of the Empire State. Besides, Weed knew very well that defeat
would put the work of coalition into unfriendly hands, and it might be
disastrous if a hostile majority were allowed to deal with it
according to their own designs and their own class interests.
Nevertheless, his delay in organising and Seward's failure to lead the
new party in 1854, left an indelible impression to their injury in the
West, if not in New York and New England, "for unto whomsoever much is
given, of him shall much be required; and to whom men have committed
much, of him they will ask the more."

CHAPTER XVII

THE FIRST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR

1856

Kansas troubles did not subside after the election. The Pierce
administration found itself harassed by the most formidable opposition
it had yet encountered. Reeder was out of the way for the moment; but
the Northern settlers, by planning a flank movement which included the
organisation of a state government and an appeal to Congress for
admission to the Union, proved themselves an enemy much more
pertinacious and ingenious than the removed Governor. To aid them in
their endeavour, friends sent a supply of Sharpe's rifles, marked
"books." Accordingly, on the 9th of October, 1855, delegates were
elected to a convention which met at Topeka on the 23d of the same
month and framed a Constitution prohibiting slavery and providing for
its submission to the people.

This practically established a second government. Governor Shannon,
the successor of Reeder, recognised the action of the fraudulently
chosen territorial Legislature, while the free-state settlers, with
headquarters at Lawrence, repudiated its laws and resisted their
enforcement. Things could not long remain in this unhappy condition,
and when, at last, a free-state man was killed it amounted to a
declaration of hostilities. Immediately, the people of Lawrence threw
up earthworks; the Governor called out the militia; and the
Missourians again crossed the border. By the 1st of December a couple
of regiments were encamped in the vicinity of Lawrence, behind whose
fortifications calmly rested six hundred men, half of them armed with
Sharpe's rifles. A howitzer added to their confidence. Finally, the
border ruffians, who had heard of the breech-loading rifles and
learned of the character of the men behind them, after dallying for
several weeks, recrossed the river and permitted the settlers to
ratify the new Constitution. In January, 185