said they were going to vote for the purpose | ardson, the Pro-Slavery candidate for Council, of making Kansas a Slave State (181). Some claimed that they had a right to vote, under the provisions of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, from the fact that they were present on the ground on the day of election (182). The Free-State men generally did not vote (183), and those who did vote, voted generally for John H. Whitehead, Pro-Slavery, for Council, against Major Wm. P. Richardson, and did not vote at all for members of the Lower House (184). The parties were pretty nearly equally divided in the district, some being of opinion that the Free-State party had a small majority (185), and others that the Pro-Slavery party had a small majority (186). 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 (187). 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 encamped about two miles from the place of voting (188). They said they came to vote, to make Kansas a Slave State, and intended to return to Missouri after they had voted (189). threatened Dr. Cutler, the Free-State candidate, that if he contested the election he and his office should be put in the Missouri River (200). The number of votes in the 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 populous county of Buchanan, Mo., 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 where they could. They were not residents of the Territory in any just or legal sense. A number of settlers moved 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 exceed 200— out of 727. XVTH DISTRICT. The election in this district was held in the house of a Mr. Hayes. On the day of election a crowd of from 400 to 500 men (201) collected around the polls, of which the great body were citizens of Missouri. One of the Judges of Election, in his testimony (202), 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. On the morning of the election the Judges ap- Most of the crowd were drinking and carousing, pointed by the Governor would not serve, and cursing the Abolitionists and threatening the others were appointed by the crowd (190). The only Free-State Judge of Election. A majority Missourians were allowed to vote without being of those who voted wore hemp in their buttonsworn (191)-some of them voting as many as holes (203) and their pass-word was, "all right on eight or nine times; changing their hats and the hemp." Many of the Missourians were coats and giving in different names each time known and are named by the witnesses. Several (192). After they had voted they returned to speeches were made by them at the polls, and Missouri (193). The Free-State men generally among those who spoke were Major Oliver, one did not vote (194), though constituting a majori- of your Committee, Col. Burns, and Lalan Wilty in the precinct (195). Upon counting the bal-liams of Platte County. Major Oliver urged uplots in the box and the names on the poll-lists, it was found that there were too many ballots (196), and one of the judges of election took out ballots enough to make the two numbers correspond (197). WOLF RIVER PRECINCT. But few Missourians were present in this precinct, 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 (198). Protests were drawn up against the elections in the various precincts in the XIVth 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 (199). Major Rich (181) W. P. Hall, H. S. Creel. (182) B. H. Brock, C. Richardson, J. H. Whitehead, A. Larzelier, C. W. W. Stewart, H. S. Creel. (183) A. A. Jamieson, W. P. Stewart, H. S. Creel. (184) W. P. Richardson, C. B. Whitehead. (185) A. A. Jamieson, B. Harding, A. Larzelier, C. W. Stewart. (186) S. P. Richardson, J. H. Whitehead, W. P. Hall, Thos. W. Watterson, J. P. Blair. (187) W. P. Richardson, G. W. Gillespie. (188) Richard Tuck, Eli Hamilton, John Landis, Luther Dickerson, J. W. Beattie, David Fizer. (189) R. Tuck, L. Dickerson, J. W. Beattie. (190) R. Tuck, E. Hamil ton, J. Landis. (191) R. Tuck, E. Hamilton, David Fizer. (192) R. Tuck. (193) R. Tuck, E. Hamilton, J. Landis, L. Dickerson. (194) John Landis. (195) R. Tuck, John Landis. (196) E. Hamilton, J. F. Foreman. (197 E. Hamilton. (198) Dr. G. A. Cutler. (199) Dr. G. A. Cutler, John Landis, A. A. Jamieson. on all present to use no harsh words, and expressed the hope that nothing would be said or done to harm 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. Col. Burns recommended all to vote, and he hoped 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-because reflection convinced them that it would be better to have Kansas a Free "I am State-they "fell over the fence" (204). The (200) Dr. G. A. Cutler. (201) J. R. Craus. (202) E.. R. Zimmerman. (203) E. R. Zimmerman, Cogs Potter. (204) E. R. Zimmerman. a credited rumor previously 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 in the censusrolls, and the testimony shows that a small portion, estimated by one witness at one-quarter of the legal voters, voted. Your Committee estimate the number of legal voters at 80. One of the judges referred to, certified 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 fare no better. XVITH DISTRICT. And one of the members (218) of the Council, R. R. Rees, 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 (219); and no newly-arrived Eastern emigrants were there (220). The Free-State Judge of Election refused to sign the returns until the words "by lawful resident voters" were stricken out, which was done, and the returns made in that way (221). The election was contested, and a new election ordered by Gov. Reeder for the 22d of May. The testimony is divided as to the relative strength of parties in this district. The whole number of voters in the district, according to the census returns, was 385; and, according to a very carefully-prepared list of voters, prepared for the Pro-Slavery candidates and other Pro-Slavery men, a few days previous to the including those who had claims but did not live on them (222). The whole number of votes cast was 964. Of these named in the census 106 voted. Your Committee, upon careful examination, are satisfied that there were not over 150 legal votes cast, leaving 814 illegal votes. For some time previous to the election, meet-election, there were 305 voters in the district, ings were held and arrangements made in Missouri to get up companies to come over to the Territory and vote (205), and the day before and on the day of election, large bodies of Missourians from Platte, Clay, Ray, Charlton, Carrol, Clinton, and Saline Counties, Mo., came into this district and camped there (206). They were armed with pistols and bowie-knives, and some with guns and rifles (207), and had badges of hemp in their button-holes and elsewhere about their persons (208). On the morning of the election there were from 1,000 to 1,400 persons present on the ground (209). Previous to the election, Missourians endeavored to persuade the two Free-State judges to resign by making threats of personal violence to them (210), one of whom resigned on the morning of election, and the crowd chose another to fill his place (211). 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 offered to vote, but that all on the ground were entitled to vote (212). The only votes refused were some Delaware Indians, some 30 Wyandot Indians being allowed to vote (213). One of the Free-State candidates withdrew in consequence of the presence of the Missourians, amid cheering and acclamations by the Missourians (214). During the day, the steamboat New Lucy came down from Western Missouri, with a large number of Missourians on board, who voted and then returned on the boat (215). 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 (216). Some of the candidates and many of the Missourians took the ground that, under the Kansas-Nebraska act, all who were on the ground on the day of election were entitled to vote (217), and others, that laying out a town, staking a lot, or driving down stakes, even on an other man's claim, gave them a right to vote. (205) H. Miles Moore, A. McAuley, L. Kerr. (206) David Brown, T. A. Hart, G. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, A. Russell, P. R. Orr. L. J. Eastin, A. Fisher. M. France, H. M. Moore. (207) D. Brown, E. A. Hart, G. F. War ren, A. Fisher, H. M. Moore, W. G. Matthias. (208) F. A. Hart, L. J. Eastin, M. France, W. H. Adams, H. M. Moore. (209) F. A. Hart, T. A. Minard, G. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, A. J. Pattie, W. G. Matthias. (210) D. Brown, M. France. (211) D. Brown, F. A. Hart, M. France. (212) M. France. (213) M. France. (214) F. A. Hart, L. J. Farin, W. H. Adams. (215) D. Brown, F. A. Hart, T. A. Minard, G. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, S. J. Bastin, A. T. Kyle, D. J. Johnson, M. France, A. T. Pattie, H. M. Moore. (216) H. R. Rees, L. J. Eastin, W H. Adams, H. M. Moore. (217) D. Brown, T. A. Minard, G. