Henry Witlow
William Green
G Moore
John THancry
David McFir
John Moore
Daniel Cary
William Fox
Robert Cary
James Fox
Thomas Tuder
Robert Chisum
\V W Woods
Silas Woods
590
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
137 Francis Brown
138 John Wallis
139 Matthew McGregor
140 OG McDonald
141 TF Brown
142 Samuel Winston
143 JohnSheler
144 Simon Johnson
145 William Christy
146 MKKennington
147 Erwin Timberlick
148 Abbott Grigg
149 John Hasting
150 John Brasfield
*151 Adam Brown
152 James Spratt
153 JF Gregg
154 John Dority
155 James B Moore
156 Silas Gordon
157 H J Sharp
158 William F Onin
159 J Hollingsworth
160 JC Collins
161 Solon Sheperd
162 George Quinby
163 Monner Byne
164 James Luckey
165 James E Kerr
166 Thomas Grigg
167 Christopher Girr
168 James Perse
169 James Pitts
170 Jacob Pitts
171 James Mitchell
172 Ek. Williams
173 James L Carter
174 Walker Williams
175 John W Johns
176 T Chevis
177 JWCrag
178 J Walker
179 Willis Vance
180 Mathew B Wilson
181 David McCollins
182 William Mackey '
183 T J Chives
184 James Withers
185 A Tilery
186 JohnAdkins
187 H Mayer
188 B C Hollingsworth
189 D S Gordon
190 William E Bell
191 Benj L Qissey
192 William G Wilkinson
193 Stephen Duncan
194 BR Morton
195 William Diment
196 Conner J Roger
197 G J Cockrill
198 H C Carr
199 H J Viveon
200 William Brent
201 Charles Pullons
202 JJWinne
203 JBHunt
204 WZebrisky
205 Thomas demons
206 NVinson
207 AdisonBerge
208 Rufus McCollins
209 David Churchill
210 John Byrd
211 John R Miller
212 Franklin Sprague
213 Wilburn Christison
214 JT Moore
215 Samuel S wisher
216 E B Jacks
217 James Bruse
218 Boston Brown
219 Wilson Fox
220 Sylvester Lariny
221 JohnBickett
222 Frank Gordon
223 JohnBlan
224 Hiram Mariner
225 Timothy McLoy
226 John Hall
227 Afalon Dority
228 TFitzgerrill
229 G Sprague
230 M Moreland
231 JPLong
232 L F Hollingsworth
233 T J Abshere
234 EWWeley
235 John E Pitt
236 LP Stiles
237 Thomas Alvis
238 Richard Thompson
239 John Broadhurst
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
591
At an election, held at the house of William H. Spratt, in Kansas
Cerritory, in the town of Delaware, on the first Monday in October,
. D. 1855, the following men received the following votes:
J. W. Whitfield received 239.
G. B. REDMAN,
WM. DICKEY,
ALEXANDER BAKER,
Judges of the election.
Attest:
JOHN R. MILLER,
LEVI FERGUSON,
Clerks of election.
WHITFIELD'S ELECTION, 1855. — POLL BOOK KICKAPOO TOWNSHIP, LEAVEN-
WORTH COUNTY.
Poll book of an election held at the house of George W. Hayes, in the
city of Kickapoo, in Kickapoo township., in the county of Leavenworth,
in Kansas Territory, on the first Monday in October, A. D. 1855, for
delegate in the Congress of the United States.
1 Joseph M Hall
2 Charles B Morris
3 Jesse Connel
4 Robert Hayes
5 Washington T Woods
6 H B C Harris
7 Douglas Hamilton
SAG Boyd
9 William Hobbs
10 John H Bradley
11 George A Adams
12 J A C Webb
13 A M Price
14 Thomas Ford
15 F B Mitchel
16 John T Elkiris
17 Charles Sexton
18 James Bragh
19 Martin T Bailey
20 William Brahan
21 Levi Bowman
22 William G Shurpe
23 E M McComas
24 James J Mus^
25 James H Hull
26 M A Owen
27 W B Willson
28 Robert Foulkes
29 Bruel Glinn
30 William H Elliott
31 Andrew Stevens
32 Simon Hackett
33 A J Dawson
34 Samuel M Bowman
35 James S Thompson
36 G W Thompson
37 M M Nagle
38 Stephen Sale
39 Israel Swan
40 Samuel Hays
41 Samuel Ripley
42 Alvey Nower
43 J R Duncan
44 John S Duncan
45 Leri Pense
46 Mathew Gohagan
47 Marion Robertson
48 C A Stillman
49 Thomas McLa'ne
50 Joseph Henderson
51 Isaac House
52 W H Cook
53 William Layson
54 James M Browning
592
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
55 Warren Culvert
56 A Bowlby
57 James G Douglas
58 Charles Whitscarver
59 Benjamin Duncan
60 Samuel H Frank
61 John H Lewis
62 Aldridge Corder
63 David Gillespic
64 G A Kucker
65 G W Hays
66 John S Percival
67 W H Middleton
. 68 Turman Geeter
69 A B. Haggard
70 Alexander Kalston
71 Jeremiah Stevens
72 John M Hays
73 Lewis Calvert
74 William Findley
75 William Morpin
76 Huekin Morpin
77 John W Freeland
78 Milton Porterfield
79 J B Duncan
80 Thomas Scott
81 J3Ti Wnl-,71 rd
82 John A Calvert
83 K E Stallard
84 J C Eichardson
85 S E Offutt
86 Porter Buchanan
87 T B Newman
88 John Freeland
89 Soshua Hall
90 S F Ehea
91 E B Mitchell
92 Curtis Huffman
93 Thomas D Almond
94 Isaac Fay
95 John G Williams
96 Enos Isaacs
97 William Traner
98 Joseph Brooks
99 S W Turner
100 DAN Grover
101 C B Hodges
102 C H Grover
103 Jonah Meddle
104 James B Blake
105 Phineas Skinner
106 A J Snyder
107 John M Lockman
108 Peter Montgomery
109 James Bradley
110 John Groff
111 B F Freeland
112 D F Barker
113 H C Branch
114 James A Henderson
115 Giles Henderson
116 B K Jacohs
117 H N Haley
118 P Taylor
119 E F Arnott
120 E S Wilhite
121 P M Hodges
122 E D Bishop
123 William J Bailey
124 N W Hodges
125 M P Perry
126 Lewis Barnes
127 William Thompson
128 Eobert W Thompson
129 William P Merchant
130 E S Merchant
131 Samuel Doyle
132 Sanford Leach
133 James M Calvert
134 Wilson Newell
135 William A Guthrie
136 Henry Boyce
137 Wiley Williams
138 B F Thompson
139 Martin Sharp
140 J W Foster
141 John P Thompson
142 F B Davidson
143 Henry Colman
144 Thomas Douglas
145 John McDaniel
146 Meigs Hunt
147 John W Stevens
148 John W Brown
149 Christopher Kance
150 Levi Scrivner
151 James Basket
152 John H Shaler
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
593
The whole number of votes cast for delegate to Congress was one
.undred and fifty-one, (151,) of which John W. Whitfield received
ne hundred and fifty, and A. H. Reeder one, (1.)
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Kickapoo election
istrict, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given
t an election held on the first day of October , A. D. 1855, as witness
ur hands this first day of October, A. D. 1855.
JOSEPH B. BLAKE, )
CHARLES H. GROVER. V Judges.
C. B. HODGES, )
Lttest:
JOHN H. SAHLER,
MEIGS HUNT,
Of election.
WYANDOTT TOWNSHIP, LEAVENWORTH COUNTY.
'oil book of an election held at the council-house in the Wyandott town-
ship j in the county of Leavenworthj in Kansas Territory, on the first
Monday in October, A. D. 185 4, for delegate in the thirty-fourth Con-
gress of the United States.
1 L. M. Alexander,
2 Joseph F. Field,
3 Leonard Broffield,
4 Mace Rust,
5 Abijah Withers,
6 James Mitchell,
7 William Martin,
8 John B. Brown,
9 Thomas Boatwright,
10 James H. Irwin,
11 B. F. Starks,
12 F. Evans,
13 Granville Harvey,
14 M. R. Gunter,
J5 William Boatwright,
16 William P. Martin,
17 J. P. Somers,
18 J. M. Prewitt,
19 William J. Stark,
20 Thomas West,
21 William P. Bailey,
22 R. Fisher,
23 Thomas Furman,
24 Henry C. Furman,
25 J. Reynolds,
26 Thomas Field,
27 Edward Garrett,
28 Cyrus Garrett,
29 Isaac W. Brown,
30 Peter D. Clark,
31 Henry C. Norton,
32 John F. Scott,
33 John D. Brown,
34 Joel Rice,
35 John C. Rice,
36 Jesse Thompson,
37 Josiah Baker,
38 James Sharv,
39 John T. Law,
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
GO
61
62
63
64
G5
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
H. Rep. 200 38*
T. C. Daniel,
G. P. Strong,
James A. Holloway,
R. S. Thomas,
O. G. Ford,
A. R. Murray,
G. S. W. Jessee,
R. M. Russell,
John Griffith,
James Endicott,
N. A. Thomason,
J. S. Pense,
John Collins,
Lycastus Noland,
William Wallace,
Zachariah Millroy,
Reyon Wilcoxson,
Fitzhugh Collins,
John Bricky,
W. E. Brice,
William Mulkey,
Joseph Ginnott,
James Egbert,
Miller H. Wain,
William Ransom,
John Ransom,
P. G. Brock,
Andrew McConnel,
Basil Trail,
Fountain Wallay
Randolph J. Suddarth,
J. H. Williams,
S. W. Tuyman,
Colly Tuyman,
N. M. Talbot,
Richard Willis,
Edward Burk,
J. T. Willis,
Blaford Daniel,
79 John Tah umber,
80 Michael Russell,
81 Reuben Johnson,
82 Egbert Dickenson,
83 J. C. Gunter,
84 Francis Gunter,
85 J. Bradley,
86 James Davenport,
87 George Lock,
88 S. L. Suddeth,
89 Thomas P. Shroch,
90 William O. Shrouse,
91 J. C. Shrouse,
92 Jesse Puter,
93 Robert Hudgens,
94 A. M. Stell,
95 Harden Stell,
96 Ira Suddeth,
97 Henry Hanson,
98 Ebenezer Zane,
99 B. W. Wills,
100 Thomas Chandler.
101 J. L. Dickmandy,
102 John Smith,
103 W. J. Semmes,
104 Beal Green,
105 R. L. Talbot,
106 J. W. Green,
107 James Johnson,
108 E. M. Talbot,
109 B. C. Talbot,
110 Thomas J. Ford,
111 John Nash,
112 James M. Halloway,
113 Samuel Alexander,
114 L. Shepperd,
115 James McGee,
116 Joseph M. Brown,
117 William Falkner,
594
118 James M. Scott,
119 Joseph Journey,
128 Lemuel C. Mathews,
j21 John W. Johnson,
122 Lawrence Marg-e,
123 William Rutledge,
124 Duval Payne,
125 G. K. White,
126 Lewis Sharp,
127 W. H. Russell,
128 William Thompson,
129 Henry Garrett,
130 Adam Brown,
131 D. H. Webster,
132 David Johnson,
133 William Cooper,
134 a- H- Chissen,
135 Thomas Pitcher,
136 Joseph Ragan,
137 J. M. Thatcher,
138 J. F- Quick,
139 Oscar Lerugffs,
140 J. S. Dawson,
141 Joseph Fugale
142 Willis Wills,
143 J. P. Harr,
144 Dawson Masbone,
145 John Peyton,
146 Thos. W. Robinson,
147 John W. Cregbyes,
148 B. D. Castleman,
149 Jackson Sisson,
150 Walker Winn,
151 Wil iam A. Strong,
152 E. M. McGee,
153 A. Smith,
154 Tra Emmons,
155 James Mathews,
156 Samuel Rankens,
157 William J. White,
158 F. N. Steele,
159 William N. Taylor,
160 C. T. Henderson,
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
161 Riley Jones,
162 James Zane,
163 S. N. McKinney,
164 John Williams,
165 Silas Armstrong,
166 James B. Barrett,
167 Francis Potter,
168 Garrand Long,
169 Michael Stevens,
170 H. D. Woodsworth,
171 M. J. F. Leonard,
172 John Hambright,
173 William Barney,
174 J. Fitzland,
175 Alexander Compton,
176 A. W. Keroy,
177 T. M. Adams,
178 M. R. McMurry,
179 John W. Ladd,
180 D. V. Clement,
181 S. R. Stark,
182 William Barnett,
183 B. B Mills,
184 Henry C. Long,
185 A. J. Preedy,
186 John D. Pennybacker,
187 E. T. Buchman,
188 Joel Walker,
189 George W.Williams,
190 William E. Wheeler,
191 R. H. Hagner,
192 A. L. Bangs,
193 Robert Stone,
194 William Barbee,
195 W. J. Osbourne,
196 Thomas Coonyhack,
197 John Barnett,
198 Hiran Cotter,
199 Samuel Priestly,
200 William Liptrap,
201 Henry Schutie,
202 James Barnett,
203 Charles B. Garrett,
204 Isaac Munday,
205 James Findlay,
206 B. F. Robinson,
207 George M. Irvin,
208 George C. McDaniel
209 Win. Thorp,
210 M. R. Walker,
211 George Steel,
212 James M. Long,
213 G. M. Thompson,
214 Hiram Fugate,
215 Joseph Broadhurst,
216 Joseph Fenbron,
217 John Cotter,
218 Robert Armstrong,
219 Isaih P. Walker,
220 James Hicks,
221 E. A. Long,
222 Wm. Walker,
223 Isaac Driver,
224 Henry Chick,
225 J. C. Ramon,
226 Joseph Peters,
227 John Campbell,
228 John Groom,
229 Daniel A. Braggs,
230 Lewis Rothschild,
231 Francis Blaltmen,
232 M. Riddergurger,
233 J. C. Pettigrew,
234 John Gunrallis,
235 J. G. Gudson,
236 A. L. Bounds,
237 Henry D. Smith,
238 Edmd. O 'Flaherty,
239 Joel M. Garrett,
240 Wm. H. Ervin,
241 James Gladden,
242 John S. Bearskin,
243 David Tarnall,
! 244 Isaac Z. Long,
I 245 H.-M. Northup,
j 246 Abraham Grandstai
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Wyandott elect
district, on Monday, the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855, certify t!
246 votes were cast, of which John W. Whitfield received 240, A..
Reeder 5, blank 1.
W. J. OSBORN, )
ISAAC MUNDAY, V Judges-
CHARLES B. GARRETT. S
Clerks.
Attest:
JAMES FINDLAY,
JOHN T. SCOTT,
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Wyandott elect
district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given
an election held on the first day of Octover, A. D. 1855, as witness »•
hands this first day of October, A. D. 1855.
W. J. OSBORN, )
ISAAC MUNDAY, } Judge,
CHARLES B. GARRETT, )
Attest :
JAMES FINDLAY,
JOHN T.SCOTT,
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
595
''oil book of an election held at the house of Sutton & McClain, in Alex-
andria township, in the county of Leavenworth, in Kansas Territory,
on the first Monday in October, A. D. 1855, for delegate in OA^
Congress of the United States.
Names of voters.
Tax.
Names of voters.
Tax.
Carson Merrill
David Lorge
Perry Trett
John Morris
Clarke Trett
G. M. Archer
R. M, Stone
J. C.Scott
Mason Hall
Samuel H. Burgess
Mr. McClain
N. S. Davidson
Joseph Dawson •'
Henry Embray
A. J. Scott
George Brown
S. Weasley
G. W. Browning
R. W. Chain
Thomas Hickrnan ?.,...
R. Sutton
Note,
.do..
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
Paid....
Not paid
Paid....
.do
Not paid
Paid....
, .do
Not paid
, .do
22. M. Daniels
23. J. Thomas
24. J.Roberts
25. J. Gushawn
26. A. M. Horsey
27. Benjamin Stokes
28. W. C. Crocket
29. M. J. Everett
30. W. F. Everett
31. John Argebright.
32. L. L, McClain
33. Edward M. Lain
34. C. C. Harrison
35. A. Payne
36. J. B. Pancake
37. James M. Scott. . ,
38. Benjamin W. Foster
39. Houston Long
40. W. W. Reynolds
41. E. M. Kennedy
42. Joseph L. McAlear
Not paid,
.do
Paid
Not paid,
.do
.do
Paid
Not paid,
.do
.do
Paid
.do
Not paid.
Paid
Not paid .
, .do ,
,.do ,
,.do ,
Paid
,.do ,
,.do ,
For delegate to Congress.
G-en. J. W. Whitfield received 42 votes.
Squire Keeder received none.
We, the undersigned, judges of the election held at Alexandria,
icaven worth county, certify that the foregoing is a true and correct
:atement of the number of votes polled.
JAMES MACAULEY, )
EDWAED McCLAIN, } Judges.
H. W. CHINN, )
ED. M. KENNEDY. ) ni 7
W. W. EEYNOLDS, \ Clerjcs'
ALEXANDRIA, October I, 1855.
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Alexandria election
(strict, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given
t an election held on the first day of October, A. D. 1855, as wit-
ess our hands, this - day of October, AD. 1855.
JAMES MACAULEY,)
EDWARD McCLAIN, V Jalgx
E. W. CHINN, )
..ttest :
ED. M. KENNEDY, ) ~7 7
W. W. EEYNALDS, \ Ckrks °f
596
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
LYKINS COUNTY, KANSAS TERRITORY.
[John A. Hicks, H. S. Lyon, and Barnet Hall were sworn as judge
and William A. Heiskell and John Ralston as clerks, according
form of oath on page 1.]
At an election held on Monday, the first day of October, 1855, i,
the house of Baptiste Peoria, in the county of Lykins, in the Terir
tory of Kansas, for the purpose of choosing a fit and proper person i
represent the said Territory of Kansas as a delegate in the next Co]'«
gress of the United States, the following is the result :
1 Tarleton Raleigh,
2 H. W. Childs,
3 P. Marion,
4 G. E. Bellows,
5 B. R. Burbage,
6 J. S. Dedrich,
7 George W. Clarence,
8 J. L. New,
9 John W. Early,
10 E. Monroe,
11 A. L. Tolis,
12 W. P. Tucker,
13 Charles Keller,
14 H. Pennels,
15 J. B. Pemberton,
16 Samuel W. Williams,
17 L. C. Burris,
18 M. W. Brown,
19 W. W. Porter,
20 Elijah Chinn,
21 E. McPherson,
22 Simon N. Hill,
23 James Mosley,
24 James H. Galloway,
25 William D. Davenport,
26 Simeon Blackburn,
27 C. C. Catron,
28 John W. Houx,
29 J. C. Strange,
30 G. Tucker,
31 M. W. Lowry,
32 R. W. Houx,
33 John K. Lowry,
34 John Sorency,
35 John T. Rennick,
36 Isaac Fulkerson,
37 William Sinew,
38 Robert Tarkinton,
39 John Hooker,
40 W. Lewis,
41 B. L. McFerrin,
42 J C. Hearce,
43 H. Smith,
44 W. D. Tucker,
45 W. E. Franklin,
46 H. F. Birch,
47 J G. Martin,
48 E. C. Heiskell,
49 A. C. Patton,
50 J. B. McFerrin,
51 N. Baker,
52 Tiller Ragan,
53 H. L. Barksdale,
54 F. M. Green,
55 William Ragsdale,
56 L. Jones,
57 A. S. Pullam,
58 J. H. Hammonds,
59 M. Hodges,
60 A. Young,
61 John O. McFerran,
62 Joseph Johnson,
63 George Whitehead,
64 George D. Morrow,
65 A. G. Fisher,
66 G. W. Blodshoe,
67 David Brookhart,
68 William A. Gattrell,
69 James M. Shanks,
70 Thomas Jacob,
71 C F. Payne,
72 S. Franklin,
73 Joseph W. Easeley,
74 R. B. Fulkerson,
75 James S Allender,
76 F. M. Scott,
77 J. D. Bagby,
78 C. C. Mann,
79 J. L. Duncan,
80 James Wade,
81 R. W. Gattrell,
82 H. L. P. Galloway,
83 G. Thomason,
84 A.M. Rader,
85 J. Green way,
86 W. B. Payne,
87 W. C. Clayton,
88 J. Goodman,
89 J. S. McKinney,
90 W. Dodson,
91 J. Hudspeth,
92 J. F. Shortridge,
93 J. D. Nunally,
94 James Beets,
95 H. C. Speers,
96 James W. Caldwell,
97 J. B. Ellis,
98 R. Renfrew,
99 F. B. Rice,
100 Robert T. Ridings,
101 Jesse Mar,
102 E. R. Rice,
103 J. F. Catron,
104 W. L. Wood,
105 Thomas Ragsdale,
106 F. P. Hoard,
107 A. J. Robinson,
108 G. H. Faulkner,
109 E. McDowell,
110 William H. Tannehill,
111 A. P. Logan,
119.?- L. France,
133 H. D. Palmer,
114 Achilles Easeley,
115 F. R. Martin,
116 Henry Snyder,
117 W. R. Wilmot,
118 J. J. Holloway,
119 E. W- Clark,
120 W. Palmer,
121 F. Ayrhart,
122 G. A. Wade,
123 Charles Hamilton,
124 Vincent Johnson,
125 Henry Chapeze,
126 Thomas Gilchrist,
127 Thomas Allison,
128 John Vermillion,
129 John S. Jones,
130 Lawrence Mahan,
131 P. Kelly,
132 W. T. Poston,
133 J. T. Chadwick,
134 Marcus Gill,
135 Stephen White,
136 William H. Finley,
137 W. H. Lebow,
138 Henry Lee Villers,
139 Cyrus Shaw,
140 R. O. Slater,
141 B. L. Clark,
142 Samuel Ralston,
143 John Dorsey,
144 J. R. Jones,
145 Robert S. Morris,
146 Daniel Lykens,
147 Baptiste Peoria,
148 Luther Pasehale,
149 Lewis Pashale,
150 Isaac Jacobs,
151 D. W. Tristoe,
152 Peter J. Potts,
153 Peter Cloud,
154 Benjamin Benjamin,
155 White Coon,
156 Kilseusah,
157 Tom Rogers,
158 Billy,
159 Henry Clay,
160 Mug a-num-ba,
161 Andrew Chick,
162 Charles Battiste,
163 Chin-gum-ke-ah,
164 John Willis,
165 Wah-kah-kov-nah,
166 John Bull,
167 Sah-sah-kah-kwan-ga
168 Harry Coldwater,
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
597
169 George Clinton,
170 Kish-e-kon-sah,
171 Edward H. Black,
! 172 Wah-pah-kov-se-ah,
173 Marcus Lindsay,
174 David L. Beery,
175 Hiram Lightner,
i 176 Francis Valle,
; 177 James E. Tindall,
178 J. R. McDaniel,
179 Joseph B. Goodwin,
180 John Beets,
181 J. B. Glover,
182 O. P. Thompson,
183 Thomas Peyton,
184 James Wells,
185 Enos McDaniel,
186 William O. Park,
187 J. J. Apperson,
188 A. M. Coffee,
189 L. G. Fulton,
190 B. E Brothers,
191 J. G. McDaniel,
192 Joseph Jebon,
193 James McHenry,
194 Hampton Harbison,
195 Sudwell Evans,
196 Joe Peoria,
197 J. H. Clayton,
198 Ma-kou-sah,
199 Ma-kou-sah, (Beaver,)
200 Tah-wah-kwa-ke-nau-
gah,
201 B. P. Campbell,
202 William A. Heiskell,
203 J. A. Hicks,
204 H. L. Lyon,
205 Pah-to-kah,
206 William Honeywell,
207 Thomas Cot,
208 George C. Baker,
209 John C. Paul,
210 J. D. Redd,
211 John Boye,
212 Sha-lou-lie,
. 213 Thomas C. Warren,
214 William B. Ewbank,
215 William Edwards,
216 John Combs,
217 Hirarn Mullins,
218 W. S. Ferguson,
219 A. H. McFadden,
220 John Mitchell. '
We, the undersigned, judges of election in Lykins county, in the
'erritory of Kansas, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the
otes given at an election held at the house of Baptiste Peoria, on the
rst day of October, A. D. 1855, as witness our hands this first day
f October, 1855.
JOHN A. HICKS, ) T , ,
BARNET HALL, } Jua9e.s °J
HENRY L. LYON, ) electlon'
Attest :
WILLIAM A. HEISKELL,
JOHN RALSTON,
Clerks of election.
1 C. S. Fleming,
2 R,. E. Eliot,
3 E. Farnam,
4 William Rogers,
6 S. H. Moore,
6 H. W. Young.-r,
7 S. W. Henderson,
i 8 J. F. Stone,
9 A. J. Smith,
10 L. B. Clay,
11 F. T. Glover,
12 John Commins,
13 William James,
14 R. Hargrave,
15 James Glass,
16 J Harsham,
17 W. G. Collins,
18 W. V. English,
19 Samuel Scott,
20 John Ballard,
21 Thomas Thomas,
22 J. B. Cobross,
23 S. Fleming,
LYNN COUNTY.
24 P. Kay,
25 W. A. Fleming,
26 J. E. Brown,
27 L. Thomas,
28 William King,
29 J. G. Reynolds,
30 M. Graves,
31 W. Hibkerson,
32 James Murry,
33 J. C. Bowin,
34 G. Boulin,
35 J. A. Becket,
36 M. C. D. Osburn,
37 L. S. Bridgewater,
38 J. D. Case,
39 R. G. Smither,
40 William Henceby,
41 L. M. Love,
42 C. W. Haiges,
43 J. M. Hamton,
44 William Goodwin,
45 A. Haiges,
46 W. B. Long,
47 P. Bullinger,
48 V. Johnson,
49 S. Baldwin,
50 D. Baldwin,
51 L. M Ellett,
52 T. Grouse, . .
53 T. Hargus,
54 B. Davis,
55 W. Glass,
56 L. C. Niswanger,
57 P. Goodwin,
58 H. Becket,
59 J. Argus,
60 James Driskill,
61 William Driskill,
62 James W. Howell,
63 L. H. Grimes,
64 A. H. Smith,
65 F. E. Means,
66 Thomas Smith,
67 Joseph D. Wilmott.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of an election held on the
:rst day of October, A. D. 1855, at the house of J. C. Bowin, in
jynn county, in Kansas Territory, in the fifth election district for the
598
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
election of delegate to Congress, do hereby certify upon our oaths, i
judges of said election, that the following is a true and correct retur
of the votes polled at such election by lawful resident voters.
For Congress.
J. W. Whitfield received sixty-seven, (67". )
A. H. SMITH,
P. E. MEANS,
THOMAS SMITH,
Judges of election*
F.
COUNCIL GROVE. — Madison County.
1 C. F. Oilman,
2 S. W. Rowe,
3 James Jebo,
4 T. S. Hamilton,
5 Allen Croley,
For J. W. Whitfield, 14 votes.
6 W. D. Harris,
7 A. T. Hyder,
8 F. M. Croley,
9 Samuel Farren,
10 T. S. Huffaker,
11 A. J. Baker,
12 E. M. Sewel,
13 Jesse Ring,
14 J. W. RadclifT.
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in the eighth di
certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given at an ele<<'
tion held on the first day of October, in the year of our Lord OIDI
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
ALLEN CROWLEY,
EMANUEL MOSIA,
THOS. S. HAMILTON,
Attest :
Judges.
MARYSVTLLE — Marshall County.
[No oath of judges and clerks given.]
POLL BOOK.
1 F. J. Marshall,
2 John Thompson,
3 Joel Hughes,
4 Abraham Crahtrel,
5 B. H. Clark,
6 Stephen G. Jones,
7 J. S. Sheppard,
8 John A. Newley,
9 Henry Tyler,
10 Sampson Sage,
11 Thomas Buckles,
12 A. X. Young,
13 Skidmore Muncy,
14 James Gilbert,
15 Francis O. Bishop,
16 Wm. Standiford,
17 Archibald McElroy,
18 John Snagan,
19 B. J. Sharpe,
20 J. T. Ransome,
21 John Zion,
22 Jacob Crabetree,
23 Stephen F. Smith,
24 James T. Smith,
25 John Dittell,
26 Nace Edwards,
27 Lee Jesse,
28 James Edwards, sr.,
29 James Edwards, jr.,
30 James Hopkins,
31 Wm. Hopkins,
32 Benjamin Dickison,
33 Benjamin Konk,
34 Charles Konk,
35 Johh Konk,
36 John M. Morrison,
37 Elijah Bishop,
38 Elijah Hill,
39 Preston Bishop,
40 Edward C. Adams,
41 Burel Burkett,
42 Samuel Sloan,
43 Peter Vandewenter,
44 George Ely,
45 Wm. Stubblefield,
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
599
46 John Carter,
47 Solomon Jenkins,
48 David Young,
49 Francis C. Allen,
50 William Wilson,
51 John Kiniburled,
52 Peter Lambert, sr.,
53 Peter Lambert, jr.,
54 Joseph Lambert,
55 James Hix,
56 Nelson Preston,
57 Jacob V. Fulkerson,
58 P. Fulkerson,
59 Whitehill Fulkerson.
60 James Fulkerson,
61 Jacob Fulkerson,
62 Philip Nincan,
63 Joel Johnson,
64 Lewis Brooks,
65 J. B. Henderson,
66 George Styles,
67 Morris Todd,
68 George Drake,
69 James Y. Jones,
70 Quelton Fregit,
71 Joseph Swagger,
72 James Hanks,
73 Joseph G. McGrand,
74 John J. Blue,
75 James Goodman,
76 Wm. Spainghan,
77 James F. Cuppeheffer,
78 Israel Kurtz,
79 John Longmyre,
80 Jacob Hulster,
81 Wm. M. Dudle,
82 John Bailey,
83 Henry Emmerson,
84 F. L. Mitchell,
85 Willss Grimes,
86 Willis Moody,
87 J. Folhert,
88 Samuel Mercer,
89 A. S. Brown,
90 Hamilton Brown,
91 Thomas McBee,
92 John C. Owens,
93 James Dawson,
94 Henry Gearheart,
95 Thorns J. Batty,
96 Isaac Jerome,
97 John Stone,
98 John H. Dennison,
99 Thomas Colwell,
100 John Jones, jr.,
101 John Jones, sr.,
102 Jeremiah Sweett,
103 Washington Berry,
104 William McMullen
105 David Wyse,
106 Morton F. Fisher,
107 Lewis Church,
108 Siras Woodson,
109 Moses Welbert
110 Jesse Holman,
111 William F. Chcpman,
112 Silas Burtman,
113 Richard Kaine,
114 Thomas J. Carter,
115 James Hinton,
116 A. W. Hankins,
117 Henry Nailer,
118 John Snyder,
119 Thomas Moore,
120 Sydney Douglass,
121 F. B. Browning,
122 H. C. Cunningham,
123 John Doller,
124 Syras Breedens,
125 Thomas Kelley,
126 Henry Morton,
127 John McMichael,
128 Peter Strong,
129 Henry McClain,
130 Henry Harpe,
131 Philip Bridger,
132 Joseph Domstan,
133 Milton Farrier,
134 John G. Breck,
135 David Domes,
136 Nelson Woods,
137 Robert Webster,
138 John M. Brenton,
139 John Hardwick,
140 Newton F. Ford,
141 Aaron Caruthers,
142 Henry O. Boley,
143 John W. Leax,
144 William Baker,
145 Samnel Hargis,
146 Martin F. Carroll,
148 Thomas Fowler,
148 Daniel B. Allen,
149 Archibald Hix,
150 J. W. Curtis,
151 Thomas Hamilton,
152 David Rowland,
153 A. P. Craig,
154 John Jesse,
155 Oliver Tackett,
156 John Dunlap,
157 Peter Rippetoe,
158 Carter Minter,
159 Corn wright Sharpe,
160 Lane Kegwood,
161 John Curtly,
162 Adam Milans,
163 David Underwood,
164 Samuel Gibson,
165 John Harris,
166 Oliver Burtchell,
167 J. G. Clark,
168 John D. Wells,
169 George F. Hubbard,
170 James Doniphan,
171 A. S. Clark.
i At an election held at the town of Marysville, the county seat of
Marshall county, General J. W. Whitfield received the following
lumher of votes, to wit : one hundred and seventy-one for delegate to
Congress from Kansas Territory, and Governor A. H. Eeeder received
or delegate to Congress for Kansas Territory none.
\ We, the undersigned, judges of the election district composed of the
iounty of Marshall, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the
totes given at an election held on the 18th day of October, 1855, as
fitness our hands this 18th day of October, 1855.
0. BUKTCHELL, )
J. G. CLAKK, } Judges.
JOHN D. WELLS, )
litest :
JAMES DOSTIPHAN, ) m i s ? .. •
GEORGE F. HUBB!BD, \ Clerks °f electwn*
600
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Poll book of Nemaha county, Kansas Territory) October 1, 1855,
VOTERS' NAMES.
1. James E. Thompson,
'2. T. A. B. Cramer,
3. Samuel Cramer,
4. John Behn,
5. Cyrus Doleman
6. William H. Harris.
Delegate— General J. W. Whitfield, 6 votes.
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Nemaha couni
election district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the vot
given at an election held on the 1st day of October, 1855, as witn&
our hands this 1st day of October, A. D. 1855.
Attest :
CYRUS DOLEMAN,
H. M. NEWTON
WILLIAM H. HARRIS,
THOS. E. NEWTON,
HIRAM H. LANHAM,
Judges of election.
, )
, |
/, 7 ,.
of electwn.
WHITFIELD'S ELECTION, OCTOBER 1, 1855. — POLL BOOK OF RILEY COUNT i
FOR DELEGATE TO CONGRESS.
C. Thompson,
William Crampton,
J. B. Perry,
C. R. Mobley,
M. A. Garrett,
R. D. Mobley,
Fox Booth,
Thomas Reynolds,
Thomas Dixon,
M. Hannigan,
NAMES OF VOTERS.
J. S. Reynolds,
P. Dixon,
J. T. Chapman,
J W. Emery,
Peter Mills,
G. M. Dyer,
F. G. Sonnamaker,
G. Potect,
R. Willson,
Robert Wade,
G. F. Grinter,
S. Dean,
C. Lombard,
D. F . Tebbs,
Vanburen Hamilton,
William R. Cram,
D. R. Perry,
Ambrose Warren.
We, the undersigned,, judges of the election held in Kiley county
on October 1, 1855, for delegate to the United States Congress, d
certify that J. W. Whitfield received twenty-eight votes. Give,
under our hands this first of October, 1855.
E. D. MOBLEY,
1 H. W. MARTIN,
J. S. REYNOLDS.
TECUMSEH, SHAWNEE COUNTY.
Owen C. Stewart, William A. Yager, and James M. Small, a
judges of election, and Benjamin J. Newsom and William A. M
Vaughan, as clerks, were sworn according to form of oath on page 1
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
601
1 T. N. Stinson,
2 E. G. Vaughan,
3 Thomas Ament,
4 L. B. Stetster,
5 J. Mitch mn,
6 Eli Hopkins,
7 Henry McConnell,
8 Josiah Foster,
9 W. B. Cockerill,
0 John Martin,
1 A. G. Reed,
2 H. Dawson,
3 J. W. Carmaugh,
.4 J. T. Addoms,
.5 Isaac Renfro,
6 James McConnell,
7 A. D. M. Hand,
8 D. — . Hunter ,
LIST OF VOTERS.
19 G. B. Wood,
20 J. M. Reed,
21 W. P. Tuttle,
22 J. M. Herrin,
23 Henry Hoping,
24 W. H. Brady,
25 Richard S. Hunter,
26 D. Crocket Boggs,
27 William Gayham,
28 John C. Ager,
29 William Martiny
30 T. W. Hayes,
31 Horatio Cox,
32 Lucius Ca'ry,
33 H. J. Strickler,
34 Charles Alexander,
35 Westley Boughton,
I 36 John C. Hawkins,
37 D. L. Croysdale,
38 T. Terrill,
39 G. P. Hoft,
40 Jacob Tidebough,
41 Thornton Strother,
42 C. L. Stevenson,
43 W. D. Owen,
44 Edward Hoofland,
45 J. T. Hicklin,
46 John Millsup,
47 Wm. A. M. Vaughan,
48 Benjamin J. Newsom,
49 J. M. Small,
50 Owen C. Stewart,
51 W. O. Yager,
52 J. N. Campbell.
Tally list for John W. Whitfield, 52 votes.
JUDGES' CERTIFICATE.
We, 0. C. Stewart, W. 0. Yager, and J. M. Small, the under-
igned judges of the election in Tecumseh election district, certify
hat the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given at an election
ield on Monday, the first day of October, A. D. 1855, as witness our
lands this first day of October, A. D. 1855.
OWEN C. STUAKT, )
JAMES M. SMALL, } Judges.
WM. 0. YAGEK. S
Utest:
BENJAMIN J. NEWSOM.
WM. M. M. VAUGHAN,
ni ,
ClerJcs °
SHAWNEE COUNTY. — One Hundred and Ten.
We, A. S. Holliman, W. Yocum, and T. B. McGee, do swear (or
fiirm) that we will impartially discharge the duties of judges of the
resent election, being an election for delegate to the thirty-fourth
Congress of the United States, according to law and the best of our
bilities. Sworn to and subscribed before me, September, A. D. 1855.
JOHN HORNER, Sheriff of Shawnee County.
Oath of Clerks.
We, F. M. McGee and William A. Stone, clerks of an election to
e held this day for delegate to the thirty-fourth Congress of the
Jnited States, do swear (or affirm) that we will faithfully discharge
be duties of clerks, according to law and the best of our abilities,
•worn to and subscribed before me, A. D. 1855.
F. M. McGEE,
W. A. STONE.
JOHN HORNER, Sheriff of Shawnee County.
J. W. WHITFIELD.
A. H. BEEDEK.
602
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
1 Mathew Rule
2 John Skidmore
3 W P Akin
4 John W Stone
5 Robert Johnson
6 V Moore
7" John Everling
8 Joseph Stone
9 J W Ward
10 A Prentice
11 James Akin
12 William Harris
Number of votes given — 23.
C
A Linkmanger
13
14 M W McGee
15 James Hoppess
16 William Yocum
17 A S Halliman
18 John Homer
19 F M McGee
20 W A Stone
21 T P McGee
22 C C Coats
23 G M Redman
Judges' Certificate.
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in One Hundred am
Ten election district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of tb
votes given at an election held on Monday, the first day of October
A. D. 1855, as witness of our hands, this day of October, 1851.
Attest :
WILLIAM YOCUM,
T. P. McGEE,
A. S. HOLLIMAN,
Judges.
OCTOBER 30, 1855.
The returns of the judges of the election held on the first Monda
of October, in pursuance of law, for a delegate to the thirty-fond)
Congress, being duly examined, and John W. Whitfield having r<
ceived a majority of the legal votes polled, is declared by the governc
to be duly elected, and a certificate of election by the governor, tmde
the seal of the Territory, is accordingly issued to the said John W
Whitfield.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 603
ELECTION OF OCTOBER 9, 1855, (OF REEDER.)
PATRICK LAUGHLIN testifies.
I have been to no free-soil elections, except those held last fall. I
aras at the election of the 9th of October last, and voted for Reeder.
When at Lawrence, at the time I went to the 5th of September con-
tention, I saw a great number of people in tents, who appeared not
;o be settled, but only appeared to be remaining for only a limited
.ength of time. I had a conversation with some of them, who told
ne they were going to return to the States about the latter part of
;he fall. The public instructions of the executive committee, of
yhich I have been speaking, are already published, but their private
nstructions were, in case pro-slavery men attempt to vote, and are
ikely to outnumber you, you can adjourn from day to day, and finally
;o any free-soil district in the Territory. These instructions were
lever given to the judges, but were given to me by Marcus J. Parrott.
! never gave them to any one.
PAT. LAUGHLIN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
MARCUS J. PARROTT called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I am a resident of the Territory of Kansas. On the 30th of August
. was at Kansas City, in Missouri, at the American hotel. Governor
feeder was then stopping there at that time. We sat up and con-
rersed together about what was to be done there. At the same time
L was on my way to another convention, to be held at Tecumseh on
.he 31st day of August. The object of that convention was to meet
vith persons who were desirous to organize the democratic party in
•he Territory. While we were together, Governor Reeder spoke
&bout making some arrangements about going up himself to attend
he convention at Big Springs. His trunks at that time were in the
>ffice at the hotel, which comprised, so far as I know, all the personal
)roperty he had in the Territory. He wanted to get a valise to take
some clothes up into the Territory. He borrowed a valise of Major
Uldredge, of the hotel, which was brought out in my presence, put
nto the buggy, and he left before I did. I overtook him in company
vith Judge Johnson at the Shawnee Mission. We both started out
>n the road at night, and we separated at Donaldson, where Governor
feeder tarried all night, but Judge Johnson and myself drove on all
light for Tecumseh. I did not see Reeder again until two or three
lays afterwards, at Lawrence, and then had some conversation with
rim concerning his being a candidate of the Big Spring convention
or delegate to Congress. The impression left upon my mind was,
hat unless he became a candidate he was going to leave the Territory.
604 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Afterwards, on the first day of the convention, I think, there was a
good deal said ahout his not being a resident of the Territory. I was
myself of that opinion, and, in order to determine exactly ahout that
matter, I agreed with Colonel Lane and some others to call him out
and ask him the question. I did call him out and ask him if he was
a resident of the Territory. He stated, in reply to that, something
ahout the reason he did not bring his family here, as that was the
ground of complaint generally here. He did not answer the question
directly at all, but answered it argumentatively, by stating some
things in connexion with his position in the Territory. I do not re-
collect that he satisfied the persons who had been called there to hear
his answer to the question. 1 know that some of them were not satis-
fied that he was a resident of the Territory. Colonel Lane and myself
afterwards spoke of it, and neither of us were satisfied with the an-
swer he gave to the question. Since that time I have never known
him to have any visible domicil or residence in the Territory. In the
conversation at Lawrence, he spoke of a claim that he thought he
would buy, if his wife liked it, but his wife and family were not, and
never have been in the -Territory, and were understood to be in Penn-
sylvania.
To Mr. Sherman:
Colonel Lane was spoken of as a candidate. I was m favor of
Judge Johnson. I never heard any one speak of Colonel Lane being
a candidate but himself. Reeder was nominated without a vote, and
by acclamation.
To Governor King :
My objection to Governor Reeder was on account of some resolutions
which lie had with him at Kansas City, and 'written by him, and
adopted at the Big Spring convention, which provided for the election
of delegate to Congress being held on a different day from that pro-
vided by the territorial law ; and also to other resolutions written by
him, which looked to a repudiation of the laws by force. I objected
to this latter part in public in the convention. I saw resolutions,
called miscellaneous resolutions, which were in Governor Reeder 's
handwriting.
MARCUS J. PARROTT.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
CHARLES BLAKELEY called and sworn.
By Governor King :
I reside at Iowa Point township, Doniphan county, Kansas Terri-
tory, and have resided there since about July last. This is the place
of voting for that township. There was no election held at that
place on the 9th of October last, and no poll opened, and no vote cast
for anybody, it being the day of election fixed by the Big Spring con-
ention for the election of a delegate to Congress, and at which elec-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 605
tion Governor Keeder was a candidate. Just after the election, I saw
in the " Herald of Freedom" newspaper, published at Lawrence, a
publication purporting to give the returns of election in each precinct
or place of voting in the Territory, and among others it was reported
that seventy-two or seventy-three votes has been cast at the Iowa
Point precinct, which was not true, as no vote was at that place, as I
have stated above.
To Mr. Sherman :
I do not know whether or not the judges adjourned the election to
some other time, as I never attended any of the elections under the
executive committee. I was at the place that the county commis-
sioners fixed, under the territorial law, for holding the elections, but
I do not know where the elections were held under the executive com-
mittee. They held no election in that township, but I understood
that they held an election about seven miles from Iowa Point, the
place fixed by the county commissioners. I was not present, and do
not know what was done there. The place, I believe, was not in that
township. The election I speak of was held at the house of Mr.
McCall, near Lloyd Ashley's.
To Governor King :
The vote I saw published in the " Herald of Freedom" purported
to be taken at the Iowa Point precinct. If any vote for that town-
ship was taken at that election, it must have been taken at some point
outside of the township, and I know of no reason why the people of
that district, if they chose to vote, should not have held their election
in the township, and at the place fixed for voting in the Iowa Point
township precinct. We never had any trouble or difficulties at that
place about who should or should not vote. No judges of election
met on that day at Iowa Point and adjourned to any other place,
either in or out of the township.
CHARLES BLAKELEY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
JAMES DAVIS recalled.
To Mr. Mathias :
In a conversation that Governor Reeder had with me, when he was
here in April, 1856, he remarked that the congressional nomination
had been given to him without his desire or wishes at all ; that pre-
vious to that time he had packed his trunks, and was about to leave
the Territory to return to Pennsylvania. He did not say he did not
regard himself as a resident of the Territory at that time. I have
heard him say he had a family, and that he never had it in the Terri-
tory.
JAMES DAVIS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
606 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
WILLIAM Y. EGBERTS called and sworn.
Examined by the committee :
I arrived at my present location on the first day of April, 1855. i
live a mile and a half east of Big Springs.
I was chairman of the convention at Topeka to take into consider-
ation the propriety of forming a State government, and also a member
of the convention to form a State constitution. I was elected lieuten-
ant governor under the State constitution. I was familiar with all
the steps taken to form a State government, except the meeting at
Lawrence of the 15th of August. I canvassed a portion of the Terri-
tory in favor of the State movement. I always regarded and treated
the movement in my speeches, in canvassing prior to the election, as a
movement of the people, without reference to party distinctions, and
as the best mode to relieve themselves of their present difficulties, and
settle the vexed question of free or slave State. The movement was
sanctioned by a very large majority of the people who were residents
of the Territory.
I have carefully examined the testimony of George W. Deitzler
touching the steps taken to form the State government, and from my
own knowledge know that he is correct, except in regard to the Law-
rence meeting of the 15th of August, 1855, which I did not attend.
The proceedings of that meeting were published, and meetings of a
similar kind were held over the Territory, and upon their action was
based the Topeka convention.
W. Y. ROBERTS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 13, 1856.
GEORGE W. DEITZLER recalled.
Examined by the committee :
After the invasion of the 30th of March, 1855, the first general
movement of -the people of the Territory was to call a meeting and
draw up a memorial to be circulated for signatures, to be sent to the
Congress of the United States. This memorial was drawn up, circu-
lated, signed, and sent to Washington city. The paper herewith
attached, marked "A," is a copy of that memorial.
During the summer of 1855 there was a great deal of discussion
over the Territory generally, and several meetings were held in differ-
ent parts of the Territory in relation to holding a convention to form
a State government, and to apply for admission into the Union as a
State. Public opinion gradually settled down in favor of such appli-
cation to be made to the Congress to meet in December, 1855.
The first general meeting was held in Lawrence, in pursuance of a
call signed by many citizens, on the 15th of August, 1855, the pro-
ceedings of which meeting were published. I was present at the
meeting, and the paper herewith attached is, I believe, a correct copy
of those proceedings.
t KANSAS AFFAIRS. 607
STATE CONSTITUTION.
LAWRENCE, K. T., August 15, 1855.
Pursuant to a published call, signed "many citizens/' "to take
into consideration the propriety of calling a Territorial convention,
preliminary to the formation of a State government, and other subjects
of public interest/' a convention of the citizens of Kansas Territory,
irrespective of party, met, and upon motion of C. K. Holliday, Dr. A.
Hunting was called to the chair; G. W. Brown, E. D. Ladd, C. E.
Blood, L. P. Lincoln, James Christian, and Dr. J. D. Barnes, elected
vice presidents ; and J. K. Goodin and J. P. Fox, secretaries.
On motion of J. Hutchinson, esq., a committee of five were appointed
to prepare business for the convention. Messrs. G. W. Smith, C. K.
Holliday, C. Robinson, John Brown, jr., and A. F. Powell, were chosen
that committee.
During the absence of the committee the convention was addressed
by Rev. Lovejoy, G. W. Brown, J. Hutchinson, and M. F. Conway.
After which, Mr. G. W. Smith, chairman, submitted the following
as the report of the committee :
Whereas the people of Kansas Territory have been, since its settle-
ment, arid now are, without any law-making power ; therefore be it —
Resolved, That we, the people of Kansas Territory, in mass meet-
ing assembled, irrespective of party distinctions, influenced by a com-
mon necessity, and greatly desirous of promoting the common good,
do hereby call upon and request all bona fide citizens of Kansas Ter-
ritory, of whatever political views or predilections, to consult to-
gether in their respective election districts, and in mass convention or
otherwise elect three delegates for each representative to which such
district is entitled in the house of representatives of the legislative
assembly, by proclamation of Governor Reeder, of date 10th March,
1855. Said delegates to assemble in convention at tne town of To-
peka, on the 19th day of September, 1855, then and there to consider
and determine upon all subjects of public interest, 'and particularly
upon that having reference to the speedy formation of a State consti-
tution, with an intention of an immediate application to be admitted
as a State into the Union of the "United States of America/'
After the discussion of the resolution by Mr. Stearnes and others, the
report of the committee was adopted with but one dissenting voice.
On motion it was ordered that the proceedings of this convention be
published in the newspapers of the Territory, and Messrs. J. Speer,
R. G. Elliott, and G. W. Brown, were appointed a committee to pub-
lish and circulate the call for the convention to be holden at Topeka.
On motion, the convention adjourned sine die.
A. HUNTING, President.
G. W. BROWN,
E. D. LADD,
E. E. BLOOD,
L. D. LINCOLN,
JAMES CHRISTIAN,
J. D. BARNES,
J. K. GOODIN,
J. P. Fox,
- Vice Presidents.
608 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
After this meeting at Lawrence, there were other meetings in dif-
ferent parts of the Territory, which endorsed the action of that meet-
ing, and delegates were accordingly selected.
In compliance with the recommendation of that meeting, a delegate
convention was held at Topeka, the 19th and 20th of September, 1855.
The proceedings of that meeting were published generally in the
papers of the Territory, and the annexed paper is a true copy of
those proceedings.
Proceedings of the State Constitutional Convention, "held at * Topeka
Kansas Territory, September 19 and 20, 1855.
The delegate convention of the people of Kansas, to consider the
expediency of the formation of a State government, with a view to
application to Congress, at its next session, for admission as a State,
met at Topeka on the 19th of September.
At 11 o'clock, a. m., the convention was called to order by G. W.
Smith, esq., of the first district, and was temporarily organized by
the choice of Erastus D. Ladd, of Lawrence, chairman, and C. K.
Holliday, of Topeka, secretary.
On motion a committee to report officers for the permanent organi-
zation of the convention was appointed, consisting of the following
persons :
G. W. Smith, A. Curtiss, W. Y. Koberts, J. F. Brannan, Joseph
Hays.
On motion of Judge Wakefield a committee on credentials was
chosen, of the following persons :
J. K. Goodin, J. A. Wakefield, A. M. Jordan, S. Mewhinney,
Hamilton Smith, Thos. J. Addis, P. C. Schuyler, J. H. Nesbitt, L.
P. Lincoln.
The convention adjourned to half past one o'clock, p. m.
The convention re-assembled at two o'clock.
The committee on credentials reported the following as members of
the convention. •
Delegates from first district. — Gk W. Smith, E. D. Ladd, G. W.
Deitzler, S. 0. Smith, J. K. Goodin, G. W. Brown, John Speer, M.
Hunt, J. H. Lane.
Second district. — Robert Buffman, J. A. Wakefield, David BufF-
man, D. Vancil, A. Curtiss, N. Allguyor.
Third district.— W. Y. Roberts, C. K. Holliday, A. M. Jordon.
Fourth district. — Samuel Workman, Amos Hanna, Samuel Mew-
hinney.
Fifth and Sixth districts. — Hamilton Smith, James F. Brannan,
Thos. J. Addis.
Seventh district.— P. C. Schuyler, J. D. Wood.
Eighth district. — J. H. Nesbitt, S. R. Jenkins.
Tenth district. — L. P. Lincoln, Joseph Hays.
Thirteenth district. — J. B. Chapman, T. Jenner, Richard Murphy.
• I
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 609
Sixteenth district. — Marcus J. Parrott, C. M. Moore, E. H. Phelan,
M. W. Delahay, S. N. Latta.
The report was adopted.
The committee on the permanent organization of trie convention
reported as follows : for —
President.— W. Y. Koberts.
Vice-presidents. — J. A. Wakefield, P. C. Schuyler, L. P. Lincoln,
J. K. Goodin, S. N. Latta, K. H. Phelan.
Secretaries.— K. D. Ladd, J. H. Nesbitt, M. W. Delahay.
The report was adopted, and the officers elected took their seats.
On motion, it was —
Besolved, That parliamentary rules be the rules of this convention.
On motion of G. W. Smith, a committee of fifteen members was
elected to prepare business for the convention, as follows :
G. W. Smith, Samuel Mewhinney, J. A. Wakefield, C. K. Holli-
day, P. P. Lincoln, Hamilton Smith, J. H. Nesbitt, T. J. Addis,
Thomas Jenner, J. B. Chapman, H. Miles Moore, Marcus J. Parrott,
a. W. Deitzler, P. C. Schuyler, J. D. Wood.
The convention adjourned until the committee were ready to report.
\ The convention was called to order, and the committee on busi-
ness, through Gr. W. Smith, chairman, submitted a report, which was,
on motion, received.
The convention adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
September 20, 9 o'clock, a. m
The convention was called to order by the president.
On motion of Col. Lane, the report of the business committee was
re-committed to said committee, with instructions to report blank
times for the holding of the election, and the meeting of the conven-
tion, and number of delegates to said convention.
Col. Lane moved the following resolution, which was adopted :
Besolved, That a committee, consisting of eighteen members, be
appointed, one from each election district, as far as the said districts
are represented in this convention, and when said districts are ex-
hausted, frbm those actually in attendance at this convention, the
balance be raised and clothed with full power to write, print, and
circulate an address to the people of this Territory, and to the civil-
ized world, setting forth our greivances, and the policy we have been
compelled to adopt, and which we have determined at all hazards to
carry out.
On motion, leave of absence was granted to the business committee.
The convention took a recess of ten minutes. On re-assembling the
chair appointed the following as the Committee on Address, author-
ized by the resolution of Col- Lane:
J. H. Lane, Hamilton Smith, P. C. Schuyler, H. Miles Moore,
J. S. Emery, A. M. Jordan, M. W. Delahay, E. D. Ladd, G. W.
Deitzler, J. A. Wakefield, Samuel C. Smith, Thomas J. Addis, J.
H. Nesbitt, L. P. Lincoln, John Speer, G-. W. Brown, S. N. Latta,
James Pierce.
The business committee made a report, which was accepted ; and
the convention adjourned to half-past one o'clock, p. m.
H. Kep. 200 39*
610 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
At two o'clock the convention was called to order by the president,
and on motion the report of the business committee was taken up, and
after discussion and amendment was adopted unanimously, as follows :
Whereas, the Constitution of the United States guarantees to the
people of this republic the right of assembling together in a peaceable
manner for their common good, to " establish justice, insure domestic
tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their
posterity;" and whereas, the citizens of Kansas Territory were pre-
vented from electing members of a legislative assembly, in pursu-
ance of the proclamation of Gov. Keeder, on the 30th of March last,
by invading forces from foreign States coming into the Territory and
forcing upon the people a legislature of non-residents and others,
inimical to the interests of the people of Kansas Territory, defeating-
the object of the organic act, in consequence of which the territorial
government became a perfect failure, and the people were left without
any legal government, until their patience has become exhausted, and
" endurance ceases to be a virtue ;" and they are compelled to resort
to the only remedy left — that of forming a government for themselves.
Therefore, resolved, by the people of Kansas Territory, in delegate
convention assembled, That an election shall be held in the several
election precincts of this Territory on the -second Tuesday of October
next, under the regulations and restrictions hereinafter imposed, for
members of a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights
for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing
a State government, preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the
Union as a State.
Resolved, That the apportionment of delegates to said convention
shall be as follows : Two delegates for each representative to which
the people were entitled in the legislative assembly, by proclamation
of Governor Reeder, of date 10th March, 1855.
Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed by the chair,
who shall organize by the appointment of a chairman and secretary.
They shall keep a record of their proceedings, and shall have the
general superintendence of the affairs of the Territory so far as
regards the organization of a State government, which committee
shall be styled " The Executive Committee of Kansas Territory."
Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the executive committee of
Kansas Territory to advertise said election at least fifteen days before
the second Tuesday of October next ; and to appoint three judges
thereof for each precinct, and the said judges of each precinct shall
appoint two clerks, all of whom shall be duly sworn or affirmed to
discharge the duties of their respective offices impartially and with
fidelity ; and they shall have power to administer the oath or affirma-
tion to each other, and the said judges shall open said election at 10
o'clock, a. in., at the place designated in each precinct by the said
executive committee, and close the same at 4 o'clock, p. m. And in
case any of the officers appointed fail to attend,, the officer or officers
in attendance shall supply the vacancy or vacancies ; and in the event
of all of them failing to attend, ten qualified voters shall supply
their places. And the said judges shall make out duplicate return*
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 611
of said election, seal up and transmit one copy of the same within
five days to the chairman of the executive committee, to be laid
hefore the convention ; and they shall, within ten days, seal up and
hand the other to some member of the executive committee.
Resolved, That the chairman of the executive committee of Kansas
Territory shall announce, by proclamation, the names of the persons
elected delegates to said convention ; and in case the returns from
any precinct should not be completed by that day, as soon thereafter
as practicable, and in case of a tie, a new election shall be ordered
by the executive committee, giving five days' notice thereof, by the
game officers who officiated at the first election.
Resolved , That all white male inhabitants, citizens of the United
States, above the age of twenty-one years, who have had a bona fide
residence in the Territory of Kansas for the space of thirty days
immediately preceding the day of said election, shall be entitled to
vote for delegates to said convention, and all white male inhabitants,
citizens of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, who
have resided in the Territory of Kansas for the space of three months
immediately preceding the day of election, shall be eligible as dele-
gates to said convention.
Resolved, That if, at the time of holding said election, it shall be
inconvenient, on account of Indian hostilities,, or any other cause
whatever, that would disturb or prevent the voters of any election
precinct in the Territory from the free and peaceable exercise of the
elective franchise, the officers are hereby authorized to adjourn said
election into any other precinct in the Territory, and to any other
day they may see proper, of the necessity of which they shall be the
exclusive judges, at which time and place the qualified voters may
cast their votes.
Resolved, That said convention shall be held at Topeka on the
fourth Tuesday of October next, at 12 o'clock, m., of that day.
Resolved, That a majority of said convention shall constitute a
quorum, and that the said convention shall determine upon the
returns and qualifications of its members, and shall have and exercise
all the rights, privileges, and immunities incident to such bodies, and
may adopt such rules and regulations for its government as a majority
thereof may direct. If a majority of said convention do not assemble
on the day appointed therefor, a less number is hereby authorized to
adjourn from day to day.
Resolved, That in case of the death, resignation, or non-attendance
of any delegate chosen from any district of the Territory, the presi-
dent of the convention shall issue his writ ordering a new election, on
five days' notice, to be conducted as heretofore directed.
Resolved, That no person shall be entitled to a seat in the conven-
tion at its organization except the members whose names are contained
in the proclamation of the chairman of the executive committee.
But after the convention is organized seats may be contested in the
usual way.
Resolved, That the members of the convention shall receive as a
compensation for their services the sum of three dollars pei day, and
three dollars for every twenty miles travel to and from the same, and
612 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
that Congress be respectfully requested to appropriate a sufficient
sum to defray the necessary expenses of said convention.
Resolved, That on the adoption of a constitution for the State of
Kansas, the President of the convention shall transmit an authenti-
cated copy thereof to the President of the United States, to the Presi-
dent of the Senate, and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives ;
to each member of Congress, and to the governor of each of the
several States of the Union, and adopt such other measures as will
secure to the people of Kansas the rights and privileges of a sovereign
State.
On motion, the committee on address was vested with authority to
notify the people of the several districts of the Territory of the coming
election, by handbills, public addresses, and otherwise, as they may
think proper.
The territorial executive committee was appointed by the chair,
consisting of the following persons: J. H. Lane, C. K. Holliday, M.
J. Parrott, P. C. Schuyler, G. W. Smith, G. W. Brown, and J. K.
Goodin.
On motion, the proceedings of this convention were ordered to be
published in all the papers of the Territory.
A vote of thanks was passed to the president and officers of the
convention. Adjourned with three enthusiastic cheers for the new
government of Kansas.
WM. Y. ROBERTS,
President.
E. D. LADD,
J. H. NESBIT,
M. W. DELAIIAY,
Secretaries.
The executive committee appointed by that convention, of which
Colonel James H. Lane was chairman, and J. K. Goodin secretary,
accepted their appointment and entered upon the discharge of their
duties, and issued a proclamation in accordance with the instructions
of that convention. The following is a copy of that proclamation is-
sued by them :
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
PROCLAMATION.
To the legal voters of Kansas :
Whereas, the territorial government, as now constituted for Kansas,
bas proved a failure ; squatter sovereignty, under its workings, a
miserable delusion ; in proof of which it is only necessary to refer to
our past history and our present deplorable condition. Our ballot
boxes have been taken possession of by bands of armed men from for-
eign States ; our people forcibly driven therefrom ; persons attempted
to be foisted upon us as members of a so-called legislature, unac-
quainted with our wants, and hostile to our best interests, some of
them never residents of our Territory, misnamed laws passed, and
KANSAS AFFAIRS 613
now attempted to be enforced by the aid of citizens of foreign States
of the most oppressive, tyrannical, and insulting character ; the right
of suffrage taken from us. debarred from the privilege of a voice in
the election of even the most insignificant officers, the right of free
speech stifled, the muzzling of the press attempted ; and, whereas ,
longer forbearance with such oppression and tyranny has ceased to be
a virtue ; and, whereas, the people of this country have heretofore
exercised the right of changing their form of government when it be-
came oppressive, and have at all times conceded this right to the peo-
ple in this and all other governments ; and, whereas, a territorial form
of government is unknown to the Constitution, and is the mere
creature of necessity, awaiting the action of the people ; and, whereas,
the debasing character of the slavery which now involves us impels to
action, and leaves us, as the only legal and peaceful alternative, the
immediate establishment of a State government ; and, whereas, the
organic act fails in pointing out the course to be adopted in an emer-
gency like ours : therefore, you are requested to meet at your several
precincts in said Territory hereinafter mentioned, on the second Tues-
day of October next, it being the ninth day of said month, and then
and there cast your ballots for members of a convention, to meet at
Topeka on the fourth Tuesday in October next to form a constitution,
adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful
measures for organizing a State government, preparatory to the ad-
mission of Kansas into the Union as a State.
PLACES FOR POLLS.
First election district. — Lawrence precinct, at the office of John
Hutchinson, in Lawrence. Blanton precinct, at the house of J. B.
Abbott, in Blanton. Palmyra precinct, at the house of H. Bur rick-
low, in Palmyra. "Wakarusa river the dividing line between the two
precincts.
Second election district. — Bloomington precinct, house of Harrison
Burson on the Wakarusa. Benicia precinct, house of J. J. Cranmer,
east Douglas.
Third election district. — Topeka precinct, house of F. W. Giles,
Topeka. Big Spring precinct, at the house of Wesley Frost, in
Washington. Tecumseh precinct, at the house of Mr. Hoogland, in
Tecumseh.
Fourth election district. — Willow Springs precinct, at the house of
Dr. Chapman, on the Santa Fe road, Springfield.
^ Fifth election district. — Bull Creek precinct, at the house of Bap-
tiste Peoria, on Pottawatomie creek. Pottawatomie precinct, at the
house of Henry Sherman. Ossawatomie precinct, at the house of
William Hughes, in Ossawatomie. Big Sugar Creek precinct, at the
house of Elijah Tucker, at old Pottawatomie mission. Little Sugar
Creek precinct, at the house of Isaac Stockton. Neosho precinct, at
the store of Hamilton Smith, in Neosho. Hampden precinct, at the
house of W. A. Ela, in Hampden.
Sixth election district. — Fort Scott precinct, at the house of Mr. John-
614 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
son_, or a suitable building in Fort Scott. Scott's Turn precinct, at
the house of Mr. Vandever.
Seventh election district. — Titus precinct, at the house of J. B. Ti-
tus, on the Santa Fe road.
Eighth election district. — Council Grove precinct, at Council Grove
mission-house. "Waubousa precinct, at some suitable building in
Waubousa. Mill Creek precinct, at the house of Mr. Adams, in
Ashland.
Ninth Election District. — Pawnee precinct, at Loder & Shaw's store,
in Pawnee.
Tenth Election District. — Big Blue precinct, at the house of S. D.
Dyer, in Juniatta. Kock Creek precinct, at the house of Robert
Wilson.
Eleventh Election District. — Vennillion precinct, at the house of
John Schmidt, on Vermillion branch of Blue river.
Twelfth Election District. — St. Mary's precinct, at the house of R.
F. Bert rand. Silver Lake precinct, at the house of Joseph Leframbois.
Thirteenth Election District. — Hickory Point precinct, at the house
of Charles Hardt. Falls precinct, at the house of the " Mill Compa-
ny/' at Grasshopper Falls.
Fourteenth Election District. — Burr Oak precinct, at the house of
Benjamin Harding. Doniphan precinct, (including part of the fif-
teenth district, to Walnut creek,) at the house of Dr. G. A. Cutler,
in Domiphan. Wolf river precinct, at the house of Aaron Lewis.
Fifteenth Election District. — Walnut Creek precinct, (south of Wal-
nut creek,) at the house of Charles Hays, on military road.
Sixteenth Election District. — Leavenworth precinct, at the store of
Thomas Doyle, in Leavenworth city. Easton precinct, at the house
of Thomas A. Maynard, on Stranger creek. Wyandott precinct, at
the council house, in Wyandott city. Ridge precinct, at the house of
William Pennock.
Seventeenth Election District. — Mission precinct, at the Baptist mis-
sion building. Wakarusa precinct, at the store of Paschal Fish.
Eighteenth Election District. — California precinct, at the house of
W. W. Moore, on the St. Joseph's and California road.
Instructions to judges of election .
The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes for deposit-
ing the ballots cast by electors ; shall appoint two clerks, all of
whom shall be sworn, or affirmed, to discharge the duties of their
respective offices impartially and with fidelity ; and the judges and
clerks shall have power to administer the oath or affirmation to each
other; and the said judges shall open said election at 10 o'clock, a.
m., at the place designated in each precinct by the executive commit-
tee of Kansas Territory, and close the same at 4 o'clock, p. m. In
case any of the officers appointed fail to attend, the officer or officers
in attendance shall supply their places. And the said judges shall
make out duplicate returns of said election, seal up and transmit one
copy of the same, within five days, to the chairman of the executive
committee, to be laid before the convention, and they shall within ten
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 615
days seal up and hand the other to some member of the said executive
-committee. If at the time of holding said election it shall be incon-
Yenient, on account of Indian hostilities, or any other cause whatever
that would disturb or prevent the voters of any election precinct in
the Territory from the free and peaceable exercise of the elective fran-
chise, the officers are hereby authorized to adjourn said election into
any other precinct in the Territory, and to any other day they may
see proper, of the necessity of which they shall be the exclusive
judges, at which time and place the qualified voters may cast their
votes.
Qualifications of voters, dec.
All white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States, or who
have declared their intentions before the proper authorities to become
such, above the age of twenty-one years, who have had a bona fide
Tesidence in the Territory for the space of thirty days immediately
preceding the day of the said election, shall be entitled to vote for
delegates to said convention, and all white male inhabitants, citizens
of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, who have
had a bona fide residence in the Territory of Kansas for the space of
three months immediately preceding the day of election, shall be eli-
gible as delegates to said convention.
Apportionment .
The apportionment of delegates to said convention shall be as fol-
lows : two delegates for each representative district the people were
•entitled to in the legislative assembly by proclamation of Governor
Eeeder, of date of 10th of March, 1855.
It is confidently believed that the people of Kansas are fully alive
to the importance of the step they are about to take, in disenthralling
themselves from the slavery which is now fettering them ; and the
squatters of Kansas are earnestly requested to be at their several polls
on the day above designated. See that there be no illegal votes cast,
and that every ballot received be in accordance with your choice for
delegate to the constitutional convention, and have all the regulations
and restrictions carried out.
The plan proposed in the proclamation to govern you in the elec-
tion has been adopted after mature deliberation, and if adhered to by
you, will result in establishing in Kansas an independent government
that will be admitted into our beloved Union as a sovereign State,
securing to our people the liberty they have heretofore enjoyed, and
which has been so ruthlessly wrested from them by reckless invaders.
By order of the executive committee of Kansas Territory.
J. H. LANE. Chairman.
J. K. GrOODm, Secretary.
After the above proclamation was issued, public meetings were held
in ^ every district in the Territory, and in nearly every precinct, I
think, and speeches were made, and it became a general topic of dis-
cussion throughout the Territory. But little opposition was exhibited
616 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
in any portion of the Territory towards the State movement. Large
posters were sent out in advance of these meetings, and stuck up all
over the Territory, stating the object of the meeting, and the names of
those who were expected to address the people. Some of those meet-
ings I attended myself. At a very large meeting here in Lawrence,
when the vote was taken upon that question, there was but one dis-
senting voice. Poll books, ballots and tally lists were prepared under
the direction of the executive committee, and sent to all the precincts ;
and the election, in all respects, so far as I understand it, was con-
ducted according to the organic law of the Territory. The following
is the call circulated in the form of posters and sent throughout the
Territory :
" To the electors of Kansas Territory : You are hereby notified that
an election will be held in the several election precincts of this Terri-
tory, on the second Tuesday, the 9th of October next, for members
of a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the
people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a State
government, preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the Union
as a State.
" By order of the executive committee of Kansas Territory.
" J. H. LANE, Chairman.
" J. K. GOODIN, Secretary.
" SEPTEMBER 22, 1855."
Three judges were appointed for each election precinct. The elec-
tion was held at the time appointed, and the returns were brought
in to the chairman of the executive committee, and left with the sec-
retary of that committee. That committee then issued their procla-
mation of the result of the election, of which the following, here in-
serted, is a copy :
ELECTIO'N PROCLAMATION.
By the authority vested in me by the people of Kansas Territory,
and pursuant to the instructions of the convention held at Topeka, K.
T., on the 19th ultimo, " for the purpose of taking into consideration
the expediency of forming a constitution, with the intention of an im-
mediate application for the admission of Kansas into the Union as a
State," as chairman of the executive committee of Kansas Territory,
I do hereby make public and proclaim, that from the returns received
and on file in this office, it doth appear that the following named
persons have, by the legal voters of Kansas Territory, been elected
delegates to a convention to be assembled in Topeka, on the 23d day
of October, 1855, at 12 o'clock, m., from the several districts set op-
posite their names, to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for
the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a
State government preparatory to the admission of Kansas as a State
into the Union.
First representative district. — Samuel McWhinney, Wm. Graham.
Second representative district. — G. W. Smith, J. H. Lane, J. K..
Goodin, C. Kobinson, J. S. Emery, Morris Hunt.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 617
Third representative district. — J. A. Waken* eld, A. Custis, J\ M,
Tuton, H. Berson.
Fourth representative district. — C. K. Holliday, W. Y. Roberts.
Fifth representative district. — P. C. Schuyler, J. H. Pillsbury.
Sixth representative district. — James Phenis, Dr. Burgess, N.
Vandever.
In this district W. Pv. Griffith, John Hamilton, A. W. J. Brown,
and W. Sanders have each a tie vote. The returns from Fort Scott
have not yet come in.
Seventh representative district. — W. T. Turner, James Me Arthur,
W. T. Morris, 0. C. Brown, Eichard Knight, F. Brown, H. Smith,
W. G. Nichols.
Eighth representative district. — Robert Klotz, A. Hunting.
Ninth representative district. — M. F. Conway, J. G. Thompson.
Tenth representative district. — George Hilly er, J. Whitney.
Fourteenth representative district. — Robert Riddle, M. J. Parrott,
Matt. France, S. M. Latta, D. Dodge, M. H. Delahay.
Eleventh representative district. — G. A. Cutler, John Landis, C. W.
Stewart, D. W. Field.
Twelfth representative district. — Composed of Burr Oak precinct,
fourteenth election district, whole of eighteenth, and small part of
fifteenth election district, .which voted at Doniphan. [This district is
entitled to four delegates. Returns have been received from Burr
Oak precinct ; but the votes were cast for the delegates in the eleventh
district above. As no delegates have been elected for this district, an
immediate election will be called for that purpose.]
Thirteenth representative district. — R. H. Crosby, Caleb May, San-
ford McDaniel, James S. Layle.
Done at the office of the executive committee of Kansas Territory ,
this 16th day of October, A. D. 1885.
J. H. LANE, Chairman.
J. K. GOODIN, Secretary.
The constitutional convention assembled at Topeka, 23d of October,
1855, and framed a constitution to be submitted to the people, of
which the following, herein inserted, is a true copy :
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF KANSAS.
PREAMBLE :
WE, the people of the Territory of Kansas, by our delegates in
convention assembled at Topeka, on the 23d day of October, A. D.
1855, and of the independence of the United States the eightieth year,
having the right of admission into the Union as one of the United
States of America, consistent with the federal Constitution, and by
virtue of the treaty of cession by France to the United States of the
province of Louisiana, in order to secure to ourselves and our posterity
the enjoyment of all the rights of life, liberty, and property, and
the free pursuits of happiness, do mutually agree with each other to
form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the name and
style of the STATE OF KANSAS, bounded as follows ; to wit : Beginning
at a point on the western boundary of the State of Missouri where the
618 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude crosses the same ; thence west
on said parallel to the eastern boundary of New Mexico ; thence north
on said boundary to latitude thirty-eight ; thence following said boun-
dary westward to the eastern boundary of the Territory of Utah on
the summit of the Rocky Mountains ; thence northward on said sum-
mit, to the fortieth parallel of latitude ; thence east on said parallel
to the western boundary of the State of Missouri ; thence south with
the western boundary of said State to the place of beginning ; and do
ordain and establish the following CONSTITUTION and BILL OF EIGHTS for
the government thereof:
BILL OF RIGHTS. — ARTICLE I.
SEC. 1. All men are by nature free and independent, and hare cer-
tain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and de-
fending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property,
and seekirig and obtaining happiness and safety.
SEC. 2. All political power is inherent in the PEOPLE. Government
is instituted for their equal protection and benefit ; and they have the
right to alter, reform, or abolish the same whenever they may deem it
necessary ; and no special privileges or immunities shall ever be
granted that may not be altered, revoked, or repealed by the general
assembly.
SEC. 3. The people have the right to assemble together, in a peaceable
manner, to consult for their common good, to instruct their repre-
sentatives, and to petition the general assembly for the redress of
grievances.
SEC. 4. The people have the right to bear arms for their defence and
security ; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to
liberty, and shall not be kept up ; and the military shall be kept in
strict subordination to the civil power.
SEC. 5. The right of trial by jury shall be inviolate.
SEC. 6. There shall be no slavery in this State, nor involuntary ser-
vitude, unless for the punishment of crime.
SEC. *7. All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship
Almighty Grod according to the dictates of their own conscience. No
person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of
worship, or maintain any form of worship against his consent ; and
no preference shall be given by law to any religious society ; nor shall
any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted. No reli-
gious test shall be required as a qualification for office, nor shall any
person be incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious be-
lief; but nothing ; herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths
and affirmations. Religion, morality and knowledge, however, being
essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the general as-
sembly to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination
in the peaceable enjoyment of its qwn mode of public worship, and to
encourage schools, and the means of instruction.
SEC. 8. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be sus-
pended, unless, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety re-
quires it.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 619
SEC. 9. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless
for capital offences where the proof is evident, or the presumption
great. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines im-
posed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
SEC. 10. Except in cases of impeachment, and cases arising in the
army and navy, or in the militia, when in actual service, in time of
war or public danger^ and in cases of petit larceny and other inferior
offences, no person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise
infamous crime, unless on presentment, or indictment of a grand
jury. In any trial in any court, the party accused shall be allowed to
appear and defend in person, and with counsel, to demand the nature
and cause of the accusation against him, and to have a copy thereof;
to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process to
procure the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a speedy public
trial, by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the of-
fence is alleged to have been committed ; nor shall any person be com-
pelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself, or be
twice put in jeopardy for the same offence.
SEC. 11. Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sen-
timents on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of the right ;
and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech
or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions or indictments for libel,
the truth may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it shall appear
to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was pub-
lished with good motives, and for justifiable ends, the party shall be
acquitted.
SEC. 12. No person shall be transported out of the State for any
offence committed within the same ; and no conviction shall work
corruption of blood, or forfeiture of estate.
SEC. 13. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any
house, without the coiisent of the owner ; nor in time of war, except
in a manner prescribed by law.
SEC. 14. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers and possessions against unreasonable searches and seizures
shall not be violated ; and no warrant shall issue but upon probable
cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the
place to be searched, and the persons and things to be seized.
SEC. 15. No person shall be imprisoned for debt in any civil action,
or mesne or final process, unless in case of fraud.
SEC. 16. All courts shall be open ; and every person, for an injury
done him in his land, goods, person, or reputation, shall have remedy
by due course of law, and justice "administered without denial or delay.
SEC. 17. No hereditary emoluments, honors, or privileges shall
ever be granted or conferred by this State.
SEC. 18. No power of suspending laws shall ever be exercised, except
by the general assembly.
^ SEC. 19. The payment of a tax shall not be a qualification for exer-
cising the right of suffrage.
SEC. 20. Prjvate property shall ever be held inviolate, but subservient
to the public welfare. When taken in time of war, or other public
exigency, imperatively requiring its immediate seizure, or for the
620 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
purpose of making or repairing roads, which shall be open to the pub-
lic use, without toll or other charge therefor, a compensation shall be
made to the owner in money ; and in all other cases, where private
property shall be taken for public use, a compensation therefor shall
first be made in money, or first secured by a deposite of money, and
such compensation shall be assessed by a jury, without deduction for
benefits to any property of the owner.
SBC. 21. No indenture of any negro, or mulatto, made and executed
out of the bounds of the State, shall be valid within the State.
SEC. 22. This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to impair
or deny others retained by the people ; and all powers not herein
delegated shall remain with the people.
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. — ARTICLE II.
SEC. 1. In all elections by the people, the vote shall be by ballot,
and in all elections in the general assembly the vote shall be viva voce.
SEC. 2. Every white male person, and every civilized male Indian
who has adopted the habits of the white man, of the age of twenty-one
years and upward, who shall be at the time of offering to vote a
citizen of the United States ; who shall have resided, and had his
habitation, domicil, home, and place of permanent abode in the State
of Kansas, for six months next preceding the election at which he
offers to vote ; who, at such time, and for thirty days immediately
preceding said time, shall have had his actual habitation, domicil,
home, and place of permanent abode in the county in which he offers
to vote, and who shall have resided in the precinct or election district
for at least ten days immediately preceding the election, shall be
deemed a qualified elector at all elections under this constitution, ex-
cept in elections by general ticket in the State or district prescribed by
law, in which case the elector must have the aforesaid qualifications,
but a residence in said district for ten days will entitle him to vote :
Provided, That no soldier, seaman or marine of the regular army or
navy of the United States shall be considered a resident of the State
in consequence of being stationed within the same.
SEC. 3. The general assembly shall, at its first session, provide for
the registration of all qualified electors in each county, and thereafter,
from time to time, of all who may become qualified electors.
SEC. 4. The legislature shall have power to exclude from every office
of honor, trust or profit within the State, and from the right of suffrage,
all persons convicted of any infamous crime.
SEC. 5. No person shall be deemed capable of holding or being elected
to any post of honor, profit, trust or emolument, civil or military, or
exercise the right of suffrage under the government of this1 State, who
shall hereafter fight a duel, send or acept a challenge to fight a duel,
or who shall be a second to either party, or who shall in any manner
aid or assist in such duel, or who shall be knowingly the bearer of
such challenge or acceptance, whether the same occur, or be com-
mitted in or out of the State
SEC. 6. No person who may hereafter be collector or holder of public
moneys shall be eligible to any office of trust or profit in the State,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 621
until he shall have accounted for and paid into the proper public
treasury all sums for which he may be accountable.
SEC. 7. No State officer or member of the general assembly of this
State shall receive a fee, be engaged as council, agent, or attorney in
any case or claim against the State.
SEC. 8. No senator or representative shall, during the term of office
for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office
of profit in this State which shall have been created, or the emolu-
ments of which shall have been increased during such term, except
such offices as may be filled by election by the people.
SEC. 9. All officers, civil and military, in this State, before they
enter upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take the follow-
ing oath, or affirmation : "I , do swear [or affirm,] that
I will support the Constitution of the United States, and of the State
of Kansas ; that I am duly qualified according to the constitution to
exercise the office to which I have been elected, [or appointed,] and
will, to the best of my abilities, discharge the duties thereof faithfully
and impartially, according to law."
SEC. 10. Every person shall be disqualified from holding any office
of honor or profit in this State who shall have been convicted of
having given or offered any bribe to procure his election, or who shall
have -made use of any undue influence from power, tumult, or other
improper practices.
SEC. 11. All civil officers of the State shall reside within the State,
and all district and county officers within their respective districts
and counties, and shall have their offices at such places therein as
may be required by law.
SEC. 12. Returns of elections for members of Congress, the general
assembly, and all other officers not otherwise provided for, shall be
made to the Secretary of State, in such manner as may be prescribed
by law.
SEC. 13. Electors shall in all cases be privileged from arrest during
their attendance on elections, and in going to and returning there-
from, except in case of felony, treason, and breach of the peace.
DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS. — ARTICLE III.
SEC. 1. The powers of the government shall be divided into three
separate departments: the legislative, the executive, including the
administrative and the judicial ; and no person charged with official
duties under one of these departments shall exercise any of the func-
tions of another, except as in this constitution expressly provided.
LEGISLATIVE . — ARTICLE IT .
SEC. 1. The legislative power of this State shall be vested in the
general assembly, which shall consist of a senate and house of rep *-
reseii tatives.
SEC. 2. The senators and representatives shall be chosen annually
by the qualified electors of the respective counties, or district, for
which they are chosen on the first Monday of August, for one year,
and their term of office shall commence on the first day of January
next thereafter.
622 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SEC. 3. There shall be elected at the first election twenty senators!
and sixty representatives, and the number afterwards shall be regulated
by law.
SEC. 4. No person shall be eligible to the office of senator or rep-
resentatives who shall not possess the qualifications of an elector.
SEC. 5. No person holding office under the authority of the United
States, or any lucrative office under the authority of this State, shall
be eligible to, or have a seat in the general assembly ; but this pro-
vision shall not extend to township officers, justices of the peace,
notaries public, postmasters, or officers of the milita.
SEC. 6. Each house, except as otherwise provided in this constitution,
shall choose its own officers, determine its own rule of proceeding,
punish its members for disorderly conduct, and with the concurrence
of two-thirds expel a member, but not the second time for the sam.fi
cause ; and shall judge of the qualification, election and return of its
own members, and shall have all other powers necessary for its safety
and the undisturbed transaction of business.
SEC. 7. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings and
publish the same. The yeas and nays on any question shall, at. the
request of two members, be entered on the journal.
SEC. 8. Any member of either house shall have the right to protest
against any act or resolution thereof ; and such protest, and reason
therefor, shall, without alteration, commitment, or delay, be entered
on the journal.
SEC. 9. All vacancies which may occur in either house shall, for
the unexpired term, be filled by election as shall be prescribed by law.
SEC. 10. Senators and representatives shall, in all cases except
treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during
the session of the general assembly, and in going to and returning
from the same ; and for words spoken in debate they shall not be
questioned in any other place.
SEC. 11. A majority of all the members elected to each house shall
be necessary to pass every bill or joint resolution,, and all bills and
joint resolutions so passed shall be signed by the presiding officers
of the respective houses and presented to the governor for his approval.
SEC. 12. The doors of each house^ and of committees of the whole,
shall be kept open. Neither house shall, without the consent of the
other, adjourn for more than two days, nor to any other place than
that in which the two houses shall be sitting, except for personal safety.
SEC. 13. Every bill shall be read by sections on three several days
in each house ; unless in case of emergency. Two-thirds of the house
where such bill is pending may, if deemed expedient, suspend the
rule on a call of the yeas and nays ; but the reading of a bill by
sections, on its final passage, shall in no case be dispensed with ;
and the vote on the passage of every bill or joint resolution shall be
taken by yeas and nays.
SEC. 14. Every act shall contain but one subject, which shall be
clearly expressed in its title. Bills may originate in either house,
but may be altered, amended or rejected by the other.
SEC. 15. In all cases when a general law can be made applicable,
special laws shall not be enacted.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 623
SEC. 16. No act shall ever be revived or amended by mere reference
to its title ; but the act revived or the section amended shall be set
forth and published at full length.
SEC. I1?. No act shall take effect until the same shall have been
published and circulated in the counties of the State, by authority,
except in case of emergency, which emergency shall be declared in
the preamble or the body of the law.
SEC. 18. The election and appointment of all officers, and the filling
of all vacancies, not otherwise provided for by this constitution or
the Constitution of the United States, shall be made in such manner
as shall be prescribed by law ; but no appointing power shall be exer-
cised by the general assembly, except as provided in this constitution,
and in the election of the United States senator, and in these cases
the vote shall be taken viva voce.
SEC. 19. The general assembly shall not have power to enact laws
annulling the contract of marriage in any case where by law the
courts of this State may have power to decree a divorce.
SEC. 20. The general assembly shall not have power to pass retro-
active laws, or laws impairing the obligation of contracts ; but may,
by general laws, authorize courts to carry into effect, upon such terms
as shall be just and equitable,, the manifest intention of parties and
officers, by curing omissions, defects, and errors in instruments, and
proceedings arising out of a want of conformity with the laws of this
State.
SEC. 21. The style of the laws of this State shall be, "Beit enacted
by the general assembly of the State of Kansas."
SEC. 22. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of
impeachment. All impeachments shall be tried by the Senate, and
when sitting for the purpose the senators shall be upon oath or affir-
mation to do justice according to law and evidence. No person shall
be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the senators
present.
SEC. 23. The governor and all other civil officers under the laws of
this State shall be liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in
office, but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to
removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor,
profit, or trust, under this State. The party, whether convicted or
acquitted, shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial, judgment,
and punishment according to law.
SEC. 24. Within one year after the ratification of this constitution,,
and within every subsequent two years thereafter, for the term of ten-
years, an enumeration of all the white inhabitants of this State shall
be made in such manner as shall be directed by law.
SEC. 25. All regular sessions of the general assembly shall be held
at the capital of the State, and shall commence on the first Tuesday
of January, annually.
SEC. 26. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house-
of representatives, subject, however, to amendment or rejection as in
other cases.
SEC. 27\ The members of the general assembly shall receive for
their services the sum of four dollars per day for each and every day
they are actually in attendance at any regular or special session, an&
624 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
four dollars for every twenty miles they shall travel in going to and
returning from the place of meeting, hy the most usually travelled
route; and no session of the general assembly, except the first under
this constitution, shall extend beyond the term of sixty days, nor any
special session more than forty days.
EXECUTIVE. — ARTICLE V.
SEC. 1. The executive department shall consist of a governor, a
lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, and attor-
ney general, who shall be chosen by the electors of the State at the
same time and place of voting for the members of the general
assembly.
SEC. 2. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state,, trea-
surer, auditor, attorney general, and state printer, shall hold their
office for two years. Their terms of office shall commence on the first
Tuesday of January next after their election, and continue until their
successors are elected and qualified, neither of which officers shall be
eligible for re-election more than two out of three consecutive terms ;
nor shall any person be eligible for the office of governor who shall
not have attained the age of thirty years.
SEC. 3. The returns of every election for -the officers named in the
foregoing section shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of
government by the returning officers, directed to th% secretary of state,
who shall lay the same before the general assembly at their first meet-
ing thereafter, when they shall open, publish, and declare the result
thereof, in the presence of a majority of the members of both houses.
The person having the highest number of votes shall be declared duly
elected, and a certificate thereof given to such person, signed by the
presiding officers of both bodies; but if any two or more shall bo
highest and equal in votes for the same office, one of them shall be
chosen by the joint vote of both houses.
SEC. 4. The supreme executive power shall be vested in a governor.
SEC. 5. He may require information in writing from the officers in
the executive department upon any subject relating to the duties of
their respective offices, and shall see that the laws are faithfully exe-
-cuted
SEC. 6. He shall communicate at every session, by message to the
general assembly, the condition of the affairs of the State, and recom-
mend.such measures as he shall deem expedient for their action.
SEC. 7. He may on extraordinary occasions convene the general
assembly by proclamation, and shall state to both houses, when as-
sembled, the purposes for which they were convened.
SEC. 8. In case of disagreement between the two houses in respect
to the time of adjournment, he shall have power to adjourn the gene-
ral assembly to such time as he may think proper, but not beyond the
regular meetings thereof.
SEC. 9. He shall be commander-in-chief of the military in the State,
except when they shall be called into the service of the United States.
SEC. 10. The pardoning power shall be vested in the governor, under
jsuch regulations and restrictions as may be prescribed by law.
SEC. 11. There shall be a seal of the State, the device of which shall
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 625
be fixed upon by the governor and other State officers, be kept by the
governor and used by him officially, and shall be called "the great
seal of the State of Kansas. ' '
SEC. 12, All grants and commissions shall be used in the name and
by the authority of the State of Kansas, sealed with the great seal,
signed by the governor, and countersigned by the secretary of state.
SEC. 13. No member of either house of Congress or other persona
holding office under the authority of this State, or of the United
States, shall execute the office of governor except as herein provided.
SEC. 14. In the case of death, impeachment, resignation, removal
or other disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall ex-
ercise the duties of the office of governor, until another governor shall
be duly qualified ; but in such case another governor shall be chosen
at the next annual election for members of the general assembly, un-
less such death, resignation, impeachment, removal or other disability
shall occur within three calendar months immediately preceding such
next annual election, in which case a governor shall be chosen at the
second succeeding annual election for members of the general assem-
bly, and in case of the death, impeachment, resignation, removal, 01
other disability of the lieutenant governor, the president of the senate
pro tern, shall exercise the office of governor until a governor shall be
duly qualified as aforesaid.
SEC. 15. The lieutenant governor shall be president of the senate,
but shall vote only when the senate is equally divided, and shall be
entitled to the same pay as the speaker of the house of representatives,
and in case of his death, impeachment, resignation, removal from
office, or when he shall exercise the office of governor, the senate shall
chose a president pro tern.
SEC. 16. Should the office of secretary of state, treasurer, auditor,
or attorney general become vacant, for any of the causes specified in
the fourteenth and fifteenth sections, the governor shall fill the va-
cancy or vacancies until the disability is removed or a successor is
elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election,
at the first general election that occurs more than thirty days after
such vacancy shall have occurred, and the person chosen shall hold
the office for the full term fixed in the second section of this article.
SEC. 17. The officers mentioned in this article shall, at stated times,
receive for their services compensation to be fixed by law, which shall
neither be increased or diminished during the period for which they
shall have been elected.
SEC. 18. The officers of the executive department, and of the pub-
lic State institutions, shall, at least ten days preceding each regular
session of the general assembly, severally report to the governor, who
shall transmit the same to the general assembly.
SEC. 19. Every bill which shall have passed both, houses shall be
presented to the governor. If he approve, he shall sign the same,
but if he shall not approve, he shall return it with his objections to
the house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the ob-
jections at large upon the journal, and proceed to reconsider the same.
If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of that house shall agree to
pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, to the other house*
H Rep. 200 40*
626 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
by which likewise it shall be reconsidered, and if approved by two-
thirds of that house it shall be a law. But in such case, the votes of
both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of
the persons voting for or against the bill shall be entered upon £he
journals of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned
by the governor within five days (Sunday excepted) after it shall have
been presented to him, it shall be a law, in like manner as if he had
signed it, unless the general assembly, by their adjournment, pre-
vented its return, in which case it shall also be a law, unless sent back
within two days after the next meeting.
SEC. 20. Contested elections for governor, lieutenant governor,
judges of the supreme court, and all other State officers, shall be de-
termined by the general assembly, in such manner as may be pre-
scribed by law.
SEC. 21. The general assembly shall have power to provide by law
for the election of a surveyor general, State geologist and superin-
tendent of common schools, whose duties shall be prescribed by law.
JUDICIAL. — ARTICLE VI.
SEC. 1. The judicial power of the State shall be vested in a supreme
court, courts of common pleas, justices of the peace, and in such other
courts inferior to the supreme court as the general assembly may es-
tablish.
SEC. 2. The supreme court shall consist of three judges, a majority
of whom shall form a quorum. It shall have such original and ap-
pellate jurisdiction as may be provided by law. It shall hold at least
one term each year at the seat of government, and such other terms
as may be provided by law. The judges of the supreme court shall
be elected by the electors of the State at large.
SEC. 3. The State shall be divided by the first general assembly,
under this constitution, into three common pleas districts of compact
territory, bounded by county lines, and as nearly equal in population
as practicable ; and a judge for each district shall be chosen by the
electors thereof, and their term of office shall be for three years.
SEC. 4. The- courts of common pleas shall consist of one judge each,
who shall reside within the district for which he is chosen during his
continuance in office.
SEC. 5. The jurisdiction of the court of common pleas, and of the
judges thereof, shall be fixed by law.
SEC. 6. A competent number of justices of the peace shall be elected
by the electors in each township of several counties. The term of
office shall be three years, and their powers and duties shall be fixed
by law.
SEC. 7. All judges, other than those provided for in the constitu-
tion, shall be elected by the electors of the judicial district for which
they may be created, but not for a longer term of office than three
years.
SEC. 8. The judges of the supreme court shall, immediately after
the first election under this constitution, be classified by lot, so that
one shall hold for the term of one year, one for the term of two years,
and one for the term of three years ; and all subsequent elections the
term of each of said judges shall be for three years.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 627
SEC. 9. In case the office of any judge shall become vacant before
the expiration of the term for which he was elected, the vacancy shall
be filled by appointment by the governor, until a successor shall be
elected and qualified ; and such successor shall be elected for the resi-
due of the unexpired term at the first annual election that occurs
more than thirty days after such vacancy shall have happened. ,
SEC. 10. The judges of the supreme court and of the court of com-
mon pleas shall, at stated times, receive such compensation as may be
provided by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during
their term of office; but they shall receive no fees or perquisites, nor
hold any other office of profit and trust under the State, other than a
judicial office.
SEC. 11. The general assembly 'may increase or diminish the num-
ber of the judges of the supreme court, the number of the districts of
the courts of common pleas, the number of judges in any district, or
establish other courts, whenever two thirds of the members elected to
each house shall concur therein ; but no such change, addition, or
diminution sliall vacate the office of any judge. -
SEC. 12. There shall be elected in each county_, by the electors
thereof, one clerk of the court of common pleas, who shall hold his
office for the term of three years, and until his successor shall be
elected and qualified.
SEC. 13. The general assembly shall provide, bylaw,, for the speedy
publication of the decisions of the supreme court made under this
constitution.
SEC. 14. The supreme court shall, upon the decision of every case,
give an opinion, in writing, of each question arising in the record in
such case, and the decision of the court thereon.
SEC. 15. There shall be elected by the voters of the State a clerk
and a reporter for the supreme court, who shall hold their offices for
three years, and whose duties shall be prescribed by law.
• SEC. 16. Judges may be removed from office by concurrent resolu-
tion of both houses of the general assembly if two thirds of the mem-
bers elected to each house concur therein ; but no such removal shall
be made except upon complaint, the substance of which shall be en-
tered upon the journal, nor until the party charged shall have had
notice thereof and an opportunity to be heaiM.
SEC. 1 7. The several judges of the supreme court, of the court of
common pleas, and of such other courts as may be created by law,
shall respectively have and exercise such power and jurisdiction at
chambers or otherwise as may be provided by law.
SEC. 18. The style of all process shall be " the State of Kansas."
All prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by the authority
of the State of Kansas ; and all indictments shall conclude, " against
the peace and dignity of the State of Kansas."
EDUCATION. — ARTICLE VII.
SEC. 1. The principal of all funds arising from the sale or other
disposition of lands or other property granted or entrusted to this
State for educational and religious purposes, shall forever be preserved
628 KANSAS AFFAIRS
inviolate and undiminished, and the income arising therefrom shall
he faithfully applied to the specific ohjects of the original grants or
appropriations.
SEC. 2. The general assembly shall make such provision, hy taxa-
tion or otherwise, as, with the income arising from the school trust
fund, will secure a thorough and efficient system of common sch'ods
throughout the State ; hut no religious or other sect or sects shall ever
have any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds
of this State.
SEC. 3. The general assemhly may take measures for the establish-
ment of a university, with such branches as the public convenience
may hereafter demand, for the promotion of literature, the arts,
science, medical and agricultural instruction.
SEC. 4. Provision may be made by law for the support of normal
schools, with suitable libraries and scientific apparatus.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. — ARTICLE VIII.
SEC. 1. It shall be the duty of the general assembly, at as early a
date as possible, to provide State asylums for the benefit, treatment,
and instruction of the blind, deaf and dumb, and insane.
SEC. 2. The general assembly shall make provision for the establish-
ment of an asylum for idiots, to be regulated by law.
SEC. 3. The respective counties of the State shall provide, in some
suitable manner, for those inhabitants who, by reason of age, infirm-
ity, or other misfortune, may have claims upon the sympathy and aid
of society, under provisions to be made by the laws of the general
assembly.
SEC. 4. The general assembly shall make provision for the estab-
lishment of houses of refuge for the correction, reform, and instruction
of juvenile offenders.
SEC. 5. It shall be the duty of the general assembly to make pro-
vision, as soon as possible, for a State general hospital.
PUBLIC DEBT AND PUBLIC WORKS. — ARTICLE IX.
SEC. 1. No money shall be paid out of the treasury except in pur-
suance of an appropriation by law.
SEC. 2. The credit of the State shall never be given or loaned in aid
of any individual association or corporation.
SEC. 3. For the purpose of defraying extraordinary expenditures,
fche State may contract public debts, but such debts shall never in the
aggregate exceed one hundred thousand dollars, unless authorized by
* direct vote of the people at a general election. Every such debt
shall be authorized by law, and every such Jaw shall provide for the
payment of the annual interest of such debt, and the principal within
ten years from the passage of such law ; and such appropriation shall
not be repealed until the principal and interest shall have been wholly
paid.
SEC. 4. The legislature may also borrow money to repel invasion,
suppress insurrection, or defend the State in time of war ; but the
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 629
money thus raised shall be applied exclusively to the object for which
the loan was authorized, or repayment of the debts thereby created.
SEC. 5. No scrip, certificate, or other evidence of State debt what-
ever shall be except for such debts as are authorized by the third and
fourth sections of this article.
MILITIA. — ARTICLE X.
SECTION 1 . The militia shall consist of all able-bodied white male
persons between the ages of eighteen and forty years, except such as
may be exempt by the laws of the United States or of this State, and
shall be organized, officered, armed, equipped, and trained in such
manner as may be provided by law.
SEC. 2. The governor shall appoint the adjutant, quartermaster,
and commissar}'' generals.
SEC. 3. All militia officers shall be commissioned by the governor,
and shall hold their offices not longer than three years.
SEC. 4. The general assembly shall determine the method of dividing
the militia into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, and com-
panies, and fix the rank of all officers.
SEC. 5. The militia may be divided into classes, in such manner as
shall be prescribed by law.
SEC. 6. No person conscientiously opposed to bearing arms shall be
compelled to do militia duty, but such person shall pay an equivalent
for such exemption, the amount to be prescribed by law.
SEC. 7. The first general assembly shall offer inducements for the
formation, uniforming, and drilling independent volunteer companies
in the different cities and counties of this State.
FINANCE AND TAXATION. — ARTICLE XI.
SECTION 1 . The general assembly shall provide by law for a uniform
and equal rate of assessment and taxation, and taxes shall be levied
upon all such property, real and personal, as the general assembly
may from time to time prescribe ; but all property appropriated and
used^ exclusively for municipal,, literary, educational, scientific, or
charitable purposes, and personal property to an amount not exceed-
ing one hundred dollars for each head of a family, and all property
appropriated and used exclusively for religious purposes, to an amount
not exceeding $200,000, may, by general laws, be exempted from
taxation.
SEC. 2. The general assembly shall provide by law for an annual
tax sufficient to defray the estimated ordinary expenses of the State
for each year.
SEC. 3. Every law imposing a tax shall state distinctly the object
of the same to which it shall be applied.
SEC. 4. On the passage in either house of the general assembly of
any law which imposes, continues, or renews a tax, or makes, con-
tinues, or renews an appropriation of public or trust money, or re-
leases, discharges, or commutes a claim or demand of ther State, the
question shall be taken by yeas and nays, which shall be duly entered
630 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
on the journal ; and three-fifths of all the members elected to such
house shall in all such cases be required to constitute a quorum.
COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.— ARTICLE XII.
SECTION 1. The general assembly shall provide by law for the elec-
tion of county, city, town, and township officers.
SEC. 2. All officers whose election or appointment is not provided
for by this constitution shall be elected by the people, or appointed as
the general assembly may by law direct.
SEC. 3. Provision shall be made by law for the removal, for miscon-
duct or malversation in office, of all officers whose powers and duties
are not local -or legislative, and who shall be elected at general elec-
tions, and also for supplying vacancies created by such removal.
SEC. 4. The legislature may declare the cases in which any office
shall be deemed vacant, where no provision is made for that purpose
in this constitution.
CORPORATIONS. — ARTICLE XIII.
SECTION 1. The general assembly shall not create corporations by
special act except for municipal purposes. •
SEC. 2. Corporations may be formed under* general laws, but such
laws may at any time be altered or repealed.
JURISPRUDENCE. — ARTICLE XIV.
SECTION 1. The general assembly, at its first session, shall constitute
three commissioners, whose duty it shall be to revise, reform, simplify,
and abridge the rules of practice, pleadings, forms, and proceedings
of the courts of record of this State, and to provide, so far as practica-
ble and expedient, that justice shall be administered by intelligent
and uniform proceedings, without any distinction between law and
equity.
SEC. 2. The proceedings of the commissioners shall be reported to
the general assembly, and be subject to the action of that body.
MISCELLANEOUS. — ARTICLE XV.
• ,
SECTION 1. The first general assembly shall locate the permanent
seat of government.
SEC. 2. Lotteries and the sale of lottery tickets, for any purpose
whatever, shall forever be prohibited in the State.
SEC. 3. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in this
State unless they possess the qualifications of an elector.
SEC. 4. There may be established in the secretary of state's office a
bureau of statistics and agriculture, under such regulations as may be
prescribed by law, and provision shall be made by the general assem-
bly for the organization and encouragement of state and county agri-
cultural associations.
SEC. 5. The first general assembly shall provide by law for securing
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 631
to the wife the separate property acquired by her hefore or after cover-
ture, and the equal right with the husband to the custody of the chil-
dren during their minority; and in case of death, insanity, intemper-
ance, or gross impropriety of the husband, their exclusive custody.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. — ARTICLE XVI.
SEC. 1. All propositions for amendments to the constitution shall
be made by the general assembly.
SEC. 2. A concurrence of two- thirds of the members elected to each
House shall be necessary, after which such proposed amendments shall
be entered upon the journals with the yeas and nays, and the secretary
of state shall cause the same to be published in at least one newspaper
in each county in the State where a newspaper is published, for at
least six months preceding the next election for senators and repre-
sentatives, when such proposed amendments shall be again referred to
the legislature elected next succeeding said publication. If passed by
the second legislature, by a majority of two-thirds of the members
elected to each house, such amendments shall be republished as afore-
said for at least six months prior to the next general election, at which
election such proposed amendments shall be submitted to the people
for their approval or rejection, and if the majority of the electors
voting at such election shall adopt such amendments, the same shall
become a part of the constitution.
SEC. 3. When more than one amendment is submitted at the same
time they shall be so submitted as to enable the electors to vote upon
-each amendment separately.
SEC. 4. No convention for the formation of a new constitution shall
be called, and no amendment to the constitution shall be by the gen-
eral assembly made, before the year 1865, nor more than once in five
years thereafter.
BANKS AND CURRENCY. — ARTICLE XVII.
SEC. 1. No banks shall be established otherwise than under a gen-
eral banking law.
SEC. 2. If the general assembly shall enact a general banking law,
such law shall provide for the registry and countersigning by the
auditor of State of all paper credit designed to be circulated as money,
with ample collateral security, readily convertible into specie for the
redemption of the same in gold or silver shall be required ; which col-
lateral security shall be under the control of the proper officer, or offi-
cers of State. Such law shall restrict the aggregate amount of all
paper credit^to be circulated as money, and the aggregate amount to
be put in circulation in any one year ; and no note issued under the
provision of this section shall be of a less denomination than ten dollars.
SEC. 3; The stockholders in every bank or banking company shall
be individually liable to an amount over and above their stock equal
to. their respective shares of stock for all debts and liabilities of said
bank or banking company.
SEC. 4. All bills or notes issued as money shall be at all times re-
632 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
deemable in gold or silver ; and no law shall "be passed sanctioning,
directly or indirectly, the suspension, hy any hank or banking com-
pany, of specie payments.
SEC. 5. Holders of hank notes shall he entitled, in case of insolven-
cy, to preference of specie payment over all other creditors.
SEC. 6. No hank shall receive, directly or indirectly, a greater rate
of interest than shall he allowed hy law to individuals loaning money.
SEC. "7. Every hank or hanking company shall be required to cease
all hanking operations within twenty years from the time of its or-
ganization, and promptly thereafter to close its business.
SEC. 8. The State shall not be a stockholder in any bank or banking
institution.
SEC. 9. All banks shall be required to keep officers and proper offices
for the issue and redemption of their paper at some accessible and con-
venient point within the State.
SEC. 10. The said banking law shall contain a provision reserving
the power to alter, amend or repeal said law.
SEC. 11. At the time of submitting this constitution to the electors
for their approval or disapproval, the articles numbered, in relation
to a general banking law, shall be submitted as a distinct proposition
in the following form: general banking law — yes or no ; and if a ma-
jority of the votes cast shall be in favor of' said article, then the same
shall form a part of this constitution ; otherwise it shall be void and
form no part thereof.
SCHEDULE.
In order that no inconvenience may arise from the organization and
establishment of a State government, and that the wishes of the peo-
ple may he fully accomplished, it is declared —
1st. That no existing rights, suits, prosecutions, claims and con-
tracts shall be affected by a change in the form of government.
2d. That this constitution shall be submitted to the people of Kan-
gas for ratification on the 15th day of December next.
3d. That each qualified elector shall express his assent or dissent to
the constitution by voting a written or printed ticket, labelled " Con-
stitution," or "No constitution," which election shall be held by the
same judges, and conducted under the same regulations and restric-
tions as is hereinafter provided for the election of members of the gen-
eral assembly, and the judges therein named shall within ten days
after said election, seal up and transmit to the chairman of the execu-
tive committee of Kansas Territory the result of said election, who
shall forthwith make proclamation of the same ; and in case the con-
stitution be ratified by the people, the chairman of the executive com-
mittee shall cause publication to be made by proclamation tliat an
election will be held on the third Tuesday of January, A. D. 1856,
for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of State, treasurer, audi-
tor, judges of the supreme court, Sta£e printer, attorney general, re-
porter of the supreme court, clerk of the supreme court, and members
of the general assembly, which said election shall be held by the same
judges, under the same restrictions and conducted in the same manner
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 633
as is hereinafter provided for the election of members of the general
assembly ; and the judges herein named are hereby required within
ten days after said election to seal up and transmit duplicate copies
of the returns of said election to the chairman of the executive com-
mittee, one of which shall be laid before the general assembly at its
first meeting.
4th. At the same time and place the qualified voters shall, tinder
the same regulations and restrictions, elect a member of Congress, to
represent the State of Kansas in the 34th Congress of the United
States ; the returns of said election to be made to the chairman of the
executive committee, who shall deposit the same in the office of the
secretary of state as soon as he shall enter upon the discharge of the
duties of his office.
5th. The general assembly shall meat on the fourth day of March,
A. D. 1856, at the city of Topeka, at 12, m., at which time and place
the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, judge of the
supreme court, treasurer, auditor, State printer, reporter, and clerk of
the supreme court, and attorney general, shall appear, take the oath
of office, and enter upon the discharge of the duties of their respec-
tive officers under this constitution, and shall continue in office in the
same manner and during the same period they would have done had
they been elected on the first Monday of August, A. D. 1856.
6th. Until otherwise provided by law, the State shall be divided
into election districts ; and the senators and representatives shall be
apportioned among the several districts as follows:
First district. — Commencing in the Kansas river, at the mouth of
Cedar creek ; thence up said river to the first tributary a-bove the town
of Lawrence ; thence up said tributary to its source ; thence by a
direct line to the west side of Johnson's house; thence by a due south
line to the Santa Fe road, and along the middle of said road to a point
due south of the source of Cedar creek ; thence due north to the source
of said Cedar creek, and down the same to the place of beginning.
Second district. — Commencing at the mouth of Big Spring branch,
on the south bank of the Kansas river ; thence up said branch to its
furthest source; thence by a southerly line crossing the Wakarusa
river, on the east side of the house of Charles Matney, to the middle
of the Santa Fe road; thence along the middle of said road to the
line of the first district ; thence by the same along the west side of
the house of Johnson, to the head of the first tributary of the
Kansas, above the town of Lawrence; and thence by the same tribu-
tary to the Kansas river, and up the south bank of said river to the
mouth of Big Spring branch, the place of beginning.
Third district. — Commencing at the mouth of Big Spring branch,
on the south side of the Kansas river ; thence up the same to its fur-
thest source; thence by a southerly line to the north bank of the
Wakarusa river, on the east side of the house of Charles Matney ;
thence up said river and its main branch to the line of the Pottawa-
tomie reservation ; and thence by the southern and western line of
said reservation to the Kansas river, and down the said river to the
place of beginning.
Fourth' p?ij,imp — Commencing at the Missouri State line, in the
634 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
middle of the Santa Fe road ; thence along the middle of said road to
Rock creek, near the 65th mile of said road ; thence south to the line
of the Shawnee reservation ceded by the treaty of 1854 ; thence due
east along the south line of said reservation and the north lines of the
existing reservations of the Sacs and Foxes, the existing reservations
of the Chippewas and Ottawas, and the reservations of the Pianke-
shaws, Weas, Peorias, and Kaskaskias, to the Missouri State line ;
thence up the Missouri State line to the place of beginning.
Fifth district. — Commencing at the Missouri State line at the south-
ern boundary of the fourth district ; thence west along the same to
the northwest corner of the Sac and Fox reservation ; thence due south
along the western line thereof, and due south to the south branch of
the Seosho river, about seventy miles above the Catholic Osage mis-
sion ; thence down said river to the north line of the reserve for the
New York Indians, and east along said line to the headwaters of
Little Osage river, or the nearest point thereto ; and thence down said
river to the Missouri State line, and up said line to the place of be-
ginning..
Sixth district. -^- Commencing on the Missouri State line in Little
Osage river ; thence up the same to the line of the reserve for the New
York Indians, or the nearest point thereto ; thence to and by the north
line of said reserve to the Neosho river, and up said river and the
south branch thereof to the head ; and thence by a due south line to
the southern line of the Territory ; thence by the southern and eastern
lines of said Territory to the place of beginning.
Seventh district. — Commencing at the east side of the house of
Charles Matney, on the Wakarusa river; thence due south to the
middle of the Santa Fe road ; thence westwardly along the middle of
said road to Rock creek, near the 65th mile of said road ; thence due
south to the north line of the Sac and Fox reservation ; thence along
the north and west lines thereof, and due south, to the Neosho river ;
thence up said river to a point due south of the mouth of Elm creek ;
thence due north to the mouth of Elm creek, and up said creek to the
Santa Fe road, and thence by a direct line in a northerly direction to
the southwest corner of the Pottawatomie reservation ; thence along
the southern line of said reservation to the head waters of the Waka-
rusa river, or the point nearest thereto ; thence to and down the said
river to the place of beginning.
Eighth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Elm creek, one of
the branches of Osage river ; thence up the same to the Santa Fe
road ; thence by a direct northerly line to the southwest corner of the
Pottawatomie reservation ; thence up the western line thereof to
Kansas river ; thence up said river and the Smokey Hill fork, beyond
the most westerly settlements ; thence due south to the line of the
Territory ; thence by the same to the line of the sixth district ; thence
due north to the head of the south branch of the Neosho river ; thence
down said river to the line of the seventh district; thence due north
to the place of beginning.
Ninth district. — Commencing at Smoky Hill fork, beyond the most
westerly settlements ; thence down the same and the Kansas river to
the mouth of Wild Cat creek ; thence up said creek to the headwaters
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 635
thereof; thence due north to the Independence emigrant road ; thence
up said road to the north line of the Territory ; thence west along the
same beyond the most westerly settlements ; and thence due south to
the place of beginning.
Tenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Vermillion river ;
thence up the same beyond the house of Josiah D. Adams ; thence
due north to the Independence emigrant road ; thence up the middle of
said road to the line of the ninth district ; thence by the same to the
head of Wild Cat creek,, and down said creek to the Kansas river ;
thence down said river to the place of beginning.
Eleventh district. — Commencing in the Vermillion river, opposite
the north side of the house of Josiah D. Adams ; thence up said river
to the head of the main branch ; thence due north to the military road
from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ; thence along the middle of
said road to the crossing of the Vermillion branch of the Blue ; thence
due north to the northern line of the Territory ; thence west, along
said line, to the Independence emigrant road ; thence down said road
to a point due west to the north end of the house of Josiah D. Adams,
and due east to -the place of beginning.
Twelfth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Soldier creek, in the
Kansas river ; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch ;
thence due north to the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort
Kearney ; thence along the middle of said road to the line of the
eleventh district ; thence due south to the head of Vermillion river,
down Vermillion river to the mouth, and down Kansas river to the
place of beginning.
Thirteenth district. — Commencing in the Kansas river, at a point
three miles above the mouth of Stranger creek ; thence in a north-
wardly direction by a line corresponding to, and three miles west of
the several courses of said creek, to the line of the Kickapoo reserva-
tion ; thence by the southern and western line of said reservation to
the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ; thence
along the middle of said road to the line of the twelfth district ; thence
due south to the head of Soldier creek, down Soldier creek to the
mouth, and down Kansas river to the place of beginning.
Fourteenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Independence
creek ; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch, and thence
due west to the line of the late Kickapoo reservation ; thence north
along said line, and the line of the late Sac and Fox reservation, to
the north line of the Territory ; thence along said line eastwardly to
the Missouri river, and down said river to the place of beginning.
Fifteenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Salt creek, on the
Missouri river ; thence up said creek to the military road, and along
the middle of said road to the lower crossing of Stranger creek ; thence
up said creek to the line of the late Kickapoo reservation, and thence
along the southern and western line thereof to the line of the fourteenth
district ; thence by the same, and down Independence creek, to the
mouth thereof, and thence down the Missouri river to the place of be-
ginning.
Sixteenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Salt creek ; thence
up said creek to the military road; thence along the middle of said
636 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
road to the lower crossing pf Stranger creek; thence up said creek tc
the line of the late Kickapoo reservation, and thence along the sam«
to the line of the thirteenth district, and thence hy the same, alon^
a line corresponding to the source of Stranger creek, and keeping thre<
miles west thereof, to the Kansas river ; thence down the Kansas rivei
to the Missouri, and up the Missouri river to the place of beginning.
Seventeenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of the Kansai
river ; thence up the south bank thereof to the mouth of Cedar creek
thence up Cedar creek to its source ; and thence due south to the Sant*
Feroad; along the middle of said road to the Missouri State line
and along said line to the place of beginning.
Eighteenth district. — Commencing in the military road at the cross
ing of the Vermillion branch of Blue river ; thence due north to th<
line of the Territory ; thence east along said line to the fourteenth dis
trict; thence due south along said line to the aforesaid military road
and along the middle of said road to the place of beginning.
Senatorial and representative district. — 1st. The first election dis
trict shall be entitled to three senators and eight representatives.
2nd. The second election district shall be entitled to one senato:
and three representatives.
3d. The third election district shall be entitled to one senator am
three representatives.
4th. The fourth and seventeenth election districts shall constituti
the fourth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to om
senator and two representatives.
5th. The fifth election district shall be entitled to three senator,
and nine representatives.
6th. The sixth, seventh, and eighth election districts, shall consti
tute the sixth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled t<
two senators and five representatives.
*rth. The ninth and tenth election districts shall constitute the sev
enth senatorial district, and be entitled to one senator and four repre
eentatives.
8th. The eleventh and twelfth election districts shall constitute th<
eighth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to on<
senator and three representatives.
9th. The thirteenth election district shall constitute the ninth sen
atorial and representative district, and be entitled to one senator an(
two representatives.
10th. The fourteenth and eighteenth election districts shall consti
tute the the tenth senatorial and representative district, and be enti
tied to two senators and sevenepresentatives.
llth. The fifteenth election district shall constitute the eleventl
senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to one senato:
and five representatives.
12th. The sixteenth election district shall constitute the twelftl
senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to three Senator)
and nine representatives.
SEC. 3. Until otherwise provided by law, the election in the several
districts shall be held at the following places, and the following named
persons are hereby appointed as judges of the elections :
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 637
PLACES OF VOTING.
SEC. 4. First senatorial district. — Lawrence precinct, at the Free
State hotel ; A. D. Searle, Lyman Allen, Henry Bronson, judges.
Franklin precinct, at the store of Mr. Purdam ; James McGee,
Horace L. Enos, I. Purdam, judges.
Blanton precinct, at the house of J. B. Abbott ; John Stewart, R.
Vaughn, P. T. Hupp, judges.
Palmyra precinct, at the house of H. Barricklow ; H. Barricklow,
Louis Green, A. Pierson, judges.
Second senatorial district. — Bloomington precinct, at- the house of
H. Burson; Samuel Smith, Daniel Vancil, J. M. Dunn, judges.
1 hird senatorial district. — Washington precinct, at the house of W.
R. Frost : W. Riley, Caleb Antram, Eli Allen, judges.
Tecumseh precinct, at the house of J. Taylor ; Charles Jordan, John
Morris, Francis Grassmuck, judges.
Topeka precinct, at the law office of E. C. K. Garvey ; Dr. F. L.
Grain, Milton C. Dickey, J. F. Cummings, judges.
Brownsville precinct, at the house of G. W. Brown ; G. W. Brown,
Mr. Sirnmerwell, Dr. Bowen; judges.
Fourth senatorial district. — Prarie City precinct, at the house of
Samuel Mewhenny ; W. Moore, Samuel Workman, Amos Hanna,
judges.
Mission precinct, at the Baptist Mission building ; G. L. Osborn, S.
M. Cornautzer, Lewis Dougherty, judges.
Wakarusa precinct, at the store of Paschal Fish ; L. H. Bascom,
Ellis Bond, A. G. Green, judges.
Fifth senatorial district. — Osawatomie precinct, at the house of Sam-
uel Geer ; William Chestnut, B. Woodbury, William Sailing, judges.
Stanton precinct, at the house of Mr. Staniford ; J. Woollard, Mr.
Morse, W. G. Nichols, judges.
Pottawatomie precinct, at the meeting-house ; F. Brown, J. Grant,
S. B. Morse, judges.
Hampden precinct, at the house of W. A. Ela ; W. A. Ela, Chaun-
cey Morse, George Law, judges.
Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Silas Young ; Silas Young,
James W. Dudley, William Dyer, judges.
Little Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Isaac D. Stockton ;
J. D. Stockton, Thomas Sears, James Osborn, judges.
Little Osage precinct, at Miller's store ; Thomas Osburn, Mr.
Miller, Mr. Fawbus, judges.
Osage precinct, at the house of Thomas Polks ; Mr. Wycoff, Mr.
, Mr. , judges.
Sixth sc^'LoridL district. — Scott's Town precinct, at the house of Mr.
Vandevre ; T. Crabtree, Isaac Chatham, F. S. Froscel, judges.
Titus precinct, at the house of J. B. Titus, on the Sante Fe road ;
J. B. Titus, John Drew, W. Lord, judges.
Council Grove precinct, at the Mission house ; J. Goodell, G. H.
Rees, B. Wright, judges.
. Waubonsa precinct,' at the house of John H. Nesbit. in Waubonsa ;
E. K. McCurdy, J. M. Bisby, D. B. Hiatt, judges.
638 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Mill Creek precinct, at the house of J. E. Hoenick ; J. E. Hoenick7
, , judges.
Ashland .precinct, at the house of ; Mr. Adams,
-, judges.
Clark Creek precinct, at some suitable place near the junction of
Clark and Humbolt creeks ; William McCready, Mr. Berry, Mr.. Mit-
chell, judges.
Seventh senatorial district. — Pawnee precinct, at Loder and Shaw's
store, in Pawnee; S. P. Higgens, W. M. McClure, L. Knapp, judges.
Big Blue precinct, at the house of S. D. Dyer, in Juniata ; J.
Stewart, S. D. Houston, J. T. Goodenow, judges.
Rock Creek precinct, at the house of Mr. Haitt ; James Darnell,
Charles Jenkins, {lenry Kemmell, judges.
Eighth senatorial district. — Black Vermillion precinct, at some suit-
able house in said precinct on the Vermillion branch of the Blue river ;
John Shmidt, Mr. Hollingburg, M. Alvey, judges.
St. Mary's precinct, at the house of B. F. Bertrand ; Dr. Palmer, C.
Garrett, 0. Dean, judges.
Silver Lake precinct, at some suitable house at Indianola ; E. Ken-
nedy, J. W. Hopkins,, John G. Thompson, judges.
Ninth senatorial district. — Daton precinct, at the store of Bainter and
Hoover ; Lewis Hoover, Nathan Adams, G. B. Hall, judges.
Grasshopper Falls precinct, at the house of the Mill Company ; S.
H. Dunn, John W. Clark, J. B. "Ross, judges.
Whitfield precinct, at the house of J. B. Chapman ; Thomas Jen-
ners, Vincent D. Cohee, James A. Gray, judges.
Tenth senatorial district. — California precinct, at the house of W.
W. Moore ; W. W. Moore, W. Jackson, judges.
Iowa Point precinct, at the house of Mr. McCall ; Mr. Hanby, Mr.
Pader, judges.
Voters on Independence and Deer creeks will vote at Doniphan.
St. Jo. Bottom precinct, at the house of B. Harden ; George Bry-
ant, H. Smallwood, A. A. Jamison, judges.
Burr Oak precinct, at the house of Mr. Wilson ; Mr. Brock, Mr.
Wilson, Thomas McCulloch, judges.
Palermo precinct, at the house of R. Martin ; John White, R. Ladd,
N. White, judges.
Doniphan precinct, at Collins' mill ; David Lee, D. W. Fields,, J.
McNamee, judges.
Wolf River precinct, at the house of Mr. Searl ; Mr. Searl, Mr.
Ulse, Mr. Richardson, judges.
Eleventh senatorial district. — Kickapoo precinct, at some suitable
house in Kickapoo City; Dr. McCormas, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Boyd,
judges.
Port William precinct, at the house of Dr. Hathaway ; Dr. Hatha-
way, Mr. Oliphant, Mr. Potter, judges.
Mount Pleasant precinct, at the house of M. A. Potter ; Mr. Ridg-
way, B. Elliott, M. A. Potter, judges.
Oceana precinct, at the store of Crosby !& Co.; Archibald Elliott, A.
Landrum, S. J. H. Snyder, judges.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 639
Atchinson precinct, at the house of Mr. Bay ; R. Mecubbins, Mr.
Bay, Henry, Williams, judges,
Twelfth senatorial district. — Leaven worth precinct, at the office of
Gardiner & Dodge ; Adam Fisher, Thomas H. Doyle, Hide Hook,
judges.
Easton precinct, at the house of T. A. Maynard ; T. A. Maynard,
G. J. Clark, Wm. Pennock, judges.
Wyandot precinct, at the council house in Wyandot City ; Abelard
Guthrie, G. J. Clark, Ebenezer Lane, judges.
The executive committee of Kansas Territory is authorized to ap-
point additional precincts and judges therefor.
INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES.
SEC. 7. The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes for
depositing the ballots cast by electors — shall appoint two clerks, all
of whom shall be sworn or affirmed to discharge the duties of their
respective offices impartially and with fidelity ; and the judges and
clerks shall have power to administer the oath or affirmation to each
other ; and the said judges shall open said election at 9 o'clock, a. m.,
at the place designated in each precinct, and close the same at 6
o'clock, p. m. In case any of the officers appointed fail to attend, the
officer or officers in attendance shall supply their places, and in the
event of all of them failing to attend, the qualified voters shall supply
their places ; and the said judges shall make out duplicate returns of
said election ; seal up and transmit the same within ten days to the
chairman of the executive committee, one copy of which is to be laid
before the general assembly. If at the time of holding said election
it shall be inconvenient, from any cause whatever, that would disturb
or prevent the voters of any election precinct in the Territory from
the free and peaceable exercise of the elective franchise, the officers
are hereby authorized to adjourn said election into any other precinct
in the Territory, and to any other day they may see proper, of the
necessity of which they shall be the exclusive judges, at which time
and place the qualified voters may cast their votes.
. SEC. 8. Until otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the execu-
tive committee of Kansas Territory shall announce by proclamation
the result of the election and the names of persons elected to office.
SEC. 9. No person shall be entitled to a seat in the first general as-
sembly at its organization, except the members whose names are
contained in the proclamation of the chairman of the executive com-
mittee, but after the general assembly is organized, seats may be con-
tested in the usual way.
SEC. 10. Certificates of indebtedness may be issued by the territorial
executive committee for all necessary expenses accruing in the forma-
tion of the State government, not exceeding twenty-five thousand dol-
lars ; provided, no certificates shall be issued except for legitimate ex-
penses. All claims shall be made in writing, and shall be numbered
and kept on file in the secretary's office, and all certificates of indebt-
640 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
edness shall be signed by the president and secretary, and counter-
signed by the treasurer, and numbered to correspond with the number
of the claim or bill for which it was issued. The certificate shall
bear ten per cent, interest per annum.
SEC. 11. The first general assembly shall provide by law for the
redemption of the certificates of indebtedness issued under the pro-
visions of the foregoing section.
SEC. 12. Until the great seal of the State of Kansas is agreed upon
and procured, as provided for in the llth section of the 5th article of
this constitution, the governor shall use his own private seal as the
seal of State.
SEC. 13. At the election for the ratification of this constitution, and
the first election for State officers,, a representation in the Congress of
the United States, and members of the general assembly of this State,
an actual residence in the Territory of thirty days immediately pre-
ceding said election, shall be sufficient as a qualification for the elector ;
and an actual resident of ninety days for the candidates, provided
said electors and candidates possess all the other qualifications re-
quired by the provisions of this constitution.
SEC. 14. The first legislature shall provide by law for the enforce-
ment of the provisions of the 6th section *of the bill of rights on or
before the 4th day of July, 1857, as to all persons in the Territory
before the adoption of this constitution, and as to all others the pro-
visions of said section shall operate from and after the ratification of
this constitution by the people.
ROB'T KLOTZ, W. GRAHAM,
M. J. PARROTT, MORRIS HUNT,
M. W. DELAHAY, J. H. NESBITT,
W. R. GRIFFITH, C. K. HOLIDAY,
G. S. HILLYER, DAVID DODGE,
WILLIAM HICKS, J. A WAKEFIELD,
S. N. LATTA, W. Y. ROBERTS,
JOHN LANDIS, G. W. SMITH,
H BURSOIV, J. G. THOMPSON,
C. W. STEWART, G. A. CUTLER,
J. M. ARTHUR, J. K. GOODIN,
J. L SAYLE, J. M. TUTON,
CALEB MAY, THOMAS BELL,
S. MEWHINY, R. H. CROSBY,
A. CURTISS, P. C. SCHUYLER,
A. HUNTING, C. ROBINSON,
R. KNIGHT, M. F. CONWAY,
O. C. BROWN, J. S. EMERY,
J. H. LANE, President.
SAM. C. SMITH, Secretary.
CHA'S A. FOSTER, Assistant Secretary.
Before the vote was taken by the people, upon the adoption of the
constitution, -the executive committee, in pursuance of instructions
from the constitutional convention, prepared and issued a proclama-
tion, of which the following is a copy :
KANSASF AFATRS. 641
PROCLAMATION.
Constitution and general banking law.
By authority vested in me as chairman of the executive committee
of Kansas Territory, I do hereby proclaim and make known —
That the qualified voters of said Territory will meet at the several
precincts hereinafter mentioned, on the 15th day of December, A. D.
1855, and then and there cast their ballots for or against the consti-
tution framed by the convention which met at Topeka on the 23d day
of October, 1855, in the following form : Those in favor voting a bal-
lot upon which is written or printed Constitution ; those against, No
Constitution.
At the same time and places they will cast their ballots approving
or disapproving an article in relation to a general banking law, framed
by said convention, which article is submitted as a distinct proposi-
tion, to be voted upon by casting a written or printed ballot, in the
following, form : Those in favor, voting General Banking Law — Yes ;
those against, General Banking Law — No.
If a majority of the votes cast shall be in favor of said article, then
the same shall form a part of the constitution ; otherwise it shall be
roid and form no part thereof.
Places of voting
SEC. 4. First senatorial, district Lawrence precinct, at the Free
State hotel ; A. D. Searl, Lyman Allen, Henry Bronson, judges.
Franklin precinct, at the store of Mr. Purdam ; James McGee,
Horace L. Enos, I. Purdam, judges.
Blanton precinct, at the house of J. B. Abbott ; John Steuart, K.
Vaughn, P. T. Happ, judges.
Palmyra precinct, at the house of H. Barricklow ; H. Barricklow,
Lewis Green, A. Pierson, judges.
Second senatorial district, Bloomington precinct, at the house of
H. Burson ; Samuel Smith, Daniel Vancil, J. M. Dunn, judges.
Third senatorial district, Washington precinct, at the house of W.
K. Frost ; W? Kiley, Caleb Antram, Eli Allen, judges.
Tecumseh precinct, at the house of J. Taylor ; Charles Jordan,
John Morris, Francis G-russmuck, judges.
Topeka precinct, at the law office of E. C. K. Garvey ; Dr. F. L.
Grain, Millton C. Dickey, J. T. Cummins, judges.
Brownsville precinct, at the house of G. W. Brown ; G. W. Brown,
Mr. Simmer well, Dr. Bowen, judges.
Fourth senatorial district, Prairie City precinct, at the house of
Samuel Mewhenney ; W. Moore, Samuel Workman, Amos Hanna,
judges.
Mission precinct, at the Baptist Mission building ; G-. L. Osboroe,
S. M. Cornantzer, Lewis Dougherty, judges.
Wakarusa precinct, at the store "of Paschall Fish ; L. H. Bascom,
Ellis Bond, A. G. Green, judges.
Fifth senatorial district, Osowatomie precinct, at the house of
Samuel Geer ; Wm. Chestnut, B. Woodbury, Wm. Sailing, judges.
H. Kep. 200 41*
642 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Stanton precinct, at the house of Mr. Stamford ; J. Woollard, Mr.
Morse, W. G. Nichols, judges.
Pottawatomie precinct, at the meeting house ; F. Brown, J. Grant,
S. B. Morse, judges.
Hampden precinct, at the house of W. A. Ela ; W. A. Ela, Chaun-
cey Morse, George Law, judges.
Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Silas Young ; Silas Young,,
James W. Dudley, William Dyer, judges.
Little Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Isaac D. Stockton ; I.
D. Stockton, Thomas Sears, James Oshorne, judges.
Little Osage precinct, at Miller's store ; Thomas Oshurn, Mr. Mil-
ler, Mr. Fawbus. judges.
Osage precinct, at the house of Thomas Polks ; Mr. Wycoff, Mr.
, Mr. , judges.
Sixth senatorial district, Scottstown precinct, at the house of Mr.
Vaudevere ; T. Crabtree, Isaac Chatham, F. A. Froscel, judges.
Titus precinct, at the house of J. B. Titus, on the Santa Fe road ;
J. B. Titus, John Drew, W. Lord, judges.
Council Grove precinct, at the Mission house; J. Goodell, G. H.
Kees, B. Wright, judges.
Waubousa precinct, at the house of John H. Nesbit, in Waubousa ;
E. K. McCurdy, J. W. Bisby, D. B. Hiatt, judges.
Mill Creek precinct, at the house of J. E. Hoenick ; J. E. Hoenick,
, judges.
Ashland precinct, at the house of ; Mr. Adams, ,
judges.
Clark Creek precinct, at some suitable place near the junction of
Clark and Humboldt creeks ; William McCready, Mr. Berry, Mr.
Mitchell, judges.
Seventh senatorial district*, Pawnee precinct, at Loder & Shaw's
store in Pawnee ; S. P. Higgins, W. M. McClure, L. Knapp, judges.
Big Blue precinct, at the house of S. D. Dyer, in Juniata ; J. Stew-
art, S. D. Houston, J. T. Goodenow, judges.
Kock Creek precinct, at the House of Mr. Haitt ; James Darnell,
Charles Jenkins, Henry Kemmell, judges.
Eighth senatorial district ; Black Vermillion precinct, at some
suitable house in said precinct on the Vermillion branch of the Blue
river ; John Schmidt, Mr. Hollingburg, M. Alvey, judges.
St. Mary's precinct, at the house of B. F. Bertrand ; Dr. Palmer,
C. Garrett, C. Dean, judges.
Silver Lake precinct, at some suitable house in Indianola; E. Ken-
nedy, J. W. Hopkins, John G. Thompson, judges.
Ninth senatorial district ; Dayton precinct, at the store of Bainter
& Hoover ; Lewis Hoover, Nathan Adams, G. B. Hall, judges.
Grasshopper Falls precinct, at the house of the mill company ;
S. H. Dunn, John W. Clark, J. B. Koss, judges.
Whitfield precinct, at the house of , . B. Chapman ; Thomas Jen-
ners, Vincent D. Cobee, James A. Gray ,v judges.
Tenth senatorial district ; California precinct, at the house of W.
W. Moore ; W. W. Moore, W. Jackson, judges.
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 643
Iowa Point precinct, at the house of Mr. McCall ; Mr. Hanby, Mr.
Pader, judges.
Voters on Independence and Deer creeks will vote at Doniphan.
St Joseph's bottom precinct, at the house of B. Hardin; George
Bryant, H. Smallwood, A. A. Jamison, judges.
Burr Oak precinct, at the house of Mr. Wilson ; Mr. Brook, Mr.
Wilson, Thomas McCullock, judges.
Palermo precint, at the house of K. Martin ; John White, E.
Ladd, N. White, judges.
Doniphan precinct, at Collins' mill ; David Lee, D. W. Fields,
J. McNamee, judges,
Wolf River precinct, at the house of Mr. Searle ; Mr. Searle, Mr.
Ulse, Mr. Kichardson, judges.
Eleventh senatorial district ; Kickapoo precinct, at some suitable
house in Kickapoo City ; Dr. McCormas, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Boyd,
judges.
Port William precinct, at the house of Dr. Hathaway ; Dr. Hath-
away. Mr. Oliphant, Mr. Potter, judges.
Mount Pleasant precinct, at the house of M. A. Potter ; Mr. Ridg-
way, B. Elliot, M. A. Potter, judges.
Oceana precinct, at the house of Crosby & Co.; Archibald Elliott,
A. Landrum, S. J. H. Snyder, judges.
Atchison precinct, at the house of Mr. Kay ; R. McCubbins, Mr.
Ray, Henry Williams, judges.
Twelfth senatorial district; Leavenworth precinct, at the office
of Gardiner & Dodge ; Adam Fisher, Thomas H. Doyle, Hide Hook,
judges.
Eastern precinct, at the house of T. A. Maynard ; T. A. Maynard,
0. J. Clark, William Pennock, judges.
Wyandot precinct at the council house in Wyandot City ; Abelard
Gruthrie, 0. J. Clark, Ebenezer Lane, judges.
The executive committee of Kansas Territory is authorized to ap-
point additional precincts and judges therefor.
Instructions to judges.
SEC. 7. The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes for
depositing the ballots cast by electors ; shall appoint two clerks, all
of whom shall be sworn or affirmed to discharge the duties of their
respective offices impartially and with fidelity ; and the judges and
clerks shall have power to adminster the oath or affirmation to each
other ; and the said judges shall open said election at nine o'clock,
a. m., at the place designated in each precinct, and close the same at
six o'clock, p.m. In case any of the officers appointed fail to attend,
the officer or officers in attendance shall supply their places ; and in
the event of all of them failing to attend, the qualified voters shall
supply their places ; and the said judges shall make out duplicate
returns of said election, seal up and transmit the same within ten
days to the chairman of the executive committee, one copy of which
is to be laid before the general assembly. If at the time of holding
said election it shall be inconvenient, from any cause whatever that
644 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
would disturb or prevent the voters of any election precinct in the
Territory from the free and peaceable exercise of the elective franchise,
the officers are hereby authorized to adjourn said election into any
other precinct in the Territory, and to any other day they may see
proper, of the necessity of which they shall be the exclusive judges,
at which time and place the qualified voters may cast their ballots.
Qualification of voters.
SEC. 2. Every white male person and every civilized male Indian
who has adopted the habits of the white man, of the age of twenty-
one years and upward, who shall be at the time of offering to vote a
citizen of the United States, who shall have resided and had his
habitation, domicil, home, and place of permanent abode in Kansas
Territory for thirty days next preceding the election, shall be deemed
a qualified elector ; provided that no soldier, seaman, or marine of
the regular army of the United State shall be entitled to rote.
BLANKS.
Printed forms of poll books, tally papers, and tickets will be fur-
nished to the officers of each election precinct.
The importance of the election will doubtless induce you to observe
the forms transmitted, and scrupulously to adhere to the rules herein
recited.
It is confidently expected the people of Kansas will be permitted to
exercise the right of suffrage upon so vital a subject as their first con-
stitution, without interference from foreign invaders; if, however, yoia.
are disappointed and any attempt should be made to pollute the ballot
box by force or otherwise, the judges will unhesitatingly exercise the '
authority vested in them, and adjourn or remove the polls to such
time and place as in their judgment will secure a legal election.
Given under my hand, at the office of the executive committee off
Kansas Territory, at Topeka, this 24th day of November, A. D. 1855.
J. H. LANE, Chairman.
J. K. GOODIN, Secretary.
A regularly conducted election was held on the 15th of December, ,
1855, in pursuance of that proclamation and in compliance with the
order of the constitutional convention. The returns of the elections
were brought in and given to the executive committee.
On the 29th of December, 1855, the following proclamation was
issued by the executive committee. It is here inserted:
CONSTITUTIONAL PROCLAMATION.
At an election holden on the 15th day of December, 1855. to deter-
mine, by ballot, for or against the adoption of a constitution for the
State of Kansas, framed by a convention of delegates which assembled
at Topeka on Tuesday, the 23d of October, 1855, it doth appear by
the returns of said election now on file in the office of the executive
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 645
committee, that a majority of all the votes cast are in favor of the said
constitution. Now, therefore, by virtue of authority in me vested as
chairman of the executive committee of Kansas Territory, I do hereby
proclaim and make known, that the constitution framed by the said
Topeka convention has been ratified by the qualified voters of Kansas
Territory, and I do now declare the same to be the CONSTITUTION OF THE
STATE OF KANSAS.
And I do further proclaim and make known, that of all the votes
cast at the aforesaid election "for" and " against" a separate and dis-
tinct article on the subject of banking, a majority are in favor of a
" general banking law," as ascertained by the returns of said election
now on file in the office of the executive committee ; and I do now de-
clare the said article to be a part of the constitution of the State of
Kansas.
And I do further proclaim and make known, that of the votes cast
at the aforesaid election "for" and "against" " the passage of laws
by the general assembly providing for the exclusion of free negroes
from the State of Kansas — the result of such vote to operate as in-
structions to the first general assembly upon that subject," a majority
are in favor of "exclusion," as ascertained by the returns of said elec-
tion now on file in the office of the executive committee.
Given under my hand, at the office of the executive committee of
Kansas, at the city of Topeka, this 27th day of December, A. D. 1855.
J. H. LANE, Chairman.
Attest:
C. K. HOLLIDAY, Secretary pro tempore.
On the same day a proclamation was issued for the election of State
officers and members of the general assembly of the State of Kansas,
to be held on the 15th of January, 1856, of which the following is a
true copy :
ELECTION PROCLAMATION.
By virtue of authority in me vested as chairman of the executive
committee of Kansas Territory, I do hereby proclaim and make known,
that the qualified voters of Kansas will meet at the several precincts
hereinafter mentioned, on the 15th day of January, A. D. 1856, and
then and there elect :
One person for governor ; one person for lieutenant governor ; one
person for secretary of State ; one person for auditor of State ; one
person for treasurer of State ; one person for attorney general ; three
persons for judges of supreme court ; one person for reporter of su-
preme court ; one person for clerk of supreme court ; one person for
public printer; one person for representative to Congress.
At the same time and places they will also elect twenty persons for
senators and sixty persons for representatives to the general assembly
tff the State of Kansas, to be apportioned among the several districts
as follows, to wit:
646 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Senatorial and representative districts.
1st. The first election district shall be entitled to three senators and
eight representatives.
2d. The second election district shall be entitled to one senator and
three representatives.
3d. The third election district shall be entitled to one senator and
three representatives.
4th. The fourth and seventeenth election districts shall constitute
the fourth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to
one senator and two representatives.
5th. The fifth election district shall be entitled to three senators
and nine representatives.
6th. The sixth, seventh, and eighth election districts shall consti-
tute the sixth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to
two senators and five representatives.
7th. The ninth and tenth election districts shall constitute the
seventh senatorial district, and be entitled to one senator and four
representatives.
8th. The eleventh and twelfth election districts shall constitute the
eighth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to one
senator and three representatives.
9th. The thirteenth election district shall constitute the ninth sena-
torial and representative district, and be entitled to one senator and
two representatives.
10th. The fourteenth and eighteenth election districts shall consti-
tute the tenth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled
to two senators and seven representatives.
llth. The fifteenth election district shall constitute the eleventh
senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to one senator
and five representatives.
12th. The sixteenth election district shall constitute the twelfth
senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to three senators
and nine representatives.
Until otherwise provided by law, the election in the several districts
shall be held at the following places, and the following named persons
are hereby appointed as judges of the elections.
Election Precincts.
1st senatorial district, Lawrence precinct, at the Free State hotel;
A. D. Searl, Lyman Allen, Henry Bronson, judges.
Franklin precinct, at the store of E. B. Purdam; James McGee
Horace L. Enos, E. B. Purdam, judges.
Blanton precinct, at the house of J. B. Abbott; John Stewart, R.
Vaughn, P. T. Hupp, judges.
Palmyra precinct, at the house of H. Barricklow ; H. Barricklow,.
L. Green, A. Pierson, judges.
2d senatorial district, Bloomington precinct, at the house of H. Bur
son; Samuel Smith,* Daniel Vancil, J. M. Dunn, judges.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 647
East Douglas precinct, at the house of Esquire Cranmer; John
Jackson, Mr. Harris, Mr. Shimmins, judges.
3d senatorial district, Washington precinct, at the house of W.
Frost; W. Riley, Caleb Antram, Eli Allen, judges.
Tecumseh precinct, at the house of J. Taylor; Charles Jordan,
John Morris, F. Grasmuck, judges.
Topeka precinct, at the law office of E. C. K. Garvey; Dr. F. L.
Crane, Milton C. Dickey, J. F. Cummins, judges.
Brownsville precinct, at the house of G. W. Brown ; G. W. Brown,
Mr. Simmerwell, Dr. Bowen, judges.
4th senatorial district, Prairie City precinct, at the house of S. Mew-
hinney; W. Moore, Samuel Workman, Amos Hanna, judges.
Mission precinct, at the Baptist mission building; G. L. Osborn,
S. M. Cornantzer, Lewis Dougherty, judges.
Wakarusa precinct, at the house of Paschal Fish; L. EL Bascom,
Ellis Bond, A. G. Green, judges.
5th senatorial district, Osawatomie precinct, at the house of Samuel
Geer; William Chestnut, B. Woodbury, William Sailing, judges.
Stanton precinct, at the house of Mr. Stamford; J. Wollard, Mr.
Morse, W. G. Nichols, judges.
Pottawatomie precinct, at the meeting house ; F. Brown, J. Grant,
F. B. Morse, judges.
Hampden precinct, at the house of W. A. Ela; W. A. Ela, Chaun-
cey Morse, George Law, judges.
Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Silas Young ; Silas Young,
James W. Dudley, William Dyer, judges.
Little Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Isaac D. Stockton; I.
D. Stockton, T. Sears, James"0sborn, judges.
Little Osage precinct, at Miller's store; T. Osborn, William Miller,
Abram Fanbus, judges.
Big Osage precinct, at some suitable place in the precinct; Mr.
Hamilton,, Mr. Nichols, judges.
6th senatorial district, Scottstown precinct, at the house of Mr. Van-
devere; S. Crabtree, Isaac Chatman, F. S. Froscel, judges.
Titus precinct, at the house of J. B. Titus on the Santa Fe road;
J. B. Titus, J. Drew, W. Lord, judges.
Council Grove precinct, at the mission house; J. Goodell, G. H.
Rees, B. Wright, judges.
Waubousa precinct, at some suitable building in Waubousa; E. R.
McCurdy, S. M. Bisby, D. B. Hiatt, judges.
Clark's creek precinct, at some suitable house at Mill creek; Hoen-
rich, , judges.
Ashland precinct, at some suitable house at Ashland; Messrs.
Adams, •, judges.
*7th senatorial district, Moneka precinct, at Sunnamaker's store, on
Seven Mile creek; S. B. White, L. Lincoln, W. M. McClure, judges.
Big Blue precinct, at the house of S. D. Dyer in Juniata; J. Stew-
art,-S. H. Houston, S. Whiteborn, judges.
Rock creek precinct, at the house of Robert Wilson ; James Dar-
nell, Charles Jenkins, Henry Remmell. judges.
8th senatorial district, Black Vermillion precinct, at some suitable
648 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
house in said precinct, on the Vermillion branch of the Blue river '•>
John Shmidt, Mr. Hollingburgh, M. Avely, judges.
St. Mary's precinct, at the house of B. Betrand; Dr. Palmer, C.
Garrett, C. Dean, judges.
Silver Lake precinct, at some suitable house in Indianola ; E. Ken-
nedy, J. W. Hopkins, John G. Thompson, judges.
9th senatorial district, Dayton precinct, at the house of Bainter &
Hoover; Lewis Hoover, Nathan Adams, Gr. B. Hall, judges.
Grasshopper Falls precinct, at the house of the Mill Company ; S.
H. Dunn, John W. Clark, J. M. Boss, judges.
Whitfield precinct, at the house of J. B. Chapman; Thomas James,
Vincent D. Cohee, James A. Gray, judges.
Crooked Creek precinct, at the house of A. Simmons; A. Simmons,
Simeon Hall, G. T. Donaldson, judges.
Bills Creek precinct, at the house of Mr. McKinney ; Messrs. James,
Jones, McKinney, judges.
Slough Creek precinct, at some suitable place in the precinct ; R.
Ward, Mr. Owen, , judges.
10th senatorial district, California precinct, at the house of W. W.
Moore ; W. W. Moore, W. Jackson, judges.
St. Jo. bottom precinct, at the house of B. Harden; George Bryant,
H. Smallwood, A. A. Jamison, judges.
Burr Oak precinct, at the house of Mr. Wilson; Mr. Brock, Mr.
Wilson, Thomas McCollock, judges.
Palermo precinct, at the house of B. Martin ; John White, E. Ladd,
N. White, judges.
Doniphan precinct, at Collin's mill; D. Lee, D. W. Fields, J.
McName, judges.
Wolf river precinct, at the house of Mr. Searl; Messrs. Searl, Ulse,
Richardson, judges.
Iowa Point precinct, at the house of Mr. McColl ; Mr. Hundy, Mr.
Padue, judges.
llth senatorial district, Kickapoo precinct, at some suitable house
in Kickapoo city ; Mr. Giegle, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. May, judges.
Port William precinct, at the house of Dr. Hathaway; Mr. Oli-
phant, Mr. Potter, judges.
Mt. Pleasant precinct, at the house of M. A. Potter ; Mr. Ridge-
way, B. Elliott, M. A. Potter, judges.
Oceana precinct, at the store of Crosby & Co.; Archibald Elliott, A.
Landrum, S. J. H. Snyder, judges.
12th senatorial district, Leavenworth precinct, at the office of Gar-
dener & Dodge ; A. Fisher, T. H. Doyle, H. Hook, judges.
Easton precinct, at the house of T. A. Maynard; T. A. Maynard,
G. J. Clark, W. Pennock, judges.
Wyandott precinct, at the council house in Wyandott city ; A.
Gurthrie, G. J. Clark, E. Zane, judges.
Instructions to Judges of Election.
The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes for deposit-
ing the ballots cast by electors ; shall appoint two clerks, all of whom
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 649
shall be sworn or affirmed to discharge the duties of their respective
offices impartially and with fidelity ; and the judges and clerks shall
have power to administer the oath or affirmation to each other ; and
the said judges shall open said election at nine o'clock, a. m., at the
place designated in each precinct in this proclamation, and close the
same at six o'clock, p. m. In case any of the officers appointed fail
to attend, the officer or officers in attendance shall supply the vacancy
or vacancies ; and in the event of all of them failing to attend, the
qualified electors shall supply their places. And the said judges shall
make out duplicate returns of said election, seal up and deliver to
the chairman of the executive committee the same within ten days
after said election. If at the time of holding said election it shall be
inconvenient on account of any cause whatever that would disturb or
prevent the voters of any election precinct in the Territory from the
free and peaceable exercise of the elective franchise, the officers are
authorized to adjourn said election to any other precinct in the Terri-
tory, and to any other day they may see proper ; of the necessity of
which, they shall be the exclusive judges ; at which time and place
the qualified voters may cast their votes.
Qualifications of Voters.
Every white male person, and every civilized Indian who has
adopted the customs of the white man, of the age of twenty-one years
and upwards, who shall be, at the time of offering to vote, a citizen
of the United States, and who shall have resided and had his habita-
tation, domicil, home, and place of permanent abode in Kansas Terri-
tory, for thirty days next preceding the election, shall be deemed a
qualified elector ; provided, that no soldier, seaman or marine of the
regular army of the United States shall be entitled to vote.
Blanks.
Printed forms of poll books, tally papers and tickets will be fur-
nished to the officers of each election precinct.
The importance of the election will doubtless induce you to observe
the forms transmitted, and scrupulously to adhere to the rules herein
recited.
Given under my hand at the office of the executive committee of
Kansas Territory, at Topeka, this 27th day of December, A. D., 1855.
J. H. LANE, Chairman.
C. K. HOLLIDAY, Secretary pro tempore.
An election was held in conformity with the above proclamation,
and returns made to the executive committee. The following is an
abstract of the returns of that election.
650
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
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KANSAS AFFAIRS. 651
On the 6th of February, 1856, the executive committee issued pro-
clamations announcing the results of the election of State officers, of
which the following are copies :
PROCLAMATION.
By authority vested in me, as chairman of the executive committee
of Kansas Territory, I do hereby proclaim that at an election held in
the different precincts of said Territory, on the 15th day of January,
1856, as provided for by the convention which met at Topeka to
"frame a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas,
and take all needful steps toward the formation of a State government,
preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the Union/' that Charles
Kobinson, having received the highest number of votes cast at said
election, has been chosen governor; and that William Y. Koberts,
having received the highest number of votes cast at said election, has
been chosen lieutenant governor; and that Philip C. Schuyler, hav-
ing received the highest number of votes cast at said election, was
chosen as secretary of state; and that George A. Cutler, having re-
ceived the highest number of votes cast at said election, was chosen
as auditor of state ; and that John A. Wakefield, having received the
highest number of votes cast at said election, was chosen as treasurer of
state ; and that H. Miles Moore, having received the highest number
of votes cast at said election, was chosen as attorney general ; and
that S. N. Latta, Morris Hunt, and M. F. Conway, having each re-
ceived the highest number of votes cast at said election, were chosen
as judges of the supreme court ; and that E. M. Thurston, having re-
ceived the highest number of votes cast at said election, was chosen as
reporter of the supreme court; and that S. B. Floyd, having received
the highest number of votes cast at said election, has been chosen
State printer.
And I do hereby proclaim that the same are hereby elected to the
positions mentioned, and that they be and appear, as provided in the
constitution aforementioned, at the city of Topeka, Kansas, on the
4th day of March, A. D., 1856.
Given under my hand at the office of the executive committee of
Kansas Territory, this 6th day of February, A. D. 1856.
J. H. LANE,
Chairman Executive Committee, K. T.
J. K. GOODIN, Secretary.
PROCLAMATION.
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
Lawrence , K. T., February 8, 1856.
By authority vested in me as chairman of the executive committee-
of Kansas Territory, I do hereby proclaim that at an election held in
the several precincts of said Territory, on the 15th day of January,
A. D. 1856, as provided for by the convention which met at Topeka to
" frame a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas,
and take all needful steps toward the foundation of a State govern-
ment preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the Union," that
Mark W. Delahay received the highest number of votes cast at said
652 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
election for representative to the 34th Congress of the United States,
and is hereby declared duly elected as said representative.
Given under my hand the day and year above written.
J. H. LANE, Chairman Executive Committee.
J. K. GOODIN, Secretary.
The legislature met on the day and at the place designated by the State
constitution, the State officers and members of the general assembly
elect were sworn in, and entered^upon the discharge of their respective
duties. After electing United States senators, passing some laws,
and appointing a codifying committee, the general assembly adjourned
to meet on the 4th of July, 1856.
G. W. DEITZLEE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 13, 1856.
(A.)
MEMORIAL.
To the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:
The memorial of the subscribers, citizens and residents of the Ter-
ritory of Kansas, respectfully represents:
That a state of things exists in said Territory, unparalleled, as we
believe, in the history of our country, and which it becomes our solemn
duty to lay before you., and through you before our fellow-citizens of
the United States. Under the guaranties of your law for the organi-
zation of the Territory, and in consideration of the privileges which
that law held out to us, we left our former homes, met the privations
of an uninhabited country, and prepared for adding another republic
to our Union. The right of civil and religious liberty, the rght of
suffrage and self-government were set up as the beacon lights which
beckoned us on. As freemen we were invited, as freemen we came,
and as freemen we expected to live. But we address you now as an
outraged and subjugated people, disfranchis and enslaved, stripped of
our dearest rights, and governed by a set of master foreign to our
soil, and responsible only to their own lawless will. One of the
States of our Union, strong in wealth, population, and resources, re-
lying upon her accumulated strength of almost half a century, and
taking advantage of our feeble infancy as a people, has invaded our
soil, seized upon our rights, subjugated our Territory, and selected for
us our rulers ; intending, also, to dictate our laws, and make us the
slaves of their will. This may well seem an almost incredible thing
in the nineteenth century, and in this republican Union, the peculiar
and boasted land of liberty and self-go \ernment; but the evidence of
it is as palpable and undeniable as the fact is bitter and mortifying to
us and disgraceful to the public.
This invasion of our soil and usurpation of our rights commenced
at the first moment of calling those rights into action. The first
ballot box that was opened upon our virgin soil was closed to us by
overpowering numbers and impending force. It became, not what
Americans have been proud to designate it, the exponent of the peo-
jple's will, but was converted into the sword of the oppressor to strike
vil liberty. So bold and reckless were our invaders that they
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 653
cared not to conceal their attack. They came upon us, not in the
guise of voters, to steal away our franchise, but boldly and openly to
snatch it with the strong hand. They came directly from their own
homes, and in compact and organized bands, with arms in hand and
provisions for the expedition, marched to our polls, and when their work
was done returned whence they came. It is unnecessary to enter into
the details; it is enough to say that three districts, in which, by the
most irrefragable evidence, there were not 150 voters, most of whom
refused to participate in this mockery of the elective franchise, these
invaders polled over a thousand votes. Loving our country and its
institutions, we were willing, if this was to be^only a solitary instance,
to suffer it in silence, rather than to proclaim to the world that even
in this remote spot of our great country civil liberty was but a name.
Bitter and mournful experience has taught us, however, that this wae
no isolated act, no temporary ebulition, but the commencement of a
well matured and settled plan, by a large portion of the people of one
of the States of our Union, permanently to enslave us and constitute
themselves our masters.
On the 30th day of March last, we were again invited to the ballot-
box, under the law which we, in common with our fellow-citizens of
the States, had, through your body, enacted. Our vigilant and faith-
ful chief magistrate had surrounded it with all the guards and pre-
cautions with which his authority invested him, and we were pre-
pared to exercise the dearest and most cherished privilege of American
citizens, with a full sense of the vital and interesting importance of
this peculiar occasion. The occasion came, and with it came our in-
vading and self-constituted masters in thousands, and with all the
paraphernalia of war. They came, organized in bands, with officers,
and arms, and tents, and provisions, and munitions of war, as though
they were marching upon a foreign foe, instead of their own unoffend-
ing fellow-citizens. Upon the principal road leading into our Terri-
tory and passing several important polls, they numbered not less than
twelve hundred men, and one camp alone contained not less than six
hundred. They arrived at their several destinations the night before
the election, and having pitched their camps and placed their sentries,
waited for the coming day. Baggage-wagons were there, with arms
and ammunition enough for a protracted fight, and among them two
brass fields-pieces, ready charged. They came with drums beating
and flags flying, and their leaders were of the most prominent and
conspicuous men of their State.
In the morning they surrounded the polls, armed with guns, bowie-
knives, and revolvers, and declared their determination to vote at all
hazards, and in spite of all consequences. If the judges could be
made to subserve their purposes and receive their votes, and if ne
obstacle was cast in their way, the leaders exerted themselves to pre-
serve peace and order in the conduct of the election, but, at the same
time, did not hesitate to declare that if not allowed to vote they would
proceed to any extremity in the destruction of property and life. If
control of the polls could not be had otherwise, the judges were, by
intimidation, and, if necessary, by violence, prevented from perform-
ing their duty ; or, if unyielding in this respect, were driven from
their post, and the vacancy filled, in form, by*the persons on the
654 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ground, and whenever, by any means, they had obtained the control
of the board, the foreign vote was promiscuously poured in, without
discrimination or reserve, or the slightest care to conceal its nefarious
illegality. At one of these polls, two of the judges, having manfully
stood up in the face of this armed mob and declared they would do
their duty, one portion of the mob commenced to tear down the house,
another proceeded to break in the door of the judges' room, whilst
others, with drawn knives, posted themselves at the window, with the
proclaimed purpose of killing any voter who would allow himself to
be sworn. Voters were dragged from the window because they would
not show their tickets or vote at the dictation of the mob, and the in-
vaders declared openly, at the polls, that they would cut the throats
of the judge's if they did not receive their votes without requiring an
oath as to their residence. The room was finally forced, and the
judges, surrounded by an armed and excited crowd, were offered the
alternatives of resignation or death, and five minutes were allotted for
their decision. The ballot-box was seized, and, amid shouts of
" hurra for Missouri," was carried into the mob. The two menaced
judges then left the ground, together with all the resident citizens,
except a few who acted in the outrage because the result expected
from it conformed to their views, and because it enabled the few to
rule the many. When an excess of the foreign force was found to be
bad at one poll, detachments were sent to others where it was sup-
posed they might be needed. At the polls adjoining the one above
alluded to, one of the judges, a minister of the Gospel, who refused
to accede to the demands of a similar mob of some four hundred armed
.and organized men, was driven by violence from his post and the
1 1 vacancy " filled by themselves. Threats and violent demonstrations
were rife, and another clergyman, for the expression of his opinion,
was assaulted and beaten. The inhabitants of the district, powerless
to resist the abundant supply of arms and ammunition, the organized
preparation, and the overwhelming numbers of these foreigners, left
the polls without voting.
In the Lawrence district, where was the largest camp of these in-
vaders, speeches were made to them by leading residents of Missouri,
in which it was said that they would carry their purpose, if need be,
.at the point of the bayonet and bowie-knife, and one voter was fired
at as he was driven from the election ground. Finding they had a
greater force than was necessary for that poll, some two hundred men
were drafted from the number and sent off, under their proper officers,
to another district, after which they still polled from this camp over
seven hundred votes. In the fourth and seventh districts, along the
Santa Fe road, similar scenes were enacted. The invaders came to-
gether in one armed and organized body, with trains of fifty wagons,
"besides horsemen, and, .the night before election, pitched their camp
in the vicinity of the polls, and having appointed their own judges in i
place of those who, from intimidation or otherwise, failed to attend,
they voted without any proof of residence. In these two election dis-
tricts, where the census show one hundred voters, there were polled =
three hundred and fourteen votes, and last fall seven hundred and !
sixty-five votes, although a large portion of the actual residents did
not vote upon either occasion. In the sixteenth election district hun-
KANSAS AFFAIRS 655
dreds of men came together, as in the other cases, crossing the river
from Missouri the day before election and encamping together, armed
and provisioned, made the fiercest threats against the lives of the judges,
and during the night called several times at the house of one of them
for the purpose of intimidating him, declaring, in the presence of his
wife, that a rope had been prepared to hang him, and, although we
are not prepared to say that these threats would have been carried out,
yet they served to produce his resignation, and give these invaders,
in the substitution, control of the polls ; and on the morning of the
election a steamboat brought from the town of Weston, Missouri, to
Leavenworth, an accession to their numbers of several hundred more,
who returned in the same boat after depositing their votes. There
were over nine hundred and fifty votes polled, besides from one hun-
dred to one hundred and fifty actual residents who were deterred or
discouraged from voting, while the census returns show but three
hundred and eighty-five votes in the district a month before. Not
less than six hundred votes were here given by these non-residents of
the Territory, who voted without being sworn as to their qualifica-
tions, and immediately after the election returned back to Missouri ;
some of them being the incumbents of important public offices there.
Indeed, so well was the character of this foreign vote understood that
the judges struck out of the prescribed form of return the words "by
lawful resident voters."
We might continue the list of these sickening details until the
blood of every freeman would boil with indignation ; but it is useless.
One more instance alone we will refer to. In the eighteenth election
district, where the population was sparse, and no great amount of
foreign votes was needed to overpower it, a detachment from Missouri,
from sixty to one hundred, passed in with a train of wagons, arms
and ammunition, making their camp the night before the election
near Moorestown, the place of the polls, without even a pretext of
residence, and returning immediately to Missouri after their work was
done, their leader and captain being a distinguished citizen of Mis-
souri, but late the presiding officer of the Senate of the United States,
and who had bowie knife and revolver belted around him, apparently
ready to shed the blood of any man who refused to be enslaved. All
these facts we are prepared to establish, if necessary, by proof that
would be considered competent in a court of justice.
From a careful examination of the returns we are satisfied that
over three thousand votes were thus cast by the citizens and residents
of the States, and that a very large portion of the residents were
deterred or discouraged from going to the polls. If this condition of
things is allowed to prevail, we are reduced to the state of a vassal
province, and are governed by the State of Missouri.
It would be mere affectation in us to attempt to disguise the fact
that the question of making Kansas a free or slaves States is at the
bottom of this movement, and that the men who thus invade our soil
and rob us of our liberties are from the pro-slavery men of Missouri,
who are unwilling to submit the question to the people of the Terri-
tory, and abide the compact between the north and south, which the
Kansas-Nebraska bill contains. That compact we want carried o^it,
and by that test we want the question settled if H can be ; but there
C56 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
are few things that we would not prefer to the domination of irrespon-
sible invaders from Missouri. That enactment is not only a law
which States and individuals are bound to obey, but it is a compact
between the north and the south, a solemn covenant between the
sovereign States of our Union, which none can violate without
becoming recreant to the principles of honor and justice, without the
betrayal of confidence reposed, without such breaking of plighted
faith as in an individual would load him to the earth with scorn and
contempt, and drive him from the society of honest men. That bill
which northern statesmen, backed with northern votes, had obtained for
southern rights, is made by men who invade our soil the very instru-
ment for deprivingus of our dearest privileges, and stabbing to the heart
those who magnanimously gave it into their hands for other ends.
That bill is made to mean popular sovereignty for them, serfdom
for us. The doctrine of self-government is to be trampled under foot
here, of all other places in the world, on the very spot which had
been hallowed and consecrated to its most signal vindication. The
altars which had been reared to it on this chosen ground, and around
which at least the democracy of the whole Union had sworn allegiance,
and to which we had come as pilgrim worshippers in the wilderness,
are to be ruthlessly demolished. The compact is to be basely broken,
and the ballot of the freeman (in effect) torn from our hands, almost
before the ink of the covenant is dry. Not only, too, is the principle
of popular sovereignty to be blotted out, but more than this, even the
object of the contest is to disappear. The question of negro slavery is
to sink into insignificance, and the great portentous issue is to loom
up in its stead, whether or not we shall be the slaves, and fanatics
who disgrace the honorable and chivalric men of the south shall be
•ur masters to rule us at their pleasure.
With a feeble and scattered community just struggling into exist-
ence, without organization arid almost without shelter, we are power-
less to resist an old, strong, and populous State, full of men and arms
and resources, and we therefore appeal to you, and through you to the
people of the States. Kemedy here we have none.
Our executive has with manly determination and persistent fidelity
stood by his people, and endeavored to carry out the principles of
popular sovereignty, and secure us the privilege of managing our own
affairs and governing ourselves, until his reputation has been assailed
and his life openly threatened with a bitterness almost unparalleled ;
and, although as chief magistrate he is all we could desire, and has
fearlessly pursued the path of duty amid a storm of menace and
detraction, under which many men would have quailed, yet he is
powerless like ourselves.
We make now this last appeal, not to the north, not to the south,
not to any political party, but to the representatives of the whole
Union. We beg that no men will sport with our fearful condition,
by endeavoring to make political capital, or build up party at the
expense of our civil and physical existence. We want the men of the
north and the men of the south to protect us. Through yourselves,
their representatives, we appeal to their honor, to their justice, to
their patriotism, to their sympathies, not for favors but for rights —
not for trivial rights, but for the dearest rights guarantied to us by
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 657
the Declaration of Independence, by the Constitution of the Union,
by the law of our organization, by the solemn compact of the States,
and which you pledged to us as the condition of our coming here,
Communities are not to blame for the conduct of their fanatics
unless they sanction them. We cannot believe that the States of the
South will sanction the outrages that have been perpetrated upon us,
or will allow them to be continued. And, although we might reason
the matter as a question of policy, and show that it is contrary to the
laws of nature and sociely, and opposed to all human experience, that
good can come from such an evil, (although we might prove that it is
•" sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind," and that the reaction will
be fearful,) yet we feel that this is unnecessary, that it is enough to
appeal to their honor and their sense of justice,, and to rely upon theiv
plighted faith, »
Inside our bounds we shall have no serious troubles. Northern
and southern men mingle together injharmony anc^good feeling, and
in mutual dependence and assistance in the hardships and privations
of a pioneer life. As we learn to understand each other, friendships;
are engendered and prejudices melt away, so that we shall be able to
meet all questions that may arise in a spirit of justice and kindly
feeling, which will secure the rights of all) and cheerful acquiescence
in the decision of the majority. From foreign oppression, however,
we ask for relief of that power which passed the Kansas bill,, and,
pledged to us its benefits it we would come here. We have a right
to ask, and do ask, its enforcement. It remains for your honorable
bodies to decide whether you will keep the compact between you. and
us which exists by that bill and our emigration, whether you will
vindicate the sacred doctrines of the government, or whether you. will
leave us in a state of vassalage and oppression. We cannot and d©
not doubt that you will in some way give us justice and protection.
G. P. LOWREY, recalled.
To Mr, Sherman :
I was present at Lawrence, in the Territory of Kansas, on the 9th
of October, 1855, at an election for delegates to a constitutional con-
vention and delegate to Congress. The election for constitutional
delegates and congressional delegate were held on the same day and
at the same place, but under different proclamations and with different
ballot-boxes. The election was conducted peaceably and quietly that
day. I voted. The number of votes cast for delegate to Congress
was 557, and about the same number for constitutional delegates.
The returns of these elections were delivered to the executive commit-
tee, of which James H. Lane was chairman, and J. M. Goodin was
secretary. Some time last winter I called upoa Mr. Lane, at the re-
quest of Governor Beeder, for the poll-books and returns of his elec-
tion as delegate to Congress, in order to use them in his contest for
that seat. I received from Mr. Lane a package'of election papers,, and
sent them to Governor Keeder. They are the same papers that I pro-
duced before this committee in New York city. I do not. think the
returns of the Lawrence election were among the papers when I first
received them, though I did not examine them closely. I know they
are not among them now. But I remember distinctly the number of
H. Rep. 200 42*
658 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
votes cast, and there were 55*7 for Reeder, and, I think, one or two
for Whitfield.
The returns of the election for memhers to the constitutional con-
vention were also placed in charge of the executive committee, and
were generally in the charge of the secretary, Mr. Goodin. At the
time the committee were in Kansas, at least until I left, they were at
Leavenworth. Goodin was down on the Neosha, laying out a town,
some 125 miles from Lawrence. G. P. LOWREY.
WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., July 11, 1856.
Dr. J. N. 0. P. WOOD called and affirmed.
To Mr. King :
I came into the Territory first ahout the 1st of April, 1854. I
located permanently in Lawrence ahout the 7th. of October, 1854. I
resided there until some time the last of March or the first of April
last, and then I went to Lecompton. Ahout the time I came there,
there was considerable difficulty between what was called the Law-
rence Association, of which Dr. Robinson was president, and the set-
tlers that were not members of this association. The members of the
association held a meeting two or three evenings after I got there, and
elected a judge, &c., Mr. Grover, marshal, and organized a company—
I think they called it the " Shot-gun Battalion" — for the purpose of
preventing persons that did not belong to their association from set-
tling about the place, and taking timber and stone from the claims of
those who did live there. They said there was no law in the Terri-
tory ; that the organic act was unconstitutional, made so by the repeal
of the Missouri compromise ; and that they intended to form an asso-
ciation, and make and enforce their own laws, irrespective of the laws
of Congress, until there should be a change in Congress, by which the
Missouri compromise could be restored, and the organic act set aside.
There was no open opposition to the execution of the law until
Governor Reeder appointed justices of the peace, and one or two mem-
bers of the association were arrested. They refused to recognize the
power of the justice of the peace, and refused to attend as witnesses,
and would only attend their own provisional court, as they called it.
When the legislature was about to be elected, they held a meeting,
and brought out their candidates. After the legislature was elected,
and before they met, there were several meetings held in Lawrence,
and, at those meetings, they passed resolutions declaring they would
submit to no laws passed by that legislature. This was what was
called the Lawrence Association, different from the town association.
It was composed of men sent out under the auspices of the Emigrant
Aid Society, and Dr. Robinson was at the head of the association.
Many belonging to this association lived in different parts of the Ter-
ritory. They were allowed to vote at the meetings of the association,
which I sometimes attended ; and those who were not enrolled as mem-
bers of the association were not allowed to vote or debate at their meet-
ings. Some of them lived at Osawotomie, Topeka, Manhattan, and
other places in the Territory. They resolved not to obey the laws that
would be passed by the legislature, and only obey their own provisional
laws until they could form a provisional government for the Territory.
