USA > Kansas > Kansas; a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence, Volume II > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
254
CYCLOPEDIA OF
cussed at some length the troubles in Linn and Bourbon counties, but refrained from any analysis of "the differences of opinion growing out of past political strife," though he intimated that Montgomery was respon- sible for most of the unsettled conditions in that portion of the territory.
"Kansas," said he, "has long enough been made the scapegoat of political parties and political demagogues outside the territory. She has a character of her own to make-she has interests of her own to sub- serve-she has rights to wield through her own intelligence, and on her own responsibility, without gratuities by way of advice from those who have enough to do, if they would look after their own affairs. Thou- sands are looking to these broad prairies, rich beyond estimate in their agricultural abilities, with a climate healthful and invigorating, for homes for themselves and their children. Millions of capital is ready to be invested in our midst, confident of abundant returns. But without quiet and protection, all other blessings will not avail."
As soon as the message was read and referred, each house adopted a resolution to adjourn at noon on the 4th to meet at Lawrence on the 7th, "for lack of suitable rooms, hotel accommodations and other con- veniences." The remainder of the session was therefore held at Law- rence.
The committee to which was referred the governor's message made two reports. The majority report, signed by John W. Wright, James L. McDowell, T. R. Roberts and W. Spriggs, all free-state men, recounted in detail the massacre of a number of free-state men on the Marais des Cygnes by Capt. Hamelton, and recommended that all armed bands should be dispersed, in order that the law might be sustained and the people permitted to pursue their peaceful vocations without fear of molestation.
"Kansas has too long suffered in her good name," says this majority report, "from the acts of lawless men and from the corruption of Federal officers. The committee believe the government possesses sufficient power to suppress outrages and would enforce the law ; but unfortunately now, as in the past time, the officers at Washington interfere and direct a policy that only adds to the power of bad men, and paralyzes the efforts of those who wish to sustain the law. The policy of the general government, of offering a reward of $500 for Capts. Montgomery and Brown, will not succeed. The man of Kansas that would, for a reward, deliver up a man to the general government, would sink into the grave of an Arnold or a Judas. While such is public sentiment, we believe a large portion of our people would march under the flag of their country to arrest Montgomery or other violators of law; but such have been the acts of the general government in this territory, that public sentiment will not permit any person to receive the gold of the general government as a bribe to do a duty."
The majority also reported a bill extending the criminal jurisdiction of Douglas county over certain counties where the trouble existed ; recommended to President Buchanan the removal of the United States
255
KANSAS HISTORY
marshal and the "appointment of a man of nerve, if he has any of that kind of stock on hand;" and closed the report with a resolution to sus- tain the governor in all proper efforts to enforce the law and maintain peace.
The minority report, which was signed by H. J. Canniff, George Graham and S. S. Vaile, recommended the appointment of a committee of three members of the house to visit Linn and Bourbon counties on a tour of investigation, and an appropriation of $250 to defray the expenses of such visit.
The legislature adjourned on Feb. II, after repealing the acts of the legislative sessions of 1855 and 1857 and establishing in their stead codes of civil and criminal procedure. Other acts authorized the governor to employ counsel for Dr. John Doy, who was accused of freeing slaves; provided for the appointment by the governor of a territorial auditor and treasurer, and made a new apportionment for members of the legislature.
On Feb. 9 Gov. Medary approved the bill providing for the formation of a state constitution and government. By the provisions of this meas- ure the people were to vote on the fourth Monday in March, 1859, on the question of holding a constitutional convention. If a majority decided in favor of the convention fifty-two delegates were to be elected on the first Tuesday in June ; the convention was to meet on the first Tuesday in July ; the constitution was to be submitted to the people on the first Tuesday in October, and if ratified state officers were to be elected on the first Tuesday in December. It was the convention thus provided for that framed the Wyandotte constitution, the one under which Kan- sas was finally admitted. (See Constitutions.)
Near the close of the session the governor approved a bill to establish peace in Kansas. It provided "That no criminal offense heretofore committed in the counties of Lykins, Linn, Bourbon, McGee, Allen and Anderson, growing out of any political differences of opinion, or arising, in any way, from such political differences of opinion, shall be subject to any prosecution, on any complaint or indictment, in any court whatso- ever in this territory, and all criminal actions now commenced, growing out of political differences of opinion, shall be dismissed."
