There were no railroads across Iowa, none across Missouri.

But despite all impediments and all discouragements, the free-State emigrants, stimulated by anti-slavery societies organized for the purpose, far outnumbered those from the slave States.

Had the vexed question in the Territory been left to actual settlers it would have been at once decided adversely to slavery.

But the neighboring inhabitants of Missouri, as the first election approached, invaded the Territory in large numbers, and, with boisterous disturbance and threats of violence, seized the polls, fraudulently elected a pro-slavery Legislature, and chose one of their leaders named Whitfield as delegate to Congress.

Over six thousand votes were polled, of which some eight hundred only were cast by actual settlers.