Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-01

~ sa'S R.t Gov. Walker and Secretary Stanton
were not entitled TO any greater credit than common
witnesses and by courtesy alone did he eonoede
,h, tbat He said they travelled over the country,
looked about and came 10 the conclusion that SO
great a number Of voters could not be there This
Was the sort Of evidence upon which his friend from
kentucky held his immense fabric of fraud and un.
fairness. Sir, not only did Governor Walker and
Secretary Stanton examine the matter but others OF
undoubted integrity have confirmed the existence OF
the frauds alleged. A census has been taken, and
fortynine il returned the number OF residents in
Mr.. WILSON. There are forty-three voters in
the precinct of Oxford, according TO the actual CEN
Mr.. BELL. There could not be many in that
county, because the Shawnee Indians own nearly all
the land How many are there in the whole county,
Mr.. WILSON. Three hundred OF four hundred
voters in the whole county. H
Mr.. BELL. have examined the proof but !
cannot retain all the facts IN my memory. The Ok
ford returns were rejected by Governor Walker on
the ground OF irregularity in the returns Singular
necessary, 70 justify A Bls neTposiaon to find out
some irregularity in the certificate OF return, al
though he was convinced from the first that the re-
turn was fraudulent. Well might the eloquent Sena-
tor from Kentucky exclaim that fraud seems TO have
become dtiOe 10 the region Of Kansas and to claim
the privilege OF being SORT OF established insttu-
ton there. F
The result ofthe October election was, that nearly
every member elected to the Territorial Legislature
was . 4 rec-S State man. lti A8t
The Convention reassembied in October accord
ing 10 adjournment and formed the Constitution
which 10 now before us When thc fact TRANSFERRED
that the Convention had not Submitted the whole
Constitution to vote Of the people, and that the
question Of slavery alone was 70 be submitted and
that in ho form n and sndsE ;Ae estcn Of test
voting, such conmotion Immediately arose as
threatened to lead TO bloodshed md civil war. In
this condition Of affairs, acting Governor Stanton,
as means of avcrting such q calamity, called an
extru IF Terrifo f.atrie
body, when assembled, passed law for taking the
sense Of the people upon the Constitution recently
formed, on the 4th OF january last the day fixed by
the Constitution for an electioof State officers and
members of the Legislature under that Constitution.
The 2lst Of December last was appointed by the
Convention to take n vote of the people upon the
slavery clause Of the Constution in this form" the
Constitution with slavery" '4the Constitution with
out slavery" There were 6,793 votes returned as
cast that day--6, 226 for the Constitution with
slavery, and 567 for the Constitution without slavery.
The remarks of the honorable Senator from Ken
lucky in regard to that election justified by the
circumstances of the case. Votes enough were
turned in favor of the Constitution TO any
majority that had before been given In the Ter
rftory. There had been eleven thousand aud odd
votes given in the October election and it ar
ranged TO show vote to exceed one-haf that num-
Der. 1t is well established by commission APP
pointed to investigate the subject under authority Of
the Legislature, that 200 nearly one-half the six
thousand and odd votes returned as having been
cast the 2lst December in favor of the Constitu-
ton, were Fraudulent; and about equal number
returned as polled for State officers and members Of
the Legislature the 4th January last In the vote
taken by authority of the Territorial L. gisature
the 4th Of january on the Leeompton Constitution,
there were ten thousand majority against ii. The
Senator from Georgia says that on the same day
there were over ten Thousand votes cast fer State
officers and members of the Legislature under the
Constitution and that TO sustain the fairness of the
votes against the Consultation, the joint vote should
have been twenty thousand. must conclude that
on that point the honorable Senator from Georgia
made his statements altogether in the dark and at
random, in regard TO the true facts and circumstances
attending the votes taken on the 4th of January
He asks the reason why these ten thousand claimed
as majority vote against the Constitution did not
vote in the election for State officers and members
of the Legislature The explanation must be obvious
to all those who pretend TO know anything about re-
cent events in Kansas A Convention was called by
the Free-State party to decide whether they should
vote not in the election for State officers and
members OF the Legislature, on the 4th of January.
