Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-23
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

The Kansas Contested Election Case
Those around US anxious to Gust General Whit
field for political effect, are exhibiting their
modification and chagrin over the lamentable
failure of ex-Gov. Reeder to present even a
plausible claim to the seat, most manifestly.
They take the ex-Governor's utter want of
common sense as displayed in the extraordi-
narily feeble case he presents, very hard, in
deed; and are "cussing'' him between their
teeth with great bitterness; for with all their
ssnctimony of outward appearance, the poll
ticians of the Free Soil school are quite as
much given to furious swearing sub rosa, as
those terrible fellows, the Southrons, TO swear
ing in the face of the world. He (Reeder,)
plants his claims to Whitfeld's seat on the
doctrine that "the people" may elect a
delegate to Congress, without law to that end !;
contending that his own election in that way is
valid. He insists further, that tn law under
which Whitfield was elected is invalid because
it was passed by a legislature, some of whose
members (not a majority were chosen by IL
legal votes, and which forfeited its legal char
acter; also, by removing from his town-site
speculation to the Shawnee mission. Granting
the correctness of this silly plea that with the
authority IF the United States in full force in
the territory, the people thereof have the right
to elect delegate to Congress without a ter
ritoral ordinance to that end, the election Or
General Whitfield, occurring few days be-
fore has alleged election, has all the elements
Of validity according to has theory. To admit
that the people of the territory may lawfully
choose one delegate to-day, and that in a week
afterwards portion Of the same people may
lawfully elect another in his stead, is to en-.
dorse the rsnkest ethical and political abb
surdity.
We need hardly assure the Stars distant
readers that not even the most crazed Adolf
htionists in Washington entertain the slightest
idea that Ex-Governor Reeder will obtain
twenty votes In the House in favor of his
claim to General Whitfeld's seat. The gen
ersl expectation is, indeed, that he will aban-
don the contest shortly, in disgust more es-
pecially since the House have blocked the
game of bringing hither, at the public ex-
pense, the battalion Of Abolitionist spouters
from Kansas who are now vagabondizing over
non-slaveholding States, begging for arms, am
munition and money, in aid Of the purpose
Of creating in the new territory an armed
rebellion against the authority Of the United
States. We have before referred to this
scheme, spoiled, as we have explained, by the
refusal OF the House to grant the elections
committees request for power to send for per-
sons (the vagabond Abolitionists in question, }
and papers (the written misrepresentation of
the Sandy Spring and Topeka Convention
folks with reference TO Kansas affairs twas
proposed, we have every reason to believe,
thusto keep for the balance of the session at
this point at the expense of the contingent
fund Of the House, those people, and to en-
Ploy them, for the most part, az corps of
industrious political letter writers for the
Abolition Republican party press In their
soups some Of the fraternity now in Wash
ington, are said 10 have let the cat out of the
bag; which will be news, doubtless, to more
or lees members of the House election com.
mittee proposed to be used as the chief instru-
ment In consummating the tick.
Their presence is desirable here on the part
Of the Abolition managers, to give, by their
worthless One-sided afidavits, FEASIBILITY to
the act of the Abolition party in the territory,
in assuming the right to get up the Topeka
made State Constitution, and to pull down, al
the same time, by revolutionary means, the
territorial government created by Congress
They were, doubtless expected TO do any re.
quired miscellaneous swearing to that end.
As for that constitution an attempt-to pre-.
coed under it in the territory will at once
produce the dreaded collision between the
United States authorities and those who may
assume to act by virtue of the DEGREES of the
Abolition party managers there. In such q
case, Col. Sumner has plain duty to perform
Until 20 instructed recently in accordance
with the notification embraced in the Presi.
dents proclamation, that officer could not
Legally carry the United States troops under
him to the aid of the territorial officers in MAIN
tanning their authority; and the latter were
forced 10 rely on the aid Of the law-abidipg
people Of Missouri, who did not cro.s the
border, organized and armed TO interfs,s IN
the affairs OF the territory, until summoned by
the legally constituted authorities SO to do
When there, to the number of twelve or if.
teen hundred, they conducted themselves in
all respects as American citizen soldiers should
do, committing no act Of violence, and gladly
returning peaceably to their homes, after The
territorial authorities had obtained pledges
from those in arms against the Government O
the United States-the Abolitionists of Law
rercs-that they would submit from that time
to lawsu Jurisdiction. There were enough o.
fhem-alI hardy pioneers of the frontier-tc
have swept Lawrence from the face of the
earth in an hour, if 50 minded. But they lid
no sssh thing. Their errans was one of law
Euiness only; and notwithstanding the thou
SAND provOcations to retsliatory outrages Oh
Snsir part, by which from 6rst to last they have