Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-08-15
BsrRAcr OF THE RETURNS OF THE


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Although the fraud and force in
other districts was equally great as in
these. yet as the Governor had no in
formation in regard TO them, he issued
certificates according to the returns.
Your Committee here felt it to be
their duty not only to inquire into and
collect evidence in regard to force ard
fraud attempted and practiced in tae
Territory. but also into the facts and
pretsxts by which this force and fraud
had been excused and justified. and
for this purpose your Committee have
allowed the declarations Of non-resi-
dent voters to be given as evidence in
their own behalf; also the declarations
of all who came up the Missouri River
as emigrants in March. 1855. whether
they voted or not, and whether they
came into the Territory at all or not:
and also the rumors which were cir
culated among the people of Missouri
previous to the election. The great
body vf the testimony taken at the in
stance Of the sitting Delegate is Of
this character.
| When the declaration Of parties
passing up the river we're offered in
evidence, your Committee received
them upon the distinct statement that
they would be excluded unless the
persons making the declarations were
by other proof shown to have been
connected with the elections. This
proof was not made. and, therefore,
much of this class Of testimony is in
competent by tie rules Of law, but is
allowed to remain as tending to show
the cause Of the action Of the citizens
of Missouri. The alledged cause Of
the invasion Of March. 1856. are in-
cluded in the following charges:
l. That the New England Aid So
ciety Of Boston, was then importing
into the Territory large numbers CT
men. merely for the purpose Of con-
trolling the elections. That they came
without women. children or baggage.
went into the Territory, voted, and
returned again.
III. That men were hired in the
Eastern or Northern States. or induced
to 90 to the Territory, solely to vote.
and not to settle. and by SO doing to
make it Free State.
Ill. That the Governor Of the
Territory purposely postponed the day
Of election TO allow this emigration 10
arrive, and notified the Emigrant Aid
Society. and persons in the Eastern
States, Of the day Of election, before
he gave notice to the people of Mis-
souri, and the Territory.
| That these charges were industri.
ously circulated; that grossly exag-
gerated statements were made 10 re-
| gard to them: that the newspaper press
and leading men in public meetings in
Western Missouri, aided in one case
by a Chaplain Of the United States
Army. gave currency and credit "a
them. and thus existed the people, and
induced many well meaning citizens
of Missouri to march into the Terrific
ry 10 meet and repel the alleged Eas'
tern paupers and abolitionists, is fully
proven BY many witnesses. ags'a'- {
But these charges are not sustained
by the proof. ,ss
In April, 1854, the General As
sembly OF Massachusetts passed al
act entitled IAN act to incorporate
the Massachusetts, Emigrsnt Aid So
ciety." The object Of the Society. a
declared in the 6rst section Of this act
was "for the purpose Of assisting EN-
, igrants to settle In the West" The
moneyed capital Of the corporation wa'
mol TO exceed Eve millions Of dollars
bat no more than four per cent. coule
be assessed during the year 1854. ant
no more than ten per cent. in any on,
year thereafter. No organization wa
, perfected, or proceedings had, unde
this law.
II On the 9<th day Of July, 1854, Ger
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