The Removal of Governor Reeder. Governor Reeder had refused to accede to all the demands of the proslavery people, and had fallen into disfavor with them. When he refused to sign some of their measures they petitioned the President for his removal, which soon followed. Governor Reeder’s administration had lasted through less than a year of these troublous times. In the summer of 1855, with the Territory little more than a year old, the people were divided into two bitter factions, proslavery and free-state, with the proslavery people congratulating themselves upon being rid of a Governor they could not control, upon having the support of the President, and upon having a Legislature unanimously proslavery. Daniel Woodson, the Territorial Secretary, who now became Acting Governor, approved the acts of the proslavery Legislature.

Gloomy Outlook for the Free-state People. These were dark days for the free-state people; they had no hand in the Government and no recognition in the laws of the Territory. They were denounced, misrepresented, and ridiculed. To add to the gloom of the situation, the new Territorial Governor, Wilson Shannon, at first entirely ignored the existence of free-state citizens. No community could obey the slave laws passed by the “Bogus Legislature” without becoming proslavery. But the free-state people had no intention of becoming proslavery; they had no intention of giving up the struggle. They found themselves confronted with the question of what was to be done. It was a very grave situation.

SUMMARY

The first Territorial Governor, Andrew H. Reeder, arrived in October, 1854. After a tour of inspection, he called an election to choose a Territorial delegate to Congress. Although there were probably enough proslavery settlers to carry the election, the Missourians, to make sure, came over in force, and elected their candidate with an overwhelming majority. Another election was called in March to choose members of a Territorial Legislature. The Missourians came again, and although the census had shown but 3000 voters in Kansas there were twice that number of ballots cast. On proof of fraud Governor Reeder threw out the contested returns and free-state men were elected, but when the Legislature met the proslavery majority unseated them and recognized those first elected. Pawnee was chosen by the Governor as the Territorial capital, but after five days the Legislature adjourned to Shawnee Mission. The measures passed were entirely in the interest of slavery. Although Governor Reeder came to Kansas favoring slavery, he did not approve of the methods of the proslavery people. He was removed in July, 1855. He was replaced by Wilson Shannon, who was in full sympathy with slavery interests. Every condition was unfavorable to the free-state people at this time.

REFERENCES

QUESTIONS

1. How is a Territory governed?

2. Who was the first Territorial Governor of Kansas? How long did he serve? What was his attitude toward slavery?

3. What were the conditions in Kansas when the first Governor arrived? How far west did settlements reach at that time?