The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-07-05
The Kansas Renorf.

The report of the Kansas committee was
laid before Congress on Tuesday. We find
the following synopsis of it in the Geographic
dispatches to the Chicago papers:
The report shows that, as soon as the bill
organizing the Territory Of Kansas was pass
ed a large number of the citizens of Mis-
souri, went into the Territory, held squatter
sovereignty meetings. passed resolutions de-
nonncing Abolitionists, and declaring that
slavery existed therein. In the autumn of
1854 secret political society, called the
Blue Lodge, was formed; the plan Of opera
tons of which, with its oaths, etc, are given
in the report. This lodge controlled all the
subsequent movements and invasiOns on the
part of the MIssourians, at the election on
the 29th of November, 1854, for a delegate
to Congress. There was no evidence of
fraud except in the sparsely settled and re-
mote districts, where citizens of Missouri:
appeared and voted.
Details in relation to these facts are given
in the report, which says it is reduced to
mathematical precision, that 100 illegal
and nonresident votes were cast by citizens
of Missouri. The remainder being legal
votes amounted to l,1O0-Mr. Whitfield
would have been elected without the aid of
his Missouri votes, he receiving plurality
of all the votes cast.
During the winter of 1S54-55, great ex-
element existed in the Territory on account
of the invasion. Public meetings were held,
and much bitter feeling was manifested.
In 1855 a census was taken, and the num-
Der of legal votes was ascertained 70 b
1905. Previous to the election in the
spring of 80, active preparations were made
in Missouri to invade the Territory and 4
.lT, 7
ers were chosen, tents, ammunition, prov-
sions and arms distributed, and the forces
were drilled In companies in Missouri, and
on the day before the election it is testified
that at least 5000 Missourians took up the
line Of march for Kansas in companies, and
went into every Representative District OF
the Territory except one. In detailing the
accounts Of these companies and the deciara-
tons made by them, great portion OF the
testimony consists of extracts from the poll
books, census rolls, &c, showing who were
Legal as well as who were not legal voters,
and from accurate and almost absolute proof,
it appeared that Of about $500 votes cast al
the election for members Of the Territorial
Legislature, 5000 were those Of nou-re-
sdents. The majority Of members Of both
houses Of the legislature would have been
Free State men If there had been no invasion
Of MisSourians. The Governor had set aside
the election in some Of the Districts, and u
mex election took place on the 22d OF May,
resulting IN the choice OF Free State men in
those districts except Lcayenworth, where
there were still Illegal voting The commit
tee took large mass OF testimony regarding
the proceedings Of the legislative assembly,
which proceedings they say are character
ized by recklessness and injustice. The re-
les, and other crimes committed in the Ter
ritOry, and claims that in no case except that
of McRae Free State man. was there any
prosecution for those offences. No iudict-
meuts H,re found and no arrests made, and
no measures taken to bring the perpetrators
10 justice. The report contains fall and com
plvte details Of everything connected with
the Territory OF Kansas prior to the 18th Of
March last, and says II - Clearly proven that
Samuel y. Jones, the Sheriff, was the main
cause OF the mt DISTURBANCES in which
ne 50 prominently figured. IL l. also proved
that Mr.. Oliver, one Of the committee, went
Into Kansas with one OF the invading com
panles, and made speech in the 10Th Elec-
ton District, but it il not true that he voted.
The conclusions of the committee are, that
each OF the elections IN Kansas were carried
by invasiOnS from Missouri, that conse-
fu'i't'S nv SI94dLi' = dSSSihpiE II an !!itsdIl
constituted body and has no power to pass
valid laws, therefore its enactments are void
The election OF q. ". " hlttie! J., as Delegate
to Congress, was not under any valid laws,
neither was that OF Nj Reeder IN accordance
with law. The Committee suggest no RENE
dy. The report abiding to distractions that
were thrown IN the way of the committee,
and to the general violence that prevails III
the Territory, is very yoluniuous, and is
signed by Messrs. Howard and Sherman.