The daily union., 1856-03-29
CITY OF WASHINGTON. SATURDAY EVENING" MARCH 49, 1855

the Territory were invaded by armed bodies of fron
Missouri and II the elections were carried by fraud anC
violence, he trds the man and that the time and h
place 10 rebHks IL and yet hear not word abou
the illcgay of the elections in any other than the nin
contested cases before mentioned until some five or 81,
months afterwards and not until he had been removed
from office by the President and had united his fortunes
with the Emgrant Aid Society and 1t will not now dc
for him to say that during all this time he ignorant o
the things be alleges to DO true in reference TO the e
ginacy OF the legislature. Can he come forward now
and say that this Legislature, that the members
we're usurpers and without authority TO enact laws In the
very face OF his own certificates public officer
that more than twothrds OF them duly elected p
Could any position be more absurd2 And yet he must
assume IL or entirely fail to make cut his case.
We not only find that he certified 10 the legitimacy of
their election but that he Issued his proclamation
yeninG thcm, the regular authorized legislature at
Pawnte City, July 2, 1895. This mark you, was more
than three months after the election. Surely he did not
want more than three months to find ont whether they
were spurious Ifspurious, why did he them 2
And why when they had and organized In usual
parliamentary form, did he address message 10 them,
the regular aw-makng power of the Territory suggesting
varos subjects which ought 10 be lcgisiaed upon and
to Congress He here and charges these
with being usurpers, and that they had right to legs
late upon subject which be had specially invited them
consider in his message How, an honorable man. can
he do these things?
1t is that he finally got into quarrel with the legs
laure but the ground of that quarrel their adjourn
where he largely tasrsed In real estate to Shawnee
Mission He did then deny the legality OF laws enacted
the latter place. but as the propriey Of removal would
10 be "a righul subject of legislation" such the
act of Congress referred the decision of the legislature
loss to the force OF his objectons and espe-
cay in view of the additional fact that the supreme court
of the Territory has decided that such adjournment did
not invalidate tho laws enacted after the removal
1t will be observed that even during the pendency Of
this quarrel the governor did not dispute the legality of
the election Of the members but only their right to adjourn
from place another have examined carefully with
being able find that the question of the legality of
the election raised during the whole of his official
al e . hiu IN
ghsrd against fraud and violence and to protect the purity
Of the baobot In the absence of any proof to the
trary, bound t. presume that he discharged his
duty. But have than this presumption We have
his positive authority for saying that two-thirds of that
legislature "duy eectednore than sufficient TO
constitute quorum and rrnsact businessand we know
that dev0ves upon every legislative body to Judge OF The
election returns and qualifications Of its own members II
the alleged outrages erpetrated then the conclusion
is irresistible that the governor bRsry betrayed tho trust
reposed in him public ocer In not denouncing
them when they occurred in certifying falsely TO the cleo
ton Of MEMBERS and in recognising, the regular law
making power Of the Territory, body Of men whom he
denounces before the country rs border rutans and
usurpers.
Are we now at great trouble and expense send for
persons and papers to prove tho asity OF his own Official
they stand upon the public records Of the country
IF bis official be regarded evidence then the
legislature Of Kansas legal body-the act under
which Gen. WHITFIELD elected is valid and The claim
of Gov Reeder TO the seat s wholly unfounded and un-
worthy the serious consideration OF this House.
IT will be that the great point pressed By Governor
Rceders friends tho alleged legay of the laws passed
by the Kansas legislature and yet is little remat
that the time the black republican Committee OF
Elections urging that the laws passed by that body arc
entirely void the black republican COMMITTEES Terrific
res have brought forward bill to repeal them II the
laws already vod pray where the necessity OF re-
pealing them by act Of Congress- Was spurious
legislature, and the law under which WHITFIELD was
elected vod2 This is made the allimportant question by
Gov Reeder but unfortunately for his there arc two
things which must like Banquo ghost forever rise up in
dgment against him, and will down at bis bidding
viz and
atures validity and the undpnted fact that the election
under which he claims his held without any
thority of law whatever
Sir do not choose, this OCCASION to go into the
question whether would not be justified under certain
circumstances in inquirng into the validity of the election
of members of the Kansas legislature 10 the point
whether the of legislature chosen friends
the other side aege this to have been could be made valid
by the recognition and acquescence Of the OF the
Territory. speaking of this at present, as be-
tween the sitting member and the gentleman who claims
the and my mind has arrived at the conclusion that
the claim the latter is without shadow of foundation,
and that ii would be nadmissbe If all his material
allegations were supported by competent proof
There is reason therefore, far as his claim is con-
cernd that should vote TO send for persons and papers
and his claim enablc, should be justified
my the ground that it would be departure from
the usages of this body and the law of Congress in refer
ence 10 contests of this kind.
In 1851 Congress passed law prescribing the mode OF
taking evidence in Of contested elections Why did
Governor Reeder prepare his case and present II to
Congress with the evidence the law required lie gave
/
the seat and stating times and places whom he would take
the depostons Of his Witnesses thus showing that be bad
a knowledge of the requirements of the law If he did
take these depostons II his duty 10 do and as t
informed his competitor he would do where they and
why called upon TO grant committee OF his
friends the extraordinary power OF scnng TO distant re-
| gions for persons and papersY
Mr. Speaker, do wish Il TO bo understood that ar
opposed to all investigation Of Kansas Affairs because
hold investigation In the proposed by the com
ntee be unnecessary for the proper consideration ant
decision Of this tested election.
know that II Ia charged upon this side OF the llous
that are afraid have the facts examnedhat wisi
to shut the light and to stie all investigation. Th
charge far advised Is without any foundation
II Ia believed this SIDE that IL Is not needed in the de
cson of the present question that evidence Is required
It should procured and brought here by Cover
Reder In the prescribed by law and that, II
further investigation desirable It should not be conduct
cd under the auspices Of partisan committee in the man
ner proposed This sir is the position occupy, and
am not afraid to maintain II before intelligent conshtu
eucy For my part believe that these Kansas trou
bles have exaggerated and magnihed housandold
and should as a Of policy, If for other reason
bo willing have investigation and all the eyidenc
taken the parties desire provided it could he fairly don't
and with proper regard TO economy. AS proof oil m
willingness TO do ths ready to vote for the propose
tion submitted by the gentleman from Mississippi, Ill
BENNETT, which provides
"Thst Joseph II, Bradley and Sidney s. Baxter es1'
Of the city Washington and they hereby appoint
ed commissioners FOR and behalf Of this House. TO tax
documents be desired by either party or their agent
attorneys, In regard the contested seat OF Hon
waIrrIELn delegate for Kansas, under the petition
Hon. Mr. Reeder that said Bradley and BAXTER he, an
u means 10 elicit clear u proof upon all points whic
rpspectively submit to them as facts the