The first general meeting, while the legislature was in session, was
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 659
held In July or August, 1855. Before that time, their meetings had
been of the association, but this was the first general meeting. That
was the first meeting at which I recollect hearing Colonel Lane take
ground in opposition to the laws that the legislature then in session
should pass. All the public speakers that I heard there said they did
not intend to obey the laws that would be passed, but intended to
form a provisional government for themselves.
After the legislature adjourned, the first meeting at which I heard
any declarations with regard to the resistance of the laws was held at
Blanton's bridge. Colonel Lane, Mr. Emery, and Mr. John Hutchin-
son addressed the meeting, urging the people to resist the laws, let
the consequences be what they might. In private conversation with
those men, they always expressed their determination to resist the
laws, and said the officers and posse should not enforce the laws.
They said they had a new code of laws called Sharpens Eevised Statutes,
and they were going to use them in preference to any others. It was
a common remark that they would use Sharpe's Kevised Statutes in
preference to any others.
I think the first box of rifles came there marked Revised Statutes.
I think after Mr, Dietzler came back, he said he brought the rifles
with him. When they were brought to Lawrence, they wanted to
put them in my warehouse. They were lying at my door, and I in-
quired what they were, and Mr. Saulter, who was keeping the ware-
house for me, said they were emigrant aid guns. I objected to their
being put in my warehouse, and they were taken and put in Mr.
Simpson's office. I told them I would not be the first to harbor guns
brought there for revolution, I often expostulated with Lane, Robin-
son, and others, both publicly and privately, as to their course, and
addressed the meeting at Blanton's bridge in opposition to that course.
They said they would resist the laws regardless of consequences.
The next public meeting I recollect of was the Big Spring conven-
tion. At that convention I had but little conversation, except with
Governor Reecler and Judge Johnson. Prior to the meeting, several
days, Governor Reeder came up to our place. I heard that he was
urging the people to resist the laws, and do so by setting a differ-
ent day lor the election of delegate to Congress on which he should
be voted for. I called on him at his room, and asked him if he had
recommended that course, and he said that he had intended to have
returned to Pennsylvania, but upon reflection he had concluded that
if they would take that course at the convention, he would be a can-
didate for Congress, and had returned from Kansas City, where he bad
taken his trunks and baggage. He said he had understood, since he
came there, that Lane, Roberts, and others would be candidates before
the convention ; but if they would withdraw, and the course he had
indicated was taken, he would be a candidate for Congress. He said
it would give him an opportunity to bring the matter before Congress,
and, with the majority they had then in Congress against the Demo-
cratic party, he thought he could succeed in ousting General Whitfield
if elected. A meeting was held in Lawrence, and it was agreed upon
that a different day should be fixed upon for the election, and the
candidates who were there — Robinson, Lane, and some others — agreed
to withdraw in favor of Governor Reeder, This was four or five days
before the Big Spring convention.
660 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I rode up to that convention in company with General Fomeroy>
who invited me to go up with him. At the convention I had another
conversation with Governor Keeder. We had always been on thej
most intimate terms, and I talked with him as I would with any
friend. I talked with him, and said that I thought that by taking
that course, and thereby repudiating the laws, it would bring a state'
of anarchy upon the Territory that he nor I would probably live to see-
the end of. I said it would be opening the door, and giving an invi-
tation to outlaws outside of the Territory to come and make that the
field of operations ; that it would bring about a state of things that
would be injurious to the country, by preventing capitalists from
risking their means in such a country. He replied that he thought
differently ; that they had determined to adopt the platform of the
Topeka convention, held before that time, recommending the form-
ation of a provisional government. I think he took a pencil and
draughted a resolution recommending the calling of a convention to
form a State constitution. He said he would offer that resolution ; they
could go on and form the State constitution, appoint an executive
committee to issue a proclamation calling for the election of delegates
to form a free-State constitution, and they would elect their members
to the legislature, pass their laws, and, if Congress did not admit them,
they would pass their own laws, and go on independently of Congress
until such time as they could be admitted. I remarked that would
bring them immediately in conflict with the acts of the Territorial
legislature, one or the other of which must become supreme ; and I
thought it would necessarily bring on a collision between the two
opposing parties, and involve the country in an armed difficulty. He
replied that they had made up their minds to resist the laws, and by
forming a free-State constitution they could get the aid and sympathy
of the north to help them to enforce their provisional laws ; that they
were determined to resist the Territorial laws. That was about the
substance of the conversation.
In his speech before the convention he urged them to resist the Ter-
ritorial laws at all hazards. I have read the speech of Governor Kee-
der as reported in the proceedings of the Big Spring convention, in
a printed copy now before me, and I cannot say that it contains all
his speech. He spoke for an hour or a little over an hour. I under-
stood him distinctly to say this : that he wanted them, if they had
any regard for their rights, not to appeal to the laws for redress, nor
answer others if appealed to. He called them "bogus" laws, meaning
thereby the Territorial laws. That, I think, is about the substance
of what he said.
I came down home, I believe, in company with Judge Johnson,
who disapproved of the course adopted. I had conversations with
Governor Eeeder afterwards, but we held our respective positions.
A proclamation was issued by what was called the executive com-
mittee calling an election for State officers and legislature, a con-
vention to form a State constitution having met and formed a State
constitution. I talked with Lane and Eobinson offen about this mat-
ter. There were free-State men in Lawrence who opposed this course,
and oppose it yet. I myself co-operated with the free-State party
until they took these revolutionary steps, and then I left them. I lived
in Illinois twelve years before I came to this Territory.
WHSTPORT. MISSOURI, June 2, 1856. J. N. 0. P. WOOD.
ELECTION OF DELEGATES
CONVENTION OF 0 C T 0 B E E .8 , 1855.
FIRST DISTRICT.. — Blanton PrecincL
of voters far delegates to convent-ion to/orm®, Gomti&xJtwn, &c.
1 J. K. Goodin
'2 J. R. Kenedy
3 Charles Dicksoa
4 L. S. Bonghtom
5 L. Smith
6 Ira Brown
7 Edward Jones
S Julius Fairfieli
'9 John T. MOOT
10 Enan C. Griffith
11 Ernest Smith
a 2 T. E. Whitleck
13 Lewis Stagers
14 A. Still
15 Samuel G. Johnson.
16 Collins Hollo way
17 Robert Irvm
18 W. J. Kenedy
19 John E. Steward
20 B. Abott
<21 J. Ogden
22 R. P. Mow
23 Thomas C. Still
24 R. D. Norton
25 Amasa Sole
26 Samuel S. Burgess
27 J. Eliot
28 Seth Rodibough
29 William Estabrook
30 James A. Coffey
31 Samuel Gill
32 P. S, Hutchison
33 H. F.. Saunders
34 T. B, Smith
35 Levi W. Plumb
36 E. A. Landon
37 James Whaly
38 A. R.. .Smith
39 A, W. Mobley, JT,
40 Wm. Parks
41 Leonard Crame
42 C. W, Dowe
42 A. D.. Todd
44 0. P. Kenedy
45 Jacob Bronson
46 Augnstin W. Maberj
4*7 J. W. Hayne
48 F. P. Vaughn
49 W, H. Carles
5© Simeon Gill-eon
51 Alisha F. Mayo
52 William Liyerm0re
•53 W. D. Jenerson
54 Philip T. Hupp
55 Samuel Jones
56 Stephen -Ogden
57 Enoch Howland
58 Willi-am Soule
59 Andrew T. Still
60 -Lewis Howland
€1 H&gh Petteagill
62
<63 Virgil Pierce
64 Joseph Eberhart
*65 Louis S, Eberhart
66 Henry S. Eberhart
67 Bethuel Hitchcock
68 Win. Meairs
69 Harrison Niehlos
VO L. H. Rowley
71 A. F. Bercaw
72 W. Bennett
73 N. B, Blanton
74 John Berby.
662 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
that the whole number of votes cast at an election held at Blanton
precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second Tuesday of October,
1855, it being the 9th day of said month, between the hours of 10
o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, "for delegates to a
convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people
of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a State gov-
ernment preparatory to the admission of Kansas as a State," was
seventy-four votes.
We, the judges and clerks of said election, further certify that the
said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States,
above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents of said Terri-
tory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the period of thirty
days immediately preceding said election day.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
JULIUS ELIOT,
PAUL JONES,
N. B. BLANTON,
WILLIAM MEAIRS, Judges.
E. W. BENNETT, Clerics.
We, the judges and clerks of election, hereby certify, that at an elec-
tion held at Blanton precinct, Kansas Territory, on the 9th of Octo-
ber, 1855, for delegates to a convention to form a constitution, adopt
a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, &c.,
Charles Robinson has received 67 votes,
J. H. Lane 70 "
G. W. Smith 10 "
J. K, Goodin 61 "
Edward Jones 30 "
Morris Hunt 72 "
Abraham Still 40 "
And we further certify, that the voters were free white male in*
habitants, citizens of the United States, and residents of Kansas Ter-
ritory, who have had, and now have, a bonafide residence therein.
JULIUS ELIOT,
PAUL JONES,
N. B, BLANTON,
WILLIAM MEAIRS, Judges,
E. W. BENNETT, Clerks.
Tally-list for delegates to convention.
C. Robinson 67
J. H. Lane 3 70
G. W. Smith , 70
J. K. Goodin 61
Morris Hunt „ 72
Abraham Still 40
Edward Jones - ., 3-Q
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 663
The duplicate tally-list is certified as follows :
We, the officers of election held at Blanton's, on the Wakarusa,
the 9th day of October, 1855, do certify that (etc. as above) at an
election held in Blanton precinct, in Kansas Territory, between the
hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, for dele-
gates to a convention to form" a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for
the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a
State government, preparatory to the admission of Kansas as a State.
We, the judges and clerks of said election, further certify, upon our
oaths, that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of
the United States, above the age of twenty- one years, bonajide resi-
dents of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for
the period of thirty days immediately preceding said election day.
[Signed as above.]
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
FIRST DISTRICT. — Palmyra Precinct.
Poll-book of voters participating in the election of delegates to the consti-
tutional convention.
James H. Fiser Salem Gleason
Jacob Canterell Elizur Hill
John Koe Henry Barricklow
Henry Barricklow William Roe
Hiram McAlister Robert Pearson
T. W. Lyon Charles Augustus Kiser
Thomas Miller David Eldred
Joseph Barricklow John P. Lehe.
Jally-list of votes cast on this ninth day of October , 1855, for delegates
to a convention to form a constitution.
C. Robinson 16
J. H. Lane 16
G. W. Smith 16
J. K. Goodin , 16
Edward Jones 16
Morris Hunt 16
We, the judges and clerks of this election, hereby certify upon our
oaths, that on this, the 9th day of October, 1855, Joseph H. Lane has
received sixteen votes, C. Robinson sixteen votes, G. W. Smith sixteen
votes, J. K. Goodin sixteen votes, Edward Jones sixteen votes, Mor-
ris Hunt sixteen votes, for delegates to a convention to form a consti-
664
KANSAS AFFAIES.
tution, adopt a "bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all
necessary steps preparatory to our admission into the Union as a State.
And we further certify, that the same were free white male inhabit-
ants, citizens of the United States, above the age of twenty-one
years, who have had a bona-fide residence in the Territory for the
space of thirty days immediately preceding this election.
SALEM GLEASON,
HENKY BABEICKLOW,
ELIZUR HILL,
Judges
JOSEPH BAKBICKLOW,
WILLIAM BOE? Clerks.
SECOND DISTRICT — Bloomington Precinct.
List of voters. — Tally-list* of votes cast for delegates to a convention to
form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth
day of October, A. D. 1855, at the, house of Harrison Bur son, in the
town of Bloomington, in the second election district in Kansas Ter-
ritory.
1 James A. Nelson
2 Edward Borton
3 Dudley Bryant
4 Isaac Stout
5 Andrew White
6 James Hud
7 Thomas R. Hud
8 Thomas W. Barber
9 Aaron Sims
10 Wm. Richap
11 A. J. Corbert
12 Chas. C. Emery
13 Geo. Cosby
14 H. A. Cosby
15 Joseph Oakley
16 Wm. Haseltine
17 Theo. Edwards
18 John Brannan
19 Daniel Vansill
20 John Scott
21 0. L. Spradling
22 John Hatfield
23 J. Z. Peterfish
24 R. J. Haseltine
25 J. Roberts
26 A. E. Love
27 H. R. Rason
28 Win. Watson
29 J. B. F. McPherson
30 Wm. Sacket
31 E. W. Smith
32 Lemuel Woodard
33 Joseph Bryant
34 Henry W. Tick
35 George W. Snyder
36 H. T. Waterfield
37 R. F. Barber
38 S. M. Pearson
39 A. Curtis
40 Samuel Smith
41 Samuel Jones
42 Thomas W. Barber
43 L. Duffy
44 Samuel Walker
45 Thos. Wolverton
46 Geo. Buifum
47 David C. Buffum
48 Thos. Woodard
49 Geo. 0. Beam
50 Joseph Oakley
51 Isaac Davis
52 Edward Oakley
By mistake, the list of voters was put under the head of "tally-list."
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
665
53 Eobert Allen
54 Henry Alderman
55 N. Allguire
56 Alfred Peck
57 J. A. Wakefield
58 Stephen Dunken
59 J. H. Tuton
60 H. Burson
61 M. Cayton
62 John Moss
63 E. S. Jewett
64 Geo, W. Perse
65 Geo. W. Zinn
66 Saml. Paal
67 Kichard Day
68 James Dunn
69 James R. Moss
70 Samuel Canaday
71 C. C. Scofield
72 Wm. McCready
73 E. Disbro
74 Andrew S. Baldwin
75 David J. Casebier
76 Henry L. Baldwin
77 John Dewitt
78 G. W. Runber
79 Kinsey Lamm
80 Richard Miller
81 Abel Yates
82 A. J. Smith
83 Michael Albin
84 G. Norton
85 J. H. Wood
86 Robert Hudson
87 Henry Lewis
88 Warner Stowie
89 Daniel W. Lewis
90 Charles B. Bailey
91 John R. Lewis
92 Aaron E. Platt
93 J. C. Casebier
94 Benjamin Stowie
95 Harrison Wood
96 Zadoc Bhur
97 Robt. Buffum
98 J. L. Spear
99 Henry Smith
100 Saml. Casebier
101 William Byerly
102 Ebenezer Archibald
103 John C. Archibald
104 C. W. McCormick
105 J. J. Miller
106 J. C. Lamm
107 Marguis Kelso
108 Willis Myers
109 H. B. Lacy
110 Isaac Shirley
111 Joseph Gather
112 William Glen
113 Alexander Glen
114 D. Aikin
115 D. C Blakely
116 William Draper.
Before the polls were opened, the judges administered to each other
the following oath, and at the same time to the clerks :
We do swear that we will perform our duty as judges of the elec-
tion, held at the house of Harrison Burson, in the second election
district of the Territory of Kansas, on the 9th day of October, 1855,
for four delegates to frame a State constitution, and a delegate to
Congress, to the best of our judgment and ability; that we will
keep a true, correct, and faithful record or list of all persons who
shall vote at said election ; that we will poll no ticket from any per-
son who is not an actual inhabitant and resident of said Territory,
and who we shall not honestly believe to be a qualified voter, ac-
cording to the provisions of the act of Congress organizing said Ter-
ritory; that we will reject the votes of all non-residents who we
shall believe have come into this Territory for the mere purpose of
voting ; that in all cases where we are ignorant of the voter's right,
we will require legal evidence thereof, by his own oath, or otherwise;
and that we will truly count and record the votes received, and make
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
true and faithful return thereof to the executive committee of Kansas
Territory.
Sworn and subscribed October 9th, 1855, previous to opening the
polls, before me, one of the judges of the election.
SAMUEL WALKER,
ROBERT BUFFUM,
G. W. MEHERGER,
E. S. JEWETT, Judges of the election.
THOS, B. WOLVERTON, Clerks.
We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that the following persons have received votes for dele-
gates to frame a State constitution for Kansas Territory :
John A. Wake field received one hundred and sixteen votes ; Alfred
Curtis received one hundred and sixteen votes ; J. M. Tuton received
one hundred and sixteen votes ; Harrison Burson received one hun-
dred and sixteen votes, cast at an election held at the second election
district, in Kansas Territory, on the second Tuesday of October, 1855,
It being the ninth day of said month, between the hours of 10 o'clock,
a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, for delegates to a convention
to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas,
and take all needful measures for organizing a State government,
preparatory to the admission of Kansas as a State. We, the judges
and clerks of said election, further certify upon our oaths, that the
said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States,
above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents of said Ter-
ritory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the period of
thirty days immediately preceding said election day.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
SAMUEL WALKER,
G. W. REMBERGER,
ROBERT BUFFUM,
Attest : E. S. JEWETT, Judges.
T. B. WOLVERTON, Clerks.
SECOND DISTRICT — Benicia Precinct.
Poll-^book. — List of voters who have cast their ballots for delegates to a con
vention to form, a constitution for Kansas, on this second Tuesday, the
ninth day of October, A. D. 1855.
1 P. B. Harris 9 J. H. Furman
2 Joel Montgomery 10 H. E. Brooks
3 Nanno Smith 11 John H. Lyon
4 Owen Taylor 12 John Spaulding
5 Owen T. Bassett 13 H. Hobbs
6 Alphonso Jones 14 F. Barker
7 Andrew Marks 15 Ephraim Conner
8 Charles Smith 16 H. H. Conner
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 667
17 Edward Jones 23 J. H. Shemmons
18 W. Phillips 24 John Phillips
19 V. Comic 25 Wm. Loyd
20 Y. Wickens 26 Wm. Hall
21 Nathan Hackett 27 Henry Leorned.
22 Joel Phillips
We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that the whole number of legal votes cast at an
election held at Benicia precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second
Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said month, be-
tween the hours of 10 o'clock, a. in., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day,
for the election of delegates to a convention to form a constitution,
adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful
measures for organizing a State government, preparatory to the ad-
mission of Kansas as a State, was twenty-seven.
We, the said judges and clerks, further certify upon our oaths, that
the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the United
States, above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents of said
Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the period of
thirty days immediately preceding said election day.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
P. B. HARKIS,
0. T. BASSETT,
J. H. SHEMMONS,
Attest : ALPHONSO JONES, Judges.
0. T. BASSETT, Clerks.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion for Kansas , held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo-
ber, A. D. 1855.
A. Curtis 27 votes.
H. Burson 27 "
J. A. Wakefield 24 "
J. M. Tuton 27 "
We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that A. Curtis has received twenty-seven votes, H.
Burson has received twenty-seven votes, J. A. Wakefield has received
twenty-four votes, and J. M. Tuton has received twenty-seven votes,
cast at an election held at Benicia precinct, in Kansas Territory, on
the second Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said
month, between the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of
said day, for delegates to a convention to form a constitution, adopt a
bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures
for organizing a State government, preparatory to the admission of
Kansas as a State. We, the judges and clerks of said election, further
certify upon our oaths, that the said voters were white male inhabit-
ants, citizens of the United States, above the age pf twenty-one years,
668
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
bona-fide residents of said Territory of Kansas, having actually re-
sided therein for the period of thirty days immediately preceding said
election day.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
0. T.
P. B.
J. H.
Attest : 0. T. BASSETT,
ALPHONSO JONES, Clerics.
BASSETT,
HARRIS,
SHEMMONS,
Judges.
THIRD DISTRICT. — Washington Precinct.
Poll List.
Edmund Brown
Merritt Shulkeln
Jesse M. Roberts
Wm. C. Jones
Geo. W. Gilman
Daniel R. Lawson
Joseph K. Lawson
Wm. R. Frost
Eli Allen
T. V. Rush
Wm. Riley
John Roorback
Wm. Y. Roberts
Joseph Molton
Geo. S. Ramsey
S. J. Acklin
Ephraim Banning
Wm. A. Cardwell
Solomon G. Reffer
H. A. Custard
Paul Shepherd
H. P. Galan
Caleb Antrim
Wm. Harper
Stephen Scott
Alexander Wells
Wm. T. Kerby
Wm. B. Kerth
Benjamin Moore
Peter Eppison
Barnet Foyle
Henry F. Huffer
R. W. Custard.
GEO. S. RAMSEY,
S. J. ACKLIN, Clerks.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion for Kansas j held on this second Tuesday, the $th day of October,
1855.
C. K. Holliday 33 votes.
Wm. Y. Roberts 33 c(
We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that Wm. Y. Roberts and C. K. Holliday have each
received thirty-three votes, cast at an election held at Washington,
Big Spring precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second Tuesday of
October, 1855, it being the 9th day of said month, between the hours
of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m.? of said day, for delegates to a
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 669
convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people
of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a State gov-
ernment, preparatory to the admission of Kansas as a State. We,
the judges and clerks of said election, further certify upon our oaths,
that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the
United States, above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents
of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the
period of thirty days immediately preceding the said election day.
WASHINGTON, October 9, 1855.
ELI ALLEN,
WILLIAM RILEY,
W. K. FROST,
Attest: GEO. S. RAMSEY, Judges.
SAMUEL J. ACKLIN, Clerks.
THIRD DISTRICT. — Tecumseh Precinct.
Poll-list of voters for delegates to constitutional convention, October 9,
1855.
Orlando Moffet John McPherson
John Morris Anderson Delop
J. Tyler Samuel UpdegrafF
C. W. Moffet George Osborn
M. M. Robinson William Hook
J. Vorhies A. M. Jourdan
Francis Grasmuck Patrick Feril
Andrew Jones J. Stephenson
M. J. Mitchell William Kasten
George C. McCormick N. L. Williams
D. Updegraff Isaiah Cox
John Carsgal Theodore Jones
Osborn Naylor William Norton
James Brown E. R. Moffett
Hiram Shields Lee Tewell.
Wm. H. Morris
Tally -list for delegates to constitutional convention, October 9, 1855.
William Y. Roberts ... 31 votes.
C. K. Holliday 31 "
FRANCIS GRASMUCK,
C. W. MOFFET, Ju
Attest : M. M. ROBINSON,
M. J. MITCHELL, Clerks.
670 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Certificate in usual printed form " that William Y. Eoberts and
C. K. Holliday received thirty-one votes each/' &c., &c.
OCTOBER 9. 1855.
FRANCIS GRASMUCK,
JOHN MORRIS,
C. W. MOFFET, Judges.
Attest : M. M. ROBINSON,
M. J. MITCHELL, Clerks.
THIRD DISTRICT. — Third and Seventh Precincts.
Poll-list.
1 Wm. A. Simerwell 13 Lindsey T. Cook
2 Walter W. Philips 14 James Gillpatrick
3 Geo. W. Pigott 15 F. E. Hood
4 Robert Turner 16 William Matam
5 William Turner 17 Sam. Rainey
6 J. D. Wood 18 John W. Brown
7 T. J. Anderson 19 John Baxter
8 William Armstrong 20 Wm. F. Johnston
9 Darius W. Herald 21 Geo. S. Holt
10 S. H. Hill 22 David P. Hammond
11 William Handly 23 James Hammond
12 Sam'l Cavender 24 Aurelius Bo wen.
Tally-list.
Andrew H. Reeder - 24 votes.
C. K. Holliday 19 "
W. Y. Roberts 19 "
P. C, Schuyler 5 "
The certificate is in the usual printed form, "that C. K. Holliday>
and W. Y. Roberts have received nineteen votes each, and P. C..
Schuyler has received five votes, cast at the election held at the housee
of W. W. Philips, in part of the 3d and 7th precincts," &c.
Signed Oct. 9, 1855.
JOHN W. BROWN,
W. F. JOHNSTON,
GEO. S, HOLT,
Judges.
Attest: W. F. JOHNSTON,
GEO. S. HOLT, Clerks.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
671
THIRD DISTRICT — Topeka Precinct.
Poll-list of voters for delegates to convention to form a constitution.
Joseph C. Miller
F. L. Crane
George Davis
Leonard W. Horn
Sanford Hews
James C. Disney
Enoch Chase
J. C. Gordon
George F. Boyd
Isam Chadwick
David Smith
E. C. K. Gawes
M. C. Martin
William P. Thompson
Hiram Higgins
E. L. Mitchell
H. B. Burgess
T. Mclntire
John Long
E. S. Dexter
Lervin Farnsworth
0. C. Nicholas
Francis Davis
Daniel H. Horn
Horatio Fletcher
Abel F. Hartwell
Daniel Hall
Philip Briggs
L. Shadie
M. Birch
Elnathan Trask
William Scales
James Chadwick
Christopher Leonard
Parsons Haskell
Charles Farnesworth
Ambrose W. Ford
Benjamin F. Getchel
George B. French
A. W. Moore
Barney Miller
J. W. Emmerson
Leonard Wendell
Daniel Sayres
William R. Dyre
John Kitchey
David H. Moore
John B. Horn
P. 0. Conner
Charles Wilber
A. Doane
D. Canperos
Charles Sarden
G. F. Callog
D. W. Cleaveland
F. W. Giles
J. F. Cummins
Israel Zimmerman
John A. Wirt
H. P. Waters
F. G. Thornton
M. C. Dickey
David Stofield
Henry Stofield
C. K. Holliday
A. F. Whitney
J. T. Jones
Wm. W. Henderson
Charles Creitz
John Fletcher
Samuel Harriot
Ephraim Harriot
Robert H. Matthews
Charles A. Gray
Eugene Parker
D. Mincum
William F. Cretez
W. L. Brigden
Thomas C. Stevens
Harvey Young
C. G. Howard
R. M. Luce
J. F. Meriam
A. A. Ward
Charles A. Sexton
H. H. Wentworth
Charles Masley
Edward Plummer
Leroy S. Bown
Joseph H. Chase
Jacob B. Chase
M. K. Smith
Joseph L. Young
C. L. Terrell
672 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Augustus H, Barnard Philip Ingraham
S. E. Martin William C. Lencker
Thomas H. Taylor Thomas W. Scudder
Julius D. Clarkson James McAnany
Joseph L. Young, jr. William M. Jordan
D. Banta H. B. Cowles
James Tregart James Gowles
J. Willets Lemuel Burson
S. N. Frazier John Martin
Hiram C. Coval William E. Boggs
William Miles 0. H. Drinkwater
George H. Wood Andrew S. Waters.
L. G. Cleaveland
Tally-list.
C. K. Holliday 104 votes.
W. Y. Koberts ,.. 94 "
J. Cowles 14 "
H. H. Wentworth 12 "
Edward Segroves . 2 "
Sanford Henry
Wentworth and Cowles
Coles and Segroves 1 "
The certificate is in the usual printed form, and certifies " that
C. K. Holliday has received one hundred and four votes, W. Y.
Koberts ninety-four votes, J. Cowles fourteen votes, H. H. Went-
worth twelve votes, Edward Segroves two votes, Sanford Henry one
vote. Coles and Segroves one vote, Wentworth and Coles one vote.
[Signed, &c.]
TOPEKA, K. T., October 9, 1855.
HENRY P. WATERS,
MILTON C. DICKEY,
F. L. CRANE, Judges.
Attest : ISRAEL ZIMMERMAN,
JOHN A. WIRT, Clerks.
THIRD DISTRICT — Camp Creek, Precinct.
\
List of voters who cast their "ballots for delegates to a convention to form
a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday , the ninth day
of October, A. D. 1855.
1 Hiram H. Heberling 5 Eli B. Dailey
2 W. T. Stout 6 George Strobridge
3 John Kinney 7 H. M. Canfield.
4 John G. Fulton
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
673
^Tally-list for candidates for constitutional convention,
C. K. Holliday 7 votes.
William Y. Boberts *7 "
We, the undersigned judges of an election held at the house of
Hiram H. Heberling, in the third election district, on the 9th day of
October, A. D. 1855, do certify upon our oaths as judges of said elec-
tion, that the above is a true and correct return of the votes polled
for members of constitutional convention by lawful resident voters.
HIEAM H. HEBEBLING,
JOHN KINNEY,
HENRY M, CANFIELD, Judges,
GEO. STROBRIDGE, Clerks
FOURTH DISTRICT. — Willow Springs Precinct.
^oil-look of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo-
ber, A. B. 1855,
A. J. Miller
Charles Legg
Theron E. Curtis
H. W. Hyde
Nathaniel Parker
Mansfield Carter
Franklin Barns
Archibald Harris
D. B. Hyde
Joseph Banks
A. B. Gillerland
Thos. Doaty
Silas H. Moore
C. H. Far
J. F. Javans
William Graham
Peter Bassinger
J. E. Carpenter
Wm. Mewhinney
John Wilson
J. G. Moore
John Eddy
Wm. Harris
S. B. McMannere
Levi Doaty
Geo. Bipley
Wiley Jones
S. Cleaveland
H. Bep. 200 i3*
J. P. Moore
T. J, Mewhiimey
Sam'l Mewhinney
Thomas McCowaa
Wm. Moore
8am' 1 Workman
C. Howard Carpenter
8. T. Shore
Benjamin Fell
E. G. Holt
David Hendrilik
A. F. Powell
B. N. Pearson
Silas Dexter
Patrick Claharm
0. P. Holt
Albert Whitcornb
Gideon -Seymore
Wm, B. Haydoa
J. D. Hope
Washington M, Bulharon
Elkanah Timoiis
A. B. Banks
Perry Fuller
Aaron Moore
Wm. C. Sadler
Wm. B. Sowens,,
674 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon oath, that the whole number of legal votes cast at an election
held at Willow Springs precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second
Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said month, be-
tween the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said
day, for delegates to a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill
of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for
organizing a State government preparatory to the admission of Kan-
sas as a State, to be fifty-five.
We, the judges and clerks of said election, further certify, upon
our oaths, that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens
of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide
residents of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein
for the period of thirty days immediately preceding said election day.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
C. HOWAED CARPENTEE,
SAMUEL WOETMAJST,
WILLIAM MOORE,
Judges,
Attest: THOS. McCowAN,
SAM'! T. SHORE, Clerks.
Tally-list.
S. Mewhinney „ 55
Wm. Graham 55
Judge's Return.
We, the undersigned judges of an election held on the 9th of Octo-
ber, A. IX 1855, at the house of Samuel Mewhinney, in the Willow
Springs precinct, 4th election district, for the election of delegates to
a constitutional convention, to be held at Topeka on the fourth Tues-
day of October, A. D. 1855, do hereby certify, upon our oath, as
judges of said election, that the following is a true and correct return
of the votes polled at such election by lawful resident voters, namely:
S. Mewhinney, fifty-five; Wm. Graham, fifty-five.
SAMUEL WOETMAN,
WILLIAM MOOEE,
C. HOWAED CAEPENTEE,
Judges.
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Hampden Precinct.
Poil-list of voters for delegates to convention, October 9, 1855,
John Evans Stephen P. Pepper
Andrew Harrington Franklin Pease
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 675
Charles J. Burkee George Law
Richard Knight Luther C. Smith
Charles E. Newcomb Charles Morse
William A. Elas Hartwell F. Turner
James Headdens Tallmadge M. Church
George M. Abbey Thomas Y. Proctor
Alberto Hill J. A. D. Clark
William Blasdale Silas Smith
Caleb T, Atheam Amasa B. Sampson
Matthew Blasdale Thomas Richards
Joseph B. Weatherby Phineas Knowlton
John L. Mellen Fenton Bay ley
William W. Higgins Lucius Morse
John P. Pepper Loomis Richards.
Chauncy Morse
Certificate in usual form, (signed.)
W. A. ELAS,
S. P. PEPPER,
CHARLES J. BURKEE, Judges.
Attest: RICHARD KNIGHT, Clerk.
11 We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths that William F. Turner, James M. Arthur, M. J'..
Morris, Orville Brown, Frederick Brown, and Richard Knight, have
received thirty-three votes cast at an election held at Hampden; pre-
cinct," &c., &c.j as in the printed form.
HAMI>DEN, October 9, 1855.
W. A. ELAS,
S. P. PEPPER,
CHARLES J. BURKEE, Judges.
Attest: RICHARD KNIGHT, Clerk.
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Osawatomie Precinct.
Poll-book. — List of voters who have cast their ballots for delegates to a con-
vention to form a constitution for Kansas, at an election held on this
second Tuesday, the ninth day of October, 1855, at the house of Mr.
White, Osawatomie.
1 Curtis Jackson 11 Bartow Darrach
2 Amos Finch 12 John Telton
3 0. C, Brown 13 J. H. Houser
4 C. G. Grout 14 Wm. Chesnut
5 John Carr 15 John Goodrich
6 Harvey Jackson 16 Henry Carson
7 Wesley H. Pinnell IT Morgan Cronkhite
8 Joel Goodrich 18 Orran Williams
9 John P. Glen 19 B. F. Huskins
10 Charles A. Foster 20 Samuel Fisher
676 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
21 Samuel Adair 45 C. F. Lake
22 Cornelius W. Yocum 46 George R. Ferris
23 James Stotts 47 Asa S. White
24 William Baling 48 Thomas J. Hammond
25 R. C. Cottle 49 Jackson Black
26 Richard Saling 50 Jackson Hendricks
27 Benjamin Woodbury 51 Alfred Lossing
28 Johnson Dow 52 M. A. Fairehilds
29 Elias Higgins 53 James Williams
30 Richard Mendenhall 54 John Rose
31 Jesse Pickering 55 John C. Hendy
32 Crawford Oliver 56 Francis Brenan
33 Henry Cox 57 Edmund A very
34 E. W. Collins 58 J. B. Higgins
35 N. J. Roscoe 59 John Richison
36 J. B. Bingham 60 Harmon Dace
37 J. W. Troy . 61 Joseph Bedfield
38 Orville Nicols 62 George W. Phillips
39 Horace Norton 63 Samuel Geer
40 John C. Lowman 64 Caleb Sharar
41 Levi Fenner (55 Charles H. Crone
42 John Benning 66 Thomas Hitchings
43 Wm. C. Childers 67 William Quick.
44 James H. Houser
The certificate as to the number and qualification of voters is in the
usual form, signed as follows :
OSAWATOMIE, October 9, 1855. WM. CHESNUT,
JOHN TELTON,
Attest: B. DARBACH, Judges „
CHARLES A. FOSTER, Clerks.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitutions
for Kansas, at an election held on this second Tuesday, the ninth dayi
of October } A. D. 1855, at the house of Mr. White, in Osawatomie,
fifth election district. Whole number of votes 67.
Wm. T. Turner had 67 votes.
James M. Arthur 67 "
M. T. Morris 66 "
Orville C. Brown 66 "
Richard Knight 67 "
Hamilton Smith 66 "
N. G. Nicols 3 "
Frederick Browu 64 "
William G. Nichols 64 "
The certificate is correct " that the above-named persons had re-j
ceived the number of votes set against their respective names, cast at|
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 677
an election held at Osawatomie precinct/' &c., &c., as in the printed
form.
OCTOBER 9, 1855. WILLIAM CHESNUT,
JOHN TELTON,
SAMUEL H. HOUSER,
Attest: B. DARRACH, Judges.
CHARLES A. FOSTER, Clerks.
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Little Osage Precinct.
PoU list.
Daniel Henderson John Wagoner
John A. Wakefield James Curry
Ambrose Ripley Daniel Francis
William T. Curry Wm. H. Wilson
David C. Forbes Stephen M. Overbey
Allen Beeson Samuel M. Jennings
John Spears Thomas Osborn
John Sutton William Stone.
Tally-list for delegates to a convention to form a constitution.
William T. Turner 16 votes.
James M. Arthur 16 "
M. T. Morris 16 "
OrvilleC. Brown 16 "
Frederick Brown 16 "
Richard Knight 16 "
Hamilton Smith 16 "
David C, Forbes 16 "
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, do hereby certify
upon our oaths, that the whole number of legal votes cast at an elec-
tion held at Little Osage precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second
Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said month, be-
tween the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day,
for the election of delegates to a convention to form a constitution,
adojSt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful
measures for organizing a State government, preparatory to the ad-
mission of Kansas as a State, to be a free white State, to be sixteen.
We, the said judges and clerks, further certify upon our oaths, that
said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States,
above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents of said Territory
of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the period of thirty
days immediately preceding said election day.
OCTOBER 9, 1855. WILLIAM STONE,
THOMAS OSBORN,
Attest: SAMUEL M. JENNINGS, Judges.
JOHN WAGNER, Clerks.
678 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Neosho Precinct.
PolW)o6k. — List of voters ivlio cast their ballots for delegates to a conven-
tion to form a constitution for Kansas, held this second Tuesday, the
ninth day of October, A. D. 1855.
1 Levi E. Hubble 8 Hiram Hoover
2 John H. Bowen 9 Sampson Depain
3 Morgan Dix 10 Thomas Bowen
4 Enos Strawn 11 John D. Beettz
5 Hamilton Smith 12 Hiram Harr
6 Joseph Creeil 13 William E. Yail.
T Hiram D. Depew
(The certificate as to the number and qualifications of the voters is
in the usual form, signed as follows) :
OCTOBER 9, 1855. MORGAN DICKS,
THOMAS BOWEN,
HIRAM HOOVER,
Attest: ENOS STRAWN, Judges.
WM. K. VAIL, Clerks.
Tally-list for delegates to a convention to form a constitution.
Hiram Hoover 13
Mahlon T. Morris 9
James M. Arthur 9
William R. Turner 8
The certificate is in the usual printed form i ( that Hiram Hoover has
received thirteen votes, Mahlon T. Morris nine votes , J. M. Arthur
nine votes, William R. Turner eight votes, cast at an election held at
Neosho precinct," &c.
OCTOBER 9, 1855, MORGAN DICKS,
THOMAS BOWEN,
HIRAM HOOVER,
Attest : ENOS STRAWN, Judges,
WIMJAM H. VEEIE, Clerks.
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Big Sugar Creek Precinct.
PoU-booJc. — List of voters who cast their ballots for delegates to a conven-
tion to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday,
the ninth day of 'October, A. D. 1855, at the house of Silas Young,
in Big Sugar Creek precinct, Kansas Territory.
1 William Dudley 4 Samuel Farra
2 William Daniel 5 James A. Watkins
3 Reuben Daniel 6 John Lance
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 679
7 Waller Cash 16 John Jones
8 James M. Arthur IT D. P. Brown
9 Allen Stewart 18 Silas Young
10 A. J. Long 19 A. P. McLeland
11 William Cash 20 T. C. Cregger
12 William Dyer 21 Z. W. Lasure
13 James W. Dudley 22 F. H. Graham
14 Samuel J. Sprague 23 James Dudley
15 Jonah Daniel 24 John WikeL
Tally-list of delegates' names for constitutional convention.
William Turner received 24 votes,
James M. Arthur 24 "
M. T. Morris 23 "
Orville C. Brown 24 "
Frederick Brown 24 "
Kichard Knight 24 «
Hamilton Smith 23
Hiram Hoover IT "
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that the whole number of legal votes cast at an elec-
tion held at Big Sugar Creek precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the
second Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said
month, between the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m.,
of said day, for the election of eight delegates to a convention to form
a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and
take all needful measures for organizing a State government, prepar-
atory to the admission of Kansas as a State, to be twenty-four.
We, the judges and clerks, further certify upon our oaths, that the
said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States,
above the age of twenty-one years, bona fide residents of said Terri-
tory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the period of
thirty days immediately preceding said election day.
OCTOBER 9, 1855. JONAH DANIEL,
SILAS YOUNG,
D. P. BROWN,
Attest: J. W. DUDLEY, Judges.
WILLIAM DYER, Clerks.
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Pottowatomie Precinct.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion for Kansas , held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo-
ber, A. D. 1855.
W. T. Turner... 49
J. W. Arthur 49
0. C. Brown.., 49
680 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Hamilton Smith .' 48
Richard Knight 49
Frederick Brown 4*7
W. T. Morris 49
The certificate is in the usual printed form, "that William T.
Turner has received forty-nine votes, J. W, Arthur has received
forty-nine votes, 0. C. Brown has received forty-nine votes, Hamil-
ton Smith has received forty-eight votes, Richard Knight has received
forty-nine votes, Frederick Brown has received forty-seven votes, W.
T. Morris has received forty-nine votes, cast at an election held at
Potto watomie meeting-house/' &c., &c.
Signed and dated October 9, 1855.
JOHN T. GRANT,
CYRUS TAYLOR,
DAVID BALDWIN,
Judges,
Attest: WM. N. WOODS,
JOHN GL MOORE, Clerks,
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Little Sugar Creek Precinct.
Poll-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitution
for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of
A. D. 1855.
Julius Wilhoit Solomon Copple
Temple Wayne Hiram Daniels
Rohert Throckmorton Enoch Oshorn
M. A. Morris A. Gr. Copple
John Gr. Pierce John Fouts
Leander Fouts H. M. Gihhs
Coppe Phillip R. W. Bradley
A. F. Sellers W. T. Turner
Sam'l Meckel Michael Kanavare
Isaac Jackson David Reese
H. Goodpasture . S. B. Floyd
J. B. Pyler D. F. Park
John Eerstep D. W. Cannan
William Many F. A. Hamilton
Levi Ward William Nickel..
William B. Perry
[No certificate.]
The certificate is in the usual printed form, "That William Tur-
ner has received thirty-two votes, James M, Arthur has received
thirty-two votes, M. J. Morris has received thirty-two votes, Orville
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 681
C. Brown has received thirty-two votes, Frederick Brown has received
thirty-two votes, Kichard Knight has received thirty-two votes, Ham-
ilton Smith has received thirty-two votes, cast at an election held at
Little Sugar Creek precinct/' &c.
Signed and dated October 9, 1855.
D. REESE,
S. B. FLOYD,
ENOCH OSBORN,
Attest: D. F. PARK, Judges,
DAVID W. C ANN AN, Clerks.
FIFTH DISTRICT — Stanton Precinct.
Tally -list for delegates to form a State constitution.
William T. Turner 35 votes.
James A. Arthur 35 "
M. J. Morris 35 "
Orville C. Brown ' 35 "
Fred. Brown 35 "
Richard Knight 35 "
Hamilton Smith 35 "
Isaac Woollard 29 "
William G. Nichols.. T "
FIFTH DISTRICT — Alderman's house.
Judges' return.
We, the undersigned judges of an election held on the ninth of
October, A. D. 1855, at the Alderman house, in the fifth election
district, for the election of a delegate to 34th Congress of the United
States, and for delegates to the constitutional convention, do hereby
certify upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is
a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election, by law-
ful resident voters.
For delegate to Congress, Andrew H. Reeder has received thirteen
votes.
For delegates for the constitutional convention, Hiram Hoover has
received thirteen votes, Mahlon T. Morris nine votes, James M.
Arthur nine votes, William R. Turner eight votes.
MORGAN DICKS,
THOMAS BOWEN,
HIRAM HOOVER,
Attest : ENOS STRAWN, Judges of election.
WM. K. VAILL, Clerks.
682
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTH DISTRICT. — House of Richard J. Farqua.
Tally-list of votes for Congress, and for the convention to form a State
constitution, October 9, 1855.
Delegate to Congress, A. H. Eeeder 12 votes.
For delegates to constitutional convention :
W. R. Griffith 12 votes.
John Hamilton 12 "
A. W. J. Brown 12 "
William Saunders 12 "
" We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby cer-
tify upon our oaths, that Andrew H. Reeder has received twelve votes
for delegate to Congress; and that William R. Griffith, John Hamil-
ton, A. W. Brown, and William Saunders each received twelve votes,
cast at an election held at the house of Richard J. Farqua," &c., as
in the printed form.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
Attest: GEO. W. GOODRICH,
JACOB SHERLOCK, Clerics.
R. J. FARQUA,
WM. C. KEETH,
H. W. HUMPHREY,
Judges.
SIXTH DISTRICT — Scott Town Precinct.
List of voters for delegates to convention, October 9, 1855,
1 Marion Medlen
2 Gaston Reeves
3 Gilford Noris
4 James Johnson
5 Hiram Hayward
6 John Moberly
7 David Ward
8 Henry Bennett
9 A. W. J. Brown
10 Thomas Burgess
11 David Dotson
12 Isam Prewett
13 Giles Later
14 William Darden
15 William Later
1G Hiram Cable
1*7 Augustus Todd
18 Thomas Owen
19 John Kyzer
20 D. D. Brown
21 Edmond Henly
22 G. W. Jackson
23 Anderson Raye
24 Davis Parsons
25 James Hertson
26 Hiram Ward
27 A. Jones
TaUy-list.
Delegates to convention :
A. H. Brown 26 votes.
T. H. Burgess 24 "
John Hamilton 27 "
W. J. Griffith.. 27 "
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 683
SIXTH DISTRICT. — Columbia Precinct.
Tally-list.
A. EL Keeder 20 votes.
James H. Phenis 20 "
" We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that James H. Phenis has received twenty votes, cast
at an election held at Columbia," &c., as in the printed form.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
PHILIP COOK,
JAS. H. PHENIS,
THOMAS J. ADDES,
Attest : JESSE J. WHITSON, Judges.
PETER A. PHENIS, Clerics.
Judge's certificate.
LAWRENCE, September 22, 1855.
SIR : Having entire confidence in your integrity, patriotism, and
ability, you have been selected, and are hereby appointed as one of
the judges of the election to be holden in your precinct, in the Terri-
tory of Kansas, at Columbia, on the second Tuesday (October ninth,)
for members of a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill of
rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for
organizing a State government, preparatory to the admission of
Kansas into the Union as a State.
Per order of executive committee of Kansas Territory.
J. H. LANE, Chairman.
J. K. GOODIN, Secretary.
[Endorsed " Philip Cook," and similar certificates addressed to
the other judges. Printed form.]
SEVENTH DISTRICT. — Council City Precinct.
PoU-list of voters for delegates to convention to form a constitution, Octo-
ber 9, 1855.
A. Smith Alexander Melison
Lewis D. Joy George Bonser
William Lord W. H. Toothman
John Drew I. B. Titus
Philip C. Schuyler Samuel Scott
George Bralton Charles Fish
David Condite Lucien Fish
Abel Policy Nicholas Schuyler.
684 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Frederick C. Upson Hiram Mills
L. T. Miller Jacob Beyer
William Drew Alexander Hoover
William Graham Adam Bothel
Hiram Graham Samuel A. Allison
Marcus 0. Rose William Tillinghast
Thiel Strite George M. Barnes
Harvey R. Hall J. W. Kerr
Stephen D. Smith James T. Miller
John Smith Joseph McDonald
M. H. Rose James R. Stewart
W. N. Havens David Hoover
Henry Morell E. M. Ferine
Harvey Eperson A. Leonard
G. J. Morell H. Black
John Lowry Robert Smith
Joseph Brown John Cozier
Jackson Mullers Oliver Philips
David Stanley Henry Zodel
John Crawford A. L. Watkins
Thomas Armden James Bothel
Samuel B. Harvey Victor McDonald
George M. Harvey James King.
" We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify,
upon our oaths, that the following persons, Josiah H. Pillsbury and
Philip 0. Schuyler have received the highest number of votes for del-
egates to Territorial convention, cast at an election held at Council
City, in the seventh district," &c., &c., as in the printed form.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
JOHN DREW,
WM. LORD,
Judges.
Attest : ABEL POLLEY.
Judge's Return.
We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 9th of Oc-
tober, A. D. 1855, at the house of I. B. Titus, in the precincts of
the seventh election district, for the election of a delegate to the 34th
Congress of the United States, do hereby certify upon our oaths, as
judges of said election, that the following is a true and correct re-
turn of the votes polled at such election, by lawful resident voters,
to wit: There was cast for Andrew H. Reeder at said election, for
Congressman, sixty-two votes ; and for Territorial convention, there
was cast sixty votes for Josiah H. Pillsbury delegate to the same;
and sixty votes cast for Philip C. Schuyler for delegate to said con-
vention. Two persons not voting for delegates to Territorial con-
vention that voted for Congressman.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 685
Done at Council City, within the precincts of the 7th district, this
9th day of October, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
JOHN DEEW,
WM. LORD.
EIGHTH DISTRICT. — Waubaunsee Precinct.
Poll-book. — List of voters who cast their ballots for delegates to a conven-
tion to form a constitution for Kansas, held this second Tuesday, the
ninth day of October, A. D. 1855.
Harry Jones Allen B. Lee
Henry S. Gilbert Cyrus Bishop
Henry Bisbey D. E. Adams
Peter Sharai G. W. Lee
Charles P. Far ns worth V. R. Morse
John C. Massman Bartholomew Sharai
Daniel L. Bates Lafayette W. Brown
Calvin H. Sawin E. R. McCurdy
Francis A. Abbott D. B. Hiatt
William B. Marshall Jno. H. Nesbitt
Jonathan M. Burley Horace W. Taylor
F. W. Ross George H. Hill
James M. Bisbey Harrison F, Brown,
E. E. Persons
The certificate as to the number and qualification of the voters is
in the usual form, signed as follows :
WAUBAUNSEE, October 9, 1855.
E. R. McCURDY,
J. M. BISBEY,
DANIEL B. HIATT,
Judges.
Attest : HORACE W. TAYLOR,
JOHN H. NESBITT, Clerks.
Tally-list of legal votes for delegates to the constitutional convention.
J. H. Pillsbury 27 votes.
P. C. Schuyler 27 "
E. R. McCURDY,
J. M. BISBEY,
DANIEL B. HIATT,
Judges,
Attest : JOHN H. NESBITT,
HORACE W. TAYLOR, Clerks.
686 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
EIGHTH DISTRICT. — Waubaunsee Precinct, (to fill a vacancy .)
Poll-book. — List of the names of legal voters who cast their votes for dele-
gate to convention, October 30, 1855.
H. T. Brown V. K. Morse
Geo. H Hill Hiram Tadder
D. L. Bates J. M. Bisby
P. Sharai Lafayette Brown
Henry Bisby J. H. Nesbitt.
HENRY BISBY,
V. K. MORSE,
J. M. BISBY,
Attest: D. L. BATES, Clerk. Judges.
Tally -list for delegate to convention.
J. H. Nesbitt 10 votes.
We, the undersigned, judges of the election held at the house oi
Peter Sharai, Waubaunsee, in the eight election district, to elect s
delegate to the constitutional convention, in place of J. H. Pillsbury.
resigned, declare the whole number of votes cast for J. H. Nesbitt tc
be ten. H. BISBY,
V. R. MORSE,
J. M. BISBY,
Attest: D. L. BATES, Clerk. Judges.
NINTH DISTRICT. — Pawnee Precinct.
List of voters wlio have cast their votes for delegates to a convention to
form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth
day of October, 1855.
1 Robert Klotz 15 John M. Moses
2 Henry Green 16 H. W. Martin
3 S. B. White 17 Matthew Mudcator
4 Adolph Kurtze 18 John Jarahass
5 R. Whitehare 19 George Peacock
6 F. Vember 20 John Pipe
7 George Blesch 21 Isaac Bigtree
8 J. H. Green 22 S. P. Higgins
9 R. Leavitt Lincoln 23 Silas Klotz
10 Reuben Kleintop 24 John C. Bertolett
11 Isaac H. Loder 25 Charles Weidkrecht
12 Alexander Shaw 56 Joseph Barry
13 Diversica Fursom 2*7 John Hibler
14 Charles Albright 28 Benjamin Kleintop
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 687
29 Patrick Chandit 53 Lemuel Knapp
30 G-eorge Taylor 54 Samuel Allen
31 J. M. Myers 55 S. W. Johnson
32 Thomas Bickerton 56 R. H. Higgins
33 William H. Moore 5*7 John Holbrook
34 Milton Buher 58 T. H. Mills
35 George F. Brown 59 Thomas Blacklin
36 J. C. Conter 60 James Holse
37 Samuel Hill 61 J. B. Dickerson
38 Emery P. Lockhart 62 Benj. Coppenhaven
39 James S. Rhodes 63 W. H. Mackey
40 Johnson Mclntire 64 C. More
41 O. F. Gordon 65 C. G. Nolan
42 William M. McClure 66 Franz Hogg
43 James B. Alexander 67 James Chrers
44 Jacob Swartwood 68 Adam Kelber
45 J. W. Stewart 69 John Schumaker
46 Jeremiah Younkin 70 R. H. Hammond
47 G. M. Fountain 71 W. C. Gibbons
48 Joseph McClure 72 Abraham Barry
49 Jacob Butcher 73 William Grace
50 Charles A. Berry 74 David German
51 G. W. Marston 75 A. B. Marchol
52 J. 0. Sawyer 76 G-eorge Darling.
[The certificate appended to the poll-list fails to state the number
of voters, and is therefore of no value, except as to the qualification
of voters. The words quoted in the other certificate, as to the five
Wyandot Indians, are repeated in this.]
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitution
for Kansas j held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of October ,
A. D. 1855.
Robert Klotz 53
A. Hunting 54
"We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that Robert Klotz has received fifty-three votes, and
A. Hunting fifty-four votes, cast at an election held at Pawnee," &c.,
as in the printed form. They add to the printed certificate that the
voters were white male inhabitants "(except five, who are members
of the Wyandot tribe of Indians)."
PAWNEE, October 9, 1855.
S. P. HIGGINS,
WM. M. McCLURE,
LEONARD KNAPP,
Judges.
Attest: J. B. DICKERSON,
J. M. MYERS, Clerks.
688
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
TENTH DISTRICT. — Big Blue Precinct.
Poll-book. — List of voters ivho cast their ballots for delegates to a con-
vention to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tues-
day, the ninth day of October, A. D. 18%5.
1 Harry Whiteside
2 Henry B. Nealy
3 S. Whitehorne
4 S. P. Lincoln
5 M. L. Wisner
6 J. E. Wood
7 S. B. McKenzie
8 H. B. Leonard
9 0. H. Lovejoy
10 A. Hunting
11 Rezin Arnold
12 William S. Arnold
13 Christian Goty
14 Samuel Hensley
15 J. Stewart
16 Henry Condray
17 Minchey Condray
18 E. E. Blood
19 William C. Dyer
20 William Jacobs
21 E. M. Thurston
22 Peter Neyhart
23 William Hanna
24 David Hays
25 Samuel Carnahan
26 Thomas C. Wells
27 John Gill
28 C. N. Wilson
29 S. D. Houston
30 M. E. Gennis
31 J. P. Hare
32 T. B. Hare
33 James Hare
34 James Johnson
35 Thomas Baftree
36 Henry Green
37 Asahel G. Allen
38 Simon Perry
39 Ehraim Adkins
41 C. W. Beehee
42 Ambrose Todd
43 Joseph Hays
44 J. P. Goodnow
45 J. W. Dyer
46 B. M. Whilden
47 Geo. W. Eubank
48 William Carroll
49 Samuel Hays
50 Seth J. Childs
51 Tenman Shadduck
52 Stephen B. Barns
53 Joseph Denison
54 John Morris
55 Thomas W. Platt
56 Lorenzo West over
57 Newell Trafton
58 E. Hunting
59 J. D. Heald
60 J. B. Smith
61 Asaph Browning
62 Thomas Bandolph
63 John Randolph
64 J. F. Hofficker
65 John McCorusey
66 W. W. Davis
67 Willard Whitney
68 William McCorusey
69 John Flagg
70 Cornelius N. Low
71 John Hoar
72 John Hudson
73 John Mails
74 John Sonpene
75 Augustus Wattles
76 David Ward
77 Jacob Thier
78 Christopher Thomas
79 Moody B. Powers
80 A. H. Powers.
40 Henry Bishop
[The certificate to the poll-list fails to state the number of voters,
but is good as to their qualifications — the printed form being used.]
Signed, Juniata, October 9, 1855. J. STEWART,
PETER NEYHART,
WILLIAM HANNA,
Attest: C. N. WILSON, Judges.
THOMAS C. WELLS, Clerks.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 689
TENTH DISTRICT. — Big Blue Precinct.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion for Kansas, held on'this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo-
ber, A. D. 1855.
Dr. A. Hunting 64 votes.
Kobert Klotz T3 "
" We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer-
tify upon our oaths, that Dr. A. Hunting has received sixty-four
votes, and Robert Klotz has received seventy-three votes, cast at an
election held at the tenth precinct/' &c., as in the printed form ; to
which is added, " except voters who have been here eighteen days."
JUNIATA, October 9, 1855. J. STEWART,
WM. HANNA,
PETER NEYHART,
Attest : C. N. WILSON, Judges.
THOMAS C. WELLS, Clerks.
TENTH DISTRICT. — Bock Creek Precinct.
Poll-book. — List of voters who cast their ballots for delegates to a conven-
tion to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday,
the ninth day of October, A. D. 1855.
John Adams R. Wilson
Moses Jenkins Henry Rodex
William Seymour Zacharias Kabor
William H. Wilson William Seymour
John Midey Henry Hoffman
Michael Flush James Long
Mathias Flush John J. Davis
William Jenkins Charles Jenkins
John Myers James Darnell
Theophilus Dickets T. F. Jenkins
Julius Berger F. H. Jenkins
Michael Rapp Henry Rammelt
Francis Burgrow Andrew Nolle
John King J. H. Haide
A. Dickets Andrew Lamer,
(The certificate to the poll-list fails to state the number of voters,,
but is good as to their qualifications, the printed form being used.)
ROCK CREEK, October 9, 1855. JAMES DARNELL,
CHARLES JENKINS,
HENRY RAMMELT,
Attest : J. E. DAVIS, Judges,
WM. S. SEYMOUR. Clerks.
H. Rep, 200 44*
690 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Judges and clerks' certificate.
u We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer«
tify upon our oaths, that Dr. A. Hunting and Kohert Klotz have re-
ceived thirty (30) votes, cast at an election held at Eock Creek pre-
cinct," &c., &c., as in the printed form.
KOCK CREEK, October 9, 1855. JAMES DAENELL,
CHAELES JENKINS,
HENEY EAMMELT,
Judges,
Attest : J. E. DAVIS,
WM. S. SEYMOUR, Clerks.
ELEVENTH DISTRICT. — Black Vermillion Precinct.
List of voters wlio have cast their ballots for delegates to a convention ft
form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the nintA
day of October, A. D. 1855.
James A. Smith Lonse Bellow
John Herron Henrick Hollenherg
William Harmon Zachariah Duman
Frederick Brockmeyer William Sanders
Leven Jessen S. W. Furhay
William Thule A. M. Bell
Henry Brockmeyer Kees Furhay.
Following the list are these words: "14 total numher of votes ca&
for delegates." "At house of Henry Hollenhurg."
[The certificate omits to state the numher of voters, hut it is goodai
to their qualifications ; the printed form "being used.]
OCTOBER 9, 1855. H. HOLLENBUEa,
F. DUMAN,
WM. SAUNDEES,
Judges.
Attest : S. W. FURBAY,
A. M. BELL, Clerks.
TWELFTH DISTRICT. — Silver Lake Precinct.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitti
tion for Kansas, held on this second Saturday, the I3th of October
A. D. 1855.
Martin F. Conway 12 votes.
Joseph M. Coles 18
John G. Thompson 21 "
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 691
Following the tally-list,, the vote for each candidate is correctly
stated ; but the blank in the printed certificate is not filled. It is,
however, signed by the judges and clerks, and is good as to the quali-
fication of voters.
OCTOBER 13, 1855. JOHN G. THOMPSON,
JOHN W. HOPKINS,
E. K. BEKNARDY,
Judges.
Attest: J. Gr. THOMPSON,
JOHN W. HOPKINS, Clerks.
TWELFTH DISTRICT. — St. Mary's Precinct.
List of voters who have cast their ballots for delegates to a convention to
form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the 9fc&
day of October, A, D. 1855.
1 A. Higbee 11 Stephen Hopkins
2 D. S. Garrison 12 P. B. Dean
3 Charles Dean 13 J. P. Wilson
4 Philip Werner 14 B. C. Dean
5 John Leonard 15 Parmer McCartney
6 B. 0. Menger 16 C. Milet
7 J. B. Dackern IT A. Peltier
8 S. L. Horn 18 J. L. Wilson
9 F. Shaffer 19 Augustus Becker.
10 H. Oslerhouse
Certificate in the usual printed form, signed St. Mary's precinct,
October 9, 1855, J. P. WILSON,
BENJ. C, DEAN,
OSCAB B. DEAN,
Judges.
Attest: J. P. WILSON,
OSCAR B. DEAN, Clerics,
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a State con-
stitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of
October, A. D. 1855.
For Martin F, Conway 20 votes.
Printed certificate properly filled, and signed October 9, 1855.
3 J. P. WILSON,
OSCAR B. DEAN,
BENJ. C. DEAN,
Attest: J. P. WILSON, Judges.
0, B. DEAN, Clerks.
692
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT. — Falls Precinct.
List of voters for delegates to a convention to form a constitution, het
at Falls precinct, thirteenth district, October 9, 1855.
1 John Weaver
2 William Millikan
3 Peter Taylor
4 Henry Morris
5 Chalmers Scott
6 John W. Clark
V Michael Hasler
8 John Roberts
9 Theophilus Jolly
10 George S. Hillyer
11 Richard Hull
12 Thomas Moiney
13 Francis J. Crowberger
14 Henly Mendenhall
15 George T. Donaldson
16 John Conway
IV Samuel Johnson
18 Payton Roderick
19 John Ernst
20 William Catt
21 William Grigsbee
•22 J. K. Williams
JTo certificate.
23 Ephraim Cowman
24 Jacob Webber
25 Henry Webber
26 Henry Conn
2T William Cowen
28 Daniel Willey
29 Martin Vanderborg
30 Benjamin Wise
31 John Roderick
32 Nathaniel Hart
33 Fayette P. Hart
34 Jesse B. Taylor
35 Marshall N. Hart
36 Sidney Scanlin
3V John Hughan
38 John McDowell
39 Alexander Hughan
40 Stephen H. Dunn
41 John B. Ross
42 Jacob Fisher
43 William Boles.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constiti
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the %th day of Octobet
1855, at Falls precinct, thirteenth district.
George S. Hillyer 43 votes.
William Grigsbee 41 "
" We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby ce
tify upon our oaths, that George S. Hillyer has received forty-thr
votes, and William Grigsbee forty-one votes, cast at an election hei
at Falls precinct," &c., in the usual printed form.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
S.
J.
J.
Attest : CHALMERS SCOTT,
PETER TAYLOR, Clerks.
H. DUNN,
B. ROSS,
W. CLARK,
JudgeSt
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 693
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT. — Pleasant Hill Precinct.
k List of voters wlio have cast their ballots for delegates to a convention to
form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the %ik
day of October, 1855.
1 William Hicks 23 Sidney Stewart
2 Andrew Francis 24 Aaron Cook
3 Lewis Hoover 25 G. B. Hall
4 Robert Ward 26 Stephen Ogan
5 Nathan Adams 27 James Dempsey
6 John A. Pepers 28 Daniel Damert
7 Lewis Remiatte 29 John Buzhee
8 Philip Kepler 30 Leonard Buzbee
9 James E. Stevenson 31 Abram Smith
10 Hugh McGehee 32 Alexander McDonald
11 John Nichols 33 Aaron Smith
12 Nathan Griffiths 34 Alexander McDonald, jr.
13 William C. Walker 35 James G. Points
14 James Griffiths 36 Henry Owens
15 Jacob A. Brown 37 William Butler
16 Rufus W. Rice 38 Thomas Mount
17 Joseph Dunn 39 Ashberry Kepler
18 John H. Brown 40 William B. Ward
19 Nathan Cory 41 William Duck
20 Byron Stewart 42 Thomas McGehee
21 Richard S. Bunker 43 James C. Ward
22 Ephraim Bainter
Poll-list properly certified and signed as follows :
PLEASANT HILL, October 9, 1855. ROBERT WARD,
NATHAN ADAMS,
WILLIAM HICKS,
Attest : ANDREW J. FRANCIS, Judges.
LEWIS HOOVER, Clerics.
rally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitution,
held on this second Tuesday, the $th day of October, A. D. 1855.
William Hicks , 43 votes.
J. Whitney 43 "
Printed certificate properly filled and signed as follows :
PLEASANT HILL, October 9, 1855. ROBERT WARD,
NATHAN ADAMS,
WILLIAM HICKS,
Attest : ANDREW J. FRANCIS, Judges.
LEWIS HOOVER, Clerks.
694 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FOUKTEENTH DISTRICT. — Doniphan Precinct.
PoU-boo'k of voters who have cast their ballots for delegates to a convex
tion to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesdai
the ninth day of October, A. D. 1855.
1 Samuel Collins 22 B. G. Cody ^
2 William Peopges 23 Alexander Ringord
3 Norman Alexander 24 Lawrence Gunderson
4 D. M. Field 25 Kinder Nelson
5 Luther Dickerson 26 Josten A. Josten
6 Lyman Oaks, jr, 27 Robert Rockey
7 Lyman Oaks, sr. 28 Monroe Ledington
8 William P. Irwiii 29 William Ledington
9 Robert Mealer 30 Barnard Bradley
10 John Snider 31 William Colcott
11 Benjamin McCan 32 Lonson Mealer
12 Thomas Collins 33 Richard Tuck
13 B. R. Wilmott 34 Gunder Tronson
14 G. A. Cutler 35 John Steiz
15 Thomas Cook 36 J. H. Whittaker
16 John McNamee 37 T. D. Hoffman
17 Peter Olison 38 John Landis
18 0. G. Lock 39 J. H. Gilbert
19 N. Tomson 40 Wm. H. Wills
20 Oly Homson 41 Thomas Lawton
21 John Bell 42 William Smith.
The certificate as to the number and qualification of the voters
in the usual form, signed as follows :
DONIPHAN, October 9, 1855. JOHN H. WHITTAKER,
T. D. HOFFMAN,
J. LANDIS,
Judges.
Attest: P. LOTJGHLIN,
THOMAS COLLINS, Clerks.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constit
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Oci
ler, A. D. 1855.
George A. Cutler 42
John Landis , 42
D. M. Field 42
C. M. Stewart 42
uWe, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certi
upon our oaths, that John Landis, George A. Cutler, D. M. Fiel
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 695
and C. M. Stewart, have received forty-two votes, at an election held
at Doniphan precinct," &c., as in the printed form.
DONIPHAN, October 9, 1855.
JOHN H. WHITTAKER,
T. D. HOFFMAN,
J. LANDIS, Judges.
Attest: T. COLLINS,
P. LOUGHLIN, Clerics.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT. — Palermo Precinct.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion/or Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo-
ber, A. D. 1855.
G. A. Cutler , 40
John Landis 40
D. M. Field 40
C. M. Stewart 39
"We, the under signed, judges and clerks of election, herehy certify
upon our oaths, that G. A. Cutler, John Landis, and D. M. Field
have received forty votes, and C. M. Stewart has received thirty-nine
votes, cast at an election held at Palermo precinct/' &c., &c., as in
the printed form.
PALERMO, October 9, 1855.
NATHAN D. WHITE,
WILLIAM CHAPMAN,
Attest: WM. BRITTAIN, Judges.
OLIVER R. HOWE, Clerics.
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT. — Burr Oak Precinct.
Poll-book of voters who cast their ballots for delegates to a convention to
form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth
day of October, 1855.
1 Alfred Langden 11 Jacob Zander (sworn)
2 Wm. M. E. F. Greer 12 Jacob 0. Rooke (sworn)
3 W. H. High 13 John T. Brady
4 William Keaton 14 Benjamin Harding
5 Robert McSpanner 15 Samuel S. Shelton
6 William Jourdan 16 William Newman
*1 Samuel Piles 17 John Yeatman
8 John Rhodes 18 Caspian Lanmer
9 F. Leher (sworn) 19 Richard Hunley
10 A. Grooms 20 James M. Grooms
696 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
21 Charles Eggers 28 E. S. Davis
22 John Stantorf 29 Thomas C. Stewart
23 James Kendall 30 A. A. Jamison
24 Nelson Abhy 31 Mathew Isles
25 A. Zezean 32 Henderson Small wood
26 Abs. Grooms 33 E. P. Weaver.
27 G. H. Bryan
[No certificate to the poll-list.]
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion/or Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo-
ber, A. D. 1855.
G. A. Cutler 33
John Landis 33
C. M. Stewart 33
D. M. Field 33
"We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that G. A. Cutler has received thirty-three votes,
John Landis has received thirty-three votes, C. M. Stewart has re-
ceived thirty-three votes, D. M. Field has received thirty-three votes,
cast at an election held at B. Harding's, in Burr Oak precinct," &c.7
as in the printed form.
BURR OAK, October 9, 1855.
HENDERSON SMALLWOOD,
MATHEW ISLES,
A. A. JAMISON, Judges.
Attest: HENDERSON SMALLWOOD,
A. A. JAMISON, Clerks.
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT. — (Walnut Creek*) Precinct.
Poll-list of voters who l)alloted for delegates to a convention to form a
constitution for Kansas, October 9, 1855, at precinct, I5th
district.
1 H. B. Gale 8 John R. ShifT
2 B. Y. Edwards 9 Charles J. Foster
3 James Le Sale 10 Henry C. Sutton
4 Jackson B. Crow 11 John Howse
5 Lewis Shiif 12 Henry Owens
6 William Morganson 13 S. J. Elliott
T John A. Beeher 14 James Holloway
The words "Walnut creek" erased.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 697
15 Robert T. Parks 23 M. Seely
16 Mailin Kleim 24 Stanford McDaniel
17 John Strum 25 Harrison D. Patterson
18 James H. Yants 26 Philip Baker
19 Thomas Newman 27 E. R. Zimmerman -
20 David Halls 28 John Miller
21 Charles P. Allgea 29 John C. Ridgeway
22 Thomas J. Aliff 30 Joseph F. Musser.
[No certificate to the poll-list.]
No tally-list, but the following certificate :
"We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby cer-
tify, upon our oaths, that Stanford McDaniel has received 30 votes,
James S. Sayle 30 votes, H. B. Gale 28 votes, and Charles S. Fos-
ter 2 votes, being the full number cast at an election held at the
fifteenth election precinct/' &c., as in the printed form, except that
the voters are said to be bona-fide residents "at the time of election/' and
not for thirty days.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
CHARLES S. FOSTER,
STANFORD McDANIEL,
JACKSON-B. CRANE,
Attest: MEPJMAN SEELY, Judges.
BENJAMIN F. EDWARDS, Clerics.
The returns are accompanied by the u judges' certificate" of ap-
pointment, with their oaths endorsed on the back. (See forms.)
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT. — Crosby's Store Precinct.
Poll-list of voters who balloted for delegates to a convention to form a
constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day
of October, A. D. 1855.
1 Daniel F. Graham 16 J. W. Elliott
2 Beverly W. Dureese 17 James Dougherty
3 E. Landrum 18 E. Peck
4 Luther Knox 19 W. H. Stewart
5 E. Jones 20 Stephen McAvet
6 Caleb May 21 T. B. Elliott
7 William Crosby 22 Lewis Minch
8 R. H. Crosby ' 23 Sam'l Rider
9 G. W. Johnston 24 Daniel Campbell
10 Joseph Trocax 25 Miles T. Perry
11 G. W. Cobb 26 John Graves
12 John Abbott 27 William Landrum
13 John Hart 28 H. J. Rust
14 Thomas Duncan 29 Hiram Perry.
15 A. Elliott
698 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
" We hereby certify that the numher of votes cast at this election
amounts to twenty-nine for Cobb, May, and E. H. Crosby."
CALEB MAY,
E. LANDRUM,
WM. CROSBY,
Attest: MILES CARLTON, Judges.
R. H. CROSBY, Clerks.
There is no tally-list, hut the officers certify as follows :
" We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify,
upon our oaths, that Caleb May and R. H. Crosby each have received
twenty-nine votes, cast at an election held at the store of Crosby
& Co., Oceana precinct, and 15th election district," &c., as in the
printed form.
OCTOBER 9, 1855. CALEB MAY,
E. LANDRUM,
WM. CROSBY,
Attest: MILES CARLTON, Judges.
R. H. CROSBY, Clerics.
This return is accompanied by the commissions or authority of
judges of elections, signed by J. H. Lane; and by the oaths of the
judges. (See the form.)
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT. — Leavenwortli Precinct.
Poll-list of Leavenworih.
1 William Brown 20 A. Fisher
2 Thomas Shankland 21 Charles E. Pearson
3 William Phillips 22 J. W. Skinner
4 J. K. Edsell 23 H. R. Hook
5 G. N. Propper 24 C. F. Warren
6 Thomas S. Slocum 25 G-. J. Park
7 Ely Wilson 26 J. L. Rounds
8 A. W. Walker 27 M. E. Clark
9 C. Wilson 28 R. Morrison
10 J. A. Wilson 29 Jesse Kirkham
11 James C. Wilson 30 James Lillie
12 S. N. Latta 31 J. Conroy
13 P. Lane 32 John Kelley
14 Charles Putnam 33 W. S. Coleman
15 Jerad Phillips 34 B. S. Hughes
16 D. C. Ames 35 J. Ream
IT A. S. Downey 36 Alex. Chas. Kasky
18 William G. Marvin 37 John Valkavitz
19 W. Anthony 38 W. GL Simpson
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
699
39 S. Mollyausky
40 E. Furguson
41 D. Brown
42 J. Brace
43 D. W. Lane
44 N. Myers Sayre
45 A. Kisten
46 John Allen
47" John Warren
48 E. F. Powell
49 E. Boss
50 H. C. Gardner
51 T. Pemerill^
52 James Kastien
53 P. Malon
54 Thomas Shawn
55 A. Hoelean
56 M. Galeher
57" James Polka
58 G. W. McLane
59 John Kogchinck
60 William Long
61 John Zimmerman
62 Charles Milten
63 Charles Knownan
64 J. Near
65 Thomas Welsh
66 M. Rowe
67 Charles Lockamyer
68 J. W. Baker
69 C. Harris
70 John Link
71 A. Heynhrook
72 Alexander Reed
73 William Browley
74 W. Howl
75 A, Near
76 E. O'Reily
77 Peter Smith
78 A. Lipstone
79 H. Tucker
80 R. Wisener
81 S. Miller
82 R. P. Brown
83 J. W. Liedez
84 William L. Bilsden
85 John Gleeson
86 William Bentley
87 John B. Ross
88 R. G. Newlin
89 William H. Wells
90 D. Sullivan
91 A. Foster
92 B. Jennings
93 P. Garvy
94 James Meade
95 Charles Robinson
96 S. Breeden
97 H. Grovener
98 S. Burns
99 H. S. Wilson
100 T. H. Doyle
101 A. Lerell
102 J. Hall
103 John H. McClelland
104 D. M. F. Talliford
105 H. C. Sremp
106 B. C. Harris
107 M. W. Delahay
108 Henry Fisher
109 George Russell
110 A. Bechin
111 John Hess
112 F. Gardner
113 John Gorman
114 D. Dodge
115 J. F. Bowman
116 Thomas Sayles
117 S. E. Bird
118 Edward Killen
119 Henry Bentz
120 William Fracker
121 Henry Hare
122 William 0. Canden
123 Thomas Crawford
124 C. Beane
125 J. Howell
126 John Perry
127 W. L. Ship
128 George Witherell
129 John Stanley
130 L. A. Goodrich
131 G. W. Gardner
132 H. H. Johnson
133 M. McCracken
134 C. Salser
135 James Madden
136 W. McGraw
137 James Wallace
138 G. G. Camphell
139 William R. Rutter
140 R. B. Roberts
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
141 Robert Bright
142 J. B. Lackey
143 John J. Fulton
144 John Ronndy
145 William Ncwcomb
146 J. B. Richouso
147 Jacob Shobel
148 D. C. Smith
149 Peter Rexeker
150 John Williams
151 John Hoegner
1§2 L. Werx
153 John Kok
154 D. S. Morton
155 D. Com stock
156 Alexander Maltby
157 C. Fiders
158 B. Bennett
159 J. Decin
160 W. M. Jones
161 Henry Edw-irds
162 Thomas Donelson
163 William Lanner
164 William Con way
165 John O'Niel
166 A. R. Reddin
167 J. S. Spear
168 E. Jessey
169 Paul R. Orr
170 F. Nile
171 A. Mayner
172 J. Bucler
173 W. G. Weiblin
174 John Thompson
175 William Ashern
176 J. H. Bird
177 J. C. Green
178 Thomas Bishop
179 George Copelt
180 H. J. Adams
181 John Owens
182 William H. Hefsley
183 William Wallace
184 F. Hickman
185 W. Gehart
186 A. J. Spalding
187 James Lewis
188 G. P. Elliott
189 G. Brooker
190 M. SliaDe
191 A. M. Sevier
192 John Farrisk
193 A. Stexvart
194 H. C. Fields
195 B. S. Brown
196 J. B. McAffee
197 V. Lucas
198 J. Heiss
199 William Corman
200 C. Morric
201 B. Lambert
202 F. Denlyten
203 W. Seven
204 E. Fracken
205 J. Strabek
206 Otto Beolar
207 Fred. Beolar
208 Charles H. Pearce
209 S. Warrcnburg
210 Alex. Mongondy
211 G. Genesebery
212 A. Hyen
213 Uti Robert
214 John Coben
215 George M. Barr
216 Henry Decker
217 A. Neff
218 Thomas Turnbnll
219 Terry Crutchfield
220 John Rup
221 F. Webber
222 C. W. Lucas
223 George Leddle
224 E. Wentworth
225 E. Whitney
226 John Wright
227 F. Waymind
228 John Kelly
229 Thomas Morgan
230 William Morgan
231 John Stanton
232 L. B. Snow
233 W. Wakefield
234 J. Clark
235 George H. Keller
236 Charles Jones
237 D. H. Cook
238 John A. King
239 James Eldridge
240 M. Whiteman
241 H. Bleddner
242 Thomas Cass
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
701
243 James Murphy
244 H. Brown
245 W. Engleman
246 J. E. Gould
247 B. Luce
248 J. M. Christman
249 P. T. Luce
250 George Brucker
251 William Woods
252 Wood Leberton
253 Ira P. Georgeus
254 A. S. Kyle
255 John Grime
256 Peter May
257 C. Sieves
258 L. P. Pattie
259 T. Phiffen
260 N. Creste
261 H. Blyle
262 F. Bentz
263 B. J. Bringan
264 A. M. Latty
265 George French
266 John Bronson
267 P. Palmer
268 J. Leghltred
269 W. Thornhergh
270 Peter Meneir
271 William Berin
272 John Agle
273 John Alutstein
274 John Sedler
275 William Abus
276 James Davis
277 W. Shellen
278 J. S. Sauner
279 James Dugan
280 John H. Bird
281 M. Mahony
282 S. H. Brady
283 A. D. Buck
284 F. L. Salter
285 E. Coften
286 P. Warnett
287 James E. Gant
288 Is. McCullugh
289 G. M. Burress
290 J. Halsey
291 H. Millerson
292 L. J. Wallace
293 James France
294 Alexander Mann
295 James Knoff
296 C. W. Scroop
297 J. M. Scroop
298 C. D. Hicks
299 William Kasey
300 Levy Slye
301 G. Shull
302 E. P. Abbott
303 W. E. Parrott
304 J Cunningham
305 J. F. Troy
306 John Smith
307 F. G. Hook
308 B. Miller
309 F. Butts
310 S. Metzger
311 George P. Bocroft
312 James P. Ourren
313 M. Burke
314 James Cade
315 John Freborn
316 Thomas Hammond
317 William Catt
318 John Bager
319 C. Dengler
320 Samuel Ankerfer
321 M. H. S. Miller
322 James Ray
323 H. Ward
324 John MclSFaman
325 Charles H. Dodge
326 P. Carney
327 John Flett
328 John Vincent
329 A. Litton
330 S. E. Kelberg
331 A. Snyder
332 M. Harley
333 E. M. Mackemer
334 William Chambers
335 C. Austin
336 John H. Slatten
337 G. W. Hollies
338 William Higgins
339 L. Ruchny
340 James Huesting
341 D. Colden
342 William Cox
343 J. Cranley
344 G. Long
702
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
345 John Butts
346 John Russell
347 George McKenna
348 C. Sante
349 0. Phate
350 John A. Miller
351 J. S. Werden
352 D. Short
353 Thomas Shumaker
354 P. Fredrick
355 Geo. Myberth
356 John Francis
357 C. Bann
358 John Williams
359 J. Smith
360 George Myer
361 George Coakley
362 C.Harrington
363 M. Eldridge
364 James Waldock
365 John Kennett
366 P. M. Barber
367 Charles Smith
368 H. Portman
369 J. Minik
370 Henry Keller
371 J. McMinnie
372 Jacob Sutton
373 T. Eckler
374 D. 0. Keffen
375 F. Peck
376 John Brown
377 James Martin
378 H. Bleckner
379 W. J. Card
380 M. J. Parrott
381 M. D. Short
382 H. H. C. Harrison
383 John Sullivan
384 George Henderson
385 D. Murphy
386 John Brabacker
387 Thomas Lanem
388 C. C. Cady
389 J. B. McGinnis
390 J. A. Lancaster
391 D. A. Smith
392 Geo. Fillman
393 Andrew Deitz
394 S. Fuller
395 Geo. Luggeder
396 Fed. Buck
397 T. Mewhinney
398 John Hoffman
399 Fr. Grenwell
400 Charles Gryer
401 John Jacob
402 John Bohea
403 William. Veis
404 John F. Bomell
405 D. B. Dickson
406 Mark Welch
407 John Smith
408 (Jereslawn)
409 A. B. Howe
410 I. Woman
411 Adam Mill
412 William Pean
413 John Heckett
414 Thomas Murphy
415 William Smith
416 Wm. J. Percifer
417 J. R. Clark
418 A. S. Palleper
419 J. McCarty
420 John Killerhan
421 L, M. Par
422 J. Beoler
423 Hecks
424 T. Silkman
425 Wm. Alexander
426 Col A. Gurney
427 J. William
428 John Griffiths
429 S. McEverds
430 J. S. Gorham
431 Geo. M. Whassey
432 James Dare
433 Samuel Bard
434 Charles Myers
435 John Davis
436 C. Peters
437 D. Dulin
438 Edward Mahouey
439 H. Dontt
440 Thomas Caffer
441 John Kelly
442 J. Lester
443 Joseph Palmer
444 H. Storm
445 L. Lerfland
446 James McSidn
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
703
447 John E. Comb
448 George Cleson
449 M. E. Merrett
450 Flu Hasbrick
451 J. W. Mezerd
452 A. A. Haskill
453 T. A. Haskill
454 James Hallam
455 Lin McCarty
456 William Cashmere
457 M. Conroy
458 Thomas Slime
459 George W. Wood
460 E. Latter
461 A. Drink
462 L..Fosnelle
463 George L. Gem
464 George Harvey
465 W. McFarland
466 Samuel Hawkins
467 James Birch
468 C. Gehus
469 F. Nedae
470 D. Bland
471 Thomas Hamilton
472 Thomas Glunen
473 John Rcerry
474 William Hines
475 S. E. Bergy
476 William Kelly
477 W. Henny
478 Peter McGild
479 W. A. Rickern
480 Horace Wahen
[No certificate.]
481 Charles L. Krafer
482 C. Lewis
483 J. H. Sanders
484 H. Smith
485 James King
486 James Jones
487 J. C. Smith
488 W. Sawo
489 Y. Payden
490 James Haws
491 A. Graffe
492 G. Lenden
493 J. Walden
494 C. W. Burden
495 S. W. Wood
496 John Refferty
497 Samuel Green
498 L. P. Brim
499 G. W. Martin
500 William Philips
501 A. Kelsey
502 A. Way
503 S. Griffiths
504 Edward Setler
505 V. Gates
506 B. H. Otis
507 John Lewis
508 John Presner
509 P. Watson
510 Charles Real
511 James Newell
512 C. W. Sperry
513 J. S. Sumhu
514 John Luskey.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitution
for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of October,
1855.
M. J. Parrott 492 votes. •
M. W. Delahay 495 "
Matt France 493 "
D. Dodge 493 "
S. W. Lattie 493 "
Robert Riddle.. 493 '"
704
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
" We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, herehy cer-l
tify upon our oaths, that M. J. Parrott has received four hundred andi
ninety-two votes, M. W. Delahay four hundred and ninety-five votes,]
Matt France four hundred and ninety-three votes, S. W. Lattie fourH
hundred and ninety-three votes, Robert Riddle four hundred andi
ninety-three votes, D. Dodge four hundred and ninety-three votes,]
cast at an election held at Leavenworth precinct/' &c., &c., as in the*]
printed form.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, October 9, 1855.
ADAM FISHER,
WM. T. HARRISON,
H. H. HOOK,
Attest : SCOTT J. ANTHONY, Judges.
CHARLES E. PEARSON, Clerks.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT. — Easton Precinct.
Poll-book. — List of voters ivlio have cast their ballots for delegates to a con-
vention to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tues-
day, the ninth day of October, A. D. 1855.
1 Joseph Hicks
2 Francis Browning
3 Thomas A. Menard
4 Joseph Elliot
5 George Swairn
6 Anaziah Sparks
7 E. L. Monley
8 Stephen Sparks, jr.
9 Moses Hicks
10 William H. Gohle
11 David P. Bethuram
12 P. R. Orr
13
14 Simpson Gohle
15 Jo1 in W. Hendricks
16 William Rose
17 Joseph Langley
18 Daniel Nixon
19 William Sparks
20 Jacoh Loughmiller
21 Daniel Shepley
22 Henry Ready
23 C. C. Lenville
24 Stephen Sparks, sr.
25 Henderson Thomas
26
27 Levi White
28 Henry Ogle
29 Michael Green
30 J. D. Leepen
31 James Halchens
32 John Hobaugh
33 Thomas W. Brooks
34 William H. P. Brists
35 G. W. Messersmith
36 William Butt
37 B. B. Mize
38 Philip Miller
39 Daniel McNish
40 Zachariah Sparks
41 J. H. York
42 William Pyle
43 F. G. Bradin
44 Thompson Coker
45 J. H. Mize
46 Bauhen L. Bean
47 Jacoh Anderson
48 Melzer Cole
49 Isaac S. Pyle
50 John C. Norton
51 Samuel Horton
52 Jonathan Wallace
53 Stephen A. Danner
54 Thomas Vanner
55 Andrew Phillips
56 John Wattle
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 705
5*7 William B. Pearson 61 Joshua Pearson
58 Joseph A. Trower 62 John T. Sparks
59 John Fiddler 63 John Maxwell.
, 60 John N. Tencher
(The certificate to the poll-list fails to state the number of voters,
but is good as to their qualifications, the printed form being used.)
EAOTOX, October 9, 1855. STEPHEN SPARKS,
JACOB LOUGHMILLER,
C. C. LINVILLE, Judges.
Attest : JACOB LOUGHMILLER,
C. C, LINVILLE, Clerks,
Tolly-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion for Kansas , held on this second Tuesday , the ninth day of Octo-
ber, A. D. 1855.
M. J. Parrott 61 votes.
M. W. Delahay 61 "
Matt France 61 "
Mr. Latta 61 "
D. Dodge 61 "
Kobert Riddle 61 "
"We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer-
tify upon our oaths, that M. J. Parrott, M. W. Delahay, Matt France,
Mr. Latta, D. Dodge, and Robert Riddle, have received each sixty-one
votes, cast at an election held at Easton precinct," &c., &c.> as in the
printed form. *
EASTON, October 9, 1855. STEPHEN SPARKS,
JACOB LOUGHMILLER.
C. C. LINVILLE, Judges.
Attest : JACOB LOUGHMILLER,
C. C. LINVILLE, Clerks.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT. — Wyandot Precinct.
Poll-book. — List of voters who have cast their ballots for delegates to a con-
vention to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tues-
day, the ninth day of October, A. D. 1855.
1 C. Calhoun 7 John Brumbaek
2 S. E. Forsythe 8 Lewis Clark
3 William Johnson 9 James Bigtree
4 J. H. Denis 10 John L. Coon
5 Mathew Splitlogs 11 Square Gray Eyes
6 James Todd 12 George J. Clark
H. Rep. 20f
706
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
13 William P. Good
14 Granville Peacock
15 John Chop the Logs
16 Benjamin Poormer
17 John Little Chief
18 John Batiste
19 Abelard Guthrie
20 John Beaver
21 Henry Middlebusher
22 George Spy Buck
23 Clay burn Henderson
24 Peter Bearskin
25 Isaac P. Driver
26 Joseph Williams
27 Jesse Game
28 Captain Bullhead
29 William Hicks
30 John Salloman
31 Jacob Heek
32 White Wing
33 Jacob White Crow
34 Kobert Johnson
35 Ethan Big Arms
36 John Little Cornstalk
37 John Spy Buck
38 Horatio Walton.
(The certificate as to the number and qualifications of the voters is
in the usual form, signed as follows :)
WYANDOT, October 9, 1855.
ABELARD GUTHRIE,
GEORGE J. CLARK,
his
Attest : WILLIAM P. GOODET,
JAMES TODD, Clerks.
MATHEW + SPLITLOG,
, . tf.: . mark.
Judges,,
There is no tally-list.
" We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certiftj
upon our oaths, that M. J. Parrott has received thirty-eight votes, Mf
W. Delahay thirty-eight votes, Matt France thirty-eight votqs, D)
Dodge thirty-eight votes, S. M. Latta thirty-eight votes, Roberr
Riddle thirty-eight votes, being the unanimous vote cast at an elet
tion held at Wyandot precinct/' &c., &c., as in the printed form.
WYANDOT, October 9, 1855.
Attest : WALTON P. GOODB,
JAMES TODD, Clerks.
ABELARD GUTHRIE,
GEORGE CLARK,
bis
MATHIAS + SPLITLOG,
mark.
Judges.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT. — Ridge Precinct.
PoU-book. — List of voters who have cast their ballots for delegates to
convention to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this se<
Tuesday j the ninth day of October, A. D. 1855.
1 J. W. Golden
2 C. F. Bredo
3 Hiram Keith
4 James Wells
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
707
5 Jacob Copple
6 George K. McKnight
7 William Bohart
8 Henry Koot
9 Thomas Selfe
10 C. B. Sherman
11 James Fraser
12 Joseph Pennock
13 William Hasford
14 Paul Dowlin
15 H. L. Pennock
16 Isaac Cady
17 G. B. Merriman
18 J. M. Pinkinson
19 Charles H. Pennock
20 Robert Dallas
21 J. B. Pennock
22 Nicholas Locker man
23 Samuel M. Lyon
24 John H. Henderson
25 Jesse G. Henderson
26 Orick S. Allen
No certificate to the poll-list.
27 James P. Solsbury
28 John H. Justis
29 Harrison Farris
30 Ehud Justis
31 Richard H. Phelan
32 William Pennock
33 J. A. Lindsey
34 H. Howard
35 John Checkfield
36 John Kussinger
37 James McClintec
38 James Shaggs
39 Baston Kussinger
40 C. J. Wise
41 Isaac Edwards
42 Isaac Van camp
43 William Wright
44 J. B. Marion
45 Garrett Drew
46 John A. Sawyer
47 James Shaggs.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo-
ber., A. D. 1855, at the house of William Pennock, in the sixteenth
election district.
M. J. Parrott 47 votes.
M. W. Delahay 47 "
Matt France 47 "
D. Dodge 47 "
A. M. Latta 47 "
R. Riddle 47 "
" We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer-
tify upon our oaths, that the above-named persons have received forty-
seven votes each, cast at an election held at William Pennock's, in
Ridge precinct," &c., as in the printed form.
RIDGE PRECINCT, October 9, 18 5. WM. PENNOCK,
J. A. LINDSEY,
N. LOCKERMAN,
Judges.
Attest: J. B. PENNOCK,
R. H. PHELAN, Clerks.
708 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT. — Delaware Precinct.
Poll-book of votes polled at the Delaware precinct (sixteenth election dis-
trict) for delegates to a convention to form a constitution for Kansas,
1 A. Ray 12 F. A. Hart
2 Charles Seacay 13 Samuel France
3 George Evens 14 Peter Wyland
4 Jonah Hague 15 James Withers
5 F. J. Abshire 16 James 0. Cmiey
6 Jacob Wyland IT Abram Helenas "
7 Merril Davis 18 Hiram Massoner
8 Jeremiah Wheeler 19 E. Creger
9 F. M McGrew 20 John Hartsel
10 Philip Zeigler 21 Louis Moore
11 Henry Turner 22 Byram Hague,
No certificate of poll-list.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo-
ber, A. D. 1855.
M. J. Parrott 22 votes.
M. W. Delahay 22 "-,
Matt France 22 "
D. Dodge 22 "
S. M. Latta 22 "
Kobert Kiddle 22 "
" We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer-'-
tify upon our oaths, that A. H. Reeder has received twenty-two votes,;
and delegates to the convention twenty-two votes, cast at an election!
held at the city of Delaware precinct," &c., &c., as in the printed''
form.
DELAWARE CITY, October 9, 1855. F. M. McGREW,
ABRAHAM RAY,
MERRIL DAVIS,
Attest : JACOB WYLAND, Judges.
JEREMIAH WHEELER, Clerks.
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT. — Wakarusa Precinct.
Poll-list of voters for delegates to a convention to form a constitution for*
Kansas, October 9, 1855, at Wakarusa precinct.
Lewis H. Bascom Ellis Bond
Albert G. Green Charles Freeman.
Martin Ficcle
No tally-list.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 709
Certificate that —
"We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that William Graham and Samuel Mewhinney have
received five votes each, cast at an election held at Pascal Fish's store,
Wakarusa," &c., as in the printed form.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
LEWIS H. BASCOM,
ELLIS BOND,
ALBERT G. GREEN,
Attest: CHARLES FREEMAN, Judges.
SILAS BOND, Clerks.
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT. — Mission Precinct.
Eist of voters who have ca-st their ballots for delegates to a convention to
form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth
day of October, 1855.
1 Henry Wilson 8 James Ironsides
2 Henry Bolenger 9 Sam'l M. Conatzer
3 Jeremiah A. Hadley 10 George L. Osborn
4 John H. Smith 11 Lewis Dougherty
5 Newton Henshaw 12 A. Gregory
6 J. B. Swain 13 C. A. Conatzer.
7 J. G. Snodgrass
Certificates properly filled, and signed as follows :
MISSION PRECINCT, October 9, 1855.
GEORGE L. OSBORN,
SAMUEL M. CONATZER,
LEWIS DOUGHERTY,
Attest: CALVIN A. CONATZER, Judges.
A. GREGORY, Clerks.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitution
for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of October, 1855 .
William Graham 13
Samuel Mewhinney 13
Printed certificates properly filled, and signed:
MISSION PRECINCT, October 9, 1855.
GEORGE L. OSBORN,
LEWIS DOUGHERTY,
SAMUEL M. CONATZER,
Attest: C. A. CONATZER, Judges.
A, GREGORY, Clerks.
710 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
BLANK FOKMS.
Form of judge's certificate.
LAWRENCE. September 22, 1855.
Mr.
SIR: Having entire confidence in your integrity, patriotism, andj
ability, you have been selected and are hereby appointed as one of the;
judges of the election to be holden in your precinct, in the Territory)
of Kansas, at , on the second Tuesday, (October 9th7 1855,)!
for members of a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill!
of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures fbw
organizing a State government preparatory to the admission of Kansas!
into the Union as a State.
Per order executive committee of Kansas Territory :
J. H. LANE, Chairman.
J. K. GOODIN, Secretary.
Oath.
.
I, do swear that I will perform my duties
judge of the election to he held at in the
election district oi the Territory of Kansas, to the best of my judg-
ment and ability ; that I will keep a true, correct, and faithful record
or list of all persons who shall vote at said election ; that I will poll
no ticket from any person who is not an actual inhabitant and resi-
'-dent of said Territory, and whom I shall not honestly believe to be a
qualified voter according to the provisions of the act of Congres.
organizing said Territory ; that I will reject the votes of all non-resi-
dents who I shall believe have come into the Territory for the. mere
purpose of voting ; that in all cases where I am ignorant of the voter'*
right, I will require a legal evidence thereof by his own oath oi
otherwise ; and that I will truly count and record the votes received.
and make a true and faithful return thereof to the executive committee
of Kansas Territory.
Sworn before me, this day of 1855.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
711
List of voters who have cast their ballots for delegates to a convention,
to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the
ninth day of October, A.D. 1855.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that the whole number of legal votes cast at an elec-
tion held at precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the sec-
ond Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said month,,
between the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day,
for the election of delegates to a convention to form a con-
stitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all
needful measures for organizing a State government, preparatory to
the admission of Kansas as a State, to be
We, the said judges and clerks, further certify upon our oaths,
that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the
United States above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents
of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the
period of thirty days immediately preceding said election day.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
ATTEST:
Clerks.
712
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu-
» tionfor Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of October,
A.D. 1855.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify!
upon our oaths, that has received votes i
cast at an election held at precinct, in Kansas
Territory, on the second Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninthi
day of said month, between the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4;
o'clock, p.m., of said day, for delegates to a convention to form a*
constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and
take all needful measures for organizing a State government, prepar-
atory to the admission of Kansas as a State.
We, the judges and clerks of said election, further certify uponr
our oaths, that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens •
of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide
residents of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein i
for a period of thirty days immediately preceding said election day.
OCTOBER 9, 1855.
Judges,
ATTEST :
ADOPTION OF A CONSTITUTION,
DECEMBER 15, 1855.
Poll-book of voters who have cast their ballots at an election held on
the 15£/a day of December, A. I). 1855, at Lawrence precinct, in
district No. 1, in Kansas Territory, on the adoption or rejection of a
constitution for the State of Kansas, and upon the general banking-
law clause and black-law proposition.
1 James H. Lane
2 E. D. Searl
3 William L. Brigden
4 James F. Legatt
5 G. F. Earl
6 Solomon Oilds
7 W. K. R. Blacmore
8 G. P. Lowry
9 H. N. Bent
10 D. N. Conger
11 J. L. Crane
12 R. S. Bassett
13 C. F. Doy
14 Levi Charles, jr.
15 Wm. Kitchenman
16 P. R. Brooks
IT G. S. Leonard
18 C. P. Farnsworth
19 Henry Arthur ton
20 S. J. Pratt
21 H. A. Hancock
22 Wm. Hutchison
23 Joseph Sheilds
24 G. W. Deitzler
25 J. W. Hopping
26 J. H. Green
27 B. C. Galliday
28 C. C. Hyde
29 Morris Hunt
30 G. W. Smith
31 R. G. Elliot
32 Edwin Emerson
33 G. W. Rhineback
34 Oscar Harlow
35 S. M. Kirdy •
36 J. P. Purdy
37 H. N. Simpson
38 Fred. Kimball
39 A. A. Saxton
40 Richard Knight
41 A. Knight
42 A. R. Burdett
43 Simon Ritter
44 C. S. Pratt
45 J. W. Ackley
46 Daniel Curry
47 G. W. Nichols
48 James White
49 Mathew Spittle
50 J. P. Filer
51 W. N. Baldwin
52 Daniel Lowe
53 S B. Bacon
54 John Mack
55 Benton Oakley
56 Am. Whitlack
57 S. E. Knight
58 J. M. Colburn
59 F. A. Muzzy
60 Charles Robinson
61 E. D. Lyman
62 A. P. Knowles
63 Edward Monroe
64 A. J. Gabert
65 C. N. Henley
66 J. G. Crocker
67 H. A. Campbell
68 Benjamin Johnson
69 J. B. Con way
70 R. H. Waterman
71 William Andrews
72 E. D. Whipple
73 N. L. Byant
74 John Day
75 Robert Buffune
76 S. P. Brown
77 R. F. Hooton
78 J. J. Geraud
714
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
79 J M. Gillis
80 G. M. Buffune
81 R. H. Kimball
82 Adam Johns
83 M. D. Earl
84 Arthur Gunther
85 D. K. Aright
86 S. N. Hard well
87 L. B. Dennis
88 S. Whitehorn
89 C. Clemens
90 Joshua Shaxter
91 J. W. Morey
92 J. A. Pike
93 Charles Gavin
94 A. Saddis
95 Clark Stearnes
96 Ira Brown
97 C. H. White
98 Columbus Hornsby
99 N. S. Storiz
100 Ed ward Clark
101 Edward Ainslow
102 C. A. Wright
103 L. 0. Follis
104 L. C. Follis
105 B. G. Livingston
106 C. H. Thomas
107 D. 0. Lindsley
108 John Moorhead
109 J. S Emery
110 E. Bomans
111 Henry Hard
112 John Kid well
113 J. P. Clark
114 A. M. Hughes
115 S. J. D. Prentiss
116 J. L. Witney
117 G. S. Lapham
118 C. R. Newcomb
119 C. P. Fitch
120 Wm. Parks
121 Francis Killam
122 J. H. Gleason
123 Samuel Bryson
124 L. M. Cox
125 Wm. Yates
126 S. F. Tappan
127 Otis Potter
128 Harrison Nichols
129 Stephen Logue
130 Ferdinand Fuller
131 W. D. Attwood
132 N. Snyder
133 J. S Tabor
134 Albert Slanders
135 J. J. McGee
136 Jonathan Rigdon
137 A. H. Maliery
138 W. S. Bishop
139 Reuben Cragg
140 Norman Allen
141 J. G. Fuller
142 E. A. Coleman
143 J. G. Ricker
144 Joseph Cracklin
145 Joseph Savage
146 0. D. Smith
147 F. Savage
148 Hugh 0. Neil
149 C. M. Adams
150 William Orr
151 M. Blowers
152 Joseph Hutchinson
153 Milan Grout
154 Otis Wilrnoth
155 L. D. Coleman
156 Alexander Meyers
157 William Carles
158 John Pierson
159 David Parin ton
160 M. R. Clough
161 Noah Cameron
162 James Blood
163 H. P. Cutting
164 J. S. Jones
165 Allen Ham
166 Joshua Smith
167 S. J. Willis
168 Henry Green
169 Henry Smith
170 John Smith
171 Pleasant Kirby
172 Sol. Everett
173 B. S. Richardson
174 P. L. Titer
175 Theodore Jones
176 Frank Hunt
177 Seth Rodibough
178 M. L. Gaylord
179 T. S. Smith
180 Howard York
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
715
181 P. V. Eskidge
182 Churchill
183 James Smith
184 Wm. B. Hormsbey
185 S. P. Cimple
186 Charles Campbell
187 G. W. Hunt
188 W. A. Gentry
189 J. A. Coffey
190 M. W. Taylor
191 Eobert Morrow
192 A. Payne
193 J. P. Strout
194 J. P. Aright
195 Reuben Randall
196 A. Witcomb
19*7 James Anderson
198 B. R. Whillow
199 Lewis Anderson
200 Josiah Miller
201 Robert Garvin
202 P. A. Woodward
203 J. A. Dale
204 T. Hill
205 Joel Grover
206 C. H. Lovejoy
207 A. J. Kennedy
208 Thomas Brooke
209 N. D. Rowland
210 C. G. Hoyt
211 C. A. Pease
212 B. F. Pease
213 Samuel Kimball
214 Joseph Merchant
215 David Browne
216 Leonard Merchant
217 E. D. Ladd
218 A. Cutler
219 S. Anderson
220 S. C. Harrington
221 W. B. Hayden
222 S. Johnson
223 H. E. Babcock
224 E. S. Scudder
225 F. A. Bailey
226 Newman Garwood
227 S. N. Simpson
228 J. W. Graham
229 T. J. Casseborn
230 Moses Meal
231 N. F. Hirrick
232 J. A. Finley
233 Alex Miller
234 John Ross
235 Francis Parker
236 A. H. Vince
237 Silas Green
238 Thomas Brinkley
239 James Jamison
240 James Jenkins
241 R. H. Pierce
242 G. H. Crocker
243 William Lyon
244 Wm. L. Anderson
245 Henry Bronson
246 John Lowry
247 B. W. Woodward
248 J. D. Dnvidson
249 Samuel Reynolds
250 E. F. Reynolds
251 L. J. Worden
252 George Gilbert
253 Ellmore Allen
254 A. G. Weeks
255 Turner Sampson
256 C. C. Emery
257 William Evans
258 J. F. Morgan
259 Win. Warriker
260 N. J. Lyon
261 J. W. Williams
262 Steven Crocket
263 Ezra Pierce
264 J. M. Mathews
265 N. D. Short
266 W. H. Oliver
267 Edward Webb
268 B. H. Whitlow
269 Ransom Calkins
270 J. G. Sands
271 Jas. Christian
272 Thos. McFarland
273 Robert McFarland
274 John McFarland
275 Samuel Gill
276 A. K. Allen
277 G. W. Goss
278 Thos. McAboy
279 O. A. Hanescomb
280 Jno. N. Penoyer
281 G. W. Brown
282 John Clarey
716
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
283 Norman Chambers
284 C. W. Williams
285 L. Ferguson
286 Chester Waldroff
287 G. W. Gillis
288 Henry Blair
289 John Wise
290 J. M. Fuller
291 S. S. Snyder
292 John Gingery
293 W. G. Welles
294 Samuel Fry
295 Aron Perry
296 Richard Miller
29*7 Thomas Haskell
298 Charles Pearsall
299 J. C. Hartwell
300 L. Haskell
301 E. A. Dellam
302 Philip Cook
303 Emery Whetherbey
304 Daniel Mallay
305 W. Cleland
306 David Black
307 Willard Colburn
308 Green Bridges
309 Jas. F. Wood
310 J. D. Barnes
311 Geo. Paps
312 John McClelland
313 Franklin Monroe
314 Oscar Barress
315 H. Tucker
316 Michael Cratbey
317 A. Rowley
318 Hiram Dunbar
319 James Cowan
320 B. W. Miller
321 J. C. Brook
322 A. B. Wade
323 Calvin Adams
324 A. Stearnes
325 E. A. Barnes
'326 Michael Albin
327 J. A. Davidson
328 Morton Adams
329 S. Y. Suno
330 Hollis Wilbur
331 Philip Wymer
332 T. Welles
333 Abram Wilder
334 Ephraim Nute
335 W. S. Kimball
336 T. E. Sumner
337 Robert Gilbert
338 Malon Moore
339 C. A. Adams
340 Chas. Garrett
341 Ludwig Meyers
342 R. A. Cummins
343 G. W. Hutchison
344 Jno. Wilder
345 J. H. Ferman
346 J. E. Rice
347 C. W. Southward
348 Edwin Bond
349 A. A. McGee
350 N. H. Wheeler
351 Lyman Allen
352 Acelph Allen
353 H. N. Canfield
354 Jno. A. Ladd
355 G. W. Campbell
356 A. Rowley
The printed certificate properly filled, (see forms,) and signed ass
follows :
A. D. SEWELL, }
LYMAN ALLEN, V Judges.
JAMES F. LEGATE, )
Attest : W. L. BRIGDEN,
MORRIS HUNT,
Tally-list.
Constitution , 348
No constitution *
General banking law — Yes 225
General banking law — No 83
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
717
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes ........................ .... 133
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No .............................. 223
The above tallies are properly arranged in the table. (See form.)
They are incomplete. The certificate is not properly made out, and is
not in agreement with the tally-list. Two hundred and fifty-five is in-
serted in the certificate as voting for the general banking law instead
of two hundred and twenty-five ; but in the duplicate the tally-list
and the certificate agree.
Each copy of the certificate has one hundred and thirty-four, instead
of one hundred and thirty-three, as voting for the exclusion of negroes
and mulattoes.
Signed as follows :
Attest : WM. S. BRIGDEN,
MORRIS HUNT,
A. D. SEARL, )
LYMAN ALLEN, V Judges.
JAMES Y. LEGATE, )
i 7
er/e8t
FRANKLIN PRECINCT.
Poll-book.
1 William Rollins
2 H. L. Enriis
3 Thos. Seaton
4 David Burton
5 James McGee
6 Jackson Sellers
7 Robert Ervin
8 Isaac Shoop
9 Daniel Scannell
10 Samuel Southerland
11 J. Garvin
12 Wm. Bridges
13 E. B. Purdoin
14 Thos. Waller
15 David Meechem
16 Joseph Shuler
17 J. D. Harrington
18 Franklin Currans
19 L. A. Prather
20 Thos. Artlebury
21 Michael Glenn "
22 S. T. Harmon
23 A. Lawhead
24 II. T. Crane
25 H. H. Bybee
26 John Stroup
27 John Anderson
28 Homer Hays
29 Ben. Rogers
30 E. B. Johnson
31 J. G. MacClelland
32 William Stroup
33 A. Still
34 James M. Still
35 E. M. Wallace
36 J. Vanwrinckle
37 E. C. Sanith
38 Jno. P. Wood
39 Jno. J. McGee
40 Thos. McGee
41 Millikin Wallace
42 H. P. Lacy
£3 Jas. S. Smith
44 A. N. McGee
45 W. G. Piper
46 H. A. Hunter
47 W. S. Hull
48 B. C. Talley
49 T. W. Painter
50 A. W. Wheadon
51 Moses Flora
52 John R. Lawhead
53 Thomas Anderson.
718 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The printed forms properly filled, (see forms,) and signed as follows:
H. S. ENOS, )
DAVID BURTEN, V Judges.
JAMES McQEE, }
Attest : S. SUTHERLAND, ) m z
DANIEL SCANNELL, \ °
Tally-list.
Constitution 48 (
No con stitu tion , 4
General banking law — Yes , 31
General banking law — No 15*
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 48 J
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 2 :
The certificate is correctly filled out, and signed as follows :
H. S. ENOS, )
DAVID BURTEN, V Judges.
JAMES McGEE, )
Attest : SAMUEL SUTHERLAND,
DANIEL SCANNELL,
PALMYRA PRECINCT.
Poll-book.
William Barricklow David Eldridge
John Peasley William Roe
Daniel Barricklow John Roe
Thomas Chapman John Brown
Joseph Barricklow Richard N. Pearson
Kobert Pearson Jacob Cantwell.
The printed forms properly filled, (see forms,) and signed
follows :
WM. BAKRICKLOW, )
R. H. PEARSON, V Judges.
JOHN H. PEASLEY, )
Attest: WILLIAM ROE, 1 ni 7
JOHN ROE, J Uer/cs'
\
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
719
Tally-list.
Constitution.
No constitu-
tion.
|
Gen' 1 banking|Gen' 1 banking
law. — Yes. law.— No.
Exclusion of ne-
groes and mu-
lattoes. — Yes.
Exclusion of ne-
groes and mu-
lattoes. — No.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
!
i
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
.......
1
11
1
9
3
12
The certificate is correctly filled out. Signed as follows :
WILLIAM BARRICKLOW,
Attest: WM. ROB,
JOHN ROE,
R. H. PEARSON,
JOHN H. PEASLEY,
Clerics.
Judges.
BLANTON PRECINCT.
1 Samuel Smith
2 Lewis Ho well
3 Hugh Pallengall
4 Charles Gorden
5 J. R. Kennedy
6 F. N. Hi-Jlstrum
7 J. J. Smith
8 Isaac Shaffer
9 Joseph Everhart
10 James E. Saffer
11 Geo. F. Pabst
12 J. W. Hotwater
13 John Saletiel
14 F. H. Kennedy
15 0. P. Kennedy
16 R. P. Moore '
17 F. J. Loock
PoU-look.
18 Jonathan OgdeR
19 Collins Halloway
20 Peter Praetty
21 E. Smith
22 David Griffiths
23 Jno. Roberts
24 Henry Williams
25 F. G. Vaughen
26 L. W. Plumb
27 Josiah Houghton
28 Wm. Estabrook
29 James M. Jones
30 G. WT. Berry
31 N. B. Blanton
32 James Lane
33 Wm. P. Kennedy
34 Edward Jones
720
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
35 Wm. Liverinore
36 B. Hitchcock
37 S. G-. Johnson
38 Geo. W. Fitz
39 A. B. Smith
40 S. L. Lapham
41 Enoch Howard
42 Jno. E. Stewart
43 P. S. Hutchison
44 P. F. Huff
45 J. B. Abbott
46 Simon G-ilson
47 H. F. Saunders
48 E. W. Bennett
49 Paul Jones
50 Samuel Lucas
51 Edmund Corless
52 J. R. Griffith
53 K. D. Norton
54 Chas. Dickson
55 L. H. Kowley
56 Wm. L. G. Soule
57 Wm. D. Jimmerson
58 E. Griffith
59 Samuel Merrill
60 D. T. Morris
61 Charles Newman
62 Henry Newman
63 Leonard Crane
64 Jacob Branson
65 Ezekiel Duzan
66 Jno. Curtis
67 Lewis Staggers
68 J. Elliot
69 Joshua Hews
70 Thos. Hopkins
71 Salem Gleeson
72 A. F. Bercaw
73 Clark Tefft
74 George Carey
75 Thos. B. Smith
76 E. A. Laridon.
The printed forms properly filled, (see forms.) and signed as-
follows :
JOHN E. STEWART, )
PHILIP S. HUPP, } Judge*.
P. S. HUTCHISON, )
Attest : GEO. W. FITZ, ) ri ,
SAMUEL G. JOHNSON, *
Tally-list.
Constitution 72 ;
No constitution 2
591
14
Yes
No
General banking law-
General banking law-
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes.
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No.
The certificate is correctly filled out, and signed as follows :
JOHN E. STEWART, )
PHILIP S. HUPP, \ Judges.
P. S. HUTCHISON, }
Attest : GEO. W. FITZ, )
DANIEL G. JOHNSON, $
MANSAS AFFAIRS.
T21
SECOND DISTRICT — Bloomington Precinct.
Poll-look of voters who have cast their ballots at an election held on the
~L5th day of December, A. D. 1855, at the house of H. Bursen, Bloom-
ington precinct , in district No. 2, in Kansas Territory, on the adop-
tion or rejection of a constitution for the State of Kansas, and upon
the general banking -law clause and black-law proposition.
1 William W. Henning
2 G. Norton
3 Isaac Davis
4 Wm. Draper
5 K. N. Woodard
6 N. Earn say
T Nicholas Allgues
8 H. T. Waketield
9 J. 0. Dunn
10 Joseph Anderson
11 Wm. Haseltine
12 Marquis Kelsi
13 H. C. Alderman
14 Henry Hine
15 Thomas Bicerten
16 James Herring
IT William Watson
18 0. L. Spradling
19 Robert Allen
20 George W. Perse
21 J. P. Miller
22 R. H. Rawson
23 Wm. Byerty
24 John Hatfield
25 Daniel C. Holbert
26 A. N. Baldwin
27 Thomas Overfield
28 H. Burson
29 J. A. Wakefield
30 Thomas H. Snyder
31 Thomas Wolvertoa
32 A. Curtis
33 James M. Dunn
34 C. W. Bailey
35 Edward Jones
36 J. A. Boyd
37 Cyrus C. Scofield
38 E. Disbro
39 H. Tacket
40 Daniel Vansell
41 Thomas Barber
42 a. W. Umberger
43 J. C. Archibald
H. Rep. 200 46*
44 George Anderson
45 J. J. Ater
46 L. M. Pierson
47 R. F. Barber
48 L. Duifee
49 Hazeltine
50 Richard Day
51 H. L. Baldwin
52 G. W. Cosby
53 Samuel Gary
54 Samuel Walker
55 Samuel Kenedy
56 'Levi Kenoz
57 William Ferguson
58 Eli Herring
59 A. Walker
60 John Macy
61 Daniel Haseltine
62 David P. Haseltine
63 J. M. Nelson
64 William Jesse
65 H. A. Cosby
66 John Wilsey
67 Robert Hughes.
68 William Hall
69 George Levin,
70 T. Edwards
71 J. C. Casebier
72 J. N. Mace
73 D. B. Hiatt
74 Jonathan Dx>an
75 William MeCready
76 Green Morgan
77 Charles Wright
78 Nathan Hachet
79 James Wallace
80 Daniel Hager
81 E. Booter
82 Benjamin Stowe
83 F. Hendricks
84 L. Scott
85 John Flemister
86 Owen T. Basset
722
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SI E. W. Smith
88 J. Oakely
89 E. Conner
Henry H. Conner
Kifus Swaine
K. 0. Johnston
J. W. Hamilton
A. J. Smith
E. Huddleston
J. Gardner
J. N. Reynolds
John Kinney
J. W. Futon
G. T. Mock
101 Madison Clayton
102 Samuel Jones
103 David Ward
Parson Haskins
George Hill
C. Oakley
T. B. Woodard
108 KirsySoneer
109 Robert Roberts
110 John Branner
111 Joseph Cox
112 David Lewis
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
98
100
104
105
106
113 Jackson Roberts
114 Henry Lewis
115 Alfred Reak
116 George Fillmore
11*7 Harrison H. Wood
118 Abel Yates
119 Samuel Casebar
120 A. J. Casebar
121 John Dewitt
122 B. F. Hancock
123 Dudley Bryant
124 Aaron Platts
125 Frederick Hoffman
126 Joseph Bryant
127 Jabez Petepit
128 L. B. Wolverton
129 Andrew White
130 A. White
131 H. Fick
132 William Tacket
133 J. L. Speer
134 David Aikin
135 J. B. F. McPhersin
136 A. E. Love
137 G. W. Chapin
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify,'
upon our oaths, that the whole number of votes cast at an election
held at Bloomington precinct, in second district, in Kansas Territory/
on the 15th day of December, A. D. 1855, for the adoption or rejec-
tion of a constitution, the separate article in relation to a general
banking-law, framed by the constitutional convention which assembled'
at Topeka, on the 23d day of October, 1855, for the State of Kansas.-
and the independent proposition in relation to instructing the first
general assembly on the subject of negroes and mulattoes, to be im
number one hundred and thirty-seven ; and we further certify that the
said voters were bona fide citizens of the United States, above the age
of twenty-one years, arid actual residents of the Territory of Kansas
for thirty days immediately preceding this election, and still continue
the same as their home and residence.
JAMES M. DUNN, )
DANIEL VANEIL, V Judges.
Z. W. REMBERGER, )
Attest: THOMAS B. WOLVERTON,
HENRY L. BALDWIN,
Clerks.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
723
Tally-list.
The tallies are not given. Blank filled as follows :
Constitution.
Constitution.
Gen' 1 banking
Gen' 1 banking
Exclusion of ne-
Exclusion of ne-
Yes.
No.
law. — Yes.
law. — No.
groes and mu-
groes aod nm-
lattoes.— Yes
lattoes. — No,
137
122
11
113
15
The printed certificate is filled properly with the above numbers,
see form in first district,) and signed as follows :
JAMES M. DUNN, )
DANIEL VANEIL, } Judges.
F. W. BEMBERGER, )
Attest: THOS. B. WOLVERTON, ) ni 7
HENRY L. BALDWIN, \ Clerks-
SECOND DISTRICT — East Douglas.
1 Henry Conrad
2 P. B. Harris
3 J. F. Jackson
4 S. Smith
5 J. Oakly, sen.
6 H. C. Muz
T R. Cole
8 J. W. Emerson
9 J. H. Shimmons
The printed certificate is
above, and signed as follows
Attest: P. B. HARRIS,
J. H. SHIMMONS,
Poll-book.
10 Alphonso Jones
11 Owen Taylor
12 William Phillips
13 William Hampton
14 William Caler
15 Mortimer Tript
16 Joel Phillips
IT William Cage
18 E. B. Knight
properly filled, in accordance with the
P. B. HARRIS, )
J. H. SHIMMONS, } Judges.
J. F. JACKSON, J
Clerks.
SECOND DISTRICT — East Douglas.
Tally-list.
Constitution 48
No constitution..
724
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
General banking law — Yes 12
General banking law — No 4
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 14
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 4
[The above tallies are under the proper headings in the printed
form.]
The certificate is properly filled, and accords with the tally-listi
signed as follows :
P. B. HARRIS, )
J. H. SHIMMONS, [ Judges.
J. F. JACKSON, J
Attest : P. B. HARRIS,
J. F. SHIMMONS,
Clerks.
THIRD DISTRICT — Topeka.
Poll-look.
1 C. C. K. Garvey
2 J. K. Goodin
3 F. L. Crane
4 Milton C. Dickey
5 James Chadwick
6 Dean Chadwick
7 Christopher C. Leonard
8 C. L. Terrel
9 Moses Dudley
10 D. H. Home,
11 James J. Goodrich
12 J. Orcott
13 D. W. Clearland
14 Wm. Scales
15 Timothy Mclntire
16 H. P. Walters
IT John T. Lawrence
18 James G. Bunker
19 D. R. Sailor
20 James McNamee
21 R. L. Mitchel
22 T. R. Foster
23 James C. Miller
24 Humphrey Coburn
25 J. F. Cummin gs
26 Harris Stratton
27 Billey T. Wetmore
28 Daniel Sayer
29 Israel Zimmerman
30 Charles Creitz
31 Loving Farnsworth
32 Wm. F. Kelso
33 Augustus Barnard
34 Edward Segraves
35 Alexander Moore
36 Abner Doane
37 A. M. Lewis
38 C. G. Howard
39 Thomas G. Thornton
40 C. A. Sexton
41 T. Jones
42 L. W. Home
43 S. E. Martin
44 F. W. Giles
45 Gilford Dudley
46 John R. Lewis
47 George Davis
48 George F. Boyd
49 Darius Minium
50 S. C. Harriot
51 Ephraim Harriot
52 E. Banter
53 James L. Stevens
54 John H. Doty
55 J. D. Clarkson
56 James Taggett
57 W. H. Waymoth
58 Wm. R. Bogs
59 H. C. Coral
60 Lewis C. Wilmuth.
61 Ambrose W. Ford
62 Paul Sheppard
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
T25
63 A. G. Adams
64 G. W. Hathaway
65 John Bichey
66 W. Miles
67 Luther H. Wentworth
68 H. H. Wentworth
69 Gabriel Wright
70 James Disney
71 Moses Hubbard
72 P. B. Hubbard
73 Manie Campdoras
74 Charles Landon
75 Claud Chamboniere
76 Eugene Dumez
77 Estienne Vollotte
78 C. N. Grey
79 P. 0. Conner
80 A. S. Walter
81 E. S. Parker
82 Jesse Stowe
83 0. H. Drinkwater
84 Samuel Hall
85 Leonard Wendell
86 Wm. W. Eoss
87 E. Plumber
88 A. F. Whiting
89 Wm. E. Rowker
90 Jean Francois Carloz
91 S. N. Frazier
92 Amos Trott
93 M. C. Martin
94 Wm. P. Thompson
95 David H. Moore
96 Wm. W. Henderson
97 Wm. Gibbons
98 James Pearce
99 Enoch Chase
100 Jonas E. Greenwood
101 M. K. Smith
102 Philip Briggs
103 Horatio Fletcher
104 Abel F. Hartwell
105 Charles L. Wilbur
106 David Smith
107 "A. G. Thompson
108 Charles Morely
109 Wm. F. Creitz
110 G. H. Wood
111 Geo. B. French
112 Elnathan Trask
113 Sanford Henry
114 Leroy S. Brown
115 Thos. H. Taylor
116 John Long
117 J. C. Gordon
118 Augustus Bobarts
119 0, C. Nickols
120 Charles Farnesworth
121 H. C. Young
122 Nelson Young
123 John Martin
124 James Cowles
125 B. M. Lace
126 Francis Davis
127 J. B. Chase
128 Ozias Judd
129 John Spear
130 H. B. Burgess
131 Wm. Pickerel
132 H. B. Cowles
133 Theorene Tucker
134 Bichard Gustine
135 L. G. Clearland
136 J. A. Wirt
The printed certificate properly filled, and signed as follows :
F. L. CBANE, )
M. C. DICKEY, } Judges.
CUMMINGS, S
J. T.
HENRY P. WATERS, } Olerks'
Attest : JOSEPH C. MILLER,
THIRD DISTRICT— Topeka.
Tally-list.
Cfon s t i tn t i o n rt ,1 3 5
No constitution..,
72ft KANSAS AFFAIRS.
General banking law — Yes 125"
General banking law — No
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 69.;
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 644
The above tallies are properly arranged under the table. (See form.)
The certificate is properly filled with the above numbers, and signed
as follows:
F. L. CRANE, )
M. C. DICKEY, [Judges.
J. T. CUMMINGS, )
Attest : JOSEPH C. MILLER. ) ni -,
HENRY P, WATERS, \ Cler/cs'
THIRD DISTRICT — Tecumseh.
Poll-look.
1 John Morris 19 Wm. H. Morris
2 Charles Jordan 20 Thomas J. Jordan
3 H. W. Curtis 21 Hiram Shields
4 M. M. Robinson 22 Jahial Tyler
5 Orlando Moifitt 23 John F. Freeland
6 Jos. H. Weaver 24 John M. Ferson
7 Jas. M. Dawson 25 Andeson Delop
8 B. F. Dawson 26 Osborn Naylor
9 Saml. Updegraph 27 Jehu Frank
10 C. W. Moffit 28 Francis Grapmuck
11 Jas. Hoppins 29 Wm. Norton
12 D. Updegraph 30 Geo. Osborn
13 Jos. K. Bartleson 31 Saml. Spruill
14 Geo. C. McCormac 32 M. J. Mitchel
15 J. W. Stephenson 33 Jer. Nicum
16 E. R. Moffit 34 Wm. A. Hamer
17 Nathaniel L. Williams 35 Huston Ingram.
18 Josiah Cox
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
CHARLES JORDAN, )
JOHN MORRIS, } Judges.
M. J. MITCHEL, )
Attest : M. M. ROBINSON, ) ^ * 0
H. W. CURTIS, 1 C
Tallylist.
Constitution
No tjonetitution
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 727
General banking law — Yes 23
General banking law — No 11
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 35
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
CHARLES JORDAN, )
JOHN MORRIS, [ Judges.
M. J. MITCHEL, )
Attest: H. W. CURTIS, )
M. M. ROBINSON, J
THIRD DISTRICT — Brownsville .
Poll-book.
1 James M. Hammond 13 Wm. A. Simerwell
2 Geo. W. Pigott 14 James Turner
3 Thos. J. Anderson 15 Wm. Dailey
4 D. W. Harold 16 John Baxter
5 Robert Turner 17 D. T. Hammend
6 Robert Todd 18 G. S. Holt
7 J. D. Wood 19 C. B. Lykins
8 J. W. Brown 20 Samuel H. Hill
9 L. T. Cook 21 James Gillpatrick
10 W. F. Johnston 22 Win. Turner
11 Samuel Cavender 23 James Mauhan
12 F. E. Hood 24 Danuel Turner
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
J. D. WOOD, J
L. T. COOK, } Judges.
J. W. BROWN, )
Attest: WM. F. JOHNSTON, ) ni 7
ROBT. TODD, J Uer/cs'
Tally-list.
Constitution 24
No constitution
General banking law — Yes 22
General banking law — No 2
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 22
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No * 2
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
J. D. WOOD, )
J. W. BROWN, [ Judges.
L. T. COOK, )
Attest: W. F. JOHNSTON,
ROBERT TODD,
728
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
THIRD DISTRICT — Washington.
Poll-book.
1 A. J. Custard
2 Peter Eppison
3 Ephraim Banning
4 Eli Allen
5 Geo. S. Ramsay
6 Solomon G. Riffle
7 Caleb Antrim
8 Edmund Brewer
9 Jesse M. Roberts
10 James K. Lawrence
11 Danl! K. Lawrence
12 Wm. C. Jones
13 Wm. Riley
14 W. L. Roberts
15 Geo. W. Gilmore
16 W. A. Cardwell
17 Amos Hicks
18 Geo. W. Duncan
19 Benj. Moore
20 Geo. W. Zinn
21 H. F. Buffer
22 Milbourn Shirley
23 W. C. McCaul
24 Robt. Hudson
25 J. J. Aklin
26 Norman Smitb
27 Wm. Rowles
28 Wm. R. Frost
29 J. G. Stringer
30 Jas. Molton
31 T. V. Rush
32 R. W. Custard
33 Merrit Thrilkeld
34 Alex. Wells
35 Jno. D. Hopkins
36 Thos. D. Kemp
37 Wm. Harper
38 Wm. Lamb
39 A. H. Lamb
40 F. Cook
41 W. Carter
42 Barnet Fagle
tificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
WM. RILEY,
ELI ALLEN,
CALEB ANTREM,
Attest : GEO. S. RAMSAY, ) „-, 7
S. J. ACKLIN, Cierfcs'
Judges.
Tally-list.
Constitution 42
General banking law — Yes 41
General banking law — No 1
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 42
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
ELI ALLEN,
WM. RILEY,
CALEB ANTREM,
Attest: G. S. RAMSAY, )
S. J. ACKLIN, J
Judges.
KAXSAS AFFAIRS.
729
FOURTH DISTRICT — Prairie City Precinct.
Pott-list.
1 Charles Legge
2 Charles Clark
3 J. P. Moore
4 Franklin Barnes
5 Wm. B. Harris
6 Jacob Clark
7 A. R. Banks
8 C. H. Carpenter
9 Archibald Harris
10 A. B. Webster
11 W. S. Ewart
12 John F. Jarans
13 A. J. Miller
14 Samuel McManus
15 E. H. Bay singer
16 W. B.Foster
17 Thos. Shirley
18 David Hendricks
19 Mansfield Carter
20 A. F. Powell
21 A. Clearland
22 Charles Reiser
23 J. G. Moore
24 Peter Baysinger
25 S. H. Moore
26 George Powers
27 Constant Burtell
28 Wm. David
29 Celestin Garder
SO J. C. Hughes
31 M. M. Westfall
32 Henry H. Wiggins
33 P. P. Case
34 M. M. D. Lysner
35 Nathaniel Parker
36 W. M. Mewhinny, jr.
37 W. J. Buchannon
38 A. 0. Carpenter
39 Elkana Fimons
40 R. Mayfield
41 W. M. Mewhinny, sr.
42 John Wilson
43 George Havens
44 N. D. Sprague
45 Champion Mayfield
46 Levi Doty
47 W. M. E. Crum
48 Perry Fuller
49 W. M. Moore
50 Thomas McCowan
51 Samuel J. Shore
52 Amos Hannah
53 Samuel Mewhinney
54 Eleazur Hill
55 Hiram McAlister
56 T. E. Curtis
57 J. W. M. Shore
58 W. M. B. Sowers
59 Aaron Moore
60 J. P. Neal
61 John S. Edie
62 A. B. Gilliland
63 W. M. Graham
64 J. D. Hope
65 W. L. Jones
66 J. S. Scott
67 John Graham
68 Geo. W. E. Griffith
69 J. E. Carpenter
70 Michael Blake
71 John P. Lehr
72 Wily E. Jones.
The printed certificate properly filled, (see form,) and signed as
follows :
AMOS HANNAH,
WILLIAM MOORE,
PERRY FULLER,
Attest : Tnos. McCowAN, )
SAM'L THEODORE SHORE, J
Judges.
TSO
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally-list.
Constitution 72'i
No constitution
General banking law — Yes , 39',i
General banking law — No... 33:
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 69;
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 3
Printed form correct, (see form,) and signed as follows :
AMOS HANNAH, )
WILLIAM MOORE, } Judges.
PERRY FULLER, )
Attest : THOS. McGowAN, \ Clerks
SAM'L THEODORE SHORE
,
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Osawatomie.
Poll-book.
1 Crawford Oliver
2 Benj. Woodbury
3 Chas. A. Foster
4 William Collin
5 N. J. Roscoe
6 Nathan McVey
7 James H. Howson
8 Henry Alderman
9 Horace Norton
10 Harrison UpdegrafF
11 Amos Alderman
12 Jeremiah Harrison
13 Barber Darrach
14 Wm. W. Updegraff
15 James Stots
16 Samuel Geer
IT James J. Holbrook
18 Samuel Mendenhall
19 C. F. Lake
20 S. L. Adair
21 S. M. Merritt
22 Caleb Shearar
23 Samuel H. Howser
24 Thomas Roberts
25 Amos Finch
26 Albe Sanborn
27 Andrew Bruce
28 J. Carr
29 William Cain
30 James Fuller
31 Silas Wheat
32 Francis Brenan
33 William Chestnut
34 John C. Loman
35 William Quick
36 Asa S. White
37 Joel Goodenick
38 Levi Fenner
39 Charles Cranston
40 J. L. Littlejohn
41 John Yelton
42 Richard Mendenhall
43 William Cater
44 John P. Glenn
45 William Brownhall
46 Henry Carson
47 Thomas Jackson
48 David Mendenhall
49 Doctor Morris
50 John Brown
51 Martin Chissmore
52 George Ferris
53 J. R. Everett
54 J. B. Higgins
55 Milon Fairchild
56 James Hughes
57 Thomas J. Hammond
58 Jackson Hendricks
59 Noah Barker.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. (TJ1
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
B. WOODBURY, )
DANIEL W. COLLIES, V Judges.
N. J. ROSCOE, }
Attest : WM. W. UPDEGRAFF,
CRAWFOBD OLIVER,
Tally-list.
Constitution ».».«. 56
No constitution ., 1
General banking law — Yes 33
General banking law — No 20
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 38
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 17
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
B. WOODBURY, )
DANIEL W. COLLIES, V Judges.
N. J. ROSCOE, )
Attest : WM. W. UPDEGRAFF, ? ™ T.
CRAWFORD OLIVER, J ° i€rfcs'
FIFTH DISTRICT — Stanton.
Poll-look.
1 Isaiah Nichols 20 H. B. Standiford
2 W. B. Nichols 21 A. H. Standiford
3 J. B. Bingham 22 W. G. Bundy
4 P. V. McMillan 23 George Thompson
5 Benjamin Goodrich 24 Orran Williams
6 J. H. West 25 B. H. Reed
7 J. T. Benning 26 Thomas M. Horton
8 0. R. Nichols 27 Jesse W. Wilson
9 William Stephenson 28 John R. Kirkland
10 Jesse B. Way 29 Robert Reed
11 C. P. Kirkland 30 William Kellogg
12 John Lay 31 James Milliken
13 Jesse Lay 32 William H. Kinkaid
14 James R. Kinkaid 33 S. L. Morse
15 James D. Kinkaid 34 W. G. Nichols
16 A. J. Talbott 35 Isaac Wollard
17 M. D. Lane 36 Joseph Bundy
18 David H. Bundy 37 Israel Christie.
19 John Standiford
732 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Certificate properly filled, and signed as follows :
18
W
S.
Attest : ISRAEL CHRISTIE, I m 1
JOSIAH BUNDY, 5 Uer/cs'
ISAAC WOOLLARD, )
W. G. NICHOLS, C Judges.
S. L. MORSE, )
Tally-list.
Constitution 32 !
General banking law — Yes 4 1
General banking law — No 33!
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 32!
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No... 5-
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
ISAAC WOOLLARD, )
WM. G. NICHOLS, } Judges.
S. L. MORSE, )
Attest : ISRAEL CHRISTIE, ) ni ,
JOSIAH BUNDY, ' Uer/cs'
FIFTH DISTRICT — Little Sugar Creek.
Poll-book.
1 W. W. Harris 23 W. A. Cavan
2 J. D. Stockton 24 H. J. Dingus
3 John Spears 25 Solomon Mason
4 D. B. Perry 26 G. W. Halte
5 S. R. Floyd 27 G. W. Sharpe
6 Thomas K. Hooper 28 A. M. B. D. E. S. Ripley
7 H. C. Donaghe 29 M. H. Davis
8 David Reese 30 J. W. Duren
9 Harris Vance 31 Abram Medlin
10 John Baslowick 32 James Osbern
11 James E. Dunlap 33 John Barrick
12 Stephen Mehaffe 34 James Montgomery
13' Joshua Russel 35 Samuel MedHn
14 Salmon Bennet 36 Charles Barnes
15 John Handy Shel 37 Solomon Adams
16 Enoch Estep 38 John Medlin
17 H. M. Gibbs 39 Levi Ward
18 E. Barnes 40 John Brant
19 Thomas Hargus 41 Allen Sellers
20 J. P. Fox 42 Alfred Ward
21 William Murray 43 Samuel Nickel
22 Joseph B. Runals 44 J. R. Miller
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 733
45 F. A. Halleter 53 P. Y. Glover
46 George Morris 54 Benjamin Burch
47 Elvin Ford 55 David Burch
48 A. F. Fascett 56 John C. Jemison'
49 Fred. Crawse 57 William Park
50 William Morris 58 Temple Wayne
51 J. M. Morris 59 T. F. Dark
52 Green Warthy 60 Samuel Camock.
Certificate properly filled and signed as follows :
J. D. STOCKTON, )
KEESE, v Judges.
C. DONAGHE, )
Attest : W. S, TURNER,
S. K. FLOYD,
Tally-list.
Constitution 42
No constitution 18
General banking law — Yes 33
General banking law — No 13
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 42
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 2
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
J. D. STOCKTON, )
D. KEESE, V Judges.
H. C. DONAGHE, )
Attest: S.B.FLOYD,
W. S. TURNER,
FIFTH DISTRICT — Poltawatomie.
Poll-book.
1 Henry H. Williams 15 Wm. J. Whitney
2 Simeon B. Morse 16 Win. L. Frankenberger
3 William Partridge 17 John Blanden
4 Wm. N. Woods 18 Solomon Blanden
5 Ephraim Reynolds 19 Daniel Harrison
6 John Blunt 20 Wakeman Partridge
7 Frederick Brown 21 Wesley H. Pinell
8 Willis T. Ayres 22 J. W. Greer
9 Samuel Anderson 23 Benj. L. Cockrun
10 Dennis West 24 Joseph L. Morcy
11 E. G. Blunt 25 John Grant
12 David Baldwin 26 James Townsley
13 Darius Frankenberger 27 Allen M. Smith
14 James B. Tenbrook 28 JohnMcDaniel
734 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
29 Dewitt C. Davenport 3*7 C. E. Dewey
30 James Button 38 M. M. Minkler
31 Samuel Mac 39 Benjamin Dan
32 Jason Brown 40 R. W. Sturgeon
33 Henry Thompson 41 David D. Davis
34 John Brown, jr. 42 Alexander Purdee
S5 Owen Brown 43 Joseph James.
36 Anson Hunt
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
FRED. BROWN, )
S. B. MORSE, V Judges.
WM. PARTRIDGE, )
Attest : HENRY H. WILLIAMS,
EPHRAIM REYNOLDS,
Tally-list.
Constitution „
No constitution : 3 i
General banking law — Yes 21
General banking law — No 19 >
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 25
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 18
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
FRED. BROWN, )
S. B. MORSE, V Judges.
WM. PARTRIDGE, )
Attest : HENRY H. WILLIAMS,
EPHRAIM REYNOLDS,
FIFTH DISTRICT — Neosho.
Poll-book.
1 Hiram Carr 7" Thomas Bowen
2 James Branan 8 Benjamin Whitaker
3 Jesse V. Williams 9 Simpson De Spain
4 Matthew Fenimore 10 Morgan Dix
5 Hiram Hoover 11 Nathaniel Danton
6 Hardin McMahon 12 John H. Bowen.
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
HIRAM HOOVER, )
THOMAS BOWEN, [ Judg*.
MORGAN DIX, )
Attest : HARD. McMAHON, > clerks
MATTHEW FENIMORE, $
KANSAS AFFAIRS. *735
Tally-list.
Constitution 12
If o constitution
General banking law — Yes 6
General banking law — No 6
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 12
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
HIRAM HOOVER, )
THOMAS BOWEN, } Judges.
MORGAN DIX, )
Attest : HARD. McMAHON, \ ri h
MATTHEW FENIMORE, J er s'
FIFTH DISTRICT — Big Sugar Greek.
Poll-book.
1 Samuel Farrar 12 Allen Stewart
2 George Wykle 13 Jonah Daniel
3 William Dudley 14 John Dance
4 James E. Wadkins 15 William M. Smith
5 Zachariah Rowe 16 C. M. McDaniel
6 Green Stricklin IT W. B. Robinson
7" James M. Arthur 18 Ingram Lusk
8 John Wykle 19 F. H. Graham
9 M. Walk 20 John Robinson
10 Silas Young 21 George H. Alexander.
11 William Dyer.
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
W. B. ROBINSON, )
WILLIAM DYER, V Judges.
WILLIAM M. SMITH, )
Attest : JAMES M. ARTHUR,
C. M. MCDANIEL,
Tally-list.
Constitution 18
No constitution 2
General banking law — Yes 5
General banking law — No 16
736 KANSAS AFFAIES.
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 20
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
WILLIAM B. ROBINSON, )
WILLIAM DYER, V Judges.
WILLIAM M. SMITH, S
Attest : JAMBS M. ARTHUR, > ni ,
C. M. MCDANIEL, \ Cierks'
FIFTH DISTRICT — Little Osage.
Poll-list.
1 R. T. Forbes IT Wm. Hinton
2 Wm Patrick 18 Sam'l Fleaner
3 E. Painter 19 James Curry
4 Etney Ecart 20 Thomas Osborn
5 James H. Mars 21 Daniel Henderson
6 George Wakefield 22 Alexander Howard
7 Wm. Wickham 23 W. W. Spratte
8 John Sanders 24 Paton Williams
9 Daniel Francis 25 Acy Williams
10 Isaac Sanders 26 E. Kepley
11 Julius Wilhite 27 Henry Miller
12 John A. Wakefield 28 Amos Stewart
13 Wm. Williams 29 Sampson Farris
14 Wm. Curry 30 Thomas Smith
15 Burton Kiwison 31 Thomas K. Hooper
1 6 Charles Bates
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
ROBERT T. FORBES,
THOMAS OSBORN,
Attest : DANIEL HENDERSON, ) rn i.
WM. CURRY, J Uer/cs'
Tally-list.
Constitution 21
No constitution 7
General banking law — Yes 16
General banking law — No 12
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 23
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 7
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 737
Certificate correct, except that 11 is inserted instead of 12, as voting
against the general hanking law.
Signed, as follows :
THOMAS OSBORN, J
ROBERT T. FORBES, } Judges.
THOMAS CURRY, )
Attest : DANIEL HENDERSON, \
WILLIAM T. CURRY, j
SEVENTH DISTRICT — Titus.
Poll^booTc.
1 Henry Todd 23 Ami Smith
2 W. F. Harer 24 S. A. Allison
3 Thos. White 25 Abison Floorer
4 J. B. Titus 26 G. A. Drew
5 John DreV 27 John Smith
6 S, M. Penin 28 C. W. Fisk
7 Ahram Leonard 29 P. C. Shyler
8 Adam R. Bothel 30 L. D. Joy
9 Wm. Lord 31 L. J. Miller
10 Thomas Hill 32 H. Polly
11 Henry Stanley 33 W. W. Fish
12 Alex. Millson 34 John Crowford
13 Aaron Dow 35 L. Fish
14 Jasper Goodwill 36 N. G. Densmore
15 N. Shyler 37 R. Miller
16 0. H. Sheldon 38 David Hoover
17 C. F. Richards 39 G. Bratton
18 Hiram Mills 40 G. Hairy
19 Geo. M. Barnes 41 J. Street
20 William Drew 42 John Miller
21 0. B. Harvey 43 Thos. Kussell
22 Joseph Ramsey 44 F. Upson.
The printed form properly filled, (see form,) and signed as follows
J. B. TITUS, )
JOHN DREW, V Judges.
E. M. PERRIN, )
Attest: LEWIS D.JoY, \ n Tf
ABRAHAM LEONARD, \ *
Tally-list.
Constitution .,, ,., , 39
No constitution 5
H, Rep, 200 47*
738
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
General bankin g law — Yes ................... . .............................
General banking law — No.-. ................................................
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes .............................. 2
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No ............................... 1
The printed form is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows :
J. B. TITUS, )
JOHN DREW, V Judges.
E. M. PERRIN, )
Attest: LEWIS D. JOY, \ m i.
ABRAHAM LEONARD, \ Lier/cs'
• SEVENTH DISTRICT — JuniaMa.
Poll-book.
1 Newell Teafton
2 Lawrence Shattock
3 Wm. E. Goodwin
4 Samuel D. Houston
5 Ambrose Todd
6 Amery Hunting
7 Chas. E. Blood
8 Wm. E. Parkersen
9 Isaac T. Goodnow
10 John Gilt
11 Simon Perry
12 John Sanford
13 Henry Nealy
14 Edward Hunting
15 Geo. H. Moore
16 Christian Gatz
17 Louis Sanford
18 Cyrus Bishop
19 Asah G! Allen
20 John Pipher
21 Charles W. Bechee
22 Chas. Fay
23 Joseph Dennison
24 Chas. Barnes
25 John S. Hoffecker
26 Stephen B. Barnes
27 Joseph Stewart
28 Peter Nirhart
29 John Mclntyre
30 Wm. S. Arnold
31 Joseph Browning.
The printed certificate properly filled, (see form,) except the pf
cinct is called Big Blue in the poll-list, and Juniatta in the ecu
ficate, and signed as follows :
Attest : WM. S. ARNOLD, \
C. E. BLOOD, \
PETER NEYHART,
J. STEWART,
ISAAC T. GOODNOW,
Judges \
Tally-list.
Constitution
No constitution ,
General banking law — Yes,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 739
General banking law — No 6
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 10
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 19
The printed form is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows :
PETER NEYHART, J
J. STEWART, } Judges.
ISAAC T. GOODNOW, )
r Attest: WM. S. ARNOLD ;
C. E. BLOOD,
EIGHTH DISTRICT. — Ohio City Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 A. G. Barrett 12 Lowry Trombly
2 Rees Furbay 13 Franklin Reed
3 William Saunders 14 William Harmon
4 Lewis Furbay 15 A. J. Ockerman
5 Henry Hallenberg 16 W. H. Brine
6 D. M. Levitt 15 Henry Brockmyre
7 A. M. Bell 18 Loren Jessen
8 Jas. A. Smith 19 Henry Brockmyre, jr.
9 Thos. Warren 20 Gulian Shangraed
10 Samuel Langdon 21 Joseph Breno.
11 John Herron
The printed form is properly filled, (see form.) and signed as follows:
HENRY HOLLENBERG, )
D. M. LEVITT, V Judges.
WILLIAM SAUNDERS, )
Attest : A. G. BARRETT, ) ^ ,
LEWIS FURBAY, J °
Tally-list.
Constitution 21
No constitution
General banking law — Yes 16
General banking law — No , 5
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 20
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 1
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows :
HENRY HOLLENBERG, )
D. M. LEVITT, } Judges.
WM. SAUNDERS, )
Attest: A. G. BARRETT,
LEWIS FURBAY,
40 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
EIGHTH DISTRICT — Wabaunsee Precinct,
Poll-book.
1 Andrew B. Marshall 11 W. J. Fodder
2 J. M. Bisbey 12 H. P. Leonard
3 J. H. Nesbit 13 J. H. Pillsburg
'4 E. R. McLundy 14 Calvin H. Javin
5 Oscar Meachand 15 Henry Bisbey
6 H. W. Taborr 16 Henry Jones
1 H. J. Brown 17 D. L. Bates
8 Bar Sharai 18 L. W. Brown
9 Francis Abott 19 Hermon Keyes.
10 Peter Sharai
The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as follow
E. R. McCURDY, )
J. M. BISBEY, } Judge**
ANDREW B. MARSHALL
Attest : J. H. NESBITT,.
HORACE W. TABOR,
Tally-list.
Constitution
No constitution
General banking law — Yes
General banking law — No
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follow
E. R. McCURDY, )
J. M. BISBEY, } Judgi
ANDREW B. MARSHALL, )
Attest: J. H. NESBITT,
HORACE W. TABOR,
EIGHTH DISTRICT — St. Mary's Precinct.
t Poll-book.
1 Geo. Wuartla 8 William Younklin
2 J. D. Adams 9 E. Davis
3 Moses Younklin 10 0. B. Dean
4 John King 11 Charles Dean
5 John Leonard 12 B. C. Dean
6 F. Shaeifer 13 Jas. P. Wilson
7 August Beekeer 14 0. Bayeron.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 741
The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as follows :
J. E. D. AVIS, )
OSCAR B. DEAN, V Judy.es.
CHARLES DEAN, )
Attest: J. E. D. Avis,
O. B. DEAN,
Tally-list.
Constitution 19
No constitution
General bankin g law — Yes
General banking la w— No « 14
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 19
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows :
CHARLES DEAN, )
OSCAR B. DEAN, V Judges.
J. E. D. AVIS, )
Attest: 0. B. DEAN,
J. E. D. Avis,
EIGHTH DISTRICT — Mill Creek Precinct.
PoU-booTc.
1 Karl Morasch 11 Michael Metzger
2 Johaim Suhr 12 Karl Bath
3 Freidrich Palensge 13 Johann Lemke
4 Herman Miller 14 Bernhard Hansacok
5 Bernard Schutter 15 Christian Prath
6 Christoph Schwanke 16 Joseph Weise
7 Franz Schmidt IT Wilhelm Ganther
8 Johann Achlz 18 Joseph Thoes
9 Pitt Thoes 19 Jacob Terris
10 Peter Pfeifer 20 Vint Ludwig Henricks
The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as fol-
lows:
JACOB TERRIS, )
JOSEPH THOES, } Judges.
JOSEPH WEISE, )
Attest : WILHELM GANDERT, ) ^ \
V. LUDWIG HENRICKS, \ Ckrjcs'
Tally-list.
Constitution 20
No constitution...
,742 KANSAS AFFAIES.
General "banking law — Yes ,
General banking law — No 20
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 20
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
The printed form is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows :
JACOB TERRLSS, >
JOSEPH THOES, V Judges,
JOSEPH WEISE, }
Attest : WILHELM GANDERT,
Z. GEN'D HENRICKS,
NINTH DISTRICT — Grasshopper Falls.
Poll-book.
1 Chalmess Scott 28 Nathan C. Hart
2 Martin Vanderburgh 29 W. H. Goodwin
3 W. Hasley 30 Geo. H. Cane
4 James Griffiths 31 Henry Morriss
5 Daniel Remkles 32 John Sills
6 Eph. Loman 33 John Ernst
7 Perry Moss 34 Benedict Myer
8 Thomas H. Elliott 35 William Cat
9 John Elliott 36 A. Crowbarger
10 Sidney Scanland 37 John Conway
11 Daniel Willey 38 Benjamin Wiger
12 John H. Clark 39 John Short
13 S. H. Dunn 40 Samuel S. Smith
14 Wm. Gregsby 41 Wm. Bales
15 George S. Hillger 42 John W. Owens
16 Atkinson Martin 43 Henry Bales
17 John W. Dowell 44 Henry Zenn .
18 Alexander Hughan 45 J. K. Williams
19 Zefuton Bugbee 46 Isaac Cody
20 Alpha Summons 47 John Roberts
21 Samuel Brown 48 Jacob Wiher
22 John Hughan 49 John Roderick
23 Martin Price 50 Peter Roderick
24 Fred. Christman 51 Peter Taylor
25 G. T. Donaldson 52 John Wigner
26 E. Mendenhall 53 Kenry Wiher
27 Jesse B. Taylor 54 Anthony Weishaar
The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as fo<
lows :
J. W. CLARK, )
S. H. DUNN, } Judges.
WM. GREGSBEY, }
Attest: GPORGE S. HILLGER, > ™ ,
ATKINSON MARTIN, $
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 743
' Tally-list.
Constitution 54
No constitution
General banking law — Yes .- 19
General banking law — No 34
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 50
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 3
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows:
J. W. CLARK, )
S. H. DUNN, } Judges.
WM. GREGSBEY, )
Attest : GEORGE S. HILLGER, ) ™ TL,
ATKINSON MARTIN, ] c
NINTH DISTRICT — Pawnee Precinct.
Poll-look.
1 Robert Klotz 24 Johnson McFire
2 Jacob Hill 25 Samuel Jones
3 Laritt Lincoln 26 George McFarland
4 Jeremiah Youester 27 J. S. Williams
5 S. B. White 28 Win. L. Shane
6 Lemuel Napp 29 H. H. McKey
7 Silas Klotz 30 John Drennan
8 Isaac H. Dodar 31 J. W. Colvill
9 Reinbold Whitehair 32 Samuel Parr
10 S. P. Allon 33 John C. Nolan
11 James W. Hulse 34 Thomas Marshall
12 George W. Switzer 35 M. H. Beardsley
13 Adolph Kurtze 36 John Halbrook
14 Lemon Kouth 37 William Harris
15 Win. Miller 38 Eugene Cunningham
16 James Warren 39 John O'Neil
17 T. K. Mills 40 Charles Gibson
18 J. R. Wills 41 James Tally
19 N. H. Moore 42 James Cirba
20 J. C. Coulton 43 Joseph Nighta
21 Harris Smith 44 Alexander Dean
22 George T. Brown 45 William Forest
23 Jacob Schoonmaker
The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as
follows :
SAMUEL KNAPP, )
ISAAC H. LODGE, \ Judges.
S. B. WHITE, )
Attest : SILAS KLOTZ, \ rn i.
ALEXANDER DOAN, \ Llerks-
744 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally-list.
Con stitution *. . .. 45
No constitution
General banking law — Yes 15
General banking law — No 29
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 40
Exclusion of Negroes and mulattoes — No 5
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows*
LEMUEL KNAPP, )
ISAAC LODGE, } Judges.
S. B. WHITE, )
Attest : SILAS KLOTZ,
ALEXANDER DEAN,
TENTH DISTRICT — Burr Oak.
Poll-book.
1 Valentine Gunselman 13 Henry Wilson
2 J. L. Higins 14 J. S. Hall
3 James Leveel 15 T. H. McCullock
4 Thomas Devolt 16 Thomas Bell
5 J. P. Harper 17 L. D. Lockin
6 Henry Eapp 18 Dan Morrow
T George Schuyler 19 Wm. C Gilliam
8 F. Fritzer 20 A. Shultz
9 C. A. Hale 21 E. L. Gilliam
10 P. Kleppell 22 Charles Hack
11 Wm. B. Sharp 23 Daniel Bowman
12 B. H. Brock
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
B. H. BROCK, >
HENRY WILSON, } Judge®.
T. H. McCULLOCK, )
Attest : WM. B. SHARP, ) m -,
ISAACS. HAIL, \ Ll€
Tally-list.
Constitution 23
No constitution
General banking law — Yes T
General banking law — No 16
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 22
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 1
The certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
B. H. BROCK, )
HENRY WILSON, V Judges.
T. H. McCULLOCK, Y
Attest: WM. B. SHARP,
ISAACS. HAIL,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 745
TENTH DISTRICT — Doniphan.
Poll-book.
1 J. H. Whilker 12 J. W. Collins
2 W. Lancaster 13 B. Brady
3 T. Vest 14 J. Standerf
4 A. Dunn 15 J. McNema
5 E. Hamilton 16 G. A. Cutler
6 P. J. Collins IT N. Alexander
7 B. G. Cady 18 B. K. Milmot
8 R. Rockett. 19 J. Landes
9 T. Cook 20 L. Oak
10 W. H. Wells 21 William Popges
11 A. Vingart 22 W. Irvin
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
Attest: T. J. COLLINS, Clerk.
B. G. CODY,
JOHN McNEMA,
Judges.
Tally-list.
Constitution 22
No constitution
General banking law — Yes 5
General banking law — No 14
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 21
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
B. G. CODY,
JOHN McNEMA,
Attest: T. J. COLLINS, Clerk.
TENTH DISTRICT — Jesse Padon's, Pilot Grove.
Poll-book.
1 W. C. Foster T William Smitch
2 Thomas Briggan 8 J. M. Bridges
3 E. B. Osburn 9 W. B. Bridges
4 Jesse Padon 10 Philip Weis
5 John Smitch 11 Henry Smitch
6 Win. Purket 12 E. Painter
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
JESSE PADON, )
JOHN SMITCH, [ Judges.
WM. PURKET, )
Attest: E. PAINTER, ) ~, ,
WM. K. BRIDGES, J Clerks'
746 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally-list.
Constitution 1!
No constitution
General banking law — Yes <
General banking law — No 11
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 11
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
WILLIAM PURKET, )
JOHN SMITCH, } Judges.
JESSE PADON, )
Attest : E. PAINTER,
WILLIAM R. BRIDGES,
ELEVENTH DISTRICT — Ocean Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 James Limerick 15 G. W. Cobb
2 Isaac Hasen 16 Joseph Trueax
3 Robert A. Connelly 17 T. B. Elliot
4 Caleb May 18 Jesse W. Elliot
5 JohnHelwig 19 Wm. H. Stewart
6 Wm. Crosby 20 Luther Knox
7 N. Connelly 21 Daniel Campbell
8 S. J. H. Snyder 22 D. F. Graham
9 Arch. Elliot 23 Wm. Landrum
10 Milo Carlton 24 E. Landrum
11 Henry W. Campbell 25 Jos. Dougherty
12 Lewis Minch 26 Thos. C. Duncan
13 John Graves 27 Edward Wood
14 Lack Morris 28 G. G. Ash
The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as follow?]
A. ELLIOTT, )
MILES CARLTON, V Judges.
S. J. H. SNIDER, )
Attest : NEWMAN CONNELLY,
WM. CROSBY,
Tally-list.
Constitution
No constitution
General banking law — Yes
General banking law — No..
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 747
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 28
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows :
A. ELLIOTT, )
MILES CARLTON, } Judges.
S. J. H. SNYDER, }
Attest : NEWMAN CONNELLY,
WM. CROSBY,
ELEVENTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT — Kickapoo Precinct.
Poll-look.
\ James L. Sayle 11 Edward Minetu
2 Jackson B. Crane 12 Joshua Morgan
3 Wm. H. Nichols 13 D. E. Jones
4 H. B. Crale 14 H. C. Jones
5 Jonathan Robinson 15 Jno. Miller
6 C. R. Zimmerman 16 Jno. Strain
7 Stanford M. Daniel 17 Philip Baker
8 Jno. A. Becker 18 J. F. Hathaway
9 Henry C. Sutton 19 B. F. Edwards
10 Martin Kleim 20 Riston Wiley.
The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as
follows :
H. B. GALE, )
JONATHAN ROBINSON, \ Judges.
E. R. ZIMMERMANN, . )
Attest : WM. H. NICHOLS, >
B. F. EDWARDS, J
Tally-list.
Constitution 20
No constitution
General hanking law — Yes 7
General hanking law — No 13
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 16
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows:
H. B. GALE, }
JONATHAN ROBINSON, } Judges.
E. R. ZIMMERMANN, )
Attest: B. F. EDWARDS, ) ~7 ,
WM. H. NICHOLS, Clerks'
748
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT — Pleasant Hill Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 Andrew K. Branes
2 Nathan Adams
3 Lewis Hoover
4 Fulfils W. Kin
5 Solomon Hicks
6 G. B. Hall
7 William Hicks
8 Kichard S. Banhum
9 W. C. Quitt
10 John S. &uitt
1 1 Nathan Griffith
12 William A. Wade
13 John H. Brown
14 Aaron Coock
15 Lewis Kennalte
16 Bryan Stewart
17 Jacob W. Brown
18 James A. Stevenson
19 Jacob Fisher
20 William Dactt
21 Henry Hoover
22 William C. Walker
23 Jesse F. Collins
25 Francis Claywell
26 William Nickles
27 David Ransier
28 Henry Eansier
29 Joseph Nichols
30 J. R. Smith
31 Stephen Ogan
32 John Renoit
33 Franklin Etigah
34 Thadeus Owes
35 B. F. Bernett
36 T. L. Pooler
37 Philip Cessler
38 Nathan Cory
39 Stephen J. Elliott
40 Josep Dunn
41 Alexander McDonald,, jr
42 Alexander McDonald, srr
43 Jame Dempsey
44 Mathew Robinson
45 Ashbury Bissler
46 E. Banter
47 Leonard Busbee.
24 John Hanny
The printed forms properly filled, (see forms,) and signed as f<fc
lows :
G. B. HALL, )
LEWIS HOOVER, [judges.
NATHAN ADAMS,
Attest : ANDREW J. FRANCIS,
RUFUS W. RIN,
Clerks.
Tally-list.
Constitution
No constitution ..
General banking law — Yes
General banking law — No
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follow*
G. B. HALL, )
LEWIS HOOVER, V Judges.'
NATHAN ADAMS, )
Attest : ANDREW FRANCIS, ) n7 * 0
RUFUS W. RIN, ) Ller/cs'
i
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 749
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT — Whitfield Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 Hiram House 5 William Burr
2 J. F. Turner 6 Kobert McNawn
3 J. B. Chapman 7 Frederick Swige.
4 Thomas Turner
The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as fol-
lows :
THOMAS JANNER, )
HIRAM HOUSE, } Judges.
J. F. JANNER, )
Attest : J. B. CHAPMAN, \ m ,
ROBERT McNowN, J Ll/er/cs'
\
Tally-list.
Constitution 7
No constitution
General banking law — Yes ., 3
General banking law — No 4
Exclusion of negroes and mulattes — Yes 6
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows :
THOMAS JANNER, )
HIRAM HOUSE, V Judges.
J. F. JANNER, )
Attest : ROBERT McNowN, ) m 7
J. B. CHAPMAN, Clerks-
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT — Indianola Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 S. R. Mossteller 11 Timothy Dounie
2 John Damewood 12 A. K. Winegardner
3 Samuel Cummins 13 J. H. Damewood
4 Joseph Kapp 14 Thomas Ferguson
6 Joseph M. Cole 15 Daniel Harlow
6 David Menley 16 Daniel Downey
7 Charles Columbo 17 G. D. Fidling
8 Richard Murphy 18 Joshua Murphy
9 Thomas Lamar 19 Jonathan Nilchel,
10 J. M. Fonts
750
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The printed "form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as fo
lows :
A. H. WINEGARDNER, )
JONATHAN NILCHEL, V Judges.
THOMAS LAMAR, )
Attest : J. H. DAMEWOOD, ) ni ,
JOSEPH M. COLE, \ LLer/cs'
Tatty-list.
Constitution
No constitution
General banking law — Yes
General banking law — No
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follow,-
A. H. WINEGARDNER, )
JONATHAN NILCHEL, [ Judges.
THOMAS LAMAR, )
Attest: J. H. DAMEWOOD, \ rj -L
JOSEPH M. COLE, J Lterfcs
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT — St. Joseph's Bottom.
1 Benjamin Harding
2 Geo. H. Bryan
3 A. H. Jamison
4 James Campbell
5 C. W. Stewart
6 Alfred Langden
7 Florian Leber
8 Ugene Vogal
Certificate correctly filled,
Attest : BENJ. HARDING, >
A. A. JAMISON, )
Poll-book.
9 W. C. Graham
10 Thos. Stewart
11 H. Smallwood
12 John T. Braidy
13 Nelson Abby
14 Wm. Newman
15 W. H. Harrison.
and signed as follows :
BENJAMIN HARDING, )
A. A. JAMISON, *>Judgest
GEORGE H. BRYAN, )
Constitution ....
No constitution
Tally-list.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 751
General banking law — Yes 4
General banking law — No 9
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes— Yes 14
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 1
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
BENJ. HARDING, )
A. A. JAMISON, V Judges.
G. H. BRYAN, )
Attest : BENJ. HARDING,
A A T
. A. JAMISON,
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT — Wolf River.
Tally-list.
Constitution 24
No constitution
General bankia g law — Yes 11
General banking law — No 12
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 18
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 6
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
E. P. RICHARDSON, )
J. M. IRWIN, } Judges.
P. J. JOHNSON, )
Attest : WM. DOOLITTLE. ) ni -,
A. J. MINER, \ Clerks'
No poll-book.
FIFTEENTH DISTRICT — Mount Pleasant.
Poll-book.
1 Tinlsly Potter 18 Wm. Martin
2 Joseph Potter ' 19 James Martin
3 John C. Ridgway 20 Moses Greenough
4 Charles 8. Foster 21 Josiah Martin
5 George Porter 22 Hiram Quilt
6 James Foster 23 Hezekiah Dehart
7 C. S. Anderson 24 Wm. J. Mayfield
8 George Blodgett 25 John H. Blizzard
9 George W. Harrison 26 James McNema
10 Andrew W. Peebles 27 John Rutledge
11 John Harman 28 Levis Cox
12 Wm. W. Peebles 29 David Bunle
13 Thomas S. Hensley 30 C. A. Harleigh
14 James S. Iddings 31 W. J. Oliphant
15 H. S. Peck 32 Jacob Eiler
16 William Martin 33 Joel Martin.
17 Alexander Cox
752 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
JOSEPH P0r
JOHN RIDGWAY
Attest : CHARLES S. FOSTER, Clerk.
R> j Judges.
Tally-list.
Constitution .................................................... . ................. £
No constitution ..................................................................
General banking law — Yes ................................................... £
General banking law — No . . ..................................................
Exclusion of negroes and inulattoes — Yes. .............................. £
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No .................................
Certificate correct, except that 32 are set down as voting for til
exclusion of negroes and mulattoes, instead of 30.
Attest : CHARLES S. FOSTER, Clerk.
JOSEPH POTTER, \
JOHN RIDGWAY, \
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT — Easton.
Poll-look.
1 F. G. Braiden
2 C. J. Myers
3 Wm. J. Pyle
4 Josiah Hix
5 Josiah Dark
6 Levi White
7 S. Hull
8 R. Bean •"*
9 S. Dark
10 D. P. Bethurim
11 Isaac Vancamp
12 Jackson Goble
13 Wm. Johnson
14 W. f. Goble
15 D. D. Baker
16 D. Swim
17 A. E. Hendrieks
18 B. B. Myers
19 A. Bower
20 D. Murphy
21 George Goble
22 James Benfrow
23 A. Sparks
24 J. M. Parkman
25 H. Ovel
26 Stephen Sparks
27 R. E. Courtney
28 G. P. Minney
29 Joseph Elliot
30 S. A. Dunn
31 George Swaim
32 F. Browning
33 J. W. Hendricks
34 D. McMichael
35 D. Comstock
36 James Comstock
37 B. F. Hix
38 M. A. Tubbs
39 Moses Hix
40 Euos Numan
41 T. H. Gabert
42 William Butt
43 A. Phillips
44 B. Sparks
45 Caswell Rose
46 Thomas Gwartney
47 Jacob Lockmiller.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 753
48 N. W. Taylor 61 M. H. Langley
49 J. H. Kincaid 26 F. A. Minard
50 Wm. Sparks 63 P. R. Orr
51 M. Sparks 64 Wm. Renwick
52 Daniel Shipley 65 David Rose
53 Wm. Rose 66 John Wilfley
54 Samuel Horton 67 J. J. Crook
55 Wm. M. Bathurst 68 William Bubb
56 D. B. Nixon 69 S. S. Hamlet
57 Joshua Hall 70 W. R. Tubbs
58 John Sparks 71 J. W. Hendricks
59 D. McNish 72 W. B. Pristow
60 Jacob Sarven 73 James Hutchings
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
WM. PENNOCK, )
P. R. ORR, [Judges.
T. A. MINARD,)
Attest : WM. PENNOCK,
T. A. MINARD,
Tally-list.
Constitution 71
No constitution 2
General banking law — Yes.. 53
Greneral banking law — No 19
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 71
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 00
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
THOMAS A. MINARD, )
WM. PENNOCK, [Judges.
P. R. ORR, )
Attest : THOMAS A. MINARD,
WILLIAM PENNOCK,
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT — Mission Precinct.
Poll-list.
1 Jeremiah Hadley 5 John Lockport
2 Ira Hadley 6 John H. Osborn
3 Henry Wilson 7 George Osborn
4 Charles Johnson
(This is wrongly designated the 4th district. The following in-
formal certificate embraces the poll and tally-list.)
H. Rep. 200 48*
754
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
MISSION PRECINCT, December 15, 1855.
We, the legally qualified judges of the 17th representative distn
(should be senatorial) of the Territory of Kansas, do certify, that t
following report is a full and correct return of the election held I
district aforesaid, on the above date, for the purpose of adopting'
rejecting a " constitution " for the State of Kansas, and for electi
a delegate to represent the district aforesaid in the free-State conve
tion to be held at Lawrence, on Saturday, December 22, and appr<
ing or disapproving "a general banking law system," and approvii
or disapproving of the exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes. Tha
were cast —
For constitution
For general banking law
For exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes
Delegate to state convention
For exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes
Against exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes
Majority against exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes
Whole number of votes cast
JEREMIAH A. HADLEY, )
HENRY WILSON,
JOHN LOCKHART,
Attest : JOHN LOCKHART, Clerk.
Poll-book of voters who have cast their ballots at an election held on<
15th day of December , A. D. 1855, at precinct, in disti'
No. — , in Kansas Territory, on the adoption or rejection of a com
tution for the State of Kansas, and upon the general banking 1 1
clause and black-laiv proposition.
No.
Names of voters.
No.
Names of voters.
-
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certt
upon our oaths, that the whole number of votes cast at an elect!)
held at —
precinct, in
district of Kansas Territory,
the 15th day of December, A. D. 1855, for the adoption or reject!]
of a constitution ; the separate article in relation to a general bankxi
law, framed by the constitutional convention which assembled at ' I
peka on the 23d day of October, 1855, for the State of Kansas ; a
the independent proposition in relation to instructing the first gen6<|
assembly on the subject of negroes and mulattoes, to be in number-]
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
755
And we further certify, that the said voters were bona fide citizens of
the United States, ahove the age of twenty-one years, and actual resi-
dents of the Territory of Kansas for thirty days immediately preceding
this election, and still continue the same as their home and residence.
)
> Judges.
Attest :
Clerks.
Tally-list of votes cast at an election held on the 15th day of December.,
A. D. 1855, precinct, in district No. — , in Kansas Terri-
tory, on the adoption or rejection of a constitution for the State of
Kansas, and upon the general banking clause and black law-propo-
sition.
Constitution.
No constitu-
tion.
Gcn'l hanking
law — Yes.
Gen' 1 banking
law — No.
Exclusion of ne-
groes and mu-
lattoes— Yes.
Exclusion of ne-
groes and mu-
lattoes — No.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify,
upon our oaths, that the whole number of votes cast at an election held
at precinct, in district, in Kansas Territory, on
the 15th day of December, A. D. 1855, for the adoption or rejection
of a constitution framed by the constitutional convention which as-
sembled at Topeka on the 23d day of October, A. D. 1855, for the
State of Kansas, to be in number as follows :
Constitution....,
No constitution
We further certify, that the whole number of votes cast at said elec-
tion, approving or disapproving an article in relation to a general
banking law_, submitted as a distinct proposition, to become a part of
said constitution, if adopted by a majority of the people, to be in
number as follows :
General banking law — Yes
General banking law — No ....
We further certify, that the whole number of votes cast at said elec-
tion, approving or disapproving the passage of stringent laws by the
general assembly for the exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes from
756
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
the State of Kansas, the result of said vote to operate as instruction
to the first general assembly, to be in number as follows :
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes
Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No
And we further certify, that the said voters were bona fide citizens
the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, and actual rer
dents of the Territory of Kansas for thirty days immediately precedin
this election, and still continuing the same as their home and resident
Judges.
Attest :
Clerics.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
757
ELECTION OF JANUAKY 15, 1856.
FIRST DISTRICT — Blanton.
Poll-look.
