Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-07-09
Report of the Kansas Investigating CON-
mittee in Congress.

N@l n1N@An IVA
mittee in Congress.
WASHINGTON, JUN 1st.
HoUsE-Mr. Houston's motion to lay
the motion to reconsider on the table
was superseded by the presentation of
the report by the Kansas Investigation
Committee, Of which here follows a syn
opsis:
The report shows us soon as the bill
to organize the territory of Kansas was
passed, a large number of citizens of
Mis-. went into the territory and held
squatter meetings, passed resolutions de-
nouncing abolitionists, and declaring
that slavery existed therein. In the
Autumn Of 1854 a secret political soci-
ETY. called the Blue Lodge was formed,
the plan of operation of which with its
oaths, &C., are given in the report. This
lodge controlled all the subsequent move
ments and invasions en- the part of the
MiSsourians at the election, Nov, 99th,
1854, for delegate to Congress. there
was no evidenee offered except in the
partially settled and remote 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
l 700 Illegal and nonresident votes were
cast by cidzens of No. The remainder
being legal woes, amounted TO LOO,
Whitfield would have been elected with
out the aid Of his Missouri votes. He
received a plurality of all the votes cast.
During the winter Of '54 and '55 great
excitement existed in the territory. On
account of the invasion public meetings
were held, and much bitter feeling was
manifested. In Feb. '55 a census was
taken and the number of legal votes
were asc~eriained TO be 2, 9G5. Previous
to the election in the spling Of So active
preparations were made in Missouri to
invade the territory and a complete or
ganizatiGn was affected; leaders were
chosen, tents, ammunition, provisions
and arms distributed, and the forces
were drilled in companies in Mo and
on the day before the election it is testi-
fed that at least 5000 Missourians took
up the line of march for Kansas, and
companies went into every representative
district of the territory, except one
In detailing the acts OF these compa-
mes and the declarations made by them,
a great portion of the testimony consist
ed of extracts from the poll books, cen-
sus, &c, showing who were legal as well
as illegal voters. and from accurate and
almost absolute proof, it appeared that
of about 6.3i votes cast at he election
for members OF the territorial legislature,
5000 of those were non-resid nts. The
majority of the members of both houses
of the legislature would have been free
state men, if there lad been no invasion
of M~i>sourians. The Governor had Sc,
aside the election in some of the districts
and a new election took place therein, on
the 22d of May, resulting in the choice
of free state men in these districts, Z
cept Leavenwerth where there were still
illegal voting.
The Committee took a large mass Of
testimony regarding the proceedings of
the Legislative assembly which proceed
ings they say are characterized by reck-
l~essness and injustice.
The report alludes to the murders,
robberies and other crimes committed in
the territory, and claims that in no case,
except that of McCrea, a free state man,
was there any prosecution Tor those Of
fences. No indictments were found, no
arrests made and no measures taken TO
bring the perpetrators to justice.
The report contains full and complete
details of everything connected with the
Territory of Kansas prior to the 18Th Of
March last, and says it is clearly proved
that Samuel j. Jones, the Sheriff. was
the main cause of the recent disturbances
in which he prominently figured.
1t is also proved that Mr.. Oliver, one
of the Committee, went into Missouri
with one of the invading companies, and
made a speech in the fifteenth elective
district, but it is not true that he voted.
The conclusions Of the Committee are,
that each of the elections in Kansas were
carried by invasion from Missouri /; that
consequently the legislative assembly is
an Illegally constituted body. and has no
power 10 pass valid laws; therefore It's
enaclmen,s are void. The election of
G. W. Whitfield as a delegate to Con-
gress, was not held under any valid laws,
neither was that of Mr.. Reeder accord
ing 10 law. The Committee suggest no
remedy whatever.
The report alluded to distractions
that were thrown in the way of the Com
mittee, and TO the general violence that
prevails in the Territory. 1t is very
voluminous, and IS signed by Messrs.
Howard and Sherman.