The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-11-06
W SHINGTON CITY.
TUESDAY MORNING. NOV. Q. 1855.
rHE CONTEST FOR pELEoATE IRON KANSAS.


field and Governor Reeder for delegate from Kan
Of the great questions for sectional agitation du
ring the approaching session of Congress General Whit
field will base his claims to the upon the certificate of
Governor Shannon showing that election held in
pursuance of the law passed by the legislature Of Kansas
majority of the votes were cast for General Whitfield for
delegate Congress Governor Reeder viii base his
claims upon certificates made by parties holding official
positions but showing that in pursuance of the resolutions
Of voluntary assemblage Of inhabitants of Kansas
election held the various election precincts which
Governor Reeder received majority Of the votes cast
and that be s therefore entitled represent the Territory
as its delegate in Congress.
Inasmuch as General Whitfield win present the cerf-
OF the Governor of the Territory made in pursuance
of the statute Of the Territory he will be entitled pma
acis to occupy the To him Governor Reeders
friends propose show that the certificate of the governor
is null and void the ground that the statute which
provided for the election itself nullity This will
raise the question whether the legislative body which
acted the statute composed of legal Legislators chosen
pursuance fthe of Congress organizing the Territory
whether they body Of individuals who under the
forms oflaw had usurped legislative authority.
II is maintained by those who dispute the legality of
Gen. Whfeds election that by virtue of the power which
the House of Representatives has under the constitution
udge Of the elections returns and qualifications Of its
members" it will be competent to 80 back and IL
qure whether the several persons who held
bers of the Kansas legislature legally elected such
members and if So whether their acts such Legislators
rendered Illegal and invalid by reason Of their adj
ournmen from the place designated by the then governor
the scat Of government place designated by their
own resolution
When the House of Representatives has been induced TO
set aside the election of members to the legislature Of Kan
void and Of consequence to declare that the laws
passed by them Legislature are void and also that the
election of delegate to Congress under these laws void
then proposed that Gov Reeder shall be indicted into
tie thus declared vacant His title to the position is
to be sustained the ground that be the true and
une representative of the Territory His certificate of
election is alleged emanaes from the people of the Ter
ritory In voluntary meetings assembled.
The law of Congress requires the delegate to be elected
In pursuance Of act of the territorial legislature and
the evidence of his election which the law esebes is the
certificate Of the territorial governor Neither of these
requisites exists in c6nnexion with Gov Recder certh
cate but the evidence of his election shows that he has
been chosen only in rolaon of the act of the terrific
rial Legislature but that his claim to seat only be
granted by overriding the act Of Congress providing for
the organization of Kansas 1t win be observed that If
the House should declare General Wheds election void
because the law of the Territory void the result places
him on exactly the same footing with Gov Reeder In
each case the people assembled together voluntarily at
their places of voting and made election The was
chosen under color of law, Tin the view now
taking3 whilst the other chosen in open defiance of
law Which of the two claimants received the larger
number of votes we not informed is it material
since they were voted for different times and there
no trial of strength between them from which it he
judged which the choice of majority of the bona de
inhabitants.
Gov Reeders friends that the rejection of Gen.
Wht6eds certificate is antamount the admission of
Gov Reeder delegate. We unable to see how any
such consequence follows Until the House of Represent
ayes prepared abrogae only the election of the
legislators of Kansas the legislature of Kansas the
ti6cae of Gov Reeder declaring the election of members
legal the laws passed by the legislature recognised
legal the certificate of Gov Shannon that Gen. Whitfield
elected according to law, and last of all the law of
Congress providing territorial government for Kansas
impossible that the question of the admission of Gov
Reeders claim can be entertained The contest however
may serve the purposes Of sectional agitation and
wholly unable to discover any other object that be
accomplished but to widen the breach between the North
and the South and hasten the consummation of the
great design of black repubcanism to array section
of the Union against the other We are slow to believe
that an American House of Representatives will be
induced by the appeals of fanatca and ambitious polt
cal demagogue tranple upon the laws not only of the
territorial legislature of Kansas but of Congress- in order
to promote the designs of disunionists.
WE LOSE THE RECKLESS FEW AND GAIN THE
PATRIOTIC MANY.
While reading the glowing speech OF Rufus Choate, of
Massachusetts, and the eloquent protests of distinguished
higs in every State in the Unon again reminded
of the great issues stake in the coming contest Rcco
ect that these demonstrations made by those who still
harbor against the democratic party the peudces result
ing from years of intense opposition Recoect that many
of them are the reluctant testimonials the consistency
and courage of political friends in dischagng high
constitutional duties and that these testimonials be-
slowed by who for years ogave the and the
Of their companions and coaboers and who
have spoken only when silence became criminal The spirit
which speaks through these protests is all the
mandng and emphatic because it is spirit Of irepes-
ble disgust hnacism and Of inyncble adherence of
disunon Recolect too, that these men have long hung
back waiting with aching hearts and painful soicude
for the northern wing party itself from the gloom
into which it had aen that they have closed their eyes
long possible upon the steady columns of the democ