ISC Smith
2 John E Stewart
3 Samuel Merrill
4 J Elliott
5 Ira Brown
6 H E Bahcock
7 Joshua Hughes
8 Charles Dickson
9 Elisha F, Mayo
10 L J Eherhard
11 W S Bishop
12 Collins Holliway
13 J Salathiel
14 Joseph Everhard
15 James G Saffer
16 J A Coffey
17 W D Jennerson
18 Daniel F Merris
19 JohnMorehead
20 Setli Kodihaugh
21 L H Kowley
22 Harrison Nichols
23 William Carles
24 Josiah Hutcheson
25 B P Moore
26 0 P Kennedy
27 E W Bennett
28 T H Kennedy
29 J K Goodin
30 William Whitlock
31 Ezekiel Duzar
32 Lewis Staggers
33 G W Berry
34 L M Huddleston
35 J M Jones
36 Clark Teft
37 Abram Still
38 J H Gleason
39 J W Jones
40 B Hitchcock
41 L A Hammond
42 Edmund Carles
43 Levi W Plumb
44 Jonathan Kenedy
45 Hiram Dunbar
46 W V Kennedy
47 William Nettleton
48 William Blegman
49 P S Hutcherson
50 T B Smith
51 P T Hupp
52 James Lane
53 Paul Jones
54 James Waley
55 A W Maberly
56 A W Maberly
57 H F Saunders
58 Jonathan Ogden
59 F P Vaughn
60 Thomas Hopkins
61 Joseph Curies
62 Thomas Breeze
63 E Smith
64 W Atwater
65 L A Prather
66 John G Smith
67 Isaac Shaper
68 John K Griffith
69 James B Abbott
70 Simon Gibson
71 E D Horton
72 William Liver more
73 Josiah Houghton
74 Alex Mears
75 William Mears
76 John Carter
77 N B Blanton
78 Peter Pridy
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
JOHN E. STEWAET,
PHILIP T. HUPP,
P. S. HUTCHESON,
WILLIAM S. BISHOP,
WILLIAM LIVERMORE,
Judges.
Clerks.
758 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally-list.
Governor — Charles Robinson - - m
" William Y Roberts -
Lieutenant Governor —William Y Roberts
" M J Parrott
Secretary of State— P C Schuyler - - - - - 1
CKHolliday
Auditor— G A Cutler - -
f( WR Griffith - •. ^ .
Treasurer— J H Wakefield - - - " - '
E C K Garvey
Attorney General — H Miles Moore
Supreme Judge — S N Latta
" M F Conway - . - ;- ' £,-£
MHunt .....
" GW Smith
" SW Johnston --.-.-
J A Wakefield -
Reporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston •'--"
SBMcKensie-
Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd
Public Printer — John Speer - - - ' • 1
R G Elliott
Representative to Congress — M W Delehay
State Senator— L Allen - - -'^: - - '
GPLowry - *V' ^ 1
" J Curtis - -.-''< M'-^ - i,
B W Miller - - '^ !-' - 1
S N Wood '^ - - !
W Hutcheson
State Representative — Mr Leggett -
L A Prather
John Hutcheson -
" James Blood - - IJ
Erastus D Ladd -
" Joel Grover
" WJRBlackman - - f>" -j
" JB Abbott -;;: --- I
HF Sanders - Ji
R S Bassett
"' Robert McFarland - ••-** - Jj
" SNHartwell - A
A H Mallory
G Jenkins
" Columbus Hornsby ^ >- - - |
EBPurdham - t
u James McGhee - ^- - - |
" NB Blanten - -• - - 4\
" J R Kennedy
" Josiah Miller . - •* - - - fl
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 759
Certificate correct, except that W. R. Griffith is stated to be 24
JOHN E. STEWART, )
PHILIP T. HUPP, V Judges.
P. S. HUTCHESON, )
instead of 23 votes for auditor.
WILLIAM LIVERMORE,
WILLIAM S. BISHOP,
FIRST DISTRICT — FranJdin precinct.
Poll-look.
1 T a Murray
2 W Bridges
3 J McFarlane
4 T McFarlan
5 B H Nelson
6 Moses Flora
7 J L Smith
8 D Scannell
9 James McGhee
10 D Burton
11 John Lawhead
12 H L Enos
13 Jos. Shuler
14 J D Harrington
15 T W Waller
16 Homer Hays
IT JolmPiatt
18 T Anderson
19 E B Purdam
20 Hiram Crane
21 Thomas Seaton
22 R H Pierce
23 S T Harmon
24 C N Day
25 Thomas Still
26 Lucas Fish
27 Green Phillis
28 A C Smith
29 E Wallace
30 B R Whitlowe
31 Lucas Carlen
32 David Wallace
33 J Wolf
34 S M Salters
35 C M Wallace
36 Robert McFarland
37" Norman Chambers
38 Fleming Bridges
39 A M Whedon
40 W J Kennedy
41 John Stroup
42 William Stroup
43 E A Landon
44 James Anderson
45 T M Arterbery
46 J W Hague
47 Samuel Crane
48 Lewis Anderson
49 William S Hull
50 Edward T Webb
51 John Van winkle
52 W G Piper
53 Robert Shields
54 Isam C Taylor
55 Herbert Sterling
56 Armstrong Lawhead
57 E B Johnston
58 J H Crocket
59 John Anderson
60 V F White
61 Thomas Brindly
62 Joseph Young
63 J W Hoping
64 J Sellers
65 D Meacham
66 H C Bigbee
67 J J McGhee
68 T S McGee
69 Adam McGhee
70 Michael Glenn
71 Milligan Wallace
72 James Covel
760 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
73 K J Crane 77 Samuel Sutherland
74 William Kobins 78 Simon Ritter
75 T W Painter 79 William Wallace
76 William Bridges
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
H. L. ENOS, )
DAVID BURTON, [ Judges.
T. W. WILBER, )
DANIEL SCANNELL, ) ni -,
J. D. HARRINGTON, \ Uer/cs'
Tally-list.
Governor — W Y Roberts -
" Charles Robinson
Lieutenant Governor — M J Parrott
" " WY Roberts
Secretary of State— C K Holliday
" " PC Schuyler
Auditor— T R Griffith -
" DA Cutler
Treasurer — E C K Garvey
" J A Wakefield
Attorney General — H Miles Moore
Supreme Judge — G W Smith
" S N Latta
" SW^ Johnston -
" M F Conway -
J A Wakefield -
M Hunt
Reporter Supreme Court — S B McKenzie
" " EM Thurston
Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd
Public Printer— R G Elliott
" John Spear
Representative to Congress — M W Delehay
State Senator— B W Miller
G P Lowry
Lyman Allen
William Hutchinson
" John Curtis - .
" SNWood
State Representative — E B Purdam
" James Blood
" James McGhee
" S A Prather
<£ N B Blanton
" James Legate
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 761
State Representative — J H Kennedy - 58
« Robert McFarland - 6
" Josiah Miller' - 61
" Joel Grover - "5
" John Hutchinson - - 56
" WEE Blackman - 5
" Columbus Hornsby - 61
" J B Abbott - T
" SNHartwell - 4T
11 William Yates - 7
HF Sanders - 7
ED Ladd - - 6
RS Basset - 5
" Job Vanwinkle ''-^ 1
" S J Livingston ,<-a>i' "^'-\ 1-
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
H. L. ENOS, )
DAVID BURTON, [ Judges.
T. W. WALLER, )
DANIEL SCANNELL,
J. D. HERRINGTON,
FIRST DISTRICT — Palmyra precinct.
Poll-book.
1 A F Still 14 Jacob Canliill
2 Thomas Chapman 15 Wilson Lyons
3 William Barricklow 16 John Brown
4 Daniel Barricklow 17 Silas Dexter
5 John Roe 18 R H Pearson
6 William Roe 19 Leonard Crean
T William Wistfall 20 Hugh Pettingall
8 Joseph Barricklow 21 Charles Jordan
9 Samuel Gill 22 Solomon Tappan
10 William Griffin 23 Enoch Rowland
11 David Eldridge 24 G W Fitz
12 Samuel Irvin 25 Wm L G Soule
13 Jacob Bronston
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
WM. BARRICKLOW, )
WILLIAM WESTFALL, [Judges.
SILAS DEXTER, )
JOHN ROE, ) ni ,
WILLIAM ROE, \ Clerks'
762
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tolly-list.
Governor — Charles Kobinson
Lieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts
Secretary of State — P C Schuyler
Auditor — G A Cutler
Treasurer — J A Wakefield • -
Attorney General — H Miles Moore
Supreme Judge — S N Latta
" M F Con way -
" M Hunt
Reporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston
Clerk of Supreme Court— S B Floyd
Public Printer — John Spear
Representative to Congress — Mark M Delehay
State Senator — Lyman Allen
" W M Hutchinson
" Samuel N Wood
State Representative — James Blood
" Erastus D Ladd -
" Joel Grover
W J R Blackman
" Z B Abbott
" R S Basset
" Robert McFarlane -
« H F Saunders
" G W Fitzs
Columbus Thornsby
C Jordan -
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows
WM. BARRICKLOW,
WILLIAM WESTFALL,
SILAS DEXTER,
WM. ROE,
JOHN ROE,
Judges.
FIRST DISTRICT — Laivrence.
Poll-book.
Lyman Allen
A D Searl
L P Coleman
W L Bridges
Geo F Earl
L K Dennis
N Garwood
8 M Hunt
9 J Cracklin
10 H Kurd
11 J W Ackley
12 G WHunt
13 J P Filer
H A Cutler
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
763
15 A H Yince
16 J H Firman
17 C W Harley
18 J E Rice
19 H N Bent
20 Geo H Crocker
21 Frank Hunt
22 J S Emery
23 N D Harland
24 G W Feitzler
25 Daniel Carey
26 Edward Clark
27 Edward Jones
28 James Frazer
29 Albert Brown
30 J H Johnson
31 A H Mallory
32 E Bond
33 T L Whitney
34 C F Day
35 Howard York
36 J Boyer
37 N Snyder
38 H S McClelland
39 A K Burditt
40 P J Warden
41 John Crocker
42 M F Conway
43 E H Kimball
44 W S R Blackman
45 E A Deland
46 Milan Grant
47 J Bigelow
48 E D Ladd
49 G W Smith
50 T Sumner
51 Charles Sanford
52 L S Bacon
53 E Chapman
54 James Blood
55 W N Baldwin
56 Leverett Haskill
57 J A Dull
58 A Bonam
59 P Carter
60 H A Campbell
61 J W Woodard
62 J Wheeler
63 R M Wilkinson
64 David Brown
65 B C Livingston
66 Wm Parks
67 Alex Moore
68 Daniel Lowe
69 John G Ricker
70 Philo Harper
71 J W Cochran
72 Allen Haus
73 E D Whipple
74 N P Noles
75 R H Waterman
76 Daniel McDaniel
77 Martin Young
78 Alfred Justice
79 G B Prentiss
80 W L Anderson
81 E S Leonard
82 J F Tabor
83 F C Stephens
84 T Stevens
85 Francis Killman
86 H Y Jamison
87 W B Hackett
88 G W Hutchison
89 James Jamison
90 J B Conway
91 S F Tappan
92 H C Niel
93 John T Harding
94 G Anderson
95 N L Bryant
96 Wm Wahicle .
97 J J Alverson
98 W S Taylor
99 E Nute
100 E B Whitman
101 Baker Morrow
102 Wm Hawks
103 0 A Hanscomb
104 Fred Kimball
105 B F Stone
106 Joseph Shields
107 John Pike
108 Abner Eldred
109 A W Bevel
110 P B Hanson
111 James Smith
112 Stephen Ogden
113 R G Elliott
114 L Osborn
115 AH Lattram
116 F Freeman
764
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
E A Pierce
118 J W Junkins
119 H J Delany
120 G W Jarvis
121 Homer Moore
122 R Wiles
123 0 Wilmarth
124 J V Neal
125 Jonas Colburn
126 Jacob Miller
127 Wm Keinback
128 J W Morey
129 Allan son Harvey
130 Geo Kurd
131 John Bradbury
132 Geo Warren
133 Reuben Craig
134 Richard Gray
135 H J Howard
136 C M Adams
137 Charles Longfellow
138 James France
139 C W Babcock
140 E P Fitch
141 C A Wright
142 William Hutchinson
143 Samuel Kimball
144 William Hare
145 Charles Garrett
146 James M Fuller
147 William A Gentry
148 George Harris
149 M Bloucert
150 William Tackett
151 Andrew Neal
152 R Neal
153 Moses Neal
154 Joseph Clem
155 Benjamin Whitloe
156 J W Stephens
157 Moses Taylor
158 Charles Robinson
159 Jos H Lane
160 H M Camfield
161 J G Fuller
162 Caleb S Pratt
163 B W Woodard
164 John Smith
165 John F Wilson
166 Lewis Howell
167 Turner Sampson
168 J A Pike
169 C H Thrower
170 B L Richardson
171 L G White
172 J Hamer
173 H P Lee
174 Z Hooncough
175 Wm Mathews
176 Henry Atherton
177 Isley
178 David Evans
179 R T Hooten
180 G P Venalt
181 D B Allen
182 Robert Allen
183 L M Cox
184 J Dennis
185 Joshua Smith
186 L T Colwell
187 J B Smith
188 Wm Henson
189 A Baker
190 J A Gutzgon
191 John Mack
192 P Zimmerman
193 C Hall
194 S J Pratt
195 J French
196 C Clear
197 T Clemmons
198 J H Green
199 Benj Savage
200 G W Brown
201 C E Lenharf
202 A Whitcomh
203 B C Golliday
204 T Jones
205 Alonzo Piat
206 James Knowl
207 Henry Stevens
208 J C Henmon
209 David, Purington
210 J H Harrison
211 Geo Mathews
212 Levi Gates
213 John Baldwin
214 Henry Smith
215 R Banks
216 W T Ayers
217 J Stiller
218 C Schoolcraft
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
765
219 L Miller
220 Cornelius Pitover
221 Robert Irvin
222 K C Dicks
223 Otis Potter
224 S S Snyder
225 John Gingery
226 J P Davidson
227 Jas S Cowan
228 Wm Kitcheman
229 Clarke Stearnes
230 Adam Johns
231 Henry Green
232 Thomas Brook
233 E L Bassett
234 Thos Wells
235 J E Strout
236 E W Cambell
237 James M Still
238 J Strout
239 J D Barns
240 Win Hughes
241 W D Atwood
242 J D Sands
243 Thos Garvey
244 C B Elkridge
245 Jas Redpath
246 E F Warren
247 F A Alluzzez
248 Josh Thaxter
249 Franklin Haskill
250 Morris Hartland
251 Wm Yates
252 Thomas Barton
253 S W Pardy
254 Stilman Andrews
255 J B Purdy
256 C M Williams
257 Stephen Logue
258 T Skinner
259 T H While
260 H S Blair
261 E W Gillis
262 J C Bevel
263 Frank Murdock
264 H B Sissons
265 Wm Randolph
266 John Armstrong
267 R Patton
268 Anson Davison
269 John Wise
270 J J Keeny
271 F 0 Towles
272 T J Hacker
273 T J Ferrill .
274 J E Van Allen
275 William Jourdan
276 J Davison
277 Thomas Eldridge
278 P Lancaster
279 E P Sparks
280 J D Heald
281 Adolph Row
282 George Churchill
283 John L Crane
284 Lewis Stearnes
285 C C Heycl
286 H P Simpson
287 G N Simpson
288 A Davidson
289 CHLovejoy
290 C W Pearsell
291 S Marshall
292 John Ross
293 S C Harrington
294 S S Willis
295 James Smith
296 R Miller
297 James Lovejoy
298 Marcus Gwin
299 Q J Pettibone
300 L J Pickett
301 Ransom Crocket
302 L C Folles
303 Elmore Allen
304 James Watson
305 H G Holbrook
306 C H Ides
307 T A Finley
308 Jack Crockett
309 J B Scott
310 Jesse Whitson
311 Philip Cook
312 G S Scader
313 Edward Winslow
314 L Michell
315 J Rowly
316 Moses Scott
317 F D Dragg
318 Josiah Miller
319 E D Wright
320 Enos Macelroy
766
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
321 Levi Ford
322 John Day
323 Edward Emerson
324 Charles Jenkins
325 T B Ackley
326 D E Maxson
327 L P Kennedy
328 E P Stiles
329 William B Hornsby
330 James Clarke
331 F A. Bayly
332 Geius Coleman
333 Peter Butler
334 C P Newcomb
335 M H Spittle
336 S Wiley
337 A D Tood
338 Charles Foy
339 Eichard Knight
340 A Vanhorn
341 S Tinneys
342 C Woodward
343 F Fuller
344 Benjamin Lawing
345 B W Miller
346 H P Catline
347 J J Hussey
348 C P Gordon
349 K 0 Osborn
350 E A Coleman
351 F Savage
352 S N Hartwell
353 John Speer
354 P G Mansfield
355 F B Beaver
356 E L Long
357 E D Lyman
358 John Clary
359 K J Marcayson
360 W Deerfield
361 H Benjamin
362 James Thomas
363 J C Barber
364 E Bell
365 William Cleland
366 Noah Cameron
367 LFurguson
368 Charles Campbell
369 J M Gillis
370 J E Cooley
371 Joseph Savage
372 E K Wright
373 William Evans
374 Samuel Everett
375 C A Adams
376 John Sanders
377 Leroy Swift
378 James Broadfoot
379 T B Brown
380 David Black
381 Joseph Merchant
382 E C Lewis
383 Thomas Leverett
384 H A Hancock
385 Samuel Hood
386 Benjamin Twigget
387 G P Lowrey
388 J H Wilder
389 C A Pease
390 H Ward
391 R Flanders
392 B N Conger
393 CLMandel
394 M R Clough
395 James Locke
396 Newman Allen
397 Oscar Burroughs
398 T J Cosselein
399 P L Tetter
400 SFry
401 Joel Graver
402 A Berry
403 J L Speer
404 N S Stones
405 Samuel Bryson
406 B F Read
407 John Sandy
408 M L Gaylord
409 S Green
410 J M Langdon
411 William Ricken
412 G W Goss
413 J F Morgan
414 Columbus Hornsby
415 A 0 Carpenter
416 P W Lawthney
417 Calvin G Hoit "
418 John M Graham
419 S J Conditt
420 A Gunther
421 William Orr
422 T Wells
I
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 767
423 J W Mathews 434 William Wilder
424 John McClelland 435 Daniel Walley
425 L Merchant 436 A M Weatherbee
426 H Wilber 437 J W Pennoyer
427 N R White 438 A A Faxon
428 W H Bush 439 S Y Lum
429 James F Legate 440 W S Kimball
430 A F Hopper 441 Alfred Paine
431 J Carter 442 George Gilbert
432 Henry Bronson 443 Robert Gilbert
433 J Y Wood
Certificate properly filled, and signed as follows :
A. D. SEARL,
Judges.
L. D. COLEMAN,
W. L. BRIDGES. > ni 1
GEO. F. EARL, \ Glerks~
No tally list. The certificate is as follows :
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths that for governor, Charles Robinson had 365 votes,
and W. Y. Roberts 41 ; that for lieutenant governor, W. Y. Roberts
1*76 votes, M. J. Parrott had 245 votes, and J. G. Crocker 2 votes ;
that for secretary of State, P. C. Schuyler had 383 votes, and C. F.
Holliday 43 ; that for auditor, G. A. Cutler had 380 votes ; that for
treasurer, J. A. Wakefield had 385 votes, E. C. K. Garvey 36 ; that
for attorney general, H. Miles Moore had 426 votes ; that for judge of
the supreme court, S. N. Latta had 379 votes, M. F. Conway 371,
Morris Hunt 383, G. W. Smith 62, J. A. Wakefield had 33, *S. W.
Johnson had 48 ; that for reporter of the supreme court, E. M*
Thurston had 380 votes, and S. B. Mackenzie 46 ; that for clerk of
the supreme court, J. B. Floyd had 427 votes ; that for public printer,
John Speer had 374 votes and R. G. Elliot 53 ; that for representa-
ttve in Congress, M. W. Delehay had 395 votes ; that for State sen-'
ator, Lyman Allen had 378 votes, B. W. Miller had 160, John Car-
liss 168, S. N. Wood 210, William Hutchinson 213, G. P. Lowry
148, J. B. Abbott 7 ; J. E. Stewart 15, John Hutchinson 2, McFar-
lan 1, Dr. Prentice 1, Knight 1 ; that for the house of representa-
tives, John Hutchinson had 314 votes, S. K Hartwell 322, J. B.
Abbott 337, H. F. Saunders 132, James Blood 370, A. H. Mallory
182, G. Jenkins 185, C. Hornsby 380, E. D. Ladd 51, Joel Grover
77, Dr. Prentice 1, E. B. Purdom 160, W. J. R. Blackrnan 66, R.
S. Bassett 48, J. B. Blanton 75, J. R. Kennedy 106, Josiah Miller
88, James Legate, 71, James McGee 148, Robert McFarlan 54, J. E.
Stewart 9, S. J. Livingston 44, scattering 44.
768 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
And we do further certify, that the said electors were bonafide citize
of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, a
actual residents of Kansas for thirty days immediately preceding t
election.
A. D. SEAKL, )
, > Judges.
L. D. COLEMAN, )
W. L. BRIDGES, )-ril 7
GEO. F. EARL, \ Clerks-
SECOND DISTRICT — East Douglas precinct.
Poll-book.
1 G H Snyder 17 John Spaulding
2 P B Harris 18 Levi Jenks
3 Edward Jones 19 George S Laplaw
4 H C Muzzy 20 C C Emery
5 Henry Learned 21 J F Jackson
6 Alfred Pluke 22 E B Knight
7 J N Moore 23 Francis Barker
8 William Lyons 24 William Hall
9 Owen T Bassett 25 A J Smith
10 Owen Taylor 26 Samuel Smith
11 Alphonso Jones 27 Joseph Oakly, jr.
12 E W Smith 28 Robert Hughes
13 Nathan Hacket 29 Joseph Oakly, sen.
14 J H Shimons 30 Edward Oakley
15 Harris Hobb 31 John Kidwell
16 J H Lyons
The printed certificate is properly filled, signed as follows :
P. B. HARRIS, I T ,
J. H. SHERMONS, \ Jucig€t
P. B. HARRIS, ) r? ,
J. H. SHERMONS, \ Lierks'
SECOND DISTRICT — East Douglas precinct.
Tally-list.
Governor — Charles Robinson
Lieutenant Governor — William Y Roberts
Secretary of State— P C Schuyler
Auditor — G A Cutler
Treasurer — J A Wakefield
Attorney General — H Miles Moore •** -••*'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 769
Supreme Judge— S T Latta - 27
M F Conway - - 28
" M Hunt - - 29
Keporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston - - 28
Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - 31
Public Printer — John Spear - 28
Representative to Congress — M W Delahay - 31
State Senator— P B Harris - 28
William Phillips - - 1
State Representative — A Curtis - - 28
" J M Triton - 17
S Walker - - 6
" GH Snyder - 7
" William Lyons - 8
" William Phillips - - 16
" J H Shimmons - - 1
John Kidwell - 3
" John Lyons - 1
WY Roberts - - 3
" MJ Parrot ... 3
CKHolliday - - - 3
WR Griffith ... 3
E C K Garvey - 3
" S William Johnson - 4
" GW Smith - 4
" SB McKenzie - - 3
RG Elliott - 3
The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows :
P. B. HARRIS, ) T j
J. H. SHIMMONS, J Uua9es'
P. B. HARRIS, ) Cl ,
J. H. SHIMMONS, \ Ller/cs'
THIRD DISTRICT — Brownsville Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 Daniel Turner 14 T J "Anderson
2 Jno Baxter 15 Samuel Hill
3 David PHamniond 1 6 Wm H Simerville
4 James M Hammond 1.7 Wm F Johnson
5 Marshal Burch 18 Lindsey T Cook
6 Wm Armstrong 19 F E Hoad
7 J D Wood 20 James Turner
8 Wm H Turner 21 Samuel Cavander
9 Wm Dailey 22 Robert P Turner
10 John W Brown 23 James Gilpatrick
11 C H Drinkwater 24 G S Holt
12 S C Hariott 25 John Kinney
13 Jas Moran 26 Wm Piggot
H. Rep. 200 49*
770
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows:
DANIEL TURNER, )
W. F. JOHNSON, V Judo
J. W. BROWN, )
W. F. JOHNSON,
T. E. HOAD,
Tally-list.
Governor — W Y Roberts -
" Charles Robison
Lieutenant Governor — H J Parrott
" W Y Roberts
Secretary of State— C K Holliday
" P C Schuyler
Auditor— Willfam R Griffith
G A Cutler
Treasurer — J A Wakefield
Attorney General — H Miles Moore ,
Supreme Judge — George W Smith
" S W Johnson -
S N Latta
" M F Conway
M Hunt
Reporter Supreme Court — S P McKenzie
" " EM Thurston
Clerk Supreme Court— S P Floyd
Public Printer — John Spear
" R G Elliott
Representative to Congress — Mark W Delehay -
State Senator— T G Thornton -
" T L Crane *~~
State Representative — M C Dickey
" William A Simerwell
" W R Frost
" W A Adams
" MM Robertson -
The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows:
DANIEL TURNER,
WM. F. JOHNSON, Ji
JNO. W. BROWN,
W. F. JOHNSON,
T. E. HOAD,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 771
THIRD DISTRICT — Washington Precinct.
Pott-book.
1 Eli Allen 16 W J Koberts
2 S J Acklin 17 Hiram Shields
3 M Thulkeld 18 W A Cardwell
4 E Banning 19 W R Frost
5 E Brewer 20 Jesse M Roberts
6 James Molton 21 Ward Custard
7 W C Jones 22 H P Gelan
8 William H Hammond 23 Peter Epperson
9 N L Williams 24 Benjamin Moore
10 Josiah Cox 25 Daniel K Lawrence
11 Alexander Wells 26 a W Gilmore
12 Caleb Antram 27 Barnet Fogle
13 William Reilly 28 S G Reffle
14 George S Ramsay 29 John Roorbacher
15 Jacob Roorbacher 30 T V Rush
The printed certificate is properly filled, signed as follows :
WILLIAM RILEY, )
ELI ALLEN, V Judges.
CALEB ANTRAM, )
GEO. S. RAMSEY,
S. J. ACKLIN,
Poll-list.
Governor— W Y Roberts - - 29
te Charles Robinson - 1
Lieutenant Governor — M J Parrott - 29
William Y Roberts - - - 1
Secretary of State— C K Holliday ~ H - 29
PC Schuyler - - - 1
Auditor— W R Griffith - 29
G A Cutler - - - , - 1
Treasurer— E C K Garvy - - - - - 29
JAWakefield - - 1
Attorney General — H Miles Moore - 30
Supreme Judge — G W Smith - - - - - 29
SW Johnson - - i - - 29
JAWakefield- - - - - 27
SNLatta - - - 3
Supreme Judge — M F Conway - 1
MHunt - - - - 1
SBMcKenzie 29
772
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Eeporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston-
Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd
Public Printer— R G Elliott
" John Spear
Eepresentative to Congress — M W Delehay
State Senator— T G Thornton -
FL Crane •{ ^,7,
State Representative— M C Dickey
" MM Robinson
" W R Frost
" A G Adams
" W A Simmerwell -
The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows :
WILLIAM RILEY, J
ELI ALLEN,
CALEB ANTRAM, J
1
30
29
1
30
29
1
29
29
29
1
1
Judges
S. J. ACKLLN,
GEO. S. RAMSEY,
Clerks.
THIRD DISTRICT — Tecumseh.
1 Samuel UpdegrafF
2 B R Salor
SAN Jordan
4 John Morris
5 John J Lawrence
6 W H Moss
7 W Stevenson
8 William M Jordan
9 Dr Updegraff
10 M J Micheal
11 Joseph K Bartleson
12 M A Spurrier
13 John S Feelin
14 John A Chambers
15 Conrad B Alders
16 James C Morgan
17 G C McCormick
18 William Norton
Poll-book.
James S Griffing
Charles Jordan
19
20
21 H W Curtis
22 George Osborne
23 Francis Grassmuck
24 Jeremiah Nicum
25 Huston Ingram
26 Anderson Delap
27 C W Maffit
28 Jesse Frank
29 William Hook
30 Osborne Nailor
31 Jehiel Taylor
32 Orlando Moffit
33 Charles Roll rbact res
34 E R Moffit
35 Samuel Spralls
The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows :
CHARLES JORDON,
FRANCIS GRASSMUCK,
GEORGE OSBORNE,
M. J. MITCHELL,
J. K. BARTLESON,
Judges.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 773
Tally-list.
tovernor— W Y Roberts - 34
Charles Robinson
ieutenant Governor — M J Parrot . - 34
" " WY Roberts - - 1
secretary of State— E K Holliday - 34
" " PC Schuyler - 1
Auditor— W R Griffith - - 34
" G H Cutler 1
'reasurer — E E K Garvey - - 34
" J A Wakefield { ~ - 8
Attorney General — H Miles Moore - 36
" H Miles Moore » - - - 1
upreme Judge — George W Smith - 34
SW Johnson - - 34
" S P Latta - 25
" J A Wakefield - - 7
if S P Latta - 1
" M F Con way - - 1
" MHunt - - 1
leporter Supreme Court — S B McKenzie - 34
" " EM Thurston - 1
Berk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - 35
" " SB Floyd - 1
»ublic Printer— R G Elliot - - 34
" John Spear - 1
lepresentative to Congress — M W Delehay - 35
itate Senator— T G Thornton - - 30
" T L Crane 1
State Representative — M M Dickey - 31
" MM Robinson - - 31
" W R Frost r - 31
" A G Adams - 1
" WASimerwell - - 1
W R Frost - 1
Certificate correct,, except that 35 votes inserted instead of 37 are
et down for H. Miles Moore for attorney general ; 25 votes instead of
6 for S. P. Latta, supreme judge; 35 instead of 36 for S. B. Floyd,
lerk supreme court; 31 votes instead of 32 for W R Frost, State repre-
entative, and gives one vote to E. M. Thurston for Congress, instead
f reporter of supreme court. Signed as follows :
CHARLES JORDAN, )
FRANCIS GRASSMUCK, V Judges.
GEORGE OSBORNE, )
M. J. MITCHELL, ) ni 7
M. A. BARTLEMAN, \ Clerks>
774
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FOURTH DISTRICT — Prairie City Precinct.
PoU List.
1 Charles Legg
2 John P Lehr
3 Silas H Moore
4 Jonathan G More
5 Ed W More
6 Cornelius P Scott
7 Wm S Ewart
8 Jared Chapman
9 John F Jarvins
10 Levi Doty
11 Thos F Doty
12 S Cleveland
13 C H Carpenter
14 J W M Shore
15 Champion Mayfield
16 Wm E Crum
17 Geo Powers
18 J P More
19 A F Powell
20 S V McMannis
21 Constant Dutal
22 C Gardon
23 A B Webster
24 Wm Mewhinney, sen.
25 Archibald Harris
26 J E Carpenter
27 Wm B Foster
28 Wm B Hayden
29 David Hendrix
30 Geo Havens
31 Elkanih Timmons
32 G B Keyser
33 John G McLelland
34 Henry H Wiggins
35 Amos Hannah
36 Thos Shirley
37 Peter Bay singer
38 Jacob Clark
39 A B Gilliland
40 J D Hope
41 James S Scott
42 G W E Griffeth
43 Wiley Jones
44 Perry Fuller
45 Samuel T Shore
46 Erwin Fusman
47 J C Hughes
48 A G Spaulding
49 A D Sprague
50 E H Baysinger
51 Wm Graham
52 Michael Blake
53 John Graham
54 John Edy
55 Charles Clark
56 J M Bernard
57 Wm A David
58 Alvatus Williams
59 Hiram McAllister
60 John Wilson
61 Sam'l Walker
62 A J Miller
63 A B Banks
64 H J Stewart
65 Wm Mewhinney, jr.
66 John S Bronner
67 E G Scott
68 B C Westfall
69 Wm B Harris
70 Win More
71 Franklin Barnes
72 F C Tomberlin
73 T E Curtiss
74 Thos McCowen
75 Balph Mayfield
76 J B Davis
77 R B Young
78 B T Keyser
79 John Miller
80 Wm Lucket
81 Chas Kiser
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
WILLIAM MOORE,
FOUNTAIN C. TOMBERLIN,
FRANKLIN BARNEY,
THOS. McCowEN,
THERON E. CURTISS,
Judges.
Clerks.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 775
Tally-list.
overnor — Charles Robinson - 24
" WY Roberts- - - 50
ieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts - 25
" M J Parrott - 45
ecretary of State— P C Schuyler - - 27
CKHolliday - 37
uditor— G- A Cutler - 27
W R Griffith - - 45
reasurer — J A Wakefield - 27
" ECKGarvey *-i; - 38
ttorney General — H M Moore - - 72
upreme Judge— S N Latta - 27
" M F Conway - - 27
" M Hunt - 27
" George W Smith - 45
" S W Johnston - - 45
" J A Wakefield - - 45
eporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston - - 27
SBMcKenzie- - 45
lerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - 70
ublic Printer — John Speer - 25
" R G Elliott - 45
,epresentative to Congress — M W Delehay - 71
tate Senator — Perry Fuller - 53
W Jones - - 28
tate Representative — Samuel Mewhenny - 54
" Samuel T Shore - - - - 52
EWE Griffith - - 27
" John Lockhart - 27
Certificate correctly rilled, and signed as follows :
WILLIAM MOORE, )
FOUNTAIN C. TOMBERLIN, V Judges.
FRANKLIN BARNES, )
THOMAS McCowAN, ) m j,
THERON E. CURTISS, ( Lfl€rK8'
FIFTH DISTRICT — Stanton Precinct.
Poll-list.
1 Samuel Buchanon 6 E S Kinkaid
2 Robert Reed 7 A H Standiford
3 Parly P Bingham 8 John Standiford
4 E S Kinkaid 9 William D Bryson
5 John C Benning 10 J Davis
776 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
11 James D Kinkaid 28 William Stephenson
12 Oliver R Nichols 29 J F White
13 J Nichols 30 William Sandlin
14 William H Staridiford 31 Thomas Wilborn
15 S L Morse 32 George T Lester
16 Jessey W Wilson 33 Jessey Lay
17 William Whitehead 34 Israel Christie
18 B H Reed 35 Isaac Woollard
19 Samuel Wliitehead 36 W B Nichols
20 Martin White 37 Josiah Brundy
21 James Saunders 38 John H WTest
22 John Kirkland x 39 J Nichols
23 Greenberry Suel 40 Aurelin Reed
24 James Lester 41 Jesse B Way
25 Z M Herton 42 John Lester
26 Daniel Gray 43 W H. Kinkaid
27 William Lester
Certificate properly filled, signed as follows :
ISAAC WOLLARD, )
WM. B. NICHOLS, } Judges.
JOHN H. WEST, )
JOSIAH BUNDY, ) ^ ,
ISRAEL CHRISTIE, (
Tally-list.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of an election held in
Staunton, on the 15th day of January, 1856, certify that —
Charles Robinson received, for governor •-, - 31 votes.
W Y Roberts received, for lieutenant governor - - 31 "
P C Schuyler received, for secretary of State - 31 "
J A Wakefield received, for treasurer - 31 "
S N Latta received, for judge supreme court - 31 "
M F Conway received, for judge supreme court - - 31 "
M Hunt received, for judge supreme court, (in tally-list H Miles
Moore,) - - 31 votes.
M Miles Moore received, for attorney general - 31 "
G A Cutler received, for auditor - - 31 "
John Spear received, for State printer - 31 lf
S B Floyd received, for clerk supreme coiirt - 31 "
E M Thurston received, for reporter supreme court - 31 a
Mark W Delehay received, for delegate to Congress - 28
H B Standiford received, for delegate to Congress
Isaac Stockton received, for senator - 27
W W Updegraff received, for senator - 36
John Daily received, for senator - - 27
David Reese received, for representative - - 27
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
777
r M Arthur received, for representative - -27 votes.
) M Cannon received, for representative - - 27 "
saac Landers received, for representative - 25 "
F B Higgins received, for representative - - 27 "
I H Williams received, for representative, (in tally-list W W Wil-
I liams,) - - 25 votes,
•ohn Brown - none.
I B Staniford received, for representative - 41 votes,
^homas Brown received, for representative, (Thomas Boald in tally-
i list,) - 25 votes.
Sig ned as follows :
JOSIAH BUNDY,
ISRAEL CHRISTIE
A
Clerks.
•Jharles Robinson - 31
'V Y Roberts - - 31
fCSchuyler - - 31
A Wakefield - - 31
N Latta - 31
I F Conway - - 31
I Hunt - - 31
I Miles Moore - - 31
I- A Cutler - 31
ohn Spear - 31
'i B Floyd - 31
5 M Thurston - - 31
Jark W Delehay - 28
I B Standiford - 3
. Tally-list complete.
votes.
ISAAC WOOLLARD,
WM. B. NICHOLS,
JNO. H. WEST,
Judges.
Isaac D Stockton
W W Updegraff
John Daily
David Reese
J M Arthur
D W Cannon -
- 27 votes.
- 36 "
- 27 "
- 27 "
- 27 "
-27 "'
Thomas Booen, (Thomas Brown
in certificate,) - 25 votes.
Isaac Landers - - 25 "
J B Higgans - - 27 "
W W Williams, (in certificate is
H H Williams,) - 25 "
John Brown, jr none.
H B Staniford - - 41 votes.
FIFTH DISTRICT — Hampdcn Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 Lewis Morse
2 W W Higgins
3 Andrew Hornton
Fletcher Wedding
TTT* 11* T^ •
5 William Paine
6 S Wheat-ley
7 C Dunakey
8 A Crooker
9 J P Pepper
10 W A Ella
11 C Richards
12 F Rhodes
13 A J Warrington
14 J Hays
15 Gr Jordan
16 Charles Morse
17 H Domreka
18 W Blaisdale, jr
19 W Blaisdale, sen
20 H Herrin
778 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
21 J A D Clark 24 William Oremsbee
22 Perry Mills 25 Martin Runnells
23 James Runnells 26 William B Farnswortli
No certificate.
Tally-list.
Senator — John Dailey - - 26
Representative — Thomas Bowen - - 26
Certificate filled properly, signed as follows :
W. A. ELA, )
WM. W. HIGGINS, > Judges.
ANDERSON HARRINGTON,
Jo. A. D. CLARK,
JOHN P. PEPPER,
FIFTH DISTRICT — Neosho Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 Hiram Hoover 8 Addison W Diggs
2 Hiram Car 9 Nathaniel D Johnson
3 William Barney 10 John H Bowen
4 James Branne 11 Harden McMahon
5 James A McGennis 12 Jesse N Williams
6 Joseph Lebo 13 Thomas Bowen
7 Andrew C Johnson
Certificate properly filled, signed as follows :
HIRAM HOOVER, )
THOS. BOWEN, } Judges.
JOSIAH LEBO, }
HARD. MCMAHON, > Cl ,
JESSE V. WILLIAMS, J Ofcc
Tallij-list.
Governor — Dr Charles Robinson -
Lieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts
Judge Supreme Court — S M Latta - 13
*r « MHunt -
Treasurer— J H Wakefield
Auditor— G A Cutler
Representative to Congress— M W Delehay
Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 779'
Itate Printer — J Spear
Vttorney General — H M Moore -
Senator — Hiram Hoover -
Representative to Congress — Thomas Bowen - 12
Certificate properly filled, signed as follows :
HIRAM HOOVER, )
THOS. BOWEN, \Judges.
JOSIAH LEBO, )
JESSE V. WILLIAMS,
HARD. McMAHON,
FIFTH DISTRICT — Pottaivatomie Precinct.
Pott-book.
1 Davis Frankenberger 21 Wakeman Patridge
2 Joseph James 22 B L Cockran
3 William Frankenberger 23 James W. Gere
4 Manly Winkler 24 John H Walker
5 Alexander Purdie 25 John H Rockers
6 H H Williams 26 George Rising
7 J T Grant 27 John Brown, jr.
8 J G Brown 28 Frederick Brown
9 Joseph Morey 29 Owen Brown
10 Ephnim Reynolds 30 Henry Thompson
11 J T Barker 31 H M Rumbles
12 James Button . 32 David Sturgeon
13 Lawrence Brady 33 A C Austin
14 Pointdexter Manes 34 David Baldwin
15 Dewitt C Davenport 35 S B Morse
16 M Whitney 36 William Patridge
17 Charles E Dewey 37 William N Woods
18 Elbrige G Blunt 38 Solomon Blanden
19 Benjamin Davis 39 Samuel Mack
20 John Blunt
No certificate.
Tally-list.
jovernor — Charles Robinson - 39
Lieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts - - 99
Secretary of State— P C Schuyler - - 39
Treasurer— J A Wakefield 38
Fudges Supreme Court — S N Latta - - 39
M F Con way - 39
780 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
Judge Supreme Court — M Hunt 39
Attorney General — H M Moore 39
Auditor— G A Cutler - 39
State Printer— John Spear 39
Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd 39
Reporter Supreme Court — E M Thurstqn 39
Representative to Congress — M W Delehay - 38
Certificate properly filled, signed as follows :
S. B. MOORE, )
JAS. T. GRANT, } Judges.
DAVID BALDWIN, )
H. H. WILLIAMS, ) m ,
EPHRAIM REYNOLDS, \ L
POTTAWATOMIE, January 15, 1856.
FIFTH DISTRICT — Little Sugar precinct.
Poll-look.
1 J D Stockton 20 Solomon Bennett
2 B S Floid 21 James S Dunlap
3 Z G Thompson 22 Henry M Gibbs
4 Chas Waggoner 23 P H Carter
. 5 Charles Barnes , 24 Benjamin Burch
6 W J Turner 25 D W Cannon
7 W B Perry 26 Wm Hobson
8 Jno Fouts" 2*7 Joshua Russell
9 Leander Fonts 28 Pilas Willhite
10 Green Caple 29 John Raun
11 W L Wit 30 D N McQuity
12 Anderson Belesure 31 Enoch Eslep
13 Salmon Mason 32 Jas Barracks
14 Alexander Fonts 33 Phillip Capple
15 Benjamin Hinshaw 34 Harris Vance
16 Ebenezer Barnes 35 Green Warthy
17 Jno Barrak 36 J A Eslep
18 F H Graham 37 H Goodpaster
19 J B Robertson 38 David Reese
The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows :
N. B. PERRY, )
JNO. BARRICK, [judges.
EBENEZER BARNES, )
WM. F. WITT,
Tally -list.
'Governor — Charles Robinson
Lieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 781
Secretary of State— P C Scimyler - 32
Treasurer — J A Wakefield - 34
Supreme Judge — S M Latta - - 34
M F Conway - - 34
MHunt - - - - - 34
Attorney General — H Miles Moore - 34
Auditor— G A Cutler - 34
State Printer— John Spear - 33
Clerk of Supreme Court— S B Floyd - 36
Keporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston
Representative to Congress — Mark W Delahay - - 34
State Senator— J Daily - - 34
JWUpdegraff - - - 34
JS Stockton - - 32
State Representative — D Reese - - 36
"• D W Cannon - 36
" JSaunders - 33
" J Arthur - - 36
" J Brown, jr - 34
HM Williams - 34
H B Stanford - 34
" JBHiggans - 34
" Thos Bowen - 34
Certificate correct, signed as follows :
W. B. PERRY, )
JOHN BARRICK, V Judges.
EBENEZER BARNES, )
W. TURNER, > ni 7
WM. L. WITT, \ Clerks-
FIFTH DISTRICT — Little Osage precinct.
Poll-book.
1 M H Dave 11 Ira Sanders
2 Thos Jones 12 W M Wickliam
3 Imbers Ripley 13 John Spears
4 J W Norris 14 James B Pyle
5 Jno Leeders 15 G P Raum
6 Etna Ecart 16 R T Farlist
7 John Delany 17 D B Jones
8 G W Sharp 18 J W Duren
9 P McKillips 19 D C Forbes
10 E A Osborne
Certificate filled properly, signed as follows:
GREEN B. KAUM, )
M. H. DAVIS, > Judges.
R. T. FORBES, }
DANIEL B. JONES, ) ni i
S. W. DUNN, ' \ Uerks'
782 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIFTH DISTRICT — Little Osage Precinct,
Tally -list.
Governor Char! es Robinson IS
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Koberts IS
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler.../ IS
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield IS
Judge of supreme court S. N. Latta IS
M. F. Conway IS
M. Hunt K
Attorney general H. M. Moore 1J
Auditor G-. A. Cutler 1<
State printer John Shear ||
Clerk of supreme court S. B. Floyd li
Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 1!
Eep. to Congress Mark W. Delahay 11
For senator Isaac D. Stockter II!
W. W. Updegraff
John Daily 11
Representative David Reese 1-
David W. Cannon
Isaac Sanders 1 j
J. M. Arthur ij
Jno. Brown, jr lj
H. H. Williams V
H. B. Stamford
Isaac B. Higgins
Thos. Bowen 1
The certificate is properly filled, aijd signed as follows:
R. F. FORBES, )
M. H. DAVIS, \Judges.]
GREEN B. RAIIM, )
J. W. DURN, ) n ,
DANIEL B. JAMES, \ Ll€r**'
FIFTH DISTRICT — Osage Precinct.
Poll-book.
J. T. Black John Mickel
Jas. Ward Middleton Hunsley
A. F. Silars Levy Ward
Calvin Hood Samuel Mickel
George Morice Ashere Wyloff
C. H. Teal Robert Rhodes
F. A. Hamilton Heram Penney
W. G. Crashaw William Mickel
J. R. Miller William Morris.
Alfred Ward
No certificate.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 783
Tally-list.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of an election held at the
house of F. A. Hamilton, in Osage precinct, fifth election district,
Kansas Territory, do certify the following-named persons were duly
elected :
Governor Charles Eobinson . . .received. . . 19
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts do 19
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler do 19
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield do 19
S. 1ST. Latta do 19
M. F. Conway do 19
Supreme judge W . Hunt do 19
Attorney general H. Miles More do 19
Auditor 4 GL A. Cutler do 19
State printer John Spear do 19
Clerk of supreme court S. P. Floyd do 19
Reporter to supreme court B. M. Thurston do 19
Rep. to Congress W. W. Delahay do 19
State senator J. D. Stockton do 19
W. W. Updegraff. do 19
John Daily do 19
State representative David Reese do 19
D. W. Canon do 19
Isaac Landen do 19
J. M. Arthur do 19
H. H. Williams do 19
9 Isaac B. Higgins do 19
A. B. Stanford do 19
Thos. Bowen do i9
John Brown do 19
*JNO. MICKELS, >
F. A. HAMILTON, V Judges.
SAML. NICHOL, )
A. G-. WYCKOFF, ) n ,
ROBERT RHODES, y c
FIFTH DISTRICT. — Osawatomie Precinct.
Poll-book.
I.Noah Parker 6 H. Updegraff
2 James Fuller 7 James Stolts
3 Andrew Bruce 8 S. L. Ad^ir
4 James J. Holhrook 9 Charles Crunston
5 B. Woodbury 10 Amos Finch
784
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
11 Wm. Chestnut
12 J. Sunboon
13 James H. Houser
14 C. F. Lake
15 David H. Bundy
16 George Thompson
IT Isaac Miller
18 Alba Sunboon
19 Morgan Cronkite
20 Barton Darrow
21 Richard Mendenhall
22 J. P. Glenn
23 Samuel Glenn
24 M. D. Lane
25 Andrew Updegraff
26 H. Jackson
27 James W. Glenn
28 Silas Wheat
29 Henry Alderman
30 James Hughes
31 G. W. Collus
32 W. N. Caldwell
33 William Saling
34 J. S. Eoff
35 John C. Nomun
36 Thomas Roberts
37 George Phillips
38 Charles A. Foster
39 John Richardson
40 Samuel H. Houser
41 Andrew B. Chambers
42 Solomon Potter
43 Frederick Tr ox well
44 Caleb Shevar
45 Thomas Kelly
46 W. F. Troxel
47 Francis Brennan
48 Samuel Jones
50 William Quick
51 Jeremiah Harrison
52 Nathan McVay
53 John Jones
54 James Williams
55 Thomas 0. Brine
56 Hurnoss Forit
57 D. C. Buker
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
George B. Ferris
Thomas Hitchings
N. J. Roscoe
Andrew Doler
Milan Fairchild
David Mendenhall
John Carr
65 W. W. Updegraff
66 C. H. Cruin
67 S. M. Merrit
68 C. W. Holcomb
69 J. B. Higgins
70 Wm. Childers
71 Daniel MendenhalJ
72 W. M. Williams
73 S. R. Lewis
74 J. R. Everett
75 Amos D. Alderman
76 David R. McDaniel
77 A. S. White
78 George Bradbury
79 James L. Childers
80 Samuel Geer
81 John Yelton
82 Wmiam Yelton
83 Silas Hustus
84 Horace Norton
85 0. A. McFarland
86 John Sharkey
87 John Polund.
49 Patrick Devlin
Certificate properly filled, and signed as follows :
B. WOODBURY,
WILLIAM CHESTNUT,
DANIEL W. COLLIES,
Attest : JAMES J. HOLBROOK,
CHARLES CRUNSTON,
Judges.
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts ...
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 785
Secretary of State P. C. Scuyler 82
Auditor G-. S. Cutler 81
^Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 81
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 81
Supreme judge Latta .. 81
Conway 82
Hunt 81
Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 79
plerk supreme court S. B, Floyd 82
Public printer John Speer 82
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 78
Jtate senator John Darly 77
Isaac D. Stockton 80
Wm. W. Updegraff 73
S. L. Adair 9
jtate representative Thomas Boone 77
S. L. Adair 1
0. C. Brown 1
H. B. Stanaford 76
John Brown, jr 76
C. A. Foster 7
J. B. Higgins 70
H. H. Williams 82
Isaac Landers 77
D. W. Cannon 77
J. M. Arthur 77
David Reese 77
1 The tally-list is not certified to. The judges applied the certificate
the poll-list to the tally-list. ^
SIXTH DISTRICT — Mill Creek.
Poll-book.
1 Christopher Schwanke 10 Peter Plfifer
2 Bernhart Hansjukob 11 Carl Marasch
3 Franz Shmidt 12 Jacob Terrass
4 Herman Miller 13 Peter Days
5 Bernhard Shuttle 14 Vert Ludwig Henrich
6 John Shreve 15 Christian Rath
7 John Shuter 16 John Simpke
8 Carl Pratt 17 Joseph Engelhart
9 Johan Philip Kleich 18 Johan Acheharts.
Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
JACOB TERRASS, )
PETER THOES, } Judges.
CARL MARASCH, )
CHRISTIAN RATH, ) ~7 7
V. LUD. HKNRICH, I Clerks-
H. Rep. 200 50*
786
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally-list.
Governor Wm . Y, Roberts
Lieutenant governor M. J. Parrott
Secretary of state.. C. K. Hollid.-iy
Auditor W. R. Griffith
Treasurer E. C. K. Garvey
Attorney general H. Miles Moore
Supreme judge Geo. W. Smith
S. W. Johnston
S. M. Latter
Reporter supreme court S. P. McKenzie
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd
Public printer R. G. Elliott
Representative to Congress M. W. Delehay
State senator John H. Neshit
State representative Andrew B. Marshall
No tallies.
Certificate correct, and signed
if
CHRISTIAN RATH, )
V. LUD. HENRICH, $
follows :
JACOB TERR ASS,
PETER THOES,
CARL MARASCH,
Judges.
SIXTH DISTRICT — Titus Precint.
Poll-look.
1 A. Smith
2 J. M. Wincbell
3 Wm. Lord
4 W. N. Havens
5 M. H. Rose
6 Thomas Russell
7 Hiram Mills
8 Chas. W. Fish
9 A. Polly
10 Henry Smith
11 J. B.'Titus
12 D. Wright
13 Wm. W. Fish
14 Wm. H. Foothman
15 James Aikins
16 John Crawford
17 E. M. Perrin
18 Abrara Leonard
19 Lucian Fish
20 James R. Stewart
21 James Ramsay
22 Nicholas Schuyler
23 George J. Drew
24 L. D. Joy
25 A. VV. Hubbard
26 Absalom Hoover
27 Joseph B. Griswold
28 Wm. Y. Drew
29 Henry Todd
30 David Hoover
3 1 Samuel A. Allison
32 John Drew
33 J. R. Crozier.
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
J. B. TITUS, )
JOHN DREW, £ Judges. \
WM. LORD, )
M. J. POLLY, ) „, ,
CIIAS. W. FIHH, \Gler/C8'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 787
Tally -list.
governor Charles Robinson 28
W. Y. Huberts 4
jieutenant governor M. J. Parrott 4
W. Y. Roberts 28
iecretary of state P. C. Schuyler 28
C. K. Holliday 4
Auditor G-. A. Cutler 28
W. R. Griffith 4
?reasurer J. A. Wakefield 28
E. C. K. Garvey 4
Lttorney general H. Miles Moore 32
luprerne judges S. N. Latta 32
M. F. Conway 28
George VV. {Smith 4
M. Hunt i 28
S. W. Johnson 4
•leporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 28
8. B. McKensie 4
•lerk supreme court S. B. Floyd.... 32
'ublic printer John Speer , 28
R. G. Elliott 4
lepresentative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 32
Jbate senator Josiah K. Pillsbury 23
LucianFish 33
Nisbit 2
jtate representative* Horace W. Taber -23
D. Soothman 1
Henry Todd 25
Nesbit 7
Warren N. Havens 19
Dow 10
Thos. J. Addis..* 23
Marshall 9
W. H. Toukman 14
H. B. Todd 9
No tallies. Certificate not filled, but signed as follows :
J. B. TITUS, )
JOHN DR^W A Judges.
WM. LOKD, )
M. J. POLLY, ) ~7 7
G. W. FISH, \ Clerks'
SIXTH DISTRICT— Clark's Creek Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 Henry Mitchell 4 Jacob Swartwood
2 J. W. Stewart 5 Joseph Berry
3 Samuel Berry 6 Jesse Spencer
788
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
*T S. F. Gordon 9 George M. Sweetzer
8 Silas Klotz 10 Alexander Dean.
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
HENRY MITCHELL, )
J. W. STEWART, [Judges,
SAMUEL BERRY, }
JACOB SWARTWOOD,
JOSEPH BERRY,
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson .
Lieutenant governor* W. Y. Roberts....
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler
Treasurer J. A. Waken" eld...
Supreme judges S. N. Latta
M. F. Conway
M. Hunt
Attorney general M. Miles Moore...
Auditor S. A. Cutler
State printer John Speer
Clerk of supreme court S. B. Floyd
Beporter supreme court E. M. Thurston ...
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay
State representative G. F. Gordon
Tally-list made out and certificate correct. Signed as follows :
HENRY MITCHELL, 3
J. W. STEWART, V Judges.
SAMUEL BERRY, )
JACOB SWARTWOOD, ) r? ;
JOSEPH BERRY, y. JT
SIXTH DISTRICT — Columbia.
1 E. P. Wolf
2 William Goodwill
3 E. P. Hadley
4 G. D. Humphrey
5 T. J. Addis, jr.
6 Jobn Fowler
7 Samuel McVay
8 Harry Fowler
9 Mathew McCormick
10 Kathan McCormick
11 William Fowler
PoU-list.
12 Thos. Addis, sr.
13 Jasper S. Goodwill
14 George Phillips
15 Alexander Midlemis
16 Alexander Milison
17 Aaron Dow
18 Abraham D. Staley
19 John J. Addis
20 Elihu Newlin
21 Silas T. Howel
22 James H. Pheanis
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 789
23 Charles Johnson 28 Moses Packet
24 Ira Had ley 29 Lemuel H. Johnson
25 P. A. Pheanis 30 R. H. Abraham
26 Joel Hay worth 31 Aaron Pheips
27 Joseph Morr
[Certificate defective; fails to state the number of votes, or to vouch
Jieir qualifications.]
Tally-list.
3-overnor Charles Robinson 31
lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 31
Secretary of state P. C. Scbuyler 31
["re^surer J. A. Waketield 31
supreme judges S. N. Latty 31
H. F. Conway 31
M. Hunt 31
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 31
Auditor C. A. Cutler 31
Hate printer John Speer 31
Jlerk of supreme court S. B. Floyd.... 31
Reporter of supreme court E. M. Thurston 31
Representative to Congress Mark Deleha 31
>tate senator Lowry Fish 31
tate representative Thomas J. Addis 23
Dr. Tootman 31
Henry Todd 31
The tally is regularly made out and signed by the judges, but not
tertified.
a. D. HUMPHREY, )
THOS. J. ADDIS, [Judges.
JOHN FOWLER, )
ELIHU P. HADLEY, ) m -,
WILLIAM FOWLER, \ c - '
SIXTH DISTRICT — Ashland.
Poll-book.
1 E. H. Howard 6 C. A. Berry
2 C. M. Barclay f T. W. Ross
3 N. B. White 8 J. Hunt
4 J. Ryan 9 M. D. Fisher
5 A. Willard 10 William Allingham
Number of votes not certified. Printed certificate, without stating
e number, signed as follows :
C. M. BARCLAY, )
THOS. W. ROSS, £ Judges.
M. D. FISHER, i
JIM HUNT,
N. B. WHITE,
790 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson 8
W. Y. Roberts 1
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 8
M. J. Parrott 1
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 8
C. K. Holl'iday $
Auditor G. A. Cutler 8
W. R. Griffith I
Treasurer J. A. WakefieW 8
E. C. K. Garvey 1
Attorney general H. M. Moore 9
Supreme judges S. N. Latta * 9
M. F. Conway....: 1
M Hunt 8
S. W. Johnston J
George W. Smith I
Reporter of supreme court E. M. Thurston 9
S. B. McKenzie '$
Clerk of supreme court J. B. Floyd £
Public printer J. Speer £
R. G. Elliott -|
Representative to Congress.. Mark W. Delahay (
State senator J. H. Pillsbury K
^tate representative A. B. Marshall *
No tallies, but the result as above. The certificate correctly filled
and signed ay follows :
C. M. BARCLAY, )
THOS. W. ROSS, } Judge*.
M. D. FISHER, }
JESSE HUNT, > m 7
N. B. WHITE, \ Okrks'
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT — Pawnee Precinct.
Poll-list.
1 Samuel Knapp 11 L. Lincoln
2 Robert Kultz 12 Jacob Hill
3 Reujamin J. Green 13 Abraham Barry
4 Diianeir Furrow 14 John Shoemaker
5 J. M. Meyers 15 J. P. Wiggins
6 H. W. Martin 1G Henry Dunham
7 Wm. Stiff H J. H. Loder
8 John J. Miles 18 George Hill
9 Samuel Barr 19 J. B. Dickerson
10 S. B. White 20 J. M. Hulse
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 791
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
LEMUEL KNAPP
P, )
HENRY M. MARTIN, } Judges.
ILL, )
WILLIAM F. STILL
J. M. MEYERS,
DIRANCE FURROW,
Tally-list.
Grovernor Charles Robinson
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 20
Secretary of state P. T. Schuyler 20
Auditor! G. A. Cutler 20
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 20
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 20
Supreme judge.... S. N. Latta 20
M. F.. Conway 20
M. Hunt 20
Reporter of supreme court E. M. Thurston 20
Clerk of supreme court S. B. Floyd... 20
Public printer John Speer 20
Representative to Congress Mark Delahay 20
State senator^ S. B. McKenzie 12
P. Newhart 8
State representative Thomas W. Platt 11
Abraham Barry 1*7
Wm. M. McClure 14
J. D. Adams 20
J. H. Green 4
Augustin Wattles 4
W. Whitesides 8
The certificate is correct, except that Abraham Barry received
seventeen votes instead oi sixteen, and is signed as follows :
SAMUEL KNAPP, )
HENKY W. MARTIN, } Judges.
WILLIAM F. STILL, )
J. M. MEYERS,
D. FURROW,
SEVENTH DISTRICT— Big Blue Precinct.
Poll-list.
1 M. L. Wisner 4 Isaac T. Goodenow
2 Armory Hunting 5 J. Stewart
3 William Hanna 6 T. Imerson
792
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
7 John Piphe
8 James H. Sayar
9 C. E. Blood
10 J. S. Hnffecker
11 L. B. McKensie
12 William tioon
13 C. N. Low
14 C. W. Beebe
15 Trnman Shatluck
16 J. E. Wood
17 Barney Katigan
18 Newell Trafton
19 S. P. Allen
20 Ambrose Todd
21 Asaph Browning
22 Charles Barnes
23 John Gill
24 Joseph Legore
25 F. B. Smith
26 Patrick Dunn
27 William Aghan
28 William Campsten
29 John McDarmon
30 David Gorman
31 E. M. Thuston
32 John Supine
33 L. P. Richards
34 Christian Gates
35 Seth R. Childs
36 John Waas
37 George Tilton
38 A. C. Dyer
39 Lorenzo Westover
40 Wm. Dyer
41 S. D. Houston
42 J. L. Supine
43 L. B. Williams
The certificate is correctly filled, a'nd signed as follows :
WILLIAM HANNA, )
J. STEWART, V Judges,
ISAAC F. GOODNOWE, >
SIMEON PERRY, >
THOMAS IMERSON, \
Tally-list.
Governor Chas. Robinson 6!-i
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts
Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 6'
44 G. W. Jamesois
45 H. Whiteside
46 John Merris
47" Henry Bishop
48 A. H. H. Lamb
49 P. Neyhart
50 J. H. Brouse
51 Malachi Glenn
52 A. J. Allen
53 M. B. Powers
54 S. P. Powers
55 G. C. Tyler
56 Thomas :Blackli6
57 John Mail
58 G. H. Morse
59 C. H. Gibson
60 Samuel Hemsley
61 David Hays
62 John Hadson
63 A. D. Woodworth
64 P. Chewdet
65 Charles Holborn
66 John Mclntyre
67 Wm. S. Arnold
68 A. Williams
69 Thos. W. Platte
70 W. E. Goodenow
71 M. A. Garrett
72 R. Garrett
73 Josiah Hight
74 J. Denison
75 Simeon Perry
76 Edmund Hunting
77 H. B. Nealey
78 Joseph Hays
79 H. Jackson
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 7
Auditor G. S. Cutler 62
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 62
Attorney general H. Miles Moore • 63
Supreme judge S. N. Latta 62
M. F. Conway 63
M. Hunt 60
Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 63
Clerk to supreme court 8. B. Floyd 62
Public printer John Speer 62
Reporter to Congress Mark W. Delahay 42
S. C. Ponroy 14
R. Jones
R. Smith
State senator S. B. McKinzie 39
P. Neyhart 33
State reporter.. T. W.'Platt 36
H. W. Whiteside 37
Josiah D. Adams 49
A . Barry
Wm. M. McClure
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
WILLIAM II ANNA, )
J. STEWART, V Judges.
ISAAC F. GOODNOWE, )
SIMEON PERRY, > ni -,
THOMAS IMERSON, \ L
EIGHTH DISTRICT — Ohio City Precinct.
Poll-fat.
1 Wm. Sanders 9 Rees Furbray
2 Henry Halenbury 10 Lewis Furbray
3 Soren Jesen 11 Manklin Reed
4 Henry Brockenger 12 Joseph Brew
5 I. D. Warren 13 J. D. Wells
6 Samuel Langdon 14 Am. Bell
7 Henry Ashdown 15 Lowry Trombly
8 Frederick Brockinger 16 .Thos. Spruce
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
H. HOLLENBURY, )
JOHN D. WELLS, £ Judges.
WM. SANDERS, S
S. FURBRAY, ) ni ,
M. BELL, \ C lerks-
Tally-list.
Governor Chas. Robinson 16
Lieutenant governor Wm. Y. Roberts 16
794 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 16
Auditor G. S. Cutler 16
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 16
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 16
Supreme judge S. M. Latta 16
M. F. Conway 16
S. Yv7. Johnson 16
Keporter supreme court E. N. Thurston 16
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 16
Public printer John Speer 16
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 16
State senator Jos. M. Cole 16
State representative J. P. Wil&on 16
Rees Furbay 16
This tally is fully stated , and the certificate is correctly filled and
iigned as follows :
H. HOLLENBURY, )
JOHN D. WELLS, } Judges.
WM. SANDERS, )
L. FURBAY, ) n ,
A. M. BELL, \ Cierlcs'
EIGHTH DISTRICT — St. Mary's Precinct.
Poll-list.
1 P. Trucky 7 0. B. Dean
2 B. E. Dean 8 F. Schaffer
3 H. Desbuhans 9 A. Becker
4 A. Wtirkel 10 W. Bins merer
5 J. D. E. Ivis 11 S. Hopkins
6 Charles Dean
The certificate is correctly filled, and 'signed as follows:
R. E. D. IVIS,
0. B. DEAN,
CHARLES DEAN,
AUGUSTUS BECKER, > ni -,
F. SCHAFFER, j Clerks~
Tally-list.
Governor W. Y. Roberts 11 l|
Lieutenant governor M. J. Parrott
Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler '. 11 |
Auditor ft. A. Cutler 11 \
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 11
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 11 !|
Supreme judge S. N. Latta 11
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
795
M. F. Conway 11
S. W. Johnson 11
Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 11
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 11
Public printer John Speer 11
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 11
State senator Joseph M. Cole 11
State representative James P. Wilson 11
Rees Furby 11
Richard Murphy 8
The tally is fully stated, and the certificate is correctly filled and
signed as follows :
R. E. D. IVIS, )
0. B. DEAN, [Judges.
CHARLES DEAN. }
AUGUSTUS BECKER,
F. SCHAFFER,
EIGHTH DISTRICT — Eicl;apoo City Precinct.
Poll-list.
1 D. Geigle
2 J. M. Stephens
3 A. J. Stephens
4 E. Guyman
5 J. 0. Conner
6 Dan. Haley
7 John Foster
8 James Vanderpool
9 H. Vanderpool
10 E. Juepinen
11 H. C. Castle
12 J. A. Lawrence
13 David Hutten
14 Scott Atkinson
15 E. S. Welhite
16 J. A. Crump
17 A. R. Steele
18 M. A. Russell
19 John Healy
20 J. M. Dennis
21 T. Haokett
22 John C. Ellis
23 J. Ellis
24 P. Bergler
25 Wm. Kenned ay
26 R. C. Lawrence
27 S. Jacobs
28 M. P. Berry
29 J. A. C. May
30 R. A. Foster
31 John Brown
32 Harvey Vance
33 M. J. 'Freeland
34 F. H. Gregory
35 A. C. P. Hayne
36 M. C. Butler
37 Wm. A. Hoon
38 H. C. Brown
39 R. D. Clark
40 JI. Heartman
41 Chris. Locknamar
42 S. D. Gregory
43 James Armstrong
44 Wm. C, Johnson
45 Wm. Hathaway
46 A. Brown
47 J. D. Edwards
48 A. C. Sumners
49 John W. Freeland
50 M. Greenough
51 Henry H. Brown
52 Joseph Brown
796 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
53 Amos G. Ridgeway 60 F. R. Jones
54 Wm. Price 61 Meigs Hunt
55 S. Young 62 John M. Lockman
56 R. Gibson 63 John Isaacs
57 J. A. Castle 64 S. Preston
58 Wm. Hobbs 65 John H. Gretel
59 H. B. Stearns
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
DAVID GEIGLE, )
'E. GERRYMAN, V Judges.
JAS. VANDERPOOL, )
R. C. LAWRENCE,
DAN. HALEY,
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson , 14
W. Y. Roberts 51
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 8
M. J. Parrott 59 i
Secretary of state P. 0. Scuyler 14
C. R. Holllday 57
Auditor G. A. Cutler 14 i
William R. Griffith 51
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 14!
E. C. R. Garvey 51 i
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 65 >
Supreme judge S. N. Latta , 14 I
G. W. Smith 51 i
M. F. Con way 14 i
S. W. Johnson 51:
M. Hunt 14
J. N. Wakefield 511
Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston . 14
L. B. McKenzie 51 !
Clerk supreme court..., S. B. Floyd 65
Public printer John Speer 144
R. G. Elliott 51
Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 65
State senator D. E. Jones 65
J. A. Hathway
State representative John D. Jones 65
E. R. Zimmerman 65
John W. Stephens 65
William Crosby 65
William T. Barret 65
J. C. Ridgway
L. Knott..
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
797
The certificate is correctly filled and signed as follows, and the tallj
fully stated:
DAVID GETGLE, )
E. GERRYMAN, \Judges.
JAMES VANDERPOOL, )
R. C. LAWRENCE, ) C] ,
DAN. HALEY, \ C
EIGHTH DISTRICT — Silver Lake Precinct.
1 Joseph M. Cole
2 Andrew Lecompt
3 Louis Pap pan
4 David Milne
5 Louis Posaro
6 N. K. Vinegar der
7 Joseph Nickson
8 Richard Murphy
9 Samuel Reader
10 Alexander Rodd
11 Francis Junk in
12 A. 8. Frambly
13 Jonathan Mitchell
14 B. B. Damewood
15 J. H. Damewood
16 Charles Columho
17 Daniel Downie
18 Timothy Downie
19 Joseph Kopp
20 Eleonora Blondels
21 John Murphy
Poll-list.
22 S. R. Massteller
23 Samuel Cu minings
24 Joseph Wellport
25 J. G. Totnson
26 J. Antoine
27 Robert McNown
28 Stephen Forkhier
29 E. Kennedy
30 L. W. Smith
31 Albion Alcott
32 J. W. Hopkins
33 Charles H. Robson
34 Joseph Ogee
35 L. H. Ogee
36 Thomas Lamar
37 Paul Vieux
39 J. P. Alcott
39 F. H. Countryman
40 Harrison Wells
41 John Logeer
42 E. Stephens
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows
A. R. VINEGARDER,
J. P. NIXAN,
DAVID MILNE,
LAWRENCE MURPHY. ) ™ 7
SAMUEL READER, \Glerka.
Judges.
Tally-list.
Governor W. Y. Roberts 41
Charles Robinson
Lieutenant governor M. J. Parrott 41
W. Y. Roberts 1
Secretary of state C. K. Holliday 41
P. C. Schuyler 1
798 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Auditor W. R. Griffith 41
G. A. Cutler 1
Treasurer E. C. R. Garvey
J. A. Wakefield 42
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 42
Supreme judge George W. Smith 41
S. W. Johnson 41
S. N. Latta 42
M. F. Conway 1
M. Hunt
Reporter supreme court S. M. McKenzic 41
E. M. Thurston 1
Clerk supreme clerk S. B. Floyd 42
Public printer R. G. Elliott
John Speer 42
Representative to Congress M. W. Dolahay 42 ;
State senator Joseph M. Cole 42
State representative J. G. Thompson 14
Richard Murphy 30'
James P. Wilson 30'
The certificate is correct, except that F.-M. Conway is inserted in-
stead of M. F. Con way. The tally- list is regularly made out, and
signed as follows :
N. H. VINEGARDER, J
N. P. NIXON", } Judges.
DAVID MILNE, )
LAWRENCE MURPHY,
SAMUEL READER,
EIGIITH DISTRICT — Wabaunsee Precinct.
PoU-l^t.
1 Hiram Keys 11 L. W. Brown
2 J. M. Buiieigh 12 H. J. Fadder
3 C. H. Lawin 13 J. Willey
4 Ahram Stone 14 J. H. Pillsmy
5 E. R. McCauley 15 D. B. Hiatt
6 Barthol Flace 36 H. P. Leonard
7 H. Bishee 17 H. W. Fabor
8 J. C. Marsmen 18 Ilarvy Jones
9 H. T. Brown 19 A. B. Marshall
10 I. M. Bushbey
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
E. R. McCURDY, )
J. M. BIS3EY, V Judges,
DANIEL B. HIATT, )
H. J. FADDER, > Cl j
JOHN C. MARSMAN, \ LLerlcs'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 799
Tally-list.
Governor ...» Charl es Robinson 19
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Rober ts
Secretary of state P. C. Schuylur 19
Auditor G. 8. Cutler 19
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 19
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 19
Supreme judge S. A. Latta 19
M. F. Con way 19
M. Hunt 19
Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 17
Clerk to supreme court -1 . B. Floyd 19
Public printer John Speer 19
Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 18
State senator J. H. Pillsbury 16
J. H. Nesbitt 2
State representative H. W. Tabour 15
S. B. Martial 3
The certificate is correct, except the tally for W. Y. Roberts is not
included, and is signed as follows :
E. R. McCURDY, )
J. M. BISBEY, } Judges.
DANIEL H1ATT, )
H. J. FADDER,
JOHN J, MARSMAN,
NINTH DISTRICT — Whitfidd Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 Christopher Leonard 10 J. B. Chapman
2 Vincent D. Cohee 11 J. F. Jenuer
3 Christopher C. Diggin 12 John Miller
4 T. H. Jenner 13 Pleasant Curly
5 J. W. Fonts 14 John Kolb
6 H. House 15 Stephen Papan
7 John Cunningham 16 Geo. Brennon
8 Henry Seal 17 Francis Jame
9 Frederick Swige 18 Franklin Dearbeak
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
THOMAS JENNER, )
V. D. COHEE, I Judges
JOHN CUNNINGHAM, )
HIRAM HOWE, ) ni -,
J, W. FOUM f Clerks'
800 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally-list.
Governor Ch arles Robin son 6
W. Y. Roberts 11
Lieutenant governor M. J. Parrott 11
W. Y. Roberts 6
Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 6
C. K. Holliday 11
Auditor G. A. Cutler 6
W. R. Griffith 11
Treasurer J. A. Waken" eld 7
E. C. R. Garey 9
P. C. Scuyler.'. 1 I
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 17 .
Supreme judge S. N. Latta 10
G. W. Smith Ill
L. W. Johnson 11'
M. Hunt ft
M. F. Conway 6
J. A.Wakefield 6.-
Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 6
S. B. McKensie 11
Clerk to supreme court S. B. Floyd , 17
Public printer John Speer 6*
R. G. Elliott 11
Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 17
State senator Thomas Jenner 18
State representative V. D.Cohee 18
Hiram House 18
Tallies complete.
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
THOMAS JKNNEB, )
V. D. COHEE, [Judges.
JOHN CUNNINGHAM, )
HIRAM HOWE,
J. W. FOUTS,
NINTH DISTRICT — Slough Creek Precinct.
Poll-book,
1 Hugh McGepee 8 John Beech er
2 Andrew Francis 9 James Powell
3 James C. Ward 10 James Noble
4 Robert Ward 11 Shobal J. Ellis
5 Jacob R. Smith 12 Wm Owen
6 Aaron Smith 13 John A. Peters
7 Charles Rice 14 Alexander McDowall, sr.
KANSAS AFFAIRS,
certificate Is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
JACOB R. SMITH, )
ROBERT WARD, V Judges.
J, A. PETERS, )
J. FRANCIS, ? /™ T.
JAMES CL WARD, | Uer/CS°
Tally-list,
Governor .„,.. W. Y. Roberts U
Lieutenant governor ..M. J. Parrott 14
Secretary of state C. K. Holliday 14
Auditor W.R.Griffith 14
Creasurer — ...E. C. R Garvey 14
Attorney general. -. H. Miles Moore 14
Supreme judge G. W. Smith ... 14
L. W. Johnston 14
8. N. Latta 4
J. A.Wakefield 10
Reporter to supreme court „ S. B. McKenzie... 14
ylerik to supreme court.. L. B, Floyd.. ,. 14
5ublic printer R. G. Elliot* 14
lepresentative to Congress M. W. Dt-lahay 14
>tate senator.., „ Thomas Jenner 13
>a$e representative Vincent D. Cohee 13
Hiram House „..,, 12
Tally-list complete.
; Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows :
JACoB R SMITH, )
ROBERT WARD, \Judges.
J, A, PETERS, )
; ANDREW J. FRANCIS, 3 ™ »
\ JAMES C, WARD, )
DISTRICT — Grasshopper Palls
Pott-list.
1 John Weave? 10 Wm. Catt
2 G. S. Hillyer 11 Wm. A. Godwin
3 Michael Hasley 12 Martin Vandenburgk
4 L. Northink ' 13 Jacob Fisher
o Ren Wiser 14 Henry Lewn
6 S. H. Dunn 15 Jacob Weber
T Wm, Grigsby 16 Alexander Hughaa
8 John W. Clark 17 John Hughan
9 T. H, Elliott 18 W. A. Cowan
H. Rep. 200 51*
802 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
19 Sidney Scanland 33 John Roberts
20 Atkinson Martin 34 J. H. Cowan
21 Samuel Johnson 35 Henry Bowles
22 Perry Moss- 36 James Frazier
23 Daniel Kunkles 37 Wm. Bowles
24 Epraham Lowman 38 John Roderick
25 Abel Ott 39 Saml. L. Smith
26 John Wideman 40 Chalmers Scott
2*7 France Amen 41 John H. McCenny
28 John Elliott 42 S. W. Owen
29 Isaac Cody 43 J. Sills
30 John Short 44 Daniel A. Wilby
31 P. J. Pvedwick 45 Adam Wiser
32 John Earnst
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
JOHN W CLARK, )
T. H. ELLIOTT, } Judges,
JAMES FRAZER, }
ATKINSON MARTIN.
W. A, COWAN,
Tally -list,
Governor „ Charles Robinson , 44 !
W. Y. Roberts 1
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 44
Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler , 49!
Auditor ,. ; G-. A. Cutler 49 1
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield., 451
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 43)
Supreme judge v. S. N. Latta
M. F. Conway
M. Hunt
Reporter of supreme court E. M. Thurston 4fl[
Clerk of supreme court S. B. Floyd 48,
Public printer John Speer ., 4f1
Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 4(4j
State senator George S. Hillyer
John W. Clark
State representative William Hicks 4«M
William B. Wade • 4!
Tally-list complete.
The certificate is correctly filled1, and signed as follows :
JOHN W. CLARK, /
T. H, ELLIOTT, V Judge*
JAMES FRAZER, )
ATKINSON MARTIN, ? /7/ T.
W. S. COWAN, J Lierlcs'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 803
NINTH DISTRICT — Pleasant Hill Precinct.
Poll-list.
1 Asbery Kessler 24 David Eansier
2 Jacob Brown 25 Samuel Brown
3 Charles Buzbee £6 Joseph Nichols
4 Leonard Buzbee 27 Henry Ransier
5 Lewis Hoover 28 William Nichols
6 William Hicks 29 Hugh Nichols
7 Richard S. Bunke 30 W. B. Wade
8 Nathan Adam 31 Byron Stewart
9 G-. B. Hall 32 Francis Jinks
10 Lewis Remiathe 33 T. L. Pooler
11 John Remiathe 34 James Dempsey
12 John Bucbee 35 Francis Clay well
13 Wm. Carpenter 36 David Trip
14 Nathan Cory 37 Jesse W. Attleberry
15 Zebulon Buzbee 38 John Rippeton
16 Henry Hovener 39 Philip Kessler
17 Nathan Griffith 40 James Ransier
18 Aaron Cook 41 Franklin Elijah
19 John Brown 42 James Stephenson
20 William C. Walker 43 William Duck
21 Jesse F. Collins 44 Matthew Robinson
22 James Griffiths 45 William Tillason
23 E. Bainter
The certificate is properly filled, and signed as follows :
G. B. HALL, )
LEWIS HOOVER, V Judges.
NATHAN ADAMS, )
RICHARD S. BUNKER, Cleric.
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson 42
W. Y. Roberts 2
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 43
M. J. Parrot 2
Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 43
C. H. Holladay 2
Auditor a. A. Cutler 43
W. R. Griffith 2
Treasurer j. A. Wakefield 43
E. C. K. Garvey 2
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 45
Supreme judge S. N. Latta 43
801 KANSAS AFFAIRS
M. F. Conway 43
M. Hunt 43
G. W. Smith 2
L. W. Johnson 2
J. A. Wakefield 2
Keporter of supreme court ,, E. M. Thurston 43
S. B. McKenzie 2
Clerk of supreme court S. B. Floyd 45
Public printer .....J. Speer 43
K. G. Elliott 2
Eepresentative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 44 !
State senator G. S. Hylier 45
State representative Wm. Hicks 45 i
Wm. B. Wade 441
Tally-list complete.
The certificate is correctly filled, except that E. G. Elliott received il
two votes which are omitted, and signed as follows :
G. B. HALL, >
NATHAN ADAMS, V Judges.
LEWIS HOOVEE, )
EICHARD S. BUNKER, > ni ,
NATHAN CORY, J ° Lerlis*
NINTH DISTRICT — Nardville Precinct,
Poll-list.
1 S. G. Hull 4 John W. Sperhack
2 Joseph Hayne 5 Calentine Newell
3 John H. Newell 6 James H. Ross
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
V. F. NEWELL, )
JOHN W. SPEEBACK, V Judges.
JOHN H. NEWELL, )
JAMES H. Eoss, Clerk,
Tally-list.
Governor , Wm. Y. Eoherts,
Lieutenant governor Wm. J. Parrott.,
Secretary of state ...C. H. Holliday...
Auditor W. E. Griffith...,
Treasurer E. C. E. Garvey.
Attorney general H. Miles Moore...
Supreme judge... — ....* Geo. W. Smith...
S. W. Johnson...
S. N. Latta...
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 805
Reporter supreme court S. B. McKensie 6
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 6
Public printer B. G. Elliott 6
Bepresentative to Congress M. W. Delahay 6
State senator Thomas Jenner 6
State representative ..Vincent D. Cohee 6
Hiram Hanse 6
Tally-list complete.
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
P. F. NEWELL, )
JOHN H. SPEBBBAK, V Judges.
JOHN H. NEWELL, )
JAMES H. Boss, Clerk.
NINTH DISTRICT — Helena Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 W. D. Barrett T H. N. Biley
2 T. K. Phillip 8 Charles Wilson
3 Wilson Alby 9 B. F. Sheuris
4 D. C. Dysert 10 A. B. Anderson
5 John Brown 11 Jacob Bees.
6 A. D. Simmons
Tally-list.
Governo^ C. Bobinson 11
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Boberts 11
Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler Il
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 11
Judge of supreme court S. N. Latta 11
M. T. Conway 11
M. Hunt 11
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 11
Auditor „..;&. A. Cutler 11
Public printer John Speer 11
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 11
Beporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 11
Bepresentative to Congress M. W. Delahay 11
There is bat one certificate for the poll-book and tally-list, which
merely certifies the returns are correct.
806 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
NINTH DISTRICT — Crooked Creek Precinct.
Poll-look.
1 Richard Hull 6 Anthony Hass
2 Simpson Conner 7 Mathias Carriger
3 Simeon Hill 8 Henry Hendenhall
4 G. T. Donaldson 9 John Waddle
5 Alpha Simmons 10 F. A. Crobarger.
Certificate not filled.
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson 10 J
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 10'
Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 10
Auditor G. A. Cutler 10
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 10 >
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 10i>
Supreme judge S. M. Latta 10i»
M. F. Conway 10u
M. Hunt 1001
Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston -. 10i
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 10«|
Public printer John Speer 10'j
Representative to Congress Mark W. Ddahay 10<l
State senator G. Hilliar , 10'j
State representative William Hicks ... 10>
William B. Wade 10<
Tally-list complete.
The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
SIMEON HULL, )
G. J. DOAALDSON, } Judges.
ALPHA SIMMONS, )
JOHN YOCUM, >
HENRY HENDENHALL, J
TENTH DISTRICT — St. Joseph's Bottom.
Poll-book.
1 Duvet Grover T Peter Gerarly
2 Samuel Siler 8 Matthew Isles
3 James M. Groom 9 Eugene Vagil
4 Absalom Grooms 10 James M. Gotten
5 Richard Henly 11 John M. Curtis
6 Adam Leven 12 Enoch Bartlett
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
807
13 Sam Shelton
14 James Kendell
15 James Curtis
16 William Keaten
17 John T. Broicly
18 William O. Duly
19 Charles Richter
20 George Alexander
21 Philip Kleppel
22 E. S. Weaver
23 William High
24 J. D. Hyper
25 J. F. Lambert
26 J. W, Privett
27 James Lavens
28 Elihu Reno
29 James Campbell
30 John Rhodes
31 Tapley Ralph
32 William Newman
33 E. S. Dans
34 Florean Leber
35 Thomas Stewerd
36 D. Largler
37 S. V. Jamison
38 George Bryan
39 Henderson Smallwood
40 B. Harding
41 Charles Stewart
42 John Tretman
43 Charles Acres
44 JamesvO. Riiey
45 Asbery Eraser
46 Walter Smith
47 Lewis Bellman
48 A. A. Jameson
49 W. A. Howard
50 kelson Abbey,
Certificate correct.
A. LARZELERE,
HENDERSON SMALLWOOD.
GEO. H. BRYAN,
A. LAEZELERE, ) m -,
S. V. JAMESON, \ Ckrks-
Judges.
Tody list.
Governor Charles Robinson 49
W.Y.Roberts 1
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 49
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 50
Auditor G. A. Cutler 49
J. K. Goodin 1
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 50
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 50
Supreme court judges M. F. Conway 50
M. Hunt 50
S. N. Latta 50
Reporter supreme court C. W. Thurston 50
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 50
Public printer John Speer 50
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 50
State senator B. Harding 49
J. M. Erwin 50
State representative John Landis 50
B. B. Martin 50
A. A. Jamerson... 49
80$ KANSAS AFFAIRS
B. Brock .„. 50
S. R. Baldwin 50
John Handy 50
Tally-list complete. Certificate correct, except that the name oi
S. B. Floyd is put for E. M. Thurston as candidate for reporter tc
supreme court ; and E. M, Thurston for that of S. B. Floyd as candi-i
date for clerk of supreme court. kSi^ned as follows :
' A. LARZELERE, >
HENDERSON SMALLWOOD, V Judges*
GEO. H. BRYAN, >
A. LARZELERE,
S, V. JAMESON,
TENTH DISTRICT — California;.
Certificate.
KANSAS TERRITORY, January 15, 1856.
The eighteenth election district was held at the house of W. W'
Moore, for the following officers for Kansas Territory, namely:
Governor , W. Y. Roberts 32
Lieutenant governor Charles Robinson 3
Secretary of state ,. General Wakefield., 31
Auditor G. A. Cutler •
Congress ...M. W. Delehay 3
Attorney general H. M.Moore 3
Judges Latta, Conway, and Hunt 3
State printer John Speer 31
Reporter supreme court ....E. Thouston 31
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 3J
Senators James M. Irvin 31
B. Hardin 3
The legislators of this district Eli Williams 1
J. W. Gorman 1
We, the undersigned, judges of election, do certify that this is
true statement of the votes polred at this district.
IL H. BLUE, }
HIRAM BURGAR, } Judges.
THOMAS NEWTON, }
G. W. CHASE, ) n ,
H. H. LANHAN, } C
TENTH DISTRICT — Jesse Padon's Precinct,
Poll-book.
1 John Hackman 4 C. Husband
2 P. Wise 5 David McCali
3 Henry Smith 6 John Reeder
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 809
7 George Winkles 20 Thomas J. Drumming
8 Wm. Purhel 21 Jacob In glehart
9 E. W. Short 22 J. W. Welhart
10 Isaac Hamby 23 Simon Bridges
11 J. Padon • 24 Jacoh Spar
12 Solomon McCall 25 Kudolph Zimmerman
J3 John Poe 26 Henry Hurer
14 John Schmith 27 Marcellus Lawins
15 F. T Rohins 28 Amasa'Owins
16 Benjamin Winkles 29 John Roach
17 Clifton Jen try 30 William Riley
18 Thomas Strange 31 William Smith
19 E. Painter
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
ISAAC T. HAMBY, )
JESSE PADON, V Judges.
SOLOMON McCALL, )
B. WINKLES, ) n ,
E. PAINTER, J Uer/cs'
Tally-list.
|
Governor Charles Rohinson 27
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 27
Secretary of state..!... P. C. Schuyler 27
Auditor Gr. A. Cutfer 27
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 27
Attorney general ....H. Miles Moore 27
Supreme judges S. M. Latta 27
*M. F. Conway 27
M. Hunt 27
; Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 27
Clerk supreme court J. B. Floyd ., 27
Public printer John Speer 27
Representative to Congress .Mark W. Delahay „ 27
State senator J. Irvin 30
B. Harden 27
State representative William Purket 29
^ Certificate correct. Tally-list has the name of S. M. Latta ; cer-
tificate S. N., the name of the candidate.
ISAAC L. HAMBY, )
SOLOMON McCALL, [ Judges.
JESSE PADON, )
B. WINKLES, ) , r7 7
E. PAINTER, j JlerJcs'
810 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
TENTH DISTRICT— Iowa Point.
Poll-look.
1 Wm. K. Wilson 20 George Davis
2 Samuel Wilson 21 William Beattie
3 John Means 22 Andrew Moore
4 Patrick McKee 23 Thomas Rains
5 S. K. Thompson 24 John S. Bradly
6 W. G. Wells 25 P. S. Wilmouth
7 Wilson Smith 26 Harrison Baker
8 Aaron Lewis 27 R. H. Terry
9 Samuel Earls 28 A. K. Wentworth
10 Norman Turner 29 Henry Parker
11 John S. Gamble 30 Edward H. Burbants
12 Peter Goode 31 W. McGuire
13 Jacob Schmidt 32 John Edson
14 William Ellis 33 William McAfee
15 M. W. Foster 34 D. S. Chandler
16 Robert Johnson 35 Matthew Young
17 Andrew Stevens . 36 Patrick 0' Brian
18 S. K. Kirkman 37 M. Raleigh
19 Wilson Shoop 38 Marion Jones
Certificate correct in substance, though not in form, and signed ai
follows :
his }
HENRY + PARKER, |
mark }• Judges.
M. YOUNG,
JOHN EDSON,
WM. R. WILSON,
H. G. WELLS,
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 3.j
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 3!|
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield
Judges supreme court S. N. Latta 3^
M. F. Conway 3
M. Hunt
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 3i|
Auditor G. A. Cutler
State printer ......John Speer
Clerk supreme court S. B . Floyd
Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay
State senate B. Harding 3|
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 81
J. Irvin 38
Hate representative — Purket 38
Tally-list complete.
Certificate correct attached to the poll-list.
TENTH DISTRICT — Palermo.
Poll-book.
1 B. K. Martin 15 William Briten
2 George Kincade 16 William Mikels
3 William Wilmeth 17 T. M. Lemison
4 Samuel Anderson 18 William Leforgey
5 William Gaines 19 Benj. Sprouse
6 James Morrisey 20 Nathan White
7 Ezra Round . 21 J. T. Smith
8 John D White 22 Mathew Elliott
9 J. J. Anderson 23 Samuel J. McAmey
10 William Chapman 24 Gabriel Gerard
11 Joseph Crote 25 Robert Myers
12 Louis Tay 26 John Hays
13 W. Stelwell 27 L. S. Meeker
14 Nicolas Holms 28 John Jones.
Certificate defective in not stating the number of votes ; otherwise
jood. Signed as follows :
J. D. WHITE, )
J. J ANDERSON, V Judges.
NATHAN WHITE, )
JOHN HAYS,
EZRA ROUND,
Tally-list.
J-overnor Charles Robinson 28
jieutenant governor, W. Y. Roberts .*... 28
ecretary of state P. Schuyler 28
Uiditor G. A. Cutler 28
treasurer J. A. Wakefield 28
Lttorney general H. Miles Moore : '28
upreme judges S. N. Latta 28
M. F. Conway 28
M. Hunt 28
Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 28
Jlerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 28
'ublic printer John Speer 28
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 28
tate senator Jas. M. Irvin.. 28
812 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
B. Harding 2
State representatives B. R. Martin 2
A. A. Jamison 2
John Landes 2
B. Brock 2
S. R. Baldwin 2
John Hanly ; 2
Tallies complete. Certificate correct, except that it omits to statf
the votes received by S. N. Latta, M. F. Conway, and M. Hunt, fol
judges of the supreme court ; and John Hanly, in the tally-list, i
called John Hamby in the certificate. Sigced as follows:
J. D.WHITE, )
J. J. ANDERSON, } Judges. .
NATHAN D. WHITE, S
JOHN HAYS, ] rlerk.
EZRA ROUND, J Cier/cs'
TENTH DISTRICT — Wolf River.
Poll-book.
1 E. P. Richardson 19 Joseph Math ess
2 W. M. Doolittle 20 Jacob Girwell
3 Henry Ulch 21 Chester Sea.l
4 James Lovine 22 J. Hoboy
5 Syrus Baldwin 23 Frederick Dickerson
6 Isaac French 24 James Mathess
7 E. F. Andrews 25 Alfred Stout
8 J. A. Johnson 26 George Gooth
9 A. J. Manier 27 J. M. Rice
10 John S. Beeler 28 Francis Purket
11 Isaac Perkins 29 J. H. Jolly
12 S. R. Baldwin 30 Thomas Fichew *
13 Robert H. McAlpin 31 Wm. D. Beeler
14 Alexander Loe 32 Geo. W. Smith
1£> G B. Spinning 33 James Glenn
16 James Gerwell 34 B. F. Lilley
17 Nathan Springer 35 W. H. Baylis
18 Bolivar Beeler 36 Elisha Bowen
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
ISAAC PERKINS, )
JOHN S. BEELER, V Judges.
JOHN A. JOHNSON,
ISAAC PERKINS,
E. F. ANDREWS,
!> 1
re, J
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 813
Tally Certificate.
The tally-list is not made out. The certificate is filled as follows :
We, the judges and clerks of election, hereby certify, upon our
,aths, that for governor, Charles Robinson had 36 votes ; that for
ieutenant governor, W. Y. Roberts had 36 votes ; and that for
ecretary of state, P. C. Schuyler had 36 votes ; that for auditor,
p. A. Cutler had 36 votes ; that for treasurer, J. A. Wakefield had
|6 votes ; that for attorney general, H. Miles Moore had 36 votes ;
hat for judge of the supreme court, S. N. Latta, M. T. Conway, M.
lunt, had 36 votes ; that for reporter of the supreme court, E. M.
^hurston had 36 votes ; that for clerk of the supreme court, S. B.
Qoyd had 36 votes ; that for public printer, John Speer had 36 votes ;
hat for representative in Congress, Mark W. Delahay had 36 votes ;
hat for State senator, B.' Harding had 36 votes ; J. M. Ervine had
;5 votes ; that for the house of representatives, Wm. Baylis had 36
•otes, &c., as in the printed form. Signed as follows :
ISAAC PERKINS, )
JOHN A. JOHNSON, } Judges.
JOHN S. BEELER, )
ISAAC PERKINS, ) m ^
E. F. AKDRE^S, { Clerk*.
TENTH DISTRICT — Doniphan.
Poll-book.
1 Alexander Vineyard 17 Thomas Best
2 G. A. Cutler 18 Wm. P. Irwin
3 Thomas S. Collins 19 Wm. Pochges
4 B. G. Cady 20 Quincey Bell
5 Lyman Oaks 21 Luther Dickerson
6 James W. Collins 22 Wm, Stephenson
7 Lyman W. Oaks 23 Landon Transon
8 George Wright 24 A. Dunn
9 Peter Gary 26 Taster Tastenson
10 Theron Hacker 26 B. R. Wilwar
11 John Landis > 27 Norman Alexander
12 W. Davis 28 Thomas Cook
13 Wm. Lancaster 29 George Kleesholder
14 John McKee 30 William Hall lf •
15 John McNemee 31 John H. Whitaker
16 D. W. Field 32 0. E. Socks
Certificate correct, signed as. follows :
T. J. COLLINS, )
WM. P. IRWIN, > Judges.
WM. A. LANCASTER, )
THERAN TUCKER.
JOHNMCKEE,
814 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson 3!l
Lieutenant governor W. Y.Roberts 311
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler •. 33
Auditor G. A. Cutler 31
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 3!J
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 31
Supreme judge M. F. Conway 3!
M. Hunt 31
S. N. Latta 31
Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 3|
Clerk to supreme court S. B.Floyd 3
Public printer John Speer 3|
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delebay 3
State senator James M. Irvine 3|
B. Harding
State representative , John Lundis 2j
B. R. Martin 2j
B. Brock 2j
A. A. Jamieson 2!
Tally-list complete ; certificate correct, and signed as follows :
T. J. COLLINS, )
WM. P. IRWIN, } Judges.
WM. A. LANCASTER,
THERON TUCKER,
JOHN McKEE,
TENTH DISTRICT — Burr Oak.
Poll-look.
1 Daniel Bowman 13 J. W. More
2 Valentine Gunselman 14 Steven Presson
3 John Meaky 15 Patrick Tindal
4 B. H. Brock 16 Abs. Shults
5 J. P. Harper 17 Thomas Bell
6 John Hack 18 Amos P. Young
7 Ch. Hack 19 Mathew Ward
8 C. H. Rogers 20. J. M. Hartman
9 John Lovel 21 Henry Gocke
10 Sol. Calvin 22 John^Lieb
11 Wm. B. Sharp 23 Godfrey Gummig
12 Henry Wilson 24 Thomas McUllock
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
HKNRY WILSON, )
JOHN LOVEL, \ Judges,
CHARLES H. ROGERS, )
WITLIAM B. SHARP, )
SOLOMON CALVIN, )
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 815
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson * 24
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 24
Secretary of state P. C. Schuylef 24
Auditor G. A. Cutler 24
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 24
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 24
Supreme jud^e S. N. Latta 24
M. F. Conway 24
M. Hunt 24
Reporter to supreme court.* E. M. Thurston... 24
Clerk to supreme court S. B. Floyd 24
Public printer Jobn Speer 24
Representative to Congress MarkW. Delehay 24
State senator James M. Irvin 24
B.' Harding 24
State representative B. H. Brock 24
B. R. Martin 24
A. A. Jamerson 24
S. R Balwin 24
J. Hamby 24
Jobn Landis 24
Tally-list complete ; certificate correct, and signed as follows :
HENRY WILSON, )
JOHN LOVEL, \ Judges.
CHARLES H. ROGERS, )
WM. B. SHARP, ) m ,
; SOLOMON CALVIN, \ Glerks'
ELEVENTH DISTRICT — Mount Pleasant Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 Josepb Potter 13 Jobn'S. Quinett
2 Hiram Quinett 14 J. M. Edings
3 J. W. Evans 15 W. C. Quinett
4 Geo. Harman 16 J. H. Campbell
5 J. B. Laird 17 Wm. Pebler
6 A. W. Prabler 18 Ben Pay
7 Jobn Harman 19 James McManama
8 Thomas S. Henson 20 P. McNamama
9 A. S. Speak 21 Archibald McNamama
10 D. E. Jones 22 J. L. Jones
11 A. J. Cox 23 J. C. Redgeway
12 B. F. Edwards 24 Henry Clime
816 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
25 H. C. Jones 35 Wm. Martin
26 G. Bladget 36 John Miller
27 W. H. Nichols 37 John Strain
28 E. P. Zimmerman 38 Joel Martin
29 J. Robinson 39 A. T. Musser
30 H. R. Gale ,mf 40 James Hesman
31 M. Wilkins 41 C. Senbough
32 E. Skerilaugh 42 M. Greenbough
33 J. W. Stephens 43 Wm. Martin
34 T. M. Potter 44 M. Berry
Certificate properly filled, and signed as follows :
W. MARTIN, )
T. M. POTTER, V Judges
JOHN MILLER,
JOHN STRAIN,
J. T. MASSER,
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson 4V
W. Y. Roberts
Lieutenant governor... W. Y. Roberts 4fc
M. J. Parrott ]
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 4£
C. K. Holliday
Auditor S. A. Cutler 42
W. R. Griffith 1
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 4£
E. C. K. Garvey
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 4,-;
Supreme judge S. N. Latta 41
Geo. W. Smith
M. F. Conway 45i
S. W. Johnson
M. Hunt
J. A. Wakefield
Reporter supreme court E. IV1. Thurston 451
S. B. McKenzie
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd , 4;-
State printer John Speer • 4*
R. G.Elliot
Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay ...
State senator D. E. Jones I
J. F. Hathway |!
State representative John D. Jones
E. R. Zimmerman 4!j
J. W. Stevens
W. T. Barnett 4!<
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 817
Luther Knox 35
J.C. Ridgeway 20
Wm. Crosbey 34
Tally-list complete.
Certificate properly illed7 and signed as follows :
W. MARTIN, )
F. M. POTTER, V Judges.
JOHN MILLER, )
JOBN STRAIN, ) ™ v.
Y m i» ic f v vo/ A/O ,
JOSEPH T. MUSSER, )
DISTRICT — Monticello Prtdnck.
Poll-book.
1 David Haley 19 Johnson Myers
2 W. L. Johnson 20 J. K. Qobbte •
3 John Fulk, jr. 21 Samson Gobble
4 M. Kidlaid 22 N. P. Stearnes
5 A. K. Fulk 23 R. R. Clark
<6 John House 24 S. P. Smith
7 M. L. Crittenden 25 H. Atkins
8 J. P. Mooney 26 J. Anderson
9 John Fulk, sr. 27 J. D. Caldwell
10 Amon €. Savage 28 W. Butler
11 T. L. Crane 29 H. F«lk
12 Charles Richardson 30 A. C. Brown
13 John F. Woodward 31 J. H. Perry
14 Charles C. Johason 32 E. Knox
15 J. M. Vance 33 P. Woodward
16 Spartan Ray 34 John Smith
17 J. K. Lawranoe 35 A. C. Joaes
18 T. R. Martin
ertificate -correctly fifed, and signed as follows .:
JOHN HOUSE, )
DAVID HELEY, > Judges.
WILLIAM L, JOHNSON, )
\
Tolly-llsL
ovemor. ,..,., ™ ,. Charles Robinson ;v«,r*»rt
W. Y. Roberts 33
.ieutenant governor , W. Y. Roberts -.<• 3
M, J. Parrott 23
Secretary of state P, C, Scuyler », 32
H, Rep. 200 52*
818 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
C. K. Holliday
Auditor G. A. Cutler l
W. R. Griffith 3^
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield „.. [
E. C. R. Garvey &
Attorney general....* H. Miles Moore 3
Supreme judge 8. N". Latta <
G. W. Smith 3S
M. F. Conway {
S. W. Johnson £
M. Hunt
J. A. Wakefield
Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston ',
S. B. McKenzie 3
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 3
Public printer John Speer ,
R. G. Elliott 3.
Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 3
State senator D. E. Jones 3
J. F. Hathaway
State representatives John D. Jones * 2
E. K. Zimmerman 3
John W. Stephens 3
Wm. Crosby 3
Wm. T. Barnet 2
A. C. Ridgeway
Tallies complete.
The certifiate is correctly filled, and signed as follows :
JOHN HOUSE, )
DAYID HELEY, } Judges.
W. L. JOHNSON, )
JOHN FULK,
CHAS. RICHARDSON,
TWELFTH DISTRICT — Wyandott.
Poll-look.
1 John H. Davis 11 George Spy buck
2 Jacob Heck 12 Russia Choplog
3 John Lewis 13 Isaac P. Driver
4 William Jonsin 14 George Whitewicg *
5 John Batuist 15 Jacob Whitewing
6 John Solomon 16 Aaron Ellar
7 James Armstrong 17 Jacob Ulrick
8 Smith Nicholas 18 William Ruffe
9 Samuel Bigringer 19 John Brumback
10 Math. Mudeater 20 Stephen F. Henderson
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 819
21 C. D. Henderson 29 Eobert Eobertaille
22 Isaac B. Hoover 30 Matthew Splitlog
23 Ebenezer Zane 31 Isaac Zane
24 Benjamin Ulrich 32 Jacob Byers
25 Henry S. Messinhimer 33 Abalard Guthrie
26 David Longneker 34 E. M. Ainsworth
27 Daniel Holsinger 35 Etban Bigarms
28 Squire Grayeyes
Tally-list.
Governor A. H. Eeeder 1
Charles Eobinson 1
W. Y. Eoberts 1
jieutenant governor W. Y. Eoberts 34
iecretary of state P. C. Schuyler 35
editor G. A. Cutler 35
"reasurer J. A. Wakefield 35
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 35
Supreme judge , S. N. Latta 35
M. F. Conway 35
M. Hunt 35
Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 35
•lerk supreme court J. B. Floyd 35
'ublic printer John Speer 35
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 1
Me senator J. H. Dennis 35
J. C. Green 35
Jacob Ulrich 33
itate representative Jacob Byer 34
M. Mudeater 35
E. P. Brown 35
James Todd 35
J. K. Edsill 35
E. M. Ainsworth S2
William Pennock 35
Isaac Cody 35
F. G. Byrd ; 35
Tally-list complete.
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
ABELAED GUTHEIE, >
MATTHIAS SPLITLOGS, } Jvdges.
JOHN LEWIS, )
DANIEL HOLSINGEK, ) n ,
JOHN BRUMBACK, ] ote ff1
820
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT — Leavenworth.
Poll-look.
1 J. K. Elsard
2 Wm. H. Hipsley
3 G. Gosling
4 H. M. Hook
5 Win. Morgan
6 B. Jennings
7 F. Silkman
8 John C. Gorman
9 A. Stewart
10 J. H. Doyle
11 S. J. Anthony
12 K. B. Eoberts
13 George Kussell
14 G. M. Fisher
15 A. F. Kile
16 N. Sage
17 J. D. Eoss
18 G. W. Gordran
19 W. Wakefield
20 C. F. Cumer
21 W. Cornman
22 C. Bennett
23 S. P. Patte
24 F. Quentet
25 W. Asher
26 H. C. Fields
27 J. S. Wheatly
28 C. Zidus
29 H. M. Moore
30 C. H. Pearce
31 Paul Kohr
32 T. C. McKee
33 Noah Savertdn
34 A. C. Gates
35 W. T. Marvin
36 T. Luce
37 John T. Luce
38 B. Luce
39 Charles P. Wiggins
40 Dr. S. Norten
41 M. Norten
42 C. Harris
43 A. Fisher
44 N. McCracken
45 J. Howell
46 W. H. llhods
47 W. Wallace
48 J. T. Wallace
49 J. E. Wallace
50 John Fisher
51 A. Deetz
52 A. M. Lattis
53 J. W. Shimmer
54 W. Biren
55 Ludwig Wax
56 Edward Cook
57 Thomas Smith
58 John G. Gosen
59 John Lener
60 John Hugner
61 K Miller
62 Martin Smith
63 John Stineburgh
64 Henry Straw
65 George Leister
66 George Odel
67 John New
68 Futts
69 T. T. Sclocum
70 L. Echelberry
71 W. Jones
72 P. Flanery
73 T. C. Shoemaker
74 M. McGrew
75 T. Flanery
76 W. L. Dresser
77 James Silly
78 J. E. Grant
79 J. W. Barber
80 D. W. Lane
81 William Perie
82 Jerry Kain
83 Wm. E. Sutler
84 G. H. Wilson
85 E. A. Allen
86 John Heany
87 George Keller
88 L. B. Snow
89 F. E. Burd
90 Sampson Miller
91 S. Edwards
92 John Fossett
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
821
93 Samuel Vareles
94 Henry Wells
95 Amos Graff
96 John Glutspur
97 Lewis Gillspeer
98 Gustus Subuler
99 Henry BleilL
100 Merrit E. Merry
101 Joseph Valmen
102 Patric Welsh
103 Howel Clutsen
104 John Gary
105 Emanuel Latworth
106 Andrew Smith
107 Joseph Alchimer
108 Philip Krag
109 Lewis Shults
110 George A. Hancock
111 E. W. Haskell
112 Sebastian Gill
113 Henry Fruell
114 S. W. Woods
115 John Rafferty
116 J. J. Maccommon.
117 John Liss
118 John Billing
119 Charles Tanbrunt
120 Isaac C. Lester
121 Patric Lyons
122 James Neville
123 John Hamilton
124 S. Hasbrook
125 James Measan
126 Thomas Gilman
127 Jonathan K. Davis
128 Michael Shay
129 James Shay
130 D. M. Griffith
131 F. T. Dancessen
132 Samuel G. Green
133 Linekin
134 B. F. Bly
135 J. A. Vanduewel
136 A. F. Palmer
137 F. C. Stephens
138 Jacob Hughes
139 H. C. Lee
140 John Robinson
141 W. F. Ellaghan
142 William Gibby
143 Augustus Meacham
144 William Crogan
145 Eugene Carty
146 George Lenhart
147 John G. Grant
148 John Frankhend
149 Frederick Welsh
150 John Collins
151 W. Alexander
152 James Dawson1
153 W. Pierce
154 Andrew McClean
155 James Sky
156 Andrew Hogan
157 John Dawson
158 James King
159 Peter McDill
160 Patrick Woods
161 Thomas Bishop
162 T. J. Campbell
The certificate omits to state the number of votes. Signed as follows
H. M. HOOK,
T. J. CAMPBELL,
G. GOSLING, ) m ^
THOMAS BISHOP, \ Clerks-
Judges.
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson 94
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 94
M. J. Parrott 7
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 94
C. K. Holliday 7
Auditor S. A. Cutler 94
W. R. Griffith 7
822 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield
E. 0. K. Garvey
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 1(
Supreme court judges L. N. Latta li
M. F. Conway <
M. Hunt j
Geo. W. Smith
S. W. Johnson
Keporters supreme court E. M. Thurston
S. K. McKenzie
Olerksupreme court S. B. Floyd 1
Puhlic printer John Speer
K. S. Elliott.. ,....
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 1
State senator D. Dodge II
Wm. Pennock 1
H. M.Hook 1
State representative T. A. Maynard 11
Adam Fisher 1
J. K. Edsaul 1
S. Sharks 1
Isaac Cody
E. P. Brown
George Gosling
L. P. Patte
T. J. Canfield
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
H. M. HOOK, )
T. J. CAMPBELL, J
f /nr/^z-o
THOS. BISHOP
G. GOSLING, )
?, S
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT — Easton.
Poll-book.
1 David Dodge 15 Martin Clark
2 Edward Beckner 16 David Brown
3 Thomas Tritt 17 Harrison D. Patteson
4 H. J. Adams 18 Adam Brown
5 Thomas Shiply 19 L. D. Bedgood
6 G. R. Hunts 20 K. L. Jessee
7 Levi White 21 Henry Ogle
8 J. C. Green 22 Embry Cortny
9 G. A. Taylor 23 Zachariah Sparks
10 R. P. Brown 24 Mathew Rolston
11 Samuel Horton 25 Josiah Dark
12 John Trett 26 Jesse Piles
13 James Renfuth 21 Wm. R. Tuhbs
14 Wm. Peacock 28 Samuel Dark
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 823
29 Amaziah Sparks 53 Clark Tritt
30 John A. Lawyer 54 E. B. Pennock
31 Joseph Hicks 55 Wm. Butt
32 B. F. Hicks 56 Chester Feney
33 Thomas Pearson 57 P. Dowland
34 Moses Sparks 58 Philip Becker
35 Stephen Sparks, jr. 59 Joseph Pennock
36 George Swain 60 Andrew Nixon
37 Wm. Pennock 61 Wm, Sparks
38 S. G. Robeson 62 John Sparks
39 C. C. Linville 63 Patrick R. Orr
40 D. L. McMichael 64 Wm. Hayes
41 Wm. McDonald 65 Wm. Martin
42 John Poe 66 Robert Whitehead
43 James Comstock 67 Joseph Elliott
44 C. W. Lucas 68 Terry Crutchfield
45 J. H. Bird 69 Atchison Campbell
46 Columbus C. Crane 70 Charles S. Foster
47 Thomas A. Minard 71 Henry C. Sutton
48 Joseph T. Wright 72 D. D. Bolt
49 John Wright 73 Jas. H. York
50 Francis Browning 74 Samuel Bixley
51 Stephen Sparks 75 Robert Knight
52 Wm. Rose 76 Wm. M. Bohart
The blanks in the certificate are not filled. Signed as follows :
FRANCIS BROWNING, >
JOSEPH T. WRIGHT, V Judges.
JOHN WRIGHT, )
JOSEPH H. BIRD, ) ni -,
T. W. LUCAS, \ Clerks-
Poll-list to supply a vacancy,
1 Thos, A. Minard 14 F. W. Hendrick
2 Martin Klein 15 W. R. Tubbs
3 Simeon Hull 16 Joseph Hicks
4 J. B. Taylor 17 W. M. Bathurst
5 Daniel Shipley 18 Levi White
6 Wm. Rose 19 D. S. McMichael
7 Moses Hicks 20 John Trett
8 John Chadwick 21 Henry Sutton
9 Jas. H. Yorke 22 H. D". Patterson
10 J. W. Comstock 23 John Strain
11 Daniel Nickson 24 P. R. Orr
12 Chester Jerry 25 Wm, Sparks
13 C. C. Lenville
The certificate to the number of votes is correct. The judges
further certify that Patrick R. Orr received the whole twenty-five
824 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
votes for representative, in the place of R. P. Brown, decease
Signed as follows :
JOHN W. HENDR1CK, )
WELLAR J. R. TUBES, [ Judges.
D. S. McMICKLE, >
JOSEPH HICKS, ) ™,
C. C. LINVIL, J Uer/fs'
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson .
W. Y. Roberts....
Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts ....
Parrot
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler
C. K. Holliday....
Auditor G. A. Cutler
W. R. Griffith
Treasurer J. A. "Wakefield...
E. C. K. Garvey...
Attorney general H. Miles Moore....
Supreme judge S. M. Latta
G. W. Smith
M. F. Conway
S. W. Johnston...
H. Hunt
Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston ...
S. B. McKenzie...
Clerk to supreme court S. B. Floyd
Public printer John Speer
R. G. Elliott
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay
State senator J. C. Green
Pennock...
H. J. Adams
J. H. Dennis
David Dodge
State representative Wm. Pennock
David Dodge
J. K. Edsaul
Stephen Sparks....
J. Berger
Dr. Patte
R. P. Brown
S. J. Campbell....
T. H. Misnard
G. Gosling
Mathew Madeator .
A. Fisher
Isaac Cody
KANSAS AFFAIRS. * 825
Blank certificate not filled. Signed as follows:
FRANCIS BROWNING, >
JOSEPH T. WRIGHT, V Judges.
JOHN WRIGHT, )
JOSEPH H. BIRD,
/-N TTT T
C. W. LUCAS,
SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT — Mission Precinct.
Poll-book.
1 John Owen *I John H. Oshorne
2 Henry Wilson 8 John Lockhart
3 Calvin A. Conatzer 9 William Tipton
4 Samuel M. Conatzer 10 Richard N. Pearson
5 Lewis Dougherty 11 William F. Harvey.
6 George L. Osborne
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
GEO. L. OSBORNE, )
SAMUEL M. CONATZER, } Judges.
LEWIS DOUGHERTY, )
JOHN H. OSBORNE, )
JOHN LOCKHART, J
Tally-list.
Governor Charles Robinson 10
Lieutenant governor M. J. Parrott 9
W. G. Roberts 1
Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 10
Auditor S. A. Cutler 10
Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 10
Attorney general H. Miles Moore 10
Supreme judge S. N. Latta 10
Morris Hunt 10
M. F. Conway 10
Reporter supreme court „ E. M. Thurston 10
Clerk of supreme court Scott Anthony 9
Public printer John Speer 10
Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 10
State senator Wiley Jones 2
Perry Fuller 9
State representative Samuel Mewhenney 10
John Lockhart 11
S. W.E. Griffith 1
Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 1
Certificate correct, and signed as follows :
GEO.L. OSBORNE, )
SAM'L M. CONATZER, \ Judges.
LEWIS DOUGHERTY, )
JOHN H. OSBORNE, > ~. 7
JOHN LOCKHART, \ ClerJcs-
826 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
BLANK FOKMS.
Form of oath.
We,
do swear that we will perform our duties as judges of the election, tl
"be held at the house of , in the election district ci
the Territory of Kansas, to the best of our ability and judgment ; tha*
we will keep a true, correct, and faithful record or list of all person*
who shall vote at said election ; that we will poll no ticket from anj
person who has not been an actual resident of the said Territory fc<
thirty days next preceding said election, and whom we shall nothonestll
believe to be a qualified voter, according to the provisions of the cour
stitution formed at Topeka, and signed the 12th day of Novemben
1855 ; and that we will truly count and record the votes received
and make a true and faithful return thereof to the chairman of th
executive committee of Kansas Territory.
Sworn and subscribed, January 15, 1855, previous to opening tli
polls, before us.
> Judges.
I Clerks.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
627
Poll-book of electors who voted at an election held on the 157t day of Janu-
ary, A. D. 1856, at precinct, in District No. , in Kansas,
for governor , lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer,
attorney general, three supreme judges, reporter of the supreme court,
clerk of the supreme court, public printer , representative to Congress,
and senators and representatives to the general assembly of the State
of Kansas.
No.
Names of voters.
No.
Names of voters.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify
upon our oaths, that the whole number of votes cast at an election
held at precinct, in Kansas, on the 15th day of January,
A. D. 1856, for State officers, representative to Congress, and mem-
bers of the general assembly, to be in number ; and we further
certify that the said voters were bona-fide citizens of the United States,
of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, and actual residents of
Kansas for thirty days immediately preceding said election.
Judges.
Clerks.
828
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Tally list of votes cast at an election held on the \5tli day of January, A.\
D. 1856, at precinct, in District No. , in Kansas,
for the election of State officers, a representative in Congress, and
members of the general assembly of the State of Kansas.
We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certif f
upon our oaths, that for governor, had votes ; thasj
for lieutenant-governor, had votes ; that for secre-
tary of State, had votes ; that for auditor,
had votes ; that for treasurer, had votes-*
had
had
votes ; that fc'i
votes ; that fcfi
had votes ; that for cler \
had votes ; that for publi!
votes ; that for representative in GOBI
votes ; that for State senator.
that for attorney-general,
judge of the supreme court,
reporter of supreme court,
of the supreme court,
printer, had
fress, had
ad votes.
And we do further certify, that the said electors were bona-fid-j
citizens of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years and up
wards, and actual residents of Kansas for thirty days immediate!
preceding said election.
Judges.
Clerks.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 829
EMIGRANT AID SOCIETY AND EMIGRATION IN MARCH, 1855.— CAUSES OF
EXCITEMENT IN MISSOURI.— SECRET SOCIETIES.
DANIEL MACE called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver:
Immediately after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act, I, toge-
ther with a number of others, who were members of Congress and
senators, believing that the tendency of that act would be to make
Kansas a slave State, in order to prevent it, formed an association
here in Washington, called, if I recollect aright, " The Kansas Aid
Society. ' ' I do not remember all who became members of that society,
but quite a number of members who were opposed to slavery in Kan-
sas, of the lower House, and also of the Senate, became members of
it, and subscribed various sums of money. I think I subscribed either
$50 or $100 ; I am not now prepared to say which.
We issued a circular to the people of the country, of the northern
States particularly, in which we set forth what we believed were the
dangers of making Kansas a slave State, and urged that steps be
taken to induce persons from the north, who were opposed to slavery,
to go there and prevent its introduction, if possible. We sent a great
many circulars to various parts of the United States, with that object,
and also communications of various kinds. I do not now remember
what they were. The object was to have persons induced to go to
: Kansas who would make that their home, and who would, at all
elections, vote against the institution of slavery.
I think Mr. Goodrich, of Massachusetts, was the president of the
! society. I am not certain about the vice-presidents; probably Mr.
I Fenton, of New York, and myself, were vice-presidents. The names
j of the president and vice-presidents were attached to our circulars,
which we sent throughout the country.
My recollection is, that generally, those members of the House and
Senate who were opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska act became mem-
bers of this society, and contributed to it.
The leading primary object of the association was to prevent the
introduction of slavery into Kansas, as I stated during the short ses-
sion of Congress, in answer to a question propounded to me by your-
self, I believe. We believed that, unless vigorous steps of that kind
were taken, Kansas would become a slave State. I do not remember
the caption of the subscription paper. I think no other object was
mentioned or specified, except the prevention of slavery in Kansas.
I think that was the sole object of the movement.
I do not recollect whether Mr. Speaker Banks was a member of that
society or not, ot whether Senator Seward was or not. Mr. Good-
rich kept the books. My impression is, that a majority of those who
voted against the bill were members of that organization. I do not
830 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
remember the total amount of money raised by means of that organi-
zation. We had a room here, and employed a secretary, and conse-
quently had expenses to pay. I do not know the amount raised. I
think there were persons, members of that association, who were not
members of either house of Congress. Mr. Latham was appointed
treasurer, but declined; and my impression is, that Mr. Blair became
the treasurer ; but I may be mistaken about that.
DAN'L MACE.
WASHINGTON CITY, July 1, 1856.
CHARLES KOBINSON sworn.
To Mr. Eeeder :
On the morning of the 30th of March, 1855, I was at Topeka, but
arrived here in Lawrence shortly after dinner, and remained here the
rest of the day. Between here and Tecumseh I met with a crowd of
persons, strangers to me — perhaps 200 or so. I first came into the
Territory in July, 1854. I did not come here permanently until
about the first of September. On the day of election, when I reached
here, I found a large encampment, and quite a crowd around the
polls. I went into the camp. I do not know as I was previously ac-
quainted with any of the party in the camp. They made no secret
about coming from Missouri, but claimed they had a right to control
this Territory, and that northern men had no right here. At the1
polls, Mr. Willis was along for the purpose of voting, having refrained
up to that time ; and he was assailed by a crowd who got about him and
called him a damned abolitionist, and negro thief, &c., and cried out
to hang him. After some excitement and apparent danger of violence.'
Mr. Willis got away. There was nothing else during the balloting.:
but the crowd in the evening threatened destruction to us, and it was -I
considered necessary to have a gtiard here of a hundred men. These-'
men had arms in their camps, shot-guns and common rifles ; and side-1
arms, mostly bc*wie-knives and revolvers. Many had heavy hickory]!
sticks. Quite a number left the day of election ; some remained untili
the next morning. There was but one party came from the east thai
spring under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society, and arrived irrj
Kansas City about a week before the election. There were between IBM
and 170, including women and children. I returned to the Territory]
with that party. They came here and settled, so far as I know. Thejii
settled principally at Topeka, though some went to different parts o:»
the Territory. They met the committee of their own number at thw
place on the day of election, they having been sent out to select st
place. A few of that party went home, some in a few days, some in
a few weeks, who were dissatisfied with the Territory. The principal
part of the party are here now. Some came out here to look at the
country, and intended to return ; but none of them voted, to my know-*
ledge. I do not think one-fourth of the party who determined to stop
in the Territory voted here. I do not know of anybody who did vote*
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 831
but I know many who said they would not vote until they knew posi-
tively where they were to locate.
To Mr. Sherman:
I counted up this morning, with the assistance of my wife, the num-
ber of the women and children who came out, and we made out over
fifty. We came out with them. I should think there were as many
as twenty-five women.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
I did not hear anything said, in the disturbance with Mr. Willis,
about his interfering with a negro woman. He was there for the
purpose of voting when he was assailed. I was in the encampment,
and heard them say they had a right to control the Territory, but did
not understand them to say they had a right to vote because these
eastern men came here to vote.
APRIL 26, 1856. C. KOBINSON.
Mr. Oliver objects to any evidence as to what the witness heard
others say as to their objects in visiting this Territory, and insists
that persons who did vote are competent witnesses, and should be
subpoenaed.
CHARLES EOBINSON recalled.
To Mr. Beeder :
I arrived at Kansas City about a week before the election of the 30th
of March, 1855, and arrived here the- day of the election, having made
ia tour of the southern portion of the Territory. Since I testified be-
fore, I have seen the list of passengers who came out at that time, and
the women and children amounted to 66 — 32 I think were women,
and 34 were children. I left Boston, I think, about the 13th of
March.
| « ; -• f •>.•"•
To Mr. Sherman:
That was the only company under the auspices of the Emigrant
'Aid Company, that had come out that spring up to that time.
To Mr. Keeder :
I first heard of the election at St. Louis, but think I did not then
hear the exact day of the election. I heard it from Dr. Leib, whom I
met at St. Louis. We could not hear before I left Boston when the
election was to be. I was then in Boston nearly a week in the office
of the Emigrant Aid Society. They had no intelligence in relation to
the time of election before I left.
C. KOBINSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 1, 1856.
SAMUEL C. SMITH called and sworn.
To Mr. Eeeder :
I arrived in the Territory on the evening of the 29th of March,
832 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
1855, and settled over on the Wakarusa, some two miles south, of
the Blue Mound, and from seven to nine miles from Lawrence, and
have resided there ever since. I was one of a party under the ar-
rangement of the Emigrant Aid Society. The only arrangement I
made of them was to purchase a ticket at the office of the company
from Boston to Kansas City. I purchased the ticket in connexion
with some half a dozen others from Cambridge, Massachusetts. We
got tickets somewhat less than we otherwise could, and an agent
came out with us. Beside this, we had no advantage, except associ-
ating with a larger numher who were coming out, which was more
pleasant than coming alone. No questions were asked, or promises
required, in regard to my political opinions, or as to the place where
I would settle in the Territory. Our party was the first party that
came out that spring under their arrangements. There was no party
under the auspices of that company that reached here before we did
that spring. We left Boston on Tuesday, the 13th of March, 1855.
There were somewhere between one hundred and fifty and two hun-
dred men, women, and children, in our party. There were a number
of families with us, and I should think there were over fifty women
and children, but I cannot state exactly. All of the party, I have
no doubt at all, were persons who came to the Territory for purposes
of settlement. There are a great many who have settled about this
place — some at Topeka, and some in other parts of the Territory. A
few of them returned before coming into the Territory at all, coming
no farther than Kansas City. A few returned after stopping one
night in the Territory, and before the election. I know of two who
returned on the Sunday succeeding the election. I first heard the
election was to take place in the latter part of March, on the Monday
morning of our arrival in St. Louis. There was no earlier intelli-
gence of the matter in our party, that I know of. I was acquainted
with some of the officers of the Emigrant Aid Society. I did not
hear of their having any knowledge of the time of the election before
I left. I have been engaged in farming, and that is what I term my
occupation here.
SAMUEL C. SMITH.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 1, 1856.
BENJAMIN SLATER called and sworn,
I reside in St. Louis, Missouri, and my business is that of commis-
sion and forwarding. I have been engaged in that business for some
four years, I have resided in this city, off and on, since 1837. I was
acting as agent for the New England Emigrant Aid Society in March,
1855 ; my office being in the same building as Mr. F. A. Hunt. My
arrangement with that company was nothing more than to engage
the passage of all persons who came out under their care, from this
place to Kansas City, at a price not to exceed $10 each. So far as I
know, the society did not pay for the expenses of the passengers, but
each one paid for himself. All the society did, so far as I understood.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 833
was to get tickets through from Boston to St. Louis for twenty-five
per cent, less than ordinary rates. Each passenger paid his own fare
at the reduced rate. I do not know that the Emigrant Aid Society
received any benefit at all from the reduced rates.
There were hut two parties that went out under the care of that
society in the month of March, 1855. One party was under the care
of Dr. Charles Robinson, consisting of one hundred and fifty-nine
passengers, leaving St. Louis on the steamer Sonora, March 26, 1855.
The other party was under the care of John Farwell, consisting of
one hundred and forty passengers, leaving St. Louis on the steamer
Kate Sweaney, March 26, 1855. I learned afterwards of Captain
Chouteau, of the Kate Sweaney, that he was some two weeks getting
up to Kansas City. In each party there were quite a number of
women and children. In Dr. Robinson's party there were something
like thirty or forty children, but I do not remember the number of
women in his party. I know that Robinson's party had a great
many trunks, &c., and a large quantity of baggage was paid for as
extra baggage, after allowing one hundred pounds of baggage to each
passenger. The extra baggage was paid for at prescribed rates, each
passenger paying for his own baggage.
There were other emigrants from eastern, northern, and southern
States, going up the river that spring. I was not applied to by any
of these emigrants during March, 1855, to make similar arrangements
to that made with regard to the aid emigrants.
The baggage of the aid emigrants was marked with a printed card.
so as to designate it, thus : " Kansas party baggage — care of B.
Slater, St. Louis." I saw no cards on the baggage with the name
of Eli Thayer on them, and think I should have seen them if they
had been on any of the baggage. The object of the mark I have
mentioned was to facilitate and secure the transportation of the bag-
gage. Many of the trunks left on the way were identified by this
mark, and afterwards forwarded to me here.
The river was uncommonly low that season, and for that reason
many of the boats could not run, and those that did run could not
take much freight. Many of the boats ran aground, and scarcely a
boat went up without running aground before she reached her desti-
nation. The winter had been an open one, and emigration set in
earlier than usual. Some mill machinery for several mills was sent
to me that spring, and forwarded by me to Kansas Territory. There
was also a large amount of furniture consigned to me that spring for
forwarding. The furniture was mostly in boxes — some old and some
new boxes, and, as far as I could see, were such as would be likely to
be sent out here by movers.
The other emigrants I have spoken of were not connected at all
with the Emigrant Aid Society, but travelled on their own account ;
sometimes in companies, and sometimes in scattered small parties.
They would come here sometimes by boat, and sometimes by railroad ;
and the runners of the Missouri river boats would go after them, and
make arran gements for them. I made no arrangements myself for any
parties in March, but the two I have named, though I did subse'-
quently.
H. Rep. 200 53*
834 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I never wrote a letter to E. W. Brown, the editor of the Herald of
Freedom, Lawrence, Kansas Territory, in which I stated there were
from six hundred to eight hundred eastern emigrants on their way up
the river, and would be up in time for the election, and three hundred
of them would "be at Lawrence at the election of the 30th of March,
1855. I never wrote him any letter of the kind. I may have writ-
ten a letter to Brown, stating the number of some particular party
then on their way out.
My connextion with the Emigrant Aid Society was purely of a
business character. I never received any salary from them, but re-
ceived from them merely the regular commission, as I did from others.
I was not their agent in any other sense than that of a commission
merchant. I rendered them only the same services that I did to other
parties for whom I transacted commission business.
B. SLATER.
ST. Louis, MISSOURI, June 12, 1856.
F. A. HUNT called and sworn.
My occupation is that of a forwarding and commission merchant.
I have been engaged in business in St. Louis for nearly five years
past. I have heard the testimony of Mr. Benjamin Slater, just taken.
During the month of March, 1855, Mr. Slater held a desk in ourr
office, and, I think, in the following April he became a partner in our1
firm, then called F. A. Hunt & Co. Mr. Slater was the passenger
agent of the Emigrant Aid Society during March, 1855, and after- j
wards F. A. Hunt & Co. became their agents.
I recollect the party of Dr. Robinson, and also that of John Far-
well, which left here for Kansas City that March. There were no
other aid emigrant parties that went up that month.
The preceding winter had been a very open one, and the river was
then unusually low for the season of the year. There was other emigra-
tion from different States during the month of March; much, I think.
from Ohio. They came generally in small detached parties. Thej
made their own bargains, and got up to Kansas City as cheaply at
they could. The regular fare from here to Kansas City was, at tlia
time, $12. They generally had to pay the regular fare, unless the>
came in large parties.
Subsequently to March, 1855, other parties of aid emigrants cam-i;
out here, and we made arrangements for them. The arrangeraen
made by the society was to obtain passage for the emigrants to thi ,
place at a reduction of 25 per cent., and we generally obtained tick!!
ets for passengers up from here to Kansas City at $2 less than thl|
usual rate. The emigrants received the full benefit of the reduction!
in both cases ; in all instances paying their own expenses at the m
duced rates. I know of no instance when the Emigrant Aid Socieil
ever paid a dollar of the travelling expenses of emigrants.
While I acted as agent for the Aid Society there was frequent] <|
shipped to me furniture and other property of a similar characte
It was consigned and forwarded as usual in all cases of forward'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 835
being addressed to the individual to whom it was sent in Kansas, in
our care at this place. On this we collected the customary commis-
sions regulated by the chamber of commerce of this city, and that
was the only compensation we received for our services. They shipped
several steam-engines, some mill machinery, &c., to us, as also house-
hold furniture, which was sent to individuals in the Territory in our
care.
I first learned from the St. Louis papers of the fixing of the day of
election in March, 1855. I received no information in relation to
that matter from the Emigrant Aid Society, or any person connected
with that society. The coming of these parties of emigrants had
nothing to do with the election, so far as I know. I never knew of
the Aid Society sending any persons out here merely to vote. From
all I could leara from the soci' ty, and from the conversation of the
emigrants, their sole object in going to Kansas was merely to seek
homes and to better their condition. I know that some of these emi-
grants returned ; and the only reason they gave to me for doing so
was, that the country was new, and they had not means enough to
support themselves until they could make a living there.
F, A. HUNT,
ST. Louis, Mo., June 12, 1856,
W, EL CHICK called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I reside at Kansas City, Missouri. My business is that of commis-
sion merchant. The first steamboat that came up the river in 1855
was, I think, on March 6th, and most of the emigrants were from the
ieast During that month, before the 30th of March, there were Its
. many as 500 emigrants came. There were very few women and very
few children among them. Most of them came without any apparent
Implements of husbandry, but with carpet-sacks and trunks. The
most of the sacks and trunks were marked " Kansas party baggage,"
and consigned to UB. Slater, St Louis." I always understood him
to be the commission merchant to whom the Emigrant Aid Society
of Boston made their consignments. G-en. Pomeroy generally attended
to their business at Kansas City. He was the agent of the society.
He told me, if his clerk came to my place to make arrangements to
store baggage, it would be the same as if he did it himself.
In the spring of the year there is a great deal of business done in
Kansas City, in the way of furnishing implements of husbandry to
the country west of there. These emigrants made but few purchases
of agricultural implements. I do not know that they made any ; and,
as far as I know, they went into the Territory without supplying
themselves with any.
I heard several of them say that they knew of the day of election
in the east, a month before we did out here. If I recollect right, the
proclamation came out somewhere between the 10th and 15th of March,
and this was the first notice the people of the Territory had.
836 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I conld not state how many of this class of emigrants went "back
after the election, as I kept no record of it. Common talk was, that
as many went hack as came out, hut I do not know this ; hut I know
a great portion of them went hack, and there was a greater rush
going hack immediately subsequent to the election than any time
after it. I don't know that the trips going down in April were as
good as coming up in March, hut there was a greater rush of people,
whom I took to he emigrants, down in April than at any subsequent
time in the spring.
The steamer Lucas got aground somewhere near Boonville in the
month of March, and some of the passengers came up in hacks. They
said they were anxious to get into the Territory before the election,
I could not say if any of these men returned or not, as they were all
strangers. They said they left part of their company on the boat,
"because they could not get hacks, I understood they were under the
auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society, hut I don't know it from them.
The Lucas did not get up to Kansas City until after the election, I
think some of those who came up in the Lucas went hack from that
city without going into the Territory,
Something like a hundred of eastern emigrants, who were taken to
be under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society, wintered at Kan-
sas City, A great portion of these went over into Kansas immediately
hefore the election. They went over as transient men, as most of
them were hack in a few days after the election. I heard some of
them say they were going over to the election. I did not hear them
say they were going to vote.
Some of these emigrants who came up in March left their carpet-
sacks and trunks at Kansas City, and went into the Territory, and re-
turned and took their haggage and went down the river. After Whit-!
field's election in November, 1854, several hundreds of eastern emi-i
grants returned down the river.
The agents of the Emigrant Aid Company paid a part of the hills!
for storing, &c., and I understood from some of the emigrants that',
their passage had heen engaged from St. Louis. The most of these
emigrants who came up in March desired to make arrangements with
me to take huifalo-rohes, and return them in a few weeks and receive
hack half-prices ; which I declined to do, hut sold some to them.
To Mr. Sherman :
I don't know whether or not the eastern people who wintered ir
Kansas City paid their own way. I don't know of anybody paying
anything for them, and the provisions they bought of me they pak
me for. I know that a great many settlers on both sides wintered ii
the States, for the want of facilities in the Territory, as I understoot
it. That winter was a remarkably open one. I think the river hrok
up the last of February, or first of March, that spring. I know tha
saw-mills have been sent out marked the same as the baggage — sora
that spring, and some have been coming ever since. There is a recor
of the number of boats that came up that spring ; I have it in my o:
fice at Kansas City, and without it cannot state the number.
W. H. CHICK.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 837
MILTON J. PAYNE called and sworn.
To Mr. Whitfield :
I reside in Kansas City, Missouri, and resided there previously to
the 2d of March, 1855, and left then and went to New Mexico, and
did not get hack till the 22d of April. Navigation of the Missouri
was not opened when I left. I do not remember of seeing any persons
returning from Kansas after I returned.
The Emigrant Aid Company kept an agent in Kansas City — Sam-
uel C, Pomeroy ; he seemed to he the general agent of the Boston
Emigrant Aid Society, I have seen a great deal of machinery there
sent to Pomeroy, as agent of this society. I was informed by Mr.
Jenkins that he had sold the American Hotel to Mr. Pomeroy for the
Emigrant Aid Society ; and by Mr. Hoad, a ^tenant of the hotel under
Pomeroy, that he was negotiating with Pomeroy for the purchase of
it ; and was afterwards informed by Mr, Eldridge that he was the
purchaser of the hotel from Mr. Pomeroy. Common report was that
the Emigrant Aid Society had this hotel there to afford facilities to
emigrants to this Territory, and that their object was to make this a
free State ; and it was a common rumor that Beeder delayed fixing
the day of election in order to allow the society time to send out these
emigrants to vote, and the Missourians determined, if that was done,
to come over and vote to counteract it.
The time for the election was not known, to my knowledge, when
I left for New Mexico. The Missourians got excited, and said they
would take part in the election if, as they expected, there should be
extraneous interference by the Aid Societies with the affairs of this
Territory, It was the general rumor that they intended to make this
a free State, and then interfere in the affair of slavery in Missouri.
I did not notice the baggage particularly that came to Kansas City,
except in some few instances. I have seen placards on the hats of the
emigrants, designating the aid company to which they belonged from
northern and eastern States. Many of these emigrants had Sharpe's
rifles, I refer to last summer, after the election, as I do not remem-
ber to have seen any arms on them till then. I noticed Sharpe's rifles
and some side-arms. They generally stopped at the American Hotel,
to a man, I believe. I am speaking now of emigration after I got
back from New Mexico. The time that it was rumored that Mr. Pom-
eroy came in possession of the American Hotel was in September or
October, 1854. I do not remember that these aid emigrants com-
menced coming before that time (September, 1854).
To Mr. Howard:
I never heard a free-State man in the Territory or elsewhere say
that their object was to interfere with the institutions of Missouri, but
only to make Kansas a free State. I have heard an eastern man, a res-
ident of the Territory, say that if he should meet a slave who wanted
to _escape, he would lend him his horse to ride to the north star. I
think this man's name was Burriss, or Burroughs, and he lived, I
think, on the Wakarusa, or near Lawrence. He said this in the store
of Northup & Chick in Kansas City, in January or February, 1855,
when I myself, Mr. Chick, Mr. Threlkeld, and others were present.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I do not know Mr. Burroughs's first name ; I cannot give his full name,
only as Burroughs or Burriss. He lived, as he said at the time, near
Lawrence, or on the Wakarusa, as far as I can recollect. He said he
came from Iowa. When we speak of eastern men, we mean all from
free States. I do not know that that man was ever in Iowa or in
Kansas Territory, only from his own statements. I never saw him
except at Kansas city, where I have seen him two or three times.
He came to use such an expression, by being got into a discussion
about slavery. He told us then he was from Iowa, but not when he
came from Iowa, or into the Territory, and I think at that particular
time he said he resided in the Territory ; on Wakarusa, or near Law-
rence.
It was the fear of Missonrians generally, so far as I know, that there
would be interference with the institutions of Missouri, if Kansas be-
came a free State ; and this fear, so far as I know, was confined to
Missouri. I account for the rumor getting into circulation in one
way — in consequence of E. W. Brown, editor of the Herald of Free-
dom, writing a letter to Wm. Walker, the provisional governor of
this Territory, that one of his objects in coming here was to make this
a free State. I suppose the basis of the rumor was, that similar re-
sults were expected to flow from Kansas being a free State, as flowed
to Kentucky in consequence of being bordered by free States ; not that
the people of Kansas really intended to interfere directly with the in-i
stitutions of Missouri, I heard Missouri people say, that in ease the;
day of election was postponed by Governor Keeder, to give these emi-
grant societies time to send emigrants here to control the election/
they would take steps to counteract it ; and many declared their pur- j
pose to take claims for the purpose of making their votes legitimate-
I do not think I ever heard one say he had come over here and voted'!
The excitement was all over when I returned. These Missouriani J
thought it would be illegal for the eastern people to come out h T»J
merely to vote, and then return ; but if the eastern people did that
they would have a right to do the same ; my reasoning being, tha
two wrongs made a right. I understood that the manner of conn
teracting the Emigrant Aid Society was to get up similar societies
and assist poor and young men to come here and take claims for tb.
purpose of settling and making Kansas a slave State.
As well as I remember, the conversation I have referred to, wito
Mr. Burriss, took place in January or February, 1855 — perhaps D(
cember, 1854 — certainly before I went to New Mexico.
M. J. PAYNE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
HENKY M. BLOSSOM called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I was clerk on the Polar Star on the Missouri river, during t;
spring of 1855. We brought up all classes of emigrants before t
30th of March, 1855; and one or two parties who represented th<
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 839
selves as coming out under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society
of Boston. Some of them had emigrant aid tickets, or tickets which
they said they purchased of the Emigrant Aid Society's agent in Bos-
ton ; others were in a manner consigned to Mr. Slater, their agent in
St. Louis, and he made arrangements for them to come up. We never
had as many as a hundred in any one of those parties. We hr ought
up more than a hundred in the month of March, from the eastern
States. They had generally carpet-sacks, occasionally trunks, and
occasionally hoxes with movables. But they had no farming im-
plements or any stock that I saw.
We brought up our party and landed them at Kansas City a few
days before the election, and they talked very freely about voting.
There was one gentleman in that party who expressed his regrets to
me that a great many eastern emigrants would be delayed till after
the election. I did not have much conversation with any of them.
When we had any very considerable number together, they were very
free to say that they would make Kansas a free State, if it could be
done ; that there would be a very large eastern emigration, and they
had no doubt, that Kansas would be a free State. That was the cur-
rent talk among them; but there was nothing very definite about it.
There was a great deal of going back from the Territory in the
month of April. We brought up one party of 12 men who expected
to get to the Territory sooner than they did, but we did not land them
at Kansas City until after the 30th of March, and we took them
down with us when we came back on that trip. It was a notorious
fact, that there was a great deal of returning emigration from the
Territory in the month of April, of all classes, but mostly eastern
emigrants, as most of the emigration that spring during the month
of March was eastern emigrants. We brought up one party of east-
ern emigrants with their families in the month of March, the only
party of that kind we brought up; but they were independent of the
Aid Society. Those under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society
on our boat had comparatively few women and children with them.
Many with whom I talked said they had left their families in the east,
and had come out here to see how they liked the country ; if they
liked it, they would have their families out here, but they did not
like to run the risk of bringing their families out with them then.
Those returning in the month of April were comparatively the same
kind of emigration as those we took up. We took comparatively
very few eastern emigrants on our boat, and we took back as many as
we brought up.
To Mr. Oliver:
The emigration that spring was not as generally armed as the emi-
gration the fall before. In the spring, about every third man had a
rifle. I dp not recollect, in any conversation I had with the eastern
emigrants, that they said they came out here, but would not live in
Kansas if it was not a free State. We took up comparatively few
emigrants from the east on our boat, as we would not make the de-
duction from the price of their passage that their agent in St. Louis
required, which was two dollars and fifty cents for each person ; of
840 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
which. 50 cents a head went to the agent. That arrangement could
only he made with inferior boats, where they had inferior fare; and,
no doubt, that was the cause of their great complaint about their had
treatment on the Missouri river.
To Mr. King:
The agents in St. Louis, either F. A. Hunt or B. Slater, generally
paid the fare of the eastern emigrants up the river. The eastern
aid emigrants were in a manner consigned to these agents in St.
Louis.
To Mr. Sherman :
Q. When one man acting as the agent for others pays the fare
and travelling expenses of a company of persons, each person, how-
ever, contributing his share of those expenses, and only adopting the
mode of having a common paymaster, to cheapen their fare and ex-
penses, does that in your opinion constitute a consignment?
A. When the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society send out upon
their tickets to a recognised commission merchant and agent in St.
Louis a company of men with their baggage, it would in my opinion
seem to partake somewhat of the nature of a consignment, and the par-
lance of steamboat men in such cases was, that u,a, consignment of
Yankees have arrived/' In answer to the question put to me, I have'
to say that I do not consider the case an assignment.
We made two trips in the month of March that spring before the
30th of March.
H. M. BLOSSOM.
STEAMBOAT POLAR STAR, Missouri river, June 10, 1856.
NATHAN ADAMS called and sworn.
By Gov. King:
I was a resident of the State of Massachusetts. Came to the Territory)
in October, 1854, from Provincetown, in that State. As a means oij
getting to the Territory, I wrote a letter to the agent of the Emigrant!)
Aid Society in Boston, inquiring the advantage it would be to me tc
goto Kansas under their auspices, or going on my own responsibility
I heard that my passage would cost me some eight or ten dollars less
by going under that company. I had a letter from the agent, but i i
is in possession of my wife, who is now in New Bedford, Massachu
setts. I had also a printed circular that came with the letter, an< i
all the information I had about that society was contained in the let
ter and circular.
Q. Will you state if, in any arrangement sought to be made wit!
the Emigrant Aid Company to get to Kansas under their auspices, .
pledge was not exacted from you, when you got to Kansas, to givi
your votes and use all your influence to make Kansas a free Statti
and that they declined to aid any man here who would not give thai
pledge ; and if you did not decline to come under their auspices, sole!
upon that ground?
uei
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 841
[Before the witness was allowed to answer the foregoing question,
Mr. Sherman propounded the following question:
Q. Had you any communication from, or did you attempt t'o make
any arrangement, with the Emigrant Aid Society, except by the letter
and circular referred to?
A. I received no other communication from them, except the letter
and circular above referred to.
Q. By Gov. King. — Are you willing,, and will you state to the
committee that you will write to your wife at New Bedford, Massa-
chusetts, immediately, to forward the letter in her possession, above
spoken of, to the committee at Washington?
A. I will do so immediately, if so requested by the committee.
The witness is requested by the committee to have the letter for-
warded, with the assurance that it would be received in evidence.
The committee exclude parol evidence of the contents of these
papers, and overrule the question put by Grov. King.]
Witness resumes. — I did not come out under the auspices of the
Emigrant Aid Society.
NATHAN ADAMS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
[See letter of T. W. Webb.]
JOHN E. INGALLS called and sworn.
By Mr. King:
I am a native of Massachusetts, and came to Missouri in November >
1854. While in Massachusetts I resided 2^ miles from Boston, and
was somewhat acquainted there. I conversed with Mr. Webb, the
agent of the Emigrant Aid Society, concerning the advantages I should
have in coming out here under their auspices, and what they would
expect from me as an emigrant. I was often in the office of the society.
The object in helping the emigrants to come here was to have them
vote their ticket — the free-State ticket. They would make some ar-
rangement by which they could get here cheaper than by themselves,
and would help them all they needed after they got here. The un-
derstanding was, that they would help none but those who would vote
their ticket. I did not come under their auspices, but came along
with a company that did come under their auspices. After we got
on the Missouri they wanted me to join them, but I would not do so.
I did not intend, when I started, to come any farther than St. Louis.
I knew some of the company who came out here. All those who re-
mained were free-State men ; but when they got on the river, and
were asked to join .the society, those who had money went back, as
they had become disgusted with the society. Some of them got as
far as Kansas City, and then turned back ; and some got into the Ter-
ritory. I do not think 25 of the party who came along then remained
here, and I believe there ^ould be hardly one left if they had money
to^ get back. There were some from Massachusetts who would not
join the society, and who never intended to take any part in the
society, and who went off by themselves up the Fort Riley way, and
842
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I have never heard of their going back. Those who had no monej
to get back went to Lawrence.
Q. Will you state that, among those emigrants who came out frorr
Massachusetts at or about the time you did, and who have been una-
ble to return, and who came under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid
Society, whether or not, under their agreement with the Emigranl
Aid Society, they are not under their control, and by their destitutioi
made subservient to their will, in their political movements in th<
Territory?
A. I do not know further than these persons have told me.
[Mr. Sherman here objects to the declarations of persons as to theii
condition of destitution or otherwise, and as to their connexion wit!
or subserviency to any persons whatever. After discussion, the ob-
jection was overruled.]
Witness continued. — There was a man from Lawrence who wanted to
work for me, and said he would come and work for me if he couW
get his property in Lawrence clear of this society. He afterward*
wrote to me, and said he could not come without losing all he hao
in Lawrence — his lots and house. I do not know any further abou
the subservency of these emigrants to the society, and their beinf
obliged by their destitution to remain here, and act as they desire<
them to do, than what I have here told, as being learned from thin
man from Lawrence.
A number of emigrants from Massachusetts, who came here clea
of the Aid Society, and who avowed that they came here to get home!!
for themselves, and not for political purposes, I understand have re<|
mained in the Territory. I know nothing of the treatment of thes
men in the Territory, only so far as I have heard them say. I haT
been kindly treated myself. I know of no one being treated unkind]
who minds his own business.
I have been at Lawrence. I have had conversation with Mr. Col«t|
man, a leading free-State man there. This was during the time tl
difficulties took place there last fall, and while forces were camped c
the Wakarusa. Mr. Coleman was talking with me in the puhl
streets, and there were some fifty or more men about us, armed will
Sharpe's rifles. He said, if the forces came there to burn down tit]
town, they would be resisted. He asked if the governor had calL
these forces, and I told him it was so understood here. A stroi
spirit of resistance was evinced by the people, and they said, if the
forces came there, they could stop them. I asked them how mai '
men they had. They said there would be, if they called them, l,60*!i
They asked how many on the other side. I told them that th€>]
were five or six hundred there at the time, and there were more ,
the way ; and there were rumors that there would be 2,000. Th
wanted to know if the government troops had been called out, ana
told them such was the rumor in Missouri. They said, if they we
called out, they should not resist them. They said they intended
form a free State constitution, and apply to be admitted as a Stai
and if they did not succeed in that, they intended to set up indepei
ently for themselves. All of them were speaking against the la^j.
did not like the laws, and would not live under them. All this a •
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 843
versation took place while I was in Lawrence, during the war last
fall.
To Mr. Oliver :
I did not hear them say at that time, or at any time, that they
would directly resist the laws. Some few said they would not obey
the laws ; hut I did not consider them of any account, even then. I
heard none of the leaders say so.
To Mr. King:
I saw some emigrants who came out under the auspices of the
Emigrant Aid Society last spring or summer. I saw one of them
during the latter part of July, and he said they gave him $50 and a
Sharpe's rifle to come out there. This was a man that came from
Salem, Massachusetts. I saw some of the company as they were
scattered along, passing through this town. I saw the man I have
referred to in the Territory. I asked him if the Aid Society were
sending men here now. He said they were, and were doing better by
them than they ever had done before ; were giving them $50 and a
Sharpe's rifle. I saw some of these persons have Sharpe's rifle.
To Mr. Sherman :
All the benefit the Emigrant Aid Society would agree to give men
when they started was to save expenses, as they could get their fare
cheaper by coming along in companies. Each man paid for his own
ticket in coming out here. In my opinion, they did not save anything
on their tickets. It cost them $30 for their tickets from Boston to
Kansas City. I could have come for the same amount by myself. I
cannot, therefore, say that they derived any benefit from the society,
and that is the reason why so many became disgusted with them. I
think I could have come as cheap, or even cheaper than they did, if I
had taken a different route from what they did when these emigrants
came to the Territory. They went some to one place and some to an-
other. A great many who came out when I did, in November, 1854,
; went back again ; some because they did not like the country, some
because they did not like the society, some because there were no
places for them to live during the winter. I understood from mem-
bers of the company that the advantage they derived from the society
was to have a house provided for them in Lawrence, and means loan-
ed them to get them a house. Mr. Webb, the agent of the society in
Boston, told me the company were going on to build in Lawrence,
and wanted all the mechanics they could get at $3 per day. They
found when they got here that they could get but $1 50 per day, and
many were dissatisfied at that. Some complained that they had no
houses to live in — no settlers for them. It was stated before we left
Boston that they had an hotel, which would be done by the time the
party reached Lawrence, and that we could get board for not over
$2 50 per week ; it was found to be $1 25 per day, and that dissatisfied
a great many. And for these reasons they left and went back.
I should think the greater portion of the men who came out then
were mechanics, who came out for the purpose of getting work and
bettering their condition.
844 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The Mr. Coleman I speak of came out from Massachusetts at the
same time I did, and was one of the emigrant company coming out at
that time. I do not know what paper they signed coming up the
river, hut I understood that made them all memhers. I do not think
that paper was shown to me, and I do not know what was in it.
Coleman told me that he lived three miles ahove Lawrence. I saw
him in this city ahout six weeks ago ; he said he was working on
his farm. Farming and teaming was his business last year. He
hauled freight and passengers from Kansas City to Lawrence. The
last time I saw him he was driving his team.
To Mr. King :
When the society loaned persons money to get their houses or farms,
they took mortgages on the property ; so the agent told me before I
left Boston. He said there was no danger of their failing to preserve
their property, as they would have plenty to do.
To Mr. Oliver:
I left Boston on the 17th of October, 1854. The objects of the so<
ciety were stated in the pamphlet they published and distributed. ]
talked with the agent in Boston about the society, and I understood
that the primary object of the society was to make Kansas a free State
He said nothing about any further objects after Kansas was made i
free State.
To Mr. King :
In our conversations he said they could command money and me:<
to make Kansas a free State. Nothing was said about their furthe
operations after they got Kansas a free State. They said nothin
about what effect they would accomplish by making Kansas a frc
State, as regards making other portions of the country free. The
said that they had five millions of capital, and that they were actin?
under an act of the legislature.
JOHN E. INGALLS.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 6, 1856.
J. KIDDLESBARGER called and sworn.
I reside at Kansas City, Missouri, and am in the commission bum
ness. In the month of March, 1855, there arrived at Kansas Ci
about five hundred emigrants, who I understood came from the ea&i
Most of them were young men, and had carpet-bags, trunks, and gu
and pistols, and but few ladies. Generally speaking, when the bofc
arrived General Pomeroy would go down to the boats and meet t
emigrants, and what baggage they could not take care of they usu«>
ly put in my charge. I did General Pomeroy's business. I undJ
stood him to be the president of the Aid Society. We frequently j
ceived goods, household furniture, bedding, &c., which were martj-
to General Pomeroy, but would turn out to belong to other pen
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 845
who would get them. I had no particular conversation with these
men. I had a conversation with two gentlemen who came out in
March. They "brought a lot of cigars, and had them stored with me.
They came in the second hoat that spring. I cannot say that they
belonged to the Aid Society, hut my understanding was that all that
came that spring, of the character of the emigration that arrived in
March, were under the auspices of the Aid Society, and that these
two young men were of that character. They asked me to dispose of
their cigars, and of two guns and a pistol, as they wanted to go out
into the Territory, and would be gone ten days or two weeks. They
left Kansas City to go into the Territory two or three days before the
election in March. They returned after the election, sold their cigars,
and went back east. They said nothing to me about what they had
done there. I have heard them state that they knew of the election
of the 30th of March in Pennsylvania, and got here before I knew it
in Kansas City. A few emigrants who left their trunks and carpet-
sacks with me when they came to Kansas City and went into the Ter-
ritory never took them again until they got ready to return down the
river, cursing the Emigrant Aid Society and everybody else, and com-
plaining that Slater and others had charged them two or three times
as much for their passage and transportation as they had agreed to
pay.
Some of our citizens, and I among the number, thought there were
as many returning just after the election, and through the month of
April, down the river, as had come up, of the same character of men,
in the month of March. The American Hotel at Kansas City was
purchased by General Pomeroy for the Aid Company. I heard some
oi the emigrants that came up on the Lucas, which had been aground
!below, and arrived after the election, say that the captain of the Lu-
cas had agreed to deliver them at Kansas City at a certain time,
which would have been in time for them to have gone to the election.
I heard them say nothing about the election. There were a great
many of them who came to Kansas City before and after the election,
who never went any further, but returned.
To Mr. Sherman:
To some extent it is common for the people, not only from the
lorth, but from the south, to be disappointed and then return. The
'migration from the north is generally by way of the river, while
-hose coming from the south generally come by land from a southerly
lirection; and therefore I know more of the returning emigration
rorn the north than the south. The emigration from Iowa and Illi-
lois generally comes by land also. The emigration from the south
>y the river has been large this spring, and much larger than before.
V great many southerners have gone out into the Territory this
pring, and I don't know of any that have returned. The southern
migration has generally been in companies, well armed. All the
ompanies, let them come from where they will, north or south, gene-
ally come with arms. They look more like going to war than to cul-
ivate the soil. In March, 1855, the emigration was generally with-
ut furniture, saw-mills, &c. The river was low, and freight was
846 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
high. Through the summer following, and fall, saw-mills, furniture,
and agricultural implements came along ; hut the class of men who
came with them were different from those who came in March. They
had their families, and looked like men going to work.
I never was in the Territory to vote, and never wanted to go. The
day of the March election a "boat left Kansas City for Wyandot, and
ahout ten or a dozen got on hoard, and I understood went to vote, but
whether they did or not I don't know. I understood that these emi-
grants, "by coming in companies, got their fare cheaper ; and I under-
stood from that, that if they could not pay their fare, Gen. Pomeroy
would pay it for them. In this I may he mistaken. Gen. Pomeroy
did assume to pay the freight and passage hills of some of them. Our
accounts against Gen. Pomeroy for freights of all descriptions, and
for passage-money of emigrants, and for property bought by him, and
drafts drawn by him on us, amounted to from seven to ten thousand
dollars per year, which he paid by drafts on the Emigrant Aid Socie-
ty of Boston, as we called on him and needed it.
To Gov. King :
The emigration in the spring, summer, and fall of 1855 was chiefly
from the northern States. I knew of but little from southern States,
The northern emigrants had been coming up the river since the fall
of 1854, in companies, and armed with implements of war, such as ]
have spoken of; and I have known no southern emigrants coming uj
the river so equipped until this spring.
LEAVENWOETH CITY, K. T., May 2*1, 1856.
J. B. EVANS called and sworn.
I reside at Weston, Platte county, Missouri. I came up the rive
previous to the election of the 30th of March, twice that spring. L
one time there was a large lot of emigrants got off at Kansas City^
said to be a hundred and fifty of them. There was a large lot
baggage, mostly trunks ; some carpet-sacks. They were mostly mei
I did not see but a few women among them. Their destination wi
Lawrence. I was on the boat with them but one day, and had bl
little conversation with them. Some few days after the 30th n
March, I went down the river on the " New Lucy." A company vj
men got on at Kansas City, of about ninety. I did not hear tbem si|
what part of the Territory they were from. They said at differcn
times that they had been in the Territory, and had voted ; and i
understanding from them was that they were emigrant aid m<
They said they came out here, were in the Territory a few days, a
voted, and they were returning home. They were western men ; 1
I did not learn particularly what State they were from. They si
nothing about their purpose in coming out here. T did not notice t \
one thatsl would suppose to be a leader among them.
JAMES B. EVANS)
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 847
MILTON J. PAYNE called and sworn.
To Mr. Whitfield :
I reside in Kansas City, Missouri, and resided there previously to
the 2d of March, 1855. I left then, and went to New Mexico, and
did not get hack till the 22d of April. Navigation of the Missouri
was not open when I left. I do not remember of seeing any persons
returning from Kansas. After I returned the Emigrant Aid Com-
pany kept an agent in Kansas City, Samuel C. Pomeroy ; he seemed
to he the general agent of the Boston Emigrant Aid Society. I have
seen a great deal of machinery there, sent to Pomeroy as agent of
this society. I was informed hy Mr. Jenkins that he had sold the
American Hotel to Mr. Pomeroy for the Boston Emigrant Aid Society,
and hy Mr. Hoad, a tenant of the hotel under Pomeroy, that he was
negotiating with Pomeroy for the purchase of it, and afterwards in-
formed hy Mr. Eldridge that he was the purchaser of the hotel from
Mr. Pomeroy. Common report was that the Emigrant Aid Society
had this hotel there to afford facility to emigrants to this Territory,
and that their ohject was to make this a free State ; and it was a com-
mon rumor that Keeder delayed fixing the day of election in order to
allow the society time to send out their emigrants to vote ; and the
Missourians determined, if that was done, to come over and vote to
counteract it. The time for the election was not known to my know-
ledge when I left for New Mexico. The Missourians got excited, and
said they would take a part in the election if, as they expected, there
should he extraneous interference hy the aid societies with the affairs
of this Territory. It was the general rumor that they intended to
nake this a free State, and then interfere in the affairs of slavery
.n Missouri. I did not notice the haggage particularly that came to
Kansas City, except in some few instances. I have seen placards on
,he hats of the emigrants, designating the aid company to which they
Belong, from northern and eastern States. Many of these emigrants
lad Sharpe's rifles — I refer to last summer, after the election, as I do
lot remember to have seen any arms in there till then. I noticed
sharpe's rifles, and some side-arms. They generally stopped at the
American hotel, to a man, I "believe. I am speaking now of emigra-
ion after I got hack from New Mexico. The time that it was rumored
hat Mr. Pomeroy came in possession of the American Hotel was Sep-
emher or Octoher, 1854. I do not rememher that these aid emigrants
ommenced arriving hefore that time — September, 1854.
To Mr. Howard :
I never heard a free-State man in the Territory, or elsewhere, say
hat their ohject was to interfere with the institutions of Missouri,
ut only to make Kansas a free State. I have heard an eastern man,
3sident of the Territory, say that if he should meet a slave who
Canted to escape, he would lend him his horse to ride to the north
cai. I think this man's name was Burriss, or Burroughs, and he
.ved, I think, on the Wakarusa, or near Lawrence. He said this in
ue store of North rup & Chick, in Kansas City, in January or Fehru-
rv, 1855, when I myself, Mr. Chick, Mr. Threlkeld, and others,
848 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
were present. I do not know Mr. Bur roughs 's first name. I cannot
give his full name, only as Burroughs or Burriss. He lived, as he
said at the time, near Lawrence, or on the Wakarusa, as far as I can
recollect. He said that he came from Iowa. When we speak of
eastern men, we mean all from free States. I do not knoiv that that
man was ever in Iowa, or in Kansas Territory, except from his own
statements. I never saw him, except at Kansas City, where I have
seen him two or three times. He came to use such an expression by
"being got into a discussion ahout slavery. He told us then he wag
from Iowa ; hut not when he came from Iowa, or into the Territory ;
and I think at that particular time he said he resided in the Territory,
on the Wakarusa, or near Lawrence. It was the fear of Missouriane
generally, so far as I know, that there would he interference with the
institutions of Missouri,, if Kansas became a free State ; and this fear,
so far as I know, was confined to Missouri. I account for the rumor
getting into circulation in one way — in consequence of Gr. W. Brown,
the editor of the Herald of Freedom, writing a letter to William
Walker, the provisional governor of this Territory, that one of his
objects in coming here was to make this a free State. I suppose the
basis of the rumor was, that similar results were expected to flow fron:
Kansas being a free State, as flowed to Kentucky in consequence o<
being bordered by free States ; not that the people of Kansas realb
intended to interfere directly with the institutions of Missouri.
heard Missouri people say that, in case the day of election were post
poned by Governor Keeder to give these emigrant societies time t
send emigrants here to control the election, they would take steps t
counteract it ; and many declared their purpose to take claims for thi|
purpose of making their votes legitimate. I do not think I eve
heard one say he had ccme over here and voted. The excitement w£
all over when I returned. These Missourians thought it would 1
illegal for the eastern people to come out here merely to vote, an
then return. But if the eastern people did that, they would have-
right to do the same ; my reasoning being that two wrongs made'
right. I understood that the manner of counteracting the Emigra:»
Aid Society was to get up similar societies, and assist poor and you
men to come here and take claims, for the purpose of settling ai
making Kansas a slave State. As well as I can remember, the coi
versation I have referred to with Mr. Burriss took place in Januat
or February, 1855 — perhaps December, 1854; certainly before I we
to New Mexico.
M. J. PAYNE. I
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
ALEXANDER GILHAM called and sworn.
To Mr. Whitfield:
t I reside in Kansas City, Missouri, and am engaged in mercan
business. I was at home the latter part of March, 1855, just be
the elections were to come off in the Territory, on the 30th of
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 849
.
There were a great many emigrants arriving at our town about that
time, mostly eastern people. I think I can generally tell eastern
ifrorn western people when I see them. I had a good deal of talk with
these emigrants, as I sold goods to them. They said they were going
to the Territory. I think there were but few families with them. 1
sold them a good many buffalo robes and blankets, and in several
instances I sold companies of ten or fifteen buffalo robes, and I was
iasked several times what I would give for them on their return. My
answer generally was, that I would give what they were worth. They
said they were going to the Territory, and I suppose they meant upon
their return from the Territory.
In two or three instances I was told that they were going to the
election, and that after election was over they were going to return
home. In several instances I would sell for the companies to some
'one who seemed to be the leader ; and it was with these leaders that
I had conversation about their coming out here to vote.
I saw a good many of the same persons on their return ; some were
gone ten days, I suppose, and some longer. A good many of them
sold back to me the blankets and robes they had bought of me, and
told me they were going home. I did not ask them where their
• homes were, but I heard them say they were going to Massachusetts
and some of the other northern and eastern States. I do not think
they had much baggage ; a carpet-sack and blanket or buffalo robe
jwas about all they had. I noticed no marks on their baggage that I
' recollect of. I do not think their baggage looked like that of emi-
, grants who intended to remain here.
I do not recollect of selling them anything except robes, blankets,
'. and provisions. I think after the election they went back as fast as
; they came before the election.
To Mr. Oliver:
It was but seldom that I saw any women in these companies. I
i have seen as many as a hundred in a company going out afoot, with
; nothing but carpet-sacks and buffalo robes or blankets, and averaging
1 in age from fifty down, and having neither women nor children with
• them. Some of them were armed, and some not. Those who were
armed had mostly guns ; I think nothing more than that. They ap-
peared to be anxious to get off immediately after leaving the boat;
and some expressed an anxiety to reach the place of election before
the day of election.
I could only guess as to the amount of that kind of emigration that
spring. Nearly every boat brought up a company, from twenty to
one hundred. They would almost always go out into the Territory on
foot, sometimes with a hired wagon or two to take their baggage. I
saw a good many companies going out that way. Those I heard
speak, who were members of these companies, and appeared to be
leaders, said they were coming to Kansas to vote. I do not think I
had any conversation with any who returned after the election in ref-
erence to their voting here. I think as many returned as went there.
The emigration that passed up in the spring of 1855 had but few
fernilies that I saw, and generally no other baggage than a hand
H. Kep. 200 54*
850 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
sack, a buffalo robe, or a blanket. I do not recollect of seeing ani
trunks at all. There was a general opinion in the State of Missouri
that the northern and eastern emigration was coming here merely t
vote and make Kansas a free State; and I heard men of Missouri sa;<
of the election, they, (the north,) had commenced it and have been
"beaten at their own game. I heard of the northern men coming hen
for that purpose both before and after the election. These rumon
and the consequent apprehensions created excitement in Missouri, ii
regard to these elections, and I understood that Missourians went ove1
to counteract this movement of the north and east. I never wen
myself, bat I heard those who spoke of going over there to vote sa;j
it was for this purpose.
One or two boats got up after the 30th of March with the same kirn
of emigration as be'ore, but they were detained on the river. I think
the most of them went back; some without leaving town. Ten day
after the election this kind of emigration ceased. The river was quit.
low that spring, and it was difficult for boats to get up the river wit
freight. I think the river was lower that whole year than I had ev&
seen it in any one year before.
To Mr. Whitfield:
The most of these people stopped at the American Hotel in Kansc^-
City, when they landed. I do not know, but from rumor, who wer
the owners of the American Hotel.
To Mr. Oliver:
I think the people of Kansas City would not want the hotel torn
down; but there are others in the county who would like to have :
torn down, because it was reported that it belonged to the Emigrani
Aid Company.
To Mr. Whitfield:
S> far as I ever heard any man express his opinion, it was that thai
hotel belonged to the Emigrant Aid Society, and it was more gen
erally reported as being so than denied.
To Mr. Oliver:
I never heard that contradicted, except by the present keepers, wh,
claimed to own it themselves; and, in consequence of that assertion, ,
think the people of Kansas City forbore to injure the property.
To Mr. Whitfield:
I think Mr. Eldridge and his brothers who keep the America1!
Hotel in Kansas City, also keep the new hotel in Lawrence.
General Pomeroy has been in our town a good deal, ami it w#
understood that he acted as agent of the Emigrant Aid Society.
To Mr. Howard:
I do not recollect how many boats came up before the election th*;|
rpring. We had a boat almost daily— sometimes two or three boats |
lut sometimes only once in two days. 1 think the first boat came u
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 851
ion the 20tli of March — the Sonora ; but there were no emigrants on
'her; nor on the Arabia, which was the nex' boat.
The most of those who went out to look up claims and squat, usu-
ally bought buffalo robes, or blankets, or provisions, to take with
them. I think the settlers who first came here from a long distance,
came at first without their families, and looked up claims and then
located them, and then went back and brought their families. I knew
some instances of this class myself. There has been more or less
coming and going ever since the Territory was open for settlement.
To Mr. Whitfield:
I never had any proposition, except from the persons I have named,
to sell robes before the election, and bring them on their ret mn ailer
wards. What we term bona-fide squatters have never made any such
propositions. I never had persons come to me to buy robes for com-
panies before this time, though we had sold robes to mercantile agents
of companies by wholesale.
ALEXANDER GILHAM.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
WILLIAM T. DONALDSON called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott:
I reside in Westport, Missouri, and came here in March, 1850, and
have resided here since 1851. I was engaged in the livery-stable
business in the spring of 1855, and was in that business in March,
1855. There were a good many eastern emigrants arrived here just
before the election in the Territory of the 30th of March, 1855 ; and
I took a great many passengers of them up in my hack, which I was
running all the time. They were principally all the passengers I
had. I do not know that I can^say that they told me anything about
coming under the influence of the Emigrant Aid Society. There
were a good many from Pennsylvania, and a good many from New
York and Boston. Some of them told me they came here to vote,
and intended to vote. I recollect of one hack load who spoke of
voting ; and they seemed to have an idea that the Pro-slavery party
would take the polls, and prevent them from voting ; and the excla-
mation they used was this: "We came here to vote, and we will
vote." I think on the 25th of March I sent three carriages with pas-
sengers up to the Territory, about twenty in all ; and in a few days
after the election I brought a portion of the same men back. After
the election I had full loads back, and I would rather at that time
take my hack to Lawrence to get a load, than to depend upon getting
a load from this place to Lawrence. Some of the men whom I
brought back told me they voted. There was a young man I always
called "Scotch," because he always called me "Scotch" from the
first time I saw him, and I suppose I have taken him up and back
twenty times. He always came to me with the parties to make bar-
gains for my hack. He was in the Territory a month ago. I gene-
852 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
rally took these eastern emigrants to Lawrence, though I took som«
to Osawatomie. I think the principal portion of those I took on
before the election came hack afterwards. Some of these emigrant!
had trunks, and some had carpet-sacks. I think the most of then
had trunks. I had to take a wagon along to take the trunks, as m}
hacks were full of passengers without any haggage. I do not knov
as they stated to me where they lived when at home. I generally in
quired what States they were from, and they told me without hesita;
tion. I never asked them much about their reasons for coming back
but I have heard them curse the Emigrant Aid Society for deceiving
them in getting them out here.
They were not all young men. They seemed to be from twenty
five to forty-five years of age, the most I took out there. Very fe>
of them had families. I have taken families out in the Territory
but in this instance I do not think there were any families along.
WILLIAM T. DONALDSON.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 7, 1856.
