Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-10
From Washington.

Wv" ""' "S0ii uoieateu anu afterwards rec0nSid-
cred and passed in the House by three majority.
In the Senate on the Both, Mr.. Douglas made
q yoluminious report on Kansas affairs, and
spoke in favor OF a bill which provides for the
appointment of FIVE Commissioners, to be select
ed by the President from different sections of
the Union, to represent fairly all political par
ties. They shall take census Of all the legal
voters in the territory, and make fair appor-
lonment of delegates to be elected by each
county to form a constitution and institute q
State government. When the apportionment
shall have been made, the Commissioners are to
remain in session every day, except Sunday, at
the place most convenient for the inhabitants of
said territory, to hear all complaints, examine
witnesses, and correct all errors in said list of
voters, which list shall be previously printed
and generally circulated through the territory,
and posted in at least three of the most public
places of each election district and so soon as
all the errors have been thus corrected in said
lists, are requested to cause correct list of the
legal voters to be printed and copies furnished
to each Judge of Election, to be put up at the
places of voting, and circulated in every county
in the territory before the day Of election. No
person to be allowed to vote whose name does
not appear on the list as legal voter
The election for delegates to take place on the
day of the Presidential election, and the con-
vention to assemble on the first Monday in De-
cembcr, to decide-lst, whether it be expedient
for Kansas to come into the Union at that time,
and, if 50 decided, to proceed to form a consti
tuition and State government, which shall be of
Republican form Kansas then to he admitted
under such constitution on IN equal footing
with the original States
The bill provides further that no law shall be
enforced in the territory infringing the liberty
Of speech, or Of the press, or the right Of peo
pie to bear arms, &c. 1t also provides punish
mcnt for illegal voting, or fraud and violence at
elections, and authorizes the use of the military
for that purpose. The main point is that the
persons designated by the census as the present
inhabitants of the territory shall decide all
points in dispute at fair election without
fraud or violence Or any other improper infu.
ence.
All the white male inhabitants over q years
Of age are allowed to vote if they have resided
in the territory three months previous to the
day Of election, and no other test shall be re-
quircd no oath to support the fugitive slave
law, or any other law, nor any other condition
whatever.
In the House Mr. Grow made the closing
speech in favor Of the admission Of Kansas.
Mr. Dunn of Indiana moved an amendment
that the committee be required to report II bill
restoring the Missouri Compromise.
The main question was then taken, and the
bill rejected by one majority
The result WAS greeted by clapping of hands
and vocilerations Of joy by the opponents of
the bill, while its friends exhibited signs Of dis
appointment.
In the House on the LIST Mr.. Barclay moved
reconsideration of the vote by which the Kansas
bill was rejected He said that he was inform
ed that there were warrants in this District di-
recting the arrest of Reeeer for treason. This
he regarded AS flnciful. He was disposed to
rebuke it now by v, ting for the bill, in order to
protect the people of Kansas.
Here the Kansas Investigating Committee
presented their report.
The report shows that as soon as the bill to
organize the Territory of Kansas was passed, a
large number of the citizens Of Missouri went
into the Territory and held squatter meetings,
passed resolutions denouncing abolitiouists, and
declaring that Slavery existed therein. In the
autumn of 1851, II secret political society, call
ed ' The Blue Lodge" was formed-the plan
of operations of which, with its oaths, etc., are
given in the report. This Lodge controlled all
the subsequent movements and invasions on the
part of the Missourians.
At the election, November %, 1854, for a
delegate in Congress, there was no evidence oil
fraud except in the sparsely settled and remote
districts, where citizens Of Missouri appeared
and voted Details in relation to these facts
are given in the report which says: " 1t is re-
duced to mathematical precision that seventeen
hundred illegal and on-resident votes were cast
by citizens Of Missouri, the remainder, being le-
gal votes amounting to eleven hundred Mr..
Whitfield would have been elected without the
aid OF his Missouri votes, lie having plurality
of all the votes cast. During the winter OF
lS54-55, great excitement existed in the Terri
tory on account of the invasion public meet.
ings were held, and much bitter feeling was
manifested.
In February, 1888, census was taken, and
the number Of legal voters were ascertained t,
be 2905. Previous to the election in the spline
OF 1855, active preparations were made in Mis-
souri, to invade the Territory, and complete
organization was effected. Leaders were chosen
tents, provisions, ammunition and arms distrib-
uted and the forces were drilled in companies
in Missouri; and on the day before the cleo
ton, it is testified, at least five thousand Mis-.
sourians took up the line Of march for Kansas,
and companies went into every representative
district of the Territory except one
In detailing the acts of these companies, and
the declarations made by them u great portion
of the testimony consists.
We shall commence the publication of the
Report next week.
In the Senate on the Cd, most exiting de-
bate occurred, and the Senate continued in ses-
sion until nine O'Clock the next day, Douglas
bill for the admission of Kansas being under
discussion.
The question was taken on Mr.. Adams mo-
ton to strike out the clause giving the right of
suffrage to all who shall have filed their declar-
alton of intention to become citizens Of the
United States, in compliance with the naturai-
cation laws.
Adopted, the vote being us follows:
Yeas-NIessrs. Bayard Bell of Tenn, Briggs,
Brodhead, Brown, Clay, Clayton, Collamer,
Crttenden, Fesscnden. Fitzpatrick, Foot, Fos-
ter, Geyer, Hunter, Iverson, Mallory, Mason,
Reid, Thompson of Ky. Yuec-22
Nays--Messrs. Allen, Bigler, Butler, Bright,
Cass, Dodge Douglas, Evans, Jones of Iowa,
Pugh, Seward, Slideli, Toombs, Weller, Wilson,
Wright-l6,
Messrs Clayton, Hall, Trumbull and Seward
discussed the merits and dement's to the half
drunk sleeping audience; during which many
amendments were offered-some adopted.
Mr. Geyer of Mo-, offered an amendment to
the effect that no law shall be made, or have
force Or effect, which shall require test oath,
or any OATH to support any act Of Congress OF
other legislative act, as a qualification Tor any
civil oifre or public trust, or for any employ.
ment or profession, or to serve as Il juror, OF
vote at elections, or which shall impose any test
upon or condition to exercise the right OF su f
frage by any qualified vote, or which shall res
train or prohibit the free discussion of any law
or suhinct Of leoislaiinn in the Tnrritnru .r .h.