The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-07-12
THE KANSAS REPORT.

The ma jority Of the special committee ap-
pointed by the House Of Representatives to
investigate the troubles in Kansas. presented
their report to the House on the FIRST Of Ju-
ly. 1t Of great length, being complete
history Of the invasicns of that Territory,
and the frauds, murders, and outrageous vii
,anies which have occurred there since De-
tober, 1854. The testimony Of the Commit
tee is of the most conclusive character, and
is narrated 10y them with great impartia'ity
and clearness. 1t confirms in every essential
particular the disgraceful reports we have
published during the last year Of the wrongs
iniict, d by the Missourians and the admins
tration upon the free citizens Of Kansas. The
Report has had good effect upon Congress,
aud will have better effect among the pcO-
,le. Much as such evils are TO be regretted,
it is of the first importance that whenever
they are committed. full and dispassionate
disclosures be brought before the public. In
this view. the moral OF the Report must be
good. We can hardly conceive how any
man can approve such villanies. Even were
the object sought noble one, such measures
to effect it would cover it with everlasting
infamy In the light of these disclosures,
the party which Su,tans the wrong and g!o-
rics in it, which puts it into its platform, and
makes its candidates swallow it, can have no
claim upon that part Of the American people
WHO revere tie constitution and the laws Of
the country.
The committee report the following facts
and conclusions as cs' aElishej by the tcstimo-
ny taken before them -
! Iust-That each election in the Territory
held rnlrr the Organic or alleged Territorial
law has been carried hy Organized invasion.
from tie State of Missouri. by which tn,
people Of the Territory have been prevented
from exercising TIE rights secured to then
by the organic law.
.<scond-That the alleged Territorial Ie
-islaiure was an Illegally constituted body
and had no power to pass valid laws, AM
ll.ir ccactmcnts are, therefore, null an,
void
ThirI-That .Lcse alleged laws have no.
AS general thing, been used to protect pei
sons and property and to punish wrong, bu
tor unlawful purposes.
FomFh-That the election under whc
) the sitting delegate, John W. Whitfield
holds his seat. was not held in pursuance Of
anv valid laws. and that it should be regar,!
! ed only as the expression of the choice Of
those resident citizens who voted for him.
Itih-That the election under which tn
? rontcsting DELEGATE Andrew H. Rcrdc1
, claims his seat. was not held in pursuance o
law. and that it should be regarded only a
the expression Of The choice of the rcsides
citizens who voted for him.
.SrM-That Andrew II Recder receive
n a greater number of votes of resident cit
zens than John w. Whitfield. for Delegate
Seren'h-1hat in the present condition O
: the Territory fair election cannot be bel
without new census, Il stringent and we
guarded election law. the selection Of in
! partial Judges. and the presence of Unite
States troops at every place Of election.
EWhM-That the various elections he'll
by the people of the Territory preliminar
10 the formation of the State Government
have been as regular as the disturbed cond
ton OF the Territory would allow and tn;
f. the Constitution passed by the Convention
held in pursuance of said elections, embodit
the will Of majority Of the people.
As j, is not the province Of your Comm
tee to suggest remedies for the existing trout
les in the Territory OF Kansas, they confer
themselves with the foregoing statement o
facts
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
WM. A. HOWARD,
y. JOHN SHERMAN.