CHARLES E. KEARNEY called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I reside in Westport, Missouri, and have resided here for neari
four years. I was in Boston the 21st of February, 1855, and |i
gome days previous. I was purchasing goods there for this marke
and in the course of conversation with merchants there, Kansi
affairs were introduced. I was inquired of by some when the elcfc
tion would take place, and told them I presumed, from the informi
tion I had when I left, that it would take place in April or Mai
Some of them informed me it would take place earlier than that ; i;
or about the 30th of March, I think, some of them said, I returns*
and was in St. Louis about the 5th of March. I started for hoi'
about the fan, and reached this place about the 12th of March, (i
my arrival no one in the neighborhood, so far as I know, was awa'i
of the time of the election.
I understood that they were creating an excitement in Boston \
the purpose of sending out emigrants under the auspices of the EBI
grant Aid Society to make Kansas a free State. I saw numbers-
these emigrants on steamboats and railroads as I came along. I lit
but little conversation with them, except on the boat up the Missou
river. I understood on that boat that one hundred and fifty er-
grants, who were behind, were anxious to come up on the boat ; a*
they offered double passage to be brought up in time for the electio
This was my second trip up the river, as I had come up from \\
Louis without arranging my business, and had gone back to arran'
that, after stopping at home a week or so. I heard nothing in \
Louis from these emigrants. The boat Tcame up on was crowo
with emigrants, some of whom said they were Aid Society e*-
grants. We left St. Louis before the 30th of March, and i
Lexington we heard accounts of the results of the election in some I
the districts. The boat made a slow trip. I heard no complaint*1]
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 853
their not being at the election, because when they were at St. Louis
they knew they were not in time to be at the election. Some of them
on the boat said they had endeavored to get here in time for the
election.
My place of residence, Westport, Missouri, is within a half a mile
of the Territorial line, and is a great thoroughfare of emigrants into
;the Territory. My impression, and I am positive of it, is, that such
a thing as sending Missourians into the Territory to vote was not
dreamed of until those organizations were formed in the east for the
purpose of peopling the Territory with people of different opinions on
the subject of slavery from those moving into the Territory. My im-
pression still further is, that were it not for the extraordinary efforts
of the people in the eastern States to send an emigration at that par-
ticular period, and previous to the election, Missourians would have
taken no particular interest in the struggle, beyond those who were
actually intending to settle in the Territory. There was a generally
credited rumor among the Missourians, that the ultimate object of
those Emigrant Aid Societies was to surround Missouri with free
States, and eventually affect the institution of slavery in Missouri.
I had conversation with several of the aid emigrants and free-State
men ; and the general tenor was, that they intended to first make
Kansas a free State, and the result they expected from that would be
to make Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas free States ; and some even
iwent so far as to say that would be done in fifteen or twenty years.
To Mr. Oliver :
Some of the emigrants who came up on the boat I did were armed.
I saw two Sharpe's rifles ; others had the usual rifles, and some had
ipistols. They made no show of them at all, but came up as other
emigrants did. There were six or eight women along. This I say in
^reference to the second trip. The river was lower that spring than
iusual at that season.
To Mr. King :
After I reached Westport a good number of these emigrants, prob-
ably a majority of those I saw on the boat, passed through our town
towards the Territory, and were mostly on foot, with carpet-sacks
generally in their hands, and with guns of various descriptions ;
some rifles, &c.
To Mr. Oliver :
There is a great deal of outfitting of implements of husbandry in
this place for the Territory, and more done at that season than at any
other season of the year. I was in business here myself. I think no
such outfitting was made by these eastern emigrants in this town.
Occasionally they bought an axe, but not more than 'that. At that
time I believe Kansas City and Westport, Missouri, were the only
points near the Territory south of the Kansas river, and in Missouri,
;where such articles were kept for emigrants.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
I think it was a merchant with whom I was dealing in Boston, who
854 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
told me about the da^ of election. This merchant was the only pe:
eon with whom I had a conversation npon the time of election, an
the only one I heard in Boston speak of it. When I reached S
Louis there was a difference of opinion as to the day of election ; som
fixing on one day, and some on another. On my first trip up, we ra
aground, but succeeded in getting up to Kansas City on the boal
When I started from St. Louis, I came part of th.G way by railroad
and the rest of the way by boat.
To Mr. Oliver :
I do not remember noticing the trunks and carpet-sacks of the*
emigrants, and saw no inscriptions on them that I recollect.
To Mr. Sherman :
I could not state positively that any of these emigrants becam
actual settlers of the Territory, though I have no doubt some of thei
have. I saw one of the gentlemen I got acquainted with on his wa
back with his son. I do not think he came out under the auspices <
the Aid Society ; at least he told me so.
CHARLES E. KEARNEY.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 2, 1858.
E. W. DONALDSON called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I reside at present in Westport, Missouri. On the 30th of Ma
1855, I was travelling passengers from this point to different parts
the country. I commenced about the 15th of March, and up to tl
30th of March I carried about 150 to 175 men, besides women
children — altogether perhaps 200. The emigrants I took to Lai
renee, some to Lecompton, some to Topeka, and some to Leaven worr
City. Some of them told me they came out under the auspices of tt
Emigrant Aid Society. A good many Tasked myself, and some tot
me voluntarily. They said they came out to vote to make Kansas*
free State. During the last week of March I got detained with ot
load of passengers, who urged me to hurry and get through. Tl'!
was the second or third day before the election. I never heard ma:i
of them say anything about returning. Some few said they did m
like the looks of the country between here and Lawrence, and til
they would go back home ai'ter the election. During the month]
April I brought back nearly the same number that I had carried c<
before. Three of them 1 knew positively, and knew by sight, I thini
some ten or a dozen more, but did not know them by name. Knoi
nothing said by them, that I recollect of, as to what they supposi
would be the eifect of their movement upon Missouri. The major::]
of those I carried into the Territory had satchels, some of them hlf
trunks, and some had no baggage of any kind.
B. W. DONALDSON,)
WESTPORT, Mo., June 2, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 855
E. C. MCCARTY called and sworn.
To Gov. King :
I was a resident of Jackson county, Missouri, about five years prior
ito coming to the Territory, and came to the Territory in March last.
The causes of the excitement in the county where I resided was in
consequence of the formation of emigrant aid and other societies, for
the purpose of sending emigrants here to make Kansas Territory a
free State, and the inflammatory publications in the New York Trib-
une and other papers. This was shortly after the passage of the Kan-
sas-Nebraska bill. I do not think there would have been any excite-
ment at all, if free-State men had emigrated here in the usual way,
as had always been the case in the settlement of western Territories,
It was my feeling, and the feeling of tlie community in which I re-
sided, that free-State men might come and intermix among us in the
Territory in a friendly and social manner, and advocate the policy of
making it a free State; and if, in organizing the Territory into a
State, they should have the majority, we were prepared to submit to
it in peace and quietness. I do not believe there would have been
any extraordinary excitement, had it not been for the efforts male, as
was universally believed by us, of organized bodies in the free States
for the express purpose of coming here to make this a free State. We
understood and believed, from the declarations of men of their party
who came here, and what we saw in the newspapers, that the ultimate
idesign was to affect the institutions of Missouri and make it a free
State. I heard free-State men say that, was their design. I do nofc
iknow whether or not they were Emigrant Aid men, but I formed tbe
'opinion that they were, from conversations that I had with them. On
jone occasion I invited some five Emigrant Aid men to my house. I
Jtold them I wanted them to see how Missourians lived, and, as there
'would be a very great intercourse between the citizens of Missouri and
'those of Kansas Territory, we ought to live on terms of friendship,
land cultivate a feeling of good neighborship. They said that they
jwere pledged, before they left home, to vote to make Kansas a free
State ; that they would not have been assisted by the Aid Society, had
they not made that pledge. Much more was said, but I have given
the substance of what was said.
To Mr. Sherman:
There was no particular excitement in Missouri before the Kansas-
Nebraska bill passed. There was [no] desire expressed by our people
about the Missouri compromise until after the bill was introduced and
the question brought up in Congress; after that, there was a desire
that the hill would pass ; that is, if the North would yield the restric-
tion against slavery, we would take it. If the subject had not been
introduced into Congress at all, there would not have been any excite-
iment at all, as far as I know. The people of Missouri,, no doubt, de-
sired the restriction removed ; but they did not suppose a majority in
Congress would do it, and felt no great interest about it.
Immediately after the passage of the bill, large numbers of Missou-
856 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
rians went over to the Territory to make houses and "better their coj
dition. I was at the Willow Spring election in Octoher, 1855, bu
did not vote. I was at none of the previous elections in the Terrrbl
ry. I know of none of my neighbors who went. I know that in tl
fall of 1854 secret societies were formed, the purpose and design
which was to make Kansas a slave State, and to counteract the infl1
ences of societies in the eastern and northern States formed to mal
Kansas a free State. These societies were pretty numerous. "W
thought we had the right to fight the devil with fire. They wet
formed through many of the counties in Missouri, but I cannot give*
definite idea of their number.
To Gov. King :
The object was to induce emigration into Kansas to become bonj
fide settlers, and our objects and purposes had nothing in them of r
unlawful character.
E. c. MCCARTY..
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
CHARLES C. SPALDING called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott:
At the time of the election of the 30th of March, 1855, in the TVi
ritory, I resided in Westport, Missouri. I had conversations almc-
daily with emigrants passing through this city, and they told n
they came out for the express purpose of making Kansas a free Stat
Some few days previous to the 30th of March I was returning free
the Territory, and at Cedar creek I met a party of Massachusetts er
i grants on their way into the Territory. In a conversation with the^
they told me they had come here for the purpose of making Kansas;
free State. I asked them to locate, and they said they were going;
Lawrence. I told them they would find no unoccupied claims in ib\
neighborhood. They said they did not care for that; that they onu
wished to get to Lawrence in time to vote at the 30th of March eld<
tioB. That was the sum and substance of what they said to mf
There were from ten to fifteen in that party. They had one o^
wagon along loaded, but they were mostly travelling on foot. Thei
were no women and children along. They were all young men.
saw no implements of husbandry, only some carpet-bags and sonn
thing to eat. I was engaged at that time in publishing the new
paper in this city, and I used every means in my power to ascerta*
every feature I could about the emigration into the Territory th
spring. The principal eastern emigration landed that year at Ka>
sas City ; and the most part of them came with nothing but a carp^
"bag, and left immediately, on their arrival, for the Territory, goiii|
to Lawrence and Pawnee — the Pennsylvania delegation generally |
Pawnee. One of the Pennsylvania delegation told rne, in my offi(|
that Governor Reeder paid his fare out here. In going from Kans
City to the Territory, they universally passed through this place;
good many of them during the night. I used to converse every d
KANSAS AFFAIRS . 857
i with more or less of them who came along. I cannot say that the
numbers increased as the election approached, but very many came
along during the day. I know of free-State people who arrived and
staid° for months in Kansas City, and at the time for election they
went up into the Territory. ' They did not tell me they went up to
i vote. A great majority of those with whom I conversed stated that
their great object in going to Kansas was to make it a free State.
Some said they were aided by emigrant aid societies, east, to come
out here ; others said they were not. The free-State persons who
I went to the Territory from Kansas City came back after the election.
Some were men in business there. I do not know that they voted in
the Territory. It was not uncommon to see persons of this eastern
emigration, after the election, coming back, with their carpet-bags,
[ on their way down the river. I did not see any great numbers of
them coming back. I suppose I have had a hundred say to me that
they had been deceived, as regarded the Territory, by the emigrant
aid societies in New York. The emigration kept up all the spring
and summer ; but I cannot say whether there was or not any falling
off after the election ; but I should think that the emigration just
prior to the election was greater than at any other time during that
spring.
To Mr. Oliver:
\.
Nearly every one of these eastern emigrants would have a gun.
CHAKLES C. SPALD1NG.
WESTPORT, Mo., June5, 1856.
JAMES WHITLOCK called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I moved into the Territory of Kansas in October, 1854, and settled
three miles south of Lawrence, on the Wakarusa, where I have re-
sided since. I was invited by the citizens of Lawrence to a public
meeting, some time in the December or January following. The
meeting was attended by the citizens of Lawrence, both free-State and
pro-slavery, and was intended their indignation against the move-
ments of the Emigrant Aid Society. From the best knowledge I had,
and from the general rumor in that portion of the country, there was
great excitement in reference to people's claims and politics; driving
men forcibly off their claims, or trying to do so. It was rumored that
they came there first, and said that the locality of Lawrence was the
only beautiful town site they had found, and they were bound to have
it ; and this Emigrant Society took possession of the town site when
it had been first settled by some other persons. Such was the gene-
rally credited rumor ; that they had taken possession of three or four
of the claims of persons. From the fact that there were such rumors,
and they were believed, there was quite an excitement got up there.
The excitement at that time did produce such an effect upon the peo-
ple's minds, that they called an indignation meeting. The meeting
was quite largely attended, and there were three or four hundred per-
858 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
sons present, I should think, who carried out their intention by pas8-
ing resolutions expressing their feelings. They were published in the
free-State papers.
[Mr. Sherman objects to the above testimony as being entirely ir-
relevant and incompetent.]
Doctor Robinson was generally considered the agent of the Erm%
grant Aid Society, and regulated the movements of the society. Th(
people there called Doctor Robinson everything but an honest mam
said right to his face that he was a murderer and midnight assassin!
and they could prove it.
To Mr. Oliver :
Doctor Robinson was at the meeting, and made a speech there, anci
they rode him down with a rush. He took the position in his speed
that he did not intend to do anything harsh there ; that he did noi
want to wrong any one ; tfaat he wanted to build up a large towr
there ; that he had had a good deal of money placed at his disposa;
by the people of the north ; that he wanted to build up some semi
nary buildings there, and do all he could for the good of the plac*
there.
CFo what the people said of Doctor Robinson, and to what he saiti
is own purposes, Mr. Sherman objects as being irrelevant and in1
competent, and wholly unimportant.]
To Mr. Howard :
Common rumor did say that the Emigrant Aid Society of Massa
chusetls did own the town of Lawrence. After that, or about tha;
time, there was a town company of Lawrence got up. My under
standing at the time of the indignation meeting was, that there wen
but two parties in the town — the Emigrant Aid Society, and the hete
rogeneous mass of the people who had come there from all parts Of
the country. In the November before I had my claim jumped, and :
first heard, from the man who jumped it, of a town ompany there'
then called "New Boston," instead of Lawrence. I do not know wWi
were the stockholders in that company. I heard Mr. Miller, who wa
the editor of the " Free State," published there, who said he was*
member of the Emigrant Aid Association, say that the company haci
elected him a member against his own will, and he would not tafcli
part in signing the resolutions, until he could resign, and then hJi
would sign any resolutions they could draw up, no matter how strong
they were against the Lawrence Association. Mr. Miller said thi
Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society, or the Lawrence Association.
were to have a meeting that night, and he would withdraw from th'h
society, and did so, and then signed the resolutions. I did not uni
derstacd that there was any town association there at that time. Am
my understanding was, that the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Societ;;
were to have a meeting there that night. Mr. Spear, who was a menu:
ber of the association, said he would sign the resolutions. It was mi
understanding, and I know it was the understanding of the peopl |
there, generally, that the Massachusetts Aid Society were to have th ••!
meeting there that night. Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Wade, and another Mr
Baldwin, had claims which this association tried to take away iron
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 859
them, though they were there first. I have no knowledge of any
title of the" town, except from rumor of the people there. I never
heard of the association having any claim to the land there in town,
i except an arbitrary claim. I never heard of any Wyandot float
until some eight or nine months afterwards, and do not know whether
the dispute about the title to the land has ever been settled or not. I
never heard that General Whitfield was a stockholder in the town
association of Lawrence.
JAMES WHITLOCK.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 7, 1856.
LEANDER KER called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I came to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, in the fall of 1842,
as chaplain to the post, and have resided there ever since.
I was not acquainted with Governor Reeder until he arrived in the
Territory, at Fort Leavenworth, in 1854. He removed thereabout
two weeks, when he made a tour out into the Territory to district the
Territory. A general rumor prevailed —
Q — \Vill you state that the fact of Governor Reeder, upon his arri-
val in the Territory, and long continued neglect to take any steps by
which an organization of the Territory, by the election of delegates
to the legislative assembly, by which laws might be given to the
people, and they be relieved from the state of anarchy in which they
were then placed, was not the first and primary cause which gave rise
to the excitement which first existed in the Territory.
Witness, — There were great complaints of the delay in calling the
elections, and it produced great excitement among the people in the
Territory.
I have been very intimately acquainted with the people of the
border counties of Missouri adjacent to my residence. There was no
political excitement in the border counties of Missouri I know, until
the movements of the aid societies of the northern and eastern States
were made public and apparent, a general opinion prevailed that'
the purpose of these societies was to abolitionize Kansas, and, as a
consequence, to overawe Missouri. They believed these things,
because they had heard them stated, and seen them in the papers,
and heard them from people coming up the river. These rumors
created the excitement in Missouri, and, but for these moving causes,
I do not believe that the excitement would have prevailed in the
border counties of Missouri. I never heard Missourians condemn or
deny the right of free-State men to come here and to exercise all their
rights, had they come in the usual manner of emigrants. Had
the Territory been settled by a majority of free-State men in the ordi-
nary way, from my knowledge of the Missourians, they would have
acquiesced in it.
To Mr. Sherman :
I made a speech at Platte City just prior to the March election. I
860 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
was invited by the citizens to give my views on slavery. I accepte(
the invitation, and addressed those citizens. The speech was con
fined to the subject of slavery, and was not political in its character
I did not advise the citizens to come over here and vote. After I left
I understood other speeches were made ; but of their character I d«
not know, except from hearsay. In the beginning of my speech
disclaimed taking any part in any of the political controversies of tfe
day. I made my speech early in the day, on Monday, and left, am
fave no such advice. And after I left, I understood a meeting c
latte City Association was called, and other speeches made as I abov
stated. At the end of my speech, there being great excitement i:
the country, I advised them to be moderate, quiet, and cautious, am
to use no violence unless it was necessary — not to be the aggressora
and that, if driven to it, to defend their rights.
LEANDER KEE,
Chaplain U. S. A.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
WILLIAM H. SUMMERS called and sworn.
I live in Parkville, Missouri. I never heard any citizen of Missouu
state that he would come over to Kansas Territory to vote, until thei
were satisfied that the Eastern Emigrant Aid Societies had determine!
to colonize Kansas with anti-slavery men, to make it a free State.
well remember that all through the winter of 1854 and 1855, and a
up to the election of the 30th of March, 1855, the prevailing runwi
was, that the Territory was to be flooded with emigrants from tl
northern States to vote, at the election of 30th of March, free-sot
principles and free-State men ; and that Governor Reeder was dela;t
ing the organization of the Territory till navigation opened, so tha
these emigrants might reach the Territory in time to vote at the 300*
of March election. This rumor was general, and was as genera!!
credited by all that I ever heard speak of it, and they were a gre«
many — I might say hundreds.
The people of Missouri were alarmed at the unusual movement :]
the northern States to fix the institutions of Kansas Territory, act
were determined, if possible, to defeat the objects of the disturbiri
expedient by all reasonable means. I am satisfied, beyond doubt, bi<j
for the causes I have already spoken of, the Missourians would neWj
have thought of interfering with Kansas affairs, but would have ldi|
the people actually residing in the Territory to control their ow\
affairs, elections and all, without any kind of interference on tlij
part of Missourians. I, and the people of Missouri generally, withn|
the scope of my acquaintance, which is quite extensive, took tlti
ground that we had the right, on principles of self-defence, to maj
an unusual and extraordinary effort by one of a similar character;
hence, as I well know, the action of the people of Missouri in rega:.^
to the election in the Territory of Kansas, on the 30th of March, 185 I
WM. H. SUMMERS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 21, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 861
ISAAC M. KIDQE called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I reside in Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri. In the month
of March, 1855, towards the last of it, there was considerable ex-
citement about the ensuing election in Kansas Territory. I saw a
party of a dozen or a dozen and a half of men in a store. They were
young men, and their business was that of purchasing pistols, bowie-
knives, and blankets. One of them informed me that they were Penn-
sylvanians, with the exception of a few New Yorkers. He informed
me that there were fifty or upwards in their company that arrived there
that morning, or the night before. The cause of my talking to him
at the time was that he was making some bragadocia remarks. He
said he was going to Kansas Territory to play Missouri game ; that
he was going to the polls to vote, and that if he met a patrol of Mis-
sourians there, or men to resist his voting, he would put a pistol-
ball through them, or knife them. Some others of the company
bought knives. Most of them bought blankets ; but none others
bought pistols, that I recollect of. Some of them tried to make an
arrangement with the merchant to take the blankets back again at
, the expiration of two weeks, at half price, as about which time they
expected to return from the Territory to go back home ; but the mer-
chant refused to make such an arrangement. I saw several young
men, some two weeks afterwards, on their return from the Territory,
who were said to be of the party, but I recognised only the young
man witbwhom I had conversed in the store. The cause which
called forth the conversation between him and myself was his angry
manner in speaking of Missourians. I, having always been a mode-
rate man on this question, felt that the young man had been misin-
formed with reference to the true character of the majority of Mis-
sourians. He moderated in his tone considerably from the cool man-
ner in which I talked to him. When he returned to Kansas City I
met him the second time ; I asked him if he had been to Kansas
Territory and voted, and laughed at him as I asked him the question,
and if he met any resistance there. He remarked that he had voted,
and damned the Territory ; said he was satisfied with Kansas, and
was going back home ; and that was the last I saw of him.
A few days after the party just referred to arrived at Kansas City
another party arrived, of at least over a hundred men ; but not until
after the day of election in the Territory. They were represented as
coming from Pennsylvania, New York, and probably some from Ohio.
I heard some of them cursing the captain of the " Lucas" for run-
ning the boat on the sand-bar, and preventing them from getting up
into the Territory before the day of election. Some of those men did
not go much over the line in Kansas Territory, but returned within
three days and went down the river on their way home. The number
of them that returned I cannot state, but I counted as many as fifty
walking along with their carpet-sacks down to the river.
862 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
To Mr. Sherman :
I am confident that some citizens of Kansas City did go over in1
the Territory at the election of March 30. Probably a majority .
the citizens of Kansas City and neighborhood were in favor of tl
Missotirians voting, as a matter of retaliation, in Kansas Territor
There was, however, a division of sentiment on that subject, man
contending that those who went there to vote should reside there, an
I know, as a matter of fact, that probably one-third subsequent]
moved into and are now residents of the Territory. Some of those
referred to as having gone from Kansas City belong on what is callc
the " Military Reserve," on which they had claims, but they workc
in Kansas City and lived on their claims. The Reserve I speak of i
south of Kansas river, in the Territory.
ISAAC M. RIDGE.,
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
WILLIAM H. MILLER called'and sworn.
I am now residing in Parkvillc, Missouri. About the 7th day
April, 1855, I went down the Missouri river, on my way to St. Louii
on the steamboat Sam Cloon. When we arrived at Kansas City the*
was a large number of men came on board the boat, some forty
fifty. I learned from them that they had been into KansasTerritorF
having gone into the Territory in the latter part of March of tit
same year, under the auspices of the Eastern Emigrant Aid Suciett
that lecturers went through their country, and represented to theij
that by going to Kansas Territory they would greatly better then
condition; that they could get three or four dollars per day for labo<
and plenty of it to do. One of the travelling lecturers of the Em
grant Aid Society was then on board the boat, and was receiving a»
salary $100 per month, as I was informed by them in his preseno
and he not denying it. He was one of the lecturers who had mai
these representations to these men, and induced them to come o*i
here. They said they had gone to Kansas Territory, to the vicinirt
of Lawrence, and found that the representations made to them we<
entirely false, and they were now returning to their eastern homes*!
an almost destitute condition, and money was loaned to some of thej
to enable them to reach their homes. They said that they were
the elections on the 30th of March, 1855, in Kansas Tcrriton
They told this lecturer, whose name was Lincoln, that they believ
all the Emigrant Aid Society wanted with them was to come out he
and vote. The lecturer told them that he expected to live out here
the Territory. They replied, that perhaps he could live there _<
$1,200 a year — $100 per month — the amount he was then receivir
from the Aid Society, and his travelling expenses paid.
On arriving at Booneville, we lay at that place in company wi
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 863
another boat — the El Paso — bound for St. Louis. This boat also had
on board some twenty or thirty eastern men returning to their homes
from Kansas Territory. A few miles from Booneville the El Paso
sank, and all the passengers got on board thevSam Cloon.
These eastern men made in my presence and hearing about the
same representations as those above stated in this testimony, cursing
and abusing this Mr. Lincoln, the travelling lecturer, for deceiving
them. These men said they had been to Kansas Territory, and were
now returning home to the east, and that they were at the election of
the 30th of March, 1855 ; and from what they told me, I think there
is no doubt but that they voted at the said election.
They said they believed that all the Emigrant Aid Society had in
view in trying to induce them to come out here was to make Kansas
a iree State. They told this Mr. Lincoln that this was the object that
lie and his masters — the Aid Society men — had in view. The most
of these persons were young men, and had no families with them.
I understood that the reasons the Missourians came over into the
Territory to vote was, that they believed Governor Reeder was holding
back the elections until the Emigrant Aid Societies of the east could
pour in their forces.
The common rumor was that great numbers of eastern men, sent
out by these societies, were on the way to Kansas, and were expected
to reach the Territory in time to vote, the 30th March, 1855 ; and it
was believed generally that Governor Reeder was holding back the
election until they could reach here ; and I heard many Missourians
speak of this rumor, and they gave credit to it.
The first thing that excited and alarmed the Missourians was the
incorporation by the Massachusetts legislature of a company with a
bapital of five millions, as was understood, ibr the purpose of colon-
izing Kansas Territory with abolitionists ; and whatever acts the Mis-
sourians subsequently did were in self-defence, and done with a view
i)f counteracting the influence of these movements in the east.
WM. H. MILLER.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., Hay 21, 1856.
J. T. REED called and sworn.
«
To Mr. Scott :
Prior to, and on the 30th of March, 1855, I was residing in Platte
jounty, Missouri, at Camden point. There were rumors of free-State
voters being sent out here to vote in the Territory at the election of
;he 30th of March. I heard these rumors in Platte and Clay counties,
vhere I had been. I saw some men who said they were paid to
some here ibr that purpose. This" was about the first of March. I
Overtook some men between Liberty and Smithland, Clay county,
Missouri — some forty in the company. They were travelling
vith ox-teams. One of them said they had been hired to come
864 t KANSAS AFFAIRS.
here and vote. They had some six wagons along. I saw but 01
woman in the party, and think there was no other woman alonj
They appeared to be all Englishmen, and the one I talked with to^
me the party were all Englishmen. I do not think there was
horse in the party, and the men were generally walking along by tl
wagons. I could not see what the wagons were loaded with. I wi
travelling by myself in a buggy. I told one of them, as he appear<
to be tired of walking, that he could have a seat in my buggy, whi<
he accepted. I expected they were Free-soilers, and, in order to fir
out whether they were or not, I pretended to be a Free-soiler myse"
He then told me he had been hired, as were the most of the compan
in St. Louis, to come here to Kansas and vote the Free-soil ticket. ]
spoke of their party having a captain, and that he had gone ahead:
pick out some weak point where their votes could be used to adva-
tage. I told them they might have some difficulty ; that some of t
Missouri ruffians might knock them over if they did not vote rig]
and they had better be cautious. He said then, that if there w
much danger he did not know as he would vote. He said he w
paid to vote, and if he was not allowed to vote right, he should i
vote at all. 1 was satisfied they were all Englishmen from th>
appearance. He said they were landed at New Orleans, and w*
about to starve out there, and came onto St. Louis, expecting tO'i
better; and when they got there, they found it was no better than;
New Orleans for employment.
They were then hired to come up here and vote, and were put I
board a boat. The ice prevented them from coming all the wayy
the boat, and they had ox-teams brought for them. I did not leu
from them what point they expected to cross the river ; but whe«
saw them, they were on the road to Weston. I have forgotten
name of the captain, which they told me. They did not tell me i
employed them to come up and vote the free-State ticket.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard:
The man who talked with me did not give his name. He did
say how much they were paid to come here ; and I never saw tit
after that day, and I do not know that they ever came to the Territii
J. T. KEAII
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
Gr. B. REDMON called and sworn.
To Governor King :
I live in this county, in the Territory. I came here in Decem
1854. I moved from Jackson county, Missouri, to the Territory^
was an open winter, and I was going back and forward pretty B
all the time. In the spring, just before the March election, tw
three days, I met a great many emigrants. They appeared t
eastern men. I conversed with a great many of them, and the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 865
quired of me for various points — Lawrence, Topeka, Big Springs,
Willow Springs, Douglas, and other places. I asked them if they
were going to the election, and they would say yes. I asked them if
they were going to vote the Free-soil ticket, and they said yes. Some
:of them told me that a good many were coming on from the east. I
asked them how many. They said the estimate was from five to ten
thousand. I camped one night with six or seven Pennsylvanians.
They told me they were from Keeder's district ; and I had heard a
rumor that Keeder had sent out a lot of men, and I asked them if it
was so. They told me that they heard at home that Beeder had sent
out one hundred men. After the election, in my moving, I saw about
the same emigration going hack. I asked them if the five or ten
thousand men that they spoke of had come on. They said their boats
had grounded down the river. They said they meant to make a
general rally, and beat us if they could ; and if they failed in that,
they would make another general rally when they came to select
members to frame a State constitution.
G. B. REDMON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
THOMAS E*. BOTTOM called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I resided at St. Joseph, Buchanan county, Missouri, on the 30th
jf March, 1855. I had settled in St. Joseph in December, 1854.
I attended the election on the 30th of March, 1855, at Mr. Bogart's,
in the Burr Oak precinct of the 14th district of Kansas Territory. I
think I was acquainted with the objects and motives which influenced
Missourians from St. Joseph to go over to that election. My own
pbject was not for the purpose of voting, as I did not believe I had a
right to vote, differing from General Stringfellow and "Judge Wm. P.
Napton as to the legality of Missourians voting in the Territory, but
for the purpose, if any violence was used to prevent pro-slavery men,
who were legally entitled to vote, from voting, to meet that violence
with violence, if necessary. I understood before I went over that, in
all probability, a company sent by the Emigrant Aid Society would land
near that precinct for the purpose of voting, and that they were sent
just for the purpose of carrying that election, and not to become actual
residents ; there was a general rumor to that effect. It was said that
a certain boat — I forget the name now — had such a party on, and was
then on^ her way up the river. I believe that a large majority did
Qot consider that they had a right to vote, or went there for the pur-
pose of voting, though some of them so considered. I do not recol-
lect of any attorney, except General Stringfellow, being there, who
insisted that Missourians had a right to vote in the Territory. I
think I heard some of the Missourians who went over say they Vent
:>ver to vote, and that they had a right to vote ; but I do not recollect
H. Kep. 200 55*
866 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of more than two or three, and I do not think that I can name then
Many based their belief that they had a right to vote, upon Generi
Stringfellow's authority. I went armed that day, but not with themi
sight, but did not see any person armed there openly. I saw no 01
shot there that day. I never heard of it when I got on the grounc
three gentlemen were pointed out to me, standing in the corner i
the fence, as the free State candidates ; and shortly afterwards I wi
informed that they had determined to withdraw, and I saw one
them, Mr. Larzalere, leave for his home almost immediately afte
wards — say ten minutes. I saw no excitement, heard no threats, an
saw nothing up to the time of withdrawal to influence them, for Sta
candidates, to withdraw, unless the presence of the crowd, which w<
pretty large, did so.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
As well as I recollect, Governor Reeder issued a proclamation jij
before the election, in which he stated his views as to who shoui
vote. One party among the Missourians there, who contended tb!
they had a right to vote in the Territory, contended that, under t
organic law, no particular time of residence in the Territory w
specified to qualify persons to vote, but that all residents of the T4
ritory on the day of election had a* right to vote, and if they we
over there on the day of election, they were actual residents and.d
titled to vote ; that is, actual presence made actual residence. Th
contended further, that the word "actual" was surplusage, and tit!
if it had been left out, the meaning would have been the same — tU
all residents were actual residents. The other party, myself ana
vast majority of others, thought that the framers of the act mean
by the term " actual residents/' "bona fide residents." The latt
opinion, so far as I know and believe, was generally entertained
the Missourians who went over to the elections. The general rumi
about eastern emigrants coming to the election in the Territory, Y
common talk for several months before the election. The particuii
rumor, about the boat-load coming up to the precinct opposite
Joseph's, was afloat a few days before the election. I did not hi
of any newly arrived emigrants there on the day of election, ancn
suppose I should have heard of it if there had been any then. I
of opinion, even yet, that there was some truth in these rumors abli
the boat-load coming up, for I understood, from rumor,, that a hot
load of passengers, which had been detained on a sand-bar, did Idi
somewhere near Doniphan the day after the election- I went ii
the interior of the country. They did not get to the particular
cinct where I was. What I have stated to be the object of the •
sourians in going over, I learned from actual conversation with the
To Mr. Scott :
I came up on the steamboat Australia from St. Louis in the
of December, 1854, or the latter part of November, 1854, with a
of emigrants sent out to Kansas by the Emigrant Aid Society of IB-
ton, Massachusetts. One of the men showed me a constitution off
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 867
society. I talked with them on the subject of Kansas ; they stated
that they were sent out here to settle in Kansas. I told them I had
'no doubt, myself, that they were sent out here to make Kansas a
'free State, and most of them denied that they were sent out here
especially for that purpose, but at the same time they considered
themselves under obligations to that society, after accepting their
funds, to vote to make Kansas a free State. All said they would vote
to make Kansas a free State, and thought they were at liberty to vote
just as they pleased. They considered themselves under obligations
to vote to make Kansas a free State. I saw the constitution, which
showed the object of the society was to afford facilities to free-soil emi-
grants to Kansas. I do not recollect that they stated what would
be the effect upon the State of Missouri of Kansas being a free State.
I had most conversation with an intelligent young man named Taft,
agent of that society, and who seemed to be the leader, about the
morality of slavery; and he thought it was a sin, a sum of all vil-
lanies, and should be abolished everywhere. I think in the crowd
there must have been 150 men, women, and children, and they got
off at Kansas city.
To Mr. Howard:
T inquired about what they paid to go through, and they told me
;what they paid from some point in New York to Kansas city, and it
;was a sum less than I paid, myself, over the same route. There was
another man along, named Bussell, but he said he did not agree with
!the rest, that he was under obligations to vote in any particular way.
I understood that some of them had their passages paid out here, but
' I cannot tell exactly what that impression was derived from, or the
names of any persons who conveyed that impression to my mind,
j except that Russell told me he had availed himself of the facilities
I afforded by the society, as he had a large family, and I understood
j that he had used the funds of the society.
THOS. E. BOTTOM.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 24, 1856.
F. M. MAHAN called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver:
I reside now at Palermo, Doniphan county, in this Territory. In
the month of March, 1855, I was one of the" clerks of the steamboat
New Lucy, running between St. Louis and St. Joseph. We left St.
Louis on our first trip that season on the 16th day of March, 1855.
There were a great many emigrants, as they called themselves, in St.
Louis before we started, waiting for the boats to go up the river. One
boat left before our boat did, crowded with them, so much so that
868 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
they refused to take any more. Our boat was the next one that le
I think, and we were crowded, having over 300 passengers — so mu
so that we had to refuse to take any more. I do not think that in i
our lot of passengers there were half a dozen families with women a:
children on the boat. Their trunks were all marked alike: "Kang
Company, Lawrence, K. T." All were from eastern States — Conn<
ticut and Massachusetts mostly. This I learned from themselvt
They asked me particularly about the time we would get to Kang
City, and were very anxious to get there by the last of the month.
did not know anything about any election coming off at that time,
recollect particularly that one gentleman, the head man of the coi
pany, took me one side and asked me to be candid with him and t
him if I thought we would beat another boat lying by the side of i
up. They wanted to get in the first and fastest boat up. I ad vis
him to come on the New Lucy, and he did with his company — abo
80, I think. On ^their way, a good many told me their object
coming was to vote. After we started, I learned there was an el
tion to come off about the last of the month. Others were anxiousi
get here in time to vote. It was too early in the year for ordina
emigration ; the river was low and the weather was cold. Nearly
of our passengers were of that character. I do not think that thu
were ten trunks on the boat, except those marked "Kansas Comji
ny." I think all had arms — six-shooters, some two or three of the*
I do not know that I saw guns. They were shooting so much fr>
the hurricane deck at geese in the river, as we came along, thatf
had to put a stop to it. I am almost confident that Captain |
Thayer came up on our boat on that trip. I believe, since it is rnn
tioned, that the name of "Eli Thayer, agent," was on the trunks, $1
that may be what gave me the impression that he came up that til
I will not be positive that he did come up that time. They had !
other luggage except trunks. I do not think there were any but liji
boxes, such as we allow in the cabin. It was an unusual season of:'
year for any emigration. We were about five days coming up •
river to Kansas City. We laid up a week at Weston. The grj
body of these people got off at Kansas City, about the 21st of Mar
We laid up at Weston on account of low water, and while we ~w
lying there I went to Palermo, in this Territory, where my fatfc
in-law had laid off a town, and the election came off while I '
there, at a house near Mr. Bryant's. I was at the election to see w4
was going on, but I did not vote. I saw others vote, and some vc
challenged. I did not see any of our passengers there.
About three or four days after the election, some eighty or mm
came on our boat at Kansas City. A great many— I do not knjr
but all — were of the same party who came up with us. They jfl
they had been out to Lawrence, and had voted. We run them a life
about going away so soon, and asked them if they had got tired o
soon. Their answer was that the Emigrant Aid Society had not stjd
up to what they had promised them, but had misrepresented to thiji-
They had the same baggage, marked "Kansas company," as tjj
had coming up. I do not recollect that the name of "Eli Thay "
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 869
was on the baggage. They generally told me they had voted, and
Were going hack to where they had come from, as they were satisfied.
'[ had a good deal of talk with them. The destination of most of
those who went up on the boat before us was Kansas City. I did not
notice their baggage. We could generally tell where a man came
from fifty yards off, by his general appearance. I think the boat that
spent up before us was the " Sonora ;" and I do not think I ever saw
i boat so much crowded as that was. We all thought she could not
get up, but she did. The F. X. Aubrey left the same day we did,
:>r the day before or after. Every boat that came up the river was
crowded; something that we did not expect. We generally noticed
:he boats that went out; what their passengers were, &c. The pas-
sengers on the "Sonora" were generally eastern men. She lay at the
.evee, some one or two boats from us. I do not think I went on the
:i Sonora." I do not believe there were half a dozen ladies on our
Doat that trip.. After we had made some three or four trips that
;eason. our passenger receipts down the river were better than going
tip. I think some eighty or ninety of our passengers who got on at
Kansas City were generally the same men that we had brought up. All
ioats down generally had a good many passengers. A majority of
ihem I took to be eastern people, going from Kansas. This was the
sase for three or four trips after the election, as I observed myself,
ind understood from others at Kansas City. On our trip down, there
svas a good deal of grumbling about our charging them so much for
*oing down, when they had come up with us ; but I do not know as
fhey said anything about scarcity of funds. They were very much
init out with the Emigrant Aid Company for misrepresenting matter
;o them. One little fellow swore that if he ever laid his eyes upon
;he man who had induced him to come out, he would put a u blue
i)ill" in him, sure. I do not recollect of ever hearing any of these
nen say they had been furnished with the means of coming here by
he Emigrant Aid Company, or any other company. I heard them
ay there would be thousands come out, and that the Emigrant Aid
ociety had a capital of $5,000,000. I do not remember that they
aid they had themselves come out under the auspices of the Emigrant
Lid Society. Of the kind of emigration that came up to Kansas City
>rior to the election, I should think there were from one hundred
0 one hundred and fifty on each trip for eight or ten trips down, on
1 rough estimate. That was along in April, and to the midddle of
d!ay ; and then the passengers began to drop off.
Our up trips began to fall off in this kind of passengers in May or
Tune, and then came up again in the fall. I observed the character
>f immigration on the boats up the river in the months of March,
Vpril, and May, and they were generally eastern and northern men.
Vfter that, another class of emigration in families began to come up.
These emigrants were generally for Kansas Territory. There was
carcely any females the first two or three trips ; generally men, with
heir hand-sacks and trunks, and most of them with revolvers. All
he companies appeared to have leaders, who made the bargains for
he passengers — so many men for such a price apiece. I noticed the
870 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
passengers on other boats, and when we met a boat as we were goi
up and down, these passengers would crowd the hurricane deck a
fire off their revolvers some two or three times as a salute. In Mai
the river was so low that I do not think we had forty tons of freig
on our first trip, and those who took freight could not get up withe
putting some of it out upon the bank. The Missouri river was ui
sually low for that season of the year. I do not remember ever
have seen it lower at any time of the year.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman:
I was not on board of the New Lucy on the day of election, bui
believe she made a pleasure trip to the fort, or to this place, or
Delaware City. I know she was not chartered to bring persons to 1
election, for I did not receive any money for it. She came down a
went up the same day. Palermo is about 12 or 13 miles from St. «
seph,, and I went out there to my father-in-law's the day of the el
tion. The election was going on while I was there. I saw a cou1
of gentlemen there from St. Joseph that I was acquainted with, 1
they did not vote. There were not many there. Of the 80 or 90 IB
who came on our boat at Kansas City on our down trip, I heard n<3
say anything about Missourians having come to Lawrence to vc
and made no complaint except against the Emigrant Aid Society, tt
they had misrepresented things to them, and had not come up to tl]
contract with them. They did not specify what things had been DI
represented to them, or what the contracts were. They only said tf
the Emigrant Aid Society had misrepresented things to them, btt
do not recollect of their stating what those things were. I do
remember the name of the leader of the party who came up on
boat, or of any other persons coming with them. We always bronu
the leaders free. I do not remember the names of any of those •"
returned on our boat. I do not think I could name any persons co
ing up or returning with us, without referring to the passenger
gisters of that season. On our return trip we passed Kansas
somewhere about the first part of April, along from the 4th or 6ti
the month. I think the Sonora was the first boat that started up
spring, and we or the Aubrey was the next. I think the James*
Lucas left a couple of days after we did. I do not remember when
Dr. Kobinson was on our boat the first trip up or not.
By Mr. Sherman:
I do not know where the old passenger registers of the New lit-;
are now. They are not generally kept, and, no care taken of thi
sometimes thrown overboard or destroyed in some other way.
are bound books, with' printed heads and columns, and are
merely as memoranda, and after being filled up are of no more ua<
F. M. MAHAi
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 17, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 871
BENJAMIN SLATER called and sworn.
I reside in St. Louis, Missouri, and my business is that of commis-
sion and forwading. I have been engaged in that business for some
four years. I have resided in this city, off and on, since 1837". I was
acting as agent for the New England Emigrant Aid Society in March,
1855, iny office being in the same building as Mr. F. A. Hunt. My
arrangement with that company was nothing more than to engage the
passage of all persons who came out under their care from this place
to Kansas city, at a price not to exceed ten dollars each. So far as I
knew, the society did not pay for the expenses of the passengers, but
each one paid for himself. All the society did, so far as I understood,
'was to get tickets through from Boston to St. Louis for twenty-five
per cent, less than ordinary rates ; each passenger paid his own fare
at the reduced rates. I do not know that the Emigrant Aid Society
received any benefit at all from the reduced rates. There were but
two parties that went out under the care of that society in the month
of March, 1855. One party was under the care of Dr. Charles Kob-
inson, consisting of one hundred and fifty-nine passengers, leaving
St. Louis on the steamer Sonora, March 19, 1855. The other party
was under the care of John Farwell, consisting of one hundred and
Iforty passengers, leaving St. Louis on the steamer Kate Sweeney,
jMarch 26, 1855. I learned afterwards of Captain Chouteau, of the
jKate Sweeney, that he was some two weeks getting up to Kansas city.
|In each party there were quite a number of women and children. In
iDr. Robinson's party there were something like thirty or forty chil-
jdren, but I do not remember the number of women in his party. I
jknow that Kobinson's party had a great many trunks, &c., and a
large quantity of baggage was paid for as extra baggage, after allow-
ing one hundred pounds of baggage to each passenger. The extra
baggage was paid for at prescribed rates,, each passenger paying for
his own baggage.
There were other emigrants from eastern, northern, and southern
States, going up the river that spring. I was not applied to by any
of those emigrants during March, 1855, to make similar arrangements
to that made with regard to the aid emigrants.
The baggage of the aid emigrants was marked with a printed card
so as to designate it, thus: " Kansas party baggage, care of B. Slater,
:St. Louis." I saw no cards on the baggage with the name of Eli
Thayer on them. I think I should have seen them if they had been
,on any of ^ the baggage. The object of the mark I have mentioned
was to facilitate and secure the transportation of the baggage. Many
of the trunks left on the way were identified by this mark, and after-
wards forwarded to me here.
The river was uncommonly low that season, and for that reason
many of the boats could not run, and those that did run could not
itake much freight. Many of the boats ran aground, arid scarcely a
boat went up without running aground before she reached her desti-
nation. The winter had been an open one, and emigration set in
earlier than usual. Some mill machinery for several mills was sent
872 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
to ine that spring, and forwarded by me to Kansas Territory. The
was also a large amount of furniture consigned to me that spring f
forwarding. The furniture was mostly in boxes, some old and son
new boxes, and, as far as I could see, was such as would be likely
be sent out here by movers.
The other emigrants I have spoken of were not connected at a
with the emigrant aid societies, but travelled on their own accouu
sometimes in companies and sometimes in scattered small partie
They would come here sometimes by boat and sometimes by railroa
and the runners of the Missouri river boats would go after them ai
make arrangements for them. I made no arrangements myself f
any parties in March but the two I have named, though I did subs
quently.
I never wrote a letter to E. W. Brown, the editor of the Herald I
Freedom, Lawrence, Kansas Territory, in which I stated that the
were from 600 to 800 eastern emigrants on their way up the rive1
and would be up in time for the election, and 300 of them would
at Lawrence at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. I ne\
wrote him any letter of the kind. I may have written a letter •
Brown, stating the number of some ^particular party then on th<3
way out. My connexion with the Emigrant Aid Society was purr
of a business character. I never received any salary from them, l\
received from them merely the regular commission as I did fro-
others. I was not their agent in any other sense than that of a co-i
mission merchant, and rendered them only the same services thati
did to other parties for whom I transacted commission business.
B. SLATER!
ST. Louis, MISSOURI, June 12, 1856.
F. A. HUNT called and sworn.
My occupation is that of a forwarding and commission merchau
I have been engaged in business in St. Louis for nearly five years pai
I have heard the testimony of Mr. Benjamin Slater, just takivj
During the month of March, 1855, Mr. Slater had a desk in our offiii
and I think in the following April he became a partner in our fiui
then called F. A. Hunt & Co. Mr. Slater was the passenger ag«^
of the Emigrant Aid Society during March, 1855, and af'terwatti
F. A. Hunt & Co. became their agents. I recollect the party of I
Robinson, and also that of John Far well, which left here for Kan<
City during that March. There were no other aid emigrant parfr
that went up that month. The preceding winter had been a v«v
open one, and the river was then unusually low for the season of
year. There was other emigration from different States during j
month of March, much I think from Ohio. They came generally1!
small detached parties. They made their own bargains, and got <
to Kansas City as cheaply as they could. The regular fare from W
to Kansas City was at that time $12. They generally had to pay i
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 873
regular fare, unless they came in large parties. Subsequently to
March, 1855, other parties of aid emigrants came out here, and we
;nade arrangements for them. The arrangements made by the society
*ras to obtain passage for the emigrants to this place at a reduction of
;wenty-five per cent., and we generally obtained tickets for passen-
gers up from here to Kansas city at $2 less than the usual rates.
The emigrants received the full benefit of this reduction in both cases,
n all instances paying their own expenses at the reduced rates. I
mow of no instance where the Emigrant Aid Society ever paid a dol-
,ar of the travelling expenses of emigrants.
While I acted as agent for the aid society there was frequently ship-
ped to me furniture and other property of a similar character. It was
consigned and forwarded as usual in all cases of forwarding, being ad-
Iressed to the individuals to whom it was sent in Kansas, injour care
it this place. On this we collected the customary commissions, regu-
ated by the chamber of commerce of this city, and that was the only
compensation we received for our services. They shipped several steam
engines, some mill machinery, &c., to us, as also household furniture,
ffliich was sent to individuals in the Territory in our care.
I first learned from the St. Louis papers of the fixing of the day of
election in March, 1855. I received no information in relation to that
matter from the Emigrant Aid Society or any persons connected with
;hat society. The coming of those parties of emigrants had nothing
50 do with the election, so far as I know. I never knew of the aid
society ever sending any persons out here merely to vote. From all
[ could learn from the society and from the conversation of the emi-
grants, their sole object in going to Kansas was merely to seek homes
ind to better their condition. I know that some of these emigrants
"eturned. and the only reason they gave to me for doing so was that
:he country was new, and they had not means enough to support
themselves until they could make a living there.
F. A. HUNT.
j ST. Louis, MISSOURI, June 12, 1856.
AMOS A. LAWRENCE called and sworn.
The first charter for an Emigrant Aid Company was granted by
rlie legislature of Massachusetts in April, 1854. No action was ever
Jiad under it, on account of supposed defects. This is the charter re-
ferred to in the majority report of the United States Senate commit-
tee, of which Mr. Douglas was chairman. The first legal organiza-
tion of the company wa.s'under articles of association dated July 24.
1854. Under these the subscriptions of stock were made, and action
bad, until the spring of 1855, when a new charter was obtained, as
follows :
874 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
NEW ENGLAND EMIGRANT AID COMPANY.
" AN ACT to incorporate the New England Emigrant Aid Company.
" Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives in gene*
court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : '.
Thayer, Amos A. Lawrence, Jolin M. S. Williams, and Thomas
Webb, their associates, successors, and assigns, are hereby mad
corporation by the name of the New England Emigrant Aid CG'<
pany, for the purposes of directing emigration westward, and aid:i
in providing accommodations for the emigrants after arriving at till
places of destination ; and for these purposes they have all the
and privileges, and are subject to all the duties, restrictions and
bilities, set forth in the forty-fourth chapter of the Revised Status
"SEC. 2. The capital stock of said corporation shall not exceed «
million of dollars. Said capital stock may be invested in real t\
personal estate, provided the said corporation shall not hold i
estate in this commonwealth to an amount exceeding twenty thous&
dollars.
£'SEC. 3. This act shall take effect from and after its passage.
" Approved by the governor, February 21, 1855."
The money paid in for subscriptions of stock, about $95,000, ;
the donations, about $4,000, was received by me, as treasurer, andi
been disbursed by me, under the direction of the executive commit t
No part of it has been expended for sending out emigrants, nor
any purpose except those made known to the public, viz : the estoj
lishment of saw mills, taverns, a printing press, for exploring
Territory, &c. No money has been spent for fire arms. The stoc<
the company has not been an object of speculation, though many ;
sons think it will be profitable. Some prefer to give money with
taking stock. The pecuniary advantage derived by the emigrants c
been a reduction of fare of about fifteen per cent. The other ad\i
tages will be inferred from the character of the expenditures off
company. The number who have gone out is about 1,300, and tl
who have joined the parties about as many more. Until recently tl
has been no association in New England for sending out emigra i
I never have known any person sent out by any society or by i i
viduals to vote. This company never has exacted any pledge f I
those going out; all connexion with the company ceases on their
rival in the Territory. The subscribers to the stock are about I
and they belong to various political parties. The company never™
had any connexion with any political party, either directly or i s.
rectly, though its agents have sometimes spoken in political meetiii fc
this has been against the wishes of some of the officers. No diip
tions have been given to the agents ot the company in the Terri '"
to resist the territorial laws or otherwise ; no question was aske o
the agents as to their politics when they were appointed, nor zi j
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 875
I have never heard that any one of them favored a resistance to the
laws of the United States under any circumstances.
I have read the address to the people of the United States, dated
Boston, June 17, 1856, before it was printed, and there is nothing in
it but what is true. As a brief mode of stating the objects and pur-
poses of the company, I refer to it, and make it a part of iny deposi-
tion. It is as follows :
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
The executive committee of tlie Neiv England Emigrant Aid Company
respectfully ask your attention to ike following facts :
In consequence of the errors and misrepresentations in regard to
the Emigrant Aid Company of Massachusetts, contained in a report
made to the Senate of the United Stales by the chairman of the Com-
mittee on Territories, March 12, 1856; and the repetition of the mis-
statements and apparent adoption of the conclusions of the report by
members of both Houses of Congress, in their published speeches; the
undersigned have been led to prepare a plain statement of the facts of
the case, to expose the grave mistakes of the report and of those who
have adopted its erroneous views, and to place before the country a
true account of the designs and objects of this association.
As most of the objections which have been urged in various quarters
against this company are collected and embodied in the report, our
purpose will be best attained by an examination of that document.
fWe proceed therefore to notice same of its more prominent errors and
anisstatements.
I. There is no such " mammoth moneyed corporation" "with a
.capital of five millions of dollars," "to control the institutions of
Kansas," as the report supposes. There never has been such an one.
(The act quoted by the report was passed by the legislature of Massa-
jchusetts in 1854, but no complete organization ever took place under
jit, and it was soon abandoned. The New England Emigrant Aid
jCompany, which is the only incorporated society in Massachusetts
(connected with the emigration to Kansas, was chartered in 1855. Its
capital is limited by its charter to one million of dollars, but in point
of fact the capital of the company, actually paid in., has never exceeded
one hundred thousand dollars.
II. The act of incorporation does not, as the report suggests, make
the State of Massachusetts a party to the proceedings of this company.
The design of a charter of incorporation, as is well known, is to
enable an association of individuals to act together more conveniently
and safely in the transaction of its business. A State granting a
charter does not render itself responsible for the acts of the company
thereby created ; and the State of Massachusetts, although doubtless
approving of its objects, is no more accountable for the transactions
of this company than for those of the numerous companies chartered
by its legislature for religious, educational, mining, manufacturing,
or other purposes.
III. The report attributes to the company the origin of all the
876 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
troubles in Kansas, by its "unauthorized and improper schemes i
foreign interference with the internal affairs and domestic concen
of the Territory," and its "attempt to violate or circumvent tl
principles and- provisions of the act of Congress for the organizatic
of Kansas and Nebraska."
The fact is directly the reverse of what is here stated ; and a regai
for truth and justice should have led to a careful inquiry into tl
facts before these assertions were made. This Company has nev<
"interfered with the internal affairs of the Territory." It has nevi
attempted to "violate or circumvent" any act of Congress. It hi
never, as a company, opposed the Kansas-Nebraska act.
The company was formed to aid in the permanent settlement of tl
Territory of Kansas by a free and intelligent population. In tl
prosecution of this purpose, it had reason to expect the approval ai
co-operation of Congress. It anticipated that, in accordance with tl
true intent of the Kansas-Nebraska act, all citizens of the Unitu
States who should go to settle in Kansas would receive the protect!
of the government.
The Territory of Kansas cannot properly be spoken off as in ai
sense "foreign" to Massachusetts. Like the other Territories of til
United States, it is the common property of all the States. It belon.-i
to Massachusetts and Vermont as well as to Missouri or Iowa. Tl'
citizens of every State have an equal right to go there or to aid others*
go, either individually or by means of associated capital. By the Kal
sas-Nebraska act, the people of these Territories were left, "perfect1
free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way
Whatever may be the individual opinions of the members of tli
association as to the constitutionality, justice, or expediency of tl!
act, the company has accepted it as the law of the land until it show
be repealed, and has never violated or evaded it. All its action, \;
the contrary, has been perfectly consistent with the principles a;i
provisions of the law.
Upon the removal by Congress of all restriction upon the futtf
institutions of Kansas, and the granting to actual settlers the rip
to determine their character, that Territory was regarded by all parti- i
both at the south and north, as thrown open to free competitions!
settlement, by emigrants from all parts of the country. This fact II
been recognized by leading men in the southern States as well as*!
the north, and warm appeals have been made to the patriotism a
moral sentiment, as well as to the interest and the political prejudi
of all sections of the Union. These appeals find a ready <
from the people. Public meetings of citizens have been held in ma
of the States, and societies formed, to aid in the settlement of 1
Territory, and to assist in the work of founding a new State.
The report asserts that this company was the first association forno
to "control the institutions" of the new Territory; and assumes tl
the southern societies exist only as a " natural consequence
operations. But we have abundant evidence that, before the organi
tion of this company, associations were formed and in active operati
in Missouri, to "interfere with the internal affairs" of the Territd
in a manner neither legal nor justifiable. Indeed, the existence ol
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 877
wide spread desire and attention, on the part of the southern States,
to use all praticahle means to control the institutions of Kansas, has
been so openly and repeatedly avowed, that it needs no proof. The
whole charge therefore against this company, that it has been the
occasion of the difficulties in Kansas, on the ground of its assumed
priority of action, is totally destitute of foundation.
This company has employed associated capital, and organized under
9, charter, for the convenience of its business. But the use of associ-
ated capital is a common principle of all societies, and has never, so
far as we know, been objected to, except in the case of this company ;
ind the organization under a charter, so far from implying any design
to "violate or circumvent" the law, is direct evidence of a contrary
intent. It is, in fact, from the " improper and unauthorized" acts
r>f unchartered and illegal societies, that the greatest danger to the
:nstitutions of Kansas has arisen.
Although the associations formed at the north have, no doubt, dif-
erent objects and different methods of action from those of the southern
States, the rights of all of them are equal under the act, so long as
;heir proceedings are conformable to the laws. The citizens of the
southern States have not, in general, shown the same disposition with
;hose of the north to emigrate to Kansas, or to aid others to go there
br permanent settlement ; but they have fully recognized their right
;o do this, and declare their intention to exercise it. That they have
failed to act more efficiently for this object is not, perhaps, owing so
nuch to the want of a desire to extend their peculiar institutions
:nto the Territory as to other causes.
While the objects and action of this company are severely comdemned
jy the report,, we find in it- no censure of the " unauthorized and
improper interference" of southern societies in the affairs of the Ter-
ritory. Indeed the language of the report would lead to the inference
rtiat the Kansas-Nebraska act was especially designed for the benefit
)f those individuals and societies who seek to render the institutions
j>f Kansas congenial to those of Missouri. Their action is spoken of
ts simply "defensive," while that of the Massachusetts company is
Characterized as "aggressive;" those therefore, it would seem, who
favor the establishment of free institutions in Kansas are guilty of
icts of aggression ; while those who aim to plant slavery there .are
icting only on the defensive, and are not liable to the charge of
endeavoring to " violate or circumvent' the Kansas-Nebraska act.
But whatever may be the views of the report in regard to the design
ind effect of the Kansas-Nebraska act, the people of the United States
adll never sanction the doctrine that it was intended for the special
Benefit of Missouri. That State, although lying in immediate prox-
mity to the Territory of Kansas, can have no other rights there than
•hose which belong equally to every State of the Union. If the con-
itruction of the act suggested by the report is to be maintained, it
Decomes indeed "a question of fearful import" how far such legisla-
;ion is " compatible with the rights and liberties of the people."
Since ^ all the various Emigrant Aid Societies of the country have
xjual rights in the Territory of Kansas, no exception can be taken
;o the action of any one of them, so long as it confines itself to legiti-
878 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
mate objects, and employs only just and lawful means to accompl
its ends.
The objects of the New England Emigrant Aid Company are j
and lawful. The means which it employs are legal and proper. T
disturbances in Kansas are attributed by the report to the " unua
and extraordinary means" used "to stimulate an unnatural and frig
system of emigration," "with a view of controlling the elections*!
Kansas." A simple statement of the facts is a sufficient refutatioi
this error.
It was early perceived by the originators of this company, thf
Eortion of the immense emigration which, every year, seeks the ^
^om the northern and eastern States, might be directed tows'
Kansas. Information was eagerly sought.for in regard to its charaar
and resources, and its adaptation to the wants of settlers. The compj
obtained and supplied the needed information, facilitated the pasw e
of those who wished to go, by aiding them to unite into parties
they might make the journey more conveniently and cheaply,^}
invested capital in the Territory in such enterprises as would be iwt
useful to the newly arrived settlers. These are the only " ununjil
and extraordinary means" which it has employed.
It is well known that one of the chief difficulties which the setters
in a new country have to contend with is the want of capital fcmie
support of those undertakings to which the means of individuals! f re
inadequate. It has been one of the first objects of the compauRto
supply this want by the erection of hotels, mills, and machinery ny
favoring the establishment of schools and churches ; and by cloinj II
in its power to surround the settlers, even on their first arrival, jh
the comforts of civilized and cultivated life. It was at the same ic
the belief of some of the originators of the company, that such in
ments of capital, while in the highest degree useful to the emigre s.
would also in the end prove profitable to the company itself, a h<
population should increase, and the value of permanent proper!
the Territory be thereby enhanced. It must be apparent, there*
that the whole plan of the company's operations is based on the*
of a permanent settlement of the Territory. Its investments are 1
in property which has a permanent local value, but which wouli
worthless unless surrounded by an active and energetic popula?
It could be no part of its plan therefore to send persons to Kt
for a temporary residence there.
Neither has it offered inducements to any persons to emigratt
paying for their passage to the Territory. It has, in fact, never
the passage of an emigrant. It has believed that its funds cou.i
more usefully applied to permanent investments in Kansas. The
of persons in New England who would be induced to go by such n
is small, and still smaller, it is to be hoped, is the number of'
who could be " hired" to go to Kansas, to remain there only t£
rarily for the base and dishonest purpose of interfering witft
elections in the Territory. The charge that this company has
emigrants the long journey of fifteen hundred miles for the mere
pose of voting at elections, is therefore not only unjust but absuri
Those who have gone to Kansas under the auspices of this co:
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 879
frad the means to pay for the journey, and the ability and the will to
work for the support of themselves and their families there. They
have gone of their own accord and at their own expense. The energy,
perseverance, and honorable ambition which led them to forsake the
Comforts of civilized life, and seek a home in a distant and unsettled
region, and which have enabled them to acquire the means for so doing,
ire precisely the qualities which render them the most valuable and
lesirable class of settlers for a new country. A few who went out
without a sufficient acquaintance with the difficulties and hardships
,ncident to a pioneer life, became discouraged and wished to return.
But the number of these is small, compared with those who remain as
permanent residents in the Territory.
This company makes no conditions with the emigrants. All persons,
whether coming from the north or the south , who wish to go to Kansas,
ind are able to pay for the passage, are at liberty to join its parties.
?fcs hope and desire are that all who go should be and remain bonafide
settlers. It asks no questions as to their political opinions. It exacts
10 pledge or promise, either express or implied, as to their conduct or
rote. Such a pledge would be equally dishonorable to those who gave
tnd to those who received it. They are free and independent citizens
)n the soil of Kansas as they have been on that of Massachusetts or
^"ew Hampshire.
While entirely disclaiming, on the part of this company, any im-
proper interference with the internal affairs of the Territory of Kansas,
>r any design to control the political or social conduct of its citizens, we
lave always hoped and expected that the emigrants who go out under
Its auspices would favor the establishment of free institutions there.
I It is for their interest to make Kansas a free State. The character
If the men is, in itself, a sufficient guaranty that they will do so.
phey are men of industry and enterprise, who believe in hard work
ind are accustomed to it. Such men cannot fail to carry with them,
wherever they go, a love for the institutions which recognize the dig-
lity of labor, and allow to every man the just reward of his toil. But
he very independence of character which these institutions have fos-
ered would lead them to repel'the slightest attempt on the part of
his company to exercise any control over their conduct.
We have sufficiently shown the method of proceeding of the com-
>any which we represent. Societies early formed in other sections of
he Union adopted different methods. Some of these associations have
ured men to go to Kansas, have supplied them with arms, and pro-
>osed to support them in the Territory, for the avowed purpose of con-
lolling the elections by force and fraud, arid by intimidation of the
>eaceable bona fide settlers. The disturbances in Kansas have been the
' natural consequence" of these illegal acts, and it is both unjust and
llogical to attribute them to the influence of a company whose object
s to aid in the peaceable and permanent settlement of the Territory
)y legitimate means, rather than to the action of societies, the direct
pndency of whose proceedings is to produce hostile collision and
uoodshed. ±j
IV. Another error of the report is the statement that this company
880 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
has invested its capital in "cannon and rifles, in powder and lead, j |;
in all the implements of war."
The assertion is utterly untrue. The company has never invente* :
dollar in cannon or rifles, in powder or lead, or in any of the imk
ments of war. It was established solely for peaceable and legal objeli.
and it has been no part of its plan to engage in any of the
of war. The first emigrants who went to Kansas under its ausp]
were mostly unarmed, or provided only with such weapons as ¥
intended for the ordinary purposes of pioneer life. They had no<
tention or expectation of baing obliged to use them in any other w
They relied on the faith of the government that actual settlers sho
be protected in their rightful occupation of the soil.
Subsequent events have shown that this reliance was unfoumi
The Territory has been invaded at various times by armed men fl
the neighboring States, in defiance of law, and the inhabitants 11
been obliged to resort to such means of self-defence as they could!
tain for protection at the ballot-box, for the safety of their he j^s
and families, and for the preservation of their towns and vilLi is
from destruction. So far as the facts have come to our knowleeJ9,
they have always used these means judiciously and well, never injr-
fering with the rights of others, but ready and determined to maim
their own.
Their patience and forbearance under every species of provocarta
and insult, while they still hoped for a peaceful redress of their gi
ances by law ; their wisdom and prudence under circumstance*
unexampled trial and difficulty ; and their brave and determined I
duct on occasions when forbearance had ceased to be a virtue, arf
had become necessary to repel violence by force, have commanded
respect and admiration. So long as they were exposed only to*
attacks of lawless bands, acting without even the pretence of authn
of the government, they have been able to defend themselves.
the intolerable wrongs and grievances which they now suffer, u>
color of law, call loudly upon the government and the countrr
redress. The inhabitants of Kansas demand only justice, and prr
tion for their rights as citizens and freemen. They have never desii
to resist the execution of the laws of Congress, but in their brave<
uncompromising resistance to lawless invasion and violence
stand on the broad principles of the inalienable right of self-deft
and the liberties guarantied to every citizen by the Constitution o
United States.
We believe that a full recognition of the principle that actual!
tiers should control the institutions of the Territory, and an ac<|
ance by Congress of the constitution and form of government wj
they have chosen, would be a full and complete remedy for all
evils under which they now labor.
V. The statements of the report in regard to the supposed vio-ji
and hostility of northern and eastern emigrants in passing thr ;
Missouri are also erroneous. Although our communication witl j>
citizens of Missouri, as well as those of Kansas, is frequent and d !
we have never known of an instance of the violence referred to. i
Missouri river is one of the common highways of the nation,
I
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 881
-
waters are as free to the citizens of all the States as those of the har-
bors of our eastern coast. That the emigrants passing up that river to
Kansas have expressed sentiments on political and social questions
liffering from those entertained by many of the citizens of Missouri is
perhaps true. Their right to entertain or express such sentiments
cannot certainly be doubted. But we are sure that they have never
committed any acts of violence or hostility or interfered with the do-
mestic institutions of that State. The inconveniences and annoyances,
aowever, to which emigrants from the east are sometimes subjected in
iheir passage through Missouri, and the risk to life and property often
Encountered, have turned the attention of parties to other routes to
Kansas, which will probably soon be completed by the extension of
>he lines of railroad now in process of construction through the State
>f Iowa. By the opening of these routes, the citizens of Missouri will
3robably be relieved in a great degree of their " apprehensions" of
/ danger" from the peaceable emigrants to Kansas.
VI. The views expressed in the report respecting this company are
lot those which are entertained by the citizens of Kansas. Every
pail from the Territory brings us assurances of this fact. The inhab-
itants of that region do not attribute to us any design to control their
political action, but they regard our investment of capital there as of
ijreat advantage to the settlers, and we have been constantly urged to
nake new investments to a greater extent than our resources have
heretofore allowed.
, The interest, however, which recents have awakened in all portions
>f the country in the welfare of Kansas has had the effect to increase
|he resources of the company, and it intends to continue to make such
investments to the fall extent of its means. The emigration to Kansas
from all parts of the country still continues, stimulated, no doubt, by
the action of emigrant aid societies both at the south and at the
orth. Experience has shown that the proceedings even of some of
lose whose views on the subject of the settlement of Kansas are an-
igonistic to our own, have essentially aided in the success of this
3mpany. It has been found that a largo number of the emigrants to
Kansas, from the southern as well as from the northern States, so soon
s they have become permanent settlers, have recognized and desired
participate in the benefit of its operations.
The number of emigrants who have gone to Kansas under the direct
uspices of this company is not large, compared with the great num-
ers from the northern and western States who have been encouraged
I p go there by the knowledge of its transactions. The actual capital
| mployed by the company is much less than it is represented by the
| eport, amounting, indeed, to but a small part of the sum allowed by
ts charter. But it has suited the designs of those who oppose it to
' lake exaggerated statements of the character of its operations and to
lisrepresent its purposes. It has done what it could, in a pe-aceable,
3gal, and constitutional way to aid in the settlement of Kansas by a
opulation of freemen. It will continue to exert ail its influence to
\ be accomplishment of that great end, without regard to misrepresen-
' ition and abuse from whatever quarter they may come.
The number of the stockholders of this association now amounts to
H. Hep. 200 56*
882 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
nearly one thousand, and is steadily increasing. Among its members
are persons eminent for intelligence, moral character, and high social
position and influence, men of every class and profession in life, andi
the representatives of every political party. No one, in a community
where they are known, would venture to attribute to them any unjust
or improper designs. But since, from a misapprehension of their men
tives, a committee of the Senate of the United States has Ibeen led intcl
grave errors in respect to them ; and as such errors have been widelj
circulated, and, if not corrected, may injuriously affect the interests o -
Kansas, we have thought it expedient to make this public denial of alt
the charges against the company. But while explaining the purpose^
of this association, we would also express our cordial sympathy witlll
the efforts of those organizations, of later date, whose methods o I
action may differ from our own, but whose object is, by all just an(
honorable means, to aid the emigration of freemen to Kansas, and t<
enable the settlers already there to maintain their rights on its soil. ,1
WM. B. SPOONER,
J. M. S. WILLIAMS,
ELI THAYEE,
S. CABOT, Jr.,
R. P. WATERS,
L. B. RUSSELL,
C. J. HIGGINSON,
EDWARD E. HALE.
Executive Committee of the N. E. Emigrant Aid Co.' <|
BOSTON, June 17, 1856.
The officers of the corporation chosen at the annual meeting, Maii
27, 1856, are as follows :
President — JOHN CARTER BROWN, of Providence, E. I.
Vice Presidents. — ELI THAYER, of Worcester, Mass. ; J. M. S. WrJ
LIAMS, of Cambridge, Mass.
Treasurer. — AMOS A, LAWRENCE, of Boston,
Assistant Treasurer. — ANSON J. STONE, of Boston,
Secretary. — THOMAS H. WEBB, of Boston.
Directors. — Wm. B. Spooner, S. Cabot, jr., M. D., John Lo
Le Baron Russell, M. D., Charles J. Higginson, Samuel G. How
M. D., George B. Upton, Patrick T. Jackson, all of Boston; Wt
J. Rotch, New Bedford ; J. P. Williston^ Northampton ; Wm. Diti
ley Pickman, Salem ; R. P. Waters, Beverly ; R. A. Chapman, Sprinii
field; Charles H. Bigelow, Lawrence; Nathan Durfee, Fall Rivei
Wm. Willis, Portland, Maine ; Ichabod Goodwin, Portsmouth, N. B
Thomas M. Edwards, Keene, N. H.; Albert Day, Hartford, Co
necticut; John Bertram, Salem; George Howland, jr., New Bedfor*
Francis Wayland, D. D., Providence, R. L; Edward Everett Hal
Worcester; Seth Padelford, Providence, R. L; Samuel Boyd Tobe.
M. D., Providence, R. L; Prof. Benjamin Silliman, New Haven, O
Horace Bushnell, D. D., Hartford, Ct. ; Moses H. Grinnell, New Tor
William Cullen Bryant, New York; Henry H. Elliott, New Yor
Edwin D. Morgan, New York ; Henry C. Bowen, New York; Horar
B. Clanm, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Edward W. Fiske, Brooklyn, N. "Si
and J. L. Bailey, Philadelphia, Pa.
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 883
Executive Committee. — Messrs. Wm. B. Spooner, J. M. S. Williams,
Cli Thayer, S. Cabot, jr., M. D., R. P. Waters, Le Baron Russell,
d. D., Charles J. Higginson, and E. E. Hale.
Attest :
THOMAS H. WEBB, Secretary.
AMOS A. LAWRENCE.
NEW YORK CITY, June'26, 1856.
ELI THAYER called and sworn.
To Mr. Sherman :
I reside in Worcester, Massachusetts. I have been connected with
he Emigrant Aid Society, as vice-president, since its organization,
n April, 1854, a law was passed by the legislature of Massachusetts
o incorporate the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company, and that
3 the law referred to by Hon. S. A. Douglas, in his report to the
Senate of the United States. No organization was perfected or stock
ssued under that law. The reason was that some provisions of the
aw were objectionable to capitalists. The objection to the law was,
hat the stock subscribed for was to be payable in ten years, in annual
istalrnents, and capitalists refused to assume responsibilities to ex-
pnd over so long a period.
! Subsequently, in July, 1854, certain articles of association were
)rmed, called "Articles of agreement and association of the Emi-
irant Aid Society/' These articles were perfected on the 24th day of
July, 1854. Under these articles, Amos A. Lawrence, of Boston, J.
t. S. Williams, of Cambridge, and myself, were the trustees ; Mr.
•awrence was also treasurer, and Thomas H. Webb, of Boston, was
^cretary. Under these articles of association, a company was formed,
pd arrangements were made for the same purposes as under the law
jibsequently passed. Objections were made to these articles of asso-
jation on account of individual liability, and an application was made
J the Massachusetts legislature for a charter in January, 1855, which
^as granted. That charter is embodied in the testimony of Mr.
.mos A. Lawrence before this committee. An organization was
(Fected under this charter. The following are the officers of this as-
sciation or company :
„, OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION.
President. — JOHN CARTER BROWN, of Providence, R. I.
Vice Presidents.— ELI THAYER, of Worcester, Mass. ; J. M. S. WIL-
IAMS, of Cambridge, Mass.
Treasurer. — AMOS A. LAWRENCE, of Boston.
Secretary. — THOMAS H. WEBB, of Boston.
Directors.— William B Spooner, Samuel Cabot, jr., M D, John
bwell, Le Baron Russell, M D, Charles J Higginson, Samuel Gr
bwe, M D, George B Upton, Patrick T Jackson, all of Boston ;
Tilliam J Rotch, New Bedford ; J P Williston, Northampton ; Wil-
lim Dudley Pickman, Salem ; R P Waters, Beverly ; R A Chap-
884 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
man, Springfield ; Charles H Bigelow, Lawrence ; Nathan Durfee.
Fall Kiver ; William Willis, Portland, Maine ; Ichabod Goodwin.!
Portsmouth, N H ; Thomas M Edwards, Keene, N H ; Albert Day!\
Hartford, Ct ; John Bertram, Salem ; George Rowland, jr, New Bed-
ford ; Francis Way land, D D, Providence, R I ; Edward Everet'-j
Hale, Worcester ; Seth Padelford, Providence, R I ; Samuel Boyc^
Tobey, Providence, R I ; Benjamin Silliman, New Haven, Ct ; Horace
Bushnell, D D, Hartford, Ct ; Moses H Grinnell, New York; Will]
liam Cullen Bryant, New York ; Henry H Elliott, New York ; Wil
liam M Evarts, New York ; Edwin D Morgan, New York ; Willian
Curtis Noyes, New York ; Henry C Bowen, New York ; Horace ] I
Claflin, Brooklyn, New York ; Edward WFiske, Brooklyn, New York*
Rollin Sandford, Brooklyn, New York ; and J L Baily, Philadelphia!
Pennsylvania.
Executive Committee. — Messrs. J M S Williams, Eli Thayer, S
bot, jr, M D, R P Waters, Le Baron Russell, M D, Charles J
ginson, William B Spooner, and E E Hale.
I am familiar with the purposes and history of this company. "W<
sent, first, men to explore the Territory of Kansas, that being tl
first Territory opened for settlement, to ascertain the character am!
resources of that Territory. This and other information we publishd
and furnished gratuitously to all who applied for it. We then opemt-!
an office in Boston, when application could be made by those wl f
wished to emigrate to Kansas. The secretary kept a book in wlii<
the names of these applicants were recorded. When a party of suft
cient number was formed, the day was fixed for their departure, tics
ets were purchased by the company, at a reduced price, of various liai
of transportation, and were furnished to the emigrants at cost.
conductor was furnished by the company for each party. His dill
was to provide for their safe, expeditious, and economical conveyanij
to Kansas. We established local agents in the Territory, whose du
it was to receive these colonists, and to inform them of the best lo
tions open to settlement. The company, in no instance, paid t
passage of any emigrant. It made no conditions about the politid
opinion of the emigrants ; no questions were asked of them, and pj
sons from every State, and of every political opinion, would have c
joyed, and did enjoy, the same facilities. It was not doubted that 1
great body of emigrants were in favor of making Kansas a free Stas
The company furnished these emigrants with no articles of person
property, and never, directly or indirectly, furnished them with a
arms or munitions of war of any kind, and never invested a dollar
any such purpose. The purposes of this company, as given in a o
cular, dated Boston, June if, 1856, and addressed "to the people*}
the United States," are correctly stated.
There is and has been no obligation imposed upon emigrants, J
pledges asked or required of them, for the facilities they receive frJ
this company. The moment they arrive at the place named in tbl'
ticket all connexion between them and the society ceases. The cGf
pany bought a hotel at Kansas City. This hotel was open to the erf
grants and the public generally, each one paying his own fare.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 885
company never kept the hotel, but leased it to some one, whose name
I do not now recollect, and also to Mr. Eldridge, and finally sold it
to Mr. Eldridge. It was agreed with the proprietors of this hotel
that parties of emigrants coming under our charge should be accom-
modated as before. The company never received any benefit from
'this hotel, except the ordinary rent from leasing it. The company
built a hotel in Lawrence, at an expense of about $20,000. At that
'time there was no hotel worthy of the name in the Territory, there
being but little capital in the Territory at the time, as is usual among
:all pioneers in a new country. This hotel the company leased to Mr.
Eldridge, who furnished it, and it was destroyed on the 21st of May
last.
We also erected, and prepared to erect, mills in the Territory at
different places, some eight or ten of them. The company, I think,
had one other building in Lawrence, but I do not now recollect what
it is. Some temporary sheds were also erected by the company for
the accommodation of emigrants there until they could erect buildings
of their own. These were the only buildings that the Emigrant Aid
Society ever were interested in. The total expenditures of the com-
pany, for all purposes, since its organization have been less than
$100,000. The company had no interest whatever in the residence
'occupied by Dr. Charles Robinson.
The company laid out no towns, and had no interest in laying out
iany. The towns were laid out by the settlers themselves, in some
; cases, the settlers making some arrangements to give the company
(Certain lots to induce us to make investments there, and thus aid in
'building up the place. This was the case with the town association
of Lawrence. The town association would have given similar advan-
tages to any person or company of men who would have made im-
iprovements. Other offers were made to us to induce similar invest-
Iments in other settlements, some of which we were not able to accept
jfor lack of means. It was by means of these investments /that the
(company expected to be reimbursed for what they expended. No
j other investments were made by this society in the Territory except
j those I have stated.
I have frequently expressed my individual opinion in regard to the
emigration to Kansas, and have differed with my associates upon some
points. They are not responsible, nor is the company responsible, for
what I have thus said. My name was not put, to my knowledge, upon
any baggage belonging to these emigrants in any case.
In my opinion, the stock of the company will prove a profitable in-
vestment, if the company shall receive that protection from law enjoyed
by other business organizations, as our interests and the interests of
the settlers are mutual, never conflicting.
Our investments in the Territory of Kansas have been for the benefit
of settlers of all political parties, and from all portions of the States,
without preference or partiality.
ELI THAYEE.
NEW YORK CITY, June 26, 1856.
886 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ANSON J. STONE called and sworn.
To Mr. Sherman :
I reside in Boston,, Massachusetts. I am assistant treasurer of the
Emigrant Aid Society. A record is kept by that society of the names ;
of those emigrants who are sent out under its auspices. The party of ;
emigrants under Dr. Robinson, who went out in the spring of 1855,
left Boston March 13, 1855. I have a list of those who composed '•.
that party, copied from the original register in the office of the com-
pany by myself. The list is contained in a memorandum book, and I
is attached to this deposition. The book also contains the names of f
those who went out in company with John T. Farwell, leaving Boston i
March 20, 1855.
The number of persons who have been sent out by the Emigrant Aid i
Society I should judge to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1^300, .
tmt I cannot state, without looking over the books, what proportion i
were women and children, but there were many going out in families. ;
When Eobinson's party left we had no information at all of the day r-
of election. I do not think any party went out at all in reference to >
the day. of election.
The emigrant aid society never paid the expenses of any emigrant.
I am certain of this, because I have carefully examined all the books
and papers of the society. They have expended no money for fire
arms or ammunition. They have been extremely careful in regard to *
that matter, and avoided it in any way. The money of the society has
been expended in saw and grist mills, the hotel in Lawrence, and in
other buildings ; and in no case has money been expended with any r
reference to the political opinion of settlers; but all could enjoy the
facilities of the investments of the society. The company did not i
issue tickets of their own, but purchased tickets of the various lines of'l
transportation, and sold them to the emigrants for cost. A conductor i
was seni^felong with each party, but the company in no case paid his *
fare, but he was furnished with a free ticket by the various lines of »
travel. The transportation companions made the same deduction oni
the tickets they sold to us at a reduced rate, as they did to all other i
companies, picnic parties, conventions, &c.
This is the mode in which business has been ordinarily done between i
the company and the emigrants. When an emigrant comes into the*
office and asks about Kansas, for information, &c. , we give him a i
pamphlet containing all the information we have been able to gather. •
It did not contain any special price of his fare to the Territory; and*
when he asked what that would be, we would state what the railroads »
would furnish tickets for. They would naturally come to our office to
inquire this, because it is the office of the Kansas Emigrant Company.
This pamphlet of information is prepared and furnished, not to per-
suade persons to emigrate, but to avoid the trouble of answering all
the questions persons would probably ask us, by giving them the in-
formation they desire in a convenient form. We never urge them to
go. Some, alter reading our books, would conclude to go, while others
would not. We could not tell how many did not go, but there were
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
887
many who got these pamphlets did not go. As soon as enough con-
cluded to go, to form a party, a conductor was sent along with the
party. Their baggage was marked to facilitate and secure its trans-
portation. The connexion between the company and the emigrant
ceased when the ticket was sold,, and there was no understanding,
Agreement, or promise on either side. No man ever went under the
auspices of this society, for the mere purpose of voting and then return-
ing, so far as I know.
ANSON J. STONE.
YORK CITY, June 27, 1856.
First spring party, March 13, 1855, Dr JRMnson conducting agent.
No.
Names.
No.
Names.
1
Loring Farnsworth, varnisher and
37
J. M. Fogg, Lowell.
polisher, Somerville, Mass. (See
38
O. Rawson, Lawrence.
No. 80, which was substituted.)
39
S. A. Wynn, designer, Millville,
2,3, 4,
William Easterbrook, bricklayer,
Mass.
and 5
wife, mother, and 2 children,
40
J. Wynn, engineer, Millville.
Cambridgeport, Mass.
41
A. Wynn, weaver, Millville.
6
Camuel C. Smith, Cambridgeport,
42
.1. McNannie, weaver, Millville.
Mass.
43
Rev. W. C. High, Northampton.
7
George W. Fitz, Cambridgeport,
44
C. Liscom, Montpelier, Vermont.
Mass.
45
Amos Trott, Portsmouth, N. H.
8
J. M. Lincoln, Cambridgeport,
46
C. Bragg, carver, Lawrence, Mass.
Mass.
47
C. A. Adams, farmer, Bedford.
9
S. Perry, carpenter, Dighton,
48, 49
W. "Hutchinson and wife, West
Mass.
Randolph, Vermont.
10
A. Lord, Augusta, Maine.
50
Iram Higgins, carpenter, Fair-
11
Jacob Bragg, spinner, Lawrence.
haven.
4, 15,
Joseph H. Chase, Newburyport,
51
George W. Hathaway, farmer,
6, 17,
Mass.
Fairhaven.
.8, 18|
52
Alexander Bliss, spar maker, New
(See Nos. 176, 177, 178, 179, 180,
Bedford.
and 180| )
53
William H. Gookin, Portsmouth
9, 20,
Nathaniel H. Gray, varnisher, &c. ,*?
54
Wm. P. Henderson, Portsmouth.
1, 21|
wife, daughter, and granddaugh-
55
Not sold.
ter, 10 years, and boy 3 years
56, 56^
Mrs. Chase.
old, Boston.
57, 58;
T. Fessenden, wife and children,
22
Converse S. Graves, varnisher,
59, 60
Leominster.
!3, 24,
Boston.
Ebenezer Hersey , shoemaker , wife,
61
B. G. Livingston, Fitchbuig,
Mass.
!5, 25|
and 6 children, 10 years, 7 years,
62
Mrs. Fre.Jerick Kimball, Fitch-
3 years, 2 years, and 1 year,
burg, Mass.
Way land, Mass.
63
Mrs. Samuel Kimball, Fitchburg,
26
James G. Bolles, broker, Boston.
Mass
27
L. M. Herrendeen, cooper, Palmer,
64
Kate E. Kellogg, teacher, Bel-
Mass.
chertown.
28
F. Davis, Boston.
65
J. E. Rice, Roxbury, Mass.
29
H. M. Severance, Cambridgeport,
66
S. Bullard, Saxonville.
30
Mass.
H. Wilson, Springvale, Maine.
67
R. Seavy, carpenter, Lawrence,
Mass.
31
B. Gatchill, Springvale, Maine.
68
S. Whitaker, machinist, Law-
32
J. W. Brooks, Springvalft, Maine.
rence, Mass.
33
G. F. Brown, carpenter, Paw-
tucket.
69
George Rhymes, machinist, Law-
rence, Mass.
34
J. Brown, farmer, Paw tucket.
70
G. Currier, stone cutter, Lawrence.
35
36
J. C. Disney, Boston.
A. Doane, Eastham, Maine.
71
Abiel Morrison, painter, Law-
rence.
888
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIRST SPRING PARTY— Continued.
No.
Names.
No.
Names,
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97, 98,
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115,115
Henry Hammond, Lawrence. 116
J. W. Luce, watchmaker, Law-
rence. > 117
J. M. Emerson, carpenter, Boston.
William Clealand, farmer, Na- 118, 119,
tick, Mass. 119|
A. C. Wright, shoemaker, Natick. 120
C. L. Wilbur, engineer, Boston.
Mrs. C. L. Wilbur, Boston.
F. Bolles, Littleton.
L. Farnsworth, varnisher, &c., j 141
Nashua
J. Lockley, Leominster. 142
J. L. Locklev, Leominster.
F. A Abbott", manufacturer, Low- 143
ell.
Daniel Downes, teamster, Cam- ; 144
bridgeport, Mass.
J. C. French, Brunswick, Maine. 145
G. B. French, Brunswick, Maine.
C. Hathaway, Montpelier Ver- | 146
mont. (See 102.)
(See 84 ) 147, 148
E. Emerson, varnisher and pol-
isher, Boston. 149
H Evans, shoemaker, Lynn,
Mass. 150
J. Evans, Lynn, Mass.
Caroline Evans, Lynn, Mass. 151
Betsy Evans, Lynn Mass.
G. G. Kimball, manufacturer, 152,153,
Lawrence, Mass. 153£
H. Y. F. Fisher, Lawrence, Mass. | 154
Daniel Merrill, Saco, Maine.
John Pike, carpenter, wife and 155
2 children, Biddeford, Maine.
Granville Libbey, Saco, Maine. 156
Wm. Rutter, Leominster, Mass.
Charles Hathaway, Montpelier, j 157
Vermont. (See 87.) 158
David Ambrose, carpenter, Law- 159
rence, Mass.
Joshua Abbott, farmer, Dexter, 160
Maine. 161
Samuel Smith, shoemaker, Dor- ! 162, 163
Chester.
Samuel Hall, carpenter, stone- | 164
ham.
Moses Hubbard, machinist. South j 165
Berwick, Maine.
Paul II. Hubbard, carpenter, : 166
South Berwick, Maine.
Hanson Moorej shoemaker, South j 167
Berwick, Maine. 168
William Sawyer, storekeeper, !
Saco, Maine, 169
Roswell Phillips, machinist, Saco, j!
Maine. 170
Luther Dame, Porthmouth, Me.
W. B. Waite, Portsmouth, Me. 171
W. A. Adams, carpenter, Milton J 172
railway.
Jes.-e Stone and son, Wm. Henry | 173
Stone, Medford, Mass.
William Hutchinson, West Ran-,
dolph.
Joseph C. Miller, tinman, Provi-i
dence, R. I.
Leonard Litchfield, Leominster, •
Mass.
Frederick J. Locke, farmer, West :
Cambridge, Mass.
121 to 140 sent to W. W. Rice,
Worcester. See after No. 182. '
Joseph Keller, cabinet maker, Ba-t
den, Germany.
Herman Vogel, cabinet maker,
Saxony.
William Marshall, mason, Fitch-
burg, Mass.
George Dean, tanner, West Taun- •
ton, Mass.
George Abel Crane, farmer, West
Taunton, Mass.
Francis B. Swift, printer, Bruns-
wick, Maine.
William B. Marshall, farmer, and :
wife, East Weare, N. H.
Andrew B. Marshall, teacher •>
East Weare, N. H.
L. H. Pillsbury, carpenter, Lon-
dondery.
Chas. F. Tolman, jr., shoemaker [
Gloucester.
E. A. Landon, cutler, wife, am
boy 8 years, Plymouth Conn, j
Albert Irish, manufacturer, Bid j
deford, Maine.
Josiah Reed, tin plater, Portland
Maine
Sarah Ann Fick, 2 children unde
5, New York.
William B. Lewis, caulker, N. Y '
Samuel Lewis, hair dresser, N. Y
Nathan E. Redland, mason, Bus
ton, Maine.
Andrew H. Field, Portland, Me |
Thomas Bickerton, Portland, Me?
J. W. Hague, farmer, and wif<
Plymouth, Conn.
H. J. Kloppenburg, farmer, Lo\*'
ell, Mass.
H. P. Waters, jeweller, Prov j
dence.
A. S. Waters, jeweller, Prov j
dence, R. I.
(Not used.)
J. G. Bunker, cabinet make
Providence, R. I.
H. H. Wentworth, machinii
Providence, R. I.
William Brown, farmer, Pro\
dence, R. I.
E. D. Ingraham, Coventry, R.
P. Ingraham, farmer, Coventr
R I.
J. A. Brown, carpenter, Gree
wich, R. I.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
FIKST SPRING- PARTY— Continued.
889
No.
Names.
No.
Names.
174
174|
175
76, 177,
.78, 179,
G. A. Gorton, carpenter, East
Greenwich, R. I.
J. W. Bunker, 12 years, Provi-
dence, R. I.
(Not used.)
Joseph H. Chase, farmer, wife,
son Henry, Eliza, Le Roy S.
180,180|
181
182
Brown, and Hannah Chase, and
3 under 5, Newburyport, Mass.
Horace W. Taber, stone cutter,
Holland, Vt.
Luther Bixby, farmer, Moretown,
Vermont.
Names omitted in numerical order, added to the first party from Worcester, Mass.
No.
Names.
No.
Names.
134
135
136
No. 121 to 133, both inclusive, re-
tained unused.
E Trask.
G. L. Crosby.
Mary B. Stone,
137
138
139
140
Abram Stone.
E. Jones.
Abner C. Haskell, North Brook-
field, Mass.
Chas. A. Haskell, N. Brookfield.
I hereby certify that the aforegoing is a true copy of the original list of the first spring
party for Kansas under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, which
eft Boston on March 13, 1855.
THOMAS H. WEBB,
Secretary Neio England Emigrant *flid Company.
BOSTON, June 26, 1856.
Second party, March 20, 1855, John T. Farwell conducting agent.
No.
l
2
3
4, 5, 5|
6,7,8,9
10
11
12, 13
15,
14
17
Names.
Edward Turner, Olneyville, R. I.
George Abbott, Providence, R. I.
Daniel W Palmer, machinist and
gunsmith, South Andover.
John A. Parkin, farmer, son 15
years, and daughter.
William H. Hovey, farmer, and
wife, Francis W. H., and Mrs
Home and daughter 3 years
old, Cambridgeport.
George Walker, currier, Paw-
tucket, R. I.
Carlos Cooley , teacher, Worcester,
Mass
Edward Chappell, farmer, and
wife, Blackstone, Mass.
George Fricker, laborer, Black-
stone, Mass.
Benjamin Davis, farmer, son Jas..
12 years, Pawtucket, R. I.
David Douglas, farmer, Pawtuck-
et, R. I.
No.
16
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Names.
Albert Fuller, carpenter, Paw-
tucket, R. I.
Robinson Bentley , Providence, R. I.
John McCabe, Providence, R. 1.
Edward A. Walton, farmer, Sa-
lem, Mass.
Thomas Hodgedon, South Ber-
wick, Maine, (transferred to 3d
party.)
Henry S. Dole, operative, Lowell,
Mass.
Joseph Brown, carpenter, and son
Andrew F., 3| years, Lowell,
Mass.
Susan W. Brown, Lowell, Mass.
Levi E. Brown, farmer, Lowell,
Mass.
Jonathan, Brown, farmer, Wil-
mot, N. H.
Israel H. Brown, farmer, Wil-
mot, N. H.
Erastus Wright, farmer, Westford ,
Mass.
890
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SECOND PAKTY— Continued.
No.
Names.
No.
Names.
29
30
3L
32
33, 34
35, 36
37
39
40
41
42, 43
44,45,46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56, 57,
58, 59,
60, 61,
62, 63,
64, 65,
65|
66
67
68
69
70
71
72, 73,
74, 74|
75, 76,
76|
Erastus E. Wright, farmer, West-
ford, Mass.
Nathan Hackett, manufacturer,
Lowell, Mass.
Lavinia Hackett, Lowell, Mass.
Phebe A. Thurston, Lowell, Mass.
Albert Whitcomb and wife, Keene,
N. H.
Charles Miller, shoemaker, and
wife, Walpole, N. H.
Isaac Mattoon, blacksmith, Wal-
pole, N. H.
Thomas E. Pierce, carpenter,
Walpole, N. H.
Edwin Guild, teacher, Walpole,
N. H.
Benjamin E. Chase, Salem, Mass.
Nathaniel M. Thomas, mason,
Way land, Mass.
Chas. W. Smith, carpenter, and
wife, Lowell.
Henry Atherton, farmer, and wife
and 2 children, Ellen M., 12
years, and Henry F., 6 years.
Isaac P. Choate, teacher, Naples,
Maine.
Wm. F. Pray, So. Berwick, Me.
Edward Woodman, Lawrence,
Mass.
Henry Bayes, Lawrence, Mass.
John H. Blaisdell, carpenter,
Southampton, N. H.
J. N. Pierce, trader, New Bedford,
Mass.
Monroe Preston, Manchester,
N. H.
Marcellus Preston, Lowell.
William ti. Morse, Topsham, Me.
Mrs. J. H. Nicholls, husband,
John King, (servant,) George
B. N., one-half, Jos. G. Green,
wife, 2 sons, 11 years and 8
years, James Sargent, farmer,
Dumnerstown, Vt., Wallace
Sargent, Mrs. Whitney, (wid-
ow,) Miss Sarah Jones, (intend-
ed bride,) Keene, N. H.
Joseph Thomas Damon, farmer,
Cochituate.
Samuel Colby, farmer, Spring-
field, N. H.
Christ. C. Colby, farmer, Spring-
field, N. H.
John B. Colby, farmer, Sprinor-
field, N. H.
Nathan Johnson, farmer, Graf-
ton, N. H
Alonzo Johnson, farmer, Grafton
Geo. W. Pearce, tin plate worker,
wife, 1 boy 13, 2 girls 10 and 14
years, and 2 boys 3 arid 1 years.
Peter Barton, house joiner, wife,
girl 4 years, and boy 3 years,
and infant girl, Croyden, N. H.
77
78
79
80
81, 82
83
84
85
86
87, 88
89, 90
91
92
93
94
95
96
107
108
109
110, 111
112, 113
114, 115
116
117
118
119
120 |
121, 122,
123, 124
125 \
126
126|
William Mitchell, shoemaker,,;
Bridgewater, Mass.
Thomas Darling, farmer, Middle-it
boro' Mass.
Alpheus Wright, farmer, West-
ford, Mass.
Charles H. Young, Lowell, Mass'*
Thomas Paget and Isabella, hta
wife, Lowell.
Josiah C. Goodrich, farmer, Mt'
Verrion, N. H.
Isaac C. Trott, shipmaster, Bath:
Maine.
Walter C. Trott, sailor, Bath, Meit
Charles S. Beath, carpenter, Bath';
Maine.
Leverett Haskell, farmer, am
wife, Clarernont, N. H.
H. K. Rawson, carpenter, an'
wife, Worcester.
Ellen, 10 years, Wallace, 7 years*!
also Charles, 4 years, and Gee-'
H. Rawson, 2 years.
John Haskell, operative, Worces*!
ter, Mass.
Jas. S. Haskell, operative, Woi
cester, Mass.
John N. Wilson, farmer, Worces-
ter, Mass.
Walter Wilson, farmer, Worcej"
ter, Mass.
L. H. Bas^om, boot and shci
dealer.
97 to 106 sent to Worcester, rti
turned unsold
Bernard Lee, operative, Lowel
Mass.
Patrick Lee, operative, Lowel
Mass.
Jas. Lee, operative, Lowell, Mas;
Aaron E. Platt, farmer, and wifS.
Rindge, N. H.
D. Hagar, farmer, and wifi
Rindge, N. H.
Benjamin Stowe, farmer, and wifi
and son 9 mos., Rindge, N. H!
Warren Stowe, farmer, Rindgr
N. H.
Geo. W. Nichols, lumber dealei*
Boston.
Shad E. Sumner, clerk, Boston. i.
Robert W Carr, lawyer, Medial |
ics' Falls, Maine.
S. C. Rowe, painter, Boston.
E. W. H. Thomas, farmer, wif<!
son Edward, 16 years, 2 girl
11 and 13, and infant, Biddi
ford Maine.
Samuel M. Prescott, blacksmith
Southampton, N. H.
Benj. Smith, carpenter, Sout
boro', Mass.
Elbridge G. Smith, Southboro
Mass.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SECOND PAKTY— Continued.
891
Names.
| NO.
Namas.
No.
r
127 ! James R. Goodwin, painter, Bos-
ton.
128 ! Ernest Halbawer, operative, Ded-
ham, Mass.
' 129 Charles, son of do.
130 Christina Halbawer,
131 Adolphe Tansler, operative, Dod-
ham, Mass.
132 i John. N. Shaw, farmer, Grafton, |j
N. H.
133 J Charles Runja, operative, Ded-
ham, Mass.
134 j Wife, Min'de Runja, Dedham, I
Mass.
134| Louisa Runja, 11 years, Christina j
Runja, 4 years, Dedham, Mass. |
135 John Janes, farmer, Foxboro', j
Mass.
136 Otis Potter, jeweller, Providence,
R. I.
137 Ezra A. Potter, painter, Provi-
dence, R. 1.
138 Geo. A. Potter, Providence, R. I.
139 E. W. Burroughs, carpenter,
Providence, R. 1.
140 I G. P. Richardson, grocer, Provi-
dence, R. I.
141 j James Farnum, carpenter, Salem,
Mass.
142 i Lorenzo D. Full, carpenter, An-
dover, Mass.
143 | Willard Low. farmer, Fitchburg,
Mass.
144 j Elisha F. Mayo, farmer, Orleans,
Mass.
[ hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original list of the second spring
prty for Kansas, under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, which
lit Boston on March 20, 1855.
THOMAS H. WEBB,
Secretary Neiv England Emigrant Jlid Company.
BOSTON, June 26, 1856.
-L ICliI W/ JJIA.1 VU j -iULU.'/ O/t/ £J( j J-UUUj J^/ . JLJUAjl^liLllU ^Ull/UjUj^liVlliU W/UO/M/.
No.
Names.
No.
Names.
a, 2
Corneilus Holcomb and wife,
20
William Dewitt, Claremont, N. H.
Northampton, Mass.
21 and 22 not taken.
3
L. Dwight Colman, Northampton,
23
Addison Wardwell, farmer, Penob-
Mass.
scot, Maine.
4
Leonard Dunn, Northampton,
24
Mary Wardwell, Penobscot, Me.
Mass.
25
Charles R. Smith, tin plater, East
>6, 6i
Benjamin C. Booram, carpenter,
Cambridge.
John B. and James B., 10 years,
26
John W. Shepard, clerk, Nashua,
Taunton, Mass.
N. H.
7
Ebenezer Farririgton, farmer, Fran-
27
Alonzo Gray, carpenter, Newport,
| cistown, J\. W.
R. I.
59, 9£
Asber R. Peckham, carpenter, 1
28
G. W. Lee, Cumberland, R. I.
girl 9 years, 2 boys 7 and 5 years,
29
Mrs. H. H. Lee, Cumberland,
Taunton, Mass.
R.I.
10
Stephen H. Thurlow, carpenter,
30
Allen B. Lee, Cumberland, R. I.
Nevvburyport, Mass.
31, 31|
John G. Ricker, farmer, and John
1. 12 James Winslow and wife, New
O'Donnell, Boston.
Bedford, Mass.
32, 33
E. S. Buffum, shoemaker, and
1, 14 ; R. M. Taber, sailmaker, and wife,
wife, Salem.
New Bedford, Mass.
34, 35
Frederick Hubon, carpenter, and
1. 15i T. J. Wright, farmer, and daugh-
wife, Salem.
ter 8 years, Claremont, N. H.
36
John Melcher, tailor, Salem.
Ifi
17
Daniel Keyse, farmer.
Miss E. Wallingford, teacher.
37
Augustus Miles, engineer, Concord,
Mass.
16 J. Swett, carpenter.
38
Charles L. Sawin, Littleton, Mass.
19 I William Earle, Claremont, N. H.
39
Franklin Kendall, fanner, Boston.
892
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
THIRD PARTY— Continued.
No.
40
41
42
43
44J
45
46
47, 48
49
50, 51
54
55
56
57
Names.
Samuel Fisher, farmer. Greenfield,
N. H.
George M. Morse, expressman,
Providence, R. I.
Timothy Eaton, shoe manufacturer,
West Cambridge.
Charles Eaton, Peterboro', N. H.
Charles R. Eaton, Peterboro', IV. H,
David Scott, carpenter, Provi-
dence, R. I.
Russell D. Armingion, Providence,
R. I.
Orin Rogers, trader, and wife,
Hartford, Conn.
| E. C. Parson, farmer, Hartford,
Conn.
John T. Dow, tailor, and wife, and
child 3 years, Hartford, Conn.
52, 53 I Daniel Rid, tailor, and wife, also
child 3 years, Hartford.
Joseph Hicks, shoemaker, Plais-
tow, N. H.
George Buffum, carpenter, Salem,
Mass.
Joseph Kehew, Salem, Mass.
William E. Goodnow, printer, Nor-
way, Maine.
No.
Names.
58 I Jacob Rowe, farmer, Lyme, N./i
59
60
61, 62,
63
64, 65
GG
G7
71
72
73
74
75
88
.89
89 1
90
George Rowe, Lyme, N. H.
W. Y. Gross, carpenter, Duxbiu
Mass
Henry Leis, printer, and wife, $
sons, Wm. and George, Prt1!
dence.
Joseph Redfield, wife, and 2 c'-j
dren, under 4 years, Hartfd
Conn.
! G. W. M. Hibbard, blacksmi
Lisbon, N. H.
! Rev. William M. Cone,
tucket, R. 1.
I 68, 69, and 70 not sold.
Sandford Jones, Oxford,
Patrick Welch, Uxbridge, Masn
Henry C. Webb, Sutton, Ma»«.j
George W. Webb Sutton, Masn|
J. S. Burt, Sutton, Mass.
76 to 87, inclusive, not used.
J. N. Mathes, painter, Lawrence!
Edward Seagrave, minister.
David W. Seagrave, 14 JM
Providence.
Francis Lewis, machinist, fi|
Cambridge, Mass
I hereby certify that the aforegoing is a true copy of the original list of the third sp;1
party for Kansas, under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, w«i
left Boston on March 27, 1855.
THOMAS H. WEBB,
Secretary New England Emigrant Jlid Com
BOSTON, June 26, 1856.
Names of males in party of aid emigrants under C.
March, 1855.
Kobb
I
°°i
a"1
o
6
Names.
02 .
-« 0
!<•
|s
ci
0^3
°3
|
1
a
§~
&
Names.
J
t
47
70
F. Bolles
83
103
F. A. Abbott
393
1055
161
IfJQ
Thomas Bickerton
104
170
114
W A Adams
170
]1
17^
24
James G Bowles
i 1QO
32
J W Brooks
70
QQ
G "P Rrown
7^
34
145
46
C Brao-o-
14
52
176
66
S. Billiard..
i 135
G. L. Crosby
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
893
Names of party of aid emigrants under C. Robinson — Continued.
fe
1
Is
C^
o
C
&
Names.
CO .
^4 O
JPO
a
in
§1
0^
£^
^
0,
1 .
°.s
C ^
o
6
Names.
to .
-M 0
OCO
~0 1-i
ft
rt to
0:3
p'.ti
^^
OQ
1010
fil
902
OK
jj. Q Jjisnev
993
67
1032
Of?
73
J. W. Luce
1007
QA
r> ' i n
81
T tin n
1030
82
J. L. Lockley
I A A
n n ' * '
100
9
118
999
74
qqn
120
Frederick J Locke. . . . . . . . .
909
on
152
810
on
H Evans
157
William B. Lewis
01
J Evans
158
7
George ^V\T Fitz
42
10
A Ford .
71
37
J M Fogg
1019
96
Daniel Merrill
931
57
T Fessenden
109
1
117
Joseph C. Miller
80
1 8^
J C French
143
147
William Marshall
William B.Marshall
985
86
G B French
14Q
Andrew B Marshall .
Of;
101 5
9
S Perry
160
97
10
Nath H G^-iy . . .
111
Roswell Phillips
I 22
Converse L Graves
1008
150
L. H. Pillsbury
31
53
B. Gatchill
William H. Gookino-
'*989*'
38
65
O. Ravvson
J. C. Rice
174
G. A. Gorton f.
943
69
1033
23
101
William Rutter
992
27
L. M. Herrenden
980
155
Josiah Reed
1025
! 43
Rev. C. W. Hio-h
998
159
Nathan E Redland ....
48
1 W Hutchinson
6
Samuel C. Smith
116
, 50
29
105
1000
51
110
54
William P. Henderson
115
1 72
146
Francis B. Swift . . .
' 87
137
TOP,
1026
45
Amos Trott
891
107
Samuel Hall
1021
151
Charles F Tollman *ir
107
Moses Hubbard .... ....
1011
181
Horace W Taber
108
Paul R. Hubbard
981
134
E. Trask
169,
J. W. Hague
142
Herman Vogel .
139
Abner C. Haskell
30
H Wilson
140
Charles A. Haskell
867
39
S A Wynn
154
Albert Irish
983
40
J Wynn
171
E. D. Ingraham
41
A Wynn
179
P. Ingraham
68
L Whittier
138
862
76
A. C. Wright
94
G. G. Gimball
1003
994
77
C.L. Wilbur
W B Waite
1014
141
Joseph Keller
165
H P Waters
164
Ififi
A S Waters
8
J. W. Lincoln.
IRQ
II H Wentworth
44
1004
Total of males in the party ". 126
Total of those who voted 37
894 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
JOHN SCOTT called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver :
I was present at the election of March 30, 1855, in Burr Oak pn
cinct in the 14th district, in this Territory. I saw many Missouria*
there. There had been a good deal of talk ahout the settlement I
Kansas, and the interference of eastern people in the settlement i
that Territory, since the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill,
was but a short time after the passage of that act that we learnt
through the papers about the forming of a society in the east for t;
purpose of promoting the settlement of Kansas Territory, with tH
view of making it a free State. Missouri, being a slave State, and 1:
lieving that an effort of that kind, if successful, would injure her ci
zens in the enjoyment of their slave property, were indignant, a:;i
became determined to use all means in their power to counteract t
efforts of eastern people upon that subject.
They were excited upon that subject, and have been so ever sinn
This rumor and excitement extended all over the State,, and more psi
ticularly in the borders. The general rumor was that this easte
society was for no other purpose than making Kansas a free Stai
One great reason why we believed that was the only object of the *
ciety was, that we heard of and saw no efforts to settle Nebras^i
or the other Territories with free State, men. The people of the soul
have always thought they have always been interfered with by t
north, and the people of Missouri considered this the most open a*
bold movement the northern and eastern societies ever made. I £
perfectly satisfied, and I have heard hundreds of Missourians laine
that such a course had been pursued by the north, and gave it as th<
opinion that there would have been no excitement upon the subject
slavery, except for the extraordinary movement made by the noii.
and east for the purpose of making Kansas a free State. Most of tt
slaves of the State of Missouri are in the western border counties, .
the hemp growing portion of Missouri. The people of Missouri we'
a good deal excited j as t before the March election, because it had ben
so long postponed, and it was generally supposed that it was pew
poned in order to allow time for eastern emigrants to arrive here^ thi
they might control the elections. Everybody that I heard speaks
it expressed that belief, both in and out of the Territory. The san
rumors were in the Territory as in Missouri. Immediately precedin
that election, and even before the opening of navigation, we had T
mors that hundreds of eastern people were in St. Louis, waiting i
the navigation of the river to be opened, that they might get up
the Territory in time for the election, and the truth of these rumo
was established by the accounts steamboat officers afterwards broug1
up of the emigrants they had landed at different places in and net
the Territory, who had no families and very little property, exce
little oil cloth carpet sacks. For some two or three weeks before t'
election the rumor was prevalent that a good many eastern peop
were being sent here to be at the elections, and then were going baa
There was a general expression of opinion that the people of Missoi
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 895
should turn out and come to the Territory, and prevent this illegal
Doting by force, if necessary. We regarded this as invasion of the
lorthern people of a Territory which was contiguous to Missouri, for
he purpose of controlling the institutions of the Territory, and the
lefeat of the objects of the Kansas-Nebraska bill.
I do not recollect as I ever heard any Missourians advocate the
)olicy of Missourians going over to that election and voting, in the
tbsence of this eastern emigration about the time of the election, ex-
tept, perhaps, General Stringfellow, who advocated the doctrine that
ihe Missourians had the right to go there any time to vote, and, per-
laps, urged them to come for that purpose. It was determined by
he Missourians that if the eastern emigrants were allowed to vote,
7e would vote also, or we would destroy the poll books and break up
he elections ; and the determination is, that eastern people shall not
)e allowed to interfere and control the domestic institutions of Kan-
as, if the Union is dissolved in preventing it, though we are willing
hat all honest, well-meaning settlers shall come and be admitted to
bll the equality of the other citizens.
I went to the Burr Oak precinct with a company of other Missou-
•ians, with no arms myself, and I saw one gun in the party, and a
few pistols and side arms. The determination of the people of Mis-
louri was to interfere with no one except this boat load of eastern emi-
grants which was expected at that precinct, and if they arrived we
letermined, if strong enough, to march them back, to the tune of the
Rogue's March, to the river, and make them get on the boat they got
fff. If we were not strong enough and they were allowed to vote, we
vere determined to vote too. I heard no conversation from any Mis-
fourian to interrupt or interfere in the slightest degree with any resi-
lent voter of the Territory. I have never heard any Missourians,
fxcept General B. F. Stringfellow, announce or advocate the doctrine
fhat Missourians ought to come over into the Territory and vote and
nterfere in the elections in any manner, except only during the
ixistence of these rumors in regard to these eastern emigrants, and
hen only to prevent them from controlling the election improperly,
is we conceived it would be. I did not see the slightest effort made
>n the 3'3th of March to interfere with the voters of the district, and
here was no disturbance in regard to the election. There was one
ittle fight growing out of whiskey, and one who had been fighting
net with a young man from Missouri, and they got into a quarrel,
ind the man drew a pistol on the young man or boy, and the boy
mocked him down with a stick, but the pistol was not discharged at
ill. That was the end of the fight.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
^ I do not think the Missourians would ever have got excited about
lansas, but for the rumors concerning eastern emigrants. The extra-
)rdinary efforts made by the eastern people, except these emigrant aid
societies, that I have heard of, is the newspaper reports of men, rifles, and
neans being sent out here, as they say, to defend themselves, but, as
ve think, to control the elections here. If the Missouri compromise
lad not been repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska act, I think Kansas
396 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Territory would have been made a slave State, as most of the proal
nent men of Missouri considered that compromise repealed since 185^
and I have no doubt that the feeling in regard to Kansas then woul
have been the same as now. The avowed object of making a frc
State by persons living remote from the Territory, and having no ill
terest in it, and the raising of money and means for that purpose, ,
the obnoxious feature of these emigrant aid societies, though there !
nothing illegal in that ; but it is an extraordinary interference im
remote region of the country. I think it is a new thing for free Statd
to get up societies to make free States out of Territories.
The first extraordinary effort that the Missourians made to me*
the action of these emigrant aid societies, was in the fall of 1854, <
the early part of the winter, to form societies in Kansas and Missoun
in which each member pledged himself to use all honorable and legj
means to make Kansas a slave State. I cannot speak of but thrii
counties, but I have heard that, in three counties there, societies $1
isted. In our county I knew one society existed ; it was a secnj
society. I do not know that these societies are now in operation ; }\
attended one up to the 30th March, 1855, and then stopped attendinj
them, and do not know about them since.
I think, perhaps, through the influence of the members of the*'
societies persons were induced to come over here to the election, butt]
do not think any who did come were members of this society. T;'
objects attempted to be affected by this society, was to hunt up ait I
induce pro-slavery men to come to this Territory and become actui|
settlers. I never heard of any fund ; I deemed the society worth!
under the circumstances of the existing of the aid societies in the eaa
For Missourians to have done it at any time I should have consideru
a worthy object for the purpose of building up a bulwark around the
domestic institutions as a matter of defence of their slave properti
but not for any political purpose. I consider it an unworthy objej1
for persons who derive no pecuniary benefit from it, to undertake •
make Kansas a free State, and thus injure Missouri.
But since the 30th of March, 1855, I think that society has be»<
superseded by another society, which has a fund for the purpose, .
sending pro-slavery emigration to this Territory, and is regularly c<
ganized for that purpose. The fund is used in aiding emigrants, 1.
loaning them money to get into the Territory,, in providing claim)
and entering the land. It is a self-defensive organization, intend
to have a bearing upon the political institutions of the Territory,
far as slavery is concerned.
So far as I know anything of the society, the means of the socie
is not to build up mills and hotels, but to aid individual settlers |
their claims, and to do with the funds of the society for them wbl
they individualy would do with their own money for themselves.
think these conversations have been formed pretty extensively ov>|
Missouri, and I think persons have been selected in Missouri to go j
other southern States and build up similar societies there, but to whii
extent that has been done I do not know. I think the first steambo!
that arrived at St. Joseph's in 1855 was on the 28th of February, a|
I think her name was the Polar Star. Boats arrived at St. Joseptj
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 897
from St. Louis in February, 1854, and February, 1855, if I mistake
not, and that was considered an unusual thing. Every boat that ar-
rived brought information by its officers of this emigration from the
east, one stating that so many came up on his boat, and another, that
his had been chartered entirely for eastern emigrants, &c., while the
papers of St. Louis contained accounts of the numbers arriving there ;
and we also heard news by the telegraph, to the same effect, previous
to the election.
I do not think any eastern emigrants arrived at St. Joseph's that
spring before the election, and they came but in very small numbers
at any time. I do not recollect the names of the steamboat officers
who brought this news. This new society I have named was formed
in the first part of last winter, and we sent lecturers to the southern
States, but I never learned whether they succeeded in their errand or
not.
To Mr. Oliver :
I do not know whether the charter by the Massachusetts legislature
}f an Emigrant Aid Society, with a capital of five millions of dollars
to send out free State emigrants here, was legal or not, as I do not
know the constitution of Massachusetts ; but, admitting it to be legal
and authorized by the constitution of Massachusetts, I think it -is an
unwarranted interference on the part of one State of this confederacy
in the affairs of a Territory, and that such an interference 'is not war-
ranted by the Constitution of the United States ; that it is bad faith
to the other States of the Union, and tends to a dissolution of the
Union.
I do not think I would have suggested to any one in Missouri the
forming of societies in Missouri but for these eastern societies, and
they were formed but as a means of self-defence and to counteract the
effect of those eastern societies, and I think it is the general expres-
sion, and I know it is the ardent hope of every man in Missouri
'hat I have heard express himself, that if the north would cease ope-
rating by these societies, Missouri would also cease to use those she
has established.
All that Missourians asked was that the principles of the Kansas-
Nebraska act should be carried out, and the actual settlers of the Ter-
ritory allowed to manage their own domestic institutions for them-
selves.
To Mr. Howard:
I do not know that the State of Massachusetts ever passed the char-
ier I have referred to, but such is the rumor.
JOHN SCOTT.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
MATTHEW K. WALKER called and sworn.
To Mr. Anderson : «
I now reside in Wyandott City, in Kansas Territory, at the mouth
)f the Kansas river, about thirty miles from Leaven worth City, and
H. Kep. 200 57*
898 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
four miles from Kansas City, in Missouri. I have resided there f<;
about fourteen years.
Some time in the month of June or July of 1854, Mr. Jenkins, pr*i
prietor of t'he Union hotel, now the American hotel, requested me
favor a friend of his with the loan of a horse to go to Leavenwort'l
I requested Mr. Jenkins to give his friend a letter of introduction i
me, and he could "be accommodated with a horse. Some two daji
afterwards, a gentleman presented himself to me as Dr. Charles Ko\
inson, of Boston, Massachusetts, with a letter of introduction fro»|
Mr. Walker. He staid a few moments and gpt the horse; he TV«
gone two days, and returned; he staid some time with me on his i
turn, in private conversation. He wanted to know if a compan
could get a situation there for a manufacturing establishment ; he sm
he wanted to get the place for that purpose, and asked what the till
would be if he concluded to purchase ; he said that the company cod
command as much as a capital of $5,000,000, and that this would foul
the nucleus of the future operations of the company ; that their objcii
was to ma^ke Kansas a free State, and ameliorate the condition of t
negro. u After forming a free State, with free suffrage, by amalgij
mation of the Indians with the negroes," he said, "amalgamate
with the whites would be an easy matter."
He said their object was to make Kansas a free State, and th^i
would then be three free States surrounding Missouri, and that Mv
souri would be compelled to emancipate her slaves. It was comimj
rumor prior to the 30th of March, 1855, that Doctor Charles Rob |
son was connected with the Emigrant Aid Society of Massachusei
as one of their principals.
In the private conversation before alluded to, Mr. Robinson wisl-
to purchase a "town site" as a nucleus for the operations of his ccj
pany, in the Wyandott country, and Lawrence was shortly after wa«i
laid out.
Just preceding the election of the 30th of March, large numbers
men from the free States landed at Kansas City, Missouri,, and w
into Kansas Territory ; some of them went to Lawrence and som«
them to other points. Sometimes there would be fifty and sometii
one hundred of them on a boat, and sometimes even more than til
The boats were then arriving almost every day,, and I recollect t
four arrived on one day having great numbers of emigrants on bo£<
I saw and noticed the baggage of these men. They mostly had bt
carpet sacks or hand satchels. I saw very few women amongst th'
They appeared to be young and unmarried men generally. I
frequent conversations with these men. Some of them told me t!
came out under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society, and su
of them to secure homes for themselves and their friends. These i
came into the Territory just before the election of the 30th of Ma;
1855, and I saw many of them returning shortly after the elec
and going off on the boats.
The common rumor at that time in the mouths of everybody, so -r
as I heard any expression, both in the Territory and in the boi 'r
counties of Missouri was, that the object of those emigrants sent lit
here was to make Kansas a free State. It was also common rur ''•
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 899
and was generally believed, that the object of those who sent out this
emigration was not only to make Kansas a free State, but also to ope-
rate upon the institution of slavery in the State of Missouri. These
ejnigrants were generally armed with shot guns, rifles, Colt's pistols,
and bowie knives.
It was common rumor also, that Governor Reader was delaying the
election of the territorial legislature until the spring emigration from
the east and north could arrive and be present to participate in the
election of the 30th of March, 1855. This rumor was generally be-
lieved. I did not know anybody in the Territory or on the border of
Missouri who did not give entire credence to the rumor. The people
of Missouri and the old settlers of the Territory were alarmed and
very greatly excited at the unusual movements at the north and east,
which they considered would engender civil war. It was the general
feeling in Missouri to resist these encroachments of the north by all
reasonable and legal means. It is the general impression, and it is
my belief, that had it not been for the movements of the Emigrant
Aid Societies of the east, the people of Missouri would never have in-
terfered with the elections in Kansas Territory. The people of Mis-
souri acted upon the principle of self-defence, and to counteract the
unusual and extraordinary movements which were being made at the
north.
MATTHEW E, WALKER.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 22, 1856.
CAMP NEAR LECOMPTON, June 6, 1856.
G-ENTLEMEN : Having seen a copy of the testimony given by Mathew
JR. Walker, and being deprived of the power to appear before you in
Iperson, I desire to submit the following statement of facts touching
the testimony of Mr. Walker :
I left Massachusetts for Kansas in June, 1854, for the purpose of
obtaining information relative to the same, partly on my own account,
partly on account of a business firm in the place of my residence, and
partly on account of a gentleman, a manufacturer in Boston. At that
time no Emigrant Aid Society, with which I have since been con-
nected, was in existence, and, consequently, I could not act as agent
of such society. My first connexion with an emigrant aid society,
as official agent, was some time in September, 1854, and I never had
any connexion with any company with a capital of $5,000,000.
The statement of Mr. Walker about amalgamation is without the
least foundation in truth. I am not a friend of amalgamation of the
African and unglo-Saxon or Indian races, and never have been ; and
the fact that negro slavery is the principal cause of this amalgamation
in the United States, is to me a very strong argument against the
institution.
The statement about surrounding Missouri with free States is, to
the best of my recollection, also a fabrication. I was not acting for
any company at all, except a business firm, and never said to Mr.
900 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Walker that I was acting for a company whose object was to mafok
Kansas a free State.
Prior to the 30th of March, 1855, but one company arrived in th
Territory, in that year, under the auspices of the New England Emi
grant Aid Society, and that contained about one hundred men an<
about seventy wom«n and children, most of whom now reside i:
Kansas. I came up the Missouri river with that company and foum
a large number, of Missourians coming to Kansas, as they said, t
vote.
It was estimated that the baggage of the party with which I cam
weighed twenty tons, and I know of no person in the party who hai
no baggage except a " carpet sack/'
Before I left Massachusetts, in June, 1854, and months before tl
Emigrant Aid Society of which I am agent was organized, I sai;
published accounts of meetings held in western Missouri for the avowe
purpose of settling the Territory with pro-slavery men and keepim
free State men out. On my way to the Territory, at that time, ,
heard Mr. Stringfellow swear that Kansas should and would be
slave State, and no abolitionist should be allowed to live in the Ten
tory. He also said that if he had the power he would hang eve:<
abolitionist in the country, and every man north of Mason and Dixo:
line was an abolitionist.
On my first arrival in Kansas, in 1854, it was generally unders
that secret societies were in existence in Missouri for the purpose
making Kansas a slave State, and of driving free State men from ti
Territory, by every means in their power. I saw and conversed wi'
persons who said they belonged to such a society, and had no reast
to doubt their veracity. This was several weeks before any northeij
party of settlers had arrived in the Territory, as the first party frcr
the northern States arrived in the month of August, 1854.
C. ROBINSON., j
To the KANSAS INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
TERRITORY or KANSAS, > gs
Lawrence City, )
This is to certify that on the 6th day of June, A. D. 1856, at
office, near Lecompton, in the Territory of Kansas, personally ?
peared before me, Charles Robinson, physician, who made oath
the facts set forth in the above communication, and to which h<3 affi:
his signature in my presence, are true, according to the best of
knowledge and belief.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, a commissioner properly
missioned for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the day
year above written. As witness my hand and private seal, my offi
seal having been destroyed by a mob which entered my office on
21st ultimo, under the direction of the United States marshal, I.!
Donaldson, and S. P. Jones, "sheriff of Douglas county."
r .. G-. W. BROWN,
"- ' S'J A commissioner of the commoniuealtli of Pennsylvw*
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 901
WILLIAM P. RICHARDSON testified.
Examined by Mr. Sherman :
Question. Are you a member of any secret political society, having
for one of its objects the extension of slavery into any territory of the
United States ?
Answer. I decline answering that question.
Question. Does such a society exist?
Answer. I decline answering that question.
Question. Did such a society directly or indirectly aid in any of the
elections in Kansas, either by furnishing money, by inducing voters
to come from the States into the Territory, or otherwise ?
Answer. I decline answering that question.
Question. Would your answer to these questions, by the rules or
obligations of such a society, impose upon you any penalty or danger
of violence, or would it tend to criminate you ?
Answer. It would subject me to no pains or penalties. I think it
would be improper in me to answer these questions, but not that there
is anything dishonorable about it, I do not think the committee have
any right to ask me any such questions, and, therefore, I respectfully
decline answering them.
Question. How many members of the legislative assembly of the
Territory of Kansas belong to this organization ?
Answer. I decline to answer that question.
Question. Has there been any regulation given by that secret so-
ciety, or lodge, relative to testimony to be taken or given before -this
committee ?
Answer. I decline answering that question, upon the ground that
the committee have no right to ask me such questions.
WM. P. RICHARDSON.
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 15, 1856.
WM. P. RICHARDSON.
Question. Has there been any regulation given by that secret so-
ciety, or lodge, relative to testimony to be taken or given before this
committee ?
The witness wishes to state that when that question was propounded
to him by Mr. Sherman he did not fully understand it, and now
wishes to give the following answer :
I know of no such thing.
WM. P. RICHARDSON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 16, 1856.
902 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
J. C. PRINCE testifies.
I know that there was a secret society in Missouri. I knew it i
the fall of 1854; but I do not know whether it exists now or not.
think of the party who went to Fort Scott in November, 1854, to vot'|
some ten or fifteen were members of this society, perhaps all, for augl;1
I know. The society is a pro-slavery society., and the object is to gd
none but pro-slavery men into office ; and, I suppose, it had referent!
to making Kansas a slave State. They had signs and pass-words,
something similar, by which we would know each other to be membe*
of that society. The members of this society take an oath when th
join the society, administered by one of the officers of the society. TP
subject of the oath is to keep secret the proceedings of the society, an
make Kansas a slave State, the best way they can. I do not perse*
ally know John C. Davidson. I have understood he was a memberrj
the society ; but I do not know, of my own knowledge, that he wrj
I do not know that this society exists in the Territory. I understaa!
that there is a society in the Territory called Kansas League, but IN
not know that there is any pro-slavery society in the Territory. I
not know that this pro-slavery society exists in any State but Missouu'
and I do not recollect that I have ever heard. I have understood till
the society existed pretty generally in Missouri, though I think it ]
pretty much died away now. I suppose this society was concerned,
getting persons from Missouri to come up here into the Territory
vote. I do not know that they ever raised any money, or paid g
expenses for that purpose, or ever sent out any communications
the purpose of getting up voters here. They discussed in the lod
the question of sending voters here to make Kansas a slave State. .
do not know, of my own knowledge, of how many belonged to the}
ciety in Missouri, but I have heard the number, though I do not IB
recollect it, though it was a very large number. I should not like
tell all I know about this society, because I think it would result to i
injury; and that is one reason, though not the only one, why I r
like to answer in relation to the matter. One other reason is, that
members of the society take oaths to keep secrets those matters.;,
do not know anything, of my own knowledge, about the society calJl
the Kansas League. I know nothing of it of my own knowledge.
JOHN C. PRINCE
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
JORDAN DAVIDSON recalled.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I was not here at the election of the 29th of November, 1854, orr
1st of October, 1855. There is a secret society in the State of Misso<
for the purpose of introducing slavery into Kansas Territory,
proper name of the society, as recognized by its own members
"Social Band/' " Friend's Society/7 and by some the " Blue1 Lodg
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 903
and " The Sons of the South." I do not know as I can tell what
name it is called in its own constitution and organized proceedings,
I have been in a meeting or two. I have never been in any meeting
in the Territory. I have seen some individuals in the Territory I be-
lieved were acquainted with it ; but I have never been in any lodge
here. I suppose the society was formed some time in the latter part of
1854. I never had a copy of the constitution of that society, or of the
'forms and obligations, and do not know that there is any. I think
written minutes are kept of the proceedings of the lodges. This so-
ciety existed at the time of the invasion of the 30th of March, 1855.
I will give you one sentence in the work of the order. We are ordered
to be governed by law. I would say there is no compulsion beyond
the law. " We are to extend slavery lawfully into Kansas. We are
1 to do no act contrary to law for that purpose." That is the sentiment.
We have signs and pass-words by which we know each other. The
: order compelled no man to come into this Territory and vote. The
1 other object, besides extending slavery into Kansas Territory, was to
1 !have a union of the friends of the south. The object of the society
1 was to extend slavery into Kansas Territory as well as elsewhere. I
• am told the society exists in other States ; but I do not know. I was
| 'told by a gentleman that he belonged to it in Virginia; but I have
1 learned from no member of the order, except the gentleman from Vir-
ginia, that it existed in any other State.
I was first in a lodge of the order some time in the latter part of
February, 1854, at Pleasant Hill, Cass County, Missouri.
Question. Was the organization of the society used as a means of
notifying and concentrating the body of men who came over from
Missouri to vote at the election of the 30th March, 1855 ?
Answer. The greatest weight it had was in this way, for protection
'• (when we did get here ; that when we got into a scrape we should not
- tfall foul of each other. The friends of the society were friends to
1: (slavery in the south, and to extend it here if we could do it by
lawful means.
. I Examination continued :
i I Some of the wisest of our party, I suppose, did not fully believe
i that voting here was lawful, but they contended that it was right, as
e, there were a good many others coming here to vote ; I considered it
;I right myself, and came here of my own accord. Of my own know-
ledge I know of no one of the other side of politics who came to vote,
though there might have been five hundred, for aught I know. I
knew none of them. The signs and pass-words were not made known
to the body of men who came here to vote ; they were not known to
one fourth of the party. If there were friends to the society they
could tie a piece of ribbon in their coats, and we would know whom
to protect.
^The organization of the society was used as some means of organ-
4 ^zing and collecting the body of men who came over here to vote ;
1 they were to be used to find out all the friends of the party we could.
t. There were expresses sent and received by the lodges to obtain infor-
;'jj mation in relation to Kansas emigration and election. There were
904 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
no committees appointed to attend to that matter in my presence, bi>
I heard that it was done. There were committees appointed, I thin]
to receive and send expresses and learn what was going on. At thii
period the lodges were used for the purpose of notifying persons I
come together to attend that election.
I do not know that these societies had any funds collected, or an
treasury for any purpose. I did not learn that they had or had no*
I am not acquainted with any lodge except the one at Pleasant Hil
I do not think there were any officers there hut a recorder to keep :>
a book the names of the members. I do not know that the sociei*
kept agents on the boats on the Missouri river for the purpose
noting the northern and eastern emigrants that came on. Ti
members of the society were sworn on their initiation. The penafr
for violating the rules and secrets of the order was all the honor r
man had. A man, by violating the secrets and rules of the ordd*
was liable to stand in society beneath the dignity of a gentleman,
to no personal injury, except as they might take a notion to inflict \
There was nothing said in the oath or forms of the society aboti
inflicting personal harm upon delinquent members. I think I hai|
heard from my fellow-members who founded the society, but I do n!
recollect what it was. I first heard of the society from Mr. Wade,',,
Westport. I never asked him any questions about where it cosj
menced ; I probably heard something about it last year, but I for,'! ,
now about it. I think I heard it originated in Missouri. I nev
heard of its originating in Washington city. The first lodge I ev
heard of was in Westport. A gentleman came to me at Pleasant Hi
who I supposed was the general agent of the society. He asked i
some questions privately, and I answered them. He asked me ii
would become a member of the society, and told me I would not '
obliged to continue in it after I was initiated. I was too busy to*
to meetings in day times, and too tired at night to attend much, i\'
perhaps do not understand much about it ; but so far as I do und;
stand, I see nothing in it contrary to law. The gentleman I speal
was from Cass county, and was named Mr. Palmer — I do not kni
his first name. He initiated me. I did not see him with any parr
over here on the 30th of March. I was never in any lodge except'
Pleasant Hill. I do not think I recollect the oath precisely, but ].j>
the substance of it. The substance of it is, that I shall not transc^i
the bounds of law, but to promote by all lawful means the extenaji
of slavery. I never heard any of the leaders of the invasion of If
30th of March say it was illegal to come over here and vote. I he-p
an investigation of that matter in the lodge. One of the memljs
asked how they could come here and vote lawfully, if they v<fi
objected to as not citizens of the Territory. The answer wasp
squeeze it in somehow, and if we could not get to vote, there wa&jO
violence to be used. I do not think the society has existed k's'j
though I do not know how long. The amount of the conversaio
with Mr. Palmer was concerning my willingness to assist in p
extension of slavery into Kansas by legal means, and I told hi'
was willing. We had no talk about the election at that time. T! ;(
were residents of this Territory in the encampments at the time of ^
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 905
jlection. I 'do not know how many. I do 'not know of more than
ibout five or six, though I may have seen more. I do not think that
iny wrong done here was done by the society, except by members
Totino; (if that be wrong) as 'others did.
JOED AN DAVIDSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 29, 1856.
[Mr. Oliver objects and enters his protest against the introduction
>f any testimony in regard to the existence of any open or secret or-
ganization in Missouri or other States or Territories which may have
aad for its object the settling the institutions of Kansas Territory.
Phe questions submitted to the investigations of the committee being
' in regard to the troubles in Kansas generally, and particularly in
regard to any fraud or force attempted or practiced in reference to any
>f the elections which have taken place in said Territory, either under
the law organizing said Territory or any pretended law, which, may
be alleged to have taken' effect therein since;" and also to fully inves-
tigate and take proof of all violent and tumultous proceedings in said
Territory at any time since the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act,
whether engaged in by residents, &c., &c. The resolutions limiting
she committee to inquiries as to frauds, force, or attempted force, in
regard to any elections and tumultuous proceedings, &c., and not as
to the existence of societies in neighboring States or even in the Ter-
ritory of Kansas, but as to the facts in regard to the specifications in
:he resolutions.]
PATRICK LAUGHLIN called and sworn.
By Governor King :
I came to Kansas Territory, from Kentucky, in May, 1855, and set-
Jed at Doniphan in June. When I first went there I was a pro- sla-
very man. I heard a great deal of complaint by free-soilers of the
laws being violated and people coming over from Missouri to the elec-
tion ; sympathized very strongly with them, and endeavored as far as
[ could to vindicate their cause. I became notorious in the neighbor-
hood for vindicating their cause, and I avowed myself a free-soiler
about the middle of August, 1855. We had a district meeting of our
party at the house of A. Larzelere. This meeting was for the purpose
of sending delegates to a free State convention, to be held at Big
Springs the 5th of September following. I acted as secretary of that
meeting, and elected as a delegate to go to that convention. I was
solicited the day following the meeting by several of the delegates to
go ahead of them several days, for the purpose of having some print-
ing done, and seeing what state the party was in, in other portions of
the Territory. On the 27th of August I started from Doniphan for
Lawrence, where I was to remain until the rest of the delegates came
up. I stopped at Oceana, a place about ten miles from Atchison and
fifteen from Doniphan. I went into the store of Messrs. Crosty; I
had been told before getting there that these men were Yankees and
906 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
abolitionists. I went into his house and made known to him my bu>!
ness ; he then made me acquainted with a secret military organization
by which he said the free State party was strengthened and enabL
to carry out their designs more effectually. After initiating me in
this organization, he gave me two books sealed up, also a letter of i
troduction to man at Grasshopper, all whose name I do not remembij
I went there to deliver the letter and books to the gentleman, wh<t|
name I now believe to be Whitney, who was to gather a company •
gether, and in the presence of this company I was to open the m
around these books. The company was gathered the next mornirj
about fourteen in number, and I broke the seal and administered ,
cording to the directions of Mr. Crosty. I not having time to rema
among them, left them to elect their own officers, and organize ih\
company. I also had a letter of introduction to G. W. Brown, of 1
" Herald of Freedom," from Mr. Crosty. I went on to Lawrem
and delivered the letter to Mr. Brown ; I told him that I was a met
ber of the secret order. I then was shown a good number of Sharrj
rifles by Mr. Brown, who told me they were sent out by the Emigrn
Aid Company. I remained in Lawrence until the 5th of Septemlij
when the convention before spoken of met; I went to this conventti
and, together with Mr. Collins, of Doniphan, was put by our dele«|
tion on the committee on platform, and several other committees.
was also made a member of the executive committee, and was appoi^
ed it in company with two Atkins, to act as a kind of governing cc<
mittee, for the north side of Kansas river. It was the duty of tn
governing committee to see that all mails belonging to free State
of Kansas were to be carried through with safety, and in order ta
this it was necessary to appoint mail carrier and other facilities,
was also their duty to appoint men in the district of the county to«|)
designated by them, whose duty it would be to arbitrate all difficij-
ties arising between the people. It was also the duty of this si
committee to have speakers appointed to go through the Territory;
canvass it for a free State. They were also to attend to the elect^
returns and see that they were forwarded to the executive commiii
of Lawrence ; a committee of the same kind was appointed for
south side of Kansas river. After the convention was over I returi
to Lawrence, and got four more books of the same kind I
of Crosty, there beifig two packages of each. These books c<
tained the constitution and ritual of the grand encampment
the Kansas Legion. I received them from G. W. Brown, editO'jt'
the "Herald of Freedom," with instructions that I was not to br-£
the seals until I had organized two subordinate encampments, whrf
was to break the seals, and deliver one package to the colonel of e
encampment. I was to organize one at Doniphan, and one in \
Territory north cf Doniphan, at any place I might think to be a s
able point. I organized the one at Doniphan the day that I returr
and delivered as directed. I then went put into the Territory
organize another,, but after being out about six miles I returned ID
to Doniphan, where I broke open the seal and read the constitution ;• J
ritual for the first time. I did not organize any in the county ai \-
wards. At the meeting at which I was appointed delegate to the |g
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 907
Spring convention the arguments of Dr. G. A. Cutler, C. W. Steward,
L Larzelere, B. Harding, and others, were to urge the necessity of a
ecret society, something on the order of the Know-nothings, hy which
hey could unite their force and labor more effectually against the pro-
lavery party. This idea was received with acclamation by all of them
;xcept myself. I being an Irishman myself by birth, was opposed to
he measure, as it was too much like Know-nothingism, and told them
f they pressed it they would find me their most inveterate enemy.
I'hey said they had better do without it ; that they were too feeble to
fave any disturbance in their ranks. We had several speeches from
hose I have named, together with S. Collins, John Free, and B. Gr.
?ady. They told us we must do all we could to keep slavery out of
Kansas, and sooner than permit slavery in Kansas, or even submit to
he repeal of the Missouri compromise, they ought to go for a disunion,
nd to take up arms against the authorities, and, in order to effect
his purpose, they would shed the last drop of their blood, as they
Tight to do. Those speeches were received with applause. When
tlr. Brown showed me the rifles at Lawrence he told me that they
7ould continue to send arms, men, andjneans to make Kansas a free
itate by force, if necessary. He told me that these arms and muni-
ions of war were sent as dry goods to the agents of the Emigrant Aid
lociety, who received them and gave them out to the people, and gave
s a reason why they were thus secretly sent was that th'ey might not
[e detected by the United States^officers. He told me that the agent
I am now confident that he said Kobinson, who was recognized at
lat time as the agent of the Emigrant Aid Society) had been on after
rms, and had to remain two weeks over his time, in order to avoid
ing detected in getting them here. Brown furthermore told me that
oing on after those arms was very delicate business ; that it would
ot do to send everybody. Kobinson being a very shrewd man, had
11 he could do to keep from being caught. Brown's instructions to
pe was, that when we got thirty men in each regiment we must send
j delegate to Boston, but that he must first go to Lawrence, where he
Eould get letters of introduction to the people in Boston, who would
rnish him with as many arms as we had. men in the neighborhood
p bear them, and that we would get them gratis. When in Law-
ence I was invited by a friend to go up into a private room to see the
ind of goods they received from the east. I saw a box which they
Fere opening, and a part of the cover torn off had " C. Kobinson"
II it. I saw in the box blue jackets and white pants, a drum and
.runisticks. I inferred they were military uniforms, but no one told
ne so. They nailed the box up again with the goods as they came.
saw a large house building ; it had port-holes in the top of it. I
ras told by Gr. W. Brown, Lowrie, Hutchinson, and Efriery that the
nn\Aing was for the purposes of fortification. Brown told me it was
miH by^the Emigrant Aid Society. They expected they would be
-ttacked in their town, as they were freemen, and would exercise the
lights of freemen in the liberty of speech and the liberty of the press,
,nd that many of their speeches and publications were in violation of
he laws of the Territory, and they thereby expected to come in col-
ision with the authorities of the Territory. When I was first intro-
908 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
duced to Brown at Lawrence, about five or ten months after, ;i
whilst in the room with Brown, Governor Keeder came, and I !g
introduced as a delegate to the Big Spring convention. Governs
Eeeder asked me some questions about the Territory and some pe»
in Doniphan. After he asked me those questions he and Brown
up and went into another room, and stood about twenty or twenty-
feet from me. The door being open full width, I saw them,, and o<
heard part of their conversation. I heard my name in this conve
tion mentioned. I heard the name " encampment" mentioned, ,
the words " northern, eastern portion of the Territory/' and the
of Dr. Cutler. When they got through a preacher came in. He
introduced to me as late of Boston. His name I do not rememi
After passing the compliments of the morning, they sat down
began to talk about the prospects of the coming fall election, alt t
what aid they could have. They said the pro-slavery party was
roughly organized and united to a man, and that they ought to I
well organized and united. They then spoke of a preacher who d
gone to Boston for aid, such as money, men, and means to insure- 1 r
success. They spoke of this preacher as a man of great influence ijm
the men of the right stripe in Boston to get those things. The exx|i-
tive committee had no connexion with the Big Spring convenl i.
Some of its members were there after the platform was adoj 1.
Governor Keeder came and told me that the executive comm ;e
wanted me before them immediately. I went, and he introducedlie
to the committee. There was a sentinel at the door for the purtpe
of keeping guard. When he saw Governor Keeder and myself gig
to the committee room he immediately gave way, without asking ;|.y
questions. We w^ent in, and Governor Reeder introduced me tc«)e
chairman, C. Kobinson, and turned around and walked out. I si a
man there by the name of McCullom, I think. He offered a 3 -
lution, Cl Resolved, That every reliable free State man in the Terri
be furnished with a rifle and sabre and a brace of pistols gratis,,
that he be required to take an oath to come when called upon,;,
muster into service under his superior officer, and that he go tcj
rescue of any person or property brought forcibly under the juris -
tion of the present laws of the Territory/' This* motion, when of ft •
was received with applause, and seconded by several. The chair U
remained quiet, as though lost in deep thought, by about two or tip
minutes, when he spoke up and requested the gentleman to withe tf
his motion, and they would act upon it in a more private man u1.
All remained silent for a while, when one man spoke up and said .!•
think the resolution with provisions already made." The chair jin
answered that he thought not, but for reasons he cared not to ji
he wished the gentleman to withdraw his resolution, that they ID ^
act upon it more privately. The gentleman then withdrew his : |'>
lution.
The expenses of carrying out all arrangements under this ext
committee was to be paid by it, and they were to draw their in r]
from the eastern States.
The two sub-committees that were appointed each side of n
Kansas river, were to gather all the information they could TV <-;
1
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 909
•mild serve to weaken the pro-slavery party. I being appointed a*
iember of one of these sub-committees, and living further north, I
terted myself in gathering information in the north more than any
£ the others did, and did all that was clone in the north of Doniphan
jad the vicinity around it. The information' that they gave me was
?ry strong against'"the pro-slavery party.
• Question. In exercising as sub-committee man under the executive
kamittee, did you, in collecting information of charges which in their
aaracter were to weaken the prospects of the pro-slavery party,
fccure information from different free State men which were intended,
lough admitted not to be true, to be spread before the public in order
> prejudice the public mind ; if so, state what such information and
ircum stances were?
Answer. I was engaged by the executive committee in procuring
tatements to be spread before the public for the purpose of injuring
le pro-slavery party. I went from house to house in the northern
urt of the Territory taking the statements of the free State men,
inong whom was Messrs. Groomes, Brown, Jamison, and several
chers of the St. Joseph's bottom, C. W. Steward, Kichardson, and
Iummer, out of the Territory; Kichard Peck, Dr. G. A. Cutter, and
thers, of Doniphan ; all of whom generally admitted to me that they
tere exaggerating their statements in order to weaken the pro-slavery
Tarty. They would see two or three men, some, perhaps, who had
illy canes in their hands, without any visible sign of other arms.
]rom the fact that they saw them on the day of election coming from
jxwards Missouri, they would state to me that they saw large numbers
£ armed men ; some of them told me that they saw companies of from
jvo to six and from eight to ten men, who would have shot guns,
We -of them; they would then state that they were armed with
uns. If they saw a very large number, they always gave the num-
er as covertly as they could ; but when a small number, they would
ly a number, or a large number, as a general thing. I never chided
aem for making these statements, but they generally said that
jlthough the statements might be construed to mean differently from
that the true facts were, they would be easy. It was not a part of
ky duty or instructions, as a member of the committee, to collect
ither false or exaggerated statements of facts. My instructions were
3 gather all the information in regard to the elections; and I do not
now that any portion of the statements I collected have ever been
Tiblished; and I do not think they have.
[Objection was made by Mr. Sherman to the foregoing question and
nswer, but was subsequently withdrawn, on the ground that the tes-
imony was not of sufficient importance or materiality to waste time
bout it. Mr. Howard dissenting.]
To Mr. Sherman:
I came from Ireland to Kentucky ; I have been in this country about
£n years. I now reside in Atchison. I am not a man of family.
?he memorandum of my testimony, from which I have been ex-
inined, is in my own handwriting. I furnished it of my own
ccord, and not at the request of any one. When I procured the
910 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
•statements of "free State men/' it was the last of September or first
of October. I reduced them to writing, except Dr. Cutlers ; and I am
not certain whether that is or not. I went to them to solicit their
statements, except in and about Doniphan. I reduced them to writ-
ing as they told them to me. They were not sworn, as I understood.
I know that these statements were got to give information as to the
contest between Eeeder and Whitfield for delegate, and also to injure
the pro-slavery cause. I do not know they were not published. I
gave them to Marcus J. Parrott, of Leavenworth, who was, like my-
self, one of the members of the sub-committee, and also a member of
the executive committee. I do not know what he did with them.
The remarks I spoke of were not made by all those whose names I
have mentioned. I cannot state which made the remark, and which
did not. It was the duty to make arrangements to have the mail
agents appointed. They were afraid to have their letters go through
the United States offices. They said that their letters were missing,
and that they could not get them through the post office. They com-
plained that letters generally were stopped ; and, at last, that their
official documents would be opened and re-opened; and, therefore,
they proposed to establish a mail. Brown did not complain that the
goods were stopped on the way, but of mails he did complain.
It was immediately after I returned from the convention at Big
Springs that I turned back and would not organize a regiment back of
Doniphan. After that I took the statements I have referred to. I
did not communicate my intention not to organize any more regiments
to any one until some time in October, when I left the free State party
and have since acted with the pro-slavery party. I was present at the
siege of Lawrence when the free State hotel was destroyed, and would
have been present at the first if I had been able. I have held no
office in the Territory except under the executive committee of the
free State party.
To Governor King :
I am the individual who had the difficulty with Samuel Collins, at
Doniphan, about the first of November last, which resulted in his
death. I know that that difficulty grew out of the fact that I made
such disclosures to the public as I have referred to in my testimony.
PAT LAUGHLIN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
ANDREW J. FRANCIS called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I reside near Osawkee, Jefferson county, Kansas Territory. I have
resided there since May, 1855. I moved from Knox county, Missouri,
into the Territory, and from Belmont county, Ohio," to Missouri. I
lived in Missouri from August,, 1854, to April, 1855. When I came
into the Territory I cannot say that I belonged to either party ; I took
the position that slavery was just and legal, but, as a matter of expe-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 911
diency, I would prefer to have Kansas a free State, provided there
were no negroes allowed to live in the Territory. If they were to be
here, I preferred that they should he under masters. There was no
organized party of my opinion, when I first came into the Territory,
in the section of the country where I settled. I assisted in organizing
•a party some four or five months afterwards, called the " free white
State party," the leading principle of which was " slavery before free
negroes/' In some cases our free white State party acted with the
free State party of the Territory, in some cases not ; most generally,
however, they acted with' that party. When we were satisfied there
was not abolitionists on the free State ticket, we voted that ticket,,
otherwise we had a ticket of our own. I know of a recent military
organization in the Territory for the purpose of making Kansas a free
State. It is well known that Governor Reeder had an election for a
seat in Congress, last fall, separate from the election of General Whit-
field. Reeder's election was held, I think, on the 9th of October, and
I was the bearer of the returns to Lawrence, being the clerk of that
election. The election was conducted in rather a loose manner ; I be-
lieve I was the only sober man in the house, except Mr. Adams, a
judge of election. The election was held at Pleasant Hill, about a
mile from Osawkee. The votes were taken in through a window.
Mr. Adams received the votes and put them in a ballot box, calling
the names, some of which were put down and some not, as the votes
were given in so fast. I kept both lists myself, the other clerk lying
down (as I considered) drunk and partially asleep. Mr. Hicks, one
of the judges, was not much affected by liquor ; Mr. Hoover, the
other judge, was not very sober. There were a great many blank
tickets put in the box, and twelve or fourteen more tickets in the box
than we had on the list. We counted out tickets enough to corres-
pond with the number of names, and the rest were not counted. I
made the returns to Lawrence according to instructions.
I started from my home to Lawrence,, I think, on the morning of
the llth of October. The first gentleman I spoke to when I got to
Lawrence was Governor Reeder, as I was afterwards told, though I
did not know him at the time, but took him to be the landlord. I
ordered him to put my horse away when I rode up. He made arrange-
ments to have my horse put away, and invited me in the house. I
went in and sat down and entered into conversation with him, still
thinking he was the landlord. He asked me the news in regard to
the election. I told him, but do not recollect my exact reply. I asked
him what had become of Reeder, and made the remark that Reeder
could have got a great many more votes if he had canvassed the Ter-
ritory and proved himself to be such a man as he was represented to
be, while, for my own part, I did not think he was a gentleman or any
part of a nice man. He asked me why; I told him I had written
some four or five letters to Reeder, upon different subjects, seeking in-
formation, and could get no answer to them, and I thought if he had
been a gentleman, or anything like it, he would have answered them.
He then said, " Doctor Francis, it is necessary for me to undeceive,
you, my name is Reeder." I merely dropped my head, being embar-
rassed, and got up and shook hands with him. He stated that he had
912 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
never received but one of my letters, and that so recently that he had
not had time to answer it. About this time we went in to dinner.
After dinner Governor Keeder and myself took a walk about the city,
conversing principally upon politics. He said he was opposed to the
formation of a State constitution, and went on to give his reasons for
his opposition. I returned the poll books that evening to Doctor Ro-.
binson's office.
Offers were made to me by various persons to introduce me to a
secret political organization. The only name I ever received as a
member of the lodge was " Kansas Regulators/' The next morning
I was conversing with Governor Reeder, James EL Lane, E. P. Lowry,
and several others, one by the name of Chapman and one by the name
of Hornsby, but these latter gentlemen had merely come up to us as
we were standing on the corner of the street talking. I had noticed
black ribbons tied in the shirt bosoms of several gentlemen. I noticed
one also tied to Governor Reeder7 s shirt bosom. I made the inquiry
as to what those black ribbons meant. Colonel Lane asked me to go
with him, and he would show me something that would please me
better than what I had seen the night before. The night before I had
attended a masonic lodge. Colonel Lane was in the lodge while I was
there. I made some reply to Lane as though assenting to go with
him, saying, I would have to see something that would please me ex-
traordinarily well if it pleased me better than what I had seen the
night before. I went with Colonel Lane to the law office of John
Hutchison, as I afterwards found out. Governor Reeder did not go
into the room where I was initiated. Doctor Robinson was standing
just before the door, with a lady, I think. Colonel Lane asked him
to leave the lady and go into the office with us. Robinson rather ob-
jected at first, but finally came in with us, and said he would explain
the nature of the organization he was about to initiate me into. The
substance of the explanation was, that Kansas was a beautiful country
and well adapted to freedom, and the best Territory in the world for
the friends of freedom to operate on, more especially for those who
were engaged in the free white State cause. After proceeding in that
strain for a while, he asked me if I was willing to pledge my word
and honor that I would keep secret what I saw there, and^who I saw
there, provided he would pledge his word and honor that there was
nothing that would interfere with my duties as a citizen^ or that was
disloyal in any respect. I replied that I was willing. He then gave
me some other instructions that I 'do not now 'recollect, of about the
same import as the first. Colonel Lane then took me in hand, and
told me he would administer the grand obligation, which was clone by
my repeating after him as follows :
C(Ij of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty
God and these witnesses, do solemnly swear that I will always forever
conceal, and never reveal any of the secrets of this organization to
any person in the known world, except it be to a member of the order,
or within the body of a just and legal council. I further make
promise and swear that I will not write, print, stain, or indite them
on anything moveable or imnioveable, whereby the least figure or
character may become intelligible to myself or any other person. I
furthermore promise and swear that I will at all times, and under all
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 913
drcuin stances, hold myself in readiness to obey, even to -death, the
orders of my superior officers. I furthermore promise and swear that
I will at all times, and under all circumstances, use my influence to
make Kansas a free-white State. I furthermore promise and swear,
that all things else heing equal, I will employ a free-State man in
• preference to a Missourian or a pro-slavery man. I furthermore
promise and swear, that all business that I may transact, so far as in
my power, shall he transacted with free-State men. I furthermore
promise and swear that I will at all times and under all circum-
stances hold myself in readiness to take up arms in defence of free-
State principles, even though it should subvert the government. I
furthermore promise and swear that I will at all times and under all
circumstances wear upon my person the regalia of my office and the
insignia of the order. I furthermore promise and swear that I will
at all times and under all circumstances bear upon my person a weapon
of death. I furthermore promise and swear that I will at all times
and under all circumstances keep in my house at least one gun,, with
a full supply of ammunition. I furthermore promise and swear that
I will at all times and under all circumstances, when I see the sign of
distress given, rush to the assistance of the person giving it, even where
there is a greater probability of saving his life than of losing my own.
I furthermore promise and swear that I will to the utmost of my power
oppose the laws of the so-called Kansas legislature. I furthermore
promise and swear that when I hear the words of danger given I will
repair to the place where the danger is. I furthermore promise and
swear that if any part ot my obligations is at this time omitted, I
will consider the same as binding when legally informed of it. I
furthermore promise and swear, that at the first convenient oppor-
tunity I will commit this obligation to memory. To all of this I sol-
emnly swear, without equivocation of self-evasion, binding myself
under the penalty of being declared a perjurer before Heaven, and a
traitor to my country."
I then remarked to Colonel Lane that that was a very serious obli-
gation He replied it was, and also stated that it was necessary for
me to become acquainted with the signs and passwords. The sign of
recognition is given by placing the right thumb under the chin and
the forefinger ot the right hand by the side of the nose, gently scratch-
ing or rubbing it two or three times. The answer to it was given by
placing the thumb and forefinger of the left hand on the lower lip,
as if rubbing it. The grip was given by locking the two first fingers
of the right hand over each other. The words accompanying the
grip are these : the one giving you the grip would ask, "are you in
favor of Kansas becoming a free State?" The answer was, "I am, if
Missouri is willing," The means by which persons procured admis-
sion to the council was by going to the door, and rapping some three
times on the door. The sentinel would then present himself; the per-
son applying would say " Kansas," accenting the last syllable. The
person would then advance to the centre of the room and salute the
colonel by placing his right hand jnst above his forehead. The re-
galia was this : the private members wore a black ribbon tied upon
their shirt bosoms, the colonel wore a red sash, the lieutenant-colonel
H. Eep. 200 58*
..-.'.
914 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
a green sash, the major a blue sash, the adjutant a black sash, the
captains white sashes, the lieutenants yellow sashes, the orderly ser-
geant a very broad black ribbon upon his shirt bosom. Colonel Lane
then remarked to me that I had been made acquainted with the prin-
ciples of the institution, and that it was the determination of the
free-State party not to submit to the laws of the legislature, nor to
any oppression that might come from Missouri or any other quarter.
I remarked to the colonel, that I was sworn to support those laws in
taking my oath as a lawyer, and that I considered that that oath was
administered by a higher power than he exercised, and hence I should
not keep the obligations he had given to me, and that under no cir-
cumstances would I consent to do anything to subvert the institutions
of the country, or place myself in opposition to the laws, and he
might depend upon it I would expose it the first convenient oppor-
tunity. I also told him I could not consistently keep both obligations
that had been imposed upon me. That I was also a member and
minister of a religious denomination, and that it would not be con-
sistent with my Christian duties to keep the obligations he had im-
posed upon me ; that I should most certainly, when the subject came
up, expose it. He stated then to me that if that was my determina-
tion, and I did express myself so publicly, I would hardly get away
from the city with my life. I replied to him that I should express
myself so under all circumstances, both in public and in private ;
that I was opposed to the thing, and was also bitterly opposed to the
formation of a constitution. Upon that we went into a long argu-
ment with regard to the propriety of forming a constitution, and the
subject of the organization was then dismissed. I returned home
that day.
To Mr. Oliver :
There were several persons present that I did not know at the time,
one of whom I have found out since. Colonel Lane, Dr. Kobinson,
and John Hutchinson were present that I know now, having found out
John Hutchinson since I was initiated. I should think I saw two-
thirds of the men I saw in Lawrence with black ribbons in their shirt
bosoms, and with blue, white, and green sashes, &c.
To Mr. Scott :
Governor Keeder wore the black ribbon, the badge of the order.
Mr. Lowry had no such badge. The Kev. Mr. Hutchinson had the
badge on, as did Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Ferrill, Gr. W. Brown, the editor
of the " Herald of Freedom," and a great many others. Major Smith
wore the badge and the blue sash.
To Mr. Sherman:
The sashes are worn around the waist, just under the vest, so that
the ends can be seen.
To Mr. Scott :
Colonel Lane wore the red sash, and I think some one else, but I
am not certain who it was. , I do not recollect of seeing anybody with
a green sash. Dr. Kobinson had a beautiful sash on, looking like a
blue and red one joined together and trimmed with gold lace. I was told
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 915
It denoted some higher office than colonel, but I did not learn what it
was.
I discovered a number of these black badges at the time of the late
session of our circuit court in the county of Jefferson. I revealed this
organization to the grand jury of our county. I did not know that
there were any members of the order on the grand jury at the time I
gave in my testimony before them. I did not notice that any of them
had badges at that time. There were men on that grand jury I had
heard avow themselves free-State men.
John Hutchinson was called before the grand jury at the same term
of the court that I was.
By Mr. King :
Ques. When John Hutchinson came down stairs; after having been
up before the grand jury, what did he say to you in reference to the
disclosures which you had made about this secret organization, and
what he said in reference to your making disclosures before the grand
jury, and what declarations he made in reference to his making dis-
closures before the grand jury in relation to this secret organization ?
[The committee considered this question as fully competent and
pertinent.]
Ans. I had been employed to defend a person there before the court,
charged with a criminal offence, and the night before the trial came on
Mr. John Hutchinson arrived there to assist, as he said, in defending
this person. Upon his arrival in town the next morning, the trial im-
mediately took place. After the trial was over he was called up by the
clerk and sworn, and then went up stairs with the deputy marshal. In
a short time he came down to attend, as he told me, to another case, and
went up stairs. The next time he came down he took me by the collar
and asked me to walk out of doors with him.
Now, said he, I am in a great hurry, but I wish to know whether you
have made, or intend to make, any disclosures before the grand jury in
regard to this secret organization, I told him that it was possible I had
told them some things, and probable I should tell them some more. He
said they had had him up there, and that they got nothing, and should
not have anything, from him ; that a free-soiler could not get justice
there, and that he would not answer any of their questions. He thea
walked off from me some fifteen steps, probably, and turned to me and
said that I must be careful, and not let them get any secrets from me ; if
I did, everything was ruined. He thea left, and I have never seen him
since.
To Mr. Scott :
In regard to the laws which were to be resisted, I understood from
Dr. Robinson and Colonel Lane that they were the laws of the late
Territorial legislature. Nothing was said in relation to the organic
law ; it was not mentioned. Colonel Lane said, -" We will not submit
to any laws passed by that legislature, and we are making prepara-
tions to place in the hands of every free-State man a Sharpe's rifle
and a brace of Colt's revolvers, and if need be we will resist even the
United States troops if they attempt to enforce those laws." He also
stated, at the same time, that an attack had been anticipated on the
916 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
town of Lawrence the day before, and that he saw five hundred men
there at their business in the streets armed ; that he had seen men on
the eve of battle, and seen men placed in every situation of danger,
but had never seen as cool and determined a set of men as those he
had seen the day before. I objected to the practice of shedding blood.
He remarked to me that he was opposed to such things himself. He
said that in Ohio, where I had come from, and Indiana, where he
came from, it was a disgrace for men to carry arms at all, but here the
time had come when they were forced to carry arms, and that if the
Missourians did attack them, blood would undoubtedly be shed. That
the little children about Lawrence had caught the same spirit. That
his little son (about seven or eight years old) was wanting to know
when he could have a revolver and bowie-knife to carry with him.
Dr. Kobinson and Colonel Lane told me they expected to form lodges
or councils in every county in the Territory. They proclaimed me a
" Kansas regulator/' and that was all the name I learned for a mem-
ber of the organization, and gave me authority to institute lodges,
and conferred upon me a sort of brevet rank of captain. This was at
the time I was initiated. During the first Lawrence war they sent
me a commission as captain, which I never used. I have that com-
mission at home. A short time since, in March last, there was a
paper with some fifty names attached to it and presented to me. The
paper had a preamble, and some sixty names were attached to it. It
was presented to me to sign by a gentleman of the name of Bainter.
The object was to get me to enrol myself as a member of a military
company of this order. I refused to sign it, and left it in his hands, and
do not now know where it is. He told me at the time that it was to be
sent to Lawrence. I did not know all the names on that paper, but all
that I knew were citizens of Jefferson county. Among them were Wil-
liam Hicks, Eph. Bainter, Lewis Hoover, Nathan Adams, Jacob Brown,
Samuel Brown, John Cunningham, Sidney Stuart, and many others I
do not now recollect, but whom I know live in the county. The names
were in different handwritings. I did not know the handwriting of any
of them but Mr. Hoover. His name appeared to be in his handwriting.
The paper was drawn up in the shape of preamble and resolutions, as
follows :
Whereas, bands of armed men have come into the Territory for the
express purpose of taking life and destroying property, and whereas
there is no law by which we can be protected therefrom —
Resdved, That we will organize a military company for the pur-
pose of defending ourselves and our property.
That is about the sum and substance of the preamble and resolutions.
Mr. Bainter said, " Doc. if you don't sign it I will start it off to-morrow
or next day to Lawrence, and we shall get our arms. Before I send
it I shall put your name down, whether you are willing or not, so that
you can draw your arms." I asked him then what arms were to
be drawn, and he replied, a Sharpe's rifle and a brace of revolvers. I
made the remark that I should like very much to have them. I did
not tell him not to put my name down. He did not inform me whom
he was to get these arms from. Col. Lane had told me, when I was
in Lawrence, that several thousand Sharpe's rifles were coming on from
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 917
the east. Mr, Bainter said that there were several thousand Sharpe'g
rifles at Lawrence. I made no inquiry who were to furnish these
Sharpe's rifles in the east. Nothing was said about the Emigrant Aid
Society, or of Henry Ward Beecher, in connexion with these Sharpe's
rifles. I did not notice any black ribbon about the person of Mr.
Bainter at the time he had this paper.
Before I was initiated Gov. Reeder said there were two organizations
in Lawrence, and he belonged to one of them. Further than that I do
not know as he said anything. One organization that Gov. Reeder
spoke of was the Kansas Regulators, and the other the Kansas Legion,
which Pat. Laughlin exposed. I did not learn from Mr. Reeder
which organization he belonged to, but I learned from him that he
belonged to one of them, and I saw a black ribbon in his shirt bosom,
and could very readily judge which he belonged to. I understood the
arms were to be given gratis to those who became members of this
military organization.
To Mr. Oliver :
I cannot tell the date of the origin of this military association, but
it was some time before I had anything to do with it.
To Mr. Scott :
The signal of distress or danger : if a person was coming to a col-
lection of people, or if he met another person, he would inquire, " Ig
Doctor Star present? If so he is wanted at ," naming some
place. It was the duty of the members of the order to repair to that,
place. Politics I never heard discussed in a Masonic lodge.
To Mr. Oliver :
My commission as captain was signed by " Geo. S. Hillyer, by
order of the committee of safety/'
To Mr. Sherman :
I came from Belmont county, Ohio. I have lived in Pease town-
ship, Smith township, and Richland township, in that county. I was
born in Belmont county, and practised medicine there a part of the
time, and part of the time worked at the printing business in the
" Gazette" office. When I was about fifteen years of age, I received
a license in the Methodist church, and after I became old enough to
reflect and judge for myself, I left that church and joined the Christian
church, and received a license to preach in that church. I have not
been engaged in the business of preaching for some months. 1 1 have
practised medicine now for about five years. I practised medicine in
Scotland county, Missouri. I never made law a regular study. When
I was a boy I was going to school in St. Clairsville ; I was constantly
using Governor Shannon's books, and in that way got a preliminary
knowledge of law. I have known Governor Shannon ever since I can
recollect ; was born in the same town where he lived, and lived close
by him. J have not seen him since I have been in the Territory.
I was admitted to the practice of law in our county by Judge Le-
compte, in April last. I had been admitted to the court of common
pleas in our county before this time, but not to the circuit court.
I was admitted to the court of common pleas a very short time pre-
918 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
vious to my initiation in this secret society. I do not know of
any persons in Missouri from the counties of Scotland and Knox3
coming over into the Territory to vote. I know of no secret polit-
ical society in Missouri. I came into the Territory in May, ^1855,
and settled near Osawkee, where I now live. My political opinions
were generally known. My neighbors were divided in opinion, and I
do not know of their relative strength. I do not know anything
about any organization for the purpose of introducing slavery into
Kansas. With the exception of the "Kansas Legion/' I know of
no secret political organization prior to October, 1855. I cannot say -
of whom I got my first knowledge of the Kansas Regulators. My at-
tention was called prominently to it the next morning after I reached
Lawrence by Colonel Lane. I do not recollect of Colonel Lane ever
telling me of his supporting the Kansas-Nebraska bill, though I know
it. Colonel Lane and Dr. Robinson, as I know of, did not tell me the
cause of their forming this organization. It was a common thing to
hear persons speak about Missourians coming over here to vote. Our
election of the 9th of October was lield under the authority of the
Big Springs convention. I took part in that election, because I had
been told by men that I thought reliable that Governor Shannon had
said that election would be regarded as lawful. Subsequently I found
that statement was not correct, and therefore I dissolved my connexion
with the party. I would not have acted in that election but for the
representations made to me in relation to Governor Shannon. I should
have gone to the election of the first of October at Osawkee, and voted
then, but for sickness in my family. I had carefully read the pro-
ceedings of the Big Springs convention before the election. When I
acted as clerk I did not credit the allegations made in the resolutions
of that convention, as to armed invasions of Missourians, &c., but
regarded that as the usual statements of partisans, a little too highly
colored. I cannot say that I took any position with regard to the
armed invasion, &c., either one way or the other. I have never re-
garded that there had been sufficient illegal voting at the polls to con-
trol either branch of the legislature. I acted at that election because
I regarded it a legal one upon the representation made to me as to
Governor Shannon's views of it. A great many others took the same
view in regard to that election that I did, but others did not. I acted
upon the idea that a majority of the members of the legislature had
been legally chosen.
My opinion has always been this since I came into the Territory,
that if the legislature were legally elected by the settlers of Kansas
Territory, they had the right to make the laws ; if they were not legally
elected the people had better submit to them, as a matter of policy,
until they could elect a legislature legally, upon the principle that
honest men need no law, and rogues and disunionists needed it to the
utmost extremity. Some of my neighbors took a different view of the
matter, and some advocated open resistance to the laws, while my
course was dictated by policy and expediency. Those who did not
submit to the laws, took ground against the laws mostly on the ground
of illegal election of the members of the legislature by foreign votes.
I heard Colonel Lane and Dr. Robinson say they were opposed to sul
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 919
mitting to the laws. I was willing to submit to the laws and they
were not.
I never heard the obligation I have given repeated before or since it
was administered to me, except when I repeated it before the grand
jury of our country, and never saw it written. I have a very reten-
tive memory, and can sit down and listen to a sermon and repeat it
afterwards word for word. I have frequently conned the obligation
over in my own mind.
At the time I took this obligation, I formed the determination to
disclose it, as I thought it my duty as a citizen and a law-abiding man
to do so. That design was formed during the time the obligation
was being administered to me. I told Colonel Lane my design after
I had taken the obligation. Colonel Lane gave me authority to insti-
tute other councils, and proclaimed me a Kansas Regulator. I think
he told me that both before and after I had told him I would make
the disclosure. I have never attended a council since. I do not know
of my own knowledge that any council ever existed except the one in
which I was initiated. The black ribbon which I have mentioned
was generally worn in the button-hole, or tied to the button of the
shirt bosom, in order, as Colonel Lane said, to let the Missourians
and the pro-slavery men know it concealed a weapon of death.
Colonel Lane told me that he had anticipated an attack upon Law-
rence prior to that time, but he did not tell me from where, though
he probably gave me the impression that it was from Missourians. I
did not understand Colonel Lane as intending anything but a defen-
sive movement on his part. The first object, as I understood it, was
not to submit to the laws of the so-called Kansas legislature, and then
to defend themselves against some anticipated attack. I know that
among some of the people of the Territory there was a deep, strong,
determined hostility to the laws passed by the so-called Kansas legis-
lature, but I cannot tell how many had that feeling ; and among the
number of complaints were, by some, that this legislature had been
Imposed upon them by Missourians ; others, that the laws were so
severe ; and last fall it was also a matter of complaint with some, that
no portion of the officers, from the constable up, were to be elected by
the people. The people were led to suppose that no officers were to
be elected for the space of six years.
