LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL ANNALS, Part 2

1863.

The Third State Legislature - Thomas Carney, Governor, met January 13, adjourned March 3. President of the Senate, Thomas A. Osborn; Speaker of the House, Josiah Kellogg. The most important acts passed were as follows: A joint resolution, accepting the act of Congress giving land for an agricultural college; establishing the agricultural college in Riley County, provided that the trustees of Bluemont College cede it land to the State in fee simple; an act for the government of the agricultural college; providing for the selection of college lands; granting to Prof. P. A. Emery a salary for teaching the deaf and dumb; procuring temporary buildings for State officers; making unorganized counties municipal townships; providing for an insane asylum at Osawatomie; providing for the building of a penitentiary; establishing a State Normal School at Emporia; establishing the State University at Lawrence.

The Agricultural College was organized July 27, and, on September 2, the first term commenced.

The Republican State Committee met at Leavenworth October 8, and nominated Robert Crozier for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The annual State election occurred November 3, at which time a Chief Justice, District Attorneys, and members of the State House of Representatives were elected. Robert Crozier was elected Chief Justice by a vote of 12,731 votes, only 14 scattering votes being polled against him. The total vote of the State was: For Chief Justice, 12,745; for District Attorneys, 12,038; for Representatives, 12,992.

December 10, the brick building built on Kansas avenue, Topeka, for a temporary capitol, was completed, and leased to the State. The builders and lessees were Messrs. Mills, Farnsworth, Gordon and Gage.

The total expenditures of the State for the fiscal year ending November 30, amounted to $86,869.24; $913.85 was paid for the education of the deaf and dumb; $1,000 was expended on the new capitol grounds.

1864.

The Fourth State Legislature. Thomas Carney, Governor, met January 12, adjourned March 1. President of the Senate, Thomas A. Osborn; Speaker of the House, Josiah Kellogg. Important legislation, as shown by acts passed, was as follows: An act allowing each county along the line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad to issue $200,000 of its bonds to the road; an act authorizing school districts to issue bonds; Commissioners appointed to locate a blind asylum in Wyandotte County; Wyandotte County authorized to issue $100,000 in bonds to the Union Pacific Railway Company, Eastern Division; amendment to the State Constitution proposed, allowing soldiers and others to vote; the deaf and dumb asylum located at Olathe; State Geologist authorized, to be appointed by the Governor; grand juries abolished; a bureau of immigration established; an act accepting the land grant made to railroads by Congress March 3, 1863; acts organizing the State Normal School and the State University; submission to the people, whether the school lands should be sold.

Conventions. - The Republican State Convention met at Topeka April 21. The delegates chosen to the National Republican Convention, to be held at Baltimore, were James H. Lane, A. Carter Wilder, Thomas M. Bowen, W. W. H. Lawrence, Martin H. Insley and F. W. Potter. The alternates chosen were C. W. Babcock, S. A. Cobb, John M. Price, Robert McBratney, G. A. Colton and H. W. Farnsworth.

The Democratic State Convention met at Topeka June 1. The delegates chosen to the National Democratic Convention, to be held in Chicago, were W. C. McDowell, Wilson Shannon, Orlin Thurston, L. B. Wheat, H. J. Strickler and J. P. Taylor.

The Republican State Convention, for the nomination of State officers, was held at Topeka September 8. The nominations were: For Governor, S. J. Crawford (on the sixth ballot); for Lieutenant Governor, James McGrew; Secretary of State, R. A. Barker; State Auditor, John R. Swallow; State Treasurer, William Spriggs; Attorney General, J. D. Brumbaugh; Superintendent of Public Instruction. I. T. Goodnow; Associate Justice of Supreme Court, Jacob Safford; for Congressman, Sidney Clark; Presidential Electors, Ellsworth Cheeseborough, of Atchison County; Nelson McCracken, of Leavenworth county; Robert McBratney, of Davis County. Mr. Cheeseborough and Mr. McCracken died before the day of election. Thomas Moonlight and W. F. Cloud were appointed to fill the vacancies thus occurring. Marcus J. Parrott divided the Republican vote with Mr. Moonlight.

The Republican Union State Convention met at Topeka September 13. The nominations were: For Governor, Solon O. Thacher; for Lieutenant Governor, John J. Ingalls; Secretary of State, William R. Saunders; State Treasurer, J. R. McClure; State Auditor, Asa Hairgrove; Attorney General, Hiram Griswold; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Peter McVicar; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Samuel A. Kingman; for Congressman, Albert L. Lee. Rev. Mr. McVicar declined to run for Superintendent, and Rev. John S. Brown was made the candidate.

The Legislature of 1864, on February 9, elected Thomas Carney United States Senator for the term commencing March 4, 1865. The vote stood; For Thomas Carney, 68; "against a fraud," 1; blank, 2; excused and declined to vote, 27.

