Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-08-01

| on Kansas Aneirs. 20 ~
For The present, we Give only lhs
c,o.,n, ,o,,;on ~ ,h,s ,h,,l,;n, dos.,
s''s f" % r. s aoss
meat we ShA'' pup'''n nen''Fo ~
about weeks. sa..se
In some cases, and a. 10 ono entire
election district. the condition OF The
county. prevented the attendance oI
witnesses, who were either arrested OF
detained whi'c obcyIng our procese,
or deferred from 30 doing. The ser.
Qeat.at.armA who served Tho proouaaeS
upon them. was himself srrestsd. and
detained for short time by m armed
force. claiming 10 be- . part Of the pesss
Of the Marshal, but was allowed q
proceed upon an examination OF BIZ
papers. and was furnished with q pass,
signed by "warren d. Wilkes. ol
South Carolina. John Upton. another
officer OF the Committee. was subse'
quenlly stopped bys lawless force on
the borders Of the Territory, and after
bsing detained and treated with great
indignity Was released. lie. also. wal
furnished with a pass. signed BY two
citizens OF Missouri, and addressed 70
"pro-alevery men," By reason ol
these disturbances .'e were delayed IN
Wsstport. 20 that while In session
there. our time was but partially occu.
pied. ai''t ''ei = 90 I,
But the obstruction which created
the most serious embarrassment to
your committee Was the attempted ar
rest OF Gov. Reeder, the contssting
delegate, upon . writ OF attachment Is
sued against him BY Judge Lecompte,
70 compel his attendance as witness
oeiore the Grand Jury OF Douglas
county. William Fame, recently from
the State OF Georgia, and claiming to
be the Deputy Marshal. came into the
room OF the committee while Gov.
Rseder was examining a witness before
us. and producing the writ, required
Gov. Rseder to attend him. Subse.
quent events have only strengthened
The conviction Of your committee that
this was wanton and unlawful inter-
ference by the Judge who issued the
writ. tending greatly 10 obstruct y full
and fair investigation. Gov. Reeder,
Gardenend Whitfield alone we're fully
possessed OF that local information
which would enable US to elicit the
whole truth. and It was obvious to ev-
cry one that any event which would
separate either OF them from the COM
mittee would necessarily hinder, delay
and embarrass IL. Gov. Reeder claim
ed that under the circumstances in
which be was placed he was privileged
from arrest except for treason, felony,
or breach OF the peace. As this was
a question OF privilege. proper for the
courts, or lot tne privileged person
alone to determine upon his peril. we
declined to,give any protection or take
any action in the matter, lie refused
to obey the writ, believing il TO De q
mere pretence to get the custody OF
his person, and fearing. as ne alleged,
that he would be assassina'rd by law
less bands OF men then gathering in
ana near Lecomp'on. he then leit
the territory.
subsequently, II. Miles Moore. an
attorney IN Leavenworth City, but Tor
several years citizen OF Weston, Mo-.
kindly furnished the Committee infor-
nation as to the residence OF persons
voting at the elections, and in some
cases examined Witnesses before U.s.
He was arrested on the streets Of that
town by an armed band Of about thirty
men. headed by w. D. Wilkes, with
out any color of authority. confined,
with other citizens. under q military
guard for twenty.four hours. and then
notified to leave the Territory His
testimony was regarded as important.
and upon his sworn statement that it
would endanger his person TO give II
openly. the msjority Of your Commit.
tee deemed it proper to examine him
er pdvte and did so.
Byreason of these occurrences, the
contestant. and the party with and for
whom be acted. we're unrepresented
before us during a greater portion of
the time, and your Committee we're
required to ascertain the truth in the
best manner they could. T
Your Committee report the follow
ing facts and conclusions as establish
ed by the testimony:
Firs.-Tha. each election in the
Territory held under the organic or
alleged Territorial law has been car
ried by organized invasivns from the
State Of Missouri. by which the people
Of the Territory have been prevented
from exercising the rights secured 10
them bv the organic law. ,s.r,s
Second-That the alleged Terrific
rial LEGISLATURE was an illegally con-
s.ituted body, and had no power to
pass valid laws. and their enactments
are. therefore. null and void. ae,atgaal
Third--That these alleged laws
have not. as n general thing. been
used TO protect persons and properly
and to punish wrong but for unlaw-
ful PURPOSES. ~ -
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