Squatter sovereign., 1857-02-10
REPORT OF TIE eeMMTTTFE on
LEiLITIA.

A1R. SPEAEER:-
The Committee on tie Militia. 10 whom
/ was referred that PARTON Of the Govern.
ors Message, which relates 10 ihe organ
izatioa Of the iniIltis-nf .I.., -,
! cave . Fsssrt, in psrt.gof .be result Of
their deliberations.
Your committee deem Il their impera-
i've duty 70 briefly refer to the aetioil Of
the militia during the late disiurbaaces ih
this Territory, apd can. Tut. express-a rrs-
f'urd regret LA; the motives and acts Of
the citizen soldiefy OF Kansas, who rush.
cd TO the standard of their country. whea
the laws of the land were icing trampled
under foot by a horde Of Ncrthern fanat-
.cs and assissins. were not presented in
Their true light ty the Executive Mes
stse.
Tie affairs Of Kansas. and particularly
those in which the m ;Ii,ia were concerned.
have attracted much observation and COM
'nent, and tl.eir eonduct has, FOR tie bas..
purpose OF party success, been grossly mia.
represented. These Misrepresentation
have been ina,le throughout an entire Sec
tion OF the United States, and 1t was rea-
sonable 10 expect tlat The truth would have
gone to TIE world through The medium eff
the Message. To the Executive, who Is.
by Law. their co,nma,idsr-in chief, lie M
l.tia had a right 10 look, not for favor, tut
eten-fan;ied justice, and we can but OK
| r ess deep rcgte:, that Tie Governor has
left ti.is duty unsionr.
Your Committee will no; enter in.o a
detailed statement touching the coDduct Of
The militia in every lnstaacc not that we
fear full exposure OF tie entire nliect,
but from the facl t..at il would swell this
report 10 too great length, Yet sve VII
say, witl.oal the f ar OF contfadieton. that
. l.i,r=..zil.tia OF Kansas have never taEcil6,
arms. except at the call OF tia. properly
constituted authorities. and that they trs-
sr remained III The. field after Icing il.-
rected to re.irc therefroin.
/ Your Committee are satisfied tia, tia
militia remained under arms, only so long
as the invaders OF their country were in
the field. and the dictates of ratrio,ismrre-
iqaired them 10 raise their arms. aea -
These things being unques:ionably true,
! i. is but right and proper to expect, ,hai III
commenting upon our disturbances, flo
Governor would Lave drawn a broad line
: Iof distinction between tie conduct of thu
militia, and those whose aim was 10 sui
sert ll.e lass of Tie Territory; tut this l.o.
:, dld not do.
In reference to manner Of selecting Of
.icers Of militia. your Cornmitte are of opin-'
Z ion that tire statute should be so amended
as 10 make all officers elected BY TIE pee
Pc.
In making this suggestion, we are SIM
ply adhsring TO a cardinal prinsipIe Of all
popular governments; and in apdition 10
this, We are strengthened in our opinion
by what We conceive to have been a IA au-7
4 warranted assumption of the appointing
/ power by the Governor in appointing cer-
tain person 10 responsible commands, who
were at the time IN open rebellion against
the laws Of the country.
/ Your Committee beg to offer bill
which they hope may NEE, the approsa. OF
the Legislative Assembly.
In reference TO that portion of the Meg.
sage which advises ti.e repeal of the 26ah
Section, Chapter 10. entitled Militia.
your COMMITTEE cannot agree with the
: Governor that It affects his prerogativs
. /. as comuander-in-olief and cisarfy conflicts
with The organic act" BY reference to
;, the Statute il viii be perceived tHat the
duty Of the commission officer TO .s erder
: on. tie militia or volnniesr corps" IS only
in the event OF an hostile q invasion or
imminent DANCE and that II is entirely
of local and temporary nature. for The
Territory until (which he. is required to
10 immediately he informs the commund-
.;r -in-chlei ia whose hands he matter Is
lief
i Your Committee, therefore, viii not re-
commend the repeal of provision 50 high
q iy conservative and necessary to The safe
Ity OF portions Of tie counties distant from.
The seat OF government. TINS wholesome
provision .lley must eser held 10 be a sale-
! guard against ihe recurrence Of unia~ful :
& inyasisas, which the past has shown there
| IS TOO much danger 10 apPrehend.
]. w. MARTIN. Chairman.
ns- Maclaiay says thai those ..meaus
are saost correct which best aeeomplisai
lahe ends = anu Charles Dickens afiiEnss
Eshal Z all good ends can ts ssefl.d ess. b.
-luood means. These ftai ea1s.<a Al ress,ads
: aud may be cousidrrsd 50 81 cElee. asa I bs
EleIt aisoae.. = .....-sTE -, So.