Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-16
VOL. 2.--NO. 4s.

ed from the lst, ID. Sd, 4th and 9th Council
districts. The result in the Sth and 10th elec-
ting three members would have been doubtful,
and the 5th, sth and 9th would have elected 8
pro-slavery members.
sUnder the circumstances the House OF Rep
resentatives would have been composed of IA
members in favor OF making Kansas Free
State, elected from the I'd, Sd, 4th, 5th, 9Th,
Sth, 9th and 10th representative districts.
The result in the 18th and 18th representa-
tive districts, electing five members would
have been doubtful, and the 1st, 9th 1lth and
18th districts would have elected slave
ry members.
BY the election, as conducted, the pro-
slavery candidates in every district received
majority of the votes; and several of them in
both the Council and the House, did not GRE
side in'' and were not "inhabitants of'' tho
district for which they were elected, as requir-
cd by the organic law. By that act it was de-
clared to be ssthe true intent and meaning of
this act TO leave the people thereof perfectly
free to form and to regulate their domestic in
stitutions in their own way, subject to thcCon-
stitution of the United States.''
a lengthy recital Of the history and purpose
of the Emigrant Aid Society," full detail of
the people in their election of a constitutional
convention-a narrative of the proceedings
and deliberations of the Convention-the rat
ification of their work by the people are Civ
en-, and the Committee finish their report by
avowing that they have reached the following
conclusions:
l. That each election In the Territory held
under the organic or alleged Territorial law
has been carried by organized invasion from
the State of Missouri, 10y which the people Of
the Territory have been prevented from exer-
cising the rights secured to them by the or
ganic law.
2. That the alleged Territorial Legislature
was an illegally constituted body, and had no
power to pass valid laws, and their enactments
are, therefore, null and void.
Q. That these alleged laws have not, as
general thing, been used to protect persons
."d property and to punish wrong, but for un-
lawIui purnoses
4. That the election unaer WHICH inc -s.,,1nr
delegate, John W. Whitfield, holds his seat,
was not held in pursuance of any valid law,
and that it should be regarded only as the ex-
preston of the choice of those resident citi-
zens who voted for him.
8. That the election under which the con-
testing Delegate, Andrew IL. Reeder, claims
his seat, was not held in pursuance of law, and
that it should be regarded only as an express
sion of the choice of the resident citizens who
voted for him. s
6. That Andrew Il. Reeder received great
er number OF votes of resident citizens than
John w. Whitfield for Delegate.
Z. That in the present condition of the Ter
ritory fair election cannot be held without Il
new census, a stringent and well guarded cleo
tfon law, the selection of impartial Judges.
and the presence of United States troops at
every place of election.
s. That the various elections held by tho
people of the Territory preliminary to the for
nation of the State Government, have been
as regular as the disturbed condition of the
Territory would allow and that the Constitu-
tion passed by the Convention, held in pursu-
ance of said elections, embodies the will of a
majority of the people.
As it is not the province of your Committee
to suggest remedies for the existing troubles
in the Territory of Kansas, they content them
selves with the foregoing statement of facts.
We deem the facts submitted and proven by
cloud of witnesses, establishing beyond
the shadow of doubt, all the allegations here
tofore made by. the Free State men. The
whole forms history Of concerted systema-
tized plan of violence, crime and usurpatiou,
never equalled by any set of occurrences in
the history of our country. If it does not
startle and convince the most unbelieving and
captious, we are Indeed much mistaken in our
judgment Of the force and effect truth ought
to have.