Question. Were not these complaints general among the people of
the Territory, and did they not relate to the conduct of the people of
Missouri in improperly interfering with their domestic institutions by
controlling their elections, and, through a legislature selected in
whole or in part by them, controlling all their local offices and pre-
scribing laws for their government ; and did not all these societies of
which you speak grow out of their alleged unlawful interference by
the citizens of Missouri ?
Answer. I cannot say that these complaints were general among
the people of the Territory, because some were complaining and some
were not ; some were for submitting to the laws and some were not.
Some complaints were made in relation to the improper interference
of Missourians, and some of a hundred other things, just according
to the intelligence of the people. I cannot tell which was the pre-
920 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
vailing complaint. Complaints were universal among the free-State
men, some having four or five complaints. I heard complaints but
from one pro-slavery man, for whom due allowance should be made.
He said the laws were very poor things, but he was for submitting to
them, and for that should receive credit. I cannot say that these so-
cieties grew out of the alleged unlawful interference by the citizens
of Missouri. They did not tell me from what cause they sprang.
Question. Would there have been any difficulty in this Territory
if no man but a lawful resident voter had voted at any of the elec-
tions of the Territory ?
Answer. I was not here to know whether there was unlawful vo-
ting or not, and therefore I cannot say whether there would have been
or not any difficulty if there had been no unlawful voting.
I do not recollect that Colonel Lane, in any of his conversations,
mentioned anything about his course on the Kansas-Nebraska bill,
though he might have done it casually and I not notice it.
I think it was during the last of March or the first of April last,
that I saw John Hutchinson in Jefferson county , but I have not seen
nor heard of him since. He left Osawkee in very much of a hurry,
but I do not know whether he left the Territory or not. I do not
know that he has been in attendance upon the court at Lecompton
this spring, but I have not heard that he was ; he may have been, but
I have not heard of it. Mr. Bainter handed me the paper I have
spoken of. I saw no badge or mark of the society about him; justice
to him demands that I should say he was not the captain of that com-
pany. I did not say that company was connected with the society of
which I have spoken ; I merely made the supposition that it was. I
have no knowledge that such was the case. I do not know that that
company had any design other than that contained in its preamble
and resolution. I do not know that companies of armed men, with
cannon, have come over from Missouri ; I have never seen them, and
cannot testify about things I have never seen here. It is about thirty
miles to Kickapoo City from where I live. The first disclosure I ever
made about this society was in private conversation with Judge Tebbs,
judge of the probate court of Jefferson county ; I cannot say that
that was a disclosure, for I merely gave him the knowledge of the ex-
istence of such a society, and of its leading principles. That was a
few days after I joined the society, but I cannot say exactly at what
time it was. The next disclosure I made of it was before the g-and
jury of Jefferson county, during the last of March or the first of April
last. That was a voluntary disclosure. I had been summoned before
the grand jury to testify with regard to other things, and they asked
me with regard to that, and I had no hesitancy in testifying about it.
I think I had been admitted at the time I gave that evidence. I was
not at the siege of Lawrence, and never was engaged in any wars to
put down the laws of the country. The first subpoena I ever saw or
heard read from this committee was last Friday or Saturday, through
Dr. Tebbs, to appear here to-day. I had received a verbal message to
appear at Leaven worth, and would have gone, but that my family were
sick. I came here with Dr. Tebbs. I have understood that he was a
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 921
member of the legislature. It was to his brother that I made the dis-
closure about this secret society.
To Mr. King :
With regard to resistance and non-resistance to the laws, I heard
men say in the room where I was initiated, though I did not know
their names, that no officer acting under the authority of the laws of
the so-called legislature should ever serve a writ upon them, and,
from the tenor of the obligation that I took, I was led to suppose that
one of the prime objects of the society was to resist those laws. I
supposed that the military organization was to shoot down law-abid-
ing men if they should attempt to enforce the laws. That was my
supposition from the time I was initiated, and has always been my
supposition. And an avowed object of the self-defence spoken of, was
to defend themselves against the enforcement of those laws, even
though they were enforced by United States authority and United
States officers. I know that our county has been flooded with in-
flammatory publications, and seditious speeches have been all over the
county. I was deceived thus myself. I speak of the county in
which I reside, because I know more of that than any other parts of
the Territory. I know that as good, and honest, and loyal men as
ever lived have been deceived and led to counsel resistance to the laws
from these inflammatory publications and these seditious speeches I
have spoken of, and but for them, they would not have taken that po-
sition. J. W. Clark was initiated in this order at the same time I
was, and his name was on this list which Mr. Bainter presented to
me, and that was one of the reasons I supposed the company was con-
nected with this society. I never saw the captain of the company in
my life. I was told his name was Smith, but I do not know anything
about him or where he lived. There were others in that company who
gave me the sign of recognition of the order, time and again.
After I told Lane that I should not consider myself bound by this
organization, I never took any part in the action of those who be-
longed to the society ; I merely listened to them to see how far they
would go, but took no part myself either one way or other.
To Mr. Oliver :
I judge there would have been no difficulty in this Territory if the
free-State party had submitted to the laws passed by the Kansas legis-
lature. So far as my knowledge extends, opposition and resistance to
these laws have caused all the civil war and trouble in this Territory ;
and since these laws have been published the resistance in our county
has decreased ; and I know of no other cause of trouble in this Terri-
tory but this resistance and opposition to the laws.
ANDREW J. FRANCIS.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 4, 1856.
G-. P. LOWREY recalled.
I was with Governor Reeder at Shawnee Mission during the ses-
sion of the Territorial legislature, and until his removal. After Ms
922 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
removal, about the last of August, 1855, lie took his trunks, &c., from
Shawnee Mission to Kansas City, to be stored temporarily, until he
could go up into the Territory and make other arrangements. It was
at this time that he met Mr. Parrot, at Kansas City, about the 30th
of August. The governor went, about the 30th of August, into the
Territory, and made his home at Lawrence, where he remained nearly
all the time up to his departure for Washington. I was familiar with
his plans, and I do not recollect ever hearing from him any intimation
that his remaining in the Territory depended on his being nominated
as delegate to Congress, or any other nomination. If there had been
any ground for Mr. Parrot's "impression" I think I should have
known it. I do not think any of the resolutions passed at Big Springs
were in Governor Seeder's handwriting ; certainly the resolutions
repudiating the legislature were not. I was chairman of the commit-
tee to decide on day of election ; we reported a resolution calling the
election on another day than the one designated by the Territorial
legislature for reasons assigned in the report. That committee did
not report, or even have offered to them, anything coming from Gov-
ernor Reader ; I went to him for his advice, and he declined giving an
opinion.
The private letters which I have seen published, purporting to come
from Governor Reeder to myself, are not correct copies of the original
letters ; all his letters to me were locked up in rny trunk, and the key
is still in my possession ; it is a peculiar one, and in order to open the
trunk the lock must have been broken. Governor Reeder's trunk was
in the same building, and also locked. I had in my trunk no letters
or papers directed' to him, so that the bundle of papers handed to Mr.
Abel must have been prepared, after the robbing of both trunks, by
mingling his papers with mine.
There was no resolution offered at the Big Springs convention re-
pudiating the laws of the Territorial legislature except those reported
and passed, and Mr. Parrot did not object to them. There was no ob-
jection made by any one except a motion by Colonel Lane to strike out
two or three words.
I am from Easton, Pennsylvania, and have carefully examined the
list of voters at Pawnee on the 30th of March, 1855, and find the
names of but four persons from Easton upon it. Of these I know
that two have returned, both in the fall of 1855, one of them express-
ing his intention to return to the Territory to live.
Some time in October, 1855,, I first heard of the existence of. the
.secret society mentioned by Doctor A. J. Francis. As I understood
from members of this society, the reason for its organization was that
for a long time free-State men in Lawrence had been subject to insult
and personal attack made upon them singly, in and out of the town,
in the neighborhood, by persons who were in the habit of taking every
opportunity to harass and browbeat free-State men when they found
them unarmed and away from assistance. This society was organized
expressly to make free-State men acquainted with each other, and give
them a common interest in defending each other. The society was
purely a local one, and never, to my knowledge, has been organized
elsewhere than in Lawrence. Very shortly after its organization it
KANSAS AFFAIES. 923
produced its desired effect, and then went out of use and ceased to
exist. Another object of the society was to produce a combined effort
to make Kansas a free State. I do not know the name of the society,
and was never told it. I identify it as the society Doctor Francis
speaks of by a portion of his description of it. I never attended any
meeting of the society after I was initiated, at which time its organi-
zation was broken up, and it was but the result of accident that I was
initiated. Some persons desired to extend the organization to Leaven-
worth, and I was initiated at the time they were, as a matter of con-
venience to them. I have no distinct recollection of all the oath, but
I know Doctor Francis testifies to matters as being in the oath which
were not contained in it. The oath required us to keep fire-arms and
ammunition ; to use all lawful and honorable means to make Kansas
a free State ; to wear at all times on our persons a weapon of death ;
and, I think, to go to the assistance of a brother when the probability
of saving his life was greater than of losing our own. I do not re-
collect anything in the oath which required us to deal with free-State
in preference to pro-slavery men, or to wear upon the person at all
times the insignia of the order, or to obey at all times the orders of
superior officers even unto death. It was not a part of the oath to be
in readiness to take up arms in defence of free-State principles, even
though it should subvert the government. I do not recollect that it
was a part of the oath to oppose the laws of the so-called Kansas le-
gislature. It was not any part of the formula of the society to resort
to any violent or unlawful means to advance free- State principles. I
never knew of any society in the Territory for the purpose of resist-
ance to the laws of the Kansas legislature, and I so testified upon a
former examination. I did not consider this society as coming within
the scope of the interrogatory propounded to me upon my former ex-
amination.
G. P. LOWKEY.
NEW YORK CITY, June 27, 1856.
~~
MARTIN F. CONWAY called and sworn.
To Mr. Sherman :
There was a secret society formed in Kansas Territory, and came to
my knowledge about the middle of June, 1855. I was informally in-
itiated into it. The object of the society was to protect the 'rights of
the people against the encroachments of the people of Missouri. It
was formed in consequence of the invasion at the previous March elec-
tion, and the recent outrages in Leaven worth. There was a printed
constitution, form of initiation, &c. There were a number of divi-
sions formed in different parts of the Territory. It was found to be
cumbersome and unwieldy, and it fell into disuse, and I do not know
as it ever accomplished anything. This was the society which Pat
Laughlin claimed to expose, and which was referred to in the report
of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas of the United States Senate.
Another secret society was afterwards formed, the proceedings of
924 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
which were intended to be secret, but the existence of which was in-
tended should be known to the public. It was instituted about the
middle of September, 1855. The object of this society was to protect
the movement of the people of Kansas for a free-State organization
against those attempts which it was expected the Missourians would
make to defeat the movement. I was one of the first to engage in
this movement for a secret society, and know all about it. In pro-
ceeding to accomplish the object we had in view it was necessary for
us to have meetings, conventions, elections, and various other gather-
ings of the people, and knowing ourselves liable at such times to be
attacked by pro-slavery men in the Territory, as well as by invaders
from Missouri, we resolved upon this secret organization as a means
of defence of ourselves, and resistance to them. It was a regimental
organization, with officers such as pertain to regiments. It was neither
the design nor the effect of the society to resist the laws of the alleged
Territorial legislature, but was purely a defensive organization. The
position we tc-ok in forming this secret society and in perfecting a
State organization was, that as soon as the State government should
be put in operation it would, supersede the Territorial government,
and the laws made under that Territorial government, not by any vio-
lent method, but in the regular order of tilings as had been the case
in other Territories ; that even if the Territorial laws had been valid
and.of full force, they would have been superseded by the State gov-
ernment as soon as Congress should recognise us as a State. We con-
sidered this position established and placed beyond dispute by the
sanction given by the federal government to similar proceedings in
other Territories of the United States, and believing that we had a
perfect right thus to take preliminary steps for the formation of a
State government, we believed we had also a perfect right to take all
necessary steps to defend ourselves while taking those preliminary
steps against the acts of citizens of a neighboring State, and it was
for that purpose alone that this society was formed. There was no
printed or written constitution or formula of this society. Nearly
all the free-State men in and around Lawrence became members of
this society. I do not know that this society extended into any other
portion of the Territory besides Lawrence, and do not believe it did.
I think the society fell into disuse after the siege of Lawrence and
the election for the ratification of the State constitution in December
last, the object of its organization having thus been accomplished. I
cannot repeat the oath, and do not remember it, as there was no writ-
ten form. It would generally be given in about the same form ; that
is, with the same ideas, but with change in the language, to express
the same ideas. It was given by the colonel of the regiment, and at
different times. He would give the ideas of the oath in different lan-
fuage, as he had no particular form of the oath to which to confine
imself. I attended the meetings of the society during the month of
September. There were a great many initiated every night — ten, ,
fifteen, twenty, and thirty at a time — many who would be strangers i
to me. I do not recollect when Dr. Francis was initiated. Our
meetings were weekly. I heard the oath administered, I should think,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 925-
a dozen times. I can recollect the general objects of the obligation,
but do not recollect the exact words of the obligation.
I do not remember of ever hearing any obligation required of any
member to transact all the business he had, so far as he was able, with
free- State men. I am positive I never heard any obligation required
that, under all circumstances and at all times, members should hold
themselves in readiness to take up arms in defence of free-State prin-
ciples, even though it should subvert the government. I do not re-
member of any obligation requiring members to oppose to the utmost
of their powers the laws of the so-called Kansas legislature. 1 do
not remember of any such obligation as : " If any part of any obli-
gation is at this time omitted, I will consider the same as binding
when legally informed of it." I do not remember any portion of- the
obligation requiring members to commit it to memory.
The objects of the society were plain and simple, and could be easily
remembered by any one. No stress was laid upon the particular form
of the obligation, nor upon any of the forms connected with the so-
ciety. There was no act whatever done by means of that organiza-
tion, so far as I know. No attack was ever made upon the polls of
the State elections, except at Leavenworth and other points where the
organization did not exist, and therefore nothing was done by means
of that organization, so far as I know.
I was at Lawrence on the day of the election of the 9th of October,
1855, and voted at that election. I think the number of votes cast
there that day was over five hundred, but the precise number I can-
not state. The election was quiet, peaceable, and orderly.
M. F. CONWAY.
WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., July 3, 1856.
Dr. JOHX H. STRINGFELLOW testifies :
To Mr. King :
I came into the Territory'from Missouri, Platte county, in July,
1854. I contemplated a home in the Territory as soon as the Kansas-
Nebraska bill was passed, or as soon as I found that a profitable in-
vestment could be made in the Territory. I know of no arrangements
made in Missouri to control the domestic institutions of the Territory. '
The controlling motive that started me to the Territory was a desire
for gain. At the time of the passage of that bill, and prior to that
time, I never heard any man in my section of Missouri express a doubt
about the nature of the institutions which would be established here
provided the Missouri restriction was removed, and 1 heard of no com-
bination of persons, either in public or private, prior to the time of
the. organization of the Emigrant Aid Society, and, indeed, for months
afterwards, for the purpose of making united action to frustrate the
designs of that society iu abolitionizing or making a free State of
Kansas. The conviction was general that it would be a slave State.
The settlers who came over from Missouri after the passage of the
bill, so far as I know, generally believed that Kansas would be a slave
926 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
State. Free-State men who came into the Territory after the passage
of the bill were regarded with jealousy hy the people of western Mis-
souri, for the reason that a society had been formed, by members of
Congress and others, for the avowed purpose of shaping the institu-
tions of Kansas Territory so as to make it a free State, in opposition
to the interests of the people of Missouri. If no emigrant aid socie-
ties had been formed in the northern States, the emigration of people
from there known to be in favor of making Kansas a free State would
have stimulated the emigration from Missouri. Had it not been for
the emigrant aid societies the majority in favor of slave institutions
would, by the natural course of emigration, have been so great as to
have fixed the institutions of the Territory, without any exciting con-
test, as was in the case of the settlement of the Platte purchase. That
was the way we regarded the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, as
by reserving a restriction to introduce ' southern institutions into
Kansas. This and the principle of it was what induced us to support
it. The fixed time that any action was taken to form societies in Mis-
souri to counteract the movements of emigrant aid societies was in
October, 1854. The end sought to be attained by the formation of
.these societies, was to induce citizens to move into the Territory who
were friendly to the institution of slavery. We held public and pri-
vate meetings. The members of these societies knew each other, and
in public and private pledged to use all honorable means to make
Kansas a slave State. They raised no more money than for the inci-
dental expenses of their meetings. The condition and affairs of Kansas
were discussed in these meetings. We consulted and talked about the
mode of carrying out our object, which was by voluntary emigration.
With respect to the then approaching elections means were taken to
prevent underhanded advantages, which we feared would be taken to
control the elections in favor of the free-State party. Part of the means
taken was to come into the Territory from Missouri to prevent or coun-
teract illegal voting on the part of hired voters from the east and other
free States. I can't state how extensive these societies were. They
were pretty extensive, however, along through Missouri. I don't know
that I ever met with a man from another State who belonged to the
society. I cannot state how many members belonged to the society on
the 30th of March, but I do not think any more belonged to it then
than at the first election in November previous. I can't say where or
whether any division of Missouri was made in these societies so as to
go to the different polls in Kansas. Some of these societies existed to
a limited extent in the Territory. They were united associations,
with officers, and they communicate with other societies through their
officers. The design was to director advise rather than to assist per-
sons where to settle in the Territory. Since the election of the 30th
of March public organizations or aid societies have been formed all
through the slave States, so far as I can learn, to enable settlers favor-
able to the institution of slavery to reach the Territory without as-
suming any control over their acts after they get here. Several gen-
tlemen have left the Territory and the border of Missouri since March
election in 1855, and visited the slaveholding States and addressed the
people, urging the importance pecuniarily and publicly of a pro-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 927
slavery emigration to Kansas Territory. The emigration from the
southern States this spring has been large, which I attribute more to
the general belief of the importance of such emigration rather than to
the societies or Missourians. I don't know about money being raised
for the aid of southern emigrants now here, except from the newspapers
of Missouri. All the elections that have been held in the Territory
have turned upon the question of slavery or anti-slavery, free and
slave institutions. There are but two parties in the Territory — the
abolition and the pro-slavery party ; and the real and immediate dif-
ficulties in the Territory are attributable solely to Governor Reeder,
and his particular friends, in denying that there was any law in this
Territory.
Cross-examined by Governor King :
Some two or three days' after the election of the 30th of March, I
went down the river from Leavenworth City to Kansas City. At
Leavenworth City there were some fifty persons who came aboard the
same boat, and in conversation with them I learned they were per-
sons from the free States, who had recently arrived in the Territory,
had voted in the Territory, and were then on their return to their
respective homes in the free States, with no expression of their inten-
tion of returning to the Territory. At Kansas City a still larger
party embarked on the same boat, some of whom I knew to be, from
their conversation, free-State men, who had arrived in the Territory
immediately preceding the election, and were then on their return to
the free States.
About the middle of April, I started to Virginia on the steamer
" New Lucy." At Leavenworth and Kansas City there were large
numbers of persons from the free States, who had gone into the Terri-
tory just before the election of the 30th of March, and were then on
their return to the free States. I learned from them that they had
voted in the Territory.
JOHN H. STRINGFELLOW.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27> 1856.
AMOS BEES called and sworn.
By Mr. Sherman :
I came into the Territory in July, 1855, from Platte county, Mis-
souri.
Question. State what you know about citizens of Missouri voting
at an election held in this county to fix your county seat. State what
means were taken, if any, by citizens of Missouri to control that elec-
tion, and whether or not their action led to the selection of Delaware
as the county seat, instead of Leavenworth.
[Governor King objected to this question, and the committee held
that as the election referred to was simply local in its character, and
did not grow out of the political controversies in the Territory, they
would not investigate it.]
928 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I lived in Platte City ten years, and came into Missouri in 1818. I
was at the election of 30th March, 1855, and voted here at that elec-
tion. I desire to say, in connexion with my voting, that my property
was here mostly. I was one of the original proprietors of the town.
I had fully determined on to move here. I had my contract out for
building a house, and had determined never again to vote in Missouri,
in my own mind, and certainly never would have done so unless I
altered my disposition to change my residence. At the time I voted
I looked upon myself as a resident here as much as I do now. I
knew Hon. David K. Atchison well. He lived in the same town
with me, and we practised law together. I know from general rumor
that General Atchison and a company from Platte county were in the
Territory. Upon reflection, I am of the impression I did hear Gen-
eral Atchison say that he was in a camp on the Nemaha at the March
elections, but that he did not vote. I should say that there were two
hundred persons in the Territory from my neighborhood, from Platte
City, down in the southeastern part of that county. A great many
of those who were on here, were men who had been here and made
their claims and improvements, and many of them are here now.
Judge Morton, I think, was not in the Territory. Judge Almore was
at this place at the election. I recognise the following names as, at
the time of the election, being citizens of Missouri : Thomas Beau-
rnond, John B. Wells, George Quinly, (but who is now a citizen of
this county,) William 3EL S. Pratt, William J. Morris, John Yenomon,
N. A. Wilkison, Eandall A. Gordon, Kobert Pierce, K. N. Chim,
(now a citizen of the Territory,) E. T. Pierce, F. Marshall, Samuel
R. Offutt, A. P. Walling, T. R. Buckhard, James Doniphan, William
Dickie, (now in the Territory,) W. Christerson, (now in the Terri-
tory.) Smith Calvert, Joseph Mowers, C. E. Woolfolk, Jesse Vine-
yard,' George W. Dye, John D. Harper, W. S. Orffut, P. R. Wag-
goner, James Barbee, Jacob Pitts, William A. Gabbolt, A. Gilbert,
Isaac Archer, J. C. Cockrill, Edward Duncan, L. P. Styles, William
A. Gurthie, Samuel Fernandes, (now in the Territory, and one of the
original proprietors of the town,) Joseph Halliday, Joseph Murphy,
William A. Newman, Michael Birch, H. G. Wolf, (now clerk of the
court of common pleas, but was not on the 30th of March.) These
are principally citizens about Weston. I could, by taking time, fur-
nish a list of those about Platte City who came here to vote, but my
memory of names is poor, and I cannot now do it, but a great many
did come over. I only know about companies from other counties
coming over by hearsay. I saw a few men from Ray county, some of
whom I knew, who told me they were coming over into the Territory.
By Governor King :
At a very early day after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act,
it was reported currently in the newspapers, and believed, that there
was a regular organization of the abolitionists of the north to colonize
in this Territory their men, through their Emigrant Aid Society, to
carry and control the elections upon the subject of slavery ; and, fur-
thermore, through this organization, to control the institution of
slavery in Missouri. Immediately after that there was a great deal of
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 929
feeling and excitement in the upper part of Missouri. It was looked
upon as an intermeddling with our own business by foreigners. Fol-
lowing that immediately there were repeated public meetings in Platte
county, for the purpose of taking into consideration the effort on the
part of northern men, and our duties in connexion with it. I presume
I attended some four or five of these meetings. There the question
was freely and fully agitated as to our duties in that state of things,
and for the purpose of defending ourselves against what we looked
upon as an aggression. In these meetings different gentlemen took
different positions. Some favored the idea of coming over here and
meeting them by voting at the elections, looking upon that as being
of the same character of opposition as practiced by northern peo-
ple ; others approved that idea and were in favor of immediate and
extensive emigration and settlement. It was ascertained that it would
be impossible to emigrate and settle, in time for the election, men
enough to meet the imported vote. Then it was finally determined
upon, in view of the fact that large masses of men were reported to be
on their way to the Territory in time for the March election, to send
over our own men and meet them in their own way. I fully believe
that there would not have been any excitement in the border counties
of Missouri, or illegal voting in the Territory by Missourians, except
from the reasons above. It was difficult to get the people around
about it, and I was one of those who was active in doing it. The
knowledge of the time of the election of the 30th of March was kept
back from us, and before we ascertained what day the election would
be we heard, by general rumor, that numbers of persons were coming
up the Missouri river belonging to the northern emigrant society.
The rumor was currently circulated and generally believed, and our
action was based upon this rumor.
To Mr, Sherman:
My impression is that the Kansas-Nebraska bill was passed on the
30th of May, 1854. Upon the passage of that bill it was generally
understood that Kansas would become a slave State, as we intended
to do all we could, legally, to make it so. When the two Territories
were organized, under the same bill, it seemed to be a tacid under-
standing, universal among our people, that Kansas was to be a slave
State and Nebraska a free State, As soon as the emigrant aid socie-
ties began to interfere with this understanding it created a great ex-
citement. Immediately after the passage of the bill, and, indeed,
before it, a number of emigrants came across the river, all entertain-
ing the common belief that I have expressed — that here were two
Territories, one to be a slave State and the other free ; although the
early settlers came over to make money and had not the idea of
slavery in their minds. I am' willing to state, then, that we always
acted under the idea that slavery existed in the Territory since the
passage of the bill. Any movement by societies or organizations
connected with foreign influence would have heated the same excite-
ment if it tended to lead to the prohibition of slavery. The people of
Missouri felt a deep interest in establishing slavery in Kansas, and
regarded it as necessary for their safety. My opinion is, that without
H. Kep. 200 ^59*
930 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
this foreign influence individual societies and organizations might
have gone on to promulgate their opinions, and put forth their efforts
to make this a free State, without ever having produced any unnatural
excitement. The people of Missouri felt that through the institutions
of Kansas their institution of slavery was to be affected. And if they
had seen large masses of free State people settling here, that they
would have endeavored to counteract it by throwing over their citi-
zens as settlers of the Territory. I saw no emigration from the north
of the class I have mentioned coming up the river.
I know Lewis Burns. He lived in Weston on June 10, 1854. J.
H. E. CundifF lived in Parkville, June 10, 1854. I have looked over
die proceedings of a public meeting, published in the Parkville Lumi-
nary of June 10, 1854, of which Mr. Burns was president and Mr.
Cundiff was secretary. I do not recognize the proceedings of that
meeting but the eighth and ninth resolutions, which were as follows :
8. Resolved, That we recognize the institution of slavery as already
existing in the Territory, and recommend to slaveholders to introduce
their property as fast as possible.
9. Resolved, That we afford protection to no abolitionists as settlerg
in Kansas Territory.
According to my belief they embody the general sentiment at that
time, and which has continued to the present time, and is worse now
than it was then. When I speak of this ninth resolution I mean
abolitionists in its proper sense. I do not mean a man who is in favor
of a free State, or a man who may be properly called a free-soiler.
Such men I esteem to be gentlemen and have no objection to their
settlement here. But by abolitionists has been understood here, in
this community, to be men who believed it to be a virtue to steal and
run off slaves.
I was over at the election of November for General Whitfield ; and,
indeed, have voted at every election in the Territory, as I regarded
myself a citizen of that Territory from the beginning.
AMOS EEES.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
WM. H. TEBBS recalled.
To Mr. King :
I was a member of the last grand jury of Jefferson county, Kansas
Territory, which sat about the 2d Monday in March last, and from
that time on to the first of April. Dr. Francis was examined before
the grand jury. I knew a Mr. Hutchinson a lawyer who was before
the grand jury. Mr. Hutchinson made his appearance there in
Osawkee, and after those developements were made before the grand
jury by Dr. Francis, and he had said that Mr. Hutchinson was in the
lodge when he was initiated, we summoned him to appear before us.
Before we asked him any questions I gave him to understand that
some developements had been made before us. I put questions to him
in relation to this order, which he immediately refused to answer, on
the ground that they would criminate himself, and that we had no
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 931
jurisdiction over the matter, as we were enquiring about what was out
of our county. The question was then written out, and submitted to
Judge Lecompte, who presided, and he decided it was competent.
When we returned into the jury room Mr. Hutchinson then imme-
diately asked permission to go into the court room below and attend to
a case he had there. We told him that as a matter of courtesy we
would let him go, but we would expect him to return as soon as he
got through his case. We waited some time, and he did not return,
and he never came back again, and I have never seen him since.
To Mr. Sherman :
We had been interrogating him in relation to this secret society in
Lawrence. Judge Lecompte held that we had no authority to enquire
as to what took place in Lawrence, unless we believed it implicated
some one in our county. We did so hold, and upon that ground he
decided the enquiry competent.
W. H. TEBBS.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 4, 1856.
JOHX SCOTT testifies. v
To Mr. Oliver :
Prior to the election in Burr Oak precinct, in the fourteenth district
on the 29th of November, 1854, I had been a resident of Missouri
and I then determined, if I found it necessary, to become a resident of
Kansas Territory. On the day previous to that election I settled up
my board «,t my boarding-house in St. Joseph's, Missouri, and went
over to the Territory and took boarding with Mr. Bryant, near whose
house the polls were held the next day, for one month, so that I might
have it in my power, by merely determining to do so, to become a
resident of the Territory on the day of election. I was present at
Mr. Harding' s when the polls were held on the morning of election
prior to and at the time the judges were appointed. When my name
was suggested as a judge of the election, no such suggestion had* been
made to or in regard to me that I was aware of, until the hour ol
opening the polls had arrived, when, by the absence of two judges
appointed by the governor, it became necessary to select others in
their places. When my name was proposed as a judge of' election,
objections were made by two persons only, so far I knew, Messrs.
Harding and Larzelere, in regard to my want of residence in the
Territory. I then publicly informed those present that I had a claim
in the Territory ; that I had taken board in the Territory for a month,
and that I could at any moment become an actual resident and legal
voter in the Territory, and that I would do so if I concluded at any
time during the day that my vote would be necessary to carry that
precinct in favor of the pro-slavery candidate for delegate to Congress,
and that I knew of no law requiring a judge of that election selected
by the voters present to be a resident of the Territory. I was then
elected, took the oath prescribed by the governor, and faithfully and
impartially discharged the duties of judge of that election, swearing
932 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
every man who offered to vote, and was not known to be an actual
resident of the Terriorty, requiring each one to state that that was
his actual place of residence in preference to all other places. I did
not during the day consider it necessary to become a resident of the
Territory for the purpose mentioned, and did not vote or offer to vote
at that election. The statements made by Alfred Larzelere in his
testimony before this committee in regard to my declaring myself a
citizen of the Territory is false, and he knew it to be so when he made
it. Benjamin Harding, the only judge appointed by the governor who
was present, claimed the right publicly to select the other two judges,
and undertook to exercise that right., which caused a great deal of ex-
citement among the people present. He also claimed the right before
being ratified as judge to determine who were and who were not quali-
fied to vote for judges, or to be selected as judges of election. Con-
cluding I was not qualified to act as judge, he refused to put my name
to vote when nominated by persons present, whereupon it was done
by some of the bystanders, and I was almost unanimously chosen judge
of that election by those present. No efforts, that I know of, were
made to interfere with any one entitled to vote.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I held the office of city attorney for St. Joseph's at that time, and
had held it for two or three years previously, and continued to hold
it afterwards until this spring. I never acted as judge of election in
St. Joseph's in my life. I voted at an election in St. Joseph's; in the
spring of 1855 I was re-appointed city attorney. The question oi
slavery was put in issue at the election of November, 1854, to the
same extent as in every election in this Territory. General Whitfield
was regarded as the pro-slavery candidate, and had been selected as
the pro-slavery candidate by the pro-slavery party. I regarded the
the question of slavery as the primarily prominent issue at that elec-
tion, -and, so far as I know, all parties agreed in making that question
ihe ksue of that election. My removal into the Territory would have
vacated my office without any resignation of my office, and if I had
determined to become a citizen of.the Territory on the day of election,
when I acted as judge, my office of city attorney of St. Joseph's
would have thereby become vacated without any further action on my
part. It is my intention, and the intention of a great many other
Missomlans, now resident in Missouri, whenever the slavery issue is
to :be determined upon by the people of this Territory in the adoption
of the State constitution, to remove to this Territory in time to acquire
the right to become legal voters upon that question. The leading
purpose of our intended removal to the Territory is to determine the
domestic institutions of this Territory when it comes to be a State,
and we would not come but for that purpose, and would never think
of coining here but for that purpose. I believe there are a great many
in Missouri who are so situated. This is one of the means decided
upon by Missourians to counteract the movements of the Emigrant
Aid Society to determine the character of the institutions of this Ter-
ritory when it comes to be a State.
JOHN SCOTT.
LEAVENWOBTH CITY, K. T.? May 2T, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 933
ANDREW H. KEEBER called and sworn :
1 was appointed governor of the Territory of Kansas about July 1,
1854,, and as soon as the nomination was confirmed by the Senate, I
proceeded to Washington city, at the request of the President of the
United States, and remained there till the adjournment of Congress,
In the first week of August, engaged in procuring necessary legislation
for the Territory. I returned to Easton, I think, on the 7th of Au-
gust. My arrangements for closing up a most extensive private and
professional business, extending over six counties, were seriously re-
tarded and prevented by a term of three weeks' court which followed ;
and on the 21st September I departed for the Terrritory, leaving my
business in a most unsatisfactory condition. I landed at Fort Leaven-
worth on Saturday, the 7th day of October, and made it my first
business to obtain information of the geography, settlements, popu-
lation, and general condition of the Territory, with a view to its
division into districts, the defining of their boundaries, the ascertain-
ment of suitable and central places for elections, and the full names
of men in each district for election officers, persons to take the census,
justices of the peace, and constables. In a very few days I discovered
that the procurement of this knowledge, in consequence of the new-
ness of the population, was utterly impossible, by any other means
than by a tour through the Territory. I found that, unlike most new
Territories, the settlements of which cluster along a single line, the
small population of Kansas was sparsely distributed over a surface of
about 20,000 square miles. With some trouble arising from the
want of travelling facilities, I made the necessary arrangements, and
on the 14th of October I left, with two of the Territorial judges,
Messrs. Elmore and Johnson, the district attorney, Mr. Isaacs, the
United States marshal^ Mr. Donaldson, and my private secretary,
Mr. Williams, for a trip into the interior, to procure the requisite in-
formation. The secretary and chief justice had not then arrived in
the Territory. I took in the route the payments of the Pottawat-
omie and Kansas Indians, where a large number of whites as well as
Indians were assembled ; and having made full notes of all the inform-
ation procured from Indians and whites, I completed my trip, and
arrived at Fort Leavenworth on the 7th of November. I then saw
that if the election for delegate to Congress (which required no pre-
vious census) should be postponed till an election could be had for
legislature, with its preliminary census and apportionment, the
greater part of the session, which would terminate on the 4th of March,
would expire before our congressional delegate could reach ,Washing-
ton ; and I deemed it best to order an election for a delegate to Con-
gress as early as possible, and to postpone the taking of the census
till after that election. I was more convinced of the propriety of this
course, by the fact that the common law and many of the United
States statutes were in force over the Territory, and could well be ad-
ministered through the courts established by Congress, and the jus-
tices and constables whom I was authorized to appoint ; and by the
additional fact that whilst the citizens of Missouri were vehemently
934 .KANSAS AFFAIRS.
urging an immediate election of the legislature, the citizens of the
Territory were generally of the opinion that no immediate necessity
for it existed. I prepared, without delay, a division of the Territory
into election districts, defined by natural boundaries, easily understood
and known, fixed a place of election in each, appointed election offi-
cers for each poll, and ordered an election for congressional delegate
to take place on the the 29th of November, 1854, and by the 15th of
November my proclamations were issued, containing a description of
the districts, with all the necessary information, instructions, and
forms.
These proclamations were immediately distributed by express
throughout the Territory. About the 24th of November the want
of necessary conveniences induced me to remove the executive office
to Shawnee Mission. By the fifth of December the returns of the
congressional election were made, and on the sixth a certificate of
election was issued to J. W. Whitfield, who stood highest on the
return. Immediately thereafter public business called me into the
interior of the Territory, and, having attended to the same, and also
to some private business incidentally, which latter, however, did not
detain me over two days; I returned to my office about the first of Jan-
nary, and immediately commenced the preparation of books arid pre-
cepts for taking the census, preparatory to an election for the legisla-
ture. Much unavoidable delay occurred in the proceeding from the
want of mail and travelling facilities, the difficulty of notifying the
various and more remote persons appointed to take the census, from
the sparseness of the population in making the enumeration and re-
turn ; and yet in less than seventy days the census books and the in-
structions were distributed over the entire Territory, and the enumera-
tion was fully completed and returned. A return day was fixed in the
precept of each census taker, but several of them found it necessary
to prolong the time in order to complete their work, and the last re-
turns were made late in the evening of Saturday, the third of March.
I immediately proceeded to make the apportionment, designate such
new election precincts as had become necessary, to appoint election
officers, and to prepare necessary forms and instructions ; and on the
fcixth or seventh of March my proclamation for the election on the
thirtieth was completed, and despatched by express to the printing
office, about forty miles distant ; a large number of copies were re-
ceived by me of the printer, and immediately distributed through the
Territory, under arrangements previously matured for that purpose.
The precise day of the election was never fixed by me, or communi-
cated to any one else, at home or abroad, until about the sixth of
March, when I was writing the proclamation. Before the returns of
the census had been all received it was impossible to fix the precise
day, and I could only judge that the election would probably take
place about the twenty-fifth to the twenty-eighth of March, and I did
not hesitate so to state, without reserve, to citizens of the Territory
who made inquiry. I so stated to a number of prominent men of the
pro-slavery party, and it was editorially announced in the Frontier
News, published at Westport, some time before the election, (I think
more than four weeks before,) that the election would take place on
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 935
the twenty-eighth of March. Among the gentlemen to whom I rec-
ollect having communicated this information were Thomas Johnson,
A. S. Johnson, Daniel Woodson, and John A. Halderman, all prom-
inent men in the pro-slavery party. The first men to whom the pre-
cise day was made known after I had determined it were Daniel
Woodson and John A. Halderman, esqs., which was on the sixth or
seventh of March, and it was at once made public by them and my-
self. I did not hesitate at any time to state to persons around me, of
both parties, all that I could know myself in relation to the day of
election, and I did not communicate it to the Emigrant Aid Society
or their agents, or to any one else in the States, except, perhaps, to
some persons in the State of Missouri. In the appointment of jus-
tices of the peace, constables, census takers, and officers of election, I
was careful to select men indiscriminately from both parties, with a
view to treat all persons fairly, and afford no cause of complaint. At
the election of the twenty-ninth of November a large majority of the
officers of election were, as I believe, pro-slavery men. Of the twelve
men appointed to take the census six were pro-slavery men. A fail-
proportion of the justices and constables were also pro-slavery men.
My private secretary, Mr. Williams, having resigned, in November,
1854, I appointed a pro-slavery man, John A. Halderman, esq., who
served until July 1, 1855. At the election of the thirtieth of March
more than one-third of the election officers were, as I believe, pro-
slavery men. Anticipating, however, an invasion of illegal voters
from the State of Missouri, I was careful to appoint in most of the
districts, especially in those contiguous to Missouri, two men of the
free-State party and one of the pro-slavery party. Notwithstanding
all my efforts, however, at fair and impartial action, my person and
my life were continuously threatened from the month of November,
1854. As early as the 15th day of November, 1854, a meeting was
held at Leavenworth, composed almost exclusively of Missourians,
presided over by a citizen of Missouri, at which I was bitterly de-
nounced, and a committee appointed, composed partly of citizens of
Missouri, who waited upon me, and insisted upon an immediate elec-'
tion for the legislature. Their communication and my reply can be
found in the newspapers of the day. This meeting was held imme-
diately after the appearance of my first proclamation, and is gener-
ally attributed by both parties to the fact that that proclamation con-
tained a provision for contesting elections before me illegally held,
and did not provide for an election for the legislature. The election
was held on the thirtieth of March, as ordered, and an invading force
from Missouri entered the Territory for the purpose of voting, which,
although it had been openly threatened, far exceeded my anticipa-
tions. About the time fixed as the return day for that election a ma-
jority of the persons returned as elected assembled at Shawnee Mis-
sion and Westport, and remained several days, holding private cau-
cuses at both places. I had frequent conversations with them, and
they strenuously denied my right to go behind the returns made by
the judges of the election, or investigate in any way the legality of
the election. A committee called upon me and presented a paper,
signed by twenty-three or twenty-four of them, to the same effect.
936 KANSAS AFFAIKS.
Threats of violence against my person and life were freely afloat in
the community, and the same threats were reported to me as having
"been made hy members elect in their private caucuses. In conse-
quence of its being reported to me that a number of the members in
their caucuses in their speeches had declared that they would take
my Kfe if I persisted in taking cognizance of the complaints made
against the legality of the elections, I made arrangements to assem-
ble a small number of friends for defence, and on the morning of the
sixth of April I proceeded to announce my decision upon the returns.
Upon the one side of the room were arrayed the members elect, nearly
if not quite all armed, and on the other side about fourteen of my friends,
who, with myself, were also well armed. My official action upon
those election returns was entered upon the executive minutes, and is
already in the possession of the committee. Lwas not then aware of
the frauds perpetrated in the other districts, which were not set aside,
as no complaints had been filed, and the facts had not been commu-
nicated to me. Sufficient opportunity for contesting the election had
been given by the proclamation. The form of complaint required was
very simple, and full five days, exclusive of the day of the election,
were allowed for filing it. The most remote polls were within three
days' journey, or less, of my office, which was kept open till mid-
night of the last day. The reasons why they were not contested have
been already stated by other witnesses. I left the Territory about the
middle of April, and came east for the purpose of taking out my
family and attending to private business, as well as for the purpose of
consulting with the President in regard to the state of things in the
Territory. In the month of December, 1855, or January, 1856, I
communicated my intention to the town association of Pawnee to call
the legislature at that place, provided they would erect a suitable
building for their accommodation, which they did. About the time
of the decision on the returns of the election the members elect then
assembled requested that I should convene them at the Shawnee Mis-
sion, which I could not consent to do, inasmuch as the Pawnee Asso-
ciation had already expended considerable money in the erection of
their building, and because I did not consider the Shawnee Mission a
suitable place for their meeting. They immediately declared their
intention to adjourn to the Mission if convened at Pawnee, and au-
thorized Kev. Thomas Johnson to purchase furniture, bedding, and
provisions for their accommodation at the Mission. Before leaving
the Territory I issued my proclamation for convening the legislature
at the town of Pawnee on the second day of July. I returned to the
Territory about the twenty-fourth of June, and proceeded to Pawnee,
where the legislature met on the day appointed. The building in
which they assembled was of stone, two stories high, about forty feet
by eighty, well provided with seats and writing-tables. Ample ac-
commodations for boarding and lodging existed in the town : a com-
fortable boarding-house, kept by Major Klotz, which would have ac-
commodated forty or fifty ; a large boarding-house, kept by Mr. Tee-
pies, which would have accommodated at least twenty ; another
boarding-house, kept by Mr. Knapp, which would have accommo-
dated nearly as many ; and a comfortable boarding-house, kept by
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 937
Mr. Lowe, at the fort, which would accommodate from fifteen to
twenty — this was ahout two miles distant, and a carriage was run
back and forwards for the accommodation of their hoarders. Ahout
the sixth of July they adjourned from that place to Shawnee Mission.
The disagreement between the legislature and myself as to this removal,
and all subsequent proceedings, are already in the possession of the
committee. I was removed from office the last of July, and received
notice on the fifteenth of August. During my presence in the States
I went to the city of Washington, where I arrived in the beginning
of May, 1855. I at once saw President Pierce, and had a full con-
sultation with him on the state of things in Kansas, which was pro-
tracted for more than two weeks, and kept up almost daily. I gave
him, in the fullest manner, all the information which I had upon the
subject, and endeavored to impress upon him the conviction which
was upon my mind, that unless some decided course was taken the
actual settlers of the Territory would be subjected to most cruel per-
secution ; that there was evidently a settled determination on the part
of , the border counties of Missouri — strong in men and means — to de-
prive them of the right of governing themselves and regulating their
own affairs. I stated to him that the seizure of the polls at the two
elections which had been held, together with the intermeddling and
tyrannic spirit which pervaded the entire action of our Missouri neigh-
bors, concurred with all the information I had received to convince
me that there was a settled determination, by intimidation and force,
to subjugate the Territory entirely to their will, in defiance of the
right of the majority and the principle of the organic law. I had
learned some new facts since the grant of the certificates of election,
which I also made known to him. Indeed, I stated to him all my
knowledge and all my views in the most candid manner, for I had
still the fullest confidence that he would share all my indignation at
the gross wrong of this foreign interference. I had several times
written him on this subject from the Territory. Immediately after
the election of the twenty-ninth of November, at which the most dis-
graceful scenes had been enacted, I wrote him fully what had taken
place, and expressed my views on the subject without reserve. Pre-
vious to that election I had also written him, and that such an inva-
sion was openly threatened, but expressed the opinion that, by careful
provisions in my proclamation, I could counteract it, for I did not
then credit that it would be carried to such extremes of recklessness
and violence. A short time previous to the election of the thirtieth
of March I had again written him that the same thing was again
threatened. These letters, however, were private, and I now see that
I committed an error in making them so ; but I then had confidence
, that he felt upon the subject as I did, and that the cause of truth and
Justice would be best subserved by intrusting the whole matter to
:his discretion, without forestalling or hampering his future action.
iThe President, in our interviews, expressed himself highly pleased
and satisfied with my course, and in the most unequivocal language
approved and endorsed all I had done. He expressed some regret,
however, that my speech in Easton had omitted all allusion to the
illegalities of the Emigrant Aid Society, and thought it was perhaps
938
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
unnecessarily strong in its denunciation of the Missouri invasion. I
told him I had no knowledge of the operations of the Emigrant Aid
Company except what was before the whole public, and that so long
as they had not sent out men merely to vote and not to settle, (of
which I had no evidence and which I did not believe,) I could not con-
sistently denounce their course as illegal. He stated that this Kansas
matter had given him more harassing anxiety than anything that had
happened since the loss of his son ; that it haunted him day and night,
and was the great overshadowing trouble of his administration. Hd
stated that the most pertinacious complaints of me had been made to
him, and the most urgent demands had been made for my removal
upon every ground that could be got up ; that Gen. Atchison pressed
it in the most excited manner, and would listen to no reasoning at all.
As to the charges of purchasing Indian lands and interests in towns,
he said he was entirely satisfied as to the former, that it was all fair
and honorable, and that hundreds had done so before me — ridiculed
Mr. Mannypenny's objection to it, and said he had rebuked him when
he talked to him of it ; he was, nevertheless, sorry, under the circum-
stances of this case, that I had made any purchases, as they made a
pretext for my enemies to annoy him with demands for my removal.
As to the purchases of town property he said he was entirely satisfied,
from his confidence in me, that they were all right, but he wished me
to explain them to him and refer to the acts of Congress under which
towns were laid out, so that he might be prepared to justify me and
himself when the subject came up before him. I accordingly gave him
all the information on the subject, both as to law and fact, which was
in my power, and stated what was the fact, that in no one case had li
been concerned as an original projector in the laying out of any town,,
but in every case had acquired my interest subject to the original lay-
ing out. He expressed himself satisfied except that he thought the'
act of Mny 28, 1844, did not authorize the laying out of towns except!
on lands which had been surveyed. I replied that the Commissioner
of the Land Office had so construed the act as to recognise towns'
which had been laid out before the survey, and that Mr. Wilson would!
go state to him if he would inquire ; and that this construction wags
right and necessary, for it was idle to expect the Territory to be settled
if it was to remain two years without towns. He expressed himself
satisfied, and the subject was then dropped. He wished no explana-
tion nor found any fault as to the contract for half-breed Kaw lands,
but, as I have already stated, he expressed himself, in strong language,
entirely satisfied as to the fairness and honorable character of thec
transaction.
I, however, pressed that and another matter upon his attention. The*
contracts for these lands had been before him with the accompanying,
papers in the month of January previous, and upon Mr. Mannypenny'gi
making a most violent and high-tempered report against them uponr
the grounds of unfairness, as well as of technical want of conformity
to the rules of the department, he had returned them to me, simply
declining to confirm them. I now called his attention to them again,
and, as he had expressed himself fully satisfied of their honesty and fair-
ness, I requested him to examine the additional papers and depositions
which we had procured to supply technical defects and a legal argu-|
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 939
ment I had made to demonstrate, from the decisions of the Supreme
Court, the acts of Congress, and opinions of the Attorney Generals,
that the whole case and all we had to say upon it was "before him, and
requested him to examine them and decide it. He asked me to hand
the papers to Gov. McClelland, Secretary of the Interior, and I did so.
The second matter to which I called his attention was the town site of
Pawnee. I had informed him that my proclamation named that
place for the meeting of the legislature, and gave him, as a reason for
so doing, that it was remote from the influence of Missouri. He ap-
proved of it very cordially, and a day or two thereafter I complained
to him of what I considered the unfair action of the War Department.
I stated to him that as soon as it was ascertained or suspected that I
would call the legislature together at that place, it was at once assail-
ed through the press and otherwise to break it down; that a free-
State population recently had commenced settling in and around it ;
that it was obvious its natural advantages would attract emigrants ;
that its distance from Missouri would constitute a great objection to
the projectors and friends of the foreign invasion of our Territory,
whilst the same reasons would, in a few years, make it a rallying
point for northern men, and draw about it a large settlement ; that
this was foreseen by the Missourians, and hence their hostility to it
and their determination to break it up ; that I had been informed by
a reputable and credible citizen of Missouri that General Atchison had
written to General Davis on the subject, and that difficulties had been
started in regard to the military reserve of Fort Eiley, and as to a dis-
pute between the commanding officer there and a couple of intruders,
which had so resulted as that the War Department had declared it,
wrongfully as I believed, within the military reservation ; that after
a number of houses had been erected, besides a large hall for the meet-
ing of the legislature, and after it was known throughout the States
that my proclamation had convened the legislature there. I explained
that Colonel Montgomery had been ordered to survey and proclaim
a military reservation at that place, and not being prepared to do so
early enough to keep off settlers, had made a provisional reservation
without survey of ten miles by eighteen, until he could fully comply
with the order by selecting what land he would want, and surveying
and proclaiming it. That in the mean time some of the officers of the
post, the sutler, and some other gentlemen, had conceived the idea of
a town in that vicinity, and some of them had addressed Col. Mont-
gomery a letter, stating their wish to lay out a town, designating two
places which they supposed he would not include when he came to
survey his reservation, and asking his permission to use one of the
points for the purpose contemplated ; that the Colonel, although not
yet prepared exactly to define the reserve he would make, was satis-
rfied that one of the places they named would not be needed or included
by him, and had, in his reply to their letter, so informed them, and
•that he had no objection to their taking possession of it ; that they
had accordingly proceeded to locate and lay out upon this ground the
town of Pawnee ; that all this had happened in the summer before
I had arrived in the Territory, or had any knowledge of the town, or
the men who had laid it out ; that in November, 1854, in our tour
940 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
through the Territory we had stopped at the fort, and were very hos-
pitably treated by the officers, and were then for the first time made
acquainted with the fact that such a town existed. The officers and
sutler of the post showed us their town site, informed us that it was
outside of the reserve, and, as a matter of courtesy to the five Terri-
torial officers, including myself, whom I have mentioned as constitu-
ting our party, presented to each of us a share, being one twenty-fifth
part, at the same price as the original stockholders had theirs, viz : a
proportion of expenses, which we of course accepted ; that the officers
of the post were probably led into this project by the fact that the
same thing had been done by a number of citizens and officers at Fort
Leavenworth, who had laid out a town upon ground excluded from
the Leavenworth military reserve, and that the Secretary of War, in
a correspondence arising out of the transaction, had defended them
and approved the act ; that Colonel Montgomery had, subsequently to
the laying out of the town, made and returned a survey of so much of
the one hundred and eighty square miles as he needed for the purposes
of a reserve at the post, and, to exhibit the whole transaction, had
returned a draught showing the lines of the surveyed reserve, the
lines of the town adjoining it, and the correspondence to which I
have alluded ; that Quartermaster General Jesup had endorsed the
return " recommended to be approved according to Colonel Mont-
gomery's draught and specifications," the effect of which would have
been to exclude the town ; that the Secretary of War, instead of fol-
lowing or adopting the recommendation of General Jesup, had en-
dorsed the return u recommended to be approved according to Colonel
Montgomery's draught, as shown by the exterior lines." the effect oi
which was, by excluding all except the draught and adopting the
exterior lines, to extend the reserve over the town with all its inhabi-
tants and improvements ; and as this recommendation had been approved
by himself (the President) probably without being aware of its object
or effect, which would be discrediting and disastrous to the free-State
party of the Territory, I stated to him that if he did not choose to re-
voke his approval and adopt the recommendation of General Jesup,
the same result might perhaps be effected if the Secretary of the In-
terior would include the town in the public surveys. He stated that
lie was not aware of the condition of things when he approved of the
reserve, regretted that he did not know it, and requested me to call
upon the Secretary of the Interior and state to him the facts, and he
would afterwards have a consultation with him. I accordingly called
upon Governor McClelland, and, after a conversation with him, was
referred by him to General Wilson, Commissioner of the Land Office.
to whom I also stated the facts. The conversations in regard to thei
purchases of half-breed lands and the town of Pawnee took place at
different times throughout our interviews, although I have stated
them here separately, for the sake of convenience. I stated to hinu
also,, that the Secretary of War, by adopting all the reductions of the
provisional reserve ascertained by the survey, with the exception
the town plot alone, had abandoned the provisional reserve and recog-;
nised the survey, in contradistinction to the provisional reserve, as
compliance with the original order. I also informed him that the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 941
Secretary of War had commissioned Generals Churchill and Clark to
proceed to Fort Kileyto investigate and report, and, as it was entirely
obvious that the town plot, a part of which extended at least two miles
from the fort, afforded neither water nor timber, I had no doubt
Generals Clark and Churchill would recommend the exclusion, (as I
have since learned they did.) The two subjects to which I have al-
luded were discussed incidentally during our interviews, but the prin-
cipal question which occupied our attention was the general political
condition of the people of the Territory. He was profuse in his ex-
pressions of approval of my course, but expressed himself deeply-
solicitous as to the probable consequences of my return to the Terri-
tory. He declared that, in the excited state of the community, he
was fearful of personal violence to myself; and that if violence was
committed upon me the whole North would be inflamed, civil war
would probably ensue, and no man could predict the result. He re-
peated this, and enlarged upon it much and often; said that it would
be a fearful calamity, the beginning of the end, &c., concluding with
the opinion that it would be unsafe for myself, and for the country,
that I should return to Kansas in the capacity of governor. I told
him promptly and decidedly that I would not resign the office ; that
two considerations forbade me to think of it ; that, as things now
stood, the executive office in my hands was the only means of pro-
tection for the people against the persecutions and oppressions which
had been perpetrated, and would be continued, from the State of Mis-
souri ; that it would be base and dishonorable in me to betray and
abandon them, and that no considerations of personal danger to my-
self would induce me to think of it; that, besides this consideration,
the whole country had resounded with threats against myself in case
I should return, and that a resignation of my office under such cir-
cumstances would be attributed to pusillanimity and cowardice. He
concurred in this view of the case, and proposed to effect all that was
desirable for the public safety and for the public good by removing
me from office in a way that would obviate all my objections, and pro-
ceeded at length to give his ideas as to what should be done. He pro-
posed that I should make to him in writing a full report of all the
proceedings in the Territory, with my views and opinions, referring
the whole subject and the remedy to him, and professing to my wil-
lingness to abide by any plan he should adopt for redressing the
existing wrongs and adjusting the present difficulties ; that he would
reply in writing to this communication, and would take upon himself
the responsibility of removing me from office as a part of the remedy,
and^ at the same time would give the most full, satisfactory, and un-
equivocal approbation of my course ; that whilst he would declare my
removal to be necessary in order to allay the existing excitement and
bring about a more calm and sober state of public feeling, and avert
the danger of violence or outbreak, he would exonerate me from all
blame in producing that excitement; that, in order fully to testify the
sincerity of his approbation, he would confer upon me some unmis-
takable mark of his favor, and xwent on to say that the mission to
China would be very shortly vacant by the return of Mr. McLane, to
which vacancy he would appoint me at once. To his written answer he
942 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
proposed that I should reply by saying, in effect, that I was not pre-
pared to say he had acted unwisely. After considerable discussion
and much reflection upon this proposition, I finally answered that if
we could both agree upon the terms of the entire correspondence be-
tween us, and if I could be satisfied that our people would be as fully
cared for and protected as if I remained in office, and a successor
would be appointed who would resist the aggressive invasions from
Missouri, I would co-operate with him. He assured me that the lat-
ter conditions should be complied with, and said there would be no
difficulty in agreeing mutually upon the correspondence. He re-
quested me then to prepare my communication, which I did, and
submitted it to him. He retained it one day, and then suggested
various modifications. After discussing them it was agreed I should
re-write it, which I did, and submitted it to him a second time. This
did not entirely meet his approbation, and he again suggested altera-
tions and modifications. He then informed me that despatches had
been received from Mr. McLane in England which seemed to indicate
the necessity of his returning in person to China, and expressed his
fears that it would be out of his power to confer upon me that ap-
pointment, but that he would find some other in lieu of it, which
would be equally or more desirable. I told him that the obtaining ot
that or any other office was to me a matter of indifference, in the con-
dition of my family and private affairs, and constituted no part of the
inducement to me to agree to his proposition ; that I preferred rather
to go on and ascertain whether we could adjust the matter in its other
aspects, and if we could agree upon them the matter of another ap-
pointment would be no obstacle to their adjustment. We then dis-
cussed his objections to my second draught, and I agreed to re-write
my communication for the third time. Having prepared and submit-
ted it to him, I left it with him, and proceeded to Virginia for my
wife, who was there upon a visit to two of her brothers. After an
absence of two or three days I returned, and he submitted to me, in
his own handwriting, a draught of my communication, which very
much condensed and generalized what I had written, and which he
said he had prepared himself; this draught wanted the concluding
portion, in which I was to refer the whole difficulty to him, and
profess my willingness to abide by any remedies he should adopt
for adjusting it. After examining and discussing this draught,
I required that certain alterations and modifications should be made,
which I noted, and to which he assented. He also read to me then,
or at some previous interview, I can't recollect which, a portion of his
reply to my communication, which came fully up to what he had pro-
posed, so far as it went. But my recollection is, that the paper was
not entirely finished. I took with me his draught of my communica-
tion, wrote out the conclusion, and submitted it to him ; he was dis-
satisfied with it, and said it would not answer. I requested him to
specify particularly the portions which were wrong, and the reasons
why they were wrong. He declined doing so ; he said that the whole
npirit and tenor of it was unsatisfactory ; that it appeared to cast too
much responsibility upon him. I replied that it had been distinctly
understood throughout all our negotiations that I would neither
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 943
resign my office nor invite a removal ; and that I did not see how I
could, short of this, say anything less than I had written. He sat
down and wrote in pencil a substitute, which he handed me, which I
said I would .take with me, and from the two might perhaps prepare
something which would satisfy us both. I then conversed with him,
as I had done several times before, as to the extent of protection he
would afford to our people. He assured me he would appoint some
honorable, upright northern man, who was above intimidation or
corruption, and would faithfully perform his duty, and named one
individual upon whom he was willing to confer the appointment.
He inquired of me what particular action I proposed that he should
take. I told him that one great means of protecting our people
would be to have all his appointees in the Territory understand that
the administration strictly required of them to set their faces and use
their influence against all sorts of foreign interference; that there
were some sixteen officers of the general government in the Territory,
and that their combined influence would be all-powerful for good or
evil. I also suggested the idea of a proclamation, to be issued by
himself, reciting what had been done, sternly disapproving it, and
pledging his administration against foreign interference as a violation
of the principles of the Kansas-Nebraska bill ; and the use of the
; government troops, if necessary,, to prevent a repetition of past out-
rages ; and spoke of the moral influence upon Congress and upon the
nation of a fixed and unyielding opposition to them of the adminis-
i tration. The manner in which he met these suggestions, the objec-
tions which he stated to issuing a proclamation, the doubts he ex-
. pressed of his legal authority to support such a proclamation if issued,
and his evasion of the true point at issue by talking of the Emigrant
,Aid Society, made me very distrustful of any sincere intention on his
part to give adequate protection to our people, and I left him, saying
that I would come in again in the morning. My reflections that
'night brought me to the conclusion that, if I was removed, our people
•would be left entirely at the mercy of their invaders, and that, unless
I could have some distinct and positive security for their protection, I
would proceed no further with the present negotiation. I saw him
again the next morning, and so informed him. Our conversation
then, though entirely courteous, did not have that same amicable spirit
which had characterized all our preceding interviews except that of
the night before. I said to him that it was evident to me that he
was about to make concessions in the wrong direction ; that he was
perfectly aware that, in all previous angry collisions between north
3rn and southern sentiment, I had favored the compromises which
had satisfied the South, and "had secured their rights against the
iamor of the anti-slavery men ; that I considered this a clear case of
iggression on northern rights ; in whatever there was to be of conces-
sion or compensation should be made to the North, and not to the
South. The interests of the North, the interests of the Democratic
party, and the principles of truth and justice, loudly required it; and
:hat, if lie would boldly and promptly take that course at this time,
Before the mass of the southern people had taken any position upon
;his question, he would be largely sustained even at the south; and
944 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
that the longer the evil was allowed to progress, the more perplexed
and complicated would the case become, and the more difficult of
remedy. I failed to convince him of my views, which he rather
evaded than answered; and finally told him that, as we could not
agree, there was nothing left but for him to take the responsibility of
his acts, and I of mine. He spoke of the dangers of my returning in
office; to which I replied that they had no terrors for me, so long as
I felt I was in the performance of my duty. He said: " Well, I shall
not remove you on account of your official action ; if I remove you at
all, it will be on account of your speculation in lands of the Terri-
tory." I told him they were not speculations, but simply lawful
purchases. After I had risen to leave the room, I remarked to him
that the additional papers relating to the purchase of half-breed lands
were now before him; that he had the whole case, and myse\f and
colleagues were very anxious to have his confirmation or rejection of
them before the 1st of June, as several of the contracts expired on
that day by their own limitation. He remarked that he had not had
time to examine the papers. I then alluded to the town of Pawnee
and the military reservation, which was an important matter in its
bearings upon the political parties of the Territory, and in regard to
which he had promised me to speak to the Secretary of War and the
Secretary of the Interior. He replied that he would have no time to
think of the matter or attend to it, but that, if the vacation of my
office could be satisfactorily adjusted, he thought all these matters
could be arranged in such a shape as to promote my private interests.
I felt insulted by. the proposition to such an extent that I dared not
trust myself to reply. I was conscious of a state of temper so angry
and excited as to leave only the alternative of silent contempt, or an
angry and indecorous reply. I chose the former, and, as I was stand-
ing near the door with my hat in my hand, I bade him good morning
and left him. Some seven to fourteen days after this I received, at
Easton, Pa., a note from him requesting me to send to Washington
the honorable Asa Packer, member of Congress from that district.
This request I communicated to Judge Packer, who proceeded to
Washington in a few days. I made my arrangements to proceed to
the Territory without my family. I had previously made all the
necessary arrangements to take my family with me, but abandoned
the idea after I had come to the States in consequence of information
received,, which disappointed me as to the quarters I expected and
had provided for them in the Territory. About 10 o'clock at night
on the evening preceding the day I was to leave Easton for Kansas, I
received a letter from the State *Department asking explanations in
regard to the purchase of half-breed lands, and other speculations in
lands of the Territory. This letter was enclosed in an ordinary en-
velope, not franked by any person, and without the endorsement in-
variably used upon all envelopes of letters coming from the depart-
ment on official business, so that, had I proceeded to Washington in
consequence of receiving it, and there closed the negotiation which
had previously failed, there would have been no trace before the
public of any evidence that I had received an official communication
to call me there. Instead of going to Washington, however, I de-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 945
rmined to go to Kansas. A duplicate of that letter, as I afterwards
learned, was forwarded to the city of New York, to meet me there in
case I should fail to receive the one directed to Easton. The sequel
of the correspondence is before the public. On the 26th of June I
mailed a letter containing the explanations called for, which, by due
course of mail, must have reached Washington on the 9th of July ;
and the letter notifying me of my removal, on the day of its date, was
mailed on the 30th July, (Monday,) although dated on the 28th.
This removal, which had been thus suspended for twenty-one days,
was immediately preceded by the intelligence of my veto message,
which repudiated the legislature, dissolved all connexion with it, and
treated as void all its laws passed at the Shawnee Mission. This
message had created much excitement in the legislature, and a peti-
tion for my removal was thereupon prepared and signed by the mem-
bers, and one of their body despatched to present and press it in per-
son. This messenger was met on the way in the States by the intel-
ligence which made his further progress unnecessary, and thus the
President was saved the embarrassment, or deprived of the oppor-
tunity, of considering the main question at issue between the legisla-
ture and myself. The papers showing the contract for the half-breed
i lands had been before the President in January, 1855, and had been
of course examined by him, as they were returned to me by him with
a note from his private secretary, stating that he declined to con-
firm them, without concurring in all the reasons mentioned in Mr.
Manypenny's report. There was no final rejection of the contracts,
and I at once proceeded to supply the alleged defects, of proof. Nor
was there any allegation or intimation in any correspondence or
otherwise that the contracts were illegal or dishonest, or that they
liwere finally rejected. Having supplied the alleged defects, the whole
case was again laid before him in May, and about the middle of June
il was called on to explain it. The papers then before the President,
; and which had been before him in January, contained my own state-
ment and argument, with the depositions and certificates of other
• persons, giving a history and elucidation of the whole transaction far
more thorough than any explanations I could make in the absence of
lithe papers. I have never been informed to this day, and do not know
in what aspect and for what reasons these contracts were considered
la cause of removal. Whether they were treated a^ unfair and dis-
honorable, or simply illegal, or whether the position wras taken that
a public officer has not. the same right to purchase as a private indi-
vidual, I have never been informed. The "other speculations in
lands of the Territory," of which explanation was demanded after I
was removed, was shown to mean the participation in locating the
town of Pawnee on the military reservation. Before the removal I
3ould obtain no explanation of what it meant, although I urgently
solicited it. There was nothing to be desired of explanation in regard
••to this matter, which I had not given to the President in May in the
most full and ample manner, and I had especially and particularly
explained to him that I was not in the country, and had never heard
)f the town until after it had been located and surveyed in 1854 ; and
;hat the reservation had been extended over the town in May, 1855
H. Rep. 200 60*
946 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The third draught of my communication to the President, which I
made as above stated, as well as the redraught thereof in his hand-
writing, and the draught by him in pencil of the intended conclusion,
were all preserved by me, and taken with me to Kansas Territory in
April, 1856. They were left in mj trunk in the hotel in Lawrence
when I left there in May, and I can now give no information of them,
except that I have been informed by persons who were present, that
on the 21st day of May, 1856, when the said hotel was destroyed by
incendiaries, the possee of the sheriff of Douglas county broke open
and rifled my trunk, and stole all my clothes and papers. Since
then I have not seen these papers, or heard of them. The President
requested me to recite in that communication his approval of my con-
duct, and in his draught recited it himself in his own handwriting.
My attention has been called to the testimony of Marcus J. Parot.
and I find in it many errors, though I do not consider them material.
He is entirely mistaken in saying that he saw at Kansas City any
resolutions, in my possession or written by me, in favor of holding an
election on a clay different from that provided by the Territorial law.
I never wrote any such resolutions ; and when I met Mr. Parot, al
Kansas City, was in favor of participating in the election on the 1st of
October. I did not change my mind until I had got to the Big
Springs convention, and was persuaded, by an examination of the
Territorial election law, that our voters would be excluded, and found
that there was a general concurrence of opinion in favor of a separate
election. Nor did he see any resolutions, in my possession or written
by me, "looking to the repudiation of the laws by force/' as he states
it, unless he means resolutions which declared the laws to have been
framed by representatives of a foreign power, and not binding on us ;
that we would first resort to all peaceful remedies in the courts, the
ballot-box, and Congress, and when they were all exhausted, and we
were compelled to choose between a permanent enslavement of our-
selves and resistance, that we would then resist. This is probably
what he called, in loose language, " looking to a repudiation by
force."
In the testimony of W. Barbee, I notice that he states his knowledge
of the sentiments of the voters, as ascertained by him from them when
he took the censns in the 5th and 6th electoral districts. The 5th
district was not^ taken by him, as he informed me. It was a part ol
my arrangement to furnish the judges of election of each district a
list of all the voters of the district, copied from the census ; and when
a district wras divided for convenience into several precincts, to ascer-
tain from the person who took the census of the district, which of the
voters lived in each precinct, so as to furnish to the judges of each
a list of the voters in their particular precinct. The 5th district was*
divided into four precincts. I called on Mr. Barbe for the informa-*
tion necessary thus to divide them. He evaded me for some time, and
finally acknowledged that he could not tell me, as he had not taken
the census. I insisted on knowing who had taken it, and he said he
had employed Joseph C. Anderson and Lykins, both of whom were
elected to the Territorial legislature, and that he had copied their lists
into his census-book at the hotel in Westport.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 947
All the knowledge I have of any secret society or societies in Kan-
sas Territory, is the following :
In the month of September, 1855, I was invited to become a mem-
ber; assented, and proceeded to the place of meeting; found about 25
to 30 men assembled ; was assured by the presiding officer, that the
objects were such as would not conflict with any of the obligations of
an honorable man and a good citizen, and an assurance that if I so
found them, I would not reveal the existence of the society, in case I
desired to take the oath when I should hear it. I gave this promise,,
and the presiding officer then administered the oath. I found it unex-
ceptionable, and assented to it. I have never attended a meeting
since that evening, and have never seen a written or printed constitu-
tion ; have forgotten the pass-words, except the question and answer,
"Are you in favor of making Kansas a free State? Yes^ if Missouri
is willing." The principal points of the oath of initiation were — to
labor by all honorable means to make Kansas a free State; mutually
to protect and defend each other against violence ; always to keep a
firelock and ammunition in the house; to wear a weapon of defence,
in the shape of a knife or revolver ; to rush to the rescue of a brother
who should be assailed by violence, whenever there was a greater
probability of saving his life than of losing my own. I have read the
oath, as stated by A. J. Francis, and I am confident that there are
many things recited by him of which I never heard as a part of the
oath, viz: the pledge to deal with and employ free-State men in pre-
ference to pro-slavery men or Missourians; to obey unto death the
order of superior officers ; to be in readiness to take up arms in de-
fence of free-Slate principles, even though it should submit the gov-
ernment to wear at all towns the insignia of the order: and to con-
sider binding any part of the obligation which may have been omitted
in the formula. Of all these I have not the slightest recollection,
and do not at all believe they constitute a part of the oath. I am
very confident I took no such pledges; and had they been proffered,
I should have refused at once ; and I could not have taken such an
obligation, or had it offered to me, without recollecting it. As to the
laws of the so-called Kansas legislature, that any pledge was made
in regard to them, it is possible that there may have been a pledge
to oppose, disavow, or repudiate them as not binding, and not to
avail myself of them, and such a promise I may have made and for-
gotten. I am confident, however, there was no pledge to resist them
in gross by force. Such a pledge I would not have taken, and could
not have forgotten ; because, although there were some I would never
have submitted to when enforced after all peaceful remedies had been
exhaused, there were others of so indifferent a character, and not
peculiarly obnoxious in themselves, which I would have considered it
unnecessary to resist, even though they had no binding force. I do
not know the name of this society; I did know it at one time, but
"A^e forgotten it.
I am confident there was no pledge to wear the insignia of the
order, whi h was a black ribbon in the button-hole; because the pre-
siding officer, immediately after my initiation, informed me, in the
meeting, that I would be excused from wearing it, if I desired. The
948 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
object of the society was combined effort to make Kansas a free State,
but no illegal means were alluded to in tbe formula, so tar as I can
recollect, or contemplated or practised outside of the formula, to my
knowledge. Another object was mutual protection against violence.
In the spring and summer previous, I learned that political opponents
were in the habit of coming into the town in parties, and seeking pre-
texts for individual quarrels, in the course of which some of the citi-
zens of the town were beaten ; and this society (which, I understand,
was purely a local one, and confined to Lawrence) was then got up
for defence against these assaults. I have been told by members
that it has gone into disuse, and that no meeting has been held for
some time.
I have said that it was local, and confined to Lawrence. I have
learned that some of the citizens of Leaven worth, finding that it ope-
rated beneficially to repress violence in Lawrence, adopted it, or
undertook to adopt it there. I do not know how far they proceeded.
I know of no other secret society.
I have examined the testimony of Eobert Wilson, who testified that
a large number of men came to Pawnee immediately before the 30th
of March, of whom 60 or 70 were from Pennsylvania, and a good
many from Easton, Pennsylvania. I have examined the poll-list of
that election, and I find upon it the names of four men from Easton and
the vicinity. There are no others that I know of, or can recognise.
(I was born and have always resided, until ten years ago, in Easton,
Pennsylvania, and am well acquainted there and in the surrounding
country.) They are Charles Weithneacht, Jacob Shelly, John Mc-
Cracken, and John Westover. Of these one has returned, as he told
me, for his family, having taken a claim and built a small cabin on
it. One was in Westport when I last heard of him. One, not liking
the county, had gone to Minnesota ; and one, after working at vari-
ous places in the Territory until fall, then returned' to Easton. I
find only twelve other men whom I know to be from Pennsylvania,
of whom two are dead. Several were still there in September, 1855 ;
and some I know returned home in the summer. All of these except
two were, as I believe, from Pike county, the village of Monroe, Penn-
sylvania, and went there, as they informed me, for the purpose of set-
tling and remaining. The greater part of the inhabitants of Pawnee
and vicinity were discouraged by the extension of the military re-
serve over Pawnee, and the subsequent driving out of the inhabitants
under the order of the War Department, and left. They were noti-
fied by an order of the commanding officer, and, as I have learned
from various persons, their houses were torn down and destroyed, ex-
cept three. The house of Robert Wilson (the witness) was spared :
a house T had erected for myself was torn down or blown up, I do not
know which. Of the twelve men I refer to, I feel tolerably confident
that I saw five or six there as late as September. The Reserve was
extended over the town as early as May, and the order to leave, I
think, was in September or October.
I brought or sent no man to Kansas Territory to vote. Of those I
find on the list, I find two who were very anxious to go out, and
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 949
wished me to assist them. . I loaned them the money, taking their
notes for the amount. One of them is the man I have mentioned as
having returned to Easton ; and the other has not returned, to my
knowledge, and I believe is still in the Territory, or in Missouri. I
assisted none of the others to go. There is one other young man yet
in the Territory, who was desirous to go out from Pennsylvania, and
I advanced him money to assist him, taking his note. He has re-
mained, and is still there, as I have recently heard ; hut he has never
been to Pawnee. I have assisted other men who were pressed in the
Territory, buc this is the extent of my taking men there.
I was not an original stockholder in Pawnee, as is well known by
all persons connected with the project. I first came in at the same
time with Judges Elmore and Johnson, United States marshal Don-
aldson, and district attorney Isaacs, in the manner I have stated,
about the 2d of November, 1854, after the association was formed,
constitution adopted, town located and surveyed, or partly surveyed.
I afterwards purchased two other shares from Mr. Wilson, making
twenty sub-shares, as nearly as I can recollect ; some of them were
for other persons, to whom they have been transferred. I disposed of
one of them to Mr. Marshall, as stated by Mr. Wilson, but did not
sell it to him at all ; on the contrary, I exchanged it for other town
stock, and before Mr. Marshall had been elected to the legislature, or
before I knew he was a candidate ; all of which facts Mr. Marshall, a
gentleman of the same politics as Mr. Wilson, will, I have no doubt,
state if called on. As. to the residue of Mr. Wilson's evidence, I can-
not consent to meet it with any statements of my own. It was taken
when I was not present, and was not represented, and when there
was no opportunity to object, or cross-examine him, and, as I sup-
pose, was only received in a time of great haste, through mere inad-
vertence, as I had offered evidence opening up the subject of my offi-
cial conduct in fixing the seat of government at Pawnee, which was
objected to as irrelevant, and ruled out by the committee.
A cross-examination would have fully explained Mr. Wilson's tes-
timony, as it will be seen he testifies to disconnected scraps of conver-
sation, declarations of other persons, contents of papers not produced,
j &c. I was the first to offer evidence on this subject; and having been
>verruled, I cannot consent now to meet this evidence by my own
statements alone, at a time when other evidence is beyond my reach,
and cannot be waited for1
A. H. REEDER,
950 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
SQUATTER MEETINGS. — BURNING OF OAKLEY'S HOUSE, BY S. J. JONES. — •
MOBBING OP KEY. PARDON BUTLER. — MOBBING OF PHILLIPS, AND HOMI-
CIDE OF CLARK. — HOMICIDE OF COLLINS. — SEIZURE OF BALLOT-BOX AT
LEAVENWORTH, DECEMBER 15, 1855. — MURDER OF R. P. BROWN. —
SUNDRY ARRESTS. — ZIMMERMAN AT ATCHISON. — REEDER'S LETTERS.
JOHN A. WAKEFIELD called and sworn.
I came into the Territory in July, 1854, from Iowa, and settled
about six miles west of this on the California road in the second dis-
trict and have resided there ever since. We undertook to have squat-
ter meetings to pass by-laws for the government of citizens in holding
their claims. At those meetings we were met lay the people of Mis-
souri. A meeting held late in July or first of August, 1854, was or-
ganized by electing myself president, and S. N. Wood secretary of the
meeting, and it was held on Judge Miller's claim, on what was then
called " Backbone Ridge." The first meeting proved a failure on ac-
count of those men wishing to vote. We adjourned the meeting for
a few days, I think for two days. We came ; the Missourians were
there, and claimed to take a part and did take a part in the meeting.
The actual settlers were dissatisfied with this and adjourned from
Thursday to meet on the Saturday following. After the Missourians
left the ground the citizens re-assembled on the same day, and then
passed a code of by-laws for the government of claims and elected
officers, what was termed a chief justice, a marshal, and a register of
claims. Some few weeks after a notice was given of a new meeting,
at the same place, to adopt amendments to their by-laws. When we
assembled in the morning, on the ground, we found between one and
two hundred men there from Missouri. Myself being the presiding
officer, I called the meeting to order. The Missourians presented
themselves to vote. I then rose, made a short speech and told them
that none but actual settlers of the Territory would be allowed to vote
at that meeting. The meeting then was addressed in a very lengthy
and inflamatory speech by a man from the State of Missouri, of the
name of Dunham, claiming that the Missourians had a right to vote
at that meeting. He was followed in a short speech by a Mr. Lyon,
a citizen of the Territory. A Dr. Lykins, of Kansas city, then spoke,
claiming the right to vote there. I then took the privilege of respond-
ing to Dr. Lykins myself, in a speech, denying the right of Missou-
rians to vote. This produced very great excitement. A man by the
name of McGee, from near Westport, Missouri, made gestures with
his fist towards me, and cried out '"Beware what you are doing." At
this time there was a great deal of shoving and pushing, and such
excitement as appeared likely to lead to blows. A gentleman there,
whose name I^cannot call to mind, but he claimed to be from Louisi-
ana, sent me a note, that he wished to address the meeting. I then
gave orders for them to open the way and let the gentleman come for-
ward, which, after some difficulty was done. He went on to make a
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 951
speech to quell the excitement, and recommended a committee of con-
ference of the settlers and the Missourians to try to make a compro-
mise. A resolution was then adopted raising that committee of con-
ference, which committee took the by-laws we had adopted at the first
meeting and went out. They came back and reported the by-laws to
the meeting with some amendments to them, and all voted, of both
parties, for its adoption, except some of the actual settlers. A minor-
ity reyort was then made by the actual settlers and was concurred in,
all voting for it. That was the end of the meetings concerning the
rules and regulations for the government of claims.
JOHN A. WAKEFIELD.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
Constitution of the Delaware Squatter Association, embracing all the
laws passed by the different Squatter meetings from June 10, to De-
cember 2, 1854.
Constitution of the Delaware Squatter Association, upon the Dela-
ware lai)ds ceded to the United States, by the Delaware Indians, in
the Territory of Kansas :
ARTICLE I. This association shall be known by the name of the
" Kansas Delaware Squatter Association," and by such name shall be
able to hold a court for the trial of all difficulties, growing out of the
settlement of the public lands within said district, in regard to its
occupancy.
ARTICLE II. The officers of the association shall be a president and
two associate judges, a secretary, treasurer and marshal, who shall
be elected annually from among the actual settlers upon said lands.
ARTICLE III. The president, by virtue of his office, shall be chief jus-
tice of the squatters' court ; he shall preside at all meetings of the
association, and be judge of the first judicial district.
ARTICLE IV. The associate justices shall be judges of and reside
within the district, which shall be assigned them by the association.
ARTICLE V. The president and associate judges shall each respectively
be competent to try and determine all causes to them submitted for
trial.
ARTICLE VI. The said president and associate justices shall have
power to appoint their own clerks and sheriffs, and remove them at
pleasure.
ARTICLE VII. The said clerks and sheriffs so appointed, shall per-
form all and singular the duties, and be entitled to receive the same
eompensation as the clerks and sheriffs would be for like services in
the district courts of the United States for Territories.
ARTICLE VIII. The president shall preside at all meetings of the
association.
ARTICLE IX. The secretary shall keep a correct record of all the pro-
ceedings of the association in a book kept for that purpose, which
shall be open for inspection at all times ; and in a book kept for the
purpose, keep a record of all claims which shall be made in accordance
952 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
with the provisions of the association and for which he shall receive
fifty cents.
ARTICLE X. The treasurer shall safely keep all moneys belonging to
the association, and pay them out as directed by the general court.
ARTICLE XI. The marshal shall be the executive officer of the associa-
tion, and the general court, and give personal attendance at their sit-
tings, and at the general court shall perform all the duties required of
him in order to carry out the provisions of the association, in bring-
ing its decision to a speedy termination.
ARTICLE XII. In bringing suit it shall be necessary for the complain-
ant to make his complaint to the judge in whose district he may reside,
in a plain and intelligible manner, setting forth his complaint under
oath, and if the judge shall think his complaint just and deserves a
hearing, he shall demand of the complainant an amount of money
sufficient to indemnify the officers for all costs which may accrue in
the event of a failure of making good his charge, and direct the clerk
to issue his warrant to the sheriff commanding the defendant to appear
before him at a time to be fixed, therein to show cause why he should
not be disposessed and deliver possession to the complainant, and also
issue his subpoena for all such witnesses as either party may require.
Which warrant and subpoenas shall be served and returned as process,
directed to the sheriff from the district court of the United States.
ARTICLE XIII. On the trial of such cause> the same laws and evidence
shall be applicable as in the district court of the United States.
ARTICLE XIV. There shall be a general court at Leavenworth on
the first Monday of each month, composed of all the judges, or a ma-
jority of them, for the trial of such causes as may be taken by appeal
or writ of error from the district courts of the several districts to the
general courts, at which time and place all causes shall be heard and
determined in their order, arid finally adjudicated upon.
ARTICLE XV. In any cause which has been decided in any of the dis-
trict courts, if either party shall think himself aggrieved by the
decision of the judge_, he may make his appeal or have a writ of error
to the general court under the same rules and regulations as in the
district courts of the United States, by first depositing with the clerk
sufficient money for the payment of all costs which has or may accrue
in the cause.
ARTICLE XVI. Should the court or judge grant an appeal or writ of
error, the clerk shall make a correct transcript of the judgment and
all the proceedings had in his court, and cause the same to be filed
with the clerk of the general court, on or before the first day of the
term thereof, and if an appeal, also the papers in the cause which
may be heard de novo, but in either case the cause shall be heard at
the first term.
ARTICLE XVII. Upon the final determination of any cause before the
district court, or the general conrt as the case be, the court shall direct
the clerk to issue a notice to the sheriff or marshal! as the case may be,
commanding the losing party to forthwith leave and surrender to the
successful party the immediate possession, and should the losing party
refuse to comply with the order of the court, when thus notified, he
shall be declared out of the protection of the association, and the
ICANSAS AFFAIRS. 953
sheriff may command a posse to assist if necessary, to put into execu-
tion his orders.
ARTICLE XVIII. On the trial of any cause, if either party should de-
mand a jury, the court shall cause the clerk to issue a venire to the
sheriff commanding him forthwith to summons six disinterested squat-
ters to appear before him as jurors to try the cause,, (naming it,) which
shall he served and returned as other process, and should either party
object to any of the jurors, the pannel may be filled by the bystanders ;
in making up the jury the same rules shall be observed as in the dis-
trict courts of the United States, but there shall in ru> case be more
than two challenges without cause shown.
ARTICLE XIX. In any cause submitted to the court or jury for trial,
the defendant before he shall be permitted to put in any defence, shall
deposit with the clerk an amount of money sufficient to indemnify the
court for all costs which has or may accrue in the cause, and on a final
determination of the cause, the costs shall be taxed up a ainst the
losing party, and tlie money deposited by the successful party refunded
to him.
ARTICLE XX. All the officers of either of the courts herein specified,
before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take
an oath faithfully and impartial to discharge the duties of their res-
pective offices.
ARTICLE XXI. The clerk and treasurer shall, before entering upon the
duties of their office, give bond to the president of the association by
his individual name, for the faithful application of all moneys in-
trusted to them, and should they or either of them fail so to do, suit
may be forthwith brought on said bond, in the name of the president,
(by his individual name,) for the use of the injured party, before any
court in the Territory, and collected as other debts are collected, and
said delinquent declared out of the protection of this association, and
all his claims as such disregarded.
ARTICLE XXII. In case of the absence of the president at any of the
meetings of the association, one of the associate justices shall preside
and perform all the duties required of the president.
ARTICLE XXIII. In deciding causes submitted to the courts, all the
rules and regulations of the squatters' association in regard to claims
shall be strictly observed, and be the supreme law.
ARTICLE XXIV. Any squatter upon the Delaware lands ceded to the
United States may become a member of this association by signing
his name to its books.
ARTICLE XXV. The president and associate justices shall each be
entitled to receive two dollars per day, for every day they or either of
them may be engaged in trying causes, to be taxed and collected as
other costs.
ARTICLE XXVI. The boundary lines of the association shall be as de-
fined at the squatters' meeting, held on the 4th day of November, A.
D. 1854.
Salt Creek resolutions, adopted June 10, 1854.
WHEREAS, We, the citizens of Kansas Territory, and many other
citizens of the adjoining State of Missouri, contemplating a squatter's
954 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
home on the fair plains of said Territory, are assembled at Salt Creek
Valley for the purpose of taking such steps as will secure safety and
fairness in the location and preservation of claims :
Therefore, be it resolved,
1st. That we are in favor of bona fide squatter sovereignty and
acknowledge the right of any citizen of the United States to make a
claim in Kansas Territory, ultimately with the view of occupying it.
2nd. That such claim, when made, shall be held inviolate, so long
as a bona fide intention of occupying it is apparent, and for the pur-
pose of protecting and defending such claim, we agree to act in concert,
if necessary, to expel intruders.
3d. That every persons of lawful age who may be the head of a
family, who shall mark out his claim of 160 acres, so that it may be
apparent how the same lies, and proceed with reasonable diligence to
erect thereon a cabin or tent, shall be deemed to have made a proper
claim.
4th. That any person marking out his claim shall be deemed to
have forfeited it unless he commences his cabin or pitches a tent
within two weeks thereafter, unless the same shall be on lands such as
prohibit it by military or Indian reservations.
5th. That all persons now holding claims shall have two weeks
from this day, in which to make the improvements contemplated by
the foregoing resolutions.
6th. No person shall be protected by the squatter association who
holds in his own right more than one claim.
7th. That a citizen of the Territory be appointed as register of
claims, who shall keep a book in which he shall register the name and
description of all squatters, and their claims and the date of making
the same, for which registration he shall be allowed the sum of fifty
cents for each claim, to be paid by the claimant.
8th. That we recognise the institution of slavery as already existing
in this Territory, and recommend to slave-holders to introduce their
property as early as possible.
9th. That we will afford protection to no abolitionist as settlers of
Kansas Territory.
Stocltbridge resolutions, adopted July 8, 1854.
3d. Resolved, That we adopt the resolutions and proceedings of
the Salt Creek Squatter Association, held on 10th June 1854, so far
as they do not conflict with the following.
4th. That the making of improvements, by erecting a cabin, tent
or fence is essential to the validity of any claim laid on the Delaware
lands.
5th. That all claims must be registered with intelligible metes
and bounds.
6th. That all persons holding claims shall be allowed two weeks
from this day in which to make the required improvements.
7th. That D. Dodge, Fort Leavenworth, be appointed register for
the Delaware lands — that all claims must be registered within two
weeks from the time of making them — that the sum of fifty cents
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 955
shall be the registration fee, and that in case of a transfer the fee shall
be fifty cents.
8th. That a bona fide purchaser shall be entitled to all the rights
and privileges of an original claimant.
The following resolution was adopted at a meeting held at Leaven-
worth, on Friday, September 29, 1854:
Resolved, That we concur in and approve of, and will defend and
support the laws and regulations as passed at Salt Creek on the 10th
of June, and at Stockbridge on the 8th of July, 1854, until altered or
annulled by the settlers of this Territory.
Leavenworth resolutions, adopted November 4, 1854.
WHEREAS, The welfare of Kansas Territory requires the immediate
settlement of the lands ceded to the United States by the Delaware
Indians, and that the claimants of said lands should become actual
residents of said Territory and occupants in good faith of the respective
claims made by them, and whereas the best portions of said lands are
claimed by non-residents, thereby depriving others of the privilege of
making actual settlements, and retarding the progress of the Terri-
tory, debarring the citizens thereof of the aid and society that they
would otherwise enjoy, preventing production and improvement, im-
posing upon the pioneer settlers all the hardship of frontier life, in
preparing the country for occupation, while such non-residents are
enjoying the advantages and comforts of civilized life in the States
and their claims enhancing in value from the privations and labors of
the actual residents, therefore.
1st. Resolved, That we recognize as a valid claim upon the Dela-
ware lands, only such as is occupied as the actual and only residence
of the claimant or of some person or persons residing on the same as
his tenant or by his procurement.
2nd. That after the expiration of twenty-live days from this date,
all lands within the Delaware purchase and within the boundaries
hereinafter described, except those held as above mentioned, shall be
subject to claim by any person who may be entitled to hold a pre-
emption under the United States laws.
3rd. That no claim shall contain more than 160 acres of land, and
that the same shall be selected in bodies according to the United
States laws regulating pre-emptions.
4th. That for accomplishing these ends, an association be organized
to be known as the Delaware Squatter Association, and that the
jurisdiction of the same shall be co-extensive with the Territory ceded
to the United States by the Delaware Indians.
Leavemoortli resolutions, adopted November 15, 1854.
Resolved, That all squatter laws, passed by the settlers_ upon the
Delaware lands, prior to this date, are adopted by this association.
The following report and resolutions were adopted at a squatter
meeting held at Leavenworth, on the 2nd day of December, 1854.
956 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Your committee appointed to examine into the propriety of amend-
ing the first and second resolutions, passed at a meeting of the squat-
ter association on the 4th day of November, 1854, have had the same
under consideration, and would ask leave to make the following
report ; and would recommend the following amendment : Strike out
the preamble, the first and second resolutions, and insert the fol-
lowing:
1st. Resolved, That we recognize as a valid claim all such claims
as were recognized as valid under the squatter laws of the Delaware
squatters prior to the 29th day of November, 1854.
2nd. Resolved, That after the expiration of three months from this
date, all lands within the Delaware purchase not occupied as a home,
shall be subject to be claimed by any person who may become an
actual settler.
3rd. Resolved, That all rights which have accrued under the res-
olutions of the 4th of November, 1854, shall remain as valid as though
these resolutions had never passed.
OFFICERS OF THE COURT.
R. R. REESE, chief justice.
A. PAYNE, associate justice, Stranger district.
A. RUSSELL, " " Salt Creek district.
MILES SHANNON, marshall.
GREEN D. TODD, deputy marshall.
S. D. PITCHER, chief clerk of court and recorder of claims.
Colonel A. M. MITCHELL being called and sworn.
I reside in St. Joseph's, Missouri, and have so resided for several
years. I was present at a public meeting held on the 24th of June,
1854, at Whitehead, in the Territory of Kansas, and the following is
a true report of the proceedings of that meeting :
KANSAS MEETING.
At a large and enthusiastic meeting of the settlers of Kansas Ter-
ritory, held on the 24th June, 1854, at Whitehead, in accordance with
notice previously given, the following proceedings were had :
Colonel A. M. Mitchell was called to the chair, and James R. White-
head appointed secretary.
On motion of Colonel W. Broadus Thompson, the chairman ex-
plained the object of the meeting, and appointed a committee to pre-
sent resolutions for their consideration. The committee consisted of
Colonel W. Broadus Thompson, Captain John H. Whitehead, Benja-
min Wharton, James B. O'Tool, and John R. Carter.
During the absence of the committee the chairman made an able
address, showing the necessity of an immediate organization for mu-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 957
tual protection against intruders, and for the promotion of the inte-
rests of the Territory.
The committee, through their chairman, W. Broadus Thompson,
reported the following resolutions :
Whereas, we, citizens of Kansas Territory, intending to fix our
homes upon its fertile soil, have this day met at Whitehead, for the
purpose of taking measures to secure safety, certainty, and fairness in
the location and preservation of claims, be it resolved,
1. That we are in favor of bona fide squatter sovereignty, and ac-
knowledge the right of any citizen of the United States to make a
claim in Kansas Territory, with the ultimate view of occupying it.
2. That such claim, when made, should be held inviolate, so long
as a ~bona fide intention of occupying it is apparent ; and, for the pur-
pose of protecting and defending such claims, we agree to act in con-
• cert, if necessary, to expel intruders.
3. That any person of lawful age, or who may be the head of a
family, who shall mark out his claim of one hundred and sixty acres,
so that it may be apparent how the same lies, shall be deemed to have
made a proper claim.
4. That any person marking out his claim shall be deemed to have
forfeited it unless he commences his cabin or pitches his tent within
thirty days thereafter, unless the same shall be on such lands as pro-
hibit it by military or Indian reservation.
5. That all persons now holding claims shall have thirty days from
this day in which to make the improvements contemplated by the
foregoing resolutions.
6. That no person shall be protected by the squatter association
who holds in his right more than one claim.
7. That any person building his cabin or tent* within less than half
a mile of another shall be deemed an intruder.
8. That a citizen of the Territory be appointed as register of claims,
who shall keep a book in which he shall note the names and descrip-
tion of all squatters and their claims,, and the date of the same, for
which he shall be allowed the sum of fifty cents for each claim, to be
.paid by the claimant.
9. That the bona fide purchaser of a claim located and registered
'• be recognized as entitled to the same, under the laws of this associa-
tion, provided his intention be to occupy the same as a citizen of this
Territory.
10. That we will afford protection to no abolitionist as a citizen of
this Territory.
11. That we recognize the institution of slavery as already existing
in this Territory, and recommend to slaveholders to introduce their
property as early as practicable.
12. That a vigilance committee be appointed by the chair, consisting
of thirteen members of this association, whose duty it shall be to decide
upon all disputes in relation to claims, and to insure an execution of
their judgments in regard to rightful claimants, shall have power to
call together the entire squatter association.
13. That all persons who wish to become members of the " Squatter
Association" shall subscribe to the foregoing preamble and resolutions.
958 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
The foregoing preamble and resolutions, presented and supported by
Colonel W. Broadus Thompson, in a forcible and eloquent speech, were
unanimously adopted.
By unanimous consent, the chair appointed James E. Whitehead
register of claims.
As vigilance committee., John H. Whitehead,, Samuel P. Blair.
Thomas W; Waterson, Carey B. Whitehead, James B. O'Tool, Hen-
derson Small wood, Anderson Cox, John W. Smith, sen., Samuel
Montgomery, Benjamin Harding, John Keaton, Joseph Siceliff, and
John W. Smith, jr.
On motion, it was
Resolved, That the chairman appoint five delegates to the general
territorial convention to be held at Salt Creek on the 4th day of July
proximo.
Whereupon, Captain John H. Whitehead, Benjamin Wharton.
Albert Head, Samuel P. Blair, and John K. Carter, were appointed
said delegation.
It was further resolved that the papers of St. Louis, Independence,
Weston, St. Joseph's, and Savannah,, be requested to publish these
proceedings, for reference and guidance of all interested.
The meeting then adjourned, to meet again at this place on this
day four weeks.
A. M. MITCHELL, President.
JAMES R. WHITEHEAD, Secretary.
A. M. MITCHELL.
SAMUEL SMITH called and sworn.
I came into the Territory on the 1st of April, 1855, from Illinois,
and settled near Lecompton. Mr. Joseph Oakley and myself bought
a claim there of Mr. L. D. Hendricks. Immediately after we took
possession, Mr. Oakley left for Michigan for his family. I remained
there. I went to Kansas City to take down Mr. Oakley, leaving my
boys to build a cabin on my portion of the claim, Mr. Oakley and my-
self having divided it. A committee waited upon me after my return
and informed me I was trespassing upon a claim owned by S. J.
Jones, aftewards sheriff, and a Dr. Davis. A gentleman calling
himself Dr. Davis was present, and told me this. They ordered me
to appear before a commission established at Benecia, but I did not
do so. It was the 8th of April that we took possession of the claim.
On the 2d of May, Mr. Jones came with a party. I wras sick and in
bed in Mr. Oakley's caoin, as mine had not much accommodation in
it. Mr. Oakley's cabin was on the claim when we bought it. Mr.
Jones told me he had burned rny cabin, and told me I must leave the
claim, that it was his. There was some conversation about the penal-
ties of this associatiation, among which were hanging, tarring and
feathering, &c. I was somewhat threatened with these penalties in
the name of the association. I have never been able to ascertain
that either Jones or Davis had ever been in possession of this claim.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 959
I did not leave, but continued to work on the claim. I found my
cabin burned down. On the 28th of May I was invited to assist a
man by the name of Hancock, who lived near by, in building a house,
and went over there for that purpose. We were cutting logs a short
distance from where the house was to be erected ; and shortly after
we commenced work, an alarm was given that a crowd of armed men
were coming towards us. There were some half a dozen of us at work,
and we all left immediately and went to the house that Mr. Hancock
was then living in. When we got there, I saw a crowd of twenty-
five or thirty men coming towards the house; and when they got
there we were ordered by Mr. Jones, the leader, to disperse. We
stood our ground, and they marched up in front of the house. Jones
ordered the crowd to make ready and take aim, and in that position
they came up. They were all armed with shot guns, rifles, and re-
volvers. Among them I recognized Mr. Jones, Mr. Evans Todhunter.
Mr. Roderick, now postmaster in Lecompton, Mr. Taylor, a lawyer,
Mr. Ellison, called " Squire Ellison,'' and a Mr. Gentry. When the
crowd had got near enough to fire, after they had taken aim, Mr.
Ellison called out not to shoot. We showed no resistance, but stood
perfectly quiet. Mr. Ellison spoke to me, and said we ought to be
careful, for some of the boys would shoot. After some conversation,
Mr. Jones ordered Mr. Hancock to leave the premises, which, at first,
he refused to do ; but after some threats, he took out his goods from
the house and went off. I understood at that time that Jones was
postmaster at Westport, Missouri. Mr. Hancock's family were turned
out of doors, and, for some weeks afterwards, I saw his goods out on
the open prairie, until he could build a house for himself. At that time I
had some conversation with Jones, after Mr. Ellison had told me he had
been to my cabin, and had advised me to leave it; possibly for fear Jones
and his party would turn me out by force. Mr. Jones, in conversation,
acknowledged that he had threatened to shoot me if he found me in Oak-
ley's cabin again. I returned to the cabin after that, and sent two of my
boys out to arouse the neighbors. The rest of us went to work to
fortify the cabin, so that we might defend it, by loading our guns and
knocking out some chinks between the logs to put our guns through.
I found written on the cabin door, " You are hereby ordered to leave
these premises by 4 o'clock this evening." This was written with
red chalk; but had no signature. About 4 o'clock, Jones came to the
cabin, leading a crowd. I went out and had a conversation with him.
He was anxious for me to leave without further trouble, and insisted
that I must leave at all hazards. After consulting my friends, I con-
cluded to leave the cabin ; and we all did so, and went off from it for
a short distance, and stopped to see what would be done. Jones went
back and consulted his friends for a while, and then some man of the
crowd went up on the roof of the cabin and set the shingles on fire.
I was not near enough to recognize that man. The cabin was burned
down. One of my sons and a Mr. Grout went to the cabin and took
my goods out after the cabin was set on fire. I left the claim then
for several months, until after Mr. Oakley returned. Jones put a
man in a house outside of the claim we had bought, and they took
our rails we had cut, and raised a crop of corn on our claim. Mr.
960 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Jones never lived in that house, and did not live in the Territory, so
far as I know. After Mr. Oakley returned, he built a house on his
claim, and we then went on the claim again and occupied it. I went
on my share of the claim shortly after Mr. Oakley did, and I com-
menced building a house. In the conversation, at the time Mr. Han-
cock was turned out of the house he was living in, Mr. Jones told me,
when I threatened to apply for civil redress, that Judge Lecompton
was interested in the claim. In September last, an injunction was
served upon me, issued by Judge Lecompton, forbidding me to com-
mit any more waste by cutting timber on this land; and the case is
still before his court, and I have ever since been under that injunc-
tion. After my house was burned, I went to Tecumseh, and applied
to the grand jury for redress against these persons for having burned
my house and threatened my life, but they refused to give me any
hearing. This was before the county lines were established. Attor-
ney General Isaacs told me there was no law in regard to burning
houses or mobbing persons, and they had no jurisdiction over it.
SAM'L SMITH.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
EDWARD OAKLEY called and sworn.
I came out here and landed in Kansas city the first day of April,
1855, with my father, Joseph Oakley, and settled near Lecompton.
The town site was laid out, but there were no buildings there. We
settled about a mile from the town line. My father's house was
burned by S. J. Jones and his party, on the 28th of May, 1855, while
my father was about on his way to Michigan. He and his party had,
some two or three weeks before, burned down Mr. Samuel Smith's
house. I was in my father's home, with Mr. Smith and others, when
Jones and his party came up. After the house was set on fire one of
Mr. Smith's sons and a neighbor, by the name of Grout, went to the
house and took the goods out of it. I saw the man get up on the roof
and set the shingles on fire, but was not near enough to recognize
who it was.
EDWARD OAKLEY.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
Rev. PARDEE BUTLER called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Reeder :
I came first into the Territory about the middle of May, 1855, from
Iowa. I came in at St. Joseph's, went up on Wolf river, came down
on the Kansas river, and then returned and settled on Stranger creek,
about twelve miles from Achison. On the 16th of August I went to
Achison for the purpose of taking a boat down the river. Mr. Kelly
was postmaster at Achison, and is also co-editor of the " Squatter
Sovereign." After transacting some business at the post office, I said
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 961
to him, in the presence of Archibald Elliott, esq., " I should, some
lime since, have become a regular subscriber to your paper, only I do
not like the spirit of violence that characterises it." He said, "I
look upon all free-soilers as rogues, and they ought to be treated as
such." I replied, " Well, sir, I am a free-soiler, and expect to vote
for Kansas to be a free State." He said, " I do not expect you will
be allowed to vote." I went from the post office to my boarding
house and remained that day. I related to a number of gentlemen
the conversation I have just given, and said to them "an attempt has
been made to cow free-soilers into silence ; but it is our right to speak,
and I intend to utter my sentiments when I please." Nothing more
transpired on that day. The next morning Kelly entered my board-
ing house, accompanied by a number of men, and presented me certain
resolutions, cut out of the Squatter Sovereign and pasted on a sheet
of white paper, and demanded that I should sign them. They were
as follows :
" Whereas, by recent occurrences it is now known that there are
among us agents of the underground railroad, for the express purpose
of abducting our slaves ; and, whereas, one J. W. B. Kelly, hailing
from some infernal abolition den, has, both by words and acts, proved
himself a worthy representative of such an association ; and, whereas-
others in the vicinity, whose idle habits and apparent plenty of
money, induce us to believe that they are hirelings of some such in-
famous society ; believing it due not only to ourselves, but to the ad-
joining portion of Missouri, to rid ourselves of so great an evil, and
for the furtherance of this end :
Resolved, 1st. That one J. W. B. Kelly, hailing from Cincinnati,,
having, upon sundry occasions, denounced our institutions and de-
clared all pro-slavery men ruffians, we deem it an act of kindness to
rid him of such company, and hereby command him to leave the town
of Atchison in one hour after being informed of the passage of this
resolution, never more to show himself in this vicinity.
"Resolved, 2d, That in case he fails to obey this reasonable com-
mand, we inflict upon him such punishment as the nature of the case
and circumstances may require.
"Resolved, 3d, That other emissaries of this Aid Society who are
now in our midst tampering with our slaves are warned to leave, else
they too will meet the reward which their nefarious designs justly
merit — hemp.
"Resolved, 4th, That we approve and applaud our fellow-townsman,
Grafton Thomasson, for the castigation administered to the said J.
W. B. Kelly, whose presence among us is a libel on our good standing
and a disgrace to the community.
1 'Resolved, 5th, That we have commenced the good work of purging
our town of all resident abolitionists, and after cleansing our town of
such nuisances, shall do the same with settlers on Walnut and Inde-
pendence creeks, whose propensities for cattle stealing are well known
to many.
"Resolved, Qth, That the chairman appoint a committee of three to
H. Rep. 200 61*
962 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
wait upon the said Kelly and acquaint him with the action of this
meeting.
"Resolved, *Jth, That the proceedings of this meeting be published,
that the world may know our determination.
"On motion of Henry Allen, copies of these resolutions were ordered
to be made out, and a committee of three be requested to circulate
them, with a view of obtaining signatures, thereby showing who are
abolitionists."
This was a difference that grew up between a J. W. B. Kelly from
Cincinnati and Robert S. Kelly, of the Squatter Sovereign, and others
known as " border ruffians." I declined to subscribe to these resolu-
tions. I commenced reading the resolutions aloud. Kobert S. Kelly,
editor of the Squatter Sovereign, finally interrupted me and demanded
I should sign them. I rose up ; walked down stairs into the street ;
here they stopped me and demanded, " will you sign?'' I refused ;
when they seized me and dragged me to the river, cursing me for a
damned abolitionist, and saying they were going to drown me. When
we arrived at the bank, Mr. Kelly painted my face with black paint,
marking upon it the letter "K." The company had increased to some
thirty or forty persons. Without any trial, without witnesses, judge,
counsel, or jury, for about two hours I was a sort of target at which
were hurled imprecations, curses, arguments, entreaties, accusations,
and interrogatories. I told them my coming to Kansas was projected
before it became apparent that there would be any controversy about
slavery here ; that I came for reasons independent and extraneous to
this question ; that I never had any connexion with any Emigrant
Aid Society, and never made any communication to any paper con-
cerning Kansas affairs. I was not accused of tampering with slaves.
I explained to them that I could not countenance any interference be-
tween master and slave in Kansas, while that was an open question.
They alleged nothing more against me than that I had spoken among
my neighbors favorably to making Kansas a free State, and had said
in the office of the Squatter Sovereign, "I am a free-soiler and intend
to vote in favor of making Kansas a free State." Ira Norris, esq.,
late of Platte City, who was with the company, said, "Mr. Butler, I
will advise you for your good, as a friend, when you get away just
keep away." I said I intended to go away, but intended to come
back again ; that I could not leave ; that I owned real estate near
Atchison, in Missouri, and had a claim on Stranger creek. Some one
remarked, you can sell your claim through an agent. I said I would
not sell my claim through an agent nor in my own proper person ;
and that if my life was not taken by them I intended to live upon it.
They said, stay on your claim, but keep away from Atchison. I said
I should come back to Atchison if my life was not taken and Providence
permitted me to do so. They said if I came back again to Atchison
they would hang me. They offered to show me the very tree on which
they would hang me. They made another proposal, that I might live
in the country and vote as I thought best, but hold my tongue. I
said I would speak when I pleased. I told them I had done no wrong ;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 963
that I had as good a right to come there as they had, and should do
my duty as I understood it, and they might do the same. I said,
"you are many, I am but one man ; dispose of me as you think best ;
I ask no favors of you/' They constructed a raft of two cottonwood
saw logs, fastened together with inch plank nailed to the logs, upon
which they put me and sent me down the Missouri river. The raft
was towed out into the middle of the stream with a canoe. Robert S.
Kelly held the rope that towed the raft. They gave me neither oar,
rudder, nor anything else to manage my raft with. They put up a
flagon the raft with the following inscription upon it: " Eastern Emi-
grant Aid Express. The Rev. Mr. Butler, agent for the underground
railroad. The way they are served in Kansas. For Boston. Cargo
insured, unavoidable danger of the Missourians and the Missouri river
excepted. Let future emissaries from the north beware. Our hemp
crop is sufficient to reward all such scoundrels." They threatened to
shoot me if I pulled my flag down. I pulled it down, cut the flag off
the flag-staff, made a paddle of the flag-staff, and ultimately got
ashore about six miles below.
To the best of my knowledge I had not had any conversation in
the presence of slaves. I neither had sought to entice slaves away
from their masters, nor did they accuse me of it. They all admitted,
when we were together, that I was not an abolitionist, but a free-
soiler. By freesoiler I mean one in favor of making Kansas a free
State.
[Part of Mr. Butler's deposition is struck out, according to the ruling
in the case of James Harris.]
PARDEE BUTLER.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9. 1856.
GEORGE F. WARREN was called and sworn.
I was at Leavenworth at the time of the lynching of William Phil7
lips. It was May 17, 1855. He had written a protest to the governor
signed by himself and a number of others. He is a citizen of Leaven-
worth, a lawyer. A committee served a notice on him to leave the
Territory. I saw the notice. The committee consisted of thirty, viz:
William Hughes, now clerk in the land office of Mr. Calhoun, sur-
veyor general ; H. Rives Pollard, associate editor of the Kansas Herald
at Leavenworth ; William Adams, publisher of the same paper ; D.
Scott Boyle, then and now clerk of the territorial court under Judge
Lecompte ; Eli Moore, deputy city marshal of Leavenworth ; J. M.
Lyle, chief clerk of the Shawnee legislature; D. J. Johnson, lawyer;
Bennett Burnam, city surveyor ; J. M. Alexander, a lawyer from
Pennsylvania ; J. C. Posey, surveyor. I do not remember the names
964 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of any more now. This notice was served some days before the mob-
bing. There was to be a meeting in town on the day the notice re-
quired him to leave. Mr. Phillips and myself left on that day. To-
wards evening we returned. An hour or two after we arrived in town
some one wanted to speak to Mr. Phillips in the Herald printing office.
He went there, and I remained part of the time on the outside where
I could see in and hear them talk. They asked him to sign that paper
to leave the Territory the next day at noon, at the same time holding
a pistol at his head. He would not sign it. A man asked him then
if he would fight. He reached his hand to him and told him yes.
Some one spoke then and said the man who proposed to fight should
not do so, and thus throw away his valuable life for that damned abo-
litionist. They then proposed to tar and feather Phillips. They
could not find any tar and feathers. He told them that molasses-
would do just as well. I then left, and shortly afterwards I saw
Phillips. Some days afterwards, while I and Phillips were helping
to raise a building, there was a company of thirteen came there.
They were J. M. McAlear, William Hughes, Boyle, Burnam, Pollard,
Adams, Moore, Heath, Lyle, Johnson, Posey, Mr. Blair, deputy mar-
shal, and one other. Hughes came close to Phillips and told him he
must leave the Territory and go with him. McAlear put his hand on
Phillips' shoulder and told him he must go. All of them had re-
volvers. Phillips was unarmed, and only three or four of his friends
were around, who were all unarmed except myself, and I had a re-
volver. There were but few persons in sight. Phillips made no
reply to McAlear. Myself and Mr. Gould rushed towards him and
was pushed back, and my pistol was taken from me by a friend of
mine from Tennessee who wanted to fire, but I prevented him. They
then took Phillips to the river, put him on a flat boat, and all got in
and crossed the river. While they were crossing, a magistrate or-
dered a posse out with arms to rescue him. Only three of us appeared, ,
and they were then crossing the river. They shook their fists at us,
and told us we would have to go next. They landed on the other
side, and that was the last I saw of them that day. I saw Phillips
next morning. He had just finished getting tar off from him and was
running bullets. One side of his head was shaved. These men were
never punished for this offence. They were at one time brought before
Judge Lecompte and bound over to keep the peace. He said it was his
duty to remove the clerk and prevent the lawyers from practicing at
the bar, but he would not do it for that time. To my knowledge they
were never indicted or tried. Most of them are still living in the
Territory and holding office.
G. F. WAEEEN.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 965
A. PAYNE called and sworn.
To Mr. Sherman:
I reside in Leaven worth county, in this Territory, since June,
1854. I was appointed on a committee of ten, at a public meeting of
the citizens held on the 30th of April, 1855, relating to William
Phillips, and was president of that meeting. In pursuance of the
resolutions of that meeting, we notified William Phillips that he had
rendered himself obnoxious to this community,, and supposed that he
had been accessory to the death of Malcolm Clark, who was killed on
that day by Cole McEea.
He did not comply with the notice, and did not leave at the time
designated. When the time expired we held an adjourned meeting,
and, in pursuance of the resolution of the adjourned meeting, we
went to Mr. Phillips' house again, and was told by his brother that
he was not there. The committee retired, being satisfied that such
was the fact. My impression is, that I next saw Mr. Phillips the
evening of the adjourned meeting, about dusk, in the city, near the
Herald office. Some person, I don't know who, remarked, in my
hearing, that Phillips had deceived us, that he was now in town.
Some one, I think Mr. Posey, went to him and arrested him, or
took hold of him, and told him to walk with him into the printing
office, that being the nearest room. He went with Mr. Posey, and
some six or eight others followed ; I don't exactly remember the num-
ber, where a consultation was held as to what disposition should be
made with Mr. Phillips. Various modes were suggested as to what
means should be used to carry out the resolutions, none of which were
adopted, and Mr. Phillips was released by partially promising that
he would leave as soon as he could wind up his business ; that is all
I know of it. I was not with him when he was taken over to Weston,
and know nothing about it except from hearsay. The paper hereto
attached, cut out from the Kansas Weekly Herald, I believe is the
published account of the proceedings of the two meetings to which I
have referred.
PUBLIC MEETING.
At a meeting of the citizens of Leavenworth and vicinity, held on
the evening of the 30th of April, for the purpose of taking some ac-
tion in regard to one William Phillips, who is reported to have been
accessory to the murder of Malcolm Clark, D. J. Johnson was called
to the chair, and Joseph L. McAleer chosen secretary.
On motion, the following preamble and resolutions were unani-
mously adopted.
Whereas, by facts elicited on the coroner's inquest held over the
body of Malcolm Clark, as well as from other circumstances that have
come to our knowledge, it appears that William Phillips, of Leaven-
966 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
worth, was an accessory to the murder of one of our most respectec
^citizens ; and whereas,, the conduct of said Phillips, heretofore, haj
fully demonstrated his un worthiness as a citizen or gentleman ; there-
fore,
Resolved, That, in accordance with the expressed desire of the in-
dignation meeting to-night, William Phillips he ordered to leave thi*
Territory hy two o'clock, Thursday evening next; and that a com-
mittee of ten be appointed to notify him instanter of the requisitior
of this meeting.
Resolved, That the notice be written and signed by the committee
who shall proceed, immediately after the adjournment, to the resi-
dence of William Phillips, and deliver it to himself in person.
Resolved, That the course to be pursued in regard to the other abo^
litionists and to the other matters of importance, be left for the deci-
sion of the meeting of the citizens, to be held next Thursday.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by th<
officers and other members of the committee.
The Chairman appointed the following named gentlemen to waii
upon Mr. Phillips: Jarrett Todd, John C. Posey, N. B. Brooks
William C. Berry, Thomas C. Hughes, H. Kives Pollard, Joseph L
McAleer, John H. McBride, James M. Lyle, A.. Payne.
On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet again on Thursday
May 3.
D. J. JOHNSON, Chairman.
JAMES M. LYLE, Secretary.
Signed by Jarrett Todd and others of the committee.
The following is a duplicate of the notice served on Willian
Phillips :
LEAVENWORTH CITY, April 30, 1855.
SIR : At a meeting of the citizens of Leavenworth and vicinity, w
the undersigned, were appointed a committee to inform you that the
have unanimously determined that you must leave this Territory ~
two o'clock of Thursday next. Take due notice thereof, and act a
cordingly.
JAKEETT TODD,
JOHN C. POSEY,
N. B. BROOKS,
WILLIAM C. BEREY,
H. RIVES POLLARD,
JOHN H. McBEIDE,
JAMES M. LYLE,
A. PAYNE,
THOMAS C. HUGHES,
WILLIAM L. BLAIR.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 967
Public Indignation Meeting.
Pursuant to adjournment of the indignation meeting on the 30th,
the citizens of Leaven worth re-convened on Thursday last, at 11
o'clock, Colonel A. Payne presiding, and James M. Lyle acting as
secretary of the meeting.
The committee appointed to draft resolutions reported the following
through their chairman, J. M. Alexander, which were unanimously
adopted :
Resolved , That we regret the death of our esteemed fellow-citizen,
Malcolm Clark, and most bitterly condemn the cowardly act "by which
he was murdered ; 'hut we would deprecate any violation of the laws
of the land "by way of revenge, and stand ready to maintain and de-
fend the laws from any violation by any mob violence ; that we do not
deem the time has arrived when it is necessary for men to maintain
their inalienable rights by setting at defiance the constituted authori-
ties of. the country.
Resolved, That we deeply and sincerely sympathize with the family
of Malcolm Clark, deceased, in their sad and irreparable bereavement,
which has deprived them of an affectionate and doting father, and
the community of one of her most useful, enterprising, and esteemed
citizens.
Resolved, That the interests of our young and lovely Territory
have lost, in the person of Mr. Clark, an energetic and praiseworthy
friend ; one who was ever ready to put forward his best energies to ad-
vance the public weal, and whose sentiments were liberal, and at all
times expressed with a bold and fearless defiance of the errors of the
day.
Resolved, That no man has a right to go into any community and
disturb its peace and quiet by doing any incendiary acts or circulating
incendiary sentiments ; we therefore advise such as are unwilling to
;a submit to the institutions of this country to leave for some climate
M more congenial to their feelings, as abolition sentiments cannot, nor
A , will not, be tolerated here — and while we do not say what may be the
c|k; consequences, for the peace and quiet of the community we urge all
j entertaining and expressing such sentiments to leave immediately,
, claiming the right to expel all such as persist in such a course.
Resolved, That in the present state of public excitement there is no
j such thing as controlling the ebullition of feeling, while material re-
j mains in the country on which to give it vent. To the peculiar
j friends of northern fanatics, we say, this is not your country, go home
1 and vent your treason, where you may find your sympathy.
Resolved, That we invite the inhabitants of every State, north,
1 south, east, and west, to come among us and to cultivate the beautiful
. jl prairie lands of our Territory, but leave behind you the fanaticisms of
1 higher law and all kindred doctrines, come only to maintain the laws
I as they exist, and not to preach your higher duties of setting them at
1 naught ; for we warn you in advance that our institutions are sacred
to us, and must and shall be respected.
968 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Resolved, That the institution of slavery is known and recognized
in this Territory, that we repel the doctrine that it is a moral and
political evil, and we hurl back with scorn upon its slanderous authors
the charge of inhumanity, and we warn all persons not to come to our
own peaceful firesides to slander us and sow the seeds of discord be-
tween the master and the servant, for much as we may deprecate the
necessity to which we may be driven, we cannot be responsible for the
consequences.
Resolved, That we recognize the right of every man to entertain his
own sentiments in all questions and to act them out so long as they
interfere with neither public or private rights, but that when the acts
of men strike at the peace of our social relations and tend to subvert
the known and recognized rights of others, such acts are in violation
of morals, of natural law, and systems of jurisprudence to which we
are accustomed to submit.
Resolved, That a vigilance committee, consisting of thirty members,
shall now be appointed, who shall observe and report all such persons
as shall openly act in violation of law and order, and by the expression
of abolition sentiments produce disturbance to the quiet of the citizens
or danger to their domestic relations, and all such persons so offend-
ing shall be notified and made to leave the Territory.
The committee appointed on Monday last to notify Mr. Phillips of
the requisition of the citizens of Leaven worth, reported to the meet-
ing that the said Phillips had left town in compliance with the in-
structions given him. On motion of J. Marion Alexander, a com-
mittee of vigilance, consisting of thirty, was appointed for the purpose
of carrying out the resolutions of the meeting. The following gentle-
men compose the committee :
HIKAM RICH,
A. PAYNE,
S. D. PITCHER,
A. J. SCOTT,
THOMAS C. HUGHES,
WM. W. CORUM,
JARRETT TODD,
ALEXANDER RUSSELL,
D. J. JOHNSON,
SAMUEL BURGESS,
C. C. HARRISON,
R. E. STALLARD,
G. D. TODD,
M. P. RIVELEY,
H. RIVES POLLARD,
JAMES M. LYLE,
JAMES SUNETT,
JOEL HIATT,
LEWIS N. REES,
L. P. STYLES,
C. N. BURGESS,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 969
JOHN C. POSEY,
G. W. WALKER,
D. SCOTT BOYLE,
E. A. LONG,
WM. G. MATTHIAS,
H. D. McMEEKIN,
JOHN MILLER,
W. L. BLAIR,
NATHANIEL HENDERSON,
H. LONG.
The meeting was ably and eloquently addressed by Judge Lecompte,
Colonel J. N. Burnes, of Westori, and D. J. Johnson.
On motion of,, Bennett Burnham,, it was unanimously confirmed,
that the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Kansas
Herald, Platte Argus, and in all other papers friendly to the cause.
On motion the meeting adjourned sine die.
A. PAYNE, President.
JAMES M. LYLE, Secretary.
Question. Was you present on the 22d of December, 1855, at the
time the press of M. W. Delehay was thrown into the river, and, if
so, state the circumstances of that transaction?
Ansicer. I was here at the time the press was thrown into the river.
It was done about dusk. I could not tell how many persons were
engaged in the work of destroying the press. I was in the store be-
low, as much engaged in the protection of property of my friends as
anything else. I saw the press when falling from the upper door to
the ground. It was injured to some extent in the fall, but I can't
say to what extent ; and I understand, although I did not see, it was
thrown into the river. I suppose the type and other materials were
either thrown into the river or scattered upon the ground ; the whole
printing establishment was destroyed. I do not know of any legal
warrant or process by virtue of which this was done ; I do not know
that the parties engaged in this were ever brought to any judicial trial.
I was here on the 15th of December, and remember the time of the
adoption of the free State constitution. I saw no other difficulty ex-
cept the taking of the ballot boxes ; they were not destroyed, but I
gave them, or ordered them to be given, to the sheriff, Green D. Todd,
of the county, who probably has them now.
The election did not go on, to my knowledge, after that. I, and
others engaged in this transaction, had no legal process, and acted
under no legal process in seizing the ballot box. But three or four
of us entered the house, but a number were outside to assist, I sup-
pose, if necessary. To my knowledge, no one has been arrested, tried,
or examined for the mobbing of Phillips, the destruction of Delehay's
press, or the seizing of the ballot boxes. These acts were done by
persons well known, and no effort was made to conceal the persons or
the acts.
(«*70 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
To Governor King :
The cause of the meeting of which I have spoken was in conse-
quence of the killing of Clark. I was at the squatter's meeting held
on the 30th of April, at which Clark was shot. While some one was
speaking at that meeting McCrea interrupted the speaker frequently.
I remarked to Mr. Clark, who was standing near me, that McCrea was
not a Delaware squatter, that he lived on the "government cut-off,"
as it was called, and that I thought only those interested in the Dela-
ware lands should participate in the meeting. Clark remarked that,
if McCrea was not a Delaware squatter, he would request him to re-
tire and not to interrupt the meeting any more. Clark went to Mc-
Crea and told him that he understood he was not interested in the
Delaware lands, and it was the wish that only such as was should
participate in the meeting. McCrea remarked that, if such was the
wish of the meeting, that he would retire, and did so. Soon after-
wards a resolution was offered, and a vote taken ; the ayes and nays
being called, McCrea and others of his friends voted.
The chairman being unable to decide, a division was called for, and
the question was decided in the affirmative, and the chairman an-
nounced'that the resolution was carried. McCrea remarked that it
was a damned fraud, and that it was through the instrumentality of
Malcolm Clark. Clark remarked, "it is not so, sir." McCrea told
him it was a God damned lie. Clark made towards him, and I saw
McCrea attempting to draw his pistol. Clark seemed to be picking
up something, but I cannot say what. At this time Clark must have
seen McCrea in the act of drawing his pistol, being nearer to him than
I was. Just at this time the crowd rushed in between myself and
Clark and McCrea, and I saw nothing further. I heard the report of
the pistol, anA Clark exclaimed, "the scoundrel has shot me," and
saw McCrea running with a pistol in his hand. Clark died in a few
moments. The general rumor prevailed, and I believe it, that Phil-
lips had advised the killing of Clark ; and the rumor prevailed, also,
that he had been seen to hand McCrea something which was supposed
to be a pistol.
I don't know that the matters relative to the destruction of Dela-
hay's press and the taking of the ballot boxes were ever investigated
before a grand jury.
A. PAYNE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
RICHARD R. REES called and sworn.
Examined by Mr. Sherman :
I came into the Territory about the middle of November, 1854, and
have resided here ever since. I presided at a meeting of the pro-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 971
slavery party held in this city on the 19th of May, 1855. 1 think
0. C. Harrison, a citizen of the district, was secretary of that meeting.
My recollection is that the resolutions were presented in writing and
passed, and those published in the Kansas Weekly Herald of the 25th
of May, 1855, in this city, are correct, as far as I recollect. The
" memorable 30th," referred to in the fifth resolution there published,
I presume refers to a meeting held on the 30th of April, but I do not
recollect of being present at that meeting. I was at that time a
member elect of the legislative council of this Territory. Ewen D.
Todd, I understood, resided in the Territory at that time, but my im-
pression is that Jared Todd resided on his farm across the river. I do
not recollect that the resolutions of the meeting of April 30th were
referred to except as above.
On the 30th of April, 1855, Judge Lecompte was judge of the
court of this district, I think called by the governor the first dis-
trict. Colonel J. N. Burnes I understood to reside at that time in
Weston, Missouri. I). J. Johnson resided here in Leavenworth at
that time, and I am not aware of his holding any office here then
or since. D. Scott Boyle was the clerk of the first district court, and
has been ever since. Mr. William G. Matthias was then a member
elect of the house of representatives of this Territory, according to
the returns of the 30th of March, 1855. II. D. McMeekin held the
same office then as Mr. Matthias did, and is now, as I understand,
a deputy marshal of the Territory, and also a deputy sheriff of this
county. Green D. Todd is now sheriff of this county, but held no
office, as I am aware of, at that time. A. Payne was at that time a
member elect of the legislature, according to the returns of the 30th
of March, and I believe is now a colonel of militia. Thomas G.
Hughes was afterwards engrossing clerk of the house of representa-
tives, and upon the resignation of Judge Halderman was chosen chief
clerk of the council, and is now constable of Leavenworth township, in
this county. M. P. Eively is now county treasurer. H. Kives Pol-
lard was connected with the Kansas Herald as associate editor. James
M. Lyle was afterwards judge of the election on the 22d of May, and
then chief clerk of the house of representatives, and now is clerk of
the county board of commissioners of this county. Alexander Kussell
is now a justice of the peace. Lewis N. Piees was judge of the elec-
tion of the 30th of March, and is now postmaster at this place. W.
L. Blair has been deputy constable since then. L. P. Stiles resided
the last time I knew in Farleigh, Platte county, Missouri. C. M.
Burgess was judge of election of the 29th November, 1854. The rest
of the names published in that connexion are of persons that I do not
know of having held offices here, though some of them may have been
on the grand or petit juries here.
The following is the copy of resolutions published in the Kansas
Herald on the 25th of May, 1855 :
972 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
PUBLIC MEETING.
At a meeting of the pro-slavery party of this city and vicinity, held
on Saturday last, on motion of Jarret Todd, K. R. Rees was called to
the chair, and C. C. Harrison was chosen secretary.
After an explanation of the ohjects of the meeting, the following
resolutions were., on motion of Judge Payne, unanimously adopted :
1st. That we heartily endorse the action of the committee of citi-
zens that shaved, tarred and feathered, rode on a rail, and had sold by
a negro, William Phillips, the moral perjuror.
2d. That we return our thanks to the committee for faithfully per-
forming the trust enjoined upon them by the pro-slavery party.
3d. That the committee be now discharged.
4th. That we severely condemn those pro-slavery men who from
mercenary motives are now calling upon the pro-slavery party to sub-
mit without further action.
5th. That in order to secure peace and harmony to the community
we now solemly declare that the pro-slavery party will stand firmly
by and carry out the resolutions reported by the committee appointed
for that purpose on the " memorable 3Qth."
On motion of Green D. Todd, it was adopted that the proceedings
of this meeting be published in the Kansas 'Herald, Platte Argus, and
all other papers friendly to the cause ; after which, on motion of
Samuel Burgess, the meeting adjourned.
R. R. REES, Chairman.
C. C. HARBISON, Secretary.
I cannot identify the proceedings of the meeting of the 30th of
April, 1855, as published in the Kansas Herald of May 4, 1855.
Thomas C. Hughes, I understand from reputation, is a clerk in the
surveyor general's office of this Territory.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
There was a public rumor that at a squatters' meeting here Malcolm
Clark had been killed by Cole McCrea ; the report stating that William
Phillips had furnished McCrea the pistol with which Clark was killed.
Meetings were held, as I understand, and Phillips was notified to leave.
He persisted in remaining, and was taken by some seven or eight men,
I do not recollect how many, across the river to Weston, Missouri, and
there tarred and feathered. Such was the rumor, but I do not know
of the fact. Phillips was publicly charged with being an accessory to
the shooting of Clark. The community here were indignant at Phil-
lips also for his affidavit, swearing that voters were deterred from
voting here on the 30th of March, 1855, and the prevailing opinion
here was that the affidavit was false. This affidavit related to the
contest of the election of the 30th of March. These were the circum-
stances I understood led to the lynching of Phillips. On account of
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 973
these prevailing rumors and the death of Clark the meeting was held
at which the resolutions embodied in this deposition were passed.
By Mr. Sherman :
Several of the persons who attended this meeting and took part in
it were, as I understood, parties to the lynching of Phillips. I never
talked with any of the free State men about the correctness of Phil-
lips' affidavit, but I knew it to be false myself.
RICHARD R. REES.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May IT, 1856.
H. H. JOHNSTON called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I was present at an election held in Leavenworth in December,
1855, when the ballot boxes were taken. My house is about fifty or
sixty yards from where the election was held. I heard a fuss and dis-
turbance in the street and went down to where the crowd were gath-
ered. I went up immediately to the house and saw Captain Charles
Dunn at the window where their votes were received. I heard him
demand of Mr. Geo. Keller the ballot box, and asked him repeatedly
to give it up, on the ground that the election was illegal. Mr. Keller
refused to give it up, and Captain Dunn said he would be forced to
take it, and he then pulled the window out and went into the house,
and I think one or two were in company with him. Mr. Keller got
out of the way in an instant. Mr. Wetherell was engaged some time
in trying to get the ballot box, and in getting out from between the
wall and the table. He ran through the bar room of the house where
the election was held, and in the hurry let the ballot box fall in the
bar room. Captain Dunn followed him out on the porch, and being
excited, demanded the ballot box. Mr. Wetherell drew a bowie knife
on him ; Captain Dunn, in endeavoring to ward off the blow, knocked
the knife out of Wetherell's hand ; Dunn then took Wetherell by the
coat collar, by one hand, and struck him several times in the face, and
then pulled him down in the mud on his face and hands. A man
jumped on Wetherell once or twice with his feet when he was down in
the mud, bruising him considerably about the face and head. Captain
Murphy came up at that time and seeing Mr. Wetherell, took him up,,
raised him on his feet, and told the people round, he was a good man,
and he believed a law-abiding citizen, and any person attempting to-
strike him, would have to fight him first. Mr. Wetherell was then
taken by two or three men to his store, and in a few minutes after-
wards I went in to see him. He told me he was not hurt very badly .,
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
that he was more frightened than anything else, and would get all
over it in a short time.
H. H. JOHNSTON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
JOHN LYNCH called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I reside at Doniphan city^ in this Territory, and have resided there
since March, 1855. I was there at the time of the difficulty in which
Samuel Collins was killed. I was in Dr. Brown's office the night
hefore Collins was killed. Up to that time Mr. Collins and myself
had "been on very friendly terms, though we were of different politics.
I was sitting down in a chair with my legs crossed, in Dr. Brown's
office, when Collins was advancing towards me, as I supposed, to
attack Laughlin, who was "behind me, and "between whom and Collins
some very hard words had just passed, the lie being several times
passed between them. Mr. Collins was standing close to me, and I
thought Laughlin, from the sound of his voice, was almost directly
behind me, which made me afraid to change my position. I requested
Mr. Collins not to run over me. He said " Damn you, I will kick
every rib in you out of you." I could not say anything I was so em-
barrassed at that. I still remained in the chair, and did not leave the
-office until Mr. Collins had left it. ' As Collins left the house, he stood
in the door and shaking his finger at me, he said l ' Damn you, I will
take your life." I made no reply to him and he left. I also left and
went with Mr. Laughlin to Squire Vandevere and got out a peace
warrant against Collins, and then I put in the hands of a constable,
and told him where I understood the threats would be put in execu-
tion, and requested him to be in before that time.
I was at my breakfast the next morning in one of the rooms of the
hotel, when I heard some yelling out of doors. I heard some one say
that Mr. Collins was going to kill everybody in town. I looked out
of the window and then rushed out of the door, supposing I was one
of the threatened. When I got out of doors I saw Mr. Collins
flourishing a knife before Mr. Laughlin. I could not say what Mr.
Laughlin was doing, but I thought he was dodging behind Mr. Fore-
man, who seemed to be trying to intercede between them. This was
between thirty and forty feet from the hotel, perhaps fifty feet. As
my life had been threatened the night before, I seized my gun when I
got up from the breakfast table, and took it with me out of doors,
and when I got to the corner of the hotel in sight of the parties, I
fired it in the direction of Mr. Collins. I then advanced, and we met:
each other and struck at each other with our guns, which we had I
•clubbed, and I fell, and' I know nothing of what took place there
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 975
afterwards. From the threats that had been made against my life, I
shot at Collins in what I considered a necessary defence of my life. I
cannot tell whether I hit Mr. Collins or not.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
My gun was a smooth bore shot gun. I do not know what it was
loaded with, as it had been loaded by some one else, and I suppose
had been brought home loaded. I do not know who had borrowed it,
but I frequently loaned it to persons to go duck hunting. I suppose
I was between forty and fifty feet, perhaps sixty feet, from Collins when
I fired on him, and then we both advanced towards each other.
JAMES LYNCH.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
ALLEN B. LYON called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I reside at Doniphan city, in Doniphan county, in this Territory ;
and was there building a house in October and November, 1855, and
was there at the time of the difficulty between Patrick Laughlin,
James Lynch, and Samuel Collins, residents of Doniphan ; in which
difficulty Collins was killed. The circumstances of the killing of
Collins, so far as I know them, were these : On the evening prior, I
was in the office of Dr. Oscar Brown, where I slept. Mr. Laughlin
came in inquiring for the doctor. Mr. Collins came in about fifteen
minutes afterwards. Laughlin was lying on the bed, complaining of
being sick. Several gentlemen came in with Mr. Collins. After they
had been there some time, Laughlin got up and walked around near
Collins, and inquired of him why he had hailed him on the street the
day before when passing Collins' mill, and insulted him in the man-
ner that he had. Collins denied having done so. Laughlin declared
he had, as he could not be mistaken in the man at that distance.
Collins then told he was a damned liar, and a damned perjured scoun-
drel, that he had published infamous lies to the world, and that he
(Collins) would make him take them all back ; " or," said he, " you
or I, one will land in hell" — or eternity, I forget which — "before
breakfast to-morrow morning." * Laughlin told Collins he was a
damned liar ; upon which Collins rose from the sofa upon which he
was sitting by my side, and advanced towards him. I caught Collins
by the arm, and tried to persuade him to desist. He sat down, but
soon got up again ; told Laughlin to prepare himself ; that he would
up in the morning early, and that he would make him take back
he had said and published, stating that he was not then armed,
' he knew Laughlin was armed. Collins did not say what publi-
976 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
cations of Laughlin's he alluded to. This was a few days after
Laughlin had published what purported to be an exposition of a
secret military society in the Territory ; and, so far as I know, there
was no other publication of Laughlin's made at or about that time.
Mr. Laughlin replied to Collins that he had nothing to take back of
what he had stated, and what he had published was true ; and as he
had done nothing more than what every honest man ought to do, he
was not afraid to meet Collins in any way. Collins made a statement
in regard to Laughlin, that he understood James Foreman had given
Laughlin a cow to change his politics, and publish this exposition.
Laughlin told him he was a damned liar, and Collins started towards
him, as though he intended to attack him. Mr. Lynch, who was
sitting between the two, threw up his hands, and requested Mr. Col-
lins not to advance. Mr. Collins threatened to kick every rib out of
Lynch' s body ; and told him,, damn him, he would kill him. Mr.
Lynch immediately left the room, and a few minutes afterwards Mr.
Collins left, saying, as he went, that he would certainly be back in
the morning, and Laughlin should be ready. A short time after-
wards, we heard the report of a gun, and then while we looked out of
the window^ I saw the flash and heard the report of two guns, appar-
ently in the yard of Mr. Collins' house. Mr. Lynch and Mr. Laugh-
lin went that night to get out a peace warrant against Collins. Early
the next morning, somewhere about sunrise, young Mr. Collins came
over and told me he wished to re-measure some lumber his father had
sold me, stating that he thought it had not been measured correctly.
He went to the lumber pile, and measured some small quantity, not
one half of the lumber, and then young Collins went back home.
Laughlin at that time was standing in the main street of Doniphan,
about twenty steps from me, talking with Mr. James Foreman and
some others. A few minutes afterward, I started to breakfast. When
I got to the corner upon which the hotel stands, I met Mr. Collins,
his two sons, and a nephew. Mr. Collins had a double-barrel shot
gun in his hand, both barrels cocked. Mr. Laughlin was walking
directly from Collins,, about twenty yards in advance, with his back
towards Collins. I tried to attract the attention of Mr. Collins, but
he paid no attention to me. He called to Laughlin, and said, " stop,
God damn you, and take back everything you have said, or I will put
sixteen through you," and kept advancing on him all the time, fre-
quently repeating his demand to Laughlin to take back what he had
said and published. Laughlin turned round, and stood with a bucket
of flour on his arm, and told Collins he had nothing to take back, and
nothing that he could take back. When within about six yards of
him, Collins drew up his gun, pointed it at Laughlin, and pulled one
trigger ; the gun did not go off. He then rushed upon Langhlin,
cursing furiously, drew a large knife from his breast, flourished it in
front of Laughlin's neck two or three times, demanding that he should
take back what he had said. Laughlin refused, and he plunged the
knife into Laughlin's left side. Laughlin staggered several steps
back, retreating from him. Collins then drew up his gun again,
and presented it at Laughlin ; and as he pulled the trigger, Mr. Fore-<
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 977
man got his hand upon the barrel of the gun, and forced the muzzle
down, and the contents entered the ground between Laughlin's ieet.
At this moment, a gun was fired from the bar of the hotel. I heard
the shot strike against the fence on the opposite side of the street.
Mr. Collins immediately wheeled round, throwing up the breach of
his gun, and advanced. Mr. Lynch met him with a shot gun in his
hand, holding it by the barrel. Mr. Collins struck at Mr. Lynch,
who received the blow on his gun, and the breeches of both guns were
broken off; the next blow Mr. Collins knocked Mr. Lynch down. It
was not until Mr. Collins' attention was drawn towards Mr. Lynch
that Mr. Laughlin attempted to draw a weapon. I had been watching
him very closely, wondering why he did not do it before. After Mr.
Collins had knocked Mr. Lynch down, he turned round and advanced
towards Laughlin, with the barrels of his gun raised as for a blow.
Mr. Laughlin had his pistol out and fired at Mr. Collins, who dropped
his gun barrels, and clasped his arms around his breast, and cried
out, ci Oh, Lord!" He soon sank down on the ground,, and died in a
few minutes. Mr. Laughlin was knocked down with a club, just
after he had fired his pistol, by a son of Mr. Collins, I think. After
Laughlin fell, Mr. Collins' nephew threw a piece of brick at him,
which just brushed his hair. Mr. Laughlin's brother ran up at this
moment, and seized the pistol which had fallen out of the hands of
his brother, and fired at Mr. Collins' nephew, who was running away,
and the ball just grazed the side of his neck. He then turned and
presented the pistol at young Collins, who had knocked his brother
down, who threw up both hands and asked him not to shoot, that his
father was dead, and he desisted. I then went up to Mr. Collins,
opened his bosom, saw that he had received several shot in his right
side. The fight then stopped, and those who had been shot and
knocked down were then carried away. ^The ground was covered with
blood, like one had been butchering a hog, and I thought there were
at least three persons killed — Collins, Laughlin and Lynch.
The town was in a state of disquiet and alarm for some weeks after-
( wards, in consequence of what had taken place, and the threats that
'were made against the lives of Laughlin and Lynch. While Mr.
Laughlin was confined to his bed at the house of Mr. James Forinan,
some excitement was caused by the report that some one had attempted
to break into the house, whereupon a guard was placed around the
house to protect him. As soon as possible, Laughlin was removed to
St. Joseph, Missouri. I did not myself hear any threats made against
Laughlin and Lynch, but such was the rumor. The officer told me
that a peace warrant was taken out and placed in his hands to be used
on Collins the night before the fight, and he got into town a few
minutes after the fight had taken place. Collins was notorious for
being a free State man.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard.
I understood that Mr. Collins had been living in that neighborhood
for some months, and at the time he was killed was running a steam
saw mill. I also understoou that Mr. Laughlin had been living there
for some months ; both of them were comparatively old residents, and
H. Rep. 200 62*
978 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
had been free State men and acting together up to a short time before
>this difficulty, when Laughlin had changed his politics and published
to the world what he styled an exposition of a secret military organi-
zation, and had implicated Mr. Collins in it, as colonel of the
Doniphan regiment in that organization. Mr. Collins was from
Andrew county, Missouri, where I had been acquainted with him.
Mr. Lynch was from Kentucky, and a pro-slavery man. Mr. Laugh-
lin was from Kentucky, and was a pro-slavery man. Collins' two
sons and his nephew were free State men. Mr. James Foreman was
a pro-slavery man. Mr. Foreman tried to stop Mr. Collins as he
first went towards Laughlin, and succeeded in pushing down Collins'
gun as he fired. He seemed to be using every effort to prevent the
shedding of blood. I think that this was a political difficulty. Mr.
Lynch and Mr. Collins seemed to be friendly up to the time of the,
altercation in Mr. Brown's office. All seemed anxious to prevent the
shedding of blood except Mr. Collins, his sons, and his nephew. On
the morning of the fight, one of the young Collins had- a dogwood
club in his hand about four feet long, and as large round as a man's
wrist. I did not notice whether the other two young men had any-
thing or not. I never learned why the guns were, fired in Collins'
yard after he had left Brown's office.
A. B. LYON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
WILLIAM BURGESS called and sworn.
By Governor King :
I am a resident citizen of Leaven worth county, and was present at
the election in Leavenworth city for the adoption of the free State
constitution the 15th of December last. I know* George WetherelL
I saw the encounter between Wetherell and Charles Dunn about the
ballot-box. After Charles Dunn demanded the ballot-box and told
the judges it was an unlawful election that they were holding, that ii
was unconstitutional and against the laws of the Territory, Mr;
Keller told Dunn that he would not deliver the ballot-box. Duni
then jumped into the window, when Wetherell seized the ballot-bo5
and ran into another room and out through into the street, and as h«
ran had a revolver and a bowie knife in his hand at the same tim.6
Just about the time he got to the door Dunn overhauled him and
seized the ballot-box. I am confident that Wetherell had a bowi
knife and revolver in his hand, as I have stated.
To Mr. Sherman :
Wetherell must have dropped the pistol at the scuffle for tk
ballot-box. While Dunn had hold of Wetherell, the latter drew hi
bowie knife. Dunn then knocked him down. This was all I saw.
To Governor King :
After knocking Wetherell down Dunn returned into the house, an
did nothing more.
WILLIAM BURGESS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 979
GEORGE WETHERILL called and sworn.
To Mr. Sherman :
I came into the Territory in August, 1855, I think, from Pennsyl-
vania, and settled in the city of Leavenworth, where I have since
resided. I keep a grocery store here. I was one of the clerks of an
election held here on the 15th of December last, on the adoption of the
State constitution. We opened the polls about nine o'clock in the
morning, and the voting went on without interruption until noon.
Then Captain Charles Dunn came to the window, in a very boisterous
manner, and demanded the ballot-box. Mr. George Keller, H. M.
Hook, and Adam Fisher were the judges of election. When the de-
mand was made Mr. Keller tried to reason with hina, and induce him
leave. There was some talk between the two parties. He then
smashed in the windows and jumped in, together with several men,
none of whom I knew except Dunn. I cannot name any of the others,
and have not been able since to find out who they were. Before this
time one of the judges and one of the clerks had gone to dinner, but
the voting was going on until Dunn came up. The judges rushed out
into the next room, in the same building, and made their way out
and made off. In the hurry of the moment, I snatched up the ballot-
box and followed them. I threw the ballot-box behind a counter in
the adjoining room as I passed out. As I was passing out of doors
Dunn caught me by the throat and pushed me up against the outside
of the building, and demanded the ballot-box. I no not exactly re-
member my reply, but I think I told him I had not got it, but did
not tell him where it was. He then struck me in the mouth with his
fist, and another person struck me on the right side of the face. I
either fell or was pushed down into the mud, the crowd at the time
rushing on to me. They jumped upon my head and back, and kicked
me in the side. Mr. R. P. Brown, Mr. Anthony, and others came to
my rescue, and carried me to Mr. McCracken's store. I was very
much injured on the 15th of December. I was bruised, but received
no cut wounds. I was able to be about the store a day or two after-
wards a little. In a day or two I was able to attend to my ordinary
business. I was not right well afterwards. About the first of Jan-
uary I was taken down sick with the rheumatism, and have not been
well since. I never had the rheumatism before. I supposed it was
the effect of cold weather, and partly from my business. After the
".attack upon the judges the election was suspended.
Cross-examined by Mr. King :
I had no weapons about me at the time, and did not draw a pistol
upon Dunn when he came into the room,
GEORGE WETHERILL.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
980 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
GrBORGE H. KELLER recalled.
To Mr. Howard :
I was one of the judges of election in 1855, in this city, at the elec-
tion upon the adoption of the Topeka State constitution. I acted as
one of the judges. About one o'clock in the day, while the election
was going on, Captain Charles Dunn came there and ordered us to
desist. I told him I reckoned not. He commanded me, under the
authority of the territorial laws, to desist immediately. I told him
not to be too fast ; that I did not think we would desist. He said we
should, and then called his men, and they rallied around, and he then
demanded the ballot-box. I told him he could not have it ; that I
should not give it up. When I told him, he then seized the sash of
the window where we had been receiving votes and pulled it out, and
all his party and himself came through the window into our room.
They were armed with guns, revolvers, and bowie knives. I think
Mr. Wetherell and myself were the last of our people who left the
room after Dunn and his party came in. I saw no more of Mr.
Wetherell on account of the great crowd around there until 1 .saw
some three or four men carrying him along apparently very much ex-
hausted and bruised. Mr. Wetherell had no arms that day to my
knowledge. When the first demand was made for the ballot box. and
Captain Dunn had stepped back into the street to call his men, I re-
marked that we had no arms to defend ourselves, and those in the
room with me, among whom was Mr. Wetherell, assented to rny ob-
servation. I saw no bowie knife or pistol on Mr. Wetherell, and
think he had nothing of the kind. I had no arms myself more than
a small penknife. I saw some of the crowd going up the street after-
wards holding up the ballot-box, with exultive shouts, and I do not
know what became of it.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
Mr. Dunn said he considered our election an unlawful assemblage,
and therefore demanded the ballot-box. I think he said something
about our proceedings being against all law, and that the people were
determined not to have it go on. The election was held under the
authority of the Topeka convention. I do not know of any other au-
thority claimed for it at that time.
a. H. KELLER.
LRAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
G. W. HOLLIS called and sworn.
To Mr. Howard :
I reside in this city, and- have been here since April, 1855. 1 was
here in December last, and attended an election where votes were taken
upon the adoption of a State constitution, the polls being held on
herokee street. I was there when the ballot-box was taken away.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 981
Mr. Dunn came clown about one o'clock and demanded the ballot-box,
in the name of the territorial laws, of the judges, Mr. Keller and
others, Mr. Wetherell being one of the clerks. The ballot-box was
not given upon the first demand, and he demanded it again. He then
called the boys to come on, and broke in the window, and went into
the window, I think. I saw him afterwards come oiit of the front
door on M^ in street. He caught Mr. Wetherell at the door just as
Mr. Wetherell came out. He drew back his hand to strike him, but
I do not know whether he struck him or not. The crowd marched
together, and Wetherell was carried by a rush of some eight or ten off
the stoop, Wetherell falling on the ground as he fell off the stoop. I
saw a man kick him, but I did not see any one jump on him. I do
not think Wetherell had any weapons of any kind ; I saw him draw
none. Wetherell was taken down on the cover to Mr. McCracken's
store by his friends.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
I do not know what authority this election was held under, except
the Topeka convention. I cannot say whether he had a bowie knife
or not ; I do not think he had one ; I did not see him have an}r ; he
may have have had one, as he was concealed a portion of the time, to
some extent, by the crowd. I do not know that Mr. Wetherell had
the ballot-box ; do not know who had it. I think Mr. Dunn de-
manded the ballot-box in the name of the territorial laws. I do not
know what grounds he had for demanding it. I saw no violence
offered to the judges. I saw no one strike Wetherell ; and all the vio-
lence I saw was some one kick him.
To Mr. Howard :
I did not see Mr. Dunn show any warrant for demanding the ballot-
box, and I do not know whether he had any or not.
GL W. HOLLIS.
LEAVEN WORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
H. M. HOOK called and sworn.
To Mr. Howard :
I have lived in Leavenworth City since the fall of 1854. I was at
-an election in December last when the ballot-box was taken. I was
•one of the judges of the election that day. I was at home at dinner
at the time the box was taken. When I got back the window was
taken out and the judges were away. I did not see Mr. Wetherell
when he was hurt that day. I saw no arms about him that day.
H. M. HOOK.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
JOSEPH H. BIRD called and sworn.
I was at the election at Easton on the 17th of January, 1856. I
live in Leavenworth, and am by occupation a house-carpenter. The
982 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
night of the election I staid at Easton, at Mr. Mmard's house, the
place where the election was held. We had not been disturbed before
the election was about being closed. Afterwards, about six o'clock at
night, a large party of horsemen, I should think forty or fifty, not
more, came down towards the house, and a few of them, some five or
six, demanded the ballot-box. They were not answered right away,
and they threatened to come and take the ballot-box ; that they would
have it, if they had to shoot every man there, or something to that
effect. I do not remember the precise words they used. There Avas a
report during that day that there was to be an attempt to take the
ballot-box, after they had collected in a sufficient body to do so. After
tkis party demanded the ballot box, the persons at the house came out
in front of the house and ranged themselves in a line. The free State
party then tried to choose a commander, but did not do so on account
of the disorder among them. The horsemen then went away. The
next that was done, some fifteen from our house, and I was one of them,
went up to the grocery to see how many were there. Brown was the
leader of the party. When we got up there all the men on the op-
posite side turned out and formed in a line, and we did the same our-
selves. Brown stepped out and said we came up to get a drink, and
we would have it. There was some little show of fight. Some of
both parties were pretty much drunk, but there was no disturbance,
and we went in and got a drink and then went back to the house.
Then about twelve o'clock or later, Mr. Sparks and one of his sons,
and a person named Tritt, who lived with Sparks, started for home.
Mr. Tritt was riding but the rest were on foot. Mr. Sparks was
armed; with a double barrelled gun, and his son, I think, had a rifle.
Mr. Tritt I think was not armed. The first thing we heard was Tritt;
came along on his horse, very much frightened, saying that they had!
got Sparks prisoner, and that as many as nine persons had shot atl
him. Then Mr. Brown said all must go to the rescue of Sparks, and!
fifteen of us seized our arms and went up to the rescue. Of those whoi
went were Mr. Knight, Mr. Brown, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Taylor, Mr..
Kobertson, Mr. Wright, and myself, so far as I can recollect. I know/
there were quite fifteen of us, because when we were some way fromi
the house Brown drew us up in a line to count us and see how many
we were, and then went back to the house to get more. No more
came, and we then went up to Dawson's and found Sparks and his?
son in a lane formed of two fences. We went to the upper end as ifj
we were going to march right down through. Brown called out toJ
them that we would have Sparks and must have him ; that they must j
deliver him up. When they saw a body of us by moonlight theyi
opened and let the Sparks' come out up to us, which they did. At thd
end of the lane Mr. Sparks shook hands with Brown and myself, and
seemed to be glad we had come. They said we need not think we<|
had got Sparks secure, for they would take him before he got across!
the prairie. They also said they would shoot him before he got across!
the prairie. We were all very much excited. When we came out of theJ
lane we went off towards a log house to the left, towards Mr. Minard's yj
and the other party took the other road towards Dawson's, the parties
diverging from each other. When we got just opposite the log house J
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 983
we heard a good deal of hollowing from the other party, and turned
round and some one of the party fired, and I heard the ball distinctly
as it passed over my head. They had got just up to the back of Daw-
son's store. That was the first firing I heard that night. Brown
then turned around to us and said, "boys they have fired on us," and
appeared very much excited. They then fired again, one shot striking
a man by the side of me, Mr. Sparks' son, on the arm, making a very
bad bruise, but did not draw blood, but went through his coat close to
his skin. Then Brown turned round and leveled his rifle, one of these
rifles, and a great portion of us did the same, and fired. There was
then a general firing by both parties. I noticed after we had fired
that there was quite a collection got round one place, but I could not
tell what for. While we had been firing we had been retreating to-
wards Mr. Minard's house, and coming up to another house on our
way there, we took protection behind it. We then loaded up our
guns, and some, if not most of us, fired again, as others did on the
other side. There was pretty sharp firing for about ten minutes. The
moon was shining on our guns and prevented our taking aim. We
then retreated towards Minard's and staid there all night. Nothing
more happened during the night, except that we heard that there was
a man at Dawson's either killed or dangerously wounded. None of
our party was wounded but Sparks. I found a shot in my scalp a day
or two afterwards, but did not know it at the time. Young Sparks
also had a wound on the top of his head which made him very sick
and kept him in the house all night.
We started home in the morning between eight and nine o'clock, I
should think. When we got within about a mile of the road that
turned to Salt creek, which we intended to take, two wagon loads of
men, eight in a wagon, each in a four mule team,, came rushing down
hill, full speed, past us without saying anything. Our horses were
walking at the time going up hill. They drove past a little ways
and stopped. One of them drove back past us, and turned partly
across the road as if to stop us. They then hailed us and asked us
where we came from, and where we were going ; whether we were
free State or pro-slavery. Some one of us answered that it was no
time to answer such questions. We were all the time driving on.
They then jumped out of their wagons and came up towards us, and
we then jumped out of our wagon. Brown called to them and told
them to keep their distance, that we were well armed and could
defend ourselves against them. Our wagon had stopped when we
jumped out of it, and we stood by it. We looked at the top of the
hill and saw a body of horsemen coming, who came down to us and
told us to go up to the top of the hill. We did so, and the other
persons in the two wagons ;%the horsemen went up with us. When
we got up there, there was a cry that they had got Brown sure, and
they made a rush towards our wagon. Captain Martin interfered,
and told them there must be no violence, and that we must be treated
as prisoners. He also told us we must give up our arms. Brown
then stood up in the wagon and told Martin we were ready to give up
our arms if he would treat us as prisoners should be treated, but we
did not want any Kickapoo rangers' treatment. There was a rush
984 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
then made by a man named Gibson, before any reply was made, at a
Mr. Taylor, who had a Sharpens rifle, the only one in our company.
He took away his rifle and passed it over to some one else, and then I
saw Taylor was down and Gibson was on him ; with his hatchet
make a pass at Taylor and knock off his hat, scraping his head very
closely. Some person then interfered to prevent Gribson from hurting
Taylor. Taylor then got up and went away from Gibson, who made
another dash at him, and the person defending Taylor from the
hatchet was severely cut in his hand. He was one of their party,
but I do not know who he was. Martin then went to Brown and
told him he must give up his arms ; that he pommanded that com-
pany, and would assure Brown good usage. Brown gave up his
revolvers and two guns in the wagon. They also took the guns from
the rest of our party. We retained our pocket arms until we got
back part way to Easton, when they also were given up to Martin.
I never heard of those arms again. We were then taken back to
Easton. They said we must go back with them, and they would deal
with us in accordance to how many were killed the previous night.
When we arrived at Easton we were put in Dawson's store, where we
staid some half an hour, when Captain Martin came in and told
Brown he must go with them into the next room, as they wanted to
try him. Brown was then taken and carried into the other room in
Dr. Motter's office. We were left with a body to guard us. A great
many of the other party had got rather excited by liquor, and were in
the room with us, and bought ropes and made nooses, and declared
they would use them to hang us. They made a great many threats
of the like character. They next called on me to go in and be
examined. I went in, and Brown was still there. They had just
commenced to examine me, when the door, which was locked, was
burst open and a crowd rushed in, headed by Gibson. Gibson had
the Sharpe rifle, which he presented to Brown's heart. Brown then
took hold of it and pushed it away from him. Gibson then took his
hatchet and struck Brown a blow on the side of the forehead. There
was a general rush in and out, some coming in and some going out.
A great many, excited by liquor, declared they would kill Brown,
and many rushed out, as I supposed, so that they should not witness
it. I knew I could not help Brown, and I rushed with the crowd that
were going out. Brown had no arms when he was struck with the
hatchet. I did not see Brown fall as soon as the blow was made. I
did not consider it sufficient to knock him down. It was on the left
side, and was rather a gash on the temple. I saw the cut and the
blood. Dr. Hotter, Captain Martin, and others, were in the room
when the rush was made in. I was not there afterwards, and never i
saw Brown afterwards. When Brown was struck he was standing
up and said : "Keep him off!" "Keep him off!" and tried to defend
himself. I went back into Dawson's store. Captain Martin came in
shortly after and told us there was a poor chance for Us, but he would
do all he could for us ; that his men were getting drunk very fast and
he could not control them. He said if we would put our names to a
piece of paper he would give us a chance to escape. He said we had
better start a foot, and he would send the team on after us. We then
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 985
put our names on a piece of blank paper, and Captain Martin said we
had better start and make the best of our way borne. Tbis was about
five o'clock in tbe afternoon, I think. We then left and made the
best of our way home. We had got some two miles when we saw
some six or eight horsemen full chase after us. We went off to the
side of the road and stopped until they passed, and we heard them
say if they caught us again we should not get away so easy . I got
home here, to Leavenworth, between eleven and twelve o'clock that
night.
Crosa-examined by Mr. Oliver :
When we signed that paper some of them, Mr. John Dunn among
them, said he knew the most of us ; that we were generally inclined
to mind our business and stay at home, and he thought Brown was
the leader of this, and other talk to that effect, and then Captain
Martin asked us to sign that blank piece of paper, as I believe, for
the purpose of using it to save us. I think he did all he could to that
effect, and acted, so far as I could see, like a gentleman. Many others
behaved well ; but others had got drunk at the grocery. I was pretty
certain that Gibson and a man called Isaacs were not drunk, and they
were worse than any who were drunk, though there were many of
them .
JOSEPH H. BIRD.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 16, 1856.
HENRY J. ADAMS called and sworn.
I reside in Leavenworth city. I first came here about the first of
July last. I am a native of New York, but came from Washington
city here, and have been engaged in public surveys.
I was at the election of Easton the 17th of January, 1856. It was
an election for State officers under the State constitution of Kansas.
It is in this district and the twelfth election district under the State
apportionment. I went from this city to that election, accompanied
by R. P. Brown, J. C. Greene, Calvin Lucas, and a man by the name
of Robinson, and one by the name of Byrd, whose first names I do
not remember, George Taylor, and a Frenchman employed by Mr.
Brown to drive his team. There were eight of us in the wagon.
After the election was over, a party of men came up from Mr. Daw-
son' s store, about a quarter of a mile east of Mr. Minard's, where the
election was held, I think, twenty-five or thirty in number, for the
purpose of taking the ballot-box or poll-list, as we understood. Some
of our party were out with their guns, drawn up in line near the door
to resist any such attempt. Considerable altercation took place back
and forth, but I do not recollect exactly what was said. Some of our
party were considerably excited and I thought were going rather too
far, and Mr. Minard and I were apprehensive they might fire upon
this party coming up, and we urged them not to do so, to commit no
act of hostility except in self defence. After some parleying, and, I
thought, urging by the leader of the party coming up, to get his men
986 KANSAS AFFAIRS
over, they retired without doing anything. The main body went
back to Mr. Dawson's, three or four of them remaining about halfway
between Minard's and Dawson's, apparently on the watch. Soon after
they retired they sent a messenger up with a written demand, not
signed, but addressed, I think, to Mr. Minard, for the ballot box.
Mr. Minard knew the individual who brought it, and told him he was
surprised to see him in that business, arid to take the message back to
him who sent it and tell him if he* had any message to send him, to
sign it. He went back with it, and shortly afterwards another man
came up with another message of the same import, and with a threat,
I think, to come and take the ballot box in an hour, if it was not de-
livered up. It was signed, I think, by Doctor Hotter. I am not cer-
tain that he signed himself " Doctor," but that is what he is called.
No further attempt was made to take the ballot-box. Two or three
persons from this party came up to Minard's house at different times
during the evening. One man, whose name was said to be McAlier,
I recollect as one of them. Mr. Minard was acquainted with McAlier,
and he talked with him for about an hour, and I thought there would
be no disturbance. Some of our party at two different times went to
Dawson's. No hostility was displayed towards them that I heard of.
I did not go myself, and with several others advised our men not to
go down there for fear something might give rise to disturbance.
About forty of us staid with Mr. Minard, by agreement, for the pur-
pose of assisting him to defend his house, as we were apprehensive it
would be attacked. I was satisfied there would be no further disturb-
ance^ and about one or two o'clock in the night I went to bed. Shortly
after, before I had got asleep, I heard a stir in another room and went
out of mine to see the cause of it. I learned that Mr. Sparks and one
or two of his sons had started to go home, and while going by Mr.
Dawson's house had been captured, and that Mr. Brown and a party
of twelve or fifteen had gone to their rescue. I heard firing a short
time afterwards, and saw the flash of guns and thought there might
have been twenty-five shots consisting of one volley at one time, and
several scattering ^hots before and after. . Shortly after the firing,
Mr. Brown and the party with him returned with Mr. Sparks and his
sons. One of the sons had been slightly wounded in the arm, he said.
No further disturbance arose during the night, and early the next
morning all of our party had dispersed and gone home.
I left about eight or nine o'clock in the morning. When we were
about half way from Easton to Leavenworth, we met two wagons
loaded with men, and one of the wagons was drawn by four animals —
mules, I think. They hailed us to know where we were from, and
wanted us to stop. There was a double track, and Mr. Brown drove
by them without stopping. Shortly after we passed them, we saw
another and a larger party in front of us, two wagons, and about
thirty on horseback. The party in the wagons we already met, ,
shouted to those in front of us, and they answered by a shout, and
then all rode around us and surrounded us. We got out of the wagon, ,
and Mr. Brown said, " I think the time has come," or something like
that, and raised his gun as the party were rushing in upon us, levell-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 987
ing their guns and shouting. I suggested to Mr. Brown not to fire.
I do not know as he had any intention of firing ; but I thought there
was no use in our small party making any resistance. I recognized
Mr. Pierce Kisely, and asked him if he had any authority in that
crowd. He said he had not; that Captain Martin commanded these
men. I asked him to point out Captain Martin to me. He did so.
Martin was near by on a horse, and hearing his name mentioned, he
rode up where we were standing. At this time there was a great
deal of noise and disorder. I asked Captain Martin if he commanded
these men. He said he did. I asked him if he could bring them to
order, and I think he said he could ; and I either asked or insisted
that he should do it; and he made an effort to do so, and, I think,
partially succeeded. When I had done speaking to Martin, I turned
round and saw George Taylor, one of our party, on the ground, and
two or three men were around him, and partially over him, and he
was making an effort to get up. As he got partly up, his head came
in sight, and a man who had a hatchet struck at his head. I have
understood that that man's name was Gibson. I sprung there and
caught the hatchet in time to prevent its hitting Taylor. Some per-
son on the other side of Taylor caught Gibson about the same time,
and pulled him round out of my reach. It was one of his own party,
trying to prevent his killing Taylor, which he seemed bent on doing.
Gibson made a second blow at Taylor's head, and one of his own
party caught the hatchet. He then commenced hacking Taylor's cap
to pieces, which was on the ground. I told Martin to put Taylor
under the protection of some one who would take care of him, as I
thought he was hurt. I told Martin to put Gibson under guard, as
te seemed bent on killing somebody, and I was afraid he would do it.
These me.n were all armed with guns, pistols, some of them with
>owie knives, and a great many with hatchets stuck in their belts,
most of them were hatchets apparently just taken from some
re.
We asked them what they meant by stopping us in that way, and
what they were going to do ? and they said they had understood that
several pro-slavery men had been killed out at Easton ; that there
was a large party of free State men from Lawrence there, and they
were going out to see if it was so, and they were going to hang those
who had killed1 the pro-slavery men. There was a good deal said
about hanging ; I do not remember it all. They said they had
already procured the ropes. They insisted upon our getting into one
wagon and going back to Easton with them. We objected to that,
but were obliged to submit ; and I proposed to Captain Martin that
some of his men should ride in our wagon, and some of our men ride
in his wagon. I was satisfied that there were some men in his party
so excited that I did not consider we would be safe, surrounded by
them, with none of their men with us. Martin consented to that
arrangement. Two of his men rode in our wagon and two of our
len in his. When these men first stopped us they took everything
rat of the wagon, including some five or six guns. Brown's gun was
ken from his own hands, I think, and I saw Gibson take Taylor '&
988 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
gun away from him. They took two blankets from the wagon and a
small carpet satchell, containing some child's clothing, which Mrs.
Brown had left at Minard's some days before. One of our party had
worn his blanket around him, as is customary in this country. As
we were .going back he complained of being cold. I spoke to Martin
about those blankets, and insisted upon their being restored immedi-
ately. He made or professed to make some effort to find them, but
they were not restored. After we had been taken back to Easton,
they put us all in Mr. Dawson's store, and placed as many men in
there to guard us as could well get in, and had a strong guard out-
side. I was there, I think, three quarters of an hour, or an hour.
There was a good deal of threatening, talking of hanging, and while
I was there some two or three who lived in the neighborhood were
brought in prisoners. One of them was one I saw the evening before
at Minard's, and they told him they were going to hang him. They
told us all they were going to hang us ; assured us repeatedly of that,
and showed us the rope they were going to hang us with, and said
they had enough to hang us all with. And while I was in Dawson's
store a man came in, whom I understood was one of the editors of the
Kickapoo Pioneer, and enquired if Brown was in the room, and which
one he was. Brown was pointed out to him, and he levelled a rifle at
him, and asked him if he was responsible for what he had said, o-r
something to that effect. Some one suggested to him that this was
not Brown the editor of the Herald of Freedom. He lowered his gun
then, and made some remark. I am not positive what it was.
They let me go, I think, three-quarters of an hour or an hour after
I was taken there. Something was said about my being a United
States surveyor, and I suppose that was the reason they let me go.
No reason was given why they let me go. One of their party, a Mr.
Sharp, was talking to me in a very excited manner, when a Mr.
Grover whispered something to him ; whereupon Sharp turned round
and apologised to me, and told me he had been under a misapprehen-
sion in regard to me, and I could go if I wished. I at first told him
I would not leave; but, after a little reflection, I concluded it would
be better for me to go, as I might be able- to get some assistance to
get my friends out of their hands. Before I left I saw a Mr. Burn-
ham and a Mr. Lyle, from this place, come into the room where we
were. I asked Mr. Burnham to use his influence with these men for
the protection of the party. I knew he was a pro-slavery man, and
supposed he had influence with them. Burnham promised he would
do what he could for them. I asked Mr. Sharp to go with me and
find Captain Martin, Mr. Kively, and Dr. Harris; I wanted to see
them together before I left. He went with me and we found these
men; I think all three of them. I asked them what they intended to
do with our party. They told me that not one of them should be
harmed, except Brown. I do not remember precisely what they said
they would do to Brown. They left the impression on my mind that
he was in very great danger, and that he would be killed if he was
not got out of their hands. My impression now is, that they avoided
stating distinctly what they would do with him. I learned, either
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 989'
from them or others standing by, that they had sent parties out in
pursuit of Minard and Sparks, and those parties were out when I left.
I understood, I think, from Martin, that they intended to punish
Minard and Sparks as well as Brown. I asked them why they wished
to injure Minard, and they answered that he had made himself ob-
noxious, or odious, in that neighborhood, but they did not state how.
I came away then, after they promised me that they would not harm
any of the rest of the party but Brown; "that not a hair of their
heads should be hurt." I saw none of the rest of the party until
nine or ten o'clock in the evening. I left there about two or three
o'clock. Before I left there I charged them to take certain excitable
individuals out of the room, and put sober men in their places,, if they
wanted to keep from injuring any of the rest of the party. Before I
could get any relief, I heard of the discharge of the others of the
party, and that Brown was taken home mortally wounded.
I do not think I knew any of the first party who came up on the
clay of election and demanded the ballot box. Of the party who took
us prisoners I recognized but two ; one Mr. Rively, of Salt creek, and
Dr. Harris, of Kickapoo. I subsequently learned the names of Mr.
Sharp, Mr. Daniel Grover, and I have understood a member of the
council of this Territory, Captain Martin, captain of the Kickapoo
rangers, Mr. Gibson and Mr. Posey. There was a company from
here who joined the rangers there after we were carried to Easton as
prisoners. Among them was Mr. Bennett Burnham, county sur-
veyor, appointed by the legislature, I believe, and Mr. Lyle, now
clerk of the probate court in this county. I saw a Mr. John Dunn
there, but do not know whether he was with the party who took us or
joined them afterwards. The company of men who took us is ordi-
narily called the Kickapoo Rangers, and at that time, I understand,
was a volunteer company. After that I saw an announcement in the
Kickapoo Pioneer of their organization, and, I understood, regularly
organized under the military law, Captain Martin as captain,, and Mr,
Rively as one of the lieutenants. None of these men have been
arrested that I know of, and none publicly examined for this offence
that I know of. A grand jury has been empanelled here, but I think
the court did not sit for the trial of causes. None of the property
taken from us was returned, except one pistol. Mr. Minard is a man
of a very peaceable and quiet disposition, and I should not consider
him one to cause any trouble in a neighborhood. So far as I know,
Brown was a quiet, peaceable man also ; no fighting man, though a,
resolute one.
HENRY J. ADAMS.
LEA YEN WORTH CITY, K. T., May 15, 1856.
990 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
J. C. GREEN called and sworn.
I reside in this city. I came here the 20th of March, 1855. I was
here in January last, and went over to Easton to an election held on
the 17th of January, 1856. Mr. Adams, Mr. E. P. Brown, Mr.
