Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-02-21
THIRTY.FOURTH CONGREss.

TUESDAY, req. ~.
SBNATE.-Mr Wilson concluded his speech
relative to Kanzas, strongly eondemning the
course of Atchison. and Gov Shannon.
Several communications were laid before
the Senate by the presiding officer including
one from the Secretary of State in reply TO the
resolution calling tor a copy OF the report of
the adjudications made by the Board of Amer
lean Commissioners to Paris, 10 audit and IL
quidate the spoliation claims of American ciu.
zens against France. The Secretary says there
is no such report in his department, and he
thinks there never has been.
The consideration of the Karzas question
was resumed.
Mr.. Geyer asked Mr.. Wilson OIL what au-
thority he yesterday stated that Mr.. Atchison
went to Kanzas, armed, to control the election
Mr.. Wilson replied, 80 On the authority of
Gen. Pomeroy: on the 18th of March, as stat
ed by Gen. Pomeroy, Mr.. Atchison entered
the territory, armed with bowie knife and re-
Yolver, ready to shed the blood of any man
who would not do his bidding"
Mr.. Geyer did not suppose Gen. Pomeroy
made the statement on his own authority, but
that some one else had so reported to him
The only time Mr.. Atchison ever crossed the
borders, SO far as he (Geyel) had been able TO
learn, was during the late disturbance, an ac-
COuilN Va WHICH wa Tbdu III lll6 SENATE yes
terday. AT that time it was apprehended that
there would be serious collision, and des-
truetion of life. Then Mr.. Atchison, with
two or three other gentlemen, went into Kan
zas for the purpose of persuading those as
sembled at Wakassa to forbearance and mod
Grafton. He went there to counsel peace-not
to excite vioence-and that was the only time
he ever went there.
Mr.. Wilson continued-He had SIMPLY
placed before the Senate the statement of
Gen. Pomeroy, in opposition to the statement
Of the Senator from Missouri. The document
from which he read was prepared by Gen.
Pomeroy, and signed by him and several 9TH
ers, well known in Kanzas and the country,
and since It's receipt he had been assured by
Gen. Pomeroy that all its statements are true,
and can be proved before committee of eth.
er House of Congress. He, Mr. Wilson, re-
garded Mr.. Atchison as the moving spirit of
all the Missouri excitement from which these
disturbances have arisen.
The speaker alluded III emphatic terms to
the character of Gov. Shannon, saying that he
was the companion of gamblers and drunk
ards in California, and that when the Mis-
sourians shot down citizen Of kanzas, the
Governor was so intoxicated that he could not
attend to his duty, He could prove these an
Il OlLSl ulSIGpuldUlc luiHgb VI SONs
Shannon.
Mr. Jones obtained the floor and the further
consideration of the subject was postponed
until Monday.
Adjourned
HoUsE.-Mr, Hickman, from The Commit
tee on Elections, offered resolution empow.
ering the committee to send for persons and
papers in the Kanzas contested election case.
Mr.. Phelps, Of Missouri, thought that the
exercise of such power would be a usurpa.
ton, as Mr.. Reeder does not claim that he
was elected by virtue Of the law passed by
the Kanzas Legislature. He defended his
constituents from the charge OF being border
ruffiang. which had been repeated here and
elsewhere, and by one Senator, Mr.. Wilson,
who comes from State where men varied on
defenceless women and burned Ursuline
Converts. He earnestly condemned the an
ti-slavery men i'll Kanzas, and claimed that
the Missourians desire not the shedding of
blood, but to sustain the laws.
Mr. Washburn, of Maine, regretted that M
Phelps had INDUCED in such remarks, which
were exceedingly exciting, not to say inham
matory. large majority of the people of
this country, believing in their hearts that
there was no Legislature of Kanzas, no law,
and nothing having that effect, under which
the election had been held, and by which Mr.,
Whitfield claim his seat as delegate. This
matter should be investigated; and he asked
how could it be done unless power to send for
persons and papers were granted.
Mr. Stephens remarked that Gov Reader
himself commissioned the members of the
Legislative Assembly, which passed the law
under which Mr.. Whitfield was elected. the
validity of which Mr.. Reeder now called on
the House to investigate; consequently all
further proceedings were stopped by the Off
cial acts Of Mr.. Reeder, who was thus ont of
his own mouth condemned.
Mr.. Campbell, Of Ohio. said it was well
settled principal of law, that any statute NAV
be violated by fraud, which violation forms
subject for thorough investigation. On this
point the House should be satisfied and some
thing more was desired on which to form
Judgment than mere newspaper reports and
Geographic dispatches.
Mr.. Hickman thought the newspaper reports
OF the difficulties in Kanzas were exaggerated
or magnifed, either on one or the other side
of the question, according to the sentiments
of the writers. 1t is. consequently. important
that the investigation should be aided by the
means proposed. Mr.. Reeder had done all the
act Of Congress required of him in the prem
Uses
The question was then taken on Mr.. Ste
phens' motion, that the request of the Com
nittee on Elections be referred back to the
committee, with instructions to report the
grounds on which they ask for power to send
for persons or papers. The motion was mega
lived, by the casting vote of the Speaker.
Pending the consideration of the main q ues-
tion-on the resolution to grant the committee
power to send for persons and papers, the
House adjourned.