Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-08-28

islation, they have so effectualy accom-
plished to deprive us of, and that we with
scorn repudlate the "eIection law SO call
ed, and will not meet with them OH the day
they have appointed for the election, but
will ourselves fix upon day for the pur-
pose of electing delegate to Congress.
"Resolved, That we will endure and
submit to these laws no longer than the
best interests of the Territory require as
the least of the two evils, and will resist
them to bloody issue as soon as We ascer-
tain that peaceful remedies shall fail and
forcible resistance shall furnish any reason
able prospsct Of success; and that in the
meantime, we recommend to our friends
throughout the Territory the organization
and discipline Of volunteer companies, and
the procurement and preparation ofarms."
And. finally, as the natural result Of the
foregoing proceedings of the free-soil party
in the Territory, the laws were violated,
their execution openly resisted By them,
till at length came the difficulties at Law
renee. in the fall of 1855, ard after the Big
Springs convention; in regard to which, as
the most reliable testimony taken by your
committee, the undersigned begs to refer
to the evidence of Governor Wilson Shan
non, which is as follows: That, as to the
origin, progress, and conclusion Of the diff
fculties at Lawrence last fall. (la56. he
begs leave to refer to his two dispatches
to the President of the United States, with
the accompanying documents--the FIRST
dated on the o8th day of November, and
the second on the lth day of December.
l855--as containing what the deponent be-
licves to be correct history and account
of those Transactions
In relation to the events which have
transpired since the appointment Of your
committee, the majority of your committee
use this language: Your committee did
take testimony as to events which have
transpired since their appointment" The
undersigned begs to say that the majority
Of your committee did, however, take test
mony as to events which ''transpired since
the date of their appointment" They ad-
mitted to record the testimony of Pardee
Butler, as to his being tarred and cottoned
at Atchison, and that of others touching
other events, all happening after the date
oftheir arrival in the Kansas Territory, and
consequently after that of their appoint
ment. Having admitted testimony rs to-
some events of the kind, il was bu, Justice
to all parties that counter testimony. rela-
ting 10 those as well rs other events If the
same kind, should be admitted. And thus
the undersigned thought, when the coun-
sci of General Whitfield sought 10 intro
duce evidence as to the Pottawatomie
Creek murders, and outrages Having cs-
tablished precedent, it was inconsistent
for the majority of your committee TO re-
fuse to take such testimony upon the
ground that they had no power" and
that 1t was not their duty" to investigate
occurrences that "transpired since the date
Of their appointment. They exercised
such a power" and in part fulfilled such
a duty" when they took testimony preiu-
dicial to the proslavery party; but when
testimony unfavorable to the free Stale
party was sought to be introduced. it was
then, and not till then. that tho majority Of
your committee concluded that it was not
in their power or duty TO take Testimony
as to events which transpired after the
date of their appointment" But the ma
jority Of your committee extricated them
selves from the dilemma, in viii IN thew
had, in this regard, placed themselves. BY
expunging testimony favorable 10 the free.
State party side-testimony already rc
ceived IN relation to alleged violence shown
to Pardee Butter and others, so that thew
could consistently refuse testimony as 70
outrages committed by the free State peo-
pie, which in savage barbarity and demoni-
&c cruelty have scarcely an equal in the his
tory of man.
Bat Notwithstanding that the majority
deemed it without their power orduty"
to investigate matters occurring since the
time of their appointment, thew have re-
ported, and in their report dwelt with much
warmth of expression upon events which
hey admit ''transpired since the date of
theiI appointment" events for which they
10 not claim to have shadow Of authority
Tor their truth except vague rumor, and for
which IN fact there is none yet shown:
md the testimony in regard to at least one
IF which events was expunged from record
to wit, the tarring and cottoning of Par
Tee Butler. The undersigned is of the opin-
on thatif the majority of your committee