Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-03-29
lit, and demanded that its provisions sh ouId
be enforced for their benefit.

ted rather TO complicate this matter tina
to relieve it from embarrassment. VIVA
10 the state OF facis2
Whitfield is here IN his seat as tn
Delegate from the Territory of Kanss.
with the commission from the Governor o
that Territory in all respects in accordanc,
with the law, and this House has recognl
zed its legality and validity,
How comes Mr.. Reeder here? HI
Genes here in the character ola contes-
tant asking to Gust AIR. Whitfield frem
bis seat, and claiming that he is legally
entitled 10 1t. Well moss sir, if the com
mittee had undertaken to decide, in the
first instance, whether Mr.. Reeder wa,
eligible to a seat on this floor, whether he
was party who could occupy the posi-
lion, and whether he was entitled TO the
pri, ileges attaching TO contestant, and il
they had disposed of that question: would
they not have simpli6ec the matter very
muchs And would they not have reliev-
ed it of great many Of the difficulties
which now surround III Unquestionably
they would; and 1t becomes then TO ex-
plain to the house why they have not
adopted this plain and simple course of
action.
Strange as it may appear to some of the
gentlemen on the other side OF the House,
] deny that Mr.. Reeder i. eligible to
sea. in this House as Delegate from the
Territory of Kansas; ADD shall endeavor
20 make that appear. When Mr. Recder
went to the Territory Of Kansas, he went
there in the capacity of It's Governor
He went there 10 perform specific duty
by virtue Of the agency so conferred upon
him. Who accompanied HIM when he
went to that Territory in the first instance?
II l am correctly advised, and if the his
tory OF the time is to be relied upon, he
was accompanied by Mr.. Flenniker, who
set up as candidate for Congress on the
Free Soil side against the present sitting
member. Did MIR. Flenniken 60 there TO
become citizen OF that Territory On
the contrary, so far from il. ere not the
.ac.s growing out of bis going to that Ter
ritory and his returning. conclusive evil
dence that he never went there with an
ia:eStion of becoming citizen, unless
the people of that Territory should take
him up and better his fortunes by sending
him as a Delegate to this body? So soon
as that election was over, Mr.. FleDniken
returned to the STATE of Pennsylvania for
the purpose of prosecuting his profession.
He had never changed his domici!e. He
never went to Kansas " it'll an intention Of
remaining. That intention whatever il
was, an intention Defending upon a
aontingency-whether Governor Reeder
and himself, by their joint influence,
could, send him to this House. IF he
could have succeeded in his purpose, he
would doubtless have made Kansas his tu-
TUE residence.
Now, let us see how it is with Mr..
Reeder. Did be 60 to remain in that
erritory?-because mark you. it is the
intention with which he went which con-
satuies his claim to citizenship and essab-
l,shes his right to be returned to this body.
If he went there to remain under any and
all circumstances, how does II happen that
his family still remained at his home in
Pepnsy lvaniaY How does it happen that
his domicie never was chsnged?-tl,at his
property remained in Pennsylvania that
his family remained theIe?-that all the
ties which bound him to existence were
connected, with tina. particular spot?-
in the discharge of his governmental agen-
ey, and not as a settler; and when that
governmental agency was terminated
when the election ofthe 9th OF August.
under which he claims to have been re-
turned to this House, was over-he return
ed to his home and hi, family in the Stale
of Pennsylvania. aud there he has remain
ed from that day to this Now, say that
under these circumstances. the inference
is irresistible that he never went TO that
Territory to remain, unless on the eontin-
gency that he could hold his executive
office, and could consummate the land.
specializing schemes which he meditated,
but which subsequent interference by Gov
ernornment officers thwar.td.
Well, now, let Us look at another point
in connection with tins matter. These
gentlemen claim that they have the right
TO 60 behind the certificate Of Mr.. Whit
with the election under which he claims
to come here; aud not only SO, but to 60
still luther, and TO look at the law. and
the authorities by which that law was
passed. under which the election was held
And they tell US very grav-ly, sir-and
with gIea, deal of Observation-Disclosures
any body who is opposed to their view Of
the case is opposed:to and Is seeking 10 stife
investigation. is striving 10 conceal The. facts
ard that he does not desire to have them
erposed to the public view
Nov, sir. desire an investigation, and
! will tell gentlemen how propose te
have that investigation made. Mr.. Rec
der comes here contcsling the sea, of Mr..
Whitfield, and is called upor to say why
he is not prepared with lists of illegal
Yates, with the specific ground OF objection
to the illegah'y Of each vote, and why be
is not prepared with testimony to establish
his allegations. His reply is, that he has
had no opportunity Of bang prepared
because of the course Of the Secretary Of
the Territory, AID because Of the fact tina,
there ware no officers there who couid
swear the witnesses and take the testlmo-
ny. This is matter between Whitfield
and keeder. This isa controversy be.
tween them, and them alone. Now, what
l. propose is this, that as It is matter
which concerns them persosa'ly.-the one
the sitting and the other the contestine
IN, M hs,-this Houee ipsteod or anno;,t:,. !.