Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/248

 194 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS such movements the south responded by armed invasions. On March 30, 1855, a territorial legis lature was elected in Kansas by armed bands from Missouri, who crossed the border to vote and then returned to their homes. That initiative gave to the pro-slavery men a technical advantage, which the Democratic leaders were swift to recognize. The pro-slavery legislature thus elected met at Pawnee on July 2, 1855, and enacted an intolerant and oppressive slave code, which was mainly a transcript of the laws of Missouri. The free-state settlers thereupon called a constitutional conven tion, which met on October 23, 1855, and framed a state constitution, which was adopted by the people by a vote of 1,731 to 46. A general assembly was then elected under such constitution, which, after passing some preliminary acts, ap pointed a committee to frame a code of laws, and took measures to apply to congress for the admis sion of Kansas into the Union as a state. Andrew H. Reeder was elected by the free-state men their delegate to congress. A majority of the actual settlers of Kansas were in favor of her admission into the Union as a free state ; but all their efforts to that end were treated by their opponents in the territory, and by the Democratic national adminis tration, as rebellion against lawful authority. This conflict kept the territory in a state of confusion and bloodshed, and excited party feeling through-