On the day of adjournment the legislature adopted a joint resolution requesting the governor to issue a proclamation to the people, publish- ing this act. Gov. Medary issued the proclamation the same day, and just before the final adjournment announced the appointment of Hiram J. Strickler as territorial auditor, and Robert B. Mitchell as territorial treasurer.
One of the most important political conventions ever held in Kansas assembled at Osawatomie on May 18, 1859, and organized the Republican party in and for the territory. Among the distinguished visitors present . was Horace Greeley, who addressed the convention. The declaration of principles enunciated :
"That, while we declare our submission to the constitution and laws of the United States, and disclaim all control over slavery in the states
256
CYCLOPEDIA OF
in which it exists, we hold that the constitution does not carry slavery into the territories, but that it is the creature of special enactment, and has existence only where supported by it ; and we reprobate and condemn the perversion of the power of the supreme court of the United States to sectional demands and party purposes.
"That, with the founders of the republic, we believe that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and that it is proper that the people of an organized territory should be permitted to elect their own officers and enact their own laws, free from Congres- sional and executive control.
"That freedom is national, and slavery sectional, and that we are inflexibly opposed to the extension of slavery to soil now free.
"That we condemn the administration for its feebleness and impotency in the enforcement of the law prohibiting the importation of African slaves into the United States, and demand such further legislation by Congress as will forever suppress the inhuman traffic.
"That the Wyandotte constitutional convention be requested to incor- porate in the bill of rights in the constitution a provision that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in Kansas, except in punishment of crime.
"That the passage of a liberal homestead bill, giving 160 acres of land to every citizen who will settle upon and improve it, would be a measure just in principle, sound in policy, and productive of the greatest good to the people of the nation; and that we regard the defeat of Mr. Grow's bill in the senate by the Democratic party, as a direct blow at the labor- ing classes of the country, and as unworthy of the liberality of a great government."
With the formation of the Republican party the old free-state organ- ization disappeared, and the names "free-state" and "pro-slavery," as used to distinguish political parties or factions, also disappeared, the names "Republican" and "Democrat" taking their places. The first con- test between the parties under the new names was for the election of delegates to the Wyandotte convention in June, 1859, and resulted in the choice of 35 Republicans and 17 Democrats. (See Constitutional Con- ventions.)
By the ratification of the Wyandotte constitution by the people on Oct. 4, it became necessary, in order to carry out the provisions of the act authorizing the formation of a state government, to elect state officers on the first Tuesday in December. On Oct. 12 a Republican convention met at Topeka and nominated the following candidates: Governor, Charles Robinson; lieutenant-governor, Joseph P. Root; secretary of state, John W. Robinson; auditor, George S. Hillyer; treasurer, William Tholen ; attorney-general, Benjamin F. Simpson ; superintendent of pub- lic instruction, W. R. Griffith ; chief justice, Thomas Ewing, Jr .; asso- ciate justices, Samuel A. Kingman and Lawrence D. Bailey ; representa- tive in Congress, Martin F. Conway.
The Democratic nominating convention met at Lawrence on Oct. 25.
257
KANSAS HISTORY
Samuel Medary, the territorial governor, was selected as the candidate of the party for governor ; John P. Slough was nominated for lieutenant- governor; A. P. Walker, for secretary of state; Joel K. Goodin, for auditor ; R. L. Pease, for treasurer ; Orlin Thurston, for attorney-general ; J. S. McGill, for superintendent of public instruction ; Joseph Williams, for chief justice ; Samuel A. Stinson and Robert B. Mitchell, for associate justices ; and John A. Halderman, for representative in Congress.
At the election on Dec. 6 Robinson received 7,908 votes, and Medary, 5,395, the remainder of the Republican ticket being elected by substan- tially the same majority. In the meantime an election for delegate to Congress had been held on Nov. 8, when Marcus J. Parrott, the Re- publican candidate, defeated Saunders W. Johnston, Democrat, by a vote of 9,708 to 7,232.
