they immediately started for home (59). On | a short time, when Mr. Jones marched with the their way home they said that if Governor crowd up to the window, and demanded that they Reeder did not sanction the election, they would hang him (60).

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 exposed, as were the arms of the Missourians (61). 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 (62). The Pro-Slavery men of the District attended the nominating Conventions of the Free-State men, and voted for, and secured the nominations of, the men they considered the most obnoxious to the Free-State party, in order to cause dissension in that party (63).

should be allowed to vote without swearing as to their residence (68). After some noisy and threatening talk Claiborne F.Jackson addressed the crowd, saying they ha I 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 (69). Jackson then called upon them to form into little bands of fifteen or twenty, which they did (70), and went to an ox-wagon filled with guns, which were distributed among them (71), and proceeded to load some of them on the ground (72). In pursuance of Jackson's request, they tied white tape or ribbons in their buttonholes, so as to distinguish them from the Quite a number of settlers came into the Dis-"Abolitionists" (73). They again demanded that trict before the day of election, and after the the Judges should resign, and upon their refuscensus was taken (64). According to the census ing to do so, smashed in the window, sash and returns, there were then in the District 369 legal all, and presented their pistols and guns to them, voters. Of those whose names are on the census threatening to shoot them (74). Some one on the returns, 177 are to be found on the poll-books of outside cried out to them not to shoot, as there the 30th of March, 1855. Messrs. Ladd, Babcock, were Pro-Slavery men in the room with the and Pratt, testify to 55 names on the poll-books Judges (75). They then put a pry under the corof persons they knew to have settled in the Dis- ner of the house, which was a log house, and trict after the census was taken and before the lifted it up a few inches and let it fall again (76), election. A number of persons came into the but desisted upon being told there were ProTerritory in March, before the election, from the Slavery men in the house. During this time the northern and eastern States, intending to settle, crowd repeatedly demanded to be allowed to vote who were in Lawrence on the day of election. without being sworn, and Mr. Ellison, one of the At that time, many of them had selected no Judges, expressed himself willing, but the other claims, and had no fixed place of residence. two Judges refused (77); thereupon a body of Such were not entitled to vote. Many of them men, headed by "Sheriff Jones," rushed into became dissatisfied with the country. Others the Judges' room with cocked pistols and drawn were disappointed in its political condition, and bowie-knives in their hands, and approached at the price and demand for labor, and returned. Burson and Ramsay (78). Jones pulled out his Whether any such voted at the election, is not watch, and said he would give them five minutes clearly shown, but from the proof, it is probable to resign in, or die (79). When the five mithat in the latter part of the day, after the great nutes had expired and the Judges did not resign, body of the Missourians had voted, some did go Jones said he would give them another minute, to the polls. The number was not over 50. These and no more (80). Ellison told his associates voted the Free-State ticket. The whole number that if they did not resign, there would be one of names appearing upon the poll-lists is 1,034. hundred shots fired in the room in less than After full examination, we are satisfied that not fifteen minutes (81); and then, snatching up the over 232 of these were legal voters, and 802 were ballot-box, ran out into the crowd, holding up non-resident and illegal voters. This District is the ballot-box and hurrahing for Missouri (82). strongly in favor of making Kansas a Free State, About that time Burson and Ramsay were called and there is no doubt that the Free-State candi- out by their friends, and not suffered to return dates for the legislature would have been elected (83). As Mr. Burson went out, he put the ballot by large majorities, if none but the actual settlers poll-books in his pocket, and took them with him had voted. At the preceding election in Novem- (84); and as he was going out, Jones snatched ber, 1854, where none but legal voters were some papers away from him (85), and shortly polled, General Whitfield, who received the full afterward came out himself holding them up, strength of the Pro-Slavery party (65), got but crying "hurrah for Missouri" (86). After he dis46 votes. covered they were not the poll-books, he took a party of men with him and started off to take the poll-books from Burson (87). Mr. Burson saw them coming, and he gave the books to Mr. Umberger, and told him to start off in another direction, so as to mislead Jones and his party (88). Jones and his party caught Mr. Umberger, took the poll-books away from him, and Jones

II. DISTRICT-BLOOMINGTON.

On the morning of election, the Judges appointed by the Governor appeared and opened the polls. Their names were Harrison Burson, Nathaniel Ramsay, and Mr. Ellison. The Missourians began to come in early in the morning, some 500 or 600 of them, in wagons and carriages, (68) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. and on horseback, under the lead of Samuel J. G. Macey, H. Muzzy, Wm. Jessee, John A. Wakefield. Jones, then Postmaster of Westport, Missouri, (69) J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, J. S. Wakefield. Claiborne F. Jackson, and Mr. Steely, of Inde- (70) E. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefield. (71) J. M. Dunn, pendence, Mo. They were armed with double-J. C. Dunn, A. White. (72) E. G. Macey. (73) J. M. barreled guns, rifles, bowie-knives and pistols, and had flags hoisted (66). They held a sort of informal election, off at one side, at first for Governor of Kansas, and shortly afterward announced Thomas Johnson of Shawnee Missions, elected Governor (67). The polls had been opened but