At the Republican State Convention at Topeka, April 21, Gov. Carney resigned all claims to the office.

The Democrats met in delegate convention at Topeka September 13, 1864, and, approving the action of the Republican Union Convention of that day,

Resolved, That this convention deem it inexpedient for the Democratic party of Kansas to nominate a State ticket, to be supported at the ensuing election, and we deem it impolitic for any Democrat in the State to permit his name to be used as a candidate for any State office or Member of Congress.

The Democrat candidates for Presidential Electors were Thomas Bridgens, of Bourbon County; Nelson Cobb, of Douglas County; Andrew G. Ege, of Doniphan County.

The State and National election was held November 8. The result in Kansas was the election of the entire Republican ticket. The vote for Governor was: For Crawford, home vote, 10,196; soldier's vote, 2,191 - total, 13,387; Thacher, home vote, 7,840; soldier's vote, 608 - total, 8,448. Crawford's majority was 4,939. For Congressman, Clark, Republican, received, home vote, 9,156; soldier's vote, 1,674 - total, 10,830; Lee, Union, received, home vote, 8,668; soldier's vote, 1,042 - total, 9,710.

The cost of the State of visiting the regiments and defending the border for the year was reported at $11,800.

1865.

The Fifth State Legislature. Samuel J. Crawford, Governor, met January 10; adjourned February 22. President of the Senate, James McGrew; Speaker of the House, Jacob Stotler. The most important legislation was as follows: Laws passed for the incorporation and regulation of railroad companies; authorizing counties and cities to issue bonds to railroad companies; providing for the payment of claims arising from the "Price raid," and from Gen. Curtis' expedition against the Indians in July and August, 1864. The era of railroad building in Kansas was fully inaugurated during the year, and much of the time of the Legislature was employed in the consideration of the subject. The Legislature adjourned from January 19 to 23, to participate in a railroad excursion from Lawrence to Wyandotte. Laws were passed authorizing a geological survey of the State, and to encourage the growth of forest trees.

James H. Lane was re-elected United States Senator on January 12, for the term beginning March 4, 1865. The vote was as follows: Lane, 82; William A. Phillips, 7; William C. McDowell, 4; C. B. Brace, 2; W. Y. Roberts, 2; B. M. Hughes, 1.

A draft was begun February 15, full credits not having been given the State for troops furnished; the difference was adjusted and the draft suspended in Kansas March 15.

April 8, there were great demonstrations of joy in Leavenworth, Lawrence, Atchison, Topeka, and elsewhere throughout the State, over the Union victories and the close of the war. April 15, Lincoln was assassinated, and Gov. Crawford appointed April 23 as a day of fasting and prayer, in observance of the great national calamity. The day was kept all over the State with a solemnity never before observed.

The annual election was held November 2. Six State Senators, to fill vacancies, and members of the House of Representatives were chosen.

1866.

The Sixth State Legislature, Samuel J. Crawford, Governor, met January 9, adjourned February 27. President of the Senate, James McGrew; Speaker of the House, John T. Burris. Among the acts passed were the following: An act apportioning the State for Senators and Representatives; and act defining the boundaries of Neosho County; providing for temporary buildings for Deaf and Dumb asylum at Olathe; encouraging the planting and growth of forest trees; seventeen acts relating to the granting of bonds by counties, in aid of projected railroads, and for other purposes; an act for the protection of State and County treasuries; issuing bonds to build the State Penitentiary; for erecting a State House, and for the sale of public lands; provided for the sale of the lands of the Normal School, University and Agricultural College. An act was passed giving 500,000 acres of land which had been previously granted the State by General Government, to the following railroad companies: The Northern Kansas, the Kansas & Neosho Valley, the Union Pacific - Southern Branch; and the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Fort Gibson.

A United States Senator, Hon. Edmund G. Ross, was appointed by Gov. Crawford, July 20, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. James H. Lane, who died at Fort Leavenworth, July 11.

The Republican State Convention met at Topeka, September 5. State officers and Congressman nominated were as follows: For Governor, Samuel J. Crawford; for Lieutenant Governor, Nehemiah Green; for Secretary of State, R. A. Barker; for State Auditor, J. R. Swallow; for State Treasurer, M. Anderson; for Superintendent of Public Instruction, P. McVicar; for Attorney General, George H. Hoyt; for Chief Justice, S. A. Kingman; for Congressman, Sidney Clarke.

The National Union State Convention met at Lawrence, September 20. The following nominations were made: For Governor, J. L. McDowell; for Lieutenant Governor, J. R. McClure; for Secretary of State, Mathew Quigg; for State Treasurer, J. Walker; for State Auditor, N. S. Goss; for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Joseph Bond; for Attorney General, Ross Burns; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Nelson Cobb; for Member of Congress, C. W. Blair.