Bird, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Kohinson, Mr. Taylor, myself, and a French-
man, I think, called Jareau, to drive, joined our party. There were
eight of us who went to Easton together in Mr. Brown's wagon. I
remained in Easton all day. There were various reports that a party
were coming to take the ballot-box. Towards night a party of men
came up within a hundred yards of Mr. Minard' s house, where the elec-
tion was held. They appeared to he generally armed, and were yelling.
A party of men who were at the house stepped out and told them
they must come no further. They then stopped and used a good deal
of abusive language. The one who seemed to be in command of the
party coming up, told them to charge several times, but they did not
do so. After standing there a short time, they turned and went back.
During the evening one or two men from that party came to the house,
and said they wanted the ballot-box. One man came up on horseback,
and brought a note to Mr. Minard, which he read, stating that if we
would wait an hour they would come and take the ballot-box. Mr.
Minard, I think, sent the note back. About one or two o'clock that
night, Mr. Sparks, who was there, and lived some four or five miles from
there, said he would go home, and started off, with one or two of his
sons, and another man named Clark Tritt, I think. They had been
gone but a short time, when Tritt came back, apparently very much
alarmed, stating that the other party had taken Mr. Sparks, and
were going to kill him. As soon as that was known, Mr. Brown,
with some fifteen men, I think, started to rescue Sparks. I did not
go myself. They had been gone not half an hour when we heard
considerable firing in that direction. Brown and his party returned
with Mr. Sparks and his sons, one of whom was slightly wounded.
After breaki'ast in the morning we started for home. After riding
about six miles, we met two wagons filled with men, who told us to
stop. Mr. Brown told the driver to go on, and we passed them ; and
then their two wagons were turned about and followed us. Some of
them jumped out of their wagons, and said they would see if we
would not stop. We then jumped out of our wagon, and Mr. Brown,
I think, told them if they wanted anything to come on. We then
saw in the road in front of us some forty or fifty more men armed, some
with horses and some with wagons. They had stopped at a house near
there. We kept walking along until we came up to them. They
began cursing us, saying that they had got us, and were going to
hang us. Finally, they said we must get into our wagon and go back to
Easton. Some of our party objected to our all getting into our wagon,
and thought it was not safe to do so. They then put some of us in
our wagon, and some in another, and the whole party started with
us towards Easton. While on the way, some one of their party saw
that I had a revolver, and he remarked to me that I had better give
it up. I told him I would give it to the captain of their company, if '
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 991
they had any captain. He said they had, and that his name was Mar-
tin. Presently Martin came along on horseback by the side of the
wagon, and I gave him two revolvers. I had one in a belt, and the
other I had in my pocket. Upon arriving at Eastou, we were taken
into Mr. Dawson's store. Some men were left to guard us in the
house, while others were sent for Mr. Minard. After a while the
party returned, and one of them said that Minard had too good a
horse for them, and they could not catch him, but they thought they
had wounded him, as they had fired at him, and had seen him reel
on his horse. I do not know who said this. The party who took us
prisoners were joined by others at Easton, and this man was one of
the men, but I do not know which of those parties he belonged to.
I heard them express some anxiety with regard to a party they said
had been sent after Mr. Sparks. Some one remarked that there had
been only eight sent, and he did not think eight men could take
Sparks from his neighborhood. We had not been there long before
these men brought in Mr. Tritt, thrusting him into the door, saying,
"Damn you, we have got you now, and we will hang you/' Some
one of their party, who was in the room with us, proposed that they
should buy a rope to hang us all with. They then asked the clerk of
the store if he had any rope there, and he said he had. Presently I
saw one of these men with a piece of new rope wound around his
arm, and a young man by the name of Eli Moore, who lived at this
place at that time, but now, I understand, at Lecompton, came in, and
reviewing most of us, remarked to some of us that they had got us,
and were going to hang us all. About four o'clock, I should think,
some of them came in and told Mr. Brown that he must go with them.
I think previous to this they had released Mr. Adams. I should ^think
we were first put into the store about one or two o'clock. Mr. Brown
hesitated considerably about going out with these men. They in-
sisted upon his going with them, and one man took hold of him. He
finally went with them. Most of the party who had taken us pris-
oners went out with Mr. Brown, and said they were going to try
him. They had been gone half an hour, perhaps, or more, when
Captain Martin came into the room where we were, and said that the
men were determined to kill Brown. He did not think they could
be restrained ; and if they killed Brown they would kill all of us,
unless we were let go there. He then put it to a vote with the^men
who were guarding us, and they all consented to let us go. We went
out with them until we passed the building where Brown was said to
be, and there they left us ; and five of us went to the woods as soon
as we could, the Frenchman remaining there with the team of Brown.
We had been in the woods some twenty minutes,, when we heard
these men going -along the road with their- wagons and horses to-
wards Kickapoo. It was then a little dark. Of those who went with
Brown to rescue Sparks, I recollect George Taylor, Joseph Byrd, and
Calvin Lucas, I think. The others I do not recollect.
Of those who tool* us prisoners, I recognised Mr. D. A. N. Grover,
[r. Ptively, John Dunn, and a man they called Gibson, another they
tiled Blake, I think, Dr. Harris, and Mr. Berry. Of those who
>ined the party at Easton, I recognised D. J. Johnson, J. M. Lyle,
992 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Bennett Burnhain, Mr. Shockley, Mr. McAlear, Eli Moore, James
Rich, a young man by the name of Donner, I think — they called him
Major Donner — and Mr. Alexander Russell, a justice of the peace
there, and appointed by the territorial legislature. I do not now re-
member any others.
I saw Gibson have a hatchet when we were taken prisoners, and
also after we had been taken to Easton. Many of the men on horse-
back had small hatchets — I should think ordinary lath hatchets —
which appeared to be new. As we were in the store before we were
discharged, I heard many of the men say that Brown should never
get away from Easton alive. One man came into the store and said
that Brown had as many friends in the room where they were trying
him as he had enemies, and he would be damned if Brown should
get away from there alive. Some one said that Brown ought not to
be killed, but ought to be given up to the law. Some one then said
they would be damned if Brown should get away alive. Some among
these men appeared to be anxious to have no one killed. As we came
out of the store, where we were discharged, I heard considerable
noise in the adjoining building, where Brown was said to be. Some
one outside objected to our going away. Mr. Burnham, who was
with me, told them that it was all right.
Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver :
I have not said that Mr. Sparks was taken prisoner, but that I
heard so. I do not know that Mr. Tritt, who belonged to our party,
and who said that Sparks was taken prisoner, was with us with any
message. All I know about Sparks' being taken prisoner was from
Tritt and Sparks, both of whom were of our party.
I was present when Brown's party started to rescue Sparks. They
were armed with rifles,, most of them, and some, I presume, had re-
volvers ; but I do not know that they had any other weapons. I was
not with that company. I should think there were about fifteen of
them when they started from Mr. Minard's house. I do not know
how many they had when they reached the place where Sparks was
held. It was about a quarter of a mile to the grocery where Sparks
was said to be — perhaps half a mile. The party said they were going
down to rescue Mr. Sparks — I supposed in any way they could, and
at all hazards. I do not know how many persons had Sparks in
charge. They brought Mr. Sparks back with them. I do not know
that any of the opposite or pro-slavery party attempted to vote at Eas-
ton. I do not remember that any of the free-State party said any-
thing about the pro-slavery party attempting or offering to vote. I
do not remember of any of the pro-slavery party offering to vote that
day, and being prevented by the free-State party. I should judge
there were about seventy free-State men at that election, many of them
armed with rifles and revolvers, and perhaps some of them with small
pistols and bowie-knives. I do not think any of them had hatchets.
I did not see any. I should presume that half <ff them were armed,
but I think not with rifles. I saw many there who did not appear to
have arms. I think likely one- half of them had arms in sight. The
election was for members of the legislature and officers of the State
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 993
government and a representative to Congress. I think about seventy
votes were cast that day. I do not know of any pro-slavery men
having voted. I am satisfied no objection would have been made if
any pro-slavery man had attempted to vote. That election was held
upon the ground that the people of Kansas had adopted a State con-
stitution which had been framed at Topeka ; and believing that that
constitution had been adopted by the people, they were voting for
State officers under it, and also in accordance with the proclamation
issued by the executive committee. I understood that James H. Lane,
Cyrus K. Holliday, J. K. Goodwin, G. W. Brown, G. W. Smith, and
Marcus J. Parrott, were on that committee. Dr. Charles Robinson,
I think, was treasurer of the committee, though he may have been a
member of the committee. I think Governor Reeder had nothing to
do with that committee.
Question. Was not that election held upon the alleged ground,
among other reasons, that the laws passed by the Kansas legislature,
held at Shawnee Mission, were null and void, and to which no alle-
giance was owed ?
Answer. I cannot say that it was held upon those grounds. I un-
derstood it to be held upon the ground that the people of Kansas had
a right to frame and adopt a State government whenever they pleased,
and that even if the territorial laws were valid, yet the people ot Kan-
sas had a right to vote under a constitution framed by themselves, the
election being held by order of the executive committee, and under
the State constitution formed at Topeka.
Question. From whence did you claim to derive the authority to
frame this constituflon ?
Answer. We claimed to derive it from the organic act, and from
the fact that the people had a right to irame their own institutions to
suit themselves. |
Question. Was not the ground assumed by your party that the laws
of the legislature held at Shawnee Mission, convened under the procla-
mation of Governor Reeder at Pawnee at first, were null and void?
Answer. That was the ground assumed, perhaps, by a majority of
the party.
Question. Did Governor Robinson assume that ground?
Answer. I do not know that I ever heard him, or Governor Reeder,
say anything about that.
Question. What is your ground on the subject?
Answer. My ground has been, that I did regard those enactments
as really legal; but still I have always obeyed them when summoned
before the court, as I was once as a witness. My opinion was, and is,
that those laws are null and void.
I understood the captain to say that they had determined to kill
Brown, and I understood him to refer to some of his men, and to all
who were then in the room with Brown. I got the idea that Martin
did not want Brown killed. The free-State party took their arms
with them to defend the ballot-box, because it had been taken from
them at an election in this city ; and they had understood that it
would be taken away, or an attempt made to do so, at any place in
this county. The ballot-box was taken in this city. I think, on the
H. Rep. 200 63*
994 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
15th of December 3 1855, at an election upon adopting the free-State
constitution. I saw a man (Charles Dunn) go into the room where
the ballot-box was, and come out with it. It was the intention of the
free-State party at the election at Easton to resist any mob trying to
take the ballot-box, or break up the election. I do not remember that
anything was said that day about the election being against the ter-
ritorial laws. I never understood that the governor or the territorial
authorities would interfere with that election, and we did not expect
any such thing. I have heard a good many free-State men say that
the territorial laws were null and void, because they were passed by a
legislature imposed upon them by foreign votes ; but others thought
it better to get along with them the best they could. I think most
all I have heard speak of it said they thought the laws were null and
void ; but some would try and get along with them the best they
could. I think the most of the free-State party think they owe no
allegiance to those laws, and if they obey them, it is to preserve peace
and have no difficulty. I have heard men of our party express con-
tempt for these laws, and have heard them say they were not valid,
and have heard them also say, that even if they were valid, they had
the right to make a State government for themselves. I think because
the free-State party regarded those laws as oppressive, as well as null
and void, perhaps they proceeded with the State organization leading
to this election.
I think the people of Kansas counselled this election. I do not
really know who were the leaders in this movement. I have heard
J. B. Chapman, of Kansapolis, (Whitfield City formerly,) say he was
the first man who proposed it. He holds no office under the State
government. I have had considerable conversation with Dr. Kobin-
son, but I do not recollect that there was anything said particularly
in regard to that matter. His views were, that the people of Kansas
had a right to form a State government, and quoted the example of
Michigan, Arkansas, and California. I cannot say that he ever said
anything to me in regard to the validity of the laws of this Territory.
I may have heard him say something about them, but I do not recol-
lect what he said. I have heard him refer to the bogus legislature in
contradistinction to other legislatures, but I cannot state what he said.
I think, from his calling the legislature at Shawnee a bogus legis-
lature, that he regarded their laws null and void.
[Mr. Howard objects to this testimony in relation to the elections
being taken in this connexion, as the whole course of the committee
has been to take the testimony upon different subjects, in different
depositions ; and also that it is not strictly a cross-examination ; and
claiming the witness as his witness in chief in this examination, in
reference to the death of Brown.
Mr. Oliver states that he has not understood any such course as
having been followed by the committee ; that he did not appear as
an attorney, but as a member of this committee, and therefore
not to be restricted to rules of cross-examination, as would apply to*
party and party ; and that this having nothing to do with the con-
tested election between Eeeder and Whitfield, and neither of these
gentlemen, nor their attorneys, being present, nor any person repre-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 995
senting any party of people in this Territory, he insists that he has
the right to ask any question of the witness touching the troubles in
this Territory, whether they bear immediately or mediately upon
them ; and further, that it does not lie with the majority of this com-
mittee to restrain him in that examination.
Mr. Sherman understood the rule under which the committee have
heretofore acted to be this : that in-all public matters relating to elec-
tions their examinations should be with open doors ; in all matters
where individuals are charged with crime, and especially with homi-
cide, the examination should be in secret. This rule was adopted by
general consent. This witness was called during a recent session to
testify as to facts connected with the homicide of Brown, and there-
fore, he thinks, that, according to the rule, the question of the validity
of the laws of the Territorial legislature ought not to be examined
into in secret session, but that the testimony will be competent and
proper at another time, and with open doors. It has also been the
practice of the committee to keep each subject by itself; and where a
witness is examined on two distinct matters, his testimony is separated,
and each part signed ; and Mr. Sherman thinks that this rule ought
to be adhered to, and that this subject ought to be embraced in a sep-
arate deposition; but as it has proceeded thus far, as a part of the ex-
amination of this witness, touching the homicide of Brown, it may
as well be completed.
Mr. Howard thinks the examination in this connexion about the
election of the free-State party as irregular at present, though not in-
competent as a separate deposition, that being the rule heretofore fol-
lowed by the committee.]
Examination resumed by Mr. Oliver, who did not claim to be
strictly cross-examining.
Witness. I do not think I ever conversed with Governor Keeder
about this matter. I had an introduction to him about a year ago,
but had not much acquaintance with him until he was at this city,
about a month ago.
I think at Easton, while we were prisoners there, I heard two or
three different individuals remark that they did not want any fight-
ing, or any injury done to any one, but I did not know who said so.
I was at the election in Easton the day before, and voted there. I
voted for Charles Eobinson for governor, N. Y. Roberts for lieutenant-
governor, Colonel Mark W. Delaha for member to Congress. I ar-
rived at the place of election at 10 or 11 o'clock on the 17th of Jan-
uary, and remained there through the night, until perhaps 8 or 9
o'clock the next day. I think I saw one or two individuals, free-State
men, drink from a bottle that would hold about a pint, that they had
in a wagon near the house. I saw some that I thought were under
the influence of ardent spirits, as I saw some persons drink there. I
saw Mr. Brown, the deceased, drink out of the bottle I have referred
to, but I do not know as I could state that I saw any body else drink.
This was about 9 or 10 o'clock at night. I told Mr. Brown that I
thought he was a little intoxicated, and he said he was not. I should
think it was one or two o'clock in the morning that Brown and his
party went down to rescue Sparks. I think he had been asleep that
996 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
night, but I do not know certainly about that. I was up when they
started, but did not go with them. There was a call for all who had
guns to go, and I did not consider myself called upon to go, as I had
no guns. I had two revolvers, but there were other reasons why some
of us did not go. I should think about fifteen went. I noticed them
first particularly ; they were on loot, and were armed with their guns,
and some had revolvers and knives, and one or two young men had
small pistols. The understanding when they left was that they were
going to rescue Sparks, Sparks had left, some fifteen minutes or half
an hour before they started for him, for home. I think two of Mr.
Sparks' s sons and Mr. Tritt went with Sparks, when he left. I think
Mr. Sparks had a double-barrelled gun, but I do not think the rest
were armed, though I am not positive about that. I do not know-
that any of the pro-slavery party were up there before the election
was over, but two came up after the election was over. I think there
was no interruption by the pro-slavery party to the election while it
was going on, except what I have stated about a party having come
up near the polls, about thirty or forty in number, and their officer
ordered them to charge, when some of our party went out, but they
did not do so.
To Mr. Sherman :
The election was not held here, in Leavenworth city, because the
business men of this place were afraid if it was held here it would
result in bloodshed and the destruction of property, and that was the
general impression. It was feared that it would result in a general
riot. It was expected by the citizens that the opposing force would
consist of citizens of this town and from Missouri.
To Mr. Oliver :
I cannot say that I know of any Missourians who threatened to in-
terfere with this election.
J. C. GREEN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 16, 1856.
DAVID BROWN called and sworn.
I came into the Territory about the middle of September, 1854. I
am no relation to Mr. R. P. Brown. I lived about three miles north-
west from here, in Salt Creek valley. R. P. Brown lived upon a
claim west of me, adjoining mine, some 600 yards from where I lived,
upon another man's claim of the name of McCrea, and lived in the
cabm of McCrea. I understood there was some partnership in regard
to the living on the claim. Mr. Brown had a wife, and a little girl
some two and a half years old, living with him. I was at the house
some three or four hours after Brown was brought home. I was the
first man who was sent for. About 12 o'clock at night a messenger
came to me to come to this place to get a doctor. I did not get any
one to go out, but spoke to one, who promised to come. The one who
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 997
brought me tlie message was a Frenchman, named Charles Jareau, I
think a teamster for Brown. I got back to Brown's house about 3
o'clock, and found him in a dying condition, lying upon a pallet on
the floor, his clothes literally covered with blood. I sat down, took
his head upon my lap, and examined the wound. I asked him how he
was ; he said he was dying, but should die in a good cause. I com-
menced opening his vest to ascertain if there were any further wounds
in his body, and he told me they were all in his head. I opened his
vest, but found no other wound. He raised apparently from one side
as if he wanted to turn over to the other side, and exclaimed, Ci I am
dying ;" and immediately died, with his head upon my lap. When I
was unbuttoning his vest, Mrs. McCrea, of the house, handed me some
warm drink to offer him, but I discovered he was too far gone, and
returned it to them. The man who was present stated that they had
been giving him some warm drinks at the grocery before they brought
him home. This man's name was Charles Dunn, and he was captain
of one of the companies out there in the affair. He insisted on my
offering it to Brown, but I refused. After Brown died, I proceeded te
superintend the burial, changing the clothes, getting a coffin, &c.
He was buried on Sunday, the 20th of January. Dunn told me that
he had befriended Brown, notwithstanding they had been personal
enemies, and had brought him home from Easton, where the affray took
place. He said when he first discovered Brown he had received this
wound ; and after receiving the wound,, Brown had made his escape,
fled to the woods, and had been caught and brought back ; an<j Dunn
had been instrumental in keeping them there from shooting or hang-
ing Brown, as some wanted to do.
Dunn showed me a fresh wound he had received on his hand, he
said, while doing this, in shielding off a gun, to prevent a man from
shooting Brown. Dunn was at that time very much intoxicated.
After Brown died, Dunn promised to come back immediately, but he
did not. I saw nothing ol him until about 11 o'clock the next day.
He lives about a mile from where Brown lived.
The wound on Brown's head was on the left side of the head, cut-
ting the inside of the left ear, and extending perhaps two inches long
to the left temple, cutting off a lock of hair. His body was taken up
about a week after he was buried, when his brother came on here, and
was examined by three physicians of this place. I helped to take the
body up, and saw the physicians examine the wound, and run the
middle finger of their hands into the skull the whole length of the
finger.
I have never known of the public examination of any of the men
engaged in this matter, or of any attempt to arrest any of those men.
After Brown died, his wife and child came to my house and lived vith
me until about the first of April, when I saw her on a steamboat and
start on her way home to Michigan. Mrs. McCrea lived with me.
during the same time, and left with Mrs. Brown. After Brown was
killed, Mrs. McCrea sold her claim.
I was at the election at Easton on the 17th of January, 1856 ; and
on my way there I was stopped by the Kickapoo Rangers, who de-
manded where I was going and where my business was. I declined
998 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
for a time to tell them. They insisted, and I told them one portion
of my business, which was to go and see a Mr. Dawson, a pro-slavery
man, to get some money he owed me. That did not seem to satisfy
them altogether, and they asked me if I was going to the election to
vote. I told them I thought probably I would go to the polls. I said
I did not know whether I should vote or not. Two of them, who
seemed to be the most forward of them, separated — one taking my
horse by the bridle, and the other went back in the grocery where I was
stopped, some two miles this side of Easton, where these Rangers were
stationed. The one who went to the grocery was named McAleary,
and the other was named Hubbard. Hubbard flourished a little pistol
around, which he said sometimes silenced abolitionists. Mr. Mc-
Aleary, after he returned from the grocery, told me I could pass on,
and I did so, and went to the election after having collected the money
of Mr. Dawson, and then returned back and stopped with the Kickapoo
Hangers, voluntarily, at the grocery. They inquired if I had been to
the election. I told them I had. They asked me who were sitting as
judges of the election. I told them I did not know them. They said
they were going up to take the ballot-box. I told them they had not
force enough to do that ; that, in the first place, there was no ballot-
box ; that the voting was done in a man's hat. They said they would
go and take the hat. I said they could not do that, for there were
about sixty men there who I believeci wer6 able to and would defend
the ballot-box. I then left them and went home. This McAleary
did most of the talking with me. I did not know this Hubbard, and
may have mistaken his name. I did not see Dunn that day. I
should think this company of Kickapoo Rangers consisted of about
twenty-five when I was stopped going out. When I came back, I
should think there were only twelve or fifteen of them. On my return
some of them appeared to be intoxicated, but none, I think, when I
went out.
After Brown died, I came to town to get a shroud and a coffin made,
and on my way back I met this Dunn coming towards the town.
Just after I got back to where Brown's body was, a man who was
working for Merrill Smith came in, and said that a Mr. Harvey had
sent him to forbid me or any one else touching the body till a cor-
oner's inquest could be held over it. I therefore left him until that
night at candle-lighting, when the same messenger came back and
told me Mr. Harvey had declined acting in the matter, as he could
not get enough to come with him. I then helped to dress the bodyp
and it was buried the next day.
To Mr. Howard :
I came from East Tennessee to Minnesota Territory, and then here.
DAYID BROWN.
LEAVENWORTH' CITY, K. T., May 15, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 999
M. P. RIVELY called and sworn.
I reside at Salt creek, three miles west of this place, and keep store
there. I was near Easton on the 18th of January, 1856. I first saw
Mr. R. P. Brown near Easton on that day, with a numher of men with
him, whose names I do not recollect. He was walking, hut I do not
recollect whether hy his wagon or not. As that was some time ago,
I do not recollect much that took place ; not much took place while I
was there. Some men had him, hut I don't know whether they were
Kickapoo Rangers or not. They had him at Easton, after they took
him in Dawson's store, where they kept him. I thought I would he
brought up here to testify in relation to the elections, and not in re-
fard to any little difficulties that have occurred in the Territory. I
id not come up here to give any testimony about anything but elec-
tions.
SMr. Howard stated to the witness the object of the examination,
read to him the authority given to the committee by the House of
Representatives.]
By Mr. Sherman :
Q. Will true answers to questions as to what was done that day by
the persons you have spoken of to R. P. Brown, tend to criminate you
personally ?
A. Upon due reflection, I think they might in some slight degree.
By Mr. Howard :
Q. What persons were there of Mr. Brown's party?
A. I am acquainted with but one of them — a Mr. Adams, I think, a
surveyor. The rest I do not know, and don't think I should know
any of them now, except a Mr. Green. There were some six others, I
think, besides tho'se two.
Q. Did you see Brown's party before they got to Easton?
A. I saw his party, and suppose Brown was with them, though I
did not see him, some five or six miles this side of Easton.
They had a wagon with them, but I do not know whether they had
just got out of it or not. A Frenchman named Jareau, I think, was
driving. When the wagons met, I think there were of our party a
man named Capt. John W. Martin, of Kickapoo ; a Mr. G-ibson, who,
I think, lived at Kickapoo at that time, but I don't know where he
lives now, though I have seen him at Kickapoo and at Weston within
the last three weeks. Charles Dunn was not with us when the two
parties met, but joined us at Easton in the afternoon. A Mr. D. A.
N. Grrover, now member of the council, and brother to the district at-
torney, was there. Mr. Sharp was there from Kickapoo. Dr. Harris,
from near Kickapoo,, was there. Mr. Adkins was there ; I do not know
his first name, nor where he lives. I think that is about all I can re-
collect. I should think there were about twelve or fifteen of our party.
I think Brown's party consisted of from seven to nine. I think all
our party were on horseback, but I do not recollect of their having a
wagon, though they may have had. I do not recollect of any other
1000 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
wagons there but Brown's, and if there had been I think I should
have recollected it. There may have been, but I do not now recollect
of any other wagons there but Brown's. Brown's party had guns and
revolvers with them, but I do not know that all had. Our party took
them prisoners, and made them go back to Easton with us. I think
they did not make any resistance to going back, though they did not
seem to like it. In going back they rode in their wagon part of the way
and part of the way they walked. I was on horseback, part of the time
ahead and part behind. I think they were put in Dawson's store when
we got to Easton. We got there, I think, about two o'clock in the after-
noon ; it might have been before noon. I kept along near them
all the time going there. We did not let them all go at one time ; most
of them went off, I think, near about four o'clock. We had no war-
rant to stop these men. We heard that Mr. Brown, with a number of
others, had been out holding an illegal election at Easton ; that there
had been some misunderstanding between Brown and his party and
some gentlemen who lived at Easton, and that Mr. Brown was the
leader- of the party who fired upon those gentlemen, killing a gentle-
man by the name of Cook, a pro-slavery man, a resident of the Terri-
tory. We then determined to take back this party, and see whether
they had fired upon the gentlemen at Easton, and whether Mr. Cook
had been shot. They went back with us, and we ascertained that
there had been a fight, and that they had shot at a party of pro-slavery
men with guns and pistols, and had shot Mr. Cook. Mr. Cook was
an old settler, so I understand ; a man of family, and a very clever
man. He subsequently died. When we got there, Mr. Cook was ly-
ing in Mr. Dawson's house, groaning, as I heard him do, but I did
not see him. The citizens were very much exasperated, and it is not
to be wondered at that they should retaliate ; I fully expected they
would. The prisoners were questioned, and all let go home, but Mr.
Brown. It was proven that Mr. Brown was the leader of the band
who had made the attack the night before, and shot several rounds at
the gentlemen of Easton. Brown did not deny it. They then con-
sidered what should be done with Brown, but did not agree upon any-
thing. All considered him guilty of a very bad act, in heading the
mob and first firing upon the citizens at Easton. Some did not wish
to punish, as he was in the power of a dozen or more men by himself,
though they thought he had acted badly. He was then taken out of
the store by some one, I do not recollect whom ; and it was proposed
by some person, I do not recollet whom, that Brown and Gibson
should fight, which they did. Brown fought, and Gibson knocked
him down with his fist ; that I saw. While he was down, Brown
hallooed " Enough." He then got up, and I led him to the wagon
and put him in it, and he went home in the wagon. That is all I re-
collect of it. I went off in advance of the wagon, and the next day I
heard Brown was dying* I did not see the fight between Brown and
Gibson when it commenced. I saw Gibson knock him down, and saw
Brown strike at him. I did not see Gibson use any weapon at that time,
though I saw Gibson have a hatchet as we were going out there that
day. I did not see him have a hatchet at the time of the fight. I do
not know that Brown was bleeding when I helped him in the wagon,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1001
for it was about dusk. Mr. Charles Dunn helped me to lead Brown
to the wagon, and Brown got in himself. I was not at Easton on the
day of this illegal election. I did not see either Brown or Gibson, at
the time of the fight, have any weapon. It was about dusk, and I
should probably not have seen the weapons if they had had any.
The fight took place near the store, but no ring was formed. I do not
know how large the party of Easton men was that Brown had fired
on the day before. I do not know that any of Brown's party was
wounded. The pro-slavery men were taking no part in the election.
I heard that they were at Mr. Dawson's store, and Brown and his
party came down there to attack them. I do not recollect of hearing,
the day Brown was hurt, that the pro-slavery men of Easton had de-
manded the ballot-box the day before. The pro-slavery party that
Brown's party fired at were represented as being much smaller than
the other.
When our party met Brown's party, before we went back to Eas-
ton, I recollect of seeing Gibson strike at a young man with a hatchet.
I think the young man was on his feet running from Gibson, and I
saw Captain Martin take hold of Gibson to hold him. This young
man had no gun at that time. I do not know what became of the
arms of Brown's party, and do not recollect what was said about or
done with them when we took them. These prisoners did not have
their arras when they were in Dawson's store, and I do not know
what had become of them.
Dr. Harris, of Kickapoo, came over here and said they had been
killing some of our men at Easton, and wanted us to. go and see if it
was so. I do not know whether our party was armed. I had none
myself. I do not recollect of seeing any one with a hatchet but Gib-
son. Gibson might have struck Brown with a hatchet, and I not
have seen it. I did not look on all the time. The fight did not last
more than a minute or two. I did not see Gibson knock Brown down
more than once. I saw no rope put around Brown's neck, though I
heard some threats. I heard there at Easton that Brown's party had
come down from Minard's, where the election was held, and had chal-
lenged the pro-slavery men of Easton to fight ; had used insulting
language, and that had incensed the pro-slavery men. I did not hear
that the pro-slavery party had taken any free-State man prisoner just
before the fight, or that Brown had come to rescue any one :but I
heard that he had come there simply to fight. I heard nothing about
a free-State man named Sparks being captured by the pro-slavery par-
ty. I do not know, of my own knowledge, that the grand jury has
made any inquiry into this matter, or have ever attempted to inquire
into this fracas. I have been a member of the grand jury since that
time, and nothing was said about it then, and no one ever came be-
fore the grand jury to make any complaints that I know of. Easton
is in this county. I did not know Brown before that day ; but I had
seen Gibson once or twice. So far as my recollection goes, I do not
think there were more than twelve or fifteen in our party that day.
There may have been a wagon in our party that day, but I don't re-
collect about it. I am confident there were not four wagons in our
party. Brown's party had been stopped by some gentlemen ahead of
1002 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
us, and "behind them as we came up. Gibson was of that party, but
I do not recollect whether he was on horseback or on foot. So far as
I recollect, there were not three wagons in our party ; but I am not so
confident as I was about there not being four, though I have no idea
that there was that many in our party,, and I do not recollect our hav-
ing any four-horse or mule team. I am not positive that there were
not twenty men in our party. There may have been more than
twelve or fifteen, but that is as near as I can recollect. I would not
like to say, upon my oath, there were not thirty ; but my impression is
that there were not. Mr. Sharp, who was with us at Easton, was on
the grand jury when I was. There might have been others of our
party on that day on the grand jury, but I recollect of none but Sharp
and myself. Deputy Marshal McMeekin summoned us to serve on the
grand jury. I am not sure he was not at Easton that day. He lives
in this city. I do not recollect whether the judges of the illegal elec-
tion on the 17th of January last have been indicted or not. There
has been some inquiry, I believe. There have been indictments
found against those who acted as judges on the election of the adop-
tion of the State constitution. I know our utmost endeavors were made
to find out who acted as judges and clerks on the 17th of January last,
and at all the bogus elections held by the abolitionists here ; but I do
not recollect whether or not their names have ever been found out.
We were very anxious to find them out;, as we thought they acted
illegally. I am from Philadelphia to this Territory, and came out'
here in April, 1852. I do not know of any indictments having been
found against persons for political offences.
They killed one of the pro-slavery men, and the pro-slavery mem
killed one of the others, and I thought it was about mutual. I ami
opposed to all these quarrels.
M, P. EIYELY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 15, 1856.
GEORGE A. TAYLOR called and sworn.
I was at Easton at the election of the 17th of January, 1856. 1
went up with Mr. Brown. A Mr. Sparks had been at the election!
that day. After the election was over, I heard that he had been
stopped and taken prisoner, while on his way home, by a company at
Dawson's store. When we heard that, some twenty of us started on
foot, and went down and found Mr. Sparks surrounded by the conn
pany, down a lane a little to the right of Mr. Dawson's store. Whem
I first saw Mr. Sparks he was standing near a fence, and had a double--
barrelled gun with him, and the others were standing around him
Some one of our party asked if Mr. Sparks was there, and it was an
swered that he was. Mr. Brown, I believe, said that we had come
down after him, and wanted him delivered up. They said Mr. Sparks
could go, as they did not wish to detain him there. Mr. Sparks then
came over and joined us, as we were all mixed up together in a crowd.1
We then separated, and after we had got about one hundred yardtf
from that party, with Mr. Sparks with us, there was a shot from the
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1003
other side, which I thought was fired at us. "We immediately returned
the fire, and it was kept up on both sides for perhaps fifteen minutes.
One of our men was wounded. As soon as the firing stopped we all
returned to Mr. Minard's. When we got to the house, we found that
one of Mr. Sparks's sons was wounded, a ball having broken the skin
on the top of his head so as to draw blood. We remained at Minard's
till the next morning at sunrise without any more trouble. Most of
the free- State men had gone home at that time;
Mr. Brown and his party, eight in all, including the driver, then
started to return to Leavenworth. We had got about a mile from
where the Kickapoo road joins the Fort Kearney road, where we saw
two wagon loads of about fifteen men. When we got up against them
they asked us if we were free-State or pro-slavery. There was no an-
swer made to that. They ordered us to halt, and we drove directly
along without saying a word. After we got about twenty-five yards,
there were two rifles pointed at us from the two wagons we had just
passed. A part of our party, all but the driver, then got out of our
wagon and walked along by the side of it. We went on very slowly,
and one man came on foot and passed us, with a revolver in each hand,
and joined the other party.
When we got to the top of a knoll, we saw another party — I should
think of a hundred men — who were at a double log-house. We walked
on up the road to where they were. Directly one of them came to me
and told me he wanted my rifle. I gave it to him. I was standing
among the crowd about five minutes, and the man who took my rifle
came up to me and knocked me down, and several hit me while I was
down. He caught hold of my hair, and when I raised up I saw him
trying to hit me with a hatchet. I raised up and pulled away from
him. I dodged about then for some time, and he followed me with
his hatchet. Some one caught him and held him, so as to prevent his
hitting me. In the mean time the horses had started, and some one
fired a revolver at the driver. The horses were then turned around,
and we were put in our wagon — two pro-slavery men exchanging places
with two of our party — and we were taken back to Dawson's store
and kept there. I was let off about three hours after Mr. Adams left.
There was a man there who said his name was Sharp, who came into
the store and told Mr. Brown that they wanted him to come out. Mr.
Brown then went out with them, and that was the last time I saw
him. After Mr. Brown went out, they came in for Mr. Bird, and he
went out and came back directly. We were all discharged about
three-quarters of an hour after Mr. Brown was called — a little after
sunset. As we came out, we saw a crowd very near the door gath-
ered around some one, I understood to be Mr. Brown, some crying
out, "kill him/' and others saying they had better not. I should
think there were at least 125 men, consisting of those who took us,
and others, from Leavenworth. Those who took us called themselves
the Kickapoo Eangers. Of those I saw there, I knew Mr. Burnham,
of this city, and a Major Donner, I think they called him.
These men were all armed with rifles, double-barrelled shot-guns,
•epu nearly all with revolvers and knives. While we were kept in the
•eseiosq. prisoners, I heard men say that Brown should never go away
1004 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
alive ; and others, that they had rather not kill him. They appeared
to be angry with him because he was the leader of our party. They
complained of his being at the election, and the leader of the party
who came down the night before to rescue Mr. Sparks. I heard no
demand made for the poll-books. There was a party came up about
sundown, but I do not know what they came for. I have never seen
iny rifle since it was taken from me. It is fourteen miles, I think,
from here to Easton. Mr. Sparks, I think, lives in the neighborhood
of Easton. I do not know his full name.
GEORGE A. TAYLOR.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 15, 1856.
DR. JAMES DAVIS called and sworn.
I came to this place about the 4th of April, 1855, and have resided
here ever since. I was here last winter, and attended the post mortem
examination of Mr. R. P. Brown, when he was taken up from hisrt
frave for that purpose, in February or March last. His brother cameq
ere and requested that this examination should be made. Whenj
the body was taken up, I took particular pains to examine the wound.
It was in the left temple, severing the temporal bone to the length of
about two and a half inches. I judge that the wound was made with
one blow of a hatchet or tomahawk, or some weapon of that kind. The
temporal bone was opened sufficiently to admit my finger anywhere
along it for two inches. I ran my fore-finger into the wound up to
its second joint. I have no doubt it was a mortal wound. Dr. Few
and Dr. Park, of this city, were also present at the examination. I
am a physician,, and have been a practising physician for about twenty-
seven years.
JAMES DAVIS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 16, 1856.
Dr. J. Gr. PARK called and sworn.
I came to this city in May, 1855, and have resided here ever since.i
I attended a post mortem examination of Mr. R. P. Brown, when his'
body was taken up from his grave — I think in March, 1856. We'
discovered but one wound upon his person, except a slight flesh wound
over the left eyebrow, though we did not examine particularly — only]
what appeared externally. We found a wound on the left temple,
about a line from the outer end of the socket of the eye, and running:
towards the ear, and about an inch and a half or two inches long, so<
far as I can now recollect. I ran my finger through the squamousi
portion of the temporal bone, which is the thinnest part of the skull
bone. The opening into the skull was sufficiently large to admit myl
fore-finger, which I ran into the brain. Fragments or pieces of bone<|
were sticking on the inside into the brain, no doubt forced in by the'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1005
instrument with which the "blow was inflicted. So far as the flesh
was concerned, I should think the wound was made by a sharp-edged
instrument, and the bone seemed to he broken in wider than it was
cut. From the appearance of the wound and the appearance of the
hone, it would seem to have been made by a hatchet, and the blow
must have been struck from behind, or when the head was inclined
downwards. The wound could have been made by a tomahawk or
lath-hatchet. The wound was one that must have produced death,
and the only wonder is that the person should have lived so long after
he received it.
I have been a practising physician for ten years past. This exami-
nation was made some weeks after Brown's death. He was buried irf
the coldest weather we had. There was no decay in the body, except
that we could rub up the outer cuticle of the skin with our fingers ;
but the body was in sufficient state of preservation to allow us to
make a satisfactory examination.
J. G. PARK.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May H, 1856.
SAMUEL F, FEW called and sworn.
I have been a practising physician for five, and a consulting phy-
sician at the Hot and Warm Springs, Virginia, for nearly three years.
I now reside near Leaven worth city, and have been residing there
since 1854. I was called upon to examine the body of Mr. R. P.
Brown on a Sunday, on an intensely cold day. On account of the
cold I rather declined going, but promised, if the parties would bring
the body near by my cabin, I would examine it, in connexion with
any other physician they would call. They tried to make the arrange-
ment, but they failed to do so, and they took it to the graveyard and
buried it. Some time after that I was introduced to a gentleman of the
name of Brown, who asked me to accompany Drs. Park and Davis, of
this town, to examine the body of his brother. I went up to the grave a
little before they had exhumed the body . After they had taken it up,
I think I examined the body first. There was no decomposition.
The body had been frozen stiff, and was about thawing then. I
examined only the head, where I found two wounds : one was a
sharp cut, a mere flesh wound, that would have done no harm, over
one of the eyebrows ; another was upon the left temple. From what
I had heard, I had expected to find only a depression or a fracture of
the skull pressing upon the brain ; but on opening the lips of the
wound to examine it, I introduced my fore-finger, its full length, to
the base of the brain ; I also ran it in front and in rear of the brain,
and up and down. I found lying upon the brain the soft portion of
the temporal bone. I tried to pull it out with my finger, and could
not do it ; and then I introduced two fingers into the cavity at the
same time. I did not get the bone out, because I could not manage
y two fingers. I did not know Mr. Brown ; I may have seen him.
mj
1006 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
This wound was caused by a sharp instrument. A hatchet could havi
caused such a wound, and was necessarily mortal.
SAMUEL F. FEE.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 17, 1856.
NICK SMITH called and sworn.
I reside in Leavenworth city. I am acquainted with Eli Moore
he is now a deputy marshal or deputy sheriff of this county, and
.have seen him engaged in the public service of writs, processes, &c
I was in the office of Mr. D. J. Johnson, an attorney in this city, whe3
Captain Dunn and Eli Moore were present. This, I think, was abou
a month ago, perhaps more or less. There were several other gentk
men present. The conversation turned upon the murder of Brown
last January. I observed that I had heard that Brown had bee;
treated very brutally and outrageously by the members of the com
pany who took him, and said that I had heard he had been kicked i.
the face by some member of the company. After expressing dis
approbation and disgust myself, Captain Dunn remarked that h
would give me a full history of the case, and then proceeded to do it1
and before completing it, was called out. Mr. Moore said that he wa
there himself. The treatment of Brown was not denied by any one=
but I think Captain Dunn disapproved of the murder, and stated thg;
he had opposed it in council. Captain Dunn said Brown was kille*;
with a hatchet, but did not say who had done it. Eli Moore did n«
say what part he took in it, though he said he was there ; but dii
not say whether he approved it or not. I do not think Moore wa
deputy sheriff or marshal when this murder took place. I neve
conversed with any one but Captain Dunn, of those who witnessed i'
about this murder.
NICK SMITH.
LEAVENWOKTH, K. T., May 16, 1856.
EDWARD HOTTER called and sworn.
I came to this Territory in November, 1855, and was residing £
Easton in January last. On the 15th of January, 1856, an electio
was to be held, but it was put off until the l*7th, on which day a bod
of men came in armed with a number of Sharpe's rifles. I do not kno'i
the men, but I understood them to be free-State men going to th!
election, and 65 or *70 in number I think. The election went on, tld
men standing around with arms and voting. All were armed ;
heard that some five or six had Sharpe's rifles, and saw one ; other
weie armed with revolvers and bowie-knives in any quantity. Aboti
10 o'clock a man named Brown came to Easton with eight or ten mer
all armed to the teeth. During the day nothing occurred of any IDC
portance, About 6 o'clock in the evening Mr. Brown came down ;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1007
went up to him and said, uMr. Brown, I think it would he advisable
for you to return with your men/' He threw open his coat and said,
"by God, you think I am not armed/' I said, " that makes no dif-
ference tome," and left him for a few moments. Ahout an hour
afterwards T went over to the grocery and saw Brown reading a letter,
and told him things were getting to a critical position, and he had
better go home with his men. I did not then see anything more of
him until about 9 o'clock that evening. He brought about twenty
men down to the grocery, part of them armed and part not. I told
Mr. Brown that his men could not come into the grocery, because
they were getting drunk and there would be violence committed.
Nine of them rushed into the grocery, and I kept eleven of them out. *
Brown was one of those who came in — the first one who went in.
About 11 o'clock men were running both ways. Brown's party had
gone back to Mr. Minard's house. They sent down a messenger to
us, calling us cowardly, thieving, niggardly sons of bitches, and
dared us to come up to Minard's house, and that if we did, there
would not be one to tell the tale. That was just the expression Mr.
Minard used, and they all said so. After that news came down I sent
them a note as follows : that if they would hold on, probably we
would call to see them upon any demand they had requested. I have
that note at home yet. About 12 o'clock Mr. Sparks came down, and
instead of going directly home he walked at least a quarter of a mile
to come down where our men — the pro-slavery party — were. He knew
that his most bitter enemies were there and intoxicated at the time.
I was sitting in the office, in company with Mr. Samuel J. Kookogey,
Samuel Burgess, and Dr. Kennedy, when he passed by. I heard
someone outside exclaim, "there goes old man Sparks, with his rifle
on his shoulder." Some ten or twelve of our boys ran after him,
hallooing after him. Mr. Kookogey and myself immediately ran down,
to where Sparks had stopped, and got on the fence and made a speech,
that they should let the old man go on home ; that it would not do
to commit any violence on him. Ten or twelve of the men were about
leaving, when Sparks commenced cursing and swearing about some-
thing— I could not tell what. I went to him, and tried to persuade
him to go on home, and he refused to go. Then Mr. Brown came
down from Mr. Minard's house, with I think 25 or 30 men. He was
at their head himself, and had a double-barreled gun, cocked. When
he got to the head of the lane where we were, I was standing there in
i company with Mr. Kookogey. Brown came up to me and called me a
:oi; God damned cowardly, thieving, niggardly son of a bitch, and told us
\ to clear the lane, and took Mr. Sparks out ; after he had got him out,
101' he then commanded the pro-slavery men to march in front. Mr. Bur-
tb gess told our men they should not do it ; to go behind, as he thought
i Brown's intention was to fire on us. I myself went behind all of the
; folks there, for fear that they would fire upon us. We arrived at the
;: forks of the road, where an Indian trail led off, and they had got be-
tween 80 and 90 yards ahead of us, when there was a pistol fired from
. Brown's party. Immediately after the first fire, firing commenced
i on both sides. One man named Kichardson, on the pro-slavery side,
was shot in the leg, the ball penetrating the anterior portion of the
1008 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
leg, striking the tibular bone and glancing off, and lodged in th
posterior portion of his leg. I came up while the firing was still go
ing on. I stepped behind a stump, and as I did so, a man I took if
be Mr. Sparks fired at me both barrels of a double-barreled gun
loaded as I thought with buck-shot, from the way they rattled agains>
the fence. While I remained behind the stump there were four rifle
shot into the stump, of course by some of Mr. Brown's men. Aftet
the firing ceased I went to my office. A man came over and told mi
that Mr. John Cook was shot ; 1 went over to see him, and renders
services as a surgeon. He was shot, the ball entering the groin, an
passing out in the upper portion of the hip-bone. I probed the wound
and found it had cut the posterior portion of the colon ; striking th
spine, and passing up and cutting off the posterior portion of the righ
kidney. I remained with him until, through fear, I left the plac
about 3 o'clock that night, and did not come back until the next da
between 12 and 1 o'clock.
Believing that our place was in danger, I sent an express to Kicks
poo. Mr. Kookogey sent an express to Messrs. Johnson & Lyle,
this city. Companies came down from Kickapoo and Leavenwort
the next day (Friday) between twelve and one o'clock, at the time
did. Mr. Brown and his company were taken on the road, somewhei
between Leavenworth and Easton. We examined Mr. Brown,
asked him who was at the head of the free-soil party the night pr<
vious. He said he was. I asked him who fired the first shot. B
said some one from his company, but he did not know who it waa
Then I asked him if he had not done wrong. He said he had.
then left the room. Captain Martin was present and heard all thii
I went down to see Mr. Cook and attend to his wounds, as I had m
seen him since the night before. I came back there, and Mr. Brow
was still in the room where I had left him. There were many then
intoxicated on both sides. I did not see Mr. Brown killed. I ^
in Mr. Dawson's store at the time he was wounded, and do not kno
who inflicted the wound. I ascertained that they had put Brown i
a wagon and brought him somewhere near Leavenworth city, but
do not know to what place. I remained with Mr. Cook until Satu
day eveniiig at eight o'clock, when I received information that a parl
of free-soilers had threatened to mob me that night ; for what cause
do not know. I again left the place, and Mr. Cook was dead wheni
returned the next evening. This is all I can recollect of what too
place, and I give it without prejudice or favor towards any one.
I came from Baltimore city, Maryland, to this place.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I lived at this time in Easton, my office adjoining Mr. Dawson
store. I do not know who told me there were five or six Sharpet
rifles in the free-soil party. I think there were about sixty or sevent
of the free-soil party at that election. I do not think there were ov*
fifteen or twenty of the pro-slavery party at Mr. Dawson's store thii
night after the election. Mr. Dawson's is just the length of a quarto
section of land from Mr. Minard's house, which stands about the midd
of his claim, and Mr. Dawson's about the same on his claim. Tl
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1009
houses are in sight. Of those fifteen or twenty men who were at
Dawson's, I know but four or five ; Mr. Burgess, Mr. Kennedy, Mr.
Kookogey, Mr. Cook, Mr. Woodward, and myself. Mr. Cook lived
about four or five miles from them, and got there about half an hour
before he was shot. This fighting took place between twelve and one
o'clock at night. Mr. Cook had been there during the day, and left
in the evening about eight o'clock, and then returned. I think the
fight continued about ten or fifteen minutes. Along the first the
firing was in volleys. The moon was shining that night. I cannot
say whether they tried to hit each other. One ball passed along my
foot, cutting my boot. Mr. Eichardson lived about two and a half
. miles above Easton. Sparks lived about south from Mr. Minard'a
house. There is no north and south road there. The Fort Kiley
road runs along by Minard's and Dawson's houses. I think, by going
across the prairie, Sparks could have saved at least a quarter of a mile
distance, and he did go home that way after the fight. Sparks was
about half way between the creek and the head of the lane when I
was talking to him. After that I went up to where Mr. Brown was,
and he called me a thieving, niggardly, cowardly son of a bitch, and
ordered us to clear the lane, and of course we backed out. The lane
was, I think, about one hundred and fifty yards long. Sparks was
standing at the fence when I talked with him ; he had his gun with
him. I did not hear him threaten to fire on any one. Those from
Dawson's store were standing around Sparks as if surrounding him.
John Sparks, his son, was with him. I saw two or three guns among
those who were surrounding him,, but I do not know as all were
armed. Among them were Mr. Burgess, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kookogey,
Mr. Cook, Mr. Woodward, and myself. There were about ten others,
but I do not recollect them. I was standing at the head of the lane,
on the way back to my office, when Brown got there with his party.
Brown spoke first, and spoke to me, and called me a cowardly, thiev-
ing, niggardly son of a bitch, and ordered us to leave the lane. The
pro-slavery men then left, as Brown's party was twenty-five or thirty
to our twelve or fifteen. Brown then went down the lane with his
party and got Sparks and his son, every man having his gun ready
to fire, and went from the head of the lane towards Minard's before
the firing commenced. Our men went on up towards Dawson's store.
The first shot was then fired from Brown's party towards our party,
about ninety yards off. One road from the lane led to Minard's and
the other led to the store. Brown's party took one road and ours took
the other. The parties kept up the two roads until they got to be
about ninety yards apart. I learned that Cook was shot shortly after
the firing ceased. I took him to my room at Mr. Dawson's house
and put him on my bed, where he remained until he died. I cannot
say how many men came down from Kickapoo and Leavenworth the
next day, but I should think there were fifty or more. I was not pres-
ent when Brown's party were released. Mr. Dawson's house is about
two hundred yards from his store, and 1 was clown there attending
to Mr. Cook. The lane I have* spoken of is back of the house and
south of the store. Some of our men said one thing and some another
about what they were going to do with Brown. I do not remember
of hearing Captain Martin try to persuade his men not to kill Brown.
H. Rep. 200 64*
1010 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I know Mr. Gibson, and saw him there that day. I judge he was
armed. I did not see him with any arms until after Brown's party
were taken. I was in the room where they were, and asked Brown
some questions. I asked Brown if he was the leader of the party
the night before. He said he was. I asked him if he had not been
doing wrong. He said he had. I judge he meant that he was viola-
ting the laws of the Territory by supporting a legislature not recog-
nised by the governor, and in supporting an election which was illegal.
I do not know what else he meant. He must have had reference to
the firing, also, upon our men. He was not a citizen of Easton. I
cannot say what he referred to, but I thought that must have been;
what he referred to. I did not specify what I meant when I asked!
him if he had been doing wrong. I heard others specify to him
what they meant. I think Dr. Harris talked with him about the
election. Captain Martin was also in the room, and asked Brown*
the same questions I did. Mr. Rively was in the room. I never
heard Mr. Gibson say anything about who wounded Brown. Mc-
Nish lives in Easton, and was there. I did not see Brown after he
was wounded. I was in the store at the time and did not go out at
all. I heard some noise and hallooing outside, but not much, as the
most of the men had gone off. Brown was out of the store at the
time. I do not know whether he had been taken out of the room
where he was, or had gone out himself. He had been in a room
adjoining the store, and I think was taken in there for protection.
Brown was in that room when he told me that one of his men fired
the first shot. There were some seven or eight men in there. I do
not recollect all of them. I was in there about a quarter of an hour.
Brown's men were not there, but I think were about town somewhere,
but I do not know where. Mr. Cook stated, after he was shot, that
he thought some man in or about the grocery had shot him, but we
examined that man's revolver and it was all loaded. Mr. Cook was
in front of the grocery when he was shot, not up where the fighting was.
By Mr. Oliver :
I heard Mr. Brown say to men who asked him, that he came outi
there to vote, and I know he did vote. They said they brought their
arms to protect the election. I did not hear any of Brown's party sayi
that day that there were no laws in the Territory. All the difficulties*
that happened that day grew out of that election. I think if Mr.
Sparks had not come down by the grocery there would have been no
difficulty. I think there were about fifteen of the pro-slavery party
at the grocery, and about sixty or seventy free-soil men at Mr. Mi-
nard's house. I don't recollect of hearing Mr. Brown say at any
time that he had come to this Territory to make this a free State.
By Mr. Howard :
Some drunken men of the pro-slavery party did say something i
about going to take the ballot-box, and they were so drunk I don'tt
think they could have carried the box if it weighed six pounds.
By Mr. Oliver :
I heard no sober man of our party saying anything about taking.
,
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1011
,he ballot-box until they had dared us to come up and there had been
considerable swearing.
By Mr. Howard :
After the excitement began to grow pretty high, liquor might have
had some effect, but I think it commenced from the effects of the elec-
tion and men coming there to, vote with arms.
The ball which hit Mr. Cook was probably about a quarter or a half
ounce, I should think, though I did not see it. I should think it was
a rifle-ball, that run about seventy or eighty to the pound.
E. S. MOTTER, M. D.
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 16, 1856.
STEPHEN SPARKS called and sworn.
I came to the Territory in October, 1854, from Platte county, Mis-
souri, where I had been living since 1845. An election was called to
be held on Tuesday, the 15th of January, A. D. 1856, at Easton ;
and upon learning a rumor that prevailed through the neighborhood
that Kickapoo Eangers were collecting in force to prevent the election,
it was postponed until the Thursday following, the 17th. On the
evening before that day I went up to Easton. The polls were opened
about noon ; everything was quiet then; but we saw a company at
Janesville, half a mile or a mile from us, passing on horses once in a
while on a bluff there, and several persons came in and complained of
being insulted by them, and were stopped by them.
Among others, my son, Moses Sparks, was halted, also Mr. Pen-
nock, and some two or three with them were stopped, and their >guns
taken out of their sleds or wagons. From a blun near the polls we
could see the party. It passed on so until a little before sundown.
They came over into Easton across the creek, and stopped at a
grocery near Dawson's. About dusk, between thirty-five and forty-five
men, as near as I could guess, came up towards Minard's, where the
election was held. I heard some one of the crowd, who appeared to
be the leader, say, " Charge on them, God-damn them, laint afraid!"
About this time our men had nearly formed themselves from the door
to the road. Upon seeing our force they halted, and returned with-
out further difficulty. Some time after a note was sent to the house
where we were, from them. The note was directed to me and Mr.
Minard, and had no name to it. After looking at it, we concluded to
give no answer until some one would put his name to it. Another
note was sent by a messenger with Dr. Motter's name signed to it.
Mr. McAlear then came up, and Kookogey with him, to reason with
us, and said it would be better for us to give up the ballot-box, or it
would turn out worse. We concluded there would be no difficulty.
This was late at night, and I proposed that I would go home, and
started home with my son and nephew. My road was through Easton.
Snow was on the ground, and that was the only broken way to my
house, and it is the road I always go. When getting near Dawson's
1012 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
store, I saw several men, and heard several say, " God damn him,
there he is," and called old man Sparks, and said they had got me
now. There was a great deal of talk, and the men had been drink-
ing. I walked on and came near the store door ; several men threat-
ened me very heavy, and demanded that I should surrender. They
were then all round me, some in front and some behind, and on each
side. I kept on until where the road turned off between the store and
the grocery. They demanded that I should go in and drink with
them, but I refused. My son wanted me to surrender, but I spoke to
him low, and told him to keep near me and close by my side. We
then turned south from Easton towards home. The company then
fell back and gathered as if in consultation, so that I got several rods
ahead of them. They then burst loose with a good many threats and
cursings, and followed me. I kept on at my usual pace, and kept the'
boys close by me. They again stopped to consult, and then the crowd
came on and made a heavy charge on me, and their common expres-
sions were, God-damn him, shoot him ! kill him ! damned abolition-
ist! There were then two guns fired. Upon this I turned and lev-
elled my gun, but my son dissuaded me and I did not fire, but started:
on again, and was then near Dawson's house. I turned into the lane
leading to his house, and part of the crowd formed a line across the
lane, so that I could get neither way, and were making towards me.,
My son and nephew, at my suggestion, got into a corner of the1
fence — a rail fence, staked and ridered. We were there at bay, and!
were prepared to make the best defence we could. I reasoned witht
them, and said there were plenty of my old neighbors in Platte
county with them ; that I knew I would not surrender to a drunken i
mob. Benjamin Foster then fetched his fist in my shoulder, and said,
God damn you, I could (or would) smash you. I then told him to stand
back, and told him if he laid his hands again on me he would regretr
it. They demanded our general surrender, and that we should go
back to the grocery. They had guns, pistols, &c., and presented
them at me, and told me to march or they would shoot me. I told
them to shoot. No gun was fired there. I said they must shoot me,
as I would not give up to a drunken mob. David Large then toot
hold of my son's gun and demanded that he should give it up. He
refused, and in their struggling I presented mine, and told him to let
go. He did so. They then, with threats,, hallooed several times ; and
we remained in« that position some fifteen minutes, until K. P. Brown]
came and rescued me.
At the time they fired, as I spoke of, the man who was riding my 5
horse went back to Minard's and gave the word. I had no idea
of this. The first I saw of Brown he was near by, and his party afoot,
stretched across the road, and inquired if I was there. I answered
that I was. He told me to march to him. I started and was about I
half way when Sam. Burgess caught hold of my shoulder. I told him
to let me go, and prepared for defence, and he did let me go. Hot
marched forward around me, and my son and nephew also came into*
the ring. Brown told his men to march back, and all did so, friend
and foe going together in a crowd, I being in the centre. Then we<
went to the forks of the road ; there the other party took the straight-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1013
forward road, and we, with Brown's party, turned to the left. Ahout
forty or fifty yards, Brown urged me to walk in, as they were going
to shoot. This he told me three times distinctly. The last time, I
told him I would ohey him. He was marching backwards looking
towards the other crowd, conversing with them not to fire, and told
them that if they did, he would return the fire. When we were ahout
sixty or eighty yards off, the fire was opened upon us. The first fire
was from the northwest of their crowd. I am sure they fired first, as I
saw the fire distinctly. Then Brown ordered a fire in return, and
both parties fired, and a great many guns were fired. The men were
scattered in Indian file, and the fire was kept up for some time. My
son was wounded and knocked down, within six or eight feet of me,
at the second fire, but he raised again and fired. He was wounded in
the arm and head slightly. We finally marched back to Minard's.
I staid there all night, and started home before breakfast. About
3 o'clock in the afternoon I heard of Brown's capture, and that Mi-
nard was also taken, and that they were to be hung. I never saw
Brown afterwards.
Cross-examined by D. A. N. Grover :
There was a rumor that the Kickapoo Rangers were mustering on
Sunday, in Kickapoo, for the purpose of taking the ballot-box at
Easton. I heard this in my neighborhood before Tuesday; I think I
heard it on Sunday or Monday. The election was put off from the
15th to the IVth, on account of this rumor. There was an election
held by the free-State party at Easton on the 17th of January, 1856.
The purpose of the election was to elect State officers under the State
organization. I can't say, for my life, whether the organization was
either a free-State or slave-State organization, but, as I understood,
an organization of the people of Kansas. Bobinson and Roberts
were the candidates for governor ; Miles Moore was a candidate for
attorney general * I was a candidate for the legislature, and was de-
clared elected to the lower branch, and was at Topeka, and served as
such. Over fifty votes were cast at Easton that day. I belong to the
free-State party, but am no abolitionist either.
I can't say whether the men at Minard's house were armed. There
were arms at the house. I ditt not see men come there with arms, as far
as I now recollect. I did not go to the polls that morning, and I did not
go there that day. I went the evening before, but I did not take my ,
gun with me. I had two sons there with me, and I did not see either
of my sons or my nephew taking any arms there with them. I saw
my sons and nephew have guns the night of the election. I think
Brown's company had guns — all, I think, who came for me. There
was a rumor that the Kickapoo Rangers had taken the ballot-box at
Leaven worth city, and were coming to Easton to get the ballot-box
there. How true the rumor was I do not know. While I was at
Minard's I saw a company of men across on the bluffs, on the other
side of the creek, riding back and forth, during the day. I only know
from hearsay whether these men were armed or not. I should think
it was three-quarters of a mile from Minard's to where these men were.
I do not know who these men were, except from hearsay, where they
1014 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
were from, or where they were going. I do not think I went from
the polls, during the day, alone down to Dawson's store. I went to
Bristow's store, hut I did not go alone. That was in the evening.
I had no difficulty with the pro-slavery men at that time near the store;
not a word, as far as I recollect. There was some whiskey at Minard's.
It was, I think, ahout sundown that I went down to Bristow's. I
had not a word of difficulty with any individual that I now recollect. I
was there hut a very short time when I saw a crowd coming up; I walked
up to keep out of difficulty. I had no difficulty with John Moore,
did not see him, to my knowledge-, until I started for home that night,
and he pitched around me and said, Damn you, I have got you now.
There has heen a private difficulty hetween us, and my opinion was
that he sought that difficulty. There had heen unpleasant feelings ;
between us for some time. Dr. Motter came to me in Dawson's there,,
when more than twenty-five or thirty men were standing around me
making threats, and said to the company, " as Mr. Sparks is on his*
way home and has got thus far, let him go/' He requested that of!
the company, and then went round hetween me and home, and the
last I saw of him was standing there in the lane. I do not know as-
any messages were sent by the men at Minard's down to the men at!
Dawson's to provoke them. I heard nothing of any challenge being
sent down to the pro-slavery men to come up and fight. I sent none
myself, and I never heard of any, though there might have been. Ai
man by the name of Woodward came up to Minard's with one of the
notes, and I saw the same man around me in the lane. Shep. Wood-
ward was not sent back to the store to tell the boys to come on, as II
recollect. My answer was, I think, that if they got the ballot-box
they would get it at all hazards, as they said they would have it. I
had but little to do with the notes, but handed them over to Mr. Mi-
nard : the second one ; I never handed any more. I may have had:
a conversation with Shep. Woodward, but I did not know it. I feltt
a little fired when I was noted out as an individual, and the threats
were made that they would have the ballot-box, and I may have said
something harsh, but I do not now recollect. I saw a crowd come up
towards Minard's house, and I heard one of them call out to charge ;
he was not afraid ; but he did not charge. Our company were drawn
out from the door, pretty much towards the road, and I think some-
had arms and some had not, but whether the most of them had arms;
or not I cannot say. I do not know as any one commanded our com-
pany at that time. I could have gone from Mr. Minard's house on a
bee-line home, which would have been nearer home than the way II
went, but it would have been over rocks and drifts. I went the road
I usually go — and go yet. I saw one young man who was drunk oni
that day, and there were several Vho went down to Dawson's for
drink ; and there was some whiskey at Minard's. Mr. K. P. Brown?
wanted me to go down with him once and get some liquor ; but I did
not go, and cannot say whether he went or not, but I think he did.i
I do not know that Brown got into any difficulty there that day, but
I heard of such a thing, I think, a day or two afterwards. I have no-
recollection of Brown coming back and making hard assertions against
those down there ; I think some one did, but I do not recollect who it
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1015
was. I saw John Moore and his brother in the crowd that surrounded
me in the lane. There was one man laid his hand on my shoulder and
said he would or could trash me, and a great many harsh threats were
made against me. I do not know how many men staid at Minard's
that night. I remained there that night until 12 o'clock, in conse-
quence of the threats made against the ballot-box. I did request a
large number to stay, when reports were brought to me of what was
said down town. After staying there a while I concluded that I would
go home, as I thought the mob had gone away, or would go away, and
there would be no difficulty.
STEPHEN SPARKS.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 22, 1856.
JOHN WILFLEY called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I was at the free-State election, at Easton, on the 17th of January,
1856. The election was held at Mr. Minard's house. I was at Mi-
nard's house, and saw voters coming in armed with guns, and they
generally came in armed. They remained at that house all day.
Every man (so far as I saw them) voting was armed. No pro-slavery
men voted, so far as I saw. I should think there were about sixty-
five free-State men there. There were pro-slavery men in town that
day ; some fifteen of them while I was there, which was until dark.
The pro-slavery men were not armed that I saw, and they interfered
in no way, so far as I saw. Mr. Brown, in the afternoon, went down
into town some half a mile from the place where the election was held,
and publicly declared he had an organized company with him of armed
men, and made threats that he would sjioot holes through any man
faster than he could count, if any man dared to touch him, and de-
clared that he would get on his hands and knees and crawl through
the snow, as bad as it was, a mile, to get pro-slavery men to fight him
and his men. He also stated that his company had sixty-eight shot
ready to fire. That was about all the threats I heard Brown make.
There was no fuss in town until after these threats were made. No
man had made any threats to him before that, and no one said any-
thing to his threats. There was no difficulty or quarrelling up to the
time I left, which was about dark. I understood afterwards that a
man by the name of Cook was shot that night, and Brown killed the
next day.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I did not vote that day, because I did not want to vote ; I staid
there merely to see the people, and see what was done. I was down
in town when Brown came down and made those threats. Brown had
two men with him whom I did not know, and stood in front of Daw-
son's store when he said this. There were some fifteen men at the
store — Dr. Motter, Mr. Kookogey, the two Messrs. Eose, Mr. Price,
nd others I do not now recollect. This was, I should think, about, or
1016 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
a little before, sundown. I think they had liquor to sell at Dawson's
store. I do not know whether the men with Brown came down with
him, hut they went away with him. Brown said he and his company
had sixty-eight shots ready. I supposed his company were up to Mr.
Minard's. I do not know who came with Brown to the election. He
said he had sixteen shot himself, and he showed them. Nobody spoke a
word to him, but he did all the talking. I do not think Brown was
drunk then.
To Mr. Scott:
These twelve or fifteen men at the store where Brown made these
threats, I do not know whether they were all pro-slavery men or not ;
I think they were mostly, though one or two that I knew were not.
I do not know whether any of those twelve or fifteen men, except my-
self, had been up to the place of voting or not ; I do not recollect of
having seen any of them up there. No difficulty had occurred at the
place of voting before I left for home, and I do not think any pro-
slavery men were there when I left. When I left the place of voting
the free-State party were putting out armed guards. I had stopped
there a time, after Brown made his threats, while I was on my way
home.
JOHN WILFLEY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
S. J. KOOKOGEY called and sworn :
To Mr. Scott :
I was clerking for Dawson, at Easton, at the time the free-State party
had an election at Minard's., the Ifah of January, 1856. The election
was said to have been appointed for the 15th, and was postponed
till the 17th, but I do not know for what reason. I saw a numberr
of men there that day that I never saw before or since. All the«
men who came there to vote were armed. I do not know of any*
pro-slavery men who came to that election ;" and at night, when 1
•went up to Minard's with his wife, who was down town, I saw some*
seventy or eighty men in the room there ; it was about ten o'clock at
night. I was quite well acquainted with nearly all the persons in
that neighborhood, as they traded where I was clerking. I saw but
three men in the room that I recognised ; the rest appeared to be
strangers to me. I recognised James Comstock, a Mr. Davis, and old
Mr. Sparks. There might have been others I knew, but I did not
notice them. I was not challenged by sentinels when I went up to*
the house, though I saw some about a hundred yards from the house.1
After I came back to the store, I went up again to see Mr. Minard, as
I had just received notice from General Whitfield that Dawson had
been appointed postmaster at Easton. Mr. McLear went up with me,
and went into the house, while I stopped outside and talked with Mr.
Minard, who had just come out, about the post office. We walked
back to the door, and old man Sparks rushed out very much excited;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1017
and said "Here is this damned McLear up here ; Minard, let's kill
him," or hang him, I forget which. Minard went into the house,
and at the same time Sparks recognised me, and asked what I was
doing up there. I told him I thought I had a right to go anywhere
I chose. He asked me if I did not know these were very ticklish
times. I told him I did not know of any difficulty anywhere. He
took me one side and endeavored to get me into a political discussion,
detaining me some ten or fifteen minutes longer than I wanted to
stay. I told him we were so far apart on the slavery question, there
was no use in our talking ahout it. I then went back to the store,
leaving McLear at the house. I met Mr. Samuel Burgess at the store,
and told him that McLear was at Minard' s, and he had better go up
and see about it. We had some talk as to what we should do about
McLear, and while we were talking McLear came down, saying that
he had been released. Everything appeared then to be quieting
down. The first time I saw Mr. Brown in my life was that day, be-
fore the store, about sundown. He had two men with him, and said
that they had come there to have an election, and to vote, and would
not be molested, as they were armed for resistance. He remarked
that he was prepared, and said if we did not believe it he would show
us, and then he threw open his coat, and I saw one or two pistols on
him. No one had spoken to him then. That is all the remark I
heard him make, as I was called off in the store. At night, after
McLear and myself had been at Minard' s and returned to the store,
Brown marched down with ten or twelve armed men, and the party
threw the muzzles of their guns down, and he said " We act upon the
defensive." We told him to come on, and he should not be molested.
All the men in the grocery then came out, and Brown's party went
into the grocery. He called for something to drink all round, and
got a jug of liquor and a fiddle. They then came out of the grocery,
and Brown commenced a conversation with Dr. Motter and myself.
He said he had seen one ballot-box taken, and he would be God
damned if he would see another taken unless they went over his dead
body. We told him we had no such idea ; and that even if we had
had, it was then too late. Brown and his men then left, and went
off leisurely towards Minard's. In an hour or so after that, while I
was nearly asleep, old man Sparks came along in front of Dr. Mot-
ter's office, leading his horse, with a crowd of men about him, and
turned around the store towards Dawson's house, two or three men
walking along talking to him, one of whom he was not on good terms
with ; the main crowd was walking along behind. He turned into a
lane near Dawson's house, and when he had got down the lane about
jifteen steps he stopped, but whether of his own accord, or because the
men made him stop, I do not know. I was sitting about ten steps
from Sparks, and heard some talking to him, condemning his course.
While they were talking to him, I heard some noise behind me, and
looked around and saw Mr. Brown and a party coming along. Some
of his men seemed disposed not to come, and he was saying to them,
" God damn you, come along." When he got to the entrance of the
lane, they levelled their guns, and Brown said, " You God damned
lousy, pro-slavery sons of bitches, we demand old man Sparks." We
1018 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
then turned and walked up to his party. He told us to march on be--
fore his party, and we refused. We then came along together towards j
Dawson's store. When we got ahout a hundred and fifty yards from;
the lane, there was a road that turned off to Minard's from the one'
that led to Dawson's store ; we separated ; the free-State party, who;
had old man Sparks in the middle of their crowd, turned off towards^
Minard's while we kept on to the store. Dr. Hotter and myself were-
some five or six steps from our main party, and were talking. After'
they turned off, and had got some ten or fifteen steps, some one in the-
free-State party fired a pistol, which I considered was rather in exul-
tation of their having got old man Sparks, and not intended to be>
fired at our party. There was then a general firing on both sides,,
and then the free-State party broke and ran, some behind some houses,,
and some behind the bank of a creek there. The principal portion of!
our party got behind Dawson's store. Several of our party had no:*
guns at all, while the others had double-barrelled guns and rifles;,
but I do not think more than fifteen or eighteen of our party hadl
arms. The firing, I think, lasted some minute or a minute and ai
half, not longer. I saw a man fall in front of the grocery, and I!
heard some one cry out, " Cook is shot/' Mr. Comstock and myself,
I think, were the only men behind Dawson's store then, while thej
rest of our men ran over to the grocery, some thirty yards from the
store, where Cook was shot. We then oame out from behind the-
store, and as we stepped out some man on the free-State side fired att
us twice, striking the fence near us, and then they ran away from be-
hind the house where they were. I then went into the store and gott
some blankets, and took Mr. Cook down to Dawson's house. When II
came back, everything was still and quiet, and I saw no men of either'
side. I heard that the free-State men were going to stay that night t
at Minard's. I went to bed. The next morning I saw Mr. Browoi
and his party — some six or seven of them — start for Leaven worth. II
think that, if it had not been for Mr. Sparks and Mr. Brown, them
would have been no difficulty at all.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
When I went up to Minard's with McLear, it was about elevei
o'clock at night.
S. J. KOOKOGEY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 29, 1856.
ESSENETH SPARKS called and sworn.
My husband's name is Stephen Sparks. We live on the other sidd
of Stranger creek, about twelve miles from this place, and four milefi
south of Easton. My husband and son were arrested, as they told
me, on the night of the 17th of January last, by the Missourians and
Kickapoo Hangers, and they were rescued by K. P. Brown, and others.,
I know that they came home from some conflict by their wounds/j
My son was grazed by shots on his head and arm.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1019
In the evening of the next day, about 3 o'clock, a party of from 10
to 18, a right smart company of men, came, to our house and inquired
for Mr. Sparks, my husband. At the time they were coming, Fran-
cis Browning was at the house. He had just rode up, and asked two
men, who were going along the road, to help him rescue Brown. One
of them said he could not go. The other said he did not know how
soon it might be his case, and took the harness off his horse, and one
of the guns which the man had, and rode off with him. This man
was Francis Browning ; the name of the other who went with him
was Kichard Houcks.
Just as they started, two men rode up and called for Mr. Sparks.
I told them he was out on business. They said they had private busi-
ness with him.
Just then Mr. Browning, seeing a party of horsemen on a little rise,
coming from Dawson's, turned back and asked these two men what it
meant. They said " they did not know; there was a great excite-
ment at Dawson's, they had he'ard, but they had not been there."
They then gave the sign by firing two pistols in the air, and motion-
ing to the party with their hands. The party then came riding on as
fast as they could, shouting. When they came up, they all joined in
pursuit of Browning and Houcks, shouting "kill them," "kill
them," " kill the damned abolitionists," and firing upon them; but
they divided, one going one way, round the hill, and the other the
other way, and escaped.
The party of horsemen then returned, and stopped before the door,
and held council for a few moments, and one man said, "Capt. Dunn,
give orders ;" and the man he spoke to gave orders. He said, "Now
we will take the house; shoot down Capt. Sparks at sight."
I then told them I had an afflicted son, and that anything that ex-
cited him threw him into spasms right at once ; and that Mr. Sparks,
and all but him, were away from home. When I stepped to the door
and looked in, I saw Captain Dunn, with a six-shooter presented at
my son's breast. I did not hear the question asked, but I heard my
son's answer—" I am on the Lord's side, and if you want to kill me,
kill me ; I am not afraid to die." Dunn then left him, and turned to
my little son, about twelve years old, and put the pistol to his breast,
and asked him where his father's Sharpe's rifle was, and my son told
him he had none. Dunn asked him where those guns were, pointing
to the racks, and told him if he did not tell the truth, he would kill
him ; and my son told him the men-folks generally took care of the
guns.
When they came out, I asked Captain Dunn, "What does all this
mean?" He answered that they had "taken the law into their own
hands, and they intended to use it."
McAleer, who formerly lived here in Leavenworth, was one of the
party, and one of the Scotts, from Missouri, and some said there were
two of them there. One John Dunn, a brother of the captain, was
there. I heard the name of Dunn from others, but the Scotts and
McAleer I know myself. The Scotts were raised within a mile or so
of where we lived, in Platte county, Missouri. The party then left.
Late in February, eight men came to the house. Two men came
1020 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
up first, and the others followed to the house on foot, in the afternoon,
and asked for Mr. Sparks, and left the following paper with me :
To Stephen Sparks :
"The undersigned, as you are aware, are citizens of this neighbor-
hood. Many of us have come here with our families, intending to<
make Kansas our permanent home. It is our interest and desire thatt
peace and good- will prevail among us ; and whatever may conduce
to this desirable end, will meet our hearty approval.
"The local excitements that have occurred in this vicinity, havd
been principally attributed to you, and, we believe, justly. You have
figured in them conspicuously, and, in the affair at Easton, rnoreJ
reprehensible than ever.
"Believing, therefore, that your further residence among us isJ
incompatible with the peace and welfare of this community, we advise
you to leave as soon as you can conveniently do so.
"Joseph Thomas John Moore
Abner Foster H. E. Kennedy
Keuben Button George W. Brown
Lark Farrell William Gill
Geo. W. Browning James Foster
Wm. McLain Simon B. Pankake
Carom Norvell C. H. Allen
Augustine White K. P. Briggs
Matthew A. Kegister W. Z. Thompson
John M. White 0. S. Allen
Thomas Hickman Morgan Wright
Benjamin Foster Edward McClain
Joseph Moore C. C. Harrison
Joseph Moran Wesley Davidson
Andrew J. Scott Edward M. Kennedy
Samuel Burgess Andrew J. Davis
John 0. Scott John W. Burgess
John Burgess James Norvell
Joseph L. McAleer Joseph Gray/'
Only one of the signers is an actual resident in the neighborhood
Most of them are Kickapoo Bangers and Missourians. One of tlm
two who first came to the door, said his name was Kennedy, from
Alabama; the other, I think, emigrated from Missouri to Kansas. '.
asked him what he had against Mr. Sparks. He said he had nothing
against him, but he was too influential in his party, and they in
tended to break it down. He told me to tell Mr. Sparks to leave by
the 10th of March, or abide the consequences.
A night or two before the 10th of March, four men came into th«i
house, about 10 o'clock, and searched for Mr. Sparks, but did not fine
him. They asked for the "notice to leave," and if I had given it t<t
Mr. Sparks, and made many threats, and charged us to leave at than
time, and said that if he was there, they would cut him in pieces.
her
ESSENETH + SPARKS.
mark.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 24, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1021
BENJAMIN H. BROOK testifies :
To Mr. Sherman :
I was taken into custody at the first term of the district court, in
Doniphan county, in spring of 1856. I was summoned as a juror to
attend the first term of the court ; I did not understand which, the
grand or petit jury. 1 fell on the panel of the petit jury. The
first two days of the term, I was unwell and could not attend. On
Friday, the fifth day of the term, while I was in attendance upon the
court, I was arrested on a bill of indictment for sitting as a judge of
the election at which Eeeder was said to have been elected to Con-
gress. They brought me before the court and arraigned me before
the bar for trial, as I understood it. The indictment was quashed.
The judge ordered the clerk to quash the indictment and hold me in
custody. I got my attorney to get me out on bail to go home that
night, that I might appear next morning. I gave bail to appear
next morning. The next morning I appeared, and my attorney got it
laid over until the next term in August, and I was let off until the
next term on the same bail I had given before. This was for acting
as judge of the election on the 9th of October, 1855.
B. H. BKOOK.
• LEAVENWORTH CITY, May 23, 1856.
BENJAMIN HARDING testifies :
I acted as judge of the election upon the adoption of the State
constitution, held on the 15th December, 1855. I think I was not
arrested, indicted, or imprisoned for that ; but I was arrested and
imprisoned upon the charge of serving as judge of an election on the
9th of October, 1855 ; but I did not serve on that day. The indict-
ment was found by the grand jury which sat at Whitehead ; Judge
Lecompte, I have understood, presiding. I was indicted, and some
months afterwards arrested. I was confined because I declined to
ive bail, and was kept in custody for eight days, and then I gave
il and was discharged from custody. The indictment is still pend-
ing. An attachment was also served upon me at the same time,
which I understood to be for contempt of court in failing to appear
when summoned as a juror. Bail was also required for my appear-
ance on that charge ; at the same time I gave bail on the other charge.
The amount of the bail for the attachment was $200, and for the in-
dictment $500.
[The question was overruled, Major Oliver dissenting.]
Question. Why did you fail to serve as a juror?
[The question was overruled, Major Oliver dissenting.]
Question. Why did you refuse to give bail under the indictment
and under the attachment ?
[The question was overruled, Major Oliver dissenting.]
B. HAKDINGK
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K, T,? May 24, 1856.
1022 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
E. E. ZIMMERMAN testifies :
Shortly before the election, last fall, for delegate to Congress,
about a week "before the election of the first of October, I took some
handbills with reference to a meeting to be held at Kickapoo, of all
persons who would attend, in relation to a free-State convention, and
also handbills in reference to the free-State election of the 9th of Oc-
tober, 1855. I then went to Atchison,, sticking up and distributing
these notices on the way. I stopped at the hotel at Atchison, and
gave some of these handbills to the landlord, and asked him to puti
them up in some public place. There was a man who said he lived
in Missouri and owned a lot of niggers there, who was called General,
I think, who came up to me and snatched the bills out of my hands.
He then read the notice about the State constitutional convention to the
crowd, putting in and leaving out words to make it read ridiculous.,
There was a big fat fellow there, I believe they called Thomason,
walked up towards me and said I was a damned abolitionist. I stood!
up against the wall, as I was standing in the passage, and put my\
hand under my coat-tail as if to get a pistol, though I was unarmed;
I was asked if I had read the Squatter Sovereign, and I said I did!
sometimes ; I was asked if I did not know that they allowed no such!
documents put up there, and that I was guilty of high treason, &c.;
and there was some talk of having me tried before some justice of the
peace there. They took the bills before my face and lighted their1
cigars with them, and burned them, and took off others ; I stepped!
out,, and as it was after dark, I asked the landlord for a room. He
said he could not give me a room then, but showed me into one about!
an hour afterwards. I heard the crowd talking outside. Bob Kelly
one of the editors of the Squatter Sovereign, and this fat man, were
in the crowd. This Bob Kelly suggested that it would be a gooc
plan to hang me, and set an example to all abolitionists coming to
Atchison. Another suggested that I had better not be killed, but
that it would be better to tie my pony on one side of a raft^ and my-
self on the other side, and be sent down the Missouri river. And
then one suggested that perhaps they had better keep me there until
the day of speaking came off, and riot let any of the handbills be cir
culated, and have some fun with Lane and others who were to come
there to address them. That was about the substance of the convex
sation. I was at the window listening to this, but I went to bed
again then. The next morning a number came tome and asked me
where I was going. Among them was a doctor from Platte city, who
said he knew me at Kickapoo. He asked what all this meant. I told
him what the object of the State convention was. After the convex
sation he spok? to these men, and as I had no more bills I promised
not to go to Doniphan, as I had intended, but to go across the river and
return home that way. There were some fifteen there, and they ap-
peared to be considerably excited. They advised me when I left
never to call there again with abolition documents, if I knew what wa«
good for me ; that 1 would find that latitude very unhealthy for abo-
litionists, who were short-lived ; that these handbills were treasonable!
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1023
and opposed to the laws. I crossed over into Missouri, and went
home that way. The night before, as I have forgotten to mention,
they said they were determined I should not go to Doniphan.
[Mr. Whitfield objected to this evidence being received, on the
ground th&t it was a mere personal difficulty. The majority of the
committee 'overruled the objection, and admitted the evidence ; from
which Mr. Oliver dissents.]
I had never seen any of those men before that time, and never have
seen them since.
To Mr. Oliver:
The conversation I heard at Atchison after I went to bed seemed
to relate to the bills I had brought with me, and they seemed deter-
mined to have no free-State men speaking there.
To Mr. Keeder :
I had handbills for calling a meeting to be held at Atchison, an-
nouncing speakers and their names on it, the meeting to relate to the
propriety of a State constitutional convention at Topeka, and stating
that so many delegates were to be elected from Atchison ; and it was
an invitation to all electors to attend, and I think headed_, " A call
to the people of Kansas." Other handbills I had were for giving
notice of an election to be held for delegate to Congress, and was a
general notice to all parties ; not a word was said about the laws of
the Territorial legislature, that I. can recollect, in the handbills in ref-
erence to the convention at Topeka.
To Mr. Whitfield :
I was not at a meeting where these notices of the convention were
agreed to be sent out. 1 happened to be down at Leavenworth city,
| and i was asked, as it was on my way, to take some of these bills
along and distribute them.
I think Mr. Robert Riddle handed me some of them. The conven-
: tion for the State constitution was proposed to be held at Topeka. I
had understood that pro-slavery men, as well as free-State men, were
; to take part in it. I know pro-slavery men who voted for the State
constitution. I did not understand that the persons who called the
convention were opposed to the laws of the Territory ; nor did I ever
know of any such understanding among those in favor of .the conven-
tion. ^ I heard free-State and pro-slavery men talk about the matter,
and they said they were heartily tired of the excitement here, and they
thought the best way was to have a State organization, with the offi-
cers elected by the people. I was never at a meeting where it was
resolved to repudiate the laws of the Territory. I was at a meeting
at Leavenworth city. Mr. Parrott was called upon to state the object
of the meeting, and he stated it was to nominate delegates to be voted
for by. the people to sit at Topeka to frame a State constitution. I
understood that it was not to be a free-State convention. I know that
some free-State men nominated pro-slavery men. Mr. Halderman
was nominated, but declined; another pro-slavery man was nominated,
but declined. I understood that all parties were to be represented.
1024 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
I was not present at the Big Springs or the Topeka conventions,
have seen and read the resolutions passed hy the Big Springs conven-
tion, and believe they were generally endorsed by our party.
In Atchison, while I was standing in the passage of the hotel, I
judge there were eleven men present, but do not know whether therci
were any more or less in the party after I went to bed. I can give no
opinion as to the number of people in Atchison. I should thintl
there were a great many more than eleven there.
EDMUND R. ZIMMERMAN.
TBCUMSBH, K. Tv May 7, 1856.
PETER T. ABELL called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I, with a number of other persons of Atchison, of this Territory
was at Lawrence a few days ago, with the United States marshal'1
posse. During the time we were there some of the gentlemen of thi
posse, from my town, picked up those letters, with a number of others'
and other papers, near the big hotel, and handed them to me. Thi
papers that were with those letters were notes and bonds, and otha
papers, directed some to A. H. Reeder-, and some to G-rosvenor B
Lowry. The reason I am not willing to surrender them, but haw
prepared copies for this investigation, is, that I have been requested tt
give them to attorney general Isaacks.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
I did not regard the letters in any light at all when I receive
them, either as private or otherwise, for they were handed to me wliil
I was then in the posse, and I took them. I heard them read; an
the gentleman who read the letters said that, as Reeder was one of thi
persons the marshal wished to arrest, he thought it right to look hit
his letters. After hearing the letters read, I supposed they were pri
vate letters written by Reeder to Lowry ; but I had no regard aboi
them, as there was much confusion there — many men about there i
the time ; and I took them when they were handed to me. I hav
exhibited the letters to others since then. I do not know as I ca
recollect all who have seen them. They have been read since the
came in my possession ; and I do not recollect of but two or three in
dividuals who have read them since I came back here. I do not kno'
the private relations between Mr. Lowry and Gov. Reeder. I ha\
heard, since I came here, for the first time, that Mr. Lowry was Grou
Reeder's private secretary. The question of the propriety of exhibit
ing these letters has never been raised by the persons I have shoTW
them to, or who have heard them read. At the time the letters \vei
read, it was said that Reeder was one of the very men the marshi
wished to arrest ; and he was generally regarded as the instigator <
all the devilment in the Territory, and anything was fair with hin
I exhibited them after I ascertained they gave no clue to his wher-i
abouts, merely because I thought they were evidence to show Reeder
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1025
connection with the disturbances in the Territory, and for no other
purpose. All to whom I have shown these letters have taken the
same view I do with regard to the propriety of exhibiting them ; at
least, I judge so, as nothing was said against it. Under ordinary
circumstances I would be the last man to examine private letters. I
have shown the letters to my private friends, but I do not think I am
called upon to say who those persons are. Others of my private
friends I have refused to show them to, even since they have been
brought before this committee ; and I would suppose that, at that
time, there were some twenty or thirty persons present when they
were read. I think a gentleman named Palmer, of Atchison, picked
these letters up in the street, near the hotel, and, I think, before the
hotel was destroyed, though I will not be positive about that. I do
not know that Gov. Boeder's trunk was broken open, though I heard
that one of his trunks was found. I do not think these letters were
taken from his trunk, though they may have been. When Mr. Palmer
handed me these letters, some one, I do not know whether it was
Palmer or some one else, said those letters were important ones, and
should be preserved. When I received them I understood them to be
letters from Gov. Reeder, for some one read out his name at the bot-
tom of some of them. When the property was being carried out of
the hotel, I was in a room with General Pomeroy writing ; and when
I came out they were handed to me. They appeared like a parcel of
letters put up in a hurry when I saw them. I saw that some were
directed to Lowry, and some to Reeder, and looked as if the papers
of both persons had been hurriedly tied up together. All these pa-
pers, except some I have here, were sent to Atchison with the com-
pany that went from Atchison ; and I think they are now at Weston,
Missouri, to be returned, so far as the valuable papers are concerned,
to those to whom they belong, if they can ever be found. I cannot
say in whose possession they are now. I heard of no money being
found with the papers. I did not read any of them myself, but
merely heard others read them. I never took possession of any but
these letters. I did not see or hear of any letters to Reeder the,re
from his wife. The papers were read before the crowd ; and one ar-
ticle on free love, said to be in Reeder 's handwriting, which seemed
to cause some amusement. I did not hear of there being any letters
in this bundle from Mr. Reeder's family. I do not think there was
any particular authority for taking the bonds and papers to Weston ;
but I took them there myself. I will not tell in whose custody I
placed them, because I think it has nothing to do with the letters
Drought here. No communication has been made to Mr. Reeder, or
any of his family, at Easton Pennsylvania, in regard to these papers,
to my knowledge. This bundle of papers was picked up in town,
taken to camp, and there read to some persons in the camp ; after
which they came into my possession for the first time. In the fore-
going testimony I do not mean to convey the idea that these letters
were read to the whole crowd in the town as soon as they were picked
up, for I did not hear any of them read until after we went back to
camp.
P. L, ABELL.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May '27, 1856.
H: Rep. 200 — -65*
1026 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
D. J. JOHNSON testifies :
To Mr. Matthias :
When the difficulty commenced which led to the tarring and feather
ing of Phillips, politics had nothing to do with it. Malcolm Clarl
had been killed, and an inquest was held on his body. When mon
facts were brought to light which led the community to believe tha
Mr. Phillips was accessory to the death of Clark, a meeting of th
citizens was called, at which I myself made a speech, and declare^
that if politics had anything to do with Mr. Phillips' case, I would
have nothing to do with it. It was believed by the citizens and my)
self that there was no law to bring Mr. McCrea or Mr. Phillips to pun
ishment. The citizens at that meeting appointed a committee of te:
men to inform Mr. Phillips to leave town in five or ten days, or som
such time. At the time appointed for him to leave, there was a larg
number of the citizens assembled on the levee, who instructed t§
committee to go and see if Mr. Phillips had left. We went to loo:i
for him and could not find him. We reported him gone. The citt
zens refused to discharge the committee as they were certain he woul
return. He did return that night. The committee, assembled som
two or three days after that and arrested Mr. Phillips — took him ovf
on the island opposite here, and there took a vote as to what the'
should do with him, after he had refused to sign a written agreeme
to leave the Territory. A majority of the committee voted to tar ar
feather him. The committee could get no tar and feathers this si
of Rialto ; and we took him up there and feathered him a little abo
Rialto, Missouri. The only politics ever connected with the affair w
afterwards by the newspapers. On the day that Malcolm Clark w
killed there was a large Delaware squatter meeting to regulate the
claims, and perhaps elect some officers. Mr. McCrea, I think, liv<
on Kickapoo lands, as I understood, and was not regarded by tl
Delaware squatters as a member of this meeting. 1 was not preset
art the meeting, but was sick, until after I heard Malcolm Clark
dead.
D. J. JOHNSON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 30, 1856.
Captain JOHN W. MARTIN called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver :
On the 17th of January, 1856, about 11 o'clock at night, I go
letter from Dr. Motter, of Easton, requesting us to come down the
and assist them against the free-soilers, who were going to drive the
out. I answered his note by telling him I apprehended no dangc
and he had better go on until they commenced to fight. About su
rise the next morning I received another note from him, saying tr.
one of their men named Cook had been killed by the free-soilers t
night before. I then went down to Kickapoo, and told the men wr
had happened, and showed them the notes, and we concluded, a go
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1027
many of us, to go out to Easton and see -vhat was up. We started
Off — citizens of the place, as they chose to go. I was asked if I was
going to call out the Kickapoo Rangers, and I said I was not. We
went about three miles from Kickapoo, and then stopped at the house
of a man named Kenedy, who lived on the military road. Some of
the men went on while we were stopping there. They had been gone
some five or ten minutes, and we heard them coming back in company
with another wagon. They came up and said they had caught some
men from Lawrence, who had been at Easton in the fight the night
before. That caused a good deal of excitement, and; some questions
were raised as to what we should do with them. Some of them got
into a fight with one young man who had been taken in the wagon,
by the name of Taylor. I was asked what we had better do with the
party, and I said that I thought it would be better to take them back
to Easton, and then we could see who they were. About that time,
Dr. Hotter recognised Mr. Brown as being the captain of the party
who were in the fight at Easton the night before. Some of the free-
State men in the wagon asked me what we were going to do with
them, and I told them we were going to take them back to Easton.
, They asked me if I would protect them, and I said I would, so far as
: I could. I requested Mr. D. A. N. Grover and Mr. Williams to get
1 1 into the wagon with them, to protect them from injury, they being
sober, discreet men. We then went on to Easton, and all of the free-
i State men got out of the wagon, and we put them in Mr. Dawson's
i j store for protection against some of the men who had got to drinking
-j and had become excited. Some were excited before we got there, and
belonged to the party who had been there the night before. We
I found no free-State men in Easton, who made any show of fight, as
; had been represented to us. I took Mr. Brown out of the room where
i we had placed him and his party, and took him into another room
. ! where there were some four or five of our party, in order that we might
i examine him, and decide what was best to be done with him. Dr.
- Motter questioned him as to what he (Brown) had done the night be-
fore. Brown went on to state that they had come to Easton to the
election to vote, and to defend the polls if necessary ; that he had un-
derstood that the Kickapoo Rangers, or the pro-slavery party, were
coming there to take the ballot-box away from them. He stated the
cause of the difficulty of the night before, to have grown out of the
fact that Mr. Sparks was going from Mr. Minard's house home, and the
news came to Mr. Minard's that Sparks had been taken prisoner, and
he went down with some 30 or 40 men to rescue him. They went
down and found Sparks up in a corner of the fence, with some 15 or
20 men around him. He demanded that Sparks should be given up,
and they did so, and he ordered the party who had Sparks to
inarch back in front of his party. They refused to do it, and told him?
to go before and they would come after him ; and they marched that
way about a hundred yards to where the road forked. He (Brown)
and his party took the left-hand road, and the other party took the
right-han'd road. He said that where the roads are about 40 or 50
yards apart, and the two parties were about opposite to each other,
there was a gun. fired, and he thought it was from the pro-slavery
1028 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
party, and he and his party then returned the fire. He said ther
were some two or three rounds exchanged, and all of his men ran off
pretty much, and went up to Minard's.
That, I think, is about the substance of what he said at that tim
about the matter.
When Brown had made this statement, the question came up as 1
what we should do with him. Myself and Mr. Elliott, Mr. Grove
and Mr. Burgess, advised them to bring Brown back to Leavenworl
city, and place him in the hands of the proper authorities her
There were others in the room at that time ; and I went out, and th
crowd asked what conclusion we had come to, and I told them. The
swore that would not do, because Brown would get away as McCrei
had, and they were determined to have Brown or shoot him. I to!
them that would be wrong and cowardly, as Brown was a prisone
and that I would be responsible for him — would take him back nr
self, and he should not get away. Several other men promised th!
same thing, and then went back into the house to get some other stead
men to go out and talk with the crowd, and try to pacify them ; am
they did so. While I was in the room some drunken men, some wii
lived out on the Stranger, some from Leavenworth, and probably or
or two from Kickapoo, but none who belonged to the Rangers, broi
open the door of the room and came in. Myself, Mr. Rively, and M!
Elliott put them out again. After the crowd got out, Mr. Elliot
who was an old gentleman, advised me to come out, as the cro^w
would kill me and Brown both. He said he would not stay there at
be exposed to such a set of drunken fools, and advised me to con
away. I went out in a few moments afterwards, and went into tl
other room where the rest of the prisoners were, and got them aw?
while the crowd was breaking the second time into the room whe
Brown was. I then went back into the room where Brown was, ai
the crowd succeeded in breaking in the second time. Some of the
caught hold of him and tied his hands with a rope, and some tried
shoot him. Mr. Rives and myself tried to protect him all we cou
by throwing the muzzles of the guns up and trying to take them aw*
from them. Brown said I had done all I could do to save him, an
if he was killed his blood would not be on my head. I cursed t1
men, and told them they were doing wrong, and declared if thl
would kill Brown in spite of all I could do, I would not stay to e
them do it. These men were not a company of which I had any coi
mand. The company of Kickapoo Rangers was not called out, ai
the only way I had any control over those who were there was by e
treaty and expostulation. I then went out of the room, and got r
horse and went home to Kickapoo, after having done all in my povi
to prevent any harm being done to the prisoners, and trying to
the sober men to put the drunken men in the wagons and bring
away. I did succeed in getting some of the more sober and di
men to come away.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
We started from Kickapoo for Easton about 8 o'clock.
Brown's wagon was brought up to Kennedy's, I suppose our
APFAIES. 1029
party consisted of about forty inen. Kennedy's is about fire miles from
Easton. Our party consisted of only such men as chose to go ; but
there was no organization. There were some seven of Brown's party
with the driver, I think. I think there were two wagons in one party,
and one was a four-mule wagon. Some of Brown's party, when we
decided to take them back to Easton, asked who was the captain of
our party, and some said that I was. Brown himself came to me and
asked me to take charge of his pistol, as I did also some of the others
of his men. ISoine of them gave their arms to others of our paity.
There were some of ours in Brown's wagon, and I think Taylor had
»Sharpe's rifle. After we got about a mile from Kennedy's, a man
the name of Green gave me his two pistols. I do not know
whether all of Brown's party gave their arms up or not. When
Brown's party came up to Kennedy's tirst with the tour or rive of our
party who had gone ahead o'f the rest of us, one of Brown's party,
wno said his name was Taylor, and a man named Gibson, got into a
fight. Gibson tried to strike Taylor with a hatchet, but not while
was down. I do not think Taylor was ever down on the
but only on his knees. When Gibson struck at Taylor with
hatchet Taylor ran away. I caught hold of Gibson as he was
nmning after Taylor and stopped him. I asked Gibson what he
nt, and he said Taylor had drawn his gun on him when they first
. When we started back, Mr. Adams, I think, asked me if we
going to take them back to Easton, and I told them we were ;
he asked if I would protect them, and I told him I would as far
as I could. I do not think the surrender of their arms was. connected
'with any condition or promise of protection. They were given up to
•ferent persons of our party.
Some of those men who tied Brown's hands, and were about him
when the crowd broke open the door the second time, were Sharp,
(Moore, and some two or three men they called Moore. Jo. Moore
(was one of them, though I did not know them ; and one by the name
ore, (Eli Moore,) from this place. He seemed to be pretty active
against Brown, and against what I desired to have done. There were
B*678 *n *ne room engaged in the affair that I did not know. I do
recollect of seeing Gibson there in the room. It was about sun-
when I left, and I do not think any one had harmed Brown
There was a great uproar about Brown in the room, and also
ide the house. As far as I could hear, Brown desired the crowd
ID follow my advice, and bring him back to Leaven worth. There
were more than a dozen in the room when they broke in the second
ame : but there were a great many outside. I have never heard any
•an say he struck Brown any blow, and I never desired to hear any-
tiling about the matter. I do not know whether the arms given up
>y Brown's party were ever returned. I did not keep the arms, but
*ave them to some of the men. Brown's pistol was sent for by his
rife, and I gave it to the messenger. Mr. Grove sent for his, and I
lad loaned them to some one, and had forgotten who had borrowed
•hem ; and I did not know the pistols. I sent word to Grove that if
ie would come up I would assist him in finding them.
J. W. MAKTIK.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1856.
1030 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
WILEY WILLIAMS called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I know nothing of the circumstances that led to the killing of
Brown. I lived in Kickapoo last January, but I went with some citi-
zens to Easton. As I went down to Kickapoo in the morning from
my house, Capt. Martin to]d me that he had received a despatch from
Dr. Hotter, of Easton, that there had been an election of the free-
State party the day before ; and about seventy-five men, commanded
by a Mr. Brown, had attacked, in the night, a party of pro-slavery
men, consisting of about fifteen, in the town of Easton, and shot at
and wounded Mr. Cook, who at that time was perhaps dead; and thai
this man said that there would be a hundred and fifty free-State mer
on the ground the next day for a fight. Capt. Martin said that then
were but few of the pro-slavery party in Easton to protect themselves — <
not more than fifteen or twenty he knew of in that neighborhood — anc
he thought it was right and just for us to go out as law-abiding citii
zens and stop the difficulties that might arise on either side. I tolc
him that I would go out as a citizen to assist in suppressing the diffi.'
culties, but that I would not go as one of the company of Kickapo*
Eangers. Capt. Martin said that it had been proposed to him bytw*
or three of the company, to have them called out to go as a company)
He had told them he had no right to call them out unless ordered by thi
governor, or some legal authority ; and therefore he should not call
them out. . I agreed with him in that opinion. I suppose some fifteen
or twenty of us started from Kickapoo for Easton ; some on horseback
some on foot, and one wagon, with about five in it. It is about te.
miles to Kickapoo from Easton. There were not more than six <
the Kickapoo Rangers in the fifteen or twenty who started with u
We went on about four miles from Kickapoo, and stopped at a Mi
Kennedy's, on the road, to warm ourselves. Before we got to Mi
Kennedy's, we met a wagon with two men in it, and they Burned the"
wagon and went back with us, after we had told them what we hear
had occurred at Easton. After we had been at Kennedy's a few mil
utes, Capt. Martin came tome and said, " Williams, get in our wage*
and go on with our boys — we will come after you ; there are two c
three of the boys drinking a little,, and as you do not drink any, yo
can see that they behave themselves. If you meet any persons on tt
road before I catch up with you, treat them gentlemanly, and ha\
no difficulty with them if you can help it." I started off with th
boys and wagon, and when we had got between half a mile and
mile, the wagon that had turned back to Kennedy's with us was aboi
two hundred yards ahead of our wagon. We saw a wagon pass thii
and come towards us with some six or seven men. I saw Mr. Hodgq
in our first wagon look back towards the wagon that they met, aDi
motion his hand. He immediately turned his wagon and came toware
us, some forty or fifty steps behind the wagon he had met, and whic
was coming towards us. When the wagon got within some five or si
steps of ours, I said to the boys, < c Boys, there's a party of the pro-slavei
men just from Easton. The difficulty is all over, and we will £
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1031
back. Levi, turn your wagon. ' ' Levi Bowman was driving the wagon,
and did not turn as I asked him to do, but said he did not believe
they were pro-slavery men. I told him, l fl know better; there is Mr.
Oldham driving, and I know him to be a good pro-slavery man."
About this time they got nearly opposite our wagon. I said to them
" How do you do, gentlemen?" being pretty confident that it was Mr.
Oldham. I said, " Is the difficulty over at Easton ? tell us the news/'
A man sitting in the wagon, whom. I learned afterwards was Mr.
Brown, did not make any reply, but turned around to the men sitting
back of him and looked pretty savage, motioned to the company with
i his hand, and they seemed to assent silently to something. I then
said, " Boys, I certainly am not mistaken ; that is Mr. Oldham, and
they are trying to play a trick off on us. " They moved very slowly, and
by this time had got a little past our wagon. I said to them again,
" Gentlemen, please to tell us the news ; we have started to Easton,
and if there is no difficulty at Easton we want to go back. Is that
Mr. Oldham driving, or am I mistaken?" This man Brown seemed
again to rule the company by a motion of his hand ; and nothing more
was said by any of the party. Brown's driver seemed to make a kind
of a halt. One of our boys said, "they are a set of abolitionists, and
will not give a man an answer when he asks them in that gentlemanly
1 1 kind of style." Two or three of our boys became excited; I told them
i to keep cool and say nothing — I would ascertain who they were,
i I then looked on the other side, and saw the other wagon — Mr.
| Hodges' wagon. One of the boys in that wagon took up his gun;
1 1 and hallooed to Brown's wagon, and told them if they did not stop he
j would shoot them. Brown's wagon was seventy-five yards, perhaps
I less, from ours. When one of our men said that those in Brown's
:j wagon were abolitionists, another of our men asked them if they were
abolitionists or pro- slavery men ? I heard no answer ; but one of our
| men said that he heard Brown say that he answered no such damned
I questions. When one in Hodges' wagon said that he would shoot
i them if they did not stop, Brown's wagon stopped, and seven men got
,;! out and faced about in pretty good order I thought, towards us, shoul-
; i der to shoulder. The driver did not get out. When Brown got out
i he held his gun about half presented, and the others not so much so.
Bowman, our driver, then picked up his gun and said he would shoot.
I caught him by his pantaloons and pulled him down on the seat.
When he put down his gun, I then told the boys to raise no fuss, and
: not to shoot ; that that was certainly Mr. Oldham, and they were try-
ing to play off a trick on us, and I would go and see them. Two of
the boys in our wagon said they were younger than I was, and they
would go and see who they were. I said, talk to them coolly. Find
out^who they are, and what they are after. Brown's party still kept
their ground. Our boys passed by them instead of talking, to them,
as directed by me. Brown and his party then started on foot and
followed our boys on towards Kennedy's. I then said, " Boys, we
will go on and see what they are after," &c. Some of the boys got
out of our wagon and went on foot, and when two or three of us in the
wagon got to Kennedy's, I saw Brown and his party in our crowd ex-
cept the driver, who was in Brown's wagon. One or two of the pro-
1032 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
slavery party were fighting them. Brown's party were not fighting
at all. Capt. Martin was trying to keep peace, and commanded our
boys not to touch them. I went to Martin and asked him not to let
those men he hurt, as they were in the hands of the pro-slavery party,
who greatly outnumbered them. Martin said he had been trying all
he could, but two of the boys were drinking,, and swore they would
have a fight. By this time a young man of Brown's party,, named
Taylor, whom one'of the pro-slavery men had been fighting, ran up
to me rather for protection. His cap was cut, as he said, with a
hatchet. He asked me what he should do ; and if they would kill
him ; and if he had better run. T told him no ; that the boys were
excited, and might shoot him, and I would protect him as long as
I could stand up, as he said he had been taken a prisoner. While we
were talking, I saw a man, whom I do not now recollect, running
towards Taylor with a hatchet in his hand ; and I saw Capt. Martin,
and Taylor saw him about the same time, and asked if that was Capt.
Martin ? I told him it was, and I called the Captain to me, and he
came towards me. I asked him not to let those men be hurt. He said
he would not if he could help it. I then called Major Berry, at which
time he seemed to be keeping some one from fighting one of Brown's
party. I asked him if he was assisting in keeping order, and he said he
was. Mr. Taylor and Capt. Martin were standing by me ; and Mr. Mar-
tin said to me that it was damned strange that two or three of the boys,
who had been drinking, and who had been the cause of the whole
fighting here, could not be kept in subjection by that crowd. The
difficulty there was then suppressed. Captain Martin selected two or •
three men — Dan Grover was one of them — to go into Brown's wagon
with his men, as they were taken back to Easton, and see that they
were not ill-treated. We all then went en to Easton ; and when we
got there, there were a good many of the pro-slavery party at the store
of Dawson — two or three drinking ; and there appeared to be a good
deal of excitement. One of them swore he would kill Brown ; that
he was the damned rascal that shot Cook the night before. I asked
how he knew that ; and he said he saw him do it. Brown's wagon
had got there, and he and his party had been put in Dawson's store.
I went into the store, saw Brown and his party there, and there was
no person saying anything to them ; but there was a great deal of ex-
citement outside. I went to a house about two hundred yards from
the store to see Mr. Cook, who had been shot. I went back to the
store in about an hour afterwards, and Brown and his party were still
in the store. About that time Brown was taken out of the store. I
did not see how he went. In about twenty minutes I went out and
asked where Brown was. Some one told me he was in Dr. Motter's
drug-store, adjoining Dawson's store. I asked what they were going
to do with him ; and that person said he did not know, but he be-
lieved they would hang him. About this time two men, I was told, whoi
hired about Easton, and had been in the fight the night before, came
up near the door and said that they might as well hang him ; if they
did not, they would shoot him. They had guns; and one said he
would shoot Brown, and said to the other, " I will go around to the
back window and shoot through now, God damn him." He was
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1033
pretty drunk at the time, as I thought. I followed him around, and
put my hand on his shoulder, and told him not to do so hy any means
in the world. By this time Captain Martin came up where I was,
and said to this man, " God damn your soul, if you do not stop tell-
ing about shooting, I will shoot some of you." I turned around and
saw an old gentleman hy the name of Elliott, and asked him what he
thought of the proceedings, and what they were doing in there with
Brown? Said he, " I do not know ; these drunken rebels are acting
so, I cannot get in there." I asked him what he thought ought to be
done? He said, " Why, we have laws here; I think we ought to
take him and have him tried before Judge Lecompton ; what do you
think of that?" I said that was decidedly my opinion, and that I
had consulted with Judge Kussell, and he and Captain Martin and
others were of the same opinion. Directly after that, I said I would
try to get into the house and see what they were doing. Squire El-
liott said he wished I would, and proposed that we should try and get
the boys home, and let Brown be dealt with according to law ; and
that from what he had understood., Brown had confirmed many to
hang him. I then went to the door. A man followed me there with
a gun in his hand, who I understood afterwards lived near Easton.
He said to me, cc If you go in there I will go in too, and shoot that
God damned abolitionist Brown, for I intend to kill him." I do not
think I learned his name. I did hear that it was a man named Moore,
so some thought from my description. I knocked at the door, and it was
immediately partly opened, and this man rushed in before me. Cap-
tain Martin was either in there or went in there about that time. I
stood at the door and saw Captain Martin catch this man's gun as he
said he would shoot Brown, and seemed to try to take it away from
him, cursed him and told him he should not shoot, and lhat he was
a damned fool. In the encounter Captain Martin and this man fell,
rather up against the house. I did not go in, but went away just at
that time. Directly I saw Captain Martin outside, and asked him
what we should do ? He asked what I thought should be done ? I
said that we should take Brown down to Leavenworth City and give
him up to the civil authorities. He said " I can't do anthing, nor you
either ; let us go home. Go and get in the wagon, and if any of
these drunken sons of bitches want to stay here let them stay. I have
done all I could do with them. But look around for the boys a little
and tell them we will go." I then went to see if I could find any of
the boys, and saw two or three by the door of the house where Brown
still was. One of them I knew, and he lived in Kickapoo. I asked
where our boys were that came in our wagon? He said he thought
one or two of them were in the house where Brown was. I knocked
at the door. It was opened, and I went in. They were then taking a
rope from off Brown's hands, which seemed to have been tied. Brown
was then standing in the corner, with some four or five boys standing
around, and some were talking rather harsh to him.- One of them
was named Sharp, from Kickapoo. The other I did not know, but
was told they lived about Easton. I said, " Boys what in the world are
you doing ? You have been fooling here all day, and it is now almost,
night and it is time for us to go home." Brown then said, speak-
1034 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ing to me, " My friend, can you do anything for me? I am in a
condition." I was just about saying something, when some thre
bad
^^^ three or
four persons got in between us, and I did not get to speak to him. I
then started out, and said, " Boys, let us go home. The only way ot
deal with Brown is according to law." I went out ; the first man I
met was Levi Bowman, our driver. I told him to get into our wagon
and we would go home ; and then he, Robert Wooding, and myself
got into the wagon, which was about fifty yards from the house where
Brown was.
After we had got in the wagon we saw a good many men around
the door of Dr. Motter's, where Brown was; and some one in the
crowd up there said, " Come here, Bob Gribson." Bob was then com-
ing towards our wagon j but when called, turned around and said,
" What in hell do you want with me?" The other one said, "Come
here, you and Brown are to fight ; and whichever whips, that shall
settle the question, and he has agreed to it." I saw some persons
then come out of Motter's office with Brown, and when he came out
there was a crowd some twenty or thirty about the office. They then
went across the road, taking Brown with them, and went behind a
log-house, as I supposed, to fight. The two men who were in the
wagon with me got out and went around there, leaving me alone in
the wagon, having asked me to go ; which I refused, saying, I did not
believe in such fighting, and I could do no good if I went and com-
manded the peace.
It was then between sundown and dark. After they had been gone
a very short tkne, I heard hollooing behind the house, " Hurrah for
Gibson," " Hurrah for Brown." In a short time after that, I saw
Brown come running towards the wagon I was in, his wagon being
close to mine, with the driver still in it. I said, "Come on, Brown, and
fet in." Several of the boys were close behind him ; and one3 1 do not
now who he was, struck Brown in the face and turned him around.
That was not more than ten steps from my wagon. As he turned, I
saw the blood spouting out of his head or neck, I could not tell which.
He turned and ran down the lane, and was pursued. Some person
fired a gun, but I saw it as it went off, pointed up in the air. Brown
was caught and brought back, put in his wagon, and we all then
started home, Brown's wagon going on with us. We stopped about
half a mile from Easton, at a grocery kept by Martin Hefness, and
Brown's wagon stopped also. I asked some of the boys if Brown was
hurt badly ; and some said he was, and he was bleeding very bad. I
had borrowed a large buffalo-robe of Dr. Motter before I started from
Easton, and while the boys went into Hefness' s I went to see Brown
in his wagon, and said, u Brown, how do you feel? Are you badly
hurt?" He said, " I think I am not very badly hurt, but I am very
cold." I then told him if he would accept of my robe, he was welcome
to it. He said he had a blanket over him, and he wanted me to keep
the robe, or I would get cold. I insisted upon his taking it, but he
refused, as he said I needed it myself. I then went back to our wagon
and got in it, and we went on towards home — Brown's wagon going
along before ours. When we got to Kennedy's, about six miles from
Easton, Brown's wagon and some of our party went the Leaven wort'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1035
road ; some of the Kickapoo boys went that way that I know of ; but
we all went on home.
WILEY WILLIAMS.
LBAVBNWOETH CITY, K. T., May 26, 1856.
ISAAC S. HASCALL called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I came into the Territory in 1854 and went up in the neighbor-
hood of Fort Riley, and settled there. In the spring of 1855 — I think
the first part of March — General Pomeroy came up there, saying he
was looking out locations for the men coming out under the Emi-
grant Aid Society, and concluded to settle a quantity of them at the
mouth of Blue river, and made arrangements with a Presbyterian
minister from Illinois, named Blood, with regard to their coming on.
Shortly after that a party of some forty or fifty came in from the New
England States, by the way of Lawrence. After staying a short time
with the party, he left to bring up more recruits. He came back with
a few more, and then left again for the New England States. He said
he was paid by the Aid Society to lecture in the East to drum up per-
sons to come to Kansas. He said his object was to make it a free
State. A Methodist preacher from New Hampshire, of the name of
Lovejoy, was one of the men who came out with Lincoln. He said
he came solely for the purpose of making Kansas a free State ; that
he did not like the country, but would remain there for that purpose.
Lincoln said he had a free pass to go back upon ; that he went free ;
that it did not cost him anything. This company, in connection with
a Cincinnati company, mobbed Osborne, and drove him off his claim.
There was a company who came from Cincinnati, chartering a boat
by the name of " Hartford," and called themselves the Cincinnati
Land Company. They were free-State men. Osborne came on and
made a claim near the mouth of the Blue river, and they said that
unless they ousted him immediately he could hold his claim by law.
They alleged against him that he was a pro-slavery man ; that they
never could associate with him ; that they must get rid of him soon
or he would hold his claim by law, and consequently they would use
force to make him go. The first company that came on from the
New England States were the oneis who took the most active part in
this matter, and the reverend Mr. Lovejoy was the noisiest one among
them. He said that he wanted none but his kind of men to settle in
that country ; and the substance of what he said was, that they would
rid the country of that kind of men if they could. Osborne made his
claim about the time this company got there. I have no knowledge
of his claim conflicting with any claim that was there. A man by
the name of Russell went on the claim the winter before, but he left,
and said that he did not intend to come back again, as he was dis-
gusted with the country. I do not know whether he had anything to
do with this company or not, or whether he sold the claim to them or
1036 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
not. Osborne did not go on the claim until after Russell left ; and
there was no conflict that I know of between Osborne and Russell.
The company collected in a force of thirty or thirty-five men and
went upon the claim where he was at work, and forcibly seized him
and took him off. Before they gathered this force I was down near
where the boat " Hartford" lay, in the Kansas river, and I heard
this man Lincoln advise the men generally to mob him, as that was
the only way to get rid of him. The substance of their desire to get
rid of him was, that he was not a man of their stripe, and they did
not want any such man there. I think there were five preachers in
the crowd who had a hand in getting this thing up — four Methodists
and one Presbyterian. After seizing Osborne and taking him by
force down to the boat they kept him a prisoner for a while, and then
let him off. They told that if he left, and did not show his head again,
his neck would be safe, but if he did come back they would do some-
thing serious to him. Osborne had a friend by the name of Garrett,
living up on Blue river, and he went up there. Garrett' s brother
was a clerk on the boat " Financier," which lay above, in the river.
He went up to that boat., and when on his way back they arrested
him, without claiming to have any legal warrant to arrest him upon
any criminal charge. They made an allegation against him as a rea-
son for arresting him the second time, that he had threatened the life
of Captain Miller for the proceedings the day before. And as Os-
borne stopped at my house and took dinner the day before, they
thought, I suppose, that I could give some evidence against him, and
they came out on the claim where I was at work, and demanded that
I should give evidence against him. One man on each side had hold
of Osborne' s coat-collar, pulling him along, and one behind was
pushing him along, and one was walking before him, swinging a
cane over his head. In this manner the man was brought up to
where I was at work. I refused to give testimony against him until
they showed some authority for doing so. They said they had ar-
rested him, and intended to deal with him, and threatened me when
I refused to give testimony against him. I demanded their authority,
and they gave me to understand that their authority was in their own
strong hands. They tried to intimidate me, and get me to state some-
thing that they alleged I knew against him. After some parley, I
gave them to understand that I knew nothing against the man.
They then carried him back to the boat in the same manner they had
brought him up to where I was. They put him in the cabin, and
stationed a guard over him. I followed the party to the boat when
they took him there. There was a man from Arkansas camped a
short distance up the river, and I went after him to get him to assist
Osborne. The people said we were making some stir in the matter ;
and they brought his horse down, and brought Osborne out and told
him if he left it was all well and good, but if he did not they would
fix him. Osborne then left, and has not been back there since. One of
the Cincinnati company stated that they intended to regulate matters
in that part of the country, and if a man settled there he would have
to come under their regulations. When Osborne was brought up to
me, one of the company was riding Osborne' s horse around as if try-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1037
ing his speed. This company have now staked out Oshorne's claim
into a town, called Manhattan. I have never known anything against
Oshorne ; he seemed to he a young man of intelligence, and moved in
the hest circles in the Territory. I think Oshorne's given name was
W. J. or J. W. Since that time he has heen made postmaster at
Wyandott.
I understand, from the company these four methodist preacher
came with, that they came from the New England States. I came
from New York, where I was horn, to this Territory.
Cross-examined hy Mr. Sherman :
Mr. Oshorne was from New York, I think from Schoharie county.
I came from Erie county. The Manhattan Town Company came from
Cincinnati. They set up some claim to the land after they drove off
Oshorne. They claimed that they got their claim from this New Eng-
land company. They allege that Oshorne had jumped the claim he
was on. I did not understand from them that the question had heen
tried hy a squatters' court, and I think it had not. There was a case
subsequent to that where a person was driven off his claim hy this
company ; I "believe it is not an unusual thing for disputes to arise and
for men to he driven off their claims in this Territory. Osborne
claimed to he a strong pro-slavery man at that time.
To Mr. King:
The New England company they claimed to get their title from
was the one that came on under Lincoln. The Cincinnati company
came in there as a separate organization, hut united with the New
England company afterwards. I heard of no pretence hy that com-
pany of holding a title under Kussell. They claimed it hy a gift from
some of their own party.
ISAAC S. HASCALL.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 5, 1856.
PETER T. ABELL called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I, with a number of persons of Atchison, of this Territory, was at
Lawrence a few days ago with the United States marshal's posse. During
the time we were there, some of the gentlemen of the posse from my
town picked up those letters, with a number of others, and other papers,
near the big hotel, and handed them to me. The papers that were
with those letters were notes and bonds, and other letters, directed,
some to A. H. Keeder and some to Grosvenor P. Lowry. The reason
that I am not willing to surrender them — but have prepared copies for
this investigation — is, that I have been requested to give them to
the atttorney general.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
I did not regard the letters in any light at all when I received them,
1038 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
either as private or otherwise, for they were handed to me while I
was then in the posse, and I took them and heard them read ; and the
gentleman who read the letters said, that, as Keeder was one of the
persons the marshal wished to arrest, he thought it right to look into
his letters after hearing his letters read. I supposed they were private
letters, written "by Keeder to Lowry, hut I had no regard about them,
as there was much confusion there. Many were about there at the
time, and I took them when they -were handed to me. I have ex-
hibited the letters to others since then. I do not know as I can recol-
lect all who have seen them. They have been read since they came
into my possession ; and I do not recollect of but two or three indi-
viduals who have read them since I came back here. I do not know
the private relations between Mr. Lowry and Gov. Eeeder. I have
heard, since I came here, for the first time, that Mr. Lowry was Gov.
Keeder's private secretary. The question of the propriety of exhibt-
ing these letters has never been raised by the persons I have shown i
them to, or who have heard them read. At the times the letters were
read, it was said that Keeder was one of the very men the marshal
wished to arrest ; and he was generally regarded as the instigator o1
all the devilment in the Territory, and anything was fair witli him.
I exhibited them, after I ascertained they gave no clue to his where-
abouts, merely because I thought they were evidence to show Seeder's-
connexion with the disturbances in the Territory, and for no other
purpose. All to whom I have shown these letters have taken the
same view I do with regard to the propriety of exhibiting them ; at:
least, I judged so, as nothing was said against it. Under ordinary,
circumstances, I would be the last man to examine private letters. II
have shown the letters to my private friends, but I do not think [ ami
called upon to say who those persons were. Others of my private
friends I have refused to show them to, even since they have beeni
brought before this committee, and read before this committee ; andi
I would suppose that at that time there were some twenty or thirty
persons present when they were read. I th^nk a man named Palmer,,
of Atchison, picked these letters up in the street, near the the hotel, andi
I think before the hotel was destroyed, though I will not be positive
about that. I do not know that Gov. Reeder's trunk was broken open,
though I heard that one of his trunks was found. I do not thinks
these letters were taken from his trunk, though they may have been.
When Mr. Palmer handed me those letters, some one — I do not knows
whether it was Palmer, or some one else — said these letters were im-
portant ones, and should be preserved. When I received them, I un-
derstood them to be letters from Gov. Keeder, for some read out his«
name at the bottom of some of them. When the property was being
carried out of the hotel, I was in a room with Gen. Pomeroy writing,
and when I came out they were handed to me. They appeared like ai
parcel of papers put up in a hurry when I saw them, and saw that 5
some of them were directed to Lowry and some to Keeder, and looked i
as if the papers of both persons had been hurriedly tied up together.
All those papers, except some I have here, were sent to Atchison with
the company that went from Atchison ; and I think they are now at
Weston, Missouri, to be returned, so far as the valuable papers a»e<
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1039
•
concerned, to those to whom they "belong, if they can be found. I
cannot say in whose possession they are now. I heard of no money
"being found with the papers. I did not read any of them myself, hut
merely heard others read them ; and I never took possession of any
hut these letters. I did not see or hear of any letters to Keeder then
from his wife. The papers were read before the crowd, and one
article on free-love, said to be in Keeder 's handwriting, which seemed
to cause some amusement. I did not hear of there being any letter
in this bundle from Mr. Eeeder's family.
I do not think there was any particular authority for taking the
bonds and papers to Weston ; but I took them there myself. I will
not tell in whose custody I placed them, because I think it has nothing
to do with the letters brought here. No communication has been made
to Mr. Keeder, or any of his family, at Easton, Pennsylvania, in
regard to these papers, to my knowledge. This bundle of papers was
picked up in town, taken to camp, and then read by some persons in
the camp ; after which they came into my possession for the first time.
In the foregoing testimony, I do not mean to convey the idea that
these letters were read to the whole crowd in the town as soon as
they were picked up, for I did not hear any of them read until after
we went back to camp.
P. T. ABELL.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 27, 1856.
1040 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
MUKDER OF DOW.— RESCUE OF BRANSON.— SIEGE OF
LAWRENCE.— MURDER OF BARBER.
The following testimony in regard to the homicide of Charles W.
Dow was taken in secret session :
WILLIAM McKiNNEY called and sworn.
I reside in the Territory, at a place called Hickory Point, on the
Santa Fe road. I have resided there since the first Monday in De-
cember last, I think. I lived within four miles of where I now live
since last May, at Willow Springs, and lived there at the time Dow
was killed. I was at work on my house where I now live on the day
that Dow was murdered. I saw Mr. Dow that morning some two
hours before he was shot ; that was the first time I saw him that day.
The next time I saw him he was coming from the blacksmith's shop, on
•ihe Santa Fe road, towards my house where I now live. Mr. Coleman
was standing at the corner of the house, where I was at work, witli'
a bouble-bar relied shot-gun. As Mr. Dow got opposite the house.
Mr. Coleman was standing at the corner, of the house. He left ano
went out towards the road where Dow was passing. I called to Mr.
Coleman to hold on a little, that I wanted to see him. He observed, ]
will see you again this evening. They both went off down the road
together towards Coleman's house. When they got opposite his house
I heard a gun fired down there, and I looked and saw the smoke ol»
the gun, and Mr. Coleman throwing the gun on his shoulder. I ob-
served to my son, " I wonder what Coleman is shooting at." The-
place where Coleman was, when I saw him throwing his gun on his'
shoulder, was some three hundred or four hundred yards from where'
I was.
Some time before this, Harrison Buckley came up to where I was at]
work on my house, inquiring for " the third man/' calling no
names. He came from towards Mr. Hargous's house. I just observed
to him, " you must have been drinking this morning, and your eyes
are in an eclipse, and you cannot see." He turned round and went
off towards the blacksmith's shop. I heard some loud talking in the
direction of the shop, which is west of my house, in sight.
The first I saw of Mr. Coleman that day was between ten and eleven]
o'clock in the morning. He was going westward toward the black-*'
smith's shop. He met Mr. Buckley, Mr. Hargous, and Mr. Wagner,
as I thought, about half way between my house and the blacksmith's
shop. They seemed to be conversing for some time, but I did not
hear anything that was said. Neither of them had a gun at that
time, as I remember. Coleman went north across the prairie towards!
a Mr. Runnell's. The next thing I saw of Mr. Coleman was, he was.
coming from towards Mr. Hargous's, and came up to my house where j
I was at work at the time I have before mentioned. He observed to,
me, "you will soon have your house done." He had a double-bar-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1041
relied gun with him. I heard the report of the gun sometime between
twelve and two o'clock. When I saw Mr. Coleman throwing his gun
on his shoulder he was nearly opposite his house, which is about
i one hundred yards from the road. Some little time after that I and
j my son went down to the grocery, which is nearly opposite the black-
; smith's shop, to eat our dinner. There I heard from John Bradbury
what had taken place that morning between Dow and Buckley at the
blacksmith's shop. While we were eating dinner, Mr. Buckley came
to the grocery, and said to me, " Mac, did you hear that gun down
the road ?" I observed that I did. " Well/' said he, " there is a
man lying dead in the road." I observed to him, " I reckon not,
Buckley." He said, " you can go and see for yourself." While we
were in conversation a Dr. Chapman came to where we were, and
Li got in conversation with him concerning the matter. I observed to
him, " I believe I will go down there." Chapman said, " I would
not go nigh them. You know how it is here. They do not like you
'very well for building on this claim here, and you might be in a little
'ganger yourself." That was the reason I did not go to take charge
pf the body of Dow.
About the time Dow passed my house, and Coleman started after
uim, Mr. Harrison Buckley left the blacksmith's shop and came follow-
ing along the road, passed my house, and went on after Coleman and
"Vow ; and about the time the gun was fired he had come up with
Ihem nearly opposite Coleman's house. At the time I saw Coleman
throwing his gun on his shoulder, I saw Mr. Buckley and Mr. Wag-
ter on the ground, off their horses, exchanging them — Mr. Buckley
LJaving passed my house on Mr. Wagner's horse. I saw no other
.person there at that time.
I Mr. Dow had a claim adjoining Coleman's, but being an unmarried
Mian, he lived at Mr. Branson's, about a mile or a mile and a quarter
Northeast of Colemau's house. Branson's claim is north of Dow's
Maim, and Dow's is east of Coleman's, and mine is south of Coleman's.
largous did live at that time on the claim I now live on. Hargous
fcas from Missouri. Wagner was from Kentucky. Buckley was from
Missouri. Coleman claimed to be a Virginian by birth. I am from
Missouri to the Territory, but originally from Kentucky. I came to
'llissouri four years ago last fall. Dow was from Ohio.
1 Coleman and Dow did not speak to each other at the time Dow passed
»y house, and I do not know that they spoke on the road. I did not
le Dow's body in the road, but saw blood where he was said to have
wen found, some fifteen or twenty-five yards from where Coleman was.
•len I saw him throwing his gun on his shoulders. Dow was not
Jmed, so far as I know, but had in his hand, as he passed my house,.
'jmat I took to be the skane of a wagon.
jlSome time during the last winter Mr. Coleman was at my house, and
Md me that he was the man that shot Dow. That was early in the
''-jbrning, about 8 or 9 o'clock. James P. Saunders, Samuel Clark,
rjld one or two others I do not recollect, were there at the time he
jijd this. He said that he did it in self-defence. He observed this:
>m am the man that shot Dow, and nobody else had anything to do-
-*Wth it, and I did it in self-defence."
H. Rep. 200 66*
1042 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Dow's body was not removed from where he fell until some tim<
between sundown and dusk. As I was going home I saw a company
in the road, where his body was, making preparations to take it away
as I supposed. His body was afterwards removed to Mr. Branson'i
house, and taken charge of by him, as I understood. He was kille<
on Thursday, the 21st day of November, and buried, I think, on th«
following Saturday. At the time of the murder, a man named Mooch
was at work at Coleman's.
Mr. Coleman's house was burned on the night of the 26th of Novem
her, 1855. Mr. Buckley's house was burned about daylight on tl
morning of the 27th of November. On Sunday before the burning
Coleman's house, Mr. Moody took a portion of Mr. Coleman's furnitur
and loaded it in a wagon, and started, as he said, for Missouri,
man by the name of James Campbell took Mrs. Coleman and her chil
or children, in his carriage to Missouri. The rest of the plunder w
left, as I was told by my son, in his charge and that of a Mr. Jone
I was present at a meeting of persons — many of them I knew to "
citizens — held at the place where Dow was killed, on the 26th
November. I did not hear any resolutions that were passed. I
not know who was chairman of the meeting. They asked for ii
formation in regard to the murder, and I gave them some ; but n
near so much as I have told here. Since the time of the murderi
have seen Coleman passing along Hickory Point several times. I
not know as he has ever assisted as deputy sheriff, or that he was
•the arrest of Branson.
I saw Mrs. Jones, who lives about four miles from where I nc
live, passing along by my house, towards Mr. Coleman's just after M
.Buckley, and just before I heard the gun fired.
WM. McKINNEY
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 2, 1856.
SALEM GLEASON called and sworn.
I was present at the blacksmith shop, near Mr. McKinney's, on 1
'21st day of November, 1855. I drove up to the blacksmith's slj
gome time between 12 and 1 o'clock. I heard hard words, and he*
the blacksmith, a Mr. Poole, say he would not have such words i
his shop, and they must go out of doors. I heard him say, " 1
Buckley, if you cannot behave yourself, go out of the shop. I v
not have such words in the shop." I then went into the shop, i
saw Mr. Buckley and Mr. Dow there. The blacksmith was mend:]
a small wagon skane for Mr. Dow. The conversation lowered as s<
as I stepped into the shop. They soon had the wagon skane and ly
pin fixed. Mr. Dow paid for his work, and left in the directi
his house. Then there was something said between the black
and Mr. Buckley. And the blacksmith, Mr. Poole, said, " Wh
you not shoot him then?" Said Buckley, "I hated to shoot a
on hearsay ; but if he has said it, I'll be damned if I won't shoot
yet." Buckley's gun was then cocked at both barrels ; it was a
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 1043
ble-barrelled shot-gun. He said he cocked it to shoot him. He then
left the shop, and started on his horse in the direction after Dow.
When he took up the gun, which was sitting near the door, it was
still cocked. I left the shop very shortly after Mr. Buckley did. He
went east and I went west from the shop. Buckley took his gun with
him. Some three or four hours after this there came along a team-
ster who lives at or near Council City, named Henry Smith. He in-
formed my son that a dead man lay in the road east of the blacksmith's
shop a little ; he did not say how far. I started for my horse, which
was some eight or ten rods from where I was. I mounted him, and
rode up to the place where the body lay, some mile or so from where
I started. I saw the murdered man, Who was Dow, lying with his
head in the wagon-track and his feet on the side of the road, with the
skane and lynch-pin still in his hand. When I came in sight of the
corpse, there were some eight or ten men standing over him. As
soon as I got, as I supposed, so as to be seen by them, they left. In
this company I recognised Mr. Poole, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Buckley, and
Mr. Hargous. The company, all except one or two, had guns, mostly
double-barrelled shot-guns. There seemed to be a couple of young-
sters in the company who were not armed. Mr. Poole came directly
towards me as I was going up. I observed, " Buckley has shot Dow at
last." " No," said Mr. Poole, " It was not Buckley, it was Coleman."
I did not get off my horse when I reached the corpse, but I saw the
blood running from his neck, his mouth, and nose ; and saw the blood
on his breast. I merely stopped to look at him a moment, and then
rode past him and went to Mr. Branson's, where Dow made his home.
I informed them there that Dow was shot. Mr. Branson was a good
deal alarmed at the news, and said he wished me to go on and give
information. I rode from there to a Mr. Hopkins' to inform them.
But my daughter had got there before me and informed them. My
health would not permit me to ride any more, and I returned home.
1 noticed two shot-holes in Dow's neck as I was looking at him.
I was not at the meeting called at the spot where Dow was found.
Mr. Poole left ttie neighborhood about that time, and, I think, is now
in the State of Missouri. Coleman has been backward and forward
since that time, during this spring, to Washington creek, which is
about six or eight miles from where I live ; generally with a pretty
strong guard of from six to eight men with him. We knew nothing
of where he was for some time after the murder of Dow. Dow was
buried on the Saturday afterwards. At the grave, just after it was
filled up, a motion was made by a man named Farley to burn the
house of Coleman, who had left his house, with his family. I told
them, saying, " Here is this man murdered, and for us to go to doing
such a thing as that, it will operate against us. It will be better to
fetch the offender to justice than to destroy property." The per-
sons there fell in with me, and argued not to do it. Dow was not
armed when he left the blacksmith's shop ; and I know he owned no
small arms. He had there nothing in his hand but the wagon skane,
which is a piece of iron about 12 or 15 inches long, between a quarter
and a half-inch wide, and perhaps a quarter of an inch thick, and is
used to go over the end of the axle-tree where the wheel goes on, and
1044 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
the lynch-pin is passed through, it. Dow was considered a peaceable
citizen. Dow made his home at Branson's, but I think there was no
relationship between them. Their claims adjoined. I am myself a
native of New York, but emigrated from Pennsylvania to the Terri-
tory. Poole left his shop and the neighborhood shortly after the forces
began to gather on the Wakarusa. I believe the Mr. Farley I have
mentioned came from the State of Missouri. Coleman's house was
burned some few days after Dow was buried. Farley was still in the
neighborhood when the house was burned, but left shortly afterwards.
SALEM GLEASOK
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
THOMAS BREESE called and sworn.
I live about three miles from where Coleman lived last fall, and
about the same distance from Dow and Branson. I was at home at
work at the time Dow was killed. For some five or six weeks pre-
vious to the death of Mr. Dow, H. H. Buckley used to visit my house.
On one occasion, as he was sitting at my dinner-table — he, his wife,
and two other neighbors were there — he commenced with his great
threats on the abolitionists and Yankees; what they would do with
them; how many they would shoot down, and so forth. I named to
him, as he got my feelings rather warmed, " Mr. Buckley, the way to
shoot down the abolitionists Fand Yankees is, to use them well, and
when you go to the polls, then give your vote, and let them do the
same." His wife was sitting present, and ordered me to say nothing
to Mr. Buckley on that occasion whatever, and let him alone ; and let
him do what he pleased, and no matter what he did, he belonged to
a society that, if his property was destroyed, would give him three
times as much more. I got up from my own table, and told her, if
that was the game, just go ahead, I should say no more. After I got
up from the table, Mr. Buckley observed that he meant to shoot the
paunch of old Branson and Dow, because they were abolitionists, and
would steal his niggers. That led to our neighborly intercourse being
broken up. I heard no more threats from Mr. Buckley. I heard of
the murder of Dow about the dusk of the evening he was killed. I
had a daughter that had stopped at Buckley's, and they had sent my
horse home. I put my horse away, and started to see after her, .and
she came running up to the yard fence ; and I asked what kept her.
She stated that Mr. Buckley had gone out hunting, as his wife said,
and she wanted her to stay with her that night, as she did not think ;
Mr. Buckley would get home. "And," says she, "pap, they have •
killed Mr. Dow, and he is lying in the middle of the road alone,
about opposite Coleman's."
I ran then afoot just as fast as I could. When I got there, the «
body had just been removed to Mr. Branson's house. I saw the <
puddles of blood in the road. I then turned back home. The next .
morning I went to Mr. Branson's, and saw the body of Dow there. I
helped to dress the body, and saw the wounds. There was one slug
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1045
went into the jugular vein on the left side, and one in the jugular
vein on the right side of the neck, entering in front. There were four
shots went into his "breast on "both sides, just ahove the pit of his
stomach, three of which went clear through his body, and lodged in
the back of his coat. These slugs were scattered, two on each side, a
short distance apart, some six inches below the wounds in the neck.
The slugs that passed through his body were of lead, and looked as if
they were made of lead beaten out and cut off; were of irregular
shape, and are now in the possession of Mr. Branson. We buried
him on the Saturday following.
I was not present at the meeting at Hickory Point. I emigrated
into the Territory from Missouri nearly two years ago, but was born
in Montgomery county, Maryland. I lived some years in Kentucky.
I first saw Buckley in Johnson county, Missouri, but had no personal
acquaintance with him until he came into the Territory. I first saw
Coleman at Hickory Point. I first knew Dow at Hickory Point, also.
I first knew Branson here in the Territory; he came here from Indi-
ana. Dow was one of the finest young men I ever got acquainted
with — a quiet, peaceable man, and worked for me a great deal.
THOMAS BREESE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
NICHOLAS McKiNNEY called and sworn.
I was at work with my father on his house on the day Dow was
killed. I saw Coleman on that day, between 12 and 1 o'clock, as he
came to our house. I saw Mr. Dow before noon, about 10 or 11 o'clock,
going towards the blacksmith's shop ; and I saw him returning in
about an hour and a half with a small piece of iron in his hand. He
said good evening or good morning, I forget which, as he passed and
went on towards his house. Mr. Coleman was at our house as he
passed, and he started after Mr. Dow just as he got opposite the house,
ind I saw them going off side by side. I went to work on the house
a-fter they passed, and was chinking the house. I saw Mrs. Jones go
oy a few minutes after they left, in the same direction. I kept at
vork until I heard the report of a gun, and looked and saw the smoke
>f it. Coleman was standing some fifty yards or so from his house. I
aw the flash and smoke of Coleman' s gun, and saw him throw it, first
»n his arm and then on his shoulder, and then turn off towards his
jaouse, I should think, that from where Coleman stood when I saw
dm to where Dow's body was found, was some thirty or forty yards.
Buckley passed our house just behind Mrs. Jones, riding on horse-
'ack. When I turned around at the report of the gun, Buckley had
;ot off his horse, and was standing near Coleman, and Hargous was
here at the same time on foot. When I looked around, Mrs. Jones
78,8 about fifty yards this side of where Dow's body was found.
Mr. Buckley came riding up on his horse from towards Mr. Har-
ous's, about 10 or 11, and had a double-barrelled shot-gun with him.
Vhen he rode up near the house he called out, " where is the third
1046 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
man?" I told him there was no third man there. My father said
to him, that he had too much liquor in him. He said he reckoned
not, and then turned away and went towards the blacksmith's ship.
The next time I saw him, was when he went on after Coleman and
Dow. When Coleman went off with Dow he had a double-barrelled
shot-gun in his hand. I first saw Coleman on that day in the morn-
ing, about 8 or 9 o'clock ; he had no gun with him then, and was on
horseback. When he and Dow went off from our house, which was
the next time I saw him, they were on foot. Something like half an
hour after that I heard of the death of Mr. Dow, from Mr. Buckley,
I was then in a grocery near the blacksmith's shop, and Mr. Buckley,
rode past it and went to the shop, then turned back to the grocery
and said there was a man lying dead by the side of the road. He
asked me if I heard the report of the gun, and I told him I did ; thai
was all I said to him. I did not go down to Dow's body, or to the
funeral.
I was at the public meeting held at Hickory Point, in relation tc
the murder of Dow. I think there were about 100 persons there, and
it was held at the place where the murder was committed ; the men
standing in a circle around the spot where Dow was found. I do noi
think any steps had been taken to arrest Coleman at the time of th(
meeting. I heard he was then down- at.Shawnee Mission, or in Mis
souri. He has never, that I have heard of, been arrested since then
and has been at large ever since. I do not recollect much about thi
resolutions passed at the meeting at Hickory Point ; I cannot identif
them. I never heard Coleman or Buckley say anything about tha;
affair afterwards. I do not recollect of ever hearing Coleman say any]
thing about any difficulty between him and Dow. As Coieman ami
Dow went off from our house together, I noticed that they kept get I
ting further and further apart,
NICHOLAS McKINNBY.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
JOHN C. DAVIDSON called and sworn,
I live about eight miles from here, and about four miles fro
Hickory Point. I know Mr. Buckley and Mr. Coleman and M
Hargous, and had seen Dow once or twice before he was killed. Sin
Dow was killed, I heard Mr. Buckley say, that on the day of t
difficulty he went to Mr. Hargous to help him kill a beef. At diiiDJ
time Mr. Coleman came to Mr. Hargous' with his gun, and look]
rather mad ; and when asked to eat some dinner, said he did not w
any. They asked him what was the matter ? And Coleman sai"
had been driven off his claim. There was nothing more said a
it then; and Mr. Buckley said that after he got through dinne
got on his horse and went to the grocery near Mr. McKinney's t
some tobacco and a horn. From the grocery he said he went to
blacksmith's shop. At the shop he found Mr. Dow. Some one
told Buckley, so he said, that Dow had said something about
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1047
but lie did not tell me what it was. He and Mr. Dow, he said, talked
the matter over, and Mr. Dow denied ever saying anything of the
kind ; and he told me that everything was right between them then.
He did not tell me how he got to where Dow was killed, and he did
not tell me he was there. He said that after Dow was killed, a Dr.
Chapman came on, and Coleman said he wanted to give himself up
and have a fair trial ; and Chapman advised him to go to the governor,
who was then at Shawnee Mission, and give himself up. Buckley
said that Mr. Coleman wanted him to go with him, and he went to the
Mission with him. But he said if he had known he would have been im-
plicated in the matter by going with Coleman, he would not have gone.
Buckley told me that Coleman had shot Dow— that Mr. Dow had driven
him off his claim. He said that before this, Mr. Dow had had his claim
marked out, and when the reserve line was run, it threw Mr. Dow's
claim over on Coleman's claim. Mr. Coleman was engaged in the
burning of lime, and Mr. Dow came and told him to stop ; and he
would not do it. And Dow went down and got Mr. Branson ; and
when Coleman saw them coming, he left. He told me that Coleman
had shot Dow, but did not say how it came about. He told me that
the controversy about the lime kiln took place the day of the murder.
There were no witnesses subpoenaed in our neighborhood, and no ex-
amination made of the charge against Coleman that I know of.
JOHN C. DAVIDSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
(The secret session was here closed.)
THOMAS BREESE testifies :
It was some time in March, 1855, that Lewis Farley was living on
a claim near Hickory Point, with his family. In the first settlement
of the Territory the squatters met and made a law that every settler
might hold two claims — a prairie claim and a timber claim, of 160
acres each. I was at their meeting of the 15th of August, 1854.
They wanted me to vote upon the subject ; and I told them I should
not vote, because I had not taken a claim, and had no right to do so.
After they had voted on that proposition, they then agreed that the
claimants were to be upheld in their claims at the risk of life, death,
property, or what not. I then told them that I did not think the
squat law could rule the government. Mr. Farley was by, and made
a proposition to the meeting to support him in the holding of claims
for his father, brother, and brother-in-law ; arid they agreed to do so
unanimously. He said his father and brother and brother-in-law had:
been out here and made their claims, and were coming back ; and I
know that they did come.
After that Mr. Farley built a house on each of those claims. Men
came on them afterwards and jumped those claims, leaving him in
possession of his own claim. In the latter part of the winter, or the
first of the spring, in 1855, a little squad came up from Missouri. I
advised Farley to relinquish his prairie claim, and go on upon his
1048 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
timber. He did so. When the squad came up they told him he ha(
to leave that timber. He told them he was the first claimant there
and had relinquished his prairie claim. The}7 undertook to compro
mise with him, and coaxed him out to Willow Springs, to go before ai
referee. There had been a foundation for a cabin made on the claim, ,
which Farley had torn down. He was not seen by his family for
some time after he went up to Willow Springs. One of the mob, my
near neighbor, said to me, " They had run off Farley — the stinking:
scoundrel; and now they would starve out his wife and children."
Some time after that Mrs. Farley came to my house crying, and II
found that the house had been torn down. The main leader of therm
was, I think, a Mr. James Morrison, who lives about two and a half!
or three miles from Westport, with whom I talked. He gave as thei
reason for tearing down Farley's house that he was a free-soiler, andi
claiming more land than he deserved. Mr. Farley and his family
finally left the neighborhood.
Cross-examined by Colonel Woodson :
Lewis Farley was from Indiana. James Morrison, near Westport,,
and his son George Morrison, and Coleman,, (who was charged withi
killing Dow), a man called Ripeto, Thomas Hopkins, and Joe Lager,,
and a number more I do not know, were engaged in this matter. Of!
these men, Coleman and Hopkins lived in, the Territory then. Ripeto
told me that they tore Farley's house down. Farley was on the claim i
when I came into the Territory. The house that was torn down wass
finished about a week before. The one that Farley tore down was at
cabin not finished, put up by a Mr. McKinney, so Farley told rne.
To Mr. Sherman :
Ripeto said about Farley, " The damned abolition son of a bitch,
he intended to kill him." I learned from the company that they had
mobbed Farley at Willow Springs.
To Mr. Reeder :
This was just before the March election, and the company did not
leave the neighborhood until after the election ; at least I saw them
at the election in this district. I want you to understand, gentlemen,
that I am a pro-slavery man, and voted the pro-slavery ticket ; but I
want to see things done fair.
To Colonel Woodson :
I heard from Ripeto and Morrison that they had mobbed Farley. I
saw James Morrison here at the election of March, 1855. Morrison i
was the only one of the mob from Missouri that I saw at the election.
Lager lives at Hickory Point. Hopkins lives close by me. I do not t
know whether Ripeto is living in the Territory or not.
THOMAS BREESE,
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1049
WILLIAM McKiNNEY testifies :
I understand that Eipeto makes his home at John Wells', near
New Santa Fe, Missouri. Bipeto said to me, "we have torn down
Farley's house ;" and he told me that some 150 persons had camped
on the claim he was claiming at that time. Kipeto said also, " They
have given Branson notice to leave there, and that damned old abo-
litionist is so badly scared that he dares not step out 50 yards from his
house to cut a stick of timber for firewood." I saw a party start out
from Missouri towards the Territory a few days before the election,
the 30th of March, and they returned in five or six days. My eldest
son, Wilday McKinney, was along with them. I did not hear them
say that they were coming out here to vote, or why they were coming.
It was after the party returned that my son told me that Farley's
house had been torn down on that trip. That party went to Sweet-
zer's creek, some 28 miles from Hickory Point, as they told me.
There was but a small party of them, and they went out in two-horse
wagons. I understood from them that an election was held at Sweet-
zer's creek on the 30th of March.
WM. McKiNNEY.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
WILDAY McKlNNBY called and sworn.
I was at Hickory Point last fall, the day after Dow was killed. I
was down in the State of Missouri the day Dow was killed,, and left
Westport the evening of that day. I stopped at a place that night
on Indian creek, and Colemari came in after I had been in bed some
time. I waked up as he came in, and raised up in my bed and asked
him what was up, and he said nothing particular ; that was all that
was said that night between us. The next morning he told me he
had killed Mr. Dow — that he had shot him. I don't think he told
me anything more about the matter then. He said he was going
down to Westport and to the Mission to give himself up. I then
went on home. I live with my father, William McKinney, and keep
the grocery he spoke of in his testimony. The day after I got back
Mrs. Colernan sent for me, to see me as to what she had better do, to
go or to stay there. After some converation, she concluded to go to
Missouri. I helped to load most of her furniture and things into a
wagon ; some things were left there. About a month after that I
saw Mr. Coleman again, but he said nothing about Dow at that time.
Some other time after that Coleman told me that on the day Dow was
killed, in the morning he and Moody was down fixing a limekiln, and
Branson and Dow came up with their guns where they were, and drew
them on them, and ordered them off. He then left and went up
home, he said. He saw Mr. Dow in the evening again, and Dow
made at him with a wagon skane, and he shot him.
WILDAY McKiNNEY.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
1050 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
DANIEL T. JONES called and sworn.
I know F. M. Coleman. I have heard of the death of Charles W.
Dow, of Hickory Point, last fall. I saw Mr. Coleman some time the
last of November in company with Mr. Buckley, about half a mile west
of Westport, Missouri. He told me there at that time of the death
of Dow, and that was the first I had heard of it. I had a slight per-
sonal acqaintance with Mr. Dow. Coleman told me that he had killed
Dow — that he had shot him. He gave as a reason, that while he was
at work on his own claim, cutting timber, Dow had come there and
forbade him to cut any more. He also said that Dow had threatened
to kill him, and he thought that one or the other of them had to die,
and therefore he had shot Dow. Coleman said, when I saw him, that
he was going to see the governor of the Territory to give himself up,
after he had been to Westport and got some legal advice. I have
never seen Mr. Coleman since that time. I was well acquainted with
Coleman. So far as I saw ot Mr. Dow, he was still and quiet. I never;
saw anything wrong of him. I never saw Dow intoxicated in nrp
life. So far as I know, Coleman was a man of temperate habits, and
I think he was a peaceable man, for I never saw anything to thei
contrary.
D. S. JONES.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
Mrs. ALMINA JONES called and sworn.
I live at Hickory Point, in Douglas county, in this Territory.
lived there last November. I did not know Charles W. Dow.
know there was a man shot there, and I saw him shot. I did no
know at the time the man who shot him. I was travelling at th
time I saw him shot. I do not recollect the day of the month upoi!
which this was done ; but it was during the latter part of November
I was between Mr. Coleman's house and Mr. McKinney's, just paa
Mr. McKinney's, going towards Mr. Colernan's house. I did nc<
hear the report of the gun, as the ground was frozen, and the buggn
made so much noise ; but I saw the smoke of the gun, and sa>
the man fall. The one who shot him then went into Mr. Coleman'
house. I passed by where the man that was shot was lying in th
road, but I did not know who he was. I did not notice particular!!
those persons until I saw the smoke of the gun and the man fall
When the gun was fired, I should think those persons were some 2
or 25 yards apart. When I drove by, the man seemed to be deadJ
lying perfectly still. I noticed him particularly, to see if I knei
him. I did not see the man who shot after he went into the hous<{
I was acquainted with Mr. Coleman before the murder, but w
1
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1051
the gun was fired and I saw the man fall, I was not close enough to
see who it was. I have not seen Mr. Coleman since that time.
I know Mr. Buckley. I have never heard him say anything ahout
the murder. I know Mr. Hargous. I have heard him speak about
the murder several times. At the time of the murder I saw Mr.
Hargous going from his house across to Mr. Coleman' s, and he was
in sight of the murder at the time.
When I passed the body it was lying on the back ; his left hand
lying on the breast, arid the right arm stretched out somewhat, and
lying on the ground. I saw a little blood on his chin. I live about
three miles east of where this occurred. I saw no weapon about or
near the body as I passed it.
ALMINA JONES.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
HORATIO OWENS called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I moved into Kansas Territory the 8th of June, 1854, and settled
at Hickory Point, in the 1st district, and have resided there ever
since. I know something about the difficulty between Coleman and
Dow. There was no political excitement there at that time. There
were persons of both parties residing there, and their opinions were
well known. I know the time when the difficulty between Coleman
and Dow took place. Immediately after the death of Dow there was
a company of armed men gathered near Coleman's house. They
wished to hold a meeting to see what course they would pursue. I
understood the object of the meeting was to devise some plan to get
possession of Coleman,, in order that they might be revenged on him.
Mr. Coleman was advised by some of his friends, Dr. Chapman and
others, to leave the neighborhood, and give himself up to the
authorities of the Territory, as his life was in danger if he remained
there. He did leave, and gave himself up to the sheriff of Douglas
county. After he left the neighborhood, there was a company of
armed men, more or less in the body at different times, from ten to
forty men. After they held this meeting in the evening, Mr. Cole-
man's house was set on fire, and then put out by the company. That
night the house was fired again, arid burned down. Buckley's house,
in the ^neighborhood, was burned the same night. I do not know
who did it. Every thing Buckley had in his house was burned. Mrs.
Coleman did succeed in saving a portion of what was in Mr. Cole-
man's house. The band was travelling around through the country.
I have seen them, and I had a conversation with two of my neigh-
bors who were present at the first meeting. I never had any conver-
sation with Mr. Branson about it. At that time and afterwards the
two parties separated, and the free-State and pro-slavery men looked
upon each other as unfriendly. As to Coleman and Dow, they never
had any arguments about political affairs ; but the difficulty grew
out of a claim. The free-State men have come there in the neighbor-
1052 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
hood and settled there, and said that they had the numhers to hold
their claims ; that if they found a piece of land they liked they aimed
to get it. This was the talk among the free-State men at different
times. The first time I saw S. N. Wood, was at Lewis Farley's
house, near to me. He came there in a two-horse "buggy, and his
vife and child was with him. He was a stranger to me. The first
word he spoke after he came into the house where Mr. Farley, myself,
Mr. Bounds, and Mr. Johnson were, was to inquire who owned niggers
in that neighborhood. Mr. Farley told him of several who owned nig-
gers, and among, others, said that Mr. Owens, pointing to me, owned a
nigger. Wood remarked, that if he was a nigger he would not serve his
master an hour after he came into the Territory ; that it was a free
country, and niggers were free the moment they were fetched there.
I told him if he was a nigger and belonged to me, and attempted to
cut up any of his shines, I would would whip him like hell, and make
him behave himself. His wife then spoke, and begged us not to say
anything more about politics, and have no disturbance. Nothing more
was said then, and Wood got a bite to eat, and drove off with his
family. The feeling among the pro-slavery men at one time, at the
time of the difficulty between Coleman and Dow, in that neighbor-
hood, was, that they wanted the actual settlers to vote themselves,
and settle the question of slavery for themselves. It was the general
talk among the eastern men, in my neighborhood, that they had the
numbers. They made their boast and brags about the pro-slavery
men, and said that they had better send their niggers away ; that
they had the men, money, and power to make Kansas a free State,
and they were determined to d'o it, at all hazards. They spoke in
this connexion, as I understood them, of the Emigrant Aid Society,
who were helping men to come here for the purpose of making Kan-
sas a free State.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
These conversations I speak of, and the first talk I heard of the
Aid Societies, was in October, 1855. There was no political difficulty
in the neighborhood before the difficulty between Coleman and Dow;
but after that it sprung up, and has been getting more bitter ever
since.
To Mr. King:
It was the talk about the Aid Society of the North, and the making
Kansas a free State, at all hazards, that served to create this political
feeling.
HORATIO OWENS.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 6, 1856.
F. M. COLEMAN called and sworn.
To Mr. King :
I am a native of Virginia, and emigrated to California in 1850, and
from. California to Kansas Territory, stopping in Missouri some three
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1053
months, in 1854. While in Missouri I was proprietor of the Union
Hotel, in Kansas City. I came into the Territory in September,
1854, and settled at Hickory Point, in the first election district. I am
the individual who had the difficulty with Mr. Dow, which resulted in
his death. Mr. Dow's claim and my claim joined — his on the east and
mine on the west. Our claims formerly were occupied by other per-
sons. Dow took possession of the claim formerly belonging to a Mr.
White. I moved my house five hundred yards or more from where it
stood, in order to be more convenient to the timber, for fear that the
lines, when they came to be run by the government, should be be-
tween me and the timber, and throw me entirely on the prairie.
There was a conditional line between me and Mr. Dow, which was
mutually agreed upon ; and it was agreed upon by the people of the
neighborhood that such lines should stand until the government lines
should be run. I cut timber on this claim of mine from May, 1855,
until late in the fall, and had no difficulty with Mr. Dow, as regards
our claims, until after the Shawnee reserve line had been run. This
reserve line was some two and a half miles east of my claim. Some
two or three of the neighbors, Dow among the number, run off their
lines from the half-mile stones placed on the reserve line, supposing
, that the government survey would make those half-mile stones corners
of sections. A majority of the neighbors protested against it. Jacob
Branson and Mr. Dow, seeing that these new lines would be advan-
tageous to them, surveyed their lands off so that they would run over
on my claim and the claim of Mr. Hargous, which joined me on the
north. Branson went to Hargous, where he was at work on his claim
with some five or six men, Dow being one of them. They threatened
I him and prevented him from cutting timber on his claim, so far as
; they claimed. I had burned one lime-kiln on my claim, and was pre-
paring to burn another the week after I had burned the first one. Mr.
Moody was working with me. Mr. Dow came to me one day about
ten o'clock, and said he wanted me to stop cutting timber. I told him
1 was inside of our conditional lines, and was not interfering with his
claim. I showed him I was one hundred and fifty yards inside of rny
claim, according to the conditional lines. He said he had never made
any lines himself, and that, according to the Shawnee reserve line, he
i would be thrown over on my claim some two hundred and fifty yards
j further than by the conditional line. I told him that I had been con-
| versing with the surveyor who had run the reserve line, and was well
j satisfied that it would have nothing to do with the government sur-
\ Tey, and that the laws of my country protected me in holding that
I )ortlon of my claim. He swore he did not care a God damn for the
•saws of the country, and that I should quit cutting timber on that
I^art of the claim. He said, " God damn you, you think you will get
•ill the timber off the claim and let me pre-empt the bare rocky land."
then offered to make a compromise with him. I tolcl him the dis-
j ance he wished to claim cut ine out of the timber entirely, and that I
I ould not make a support for my family without timber for farming
I'urposes. He said he did not care a God damn ; that I had made my-
I slf very meddlesome at the time he had taken possession of the claim
»:6 then occupied. I told him I had been appointed as one ot a com-
1054 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
mittee to investigate the burning of White's house, and asked him if
I had not told him that I wished to live neighbors with him, and that,
if he was not concerned in the burning of White's house, my door was
always open, and he would be a welcome guest. He said I should!
stop cutting timber there. I asked him how he would stop me? He:
said he would stop me in a way I would not like, and that if I was-
not careful he would break my hide. Mr. Moody asked Mr. Dow if!
he would let us have that kiln of lime we were at work upon? Dow»
said he would see about it, and then he left. No one was with Dowv
at that time, and he had no arms with him. Mr. Branson and Dow
came up towards us in an hour or so afterwards, with what I supposed
were Sharpe's rifles, and I left before they got up. Out of this diffi-
culty about the claim resulted the first difficult}r, which resulted in
Dow's death.
There was no excitement in the neighborhood at that time, and nc<
hard feelings between persons there in relation to political matters^, sci
far as I knew. There were no hard feelings between me and Dow asd
regarded politics — so far as I was concerned, at all events. I inyselj
was indifferent in regard to whether Kansas was made a slave Stat
or a free State. I was willing for the bona fide settlers of the Terri
tory to settle that matter for themselves, and was willing to abide b
the decision they made.
The reason I left the kiln when I saw Branson and Dow coming up
was that I knew Branson was an avowed enemy of mine, and ha<
heard he had made a great many threats against me. Dow lived wit
Branson at that time.
For the alleged charge of killing Dow I came to the Shawnee Mis
sion and surrendered myself into the custody of sheriff Jones, of th"
county in which I resided, the governor directing that I should I
taken before a magistrate of my county. I was carried by the sheri
to Bull creek, and there met an express warning me of the danger <
going back into the neighborhood to appear before the justice, thei
being a large armed force there greatly excited. I returned back i
the governor, and he then ordered the sheriff to take me to Lejomj
ton, 'before Judge Lecompte. The sheriff took me to Lecompton, am
I was there in the custody of the sheriff some eight days. Judge L<
compte did not arrive there. My witnesses did not appear on accouu
of the excitement existing in the country, and I requested to be L
go to the Wakarusa camp, where Squire Saunders and some of m
witnesses were. Being unable to get witnesses to appear, to fully ii
vestigate the matter, Tgave my recognizance before Squire Saunders
appear before the circuit court of Douglas county, and so far us
know that recognizance is in force against me yet, and I stand reac
to answer the charge. I attended at Lecompton at the last circuit.
the Douglas county court, and saw Governor Shannon and Judge L
compte, and told them I wanted the matter investigated. The tin
appointed for the investigation was about the time Governor Keed
resisted the officers. The court had been in session there more thai
week. I told them I wished to have the matter investigated, and
not safe in travelling through the Territory. My reasons for tel
them so, was that I had been shot at several times, and just b
KANSAS AFFAIES. 1055
that I had been shot at more than twenty times by men from Law-
rence,, somewhere between Lawrence and " Blanton's bridge." Be-
fore this, during the fall before, I had been attacked by twenty-three
men, and my mule was shot, but I escaped. I was bound to be there
when the investigation took place, and I wanted it over as soon as
possible. The matter has not yet been investigated, because the court
adjourned on account of the excitement in the county.
To Mr. Howard :
The amount of bail fixed in my recognizance was five hundred dol-
lars. It was signed by Mobillon McGee and Thomas Mockaby. I
was at the Wakarusa camp several days, going there from Lecomp-
ton. I took no part with the forces there, and merely remained there
for my own protection. I never had any appointment tendered to
me in any of the companies, and took no part in it. The time I was
shot at by twenty-three Lawrence men was while I was going from
Lecompton to the Wakarusa camp. I was right opposite Lawrence,
on the California road. I cannot say what their names were. Mr.
Miller, who was then holding office under Robinson and Lane, told
me afterwards that it was reported in Lawrence that night that I had
been shot at, but they did not think they had killed me. They shot
my mule at that time, but I escaped. I know these men were from
Lawrence ; because they told the picket guard of Franklin so about
ten minutes before I met them, which was after dark, about 8 o'clock.
I think Mr. Dow died on or about the 24th of November. I do not
recollect the day of the week. The interview I had with Dow at the
lime-kiln was about ten o'clock in the morning. I am not willing to
answer any more questions in regard to this matter, only so far as its
political bearing is concerned. I saw Mr. Hargous and Mr. Buckley
and Mr. Wagner that day, after my first interview with Mr. Dow.
I went to Mr. Hargous's house, and there was no person at home ;
and I then started from there over towards Mr. McKinney's. About
three hundred yards from Mr. Hargous's, I met Mr. Hargous, Mr.
Buckley, and Mr. Wagner. I told them I wanted them to go with me
down into the timber, to establish the line between Mr. Hargous and
myself, as we had never had any line established between our claims. I
told Mr. Hargous that Mr. Branson and Mr; Dow had run me away
from where I was at work; and as there was no conditional line be-
tween Hargous and myself, I wanted it established that I might not
intrude upon him. He said he had not time to go just then, but told
me to call at his house in a short time, as he was going down into the
timber to receive some corn he had bought from Mr. Wagner, and
Mr. Buckley was going along to kill a beef. They went on to Mr.
Hargous's, and I returned home. Some time afterwards, on that day,
I returned to Mr. Hargous's house, and these three were there.
Wagner asked me if I had let Branson and Dow clear me out. I told
him that they had. They insisted on my sitting down and eating
dinner, which I refused. They said they would accompany me
down to establish the line between Hargous and myself, as it was
the way they were going. ' l3uckley started, saying he would go
to the whiskey shop and get some liquor, and then meet us at my
1056 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
house. After he had heen gone some time, and while the rest were
not ready to leave, I told them I would go on and meet Buckley, and
meet them at my house. I did not see anything more of them until
after the final difficulty with Dow. There was no agreement and un-
derstanding between me and Mr. Buckley that he should go to the
blacksmith's shop and pick a difficulty with Dow; for I had no idea he
knew Dow was there. I did not myself know that Dow was there.
I saw Mr. liargous, Mr. Wagner, and Mr. Moody together after the
final difficulty between myself and Dow. I heard afterwards that
Dow had been at the blacksmith's shop, and had had some difficulty
with Mr. Buckley. The difficulty between Dow and myself was in no
way a political one. The politics of Hargous, Wagner, and Buckley
were pro-slavery at that time. Mr. Moody was a free-State man. I
was at Lecompton a prisoner when Branson was rescued ; and I have
never had any office or acted as an officer in Kanzas Territory. I
had accepted a commission from Governor Shannon as justice of the
peace ; but in consequence of the difficulty between myself and Dow,
I threw up my commission.
F. M. COLEMAK
WESTPORT, Mo., June 5, 1856.
JOHN M. BANKS testifies :
To Mr. King :
I live in the same neighborhood where Golem an and Dow lived, be-
tween whom there was a difficulty, which resulted in the death of
Dow. About the time Dow first came to the neighborhood I made a
claim, Mr. Coleman being there at that time. There was a house
burned on a claim of William White,, who was a free-State man. The
day after the house was burned this Dow commenced to build another
house on that claim. Some of the neighbors went up to Mr. Dow to
see who had burned the house of Mr. White, being a committee ap-
pointed by the neighbors to see who had burned the house. Mr. Cole-
man and myself were on that committee. We talked to him about it.
He said he did not burn the house. He was asked if he knew who
did burn it, and he would not answer. Mr. Coleman and he then got
to talking about it, and Mr. Coleman remarked that if he, Dow, did
not burn it, and had no hand in it, and knew nothing about it, he
could answer it quietly, and also told him that if a man wanted to
live peaceably in the neighborhood he would not engage in such things
as that. And so they got to talking about it, and at last they really
seemed to get into a quarrel about it. Mr. Coleman told him this :
" You deny doing it yourself, but will not say you' do not know of its
being done, and I think such men as those are dangerous in the country.
We have come here to make our homes and settle here, and we do not
want any houses burned ; we want to live peaceably and neighborly
here in the community. ' ' Just as we started away, Mr. Coleman turned
round and said, " Mr. Dow, we are strangers here together, and we
wish to live peaceably with every person." Dow said that was all
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1057
right; that he did not burn the house ; and then Coleman said, Let us
live like neighbors and put a stop to all such things as burning of
houses." Dow said that was the right way to get along.
There was very little said about the slavery question just about this
time ; it was not an exciting subject at all. Dow was living at Jacob
Branson' at that time, and I do not think they were on good terms
with Coleman at all after this matter -of the burning of White's house.
Before the house was burned Coleman and Branson were not on good
terms, having had some difficulty and a neighborhood law-suit about
a claim. I never heard Dow say anything about it ; but I heard
Branson say Coleman had better keep out of the window and away
from abouthim, and that if he did not he would hurt him. I never
heard Dow say anything about Coleman. Coleman and Dow's claims
joined, when they made their claims there first. When Dow first
came there Coleman was living on a prairie claim, and after Dow had
made his claim Coleman went over on an adjoining claim to Dow's.
The one that Coleman went on was marked out before Coleman went
on it, and before Dow settled on his ; and when Dow went on his
claim he respected the lines of the claim that Coleman afterwards went
on. I think It was in May 1855, that Coleman went on that claim,
and I heard of no difficulty at all about the lines until in the fall,
when the Sbawnee reserve lines were run. I helped Coleman to cut,
timber on his claim, and no one disputed his right to do so. The re-
serve line did not interfere with either of their claimsT and one or two
of the neighbors, who lived right along their lines, who considered,
the stones put up by the reserve surveyor would be corners of sections,
got a surveyor and had their lines run off so as to correspond with.,
their stones on the reserve line. In this way Mr. Dow's claim was.
thrown some two hundred and fifty yards on to Mr. Coleman's claim.
A majority of the neighbors protested against the lines being altered'
so as to correspond with their corner-stones. Dow claimed in to the*
new lines on Coleman's claim a strip of some two hundred and fifty
yards wide of timber land. Coleman insisted upon the line that they
had fixed upon when they first settled there, but said when the gov-
ernment survey was made he would agree to whatever line was then
made. Coleman had a lime-kiln on this disputed strip, and I had
helped him to cut timber there before they undertook to section ize the
country there, and had burned one kiln there and made use of the lime
without any objection being made by any one to it, and he was pre^
paring the second one, when I understood the difficulty arose on that
account ; but I do not know the particulars about the difficulty only
as I have heard from there.
Late in the evening that Dow was killed I heard of it. I was sick
and not able to go up, but I went up to Coleman's the next morning.
Just as I was starting I stopped in a neighbor's house, and there
were some fifteen or sixteen men came in from around, and asked me
if I had heard anything of this murder, and I told them I had. They
asked if 1 knew where Coleman was ; 1 said I did not, but had heard
that he had gone down to the governor to give himself up. They
then started off and went in the direction of Coleman's house, saying
they were going to hunt Coleman, though they did not say what they
H. Rep. 200 67*
1058 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
were going to do with him. They did not say anything about having
any legal authority to arrest Coleman. I went along up after them
to Coleman's house, and after we got upon the prairie, Mr. Hargous
having joined me by that time, we saw they were about a quarter of
a mile from Coleman' s house, where they were joined by a party of
about as many more, who came up from the timber, in the direction of
Branson's. All these went on up to Coleman' s house, and stopped at
the fence. Three men went into the yard, and walked up to the door
and opened it, and one of them went in. I rode on past them, and
went over to Hargous's house, where Mrs. Coleman then was. I was
there some half an hour, and on looking up towards Coleman's, I
saw these men there yet. They were all armed, principally with
Sharpens rifles, some with common rifles. Mr. Branson was among
them. Mr. Hargous and I walked over to a grocery, about a quarter
of a mile off, and were there a little while, and I looked up towards
Coleman' s house again, and saw these men about half-way between
Coleman's and Hargous's, going towards Hargous's. Some ten or
.•fifteen stopped between the two houses, and the rest went on to Har-
g'ous's house. Mr. Hargous, a Mr. King, and I went over to Har-
gous's house. When we got near the house these men left it, and
came towards us. King and I were walking foremost, and we passed
those men, but they slopped Hargous. King and I walked on to
the house, where we were told these men had been in there searching
for Coleman. Hargous was detained a good while by these men,
about four or five rods from the house. I heard them talking to him
as I stood in the door. I heard Branson ask him if he knew where
Coleman was. Hargous said he did not know where he was then,
but he knew he had started to the Shawnee Mission to give himself
up to the governor. Branson said Hargous lied; that Coleman had
not gone down there. Hargous said he had started, for he knew it.
