登陆注册
5197600000035

第35章 "BLEEDING KANSAS"(3)

Reeder, a Pennsylvania Democrat of strong pro-slavery prejudices, was appointed first Governor of the Territory.When he arrived in Kansas in October, 1854, there were already several thousand settlers on the ground and others were continually arriving.He appointed the 29th of November for the election of a delegate to Congress.On that day several hundred Missourians came into the Territory and voted.There was no violence and no contest; the free-state men had no separate candidate.Notwithstanding the violence of language used by opposing factions, notwithstanding the organization of secret societies pledged to drive out all Northern intruders, there was no serious disturbance until March 30, 1855, the day appointed for the election of members of the territorial Legislature.On that day the Missourians came full five thousand strong, armed with guns, bowie-knives, and revolvers.They met with no resistance from the residents, who were unarmed.They took charge of the precincts and chose pro-slavery delegates with one exception.Governor Reeder protested and recommended to the precincts the filing of protests.Only seven responded, however, and in these cases new elections were held and contesting delegates elected.

The Governor issued certificates to these and to all those who in other precincts had been chosen by the horde from Missouri.When the Legislature met in July, the seven contests were decided in favor of the pro-slavery party, the single freestate member resigned, and the assembly was unanimous.

Governor Reeder fully expected that President Pierce would nullify the election, and to this end he made a journey to Washington in April.On the way he delivered a public address at Easton, Pennsylvania, describing in lurid colors the outrage which had been perpetrated upon the people of Kansas by the "border ruffians" from Missouri, and asserting that the accounts in the Northern press had not been exaggerated.

While Governor Reeder in contact with the actual events in Kansas was becoming an active Free-Boiler, President Pierce in association with Jefferson Davis and others of his party was developing active sympathies with the people of western Missouri.

To the President this invasion of territory west of the slave State by Northern men aided by Northern corporations seemed a violation of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and he sought to induce Reeder to resign.This, however, the Governor positively refused to do unless the President would formally approve his conduct in Kansas--an endorsement which required more fortitude than President Pierce possessed.On his return to Kansas, determined to do what he could to protect the Kansas people from injustice, he called the Legislature to meet at Pawnee, a point far removed from the Missouri border.Immediately upon their organization at that place the members of the Legislature adjourned to meet at Shawnee, near the border of Missouri.The Governor, who decided that this action was illegal, then refused to recognize the Assembly at the new place.A deadlock thus ensued which was broken on the 15th of August by the removal of Governor Reeder and the appointment of Wilson Shannon of Ohio in his place.

In the meantime the territorial Legislature had adjourned, having "enacted" an elaborate proslavery code made up from the slave code of Missouri with a number of special adaptations.For example, it was made a penitentiary offense to deny by speaking or writing, or by printing, or by introducing any printed matter, the right of persons to hold slaves in the Territory; no man was eligible to jury service who was conscientiously opposed to holding slaves; and lawyers were bound by oath to support the territorial statutes.

The free-state men, with the approval of Reeder, refused to recognize the Legislature and inaugurated a movement in the fall of 1855 to adopt a constitution and to organize a provisional territorial Government preparatory to admission as a State, following in this respect the procedure in California and Michigan.A convention met in Topeka in October, 1855, and completed on the 11th of November the draft of a constitution which prohibited slavery.On the 15th of December the constitution was approved by a practically unanimous vote, only free-state men taking part in the election.A month later a Legislature was elected and at the same time Charles Robinson was elected Governor of the new commonwealth.In the previous October, Reeder had been chosen Free-soil delegate to Congress.

The Topeka freestate Legislature met on the 4th of March, 1856, and after petitioning Congress to admit Kansas under the Topeka constitution, adjourned until the 4th of July pending the action of Congress.Thus at the end of two years two distinct Governments had come into existence within the Territory of Kansas.It speaks volumes for the self-control and moderation of the two parties that no hostile encounter had occurred between the contestants.When the armed Missourians came in March, 1855, the unarmed settlers offered no resistance.Afterward, however, they supplied themselves with Sharp's rifles and organized a militia.With the advent of Governor Shannon in September, 1855, the proslavery position was much strengthened.In November, in a quarrel over a land claim, a free-state settler by the name of Dow was killed.The murderer escaped, but a friend of the victim was accused of uttering threats against a friend of the murderer.

For this offense a posse led by Sheriff Jones, a Missourian, seized him, and would have carried him away if fourteen freestate men had not "persuaded" the Sheriff to surrender his prisoner.

