Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-03-25
THE LECOMPTOR FRAVDs
Eassstigation SsPprssssS-Report from
Mr.. Harris Committee.

tie undersigne4 iSol lltutit uuly 70 express
their views upon the scion Of the majority
Of the Committee, constituted. as it oiigin- /
ally was, with a majority Of its members |
hostile to the resolution by which it was
created, and under which il was directed
to act.
The undersigned indulge in no pfec-
tions discreditable to the character aud
irtegrity Of the majority of the Committee,
from whom they have been compelled TO !
differ, rlost Of whom were undoubtedly |
selected from the ablest and most exper- /
eneed members Of the House. Yet in :
their soti n, in the opinion Of the under
sigued, they have stripped the res luton /
under which they were appointed Of pnc-
. teal effect, aud submitted .neir own views
ana reflections alone in great measure for
that evidence which Ought to lave been
collected by the coIimttee.
With the exception of call upon Mr..
Calhoun, proposed by pue Of the under
signed, the majority resisted successfully |
every effort at inquiry made by either Of
US, while they themselves have ELECTED
nothing relative to the matter of inquiry
not already before the country. Indeed
some Of the most important items Of in
formation, admitted by the majority in the
resolutions adopted by them in committee
at is last session to be Essential to the
Investigation" have never been obtained
by the Committee, to wit: "the vote Of
the people under TIE law" for taking their
sense ior or against a Constitution; the
election Of Delegates, rs officially certified
to- aud the vote on The adoption OF the
Constitution under its own schedule, and
provisions as officially adjudged aud an>
nouBced.' These important facts-sd
mhted to be essential by the majority
have not, as far as the undersigned have
knowledge, ever been brought before the
Committee.
In addition to these important facts, we
tho't it entirely pertinent aud essential to
the objects of our investigation to ascertain
by the best evidence within our resch.-
/. The population Of the Territory.
2. The disposition Of the people thereof
toward the Government Of the United
States.
8. Whether, as charged by the Presi-
dent the people OF Kansas are in rebellion
agalnst the Government under which they
live.
A. Whether the alleged vote,on the sense
of the people for and against aConstitu-
ton, was taken under such laws aud in
such manner as TO entltle IL to be consider.
ed as the sense Of the people.
s. Whether the paper purporting to be
the "Constituton Of the State Of Kansas
was made by the people over whom il
was designed to act and embodies their
will, fairly aud legally expressed.
g. Whether the elections which have
been held in connection with the forma.
tion of said Constitution, both before and
since its adoption by the Convention. were
80 taken conducted and returned as to give
effect to the popular will, and what that
will was and Is.
7. How far the results Of the election
on the Arb Of January, wheE they voted
for said Constitution and for State officers,
is indicative of the will of the people of
Kansas either as TO the p'cpfety Of the
admission of said State into The UniOn, or
as showing whether the said Constitution
is acceptable and satisfactory to a majority
of the legal voters Of Kansas; and hence
an inquiry whether the returns of aaid
election as published are true or false. And
as further reason for such inquiry, that
as said Constitution provides no mode of
correcting frauds or contesting elections,
how far Congress might, by the admission
of said State, COMMIT itself TO the endorse
ment aud confirmation Of frauds and to
fastening upon people government aud
Constitution against its will.
0. Whether certain protests and resolves
said to have been passed by the Terrltorl
sl Legislature against the admission OF
Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution
ought not TO be obtained and considered
as indicating tue will of the people 10 that
regard, /
These, and numerous points Of inquiry
which the undersigned thought material
and essential TO the investigation ordered
by tue House "as facts connected with the
formation of said Constitution" ard facts
connected with "the law under which the
pane was originated" aud as facts relating
to"tbe question or propriely of the Od'
mission Of said Territory in the Union un
der the said Constitution, and whether the
same is acceptable aud satisfactory to
majority of the legal voters of Kansas"
were untouched and unnoticed by the
Committee, and on the 81 inst. the Com
mittee by an adjournment sine die. brought
its lAbors to close, having in our opinion,
failed 10 accomplish any one important
object for which il was raised.
There aIe scores Of prominent citizens
ef Kansas, oe all parties, now here. who
could have given the most weighty evi'
deUce touching all the points of inquiry
embraced in tho resolution, particularly in
relation to the most monstrous frauds per
petrated al the election gu the slst of De.
Celnber last.
We think there is no excuse for neglect
ING 70 pss the means within the reach of
the Committee. and for returning to the
House with no nforma ion but what was
already 10 the possession Of each Of its
members when the investigation was Or
dered, except the speculative reasonngs
apd easuistic lucubrations laid down by
the majority in their report, which leaving
oat sundry quotations from the opinions of
Governor Walker and Senstor Douglas,
aud some considerations growing out Of
thesA oninions il Int rpiteTation of the