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.