(59) S. N. Wood. (60) Gaius Jenkins. (61) E. D. Ladd. (62) E. D. Ladd. (63) A. B. Wade. (64) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, C. W. Babcock, Charles Robinson, Lyman Allen, J. M. Banks. (65) James Whitlock. (66) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, James M. Dunn, Andrew White, Dr. E. G. Macey, H. Muzzy, Wm. Jossee, John A. Wakefield. (67) E. G. Macey.

Dunn, J. N. Mace, A. White, F. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefield. (74) H. Burson, N. Ramsay. (75) J. C. Dunn. (76) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. W. Mace, J. C. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, H. Muzzy, 8. Jones, J. A. Wakefield. (77) J. C. Dun, (78) H. Burson, N. Ramsay. (79) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. C. Dunn, H. Muzzy, W. Jessee. (80) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, H. Muzzy. (81) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. N. Macey, H. Muzzy, W. Jessee, S. Jones, J. A. Wakefield. (82) H Burson, J. C. Dunn. (83) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. C. Dunn, A. White, H. Muzzy, Wm. Jessee. (84) H. Burson, Wm. Jessee. (85) H. Burson. (86) H. Burson, J. M. Dunn, E. G. Macey, Wm. Jessee. (87) H. Burson, N. Ramsay. (88) II. Bursou, A. White, G. W. Umberger, Wm Jessee.

took him up behind him on a horse, and carried him back a prisoner (89). After Jones and his party had taken Umberger back, they went to the house of Mr. Ramsay and took Judge John A. Wakefield prisoner, and carried him to the place of election (90), and made him get up on a wagon and make them a speech; after which they put a white ribbon in his button-hole and let him go (91). They then chose two new Judges, and proceeded with the election (92).

They also threatened to kill the Judges if they did not receive their votes without swearing them, or else resign (92). They said no man should vote who would submit to be sworn-that they would kill any one who would offer to do so"shoot him," "cut his guts out," etc. (93). They said no man should vote this day unless he voted an open ticket, and was "all right on the goose," (94), and that if they could not vote by fair means, they would by foul means (95). They said they had as much right to vote, if they had been in the Territory two minutes, as if they had been there for two years, and they would vote (96). Some of the citizens who were about the window, but had not voted when the crowd of Missourians marched up there, upon attempting to vote, were driven back by the mob, or driven off (97). One of them, Mr. J. M. Macey, was 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 d-d nigger thief," "Cut his throat," "Tear his heart out," etc. After they got him to the outside of the crowd, they stood around him with cocked revolvers and drawn bowie-knives, one man putting a knife to his heart, so that it touched him, another holding a cocked pistol to his ear, while another struck at him with a club (98). The Missourians said they had a right to vote if they had been in the Territory but five minutes (99). Some said they had been hired to come there and vote, and get a dollar a day, and, by G-d, they would vote or die there (100).

They said the 30th day of March was an important day, as Kansas would be made a Slave State on that day (101). They began to leave in the direction of Missouri in the afternoon, after they had voted (102), leaving some thirty or forty around the house where the election was held, to guard the polls until after the election was over (103). The citizens of the Territory were not around, except those who took part in the mob (104), and a large portion of them did not vote (105); 341 votes were polled there that day, of which but some thirty were citizens (106). A protest against the election was made to the Gov. ernor (107). The returns of the election made to the Governor were lost by the Committee of Elections of the Legislature at Pawnee (108). The duplicate returns left in the ballot box were taken by F. E. Laley, one of the Judges elected by the Missourians, and were either lost or de

(89) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, A. White, G. W. Umberger, E. C. Macey, Wm. Jessee, J. A. Wakefield. (90) N. Ramsay, J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, G. W. Umberger, Wm. Jessee, J. A. Wakefield. (91) E. G. Macey, G. W. Umberger, J. A. Wakefield. (92) F. Lahey. (92) J. C. Dunn, Wm. Jessee, J. Jones. (93) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. M. Dunn. J. N. Mace, A. White, E. G. Macey, W. Jessee. (94) N. Ramsay. (95) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. M. Dunn. (96) J. M. Dunn. (97) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, Wm. Jessee, J. N. Macey. (98) J. N. Macey, H. Muzzy. (99) J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefield. (100) J. M. Dunn, J. C. Dunn, A. White. (101) N. Ramsay. (102) J. C. Dunn, A. White. (103) A. White. (104) H. Burson. (105) H. Burson, J. N. Mace, H. Muzzy, Wm. Jessee, J. A. Wakefield. (106) H. Burson. (107) 8. Jones, J. A. Wakefield. (108) Daniel Wood

man.

stroyed in his house (109), so that your Committee have been unable to institute a comparison between the poll-lists and census returns of this district. The testimony, however, is uniform, that not even thirty of those who voted there that day were entitled to vote, leaving 311 illega 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.