On Jan. 2, 1860, the legislature was convened in regular session at Lecompton. W. W. Updegraff was elected president of the council, and G. A. Colton was chosen speaker of the house. In his message, which was presented on the 3d, Gov. Medary recommended the passage of a law to abolish the boards of county supervisors and substitute therefor a board of three commissioners in each county. He also recommended a law regulating the rate of interest, and made a virulent attack upon the registry law passed by the preceding session, which law, according to the governor, had "deprived many of our citizens of the elective fran- chise ;" it was "crude and mischievous," and he thought its total repeal would "add much to the relief of the taxpayers."
A resolution to adjourn to Lawrence was passed in both houses on the 4th, but it was vetoed by the governor, because the completion of a large, new hotel at Lecompton, "making four very good hotels," afforded ample accommodations at the seat of government. The resolution was then passed over the veto by a vote of 9 to 4 in the council and 22 to 7 in the house, and on the 7th the legislature reassembled in Lawrence. Gov. Medary and Sec. Walsh remained at Lecompton. They asked the United States attorney-general for an opinion as to the legality of the removal, and refused to recognize the acts of the assembly. Consequently, on Jan. 18, the legislature adjourned, but on the same day the governor issued a proclamation calling a special session, to meet at Lecompton on the 19th.
The assembly met pursuant to the call, elected the same officers, and on the 20th received another message from the governor, in which he called attention to the reports of the territorial auditor and treasurer, recommended a revision of the election laws, and called attention to the fact that the last session failed to provide for sessions of the supreme court. Immediately after the reading of the message, the legislature again voted to adjourn to Lawrence, and again the proposition was vetoed by the governor. By a vote similar to that of the 4th, the measure was passed over the veto, and the assembly met at Lawrence on the 21st. This time Gov. Medary accepted the situation with as much complais-
(II-17)
-
258
CYCLOPEDIA OF
ance as could be expected under the circumstances. The general laws passed during this session made a volume of 264 pages.
The greatest interest of the session centered upon the bill abolish- ing and prohibiting slavery in the territory, which was vetoed by Gov. Medary on Feb. 20. In his veto message he said: "This bill appears to be more political than practical-more for the purpose of obtaining men's opinions than for any benefit or injury it can be to any one. I am the more fully convinced of this from the articles which have appeared in the organs of the Republican party in this territory, which, it is proper to presume, speak by authority of those they represent. Two of the papers before me call upon you to pass the bill, to see what I may say, and compel me to act in the premises."
Then, after quoting from some of the newspapers referred to and giv- ing an exhaustive review of the slavery question, he said: "You merely enact into a law, the provisions of the Wyandotte constitution. It is merely declaratory. You give no notice to the owner of the slave-you take 'snap judgment' on him; but are careful to impose no penalty if he should laugh at your sudden interference, and pursue the even tenor of his way."
The governor also called attention to the provisions of the organic act, giving the people the power to regulate their own institutions. "You claim," said he, "under this declaration of the organic act, the right to prohibit slavery in the Territory of Kansas. By so doing, you mistake both the words and the meaning, and misconceive the true spirit of the text."
And yet, in spite of this caustic criticism from the governor, the mem- bers of the legislature felt that they were exercising the same power as that exercised by the "bogus" legislature of 1855, when they passed the notorious "black laws," and construed the organic act in such a way as to force slavery into the territory. With this view, the legislature passed the bill over the veto by a vote of 29 to 8 in the house and 9 to 4 in the council. Judge Pettit of the territorial supreme court later held the act to be unconstitutional.
A census of the territory, reported to the governor early in the year 1860, showed a population of 71,770. As this was not equal to the num- ber required to secure a representative in Congress, the legislature feared a delay in the admission of Kansas as a state, and appointed a commit- tee to take another enumeration. This committee reported a population of 97,570, and the Federal census, taken June 1, showed a population of 109,40I within the limits as defined by the Wyandotte constitution, or about 16,000 more than the population of the average Congressional district.
In anticipation of speedy admission to statehood, both the political parties held conventions to select delegates to the national conventions. The Democratic convention assembled at Atchison on March 27, and selected as delegates to the Charleston convention, John A. Halderman, Isaac E. Eaton, John P. Slough, H. M. Moore, George M. Beebe, Charles
259
KANSAS HISTORY
WV. Blair, James Christian, Charles Sims, William Weer, R. B. Mitchell, Robert Wilson and Cyrus K. Holliday. The convention adopted reso- lutions denouncing the law prohibiting slavery passed by the last session of the legislature, and commending Gov. Medary for his veto.
