Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-06-12
tFROM KANSAS
Tse Congressional Investigation.


taken before he Investigating Committee:
r. r. REEs, swcrr--He was questioned
relative to the a.ecting held April 30. 1855,
at which resolutions were passed indoTsing
The lynchingof Philips at that time. The
CommiItcc had copy OF the proceedings
of the meeting stated, in letter from
Lawrence, testimony having been given en-
the poiat there, that nearly all Of those en-
gagged in thus inlorsirg his lawless affsir,
then held, or have since held, resPons be
Offices. gave the names and ofices ther,
and W nd now merely re scat that thy were
members Of the Bogus Legislature. Ju Ii z
of the Peace, Ju ges of Election, County
Officers, Grand Jurors, Deputy Marshals,
the person since appointed POsim Ister, and
il fact. thu; these m ,b-law men f r q Il con-
siderable portion OF tie cfice. s TO admiIi,t'
er the law, Judge LccomPt among the
nImber. Witness, himself d member oflhe
Bogus Council, him ELF participant in tle
meeting, gave testimony. OH examinIt IN,
TO prove these facts. SIme Of the signers
residents of Missouri.
~ a. ffNS' ~ ~ w ~ "a.
in March, 1855; did not know what was
the reason why one OF the Judges of Elec-
iion resigned; could not tell what was the
cum2ara i've strength Of the Frec-:Oi and
Pro Slavery parties at that time; did not
know of himself, but on conversation with
others thought that .'we' the Pro Slavery
party had majnrilv in the l.eavenworth
Dis rict; saw it IN the papers. and heard il
reported, that the s.AboiitiUn Emigrant Aid
Societr> were sending on crowds OF men to
vote in the Territory in the Spring of 1888:
at the election 3oth March, san large num-
ters OF men, many of whom he recognized
as having been citizrns of Missouri before
. that tim. [witne-s came from Missouri I
and many of them he knew to reside in Mis-
souri, since: conrersed with many OF these
men; the reason they guve for coming over
ct that time to vote was to cDunteract the
abolition Aid Emigration;" such be IN
a,rstands was their object in coming over,
witness has read but little of Eastern and
Northern paper; has been a careful reader
Of some papers; the intention of those who
came over at these different times and places
from Missouri to vote was 20 prevent the
Eastern Abolition emiErants from abolition
izinI the Territory. SO lar as witness had
the means OF ascertaining, there was a rumor
that a large number of emigrants were 6:
st. Louis, or on Their way up the river, in
March; at the March election there was Jess
confusion and fights than he was accustOm-
ed to; he saw ten to one where he came
from, Platte County likeIy;l the crowd
was 50 great at the election at this point
that il was deemed advisable 10 sire ch rope
SO as to keep the crowd of; don't believe
it was intended to keep voters away; heard
hard things said of "Abolitioni.ts' and
swearing at taem; it is a hard thing 20 find
aplace htrea5ouis where such things are
not common; witness knew nothing of the
facts relative to the lynchiDg of Philips but
testified to what were the current rumors.
These have all been published; one of these
was that Phillips had signed an affidavit for
the purpose os contes:ing the election; these
Id to the n;hing.
To Sher mdn--Many OF those taking part
in the meeting referred to, Lad first, he be-
lieved, taken part in the tar and ie.thering
operation. Wines on heing questioned
about the names on the poll bo.ks OF men
frcm Missouri, commenced ilen.i ying names
and then stopped 10 explain. He sad he
had been candidate for tie Kansas Council
at that election, and had taken the position
on The SIT mp aud el, ewherc-and so had his
colleague candidates that man WHO was
in the Territory On The day OF election had
right to vote by the Kansas Nebraska bill;
and w.t.es. sad he thinks any man d knaye
or fool who thinks any thug else.
Mr. Hcwald-That's your opinion! A.
Yes. (Wiiness then went on with the lis,
Of names, and was identifying Missourians
very fact, when Whitfield inteposeJ and OBJ
jected to this testimony being taken, and
urged that as the names were on the poll
book: the cnly righ, way was to serd over
after all these men, as they could better
testify TO il individually, a process which
would last forever, and take ten times moro
money has been or will be appropriated to
The committee. 1t was orerruled, md
w nitLS " NoA hiS l ~ CSI Ou w IT.
ness then continued, proving the names on
the poll-boG6s TO be residents og Missouri;
he knew the names he gave as such, and
that they still lived there. Witness gave
the Testimony with great GOODNESS and
ndiUctte: but as he had pronounced that ali
who did not think those present at the elec-
tion had right to vote were "knavcs or
fools" Of course he desired TO be regarded
as an honest, sensible man. On the gener-
al question How many Missouriuns were
here that day. he said: There were from a
thousand to twelve hundred on the ground;
believed there were parties here from many
different coant;es; some from as far down
es Brunswick; saw companies of men from
different Counties in Missouri, with wagons
and tents.
To Howard-Would state tha, friends of
witness ard himself, who were candidates,
had done this much to induce men to come
from Missouri to vote; has assured them, il
they would do so, they would be very kindly
received; does not remember particularly
about circulars being sent to Missouri; might
iO"S"SN aA "'ui0 SAOm uiLu Oi-C
men might have been sent over to rally the
boys; did not see many Eastern men lead
ing here; d not see many Eastern men at
the election; believed the Eastern men were
rallying at Lawrence, and that there would
be an army at all points; they did not gel
TO this point OF to this district; only knew
about these Emigrant Aid Societies from
rumor. ION discussion Mr.. Rrcs stated that
some men from n ssouri were in the con-
ventios that nominated him. In running
over The names OF MissoaraEs, witness took
care to draw a distinction between those
men who, living in Missouri, have claims
in the Territory and those Who have not
This testimony could be of no possible use
in proving them resident voters, but will be
record ties imony TO uvulida,e their pre-emp-
tion right to these lands.
Gen. Whithc't made quite al effort TO-
day to convey tie ;dea that he was not i'm
partially treated. The truth is, he Las been