etween two and three hundred slaves. The governor of the Territory,
Andrew H. Reeder, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, tried faithfully
and earnestly to arrest the progress of fraud and violence; but he
was removed by President Pierce, and Wilson Shannon of Ohio was
sent out in his stead. The free-State settlers, defrauded at the
regular election, organized an independent movement and chose
Governor Reeder their delegate to Congress to contest the seat of
Whitfield. These events, rapidly following each other, caused
great indignation throughout the country, in the midst of which
the Thirty-fourth Congress assembled in December, 1855. After a
prolonged struggle, Nathaniel P. Banks was chosen Speaker over
William Aiken. It was a significant circumstance, noted at the
time, that the successful candidate came from Massachusetts, and
the defeated one from South Carolina. It was a still more ominous
fact that Banks was chosen by votes wholly from the free States,
and that every vote from the slave States was given to Mr. Aiken,
except that of Mr. Cullen of Delaware, and that of Henry Winter
Davis of Maryland, who declined to vote for either candidate. It
was the first instance in the history of the government in which
a candidate for Speaker had been chosen without support from both
sections. It was a distinctive victory of the free States over
the consolidated power of the slave States. It marked an epoch.

CANVASS FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

The year 1856 opened with this critical, this unprecedented condition
of affairs. In all classes there was deep excitement. With
thoughtful men, both North and South, there was serious solicitude.
The country approached the strife of another Presidential election
with the consciences of men thoroughly aroused, with their passions
profoundly stirred. Three parties were coming into the field, and
it seemed impossible that any candidate could secure the approval
of a majority of the voters in the Union. In the Democratic ranks
there was angry contention. President Pierce, who had risked every
thing for the South, and had received unmeasured obloquy in the
North, was naturally anxious that his administration should be
approved by his own party. With all the patronage at his command,
he vigorously sought a renomination. But the party desired victory,
and they feared a contest which involved an approval of the
President's recreancy to so