The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-07-02

nnPonrsD ron re DIspA


Consreselonat
wAsHIHaToS, July --SkKArE -Ths Senate
adopted fesolntions calling the PRECEDENT for m
| formation relative to tho proclamation Of martial
law and the arrest OF the judge Of tbs district court
Mr. Collsmer, from the Committee on Terrific
ries, submitted the minority report On the Kansas
| question which was read land ordered to be
printed
Mr. Thompson. Of Kentucky spoke somewhat In
favor of ies bin reported by Judge Douglas, yes
terday. + The following IL the substance Of the
bill: rs1sr-z-~-s-a-s.@-
II provides for the appointment Of five commits
soners TO be selected from different sections Of the
| Union, to represent fairly all political parties
They shall take censu. of all the legal votes in
the Territory, and make fair spportionment OF
delegates TO be elected in each county to assemble
and make constitution and State government
| When tthe apportionment shall have been thus
made, the commissioners are to remain in session
every day, excepting Sunday, at places most con-
venent to the of the Territory to hear
all complaints, examine witnesses and correct all
errors in the said list Of voters which shall be pre-
viousy printed and circulated through the Terri
tory, and posted in a. least three of the most pub
lie places in each voting precinct in each county.
| So soon as all errors shall have thus been cor
rected in said lists the commissioners are required
to lists of the legal voters be printed and
copies furnished to each judge of election, to be
put up at the places of voting, and circulated
thr oughnut every county in the territory before
| the day Of election. No person shall be allowed
| to vote whose name does not appear as legal
voter. The election for delegates to take place on
the day of the Presidential election and the con-
| yention to assemble the first Monday in De-
cembCr, to decide: first whether 1t be expedent
for Kansas to come into the Union at that time
and, if SO decided, proceed to form constitution
and State government, which shall be republican
in form, and admitted equal footing with the
original States.
| The bill provides that no law shall be of force
enforced in the Territory infringing the liberty
of speech or the liberty of the press the right
Of the people to bear arms &c Also for punish
ing illegal voting, fraud violence at the cleo
ton, and to the military force for that purpose
The main point is, the present inhabitants shall
decide all points in dispute ia Kansas, at fair
election, without fraud violence, any other
improper influence" All male white inhabitants
over the age of twentyone years to be allowed to
vote If residing in the county and Territory three
| months previous to the day of election. and no
other test is to be required oath to support the
fugitive slave law, any other law nor any other
condition Whatsoever.
Messrs Bigler and Hale opposed it,
Nr. Adams moved to amend the bill by striking
who shall have filed declaration of their intention
to become citizens of the United States in compli.
ance with the naturalization laws
Mr. Crttenden favored the amendment
HoUsE-Mr. Barclay moved reconsider alton of
the vote of yesterday laying the bill for the ad
mission of Kansas on the table.
Mr. Houston moved to table the motion.
Business was then suspended to hear the read
ing of the
ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT OF THE KANSAS COM.
MITTEE.
The report shows that as soon as the bill to or.
ganze the Territory of Kansas passed, a large
number of the citizens of Missouri went into THE
Territory. and held squatter meetings, passed res
oiutions denouncing abolitionism, and declaring
that slavery existed therein.
In ia nf 1SSI cal
called the Blue Lodge, was formed-the plan of
operations, oahs, ETC., of which given by the re
port. This Lodge controlled the subsequent move
ments and invasons on the part of the Missou-
Rams
At the election on November Doth, 1854, for
delegate to Congress- there no fraud excep: in
the sparsely settled and remote districts, where
citizens of Missouri appeared and voted. Details
in relation to these facts given in the report
which says it is reduced to mathematical precision
that seventeen hundred illegal and nonresident
votes were cast by citizens of Missouri, and that
the remainder were eleven hundred legal votes
Whitfield received plurality, and would have
been elected without the aid of his Missouri
friends.
During the winter, very great excitement exist.
ed on account OF the invasion, public meetings
were held, and much bitter feeling was m anifested
In February, 1855. a census was taken and the
number of legal voters was ascertained to be 9O5
1t was also discovered that the 30th arch, 1855
several days before the election, active prepare
tons went on in Missouri, where a complete or
ganization was effected
Leaders were appointed; tents, provisions am
munitions and arms distributed, and the forces
were divided into companies in Missouri and on
the day of election at least 5000 citizens of Mis-
souri,, it is testified, took up their line of march for
Kansas. Companies went into every council and
representative district of that Territory but one
The great MAS of testimony consists in detailing
the acts and sayings of these companies.
The lnvestig aiing Committee had before them
the poll books, census rolls, etc, showing who
were legal well As who were illegal voters and
from accurate and almost absolute proofs it ap.
peared that of about 6 300 votes, five thousand
were those of non-residenis. The majority of
| members of both houses of the Legislative Assem-
bly,, the Committee say, would have been Free
State men had there been no invasion of Misseu
riars. The Governor set aside the result of the
elections in some of the districts account of in
fornalities. new election took place therein on
the 221 of May. but this did effect the result
FreeState men were chosen in these districts ex.
cept Leavenw orth, where there was Illegal voting
The Committee took a large mass of testimony
| regarding the proceedings of the Legislative As.
sembly, which they say aro characterized by reck.
lessness and injustice They likewise speak of the
| crimes, such as murders and robberies which were
frequent, saying that in case with the excep
ton of MeRae, "a free State man. vi as there any
arrest, Indictment or prosecution for those Of
fences
The report contains full and complete details of
everything connected with the Territory of Kan
sas, prior the 10Th of March last and saws it ia
clearly and distinctly proven that Samuel j. Jones'
the Sheriff, was the cause of recent disturbances
| in which he so prominently figured Mr. Oliver of
Missouri, zone of the investigating Committee
made speech in the 18th district but did not vote
| although he went over with one of the companies
from that State into Kansas
The conclusions of the Committee are that ZACH
ct the elections in Kansas carried by inv asions
from Missouri-that the Legislative Assembly is an
Illegally constituted body, and therefore has no
power to pass valid laws For these reasons
its enactmenfs void The election Of j. w
Whitfield was not held under any valid law, nor
the election of Reeder held in accordance with
law The Committee suggest no remedy
The report treats of distractions thrown in the
way of the Conn itee. and OF the general violence
which prevails in the Territory. 1t is very voiu-
minous. and il signed by Messrs. Sherman and
Howard
After the reading of the report, the House ad-
journef.
From knBsns.
CHICAGO, July I've learn from Alton, Kan.
Al. 81 L.