同类推荐
  • 广动植类之四

    广动植类之四

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 笑话集

    笑话集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 十洲记

    十洲记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 本愿药师经古迹

    本愿药师经古迹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 游城南记

    游城南记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 涅磐重生之毒后

    涅磐重生之毒后

    她爱他,他恨她;她为了他,背弃了家族,助他登上皇位;他登基第一天,白家满门抄斩,却唯独留下了她;德妃欺她,将铁钉钉入她的膝盖骨,挖去她的双眼,她等着他来救....最后只等来了妖孽必死一道圣旨....上天对她不薄,她重生归来,他的冷,他的恨,他的无情,他的一旨圣意!若他要她死,她便要他万劫不复!
  • 跨越世纪嫁与你

    跨越世纪嫁与你

    “啊!!你这登徒子从何而来?为何出现在本宫主房内?!”安南葉惊讶发问,“登徒子?公主?”撞破我家房顶,偷看我洗澡,还想反咬我一口说我是什么‘登徒子?’那我就让你看看什么是登徒子!“唔…………”安南也瞪大了双眼…………梦中之人竟成真?多次的相遇,错过,只为这一次的永不分离,是巧合还是天意?让我跨越世纪也要与你再续前缘!安南葉,这一次,我再也不会放开你!
  • 跟孩子聊音乐:给家长的古典乐谈资指南

    跟孩子聊音乐:给家长的古典乐谈资指南

    《跟孩子聊音乐》这本书是作者为家长、教师和音乐爱好者写的漫谈音乐修养的优秀读物。作者以讲座的方式,用款款深情的语言,漫谈了音乐修养的基本知识,综合了知识性、趣味性和可读性等优点,且要点简明。本书共有二十五章,作者从不同方面阐述学习音乐的真谛,激发孩子们学习音乐的乐趣。这部作品虽然是写给孩子们的,但需要通过成人的引导来学习。这本书的目的是让音乐进入孩子们的内心。我们之所以不能将音乐介绍给孩子们,使他们产生并保持对音乐的兴趣,在某种程度上并不完全是因为音乐对孩子们来说太困难,而是因为我们没有充分了解孩子们的天性。
  • 我比时光更加凉薄

    我比时光更加凉薄

    那段对于聂东来说最美的时光,却是林安雪的恶梦,她从来都不懂聂东对她的喜欢,十年后再相遇!他用他的方式强势喜欢着她,对她好,赖在她身边不走,他以为她会明白自己对她的喜欢,牵牵绊绊那么多年,两人才发现一直都忘了对彼此说出那句话!情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 神兵无极

    神兵无极

    天地无极,神兵辈出,得神兵者得天下!看叶屹然如何在这万恶的修真界拼杀,并一步一步走向巅峰……“我是天才?”“当然!”“我天下无敌?”“当然!”“当然个屁!昨天遇到天灵根那家伙还追着我打呢!”“老大不过是不想跟他一般见识罢了!哈哈”“……”叶屹然不再理会溜须拍马的小弟,旋即爱抚着手中的两把神兵,像爱惜自己一般的爱惜着它们……望江楼年度经典仙侠之作。
  • 科技大爆发

    科技大爆发

    文明浩劫来临,一枚承载未来希望的芯片被传送回过去,小人物白小凡偶然融合了这枚芯片,神州大地的工业科技正在悄然腾飞……纳米研究遭遇惊天变故,外星文明使用纳米锁斩断了地球的科学研究,一只触手悄然无声的向地球伸来……
  • 大宋帝国三百年:赵匡胤时间(上)

    大宋帝国三百年:赵匡胤时间(上)

    举目四顾,豺狼遍地,有王法管不住的藩镇,有分庭抗礼的藩镇,有垂垂欲动的藩镇,更有契丹铁骑的肆意掠劫,当时朝廷虽在,天下已亡。公元927年至公元951年,大宋前三十年,是中国历史的暗黑年代。了解这三十年,就明白何为野蛮与残暴,就明白大宋王朝为何被称为文明盛世。大宋立国前三十年是豺狼纵横、铁骑肆虐的兵场,是藩镇割据、分庭抗礼,阴谋与残暴罪行的发生地,是文明沦丧、道义尽失,让世人噩梦不断的炼狱。大宋立国前三十年的历史,就是一部篡逆成灾的动乱史,一部被鲜血与悲情遮蔽的中国人的苦难史。了解这三十年历史,看清五代乱世的因果,就明白大宋帝国的由来,明白赵匡胤建构并推演大宋文明的良苦用心……
  • 男人一生要做的50件事

    男人一生要做的50件事

    如果你现在还没有生活的目标,还不确定自己的责任所在,那就拿出纸写下你的梦想和计划,为自己的人生列出一份清单,然后照着这份清单去努力地实现自己的梦想、完成自己设定的计划。
  • 惊梦无眠夜

    惊梦无眠夜

    自编自创诗集,依据自己的亲身经历,有感而发,包括喜怒哀乐的经典诗句,让读者别有一番韵味。一部对过往的依旧恋曲。
  • 神是坐在后面的女高中生

    神是坐在后面的女高中生

    信奉无神论的高尾在机缘巧合之下遭遇了成为时空之神的同班女高中生黑崎,因此得知这个世界不仅有神的存在,而且神们,居然全是女!高!中!生!不愿相信这个设定的高尾试图撇清与神的距离,却在种种麻烦之中卷入了神界的纷扰,上演了一次又一次啼笑皆非的人神喜剧。搞笑吐槽玩梗恋爱青春日常轻小说现在火力全开。新人新书,刚刚签约,还请多多支持。ps:欢迎加入书友群,群号:711364553