The General State election was held November 6, and resulted as usual in the success of the entire Republican ticket. For Governor, the vote was: Crawford, 19,370; McDowell, 8,152. Republican majority, 11,218. For Member of Congress, Sidney Clarke, the Republican nominee, received 19, 201 votes; C. W. Blair, National Unionist, 8,106.

1867.

The Seventh Kansas Legislature. Samuel J. Crawford, Governor, met January 8, adjourned March 3. President of the Senate, Nehemiah Green; Speaker of the House, Preston B. Plumb.

January 22, the election of two United States Senators being the order of the day, the vote of the Senate was taken, the results being as follows: For the long term, S. C. Pomeroy, 16; A. L. Lee, 8; D. R. Anthony, 1. For the short term, Thomas Carney, 9; S. O. Thacher, 5; E. G. Ross, 5; I. S. Kalloch, 3; George A. Crawford, 1; J. P. Root, 1; S. D. Houston, 1. In the House there was a vote taken on Senator for the short term. The vote was as follows: Thomas Carney, 32; E. G. Ross, 24; S. O. Thacher, 14; I. S. Kalloch, 8; W. R. Davis, 3; Charles Robinson, 2; George A. Crawford, 1.

January 23, two United States Senators were elected, there being but a single ballot for each Senator. The ballot was as follows: For the long term, beginning March 4, 1867, S. C. Pomeroy, 84; A. L. Lee, 25; for the short term, Edmund G. Ross, 68; Thomas Carney, 40; Samuel A. Riggs, 1. S. C. Pomeroy was elected for the long term, and E. G. Ross, for the short term.

The following important acts were passed: Ratifying the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States; for building a blind asylum at Wyandotte; issuing bonds, $100,000, for the State Penitentiary; $15,000, for the Deaf and Dumb Asylum; and $100,00 for the State House; changing or defining boundaries of the following counties: Wilson, Labette, Dickinson, Bourbon, Crawford and Cherokee; defining the boundaries of Montgomery, Greenwood, Howard, Butler, Cowley, Marion, McPherson, Sedgwick, Sumner, Jewell, Mitchell, Lincoln, Ellsworth, Rice, Reno, Harper, Smith, Osborne, Russell, Barton, Stafford, Pratt, Barbour (spelling changed to Barber in 1883), Phillips, Rooks, Ellis, Rush, Pawnee, Kiowa, Comanche, Norton, Graham, Trego, Ness, Hodgeman, Ford and Clark Counties; changing name of Shirley County to Cloud. Three propositions to amend the Constitution were submitted to the people; one for or against negro suffrage; one for or against woman suffrage; one for or against restricting the franchise in the case of certain soldiers.

The interest in the political canvass was upon the proposed suffrage amendments to the Constitution. During the summer and fall the State was thoroughly canvassed by the ablest advocates of equal suffrage in the country, among whom were Mrs. Lucy Stone Blackwell, Henry B. Blackwell, Mrs. C. I. H. Nichols, George Francis Train, Rev. Olympia Brown, Miss Bessie Bisbee, Miss Susan B. Anthony and Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton. On the proposed amendments; the Republicans were divided. The Democrats at their State Convention, held at Leavenworth, September 18, passed the following:

(8)That we are opposed to all the proposed amendments to our State Constitution, and to all unjust, intolerant and proscriptive legislation, whereby a portion of our fellow-citizens are deprived of their social rights and religious privileges.

The Annual State election occurred November 5, for the election of State Senators to fill vacancies, members of the House, and District Judges for the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Judicial Districts, and for voting on the proposed suffrage amendments to the State Constitution.

The vote on the amendments was as follows: Striking out the word "white:" For, 10,483; against, 19,421. Striking out the word "male:" For, 9,070; against, 19,857. Restricting the elective franchise* (*See amendment to Article V, Section 2, in Appendix.): For, 16,860; against, 12,165.

1868.

The Eighth Kansas Legislature, Samuel J. Crawford, Governor, met January 14; adjourned March 4. President of the Senate, Nehemiah Green; Speaker of the House, George W. Smith. The codifying of the laws was completed during the session, and published, as revised by Messrs. Price, Riggs and McCahon. State bonds were voted as follows: For Penitentiary, $50,000; for State Capitol, $150,000; for Insane Asylum, $20,000. Boundaries of Gove and Wallace Counties were defined. A resolution was passed for the protection of settlers on the Cherokee neutral lands.

A Democratic State Convention was held at Topeka, February 16, at which delegates to the Democratic National Convention were chosen as follows: Wilson Shannon, Jr., Thomas P. Fenlon, Charles W. Blair, George W. Glick, A. J. Mead and Isaac Sharp.

