Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-09
THE. KANSAS QUESTION IN CONGRESS

| N>>A~s
| Last week, Mr.. Douglass made report OF
Kansas affairs, which proposes new bill, pro
| viding for the appointment of five Commits
| sioners by the President, who to take
| census of all the legal voters in the Territory
| and make fair apportionment of the dele
gates to be elected by each county to form
Constitution. No person is to be allowed t,
vote whose name does not appear on the lis
| as 4 legal voter. The election for delegates il
to be held on the day of the Presidential cleo
ton, and the Convention is to assemble on the
| first Monday in December, and decide whcth
er it be expedient for Kansas to come into tht
Union at that time, and if SO to proceed t
form Constitution and State Government
which shall be of Republican form. The bill
provides further that no law shall be enforced
in the Territory infringing the liberty O
speech or of the press, or the right of the peo
pie to bear arms illegal voting to be punish
ed, or fraud and violence at elections al
white male inhabitants of 81 years of age arr
to be allowed TO vote if they have resided il
| the territory months previous to the day Of
election, and no other test shall be required
| y o law shall be made, or have force or effect
which shall require test oath or an oath to
support any act of Congress or other legisa-
tive act, as qualification for Office, or as a
juror, or which shall restrain or prohibit the
free discussion of any law or subject of legis-
lation, or the free expression of opinion there
on by the people of the Territory. This bill
passed the Senate on the Sd, by vote of SO
| yeas to y nays.
| In the House, on the 30th June, the bill to
| admit Kansas with her free Constitution, as a
| State, was rejected by majority. On Tues
| day, Mr.. Barclay moved reconsideration of
| the vote, upon which warm debate sprung
| up, but pending motion to lay Barclays mo-
tion on the table, Mr.. Howard presented the
Report of the Kansas Investigating Commit
tee. The Committee report the following,
facts and conclusions established by the testi-
mony :
l. That each election in the Territory held
under the organic or alleged Territorial law
has been carried by organized invasion from
the State of Missouri, by which the people of
the Territory have been prevented from exer-
ciSing the rights secured to them by the or
ganic law.
2. That the alleged Territorial Legislature
power to pass valid laws, and their enactments
are, therefore, null and void.
3. That these alleged laws have not, as a
general thing, been used to protect persons
and property and to punish wrong, but for un-
lawful purposes.
4. That the election under which the sitting
delegate, John w. Whitfield, holds his seat
was not held in pursuance of any valid law,
and that it should be regarded only as the cx-
preston of the choice of those resident citi-
ZcnS who voted for him.
8. That the election under which the con-
testing Delegate, Andrew II. Reedcr. claims
his seat, was not held in pursuance of law, and
sion OF the cfIoIUv trrS sIs.e.ls.-
voted for him.
6. That Andrew III. Reedcr received great
er number ot votes of resident citizens than
John w. Whitfield for Delegate.
Z. That in the present condition of the Ter
ritory fair election cannot be held without
new census, stringent and we'll guarded cleo
ton law, the selection of impartial Judges,
and the presence of United States troops at
every place of election.
8. That the various elections held by the
people of the Territory preliminary to the for
nation of the State Government, have been
regular as the disturbed condition of the
Territory would allow and that the ConStitu-
tion passed by the Convention, held in pursu-
ancc Of said elections, embodies the will of
majority of the people.
As it is not the province OF your Committee
to suggest remedies for the existing troubles
in the Territory of Kansas, they content them
selves with the foregoing statement of facts.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM A. HOWARD,
JOHN SHERMAN
On the Sd inst, Mr.. Barclays motion to re-
consider was carried by vote of 10l to o.
The bill then passed, yeas 100, nays 90.