Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-07-12

Hitherto it has been the aim of the friends
of Pierce and Douglas, to make the public be-
lieve that the laws passed by the Legislature
Of Kansas, were the offspring of the settlers of
that territory, but the recent report Of the Kan
sas Committee most completely upsets the
scheme ofthe doughlaces, and lays barelhe ras-
calty ofthe 'border-ruffians," and their instiga-
tors. 1t should be remembered that the report
of the Committee embodies statements taken
under oa,h-that great efforts have been made
to arrive at the truth, and that after due and
careful deliberalion the Report has been SUBJ
mitted to Congress. We ask some of the
Union-saving men who abound in this region,
TO read this report, and 10 place away in some
nook in their brain the fact 'that 5000 illegal
and nonresident votes were cast by citizens of
Missouri" We publish the material part Of
the testimony, in hopes that it will attract the
attention of the Editor of the Pioneer:-
The Report says that, as soon as the bill
authorizing the Territory of Kansas was pass
ed, laige number Of the citizens of Missouri
went lnlo the Territory, held squatter soyer-
eighty meetings, passed resolutions denouncinp
Aboliiionists, and declared that Slavery exist.
ed therein.
In the autumn of 1854, secret political So
ciety, called the Blue Lodge, (ke the K. Ms, J
was formed. Their plan of operations, oaths,
&c. are given in the report. This lodge con-
trolled all the subsequent movements and in
vasions on the part Of the Missourans, at the
election on the 18th of November, 1854, for a
delegate TO Congress. There was no evidence
OF fraud, except In the sparsely settled and remote
districts, Where citizens of Missouri appeare
and voted.
Details in relation to these facts, are given
In the report, which when reduced tonath-
ematical precision. show that 100 illegal andf
nonresident votes Were cast by citizens OF
Missouri. .....u
The remainder being legal votes, amounted
to 100. Mr.. Whiteiield would have been
elected without the aid Of his Missouri votes,
as he received plurality OF all the votes cast.
During the winter of 1910, great excitement
existed In the territory, on account Of the in
vasion. Public meetings We're held and much
bitter feelings was manifested In 1856 a
census was taken, and the nunbf of legal votes
estimated 10 be 1900. Previous 10 the election
in the spring Of 1855, active preparations were
made in Missouri to invade the territory, and
complete organization was effected. Leaders
were chosen, tents, ammunition, provisions and
arms distributed, and the forces were drilled in
companies in Missouri, and on the day before
election, it is certified that at least 5000 Mis-
sou:lans took up the line of march for Kansas
i'll companies. and went into every Representa-
tive district in the territory except one.
In detailing the accounts OF the companies
and the declarations made by them, great
portion the testimony consists of extracts from
the poll books, census rolls, Sc, showing who
were legal as well who were no, legal .oers,
and from accurate and almost absolute proof. it
appeared that of about $500 votes cast at the
election for members OF the Territorial Legis-
lgture, 5000 were those of non-residents. the
majority Of the members Of both Houses of the
Legislature, would have been Free State men.
if there had been no invasion of Missouri.
ans.
The government had set aside the election
IN some ot the districts, and mex, election
took place on the 22d OF May, resulting in the
choice OF Free State men in those districts. ex-
cept Leavenworth, where there was still illegal
voting.
The Committee took a large mass OF testi-
mony regarding the proceedings of the Legis-
lative Assembly, which proceedings, they say,
are characterized by recklessness and inus-
ticp. fi.t 'f", =,
The Report likewise alIudes to the murders.
robberIes, and other crimes committed in the
Territory, and claims that in no case except
that OF McRea, Free state man, was there
any prose cution for those offences.