Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-05-29
Correspondence of the Chicago Democratic Press.
Kansas Committee of Investigation.
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 10. Is

LAWRENCE, X. T., May 10, 1856.
The Committee of Congress to examine the
outrages and frauds at elections in Kansas, have
now been some fifteen days at work. In that
time they have collected an amount of testimo-
nv as large as it is overwhelming and irresisti-
bic. Those men who have hattered themselves
that the outrages in Kansas have either been
the fruit of false rumors OF can not be proved.
will realize when this testimony IS given to
Congress and the world, that Kansas has been
the scene Of the most frightful disorders and
uutrages and that it has indeed been conquered
province of Missouri. This evidence will fall
like clap Of thunder on the cars of the Pro-
Slavery Democracy of the North; and Douglas,
who has scoffed at the statements relative to
Kansas as falsehoods, will have to confront a
mass of proof of the fruits of his political VII
lainy, from which it is impossible that he can
escape,
Up to this time the testimony relative to the
election held March, 81, 1856, at which time the
SO called Territorial Legislature obtained their
authority, proves that at the time there were
upward. OF seven Thousand illegal votes cast,
nearly all by men of Missouri. AZ that election,
by the evidence before the Committee, so far
obtained, there were rather less than eight hum
bred legal votes of these some two hundred
and fifty or three hundred were Free States men,
the rest were Pro-Savery residents of DE Terri
tory At that election but few Free States men
voted they were either driven from the polls
ed by an armed mob OF strangers. 1t has also
been proved with regard to that election, that 4
consIderab number OF the members elect We're
and still are residents Of Missouri. 1t has also
been proved that some Of the officers County
and mllitia) were and still are residents of Mis-
souri,. Amongst these last, Major General Rich
ardSon, OF the Kansas Militia, who commanded
at the Wakarusa war last fall, is now and al
ways has been, bona fde resident OF Missouri
The frauds perpetrated at all Of the other cleo
tlons are also proven.
1t has been proven that at the election held
November II, 1874, for Delegate to Congress
very large portion. of the voters were residents
of Missouri, and that residents of the Territory
have not been allowed to vote.
At the election held last October for Delegate
TO Congress. it has been proved that there were
frauds OF nearly the same magnitude, and that
by these alone Whitfield obtained the certificate
'on the strength of which he is now claiming his
seat in Congress.
On one other point there is conclusive test
mony, and that is of the existence of a secret or
der known as Blue Lodge, the objects of which
are that Kansas must be Slave State by any
1neans; that none but Pro-Slavery men shat
hold office, and that its members shall be under
the direction of the Lodges. To this they are
bound by oaths. The most important fact con
nected with this testimony is that it was obtain
ed chiefly from men who have been, or who still
are members 1t was obtained after the sever
est cross-examination and came very reluctant
ly.
The amount of outrages chronicled by thi
testimony throws light upon many case whicl
had never before been heard of. because 10 abb
pen was in the vicinity to note it. This tcsti
mony will form one ofthc most important an,
interesting of the public document ever printe(
and will convey striking lesson to our Gov
eminent and to our people. There are rumor
that the pro-slavery men to destroy it before i
ever leaves the Territory. At first Whitfield
and his counsel attempted to weaken the evid
encc by questioning, but as their efforts
only made matters a little worse they seem t.
have abandoned it. WEST.