IIID DISTRICT-TECUMSEH.

On the 28th of March, persons from Clay, Jackson, and Howard Counties, Mo., began to come into Tecumseh, in wagons, carriages and on horseback, armed with guns, bowie-knives, and revolvers; and, with threats, encamped close by the town, and continued coming until the day of election (110). The night before the election 200 men were sent for from the camp of Missourians at Lawrence (111). On the morning of the election, before the polls were opened, some 300 or 400 Missourians and others were collected in the yard about the house of Thomas Stinson, where the election was to be held, armed with bowieknives, revolvers, and clubs (112). They said they came to vote, and whip the damned Yankees, and would vote without being sworn (113). Some said they came to have a fight and wanted one (114). Col. Samuel H. Woodson of Independence, Mo., was in the room of the Judges when they arrived, preparing poll-books and tally-lists, and remained there during their attempts to organize (114). The room of the Judges was also filled by many of the strangers (115). The Judges could not agree concerning the oath to be taken by themselves and the oath to be administered to the voters, Mr. Burgess desiring to administer the oath prescribed by the Governor and the other two Judges opposing it (116). During this discussion between the Judges, which lasted some time, the crowd outside became excited and noisy, threatening and cursing Mr. Burgess, the Free-State Judge (117). 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 organize in or leave; 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 (118). At the end of that time, the Judges not being able to organize, left the room and the crowd proceeded to elect nine Judges and carry on the election (119). The Free-State men generally left the ground without voting, stating that there was no use in their voting there (120). The polls were so crowded during the first part of the day that the citizens could not get up to the window to vote (121). Threats were made against the Free-State men (122). In the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Gispatrick was attacked and driven off by the mob. 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 in the afternoon and overpower them, and thus closed, for fear the abolitionists would come there they would lose all their trouble.

For making an affidavit in a protest against this

(109) F. E. Laley. (110) W. A. M. Vaughan, M. J. J. Mitchell, John Long. (111) H. B. Burgess. (112) The Rev. H. B. Burgess, Charles Jordan, James Hickey, L. O. Wilworth, D. H. Howe, J. M. Merrian, W. R. Baggs, W. A M. Vaughn. (113) John Long, L. O. Wilworth. George Holmes. (114) L. O. Wilworth. (115) A. W. Burgess. (116) H. B. Burgess, George Holmes. (117) H. B. Burgess, John Long, D. H. Horne. (118) H. B. Burgess, Charles Jordan, H. D. Horne. (119) H. B. Burgess, Charles Jordan, J. M. Merrian, Geo. Holmes. (120) H. B. Burgess, C. Jordan, J. M. Merrian. (121) L. O. Wilworth. (122) C. Jordan.

the election, the polls for Bull Creek precinc were opened, and, without swearing the Judges, they proceeded to receive the votes of all who of fered to vote. For the sake of appearance they would get some one to come to the window and offer to vote, and when asked to be sworn he would pretend to grow 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 perfectly understood by the Judges (138). But few of the residents of the district were present at the election, and only thirteen voted (139). The number of votes cast in the precinct was 393.

