Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

ity that the Revised Code for the D strict is
now ready for distribution. 1t consists OF one
volume of seven hundred pages, substantially
bound. The law appointing the commission to
prepare this work, required that i" the said
Code be reported to Congress on or before the
first Monday in December, 1857" This is
mere directory clause, and even if not COM
piled with, would in no manner impair the
power of Congress to adopt the Code as a whole,
or any part of it. 1t is totally immaterial
whether the vote of the people is taken upon it
before or after the 1st of December The tame
when that vote is to be taken is entirely imma
terial. 1t would be competent for Congress, if
1t saw ut, to adopt the Code, even though it
might be rejected by the people. Besides, the
before quoted provision of the law can be liter
ally complied with by having the Code reported
to Congress on the first Monday of December
next, reserving vote by the people on some
future day, to be selected by the President
We learn that the Code has been in the hands
of the printer since early in September and that
greater delay has taken place in its printing
than was anticipated.
The whole control over the matter resides in
Congress, and it is entirely competent for them
to adopt or reject it, no matter when the vote
of the people is taken. The force and efficacy
OF the law do not depend, as has been errone-
ously supposed, upon the proviso before quoted,
but upon the action Of the people and Congress,
no matter when that action takes place. The
time, as before stated, is entirely immaterial
We presume the President will fix upon some
time after the distribution of the Code, when
the sense of the people will be taken upon its
adoption.
From what we have seen of the Code we are
persuaded that 1t shows the most decided evil
dence of great labor and study upon the part
of its trainers. We shall recur frequently to
this subject in our columns between this and
the time which may be selected by the Presi-
dent for n vote upon it. 1t is measure of vast
moment to the people of this District, and We
doubt not that sufficient time will be given for
a due consideration of all the subjects treated
of, in the Code. We commend it to the serious,
candid and enlightened judgment of our people
We doubt not they will find much in it to in
terest and instruct them. We are glad that
the codifiers have not done the thing by halves.
In the entire repeal of all British and Mary
land statutes, and the incorporation in the
Code of such as are proper and needful, they
have furnished to almost every one the means
of easily finding out what is the law, if the re-
suit of their labors be approved.
The JOHNSON COUNTY RETURNS QUESTION
The following letter is from the pen of gentle
man who accompanied Governor Walker to Ok
ford county on the trip he is alleged to have
made to ascertain whether the alleged returns
from the Oxford precinct were or were not
fraudulent. We publish his communication as
being likely to shed light upon that affair,
which appears likely to become subject of no
little interest before Congress
WAsHINaTOS, Nov Il, 1857
Editor OF the Star: see. in your issue of the
14th, letter copied from Mobile pa per- to
which you refer as denying that frauds were
praGtlced at the recent election, in Johnson coun
~, Kansas. AS my name appears in the letter,
and as 1 am cogniza Mt Of the facts, permit me TO
correct some Of the statements
Let me first say that Governor Walker does not
charge frauds in Johnson county. except at the
Oxford precinct, from which place there was sent
in paper mot rstKrn) declaring that sixteen
hundred votes had been cast in that precinct;
nearly twice as many az could possibly have been
taken, by the rirG roos system, In the time al
lowed by law, which is two days nine hours
each day.
Governor W9lker and Secretary Stanton went
from Lecompton by way of Lawrence, it being
the main stage route to johnson county They
staid IN Lawrence just long enough to have the
carriage mules driven to the river for water; they
met Bdbcock and others eight miles beyond Law
renee, returning from Johnson county, where
they had gone TO gather evidence-Babcock hav-
ing been Republican candidate for Councilman
These men told what they had seen and heard,
but none Of them were taken as guides.
Upon the arrival of the Governor and Secretary
at Oxford, the roll was spread out for the pee
ton OF the people, and beyond the irst l20 one
could find a name which belonged 10 any resident
of the neighbOrhood or elsewhere The people
Of the town hooted at the idea of such a vote hav-
ing been cast and said that not one-f fourth that
number Of men had been on the town site since
its location.
After leaving Oxford the Governor and Score
tary spent The night at Shawnee the county seat
and the next day visited two other towns in tie
county, and talked freely with the people, most
OF whom are Pro-siavery men and all agreed
that IL was most outTa2 eous fraud and that IL
was simply ridiculous 20 entertain for moment
the idea that one-fouhh that number OF votes
wee cast
During this trip they crossed the county twice,
by different routes, and there were fTeuuent
stretches Of several miles over the prairie nith-
out q houJ> IN 'tght. IL is true that there aye
eight towns ia the county, but, like many KaE-
sas towns" they do not averaLs IN JTe than a
dozen houses each, and eao one Of these which
IS an election precinct except Oxford gave a rea-
sonable vote IN accordance with the apparent
population, (f ON 50 to 2UO votes)
since that time have spent three weeks in the
Territory, travelling from place to riace talked
freely with every pro-slavery man l met, and l
have yet to hear the first man say that he believed
that there were half Of OOO Votes cast at Oxford
Ireclnct Men have said to HE that the return
should have been received on legal grounds
While al the same time they said there ira, no
doubt that 4, trns n fraud. or course, ! am not
qualified to discuss the legal question; but the
public know that Mr.. Walker is seldom wrong
on points Of law. In view Of the facts above re.
cited, is IT strange that Mr. Stanton would rather
lose his right ann rather than use it to sanction
such enormIty,
There is no excitement In Kansas against Gov
eFno- Walker and Secretary stanton. On the
contrary, Democratic meetings are being holden
endorsing their course, in which pTO-slavery
men take the lead and the only persons who
oppose them are those who Were engaged i'm the
fraud, or who were TO benefit by 1t, and their i'm
mediate friends. The indignation meeting of
twenty five could not get their proceedings pub
lished By any paper in the Territory and they
were first inted at the office Of 90 The Star of
Empire published at Westport, Missouri, of
i4hteh one Of the Judges of election at Oxford IS
assistant editor.
The rumor which also appears in your pa per,
" that Governor Walker, In conjunction with
(rroTpf ~ Sanders had bas sod al bup