The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-25
NO. $50.
LETTER FROM MIR. CALHOUN, OF KANSAS.

We transfer TO our columns the subjoined
letter from Mr.. Calhoun, President of the late
Constitutional Convention in the Territory oil
Kansas. which we find in the official paper Of
Yesterday morning.:
WASHINGTON, February II, 1853.
10 the Editor of the Union:
SIR: ~ My object now is to place
myself right before the public on the subject oi
the election returns for members of the Legis.
lature in Leavenworth county, the statements
in reference to which have been so conflicting
and contradictory.
Ga the 18th of January, the day befor open
ed the returns of the Kansas elections for and
under the Constitution, / was called upon by
several gentlemen from Lawrence, headed BY
Doctor or Governor Robinson, and asked if
would be governed, in determining the result
of the election in Lesvenworth county, by the
sworn statement of one of the judges of cleo
tioa at the precinct known as the "Dela.
ware Crossing" / replied, no! That could
not and would not go behind the election
returns. 1t was then stated that the question
was ss to the legality of returns; and fraud was
charged, on what information / did not learn
upon the ground that the returns sent to me
we're no. the true returns, as approved and
signed by the Judges of election. To give the
fell opportunity of submitting testimony as to
the legality of the returns, l told the gentlemen
that, as the Legislature would have no duties to
perform until after the decision of the question
Of admission, there could be no necessity for
the immediate issuance of certificates of cleo
ton in that or any other case, and that the
difficulty which they suggested could in the
mean time be fully investigated.
This statement l made the next day in the
presence of the gentlemen who were present at
the opening of the returns. / also authorized
Gov. Denver to state, that if the jndges Of cleo.
ton would furnish me, under oath, statement
that the return made was false and fraudulent,
I would treat such statement as corrected re
turn, and be governed by it in giving certificates
of election. | knew nothing of the Delaware
Crossing returns, only that public rumor had
given to the Democratic party ajority at
that precinct of some three or four hundred.
supposed the returns from that precinct we're
ia my office, and was updeceived only when all
the returns were opened, and they were not
found. These returns were of great importance,
as they determined not only the political com
plexioa of Leavenworth county, but of both
branches of the Legislature. As they stood
at the opening of the returns, without the
Delaware C:ossipg vote, the Republicans had
q majority in Leavenworth county, and conse-
quently majority of both branches of the
Legislature.
In order to ascertain the truth, sent mes
senger to that precinct, to see the judges of
election, and learn the facts as to the charge
of fraud in the return. In the mean time, the
sealed returns from that precinct were put into
my hands by Mr.. Diefendorf, one of the COM
missioners for Leavenworth county, and on the
same day the messenger returned from Della
ware Crossing precinct. / received the returns
and the messengers report at Weston, Missouri,
on the 2lst day of January. The messenger
brought to me the following sworn statements
of the judges and clerks of the precinct 10 ques-
ton
Territory Of Kansas, County ef Learen,oorth
The undersigned, judges and clerks of the
election held for State officers and members of
the S ate Legislature, held at the precinct
known as Delaware Agency, on the 4th day of
January, a. ID. 1853, do hereby certify that
the returns made by US of said election were
correct and genuine, and that any statement
made by any person, as to the vote of said pre-
cinct, can only be determined, as to its truth
or falsiiy, by reference to said returns made
by Us as managers aud clerks of said election
at said precinct.
5 # #=::: s = Ss.s::: Judges
w. c. WILSON, ry..l.
JAMES FINDLAY, "'""''