election, setting forth the facts, Mr. Burgess was indicted by the Grand Jury for perjury, which in dictment 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 (123). A large ma jority, four to one, of the actual settlers of that district were Free State men (124), and there cannot be the least doubt, if none but the actual settlers of the district had voted at that election, that the Free-State candidate would have been elected. The number of legal votes in the district, according to the census returns, was 101. The total number of votes cast was 372, and of these but thirty-two are on the returns, and from the testimony and records, we One Missourian voted for himself and then are satisfied that not over forty legal votes were voted for his little son, but 10 or 11 years old cast at that election. A body of armed Missou- (140). Col. Coffer, Henry Younger and Mr. Lyrians came into the district previous to the elec-kins, who were voted for and elected to the Letion, and encamped there (125). Before the time gislature, were residents of Missouri at the time arrived for opening the polls, the Missourians (141). Col. Coffer subsequently married in the went to another than the town appointed for the Territory. After the polls were closed the reelection; and one of the Judges appointed by the turns were made, and a man, claiming to be a Governor, and two chosen by the Missourians, magistrate, certified on them that he had sworn proceeded to open the polls and carry on the the Judges of Election before opening the polls election (126). The Missourians said none but (142). In the Potawatamie precinct the MissouPro-Slavery men should vote, and threatened to rians attended the election, and after threatening shoot any Free-State man who should come up Mr. Chesnut, the only Judge present appointed to vote (127). Mr. Mockbee, one of the judges by the Governor, to induce him to resign, they elected by the Missourians, had a store near the proceeded to elect two other Judges-one a boundary fixed by the proclamation of the Missourian and the other a resident of another Governor, while he cultivated a farm in Missouri, precinct of that District. The polls were then where his family lived (128), and where his legal opened, and all the Missourians were allowed to residence was then and is now. The Missourians vote without being sworn. also held a side-election for governor of the Territory, voting for Thomas Johnson of Shawnee Mission (129). The Free-State men finding the polls under the control of the non-residents, refused to, and did not, vote (130). They constituted a decided majority of the actual settlers (131). A petition signed by a majority of the residents of the district was sent to the Governor (132). The whole number of voters in this district, according to the census returns, was forty-seven; the number of votes cast was eighty, of whom but fifteen were residents, the number of residents whose names are on the census-rolls, who did not vote, was thirty-two.

For some days prior to the election, companies of men were organized in Jackson, Cass, and Clay counties, Mo., for the purpose of coming to the Territory and voting in this Vth district (133). The day previous to the election, some 400 or 500 Missourians, armed with guns, pistols, and knives, came into the Territory and camped, some at Bull Creek, and others at Potawatamie Creek (134.) Their camps were about sixteen miles apart. On the evening before the election, Judge Hamilton of the Cass County Court, Mo., came from the Potawatamie Creek camp to Bull Creek for sixty more Missourians, as they had not enough there to render the election certain, and about that number went down there with him (135). On the evening before the election, Dr. B. C. Westfall was elected to act as one of the Judges of Election in the Bull Creek precinct, in place of one of the Judges appointed by the Governor, who, it was said, would not be there the next day (136). Dr. Westfall was at that time a citizen of Jackson county, Mo. (137). On the morning of

(123) H. B. Burgess. (124) H. B. Burgess. (125) Perry Fuller, Peter Bassinger. (126) Perry Fuller, Wm. Moore, J. F. Javens. (127) J. F. Javens.

(128) Wm. Moore, J. F. Javens, Thomas Mockbee. (129) Perry Fuller, William Moore. (130) Perry Ful ler, Wm. Moore, J. F. Javens, T. Mockbee. (131) Perry Fuller, Wm. Moore, J. F. Javens. (132) Perry Fuller, J. F. Javens. (133) Dr. B. C. Westfall, Joseph M. Gearhort. (134) Dr. B. C. Westfall, Jessee W. Wilson, J. M. Gearhart. (135) Dr. B. C. Westfall. (186) Dr. B. C. Westfall. (137) Dr. B. Westfall, J. W. Wilson.

After the polls were closed, and the returns made out for the signature of the Judges, Mr. Chesnut refused to sign them, as he did not consider them correct returns of legal voters.

Col. Coffer, a resident of Missouri, but elected to the Kansas Legislature from that District at that election, endeavored with others to induce Mr. Chesnut by threats to sign the returns, which he refused to do, and left the House. On his way home he was fired at by some Missourians, though not injured (143). There were three illegal to one legal vote given there that day (144). At the Big Layer 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 been received, a party of Missourians 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 admitted 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. Young, a citizen of Missouri, but a candidate for, and elected to, the Territorial Legislative Council, was present and voted in the precinct. He claimed that all Missourians who were present on the day of election were entitled to vote. But thirty or forty of the citi zens of the precinct were present, and many of them did not vote (145). At the Little Sugar precinct, the election seemed to have been conducted fairly, and there a Free-State majority was polled (146). From the testimony, the whole District appears to have been largely Free-State, and had none but actual settlers voted, the FreeState candidates 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 Missourians said they came there to vote for, and secure the election of, Major Wm. P. Richardson (177). Major Richardson, elected to the Council, had had a farm in Missouri, where his wife and daughter lived with his sonPrevious to the day of election, several hun-in-law, Willard P. Hall, he himself generally dreds of Missourians from Platte, Clay, Boone, Clinton, and Howard counties, came into the district in wagons and on horseback, and camped there (158). They were armed with guns, revolvers, and bowie-knives, and had badges of hemp in their button-holes and elsewhere about their