Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/561

The Sharps Rifle Episode in Kansas History 551 The census taken under his direction in February, 1855, gave the total number of voters in the territory as 2,905.' On March 30, 1855, occurred the election for members to both branches of the territorial legislature. This election was of su- preme importance. A committee appointed by Congress to in- vestigate it reported that with a fair election the free-state party would have had a majority in both branches.^ But unprincipled leaders, at the head of a motley, unwashed mob of rufifiians, drunk with bad whisky and armed with cannon and every varietv of small arms, overran the border and turned impending defeat into a glorious victory, electing to the legislature every pro-slavcrv candidate save one. Out of a total of 6,307 votes,' 4,908 were cast by residents of Missouri. The upholders of slavery were jubilant : the friends of freedom- dismayed. The second Missouri invasion left Kansas prostrate and com- pletely in the hands of the pro-slavery power. According to the dominant crowd at Washington, squatter sovereignty was working successfully. But the free-state settlers indicated no intention of giving up the field. Robinson, prompt in action, boldly proposed to repudiate the " bogus " legislature, arm the free-state people, and defend the sacred rights of the citizens of Kansas. On April 2. only three days after the election, Robinson wrote to Eli Thayer.* de- scribing very completely the Missouri outrages, and appealed for Our people have now formed themselves into four military com- panies, and will meet to drill till they have perfected themselves in the art. Also, companies are being formed in other places, and we want arms. Give us the weapons and every man from the North will be a soldier and die in his tracks if necessary, to protect and defend our rights. . . . Cannot your secret society send us 200 Sharps rifles as a loan till this question is settled? Also a couple of field-pieces? If they will do that, I think they will be ivell used, and preserved. I have given our people encouragement to expect something of the kind, and hope we shall not be disappointed. Please inform me what the prospect is in this direction. If the Governor sets this election aside, we of course must have another, and shall need to be up and dressed. In great haste. Very respectfully, C. Robinson. To Hon. Eli Thayer, Worcester, Mass. ' Serial 86c ), 34 Cong., I Sess., Ho 2/&1J., 34. '/fcuf., 30. • Blackmar , Life of Robinson, pp.