The Republican convention met at Lawrence on April II. A. C. Wilder, John A. Martin, W. W. Ross, William A. Phillips, A. G. Proctor and John P. Hatterscheidt were elected as delegates to the national con- vention at Chicago, and T. D. Thacher, R. Gilpatrick and C. B. Lines were nominated for presidential electors. The resolutions adopted by the convention denounced "certain territorial bonds and warrants issued for claims allowed under the commission created by the legislature of 1859," and charged the territorial officials with "palpable perversions of duty in giving these evidences of territorial indebtedness."
The great drought of 1860 (See Droughts) caused intense suffering in all parts of the territory. Gov. Medary was importuned to call a special session of the legislature, in the hope that it might be able to devise some means of relief, but he declined to do so, and traveled over the territory to ascertain the conditions. On Sept. 10 he wrote to Gen. Cass, the United States secretary of state, asking for leave of absence to visit the United States fair at Cincinnati and the Ohio state fair at Day- ton, "to correct false impressions that may be started to our injuries, while at the same time state the facts just as they are," etc. Leave was granted, but the governor remained so long in Ohio that, toward the latter part of the month, Gen. Cass ordered him to return immediately to Kansas. This order was evidently not to Gov. Medary's liking, for in his reply, dated Sept. 25, he said : "On my return to Kansas, I will endeavor to satisfy the department that I am not justly chargeable with frequent and unnecessary absence from duty. I am now nearly sixty years of age, and yours is the first imputation ever cast upon me from my youth up of 'neglect of duty,' in any capacity of a public character I ever held."
Gov. Medary did not return at once, however, and on Nov. 22 he tele- graphed Gen. Cass from Columbus, Ohio, as follows: "I have just received alarming news from Fort Scott, K. T., of which you are by this time apprised. From the fact of my salary being withheld, I had deter- mined to resign my office; but from the horrible news from Kansas I shall leave on the first train to-night for that afflicted territory. I will be at Leavenworth on next Sunday, where dispatches can reach me."
Obviously, the relations between Gov. Medary and the state depart- ment did not improve, and on Dec. 17, 1860, he tendered his resignation, to take effect on Jan. 1, 1861. He did not wait until that time, however, to relinquish the office, as a letter from George M. Beebe, territorial secretary, to President Buchanan, dated Dec. 21, 1860, says: "The resignation of Gov. Medary temporarily devolves the duties of executive on me." The records of the territory show that Mr. Beebe became act- ing governor on that date.
Medical Association .- (See Medical Societies.)
260
CYCLOPEDIA OF
Medical Colleges .- A preparatory medical course was incorporated in the curriculum of the state university in 1880, but the first regularly established medical college in the state was the Kansas Medical College of Topeka, which filed articles of association and incorporation in the office of the secretary of state on July 3, 1889. Among the 21 incorpora- tors were Albert H. Horton, John Martin, Thomas A. Osborn, George W. Veale and some of the leading physicians of the state. The capital stock was fixed at $100,000; John Martin was elected president of the board of trustees; Thomas A. Osborn, vice-president ; Dr. M. B. Ward, secretary, and J. S. Collins, treasurer. The college opened on Sept. 23, 1890, in a building located at the corner of Twelfth and Tyler streets, with a faculty of 24 members. At the time the college was established there was no provision of law furnishing subjects for the dissecting room, and in 1895 the robbery of a number of graves in adjacent cemeteries created a great excitement and led Gov. Morrill to call out the militia. (See Morrill's Administration.) In 1903 the college became the medical department of Washburn College, and the old building at Twelfth and Tyler streets was torn down. In the college year 1909-10 there were 68 students enrolled in the department, 13 of whom grad- uated at the close of the year.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Kansas City was given a charter by the State of Kansas on July 12, 1894, with the following phy- sicians as a board of trustees: J. W. May, president; William C. Boteler, first vice-president; J. C. Martin, second vice-president ; E. M. Hetherington, secretary ; R. A. Roberts, financial secretary ; John Trout- man, treasurer, all of Kansas City, Kan. The college opened that fall at the corner of Fifth and Central streets in the Chamber of Commerce building, with a faculty of 31 members. In 1897 it was removed to the corner of Sixth street and Ann avenue, and in 1903 to the corner of Central and Simpson avenues. When the clinical department of the University of Kansas medical school was reorganized in 1905 it absorbed the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Two medical colleges were opened in Kansas City in the fall of 1897- the Kansas City Medical College and the Kansas City College of Medi- cine and Surgery. The former began operations on Sept. 14, with the following board of trustees: George W. Fitzpatrick, president ; Warrer L. Seaman, vice-president ; J. A. Smith, secretary ; G. E. Tead, treasurer, and P. S. Mitchell. It was located at the corner of Sixth street and Minnesota avenue. The College of Medicine and Surgery was located in the New York Life building and opened its doors on Sept. 22, with a faculty of 29 members. The board of trustees was composed of S. A. Dunham, president ; George M. Gray, vice-president ; James L. Harring- ton, secretary ; Ernest J. Lutz, treasurer ; John B. Scroggs, M. B. Ward, G. O. Coffin, H. M. Downs, A. J. Welch, P. L. McDonald and R. E. Morris. Like the College of Physicians and Surgeons, these two insti- tutions were merged into the medical department of the University of Kansas in 1905. (See University of Kansas.)