Branson insisted that that was not so ; that Hargous knew where
Coleman was, and had helped to murder Dow. I could not hear
what else Branson said, but I heard Hargous say, " Gentlemen, you
have got me in yonr power, and you can kill me, but you cannot
make me tell a lie." I saw no officer of the law there at all. The
men then went over to the grocery where we had been. I left there
and went home. After the men had left the house of Hargous, Mrs.
Coleman requested me to go or send some one down to see Mr. Cole-
man. She said she knew Mr. Coleman would go down to the gov-
ernor and give himself up, get bail, and come right back ; and then
these men would meet him, and kill him. I told her I would go
down, and I started early the next morning, Saturday, down to see
Coleman. I met Mr. Coleman about seventeen miles from Hickory
Point returning with Mr. Jones, the sheriff, who had him in cus-
tody, as the governor had told them they had better go back before a
justice of the peace, and have the matter investigated. I told them I
thought they had better not go up there then, as there was consider-
able excitement, and many men were there under arms. Mr. Jones '
said he did know what to do, but he thought he could go up there in
safety. I told them again, I thought the better plan was not to go
there at present, as I had seen some thirty or forty armed men hunt-
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
1059
ing for Coleman. I had passed Bull creek, coming this way, about
four miles, when I met them, and I turned and went back with them
to Bull creek, and stopped there all night. Jones came to the con-
clusion that it would be better to go back to the governor, and decide
upon what course should be taken, and I went back with them to
Gov. Shannon's. Gov. Shannon advised the sheriff to take Coleman
to Lecompton. Mr. Jones started with him to Lecompton, and I
went on with them until we got opposite to Lawrence, and then left
them and went into Lawrence. Mr. Babcock and I were personally
friendly, and he advised me not to go back home, as there were some
200 or 300 men in arms, who had had a meeting there that day to
investigate the killing of Dow. I said I did not suppose there was
any danger, but he said there might be a good deal. He said the
men that had went over there said they were going to kill Coleman
and all his friends. Mr. Babcock is a free-State man, and the post-
master at Lawrence. I started and went home. I met several between
Lawrence and Hickory Point, some twenty or thirty in all, going to-
wards Lawrence. Some of them I knew to be citizens of Lawrence.
They were armed, but did not molest me as I passed them. After I
got home some ten or. twelve men came down by my house, and some
of them told me they had been at the meeting at the Point. They
were also armed, some with Sharpe's rifles and some with other guns.
These armed men were free-State men. One pro-slavery man by the
name of Jones was with this party by my house, but he had no arms.
I said to these men that I had heard they had had a meeting up on
the hill by Coleman 's claim. They said they had ; and I asked them
the nature of the meeting. They said they had met for the purpose
of finding out how the murder was committed, and to hunt Coleman.
I told them I could tell them where Coleman was, and that I had
left him near Lawrence that morning, and he had gone on to Lecomp-
ton in the custody of the sheriff. This was on Monday. Coleman' s
house was burned that night. I saw the remains of it the next morn-
ing. While I was looking at the remains of Coleman's house, I saw
smoke rise in the direction of Buckley's house, and found out after-
wards that Buckley's house was burned. While these men were at
my house, on the evening before Mr. Jones was with them, I asked
the men if they were going to commit any depredations, as I had heard
they were to burn the houses of all the pro-slavery men at the Grove.
One said he did not know anything about that. I asked Mr. Jones
if they had committed any depredations on Coleman' s property ; Mr.
Jones, said that some of the men had set the house on fire, and others
had put it out. The men were a little off on one side when Jones
told me this, and they went away then. These men who were going
about armed were free-State men, and Branson was the leader of
them. I saw a Mr. Dexter, Mr. Cant well, Mr. McAllister, Mr. Chap-
man, and a number of others. As far as I knew them they were free"
State men, except this Mr. Jones, who was with them at my house on
Monday. Mr. Buckley was a warm friend of Mr. Coleman' s, and
had gone with him down to the governors. Coleman's and Buckley's
houses were burned on the same night. I never heard Mr. Coleman
Bay much about his opinion upon the slavery question. I heard him
1060 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
say frequently, that he wished Kansas to come in as a State, upon a
fair vote of the people, and if it was made a free State, and negroes
were excluded, he would he satisfied.
When the government came to survey the lands upon which Dow's
and Coleman's claims were, Coleman's claim was thrown some 250
yards over on what Dow's claim was when he first took it. The
squatter lines were only to stand until the government lines were
run.
JOHN M. BANKS.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 4, 1856.
JACOB BRANSON called and sworn.
I came into this Territory in March, 1854, and stopped down in the
Wyandott nation, and staid there until August, 1854, and then
moved out to Hickory Point, and have heen theie ever since. I came
to the Territory from Indiana. Mr. Dow came to my house in Feb-
ruary, 1855, and went on his claim, backwards and forwards, from
my house, until just hefore the election in March", 1855, and then came
to my house, and remained there all the time until he was killed.
Mr. Coleman lived nearly a mile from my house at the time of the
murder. There was no previous difficulty between Dow and Coleman,
hefore the one that took place the morning Dow was killed. Coleman
and Dow used to speak together when they met. On the morning of
the 21st of November last, Dow and I went down on his claim to set
a log heap on fire, to burn some lime, which we did ; and after re-
maining a while with him, I returned home, and Dow went off to-
wards the blacksmith shop to get a wagon-skane mended. The skane
was a piece of iron about 12 or 14 inches long, for a common lumber-
wagon, and was very thin and very much worn. It is hardly an inch
wide, and not more than an eighth of an inch thick. About half
an hour after I left him, he came back to my house, and complained
that Coleman and Moody were on his claim cutting timber. He asked
me to go down with him, as Coleman refused to leave when he had
told him to do so. I did so, and took my gun along ; but Dow re-
fused to take his with him, although I endeavored to get him to do so.
He went back with me with nothing but this skane in his hand. We
went up to where they were at work, and, before we got there, we
saw Coleman leaving, when he was about a hundred yards from the
lime-heap, going up a hill. We were from 50 to 100 yards from the
lime-heap when we saw him. Moody was still there, and after some
talk with him, I returned home, after trying to persuade Dow to go
back with me and get his gun, which he refused to do, or even to go
and get a pistol.
Dow went off towards the blacksmith shop. This, I should think,
was about 11 o'clock in the morning, and I never saw Dow alive
after that. I first heard of his death in the evening about four or five
o'clock, when the sun was about half an hour high.
Mr. Gleason was the first man who told me Dow was killed. I
I
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1061
learned from him that Coleman had killed Dow just above in the road.
I understood from Mr. Gleason that Coleman had come down towards
my house, with some persons with him, and I was afraid they would
attack me, though I have since learned that I misunderstood Gleason.
I remained in my house, expecting an attack, my wife having left for
the neighbors', and I stood there, with my gun in my hand, about an
hour. I had before this time become so uneasy about Dow's long ab-
sence, that I had come up from my house by the log-heap into the
road, and went up so that I could see the blacksmith shop, and, as I
afterwards learned, from 100 yards to 150 from where Dow lay dead.
I saw Coleman, and five other men I did not recognise perfectly, come
from towards Mr. Hargous's house across the road, near where Dow' 8
body was lying. I took those with Coleman to be Hargous, Buckley,
Moody, and two other men — I could not tell who they were. They
went into Mr. Coleman's house. Then, as I stood watching che black-
smith's shop, I saw two men coming from that direction, and going
by Dow's body within a few steps, pass into Mr. Coleman's house also.
I saw no more stirring, and after waiting awhile, I went back home
some other way ; though I was afraid something had happened, or
would happen, from what I bad seen of the actions of these men. I
did not know, at that time, that Dow was killed ; and though I was
near enough to have seen something lying in the road, yet, as I did
not expect it, and my eye-sight was rather bad, I did not see anything.
Nearly an hour after Gleason had come to my house — and it was
getting quite dark — Moody came to my house, and told me that Dow
was killed. I asked him who killed him, and he said Coleman. I
asked him if he saw Coleman do it, and he said he did. Then I asked
him how far he, Moody, was from Coleman when Coleman killed Dow,
and he said he thought he was pretty near a hundred yards off. Then
I asked him how near Coleman was to Dow when he shot him, and he
could not tell exactly; but it was not less than 25 nor more than 50
yards. Coleman was behind Dow, he said, and bursted a cap at him,
without discharging his gun. Dow turned round, and he saw Dow
raise his hand and motion with his finger to Coleman, as if he was
talking earnestly to him ; but he could not hear what was said. He
said that Coleman put another cap on his gun after Dow turned round,
and then raised his gun, pointed it towards Dow, and fired, when
Dow immediately fell backwards, a little sideways, and he did not
see him move afterwards.
I asked him what Coleman did then. And he said, nothing but to
walk to his house. I asked Moody why he had not let me know
about it sooner. He said he thought some of the rest of them had
come down to let me know. I asked him who else was by when Cole-
man killed Dow, and he told me that Wagner was along with him.
Moody and Hargous were a little behind. Then I asked young Hop-
kins, who had come to my house about the same time that Moody had,
if he would go along with me. He said he would, and then I and.
Hopkins and Moody went up the road where Dow's body was lying.
After we got there, Mr. Hargous and a young man, who I think was also
named Hargous, came along with part of the running gear of a wagon
1062 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
without the body, drawn by a yoke of oxen, and stopped where we
then were.
The body was lying mainly north and south across the road, the
head in the road near the centre, and the feet along a Ittle angling
towards the side of the road. His hands were lying little from his
body, as he was lying nearly on his back, but a little towards the
right side ; and the wagon-skane was lying on the fingers of his
right hand, as it was lying open, with a leather glove on. Without
examining his body, we put it on the wagon and took it down to my
house. After we got there, we laid out his body and took off his
clothes, and saw where he was shot.
There were nine slug holes, eight in his body and one in his arm.
One went into his neck — and there might have been .two — and the
rest in his breast, scattered from the pit of his stomach up above for
fully twelve inches. We did not notice at the time that any went
through the body ; but when we took up his clothes, two or three
slugs, I do not know which, dropped out. They were bloody, and
had lint from his clothes on them. They were preserved, and my wife*
has them now. They looked as if they were not run, but cut off a
square piece of lead, and then rounded a little. I should think they
would have run about 100 or 150 to the pound.
We buried him the second day after he was killed. A good many
neighbors gathered in, and were a good deal excited. But nothing
particular happened before Dow was buried. There was some search!
made for Coleman, but he was not to be found in the neighborhood!
There was a meeting at Hickory Point, the Monday following the fu-i
neral on Saturday. The neighbors had appointed to meet at myi
house on Monday to take some further steps to bring Coleman to jus-
tice. They met there, and went up to where Dow's body was found,
and then examined some witnesses, but not under oath, and passed
certain resolutions which were published in the papers shortly afterjj
After that we separated and went towards our homes. I went home
myself. It was then getting a little late, and I went to bed soon af-i
ter I got home — I should think shortly after seven o'clock.
My wife woke me up. I do not know how long I had been asleep
but thought it was but a short time. I found that a good many pen
sons were coming towards my house, and by the time I was fairlji
awake I heard a rap at the door. I asked who was there ? and thd
answer was, "Friends." Before I could tell them to come in, th«
door was burst open, and the room was filled with persons. I had
got out, and was sitting on the side of the bed, with nothing on buii
my shirt. One of them asked me if my name was Branson, and 3!
said it was. He then drew his pistol, cocked it, and presented it to
my breast and said, " You are my prisoner, and if you move I wil.
blow you through. Don't you move." I went to stoop to get mji
pants, and he stopped me two or three times, saying, <f Don't yoij
move, or I will blow you through." I heard the others cock thein
guns, and I saw them present them to me all around me, except ai
the back of my bed, where they could not get.
After awhile they let me put on my pants and coat that lay by me.
and then they marched me out, and took me off with them Thejj
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1063
were on horseback, and when we got out to the yard fence they told
me there was a mule Mr. Coleman had been riding around, and now I
might get on him and try him, and see how I liked it. They then
took me, in the first place, up to Mr. Buckley's house. Buckley, and
I think one or two others, then got off and went into the house, and
got a bridle, and caught another horse. There were several trunks
set outside the house ; some of them were open ; Buckley pushed one
back into the house and said that the damned Yankees, or aboli-
tionists, I do not recollect which, had been robbing his house, and
that was the way he had found it when he got home. I saw none of
his family. I think I should have seen some of them if they had been
there ; for I was sitting on my mule just before the door, and the
moon was shining brightly into the door, which was open. After he
caught his horse we went on to Mr. Freeland's house, I think, and
then all got off but two, who were left to guard me, and went into
the house.
They remained in there for some time, I think from half an hour
to an hour. They brought some liquor out to the other men in a jug,
and gave me some. I was almost frozen — very much chilled, as it
was a clear cold night. When they came out they got on their horses,
and came on to within half a mile of Blanton's bridge, across the
Wakarusa. I did not count the company. Sheriff Jones,, who called
himself the high sheriff of this county — the one that first presented
the pistol to me in my house and called me his prisoner — claimed to
be the leader of the company. He never showed me his warrant, and
did not tell me for what I was arrested, until a short time before I
was rescued. He then rode up to where I was, and I asked him what
great criminal act I had been doing, that he brought so many men to
take me? He said nothing muxh, only he had a peace-warrant or two
against me. I then said, it took a great many men to come after an
old man like me. He said, " these men that came along with me
we expected would have a little fun ; we heard that there were about
a hundred men at your house to-day, and we hoped to find them there
to-night, as we wanted to have some sport with them ;" and said he
regretted they were not there, and that they were cheated out of their
sport. I asked him, " how many are there of you?" There were only
thirteen of them then ; he did not say whether there had been any
more. I did not count them, but I think there were thirteen there.
I think there were a good many more at my house when they took
me, but I did not see Buckley nor Salters after they got to Feelan's.
Of those who were in my house I knew and recognised Hargous, Buck-
ley, Berry, McDaniel, Wolf, Wallace, of the town of Franklin, Sal-
ters, and sheriff Jones. I had never seen Salters and sheriff Jones
before, but heard their names called in the company by the rest.
When we were within about half a mile of Blanton's bridge, I
saw some men who appeared to come from behind a house ; and as
we were going on at a pretty smart canter they stretched out across
the road where we were, I should suppose about fifty yards from the
house. Those men were on foot. Those men who were with me
then spurred on, presented their guns, leaving me a little behind, un-
til they got within twenty or thirty feet of those men, and as they
1064 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
did not give way, they halted. I rode up to the party that had me
with them. I heard Jones say, "What's up?" I heard some one
from the other party say, " That's what we want to know ; what's
up?" I then spoke, and said : " They have got me here a prisoner/'
One from the other party said : " Is that you, Branson ?" I said it
was, and he told me to come over to the other side. Two men were
hy me then, and one said: " Don't you go, or we will shoot you."
I told them to shoot if they wanted to, as I was going. I then rode
forward, and got to the other company, and got off my mule, and!
asked what I should do with it. Some one said, " let it go to hell ;"'
and I let go of it, and some one gave it a kick, and it went back to-
wards Jones's party. Both parties stood there for some short time with
their guns presented to each other. The party that I rode up to.»
told me to go into the house, and I walked around the corner to the-
door and went into Mr. Abbott's house. I did not count the party
who rescued me,, but I thought the parties were about equal in num-
ber. After Jones's party left I saw six others come up, and I was*
told that three others had come up after I was rescued, before these i
six and while I was in the house. After the six came up I counted 1
the men, and there were twenty-one besides myself.
All of Jones's party that were at my house were armed, as far as II
saw, either with guns or pistols. The party that rescued me were-
armed — some with rifles, some with shot-guns, and some only had>
stones in their hands. One or two of them had pistols. Jones's
party went off after I went into the house, and I saw nothing more off]
them. Abbott's house is about four miles and a half from Lawrence,
and I should think it was five and a half or six miles from my house
in a straight line ; but the way we came it was eight or nine miles.
Of the party who rescued me, I knew the names of some, but not all.
Of those I knew were Mr. Wood, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Lock, and Mr.
Hupp and son. I do not recollect the names of the others. Of those
I name but one lives in Lawrence, and the others are farmers scattered
around, living on the Wakarusa and Cole creek. Mr. Lock was at
my house when Jones and his party arrested me, and started off and il
let the neighbors know of it ; and as Jones and his party were so long.'
on the way, the others got in the road ahead of them.
Coleman's house was burnt the night I was taken, and, as I waw
told, about the same time Buckley's house was, the same night. I do]
not know who burnt their houses, or who were engaged in it.
They have been frequently around after me since. Sheriff Jone*^
has not been there, that I know of, but Mr. Salters has been, and, as*
I understood, to arrest me on the peace warrant. I did not happen toe
be at home when they called. I was not in Lawrence during the*
siege, as the people would not let me remain here, and I took no part(
in the affairs here. They never have charged me with any offences,-'
BO far as I know, except making threats about the murder of Dow. I
I never said anything about the matter, more than to agree to the]
resolutions passed at the meeting at Hickory Point. I never threat-j
ened any one, and never expressed any desire except that those en-i
gaged in the murdering of Dow should be brought to justice. Dow
was a right peaceable man, and a good, quiet citizen ; a man I thought
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1065
as much of as any I ever got acquainted with in my life. He never
drank any liquor, and so far as I know, was never in any controversy
with any one before the day he was killed. He told me a few days
before he was killed that he would be twenty-seven or twenty-eight
years old in a few days. He was unmarried. He boarded in my
family, and we were all attached to him. I am a plasterer by trade,
but follow farming now. I am forty-nine years old. I came from
Huntington county, Indiana, here, but was born in Highland county,
Ohio. Dow claimed the land the lime-kiln was on, and it was within
the stakes of his claim at the time he was killed. I understood that
Coleman claimed it also, coming after Dow did, having left a claim
he was on when Dow came there, and moved his house over towards
Dow's claim.
I do not know that Coleman has ever been arrested or examined for
this crime, but I have heard that he gave himself up at one time.
But I have never heard that he has been tried for his crime, and none
of the others have been arrested. I have heard of Coleman being there
backwards and forwards in that neighborhood several times since the
murder, but I have not seen him.
Within a few days, I think last week, while this commission was
here at Lawrence, Salters, with a detachment of United States troops,
was at my house, as they said, to get me, but they did not find me.
I saw the party coming towards my house.
JACOB BRANSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., Hay 10, 1856.
L. A. FURTHER called and sworn.
To Mr. Reeder :
My residence is just a little west of the Shawnee reserve line, south-
,east of Franklin, perhaps a mile from where the Missourians camped
• last fall. The day before Branson was said to be rescued, Mr. Wal-
•lace, of Franklin, asked me to attend to his store, which I agreed to
ido. After I went to the store the next morning I went to the hotel
and saw Mr. Jones writing. Mr. Wallace and myself went into the
room together. Before we went into the room he had told me that
Mr. Branson had been rescued from Mr. Jones and his posse, of which
he was one, by thirty or forty men. He then told me that Mr. Jones
was going to send to Missouri for aid, and it was suggested that we
should go to Mr. Jones to try to stop it. Mr. Wallace expressed
himself opposed to sending to Missouri. After we went into the room
and found Mr. Jones writing, Mr. Wallace remarked to me, "Mr.
Jones is now writing the despatch to send to Colonel Boone." Before
going into the room I said, "Why not send to Governor Shannon ?"
I should think I was not more than two feet from Mr. Jones when
he was writing what I was told by Mr. Wallace was the despatch to
Missouri. The conversation was loud enough for Mr. Jones to hear,
although the room was nearly as full of persons as it could well hold.
Mr. Jones walked to the door, and Mr. Wallace and myself walked
1066 KANSAS - AFFAIRS.
out nearly at the same time. He gave the paper he had written
some man, either Coleman, Hargous, or Buckley, as the man wa
called hy various persons in the crowd, hut I do not know who hi
was. As the man started off with the despatch Mr. Jones said
"That man is taking my despatch to Missouri, and hy God I wil
have revenge "before I see Missouri." In the course of half ai
hour I saw another despatch start off, and Mr. Wallace told me i
was a despatch to Governor Shannon to raise the militia for aid.
complained publicly of the despatch being first sent to Missouri, in
stead of to Governor Shannon. Afterwards a gentleman, I thin!
called Hargous, started off, as Mr. Wallace told me, to take a de
spatch to Governor Shannon.
The next thing I know in connection with the war was a few dayv
after this, not exceeding four days. I went up to Franklin, and sav
a body of armed men from Missouri there ; they told me they wen
under the command of Captain Shaw. I knew several of them per
sonally. Amongst them was a Mr. Kalston, living just west of Indei
pendence, on the road to Westport ; also a gentleman I had alway\
heard called Dr. Henry ; also a Mr. Lucas — I have always heard him
called Lieutenant Lucas ; and others whose names I do not nov
remember. They encamped there in Franklin, and after they hau
encamped, Mr. Salters, who was acting as deputy sheriff, came to m
and observed, u Now I will have revenge upon Lawrence. TheFi
shall not be left one stone upon another." More and more cam
pouring into Franklin and vicinity for some seven or eight days, ano
perhaps longer, coming from the eastward, towards Missouri ; and
saw but few companies that did not contain men I had known in
Missouri. Several of them said they had come to serve Governoc
Shannon, if he would let them, and if not they would do their dut;t
anyhow. After they had been to Franklin a little while they remove*
their camp to the Wakarusa. I was in their camp off and on
great many times. They were armed, I think, almost without excepi
tion, with rifles and guns, with pistols and bowie-knives. I saw ;
great many swords and two pieces of artillery, one of which I hear<r
belonged to Missouri, as I had seen it there repeatedly. They told
me they were organized in companies, but I did not see them parade*
I saw them marked "A," "B," &c. They tried to raise a company
of Territorial militia at Franklin, and did raise it ; Mr. Leak comi
manded it, and I think Mr. Laley was lieutenant. Mr. Leak was 11
travelling gambler, and he told me so himself. I saw this company
parade repeatedly, and heard the roll called. I did not see any othec«
Territorial militia that I knew to be such, and I heard of none tha;<
were called such. These were quartered in Franklin. In the fira*
place I was informed by Mr. Wallace that Mr. Jones was in command
of these forces. Afterwards I was told by somebody else, I do noi'
know who, that General Strickler was in command. I afterward*
saw General Eichardson, and I was told by himself that he was iii
command. Mr. Wallace told me that he was aid to Mr. Jones, anc
that was the office he claimed to hold all the time.
The Mr. Wallace I allude to is Mr. John M. Wallace. I went witt
liirn several times to the camp, but did not see him exercise any com-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1067
mand there. After the camp was moved to Wakarusa he appeared
to take command in Franklin, or the direction of affairs in general.
The officers of the Franklin company of militia went to him for direc-
tions. They got some of their supplies from the store, and also a
parcel of rifles that were in the store.
Mr. Wallace told me he aided Mr. Jones in arresting Mr. Branson.
Mr. Wallace brought me a written note from Governor Shannon,
requesting me to call upon him immediately at Blue Jacket's. After
I received that note I went forth with, within five minutes, to Governor
Shannon at Blue Jacket's, at the Wakarusa crossing. The governor
wanted to know what had transpired in public meetings here in
Lawrence,, which he had heard I had attended ; and whether threats
had been made against sheriff Jones, or any other person of the
government. After that conversation nothing important happened
before I left.
I saw persons in that camp who told me they were of the Wyandott
tribe of Indians, and I knew them to be Indians, as far as I could
judge. There were two Indians I am acquainted with in the company
at Franklin, of the Shawnee tribe. When I saw the Wyandotts they
were in their camps cooking their dinner; and I saw arms lying
about their camp, which was separate from the others. I do not
know whether they were their arms or not. I saw a man meet at
least three Indians of the Delaware tribe, as they said, and pour into
the hands of one of them some bullets, and tell him he wanted him
•to save a Yankee scalp for each bullet ; and he promised to do it.
The same man — I think his name was Joseph Morris — took the
Indians' bottle and got it filled, and brought it back to them. While
he was gone the Indian told me, " Me no kill Yankee ; me want to
get whisk."
Mr. Wallace never brought me any messages from Mr. Jones. I
; do not recollect that he ever brought me any messages from any one
• but Governor Shannon, during those difficulties. He expressed a de-
i cided determination to corne with the Missouri troops to La\\ rence,
(and die with them, if necessary.
Guards were stationed by some person within eighty or one hundred
i yards from my house, at my ford, and there was no other ford along
there but the one I had made for my own use. From about sundown
to sunrise I was prevented from passing that ford, as were visitors to
my house. This was not the case in the day-time. I lost a cow and
calf during that time, and considered that it was because I could not
attend to my cattle as usual, on account of my being prevented from
doing so by this guard. Of a night,, they prevented my going
home from Franklin, where I was accustomed to be in the day-time,
though they did not prevent my going to Franklin from home in the
day-time. I was doing business in the store, and wanted to go home
after dark, and the officer refused me leave to do so. My mail matter
came here to Lawrence, and they turned me back twice when I started
to come after it. Captain Leak refused to grant me a permit to come,
saying that the reason was, because I was seen talking to Dr. Robinson
just after the troubles broke out. I complained to Mr. Bledsoe, who
claimed to be captain of the guard, of the treatment I had receivedj
1068 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and threatened to appeal to the law ; and he said, " By God, I wouldj
like to see you get any benefit from the law against us." He used ad
great deal of rough and abusive language to me, and treated me some-
what contemptuously when I claimed to be an independent citizen. ]•
know of no depredations committed in the neighborhood, except as
regards myself, though I heard of a great many.
A gentleman with whom I was acquainted being in this place, DrJ
Wood fell in with me and Mr. Wallace, as we were riding into campy
where Governor Shannon had sent a message to me. Dr. Wood told
us that General Richardson and his retinue had come down from Le--
compton ; and that at about three or four miles above Lawrence therd
were two men riding across the prairie, and that Mr. Clark, and
Burns, of Weston, Missouri, rode out and headed them off. Aftei
they had passed out of sight, General Richardson directed Dr. Wooed
himself to go and call Clark and Burns back, for fear they would gelj
into a difficulty. The doctor said that as he rode over the hill, h«j
saw Mr. Clark and Burns, and one of the two strangers, popping
away at each other with pistols. After three or four fires each, h$
saw the two men leave Burns and Clark, and gallop away, and thab
Burns said he had struck one, because he had seen the fur fly froHi
his coat-back as he turned his back upon him. I was introduced tc
Major Clark after supper, and heard him telling the thing over. He
told it about as Dr. Wood did, and added, " we gave one Yankee hiii
winter quarters, for I saw him reel on his horse." Dr. Wood di»*
tinctly disclaimed participating in the firing at all. I heard another
man talking the same evening, who confirmed the statement made bj
Mr. Clark.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
The first conversation I had with Mr. Wallace, that I haw
mentioned, was about the latter part of November, and some ten oi>
twelve days before the close of the war. It was the morning I wah
told Branson hapl been rescued the night before. The conversation
began in the store of Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Charles,, of Franklin, anci
we continued talking until we got to the tavern, which was nearlj
opposite. Mr. Joseph Norris, Capt. Leak, and perhaps Mr. Grand
and his son, I am not certain, were in the room when Mr. Wallaai
told me Mr. Jones was writing a despatch to Missouri. The man whd
told me he was Bledsoe, I understood from some one else, was fron
Cass county, Missouri. When I demanded his name, he said it wad
Bledsoe, and said, "I command the guard/' I believe I have hearcw
him called Colonel Bledsoe, though I will not be certain. Mr. John
M. Wallace brought me the message from Governor Shannon. Whenj
Major Clark was talking about the shooting of Barber, it was at Blue.
Jacket's, and there was a crowd there, but I cannot tell who were];
there.
To Mr. Reeder :
When I heard that General Pomeroy was a prisoner, I asked Mr. j
Ralston, Capt. Shaw, and others, to see him, and they refused to lejjj
me see him, saying that there was a secret organization, and I might)
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1069
be a damned spy, and get some secret sign from General Pomeroy,
and post off to Lawrence with it.
L. A. PRATHER.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 1, 1856.
CHARLES ROBINSON, recalled.
To Mr. Reeder :
I heard about the last of November of a murder or homicide about
ten miles from here, near Hickory Point. A few days after, I heard
of a meeting to be held there to take that affair into consideration.
The night after the meeting, a party of about a dozen men called at
my house, perhaps about four o'clock in the morning, and with them
was a man called Branson, whom they said had left sheriff Jones.
They stated the circumstances of Mr. Branson's arrest, as they under-
stood them, and the circumstances of his leaving the sheriff. I told
them it was a matter of their own, and they could not expect me or
the people of Lawrence to have anything to do with it. They passed
on to the village, and I afterwards met them there. They were
talking of having a meeting of the citizens when I saw them again ;
I told them I thought such a meeting would do them no good, and
discouraged it. I left the village, perhaps it was six or seven o'clock
in the morning, and did not return until nine or ten o'clock. When
I did return, I found a gathering in the hall ; I found the meeting
had been in session some time ; that they had appointed a committee
of ten, I think, and I was one of the number. 1 was notified by the
phairman of my appointment on the committee, and immediately
proceeded to a private consultation of the committee. It was decided
j)y the committee, tbat we had nothing to do with the affair, and that
we would, as individuals, say as much to parties concerned. The
•ommittee reported to the meeting a brief statement of our condition.
The following is, I think, substantially the report made by Mr.
Lowry, as published in the papers :
( We, the citizens of Kansas Territory, find ourselves in a condi-
ion of confusion and defencelessness so great, that open outrage and
nidday murders are becoming the rule, and quiet and security the
exception . And whereas the law, the only authoritative engine to
orrect and regulate .the excesses and wrongs of society, has never
ret been extended to our Territory — thus leaving us with no fixed or
efinite rules of action, or source of redress — we are reduced to the
.ecessity of organizing ourselves together on the basis of first prin-
iples, and providing for the common defence and general security,
tnd here we pledge ourselves to the resistance of lawlessness and
utrage at all times, when required by the officers who may from
ime to time be chosen to superintend the movements of the organiza-
.on."
In consequence of the threats said to have been made by Mr. Jones
nd his party at the time Branson left him, and other indications
lat had been received from different sources, that the people of Mis-
1070 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
souri would assail and destroy our town and citizens, the committee
was appointed by the meeting as a committee of safety.
Nothing more of importance occurred in the place for a few days,
excepting that reports were continually coming in that we were to be
invaded and our place destroyed.
The first action the committee of safety took, was to organize the
citizens in guards, so far as to have them enrolled, and their places of
residence ascertained, that they might be called together upon short1
notice. The people from Missouri began to arrive in our vicinity —
the first company, I think, at Franklin — and to commit depredations'
on travellers, and other citizens of the Territory.
The Leavenworth Herald was received about that time, containing
a very inflammatory article, and an appeal to Missouri for assist-
ance; also a copy of a letter, said to be from Secretary Woodson
calling indirectly upon the riflemen of Missouri ; and in a day 01
two after the governor's proclamation accidentally came into thu
place. It appearing evident that an attack was to be made in a shor
time, the committee of safety organized a regiment of citizens. Du
ring this time the committee endeavored to ascertain the objects of th«|
invading forces ; what the sheriff" wanted, and what the governo:!
intended to do. No officer communicated with us, or made air]
demands upon us whatever. The sheriff was asked in my presence
when threatening the people of Lawrence, what he wanted; h
replied that he would let us know when he got ready. A letter wa
written to Governor Shannon, of inquiry, a copy of which is,
believe, on file here, in what we call the adjutant's office. He in
formed the messenger that he would visit us very soon. We receive-
word the next day after the messenger returned, that he was a
Franklin, or at Blue Jacket's, I am not certain which. Before w<
received word from him, I think he set the time at which he wouM
be at the camp on the Wakarusa, and Mr. Winchell visited hir
there ; and he then informed Mr. Winchell that he would visit us th
next day, and let us know when he was ready to come into tovrr
This I learned by report. We were notified that he was at Franklm]
and desired an escort into town, which was sent to him under tl
direction of Mr. Lowry.
The governor arrived in town soon after, accompanied by some c
his friends from Missouri. He was taken into the room of the coil
mittee of safety, introduced to some of our citizens ; after which \?
held a private interview in an adjoining room — Colonel Lane an
myself acting for the people of Lawrence. He then stated that
was satisfied he had misunderstood the people of Lawrence and tl
Territory, and that we had violated no law as a people. He
stated that Mr. Jones, and others, had made certain representatiot
to him which he was satisfied were incorrect. He expressed regre
that the people of Missouri were here in such numbers ; said he feare
he could not control them,, and he dared not close negotiations the
day. He was very desirous that Colonel Sumner, with his forced
should arrive to prevent a collision. He said if he should close neg<
tiations that day on any terms honorable to us, the people in cam
would raise the black flag and march upon the town. The remaiiid<
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1071
of the day, until towards evening, was spent in conversation upon
various topics, and that evening he returned to camp. He was in-
vited to remain during the night, but said his presence was necessary
in his own camp to keep the men in subjection. He promised, how-
ever, to return the next day at eight o'clock, when he confidently
expected Colonel Sumner would be here.
That evening a sub-committee drew up a paper as a basis of settle-
ment with Governor Shannon, as he had expressed a desire that such
a paper should be drawn up and signed by the parties. The next
day the governor arrived here about ten o'clock, and immediately went
'into conference. He had a paper that he had drawn up which he
wished to be signed as a settlement of the difficulties. I showed him
the paper drawn up by our committee, and preferred he would take
that as a basis, as it would be more likely to give satisfaction to our
people, they having discussed it and agreed to it. He expressed no
particular dissatisfaction with the paper, as far as he was concerned,
but said he wanted something to satisfy the people in the camp. I
jBsked him if they were not under his control; and if so, what they
jhad to do with the settlement. He said that the posse would obey
Borders, and he could control them, but they formed but a small
joart of the forces on the Wakarusa and at Lecompton. He thought
J] they would demand that we should be disarmed, and we made to
.pledge ourselves to recognise the laws of the Territorial legislature.
„[ told him our people would never consent to any such arrangement,
j particularly while an armed force was in our vicinity which he said
,ie could not himself control. He said that for himself he would be
Satisfied without any paper. All he wished was that the laws com-
non to all countries, especially the criminal laws, should be observed ;
, aid he was satisfied, from what he had seen, that the people of Law-
, jence would respect them; but he must satisfy the people in the
mp. After arguing the matter, that we had nothing to do with
e people in the camp, that we recognised him as our governor, and
at if we satisfied him they had no right to complain — also assuring
pm that if he would disband the forces on the Wakarusa, and ae-
fept of us as his command, we would risk the consequences — he con-
luded, finally, to agree upon an arrangement between ourselves that
hould not be reported to the camp on the Wakarusa until they
ad left. He then took the paper drawn up by the committee, re-
'rote it, made some verbal alterations and added one or two sentences,
lid said he would be satisfied with it in that form. The alterations,
c the wording, was such as to leave a question as to the meaning,
~ the extent of the meaning of certain words ; and to avoid any mis-
derstanding, I requested an additional sentence in regard to the
rritorial laws. He readily assented to it, saying he did not ask us
ndorse those laws.
fter the paper had been signed, he requested that the committee
the people here should visit Franklin and meet some of the
ins of the forces there, as he feared he could not pacify them by
hing he could say. Accordingly, Colonel Lane and myself re-
ed to Franklin with him. He made quite a lengthy argument or
- in favor of their returning without our giving up our arms or
1072 KANSASAFFAIRS.
being dispersed, saying he had no right to demand our arms or dis-
persion under the circumstances. Colonel Lane and myself also stated!
how affairs were as we understood them, and most of the captains!
appeared to be satisfied to return home. This was on Saturday night.,
On Sunday the governor visited us again, dined with some of oun
citizens, and was apparently well pleased with the arrangement and
with the citizens. In the evening reports came in that the forces thati
had been disbanded were reorganizing, and determined to make an
attack upon the town. I informed Governor Shannon of the reports.
and requested, as we were without authority, that he should give
authority to protect ourselves and the town. He readily assented;
saying if I would write a paper to that effect, he would sign it. ]
did so, and he signed it. I have the paper with me.
[The witness produced the paper, which is as follows :]
" To C. Eobinson and J. H. Lane, Commanders of the enroUeo
citizens at Lawrence :
" You are hereby authorized and directed to take such measures!
and use the enrolled force under you command in such manner for tin
preservation of the peace and the protection of the persons and thn
property of the people of Lawrence and the vicinity, as in your judg/
ment shall best secure that end.
"LAWRENCE, December 9, 1855.
" WILSON SHANNON.
" Witness:
"A. ALLEN."
Reports continued to come in during the next day that the diai
banded forces were still meditating an attack. Scouts were sent out
in various directions to ascertain the truth of said reports, and foun«i
that the Missourians had left the Territory. On Monday eveninn
there was a peace party, to which persons of all parties and distinction;
were invited. Next day, Tuesday, the companies were formally dial
missed, and went about their business.
There never was a process in the hands of sheriff Jones against am
one in Lawrence or vicinity, to my knowledge, previous to this invir
sion, and, consequently, no resistance. I know of no such resistance
and heard of none ; and believe if there had been any I would hav.
heard of it. I stated the same to the committee of captains in tb
presence of Mr. Jones, and some one of the captains, I think it wa
Colonel S. H. Woodson, asked Mr. Jones if such was the fact that n
arrest had been attempted in Lawrence, and he said it was ; Jonei
said it was the fact.
There had been no crime or disturbance of any kind, to my kno"v*
ledge, prior to that, unless it was petty theft, except assaults made b
pro-slavery men upon free-State men, growing out of political d""
culties and street quarrels, perhaps, of which no notice was taken
know of no constable's warrants under the Territorial laws.
From the best information I could get, there was something — ,
fifty residents of this Territory in the camps. This information w;-
derived from report. A majority of the committee of captains w~~
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1073
from Missouri, as I understood ; several I knew were from Missouri.
Colonel Woodsori was one of them, I met Mr. Coleman, the one
charged with the murder of Dow, there, and understood he had a
command.
To Mr, Howard:
It had been reported ever since I came into the Territory that we
were to be driven out of the Territory — all that camo from the North.
I know of no reason for the hostility to Lawrence. I never knew that
sheriff Jones had been badly treated by the people of Lawrence up to
that time.
To Mr. Sherman :
Our defences were made here for the purpose of resisting the inva-
sion which we understood was directed against Lawrence.
Mr. Dow was not connected here with the people of Lawrence that I
know of. Hickory Point is a detached settlement, having no connec-
tion with Lawrence. I do not know that Dow had ever been here,
nor, to my knowledge, had he any connection with any company or
society here. I suppose the people of Hickory Point do their trading
at Kansas City and here.
Some two or three days after the rescue of Branson, I saw S. N.
Wood, who claimed publicly, and everywhere, to be one of the party
connected with the so-called rescue of Branson, walk up to Mr. Jones
and shake hands with him. Mr. Wood, and others, told me that he
invited Mr. Jones to dine with him. Mr. Wood told me that it was
done for the purpose of allowing himself to be arrested, and testing
the validity of the Territorial laws. I had had a previous conversa-
tion with Mr. Wood upon the subject, and we agreed that his was a
; proper case, and he was a proper person to test the validity of the
I Territorial laws in the Supreme Court of the United States. Every-
i thing was perfectly quiet in Lawrence at that time, and Mr. Wood
I could have been arrested without any difficulty, in my opinion. I
\ would have been one of a posse to have arrested him had any one in-
terfered. I am satisfied it was Wood's design to be arrested.
After the excitement had increased, and a large party had encamped
in our vicinity, it was not thought safe lor any man in Lawrence to
he arrested, and Mr. Wood had left the town.
To Mr. Keeder:
I am not able to give any accurate estimate of our losses. The
detriment of this invasion, to the community, was very great. Busi-
ness was generally suspended in this part of the Territory. No busi-
ness was transacted of any account. Men were taken from their busi-
ness and engaged in defending their property from this invasion. The
detriment was unusually great, in consequence of the lateness of the
season, it being the time when crops were gathered, and houses pre-
pared for the winter. Immediately after the invasion, cold weather set
in, which continued severe throughout the winter, preventing the use
of mortar and other materials necessary for finishing, and delayed a
H. Rep. 200 68*
1074 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
great deal of work, which, in consequence of cold weather, could not >
be done until spring.
The consumption and destruction of corn and hay, and other arti--
cles, by the invading forces, was very great for a new settlement.
There has been very much suffering of individuals and of stock in
consequence. Quite a number of the inhabitants from the neighboring
settlements were in Lawrence during a part of the invasion, and had
to be supported by the citizens of the place. Many of them came in
for the purpose of defending the town, and others came in for protec-
tion.
Many horses were lost ; some were known to be taken by this force.
Corn and potatoes were taken by them for their use, and hay was de-
stroyed. I believe that during part of the invasion all wagons were<
stopped on the road, many of them overhauled, and such of their con-
tents as they desired were taken out and retained. The people were
arrested in going to and from the place, on their business, and Law-
rence was, in fact, a besieged town to all intents and purposes.
C. ROBINSON
LAWRENCE, K. T., Hay 3, 1856.
G-. P. LOWRY called and sworn.
To Mr, Keeder :
I returned to Lawrence about the 25th of November, and the first
day I returned I heard of the great excitement at Hickory Point about
the murder of Mr. Dow. On the Monday following the 25th a meet-i
ing was called at Hickory Point to take some measures to investigate
the circumstances, and to express the opinion of the citizens concern-
ing the matter. I was not present there, but remained here in Law-*
rence, and was wakened quite early on Tuesday morning by a noise
in the streets and by the beating of a drum, and getting up and in-n
quiring I learned that Branson had been rescued from sheriff Jones
by a party who were returning from the meeting at Hickory Point
I know that Mr. Branson was in town that morning. In consequence
of the rescue of Branson, and the threats that were understood to havtf
been made by sheriff Jones against this town, the citizens called t
meeting. They met at 8 o'clock, to consider the affair and see what
could be done towards the protection of the town. There were pres-
ent persons who were said to have participated in the rescue of th«
night before. They were called upon to give a statement of what hac
occurred and what had been said, which two or three of them did
Mr. Branson in particular was called out, and he detailed the marine]
of his arrest by Mr. Jones. What was said by him and was said bj
others who were present at the rescue in regard to the threats of Mr.
Jones, was sufficient to satisfy us that there was danger of the destruc-
tion of the town, and we commenced taking measures for its protec-
tion. At this meeting some person, I do not recollect who, offered
a resolution endorsing the action of those who had rescued Mr. Bran-
son, and, if I recollect right, it was unanimously rejected. It was
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1075
generally said by those who had addressed the meeting, and the gene-
ral sentiment of those there was, that we had nothing to do with the
rescue at all. They refused to endorse the rescue, and finally appoint-
ed a committee of ten to confer upon what steps should he taken, and
details entered into in regard to the defence of the town. The com-
mittee met and agreed upon a report, and made it in the afternoon to
an adjourned meeting. A part of the report was in writing and a
part was not. The latter part of the report was, that the citizens
should complete an organization to act in connection with one or two
military companies then in town, for the purpose of defending the
town. A paper, which is on record, was presented for each one to
sign who chose to do so. Another portion of the report, unwritten,
was the election of a person to act as the general head, and make it
his business particularly to superintend the completion of this pro-
posed organization and its operation when completed. This organi-
zation of citizens was recommended by the committee to hold them-
selves separate from any other organization, so that they might take
part in the defence of the town or refuse to take part in any active
demonstration as they thought proper. The report of the committee
was received and adopted, and, by another vote, the committee was
continued under the designation of the committee of safety. I was
chairman of that committee. The meeting adjourned, and signatures
were obtained to this paper, and nothing more said or done publicly
on the subject of the difficulties for three or four days. Nothing was
said by the committee until three or four days afterwards until we
heard, from persons coming through from Kansas City, that forces
were gathering on the Wakarusa and about Franklin, and that they
had been stopped and maltreated, and the town threatened by these
forces. Upon those reports a meeting of the committee was called,
this paper, with the names attached brought up, and it was deter-
mined then, I think, for the first time, to divide the porsons whose
names were thus attached into small squads, who would know each
other and act in concert in case of attack, under the command of some
person agreed upon. These squads were from ten to twenty persons
each when first organized. In consequence of this there was no inter-
ruption of the ordinary business of the town, though by this arrange-
ment they were to be ready at any moment to defend themselves.
From the time of the first report of the assembling of persons on
the Wakarusa and at Franklin, travellers were continually coming
in with like reports, and on Friday night a party of twelve or thir-
teen persons came into town from Ottawa creek to join us. That was
the first notification I had that the people in the county were aware
that we were menaced. As far as I know, they came of their own
accord. The news and excitement then seemed to spread over the
country, arid from that time our parties were coming in from parts of
the Territory quite distant. On Sunday a party of gentlemen arrived
from Leavenworth, for the purpose, as they said, of seeing if they
could not prevent a collision, and preserve peace in the Territory,
They met with the committee of safety and some other persons, and
upon consultation we found they were under a misapprehension as to
our position. We told them we were organized for the sole purpose
1076 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of defence against any persons who should assault the town under
any pretext. They came here to expostulate with us, hut found that
they were mistaken as to what we had been doing. They brought
with them a copy of the governor's proclamation calling out the
militia of the Territory , and that was the first we had seen of it. A
committee was then appointed, but I do not know whether by this
committee of safety or by a public meeting, to prepare a statement to
the public in answer to the governor's proclamation, which they did.
What we did was upon our understanding that not the Territorial
militia alone, if at all, were coming to assist the sheriff in making
arrests, but that he was to be assisted by large numbers of Missouri-
ans, who made this a pretext to carry out designs that had been
attributed to them. Before this, persons who were alleged to have
been engaged in the rescue were notified that the town had nothing
to do with their quarrels and their matters, and that as it was not
our duty to make arrests they were at liberty to go where they chose;
but, if they remained, the town would not engage to defend or pro-
tect them in any way. I do not think any of those persons remained 1
in town more than two or three days after the rescue of Branson. ^1To
the best T>f recollection they were not here when the organization was«
going on and being completed. On Sunday evening about the largest!
party came in from Topeka that had come into the town up to that t
time. They consisted of about one hundred men. The number oft
persons here had then got so large that the plan of the organization-
for defence was changed. The committee of safety concludt-d to form?
a regiment of the men, and the command in chief was given to Dr.
Charles Robinson, and Colonel James H. Lane was made colonel of
the regiment. These little squads were then united, and made into
companies, each under the command of a captain. I had had the*
command of a squad up to that time ;^but I left it when it became
incorporated into a company, of which I had command, and became
aid to General Eobinson.
The regiment was fully officered, and the meetings of the commits
tee of saiety w^re thrown open to all officers of the rank of captain y
and above. General Eobinson, by virtue of- his office as commander-
in-chief, presided at the war councils, and I ceased to be chairman oi
the committee of safety from that time. There had been drills before
this. I drilled my company on a Sunday, as I believe did the other
captains of squads ; but the Monday afternoon after the regiment was
formed we had a regimental drill. This continued until Wednes-<
day ; we had constant drills. Persons were coming in reporting that
the country all around was occupied, hay-stacks burned, corn and
cattle taken, and houses searched; and travellers came in saying they
had been stopped on the road ; and teamsters who had been coming
with goods came in without them, saying that the boxes had been
broken open, and the goods retained in a number of instances.
On "Wednesday night, at a meeting of the war council, it was de-«
cided to send to Governor Shannon, and also to send memorials td
the President of the United States and to Congress. I was sent in
company with Mr. C. W. Babcock, of this place, to Governor Shan-
non, with a letter. We were told to state to Governor Shannon what
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1077
going on here, what was our position, and what had occurred
upon the other side, presuming that he might be ignorant of it. We
started about 1 o'clock of Thursday morning, and passed outside of
the two lines of sentinels belonging to our town; and, after passing
our picket-guards for perhaps half a mile, we met, two miles this
side of Franklin I should think, six horsemen, who challenged us,
and said they were the picket-guard of the Wakarusa camp. They
challenged us to advance and give the countersign. . We got the cork
out of the only countersign we had as soon as possible, and that passed
us that guard. There seemed to be a very good state of feeling there
about that time. They questioned us as to where we came from, and
we refused to answer any such questions, except in the manner I have
mentioned, as I supposed we had not got to the guard where it was
necessary to state where we came from. They told us we would have
difficulty in getting across the Wakarusa bottom, and that they
thought we had better go back; that we would have two lines of
sentinels to pass before we would reach the camp. We passed them
and went on to Franklin ; and the two men standing guard there
knew us, and wanted to know where we were going; and Mr. Bab-
cock said it was getting to be dangerous up here, and he had made
up his mind that Illinois would be a safer place until this trouble
would be over. They said they thought the abolitionists were pretty
badly scared, and our going was another evidence of it ; but notwith-
standing that, we could not go by them. We told them we did ~?t
care particularly about going by, if Franklin was as safe as Illinois;
but we did not think that, and wanted to go by. They said that the
captain — I think they called him Captain Leak — was asleep, and
they would go and find him. They went for him, and came back and
reported that he was drunk and they could not wake him up. They
did not know what to do, but thought they would let us pass on the
1 • strength of their personal confidence in us. We passed them and
, went down across the Wakarusa bottom ; and just as we got into
; the timber, trotting along our horses, as it was quite dark, the first
. thing I saw was a man on a spotted horse, who met us and ran
.straight into us. Whether he was one of the guard or not, I do not
\ know ; but a foot-guard appeared at that time and challenged us.
We told them we were going through on business, and did not expect
to have the countersign, but thought some of our friends in the camp,
whom I named, would pass us through. They said they did not
think we could pass on the word of any one, and took us prisoners
and conducted us down in the woods about a quarter of a mile, and
the man who had charge of the guard, who was very polite, said he
would go and see if he could find the person I had named.
While he was gone I reconnoitred a little, and found one piece of
artillery, with a guard sitting on it asleep. I went up to him, as I
thought I would spike his gun, having the tools in my pocket ; but
thinking it was rather risky, as the guard was just corning back, I
returned to where we had been taken; and the officer of the guard
came back and conducted me to where Dr. Henry, of Independence,
was. Dr. Henry had been in town here before this with one other
gentleman, and had seen the committee of safety, and had said they
1078 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
had "been brought here from Missouri by false reports, and if they
had known how things were here they never would have come. I
think I had passed him out of our lines once or twice, and he returned
the compliment by telling the captain of the guard to let us pass.
He then conducted me back to where Mr. Babcock was, and took me
down to the ford, where we had to pass one guard.
In going down with this captain of the guard, we had some conver-
sation, and he seemed to be a very honest kind of a man, and we dis-
cussed the difficulties, and he said it was a lamentable state of affairs,
that American citizens should be fighting each other. They were
very particular as to the number of guns and men we had here at!
Lawrence, and he asked what flag we had here, and I told him the
stars and stripes all the time. He said he was glad to hear that, and;
should report it to his friends, but that the people of Lawrence had;
behaved very badly; that he had heard we had a red flag here, and!
had built a hotel with port-holes., and western people did not like'
that. That seemed to be all the grounds he had for going to war;
with us. I told him the stars and stripes was all the llag we*
had here. We passed that guard with some little difficulty. We
then had to go down the hill very slowly to the ford, as it was very*!
steep, and the guard called out to us several times, and said some-
thing about firing. After we had passed Little Wakarusa, and per-
haps Kill creek, while it was so dark that we could just distinguish)
objects, we began to meet men on horseback and mules, whom, m
most instances, we could see had guns thrown across the saddle.
There were also some on foot. We told them along at first that they
had better hurry up, as we had just come from camp, and the Yankees
were going to attack the camp, and would wipe them out. But they
soon began to get too thick for that sort of joking, and we then went
along very politely. Just before dayligt we passed one encampment,!
in which everybody seemed to be astir, and they came out into the
road a short distance to meet us, and we stopped to talk with them.
I recognised John H. Brady, who was the public printer of the Shaw-,
nee Mission legislature. He recognised me, and when he heard me
say that I did not consider it safe for him to come up here, he called
me by name, and said they could not let me pass. He then recog
nised Babcock, and was more certain we could not pass. He said this
damned Governor Eeeder had been the cause of all this trouble, and
they must have his head, if they had to go to Pennsylvania after it.1
Mr. Babcock expostulated with him, and told him that he thought
that Westport was altogether wrong in insisting that Pennsylvania
should give up Governor Reeder. The men who were with them
began to gather up there, and as they seemed disposed to be more in
earnest, we came away as soon as possible. At Mill creek we passed
another encampment while they were eating breakfast ; and one man
was so drunk that he was holding on to the wagon-wheel with onei
hand, with a big piece of corn bread in the other. He said they werej
going to bring " Lairrance," sure. We stopped at Donaldson's for a
time, and from that place down to Shawnee Mission the road was
full of men, who were all armed. There were one or two carriages,
on one of which was a trunk, on which was the name of some person.:
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1079
I do not recollect what, and " Lexington, Mo." We got to Shawnee
Mission a little after sunrise, and presented our letter to Governor
Shannon, and he read it, as it was very short, and then we conversed
upon the affairs here.
I do not know whether that letter is anywhere in existence now.
I wrote the letter, and it was signed "by Governor Kohinson, Colonel
Lane, Mr. Deitzler, myself, and four or five others. The contents
were, that he might not he aware that there was a large mob collected
on the Wakarusa, who were stopping travellers and goods, and plun-
dering the country; and that we took that means of informing him
that that was the fact, and that they claimed to be there by his requi-
sition ; that we wished to know if that was the fact, that they were
^here by his authority; and, if so, whether he would remove them,
and prevent these depredations, or compel us to do it ourselves, by
resorting to other means or higher authority.
[The contents of the foregoing letter were given by consent.]
Governor Shannon said he would answer the letter, and we went
out while he was doing so. When we returned, we had a long con-
versation concerning these affairs. He said there had been sixteen
houses burned here by free-State men, and women and children driven
out of doors. We told him we were sorry that he had not taken pains
to inquire into the truth of the matter before he had brought this
large force into the country, which, perhaps, he could not get out
again; and that his information was wholly and entirely false, as
nothing of the kind had happened. We told him of what we knew,
of our personal knowledge, of men from Missouri being there ; and
he was not inclined to admit, at first, that there was anybody from
Missouri there. He made a general argument against the free-State
men, and quoted their resolutions, passed at different meetings, in re-
gard to the Territorial laws. We explained to him that the Terri-
torial laws had nothing to do with this case ; that we were getting
ready at Lawrence to fight for our lives, and the only question was,
whether he would be particeps criminis to our murder, or the murder
of somebody else, should we be all slaughtered. We explained to
him, that the rescue upon which he based his proclamation took
place a number of miles from Lawrence ; that there were but three
persons living in Lawrence who were alleged to have had anything
to do with it, and that they had left the town, and were not there at
all ; that from what we could judge of the intentions of the force at
Wakarusa, at Lecompton, and in the country about, from their own
declarations, they intended to destroy the town for a thing in which
they had had no part or parcel.
We took our individual cases as instances that we had not been
present at the rescue ; that we did not undertake to have any sympa-
thy with it, or talk about it at all ; but that if we were to submit to
the force which he had called in, all our throats would be cut to-
gether— the innocent and guilty, if there were any guilty. He then
denied that these Missourians were here by his authority ; that he
had anything to do with them, or was responsible for them. He said
he had communication with Colonel Sumner, of Fort Leavenworth,
and had sent an express for him to meet him that night at Delaware
1080 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ferry, and go with him to the camp on the Wakarusa. He said he
should go to Lawrence and insist upon the people agreeing to obey
the laws, and delivering up their Sharped rifles. We denied his
right, or the right of anybody else, to make such a condition of a
community, or make any such demand of them, until it had been
shown that they had resisted the laws, which they had not done ; that
there had been as yet no proceedings in Lawrence under the Territo-
rial laws, and he had no right to presume there would be any resist-
ance to them when they were instituted. He gave up that point after
some argument. I asked him, then, why he insisted upon the giving
up of Sharpe's rifles, and if he meant to demand, too, western rifles,
shot-guns, and other arms. He said he did not intend to demand
other than Sharpe's rifles, but should demand them because they were
unlawful weapons. After some time, he then said they were danger-
ous weapons ; to which I agreed. I then told him, if he had any such
idea in his head as that, he had better stay away and let the fight go
on, as I thought the thing was not feasible, as he would do no good
by corning here, if those were his terms. I told him he might aa
well demand of me my pocket-book or my watch, and I would resent
the one no more than the other. I told him I did not consider,my-
self safe, or that General Eobinson or Colonel Lane would be safe, in ,'
going before our men with any such proposition. He then gave us-i
the letter he had written, and we started for Kansas City to change
horses.
Just as I drove into that town I met a man whom I recognised, ,
who came up to me, and, pointing to the road, asked me if I saw any-
thing. I looked around and saw a man driving a team, hauling a .
wagon which I had no doubt contained a cannon. It was going in
the direction of Wyandott ferry, and we started after it as soon as we '
could change horses. As we passed through Westport, going from
Shawnee Mission to Kansas City, I saw a large crowd, of whom Allen ,
McGhee seemed to be the leader. They were drinking, and getting
ready to go up to the camp at Wakarusa. Several whom I knew
came up and talked to us, and said they were u going to wipe the
damned town of Lawrence clean out this time, and no mistake."
None of them said anything about the laws or the rescue — only the
opportunity to wipe out the inhabitants. We knew we would have
to pass this party going up their road, and they would be likely to
stop us, and we determined to cross the Kaw river and go up on the
north side. After we got started we were delayed so much, that by
the time we got out of the Wyandott timber, on the Leavenworth road,
it was dark, and we were obliged to stop and get a guide, which we
procured — an Indian ; and on the way up we saw a number of encamp-
ments on the north side of the river, which we avoided.
When we crossed the military road from Leavenworth to Delaware
ferry, we inquired whether Colonel Sumner or any dragoons had gone
down to the ferry, and we were told they had not. We got through
to the ferry opposite Lawrence about four or five o'clock in the morn-
ing. We did not overtake the cannon at all. The town site seemed
to be covered with what we called watch-fires ; and we found, when
we got across the ferry, that the fortifications which had been deter-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1081
mined on "before we left had been commenced, and that the men were
working night and day upon them. We reported ourselves at once
to General Robinson at headquarters,, and gave notice of the approach
of this cannon, and our fears that it might fall into the hands of the
opposite party. A detachment of horse was sent across the river,
under the command of Colonel Blood, to meet it, and they did meet
it, and brought it in here. During the time we had been gone the
different bodies of the opposing army had been very much increased.
The fortifications were pushed on here vigorously, everybody working
night and day, with very little sleep and very little eating. About
this time it was that the man in command of the picket guard in the
day time came in and reported that a wagon-load of powder was going
up the road, marked for , and he wanted orders to stop it, as
he suspected it was going to Lecompton. General Eobinson said
"No," we wanted nothing but our own; and even in this extremity
we could not consent to adopt the same policy with the other side in
regard to goods in passing.
At this time, sheriff Jones, officers from the other camp, and any-
body who chose, were passing into the town and being passed out be-
yond our guard at all times. It was urged very strongly by some
that we should put the town under martial law. Many of us were
opposed to going to that extent, but the guard were instructed not to
stop anybody, but to accompany everybody in and report him to the
captain of the guard. It was about this time that sheriff Jones was
one day escorted in. I met him that day at Mr. Christian's office,
and he was very much excited about it, and seemed very much dis-
pleased at the arrangement Governor Shannon was ready to make. It
was on the day I returned, I think, that Thomas Barber and his
brother, and his brother-in-law, left town to return home. The re-
port came in the evening that Barber had been killed. A company
of horse was sent out the next morning for the corpse, and they
brought it in. I saw the body, and examined it. The wound was
just about the hip-bone, on the right side, I think. He was put in a
room up-stairs, in the house we are now in, and shortly afterwards
his wife was brought in, and her cries were so loud it was impossible
to prevent the men from hearing them, and they declared they would
leave the town and attack the camp ; and the company especially to
which Barber belonged was almost ready to revolt. My impression
is, that a conspiracy of 100 men, to leave here without orders and
attack the camp on the Wakarusa, was found out shortly after Barber
was killed, arid put down by General Eobinson.
The morning that Barber was brought in, Governor Shannon sent
his aid, Mr. Kearney, of Westport, to town, to inform us that he was
waiting at Franklin for an escort to accompany him into this place.
Ten gentlemen were selected from the staffs of General Robinson and
polonel Lane, and sent to meet him; the command of which was
^iven to me. We found him at Franklin, and told him we were
limply a committee of escort to conduct him into town. We brought
aim in along with Colonel A. G. Boone, of Westport, and a captain,
whose name, I think, was Stiger, and Mr. Kearney, aid to the gov-
ernor. We were met outside of the town by General Robinson,
1082 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Colonel Lane, and other officers, and Governor Shannon was brought!
to this hotel, conducted to the room of the committee of safety, at-
tached to which was the general's headquarters. The committee of
safety had voted the night before to give to General Robinson, and, II
think,, Colonel Lane, the conducting of the negotiations. I was in
the room once or twice that day, but of what was said or what took
place with them I did not hear and see much. That night the coun-
cil of war appointed a committee, at General Robinson's request, toi
draw up articles of agreement. Mr. Winchell was chairman of that!
committee, and drew up the treaty — I think the treaty as now pub-
lished. I was on that committee. It is as Mr. Winchell drew it up
and submitted it, with the exception of the last clause, which was*
added by General Robinson. Governor Shannon said he thought it
was not best to conclude the negotiations that day, as he was afraid he«
would have difficulty with the men. He returned to Franklin that
night. The next day he came back here, and the treaty was signedj
He said he desired General Robinson and Colonel Lane to accompany
him to Franklin, to see the council of captains there. I was afraid
of General Robinson's going there, with no one but Colonel Lane:
but he concluded to do so, seeming to forget concerning his OWDI
safety, the prudence he had exercised while looking out for ours,*
They were gone till after night, when a snow-storm had come up. Wc<
were very anxious about them, and were about on the point of start-f
ing to look them up. They came in about eight o'clock in the even-i
ing, and that evening a man came in town saying a family below here>
had been driven out of their home into the storm by some from the*
other camp. General Deitzler took a party of some five or six ancti
started for the place. He brought in three men, who were armec'
with small Colt's revolvers, large holster-pistols, and cutlasses. They
Baid they were the picket guard that had been sent out the night be^
fore, but had been told by the captains they had met that they neeo
not go on that duty, as the whole matter had been settled. Thes*
men had been found in the house out of which this family had beer
driven. They stated that they did not turn back to camp, but cam<
up, as they wanted to see the town, but the storm coming up thej
lost their wa}7 on the prairie, and finding this house they went into i'
and took possession. To other questions which I asked them, thej
gave contradictory accounts as to their presence in the house, ana
their reasons for it. They were disarmed when they were brought im
and their arms put away together ; when they left we gave them a break-l
fast. One of them said he had lost a revolver. I do not know of any prooj
that he had lost one, but General Robinson took his from the desk be<
fore him, saying, if they had lost anything it should be replaced. One
of the men had a horse which had been stolen from here. The horw
had been retaken once after he had been stolen, and the man who hac
him was brought into town. When we were setting him at liberty ii
the morning, he gave his word that if we would let him ride down t(
camp, he would return him immediately. But we saw nothing mort
of the horse until we took him with these men who had been found
in the house from which the family had been driven. They seemed t<
be very much displeased that we would not let them take the hor#
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1083
again. I think Colonel Blood told them they could not have the horse
or the saddle until our saddle was brought hack. The horse belonged
to Colonel Blood's regiment. There were rumors that parties in the
camp had rebelled, and were out in guerilla parties, to cut off men and
attack the town, and our men, therefore, remained here until Monday.
On Sunday, Governor Shannon was here in company with sheriff
Jones and General Strickler on the other side. On Sunday night,
while he was in the hotel here, while some ladies and gentlemen were
collected here, he gave General Robinson the commission which is
talked of so much. The meeting of the ladies was for the purpose of
making arrangements for what was called a t( peace party" on Mon-
day night. This hotel was then called the <" Free-State house," and
was unfinished and unoccupied, except by soldiers, as the floors were
not all laid. Governor Shannon said that he had very much mistaken
the people of Lawrence, and I think he said something about coming
here to live. He expressed some fear about the man who had been on
the Wakarusa, that they would use some violence towards him.
He left the next morning. The " peace party" came off on Monday
night, and on Tuesday the soldiers left here Sheriff Jones attended
the party on Monday night. After the treaty the military organiza-
tion was made more complete — the ranks of the officers changed some-
what, the names enrolled, &c., &c.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
I was not present at the meeting in this place on the 14th of Au-
gust last, or any time during that month, but I was at Shawnee Mis-
sion. I was at the Big Springs convention. The object of the meeting
was to effect a union of the free-State men, and nominate a candidate
for delegate to Congress. I do not know that one of the objects of
that meeting was to organize for resistance to the Territorial laws. I
know that one of the subjects to be discussed was, in what light we
were to hold these laws. I thought, myself, that I should have some-
thing to say upon the subject, and thought that other men would do
the same thing. I mean to say that, so far as I know, there were no
arrangements made for a military organization in resistance to the
laws. I never heard of it, and never expected that to be done. I am
not aware that the free-State party ever resolved to disobey the laws
of the Territory. I do not know of any purpose to resist the laws by
the free-State party. I do not think I have ever heard anybody ex-
press any intention to resist the laws. The expression is that nothing
could make them respect the laws. I think I have said that myself:
waiving that, I would take no advantage of those laws myself to re-
cover any right. I think I have heard individuals say that they
would never be taken by officers under the Territorial laws ; but only
in one or two instances, and I do not now recollect their names. I do
not think I ever heard one of the free-State party express a determi-
nation to resist the execution of process in the hands of the sheriff.
Of my own knowledge, I know of no act of resistance to the acts of
the sheriff. I cannot recollect all I have heard, but to the best of my
recollection I have never heard any one of the free-State party say
that the object of the party was to resist the Territorial laws. I have
1084 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
heard persoas say that they had resisted the execution of process in
the hands of the sheriff. I heard one man say he had done so who
was a member of the free-State party. What I am about to say can-
not be considered as giving any correct expression of the sentiment of!
the free-State party.
A greaty many men of the free-State party, I have heard say, re-
gretted the resistance to the Territorial laws at this juncture, beforeii
they had been resisted in the courts and at the ballot-box. There are*
other men who say that the ballot-box is closed against us ; that there*'
is no justice in the courts, as is shown by experience ; arid that theyv
have nothing to say in condemnation of resistance to the Territorial!
laws. I do not know a free-State man in the party who does not sub-
scribe to the resolution passed at Big Springs, in effect that the bur-
den of these laws must be thrown off somehow and at some time. I!
have heard by report that free-State men had resisted the execution.
of process ; that was in relation to the case I have before mentioned, ,
where an individual also told me he had resisted — this instance being,:
the rescue of Branson.
[Here Mr. Woodson proposed, under the rule adopted by the ma-j
jority of the committee, (as he understands it,) to prove by the wit- 1
ness (Gr. P. Lowry) what was the understanding and reports in circuH
lation among the free-State party in Lawrence as to the fact or facts
of. the resistance of free-State men to th6 execution of process in the
hands of the sheriff of Douglas county.
The majority of the committee have not adopted any rule (as they?
understand it) under which this question would be competent, nor do-
they know of any rule of law or of evidence that would make it com-,
petent, and decline to allow the question to be put to the witness.
Thereupon Mr. Beeder proposed that the above question be an-
swered by consent, which was agreed to.]
With regard to the rescue of Branson, it was generally reported ini
Lawrence that sheriff Jones had gone with a party of 14 or 15 to the-
house of Mr. Branson, and arrested him upon a peace warrant. It
was further said that Mr. Branson had committed no offence, but was
only a witness against Coleman in the murder of Dow. It was fur-
ther said, that a party of free- State men were returning from Hickory*
Point on the same night when the arrest was made, who had beem
there to attend a meeting in reference to the murder of Dow ; were
about 13 or 14 in number • and that they met in the road sheriff
Jones's party with the prisoner ; that they inquired who was there,
and that Mr. Branson spoke and said he was there, and they had got
him prisoner, but he did not know what for, nor where they were
taking him ; that the party coming from Hickory Point asked him if
he wanted to go with sheriff Jones, and he said he did not. They told
him then to get down off the horse he was on and come with them;
that he did so ; that after some further talk the two parties separated,
and each went its own way. The report further said there was no
yiolence or force, other than their being there on the spot ; that four
or five out of the free-State men were armed.
I believe the resolution referred to by Mr. Jessee as having been;
passed at the Big Springs convention was passed there. I do not kno\f
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1085
of the organization of any military in the Territory since the Big
Springs convention, except the companies that were organized during
the war, and which were dissolved when the war ended. As for the
procurement of arms, I have heard that arms have heen brought into
the Territory since the Big Springs convention, hut whether they were
procured before that convention, or whether they were procured under
that resolution, or by whom they were procured, I have no knowledge.
The report is, that arms that I have seen here have been brought in
this spring — some by way of Leaven worth, some by land from St.
Louis, and some by the river to Kansas City. I cannot state where
the cannon that was brought up here during the war came from. I
have heard that it was bought in New York city by Mr. Abbott, with
his own means, some time last spring or summer, some time before
the Big Springs convention. It was brought here from Kansas by the
team of Mr. BufFum, who went down for it, and was accompanied by
three or four men, who were under the command of Lieutenant Surn-
ner of this city. I do not know how the expenses in getting it here
were paid. The money paid for the freight is put in with other bills
to be presented somewhere for payment. There were one or two in-
dependent military companies — such as are customary in towns — in
existence here before I arrived in Lawrence, in August last. I was
present at meetings of the free-State party prior to the arrest of Mr.
Branson. I do not recollect of hearing any threats at any of those
meetings, of resistance to the laws of the Territory. I do not know
any of the proprietors of the Free State hotel, or by whose means it
was built. At the peace-party which was held at this hotel I heard
no threats of violence against sheriff Jones. I heard one captain say,
that he and his men would not remain in the room with him. I was
told that threats had been made against him, and I consider a man
in danger when he is threatened very much. I was close by sheriff
Jones most of that night. I do not know of any assembling or gather-
ing of men for the purpose of violence against sheriff Jones. The
party from Topeka that came here were armed, but I do not recollect
of ever seeing any banner in that company. I do not recollect of any
place where arms were placed in Lawrence, either before or during the
war, except where they were placed by men at night, and taken again
in the morning. I have heard of the organization called the Kansas
League, but have no knowledge of it. The most of my knowledge
was obtained from a newspaper which pretended to publish an expo-
sition of such a society. I was private secretary for Governor Keeder,
after he returned here from Pennsylvania in June, 1855. I have said
that I knew of no other rescue from sheriff Jones before the appoint-
ment of this Congressional committee. 1 did know of one other — it
was the case of Mr. Buffum ; he was taken from the hands of the
sheriff by his wife.
To Mr. Ileeder :
There was a report here that in the conversation between the party
that rescued Mr. Branson and the party with sheriff Jones, at the
time of the rescue, Mr. Jones said that in less than five days he would
have ten thousand men at Lawrence, I think, from Missouri.
1086 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
To Mr. Howard:
I came into this place to live about the first oi September last. I
do not think that sheriff Jones ever arrested a person in Lawrencti
before the treaty was signed, which was on Saturday, December 8.<
1855. I never heard of sheriff Jones having a process to serve in
Lawrence, or of his having any official business here, except the co!4
lection of a tax which was refused, as it was all over the Territory, bj]
persons of both parties. In that case he asked for the tax of a dollarr
and being refused said nothing more about it.
G. P. LOWKEY.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 2, 1856.
J. M. WINCHELL called and sworn.
To Mr. Eeeder :
I first came to the Territory about the first of October, 1854,
made a location, but did not then remain here. I returned here ii
the following spring, and settled in Council City, in the seventh disi
trict, and have resided tnere ever since. I came to Lawrence on nri
way to Kansas City, on Friday, the last day of November, and thefc
first heard of any serious difficulty. I proceeded on Saturday it
Kansas City, and on my way met numbers of people coming out here*
That, I think, was on the first day of December. During the two o*
three days following, 1 heard, in Kansas City, threats of the destruei
tion of Lawrence, and remarks that, inasmuch as the river was abotn
being closed, it was thought to be a favorable opportunity for cuttinj
off the free-State men in the Territory, and that Lawrence was thli
first place to begin with. I saw every day men passing out or througl
the town armed and uttering these threats, yelling and whooping in
a very disorderly manner.
It was understood that Governor Shannon had issued a proclaim;
tion calling out the militia of the Territory, and that these men ini
tended to act as a part of that militia, and be organized as such!
They offered their services to Governor Shannon as a part of thl
militia of the Territory. I was induced to visit Governor Shanno)
to learn the truth, as far as I could, in regard to these matters,
visited him on the 4th of December, I think, at Shawnee Mission, ill
company with Mr. T. B. Eldridge, of Kansas City. I represented t'
G-overnor Shannon that he was misinformed in regard to the state o
affairs in this Territory. He admitted that he feared that he migh
have been misled by the reports that reached him as to the disposition
of the people of Lawrence and the Territory, and expressed a belie
that if the people here could understand his views, a collision migh <
be avoided. He said that the people of the border counties had beer
excited to a state of feeling that he feared was beyond control, am
requested me to communicate with the principal men of Lawrence hi
wish to avoid any outrage committed on them by the force assemblinj
in the vicinity here,, and his determination to protect the people o
Lawrence by all the means in his power, but to require them to de
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1087
liver up their arms. He admitted that travellers were being stopped
In the highway, and offered me a pass to come through without mo-
oestation. The next morning I saw him again, while on my way out.
He stated that a deputation irom Lawrence had visited him during
the night ; that he was confirmed in his belief that he h-ad misunder-
•tood the people of the Territory; that he would proceed himself
immediately to the scene of difficulties ; that he had ordered Colonel
Sumner from Fort Leaven worth to march with the force under his
command, and meet him at Delaware crossing ; but that he would
further order him now to march his force directly to Lawrence, and
quarter it in the town for its protection ; that he should no longer
insist on the people of Lawrence delivering up their arms ; that he
hoped, with the aid of some prominent men who lived in Missouri, to
restrain the force then assembled near Lawrence, and induce them to
disband and return to Missouri ; that he had received letters from
sheriff Jones and General Strickler ; that the letter of General Strick-
ler was temperate and moderate in its tone, and that of Jones of the
opposite character He told me to say to the people of Lawrence that
he would be in their vicinity that night, in company with Colonel
Boone and Colonel Childs, if he could persuade them to go with him,
as they were both residents of Missouri, and had great influence with
these men and with Jones. He included, in the pass given me, the
name of Mr. Eldridge, who was with me, and we proceeded on our
way. On the road I saw numbers of men proceeding in the same
direction with myself, and we were passed and repassed by them fre-
quently. These men were armed, and stated that they were residents
of Missouri, and were going out to assist in the extermination of
Lawrence. Some said that the people of Lawrence would have a few
hours given them to send away their women and children before the
destruction of their place. One team had a large flag. I arrived at
Wakarusa crossing about dark, and was stopped by sentries who re-
fused to allow me to pass. I inquired who was in command of their
force, and they said they believed General Strickler. I requested to
see him, and was conducted into the camp by a person who was styled
Lieutenant Lucas. I think, on exhibiting my pass to General Strick-
ler, he sent us forward with Lieutenant Lucas, who conducted us
beyond the picket guards. On arriving at Lawrence, learning that a
council or committee of safety had been appointed in town, which was
then in session, I procured admission into their room, and laid be-
fore them the errand of Governor Shannon. But little confidence
seemed to be manifested in his good intentions. There was a variety
of opinion touching his good faith in the matter. It was determined
unanimously, however, to act strictly on the defensive as against the
men surrounding the town, and to endeavor to set the governor right,
so far as the position and motives of the people of Lawrence were con-
cerned.
I was informed at that time that the town was then guarded ; that
the men within it had been arranged into a body for resistance to
these parties, who were assembling within the vicinity of the town.
The next day, by request of General Kobinson, Mr. Eldridge and my-
self sought Governor Shannon, to ascertain when he would visit the
1088 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
town, that arrangements might be made for his proper reception. We
proceeded to Franklin, and was there stopped by an advanced guard,
(the outmost sentinels,) and was permitted to proceed only on stating
that we had business with persons in command. There was some
little difficulty in getting through at that. We were told that Gov-T
ernor Shannon had gone up to Lecompton ; others told us he was
still at Shawnee Mission. Some said that sheriff Jones was in com-t
mand, and some that General Strickler, and some that General Kich-i
ardson was in command. On arriving at Wakarusa crossing, w<
were stopped by a number of men who were acting as sentinels
who utterly refused to let us pass. The house in which the officer,*
in command were said to be was just across the creek in sight. W<"
had proceeded alone thus far without an escort. These men wh<i
stopped us levelled their guns at us, and threatened to fire if we pro
ceeded a step farther. This was on the main highway between her*
and Kansas City. I demanded to know who was in command of thei:
force. I received several contradictory replies from different men.
stated that I wished to see Governor Shannon, and was told that h<
was not there. Finally one man admitted that he was there, anc
gtated that I could not be permitted to see him. I demanded to seH
sheriff Jones, and finally a man was induced to go over and tell sherif
Jones that some one wished to see him. In the meantime I aske<
permission to drive down into the creek to water my horse, and wai
permitted to do so under escort ; one man swearing that the hors«
belonged to the American Hotel in Kansas City, and that the wagoi
and horse was an abolition establishment. While down in the creel
the messenger returned from sheriff Jones, and requested me to go t<
the house on the bank opposite where sheriff Jones stopped. On turn
ing my horse's head, however, the guards levelled their guns at m<
again, and commanded me to^stop. The messenger told them heha<
the orders of the sheriff for me to go, and finally one of the guard"
consented to go with us to the house. On arriving at the house
gtated to sheriff Jones that I wished to see Governor Shannon. Won
was sent to Governor Shannon, who came out of the house, as thl
guard would not permit me to enter it or go out of his sight. Gov>
ernor Shannon expressed the -same views and feelings that he did th-l
day before, and stated that several prominent gentlemen from thl
border counties of Missouri were with him; that he hoped, througl
their influence, to restrain this force, and to prevail on it to clisbam
and return home. He stated that there were then 1,200 men on th<i
ground at that place. He said that he would be at Franklin the nex<
morning, immediately after breakfast ; that he would send a messen
ger to Lawrence announcing his arrival ; that he met a deputation o
the citizens to meet him at Franklin and escort him into Lawrence
He gave me a pass, I think, to return with ; and the same guard wfoi
had accompanied us there, came back with us and saw us through tin
gentries at the ford, and we returned to Lawrence. In the morning}.1
gentleman arrived from Franklin at Lawrence, as a messenger fron
Governor Shannon, according to agreement, stating that Governor
Shannon was prepared to visit the town. An escort often persons,
think, was sent back with this messenger to Franklin, under the com
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
1089
of Gr. P. Lowry, who found the governor at Franklin, and es-
corted him, in company with Col. Boone — I think his name is A. Gr.
Boone, and his residence is Westport — and a gentleman whose name, I
think, was CoL Strickler, from Missouri, and this messenger, whose
name, I think, was Kearney, into Lawrence. We were met, on enter-
ing Lawrence, by Gen. Robinson and Gen. Lane, and other promi-
nent men, who joined the escort and conducted the governor to the
room of the committee of safety. Communications "between Governor
Shannon and the gentlemen with him from Missouri, and the men of
Lawrence who received them, were of an exceedingly friendly char-
acter. The governor wished a sort of treaty, as it is usually called, to
be drawn up, in which should be expressed the feeling and intention
of the principal men of Lawrence and the Territory, and also his own.
He made, I think, a memorandum of some points he wished inserted
in that treaty.
He expressed a belief that the business could not be concluded that
day ; that he had better return to Franklin, and return to Lawrence
the next day and conclude the matter. He stated again that he had
hopes of being able, with the aid of gentlemen from Missouri, to in-
duce these men to disperse, who had come up for the purpose of de-
stroying this town. He expressed himself very freely that these men
were entirely beyond his control, unaided by these gentlemen. He
expressed a strong desire for the arrival of Col. Sumner, with a force
under his command, for the protection of this town, if his efforts should
not succeed. Col. Boone expressed deep regret at the course matters
seemed to be taking, and stated, also, that these men were almost un-
controllable, and desired to destroy the town and everybody in it, and
compared them to a pack of hyenas. Governor Shannon left here
with these men. The committee of safety convened during the even-
ing, and a committee was appointed to draught the document which
Governor Shannon had desired to be prepared. The treaty was drawn
subject to such changes as might be thought best by Gen. Robinson,
who, I think, was instructed to depart from it in some respects, if he
thought best, in points that might be required by Governor Shannon.
The next day Governor Shannon returned, according to promise.
I was named as chairman of the committee appointed to draw
ip the treaty, and wrote the treaty as it went from the hands of the
lommittee, though it was to be modified afterwards at the discretion
>f General Robinson.
Previous to my return to Kansas City I had an interview with
Sheriff Jones, who came in that evening with Captain Shaw, of coin-
any A, who lived in Missouri, as he stated to me. Mr. Jones ap-
eared to be very much excited, because a patrol, as he entered the
)wn, rode with him into it. He swore he would go in and out of
iawrence whenever he chose without any escort. He said he should
?sign his office in case any arrangement was made by Governor
ihannon to dispense with the service of these men, who had assembled,
s he said, to aid him in making the arrests contemplated. I also
eard Governor Shannon say that Jones had promised to resign. I
'ated to sheriff Jones that I was going down to Kansas City, and in-
aired whether there would be any difficulty in passing the fc re* sta-
ll. Rep. 200 69*
1090 KANSAS AFFAIRS,
tioned at Wakarusa. Captain Shaw wrote me a pass, which sheriff
Jones countersigned. I then left for Kansas City, about the middle off
he day, in company with the same gentleman with whom I came.
At Franklin I was met "by two horsemen, who told me I could not
pass. I stated that I had a pass from sheriff Jones. They said that
sheriff Jones had no authority. I said I had a pass from Captain
Shaw, of company A. They said they knew nothing of any Captain
Shaw, or his authority. Having still in possession the pass that.
Governor Shannon had given me the Thursday previous, to enable me
to return from Wakarusa to Lawrence, I inquired whether a pass*-
from Governor Shannon would be sufficient, and they said it would
not. They finally rode back with us a few rods, to where the station-
ary guard stood, and consented to look at the pass of Captain Shaw.
Mr. Eldridge offered them some cigars he had with him, and finally,
they let us go along. On reaching the woods near Wakarusa, wet
•were again stopped. The sentry was very obliging, glanced at the-
pass, and said he would not be very strict. He said that some of thet
boys had just been examining a loaded wagon, overhauling some-
boxes in it, and pointed out the wagon and boxes standing at a little
distance, which proceeding, he thought, was uncalled for. We went1
on to the ford, found one or two sentries who stopped us, whom we*
told we had a pass, and we were then permitted to go on. I thecs
saw some horsemen taking leave of some others, and then they started
off east.
I saw some wagon-loads of men also going east, and the camp waaj
evidently breaking up. On the way to Kansas City we passed several
horsemen and wagon-loads of men. This I think was on Saturday*
the 8th of December last. On the Monday following I returned tc
Lawrence, .the camp was dispersed, and 1 met with no challenges OB
the road. I met Governor Shannon on the way returning east. H<
said that the difficulties were over, but said he thought he should re
sign his office ; that the difficulties of the office were too great for hin
to retain it. He spoke of resigning his office from apprehension o:
difficulties in the future.
I have been subsequently told by a gentleman, whose name I fine
as adjutant on the pass given by General Strickler, when he retainec
the one given me by Governor Shannon, and which was John Mari
tin, that the actual number of men assembled on the Wakarusa wa
over 1,200. On going from here to the Wakarusa on the Thursday
mentioned, I saw a prisoner whom the guards had taken, and -wlion
they said they were taking to camp, and who was struggling violentl;
against it. The prisoner was placed on horseback, and he would not
remain on it. He was in the hands of men who, the sentries tolu
me, were a part of the forces. He struggled violently, and one c
them said to him, " God damn your abolition heart." The last :
saw of him he was being dragged along by two of them, one on eac'j
side. It was not alleged, as I heard, that he had committed any o1
fence. When I was at the camp at Wakarusa, for the purpose of sec
ing Governor Shannon, on my remonstrating with sheriff Jones o
the arrests of persons without any offence being alleged against them
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1091
lie admitted that General Pomeroy had been [arrested without any-
thing heing charged against him at all.
To Mr. Howard :
Sheriff Jones represented to me that this arrest was made without
his authority, and he was not responsible for it ; that the men there
could arrest whom they chose. I remonstrated with him against
keeping General Pomeroy under such circumstances ; to which he
made no reply. General Pomeroy was then in the camp.
Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson :
At the first interview with Governor Shannon, he stated [that the
force assembled here at Lawrence was a posse of the sheriff. He stated
that the force had assembled in consequence of his proclamation,
based upon the statement of sheriff Jones, that a prisoner had been
rescued from his hands, and he wanted additional force to enable him
to retake the prisoner and those who rescued him. He said nothing
about Lawrence being in a state of armed defence and rebellion ; this
was in the first interview. In the second interview Governor Shannon
disclaimed the force as being under his control, or under the command
of the sheriff. He stated his proclamation was not intended to bring
those men into the Territory, and that he had no control over them.
I do not think he said anything about his having legal authority. He
disclaimed the power to control them, or wisfy to use them. In the
first interview he claimed that these persons were there as a part of
the sheriff's posse, and had a right to be there. In the second inter-
view I remember nothing said touching his authority. There was
scarcely any discussion between us at the second interview, though
there was considerable in the first interview. He expressed a regret
that the men had ever come into the Territory, an indisposition to
use their services, and a disbelief in his own power to control them.
,, I did not hear him disclaim any authority over these men. Sheriff
Jones said to me that he had been resisted in the execution of the
.laws, in the rescue of Branson ; that he had been rescued by a force
of about forty men ; that he himself had counted thirty-eight men ;
and that he was determined to discharge the duty of sheriff' at every
hazard. That is the substance of his expressed determination ; that
he had summoned the volunteers as his posse, and that they were
such ; but stated at the same time that lie could not control them.
He said nothing about his having attempted to arrest men in this town,
and being resisted, as one of the reasons for calling out this force. He
stated that his life had been threatened, and that he had several times
been in Lawrence to give men a chance to shoot him if they wished,
ind should continue to come here whenever he chose. The first that
L saw of these men was when I was on my way to Kansas City. That
vas on Saturday, the 1st of December. It was between Saturday
md Wednesday that I heard the threats used in Kansas City. When
passed through Lawrence, on my way down to Kansas City, I saw
10 preparations of defence here. I knew of no preparations of
j-ms and ammunitions of war before that time. When I returned to
his place they were preparing for defence, throwing up breastworks,
1092 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and drilling. I left here on Saturday the 1st, and returned on the
following Wednesday. I was told by various persons here that there
were from seven hundred to eight hundred men here. Of Sharpe's ri-
fles I was told, in the same way, that there were about two hundred.
I knew of one piece of artillery being brought into town during its in-
vestment. I have no knowledge of any other piece, and was told
there was not any other. I think there was very little ammunition
here, from the fact that two ladies went out and brought in some dur-
ing the siege. I knew of no cannon-balls being here, and of no am-
munition, except what was brought here with the cannon. There were
guards placed about the city. I know nothing of their number, but
can simply state that there was a sentry placed on the main road lead-
ing to Franklin, about a quarter of a mile from this building, and
there were guards placed along on the river — so I was told. I do not
know of any guards being placed out a mile or so ; I saw none of them.
I never received a challenge on coming into Lawrence from any men
here, though I was told by guards in the other camp that I would be
challenged here. I know that there was intended to be a guard or
scouting party out in the night-time ; but I do not know about their
being out in the day-time. I understood that there were passwords
and countersigns in the night-time, though I do not know about the
day-time. I think these countersigns were not required during the
day and night, before persons were permitted to enter Lawrence,
though I think it was intended to be done in the night. I heard here
that two or three of the enemy's picket or patrol guards were taken on:
one occasion, and brought into town here by our patrol — one of them
because he had a horse that was stolen from town here. They were
relieved in the morning.
To Mr. Eeeder :
As I was passing down to Kansas City, the first time, I met a can--
non, drawn by two horses, coming this way. I did not recognize any
of the parties with the cannon, but they appeared to be of the same
parties as others I met coming up. I remember meeting two gentle-
men coming up, one of whom was said to be Colonel Woodson, of
Independence.
To Mr. Sherman :
I went down on Saturday, and met these men and the cannon, andi
had an interview with Governor Shannon, the first time, on the Tuea-!
day following.
To Mr. Keeder :
The threats to which I alluded in thefirst part of my testimony, in-i
eluded threats against the American Hotel in Kansas City, as being
obnoxious in the same way as was the city of Lawrence. Threatsi
were made that it would be destroyed, and much anxiety was felt by
its inmates, of which I was one, and the citizens generally. I under-
stood the ground of hostility to the hotel to be that it was kept for the*
convenience of northern emigration to Kansas Territory. That, so
far as I know, was the exclusive ground of hostility to the hotel.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1093
During tlie latter part of that week a meeting of the* citizens of Kansas
City was called, and a deputation sent to the camp at Wakarusa with
a statement, which I have since seen in print, relating to the threats
which had been made, and the political opinions of the proprietors of
the American Hotel, for the purpose of securing the property from de-
struction, on the return of the forces here encamped to Missouri.
This statement was printed, and distributed, in the form of a circu-
lar. I know the hotel to have been bought by the present proprietors
from the Emigrant Aid Company. During the time I was in Kansas
City, I frequently saw parties crossing the Missouri river on their
way to join the forces investing Lawrence. I counted at one time
seventeen armed horsemen in one of these parties, who uttered the
most hideous yells and shrieks, and 'threats against the abolitionists.
I saw similar parties returning across the ferry at Kansas City.
To Mr. Woodson :
The town of Kansas is on the extreme edge of the State'of Missouri.
J. M. W1NCHELL.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 1, 1856.
HOMMB HEYES called and sworn.
To Mr. Beeder :
I was taken by the troops on the Wakarusa last December. I
had been asked by Dr. Hall, of Franklin, to go with two men on
horseback and show them the ford of the Kansas river. He told me
these two men were chiefs of the Wyandot tribe. I refused, as I did
not know the ford. He was rather displeased at that. I told him I
would conduct them to one of the neighbors, who would probably know
better than I did. I then started with them towards Garvin's, where
I met Bill Straub, a neighbor of mine, and he took them to the ford,
and I returned to Franklin. I saw some young men there sitting on
a pile of logs, with their knives out, flourishing them. There were
companies gathered in the street that afternoon. One man called me
to him in the street, and I went up to him. He called me a God
damned spy, and said he was going to take me down. He wanted to
drive me ahead of the horses, and I refused. They furnished a horse
that was not saddled to ride on, and we started. They had tumbled
me round frern one side to the other, and one man had hold of the
halter, and I thought it was not necessary for me to take the reins.
He came up scolding me, and said, " You God damned Dutch aboli-
tionist to hell 1 take the reins." I told him I never heard the word
abolitionist in rny country, and did not know what it meant. They
took me down to the camp to a tent there. The guard was round the
tent, and, when they pushed me in, I found more prisoners there.
They kept me there three days ; we were released on Saturday. They
threatened around the tent to hang us. 'There was a brass piece of
cannon before the tent the morning we were released. The sheriff, or
the one they called sheriff, and one of the officers — I believe his name
1094 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
was General Strickler — came up with revolvers in their hands, and took*!
us up to headquarters. The general then released us, and gave us ai
pass, and then started towards the guard. One let me pass, and the
other stopped me hecause the pass was not dated. I went back to the
headquarters ; the general gave me another pass, which enabled me
to get by the guard and on home. I live 3^ miles below here, on the*
Kaw river — between Franklin and the river.
HOMME HEYES.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
ALVIN B. BRONS'ON called and sworn.
1 was the driver of the mail-coach during the troubles last fall anch
winter, and was the sub-contractor to carry the mails between Kansas;
City and Topeka. When I was coming from Kansas City, while thti
forces were encamped on the Wakarusa, I was stopped by some o:
them about five o'clock in the afternoon. They said at first they in-i
tended to keep me there all night. After keeping me about an hour and'
a half, they let me go. The next morning, as I was going back, thc<
picket-guard made me go into camp and get a pass before I was al-1
lowed to go on. I went and got the pass, and was then allowed to gc
on. After that, I made my regular trips without being detained any
more by them. I knew of their stopping other teams ; there was out-
in camp while I was there the first time.
A. B. BKONSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T.? May 12, 1856.
JAMES S. LEGATE called and sworn.
I came into the Territory the last of July, 1855, from Mississippi!
I was born in Massachusetts. I know Samuel J. Jones, sheriff,
have seen him quite frequently. I made his acquaintance amonj
some of his earliest visits to Lawrence as sheriff. I have had several
conversations with him concerning the difficulties here at Lawrenof
last fall. At one time we had quite an extended conversation upOE
that subject. I wanted to obtain from him his object in arraying the
force from Missouri against us. This conversation took place in Law?
rence, after the difficulties were over, about the last of December. 1
asked him, if he thought those men whom he wished to arrest Mr,
Bronson, who was rescued from him, were in Lawrence, why he die
not come for them in person. He said that he had been looking all
affairs about Lawrence for some time, and had come to the conclusion
that so nearly equal were the forces of the Territory divided, the one
part free-State and the other pro-slavery, the only alternative was to
fight it out. I then asked him, if they were so nearly equal, why W
went to Missouri for his friends there ; why not let the citizens of thd
Territory fight it out if they wanted to fight. His reply was, that we
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1095
were too well prepared, and that he went to Westport and noised the*
Condition of affairs about, and started his friends to the Territory.
He said that he was so fixed at that time with the hoys ahout West-
port, that he could readily obtain a thousand men, armed and equip-
ped for service, and that it was his object at that time to bring the
matter to a fight, and he did all he could do to have it come to a fight.
At that stage of our conversation I told him it was bad policy for one
of the officers of the Territory to have written to the State for a cer-
tain number of riflemen to come up here, as it looked like bad faith
in that officer. He said that was a private matter, never intended
to be made public. We were then conversing about a letter purport-
ing to be from Daniel Woodson, the secretary of the Territory,
inviting, I think, the Platte county rifles to come over here. I
asked him, in so many words, "if Colonel Woodson," as we called
the secretary of State, " wrote that letter." Jones said he thought
* ' likely enough/ ' I asked him how many men came up from Missouri.
He said he did not know exactly. I asked him then how many men
he had, that made it their home in the Territory. He said there were
but few of them, because they could not leave their work at that time,
and he thought there were not more than 150 or 200 of them out.
At another point of the conversation I asked him how many men he
had in all with him. He said he had about eighteen hundred men.
I then told him he must have had fourteen or fifteen hundred men
from Missouri. He said he did have that number, and could have
obtained more, i then asked him what he intended to do with that
number of men as a posse. He said he intended to ''take this damned
town," Lawrence, "and blot it out." I reminded him of the im-
probability of the force he had being able to do that. He said the
town had been looked at by many different individuals from the camp,
and they were confident they could have taken it in twelve hours.
Our conversation then turned upon his trying to make an arrest in
town since the war, and in which he had failed. He said lie had tried
to make an arrest here, and he had been resisted, and that he had
called upon Robinson and Lane for a posse, and they would not give
him one. I told him it was probable they thought he was trying to
get up another siege here, and that was the reason they did not give
him some direct answer, or do something for him. He replied that
he thought that Robinson and Lane thought somebody was at the
bottom of it besides himself. I said they probably did, and would
continue to be neutral in the matter, acting only as citizens. He said
the articles of peace that Shannon, and Robinson, arid Lane had en-
tered into, he thought pledged them to give him a posse 9 and if they
did not do it, or do something for him, he would get up another
.scrape, and they would have Woodson to deal with this time, as Shan-
non was gone, and they would find Woodson to be a damned sight
different man from old Shannon. I told him that if we got into a
war here at that time, it would probably involve the whole Union.
He replied that he did not care what it might involve, but that the
laws passed by the Territorial legislature should be enforced. Our
conversation then ceased at that time.
At another time, in conversation with him in regard to enforcing
1096 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
the Territorial laws, I told him a strong 'objection to the laws was, that
the offenders, who were pro-slavery, and had offended against free-
State men, had nothing done to them. He asked me for an instance
of the kind, and I referred him to Major Clark, who had, but a day,
or two before that, passed up through here with a body guard. I
said that his killing Barber, and not being brought to account for ity
made a great many feel very strongly against those laws ; and I told
him that he (Jones) knew very well that Clark killed Barber, He
said he did not know anything . of it, only what Clark said, for he-
was not present. He said that when Clark came down to Franklin,
the evening that Barber was shot, Clark and Barns, from Missouri,
both claimed that they had killed one of the damned abolitionists,
He then told me the circumstances as Clark and Burns related them.
I asked Jones why Clark was not arrested. He said if I would swear
out a warrant against Clark, before a justice of the peace, he wo.nldl
see that Clark was arrested. He said he did not deem it his duty ta
arrest a man for an offence committed, except on himself, unless some
one else would swear out a warrant against him. He said that it was
just as well as it was, for Clark would not leave the country, but
would wait and come before the grand jury. That" was about thei
substance and important facts of our conversation.
[This portion of the deposition, relating to events transpiring since*
the appointment of the commission, is struck out according to ruling;
of committee on the case of Mr. Harris, at Westport, Mo.]
JAMES F. LEGATE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
LECOMPTOX, K. T.,
Secretary's Office, May 8, 1856.
At the request of the Kansas investigating committee, I hereby
state that the following publication, purporting to be a letter Iron*
me to General Eastin, is, so far as it relates to me, a forgery. I
never wrote any such letter to General Eastin or any one else.
I saw the publication for the first time at the Wakarusa camp,
about the 6th of December, 1855, published in the " Herald of Free-
dom," a weekly paper printed in the town of Lawrence, bearing date
December 1, 1855. I immediately called General Eastin 's attention
to it, who at once pronounced it a forgery, he having received no such
letter from me.
DANIEL WOODSON.
"DEAR GENERAL: The governor having called out the militia, this
is to inform you to order out your division and proceed forthwith to
Lecoinpton. The governor not having the power, you can call on the*
Platte county rifle company, as our neighbors are always ready to help
us. Do not implicate the governor, lohatever you do.
"DANIEL WOODSON."
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 8th day of May, A. D. 1856.
JOHN SHERMAN,
Of the committee.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1097
GEORGE F. WARREN testifies:
I was at Leavenworth City when the difficulties commenced here at
Lawrence last fall. The first report in regard to forces gathering in
relation to Lawrence was, that they were gathering in Lecompton.
There was a proclamation posted up, purporting to he from Governor
Shannon, and signed by Woodson, secretary. After that, there was
a company organized at Leavenworth City, of persons who came over
from Missouri, of whom I recognized some twenty or more. Some of
them were armed with guns, some were not. They met in the streets,
and, with some fifteen citizens of Leavenworth City, organized a com-
pany. The company consisted of thirty-five or forty in all, I think.
I was requested by different individuals to raise a company to come
to Lawrence to the assistance of Governor Shannon, to put down the
people of Lawrence. I declined to do so, unless we were to he allowed
to act as an independent company, and act as we pleased when we got
here. The next day was Sunday, the 2d of December. I was re-
quested to take Dr. Cutler to Doniphan. Dr. Cutler was sick at the
time, and had been confined to his bed. He lived in Doniphan, and
was desirous to return home. I started with him for that purpose in
a buggy. I took my gun with me. I arrived at Doniphan that Sun-
day evening. The next morning I started back alone to Leavenworth
City. I had not gone more than two and a half miles, when I saw
men on horseback riding about in different directions. One of them
came up to me and followed me without saying anything to me. I
drove down to Atchison, and when I got there, I saw a crowd of
about thirty persons step out into the road front of me, and drawing
across the road. One man held up his hand and stopped the horse,
and another man caught the bridle. The one who caught the
horse by the bridle w^as Mr. Thomason, and he demanded my
letters and papers. I asked him if he was an officer, or had a
writ. He said " no." I asked his authority for stopping me in the
street. He said, as captain of the Atchison guard. I told him I
should not give him my letters and papers unless he got a writ or
came with an officer. A man by the name of Abell, a law partner of
General Stringfellow, called out, "clinch the abolitionist." Thoma-
sou again demanded my letters and papers, but I refused to give them
up. Some of the party then caught hold of me by the leg, and some
by the arms, and asked me if I would give up the papers. I refused
again, unless they demanded them legally. Then Thomason caught
me by the throat. I then commenced to tear up the papers I had,
and put one of them in my mouth. These papers I destroyed were
my own private papers,, letters from my brother, and papers sent to
me by some persons unknown to me.
They continued to choke me, and I continued to tear up the papers.
I tore up the papers as long as I had breath to enable me to do so.
Abell sung out, " Kill the abolitionist, kill him ; he is eating the pa-
pers up." They then stood me up on my feet, and stripped off all
my clothes but my shirt. This was about 9 o'clock in the morning of
the 3d of December. They searched me for papers, and could find
1098 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
none but what I had torn up, or they had taken before. They broke
open my shirt, breaking open the collar and bosom. They then pui
on my clothes. They took my gun, powder-flask and shot-pouch i
jack-knife, and $3 75 in money. They then carried me up to one o
the stores and put me under guard. They said they were going to
hang me. I objected to it, because I was opposed to capital punishi
ment in any manner. They dispatched thirteen men to Doniphai
for Dr. Cutler, and brought him to Atchison about dark that nighti
We were together but a short time, and then separated for the nightt
That night they sent a despatch to Weston for help. About 2 o'clock*
some thirty men made their appearance where I was stopping, an*
inquired for Abell. It frightened the keeper, as he thought they wen
free-State men, and he shut the door in their faces, and locked it.
The man that had arrested us, said to me it would go hard witl
Dr. Cutler, and that it would be likely to go hard with me, because '.
was so stubborn with them in not giving up my papers. In the morn;
ing they took Cutler before the justice and dismissed him. The crowc
that came from Weston came up to see me in the morning, to see wh<)
I was. They came in, and one man (Joseph Murphy) spoke, am
asked what they were going to do with me. The crowd told hicf
they were going to hang me. He said if they hung me, they would
have two men to hang. They said they were determined to do it!
and he then told them they would do it over his dead body. He pro*
posed to them that I should be sent to Lecompton, to Major Kichard
son and Gov. Shannon. He said he knew me well, and knew I wouU
do nothing that was not right. This Murphy was a pro-slavery man i
and a citizen of Weston. After further conversation, they agreed t<t<
take me to Lecompton. They put Cutler and myself in the bugg*
they took me from the day before, and had seven horsemen, with i
double-barreled shot-gun and two revolvers each, to accompany us.
We got as far as Hickory Point that night, and stopped at tht
house of Charles J. Hart. We were guarded until morning, an<
then I refused to go further unless they wonld show their writ,
told them that I should consider them as highway robbers, if the;<
forced me to go with them then. Thereupon, four of the seven re
fused to have anything more to do with the matter, if I considered i
in that light. The other three then took me and put me by force iii
the buggy. All seven, however, went on with us to Lecomptom
where we arrived about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Dr. Cutler ano
myself were then taken into the building then occupied by Gov. Sham
non. Sheriff Jones then came and put his hands on our shoulders
and said we were his prisoners. I asked him if he had any writ, bui
he showed none. I said I wanted to know what I was brought thert
for, and wanted to see the writ ; and he said it would be in presently
I saw no writ that day.
I was taken^ that night, to a small building kept as a liquor-shop
The building was open, and it was very cold, from which I suffereo
very much. That night Jones came in with some four or five others
and sent for a table and a deck of cards, and went to playing pokei'
at twenty-five cents ante. We were obliged to sit up all night, aii
the building was not large enough for us to lie down while they wer<
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1099
in there. I think Jones lost $41 that night. He then told me he
had a proposition to make to me. He said if I would tell him all
about Lawrence, Sharpe's rifles, and secret societies, and turn State's
evidence against the people here, he would set me free. But if I did
not do that, I should swing. I told him he lived at Lawrence and I
at Leaven worth, and therefore he had a hetter opportunity to know
those matters than I did. He told me he would give me my choice,
and asked me which I would do, "tell, or swing?" 1 told him I
should choose to swing. The guard objected to his insulting the
prisoners any more. He had been drinking, at times, all night.
It had become morning then, and we were marched to Shannon's
office, or, as they called it, "the headquarters." The building is
now used as a post-office. Shannon was not there. They then carried
us down to their camp. Kelley, of the Squatter Sovereign, who lives
in Atchison, came round and said he thirsted for blood, and said he
should like to hang us on the first tree. Cutler was very weak, and
that excited him so that he became delirious. They sent for three
doctors, who came. Dr. Stringfellow was one of them. They re-
mained there with Cutler until after midnight, and then took him up
to the office, as it was very cold in camp. I was kept in camp until
the following Saturday night. As it was very cold, they took me up
to take care of Dr. Cutler. On Sunday the soldiers became dissatis-
fied, as it was so cold and stormy, and wanted to march on Lawrence
or go home. The weather was very inclement — the tent in which we
were being blown down — and it snowed very hard.
To pacify the soldiers, they agreed to and did move the camp to-
wards Lawrence. They took me with them, in the carriage with Dr.
Cutler, and we started towards Douglass. We got to Douglass,, and
there they consented to let the Dr. go to Dr. Brooks's, as he was ac-
?uainted with him. Benicia and Douglass are on adjoining claims,
drove Dr. Cutler to Dr. Brooks's, under guard, and left him there,
and while driving back we were told peace was declared.
I saw a large crowd gathering, and drove up and heard some men
making speeches. Dr. Stringfellow was called upon for a speech.
He got up and made a very few remarks. Says he, "Gentlemen, we
have been sold. Shannon has turned traitor, and disgraced himself,
and not only himself, but the whole pro-slavery party." The whole
crowd then cried out, " Lawrence," " Lawrence." Stringfellow said,
"No, Shannon had ordered them out, and they had obeyed ; and he
had ordered them to go back home, and they must obey him."
The prisoners were then taken into a house near by. General Kich-
arclson, as he was called, came in there soon after, and passed through
the room we were in, and went into another room, where he remained,
with a number of other persons about fifteen minutes. Captain Dun-
ham, the captain of the company that had charge of us, came out and
said, " Colonel Warren, stand up." I stood up, and he told me that
I was free to go where I pleased. I then went out of the house, and
all began to shake hands with me, and called for a speech. I declined
to make one then, but promised them all they wanted if they would
come to Leavenworth City. I asked General Kichardson for a pass.
He refused to give me one ; said I would not need any, and could get
1100 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
through without. He gave one to Dr. Cutler. I then went hack witl
my buggy to Dr. Brooks' s, and got Dr. Cutler, and started for Law*
rence, and arrived about sun-down on Sunday, December 9. Fo:>
three months after that, I felt the effects of the treatment and exposure
I was subjected to, and have not been able to work any since thai
time.
I never recovered one thing that was taken from me. It was in th«
possession of the mob at Atchison. The gun was worth $70, and !
heard three or four men disputing as to who should have it.
Some ef the papers that were taken came into my possession in thiii
way, while I was clerking in the Leaven worth, hotel. I went dowi
town to purchase something for the house, contracting on one of the
boats for some flour from St. Louis. When I got back, two letter?
were given me by Mr. Keller, the proprietor of the botel, which he
said had been left for me. They had no postmark on them, and wen
anonymous. As I found no signature, I inquired who left them ; bir
could not find out, and have never found out. I have no idea who
left them. Enclosed in the letters were two small printed pamphlets!
purporting to be the ritual of a secret society called the Kansas Legion ]
One letter contained what purported to be a commission to me, to ace
as deputy and organize lodges. The other letter contained what purr
ported to be the pass-words. Neither letter was signed, I never actec
upon the suggestions there contained, and never was in a lodge of the
kind. Some days before the difficulties in Lawrence,, Mr. Redpath, ei
correspondent of the St. Louis Democrat, inquired of me where he
could get a ritual of this secret society for publication. I gave him
those pamphlets, one of which he afterwards returned. I understood
that it was published in the St. Louis Democrat, but I have never seem
it. These papers I have just described, and a letter from my brother/
were all the papers in my possession when the mob searched me at
Atchison. Upon finding these papers, a despatch was published.il
which I saw, headed "Two abolitionists taken — General Pomeroy and'
Colonel Warren." It then went on to state that papers were found in'
my possession showing a plot to burn Atchison, murder Pat Laugh-i
lin, and hang Stringfellow, and that I had come to Atchison to raise
a company for that purpose. On the strength of that, the company
was sent for, and came from Weston. They told me that, and also*
that they sent for 60 men,, but only 30 came.
When the company came over from Weston and called to see me,
they asked if I was the man who was trying to burn down Atchison.i
When the door was shut in their faces, one of them cried out, "if
this is the way you treat us when we come over, your damned towm
may be burned down for all I will do." My only business in going
up at that time to Douiphan and Atchison was to take up Dr. Cutler,
and to distribute more free-State constitutions, poll-books and ballots.
I had no intention of stopping in Atchison. I did not know PatJ
Laughlin until some man came to the buggy I was in, and asked if I
knew him, and told me his name was Pat. Laughlin. He helped pull1
me out of the buggy. Upon reflection, I am not certain but that some
of the papers accompanying the letters I have mentioned as being
given to me at Leavenworth Hotel were signed. I paid no attention
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
1101
to those papers, and I do not know how they got into my pockets at
the time I was taken. I think I had left them in a vest pocket, which
I laid in my trunk, and put on without examining it the morning I
left with Dr. Cutler for Doniphan.
G. F. WARREN.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
THOMAS CONNELLY called and sworn.
To Mr. King:
I came into the Territory and settled in Lawrence about the 5tb of
November, 1855, and have resided there until last April am ac-
quainted with Colonel Lane and Dr. Eohinson. I was there during
the war last winter. I could not define what their intentions were.
I did not hear Mr. Rohinson at that time say much, if anything. I
have heard Colonel Lane say he was colonel of the organized compa-
nies there during the war. I knew those companies were there, and
knew they had sentinels placed there. I have had several conversa-
tions with Lane about that matter. I have heard him say they would
not submit to the laws of the Territory, and that they had means
and men to resist their execution. I cannot say that I heard him say
that was what he got up those companies for. I have heard him and
the crowds of armed men there say they would not obey the laws, and
if they were arrested by sheriff Jones,, or the officers of the Territory,
it should not be alive. They asserted that they would not submit to
those laws. I was there the night Branson was rescued from sheriff
Jones, and heard the party who did that when they came into Law-
rence that morning. I heard the drums beating and the company
marched in, but I did not know until the next morning what they
had done, There was no armed assemblage at Lawrence at that
time.
Question. Do you know, from what you heard the men say who res-
cued Branson from the sheriff, that they knew he was arrested under
the laws of the Territory?
Answer. I cannot say about what was said at the time. I believe
Mr. Cameron was a justice of the peace, acting under the Territorial
laws ; at least he told me so. I cannot say that any of those persons
who rescued Branson ever told me anything about the matter. I
think in March last they said they intended to give a passive submis-
sion to the Territorial laws. I never heard Colonel Lane acquiesce at
all in the submission of the laws, or Dr. Robinson say so either. As
regards Colonel Lane, at the time this passive submission was agreed
upon, he was not there.
Question. Did you hear anything said among those men who had
been organized in armed resistance to the laws in Lawrence, at any
period, that they then had things arranged in Washington, so that
Congress would sustain them, and they intended now to take a bolder
stand ? and if so, state at what time these declarations were made,
and what was said.
Answer. I have heard Mr. Lyman, Mr. Searle, and several others
1102 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
who were engaged in that organized company in Lawrence, say, ai
the time the report first arrived there of the majority in Congress
that they now had a majority in Congress, and would succeed in an
nulling the laws of the Territory. I do not recollect exactly the datt
when this was said. I know it was at the time the account of the ap
pointment of this committee arrived there, and I think it was som<i
time in March.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman :
The declarations made by Colonel Lane were during the difficultie
at Lawrence. I do not know whether he denied either the existeno
or the validity of the Territorial laws ; but he declared he would no
submit to them.
To Mr. King :
I moved from Illinois to Lawrence.
THOS. CONNELLY.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 9? 1856.
WILSON SHANNON was called and sworn.
This deponent states that as to the origin, progress, and conclusion
of the difficulties at Lawrence last fall, he begs leave to refer to hisi
two despatches to the President of the United States with the accomi
panying documents — the first dated on the 28th of November, and th*
second on the llth day of December last — as containing what thin
deponent believes to be a correct history and account of these trans*
actions.
This deponent states that he was not in the camp at Lecompton.i
and consequently cannot say whether there were any Missourians in
that camp or not. He was in the camp on the Wakarusa, anc<
knows that there came a number of citizens of Missouri in that camp,
but how many he has no means now, and never had, of forming any
idea of the number of citizens from that State who were in the Wai
karusa camp. This deponent met a number of prominent men fromi
Missouri at the Wakarusa camp, and conversed and counselled withi
thBin fully in relation to the pending difficulties ; and those witbi
whom I conversed, without a single exception, stated that they had
come over into the Territory to aid the law and order party in execu-i
ting the laws. That they would take no steps that did not meet
with the approval of the public authorities of the Territory ; that*
they had learned that those who were resisting the laws were armed
with Sharpens rifles — had artillery and munitions of war — and that the-
law and order party were in a great measure unarmed, and required'
aid to put down an armed resistance to the laws of the Territory.
It seemed to be a very general opinion, not only of the citizens of»
Missouri present on that occasion, but of those of the Territory, that no I
arrangement could be made which would bring permanent security to |
the country unless the people assembled at Lawrence were required to |
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 1103
five up to the public authorities their Sharpens rifles and artillery, and
was repeatedly advised to exact this of those in Lawrence ; but this
was nothing more than opinion and advice, and when the matter was
finally settled all acquiesced in what was done, although many
thought the terms agreed upon were too liberal to the party ; but
stated that if the executive was satisfied,, they had nothing to say.
The men collected in the Wakarusa camp, after being dismissed,
retired in good order. This deponent states that he was greatly aided
in settling the difficulties last fall by the active exertions of prominent
men from Missouri, who did everything in their power to prevent the
effusion of blood. He would name General Atchison and Colonel
Boone as having exercised a great deal of influence in preventing a
conflict of arras between the two parties on that occasion.
This deponent understood, from leading men in the camp, that a
treat many of the men assembled on that occasion would not be satis-
ed unless the Lawrence party were required to give up their imple-
ments of war ; and, in case they did not do so, they would attack the
town. Expressions of this kind were not used to this deponent, but
he has no doubt, from information received by him at the time, that
.this sentiment was entertained by a good many. Yet, through the
1nfluence I have named, all were induced to acquiesce in what had
been done, and to retire quietly to their respective homes.
As to the paper 'dated on the 9th of December, and purporting to
i] "be addressed to C. Kobinson and J. H. Lane, and which has been very
ij erroneously called a commission, this deponent desires to make an ex-
a] planation, as alike due to himself and truth. To a fair understanding
it I of this matter, it is necessary that I should make some preliminary
i statements. On Monday, the'9th, about sunrise, this deponent issued
his orders for disbanding the forces around Lawrence, and he remained
at the Wakarusa until the forces at that place had all retired ; he went
then, by special invitation, in company with several other gentlemen,
to the town of Lawrence, and in the evening was invited to attend a
social party or gathering of ladies and gentlemen at the Emigrant
Aid Society's hotel, which he accepted. There were but two rooms
finished in the hotel ; they were in the third story, and quite small
and crowded by the company assembled. The time was spent in th«
most friendly and social way, and it seemed to be a matter of con-
gratulation on both sides that the difficulties so lately threatening the
peace of the country had at length been brought to a happy termi-
nation.
In the midst of this convivial party, and about 10 o'clock at night,
Dr. C. Kobinson came to me, and in a state of apparent excitement
declared that the picket-guard had just come in?, and reported that
there was a large irregular force near the town of Lawrence, who were
threatening an attack on the place, adding that the citizens of the
place claimed the protection of the executive, and to this end desired
this deponent to give himself and Colonel Lane permission to repel
the threatened assault. I replied to Dr. Kobinson that they did not
require any authority from me, as they would be entirely justified,
after the difficulties had been satisfactorily arranged, in repelling by
force any attack on their town. He replied, that they had been rep-
1104 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
resented as having arrayed themselves against the laws and officers of
the Territory, and that therefore he wished me to give him written
authority to repel the threatened assault ; so that it might appear
that, if a rencounter did take place, they were acting not against but
with the executive of the Territory. With this view, and in the
midst of the excitement of the occasion, I signed said paper ; hut it
was distinctly understood, by both parties, that it had no application
to anything except the alleged threatened attack on Lawrence that
night. I subsequently discovered that no attack had been threatened
on Lawrence on the night in question.
This deponent never said to Mr. Winchell that the people of Law-
rence must give up their arms. I stated to Mr. "Winchell, that the
people of Lawrence and the free-State party had secretly introduced
into the country arms of a deadly kind; and taken in connection with
some resolutions they had passed in relation to resisting the laws by
force, together with the actual rescue of Branson by an armed body
of men, justified the people in believing that there was a fixed de-.
termination on the part of a portion of the people to resist by force
the execution of the laws ; that this belief had produced a great deal
of excitement in the Territory, as well as in the border counties of'
Missouri, and that I thought the best thing the free-State men could
do to restore harmony and confidence, would be tq voluntarily place
their Sharpe's rifles and artillery in the hands of some public officer,,.,
to be receipted for and returned, when the situation of the country
would permit it. That if they would do this, I would undertake to V
guaranty to them united security.
I stated to Mr. Winchel, that if what he stated in relation to the/
citizens of Lawrence was correct, I had been greatly deceived as to
their true position. That I would be the first to do them justice, if f
satisfied I had done them wrong.
I did not say to Mr. Winchell that I wished a deputation from i
Lawrence to meet me in Franklin, and escort me into Lawrence. He '
called on me at Wakarusa, and informed me that he had been re-
quested by a number of the citizens of Lawrence to call on me, and I
invite me to visit that place, with the view of having an interview in i
relation to a settlement of the pending difficulties. He informed me *•
that if I would agree to go to Lawrence, the people would send out i
a deputation to escort me into the city. I informed Mr. Winchell !
that I would be glad to visit the town of Lawrence on the next day, ,
and he proposed that the committee meet me at Franklin at ten o'clock
and escort me into town ; to which I assented, and on the next day I I
entered Lawrence under the arrangement thus made.
I have carefully examined the deposition of Mr. Lowry, taken be-
fore the committee, and I have to state that I never said to Mr.
Lowry that I had called on the Missourians to aid sheriff Jones in i
executing the laws or process in his hands. But, on the contrary, I I
stated to Mr. Lowry on the day he called on me with Mr. Babcock,
as a committee from Lawrence, that the only steps I had taken to
furnish sheriff Jones with a posse was the orders I had issued to
Major Genral Richardson and to General Strickler, which had refer-
ence to the militia of this Territory, and to none other. I had no right
to call on citizens of Missouri, and never did so, and I so informed
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1105
Mr. Lowry. His reply was, that it had been so reported, but that
he knew it could not be true, and that the report had done me injus-
tice ; and he had on several occasions stated his disbelief in the re-
port, and sought to do me justice in this respect, as far as he could.
When Mr. Lowry called on me as a committee from Lawrence, to
make known the compliments of the people of that place, I informed
him that the rescue of Branson by a body of armed men seemed to
show a fixed and determined purpose on the part of the so-called free-
State party to carry out their previous motives and determination, as
made known at various meetings, and as declared repeatedly in va-
rious public papers professing to speak the will of the party ; that the
fact that S, N. Wood, who headed the party that rescued Branson,
together with his whole command, amounting to between 30 and 40
armed men, had marched into Lawrence immediately after the res-
cue had taken place, and paraded the streets, and had been received
at 8 o'clock on the morning after the event, by a public meeting of
the citizens, who seemed to manifest a high degree of satisfaction at
the means with which this first resistance to the execution of the laws
had met with, together with the resolution passed at the adjourned
meeting on the same day declaring there was no law, and determin-
ing to take steps themselves to bring all offenders to justice, had
produced a settled conviction throughout the country that the town
of Lawrence, or the citizens thereof, were determined to resist the
execution of the laws by an armed force, and that this conviction, to-
gether with some other matters, had produced a great deal of excite-
ment with what was termed the law and order party in the Territory,
and with their friends in the border counties in the State of Missouri;
that it might be difficult to allay this excitement, unless the citizens
of Lawrence would do something themselves to remove these impres-
sions. Mr. Lowry denied and excused all the charges against the
Citizens of Lawrence ; denied that they had in any way countenanced
the rescue of Branson, or that they had resisted or intended to resist
bhe execution of the laws ; and he stated that sheriff Jones could at
my time come into Lawrence and arrest any one against whom he
lad a writ, without molestation.
j In reply, I informed Mr. Lowry that I had been assured by per-
ions in whom I had entire confidence, that the citizens of Lawrence,
rom the day of the rescue of Branson, had commenced a military or-
ganization and active preparations to defend the place even before any
brces had collected as a posse under sheriff Jones, and that I had
•>een further informed that there were a large number of those who
iad been engaged in the Branson rescue who had fled to Lawrence
3r protection, and that they were still in that place, and the citizens
nd those assembled there were protecting them, and that they were
reparing to protect them against arrest by the sheriff, by arming
hemselves and fortifying the town ; and that it was the belief in.
lie public mind that this was the real cause of so many persons rally-
ig to the support of the sheriff, to aid him in making the arrests
otwithstanding this armed resistance. I was assured by Mr. Lowry
lat I had been entirely misinformed, and that the only preparations
lat were being made in Lawrence were for self-defence ; that there
H. Kep. 200 70*
1106 KANSAS AFFAIES.
were but three individuals engaged in the rescue that resided in
Lawrence ; that the others resided in the country, and many of them
in the neighborhood of Hickory Point, where Dow had been killed ;
that no one engaged in the rescue was then in Lawrence ; that they
had all left that place in a few days after the transaction took place,
and that he was entirely ignorant of the places to which they had
fled ; but that at any time any of these persons should come to Law-
rence, sheriff Jones could arrest them without the slightest molesta-
tion from the citizens of that place. I replied to Mr. Lowry, that if
the facts stated by him were true, I had certainly been very much
misinformed ; that sheriff Jones was only justifiable in collecting a
large posse of armed men on the ground that the persons against
whom he had writs were in the town, and defended from arrest by an
armed body of men ; that I had directed Jones to make no attempt to
enter Lawrence at the head of his posse until he received orders from
me ; that I would visit the Wakarusa camp immediately and investi-
gate the whole matter, and if I found the facts as he had stated them,
the sheriff's posse, as such, should not enter the town of Lawrence;
that it was only on the ground that the defendants were in Lawrence,
and the people assembled there were defending them from arrest,
by armed resistance,, that would justify the sheriff in entering the
town with an armed force sufficient to overcome the offered resist-
ance. I had previous to this expressed the same views to sheriff
Jones.
I stated, at the same time, to Mr. Lowry that the introduction i
into the Territory, by the free-State men, of Sharpe's rifles, a weapon i
used only for war purposes, artillery, and munitions of war, in con- •
nexion with the fortifying of the town, the known existence of a \
secret oath-bound military organization, together with the armed!
resistance of the sheriff and the expulsion from the Territory of a i
number of pro-slavery families by the other party, have produced a i
conviction, very general, that there was no security to laws, as those1
rifles, artillery, and munitions of war were in the hands of the free- j
State men. That the introduction of these warlike implements was
received by the other party in the light of a declaration of war, and
that if the citizens assembled in Lawrence would consent to give
up their rifles and artillery, either to Colonel Sumner or myself,
to be receipted for, and returned when confidence should be restored,
I had no doubt such an act on their part would enable me at
once to prevent any disturbance at Lawrence ; but without such an
act on their part 1 could not say whether I could control the sheriff's
posse or not. That having assembled together with settled convict
tions that there was no security while those implements of death
mained in the hands of the other party, they might insist on this
of giving up their arms without regard to orders from the officers
the government ; but that if these arms were voluntarily given i
I would guaranty that no harm would befall Lawrence. In reply
this, Mr T Lowry did not say that they would not give up their ar:
to myself or Colonel Suinner., but he stated that he did not know b
that proposition would be received by the citizens of Lawrence, as
had never heard the subject spoken of or discussed j but that he
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1107
confident they would not give up their arms to the Missourians — mean-
ing, as I understood him, the sheriff's posse. I said at no time to
Mr, Lowry that I would refuse the citizens of Lawrence to give up
their arms ; but the supposition was with me that they should plaae
them rather in the hands of Colonel Sumner or myself voluntarily,
as the most certain way to put an end to the threatened difficulties.
This same proposition was made hy me to Dr. Robinson and Colonel
Lane in the town of Lawrence, and for the same purpose and with,
the same view, on the first day I visited Lawrence, The proposition
was taken under advisement by Dr. Robinson, to be submitted to the
people of Lawrence for their consideration, Dr, Robinson informed
me, on my return to Lawrence next day, that it had been rejected by
the people at a public meeting the night before, by an almost unani-
mous vote. I never stated to Mr. Lowry that there had been sixteen
houses burnt at Hickory Point at the time of the interview with
him and Mr. Babcock. I had never seen either before. I had accu-
rate information, in the shape of affidavits, as to the number of houses
that had been burnt at Hickory Point ; that number was three — the
houses of Mr. Buckley, Mr, Coleman, and Mr. Hargous, Mr. Lowry,
in his interview with me, complained much of the Missourians taking
part in the affairs of the Territory. In seeking to explain this matter
truly, as I thought, to Mr, Lowry, I stated that a number of pro-
slavery families had been driven out of the Territory by force and
by threats ; that I believed that some sixteen families had so left
the Territory, and at one time the report had been current that six-
teen houses had been burnt down ; that most of these families had fled
to their friends in Missouri, and some were at the Mission where we
then were, with their children ; that these actual outrages, greatly ex-
aggerated by rumor, had become known to the citizens of Missouri, who
aad become apprehensive that their friends in the Territory were about
;o be driven out of the country by force and violence, and that many of
'/hem were in actual danger of their lives; that, under these impressions,
t was natural that the people of Missouri would cross over the line to
lefend their friends from actual expulsion and threatened danger to
heir lives. I alluded to some resolutions that had been passed in Law-
ence, establishing a kind of self-constituted court to try, convict,
nd execute men without any of the forms of law ; and I stated to Mr.
iowry that either he or I, placed under similar circumstances, would,
i all probability, cross the line too; that I thought great allowance
'as to be made for those people, and that so long as they did no act
iolating the laws of the Territory, but only acted in co-operation
'ith the public authorities in maintaining and enforcing the laws,
t> censure should be visited upon them. Mr, Lowry seemed to
equiesce in these views, but claimed that the excitement in Missouri
*id in the Territory was based, in a great measure, on false rumors.
rhis was true to some extent, but not to the extent claimed by Mr:
bwry.
I made no argument against the free-State party in the presence of
Jr. Lowry, except to state that I thought they had taken a position
i regard. to the validity and execution of the laws that was entirely
v-ong ; and that their determination, to^ maintain that position by
1108 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
force of arms must, if persisted in, lead to the most painful conse-
quences. Mr. Lowry did not claim that the Territorial laws had
nothing to do with the then difficulties. On the contrary, it was
well understood by "both of us, that no other laws were involved in
those difficulties. No declarations or resolutions had "been made or
passed against any of the other laws of the Territory. It was for
violating the Territorial laws that warrants had been issued and
placed in the hands of sheriff Jones, and it was under the Territorial
laws that Branson had been arrested, and it was the Territorial laws
that sheriff Jones was seeking to enforce by means of the posse then-
surrounding Lawrence.
What Mr. Lowry calls " the treaty " was drawn up in this way.
On the first day I went into the town of Lawrence, after quite a
lengthy interview with Dr. Eobinson, I drew up a rough draught of a
memorandum of the terms on which I thought the difficulties could
be arranged, and if agreed to by the people in Lawrence, there
would be no difficulty in getting the forces to retire. I left that
draught with Dr. Robinson, who proposed that he would submit the
matter to a meeting of the people. Next day he gave me a memoran-
dum of the terms on which the citizens of Lawrence were willing to
arrange the matter; at the same time, informing me that he and!
Colonel Lane were authorized to agree .to such alterations as they
might think proper, except as to giving up their arms. I took
memorandum and re-wrote it, making various alterations, which*
was signed by both parties. I never said to Mr. Lowry, or to an/
other person, that I had any fears of the men on the Wakarusa doing.
me any personal violence ; I never entertained the slightest fears of
the kind from either party. I had no cause to entertain any suchl
fears, as I had been treated with the utmost respect and kindness by^
both parties pending the difficulties.
I never had but one consultation with Mr. Lowry in my life,1
and that was the one at the Shawnee Mission, I may have stated to
some person in Lawrence that I knew there were a good many peoplei
in the Wakarusa camp who were not satisfied with the arrangement!
I hade made, principally on the ground, that the rifles were not giverj
up ; and I am certain 1 never made even this statement to Mr. Lowryfl
as I never had but the one conversation with him, as above stated.
I have read the evidence of Dr. Eobinson in this case. It is truei
I complained of the people of Lawrence, that they had kept entirety!
aloof 1'rom me, and that, of course, I had heard only one side ; and A
stated to him that I was satisfied that many of the rumors that hadl
been in circulation were untrue, or greatly exaggerated. But I state(|
at the same time to Dr. Robinson, that there were certain facts tha|
could not be denied : the rescue of Branson by an armed force ; thit
repudiation of the laws, as having no force, and the resolution t<|
resist their execution to a bloody issue ; the introduction into Law|
rence, and the distribution in the Territory, of Sharpe's rifles ; forti
fications of the town, and the thaeats made in the public papers
Lawrence to lynch some of our citizens. I stated to Dr. Robins
that while in many things they had been greatly misrepresented,
there were well-established facts that could not be denied.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1109
I never stated to Dr. Robinson that I was satisfied that the citizens
of Lawrence had violated no law, for I had every reason to believe
that some of them had violated law, and had been engaged in the
rescue of Branson. Indeed, it was admitted that N. S. Wood, a citi-
zen of Lawrence, was the leader of the armed band that rescued
Branson.
I did not state to Dr. Robinson that if I closed negotiations the
first day, on terms honorable to the people of Lawrence, the
people in the camp would raise the black flag. WhaVl did say was
this: After stating the excitement, and its' cause, that existed in
camp, that there was danger, if the people were not satisfied, that
the black flag would be run up ; that if this should be done, it would
be against the express orders of all the officers in the camp ; that in
dealing with these difficulties more regard had to be paid to the state
of public opinion ; that it would be useless for me to make an arrange-
ment which would not be acquiesced in by the people after they
should be dismissed from the sheriff's posse. And these remarks
were made to Dr. Robinson with a view of getting him and the
people of Lawrence to agree to as favorable terms as possible, so that
there would be no difficulty in getting the forces to leave in good
order.
I did not say to Dr. Robinson that the posse formed but a small
part of the forces of Wakarusa. Such would not have been true.
The posse was over 1,400, as reported to me by Gen. Strickler ; and
I suppose there were about 500 that had never organized -themselves,
or been placed under the sheriff.
The fears that I expressed to Dr. Robinson were, that after the
posse should be dismissed, they might take redress in their own
hands if the arrangements were not satisfactory.
I positively deny that I agreed to any arrangement that should not
be reported to the camp until they had left. So far from this being
the case, I informed Dr. Robinson that I had procured a committee
of thirteen of the most influential captains to meet at Franklin that
night a committee from Lawrence, at which meeting the arrange-
ments were to be made known and explained. We agreed to leave
out of the arrangement everything with regard to the arms, and that
that matter should be discussed and settled by the two committees in
Franklin that night. We all met at Franklin, according to
arrangements. I had not the agreement with me, having left
it in Lawrence to obtain the signatures of some thirty or forty
of the leading men of that place. But I stated all the material
parts of the treaty in the presence of the two committees, and that
the arrangements were satisfactory to me ; that I was satisfied there
would be no further resistance to the execution of the laws ; and that
as to giving up the arms, that question I had adjourned to that place
to be settled by the two committees, and it was so disposed. Dr.
Robinson, in his speech before the committee, stated, substantially,
what had been agreed on and reduced to writing, and claimed that
'that was all that could in honor be demanded or agreed to.
I have already explained the objects of the paper of the 9th of De-
cember last, authorizing Col. Lane and Dr. Robinson to repel any
1110 KANSAS AFFAIKS.
attack that might "be made on the town of Lawrence that night, and
the manner in which it was obtained .
To Mr. Sherman :
Up to the time of the rescue of Branson I knew of no process in the
hands of sheriff Jones against any citizen of Lawrence. The process
against Branson, according to my information, was the first one that
sheriff Jones had undertaken to serve in Douglas county, unless it
may have betyi some civil process. Branson was not a citizen of Law-
rence, "but resided som'e ten or fifteen miles south, at a place called
Hickory Point.
WILSON SHANNON.
KANSAS CITY, Ma., June 9, 1856.
Dr. G. A. CUTLEE recalled.
To Mr. Keeder :
I had been lying sick at Topeka for some time with the typhoid
fever, and when I had got well enough to sit in the carriage I started
home. This was about two weeks previous to the war or invasion.
I got as far as Leavenworth city, and was taken again. I remained
there sick about a week, and then hired Mr. Warren to take me home,
and also hired a horse and buggy. He took me to Doniphan, and on
his way back was captured at Atchison. They immediately sent up
a body of men for me, with a writ for high treason, issued by a jus-
tice of the peace by the name of Heedly, I think. They took me
dcfwn to Atchison and sent an express up to Weston for assistance to
prevent a rescue. I was very sick, indeed, when they took me, and
could not stand on my feet over five minutes at a time. Some 30 or
40 men came from Weston that night, and tried to break into the
hotel, where I was, but could not succeed. Previous to that I had
sent for this justice of the peace, and he would not come. I again sent
him word in the morning that I was in extreme danger, and that he
knew he had no right to detain me there, and begged him to come and
release me. I sent for him two or three times, and, during the inter-
mediate time, there were threats of shooting, hanging, killing, &c.,
and several demonstrations made. ' Finally the justice came, and 1
told him he must be very ignorant of the law if he thought he had any
jurisdiction over a case of that kind. I argued some time, and finally
he took me aside and told me he would acquit me. As soon as I got
free from there I thought of going home, but they had the horse and
buggy captured, and I waited to get that. They kept putting roe
off. I told them my life was in danger there, and I wanted to get
home. Seeing I could not get the horse and buggy, I set about
trying to get off some other way, as I could not walk, when a fel-
low by the name of Thomason, a two-hundred-pounder, stepped up i
to me, tapped me on the shoulder, and told me I was his prisoner.
I asked him what he arrested me for, and he said because he «
could. I told him that was not good enough authority ; that I
had been sick a long time, and wanted to get home. He said that
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1111
did not make a damned bit of difference ; that he had arrested me,
and was going to send me out to Lecompton under a guard of thirty
men. I told him I would not go, as such a trip would kill me then.
After arguing, he told me I could take my choice, either to he hung
or go to Lecompton. I told him I preferred the hanging, as I thought
the trip would kill me anyhow, and the other would be the shorter
way of doing it. I appealed to P. T. Abell, a lawyer from Weston,
Missouri, who was standing by, and told him he knew such a course
was unlawful, and he could get me out of it. Finally, after some
consultation, they concluded not to hang me, but to send me to Le-
compton. They forced me into a buggy and started off, with a guard
of some thirty men, though but eight or ten, who were on horseback,
kept up with us ; the rest were in wagons. When I arrived at Le-
conipton, I sent for General Kichardson, who was in command of a
large number of troops there. He came, and I told him how I had
been used, and a number of my friends, pro-slavery men, did the
same. He told me he would release me, which he did. Mr. Jones
soon after stepped up and arrested me again ; this was sheriff Jones.
I asked him what for, and he said he guessed it was to be a witness
against somebody ; or if Lawrence was taken, to be against Lawrence,,
or something of that kind, hesitating very much as he said so. He
showed me no warrant, but took me down to the camp. I was
exposed to the most inclement weather, insulted some ten or fifteen
times grossly, and came very near losing my life by being taken worse
with the disease I was suffering from, and was delirious for some time.
I was salivated so that all my teeth became loose. I was then taken
to Benicia, and lay sick at Dr. Brooks', and when peace was declared
was discharged from custody. I had no trial. I had a kind of trial
at Atchison ; the justice said he acquitted me, but I had no trial after
I was brought down to Lecompton. I gave no bail, nor was I taken
before a magistrate. No explanation was given me before I was dis-
charged, of the reasons for my arrests ; and though I asked several
times, no one could tell me about it. While I was lying in the camp
at Lecompton, R. S. Kelly, a partner of Dr. Stringfellow in the
" Squatter Sovereign " paper, rode up before the tent I was lying in
and said, " I want blood; lam blood-thirsty; I want to ^ake this
God damned abolitionist out and hang him." I was insulted a num-
ber of times, but do not now recollect all the specific cases.
To Mr. Kees :
I know only from hearsay what were 'the grounds of Warren's
arrest. I saw no papers found upon Warren,, no documents or printed
books, and know nothing about them, only that I heard something
had been found on him. I do not know of the existence of any secret
organization for the purpose of resisting the laws of the Territory. I
have never seen any printed pamphlet, purporting to be an expose of
such a society. I have seen an article in a newspaper to that effect.
I have not seen a printed pamphlet purporting to be a ritual of such
an order. I do not know anything of the existence of such an order
from any one purporting to be connected with the society.
GEO. A. CUTLER.
TECUMSEH, K. T., May 6, 1856.
1112 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS called and sworn,
I came into the Territory about the middle of last October. I went 1
up to Topeka first, and got to Lawrence the day before the rescue ofl
Branson. I attended the meeting called in regard to the rescue, and!
heard the resolutions passed, and the position taken by the people ofl
Lawrence. I went down to the Wakarusa camp several times..
The first time I found a company of some seventy or eighty men at!
Franklin, shooting at a mark. I spoke to one or two, and asked them
where they came from. Two said they came from Missouri, and ac-
cused the people of Lawrence as abolitionists, and of burning the
houses of pro-slavery men. I heard several that day make threats ofl
coming up to destroy the town of Lawrence. This was the first ort
second day of December. The day afterwards I went down again,,
and went beyond the Wakarusa. They were camping on the bot-
tom accross the creek from Blue Jacket's. I crossed the creek, and!
met a good many parties of men coming up, and stopped and spoke*j
with many of them. I spoke to some men in two ox- teams, and they,
told me they came from beyond Lexington, Missouri, and that theyy!
were going up to the camp, and they intended to take Lawrence. One
of them said they were going to burn it, and drive out the aboli-
tionists. I was on horseback, and one advanced to me and asked me<
if I was a Yankee. I told him I was an Illinoisan. Another said he<
thought I was all right. One of them told me most of their neigh-
bors were coming up, and that two thousand men were coming upj
from that part of Missouri. I spoke to another party who were ini
two-horse wagons and on horseback, and they told me they werefromi
Clay county, Missouri. They tried to stop me, and asked me where II
was going. One of them said he thought I was a spy. I asked them
for authority for asking where I was from, and where I was going;
They said they had been at the Shawnee Mission as they came up.i
and Governor Shannon had enrolled them. As I returned, I saw one
party drive in camp with a large flag with a dark- colored star on it.t
which flag they hoisted in camp while I was there. The men I saw
in camp were engaged mostly in drinking and shooting. I saw but
one piece of artillery in camp — I think a brass 6-pounder.
On Monday, the 3d of December, I went down and passed the linea
at Franklin; overtook marshal Jones about a mile from the carnp.J
and rode with him. He told me he was going into camp, and that ]
could not go ; that they would not allow me to cross at the ford, bull
would take me. In argument with him he said he was with thid
party, and that they wanted and meant to fight. I urged that £
war might involve the whole Union. He said, " Damn the Union. ^|
I went with him to the camp, and was going to pass with him into
the camp, and he told me I could not go in, and asked where I w
going. I told him I was going down below. He said, after a lit
hesitation, that he would see me through the guards. I went to
ford at Wakarusa, and found several armed men guarding the cr
ing, who had stopped a wagon in the bed of the creek. It was load
with boxes like dry- goods boxes, and the guard was breaking them
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1113
I asked Jones if they did that, and he said " Oh, yes !" We rode up
into the narrow crossing of the ford by them. He said to the guard:
*' This gentleman is going doAvn on business, and you will please pass
him." The captain of the guards told him he had strict orders from
General Strickler to let nobody pass without examination. He asked
me if I had any arms. I told him I had no more than I considered
necessary for my personal protection. He said I must give them
up. I told him I was afraid to lose them, and did not care to give
them up. Two of the guard came forward as if to seize me. I
gave my horse a kick as they approached, and rode on to go
through. Four of the guard had rifles, and the others had revolvers.
All levelled their pieces at me. I did not think they would shoot, but
Jones cried, " for God's sake stop ; don't make the men do anything
rash." I had ridden about eight paces and stopped, and asked them
by what authority they stopped me. They told me they had been
enrolled as a military force by Governor Shannon. They insisted
upon taking my arms. I took one small pistol that I had and gave
it to Jones, and told the captain of the guard I did not know him,
and could not give it to him, and told Jones I would hold him re-
sponsible for it. Jones said if I would go back to the camp he would
try to get authority to see me through. I went back to the camp,
and they kept me there about an hour and a half. An officer came
whom I did not know, and have never seen since. He and Jones
talked together for a while, and then they took me to the ford and let
me pass. I demanded my pistol of Jones, and he gave it to me.
I rode that day down to the Shawnee Mission, intending to com-
plain to the governor. The road was full of armed men coming up.
; I met them all the way. Many of the companies tried to stop me and
i question me, but I got down without any molestation. The governor
; was in Westport, as I was told, getting despatches from the govern-
•: ment. I then rode into Westport after night. All round Westport
, there were camps of armed men. The governor had gone back to
I the Mission before I got back to Westport — so I was told. I then
started down to Kansas City very late at night, and was stopped about
a mile from Kansas City by a party of men who told me they came
from Westport. They told me I was their prisoner. I asked them if
they had a warrant, and they said " No." I told them if they had a
warrant I would go with them ; but if they had not, I would not go.
I asked their authority., and they told me the governor. I asked
which governor, and they told me Governor Shannon. I told them
we were in Missouri. One of them swore pretty hard, and said it
made no difference ; Governor Shannon had given them orders to let
no suspicious persons pass out of the Territory. They told me I had
come from the Territory, and they asked me if I had not ? I said I
had. They asked me if I knew Qeneral Pomeroy? I told them I
did by reputation, but I had never seen him. They told me they
thought I was carrying despatches to him, and they would take me
back to Westport. When they told me they would take me,
I told them "Very well." I asked their names, and only one
would tell rne, and he said his name was Jones, but no connexion of
sheriff Jones. He was captain of the party. He told me that he
1114 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
wanted no blood shed and no trouble, and asked me to go with him
to a house about a quarter of a mile ahead, and said, if I went there,
they would not molest me until I got to Kansas City, where he said
they were going; and if I was all right, then they would let me go,
I went to the house of Mr. Milton McGee, I think. When there ]
thought, from appearances, they were going to seize me, and I ap-
pealed to Mr. McGee as a brother Odd Fellow, as I saw he was one>
and he interested himself in my behalf. He and Jones were out con-i
versing a long time. Mr. McGee came in and told me these mer
were going to seize me and search me, and the only way to save me
was for me to submit to a private search from his hands. I at firs*
refused, but, as the men were getting very drunk, I consented^ anc
he took me with him to a room up stairs, with another man he called
" Doctor," and there the two searched me. McGee declared I wa&
all right, and told me I was under his roof, and he would protect men
if necessary ; but told me, when I was very indignant at the search i
that he could not have prevented it. They kept rne till the nex\
morning — till nine o'clock. McGee apologized the next morning foJ
the treatment I had received, and said that he had done all he couldll
but that he was a member of another secret organization, and acting
under their orders. Said he : "I am a border ruffian, and I am no
ashamed of it." I reasoned with him. He said that by the pa#
sage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, there was a fair trade — that th<i
South would get Kansas, and the North, Nebraska ; and the clamnee
Emigrant Aid Society meant to swindle them out of it. He said tha?
the men of Missouri would wade knee-deep in blood before Kansas
should be a free State. I heard the party talk of going up the nexj
day to the siege at Lawrence. They said the battle was to be the da
after the next, and they wanted to be up in time. Some of them saitij
they could not leave their business, and would rather pay. I als<s|
heard them plot to lynch General Pomeroy, who, they said, was aa|
the American hotel, in Kansas City. The only point of difficulty was
whether they would have time to do that and go up to Lawrence.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
A. ALLEN called and sworn.
Examined by the committee :
I came into the Territory, from Missouri, in November, 1854. I
left Topeka early in the morning of the 30th of March, 1855 ; cann
down to Tecumseh, and stopped there a part of the day, and the:
came down to Lawrence, arriving here in the afternoon, about thre
o'clock. I had lived in Missouri nearly two years before I came into
the Territory, and was acquainted with a number of persons I sa*
that day in Tecumseh, who were Missourians, and still live in Misi
souri. I saw them vote there. I saw a man by the name of Hollfr
way, from Jackson county, Missouri, and others ; they said they cam!
there to vote.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1115
On my road from Tecumseh here I saw the road lined with people
on horseback, as many as 200 men, most of them armed, and some of
them I knew to have lived in Missouri. I met most of them just after
I left Tecumseh. Those that I knew would stop and speak to me. I
talked with one at Big Springs for a while, and then came on to
Lawrence. Here was where I was living at the time, and the crowd
about the polls was so dense that I could not get a chance to vote till
near sundown. I saw several here I had known in Missouri, but I
do not remember their names, except that of Colonel Young.
I was doing mercantile business at Topeka last fall, and the Thurs-
day before the peace I left Topeka in the morning to go to Kansas
City to purchase goods. I came down in company with a pro-slavery
man who lived in Kansas City. I stopped in Franklin over night.
The next morning a company from the camp on the Wakarusa waited
upon me, and took me into ^camp, saying that the general had sent
for me, and wished to see me, as they did not consider me a safe man
to go through the country. Captain Wallace, of Franklin, com-
manded the company, and took me to General Strickler, who asked
me what my politics were. I told him I was a free-State man. He
said they would have to keep me for a time. I was then conducted to
the prisoner's tent, or " Yankee tent," as it was called. I saw
General Pomeroy there, and also a company of United States survey-
ors, who were kept there as prisoners. They were drilling all
the time I was there. They had three cannon there, and the
companies appeared to be armed with United States arms. They
kept me there until the following Saturday at 3 o'clock in the af-
ternoon. They made no charges against me, and I had no trial. There
were three of the United States surveyors detained there. The gen-
itleman who came down from Topeka with me, and who was named
:Chick, joined the forces there. One of the surveyors was named Con-
joly, or Conway, I think, and was detained because he was a free-State
man. The officers treated us very well, though there were generally
from fifty to one hundred of the soldiers standing around our tent and
passing jokes upon us. I do not know who were the captains of the
guard over us, as they were changed frequently. General Strickler
stood guard over us once for about half an hour. Food was furnished
us, but we were allowed no writing material, except once when I re-
quested to be allowed to send an order to Kansas City for goods, as I
3ould not go myself. After I had written it, General Strickler re-
quired me to strike out everything that would give any information
is to where I was, and to write it over again, and it never reached
Kansas City. I IThere were no other prisoners at Wakarusa, I think,
ixcept in one tent.
On Friday night, about 11 or 12 o'clock, it was reported in the
;amp that one of the damned Yankees had shot one of the picket
;uard belonging to the camp, and quite a company gathered around
•he tent, and I heard from various quarters, " hang the damned Yan-
kees that are in the tent." I saw them have ropes, and they acted as
hough they desired to hang us. A number of the officers gathered
•round the tent, and after a time succeeded in quieting them. About
lalf an hour afterwards, David K. Atchison and Colonel Boone, of
1116 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Westport, very quietly came into the tent and requested General
Pomeroy to get ready as quietly as possible and follow them, as they
were afraid of his life from the soldiers, who they were afraid would
collect there and hang him. He did not know them, and declined to
go. General Strickler then came in, and they told him who the]
were, and wanted to take him over to the house of Blue Jacket';
across the creek, where the headquarters were. He then went wit!
them there, and I saw no more of him. I passed the guard once witl
the word " Stringfellow." I was standing in front of the tent afte
dark and was taken for one of the guard, and one of them asked mu
for the password. I pretended I had forgotten it, hut I heard him
give it to some one else. I should have left that night, hut General
Strickler had promised me that I should he at liberty in the morning -I
and I wanted to leave with full honors.
The next day, in the afternoon, one of the guards told us that the;
were afraid to release us then for fear the crowd would mob us, aJ
Gen. Strickler could not control them. They sent the cannon out oi\
the prairie to practice, and most of the crowd went out to see them
The cannon they had were United States field-pieces, and I thin}
were ten or twelve-pounders. I do not know where they came from:
but I saw them afterwards going to -Missouri. I knew a great man;
of the men then in the companies, some from Platte and Jacksoj
counties, and from the city of Liberty, Missouri. I should judge tha
but few of those persons there were citizens of the Territory ; but all
spoke as if they came from Missouri. I do not know sheriff Jones o<
Coleman. After the cannon were sent out, they marched us over t
Blue Jacket's and gave me a written discharge, signed by Brigadie<
General Strickler, as commander of the Wakarusa forces, for thl
guards to allow me to pass unmolested. They kept about seventy-fiv
dollars' worth of things they took from me, consisting of two pairs c
blankets, saddle, bridle, and martingale, and revolver. I gave ther
over to Gen. Strickler to keep. 1 asked him in Lawrence for them
and he said he knew nothing about them, but supposed they had bee:
returned to me. I never saw them afterwards, or heard what becam
of them. The horse I rode belonged to the pro-slavery man Chick
who came down from Topeka. I afterwards went down to Missouri
and saw some of these companies there stringing along as though the?
were returning from some frolic. I saw the cannon going down a
that time. After they let me go, on Saturday afternoon, I went bad
to the camp again, and went round awhile. There were some person
there from Kansas City who appeared to be drunk, and who got j
rope and followed me about and threatened to hang me. I saw thes
forces stop the mail and detain the mail- driver for an hour or tw<'
while I was prisoner. I did not see what was done with the mail
The wagon was driven on past the tent out of sight. The driver go
out and stood by the tent.
ASAPH ALLEN.
LAWRENCE. K. T., May 9, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1117
WILLIAM JESSEB testifies:
To Mr. Woodson :
I know of no secret military organization in this Territory. I know
of no military organizations here contrary to the laws of the Territo-
rial legislature. I know of some companies, but do not know as they
can he called military organizations. In our troubles that we have
had lately there have been some companies partly organized, but
whether under the Territorial laws or not I do not know. I have
been to none of their organized meetings. I have seen no companies
on parade except at this place, last fall. In the latter part of No-
vember, or the first December, 1855, we considered we were justified
in gathering here. The report was that companies were coming from
Missouri to destroy this place and vicinity, and run all the free-State
men out of the Territory. I do not know of any organization except
at that time. We were here defending the place and our property.
We were drilled more or less every day, under the command of Gen.
Kobinson and Col. Lane.
That is all I know of the organization until after Mr. Shannon came
here and the treaty was made, when there were officers appointed
and the organization was more complete. I do not know how many
men there were here, but there may have been five hundred to six
hundred, perhaps seven hundred. We were more or less armed.
Some of us bad rifles, some shot-guns, some Sharpe's rifles, and some
revolvers. Most of the time we went through regular daily drills.
One piece of artillery came in during the time. I saw but few sabres
and swords; probably but two or three were all I saw. I brought my
I rifle from Illinois, and 1 bought my shot-gun at St. Joseph's.. I do
not know how any of the rest got their arms, except by report. Some
who were in this organization at that time told me they got their
arms from Mr. Abbott, by paying him so much for them. It was
said that Mr. Abbott was sent east and got these arms. I un-
derstood that two dollars apiece were paid for them by persons
here ; they were Sharpe's rifles. I think that Captain Walker re-
ceived from 20 to 30 from Mr. Abbott to be given to his company. I
do not know anything of where the other arms came from. I heard
that this cannon was sent for to, and received from, Kansas City at
that time. I do riot know when Mr. Abbott was sent east. I have
understood that he lives some five miles from here, on the Wakarusa.
I do not know where he got hi.i guns. We were here for self-defence,
so far as I understood, against invaders who came here and threatened
our property and our lives. It my memory serves me right, this was
probably in October or November." It was the latter part of October
that this organization commenced here. I do not know that there
was any drilling here before that time, or any preparations made in
the way of receiving arms. I heard from men organized here, that
there wore reports some time before that we were to be destroyed, and
some preparations were made ; but- 1 do not think anything was done
so early as the spring before, though there was some talk about it.
The most I knew — and that was only by report — was, that Governor
1118 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Shannon was at the head of these men we were against. I knew Gen-
eral Kichardson ; he held the office of general or colonel, I don't know
which. He resides in St. Joseph. I saw Col. Boone, and he wasi
said to be one of the commanding officers of that army, hut I do not'
know particularly who said so. I know nothing from my own knowl-
edge of the sheriff of Douglass trying to serve writs at that time. II
know of no meetings at that time, or passage of resolutions to resistt
the laws of the Territory. I know of no combination to resist the1
laws of the Territory. I do not know where Mr. Abbott was sent. It
do not know of anybody else being sent for arms, or of any otherr
arms being received. I do not know when these arms were received!
by Mr. Abbott. The company that got their arms, got them after the.'
Missourians began camping there.
We did not undertake to resist Governor Shannon, but the mob off
Missourians he fetched with him, and which we were going to resist
in self-defence. I could not say who this mob was under command t
of, except by report. They were encamped on the Wakarusa and at
Franklin. A part were said to be at Lecompton, and a part across j
the river here. The purpose of this organization was not to resist the
execution of the Territorial laws, but in defence of our lives and I
property against this mob of Missourians who were said to be corning
against us.
I was at the Big Springs convention. There was something passed!
we called the repudiation of the laws of the Territory, but I do nott
know as that was in the form of a resolution. We said there were no \
laws in the Territory, and we repudiated those that were said to exist. .
I do not recollect of any resolution passed there, and not printed, .
recommending the organization of military companies to resist the •
laws. To the best of my recollection and knowledge, no resolution i
was passed, and nothing done, by that meeting, except what was^
printed, as ordered by the meeting, and circulated.
The action of the meeting here in Lawrence, in August or Septem--
ber last, was printed. To the best of my recollection, the conclusions <
of the meeting were reduced to writing, and printed. I have been to>
no meeting where this was not done. I do not know where these j
resolutions can be had, or in what papers they were published, except t
the " Herald of Freedom" and the " Kansas Free State," published!
here, though I could find them at home. I do not know who was
the secretary of the meeting.
By Mr. Sherman :
We have had several meetings here through the season. The one sj
I refer to was, I think, in August last.
Cross-examined by Mr. Keeder :
The inducement for making the organization at this place, was for
the defence of our lives and property. We apprehended some de-
struction of life and property here at that time. This neighborhood
was invaded by a body of Missourians soon after that. The report
was that there was a good deal of property taken and destroyed by
these Missourians. This I heard from persons in this organization who
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1119
iad their own property destroyed. There was one of our citizens
murdered at that time. I saw him myself after he was dead. His
name was Thomas Barber, one of my nearest neighbors. I learned
from the persons that I have before referred to, that one of our eitizens
was murdered — Mr. Thomas Barber. I heard also from the same
persons that Dow had been murdered. This military organization
commenced here about the same time that this body of Missourians
marched into the Territory, and camped on the Wakarusa. Property
was said to be destroyed in various ways — killed, eaten up, and burned.
A great many teams were stopped on their way here. I understood
that travellers were stopped on the highway and made prisoners when
going about their lawful business, and that boxes and trunks of trav-
ellers and others were broken open and searched by the Missourians
camped at Wakarusa, some five or six miles from here. I heard of
wagons loaded with goods being stopped and searched, and such as
they wanted taken, and corn and potatoes, and things of that kind
taken, and orders given for them on Governor Shannon, I believe,
but I do not know whether it was with his consent. I do not remem-
ber as I heard of the mail being stopped.
This military organization I have spoken of was not got up, as I
know of, for the purpose of resisting the execution of any law. Sheriff
Jones, at that time, came in and out of the town as he pleased most
of the time, except at the latter part of that period, when he was
brought in by an escort, at one time, but not as a prisoner. I heard
of prominent Missourians being in the camp. General Atchison was
reported to be at the Wakarusa ; also across the river here. I do
not remember about General Stringfellow. I don't know what resi-
dents of the Territory were in this camp. I wintered in St. Joseph
a year ago last winter, and General Eichardson resided there then.
He had a claim in the Territory, but did not reside on it at that time.
My first knowledge of this was nearly twelve months before this in-
vasion. The conversation I heard in the spring about a military or-
ganization for defence against invasion, was directly after the 30th of
March invasion, and was intended for self-defence, and our right of
suffrage.
To Mr. Woodson :
Question. Was this resolution passed at the convention at Big
Springs ? viz :
"Resolved, That we will endure and submit to these laws no longer
han the best interests of the Territory require, as the least of two
vils, and will resist them to a bloody issue as soon as we shall ascer-
ain that peaceable remedies shall fail, and forcible resistance shall
urnish any reasonable prospect of success ; and that, in the mean-
ime, we recommend to our friends throughout the Territory the or-
;anization and discipline of volunteer companies, and the procurement
nd preparation of arms."
A. I think it was, though it is not exactly as I thought it was
assed at the time, for I thought the words " bloody issue" were struck
ut.
1120 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Q. From your own knowledge, and from information derived from
others in the organization to which you belonged, was the organiza-
tion gotten up to meet the contingency contemplated in that resolu-
tion?
A. I think not, in this last organization. We have never had any
other organization. I do not know as any organization has ever been
gotten up in regard to any portion of that resolution.
Continued by Mr. Woodson :
I do not know of any arms being procured upon the recommenda-
tion of this resolution. Before the passage of this resolution, which
was on September 5th arid 6th, 1855, there was no organization and!
procurement of arms in this Territory. I think the commencement
of the organization of military companies was at the commencements
of our difficulties here last fall. There was no organization until I
that time, November and December ; and I do not think there was<
any complete organization until it was given by Governor Shannon,
by giving commissions to General Robinson and Colonel Lane. The
first arms that I know of being procured was in the first of that or- j
ganization.
The chairman of the Big Springs convention was Judge Smith,, as«i
he is called. I do not know who draughted the resolutions. I forgetti
who was the vice-president or secretary. - I do not know all who hadi|
a part in drawing the resolution that has been read here. I believei-j
Judge Schuyler and John Wright were on the committee, but I can-4
not recollect the names of them all. I believe I was on that commit- -
tee. The proceedings wrill show, as we made no secret about it.
To Mr. Eeeder :
As I understood, Governor Shannon repudiated these Missourians
at the last as part of his forces, though report was that at the first he*
commanded them. I did not hear Governor Shannon say so myself.f
It was against these Missourians that he repudiated that our organin
zation was made. I did not hear Governor Shannon say that he re-
cognised any of them, as I never heard him say anything at any)
time.
To Mr. Woodson:
I do not know that I can speak as to the full extent of the intentioni;
expressed here by our organization, but I understood that we were
here to defend ourselves and our property against any body of memi
who came here to destroy us and our property. I do not recollect of j
hearing anybody say we were to resist Governor Shannon and thai
men he was in command of.
To Mr. Oliver :
To my understanding, it was not the purpose of this body of men1
in this place to resist the laws of the Territory, to be carried out by
the sheriff, assisted by Governor Shannon and his forces. Our organ-
ization here had nothing to do with or against any laws, so far as I
understood it, but for self-defence and the defence of our property.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1121
To Mr, Woodson :
When Governor Shannon was approaching the city with his posse,
in aid of the sheriff, I heard no expression as a body of men in regard
to it. I "believe I can say, upon report, that it was not the intention
of the people of Lawrence to resist the writs in the hands of the
sheriff. *
To Mr. Howard:
As an organized expression of the people here, I know of no ex-
pression of opinion as to the obeying of the Territorial laws or not.
I frequently heard individuals of this organization express themselves
upon this subject. I do not know as I can name any of them, but I
think, probably, a quarter of them, or more, spoke of it, but never
except as an individual matter. I heard no man who undertook to
speak for any but himself. The general tenor of the sentiment thus
expressed was to resist, except the United States officers, and I don't
know that any one expressed ^himself as being willing to resist those
officers. What I meant by Territorial laws, was the laws of the Ter-
ritorial legislature, and not the organic act. I never heard any man
in the Territory express any disposition to resist the organic act that
I know of.
To Mr. Oliver :
These expressions of opinion I have referred to were made atithe
time we were organized here, and when it was understood that Governor
Shannon was coming here with his forces.
To Mr. Beeder :
These expressions of opinion were not in favor of a resistance to the
'Territorial laws, by the means of this body of men then assembled here,,
but by individuals ; each man to act for himself, resistor not, as he chose.
To Mr. Sherman:
Q. Was it .the purpose of the company of men assembled at Law -
?ence to resist Governor Shannon, aided by the citizens of the Terri-
tory, or to resist the Missourians, who they understood had come to
mvade them ?
A. My understanding, from all that I heard said, was that if Gover-
lor Shannon had come with the militia of the Territory alone, no man
vould have resisted him. But the body of men we assembled here
o resist, was the Missourians who came here with the threats to
lestroy us and our 'property.
WILLIAM JESSEE.
LAWRENCE, K. T., April 30, 1856.
EGBERT F. BARBER called and sworn.
I live six miles west from Lawrence, about three-fourths of a mile
tuth of Judge Wakefield's. Thomas Barber was my brother. He
H. Rep, 200 71*
1122 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
was shot on the 6th of December, 1855, on Thursday, about tw
o'clock in the afternoon. I was in company with him at the time.
He was shot about three and a half miles from here, going west. I
was by his side when he was shot. My brother, and brother-in-law,
Thomas M. Pearson, and myself, had started from Lawrence after
dinner. We were on horseback. I told my brother, Thomas Barber,
that I had better come back to Lawrence and borrow a pistol. At
that time we had got but about 200 yards out of town. He said he
did not think it was necessary to have one ; but if I wanted to go back,
and borrow one, he would wait for me. I then came back and gott
one of Colt's naval revolver pistols, and then rode back after him..
After we had got, I should judge, between 2| and 3 miles from Law-
rence, we saw a party of men. We remarked, when we saw themr
that they were Missourians, and supposed, at the time, there were 12^
or 15 of them.
They came round a corn-field, directly up towards the California!
road that we were then on, but close to where we intended to turn ofi|
towards home. We rode on some distance, not very far, and thie*|
party came right towards us, and two of them rode out from the rest.
and rode on and headed us. The cornfield that they came round
when we first saw them, was on the north side of the California roadJ
The road we intended to turn off in to go, home, led off south from tbfc
California road.
We had turned off on our road home, and had gone some little dis*
tance on it, when those two men left the others and rode along to
head us off. They rode right up to us, and when they came ofi
against us, one of them ordered us to halt. The rest of the party
which these two belonged had crossed the California road, and goo
into our road behind us. When we were ordered to stop, the twv
men were not more than five yards from us. We halted immediately]
and one of the two rode directly before us in the road, and turnec
round facing us. The other was on our right side, a very little bei
hind, if anything. My brother and myself were side and side — m;
brother on my right. My brother-in-law was about the length of hit |
horse behind me, a little to my left.
The one that was ahead of us did all the talking. He asked in
where we were from. My brother told him we were from Lawrenc€
The next question was, where we were going. One of us, if not botjs
told him we were going home. He asked then what was going on &
Lawrence. My brother told him there was nothing very particulai
going on ; but the citizens were preparing for defence, or I thi«|
something near that. This man then said they had orders frofl
Governor Shannon to have the laws of the Territory enforced. MS
brother asked him what laws the citizens of Lawrence, or the citizen
of the Territory in general, had disobeyed. The man used soifl
expression after that — I do not recollect what — and said, " what in hel
was the reason the citizens of the Territory could not obey the laws?'
When he had made that remark, he ordered us to turn our horses
heads and turn back, pointing to the main body of men behind u%
My brother said we <3ould not do so, as we wanted to go home. Bi
then remarked, and said, " you won't, hey?" and then rode arounij
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1123
to the right of my brother, drawing his pistol as he started. My
brother turned his horse a little towards him as he rode around to our
right. Having seen this man drawing his pistols, I endeavored to
draw mine. My pistol was behind me, and the flap of the holster
was buttoned. As I was getting my pistol out, I saw this man ride up
and pointhis pistol directly towards my brother, and fire, and then ride
back behind us. By that time I had got my pistol ready, and turned
my horse slightly in the same direction my brother had done, and
fired at the man that shot at my brother. About the same time I shot,
the other man, who had ridden up and headed us, shot also. I am not
certain whether either of these men shot more than once each. When
the second shot was fired, the one who fired rode back to where the
first man had gone. About the time the two men had got together,
I shot again, having turned round still farther. They two came
together, said something, I did not hear what, and then rode off as
fast as they could go to the main party, which was between 300 and
400 yards off. After they started off for the main party, I fired at
them the third time. After I shot the third time, my brother said,
"Boys, let us be off, too" We then started off in a gallop to-
wards home. My brother had no arms with him of any kind, but
my brother-in-law had a pistol; but he did not fire it at all. After
we had ridden on about a hundred yards, my brother said, "That fellow
has shot me." This was the first intimation I had that he was shot.
I asked him where he was shot. He pointed to his side, a little in front,
just above the hip, and I said, "Not possible, Thomas." He nodded
his head, and I could just hear him say "Yes," and he then immediately
sunk down on his horse. I saw he was going to fall, and I rode up
to him and caught him tightly by the left shoulder, and held him on
;his horse ; in which manner we rode fifty, perhaps one hundred yards.
I could hold him no longer, and I called out, " Whoe," and both our
horses stopped. Just as we stopped, my brother fell between our two
horses. I immediately jumped off and went to him. After I got off,
I found he was dead, and I think he was dead when he fell. I asked
my brother-in-law then what we should do. My brother-in-law was
then sitting on his horse, having stopped as I did. He asked me if
my brother was dead. I told him I was pretty sure he was dead.
Alter I said this to my brother-in-law, I saw this party coming to-
ivards us again. I thought at the time that the whole party was
Doming towards us, but I may have been mistaken. We had not got
>ut of sight of the party after the shots had been fired. I asked
ny brother-in-law what we should do ; and he said, " Let us stay
. lere, and let them take us prisoners." I told him my brother was
-ead, and we could do him no good by staying there, and they would
ave to kill me before they took me prisoner. He said, " Then let us
e off." I jumped on my horse, and we started off in the road to-
rards home. My brother's horse came right on after us. After we
ad rode perhaps 200 yards or more, as I was a little ahead of my
rother-in-law, he asked me if I saw them coming after us. I looked
ack, and I told him I saw two men corning, and they were about
here my brother lay. He then asked me again to stop and let them
ke us prisoners. I said they should not take me prisoner then at all.
1 ie said then, " Let us ride like the devil, and get out of their road,"
1124 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
We rode on as hard as we could go, and I do not think we saw them
any more after that.
We were then going right towards my brother-in-law's house, and
we made directly towards that. His house was just across a ravine,
ahout 400 yards from it. Both of us rode into the ravine, my brother-
in-law in one direction and I in another. When I got into the ravine
I jumped off my horse, and found it was shot. I then left my horse
standing there. Supposing these men were following us, and would
try to find us, I went on about a mile in a northwest direction on
foot. I did not see my brother-in-law again until about 10 o'clocki
that night.
My horse was shot just behind the fore shoulder, and I knew noth-
ing about it until I jumped off him when I was in the ravine. Thei
horse died that night. The first place I stopped at after I got off my.
horse in the ravine, was at the house of Mr. Hazelton. I told himi
what had happened, and he started right off to get some persons toi
go back with us to get my brother's body, as we wanted to be pre-M
pared to meet any of this party that we thought might be watching^
us, expecting us to come back after his body.
I did not know either of the two men who shot at us. The one thaij
was in front of us rode a grey horse. The other one rode a sorreij
horse. None in this party of men had military clothes on, that Jj
recollect of. None of our party had any military clothes on, but werci
dressed in citizen's clothes. I have never seen any of those person
since, to know them.
R. F. BARBER,
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
THOMAS M. PEIRSON called and sworn.
I reside between six and seven miles from this place, west. I war
in company with Thomas Barber on the 6th of December, 1855, whe»
he was shot. We had started from Lawrence that afternoon, myseij
and Thomas and Robert Barber, my brothers-in-law, for home, an
had got about 3^ miles on the California road, when I saw a body (
ten or twelve men. A few minutes after we saw this party, we turn6(
off to our left from the California road towards our home. Just ai
we turned off, or about that time, two men of this party we had
crossed the California road, and we slackened up when we saw th<
We went on that road something short of a mile, and then two
headed us, and came in before us and stopped us. They inquii
where we were going, and we told them we were going home ;
inquired where we had been, and we said at Lawrence. Thoi
Barber did the talking for our party. They asked us what was goii
on in Lawrence, and Thomas Barber said there was not much. Af
some other conversation, they ordered us to wheel round and go
Thomas Barb'er told them we could not do that, as we wished to
home to our families.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1125
As soon as lie made that reply, one of the two immediately drew
his pistol, and took deliberate aim at Thomas Barber and fired. The
other one fired immediately afterwards. -As soon as they drew their
pistols, Robert Barber drew his pistol ; and as soon as they fired, he
fired some shots at them. Those two men then turned and rode back
towards the main party who were behind us. Thomas Barber then
said : • 'Let's be off," and we rode some 80 or 100 yards as fast as our
horses could go.. Robert Barber then caught hold of Thomas, and
held him on his horse some 100 or 150 yards further, when he fell.
As my horse was a little slower than the others, I had fallen in the
rear a little. As soon as he fell off, Robert Barber jumped off his
horse. We stopped there a minute or two, to ascertain what we
should do. I was for stopping and giving ourselves up. Robert said
he would not give up, and he was pretty sure they would kill us ;
and as he thought his brother was dead, we could do no good by stay-
ing with him. We looked around and saw, as we thought, the main
body of this party riding towards us ; and Robert got on his horse
again, and we started off towards home. I did not know any of these
horsemen, and have never seen any of them since, that I know of. One
of the two who stopped us rode a grey horse, and the other a sorrel
horse. The one who rode the grey horse, and the one, I think, who
shot Thomas Barber, was, I think, a short, heavy-set man. I do not
recollect his dress, except that I think his clothes were light-colored.
