The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1856-03-06
Mr.. Reeder's Memorial,

The following memorial from Nr.
Reeder, was presented in the House of
Representatives on Thursday, and re.
Iefred TO the committee on eIec tons:
To the Honorable The House of
Representatives. of the United States.
The memorial OF the undersigned, in
behalf Of the qualified voters Of the terri
tory of Kansas, and in his capacity Of
representative OF said voters, as hereinaf-
Ter stated, respectfully represents; That
he claims 10 be entitled 10 represent the
said territory in the Thir,y.iourlh Con
gress as a Congressional Delegate, to the
exclusion and in lieu Of Hon. j. W. Whit
field, the sitting Delegate. upon the fol-
lowing state OF facts: 'Ihe said J. w.
Whitfield, as your mem orialist is inform
ed, claims to have been elected at pre-.
tended election held on the first day Of
October last in said Territory, which
said pretended election your memorialsI
contends and proposes 10 show, was ab.
soluiey void, being without any valid
law or the will Of the people or qualified
voters, to authorize or TO support.
That the law under which said pro-
tended election was held, emanated from
legislative assembly which the people
and qualified voters of said Territory,
protest and declare, through your me-
moriaist. were not elected by them, but
imposed upon them by the force fIups
rior non.resdents, who could pass no law
that would be binding on them, and whose
election and action should not be sane.
toned or recognized by this House, be-
cause they are utterly inconsistent with
the idea of republican govOrnment, and
destructive Of the painest and most un-
deniable civil and political rights.
That the said supposed election law
was entirely nugatory and Of no effect
because passed al an illegal and unau'
lhorzed place, whore no valid legislation
could be had, and was void in its elf, and
on its face, as containing provisions d.
reclly aud materially violative of the act
of Congress to organize the said Terri.
| tory.
'The said pretended election wa, mol
conducted even according to the forms
and mode prescribed by the supposed
law which purpored to authorize it.
That many hundreds of llsgal votes
we're polled at said pretended election
by non-residents and others.
And your memorialist excuses him
self for the want Of specifications, under
the two objections last above stated, by
reason that he has been unable to obtain
from the Executive office OF said Terri.
tory the necessary information, or any
copies Of the returns Of said election;
that, after several applications TO the
Secretary Of the Territory for certified
copies OF papers in his Office had bsen
neglected and evaded, the said Secretary
gave positive refusal TO furnish the cop
les dsmanded; and ior the further reason
thnt the said Secretary Of the Territory
has withheld the copies Of Executive
minutes for the year 1855. although the
laws required him to furnish them semi.
annually TO the President Of the United
States, which said copies, had they been
forwarded, might have furnished The ne
cSssary information to your memorialsI
And your memoriallst further states
that he was duly elected by large m.ior'
| ity of tho legal voters Of the said Terri
tory 10 the said office Of Delegate at al
election held on the OH day OF October
which he proposes to show was the only
valid election held in the Territory foI
that purpose. A II. REEDER.
Washington, Feb, l2. 1856"
The memorial was referred to the
committee on elections, and ordered TO
be printed.