The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-19
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
r. oLIvER's MINORITY REPORT.

The undersigned member of the committee of three ap
pointed by the House Of Representatives to investigate
the state of affairs IN Kansas dsagreeng with the views
aud conclusions OF his colleagues in the written
submited by them touching the result of their
Investigations begs leave under the permission OF the
House, 10 present "a couner-statement.
The authority under which the committee acted
order of this House. passed the 10th of March last direct
ing them TO proceed TO inquire into and collect evidence
in regard to- the troubles in Kansas generally and parc
uary in regard any fraud force attempted
sed In reference to any OF the elections which have taken
place in said Territory, either under the law organizing
sand Territory any pretended LAG which may be alleged
to have taken effect there since and when the nvesga
ton was completed to report the evidence collected 10
the House"
Under this resolution the committee entered upon the
discharge Of the duties imposed them with much de-
spatch possible Their labors closed Westpor
Missouri the 9th OF June 1885, The paper in the
re OF report drawn up by the colleagues of the under
signed the committee not read to by him, and
lie knew nothing Of its contents character until it
presented TO the House 1t the expectation of the
undersigned that any other report would be submitted by
them than the testimony taken. full execution of the
commission of the House. he thought the prescnta
ton of the evidence collected But the majority of the
committee have thought proper comment the char
acter Of the testimony and give their version of the
substance of the facts which is altogether variance from
his understanding OF both the undersigned feels 1t incum
bent him TO follow their example, by presenting like
comments on his part
have apparent to all that the report of the
majority was not only paTte and onesided but highly
partisan in its character from beginning to end Tns APP
all through the paper in the of their
ment of all things referred to by them facts many of
which statements of facts thus made rest upon evil
dence whatever collected by the committee.
To justify this remark the undersigned WILL in the be-
ginning of what he has to Offer barely alude TO few
statements in the report Of the majority from which its
whole character may be judged. is tor instance said
by the majority that IA party under H. o. Pate composed
chiefly Of citizens Of Missouri, taken prisoners by
party of Settlers and while your committee at West
port company chiefly of Mssourians accompanied by
the sitting delegate went to relieve Pate and his party
and collision was prevented by the United States
troops"
Now the undersigned arms most positively that this
statement has not particle of proof taken before the
committee, 10 rest u on There is testimony in the
whole mass collected by the committee that matter
none at all But the undersigned arms that in his opn-
on and according the best of his information and be-
lief the fact contrary to the statement Of the majority
at all events far relates to Captain Pate Since that
report has been made under indulgence granted by this
House. testimony has been taken that point, from
which II is made very clearly TO appear that this state
men made without proof in the first instance was found
ed wholly in Captain Pate hmsefa OF char
acer and integritswears that the best of his knowl
edge mot one of them citizens of Missouri" This
deposition the undersigned here refers to without spread
ing out at large and makes it part of his report
fully and completely as if it were given in full in this
place.
Again The statement about the young man being seized
in the town of Atchson, and under circumstances of
bary arred and cottoned and 10 that condition sent
To his family Is entirely unsusained by any proof in the
mass OF that taken by the committee. IL is true esti
ony taken alleged facts of this character but
when it proposed go fully into the investigation of
the whole truth of such charges and not to rest them
pdrte statements alone the majority of the committee
abandoned the investigation and struck out the testimony
which they had taken. But the undersigned has not time
to with such specifications He win here barely add
that all like statements In the report 10 the existing
dion ofthe Territory, wholly gratutous and unsup-
ported by any testimony taken by the committee For the
correctness of what he now ars the undersigned APP
peals to the testimony file; and to counterac the inn
preston OF sueh by the majority Of the commit
tee he begs leave to refer the deposions here
unto appended and made part of his report as fully as If
the same set forth at large
The undersigned airms nest positively aud distinct
ly that the testimony taken by the committee contains
matter going 10 dsproye deny in the slightest
degree these great leading and controlling facts in the
of the controversy which rave rise 10 the organa
ton oil tnis committee to tl election for terri
toral legislature held in Kansas Territory the
30th Of March, 1885, in pursuance of the proclamation
OF A. Il Recder governor of the Territory under the
gaDic law that in that proclamation the time and places
OF voDg set forth that the judges OF eecon were APP
pointed by him. with instructions 10 how their places
TO be nlled they any Of them refused failed TO
that be reserved the power 10 hmsa in the srs
ihsmnce returns, and that he did 80 act
that the returns made him. and he did aside the
election Of but nine members Of the twenty elected
the house OF Representatives and three Of the thirteen
elected TO the council and gave his certificate Of election
10 the other seventeen members Of the hous and ten
bers Of the couuol, being majority OF both branches Of
this legislature that be ordered elections In those dis
where he bad aside the returns that the gov
convened the Legislature thus constituted according
TO law, the LIST of July 1885, and communicated with
them officially after they organized, and recognised
them legally and properly constituted law-making
body and never until August 1855 after he removed
from the Office Of governor did he object TO the election OF
n majority Of the legislature both in the council and in
the house Of representatives to whom he had previously
given certificates.
These great leading and essential facts upon which the
validity uvalidIy OF laws prGended tdrs" Of Kan
must rest not denied assaed, by part
Gle Of testimony taken BY the commtee and with these
facts unassaed and unimpeached II Is beyond the COM
prehension Of the unders ned how the majority could
the conclusion that the laws passed by the terri
tora Legislature null and void in consequence OF
iegaity IL such had been proved In the election Of
Its members All questions relating TO that election
closed by their waiver at the proper time and without
Investigation by the proper authority. This Is welfxed
principle In all representative institutions upon IL
they all rest and with the Of Il Gov Reeder
himself seems to be duly impressed This the testimony
clearly dscloes In letter found In the streets OF Law
renee and proven before tho committee 10 be In the hand
writing Of Governor Reeder and bearing his genuine sig
nature dated In this city the 18th Of February 1885,
and addressed to friend Of his in Kansas Territory, he
says:
the territorial government opinion Ia confirmed instead
fbeing shaken my predictions have all been verified
far and win be in the future. We WH BE- sodr legality
- concerned IN The Urong: and That Is noring matter in
critical state Of things and in W of such bloody
qnenct'. ] may soeak my plain and pri-
vate opinion TO friends in Kansas for 1t my duty
But TO the public you will by my published letter.
show divided irontD
This letter. and another also found were addressed IL
is understood Grosyenor p Lowrey his friend and for
merly his private secretary while he was governor Of
Kansas and so important bearing had they upon the
main facts Of e case which the legality Of The terri
forai legislature and Their eaacnents that the majority Of
the committee after they had admitted them evidence
as il was clearly understood by all parties attempted to
reject them.