THOMAS M. PEIRSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
Mrs. JANE W. COLBURN called and sworn.
I live about four and a half miles west of Lawrence. I lived there the
early part of December last. I recollect the time when Thomas Barber
<,was killed. I saw the three horsemen coming from towards Lawrence,
jon the California road. I saw the party of horsemen ride across the
California road, after the other three had turned off from it, and
then I saw two turn off from the others, and ride off towards the three,
and come up with them, and then they all stopped. They were together
but a short time before I heard three reports of a pistol, and saw the
smoke round the three who rode away from the other two after this
firing, and passed down by our house a few yards from it. The two
stopped where the firing was. The body fell off the horse about forty
7ards from our house. In two or three minutes my husband and I
lad got out to where the body was. We did not know who the man
vas. I think he lived about forty minutes after we got to him, but he
ould not speak, and made no motion at all. He groaned and seemed
o suffer very much. I tried to get him to drink some water, but he
ould'nt do it. When these shots were fired, I was about an eighth
f a mile from there, and I judge the five horsemen were about half a
lile from the California road. I was in the yard when I saw the
iree horsemen riding up, and also the other horsemen coming aeross
ie California road. I stood there and watched them. Our house
> about half a mile from the California road. The man who was
1126 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
shot fell a little past our house, which is on the left of the road as we
eonie towards it. The man died before he was brought into our house,
which was that. This firing was somewhere between one and three
o'clock. I never saw any of the parties before. The man on the grey
horse had on a cap and a light- colored overcoat I think. He appear-
ed to be a short stout man. One of the two that rode across to the
three others was the one on the grey horse.
JANE W. COLBUBN.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
HARRISON NICHOLS called and sworn.
I live at Topeka. On the 6th of December I lived on the Waka-
rusa creek, about five miles from here. I know something about the
death of Thomas Barber. I was in a corn-field, near the California
road, and saw a party of men pass there, on horseback. I knew some oif
them. Dr. John P. Wood was one of them. He lived in this placet
at that time. I knew him by sight, and learned his name next day..
I knew Major Clark ; he was with them. I saw them ride by, triem|
two of the party left the main road, and intercepted some two or three
that were coming this way. Mr. Barber was with the party inter-
cepted. When they met, they stopped a few moments together. The
party that Barber was with, turned their horses, as if to get away?
from the others, and went down towards a ravine, and at the same
time towards their home. They got out of sight of me, so that, at
the time of the firing, I could not see them. They soon came in sighi
again. Clark's party came towards California road to join the mairrj
body, consisting of about seven. At the same time, Barber's partji
came in sight, going towards Barber's house, one holding another or
a horse. The same evening I was taken prisoner. I was conveyed tc
Lecompton camp. In taking me there, they took me to a piece 01
woods, and took a halter off of one of their horses, and said they werr
going to hang me. They finally said they guessed that when I go
to camp I would tell the truth, and they would take me there,
was taken to headquarters, Major Perkins commanding. They e*
amined me, and took my papers, rifle, and bowie-knife away ; and .1
while doing so, one of their party came in and told Major Perkinn
that it was General Richardson's party that killed that damned abo
litionist that night. This was the same man who examined me il
the road for my papers. Major Perkins told the man to keep still!
They kept my rifle, and agreed to send it back to me. I have writtet
to them once on the subject, and have sent twice, but have never gO'<
the rifle. The Monday following my arrest, I think, S. J. Jonei
came to Lecompton, where I was stopping, and said Major Clark anc
Burns both claimed the credit of killing that damned abolitionist
and he didn't know which ought to have it. Jones said, if Shannor
hadn't been a damned old fool, that peace would never have heel
declared. He (Jones) would have wiped Lawrence out. He had men
and means enough to do it. He said they (Eobinson and Lane) *
nisi i
lnui
I
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1127
agreed, in their articles of peace, to help him serve a process here at
any time, but he didn't expect they would do it. He said if Sam
Wood ever came back to the Territory, he would take him, or die in
the attempt. He said he would issue his own proclamation, and not
call upon Shannon, and he would raise boys enough in Missouri to
blow Lawrence and every other damned abolition town to hell. He
wouldn't have any old grannies to stop him.
HAEKISON NICHOLS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS called and sworn.
I reside about a half a mile the other side of G. W. Clark, an In-
dian agent. I did not know Thomas Barber. I got acquainted with
Mr. Clark about a year ago. The first I heard of the death of Mr.
Barber was the day after he was shot. Some two or three days after,
I had business up to Mr. Clark's house and went up there. Clark
said to me, " Well, Phillips, we have one less free-soiler in the Ter-
ritory." I told him I had heard nothing about it. Said he, " I was
coming up the road the other evening," stating the evening Barber
was shot, " in company with several other men, and we saw a com-
pany of men on horseback, and going toward the Yankee town, and we
nailed them to stop, and in place of stopping they rode on faster. I
told them they had better stop." Then he said he and another man,
I think it was Burns, fired about the same time at those men, and ke
thought one of them had shot one of those men ; and he said, " I tried
to kill him, and if it was not me I wish it had been." I a^ked him
what he shot at him for. He said they were out to stop men from
coming to this place ; and as they did not, it was their rule to make
men stop. This is as near as I can recollect what Clark told me at
that time. I do not recollect as I ever heard him speak of this mat-
ter at any other time.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
S. N. SIMPSON called and sworn.
I was in Lawrence in December last, when Barber was killed. I
first heard of it about a mile from where he was killed, while I was
on my way to my brother's, about twenty minutes after he was killed
I should think. I was told by a young man named Pease. I was
unwell at the time, and my brother took the horse I was on, and rode
to the spot. I met a company of horsemen, some 10 or 12, of whom
I knew two, just a mile before I got to my brother's, and before I had
'ieard of the murder. One of them was Dr. J. P. Wood, now of Le-
1128 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
compton, and a Mr. Clark, an Indian agent, and generally called
Major Clark. They stopped in front of Mr. Crockett's, and were
whispering among themselves as I passed. Mr. Clark said, "'How
do you do, major?" to me. I made no answer. Dr. Wood said to
Mr. Clark, "It is Mr. Simpson/' I then rode on to my brother's.
S. N. SIMPSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9; 1856.
Dr. S. B. PRENTISS called and sworn.
I am a physician, and have been practising as such for some 14
years. I saw the body of Barber after he was killed. He was shot
in the abdomen, in front of the right hip. It was apparently a ball
hole. I did not probe it. It was the only wound, and I think caused
his death. There was a slight examination, but not a full examina-
tion, as there was a great deal of excitement. The ball did not pass
out, but, going in, in the direction it did, I should think it would pro- |
duce immediate death. The body I saw was said to be that of Thomas -i
Barber, though I was not acquainted with him.
S. B. PRENTISS.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
HENRY M. SIMPSON called and sworn.
I live west of Lawrence, on the California road, about four miles
from here. I was at home on the day Thomas Barber was killed, and
went over and saw the body after he was dead. A short time before,
I saw a company of three men turning off from the California road to
the northwest. A few minutes afterwards I saw a company of nine
men whom I took to be Missourians, and they were immediately joined I
by another, who came up in a canter, and after speaking to the only
one of the nine I saw with a sword, a halt was called. They then »
went off after the three men who had turned off. Shortly after that,
I heard some reports of fire-arms. After the reports I saw two men
ride up from where I afterwards saw Barber's body, and join the
others, and the twelve that rode up past my house towards Lawrence.
On their return, as they passed my house, they seemed quite merry,
prancing their horses, &c. My brother rode up shortly after they
passed, and a person came up about the same time, and told me a man
was shot,, and desired me to go over and see the body. Before my r
brother heard of the murder, he spoke of meeting a company of twelve i.-
men, among whom were Clark, the Indian agent, and Doctor Wood.
I took my brother's horse, and went over and saw the body, and <
learned that it was that of Thomas Barber. He was dead when I got
there.
During the war, some 100 corn-sacks which I had sent for from
Jill !
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1129
Kansas City^ were stopped by the Wakarusa forces, who took ten of
them, and I have never received any pay for them. The other ninety
I received here in Lawrence afterwards. During the war,, while the
camp was on the Wakarusa, provisions and other property were stop-
ped on the way, and we, at my house, were reduced at last to live on
corn bread alone.
H. M. SIMPSON.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10, 1856.
JAMES BREWSTER called and sworn.
I have lived in Lexington, Missouri, nearly four years. I recollect
the time of the troubles last fall at Lawrence, K. T., when the mil-
itia were called out by Grov. Shannon. Public meetings were held
here for the purpose of raising men to send to Lawrence, Kansas Ter-
ritory. There was not a general attendance at those meetings of the
citizens here, but about as much as usual at public meetings here. I
do not know whether or not money was raised here to defray the ex-
penses of men who went to the Territory, but I know that numbers of
armed men did go. I am not certain as to the number. I know that for
several days I saw armed men in the streets preparing to go, and my
impression at the time was, that a hundred or more went from here
and through here. At first the call was made in this form : that all
citizens of Kansas who were at Lexington or in its vicinity should return
to their homes immediately. After that, it was commonly said that
all law-and-order men should go and assist in executing the laws of
Kansas, whether citizens of Kansas or not. I do not remember of
'seeing many of them when they returned. Those that I was person-
ally acquainted with, who went from here, never have been citizens of
Kansas Territory. It was said by those who were urging men to go
;to Lawrence, that Lawrence should be destroyed, and it was general-
ly understood that was their object. It was said that the citizens of
Lawrence had resisted the execution of the laws, and they were going
to assist in enforcing those laws, and Lawrence, it was said, must be
destroyed.
JAMES BKEWSTEB.
LEXINGTON, Mo., June 10, 1856.
Captain LUTHER LEONARD called and sworn.
To Mr. Sherman:
I am military storekeeper at the Missouri depot, Liberty, Missouri.
[ have been stationed there ten years last March, having charge of
<he arsenal, which contains arms and ammunition of all descriptions.
)n the 4th of December, 1855, my clerk, Mr. Grant; came from town
md said there was some talk of their coming down to the arsenal to
jet arms, but he did not think they would do so. I took no meas-
ires of defence, as I never thought they would come, and my clerk
old me he did not believe they would come.
1130 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
A little after noon, I saw Judge James T. Y. Thompson in thec
arsenal yard, and I walked up to him and greeted him civilly, and
asked him to walk to my quarters. He declined going to my quarters,;
and said he would like to look about a little. I took him into the
armorer's shop first, and intended going all about with him. We
had been there but a short time before I saw through the windows a,
number of people outside. I wished to go out and see what wag
going on. In the meantime, a number of men had slipped into the
armory where we were. When I wished to go out, there were men
at the door who told me very civilly I could not go. One of them
was Mr. Bouton, my clerk's (Mr. Grant) father-in-law. I took hol
of him and gave him a little push ; but he said, good naturedly enough,
it was of no use, as I could not go out. I told them I was an oldc
man, with a dislocated shoulder and but one eye, and I should no1»
undertake to fight with them. I told Judge Thompson I thought it
was poor business for the United States to build arsenals for a mob to
break open.
The judge and the others told me there were troubles in Kansas
and they wanted arms, but would do nothing wrong with them,
told the judge this was aggressive on the part of Missouri, and everjj
community was competent to take care of its own affairs, and thatthc
Missourians ought not to interfere. A good deal more was said onj
both sides, and I felt indignant at the aggression. The judge himsellj
did not say an uncivil word to me. I had not expected any sucll
thing as this when I first saw the judge, or I could have had the gate*-
locked.
The mob proceeded to take arms, forcing the doors, and took three
6-pounclers, some swords, pistols, rifles and ammunition, powder r
balls, &c., as much as they wanted. They broke some doors openn
I do not know how they got the keys to get into the powder maga;
zine, which is composed of brick, and had double doors. Captain
Price was the leading man in the crowd, as I understood. Mr. Roun
was there. I was kept in the room until the men had got all thu
arms and ammunition they wanted and had gone away. Judgr
Thompson being the last one when he let me go out, and then he lefii
himself.
Some six or eight days afterwards the guns were returned to tha
arsenal. They were left, I was told, at Colonel Allen's place, somci
three-quarters of a mile from the arsenal. In the meantime I hacj
reported the facts to Colonel Sumner, and he had sent down a conM
pany of dragoons. The men sent to me to know if I would received
the arms, and I told them I was not in command, and referred theirl
to Captain Beall, and he told them to bring them along ; and the) '
did so, and they were received. Among the property taken was soin*
artillery harness. I cannot recollect how many sets. There wen
some deficiencies in the number of rifles, swords, and pistols, anc
some harness returned, but I cannot state the precise particulars'
These deficiencies' have never been made up by the citizens of Missouri!
but I have been instructed by Colonel Craig, the head of the ordnance]
department at Washington, to purchase sufficient of such articles at
I could obtain in the neighborhood to make up the deficiency, and w
B ON
Iwt'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1131
did so ; but the swords, pistols, and rifles we have not been able to
make up. I do not know how much has been expended in making
up this deficiency. Immediately after this robbery I reported the cir-
cumstances to Colonel Craig, at Washington, specifying the number
and amount of each of the different articles taken. In the course of
the winter he sent me orders to ship the public property to Fort Lea-
venworth and St. Louis arsenal, giving me a schedule of the amount
to be taken to each place ; which I did as soon as navigation opened.
L. LEONARD, M. S. K.
STEAMBOAT POLAR STAR, Missouri river, June 10, 1856.
JAMES W. LOGAN called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I resided the 29th of November, 1854, in what is now called Atch-
iflon county, about two and a half miles from Kickapoo, in this Ter-
ritory. I have never been at any election in the Territory, except
one. for locating our county seat.
[The remainder of this deposition, excluded under the rule stated
in the deposition of James Harris.]
JAMES W. LOGAN.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., Hay 28, 1856.
W. J. OSBORN testifies :
To Gov. King :
When Governor Eeeder first came to the Territory, I met him in
St. Louis. I was at that time introduced to Mr. Flenniken by Gov-
ernor Reeder. We remained in St. Louis for several days. A day or
two before we started, I was informed by Mr. Flenniken that he was
coming to the Territory to be a candidate for delegate to Congress.
We had frequent conversations on the way up the river. He wished
to secure my aid and the influence of the " Kansas Herald/' with
which I was connected. He told me that in the event of his election
he should bring his sons into the Territory, and remain a citizen of
the Territory. In the event of his defeat, he should return to Penn-
sylvania, and remove to Pittsburg, as he could do much better there
than in the Territory. Governor Reeder was doing what he could for
Mr. Flenniken, and seemed anxious to promote his interests. The
agents sent by Governor Reeder to distribute the proclamation of the
first election for delegate, in November, 1854, were also furnished by
Governor Reeder and Flenniken with Flenniken's circulars. Flenni-
ken was Governor Reeder 's candidate.
To Mr. Sherman :
Mr. Flenniken said that he was in favor of the repeal of the Mis-
souri compromise. He said also he was in favor of the present ad-
1132 KANSAS AFF^IKS.
ministration. Mr. Flenniken said to me, after he had "been to Law-
rence, that it was inexpedient to say anything ahout the Kansas-Ne-
braska bill or the present administration, as it might endanger his<
election. Judge Wakefield was regarded as the abolition candidate,,
opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska bill and the present administration. ,
Mr. Whitfield was regarded as the democratic pro-slavery candidate. .
To Gov. King :
Mr. Flenniken said that Governor Keeder had made arrangements*
for him to have the vote of Lawrence and south of the Kansas river, ,
which would amount to a thousand votes.
W. J. OSBORN.
LEAVENWOBTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
JOSEPH POTTER testifies :
I was at the election at Pensenau's on the 29th of November, 1854. |
I saw some non-residents there, but I cannot say that I know they i
voted. I do not recollect that I saw any one vote but myself. I sawv1
there some of those who did not live in the district — John Galbraith, |
Samuel Singleton, and, I think, Benj. Yocum. They were my old !
neighbors in Buchanan county, and I have never known of their rl
living in the district. Singleton has told me since, he did not voti^j
then. I do not suppose there were more than forty or fifty strangers.
There was quite a crowd there. Our district was quite thinly settled.
There was, I reckon, from 100 to 200 legal voters in the district ;
there might not have been so many, and there might have been more.
I had some conversation with a man from Buchanan county, (Mr.
Kirk,) who has been a citizen of the Territory, and a representative.
I do not know whether he lives in the district now or not. I have'
seen him at Atchison, but he did not tell me where his residence was. >
Ira Norris, I think, is now the clerk of the Atchison county court.-
Jesse Morin, I think, lived at that time near Platte City. I have seenn
him there. I believe the election was orderly and quiet. I voted for
General Whitfield that day. A man by the name of Chapman was a.'j
candidate, but I think was reported off the track that morning. Of1
the 306 votes shown by the poll-books, judging from what I knew of »|
the district, and from what I saw at the polls, I should not suppose •(
more than 200 of them were citizens. I do not think all the citizens j
voted that day. I think some of them did not vote, but I only know j
that from hearsay.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
I do riot know as I know the size of that election district at that
time. I think quite likely it included Kickapoo. It included Stranger,
and I think ran to the Kickapoo reservation. It was a tolerably large
district, but the western portion of the district was not then settled.
I was not acquainted all over the district, and a part of thesd
strangers might have lived in the district, and I not have known it*
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1133
I do not know where Judge Flanigan resided, and never did know of
his having any residence in the Territory. I do not know when he
came into the Territory, but understood he carne with Gov. Reeder.
I do not recollect of hearing any one say anything about his being
brought out as a candidate by Governor Reeder. I never saw Judge
Flanigan in my life, to know him. I think I have heard that he
left the Territory immediately after the election. I cannot say that I
know who received a majority of the votes of the Residents I knew.
I do not know that Jesse Morin had a claim in the Territory at that
time.
JOSEPH POTTER.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
M. P. RIVELY testifies :
To Mr. Matthias :
I came into the Territory, some five years ago, from Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. I was not present at the election of 29th of Novem-
ber, 1854-. General Whitfield was the pro-slavery candidate, and
Mr. Flannigan was the free-soil candidate, for Congress at that elec-
tion. I was introduced to Judge Flannigan shortly after he arrived
at Fort Leavenworth. He came to Fort Leavenworth with Governor
Reeder. Shortly after he arrived, Judge Flannigan came out to Salt
Creek valley, where I then lived, and went to the house of Isaac
Cody, and announced himself as the free-soil candidate for delegate
to Congress, and he made a free-soil speech to a number of free-soilers
at Mr. Cody's. This was probably ten days after his arrival in the
Territory. He made the race, and was defeated by General Whit-
field. Some three or four days after the election was over, Mr. Flan-
nigan returned to Pennsylvania. I do not know where he resides
in Pennsylvania. I have heard he had a family in Pennsylvania. He
had none with him in the Territory.
M. P. RIVELY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 31, 1856.
REUBEN HACKETT testifies :
I have examined the poll-books of the fourth district for the elec-
tion of the 30th of March, 1855. I reside in the district, and have
done so since June, 1854. I find twenty-seven names on the list I
know to have been residents of that district at that time, as follows:
B. T. Keeser, R. Hackett, John H. Lockridge, William Case, C.
Martin, J. Wilson, Reese B. Young, J. T. Keever, Pool,
Poage, J. Bradbury, J. D. Bary, D. J. Keeser, D. Putty, T.
Mockaby, J. B. Davis, J. M. Bernard, H. Lowry, Thomas J. Lynch,
E. Hill, John Eddy, T. Essex, R. B. Harris, C. J. Hartly, Wm. Es-
sex, C. Horning, and J. Chapman.
1134 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
These are persons of my acquaintance, but I have not made out the
given names correctly, as the names on the poll-books differed some-
what from those I supposed them to represent. A portion of them Ii
have left out, and a portion of the names I have given. I have made
O4it the list to the best of my knowledge.
To Mr. Woods^n :
I do not have a thorough acquaintance in the district, and only
speak of those I know.
REUBEN HACKETT.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 3, 1856.
THOMAS THORP called and sworn.
I reside within half a mile of Parkville, Platte county, Missouri, ,
and have resided there since 1837, and in Missouri since the fall of'
1818. I know of companies being got up in Missouri to come over?
here and vote, and I heard many of them afterwards say* they had'
voted here. That was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, and !
also when Whitfield was elected. They swarmed over here at all then
elections. My understanding was, that money was contributed to pay
the expenses of the Parkville company to come here and vote. I was"
asked to contribute to that, but I did not do so. Those persons who
said they were coming here to vote, said that if they were here but a
day, they had a right to vote in the Territory, and that they intended i
to outvote those who were coming here from the east and north. I!
think all who were engaged in destroying the press of Geo. S. Park,
at Parkville, with two or three exceptions, were over here and voted.
I know the names of many of them who said they came here to vote—
Dr. Walker, John Winston, Mat. Winston, and thirty or forty others.
I think the whole who were engaged in the destruction of that press,
with the exception of two, came over here and voted. They said they
destroyed that press because they believed it belonged to the Emigrant
Aid Society, or it was interested in it. I think that the most of those <
persons were over here also during the war last fall. I think there •
were about thirty who were engaged in destroying Park's press.
Dr. W. H. Tebbs, who was said to have been elected to the legisla-
ture in the Territory, was a citizen of the State of Missouri. He had
a claim in the Territory, and had some negroes on it, but his wite •
lived in Missouri, on his farm, which he owned there in Missouri.
his
THOMAS + THORP.
mark.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 12, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1135
DANDRIDGE HOLLIDAY called and sworn.
I reside thirteen miles from here, in the 15th district. Was at the
election in that district on the 30th of March. I came from Platte
county, Missouri. Lived in Missouri, partly in Howard, Clinton,
and Platte counties, twenty-two years — sixteen of it in Platte county.
I was at the election at Hayes, and voted. I saw a great many strangers
there. I saw 500 or 600 there, of whom a very great majority were
non-residents. I knew many of them. Some were from Platte county,
Missouri ; some from Clinton and Eay counties. I knew several from
each county — twenty or more that I knew from Platte county, ten or
more from Clinton ; and I knew Major Oliver and George Carson,
from Ray county. I did not see any one vote. Some of these strangers
were armed — some with guns and some with pistols. I did not no-
tice particularly. I saw Judge James Lighten, the two Mr. Bisks,
brothers, Mr. Calvert., Mr. J. Pepper, and many others from Platte
county, who were formerly my neighbors. I am a bad hand to recol-
lect names. I saw Mr. Steele, Mr. Essig, the two Mr. Birches, Mr.
Payne, Mr. Stettiwerger, and others from Clinton county. I do not
recollect any names from Clay county, though I knew several of them.
I did not stand by the polls, and did not see any of them vote. I
heard several contend that they had a right to vote, as every man on
the ground had a right to vote, because they were then present. A
great majority of the persons on that day had badges of hemp. I
voted that day the pro-slavery ticket. There was no other ticket that
day. I should have voted the pro- slavery ticket if there had been
others. I am not very well acquainted in the district, as I stay about
home very much. I had conversation with many men I knew, but
:none of them told me how many were over there. I lived a mile
east of the place of voting, and the road was full all the time, coming
and going. A few of the residents of the district had the hemp
badges — a few from about Kickapoo — but the most who had them were
non-residents. There must have been some hundreds from Missouri —
certainly 200 ; but I could not tell certainly how many were there.
I do not know how many residents were there. These men seemed
to think that they had as good a right to vote as eastern emigrants,
and they would vote, to counteract the emigrant vote. The most
prominent men seemed to justify their voting on that' ground. I do
not think there were residents there to the number of one-half. There
was a general rumor, and believed, that the Emigrant Aid Society
had landed emigrants in the Territory ; but I never knew whether it
was so or not, though I believed it myself.
To H. Miles Moore :
I know George W. Cabbot, deputy sheriff of Platte county ; Lewis
Calvert, of Platte county ; Nelson J. Alexander, Jefferson Dyer,
(now in the Territory, but I think not at that time ;) Thomas L.
Douglass, N. B. Green, H. B. Herndon, (who had a claim in the
Territory,) a deputy sheriff; — these were from Platte county, and I
saw them on the ground. These names are on the poll-books.
1136 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Cross-examined by Mr. Grover :
I saw several persons that day from Clinton county, Missouri. !
think they were, and are yet, residents of that county — so I under-
stand. I know they did live there, but I do not know as they liv»
there now. I know they did live in Clinton ; and Stettiwerger said h<>
had come all the way from home to vote. I cannot state that the;;
were, from my own knowledge, citizens of Clinton county at that time'
but I believe they were. I saw Mr. Essig, Mr. Stull, two Birchess
Stettiwerger, Mr. Payne, whose names I recollect ; but there wem
others I cannot recollect the names of. They remarked to methatthe^
had a long way to go home, and had to start early ; but they did no
tell me where their homes were. They did not tell me their homn
was not in the 9th district; for I did not ask them any more questions
I saw two persons I had seen before from Ray county. One was Majo:
Oliver, and the other George Carson. There were others from tha
county, but I do not recollect their names. I think Carson was living
in Ray county at that time. I cannot state that the others, whosn
names I do not recollect, did live in Ray county, except that the>>
told me they lived in that county. I do not remember the names o i
any more there from Clay county. I cannot state the name o
any one from Clay county, that I knew, from my own knowledge j
lived there at that time. I live about a mile from the place o
election, on the military road towards Kickapoo. I saw some wagonn
camped about the polls the evening before the election. They returnee*
the next day. There were from five to ten wagons there. I coulu
see them from my door. I should say there were at least five wagonn
there. I think they were generally two-horse wagons. There mighi
have been four horses to some wagons, but I do not recollect particu-i
larly about that. I think the same wagons camped there the nigh'i
before the election returned the next day. Some of those wagons wem
from Ray county, as some of the men told me so. They were from Ray)
as they said. I would not state positively the other wagons were not*
from Kickapoo. I think very likely there were some wagons from Kick-i
apoo. My acquaintance in the district was limited, and is yet. There
were undoubtedly many resident voters in the district at that time I did
not know. I could not say a large number of those who had badges
were resident voters. Some of the residents I know did wear badges;
Question. Might there not have been many persons there with hemp
badges, who were resident voters of the district, whom you did not
know?
[The question in that form was overruled by the committee. Mr.r
Grover insisted upon the question in that form.]
I do not think I was acquainted with one-half of the legal voters in
that district at that time. I know that many who wore hemp badges
were resident voters, and some were not. I could not tell how many
men with badges were not residents. I think a large majority of
the men there that day were from Missouri. I judged so by the wayi
they came — like men got up for a hunting spree, or something of the
kind. A great many I knew ; a great many came in wagons, with
their provisions. They told me that they came into the Territory,
some on the day of election,, and some the evening before. George
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1137
Carson, a particular friend of mine, staid all night with me, and told
me a good deal about it. He said they were at very considerable ex-
pense in fitting out. The ground they took was, that the extraordi-
nary efforts made by the Emigrant Aid Societies to abolitionize the
Territory, justified the part the Missourians took in that election.
[Mr. G-rover objected to the declaration of Mr. Carson, as being
only hearsay evidence. The objection was overruled ; Mr. Oliver
dissenting.]
I believe it was the all-absorbing topic here at that time that the
cause of the excitement here was the extraordinary efforts of the
Emigrant Aid Society of Massachusetts to send emigrants here. I
do not think Mr. Cabbot was a citizen of the Territory at that time ;
if he was, I had no knowledge of it. He might have been a citizen of
the 9th council district and I not know it. I think that Lewis
Cahent was a citizen of Missouri at that time. He might have been
a citizen of the 9th council district and I not have known it ; but I do
not believe it. Wilson J. Alexander, I believe,, was living at latan,
Platte county, Missouri, at that time, as he had a store and was
selling goods there.
Question. Do you know that Alexander was living in latan on the
day of the election of the 30th of March, 1855 ?
Answer. He was a citizen of latan at that time.
Mr. Green was like the others, he lived in Platte county before the
election. I believe he was a resident there at that time. According
to my last information, he was a citizen at that time of Platte county,
and so it was with all the rest of the names I have given as from
Platte county. I do not know of any free-State candidates in the
field on that day. I know nothing about the majority of the pro-
slavery party in that district. I went home from the polls to dinner ;
went back again, and remained there till about sundown. I saw no
one prevented from voting, for there was only one side.
To Mr. Moore :
From this information I got from the parties themselves, and from
what I knew of them before, I believed the persons I have mentioned
to be from Clay, Ray, Clinton, and Platte counties, Missouri. They
were my old acquaintances, and I would ask them how the folks were
in Clinton county, and so with regard to the others. I do not know
that I saw any persons at that election sent out by the Emigrant Aid
Society ; if they were, I did not know them.
D. HOLLADAY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
FRANCIS M. POTTER testifies :
I was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Hayes's, but
id not vote there. I was from Missouri ; James Ellison, from Buch-
lan county; Benjamin Werner, who lives near the line between
ichanan and Platte counties, and Major Oliver, of Ray county,
was just tolerably well acquainted in the district at that time.
H. RCD. 200 72*
1138 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
do not suppose I knew a majority ; I may have known one-third of
those in the district, but I could not he certain. I was mostly
acquainted at Mount Pleasant, in the western part of the district.
Hayes's is on the Fort Laramie road, above Kickapoo. I think there
was a larger crowd then than at the election of the fall before. I
left early in the afternoon. There were some speeches made then.
I do not recollect that I heard much said about voting. They formed
lines ten or fifteen paces long, and went up to vote. I was among,
the crowd considerably while I was there. I would not suppose that
more than two-thirds of the persons there were residents, from their
appearance and my knowledge of the district. I left early in the?
afternoon.
Cross-examined by Mr. Grover:
I believe that James Ellison and Benjamin Yocum had homes inn
Missouri at that time, and have yet. I did not see either of them
rote that day. I do not know a great many men in the neighborhood
of Kickapoo, though I have been there. I do not know that I knowv
the names of six men I know to live in Kickapoo. I know a gentle-
man of the name of Hayes, who lives in Kickapoo. I do not recollect
the names of any others, unless it is some of the Isaacs, who live
near there. Enoch Isaac is one of them. Those are all I can recol-i
lect of, that I know. I am not well acquainted in that portion of ih^
district, and know very few persons about and above Kickapoo. I do
not know that I know any men who live in Salt Creek valley. It i&i
tolerably thickly settled. No person was prohibited from voting on
the day of election at Hayes's. It was not that I was afraid, that j
did not vote ; I was dissatisfied that Kellogg withdrew, and think ]
should have voted for him if he had run. I had known him some*-
time, and knew him to be a good man, and thought we ought to have
had some one from the western part of the district to represent us,-
Kellogg stated, when he withdrew, that he was a Cass man. I sup,
pose he was a pro-slaver v man.
F. M. POTTER.
LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 20, 1856.
[See 0. H. Brewster, page 382.]
Affidavit.
RICHMOND, Mo., June 13, 1856.
As an act of justice to Major Oliver, the representative in Congress
from this district, we state that we were at Lexington at the pro-
slavery convention, in July last — the same at which Samuel A. Young;
of Boone, and President Shannon, of the State University, made
speeches. We heard the reply of Major Oliver to the speech of Mr.
Young. The speech of Samuel A. Young was of a very rabid pro-
slavery cast, and perfectly revolutionary in its character ; so mucb
so, that we were well satisfied that it met with but little sympathy
from the convention.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1139
The speech, of Major Oliver was, in no measured terms, condemna-
tory of the speech and sentiments uttered by Samuel A. Young. He
spoke of the course of the Emigrant Aid Society as having given rise
to the excitement in Missouri, and deprecated, in strong terms, the
course and conduct of the society. Major Oliver did not say, in his
speech, that he had been to Kansas and had voted, nor anything to
that effect. In fact, to have said so, would have been to assert what
hundreds in Missouri knew to be false. We were not in Kansas at
any of the elections, but have always understood, from Major Oliver
and other gentlemen of undoubted veracity, that he not only did not
vote at the election in Kansas at which he was, but that in a speech
he advised Missourians who were there not to vote ; in fact, it is well
understood that, by the temperate tone and moderation inculcated by
his speech, he offended some of his friends who were present.
AUSTIN A. KING.
JOSEPH CHEW.
GEORGE J. WASSON.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, the undersigned, clerk of the
county court of Ray county, in the State of Missouri, on this the nine-
teenth day of June, A. D. 1856.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court, at office in Richmond, the day and year
LL. s.j aforesaid.
JAMES B. TURNER, Clerk.
[See 0. H. Brewster, page 382.]
Affidavit.
I was in Kansas Territory,' and at Kickapoo precinct, on the day of
the election of members for the legislature of that Territory, in A. D..
1855. I heard Major. Oliver make one or two speeches there that day.
In those speeches he invited every citizen of Kansas, of whatever po-
litical party, to exercise his privilege as such citizen, and vote. He
pledged his honor that they should not be molested in any way, ^ or
insulted. His speech was union and equality of rights. And Major
Oliver endeavored to dissuade Missourians from voting, for he came
to me and told me not to cast my vote, and to dissuade all others that
could see. He did not vote, to my knowledge, in the Territory.
JOHN W. SHOTWELL.
RICHMOND, June 19, 1856.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, the undersigned, clerk of ^
ounty court of Ray county, in the State of Missouri, on this nine-
eenth day of June, A. D. 1856.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
_ -| seal of said court, at office in Richmond,, this 19th day of June
L' S'J A. D. 1856.
JAMES B. TURNER, Clerk,
1140 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
F. A. HART testifies :
To Mr. Sherman :
I was present at an election held on the 22d of May, 1855. Mr.,
Matthias, Mr. Payne, and Mr. McMakin, were candidates for the;
House of Representatives on the pro-slavery ticket, but I forget those
on the other side. That election was held at the house of George
Loyaddu. We voted on the north side of the building, at the win-
dow. Mr. Lyle was in the room of the judges, and I think took myy
ticket when I voted ; but I am not positive in regard to the judges.
I came in on the day of the election, about nine or ten o'clock in thei
morning. When I came up I did not see many persons around the
polls. I noticed that the election seemed to be going on quietly and
peaceably. I voted myself, and after voting was around town, anc
eventually was at the west end of the building, and saw four or five
young men there, who, from their conversation, I understood to havd
come from Weston that morning. Something was also said by then
about voting, and one of them said he had voted twice. I did no''
know any of the men, and cannot give their names. Something wa;.|
said about going back to Weston, and one intimated that he woulc j
stop and take dinner at the tavern, but, after consulting, they con'l
eluded not to go to the tavern for dinner. I left them then, and I dd
not know what became of them. I think I saw Judge Almond here)
that day, and he had a conversation with a man in town named How<
ell, about voting. I saw many here I did not know, but I cannot tel
anything about them. I saw no camps here, except such as wern
usual here at that time — surveying parties, &c. I do not recollec*
about any other parties of strangers here on that day.
To H. Miles Moore:
I do not remember at this time of recognising any other persons her-
but Judge Almond, that I saw here on the election of 30th of March
1855. There did not seem to be as many, not one-fourth, on the 22t
of May as were on the 30th March. I voted that day.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
I saw no breach of the peace on that occasion as I now recollect.
saw some men with large sticks and walking-canes, but I saw no dis<
turbance. I cannot say that I saw any Missourian vote that day.
think there was a free-soil majority on the 22d of May here, but tha
is my notion only. I do not think more than one-half of the free-soil
ers in the district voted that day. I voted that day myself, because
thought there was a chance for my voting without being insulted, a
I did not see so many here with hemp on them and with arms as .•
saw on the 30th of March.
To Mr. Oliver :
My means of information touching the relative strength of partie
here, is from the acquaintance I have through the district, and I an
acquainted with more free-State men than pro-slavery men ; and nr
opinion is, that there was a majority of free-State men here ; but I d<
KANSAS AFFAIRS 1141
not pretend to say that such was the case. I am not acquainted with
all the pro-slavery men or all the free-State men in the district. There
are many men I am not acquainted with ; but as far as my acquaint-
ance in the district extends, I know more free-State than pro-slavery
men.
To Mr. Sherman:
I believe the reason all the free-State men did not vote, was that
they anticipated the same thing as on the 30th of March before. I
myself should not have come in to vote, if I had not lived close to
town, and saw that there was no general movement like that of the
30th of March. I saw no great stir and rush here, and therefore con-
cluded to vote. I do not know that anything was given out in the
prints, or by handbills, or from persons from Missouri, that there would
be any persons from Missouri over here at that election.
To Mr. R. R. Rees:
I have no acquaintance in the district nearer to Wyandot than in
the vicinity of Delaware. I had some acquaintance out on the Stranger
creek. Braden, who was a free-State candidate on the 30th of March
and withdrew, lived out there. I knew a man by the name of Sparks
there, and had some slight acquaintance with other men there, but I
do not recollect their names. I have been in the Stranger Creek
settlement in the fall of 1854, but do not know how much the settle-
ment had filled up in May, 1855. I was not acquainted on the
Stranger, below the mouth of Walnut creek — the one that comes in on
the other side — though I have seen persons who were said to live out
there. I understand Sparks to be a free-State man. I cannot say that
I know him to be the most ultra free-State man in that part of the
district. My acquaintance besides that was around generally in town.
I was not very well acquainted all round the district. I do not recol-
lect about the free-State ticket, though I voted a free-State ticket ; and
I am of the impression that there was a full free-State ticket, though
I do not recollect about it.
To H. Miles Moore:
I never lived in Platte county, Missouri, though I have been there
from a week to ten days at a time. I did not know many of the set-
tlers here in Missouri, when I lived there.
To Mr. Rees :
I could make no accurate estimate of the number of free-State men
in the district at that time. But according to the way that the county
with which I was acquainted was settled up, and presuming the rest
was settled similarly, I was of the impression there were about 400 or
500 legal voters in the district at the time of the election ; and from the-
acquaintance I had, I judged that there was a majority of free-State
men in the district. I considered the point here on the river the
strongest pro-slavery point in the district. I cannot form any accurate
estimate of how many free-State men I knew. I found a good num-
ber more free-State men than pro-slavery men, but I cannot tell how
1142 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
many I knew who were free-State men. I cannot fix any probable
number, but I have no doubt there was a great many more than 10.
I have not much doubt but I could commence and count 100, 200, per-
haps 300 or 400, many of whom I do not know the names, as is the
case on the pro-slavery side.
F. A. HAKT.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 19, 1856.
D . HOLLADAY testifies :
I was at Mount Pleasant at the election of the 1st of October, 1855.
The election was orderly and quiet, and there were no non-residents i
there as far as I know.
D. HOLLADAY.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
HARMON G-. WEIBLING called and sworn.
I was present here in Leavenworth City at the congressional dele--
gate election of October 1, 1855. There were persons here who told!
me they were residents of Missouri, some of whom I saw vote. I cam
recollect but two of their names ; one was James Carr, of Clay county,
the other was Richard Garthen or Grattan. I took a memorandum,
at the time, but have lost it. I was taking the census at the time, and'
thought they were residents of Leavenworth City, and requested ij
their names as residents, and they told me they were residents on
Missouri. I should suppose I had the names of ten or a dozen who"
voted, who told me they were not residents, but I cannot recollects!
their names. I was taking the census of the city for the purpose oi\
assessing the property here. Besides those, I do not know, of my;
own knowledge, that any of these non-residents voted. I saw that
there were many strangers here. I did not ask the names of all, as
I was authorized only to take the census of the citizens of the town.!
I have seen but few of these strangers here since. I reside in towni
here, and am in business here. Our city limits extend south one and
a half mile from the lower military reserve boundary, and three-
fourths of a mile west from the river. I do not know how far back
the township extends.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield :
I have resided in this city since July last. I came from Indiana to
this place, and from Louisiana to Indiana. I was born and raised in
Maryland, going to Louisiana when I was quite young. I do not
know of any candidate or any opposition on that day except General
Whitfield. I know of no particular interest or excitement at that!
election until the afternoon of that day. I saw two strangers go to
the window with slips of paper in their hands, which they gave
•
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1143
but I do not know whether they were tickets or not. They told me
they lived in Missouri. I presumed they knew my business. I do
not know of any about town who played off on me to get rid of the
tax. I do not know the limits of the voting precinct here. I am
pretty generally acquainted all over the county. I do not know
where these strangers lived, except as they told me. I asked the
gentlemen for their names, and they gave them to me ; then their ages,
and they gave them to me ; and when I asked their occupation, they
asked my object; and when I told them, they said they lived in Mis-
souri.
To Mr. Sherman :
There was a number of men in the street boasting they were from
Missouri and had voted. I hardly know what the excitement was
about, but they seemed to take a great deal of pleasure in saying that
they were from Missouri, had voted, and would continue to do so. I
recognised James Carr as one of this crowd.
To Mr. Whitfield :
Question. Do you know anything of a murder reported by letter to
a Cleveland, Ohio, paper — a reported murder of two men and a baby
on that day?
Answer. I do not know that any such thing occurred, or that there
was any foundation for it, so far as I know.
H. G. WEIBLINQ.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
[Letter referred to in Nathan Adams's deposition, on page 840.]
BOSTON, August 14, 1854.
DEAR SIR : By the pamphlet mailed you, much of the information
which you desire can be obtained.
The next party will leave here on the 29th instant, at a quarter past
two p. m.; they will go via Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, Alton, and St.
Louis, and will disembark at Kansas City, near the mouth of Kansas
river. The fare through will be about f 25 for first-class accommoda-
tions; meals extra, which need not cost on an average more than twenty
cents. Each person is allowed 100 Ibs. of baggage, and for all excess
will be liable to pay about $3 per 100 Ibs. Children under three years
will be taken free ; between three and twelve, pay half price. No
pledges are required from those who go ; but, as our principles are
known, we trust those who differ from us will be honest enough to
take some other route.
The agent who located our pioneer party will accompany the next
one, and furnish all requisite information.
Yours, respectfully,
THOMAS H. WEBB,
Secretary Emigrant Aid Company. >
A. JENNINGS,
Provincetown, Mass.
1144 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
B. F. NICHOLSON called and sworn.
To Mr. Whitfield :
I reside in Missouri, in Parkville, Platte county. I went down the
river on a steamboat last year, between the 1st and 10th of April.
This boat was named " Sam Cloon." There was about twenty per-
sons got on at Kansas City, Missouri. They said they had been up
in the Territory of Kansas for the purpose of voting, and were brought
there by the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society, and that itay were :
paid to come out here by that society, and promised two dollars a day
after they got to the city of Lawrence. There was a certain Mr. Lin-
coln who was their leader, so they told me. They cursed him for -
making the speeches he did, and telling lies, and causing them to
come out here and robbing them of their means. They said they had I
joined the society, and had come out here and voted, and could get no>
employment, and were destitute of all means. They said the maim
object of the Emigrant Aid Society was to bring persons out here who, ,
by their votes, would make this a free State. Mr. Lincoln told me
this himself, as we were in the barber's shop. He also told me he-
was going down to St. Louis to get up some more for the election im
May. The elections in some districts were ordered for the 22d of May.
When we had got just below Booneville we took some passengers —
some 30 or 40 more of these men — from the El Paso, which had
sunk. They found Mr. Lincoln was aboard, and they came up anc!
cursed and abused him for the speech he had made in Bedford, Massa-
chusetts, and causing them to come out here, where they had been so dis-
appointed. These men from the El Paso stated that they had comei
to vote, and had voted. They said they did not care a damn whether'
Kansas was a free or a slave State now. They did not like to be*
chouzelled out of their means. They said their expenses had been paid
out here by the company, and that they had got a through ticket toi
Kansas City, Missouri. I understood from them that the Aid Society^
had dropped them after they got them out here.
To Mr. Oliver :
They had some women with them. One woman in particular at-
tracted the attention of those on board, because her husband had diedi
near Lawrence, and left her with five children and no bread, and
nothing to buy it with. Colonel Oliver Anderson and myself, and
others, made her up $25 to take her back to Massachusetts.
To Mr. Whitfield:
She and her husband came out with that party, and none of h
acquaintances had any means to assist her.
To Mr. Oliver :
Col. Oliver Anderson, of Lexington, Win. Milton, of Parkville,
myself, a lieutenant, and others I did not know, made up some $25 or
$30 for her.
To Mr. Whitfield :
These men told me they had been in Kansas, and had voted the free-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1145
State ticket, and were returning home. One of them, particularly,
wanted to sell me his revolver, as that was all he had. He said his
fare had been paid to Kansas, and he had come out here to vote the
free-State ticket, and had done so, but he would not come back here
again.
To Mr. Oliver :
There were about fifty of these men in all after they had got off
the El Paso. I think there were about three families of women — two
women besides this widow woman. The rest were generally single
and young men. Their baggage I think was limited — but few trunks,
generally carpet-sacks. The baggage was marked " Kansas emigra-
tion." I do not recollect about seeing any names on the baggage as
agent. I did not notice particularly. I resided at Parkville that
spring. My attention was called to the character of the emigration in
the early part of that spring. My business was near the river, and
I generally went on the boats as they came along. The emigration
on the boats were mostly men, and, as far as I understood, they were
from Massachusetts and the northern States. Along the first,
nearly every boat was crowded. Sometimes I would ask some of
those persons where they were bound for, and they said Kansas. I
did not ask what they came for. Almost all the trunks and baggage
I noticed, especially those who got off at our place, were marked
" Kansas emigration." I cannot say as I noticed any names on the
baggage as agent, as I did not take particular notice. The river was
unusually low at that time, and boats ran aground and had to put off
their freight on the banks. The rumor in Missouri, in my section, so far
as my information extended, was general, that the river was crowded
with eastern emigrants, coming here to vote, to make Kansas a free
State at the March election. The people of Missouri were much excited
in consequence. The rumor was generally understood that there
was an organization at the north to send out emigrants here to vote,
and make Kansas a free State. I have seen persons who said they
came out here to vote ; they said so not six months ago ; that they
came out under the auspices of the Aid Society. I do not recollect
that they told me they had voted, but that that was their object — to
vote to make this a free State. The boats were unusually crowded
with emigrants that spring ; more so than I had ever seen before since
1850, when the emigration went to California. The Missourians who
came over here to vote, gave as one of their reasons for doing so,
that they desired to counteract the votes of those they had understood
that the Emigrant Aid Society had sent out here that season. So far
as I understood, that was the reason given by our people, who were
considerably excited, and came over here to vote to counteract that
effort.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard :
I do not recollect the names of any of those fifty persons going
down on the Sam Cloon but Mr. Lincoln. I only know from what
they told me, and the marks on their baggage, that they had been
sent out here by the Emigrant Aid Society, or had ever been to
1146 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Kansas. I do not know that any of them voted in Kansas, except
what they told me. Some four or five or half a dozen of them I
talked with, and I suppose I heard a third, at least, say they ha/1
"been out here to vote, and had voted. They said they came out under
the flattering prospect of receiving big wages at Lawrence City, and
they were mistaken. They were to get big wages for working, and
the way I understood, the pay for voting was giving them a through-
ticket. I do not know as that was said by any one ; but the general
understanding of the crowd was, that they had had a through-ticket i
given them. I do not know that I understood that this ticket was a ,
donation or a purchase ; but I did not understand that they had paid :
their own money for it. I got the impression that all had come out thai
spring. I could not tell how many boats came up before the 30th of'
March ; but there was quite a rush of boats that spring. I should
suppose over a dozen arrived by the 30th of March, 1855. The boats :
got along with considerable difficulty, as the water was low.
To Mr. Whitfield :
I had a conversation with Lincoln, and he seemed to be the only
leader then. Persons standing around seemed to concur in what
others said about the matter. There was a man on the boat who was •
represented to be an old sea-captain, but 1 do not recollect his name.
I had some conversation with him. He said he had come out here •
with a good deal of money, and expended it all upon those who had
been left destitute, after coming out here under the auspices of the •
Emigrant Aid Society. I think he said he had expended in that way •
over $600. He seemed to be quite a feeling old fellow. My under- •
standing was, that they got a free ticket furnished by the Emigrant t
Aid Society from Massachusetts to Kansas City.
B. F. NICHOLSON.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 20, 1856.
JAMES HARRIS called and sworn.
To Mr. Scott :
I reside upon Pottawatomie creek, in the Territory, when I am at
home, and have been there, with Henry Sherman, for three months.
I was hired there as a hand on his farm, to plough, build fences, &c.
[Mr. Scott proposes to give testimony in regard to outrages com-
mitted in the Territory during the month of May.
After discussion, the committee unanimously resolved that no testi-
mony with regard to acts of violence committed since the passage of I
the resolutions organizing this commission will be received, and that
all testimony heretofore admitted, inadvertently or otherwise, incon- •
sistent with this rule, shall be excluded.]
JAMES HARRIS.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 6, 1856.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1147
WILLIAM G. MATTHIAS testifies :
To Mr. Howard :
I think there are four or five organized townships in our county,
Kickapoo, Leavenworth, Delaware or Wyandot, probably both, and,
I think, one in the back part of the county. They have separate
voting places. I cannot say what are the sentiments of those who
live in Delaware township. I think in the whole township there are
probably two hundred votes. The township runs back a good way,
and I think the claims are pretty generally taken up.
WM. G. MATTHIAS.
WESTPORT, Mo., June 6, 1856.
JOSIAH ELLIOTT called and sworn.
I was starting out across Stranger creek, and met a company of
ten or twelve men in Salt Creek valley, the day that Brown was ar-
rested, near Easton. I inquired of some I knew where they were go-
ing. They said they were going to Easton to see about the shooting
of a man by the name of Cook, who had been shot the night before by
a party holding an election. We went on a mile or so, and stopped
as if to wait for others to come up. Shortly afterwards I heard Capt.
Martin lecture his men that he wanted them to keep peaceable ; that
he did not want them to have any fuss. Soon after they were making
ready to start — some in wagons, some walking. I recollect seeing
some four or five men starting ahead afoot. They were gone a little
while, and about the time the balance was nearly ready to start, we
saw a wagon coming from the direction of Easton. One or two from
that wagon were walking ahead, and the balance seemed to be walk-
ing behind. Those who went off came up, and told the crowd that
these men in the wagon had been at Easton. The company I was
with then stopped those in the wagon, and inquired of them what
was going on at Easton. They denied knowing anything at all about
what had been going on at Easton. Some one recognised Brown, who
was rather a noted or influential man among them. I think it was
Dr. Molton who recognised Brown. The question then got up, what
should be done with them? Captain Martin said we would arrest
them, and take them back and see what had been done about the shoot-
ing of Cook. The prevailing rumor was that Brown was an accessary
to the shooting of Cook. Captain Martin demanded their arms —
probably they offered them without a demand. They went back. Two
of our men got into the wagon with them to protect them. When we
got to Easton, as soon as we got there we found some ten or twelve
men of the citizens around Easton. They appeared much enraged
about the shooting of Cook, and charged it on Brown ; and it was
with difficulty that they could be prevented by Captain Martin, Mr.
Grover, and several others from shooting him. We took Brown and
the others into the house, and locked the door for the purpose of keep-
ing these others from hurting or shooting him. They were put in a
stone house. Some were then put out to hunt up a man by the name
1148 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
of Sparks, and also Menard, who were said to "be leaders. They failed
to get them. They found Menard, but could not catch him. Them
Capt. Martin and some other gentlemen asked my opinion as to whether •
we had not better take Brown into a separate room to examine him as<
to his part in the events of the day before. They did so, and I and!
two others, called on by Captain Martin, went into a room, and Brown >
came also. We interrogated him a good deal about the legality of1
the election, and what they had done. He acknowledged that he1
headed the company when Cook was shot. We then went outt
and held several consultations, as to what should be done withi
Brown — with Captain Martin, Mr. Grover, Mr. Elliott, and Mr.,
Kinby, and myself. We concluded that the proper way was to
bring him to Leavenworth, and deliver him to the sheriff to be
dealt with according to law. Captain Martin then frequently ad-
dressed the crowd, telling them that was the proper course to pursue
towards Brown. At this time the crowd had largely increased. Mr.
Dunn, from Leavenworth, and others from various places, had come
up. Captain Martin made exertions and got the balance of Brown's
company away without the knowledge of the crowd, who were watch-
ing Brown, and he made every exertion to prevent violence being done
to Brown. He prayed and begged them to stop, and then cursed themi
awhile for damned fools, and said that he could do nothing with them,
and could not control them. Not more than one-fourth of the then <
crowd had come from Kickapoo, and I know but one man from there-
who seemed to be unmanageable. It went on towards evening, and!
Captain Martin's object seemed to be to get the excited crowd away*
from Easton. They had got some liquor, and towards evening got'
more infuriated. At this time, Captain Martin, Mr. Grover, my son,,
and myself, and perhaps one or two others, were in the room with;
Brown, and remained there to protect him from the fury of the crowd.
They frequently came to the window to shoot him, and some of us*
would stand there to prevent it. During the time Captain Martin •
would see some of the sober ones, and try and get them to get wagons <
and get the drunken men in the crowd off. Late in the evening they*
broke into the house, while Captain Martin, my son, and myself, and;
some others were there with Brown. The others who were with me^
in the house got the crowd out by pushing them back and closing the*
door. I then got out, but before leaving advised Captain Martin to<
leave the house, or we would be shot by the drunken fools. We again
told them that we would tie Brown and take him to Leavenworth,
and said so to convince the crowd that Brown could not escape. Cap-
tain Martin came out shortly afterwards, and told the crowd that they'
must desist ; that it would not do to kill Brown ; and when they spoke <
of doing it, he condemned it in strong language, and said it would be;
a cowardly act. About sundown Captain Martin said to my son that :
he would not stay there longer ; that he could not protect Brown fur-
ther, as the crowd would kill him or Brown, and maybe both, and he
would not remain there to see it. He said he could do no more, and
had done all he could to control them, and he would never go with a >
party again which he could not control, and then he left. Before this
time Grover had left. When Martin left, my son and I got on our
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1149
horses, and were about leaving. I spoke to Mr. Burgess, and urged
him to take Brown to Leavenworth to take his trial, and he said he
would try and make the crowd do it, and the matter was left in his
care. At this time, nearly all of those from Kickapoo had left ; per-
haps some two or three drunken men remained ; some fifteen or twenty
still remained. They were mostly those whom we met at Easton.
Just about the time I was riding off, they broke in the door again, or
tore it down, and I saw them bring Brown out. I heard some one
say if Brown would fight him they would set him at liberty. Another
said that Brown said he would do it. They went out about thirty or
forty steps across the road ; some six or eight or ten followed them,
and surrounded them, and partially hid them from me. I saw them
striking at each other with their fists. Directly they said Brown had
enough, and I saw him walk out of the crowd, and his face seemed
bloody, but I saw no serious wound. I heard Burgess say " for God's
sake, boys, let us put him in a wagon and take him to Leavenworth."
Others said let him run ; and others said, if he did he would be shot.
He did break and run, and some one followed him and caught him
and brought him back. Then he was put into the wagon with some
five or six, and started in the wagon towards Leavenworth. I saw
Brown no more. I knew Gibson afterwards ; he was the man who,
as I understood, fought Brown a fist-fight. I don't remember whether
he went with the wagon or not. Captain Martin and the Kickapoo
Kangers were not there as an organized body.
JOSIAH ELLIOTT.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, Hay 21, 1856.
1150 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
APPENDIX TO MINOK1TY KEPORT.
DANIEL MACE called and sworn.
To Mr. Oliver :
Immediately after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act, I, togetherr
with a number of others, who were members of Congress and senators,,
believing that the tendency of that act would be to make Kansas a slave-
State, in order to prevent it, formed an association here in Washing-
ton, called, if I recollect aright, " The Kansas Aid Society." I do
not remember all who became members of that society, but quite a*
number of members who were opposed to slavery in Kansas,, of the
lower House, and also of the Senate, became members of it, and sub-
scribed various sums of money. I think I subscribed either $50 orr
$100 ; I am not now prepared to say which.
We issued a circular to the people of the country, of the northern;
States particularly, in which we set forth what we believed were the
dangers of making Kansas a slave State, and urged that steps bee!
taken to induce persons from the north, who were opposed to slavery, j
to go there and prevent its introduction, if possible. We sent a great i
many circulars to various parts of the United States, with that object, ,
and also communications of Various kinds. I do not now remember r
what they were. The object was to have persons induced to go fan
Kansas who would make that their home, and who would, at all!
elections, vote against the institution of slavery.
I think Mr. Goodrich, of Massachusetts, was the president of thei
society. I am not certain about the vice-presidents ; probably Mr.
Fenton, of New York, and myself, were vice-presidents. The names -
of the president and vice-presidents were attached to our circulars *
which we sent throughout the country.
My recollection is, that generally, those members of the House and i
Senate who were opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska act became mem- -
bers of this society, and contributed to it.
The leading primary object of the association was, to prevent the »
introduction of slavery into Kansas, as I stated during the short ses- -
sion of Congress, in answer to a question propounded to me by your- -
self, I believe. We believed that unless vigorous steps of that kind i
were taken, Kansas would become a slave State. I do not remember r
the caption of the subscription paper. I think no other object was u
mentioned or specified, except the prevention of slavery in Kansas.
I think that was the sole object of the movement.
I do not recollect whether Mr. Speaker Banks was a member of that
society or not, or whether Senator Seward was or not. Mr. Good-
rich kept the books. My impression is, that a majority of those who •
voted against the bill were members of that organization. I do not t
remember the total amount of money raised by means of that organi-
zation. We had a room here, and employed a secretary, and conse-
quently had expenses to pay. I do not know the amount raised,
think there were persons, members of that association, who were not i
members of either house of Congress. Mr. Latham was appointed ;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1151
treasurer, but declined ; and my impression is that Mr. Blair became
the treasurer ; but I may be mistaken about that.
DAN'L MACE.
WASHINGTON CITY, July+1, 1856.
Protest of General Whitfield.
The counsel for J. W. Whitfield having, at Leavenworth city,
offered in evidence before the committee two letters written by
A. H. Reeder — the one dated Washington, January 20, 1856 ; the
other dated Washington, February 12, 1856 — before offering the said
letters, their authenticity, both as to the signature and hand-writing
in the body of said letters, was proved to be the proper hand- writing
and signature of A. H. Reeder, and of which facts the committee
were satisfied ; but a majority of the committee, Messrs. Howard
and Sherman, not being satisfied, at the time, of the propriety of the
admission of such evidence, took the matter under consideration; and
now, at this day, at the sitting of the committee at Westport, the
question of the admission of said letters as evidence came up for con-
sideration and decision, and a majority of the committee, Messrs.
Howard and Sherman, (Mr. Oliver dissenting) , decline to receive said
letters in evidence, and to be engrafted into and to constitute a por-
tion of the evidence taken by the committee in their investigations,
upon the ground that they, the committee, have not the rightful
possession of them, they having been found in the street, and being
clearly private letters, or so declared to be by the majority of said
committee. The said majority of the committee take no objection to
the relevancy or competency of said letters as evidence, but place their
objections solely upon the grounds above stated, not denying that said
letters might be evidence against said A. H. Reeder in a criminal
prosecution. The committee admit that the copies of said letters,
furnished to the committee for the purpose of having them transcribed
into the evidence, are true and genuine copies of the originals offered
in evidence, and which said copies are hereto appended, marked (A)
and (B), and made part of this protest.
The counsel for J. W. Whitfield, and on behalf of the law and order
party in Kansas Territory, offer said letters in evidence for the double
purpose of showing the opinions and admissions of A. H. Reeder in
reference to the matters and subjects connected with the elections of
the 30th of March, 1855, in the Territory, and the contest now pend-
ing between Whitfield and Reeder in the House of Representatives,
as well as to show the complicity of A. H. Reeder in all the troubles
which have led to bloodshed and civil war in the Territory.
To the refusal of the majority of said committee to receive said
letters in evidence, Mr. Oliver enters his protest ; and also the said
John W. Whitfield, by his attorney, protests against the action of a
majority of the committee in refusing the admission of said letters in
evidence, as depriving him of his just rights in the investigation
1152 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
before the committee, and in showing to the country the true ground1
and source of all the difficulties in Kansas Territory.
J. W. WHITFIELD.
By Ms Attorneys,
AUSTIN A. KING.
JOHN SCOTT.
WESTPORT, MISSOURI, June 7, 1856.
The above protest was this day presented, and the accompanying
copies of letters marked by me " Exhibit A accompanying protest/
and " Exhibit B with protest/'
WM. A. HOWARD,
Chairman Kansas Committee.
WESTPORT, June 7, 1856.
Exhibit (A) accompanying protest. — Wm. A. Howard,, Chairman.
WASHINGTON, January 20, 1856.
vt*
MY DEAR SIR : Since writing you a week ago, (January 14,) I
received your letter of December 23, which you say you sent bjj
Schuyler. That of December 29 I had received before, and acknow^l
ledged. I keep sending you papers, which I suppose you received
This morning I saw Johnson and Parrot, who arrived last night jus*
in time, as we had, through the night, a deep snow, which will again
block up the roads, I have no doubt. Phillips, of Leavenworth, alsH
arrived here on Friday evening. The House is still at the old deadi
lock for Speaker. Cobb, of Georgia, declared in the House, that tine
Democrats will not vote for the plurality rule until Banks is with-
drawn. The Republicans had a caucus on that same evening, and ren
nominated Banks, and declared that they will not withdraw him. A
resolution is now adopted that all debate and personal explanation
shall be out of order, and that the balloting shall be the only busi<
ness done. We will see what that will bring forth. My own opinion
is, that it has come to the alternative of a plurality rule or no organi-
zation, and the Democrats must come to the plurality rule at last. ]
am still much vexed and worried that returns of our election and the
certified copies from Woodson are not here. I cannot imagine why
the returns, which are the most important of all, were not sent, as i1i|
was so distinctly understood ; and Coates says that Lane and Gooder ;j
told him they were in the bundle. I have written Pomeroy to send.!
if possible, a special messenger to Kansas for them at my expense/
It is unpardonable that they were neglected ; and if they do not come
in time, we shall present a bright spectacle before the Union. Som€»
one sent rne a copy of the Herald of Freedom, of December 22, fromj
which I see that Brown (probably because there are no externalij
enemies to fight) is assailing the projectors and former citizens oi\
Pawnee. This is very opportune at this time, when I am charging)
the administration and Gen. Davis with destroying and crushing out aj
free-State town and settlement, and with persecution of Col. Mont-
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1153
gomery by court-martial and dismissal. Gen. Davis and Pierce will
be very much obliged to him if they should see the article, and will
probably have it republished in the "Union ; " whilst the most we can
hope for our despondent free-State settlers in the neighborhood who
have had their society and neighbors driven off, most of them back to
the States, by the atrocious destruction of the town at the instance of
Atcliison, is, that they may never see the article. You speak of my
coming to Kansas when the legislature meets. It is impossible. I
cannot leave my post here without being faithless to my trust. If the
people of Kansas cannot appreciate my fidelity to them without being
constantly reminded of it, I cannot help it. I refused to leave here,
although importuned to come to Philadelphia at supreme court and
earn $500 or $600 ; my business suffering at home, deprived of the
society of my family, whom I could not bring here, except at a ruin-
ous rate. Had I refused their nomination, and gone to Pennsylvania
in September, or had I sold the free-State party out to the Missourians, or
to Pierce, I might have promoted my interest at least. If they do not
want my services and sacrifices, Pennsylvania has still room enough
for me. I shall only be sincerely sorry for the good men and true
among them who shall be overpowered by the selfish and the corrupt.
But I have faith in them still, and that they will not allow an absence,
caused only by devotion to their interests, to operate to my prejudice..
You speak of your probably coming on here in February, as the legis-,
lature meets in March. I do not see how you can do this, in case you
are elected ; nor do I now see how you are to get your case into the
Supreme Court of the United States, except by writ of error, and that
can only be after judgment and at a great expense ; nor do I see how
you can raise, in the Supreme Court, any point as to the validity of
the laws, except the one of their removal to the Mission. I havey
however, not examined the case ; still, I should think that a few free-
State men on the jury would be a surer reliance than the Supreme
Court. I should hesitate long before spending much money on the
latter. I note what you say about Lane. It is all very well ; but it
is a good rule never to make an enemy unnecessarily, or to aggravate
one without cause. Why not continue to correspond for the "Post"
or some other paper ?
Remember me kindly to Robinson and Conway, and other fnenttfc.
Latta is also here.
Yours, truly,
A. H. REEDER.
Exhibit (B) with protest.
WASHINGTON, February 12, 1856.
DEAR GROVE : Since my last, dated the 27th January, I have yours
of January 14th, 22d, and 30th. The last I received this morning
from Jo. Laubach. It came very opportunely to enable me to state
Woodson's refusal in the memorial I am about to present to the
House, contesting the seat. I am only waiting for Banks to appoint
the committees, and he is waiting for the election of a printer. I
H. Rep. 200 73*
1154 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
have not been away from here since the day I came on,. although Ii
have suffered severely by staying. I dare not leave until I can make
an application to the committee to have the case delayed until I cam
send for persons and papers to the Territory. I will also endeavor to >
have the Committee on Territories send for persons and papers, and!
report a history of the whole Kansas difficulties, ab initio. This willi
probably bring you along, as I shall have the selection of the men to>
be sent for, in a great measure. Whit field claims, I am told, to have;1
received 2,900 votes ; and I have no doubt, when we come to see hiss
hand, he will show the papers for more than ours. I should not atl
all wonder if he has a return from Arapohoe county, (Tibbat's place;))
and if so, they can make that as large as they please. I have hadi
men to talk to him, but all I can learn is that he claims the 2,900.'.
He gives no particulars, but talks in a very confident, bluffing, brag-
gart style of getting his seat. Our cause will be lost unless we can
reduce his vote, so as to show more votes for me. I wrote General)
Robinson on this subject, and hope he has the letter. I have written;
him three times since I am here, but I have no letter from him. I exv
pect to have a man sent out to the Territory for witnesses, at least for thetj
Election Committee, soon. I cannot tell what will be result as to ounj
admission. If I get my seat, I shall press it hard, and we will gef1
some votes in the Senate which we do not expect. If I lose my seatt
there is no chance for admission. Let my name go before the legis-,s
lature, and if the party will then say they do not need my services ?
well and good. I shall be honorably relieved of labor, responsibility)
and danger. If they elect me, I shall feel bound to stand by then;
and fight their battles pertinaciously, zealously, and faithfully. Ai
to putting a set of laws in operation in opposition to the Territorial
government, my opinion is confirmed instead of being shaken ; nr j
predictions have all been verified so far, and will be in the future1
We will be, so far as legality is concerned, in the wrong ; and that i
no trifle, in so critical a state of things, and in view of such blood;i
consequences. It will be an invitation to the " powers that be" t<
bring down the Missourians upon us in the assumed character of vim
dicators of the law. What consummate folly is there not in such a
move? You will have seen Pierce's message. Suppose we had occu
pied the ground I wished, of the mere adoption of a constitution anm
election of officers, only for the purpose of applying for admission!
what ground would Pierce have had to stand on, or how much of hi
message would have been left? He is not the only man who is backi|
ward and lukewarm towards us for this reason. They say they canj
not sustain us in the position of resistance to the Territorial govern
ment ; and you will find, I think, that Douglas will also take tha
ground. But I want you to understand, most distinctly, that I <J |
not talk thus to the public or to our enemies. I may speak my plai: I
and private opinion in letters to our friends in Kansas, for it is in.
duty ; but to the public, as you will see by my public letter, I shcn
no divided front. I am sorry that you and Robinson are not upo
your former terms. Are you sure it is not your fault? Have yo I
always treated him with sufficient respect? I mean in small thing*.
and in manner. I regret that you cannot use the cannon ordeii
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1155
You did not speak of it in yours of the 22d. I supposed he was doing
well. I am very short of money — have difficulty and annoyance in
meeting my engagements — but of course will do all in my power
to assist you. Enclosed I send you $60, which I hope will be suffi-
cient, as you do not name any sum. You will have seen that Gov.
Chase, of Ohio, and Gov. Clark, of New York, have sent in special
messages, and the legislatures show some disposition to act. I have
seen the draught of a bill (confidential) to be offered in the Ohio leg-
islature to appropriate $200,000 to send out men to Kansas. These
movements waked up Mr. Pierce, and he to-day issues a proclamation,
on which he faces north, south, east, and west, and says that every-
body has done wrong, and nobody has the advantage of anybody in
that respect, and that all must observe the laws ; and that he will
whip you free State men into orderly citizens, and when you obey the
laws he will protect you. I learn, also,, that a general of some con-
sequence in Ohio is raising 150 able bodied young men, on his own
hook, whom he intends to take out at once, each armed with rifle and
revolver.
You have not, in your last four letters, said one word about the
Wyandott floats. I am anxious for some details ; whether that
squatter has left, and how you arranged the report of it to the sur-
veyor general, and in whose name. If Sam Paul will not come down
and will not stand by the free State men in a fight, you can get from
him my gun and buffalo-skin, if you need them. I wrote Mallory in
regard to his bills, j suppose he received the letter. Shannon came
on to Ohio, and Pierce was unwilling to let him come here, and sent
special orders for him and Calhoun to go back to the Territory. Since
that some new idea has turned up, and I learn from good authority
that Pierce has telegraphed him to come on here. His nomination
is a little in danger. You will have in Kansas next spring and sum-
mer a heavy emigration, and will also have a lot of arms, if they are
not intercepted on the way. Write freely about your money matters.
Your letter of the 22d, stating that you were in danger of another
invasion, excited me considerably, and I at once set to work., and en-
deavored to set every one here to work, to reach the President by every
indirect influence I could command, in order to provide for throwing
a military force between the invaders and the people. Among the
number that I saw were Cass and Douglas, and it is very probable the
proclamation is, in part, due to my efforts. Our people have my
warmest sympathies. I had no communication on the subject except
yours. If Col. Lane sent any it did not come to hand. Kead Robin-
son what you think advisable of this letter and the proclamation, and
say it- is at my request. I would write him, but my time is much occu-
pied, and this will answer as well. Have you the President's special
message on Kansas? I am thankful to G. W. Brown for a copy of
the Herald with the Easton affair — have made good use of it.
Yours, truly.
A. H. REEDER.
1156 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
TESTIMONY APPENDED TO THE MINORITY REPORT
Deposition of Samuel F. M. S alters.
The undersigned, Samuel F. M. Salters, states, on oath, that —
" I emigrated into the Territory of Kansas in June, 1854, and set-
tled in the neighhorhood of Lawrence, and have lived there ever since.
I came from Missouri to the Territory. I was present at the election
held in the town of Lawrence on the 30th day of March, 1855. I wass
appointed by G-ov. Eeeder as a sort of marshal or sheriff; his com-i
mission stated, marshal for three election districts — I think the 1st,,
4th, and 1*7 th ; and, on the day of the election, I remained pretty
much all day in the room where the judges held the election, for the<i
purpose of preserving order, if any disturbance should arise. There*
was no disturbance, and consequently nothing for me to do in that*
capacity ; and I was not called on by anybody, as the election passed!
off as peaceably and quietly as elections usually do. There, were aaj
good many people there ; many of them I knew, and many of them I'
did not know. My acquaintance was reasonably extensive in that?
district. I knew about 400 voters who resided in the district, but I
did not know near all of the resident voters of that district. So far*
as I know, all the resident voters of that district were present and
voted. The free State men had a tent near the polls, in which were;
some eighty men — some thirty, or so, I conversed with myself. Thej
voted the free State ticket, and the next day struck their tent and
left. They told me that they had voted ; they had come to vote, and
would leave, and not come back to the damixed Territory until the
next election. The pro-slavery candidates for council were Thomas
Johnson and Edward Chapman ; for the house of representatives
James Whitlock, A. B. Wade, and John M. Banks. The free Stafet
candidates for council were S. N. Wood and J. E. Goodwin ; for the
house of representatives, E. D. Ladd, Mr. Fowler, and John Hutch
inson. The pro-slavery candidates received a large majority of th<
votes polled there that day. There was a split in the free State party'
and some of the free State men voted tho pro-slavery ticket at tha's
election. The above named free State ticket was regarded by some o<
the free State men as an abolition ticket, and some of the free-State
men swore to me that they would not support an abolition ticket ; anc
whesv the election came on, they did not support the above named ticket
but voted for the pro-slavery men. I gave some of them pro-si a very
tickets, which J saw them vote ; and others told me they had kept thei:
word, and had voted for the pro-slavery ticket. Two of the judges o
that election, which Gov. Reeder appointed, came, but the other dk
not, and those two appointed another, whose name, I think, was Theo-
dore Benjamin ; the names of the other two were Hugh Cameron ami
a Mr. Abbott. Mr. Abbott resigned just as the election commenced'
and the other two judges elected Mr. Crane in his place. The electioi
then went on without any difficulty. I was in the room all the tim<
these changes in the board of judges were going on. Nobody insid<
or outside objected to these appointments ; but some objections wen
made to Mr. Abbott's resignation, but of no particular character.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1157
" At the time of the election of the 30th March, 1855, there was
a majority of pro-slavery residents in the Lawrence district. I was
well acquainted in the district. There were about 200 free State resi-
dent voters in that district, and there were from 300 to 400 pro-slavery
voters at the polls that day whom I knew to be residents of that dis-
trict, and a great many of them voted in my presence, and the others
told me they had voted.
"I have had many conversations with free State men, at various
times, and they told me that they came out to Kansas under the aus-
pices of the Emigrant Aid Company to make Kansas a free State;
and they told me that the paramount object of the Aid Company was
to make Kansas a free State, and that they would make it a free State
at all hazards ; that the east had men and money enough., and nothing
would be spared. All those free State people, principally, had come
out to the Territory under the direction and under the control of the
Aid Company. At the time of the election there were but few women
and children in Lawrence. A majority of those men who were about
Lawrence at the time of the election have left, and most of those that
are there now have come since the election.
" About the 1st of June, 1855, a boat, I think the ' Emma Har-
man,' landed at Lawrence, and three or four large boxes were put
off, and a Mr. Simpson, I think, took charge of them. They were
marked 'Books.' I saw them opened, and found them to be Sharpe's
rifles. After the legislature had met, I was still among the citizens
of Lawrence, and mixed with them, more or less, every day. And
as soon as the legislative assembly had adjourned, they declared
openly that they would resist the laws ; that they would have men
and means to resist the laws, and would do so to a bloody issue.
They then began to form military companies, armed with Sharpe's
rifles, pistols, swords, and knives, and kept up regular drills. They
told me that these guns were sent to them as a present. I asked them
to give me one ; they told me that unless I would take an oath to re-
sist the law, even to the bloody issue, I should not have one. I would
not do so, as I told them, so I did not get the gun. I have heard Dr.
Robinson, the leader of the free State party, speak several times ; I
have also heard A. H. Reeder, J. H. Lane, Conway, and other men
belonging to the free State party, speak. They all advised the people
to resist the laws, and told them there was no law in the Territory,
and pledged themselves, one to the other, that they would sacrifice
their lives, rather than submit to the laws of the Territory. And
these speakers told the people not to obey the writs of the courts, nor
suffer an officer to take them ; that they would assist them, and one
another, in resisting the officers. I was at a meeting, in Lawrence,
where they passed resolutions setting forth their determination to re-
sist the laws; that they would sacrifice their lives, their honor, their
salvation, and everything, rather than submit to the Territorial gov-
ernment, and from that time to the present have been resisting the
laws. Before these men made these inflammatory speeches, the coun-
try was quiet, but since then intense excitement has pervaded the
whole country ; men have been murdered and robberies have been
committed, and men, women, and children driven from their once
1158 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
peaceful and quiet homes. The primary cause of all the difficulties
in Kansas may justly he attributed to Reeder, Rohinson, Lane, and
others ; for if it had not "been for their advice, hut few of the men
whom they succeeded in getting to follow them would have "been dis-
posed to resist the laws, and the difficulties now upon the people
would not have come upon them. These men — Reeder, Rohinson,
Lane, and other prominent free State men — excited the people to open
resistance to the laws, and publicly, and on all occasions, advised
open resistance, telling them that the United States government would
sustain them, and that Congress would sustain them.
"SAMUEL F. M. SALTERS."
STATE OF MISSOURI, ?
Jackson county , )
On the llth day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared hefore
me, the suhscriher, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, Samuel F. M. Salters, who makes oath that the
ahove and foregoing statement is true as therein set forth. The said
Samuel F. M. Salters is the same who suhscrihed to the ahove and
foregoing statement, and whose name appears thereto.
Given under my hand this llth day of June, A. D. 1856.
Sworn to and subscribed hefore me,
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [SEAL.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, 1
County of Jackson, J
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and fori
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the above and foregoing affidavit,
now is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace
within and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified,
and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his
official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixedd
[L. S.]
the seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence,
this 14th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of A. J. Bush.
*
The undersigned, A. J. Bush, states, on oath : I came from Ken-
tucky, and settled in Kansas Territory,, near the town of Lawrence/
on the 20th day of March, 1855. I was present at the election of the
30th of March, 1855, held in the town of Lawrence. I was pretty;
much a stranger, and did not know at that time many people. I saw\
a good many people at that election, but did not know but few of thenui
I voted. My political sentiments were not much known ; but very
few persons knew which side I was on. I had no difficulty in voti
eiJH
j
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1159
There was a line fixed alongside of the cabin where the voting was
done^ so that there was a free passage for voters up to the polls with-
out hindrance. Since the election, I have become well acquainted with
my squatter neighbors, and have had frequent conversations with
them. I reside about three miles from Lawrence. In these conver-
sations, some of my said neighbors told me that they were paid to re-
main out here. That if they would stay in the country until after the
March election, they would get two lots apiece for staying.
John W. Taylor, a free State man, and a pretty smart man, is a
leading counsellor in his. neighborhood. In a conversation I had with
him, he told me that the eastern people had sent out to the free State
party in Kansas Territory a large number of Sharpe's rifles, and would
send out a large number more.
I attended some three or four of their political meetings. I did
not like the course of these free State men, so I did not take any part
with them. I heard the speeches that were made by these men at the
meeting which I attended, and the -speakers pledged themselves, one
to the other, that they would spill the last drop of their blood in re-
sisting the laws. These sentiments were commonly sanctioned by
shouts of Yes! yes! and great applause from those who were in at-
tendance, by the crowd standing or sitting around ; and that they
would die, or come in as a State under the Topeka constitution. This
sentiment was also sanctioned by the people. At the uttering of this
sentiment, the people would shout aloud and applaud.
It is my opinion that the operations of the Emigrant Aid Society is
the first and grand cause of all the troubles in Kansas ; and all the
difficulties which have arisen in Kansas I fully believe have arisen
from the sending of men, by the Emigrant Aid Society, to this Terri-
tory, with the avowed purpose of making Kansas a free State. From
all the facts and circumstances that have come to my knowledge, I
am satisfied that if the Aid Company had not interfered in the settling
of Kansas Territory, none of these troubles or difficulties would now
be upon the people of Kansas.
A. J. BUSH.
STATE OF MISSOURI,
Jackson County,
On the 12th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace of the county and State afore-
said, A. J. Bush, whose name appears to 'the above and foregoing
statement, and makes oath that the above and aforegoing statement
is true, as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal, this 12th day of June, A. D. 1856.
Sworn to and acknowledged before me,
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
County of Jackson, \ SS'
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the
county aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Thomas J. Goforth, esq_.,
1160 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
whose genuine signature /appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is,
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and qualified,
and that free faith and credit is due, arid ought to be given to all his
official acts, as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this
L ' b'-i 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN K. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of T. Laliay.
The undersigned, T. Lahay, states, on oath: I came to the Ter-
ritory in August, 1854, from Missouri, and settled on the Wakarusa,
about five miles from Lawrence, and have resided there ever since. I
ain a widower ; I have six children. I was not at the election of the;
30th of March, 1855. When I first went to the Territory, in August, ,
1854, I took with 'me two of my oldest boys. In November, 1854, II-
went down to where I had lived for two of my daughters. In March, .
1855, I went after my two remaining children ; and about the 7th on
8th of April, 1855, just after the March election, I went down to the'
State of Missouri with a two-horse wagon, for the purpose of bringing'
to my home in the Territory the remainder of my household goods.
This trip I took eight men, who told Jme that they were free State:
men. I took them down to Kansas City, Missouri. They told me<
that they had voted, and were going home to the east, where'they
came from, and would never come back any more. They said they*,
had come out to help to make Kansas a free State. As I went backi;
to my home in Kansas Territory, which was in a few days after II
arrived in Kansas City, I met on my road to Lawrence a great many
eastern and northern emigrants — some in wagons, some on foot. I was
stopped by a number of them, and talked to them, and they talked to me.'
They told me that they were from the east, and that they had come out to<
the Territory to help to make it a free State ; that they had voted and*
were going home. After I got home I still had some things to bring:
from Missouri, and I went down in a day or two afterwards. This
trip I took down to Kansas City six or seven free State men. They'!
told me that they were from the east, and that they were free State |
men ; that they had come to Kansas Territory to help to make it m
free State; that they had voted, and were going home, and were not>|
coming back any more. I took to Kansas City in these two trips •
fourteen or fifteen. As I went back in a few days, on my road to
Lawrence, I met a great many more men going towards Kansas City.>
I stopped and talked to some of them, and some of them talked to me/
as on the trip before. They told me they were from the east; that
they had come -to Kansas to help to make it a free State ; that they
had voted, and were going hence, and would not come back. I met
in the two trips at least one hundred or more going towards Kansas
City ; and there were no women or children among them. My
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1161
litical sentiments were not known at that time, as I had never made
an open avowal ; and, inasmuch as I was silent in politics, but a few
persons knew what side I was on.
T. LAHAY.
STATE OP MISSOURI, ) gg
Jackson County, ]
On the 12th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, T. Lahay, whose name appears to the above" and afore-
going statement, and makes oath that the above and aforegoing state-
ment is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal, this 12th day of June, A. D. 1856.
Sworn to and acknowledged before me.
THOS. J. GOFOBTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) sg
County of Jackson, (
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid^ do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that
full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official
acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -i seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence,
LL' s'-l this 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN E. SWEABINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of Lucas Corlew.
The undersigned, Lucas Corlew, states, upon oath : I emigrated
to the Territory in the month of August, 1854, from Missouri, and
have lived there ever since. I was present at the election of the 29th
of November, 1854, held in the town of Lawrence. There was no
difficulty, except that the judges of the election refused to take some
pro-slavery votes which were offered, but afterwards took them. They
refused some pro- slavery votes offered by men who resided in Bloom-
ington, about eight miles from Lawrence, because, as they, the judges,
said, they lived out of the district ; but I saw them receive the vote
of an old man who goes by the name of " old man White," and who
resided above Bloomington, further off than where these pro-slavery
men lived whose votes they had rejected. White lived about two miles
above where these men were from. I then told them that it was
wrong for them to refuse the Bloomington votes, on the ground that
they were out of the district, and then to receive votes that were fur-
ther out, according to their opinion. They then took them. Th
1162 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
next difficulty occurred when Davis came to vote ; his name was
Henry Davis. One of the judges offered to swear Davis, but Davis
said to him, " I think you ought to know me better than that, for it
has not been more than two weeks since I caught you stealing my
timber, and I drove you off." This created a fuss, and a man by the
name of Lewis Kibby took it up, and others joined Kibby in the
quarrel. Davis and myself started home together. After we got out
some mile and a half the roads forked — I went one way, and Kibby
the other. When we got about three hundred yards apart, I saw a
two-horse wagon going slow, and Davis overtake it. Davis was afoot.
There were several in the wagon, and Kibby was one. As Davis ap-
proached the wagon I heard the report of a gun or pistol. I saw
Davis set down, and I thought he had been shot. I went to him as
soon as I could, and when I got to him I found he had been shot with
seven buck-shot; he died in a few minutes afterwards. I saw him
die, and helped to bury him. Kibby was never punished. Kibby
told me he had shot Davis, but it was in self-defence. The candidates
were J. W. Whitfield, pro-slavery ; Judge Flenniken was the anti-
slavery man, and Judge was the anti-slavery or free State
candidate.
I was at the election held in Lawrence on the 30th day of March,
1855 ; but I was not about the polls much. Iv was not much ac-
quainted, except in my own immediate neighborhood. In my neigh-
borhood the pro-slavery party had a majority. My neighbors voted
at that election, and so did I.
A free State man by the name of Benjamin Franklin Peas, from
Massachusetts, boarded with me for some two months. He told me
that the free State party had a secret organization, and that he be-
longed to it. The object of it was to make Kansas a free State, and
that they were sworn to obey the mandates of the officers of the or-
ganization^ or words to that effect. I heard many men of the free
State party say that the laws of the Territory they would not obey,
and they would resist the laws to the death, if needs be, rather than
submit; that they had plenty of Sharpe's rifles to do it with. I acted
as constable under the Territorial laws, and there were but one or two
men among them that ever obeyed a summons or writ, and these one
or two only obeyed when r summoned them as jurymen before a jus-
tice once ; but even then did not serve.
If it had not been for the operation of the Emigrant Aid Societies, and
sending men to Kansas in conjunction with the secret organizations in
the Territory for the purpose of making Kansas a free State, there
would never have been any difficulty or fuss in settling the Territory.
The foundation, as I verily believe, of all our troubles now in Kansas,
is owing to the aid and secret societies, and their operations.
LUCAS CORLEW.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
Jackson county j )
On the llth day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice ef the peace in and for the County and
State aforesaid, Lucas Corlew, whose name appears to the above arid
aforegoing statement, and makes oath that the above statement is true
as therein set forth.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1163
Given under my hand and seal this eleventh day of June, A. D.
eighteen hundred and fifty-six.
Acknowledged and sworn to before me,
THOMAS. J. GOFORTH, [SEAL.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
County of Jackson, )
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is,
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned and qualified,
and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his
official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence, this
LL- S'J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of Delana Corlew.
The undersigned, Delana Corlew, states, on oath : I was present
at the election held on the 29th day of November, 1854, at the town
of Lawrence, in the Territory of Kansas. I emigrated, with my fam-
*ily, to the Territory of Kansas, on the 15th or 20th of June, 1854, or
thereabouts, and settled on the Wakarusa, about five or six miles
from the town of Lawrence, and have resided there ever since. I was
I at the said election, x and voted for General J. "W. Whitfield. There
, were a good many people at that election ; they were residents of the
district, so far as I know. I was at that time generally acquainted
. with the residents of the district. The election went off about as elec-
tions that I attended in Missou'ri, before I went to Kansas. No one
was prevented from voting, by threats or violence, but one man ; his
name was Henry Davis. His vote was challenged by one of the judges
of the election, a free State man ; whereupon a difficulty and quarrel
took place, which created some excitement in the crowd. The candi-
dates were J. W. Whitfield, pro-slavery, R. P. Fleneken, free State,
and Judge Wakefield, free State also. As I was going home in the
evening, about two or three miles from Lawrence, I saw Henry Davis,
or at least I thought it was him, some .three or four hundred yards
ahead of me ; he was going on his way home. I was on horseback,
and he was afoot. About the time I hove in sight of him, I saw a
two-horse wagon pass him, in which were several men. I heard the
report of a gun, and I rode as 'fast as I could ; and when I came up,
I found that it was Henry Davis; he had fallen to the 'ground. He
was taken home. He died in about fifteen minutes after he was shot.
I saw him die.
I was present at the election held in the town of Lawrence, on the
1164 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
30th day of March,, 1855. I saw a great many people there. At that
time Lawrence district was thickly settled ; almost all the claims in
the surrounding country were taken up. I knew at least one hundred
pro-slavery men. I saw no unusual difficulty ; the election went off
as elections generally go off. I saw none prevented from voting ; no
violence or threats were used to prevent men from voting. The pro-
slavery ticket got a large majority. Thomas Johnson and Edward Chap-
man were the pro-slavery candidates for the council, and J. K. Good-
win and S. N. Wood were the free State candidates for council.
James Whitlock, John M. Banks, and A. B. Wade, were the pro-
slavery candidates for the house of representatives. Hutchinson, Ladd
and Fowler were the free State candidates.
DELANA + CORLEW.
mark
Witness : THOMAS J. GOFORTH.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
Jackson county, J
On the 9th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before me, ,
the subscriber, a justice of the peace, in and for the county and State
aforesaid, Delana Corlew, whose name appears to the above and fore- -
going statement, and makes oath that the, above and foregoing state- •
nient is true, as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal, this 9th day of June, A. D. 1856. .
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI. ) s§
County of Jackson , y '
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomes J. Goforth, whose
genuine signature appears to the within and foregoing affidavit, now
is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace*
within and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, -,
and that full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given to all his <
official acts, as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this
LL- S'J 13th day of June, 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1165
Deposition of Paris Ellison.
The undersigned, Paris Ellison, states on oath: That I emigrated
from Missouri to Kansas, and settled at Douglas, the second district,
in October, 1854, and have resided there ever since. I was present at
the election held at Mr. Burson' s, in the second district, on the 30th
day of March, 1855. I was appointed by Governor Reeder as one of
the judges, and Mr. Burson and Mr. Ramsey, I think, were the other
two. We met at Mr. Burson' s house in the morning, before the hour
to open the polls. Mr. Burson was a magistrate, appointed by Gov-
ernor Reeder, and he qualified me and qualified Ramsey; Ramsey
qualified Burson. We appointed the clerks and qualified them;
George W. Taylor was one of the clerks. My son PUris was very
sick at the time, and I wanted to resign. I proposed to resign if the
other judges would permit me to name a man to serve in my place.
Judge Wakefield, one of the candidates on the free State ticket, was
in the room, and interfered, telling the judges they had the power to
name the man. They refused to let me appoint a man in my place, and
I determined to serve, and did serve. I remarked to the other judges
that we were sworn to act impartially during the whole day. They
said, yes, we are sworn to act impartially. We agreed that inasmuch
as they knew a great many voters tliat I did not know, and I knew a
great many that they did not know, that those whom I knew should
vote without swearing, and those whom they knew I would not re-
quire of -them to be sworn. Under this agreement we commenced
the election ; after some twenty-nine or thirty votes were taken, the
pro-slavery party had some two to one against the free State party,
the other two judges began to grumble. Dr. Brooks came up to vote ;
I knew Dr. Brooks had a claim in that district, and had been on it,
and had put a house on it. Dr. Brooks was a single man, and after-
wards brought his mother there, and had resided there ever since. At
the time of the election, Dr. Brooks claimed to be a citizen of the dis-
trict. I knew him to be a resident, and under our agreement, I
wanted to take his vote without swearing, but the other two judges
refused to take his vote unless he would swear. This he refused to
do, because he said that he had understood that under the agreement,
if Mr. Ellison took his vote without requiring him to swear, that
was all that was necessary. The other two judges still refused to take
his vote. The doctor stood at the window a long time, and said that
unless they would let him vote, as he was a citizen of the district, and
had been for some time previous, no other man should vote there that
day. I told them that if they refused his vote it would create a fuss and
confusion, and that it would be violating the agreement made before the
election began, but still refused. Sherman Wofful then came up to vote,
but they refused to take his vote without swearing. Sherman said that
he could prove by me that he was a citizen of the district, and had been
a citizen of the district from the fall before. I knew that Mr. Wofful
was a resident of the district, for he was living there when I went to the
district to live. I bought hay of Mr. Wofful before the election, which
he had made and cured the summer before. They still refused to let
1166 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
him vote unless he would swear. He refused to swear because the*]
judges would not let him prove his residence. He said he would not
swear. I had not, up to this time, objected to any of the persons that
-came up to vote which the other two judges said they knew. I had
kept the agreement made between us to the word and letter. On ac^
couut of this conduct, on the part of the other two judges, a fuss 'and
confusion arose in the crowd outside of the house. While the fuss
was going on I proposed to adjourn, as I told them I thought it would
be over in a half hour or so. Mr. Burson thereupon adjourned for:
half an hour. He proclaimed the adjournment aloud. I told each onei
of the judges to pick up a poll-book. I took the ballpt-box, which
one of the other judges tried to take from me. I think it was Ramsay,'
but I am not certain. Sharp words were passed between us, but I
kept the bal>ot-box ; they took the poll-books and went oif. A man;
by the name of Jones asked me where the poll-books were. I told
him that Burson and Ramsay had taken them off; he followed them
and brought the poll-books back.. I waited until the half hour had|
expired, and the other two judges did not come back. I waited tenr
minutes longer; I called them, but they did not come; I called theiih
again, and they did not appear. I told the people that I would wail |
five or ten minutes longer, and if the other two judges did not come;
they would have a right to select two men to act in their places. ]
waited ten minutes and they did not come^and the people elected two
men to act in their places ; namely, Sherman Wofful and Frank La^
hay ; they were qualified. I asked Mr. Taylor to repeat the oath to
them, which he did ; but, by mistake, Mr. Taylor signed the oatt
instead of myself. Mr. Taylor had been sworn in as clerk by Mr. Bur-
son and Mr. Ramsay. Messrs. Wofful, and Lahay, and I, then opened
the polls, and the election went off quietly during the remainder o:d
the day. We kept the polls opened until 6 o'clock in the evening »j
Andrew McDonald was the pro-slavery candidate for the council, and
Judge Wakefield was the free State candidate for council; 0. H
Brown and Mr. Ward were the pro-slavery candidates for the house
of representatives ; Jesse was one of the free State candidates for the
house and the other I do not remember. All the votes received, afte*
we began the second time, were for the pro-slavery candidates.
The ballot-box which I took possession of at the time of the adjourn-rj
ment I carefully preserved, and did not open it until 6 o'clock in th<
evening. It was then opened in presence of the other two judges whc
had been selected by the people, and the clerks; the ballots wen
opened and counted ; and there were twenty-one votes for the pro
slavery ticket, and twelve votes for the free State ticket. When w( ,
commenced the election the second time we got another ballot-box.
When I got there in the morning, there were. some thirty or fort}
men present about the house, and when I went into the house I saw
some fifteen or twenty guns standing in one corner of the house, which
had been brought there'by the free State men. When the adjourn-
ment took place, the guns were taken away by the free State men.t
These were all the guns that I saw on the ground. I did not see
gun in the hands of a pro-slavery man that day. There was no charge
made with either guns or pistols or other weapons at the window, noi
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1167
were there any threats of violence made by the pro-slavery men.
There was no violence committed "by the pro-slavery men there that
day to the judges, nor were there any threats of violence offered as I
saw. I did not see Mr. Samuel Jones pull out his watch and say to
the judges, Ramsey and Burson, that he would give them five minutes
to resign, nor did I hear him afterwards say to them th^t he would
give them one minute to resign. If this had have occurred I would
have seen and heard it, for I was in the house all the time and was
at the door when these two judges came out. I did not see Samuel
Jones in the house at any time while Eamsey and Burson were there.
In my neighborhood I was well acquainted with the settlers there, and
at the time of the election, and before, the residents were almost all
pro-slavery. From what I knew myself, and the information received
from the census taker and others, I am satisfied that the pro-slavery
party had a decided majority in the second district. Governor Eeeder
attached the residents of the half-breed Kaw lands, opposite the second
district, on the other side of Kaw river, to the Douglas or second dis-
trict ; there were about sixteen or eighteen votes, and all of them pro-
slavery men, and they voted that day.
I have had many conversations with free State men, and they told
me that there was no law in the Territory, and that they would resist
the laws at all hazards. This conversation occured since the election.
John Simmons, who is a free State man, told me that the Emigrant
Aid Society had furnished him with money to come to Kansas to aid
and help to make Kansas a free State. There was no fuss or confu-
sion in the settling of the Territory until after the organization of the
Emigrant Aid Societies, and the arrival of men sent out by these
societies came amongst us. Before these men came amongst us, we
had several meetings in regard to matters in which we squatters were
interested, and we never had any fuss ; but as soon as they came the
fuss commenced, and has continued ever since. From all that I heard
and saw of these men, and what I know myself, I am satisfied that all
the troubles in Kansas is traceable to and superinduced by the opera-
tions and conduct of the Emigrant Aid Societies. There was no
trouble or confusion until the men of the east began to come in and
mingle with us. I mean by £fmen of the east" men who have been
sent out here by the Emigrant Aid Society.
PARIS ELLISON.
STATE OF MISSOUKI, )
Jackson county, ) S '
On this llth day of June, 1856, personally appeared before me, the
subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and State afore-
said, Paris Ellison, whose name appears to the above and foregoing
statement, and makes oath that the above statement is true as therein
set forth.
Given under my hand and seal this llth day of June, A. D. 1856.
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [SEAL.]
Justice of the Peace.
1168 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
County of Jackson, )
I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the*
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq..
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and!
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and thatl
full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official acts:
as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the*
r -, seal of said court at office, in the city of Independence, the 13tli!
LL- S<J day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN E. SWEARINGEN, Cleric.
Deposition of John M. Smith.
The undersigned, John M. Smith, states, on oath: That I emigrated'!
with my family to the Territory of Kansas, in January, 1855, from!
the State of Missouri, and settled near the town of Douglas, in th<^
second district. I was present at the election held in the second dis-sj
trict on the 30th day of March, 1855. It was held at Mr. Squire
Burson' s house I saw a great many persons there, some two hundreci
in all. There were, at the least, that number of men who had claim*
in that district, and claimed the second district as their residencet
Nearly all of those whom I saw there were men who had claims ID
the second district. Doctor Brooks and Sherman Wofful were resi-*
dents of the district, and had each of them a claim, and each of them
had a house on their claim; they were both unmarried men, but were
there on their claims most of their time. I was near the window
when they came up to vote; Doctor Brooks offered to vote first, ana
then Sherman Wofful offered to vote ; both were objected to by Earn-
sey and Burson, two of the judges of the election, and would not tak(
their votes unless they would swear to their residence ; they, Doctoi
Brooks and Wofful, said it was unfair to make them swear to theii
votes, when they, the judges, knew that they, Wofful and Brooks i
were older residents than some of them, the judges. This producec
a difficulty and confusion. Amid the confusion, Mr. Burson, oneo:
the judges, came to the door, and in a loud voice proclaimed that the
election was adjourned for half an hour. Burson, Eamsqy, and othei
free State men went away. Burson nor Eamsey did not come baok
any more that day. Some of those men who went away with Bursor
and Eamsey carried away with them a number of guns, which they
took out of the house. These were all the guns I saw on the ground
that day. I did not see a gun in the hands of any pro-slavery man
there, nor did I see pro-slavery men have arms of any sort there thai j
day. There were no threats of violence offered to any one as I sa^
that day, and no acts of violence were committed on the person o1 '
any one. Upon the contrary, these men were asked to stay and vote.
and were told that if they did stay that they should not be hurt ; bul ;
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1169
they did not stay. After the hour of adjournment expired, the people
present selected two men to act in the places of Burson and Kamsey ;
the names of those two who were selected were Sherman Wofful and
Mr. Lahay ; they called him Frank. The election then went on with-
out difficulty. I saw some free State men there in the afternoon, and
asked them to vote, and to vote their own sentiments, but they re-
fused, but did not give any reason. I was present when the ballot-
box which was used in the beginning of the voting, was opened. It
was about six o'clock in the evening. I saw the votes counted; the
pro-slavery candidates received, I think about twenty-three votes,
and the free State candidates received twelve votes. These were the
votes polled before Mr. Burson adjourned the election. I voted after
the election commenced the second time, and I saw a great many
others vote. All that I saw vote were residents of the district. I
was personally Acquainted with many of them. From my knowledge
of the resident voters of the second district, I am satisfied that the
pro-slavery party had the majority. Before the emigration fairly
opened that spring, the whole surrounding country was taken up
principally by pro-slavery men, and there were a number of men from
free States worked for pro-slavery men, and at the election voted the
pro-slavery ticket ; there were there three men from the free States
working for me, and they voted the pro-slavery ticket.
Mr. John Shimmons, a free State man, told me that he was sent to
the Territory of Kansas by the Aid Society, and that the Aid Society
were sending out sharp-shooters for the purpose of making Kansas a
free State. He also told me that a hogshead, marked crockery ware,
was received at Lawrence, but when it was opened it was full of
Sharp's rifles. I asked him to sell me one; he told me that I could
not buy one, for they were sent out here to make Kansas a free State.
I am fully satisfied all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas is
traceable to, and have been superinduced by, the operations and acts
of the Emigrant Aid societies. If these societies had not sent men
out here for the open and avowed purpose, as they stated themselves,
to make Kansas a free State, I don't think any of these troubles and
difficulties would have occurred.
JOHN M. SMITH.
STATE OF MISSOURI, > ss
Jackson county, J SS'
On this llth day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, John M. Smith, whose nime appears to the above and
aforegoing statement, and makes oath that the above and aforegoing
statement is true, as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal this llth day of June, A. D. 1856.
Acknoledged and sworn to before me.
THOMAS J. GOFOKTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
H. Rep. 200 U*
1170 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) ^
County of Jackson, \
I, John E. Swearengeir, clerk of the county court, do hereby certify
that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., whose genuine signature appears to
the above affidavit, now is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting
justice of the peace within and for the county aforesaid, duly elected,
commissioned, and qualified, and that full faith and credit is due and
ought to be given to all his official acts as such, as well in courts of
justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court at office, in the city of Independence, this
LL* 9'J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARENGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of 0. H. Browne.
The undersigned, 0. H. Browne, on oath, says: I emigrated to the
Territory of Kansas from Maryland, in August, 1854, and settled on
the Kansas river in the second district, at Lecompton. I was a
member of the legislature of that district. I was present at the
election of the 30th of March, 1854, in the second district, after the
voting had commenced, and some votes taken. The crowd had left
the window when I went up to vote ; there was no one in the room
who would take my vote ; and it was said by somebody, that no more
votes would be taken there that day. The two free State judges,
Ramsey and Burson, had gone off, and Samuel S. Jones went after
them, and he brought back the poll books which had been carried
off. Two other judges were selected, and the voting commenced
again, and the election went off quietly. There was no violence used
or threatened that day, from first to last, as I saw or heard. The
first ballot box was carefully preserved unopened as it was left by
the absconding judges ; and another box was procured, in which the
ballots that were received afterwards were deposited. When the
polls were closed in the evening, the first ballot box was opened and
the votes counted in my presence. There were thirty- three in all —
twenty-one for 0. H. Browne, and the same number for G. W. Ward;
McDonald's vote I do not recollect. The free State ticket received
twelve votes.
I was appointed to take the census by Governor Reeder, and did
take the census; and was instructed, by Governor Reeder, to ascer-
tain from every man from what State he emigrated. There were one
hundred and twenty-seven from slave States, and seventy-two from
free States — one hundred and ninety-nine (199) in all; so that I am
fully satisfied that the pro-slavery party had a majority of actual resi-
dent voters at the time of the election. From the result of the census
which I took, and the political sentiments of the people, which I as-
certained in taking the census, there is no doubt on my mind that the
pro-slavery party had a majority of actual resident voters.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1171
I fully "believe that the troubles and difficulties in Kansas Territory
have been produced by the operation of the Emigrant Aid Societies
from the north and east.
0. H. BKOWNE.
STATE OF MISSOURI, >
Jackson county, \ '
On the 13th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justiee of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, 0. H. Browne, whose name aj pears to the above and
aforegoing statement, and made oath that the above and aforegoing
statement is true as therein set forth .
Given under my hand and seal, this 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
Sworn to and acknowledged before me.
THOMAS J. GOFOKTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
County of Jackson, \
I, John K. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Gfoforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that
full faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such, as well in
courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this
LL' S'J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN K. SWEAKINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of EUFUS P. DOAK.
The undersigned, Kufus P. Doak, states, on oath, that I emigrated
from Arkansas to the Territory of Kansas in September, 1854, and
settled near Lecompton, in the second district, and still reside there.
I was present at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, held at Mr.
Burson's house, in the second district. As I went up to the house I
saw two persons taking the poll books away ; Judge Wakefield was
with them. After a while the voting commenced again and I voted.
The voting went on without difficulty. I saw Mr. Burson and Mr.
Eamsey go away just as I got to the election, and they did not come
back any more. There was no voting going on when I got there.
There was no violence done or threatened towards any one, as I saw,,
there that day. I was not much acquainted with the people of my
district ; but I saw a good many persons at the election that day that
I know now to be residents of the second district. Sometime early in
December, 1854, as I was going home to my claim, near Lecompton,
1172 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
from Westport, where I had been on business, I met a large number
of persons travelling a foot, carrying carpet sacks. I talked to some
of them. They told me that they had come out to the Territory of
Kansas to vote ; had voted, and were then returning home to the
east. They said that they had been sent out and had done what they
came for. I often came down to Westport then as it was our nearest
market ; and shortly after the election of the 30th of March, I was
going home, travelling on the Lawrence road, I met a number of men
who said they were in favor of a free State. These men which I met
in December before said that they were from the east, and those whom
I met shortly after the March election, also told me that they were
from the east. These last named said that they were brought out by
the Emigrant Aid society, for the purpose of making Kansas a free
State. They said that they had voted, and that was all they promised
to do, and were going home and would not come back any more ; but
that the Emigrant Aid society had not fulfilled their promises, and
they cursed the Aid society, and were dissatisfied with the treatment
of the Aid society. Captain Leanard, of Boston, who resides in Doug-
las county, between Lawrence and Lecompton, told me, last winter,
that he had been sent out to the Territory by the aid society, and
others had been sent with him, and that Sharp's rifles had been
placed in their hands to aid them in making Kansas a free State ;
that they intended to make it a free State, and would fight, if it was
necessary to do so. And he said he believed it would be necessary,
and that he had a large company of men that were ready at any
minute. They were in the habit of drilling, and I have seen them go
out to drill frequently. A Mr. Conner told me that Captain Walker,
who resides about half way between Lawrence and Lecompton, had a
large company, armed with Sharp's rifles, Colt's revolvers, and sabres ;
that it was intended by them to make Kansas a free State or die in
the attempt. I understood from Conner that this company, at first,
was a secret organized company. Lieutenant Herd, who belonged to
Captain Walker's company, told me that he was lieutenant, and that
they drilled regularly, and after drill would deposit their arms at
Walker's. I think all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas have
been produced by the operation of the Emigrant Aid societies. I have
frequently, during the fall and winter last past, seen numbers of free
State men have Sharp's rifles. It was common for them to carry
Sharp's rifles along with them. Last winter I heard Captain Leonard
threaten the pro-slavery people. He said he would drive the pro-
slavery party from the Territory, men, women, and children and all.
From my knowledge of the resident voters in the second district, I am
satisfied that the pro-slavery party had a decided majority.
KUFUS P. DOAK.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
Jackson county, }
On the 12th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber,, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, Rufus P. Doak, whose name appears to the above and
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1173
foregoing statement, and^ made oath that the above and aforegoing
statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal this 12th day of June, A. D. 1856.
Sworn to and acknowledged before me,
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [SEAL.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) g?
County of Jaclzson. \
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the within and foregoing affida-
vit, now is, and was at the time of so doing,, an acting justice of the
peace within and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and
qualified, and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given
to all his official acts as such as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this
LL' S'J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN E. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of Beverly Gentry.
The undersigned, Beverly Gentry, states on oath that I emigrated
from the State of Missouri to the Territory of Kansas in October,
1854, and settled near Kansas river about six miles from Lawrence,
in the second district. I was present at the election of March 30,
1855. I voted. I was not about the polls much. I saw nothing
more than what I had been accustomed to see at elections. When I
went up to vote I was crowded a good deal, but was not hurt. I saw
no violence there, nor did I hear of any threats of violence. I saw
no guns in the hands of pro-slavery men that day, but I did see some
free State men have guns, but they seemed to be peaceable enough.
I am tolerably well acquainted in the second election district, and am
tolerably well acquainted with the political sentiments of that dis-
trict, and was before and at the election of the 30th of March, and I
am satisfied in my precinct, the second district, the pro-slavery party
had a decided majority previous to and at the election of the 30th of
March. I mean a decided majority of the resident voters, men who
had actually settled in the district.
From all that I know, and have learned from others whom I be-
lieve, I am fully satisfied that all the troubles and difficulties which
are now upon the people of Kansas, and all the troubles and difficul-
ties from the beginning, have been the result of the operation of the
emigrant aid societies. Had not this society sent out to our Territory
men for the purpose of making Kansas a free State, and had this aid
society left the emigration free from the bonds of organization, no
difficulty or trouble would have arisen in the settlement of Kansas —
bloodshed and civil war would have been avoided.
BEVERLY GENTRY.
1174 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) gg
Jackson county, )
On the 12th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, Beverly Gentry, whose name appears to the above
and aforegoing statement, and made oath that the above and afore-
going statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal this 12th day of June, A. D. 1856.
Sworn to and acknowledged before me,
THOMAS J. GOFOKTH, [SEAL.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI,
County of Jackson,
I, John K. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is,
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and
that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official
acts, as such, as well in courts of justice as -thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r n seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this
LL' S--" 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN E. SWEAKINGEN, Clerk.
De-position of S. J. Waful.
The undersigned, S. J. Waful, states on oath, that I emigrated
from New York to the Territory of Kansas, in June, 1854, and settled
in the second district, near Douglas, and have resided there ever
since. I was present at the election of the 30th day of March, 1855,
held at the house of Mr. Harrison Burson. I was one of the first at
the election that day. Burson, Kamsay and Ellison were the judges.
George W. Taylor was one of the clerks. The voting had commenced
(I think there were some thirty votes polled) before I went up to vote.
When I went up to vote, the two free State judges wanted to swear
me. Ellison told them that they knew me to be a legal voter; but
they still refused my vote. One of the free State judges has told me —
it was Mr. Burson — that he has known me ever since he, Burson, was
in the Territory ; yet he would not let me vote unless I would swear.
While I was standing there, insisting to vote, two free State men,, one
from New York, and the other from Massachusetts, who had just ar-
rived in the district the day before, came up to vote, and their votes
were received and put in the ballot-box. One of the two just named —
the one from New York — I saw the day before at Mr. Lewis' house,
and he said he had just come to the country, and the other said he had
just arrived. This affair produced a difficulty, and there was no more
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1175
voting for a while. The people outside "became indignant at this par-
tiality. The free State men outside holloed to the judges, " stick to
it, and swear all the pro-slavery men." These two strangers were
permitted to vote without swearing. Burson then come to the door and
adjourned the election for half an hour, on account of the row outside,
and he and Ramsay went away with the poll-hooks. The poll-books
were brought back by Samuel J. Jones. Eamsay and Burson did not
come back any more that day ; and when the time of adjournment had
expired, I was elected by the people to act as one judge, and Frank
Lahay was elected as the other. Mr. Ellison, Lahay and I then got
another ballot-box and proceeded with the election. There was no
more difficulty or confusion that day. The ballot-box first used by
the first board of judges was carefully .preserved unopened until we
closed the polls in the evening. The polls were closed at six o'clock.
We first opened the first ballot-box that was used that day, and
counted the tickets. The free State party had twelve votes, and the
pro-slavery party had twenty-one or twenty-two. The candidates for
mncil were Andrew McDonald, pro-slavery, and J. A. Wakefield,
:he free State candidate. 0. H. Brown and G. W. Ward were the
>ro-slavery candidates for the house of representatives, and Jesse and
me other man, whose name I do not remember, were the free State
mdidates for the house. We then proceeded to count the ballots in
the other box. I saw some of the free State men armed with guns
:hat day ; and there were some guns stacked in the house. I was well
(uainted in the second district. I knew the political sentiments of
nearly all the resident voters ; and the pro- slavery party had a decided
majority in the second district.
I am fully satisfied that the action and operation of the Emigrant
Aid Society has produced all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas,
except the troubles and difficulties growing out of private quarrels.
If the Emigrant Aid Society had not interfered with the settlement of
"ansas, I believe peace and quiet would have been preserved.
S. J. WAFUL.
CATE OF MISSOURI,
Jackson County,
On the 12th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
ie, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, S. J. Waful, whose name appears to the above and a
foregoing statement, and made oath that the above and a foregoing
statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal this 12th day of June, A. D. 185 6 :
Sworn and acknowledged before me,
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace,
STATE or MISSOURI, )
County of Jackson, \ ss'
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
1176 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
whose genuine signature appears to the within affidavit, now is, and
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that
full faith and credit is due, and ought to he given, to all his official
acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -. seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence, this
LL< S'J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN E. SWEAKINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of C. N. Micliie.
The undersigned, C. N. Michie, states on oath, that I emigrated to
the Territory of Kansas in January, 1855, and settled ahout four
miles helow Lecompton, and have resided there ever since. I came
from Virginia. Was present at the election of March 30, 1855, in
the second district ; went with ahout thirty or forty of my neighhors
to the polls, all pro-slavery men. The polls were held at Burson's
house. Burson, Ellison, and Kamsay were the judges appointed "by
the governor, and they opened the polls, and voting commenced. I
was present at the polls when Dr. Brooke came up to vote. Burson
and Kamsay refused to let him vote unless he would swear, which Dr.
Brooke refused to do, "because he was well known hy Mr. Ellison, one
of the Judges, to be a resident of the district. This produced a diffi-
culty and confusion among the crown outside. After this I saw Bur-
son and Kamsay come out of the house and walk off, and neither of
them came hack any more that day, as I saw. Some time after they
went away two others were appointed to act in their places ; Sherman
Waful was one, and I do not recollect the other, hut I think it was
Frank Laha. After these men were appointed the polls were reopened
and voting commenced again. I saw no more difficulty or confusion
after that. There were some thirty or forty resident pro-slavery voters
in my immediate neighborhood,, who went with me and voted. I did
not know a freesoil voter in my neighborhood at that time. It is my
opinion that all the difficulties in Kansas Territory resulted from the
action of the Emigrant Aid Society in sending out men to make Kansas
a free State. From the acquaintance I had in the second district, I
am satisfied that the pro-slavery party had a large majority of resi-
dent voters in that district.
C. N. MICHIE.
STATE OP MISSOURI, ) ss
Jackson county, \ ss\
On the llth day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared "before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, C. N. Michie, whose name appears to the above and
foregoing statement, and makes oath that the above and aforegoing
statement is true as therein set forth.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1177
Given under my hand and seal this llth day of June, A. D. 1856.
Acknowledged and sworn to before me,
THOMAS J. GOFOETH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI,
County of Jackson,
I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and
for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and qualified,
and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his
official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this
[L. S.]
thirteenth day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN E. SWEAEINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition and statement of L. B. Stateler.
At an election held for the third district, at the town of Tecumseh,
K. T., 30th of March, 1855. Judges appointed by Governor Keeder,
Messrs. L. B. Stateler, Burgess, and H. N. Watts.
1st. A consultation held by the three judges in' reference to the
form of oath, two proposing to take the organic act as their guide,
the other (Burgess) determining to take the form prescribed by the
governor ; 2d. two wishing to have clerks, the other (Burgess) refu-
sing to have any ; whereupon Mr. Watts resigned ; the other two not
agreeing as to the manner of conducting the election, Stateler pro-
posed to Burgess that we all mutually consent to resign, to which he
(Burgess) consented, and it was proclaimed from the window to the
assembled voters without ; whereupon they proceeded according to the
governor's instructions in an orderly manner to elect other judges to
fill the vacancy, and proceeded to business.
The pro-slavery voters generally present, and voted. The free-
soilers did not generally attend, though not prevented from either
attending or voting, as those who were present did vote.
There was some excitement existing at the time in the Territory,
which was attributed by all sober, reflecting men to the Emigrant
Aid Society's movements in bringing into the Territory a great num-
ber of men at the time of the election in March, most of whom were
men without families, many of whom returned soon after the election
was past to their former homes. At our fall election for delegate to
Congress the first time, I was appointed by the governor as one of the
judges, and a more quiet election I never witnessed ; all parties came
together as neighbors and voted and went their way ; and so I think
it would have remained but for the foreign interference referred to
above.
L. B. STATELEE.
1178 KANSAS AFFAIES.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
Jackson county, \ ss '
On the 13th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before me,
the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and State
aforesaid, L. B. Stateler, whose name appears to the above and fore-
going statement, made oath that the above and foregoing statement
is true and correct as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal, this 13th day of June, 1856.
[L. s.] Sworn and subscribed to before me,,
THOMAS J. GOFORTH,
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, > sg
County of Jackson, ( ss'
I, John E. Swearengen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.?,
whose genuine signature appears to the within and foregoing affidavit, ,
now is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace1
within and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified,,
and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his^
official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the1
r -| seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this-
LL> S'J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARENGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of Isaac M. Edwards.
The undersigned, Isaac M. Edwards, states on oath:
I emigrated to the Territory of Kansas in September, 1854, andJ
settled in the third district, near Tecumseh, and have resided therei
ever since I came from Illinois. I was present at the election of the
30th of March, 1855. I was about the polls pretty much all the day.,
I saw no violence used or threatened toward any one, nor did I hearr
of any in regard to voting at all. Free State men were invited to;>
come to the polls and vote. I heard of a difficulty that day, but itfc
was not in relation to the election or voting, but was a private diffi-
culty between Mr. Stinson and Mr. Burgess. I am pretty well ac-
quainted throughout the third district, and know pretty generally thea
political sentiments of the people, and I know that there was a large"
majority in favor of the pro-slavery party. I saw them all at then
election, with a few exceptions, and saw a great many of them vote..
It is my opinion that all the difficulties and troubles have been pro-i
duced by the operation of the Emigrant Aid Society. I am satisfied
that if the Emigrant Aid Society had not sent men out to the Terri-
tory of Kansas for the purpose of making it a free State, there would
be no trouble or difficulties in the Territory.
ISAAC M. EDWARDS.
KANSAS AFFAIKS. 1179
STATE OF MISSOURI,
oo
Jackson county, J
On the llth day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, Isaac M. Edwards, whose name appears to the above
and a foregoing statement, and makes oath that the above and fore-
going statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal, this llth day of June, A. D. 1856.
Acknowledged and sworn to before me,
THOMAS J. GOFOETH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OP MISSOURI, )
County of Jackson , j
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the above and foregoing affidavit,
now is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace
within and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified,
and that full faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such, as
well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r , seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this
b>J 13th day of June, 1856.
JOHN E. SWEAEINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of Robert A. Edwards.
The undersigned, Eobert A. Edwards, states on oath that I
emigrated to the Territory of Kansas in the summer of 1854, and
settled in the third district near Tecumseh. I came from Illinois. I
have resided on my claim near Tecumseh ever since the summer of
1854. I was, and am yet, pretty well acquainted in Tecumseh and
vicinity. I was present at the election for members of the legislature,
held in Tecumseh on the 30th of March, 1855. I was about the polls
all day. I saw no violence used or threatened towards any one, nor
did I hear of any in regard to voting at all. But, on the contrary, I
saw and heard the free State men invited to come to the polls and
vote. None accepted the invitation. I heard of a difficulty on that
day, but it was not in relation to the election or voting in any way ;
that difficulty was between Thomas N. Stinson and Mr. Burgess. ^ It
was a private affair. Mr. Burgess had said to me, in a conversation
in regard to the reserves of Mr. Stinson and Mr. E. Boshman — the
latter an Indian — ' ' that he did not look upon any man who would
marry an Indian as any better than a man who would marry a negro ;
that he thought a negro was better than an Indian, and, for his part,
that he would rather marry a negro than an Indian." The above, as
quoted, to my recollection and belief, is the exact language^ of Mr.
Burgess. I told Mr. Stinson of the conversation I had had with Mr.
1180
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Burgess. Mr. Stinson said that lie would go immediately in the
house and attack Mr. Burgess. This is all took place in the morning
before the polls had been opened. Mr. Stinson left immediately upon
saying that he would do so, and walked into the house. I did not
see or hear what passed between Mr. Stinson and Mr. Burgess in the
house. I am pretty well acquainted in the neighborhood of Tecurnseh,
and I examined the poll list when the committee was at Tecumseh.
I mean the poll lists of the third district, upon which are recorded
the names of those who voted on the 30th March, 1855, and I find on
the said poll-list the names of the following men, whom I knew to be
actual residents of the Territory and district at the time of the elec-
tion of the 30th March, 1855 :
John W Kavanaugh
Owen C Stewart
F A Wentworth
W A Sublett
G M Holloway
J R Warren
Jessie Michiner
Wafer Satterwhite
T N Stinson
D W Hunter
J C Riggs
E H Matthews
Thomas West
B Wilks
ADM Hand
Jerry Nicham
W A Owen
Jerome Bowles
Isaac Strother
Jacob Piles
P Wood
Joseph McConnald
E G Vaughan
John Piles
L W Swearingen
James Henin
H N Natty
J H Weaver
0 Copeland
John Homer
Samuel P McCutchin
James M Small
T W Hays
Horatio Cocks
J K Ways man
G- W Berry
P 0 Boggs
Robert A. Edwards
Peter Croco
A G- Brown
A J Kelly
Edward Uptegraph
W R Boggs
Edmund Byerly
H. W. Brady, M. H. Christian, L. B. Stateler, Charles Alexander,
Francis G-rassmuck, John Sailing, A. F. Byler, J. M. Edwards, L. P.
Chilson, J. R. Agee, H. Z. Quishenbery, H. J. Strickler, D. L. Croys-
dale, William Pickerel, W. A. M. Vaughan. I am satisfied that, at
the time of the election of the 30th March, 1855, that there was a
large majority of the resident voters in favor of the pro-slavery party ;
quite all, if not all, of the pro-slavery residents of the third district
voted at that election. It is my opinion, and the opinion of the
neighbors generally, that all the difficulties and troubles in Kansas
were produced by the operations of the Emigrant Aid Society. I am
satisfied that, if the Emigrant Aid Society had not sent men out to the
Territory of Kansas for the purpose of making it a free State, the
troubles and difficulties that are now upon us would have never oc-
curred.
R. A. EDWARDS.
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1181
STATE OF MISSOURI, > sg
Jackson county, \
On the llth day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, Robert A. Edwards, whose name appears to the above
and aforegoing statement, and makes oath that the above and afore-
going statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal, this llth day of June, A. D. 1856.
Acknowledged and sworn before me.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI,, ) gg
County of Jackson. \
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is,
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and quali-
fied, and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all
his official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the
r i seal of said court at office, in the city of Independence, this
!> s--l 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN K. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of W. A. M. Vaughan.
The undersigned, W. A. M. Vaughan, states on oath that I emi-
grated from Nebraska Territory to Kansas Territory, in November,
1854, and settled at the town of Tecumseh, in the third district. I
opened a store, and have been keeping store in Tecumseh ever since.
On one Sunday morning, a short time before the election of March
30, 1855, a party of men, some six or seven, came to our store and
waked us up. A young man, Sublett, was doing business for me,
and was in bed with me. After the door was opened they came in ;
Mr. Sublett asked them where they were from, and remarked, from
the east, I suppose. One of them replied that they were from Penn-
sylvania. They said they were free State men, and had been brought
out by Governor Keeder. They also said there was a company of
eighty, made up in Easton, Pennsylvania, who were coming in time
for the election, and that they were furnished money by Governor
Keeder's secretary, at Easton, to come out on. They said they were
determined to make Kansas a free State, and that they had been
directed by Governor Reeder to go to Pawnee, and there they would
find some one who would give them further directions. I saw three
of them returning, and they told me they were very much dissatisfied,
and that Reeder had told them a pack of damned lies. As they were
1182 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
going up, they remarked that they presumed they knew of the elec-
tion in Pennsylvania before the people did here in Kansas. This was
drawn out by Mr. Sublett passing himself off to them as a free State
man.
It is my opinion that all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas are
traceable to and were superinduced by the operations and acts of the
Emigrant Aid Societies, and I am satisfied, that if the Emigrant Aid
Societies had not sent men out to the Territory of Kansas, for the
purpose of making Kansas a free State, these troubles and difficulties
would never have occurred, and have heard free State men utter the
same opinion. I wrote several letters to citizens of Missouri, inform-
ing them that I had seen and conversed with free State men, who told
me that they had been sent out to Kansas by the Emigrant Aid So-
cieties to make Kansas a free State, and that they, these free State
men, also told me that large numbers more were coming.
I am one of the oldest settlers in the third district, and have kept-
store in Tecumseh ever since I went to the Territory, and have had a
good opportunity to know the political opinions of the people of the
third district, and I am satisfied that there was a decided majority of
the pro-slavery party in the third district at the time of the election
of March 30, 1855. I mean of the actual settlers of the district, and
that Hiram J. Strickler and David L. Croysdale were elected by the
actual residents of the district.
Some of the men who signed and swore to the protest against the
election at the third district, on the 30th of March, are now indicted
for perjury. Mr. Burgess is one of the men who is indicted for per-
jury. He was indicted by the grand jury of Shawnee countj^.
WM. A. M. VAUGHAK
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) gs .
Jackson county, \ st
On the llth day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, W. A. M. Yaughan, whose name appears to the above
and aforegoing statement, and makes oath that the above and fore-
going statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal this llth day of Jime, A. D. 1856.
Acknowledged and sworn to before me,
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [SEAL.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) sg .
County of Jackson, \
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears *o the above affidavit, now is, and
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that
full faith and credit is due to* all hip official acts as such, as well in
courts of justice as thereout
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1183
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
-, seal of said court at office, in the city of Independence, this
" S'J 14th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN K. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of Samuel Scott.
The undersigned, Samuel Scott, states on oath that "I emigrated to
the Territory of Kansas, from the State of Missouri, in the month of
December, 1854, and reside there still; I settled in the fifth council
district. I was present at the election of the 30th of March, held in
that district on Little Sugar creek, at Stockton's house, at a place
called " The Sugar Mound." Mr. Stockton was one of the judges ap-
pointed by Keeder, he acted ; the names of the other two I do not now
recollect, but I know them. David Lykins and A. M. Coffee were the
pro-slavery candidates for the council, and Wm. A. Heiskell, Henry
Younger, Allen Wilkinson, and myself were the pro-slavery candi-
dates. All resided in the district at the time of the election, and all
reside there still except Mr. Younger. I think he sold out and left.
Mr. Fox and Mr. Morris were the free State candidates for the council,
and Messrs. Houser, Jennings, Poor, and a Mr. Surple were the free
State candidates. Mr. Surple was an Englishman. The election
went on quietly and there was no disturbance or difficulty. At a
grocery there was some little confusion and noise, but nothing in re-
gard to the election. I was and am still well acquainted with the
resident voters in my precinct. All the persons that attended at that
precinct were actual residents of the district except one, and he said
he had a claim. From my knowledge of the actual resident voters
who reside in that district, the fifth council district, the pro-slavery
party had a majority. There were some ten or fifteen free State men
came from Fort Scott district and voted in our district.
Mr. Surple, one of the free State candidates, came to me in Febru-
ary, 1855, and told me that the free State party had chosen him as
one of the standard bearers of the free State party, that he was op-
posed to the extension of slavery, and in favor of making Kansas a
free State. He told me that there was a society in the east formed
for the purpose of making Kansas a free State, and abolishing slavery
in the United States. He said that this society had money, men,
and means, and would not cease their operations until they would
abolish slavery in the whole country. He also said a similar society
had been formed in London (in Europe) for the same purpose. He
said that he was an Englishman. He said that he had been in Eng-
land three or four times since he had first come to the United States,
which was about eight years ago, as he said. This induced me to
become a candidate. I have not seen Mr. Jennings, one of the free
State candidates for the house in our district since the election, he left
directly after the election. At that time I knew a large majority of
all the settlers of the fifth council district, and at the time of the elec-
tion the pro-slavery party had a decided majority of the actual residents.
I am fully satisfied that the foundation of all the troubles in Kansas
1184 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
have sprung from the operation of the Emigrant Aid Society. I have
heard free State men say that they were satisfied that the Emigrant
Aid Society has been the whole cause of the troubles and difficulties
in Kansas. And they said that they would never have any thing
more to do with the aid societies. As they believed the unlawful deeds
done in the Territory were done on account of the aid societies. When
these^ten or fifteen men came from Fort Scott district the friends of
our side told me to try and stop them. I said let them vote, we will
beat them any how.
SAMUEL SCOTT.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
Jackson county, \
On the ISth^day of ^ June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace, in and for the county and
State aforesaid, Samuel Scott, whose name appears to the above and
aforegoing statement, made oath that the above and aforegoing state-
ment is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal, this 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
Sworn to and acknowledged before me,
THOS. J. GOFOETH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
County of Jackson, j S8'
I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the
county aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the within affidavit, now is, and
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within, and
for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned and qualified, and
that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official
acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
FT e 1 sea^ °f sa ^ court, at office in the city of Independence, this
LL' B;J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN E. SWEARINGEN, Cleric.
Deposition of William A. HeisJcell.
The undersigned, William A. Heiskell, states on oath that I emi-
grated to the Territory of Kansas in 1849, and located at the Sac and
Fox agency, and have resided in the Territory ever since. I was pre-
sent at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, held in the fifth coun-
cil district, at the Old Catholic Mission, on Big Sugar creek. The
candidates were David Lykins and A. M. Coffee, pro-slavery, and Mr.
Fox and Mr. Morris, free State ; the above were the candidates for
council. For the house of representatives the pro-slavery candidates
were Samuel Scott, Henry Younger, Allen Wilkinson, and myself.
The free States candidates Houser, Poor, Jennings, and the name of
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1185
the other I do not now recollect. The names of the judges were
Smith, Tucker, and Brown. The polls were opened about the time
mentioned in the governor's proclamation, I think 8 o'clock was the
hour. At this precinct there were no votes offered or received that day
but actual resident voters. I was well acquainted in this precinct and
knew almost every voter that was there that day on both sides. All
voted except two or three of the free State party ; one of them, Mr.
Dyer, told me that the reason he did not vote was that he was dissat-
isfied with the free State ticket. They voted by secret ballot. There
was no fuss or confusion at the polls that day, except that Mr. Arthur,
one of the judges, refused to record a vote which was believed to be
good by the other two judges. Mr. Arthur persisting in his objec-
tions, and the other two judges insisting that the voter was legally
entitled to vote, made the only fuss or confusion. Mr. Arthur with-
drew and refused to act, and Mr. Smith was appointed in his place ;
the election then went on quietly. The pro-slavery ticket, I think, got
fifty-six votes, and the free State ticket about eighteen. The actual
settlers of that precinct were pretty generally out at the election. I
am well acquainted with the actual residents of that precinct and I
know that the pro-slavery party had a large majority in that precinct
of actual residents at the time of the election. I was at that time and
am still pretty well acquainted with the actual settlers of the whole
council district No. 5, and I am satisfied that the pro-slavery party at
the time of the election had a majority of the actual residents of that
council district. Many of the free State party were dissatisfied with
their ticket. The free State emigration into our district about the
time of the election was greater than at any time, before or since, for
the same length of time. I fully believe that the operation and or-
ganization of the Emigrant Aid Society, and other kindred societies,
have been the foundation of all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas
Territory.
Some of the free State men before the election told me that they
would vote the pro-slavery ticket, and a good many of the free State
men told me after the -election that they had voted the .pro-slavery
ticket.
A. M. Coffee, one of the pro-slavery candidates for -the council,
came to the Territory to reside before the 30th of March election, and
has resided in the fifth council district ever since. David Lykins has
resided in the fifth council district for eight or ten years. Samuel
Scott and Allen Wilkinson both resided in the district before the elec-
tion, and reside there still. Wilkinson is dead. Henry Younger
lived in the Territory before the election. The three last were candi-
dates for the house.
WM. A. HEISKELL.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
Jackson county, \ ' '
On the 13th day of June, A. D. 1356, personally appeared before
me the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, Wm. A. Heiskell, whose name appears to the aobve
H. Rep. 200 75*
1186 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
and foregoing statement, and made oath that the above and aforego-
ing statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal this 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
[L. s.] Sworn to and acknowledged before me.
THOMAS J. GOFOKTH,
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OP MISSOURI, ) gs
County of Jackson, ) ss'
I, John K. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and foi:
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, es(j.»
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now isH
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, anci
that full faith and credit is'due and ought to be given to all his official
acts, as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I bave hereunto set my hand and affixed thirj
r -| seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, thii
LL' s*-l 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN E. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Affidavit of Thomas Johnson.
I hereby certify that a short time before the meeting of the Kansa;
legislature at Pawnee, that I had an interview with Governor Reeden'
and endeavored to persuade him to change his proclamation, and call
the legislature together at some other place, as we understood than
suitable arrangements could not be made in time, and a large portioi j
of the members elect had petitioned to have the place of meeting
changed, He told me that, if he could get definite information, tha
suitable preparations, such as he had ordered, were not made or could
not be made in time, that he would change his proclamation. But hh
supposed that if we did convene at Pawnee and found that we had no<
suitable accommodations, that we would adjourn to some other placet]
and said if that should be the case he would acquiesce and go with usj
He said that if the wording of the Kansas bill had been the same afj
that of Nebraska, there would be some doubt as to our right ttl
adjourn to another place. But the language of the Kansas bill bein^
entirely different, no question could be raised on that subject. An<ij
on the same evening after this interview, reliable information wa'j
received that the expected preparations had not been made, and coult
not be made in time for the session of the legislature. But Governo
Reeder did not change his proclamation as he had promised to dd
and never assigned any reason why he did not.
I further testify that, after we got to Pawnee, nearly all of tli
members of tbe legislature had to camp out in the open sun, and d<
their own cooking, without even a shade tree to protect them ; fol
there were no boarding houses in the neighborhood, excepting twi
KANSRS AFFAIRS. 1187
unfinished shanties, which, were not sufficient to accommodate one-
fifth part of the people who had business with the legislature ; and,
in addition to this, I will add that the cholera broke out while we
were there, and one man died with it, and several members and clerks
of the legislature had strong cholera symptoms before we adjourned.
THOMAS JOHNSON.
JUNE 5, 1856.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, an acting justice of the peace
in and for Jackson county, State of Missouri.
THOMAS J. GOFOKTH, J. P.
JUNE 5, A. D; 1856.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) sg
County of Jackson, $
I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is,
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and quali-
fied, and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all
his official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this
b*J 13th day of June, 1856.
JOHN K. SWEAKINGEN, Clerk.
Affidavit of Samuel A. Williams.
I am a resident of the Territory of Kansas, and have been since
i the 1st of March, 1855 ; was a candidate for the legislature in the
sixth representative district, and was elected as one of the represent-
atives of that district. A. H. Reeder issued his proclamation calling
us together at the town of Pawnee, to meet on the first Monday of
July, 1855. Pawnee is about one hundred and fifty miles up the
Kansas river, is on the out edge of the settlements, or was, at that
time, if there was any settlers west of Pawnee. At that time I did
not know it was so remote from my district that I could not corre-
spond with my family or constituents, as there was no mail facilities;
the accommodations there were very bad ; so bad, in fact, that a great
portion of the members were compelled to camp out, and sleep on the
ground, and cook for themselves ; there was but one house for board-
ers, and that was mean and small. I and two others got boarding at
the fort, about one and a half miles from the warehouse we met in,
which I had to walk to my meals under a July sun. I begged hard
before I could get it ; it was a mess house some of the officers of the
post had. There was considerable sickness, reported to be cholera,
before we left Pawnee, and some of the members were very much
1188 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
alarmed. The house we met in had but two rooms,, and was not com-
pleted ; they worked on it all day the Sunday before the meeting to)
get the roof on ; the floors were loose, and it had no doors or windows.
As long as we staid there, we had no room for a committee to meet, .
and, in consequence, we could not remain in session more than one orr
two hours'at a time.
SAMUEL A. WILLIAMS.
Subscribed and sworn to, before me, this 9th day of June, A. D.
1856.
THOMAS J. GOFOBTH,
Justice of the Peace, Jackson county, Missouri.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
County of Jackson, J Ss'
I, John E. Swearengen, clerk of the county court within and fon
the county aforesairl, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq...
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and-
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that
full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his official
acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed tho<
seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence, thifi
[L. S.]
14th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN B. SWEABINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of William Barbee.
STATE OF MISSOURI, } , .,
T 7 f W Wit'
Jackson county, $
On the sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand!
eight hundred and fifty-six, personally appeared before me, the under
signed, a justice of thu peace in and for the county and State afore
said, William Barbee, who deposeth and saith : That the member
elect of the first legislative assembly of the Territory of Kansas me
at the Shawnee Mission some time in the early part of April, 1855 !
and while there memorialized Governor Beeder to call them togethe
at an early day, as many of us believed at the time there were ttr|
laws in force in the Territory by which crimes could be punished an'
civil wrongs redressed ; and he was also asked, in the same memoria]
ta assemble the legislature at some other place than Pawnee. Th
requests thus made were refused, and the legislature, by proclamatio:
of the governor, assembled at Pawnee on the second day of July, 185&
When we (I being a member of the council) got to Pawnee we^foun
but three or four inhabitable buildings, and but one house at whicn
any of us could be accommodated, and at that house but a small poi
tion of the members and officers of the legislature could be accommc
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1189
dated, so that the greater portion of the members and officers of both
branches of the assembly were obliged to camp out beneath a scorch-
ing July sun — there being no trees or other shelter from the burning
sun — and procure provisions, cook, and wash for themselves. In the
meantime, during the sitting of the legislature, the cholera broke
out, and many died from attacks of the cholera. Provisions at last
became scarce^ and the weather was so dry and hot that the beef on
hand spoiled, and no beef could be had, and scarcely any other kind
of meat, and no vegetables. There was no provender, except the burnt
grass of the prairie, for our horses, and no shelter or place to keep
th^m, but were obliged to picket them out, at a risk of losing them.
The house in which we were to meet, on Sunday morning before the
Monday on which the legislature was to assemble, had no floors up
stairs nor down stairs, neither were there any doors or windows to it,
so that the exposure to the sun was nearly as great in that house as
out of it. On Sunday the floors were laid loosely down, but neither
windows or doors were put to the building during the time we re-
mained there. Believing that Governor Reeder would have sufficient
accommodations prepared for us we took little or nothing of material
for camp life, so that we were wholly unprepared to protect ourselves
against the weather, as well as to protect ourselves against hunger.
Many of us were obliged to lie on the ground. The house in which
Governor Reeder was quartered was comfortable, and nearly as large
as the hotel, (as it was termed,) and occupied half of it himself.
Although we were within a mile or a mile and a half of Fort Riley,
a United States government post, yet if we would not have taken some
provision with us we would have fbeen without anything to eat, for
we could get nothing of the sort at the fort. Pawnee is situated on
the Kansas river, about one hundred and forty or fifty miles from its
mouth. While there we could have no communication with our fami-
lies or constituents, except by private messengers. There were but
two rooms in the house where we were assembled, one for the council,
and one for the house, and no room in the town cfould be procured for
a committee to deliberate. It was impossible, almost, for legislation
to be done. Unless the two houses would adjourn from time to time,
no business could be prepared by the committees for the action of the
respective houses. If we had remained there, but little legislation
could have been done, as the committees would have been of necessity
forced to meet in daylight, on the open prairie, beneath the power of
a hot sun in the months of July and August. The foregoing I should
state before the " Kanzas investigating committee' ' if permitted, but
not being allowed to do so before them, I make the statement and
swear to it before a justice of the peace.
WM. BARBEE.
Acknowledged before me, June 6, 1855.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH,
Justice of the Peace.
1190 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
County of Jaekson, \ ^
Be it remembered, that on this sixth day of June, A. D. 1856, per-
sonally came before me, the undersigned, justice of the peace in and
for the county and State aforesaid, William Barbee, whose name is
subscribed to the foregoing statement, and, upon his oath, states that
the above and foregoing statements are true as set forth.
Given under my hand, this sixth day of June, A. D. 1856.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH,
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ^
County of Jackson, ^ ss'
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is,
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within;
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and qualified, ,
and that full faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such, as
well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this-.
[L. S.]
thirteenth day of April, A. D. 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Deposition of Alexander S. Johnson.
I am a citizen of Kansas Territory ; was born and raised [in that
Territory. I was a resident of the seventeenth representative district
on the 30th of March, 1855. I was a candidate for the legislature
from the fourth and seventeenth representative districts, was legally
elected, and received my certificate of election from the governor.
A few days after the election I, with a majority of the members
elect, respectfully petitioned Governor A. H. Reeder to call the legis-
lature together, as soon as possible,, at the Shawnee mission, or some
other convenient place. We did this from the fact that Governor A.
H. Reeder had said that he intended calling the legislature together r||
at Pawnee. To this petition Governor A. H. Reeder returned no |
answer, although at the time he promised to answer it.
The legislature was called together by the governor on the first
Monday in July, at the town of Pawnee. I arrived at Pawnee on theHj
Sunday before the meeting of the legislature, and found some three <Jj
habitable houses, only one of which was prepared for the public, and
it was a small temporary house, not sufficient to keep one-fifth of the
members and officers of the legislature.
I, with a majority of the members of the legislature, were com-
pelled to camp out and sleep on the ground, and do our own cooking.
We either had to do this or go home. We had to camp on the bank'
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1191
of the Kansas river, under a hot July sun, there being no shade tree
in less than half a mile of the place.
The house in which the legislature assembled had neither doors no1'
windows, and only two rooms, with plank laid down temporarily for
floors, and was not ready for us until late Monday evening.
Many of the members and officers became quite unwell, not being
accustomed to the hardship and exposures of which they had to en-
dure. One man died with the cholera, in less than one hundred yards
of my tent. Some of the members had strong cholera symptoms.
We had no chance to correspond with our constituents or families,
except by private messengers, there being no mail facilities. The
proprietor in the only hotel in the place told me on the day we ad-
journed that he could not have kept those that were boarding with
him a day longer, as he was about out of provisions, and that he and
'his servants were broken down. We had no place for our committee
to meet, and were compelled to adjourn early every day, that the
members might prepare their meals and attend to their horses.
Pawnee is situated about 140 or 150 miles above the mouth of the
Kansas river, and inconvenient to all the members of the legislature,
with the exception of one or two. I had to camp out from the time I
left home until I came back.
I know that Governor A. H. Keeder was a large proprietor in the
town of Pawnee ; have heard him say so ; have seen him sell pro-
perty in that town.
The Kansas committee do not permit me to give in this testimony ;
hence I make this statement before a magistrate and swear to it.
ALEXANDER S. JOHNSON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, a justice of the peace, this 9th
: day of June, 1856.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH,
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, >
County of Jackson, \ SS'
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that
full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his official
acts as such, in well as courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this
LL' S-J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
MARCUS J. PARROTT called and sworn.
By Governor King :
I am a resident of the Territory of Kansas. On the 30th of August
1 was at Kansas city, in Missouri, at the American hotel. Governor
1192 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Reeder was then stopping there at that time. We sat up and con-
versed together about what was to be done there ; at the same time I
was on my way to another convention to be held at Tecumseh on the
31st day of August ; the object of that convention was to meet with
persons who were desirous to organize the democratic party in the
Territory. While we were together, Governor Reeder spoke about-
making some arrangements about going up himself to attend the con-
vention at Big Springs. His trunks, at that time, were in the office
at the hotel, which comprised, so far as I know, all the personal
property he had in the Territory ; he wanted to get a valise to take
some clothes up into the Territory ; he borrowed a valise of Major
Eldridge of the hotel, which was brought out in my presence, put into
the buggy, and he left before I did. I overtook him, in company
with Judge Johnson, at the Shawnee mission. We both started out
on the road at night, and we separated at Donaldson, where Governor
Reeder tarried all night, but Judge Johnson and myself drove on all
night for Tecumseh. I did not see Reeder again until two or three
days afterwards at Lawrence, and then had some conversation with
him concerning his being a candidate of the Big Spring convention,
for delegate to Congress. The impression left upon my mind was,
that, unless he became a candidate, he was going to leave the Terri-
tory. Afterwards, on the first day of the convention, I think, there was
a good deal said about his not being a resident of the Territory. I was
myself of that opinion ; and, in order to determine exactly about that
matter, I agreed with Colonel Lane, and some others, to call him
out and ask him the question. I did call him out, and ask him if he
was a resident of the Territory. He stated, in reply to that,, some-
thing about the reason he did not bring his family here, as that was !
the ground of complaint generally here. He did not answer the ques-
tion directly at all, but answered it argumentatively, by stating some •
things in connexion with his position in the Territory. I do not
recollect that he satisfied the persons who had been called there to >
hear his answer to the question. I know that some of them were "not
satisfied that he was a resident of the Territory. Colonel Lane and
myself afterwards spoke of it, and neither of us were satisfied with the •
answer he gave to the question. Since that time I have never known
him to have any visible domicile or residence in the Territory. In the •
conversation at Lawrence he spoke of a claim that he thought he
would buy if his wife liked it, but his wife and family were not and !
never have been in the Territory, and were understood to be in Penn- •
sylvania.
To Mr. Sherman :
Colonel Lane was spoken of as a candidate. I was in favor of
Judge Johnson. I never heard any one speak of Colonel Lane being
a candidate but himself. Reeder was nominated without a vote, an
by acclamation.
To Governor King :
My objection to Governor Reeder was on account of some resolutions j
which he had with him at Kansas City, and written by him, and [
adopted at the Big Spring convention, which provided for the election s
KANSAS AFFAIRS, 1193
of delegate to Congress being held on a different day from that pro-
vided by the territorial law, and also to other resolutions written by
him, which looked to a repudiation of the laws by force. I objected to
this latter part in public in the convention. I saw resolutions, called-
miscellaneous resolutions, which were in Governor Keeder's hand-
writing.
MARCUS PAEROTT.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, K. T., May 28, 1856.
Mahala Doyle's affidavit.
The undersigned, Mahala Doyle, states upon oath : I am the widow
of the late James P. Doyle ; that we moved into the Territory, that
is, my husband, myself, and children moved into the Territory of
Kansas some time in November, A. D. 1855, and settled on Mosquito
creek, about one mile from its mouth, and where it empties into Pot-
tawatomie creek, in Franklin county; that on Saturday, the 24th day
of May, A. D.P1856, about 11 o'clock at night, after we had all retired,
my husband, James P. Doyle, myself, and five children, four boys and
one girl — the eldest boy is about twenty-two years of age, his name
is William ; the next was about twenty years of age, his Drury ; the
next is about sixteen years of age, his name is John ; the next is about
thirteen years of age, her name is Polly Ann ; the next is about ten
years of age, his name is James ; the next is about eight years of age,
his name is Charles ; the next is about five years of age, his name is
Henry — we were all in bed, when we heard some persons come into
the yard and rap at the door and call for Mr. Doyle, my husband.
This was about 11 o'clock on Saturday night of the 24th of May last.
My husband got up and went to the door. Those outside inquired
for Mr. Wilkson, and where he lived. My husband told them that he
would tell them. Mr. Doyle, my husband, opened the door, and sev-
eral came into the house, and said that they were from the army.
My husband was a pro-slavery man. They told my husband that he
and the boys must surrender, they were their prisoners. These men
were armed with pistols and large knives. They first took my hus-
band out of the house, then they took two of my sons — the two oldest
ones, William and Drury — out, and then took my husband and these
two boys, William and Drury, away. My son John was spared, be-
cause I asked them in tears to spare him. In a short time^ afterwards
I heard the report of pistols. I heard two reports, after which I heard
moaning, as if a person was dying ; then I heard a wild whoop. They
had asked before they went away for our horses. We told them that
the horses^were out on the prairie. My husband and two boys, my
sons, did not come back any more. I went out next morning in search
of them, and found my husband and William, my son, lying dead in
the road near together, about two hundred yards from the house. My
other son I did not see any more until the day he was buried. ^ I was
so much overcome that I went to the house. They were buried the
next day. On the day of the burying I saw the dead body of Drury.
1194 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Fear of myself and the remaining children induced me to leave the
home where we had heen living. We had improved our claim a little.
I left all and went to the State of Missouri.
MAHALA x DOYLE.
mark.
Witness : THOMAS J. GOFORTH.
STATE OF Missouri, )
Jackson county, \ ss'
On the 7th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, Mahala Doyle, whose name appears to the above and
foregoing statement, and makes oath, according to law, that the above
and foregoing statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal the day and year above written.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI. )
V QC
County of Jackson, } l
I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the
county aforesaid, 'do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is,
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and
that full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his offi-
cial acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -, seal of said court at office, in the city of Independence, this
j 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN K. SWEARINGEN, Cleric.
Affidavit of John Doyle.
The undersigned, John Doyle, states, upon oath, that he is the son
of James P. and Mahala Doyle ; that we came to the Territory in
November, 1855, and settled on Mosquita creek, about one mile from
its mouth, in Franklin county. That,, on Saturday night, about 11
o'clock, on the 24th day of May last, a party of men came to our
house ; we had all retired ; they roused us up, and told us that if we
would surrender they would not hurt us. They said they were from
the army ; they were armed with pistols and knives ; they took off my
father and two of my brothers, William and Drury. We were all
alarmed. They made inquiries about Mr. Wilkson, and about our
horses. The next morning was Sunday, the 25th of May, 1856.
went in search of my father and two brothers. I found my father and
one brother, William, lying dead in the road, about two hundred yards
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1195
from the house; I saw my other hrother lying dead on the ground,
ahout one hundred and fifty yards from the house, in the grass, near
a ravine ; his fingers were cut off, and his arms were cut off; his head
was cut open ; there was a hole in his breast. William's head was
cut open, and a hole was in his jaw, as though it was made by a
knife, and a hole was also in his side. My father was shot in the
forehead and stabbed in the breast. I have talked often with northern
men and eastern men in the Territory, and these men talked exactly
like eastern men and northern men talk, that is, their language and
pronunciation were similar to those eastern and northern men with
whom I had talked. An old man commanded the party ; he was a
dark complected, and his face was slim. We had lighted a candle,,
and about eight of them entered the house ; there were some more out-
side. The complexion of most of those eight whom I saw in the
house were of sandy complexion. My father and brothers were pro-
slavery men, and belonged to the law and order party.
his
JOHN x DOYLE.
mark.
Witness : THOMAS J. GOFORTH.
STATE OF MISSOURI,
Jackson County,
On this 7th day of June, A. D. 1856, personalty appeared before
me, the 'subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county
and State aforesaid, John Doyle, whose name appears to the above
statement, and makes oath according to law that the above and fore-
going statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal, the day and year above written.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of tJie Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) gg
County of Jackson, ] SS'
I, John R. Swearinger, clerk of the county court within and for the
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is,
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace, within
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and
that full faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such, as well
in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
-, seal of said court, at office, in the City of Independence, this
b>J 13th day of June, 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGER, Clerk.
James Harris' Affidavit.
I reside on Pottowatomie creek, near Henry Sherman's, in Kansas
Territory. I went there to reside on the last day of March, 1856, and
1196 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
have resided there ever since. On last Sunday morning, about two
o'clock, (the 25th of May last,) whilst my wife and child and myself
were in bed in the house where we lived, we were aroused by a com-
pany of men who said they belonged to the northern army, and who
were each armed with a sabre and two revolvers, two of whom I recog-
nized, namely, a Mr. Brown, whose given name I do not remember,
commonly known by the appellation of " old man Brown," and his
son, Owen Brown. They came in the house and approached the bed
side where we were lying, and ordered us, together with three other
men who were in the same house with me, to surrender ; that the
northern army was upon us, and it would be no use for us to resist.
The names of these other three men who were -then in my house with
me are, William Sherman, John S. Whiteman, the other man I did
not know. They were stopping with me that night. They had
bought a cow from Henry Sherman, and intended to go home the
next morning. When they came up to the bed, some had drawn
sabres in their hands, and some revolvers. They then took into their
possession two rifles and a Bowie kniie, which I had there in the
room — there was but one room in my house — and afterwards ransacked
the whole establishment in search of ammunition. They then took
one of these three men, who were staying in my house, out. (This
was the man whose name I did not know.) He came back. They
then took me out, and asked me if there were any more men about
the plaee. I told them there were not. They searched -the place
but found none others but we four. They asked me where Henry
Sherpian was. Henry Sherman was a brother to William. Sherman.
I told, them that he was out on the plains in search of some cattle
which he had lost. They asked if I had ever taken any hand in
aiding pro-slavery men in coming to the Territory of Kansas, or
had ever taken any hand in the last troubles at Lawrence,, and asked
me whether I had ever done the free State party any harm or ever in-
tended to do that party any harm ; they asked me what ma-de me live
at such a place. I then answered that I could get higher wages there •
than anywhere else. They asked me if there were any bridles or '
saddles about the premises. I told them there was one saddle, which i
they took, and they also took possession of Henry Sherman's horse, ,
which I had at my place, and made me saddle him. They then said I
if I would answer no to all the questions which they had asked me,
they would let loose. Old Mr. Brown and his son then went into the
house with me. The other three men, Mr. William Sherman, Mr.
Whiteman, and the stranger were in the house all this time.^ After
old man Brown and his son went into the house with me, old man i
Brown asked Mr. Sherman to go out with him, and Mr. Sherman then i
went out with old Mr. Brown, and another man came into the house
in Brown's place. I heard nothing more for about fifteen minutes.
Two of the northern army, as they styled themselves, stayed in with i
us until we heard a cap burst, and then these two men left. That
morning about ten o'clock I found William Sherman dead in the
creek near my house. I was looking for Mr. Sherman, as he had not I
come back, I thought he had been murdered. I took Mr. William
Sherman out of the creek and examined him. Mr. Whiteman was
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1197
w-ith me. Sherman's skull was split open in two places and some of
his brains was washed out by the water. A large hole was cut in his
breast, and his left hand was cut off except a little piece of skin on one
side. We buried him.
JAMES HARRIS.
STATE OF MISSOURI,
County of Jackson,
This day personally appeared before me, Thomas J. Goforth, 'an
acting justice of the peace in and for Jackson county, State of Mis-
souri, James Harris, who on oath says that the above and foregoing
statement is true as therein set forth.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this the 6th day of June, eigh-
teen hundred and fifty-six. Witness my hand and seal.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, >
County of Jackson, \ 9S'
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is and
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that full
faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such, as well in courts
of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
[L.S.]
seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this
llth day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Affidavit of Mrs. Louisa Jane Wilkinson.
On the 13th day of June, A. D. 1856, Louisa Jane Wilkinson, on
oath, being duly sworn, says : I am the widow of the late Allen Wil-
kinson. We came to Kansas, from Tennessee, in October, 1854;
went to our claim, on Pottowatomie creek, about the 12th day of No-
vember following. Said claim, where my husband lived at the time
of his. death, lies in Franklin county, Kansas Territory, about eight
miles from Ossawatomie, and the same distance from the mouth of
Pottowatomie creek. On the 25th of May last, somewhere between
the hours of midnight and daybreak, cannot say exactly atjwhat hour,
after all had retired to bed, we were disturbed by barking of the do£.
I was sick with the measles, and woke up Mr. Wilkinson, and asked
if he " heard the noise, and what it meant?" He said it was only
some one passing about, and soon after was again asleep. It was not
long before the dog raged and barked furiously, awakening me once
more ; pretty soon I heard footsteps as of men approaching ; saw one
pass by the window, and some one knocked at the door. I asked,
1198 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
who is that? No one answered. I awoke my husband, who asked,
who is that? Some one replied, I want you to tell me the way to
Dutch Henry's. He commenced to tell them, and they said to him,
"Come out and show us." He wanted to go, but I would not let
him; he then told them it was difficult to find his clothes, and could
tell them as well without going out of doors. The men out of doors,
after that, stepped hack, and I thought I could hear them whispering ;
but they immediately returned, and, as they approached, one of them
asked of my husband, " Are you a northern armist?" He said, "I
am." I understood the answer to mean that my husband was op-
posed to the northern or freesoil party. I cannot say that I under-
stood the question. My husband was a pro-slavery man,, and was a
member of the territorial legislature held at Shawnee Mission.
When my husband said "I am," one of them said,, "You are our
prisoner. Do you surrender?" He said, "Gentlemen, I do." They
said, open the door. Mr. Wilkinson told them to wait till he made
a light ; and they replied, if you don't open it, we will open it for
you. He opened the door against my wishes, and four men came in,
and my husband was told to put on his clothes', and they asked him
if there were not more men about ; they searched for arms, and took
a gun and powder flask, all the weapon that was about the house.
I begged them to let Mr. Wilkinson stay with me, saying that I
was sick and helpless, and could not stay by myself. My husband
also asked them to let him stay with me until he could get some one
to wait on me ; told them that he would not run off, but would be
there the next day, or whenever called for. The old man, who
seemed to be in command, looked at me and then around at the
children, and replied, "you have neighbors." I said, "so I have,
but they are not here, and I cannot go for them ' ' The old man re-
plied, "it matters not," I told him to get ready. My husband
wanted to put on his boots and get ready, so as to be protected from
the damp and night air, but they wouldn't let him. They then took
my husband away. One of them came back and took two saddles ; I
asked him what they were going to do with him, and he said, "take
him a prisoner to the camp." I wanted one of them to stay with
me. He said he would, but "they would not let him." After they
were gone, I thought I heard my husband's voice, in complaint, but
do not know; went to the door, and all was still. Next morning
Mr. Wilkinson was found about one hundred and fifty yards from the
house, in some dead brush. A lady who saw my husband's body,
said that there was a gash in his head and in his side ; others said
that he was cut in the throat twice.
On the Wednesday following I left for fear of my life. I believe
that they would have taken my life to prevent me from testifying
against them for killing my husband. I believe that one of Captain
Brown's sons was in the party, who murdered my husband ; I heard
a voice like his. I do not know Captain Brown himself. I have two
small children, one about eight and the other about five years old.
The body of my husband was laid in a new house ; I did not see it.
My friends would not let me see him for fear of making rne worse.
was very ill. The old man, who seemed to be commander, wore
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1199
soiled clothes and a straw hat, pulled down over his face. He spoke
quick, is a tall, narrow-faced, elderly man. I would recognize him if
I could see him.
My husband was a poor man. I am now on my way to Tennessee
to see my father, William Ball, who lives in Hay wood county. I am
enabled to go by the kindness of friends in this part of Missouri.
Some of the men who took my husband away that night were armed
with pistols and knives. I do not recollect whether all I saw were
armed. They asked Mr. W. if Mr. McMinn did not live near. My
husband was a quiet man, and was not engaged in arresting or dis-
turbing any body. He took no active part in the pro-slavery cause,
so as to aggravate the abolitionists ; but he was a pro-slavery man.
Mr. McMinn,, mentioned above, is a pro-slavery man ; so, also, is the
said Dutch Henry.
LOUISA JANE WILKINSON.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) sg
County of Jackson, \
On this, the 13th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally came before
me, Thomas J. Goforth, a justice of the peace in and for the above
State and county, Louisa Jane Wilkinson, who, being duly sworn,
says the facts contained in the above statement are true, to the best of
her knowledge.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this the 13th day of June, A.
D. 1856.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, > ss
County of Jackson, \
I John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is,
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and
that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official
acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
r -I seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this
LL- s'-l 13th day of June, A. D, 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Affidavit of Morton Bourn.
On the eleventh day of June, A. D. 1856, Morton Bourn, under
oath, says : I am about sixty- two years of age ; went to Kansas early
in April, 1855 ; settled on my claim in Douglas county, on Wash-
ington creek, about two miles from the mouth of said creek, in May
following. I own slaves, and have a crop of corn and wheat grow-
1200 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
ing ; have never taken any active part with the pro-slavery party -^
only voted and sustained the law. On Wednesday, the 28th of Ma ,
somewhere between the hours of 10 and 12 at night, perhaps earlier,
perhaps later, a party of men, about 20 or 30 I think, surrounded m y
house, and called to me to open the door and raise a light. I ask edi
them what they wanted? they said they wanted to search my house,,
and if they had to burst open the door, they would kill me. Throughi
the persuasion of my wife I opened the door, though my son and II
were armed. I wished to defend my house and property, but my wife;
persuaded me from shooting. After I opened the door a guard wa&s
placed at it, and two or three men entered, one of whom seemed to*
have command. They first took my guns, of which there were three,,
and then demanded my money, which they said they needed to carry,
on this war. They took from me about fifty dollars — it might have
been more, and might have been less. They took next five or six;
saddles and a blanket, and demanded of me the key to my grocery,
store ; from which they took various things, including sugar, coffee,,
and whiskey — I do not know how much or what exactly. They toot
nearly every tin and wooden vessel about the place. Also they car-J
ried away one horse of mine ; on the night before one horse of mine. ;
and one of Mr. Barnet's, of Lecompton, were stolen.
These men said that I must leave in a day or two, or they would if
kill me, or hinted as much ; said I would not fare well, or words tc
that effect. I left for fear of my life and that of my family. Thej
said that the war was commenced ; they were going to fight it out, anc
drive the pro-slavery people out of the Territory ; they used words t<
that amount. These men that robbed my house and drove me awaj
from my property were abolitionists or free-soilers ; that is, I believ<
them to be so. I have been charged with raising a company to go info
Lawrence and drive off free-soilers ; that is not true. I believe the}1
treated me so because I was a pro-slavery man, was in favor of th«<
Territorial laws, and because I served on the last grand jury
Lecompton.
MORTON BOURN
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
Jaclcson county, ) '••
On this llth day of June, A. D., 1856, personally came before mec
Thomas J. Goforth, a justice of the peace, duly sworn and commit
sioned to take acknowledgments in and for the above county am
State, Morton Bourn, who says on oath that the facts stated in tha
above affidavit are true to the best of his knowledge.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) gs
County of Jackson, )
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for thi
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esqv
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is-
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace withii
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1201
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and
that full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his offi-
cial acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
the seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence,
[L. s.] this 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN K. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Affidavit of John Miller.
The undersigned, John Miller, states upon oath, that I am a resi-
dent of the Territory of Kansas, and have been ever since last August,
and settled at " Saint Bernard," a town situated on the road common-
ly known as the " Fort Scott and California road," about thirty miles
from Lecompton, in Douglas county. It is called fifty-two miles from
Westport, Missouri. I had been a clerk in the store which Mr.
Joab M. Bernard had kept there, for about two years last past, and
was still keeping it on the 26th day of May, 1856. I was at Saint
Bernard on Tuesday, the 2*7 th day of May, 1856. Mr. James Davis
was then Mr. Bernard's clerk, who had charge of the store ; Mr. Ber-
nard had gone to Westport, Missouri, or had started for Westport,
and was not there at the time. I was in the store with Mr. Davis.
Whilst there, a party of thirteen men came to the store on horseback,
j armed with Sharpens rifles, revolvers, and bowie-knives. They in-
! quired for Mr. Bernard. I told them he had gone to Westport. One
j of them said to me, " you are telling a God damn lie," and drew up
| his gun at me. Some of them came into the store, and the rest re-
mained outside ; they called for such goods as they wanted, and made
Mr. Davis arid myself hand them out, and said if we " didn't hurry "
I they would shoot us — they had their guns ready. After they had got
j the goods they wanted — principally blankets and clothing — they packed
j them upon their horses and went away. Mr. Joab M. Bernard is a pro-
slavery man. I remained in the store with Mr. Davis, and on the next
evening, the 28th of May, 1856, a party of 14 men came to the store on
horseback, armed with Sbarpe's rifles, revolvers, and bowie-knives ;
thirteen of this party I recognized as the same that came to the store
the day before ; and the other man I knew— William S. Ewitt is his
name — and who I know is a free-State man, and a prominent man in
the free-State party. They had a wagon along with them ; they came
up to the store, dismounted, and came into the store, each having his
gun ready. Some carried goods out, some put the goods in the wagon,
and others stood ready with their guns to prevent Mr. Davis and my-
self from interfering. They took away all the goods in the store ex-
cept about one hundred and fifty dollars worth, and carried them off'.
They also took away with them Mr. Bernard's two large horses, and
ithree saddles, and two bridles, and took away nearly all the provisions
which were there — bacon and flour, and other provisions. They said
;i!to us that they intended to take Mr. Henry Hartley and myself pris-
oners, but before theytookme I got off. After they had got all thethings
H. Kep. 200 76*
1202 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
they wanted, they asked Mr. Davis for all the money he had in th<
store. There were but four dollars in the drawer, which Mr. Davis-
handed to them, and then they went off. Mr. Joab M. Bernard is a
pro-slavery man. When they first came, they looked up at thesign?
and said they would like to shoot at the name.
JOHN MILLEE.
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
Jackson county, )
On the 9th day of June, A. D. 1856,, personally appeared beforej
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county andl
State aforesaid, John Miller, whose name appears to the above and!
foregoing statement., and makes oath that the above and foregoing-
statement is true, as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal, this ninth day of June, A. D. 1856.
THOMAS J. GOFOETH, [L. &.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ) sg .
County of Jackson , )
I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within andl
for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and qualified :
and that full faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such, a&s
well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed!
r -, the seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence.;
LL' S'J this 14th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN E. SWEAEINGEN, Clerk.
Affidavit of Joab M. Bernard,
The undersigned, Joab M. Bernard, states, on oath, that I am si
resident of the Territory of Kansas, and that I have kept a store at
Saint Bernard, in the Territory of Kansas, for about two years last
past. My store-house is situated at a place called Saint Bernardi
about thirty miles south of Lecompton, and about fifty-two miles from
Westport, on the road leading from Fort Scott to California, com-i
monly called the " Fort Scott and California road." I left my store
about the 26th day of May last. I had a sum of money on hand-
about $2,000. There was a good deal of excitement in the country on
account of the political difficulties. Some of my neighbors, free-Stato
men, informed me that my life was in danger, and that I had betteif
keep a sharp look-out or else I might be killed ; that they (my neigln
bors) heard some other men of the free-State party say that they woulc
kill me. In consequence of these things, combined, I left, as I thought
I would be robbed and then murdered. Accordingly I left. When
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1203
left there was stock in my store which Mr. Thomas S. Hamilton and
I estimated at $4,000, consisting of dry-goods, groceries, hardware,
queensware, provisions, and many other articles usually kept in a
country store — many of them Indian goods, which were costly. I
had, when I left, on the premises, two large horses and two ponies.
I had also seven yoke of work cattle, and other cattle not broken, and
some cows and calves — ahout twenty-five head in all — and some hogs.
I had some ready-made clothing in my store.
JOAB M. BERNARD.
STATE OF MISSOURI, ?
Jackson County, \
On the 9th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and
State aforesaid, Joab M. Bernard, whose name appears to the above
and aforegoing statement, and makes oath that the above and afore-
going statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal this 9th day of June, A. D. 1856. ;
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MISSOURI, >
County of Jackson, $ 6^
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the
j county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq. , whose
'genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is, and was
I at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and for
'the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified ; and that full
i faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official acts as
such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
-, seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence, this
' b*J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
Affidavit of Thomas S. Hamilton.
I
The undersigned, Thomas S. Hamilton, states, upon oath, that
JJoab M. Bernard has been keeping store in the Territory of Kansas
,, for about two years last past. The store- house is situated on the Fort
^ Scott and California road,, about thirty miles south of Lecompton.
[ think it is in Douglas county. I was at Mr. Joab M. Bernard's
. store-house, above mentioned, on Monday, the 26th day of May last,
?or the purpose of taking an invoice of the stock on hand. I was
'oing in partnership with him, the said Bernard. We examined the
stock pretty thoroughly, but, instead of taking regularly an invoice or
nventory, we agreed upon an estimate — that estimate agreed upon
- vas, at first cost, four thousand dollars, including all the stock.
tad agreed to pay the said Bernard two thousand dollars for half, and
1204
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
then we were to do business in partnership, and divide the profits
equally between us. The stock consisted in dry goods — such as cloths,
blankets, calico prints, lawns, Irish linens, muslin, and ready-made
clothing, and other domestic dry goods : Groceries — coffee, sugar,
tea, and other articles. Provisions — flour, bacon, lard, and other
articles. Hardware — queensware, tinware, and numerous other
articles. Besides the stock in the store, Mr. Bernard had there oil
the premises two very fine horses, for which I offered him two hun-
dred and seventy-five dollars. He had, also, two ponies which were
worth fifty or 'sixty dollars apiece, and seven yoke of work cattle, and
some others which were not broken, and some cows and calves. There
was money in the drawer, but how much I do not know.
THOS. S. HAMILTON.
ss :
STATE or MISSOURI,
Jackson county,
On the ninth day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before i
,me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and:
State aforesaid, Thomas S. Hamilton, whose name appears to the<
above and foregoing statement, and makes oath that the above and
aforegoing statement is true as therein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal this ninth day of June, A. D. 1856.'
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
STATE .OF MISSOURI, >
County of Jackson, ) SS '
I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and for?
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq.,
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, anc
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within anc
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified; and that
full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his offici*
acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affix<
r -| the seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence,
LL- s'-l this 14th day of June, A. D. 1856.
JOHN R. SWEARINGEN,
Clerk.
Affidavit of George T. Williams.
I, the undersigned, G. T. Williams, resident of Douglas eounl
K. T., do solemnly state, that I moved from the State of Missoi
into the above county and Territory on the 14th day of April, 18
About five days ago — say the 6th inst. — I was informed by Silas
Moore that two companies of free-State men intended attacking
self and the two Messrs. Keizer, Dr. Chapman, and Mr. R. Yoi
that night, and hanging us. Our informant appeared to be, and pi
KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1205
fessed friendship for us, and wished some one to attend him to seethe
company, and induce them not to consummate their designs. Dr.
Chapman accompanied him, and begged the men to spare his friends
and families, as they had always desired peace with the free-State
party, and also stated he would inform some United States troops near
by of their designs, if they refused to desist. They did not come that
night, and, feeling unsafe, we concluded next morning to leave ; and
the ensuing night they came and broke open and plundered Dr. Chap-
man's, Mr. Keizer's and my own house, threw their pistols at the
children's heads, and made them get axes to break open the doors.
They took two rifles of mine, my wife's saddle rigging, and cursed
and abused her because she would not tell where the horses were.
They also took some clothing from Mr. Keizer's house ; also one rifle
and some blankets of Dr. Chapman. On the following morning I
returned home to look after nay family, and found they had left for a
neighbor's house (Mr. Pulse) to save their lives. I then went around
to get in with the United States troops, who I understood were going
to Prairie City, but did not see the troops until after they had disband-
ed this abolition company ; and then returned to my house and found
my family there. On my return I also found a Mr. Thompson, to
Whom I had loaned my horse, bridle, and saddle, the Sunday before.
He stated the free-State men had taken him prisoner, and detained
him four days, and, upon being released by the troops, he was told by
Capt. Brown, the free-State commander, that he would be killed, and
would give no satisfaction about the horse. Hoping that the presence
of the United States troops would intimidate them, and restore
peace, we remained at our homes till the following Saturday in the
afternoon, when a Mr. Young came to my house, after being pursued
the night before by six men on horses. We then, deeming it unsafe
to remain, were invited by Capt. Wood, United States officer, to bring
our families to his camp. We accepted; and upon our way to the
camp, Mr. Thompson, who was with us, and a short distance ahead,
was suddenly seized and carried into the brush by two of the aboli-
tionists' company, on horseback, and has never since been heard of. We
proceeded on to Capt. Wood's camp, and informed him of the taking
of Thompson, who replied he had not men enough to send and hunt
for Thompson, and also to guard us and the prisoners, some seven or
eight, in his charge. We next morning started for Missouri in
company with the United States troops and two teamsters, who were
going to Osawatomie, and travelled some six miles with them.
GEORGE T. WILLIAMS.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, Thomas J. G-oforth, an acting
justice of the peace in and for the county of Jackson, and State of
Missouri, this eleventh day of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-six.
THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [L. s.]
Justice of the Peace.
1206 KANSAS AFFAIRS.
STATE OF MISSOUKI, >
Jackson county, \
I, John K. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, whose
genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and was at
the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and for
the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and qualified ; and
that full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his offi-
cial acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
the seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence,
[L. s.] this thirteenth day of June, A. D. eighteen hundred and
fifty-six.
JOHN K. SWEARINGEN, Clerk.
1 i "3
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ
This book is due on the last DATE stamped below.
50m-12,'70(Pl251s8)2373-3A,l