The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-07-12
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, July |.

| "AohiN1IoN, July L.
SENATE.-Mr. Thompson spoke somewha
in favor of the bill to admit Kansas, report
ed yesterday by the Committee ON Terri
tories.
Mr.. Bigler also spoke for and Mr.. Hall
against the bill.
HoUsE.-Mr. Houston's motion to lay tt
motion to reconsider the Kansas Bill on tht
table was superseded by the presentation o
the report of the Kansas Investigating Com
mittee, of which the following is synousis
The report shows that as soon as the bill
organizing the Territory of Kansas was pas
sed, large number of the citizens of Mis-
souri, went into the Territory, held squattel
sovereignty meetings, passed resolutions dc.
nouncing aboitionists and declaring thai
Slavery existed therein. In the Autumn Of
1854 secret political society called the
"Blue Lodge" was formed, the plan o.
operations of which, with it's threats, etc.
are given in the report. This Lodge con
trolled all the subsequent movements and il :
vasions on the part of the Missourians. AT
the election of the Goth of November, 1854
for delegate to Congress, there was no
evidence OF fraud, except in the sparsely set
tied and remote districts, where citizens OF
Missouri appeared andvoted. Details in rela-
ton tc these facts are given in the report,
which says it is reduced to mathematical
precision that 100 illegal and nonresident
votes were cast by citizens of Missouri. The
remainder, being legal votes, amounted to
llO0. Mr.. Whitfield would have been
elected without the aid of his Missouri votes
he receiving plurality of all the votes cast.
During the winter of lS54-5, great excite
ment existed in the Territory, on account of
the invasions. Public meetings were held,
and much bitter feeling was manifested.-
In 1885 census was taken, and the num-
Der OF legal voters was ascertained to be
2,9O5. Previous to the election, in the
spring OF '55, active preparations were made
in Missouri to invade the Territory, and a
complete organisation was effected. Leaders
were chosen, tents, ammunition, provisions
and arms disturbed, and the forces were
drilled in companies in Missouri, and on the
day before the election it is testified that at
leat 5000 Mssourians took up the line of
march for Kansas in companies, and went
into every Representative district in the Ter
rtory but one.
In detailing the accounts of the Companies
and the declaration made by them, a great
portion of this testimony consists of extracts
from the poll books, census rolls, &C.. show
ing who were legal as well as who were lille
gal voters, and from accurate and almost ab-
solute proof it appears that of about 6,3O0
votes cast at the election for members of the
! Territorial Legislature, 5000 were those of
non-residents. The majority Of members of
both houses of the Legislature would have
vason of Missourians
| Tho - l.. al.
some of the districts, and new election was
held on the 22d OF May, resulting in the
choice of Free State men in all the districts
except Leavenworth, where there was still
illegal voting.
The committee took large mass of testi-
mony regarding the proceedings of the Le-
gislative Assembly, which proceedings they
say are characterized by reckIessness and
| injustice.
The report also alludes to the murders,
robberics and other crimes committed in the
Territory, and claims that in no case, except
that OF McRae, Free State man, was there
any prosecution for these offences. No in
dlctmcnts were found, no arrests made, and
| no measures taken to bring the perpetrators
to Justice.
| The repor: contains full and complete de-
|
tory prior to the 10Th of March last, and
says it is clearly proven that Sar..uel j..
Jones, the Sheriff, was the main cause ofthe
| recent disturbances in which he SO promi-
nently figured.
1t is also. proved that Mr.. Oliver, one OF
the committee, went into Kansas with one
of the invading companies, and made a
speech in the ll5th electoral district, but it
] is not true that lie voted.
The conclusions of the committee are that
each of the elections in Kansas were carried
by invasions from Missouri that conse-
| quently the LegislativeA Assembly had no pow
er to pass valid laws, therefore it's enact
ments are void.
The election of G. W. Whitfield as dele
gate to Congress was not under any valid
| ws, neither was that of Mr.. Reeder in ac-
cordance with law.
The committee suggest no remedy. The
report alluding to Instructions that were
thrown in the way of the committee and to
the general violence that prevails in the Ter
ritory, is very voluminous, and is signed by
Messrs Howard and Sherman.
WASHINGTON, July g
In the Senate to-daya communication was
mitting the original journal of the proceed
ings of the American Commissioner at Paris
on American claims against France.
| In the House an attempt was made to al
ter the hour of meeting from II to IL.
q Baron de Rothschild has given 40
900 francs to the sufferers by the late inun-
! 1afiOT1S in Eranco Tho Emprocc- hos cub