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, H. M. Moore. XVIITH DISTRICT. The election in this district seems to have been fairly conducted, and not contested at all. In this district the Pro-Slavery party had the majority. XVIIITH DISTRICT. and then Previous to the election, Gen. David R. Atchison of Platte City, Mo., got up a company of Missourians, and passing through Weston, Mo., (223) went over into the Territory. He remained all night at the house of exhibited his arms, of which he had an abundance. He proceeded to the Nemohaer (XVIIIth) District (224). On his way, he and his party at tended a Nominating Convention in the XIVth District, and proposed and caused to be nomin ated a set of candidates in opposition to the wishes of the Pro-Slavery residents of the district (225). At that Convention he said that there were 1,100 men coming over from Platte County, and if that wasn't enough they could send 5,000 more-that they came to vote, and would vote or kill every G-d d-d Abolitionist in the Territory (226). On the day of election, the Missourians under Atchison, who were encamped there, came up to the polls in the XVIIIth District, taking the oath that they were residents of the district. The Missourians were all armed with pistols or bowie-knives, and said there were 60 in their company (227). But 17 votes given on that day were given by residents of the district (228). The whole number of votes was 62. R. L. Kirk, one of the candidates, came into the district from Missouri about a week before the election, and boarded there (229). He left after the election, and was not at the time a legal resident of the district in which he was elected. No protest was sent to the Governor on account of threats made against any who should dare to contest the election (230). 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 (218) D. Brown. T. A. Hart. (219) D. Brown, E. A. Minard, G. F Warren, F. A. Hart, M. France, H. M. Moore. (220) L. J. Eastin, M. France, W. H. Adams. (221) L. J. Eastin. M. France, W. H. Adams. (222) L. J. Eastin, A. McAuley. (223) H. Niles Moore. (224) Dr. G. A. Cutler, Amer Groom. (225) Dr. G. A. Cutler. (226) Dr. G. A. Cutler. (227) D. H. Baker, John Belew. (228) D. H. Baker, John Beiew. (229) John Belew. (230) Dr. G. A. Cutler. ABSTRACT OF CENSUS, AND RETURNS OF ELECTION OF MARCH 30, 1855, BY ELECTION DISTRICTS. Your Committee report the following facts | IIId, IVth, and VIth, council-districts. The resul not shown by the tables: Of the twenty-nine hundred and five voters named in the census-rolls, eight hundred and thirty-one 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 IId and VIIIth districts were lost; but the proof is quite clear that, in the IId district, there were thirty, and in the VIIIth district thirty-eight legal votes, making a total of eight hundred and ninety-eight legal voters of the Territory, whose names are on the censusreturns, and yet the proof, in the state in which we are obliged to present it, after excluding illegal votes, leaves the total vote of 1,310, showing a discrepancy of 412. The discrepancy is accounted for in two ways: First, the coming in of settlers before the March election, and after the census was taken, or settlers who were omitted in the census; or secondly, the disturbed state of the Territory while we were investigating the elections in some of the districts, thereby preventing us from getting testimony in relation to the names of legal 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 out-vote them, the testimony indicates that the council would have been composed of seven in favor of making Kansas a Free State, elected from the Ist, IId, in the VIIIth, and Xth, electing three members, would have been doubtful, and the Vth, VIIth, and IXth would have elected three Pro-Slavery members. Under like circumstances the House of Representatives would have been composed of fourteen members in favor of making Kansas & Free State, elected from the IId, IIId, IVth, Vth, VIIth, VIIIth, IXth, and Xth representativedistricts. The result in the XIIth and XIVth representative-districts, electing five members, would have been doubtful, and the Ist, VIth, XIth, and XVth districts would have elected seven ProSlavery members. By the election, as conducted, the ProSlavery candidates in every district but the VIIIth representative-district, received a majority of the votes; and several of them, in both the Council and the House, did not "reside in" and were not "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 regulate their domestic institutions in their own way, subject to the Constitution 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 restriction against Slavery imposed by the Missouri Compromise. And yet this right, so carefully secured, was thus by force and fraud overthrown by a portion of the people of an adjoining State. The striking difference between this Repub. lic and other Republics on this Continent, is not in the provisions of Constitutions and laws, but that here changes in the administration of |