The Border Ruffian Code in Kansas 1855/1856

Greeley and McElrath

Published by Greeley and McElrath (New York Tribune), 1855

About this Item

The Border Ruffian Code in Kansas, is an 1855?1856 antislavery political tract produced by Greeley and McElrath, publishers of the New York Tribune. It was part of a coordinated effort to expose the pro slavery Kansas Territorial Legislature and the violent actions of the Border Ruffians, pro slavery Missourians who crossed into Kansas to intimidate voters and control territorial government. This pamphlet is not satire. It reprints and highlights actual laws passed by the pro slavery legislature of Kansas Territory in 1855, which Free State settlers denounced as illegitimate because the elections had been taken over by Border Ruffian mobs. This pamphlet is a political expose, designed to show Northern readers how extreme and oppressive these laws were. In 1854, the Kansas Nebraska Act opened Kansas Territory to popular sovereignty, meaning settlers would vote on whether Kansas would be a free or slave state. Pro slavery Missourians flooded into Kansas, seized polling places, and installed a legislature that passed harsh slave codes, criminalized abolitionist speech, and restricted voting rights. Newspapers like the New York Tribune responded by printing pamphlets like yours to: warn Northern voters, support the Free State movement, influence the 1856 presidential election, document abuses committed under the pro slavery regime. This pamphlet is part of this political campaign.Greeley and McElrath (New York Tribune); New York, 1855/1856. Pamphlet. An Acceptable, age toned with some soiling, moisture stain bottom fore-edge margin of pages, creases to corners, bit pulpy and worn, copy in wraps. 8vo[octavo or approx. 6 x 9], 15pp., map in rear. We pack securely and ship daily w/delivery confirmation on every book. The picture on the listing page is of the actual book for sale. Additional Scan(s) are available for any item, please inquire.Please note: Oversized books/sets MAY require additional postage then what is quoted for 2.2lb book.

Seller Inventory # 111111114750

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Border Ruffian Code in Kansas 1855/1856
• Publisher: Greeley and McElrath (New York Tribune)
• Publication Date: 1855
• Language: English
• Binding: Pamphlet
• Condition: Fair
• Seller catalogs:
  • Local Histories