Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-03-29


for testimony; and, nthe other hant
Mr.. Whitfield will know where TO go fo
| testimony to enable him 10 resist the pre-
tensions of Mr. Reeder. Blu. gentleme
object to this, On the ground that il vii
be calculated to create excitement. Now
sir, it strikes me that there is much les
likelihood Of disturbance and excite nep
under the arrangement which / propose
Suppose you send This election or any eth
er committee out there and summon 10 ap
pear before them here, do you rot thereby
give this contest much greater degree o
consequence and importance? Do yor
not rouse up storm Of excitement tal
greater than would a,taen 10 il ifthese par.
ties, who are alone concerned, shall be
charged with the duty OF prosecuting the
investigation So ii strikes me, sir.
But, again they propose TO go back
and look into the election, as understand
it, OF those who were returned TO the Leg
islative Assembly IN March. 1855. Under
the election laws, Mr. Reeder was COM
PEELED to give notice to Genera Whitfield
that he meant TO contest his seat, and to as
sign the grounds Oh which he intended to
rely IN prosecuting that contest before this
House. II sir you are now going into an in
quiry in relation TO the members who con-
st,tutc the Legislature Of Kansas Cor, rath-
er, who did constitute, for they are now
no longer in ofce)-if you propose to in
vestlgate the manner by which they got
there to ascertain who voted for them
whstheIthey were parties 10 fraud to slife
public sen'iment-you must at least, give
them notice, and allow them an opeottu-
nifty TO be heard in defence Of their con-
due; and character as dear to themsas Rec
der's character can possibly be TO him.
Does this House contemplate anything Of
ihis sort; Is it contemplated even By the
Committee of Elections TO do anything of
tins kind Not at ALL They propose to
go there 10 inquire into the election Of
members to that Territorial Legislature,
charged as they have been in advance,
with all sorts of fraud and misconduct by
the chairman and ether members Of this
committee. They 60 not inntend or ex-
poet that the members of thar Legislature
shall be allowed TO produce testimony, or
be heard in their defense.
Well, sir, look at This matter in another
point of view. Suppose you give the
poser 10 the committee which they now
ask for, and they send to Kansas for witues-
scs and make the investigation which
they propose, and after they have taken
that testimony, this House should come to
the conclusion that the members Of that
Legislature "ere Improperly returned,
what would 1t amount to- Could that
fact affect the validity of the election of
General F'hiffeld' Net at all He was
rot elected at the same time at which the
Legislature were elected. The Legis-
islalure were elected, think. in the
month Of March, 1855. and General Whit
field. was elected in the month following.
Suppose, then. that you can show that the
membersof the Legislature elected in march
were illegally elected, do you then seek
to draw The inference thercirom that be-
cause the persons purporting TO have been
elected to the Legislature in March We're
improperly elected. that therefore the Del
egate 10 Congress elected seven months
after that time was also improperly elected.
The inference would be monstrous one.
But yet it seems to be the inference which
some gentlemen have determined to draw
to the prejudice of the sitting Delegate.
II strikes me. that gentlemen will look
at this question in the point OF view IN
which | have presented it, they must see
that nothing useful or valuable can be ac-
complished by the course OF action that is
proposed. This House cannot repeal the
law Of Kansas. 1t requires the concurrence
of both branches Of the national Legisla-
ture and the approval of the Executive
TO give vitality to law; and one branch
of the national Legislature certainly cannot
repeal what it has required both TO pass
You cannot, then, accomplish anything
whatever, SO far as these laws are concern
ed, b, the course Of action you propose
Yol can il you Sc. your head about it, in
fame sectional prejudices and rouse popu-
lar passion, and thus continue and increase
the strife and excitement which already
exists in that Territory, aud throughout
the country, upon thiS slavery question. -
Yoa cannet reasonably expect any other
result.
A Member They do not want to ac-
ccmplish any other result,
MI. LclCneT. tliHk IL NelA pIoudble
that no other result IS desired by many on
the OF her side OF the House; and think so
Tor tais reason: | have not seen d SOLITARY
gentleman on the other side of the House
here, who has argued tins question. who
has not taken the ground most unqualified
~ that he had nothing to do with Cover
nor Reedel-taat it was no matter what
Governor Reeders position now was, OF
" hat had been his Official conduct. They
had nothing 10 say upon that subject
nothing to do with his official conduct in
granting certificates to member, Of the
Legislature or TO Whitfield.
Now, il strikes rae that, with Governor
Rceder here, with the majority OF the
House ssmpatbising in all his feelings, and
anxious to secure place for him On this
floor, il is somewhat extraordinary that, OF
all the members comprising the majority
here, there should not be one to FAY :
kind word for Governor ieeder--to offs
something IN the way OF excuse or Of JUS.
tl6eation for his official action; but not
one word in the way Of commehdalion OF
his conduct has been spoken. SO far es
now recollect. Gentlemen do not declare
that they approve his course; they are ST.
lent upon that interesting subject.
Now, in my view, the whole history Of
~ - .,a,,.r so far ak f1oyprnor Raadr ;e