Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-05-21

Wp-lleeucT
Warrant for his Arrest-7He er- Governor
shors his abackbone"-Opiniom Of members Of
tie Committee.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 9, 1856.
IL the Editor ofthe Missouri Democrat:
The Congressional Investigating Committee
| has been in session for fifteen days. They have
| collected mass of evidence of outrages COM
mitted on the rights and persons of American
citizens, unparalleled in the recorded history of
| civilized Western communities. Senators will
| never again presume to say that it is doubtful
whether Kansas was ever invaded. The cry of
abolition lies" which has been SO effective in
certain sections of our country, will never again
be raised by the friends of the administration.
Douglas and his report will haye to 80 the wall.
The free State men of Kansas, instead of being
regarded as rebels and fanatics, will be looked
on as men with marvellous talent for silence
| and ng-suffering. The people Of the Southern
States, who have hitherto been inclined to re-
gard the followers of Atchison as champions Of
their rights, will repudiate them with scorn and
rally to the support of the squatters they have
often condemned.
The administration party in Kansas, conscious
of these things, have been zealously STRIVING to
thwart the object of the committee. Althogh it
has set on an average ton hours day, the organs
that it has been idling away its time. They next
attempted to deny the impartiality of the exam
nation General Whitfield said, or is reported
to have said, that he could not bring his witness
es to Lawrence as their lives would not be safe.
The committee promptly determined to hold a
session at Lecompton and Tecumseh-both OF
them pro-slayery towns. They went there, but
Gen. Whitfield failed to produce his timid wit
nesses even there.
Then movement was holder one.
As Reeder was about TO leave Tecumseh, an
officer of the Territorial organization served him
with summons to appear as q witness before
the grand jury at Lecompton. Governor Reed
er informed the officer that he declined to obey
it.
Yesterday afternoon, as the committee were
| in session, d deputy Marshal, appointed by the
Barons Of Kansas, appeared in Court and served
| a writ of attachment on Gov. Reeder, who was
examining witness at the time.
The Governor arose and informed the COM
mittee Of the fact He said that he had declined
to obey the subpoena for three reasons-intor-
malty in the writ, insecurity Of person, privilege
| as a member of Congress. The writ was not
properly addressed to any officer; it. did not
/ specify the day in which it required him him to
/ appear, and it was not properly attested. For
| the same seasons he protested against this writ
| Of attachment. He said that he had been rec.
ognized by the House Of Representatives as Q
claiment for the seat of Delegate from Kansas
and that, therefore, he was entitled to the privi
lege of member of Congress, conferred by the
sixth section of article Of the Federal constitu
| tons
"They shall in all cases, except treason, feio
ny and breach Of the peace, be privileged iron
4 arrest during their attendance at the session
their respective Houses, and in going to and re
turning from the same; and for any speech or de
bate in either House, they shall not be question
4 ed in any other place.
He claimed that he was protected from arres
under the clause relative TO protection IN goins
to Congress for he maintained that It inclnde'
ali preliminary steps requisite in order to obtail
| seat. He therefore, claimed the protection Q
, this court
81 The committee consulted together for severs
!, minutes, when Mr.. Sherman said:
II The application of Governor Reeder that thi
. committee secure to him his privilege from .,
!, rest. places US under some embarrassment. He
: here by our invitation, and to aid us in an in
i porfant public duty. But for US he would nc
r ! Is hn,c. We are required among other thing.
, | 70 take testimony touching the contest betwee
8 ! Gen. whitfield and himself and heretofore y
have had the benefit Of their attendance and Al.
While thew are asserting their claims and pr
ducing evidence to sustain them, they have COZ
I'll tributed very much to elicit the truth. 10
8 deprived, In any way, Of their aid would seriou
ly hinder, delay and obssruet Us IN this nEestg
h ton.
And vet while this committee is in scssit
!, and Gov. Reeder IS engaged in examining witness
s before US, Deputy Marshal comes into Q
midst 10 serve on Gov. Reeder writ OF attac
!. ment issued by Territorial Judge. This VI
y L a ~. n.