Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-04-02
The Kansas Investigations.

The following are the resolutions winch tne
House passed on Thursday last, in regard to the
frauds and outrages upon the ballot box in Kan
sas:
| Reso1sed, That committee of three of the
members of this House, to be appointed by the
| Speaker, shall proceed to inquire into and cot.
| iect evidence in regard to the troubles of Kan
| sas generally, aud particularly in regard to any
| fraud or force attempted or practised in refer
ence to any of the elections which have taken
place in said Territory, either under the law or
| ganzing said Territory, or under any pretended
| law which may be alleged to have taken effect
| therein since. But they shall fully investigate
! and take proof of all violent and tumultuous
| proceedings in said Territory at any time since
| lhe passage of the Kansas Nebraska act, wheth-
err engaged in by the residents of said Territory,
or by any person or persons from elsewhere E,o-
| ing into said Territory, and doing or encourag-
! ing others to do, any act OF violence or public
disturbance against the laws ofthe United States
or the rights, peace and safety of the residents
OF said Territory; and for that purpose said COM
mittee shall have full power to send for and ex-
anime, and take copies of all such papers, records
/ and proceedings, as in their Judgment will be
/ useful in the premises; and also, to send for
persons, and 10 examine them on oath or af6rma-
tien as to matters within their knowledge touch
| ing the matters of said investigation; and such
committee, by their Chairman, shall have power
| 10 administer all necessary oaths or aiflrmatlons
! connected with their aforesaid duties.
/ Resotrea further That said committee may
| hold their Investigations at such places and
4 times as to them seem advisable, and that they
| have leave OF absence from the duties of this
| House until they have completed such investiga-
I ton That they he authorized to employ one
| or more clerks, and one or more assistant Ser
| geant-atarms, TO aid them in their investigation;
and may administer to them on oath or aifrma-
zion faithfully to perform the duties assigned to
them. respectively, and to keep secret all mat
| tiers which may conc to their knowledge touch
/ ing such investigation as said committee shall
4 direct until the report the same shall be sub
United 10 this House; and said committee may
! discharge any such clerk Or assistant Sergeant
/ alarms, for neglect of duty or disregard of in
stractons in the premises, and employ others ui,-
| der like regulations as.
Reso!ee3 Further, That if any person shall in
any manner obstract or hinder said committee,
or attempt so 10 do, in their said investigation,
or shall refuse to attend on said committee, and
1 to give evidence when summoned for that pur-
pose, or shall refuse to produce any paper, book,
public record or proceeding in their possession
or control, to said committee, when so required,
or shall make any disturbance where said COM
,ni,tee Is holding their sittings, said committee,
may ii they see tit, cause any and every such
person to be arrested by said assistant Sergeant
at. Arms, and brought before this House to be
| de all with as for contempt.
Rssotsea further, That for The purpose of de-
fraying the expenses OF such commission, there
be, aud hereby is, appropriated the sum of Slo,
ouo, TO be paid out OF the contingent fund of this
| House.
Resoisea yartasy, That the President of the
| United States be- and IS hereby, requested to
! furnish 10 said committee, should they be met
| with any serioas opposition by bodies Of lawless
| men, in the discharge Of their duties aforesaid,
| such aid from any military force as may at the
anie be convenient to them, as may be necessa-
AIRY TO remove such opposition, and enable sand
committee, without aolessaaon, to proceed with
| their fahors
| Resatrea further, That when said committee
shall have ~oaip.etea said Investigation, they re-
port ali the evidence so collected TO this House.
! Yeas Iel Nays 90.