261
KANSAS HISTORY
Medical Societies, State .- On Feb. 10, 1859, the governor approved an act of the territorial legislature providing for the incorporation of the Kansas Medical Society and naming 29 physicians as the incorporators. They were M. Bailey, H. H. Beals, G. W. Beaumont, J. G. Blunt, O. Brown, H. J. Canniff, A. Danford, A. Fuller, William Graham, S. C. Harrington, M. Hartman, M. F. Holaday, Amory Hunting, C. F. Kobb, J. Leigh, T. Linsey, W. Madison, C. E. Miner, A. Newman, J. M. Pelot, J. H. Phelps, S. B. Prentiss, A. J. Richey, Charles Robinson, J. W. Rob- inson, J. P. Root, L. C. Tolles, J. B. Wheeler and J. B. Woodward.
The same day a portion of the incorporators met at Lawrence and effected an organization by electing Dr. S. B. Prentiss president and Dr. J. B. Woodward, secretary. A committee was appointed to formulate a constitution and by-laws, and one to prepare a code of ethics. At the meeting on Feb. 23, 1860, the code of ethics of the American Medical Association was adopted, as was also the constitution and by-laws pre- pared by the committee appointed the preceding year. Delegates to the American Medical Association were elected for the first time in 1867, when the Kansas society underwent a reorganization, and the annual meetings have since been dated from that year. The act of 1859 con- ferred on the society the power to issue certificates to all its members, to grant licenses to respectable physicians who were not graduates of medical colleges, and to organize auxiliary societies in the several coun- ties of Kansas. At the meeting in 1867 resolutions were adopted urging the members to further the organization of such auxiliary societies, Fifteen years later there were in existence the Northwestern Medical Society, the Southern Kansas Medical Society, the Eastern Kansas Medical Society, the Kansas Valley Medical Society, and the Third Judicial District Medical Society, all of which were adjuncts to the state organization. Others organized later were the Golden Belt Medical Society, the Eastern Central branch of the state society, the Missouri Valley Medical Society, and there are a large number of county and city societies in the state.
On June 1, 1867, the first number of the Medical Herald was issued at Leavenworth by Logan & Sinks. It was succeeded by the Kansas Medical Index, published at Fort Scott by Dr. F. F. Dickman as the organ of the state medical society. The Kansas Medical Journal began its career in 1889, and subsequently the name was changed to the Jour- nal of the Kansas Medical Society. It is published at Kansas City, Kan.
In recent years the annual meetings of the society have usually been held in May, at such places as the society selects. The officers elected at the annual meeting of 1911 were as follows: President, J. T. Axtell; vice-presidents, George M. Gray, H. G. Welch and G. W. Anderson; secretary, Charles S. Huffman; treasurer, L. H. Munn. The member- ship runs into hundreds, all parts of the state being represented. Con- cerning the meeting of 1911 the Medical Journal says: "The attendance, while not up to the standard set at the last meeting at Kansas City, was good. Two hundred and thirty members signed the registration book."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.