New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-17
KANSAS.
THE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION.

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Fror Our Special Correspondent .t'|
LAWRENCE, x. T., Saturday, Nay J. 1856.
Ins Is the tenth day Of the sistines of the Com
mttce OF Copgress. So far the evidence sub
mitted to them Is conclusive, ample and over
whelning. Evidence has been tassn pr,,,,s
frauds at the very frst election and at every sub,
quent election in the Territory, as well q, violsuea
and voting BY large bands from Missouri The
systematic and extensive inyA sion of hordes for,
Missouri at the election held in March, 1856. at
which the bogus Legislature which assembled at
the Shawnee Mission was elected, has been i.l,y
established Evidence has also b. zen given that
members Of that body and county o, fcen elected
by them were, and c.ill are, residesss OF Missouri
Evidence also abouads concerning b he war last
FALL fally proving all that was stsss d in THE
TRIBUNE, and putting it even In morea ggravatsd
light Some of the most damning tessi mouy kr
the Pre-Slavery side has come from men Of their
own party living in the Territory. I u1d srstaa1
that the members Of the Commission have EXP resssd
an opinion that the reports sent back from ts Terri
tory did not convey as black story as TIE, will
have to carry back to Congress. Whitfield into uls
his testimony. What may there be submitted it
would be impossible to speculate on, but it caa,t
amount to much. Indeed, if the Committee do not
suffer by sOme act Of violence, and the records theA
are making reach Congress without being de-
stroyed, those who have been endeavoring to-
bolster up dough.face position by the assertion
that the stories of violence and fraud were un-
founded will not have leg left to stand on
President Pierce will also have the satisfaction ef
knowing that the officers he has upheld in the
Territory have covered themselves and him with
infamy and disgrace.
But there is, at least, possibility that violence
may be offered to the Commission Some of the
Border Rufians have threatened they thall have
coat of tar and feathers and it merely remains to
be seen whether they will dare to execute their
threats against an express Commission from Con.
gress. Yesterday Gov. Reeder received letter
from friend in Leavenworth City, counseling him
not to come to the place with the Commission, a.
there was party there who were vowing to take
his life. Reeder replied that he should come to
Leavenworth at such times as he had business
there, the threats of the Pro- Slavery men to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
You will remember that Oliver, the Missouri
member of the Commission, stated in speech in
Congress that he knew Of no frauds connected with
the elections in the Territory save an instance
when some FreeState men, belonging to steam
boat at Leavenworth, voted. As an Offset to this
it is positively stated here by men who have evil ,
dence to submit, that Oliver himself came with
party from Missouri, and whether he voted or not,
that he, at least, made speeches to those who did.
II such evidence be submitted it will sound very
prettily in Congress, will it not li
The Commission is quite digni6ed body. Mr.
Howard, with bis partially slvered hair glistening
amid the darker shadows, is the very impersonif-
cation of searching cross-examination. Yester.
day. Col. Woodssn of Independence, Mo-, who Is
Whitfed's attorney, assisting him to cross ques-
tion objected to some point, thinking they wore
going too far to get evidence. Mr.. Howard de-
lvered an opinion on the subject, so clearly, inn
partially, and succiDcty, that WoOdsen did not
urge his objections. Mr.. Sherman is q younger and
milder. looking man than Mr.. Howard, but the ear
nest unweared attention he gives to the witnesses,
the questions he puts to them when their awkward.
ness or confusion is likely to leave some important
matter in doubt all evidence his conviction Of the
important character of his task. Indeed, both Of
these members exhibit an untirng patience, even
when the witnesses are most tiresome. Mr.. Oliver
do not wish to criticse. He has not been very
close atteRder of those open sessions that have
taken place since arrived. He is rather good
looking gentleman; when he questions be does 20
with politenesa. and seems to have fund Of humor.
for have heard him retailing funny stories to .
crowd in front of the hotel. Of the officers of the
Commission will not speak now.
Ex.GOy. Reeder has his seat by the table in
front, and is tireless. He questions and cross
questions as If he were in court of law, and his
own patrimony dependent upon the issue. His eye,
at any time a sharp one one, appears to have an
extra sharpness, and there is point about his
whole visage even to the tip of his gray mustachs.
Whitfield sits on the opposite side Of the table,
although bis legal assistant, Col Woodson Of
Independence, is generally there in bis place, and
does most of the cross-questioniDg. (By the By,
does it not look as If Whitfield thought Kansas
could afford very little aid, when he has to get not
only his constituency but his indicating attorney,
from Missouri y And here will correct an error
made in my last. Some one, who did not know,
told me that Secretary WOOdson was 10 attendance
on the Commission. This struck me % rather
odd, but as it was corroborated by another who
had made the same mistake, and as all the members
and gentlemen connected with the Commission
were not generally present at once, it is not sur
prisng that it was two days before discovered