Territorial The admission of Kan sas as an organized Territory dates from 30 May 1854, when President Pierce signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This brought on the political troubles of Kansas, and later, as a re sult of the slavery agitation, precipitated the great armed conflict between the North and the South in 1861-65. It was on Kansas soil that the first battle was fought for the freedom of the negro, and it was Kansas that developed the heroic figure of John Brown, who struck hard for human liberty, and of whom a local poet, Eugene F. Ware, pronounced this epitaph: From the time Congress took the first step for the admission of Kansas, with or without slavery, the Territory became the scene of contention, pillage and bloodshed. The pro slavery men of Missouri endeavored to gain control of the Territory in 1854, and established the first city, Leavenworth. Soon afterward an anti-slavery colony from Massachusetts set tled at Lawrence. No more bitter factions ever struggled for supremacy on this continent.
Andrew H. Reeder, of Pennsylvania, was appointed to be the first governor of the Terri tory. At the first contest for territorial delegate to Congress the slavery men of Missouri crossed the river andparticipated in the elec tion, the candidate of the pro-slavery party being successful by reason of these illegal votes. The Free-Soilers protested and held indigna tion meetings at Lawrence and other points. At the election in the spring of 1855 for rep resentatives to the legislature, the Missourians repeated the same tactics. When the legisla ture met at Pawnee the Pro-Slavery members were in the majority, and controlled the pro ceedings, even going to the extent of driving out the Free-Soil members and changing the seat of government.
The Free-Soil party repudiated the acts of the legislature and refused to abide by them. Governor Reeder was removed from office and succeeded by Wilson Shannon, of Ohio. John W. Whitfield was elected delegate to Congress by the Pro-Slavery party, and ex-Governor Reeder chosen to the same position by the opposition, but Congress refused to give either delegate a seat. A Free-Soil constitution was adopted in December 1855, under which Charles Robinson was elected governor, but the election was repudiated by President Pierce, who had recognized the °bogus° legislature. The Free Soil legislature ignored the action of President Pierce, and, to meet this and other menacing circumstances, the military forces of the United States government were placed in command of Governor Shannon, and Governor Robinson and Congressman-elect Reeder were indicted for high treason. The Pro-Slavery party received
large accessions from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. In the troubles resulting from this conffict 9f authority the Emigrant Aid Society Hotel and the Herald of Freedom and Kansas Free offices at Lawrence were destroyed, and the town of Osawatomie — the home of John Brown — was sacked and burned.
Struggles for bill for the admission of Kansas as a State was passed by the Lower House of Congress in June 1856, but was defeated in the Senate on account of the recognition it gave to the Free-soil Con stitution. A meeting of the Free-soil legis lature in Topeka was dispersed by United States troops acting under orders from Presi dent Pierce. By this time the interest in the Kansas struggle became general throughout the United States. The suppression of slavery be came a national instead of a State issue. While Congress debated and legislated, the Pro slavery and Free-State factions continued to war against each other for possession of the Territory and control of the law-making ma chinery. Conflicting constitutions were adopted, rival legislatures elected, and civil government overthrown. Public meetings were held in all parts of the North to lend encouragement to the movement for making Kansas a free State. Similar sympathy and help came to the Pro slavery party from the States of the South. Horace Greeley and Abraham Lincoln visited the Territory and made speeches in opposition to the further extension of slavery on Ameri can soil. Governor Shannon was removed from office, and the several governors ap pointed to succeed him found the duties of the position so dangerous that they resigned in rapid succession.
After numerous battles, elections and vicis situdes a constitutional convention was called to meet at Wyandotte 5 July 1859. It was composed of 35 Free-State and 17 Pro-slavery delegates, who were now known as Republicans and Democrats, respectively. Under the con stitution adopted by this convention slavery was prohibited and Kansas admitted as a State 29 Jan. 1861. Although the act of admission was signed by President Buchanan, Kansas was by association and sentiment Abraham Lincoln's State. The seat of government was located at Topeka. At the election held in December 1859, under the Wyandotte consti tution, Charles Robinson was chosen to be the first governor of the State, and Martin F. Conway the first representative in Congress. When the first State legislature assembled at Topeka in March 1861, James H. Lane and Samuel C. Pomeroy were elected the first two United States senators from the new State.