Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-07-08
KANSAS INvE3TIGATIoN.

WASHINGTON, July ].
/ HoUsE.-Mr. Houston's motion to lay the mo-
ton to reconsider the Kansas Bill on the table
was superseded by the presentation of the re-
port of the Kansas Investigating Committee, of
which the following is a synopsis
! The report shows that soon as the bill or
ganizing the Territory of Kansas was passed. a
! large number OF the citizens Of Missouri went
i into the Territory held squatter sovereign meet
ings, passed resolutions denouncng abolition
lists and declaring that Slavery existed therein.
la the Autumn of 1854 secret political society
known as the " Blue Lodge" was formed, the
plan of operations of which, with its threats etc.
are given IN the report. This Lodge controlled
all the subsequent movements and invasions of
the Missourans. At the election of the 29th of
November, 1851, for a delegate to Congress
there was no evidence of fraud, except in the
sparsely settled and remote districts where cIti-
zens of Missouri appeared and voted. Details
in relation to these facts given in the report
which SAYS it is reduced to mathematical pre-
cision that 1900 Illegal and nonresident votes
were cast by citizens of Missouri The remain
der, being legal votes, amounted to ll00 Mr.
| Whitfield would have been elected without the
aid of his Missouri votes, he receiving a plural
ity of all the votes cast
During the winter of I854-5 great excitement
existed in the Territory, on account of the in-
vasions. Public meetings Were held, and much
bitter feeling was manifested. In 1885 4 cen
sus was taken, and the namber Of legal voters
was aseertained 10 be 2,905. Previous to the
election, in the spring Of 50, active preparations
40 70 ~
aud complete organization was effected Lea
ders Were chosen, tents, ammunition, provisions
and arms distributed and the forces were drill
! ed in companies in Missouri. and on the day
before the election il IS testified that at LEAFS
5000 MIssoUrians took up The line Of march FOR
Kansas IN companies, and went into every Re-
preventative district in the Territory but one
In detailing the accounts of the Companies
and the declaration made by them. great por-
ton of this testimony Col sists of extracts from
the poll books, census rolls. &c, showing who
were legal well as who were Illegal voters,
and from accurate and almost absolute proof it
appears that Of about $500 votes cast at the
election for members Of the Territorial Legisla-
ture. 5000 were those of uon-residents. The
majority of members of both houses would have
been Free State men if there had been no inya-
sion Of Missourians.
The Governor had set aside the election in
some of the districts, and a new election was
held on the 22d of May. resulting in tie choice
of Free State in all the districts except
Leayenworth, where there was still Illegal vo-
ting.
The Committee took large mass of testimo-
ny regarding the proceedings of the Legislative
Assembly, which proceeding they are charac-
terized by recklessness and injustice The re-
port also alludes to the murders. robberies and
other crimes committed in the Territory, and
claim, that in case except that of McRae, a
Free State man, was there any prosecution for
these offenses. No indictments * ere found, no
arrests made, and no measures taken to bring
the perpetrators to justice.
The report contains full and complete details
of everything connected with the Territory pri-
or to the 18th of March last, and says that it is
clearly proven that Samuel j. Jones, the Sher-
/ if, the main cause OF the disturbances IN
which he SO prominently figured. 1t is also
proved that Mr.. Oliver, IF the Committee,
went into Kansas with one Of the invading COM
+ panies, and made speech in the 18th election
district, but it Is not true that lie voted.
( The conclusions OF The Committee are that
each of the elections in Kansas were carried by
invasions from Missouri that consequently the
/ Legislative Assembly has no power to pass val
Id laws, therefore its enactments are void. The
election of G. ". Whitfield rs delegate 10 Con-
gress was not under any valid laws, neither was
that OF MIR. Reeder in accordance with law.
/ The Committee suggest no remedy. The re-
/ port abiding to distractions that were thrown
In the way of tie Committee, and to the gener-
al violence that prevails in the Territory is very
volumnious, and is signed by Messrs Howard
and Sherman.