"KANSAS'S FIRST TERRITORIAL GOVERNOR CHOSE A CAPITOL NEAR FORT RILEY"

A Moment in Time

Kansas Historical Society

May 2001

By Joy Brennan

A monthly series from the Kansas Historical Society

Unlike our Kansas Legislature, the Kansas Territorial Legislature met in several different locations. One of those, First Territorial Capitol State Historic Site near Fort Riley, is adding colorful new exhibits, museum objects, lighting and new interpretive stories to help visitors understand our state's early territorial history. Located in the defunct town of Pawnee, this stone structure hosted the Territorial legislature's first session in July 1855. Although the session lasted only five short days, this brief moment in history is an important part of the larger picture of settlement in Kansas Territory.

Shortly after Kansas became a territory in 1854, President Franklin Pierce appointed Andrew Horatio Reeder as governor of Kansas. Reeder took the oath of office in Washington on July 7, 1854, and arrived in Kansas Territory on October 7.

Governor Reeder was a Democrat who was in full sympathy with the South in supporting the institution of slavery. An advocate for the Kansas-Nebraska bill which gave residents the choice of whether or not to allow slavery, Reeder's attitude changed after the March election when thousands of Missourians overran the polls in Kansas. The governor was appalled at the extent of the fraud and when the Free Soil partisans protested the election results, Reeder agreed to discard the results from the districts where protests had been filed. He called for a new election in the disputed districts in May that was boycotted by the proslavery partisans. The governor felt the legislature should convene at a point remote from the influences of the slave state of Missouri. He exercised his power by calling the legislature to the new town of Pawnee. Hence, the stage was set for conflict when the legislature convened on July 2, 1855.

Reeder was one of the most active land speculators in the territory. Pawnee City was one of his investments, which proved to be a conflict of interest so well known that traveler William Anderson Thornton mentioned it in his diary the morning that the Territorial Legislature opened July 2, 1855. "The prairie on [the] valley of the Kansas River [is] about three miles wide. Beautiful locations. The ridges rise about 50 feet. It is here that Governor Reeder is said to own 1200 acres purchased at 90 cents the acre."

The session which would be called the Bogus Legislature opened July 2, 1855. In this brief session nearly all the members who were opponents of slavery were ousted. It was later recalled that one ousted member, John A. Wakefield, rose to leave the capitol and gave vent to his indignation with this prophetic speech, "Gentlemen, this is a memorable day, and may become more so. Your acts will be the means of lighting the watch-fires of war in our land." Thus the Civil War had its beginnings and there was no compromise on slavery in the territory or the nation.

A bill passed on July 4, 1855 transferring the seat of government back to Shawnee Mission near the Missouri border. Although Governor Reeder promptly vetoed this bill, it passed over his veto and the legislature adjourned to reconvene on July 16 in Shawnee Mission.

Andrew Reeder was forced out of office as Territorial Governor soon after the legislature met in Pawnee. Reeder fell out of favor with some members of the U.S. Congress and the President due to his lack of support for slavery. He continued working with the Free-State party of the Territory. When supporters of slavery began arresting members of the Free-State party, Reeder felt he had no choice but to leave the Territory.

Visitors can explore this fascinating aspect of the state's history at First Territorial State Historic Site. Colorful new exhibits, museum objects, lighting and new interpretive stories highlight the changes at First Territorial Capitol, open 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Sunday. The site, now ADA accessible, is located via Huebner Road, exit 301 on I-70, in Fort Riley; 785-784-5535; www.kshs.org Suggested donation $2 adults, $1 children. For more information about the program schedule, contact Partners of the First Territorial Capitol at 785-238-7808.

The Kansas Historical Society does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs. The Society requests prior notification to accommodate individuals with special needs or disabilities.