A Republican State Convention, held at Topeka, March 25, nominated as delegates to the Republican National Convention: C. W. Babcock, B. F. Simpson, S. S. Prouty, John A. Martin, N. A. Adams and Louis Weil. The alternates chosen were: A. Danford, C. P. Twiss, F. P. Baker, Cyrus Leland, Jr., J. W. McMillan and Jacob Weisbach.

The Democratic State Convention, for the nomination of State officers, Members of Congress and Presidential Electors, was held at Topeka July 29. The nominees were: For Governor, George W. Glick; for Lieutenant Governor, Maxwell McCaslin; Secretary of State, Wilson Shannon, Jr.; State Auditor, Gottlieb Schauble; State Treasurer, Allen McCartney; Attorney General, Ross Burns; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Archibald Beatty; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, William R. Wagstaff; Member of Congress, Charles W. Blair; Presidential Electors, Leonard T. Smith, P. A. Taylor, Orlin Thurston.

The convention adopted resolutions indorsing the National Democratic platform, the nomination of Seymour and Blair for President and Vice President; also strong resolutions in favor of retiring the circulation of the National Banks, and substituting therefore "lawful money of the United States" (greenbacks). The platform also favored separate schools for white and colored children.

The Republican State Convention met at Topeka, September 9. The following nominations were made: For Governor, James M. Harvey (on the fifth ballot); Lieutenant Governor, Charles V. Eskridge (on the second ballot); Secretary of State, Thomas Moonlight; State Auditor, Alois Thoman; State Treasurer, George Graham; Attorney General, Addison Danford (third ballot); Superintendent of Public Instruction, Peter McVicar; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, David M. Valentine (third ballot); Member of Congress, Sidney Clarke; Presidential Electors, I. S. Kalloch, D. R. Anthony and A. H. Harton.

The platform accepted the platform adopted by the National Republican Convention; pledge the support of the party to Grant and Colfax, and arraigned the Democratic party for its past shortcomings. It was silent on the financial question.

The Annual and Presidential election occurred November 3. The vote was overwhelmingly Republican. The Republican Presidential vote was 30,028, against 13,620 votes as the highest given for a Democratic elector. For Governor, Harvey, Republican, received 29,795 votes against 13,909 polled for George W. Glick, the Democratic candidate. For Member of Congress, Clarke received 29,324 votes against 18,969 polled for Blair.

Gov. Crawford resigned his office November 4, to take command of the Nineteenth Regiment, raised to fight the Indians on the frontier, who had become exceedingly troublesome during the year. Lieut. Gov. Green became to Governor by virtue of his office, and took the oath on November 4.

November 5, the Nineteenth Regiment, under the command of Col. Crawford, left camp at Topeka for its Indian campaign.

1869.

The Ninth Kansas Legislature, J. M. Harvey, Governor, met January 12; adjourned March 4. President of the Senate, C. V. Eskridge; Speaker of the House, M. S. Adams. S. S. Prouty was, on the fourth ballot, elected State Printer. The issuance of bonds was authorized; for military expenses of 1868 (Indian war), $75,000; to provide a military contingent fund for the protection of the frontier of the State against Indian depredations, $100,000; for aid in completing the west wing of the State Capitol, $70,000; to defray the expenses of raising the Nineteenth Regiment, $14,000; $15,000 was appropriated to buy seed wheat for destitute farmers on the frontier.

The annual election occurred November 2, at which time Hiram Stevens was elected Judge of the Tenth Judicial District; also members of the House of Representatives. The election was uninteresting; a light vote was polled, but the Republicans showed the same preponderance as in former elections.

The Auditor's report for the fiscal year, made November 30, shows a total expenditure for State purposes of $471,270.99. Of this amount the State institutions received: Blind Asylum, $10,092.80; Insane Asylum, $28,707.37; Deaf and Dumb Asylum, $12,815.23; State University, $11,993.60; Agricultural College, $9,394.22; Normal School, $9,930.62. The expenditure on the Capitol building was $117,005.01; on the Penitentiary, $106,644.83; for printing, $54,012.25; and for seed wheat for destitute farmers, $14,117.10

The east wing of the new Capitol* was so far completed as to be occupied by the State officers December 25. At that date, there had been expended on the wing completed and on the west wing, on which work was progressing, $417,588.29. (*The rooms occupied by the State Legislature prior to the completion of the east wing of the new capitol, were in the upper stories of buildings on the west side of Kansas avenue, between Fourth and Fifth streets. The House of Representatives occupied a hall about where the office of Peck, Ryan & Johnson now (1883) is. The other hall was north of it. The site of the temporary capital was between the building now occupied by the First National Bank and the store of Tait, Stephenson & Emery.)