Itws contended that If they voted IL would be taken
ratification Of the Constitution Just as the Presi-
dent now construcs the vote actually given in that
election by portion of thai party. THIS view being
taken by majority, the Convention came to a reso-
luton not to vote but after the regular Convention
adjourned the minority got together, and, after
sdering the question fully among themselves, de-
cided that il was best TO make an effort TO carry
these elections; and those who chose--more than
half their party-voted under the recommendation
OF the minority of the Convention.
lbeleve that no attempt has been made, from any
respectable source, TO cast doubt on the genuine
ness of the vote cast against the Constitution on the
4th of January last The result of that vote shows,
incontesably, that there must be majority of at
least four or FIVE to one, Of the pc pie of Kansas,
against this Constitution.
have now narrated the most important fac's in
the history of Kansas affairs, which have any mate
rial bearing upon the question Def re the Senate and
upon which we may rely in deciding whether this
Constitution should be accepted or rejec ed These,
however, not the only material facts connected
with the case: j mean facts calcu ated 10 show
whether il is expedient just or polite h admit
Kansas with this Constitution. Assuming IL as a
point thai cannot be contested that large major ty
is opposed TO the Constitution what are the further
facts connected with this subject mater a 10 be no
ticed2 Coy. Walker declares 10 you that o large
majority Of the people Of Kansas are determined to
this Constitution. Mr.. Stanton expresses the same
opinion. The people themselves tell You the same
tbing, through their Territorial Legislature Resolu-
tons hive been adopted by that Legislature, pledg
ing their fortunes and their lives in resisting this
Constitution. But there are some facts that speak
lyuder than words. The President has aow under
him two Thousand troops 10 Kansas; and he ex-
presses the hope that when this measure shall pass
he may be able 10 withdraw them. Why has he not
Withdrawn them beforei He tells us why. II is not
considered safe 10 do so. When and how long after
the adoption OF this measure before he win consider
II safe 10 withdraw the troops from Kansas OF
course after the people Of Kansas shall voluntarily
or BY force, have yielded 70 the authority Of this
Constitution II may take twice two thousand troops
90 force this Constitution on people Of whom such
large and determined majority are opposed 10 II;
aud who have shown, BY their obstinate persistence
in opposition 10 the Territorial Government M 10
hate day, that they are Of character and cast Of
men that we may justly apprehend will continue
their resistance. They say that no State Govern
mont shall be organized under this Constitution IL il
be accepted by Congress. 4 know IL Is calculated
that the friends Of law and order and The natural
tendency 10 reaction after all great excitement will
1ndnce submission. The result may still be civil
war but trust they viii submit ..r
But, sir am not yet done with The evidences in
my possession 10 show the true state of affhrs in
Kansas. More than fifteen months ago, the leading
pro-slavery men in that Territory abandoned the
idea OF making IT q slave State and desire 10 20
a little INTO detail on that point because / know
That AZ THIS measure should be rejected, II will be
SAID m some quarters Of the South nay the idea Is
already erttully propagated, that slave State can
be established permanently in Kansas, IL the meas
ure now before the Senate shall be adopted The
senator from Georgia said to-day that his friend
from Kentucky only had the evidence Of Gov
Walker and Secretary Stanton a. 10 the frauds al
legged TO have been practlced ia Kansas; and who
theyf Those gentlemen, he said did nothing
from the time they went 10 Kansas until thew were
taken out of H. except TO violate the Constitution of
the United States, the organic law Of Kansas and
10 break down the Administrator that had sent
them there. Those statements confirm me in the
impression that the Senator from Georgia has made
his entire speech with but very little knowledge Of
the state Of things in Kansas Will he recognise
the name and authority Of DIR. Stringfellow, who,
for the first two of the existence of Kansas