Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-19
fen nv Cen, Calhoun.
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. Il, 1898.

SIR: | have already Communicated to the
Committee on Territories IN the Senate q full
statement Of facts connected with the appll-
cation of Kansas for admission into the Union
as a State. | need not repeat thuse facts IN
this paper, as they will doubtless reach the
public in a few days. 1t Is with reluctance
that refer to matters pertaining solely To-
the local politics Of the Territory IN which
live, and with which, to some extent, | have
been connected ; but the various and contra
dictory statements which have been made by
unscrupulOus and irresponsible letter-writer-
to the public press, touching the discharge
If nv official duties As president OF the con-
stitutional convention, make the duty lm-
perative.
Excitement, conflict, and great confusion
must necessarily attend the organization OF
government for a community BROUGHT To-
gether from all parts Of the world, a0d actua-
ted by different objects, motives, and preJa-
dices. M Territory ever organized IN the
United States has suffered more from causes
IF this character than Kansas. The conflict
about the shaping of our institutions, 81
constantly directed BY persons and parties
outside OF the Territory, has forced within
its limits a class of population from every
portion Of the Union, most dlssimilar in char
acter, and with the strongest predlsposlton
to collision. That disorie and confusion,
the violation Of Individual and public rights
and duties, should result tr.m such causes,
nav hn deplDred, but could Mt be prevent
ed. Good men have sought the peaceful
remedy u these controversies IN the ballot
box. Bad men have been governed 10y no
~scruples a. to public or private action. Ia
the periodical addresses put forth by the
law-and. order or democratic party OF Nan
sas, every foreign Influence has been repudI-
ated. and every effort made to procure Tor
Kansas the quiet, peaceful settlement OF all
questions of public p0licy, ty the taIr and
honest expression Of the popular Will. 10
the fullest extent these recommendations
have not probably prevailed with their own
party friend-, who, IN opposition to a party
k~uowing and respecting no law, may have
been driven t. the extremity Of wrong and
the violation Of public right and duty. But
il is not my object to 20 Into a full amin
ton of this subject. My Object now is to
place myself right before the public on the
subject If the election returns FIR members
of the Legislature in Leavenworth county,
the statements in reference TO which have
been so conflicting and contradictory.
On the l. h of January, the day before
opened the returns of the Kansas elections
for and under the constitution. | was called
upon hy sevaral gentlemen from Lawrence,
headed Dy Doctor or q vernon Robinson, and
a-ked if | would be governed, IN dctermin-
ing the result of the election in LoavenwOrth
!, nnty Ia, fhn su,nr Grarnrpart al npp pt fnp
Judges of election ~ tie precinct known a.
"Delaware Crossing" | replied, ~. That
| could not, and would not, 20 behind the
election returns. 1t was then stated that the
question was to be the legality o! returns
and fraud was charged, on what Information
| did not learn, upon the ground that the re
turns sent to me were not the true returns as
approved and signed ty the Judges of cleo,
ton. To give the full opportunity Of sub
hitting testimony as to the legality OF the
returns, | told the gentlemen Ehar, az the
legislature would have 10 duties to perform
until after the decision OF the question Of
admission, there could be no Necessity for
the Immediate issuance Of certificates oil
election IN thar or any other case, aud that
the difficulty which they suggested could, III
the mean time, he fully Investigated.
This statement | made the next day in the
presence Of the gentlemen who were present
at the opening OF the returns. ] also, au-
thorized Gov. Denver to state, that II the
Judges Of election would furnish me, under
oath, a etatement that the return made was
false and fraudulent, | would treat such
statement as q corrected return, and be gov,
erned By it in giving certificates OF election
| knew nothing of the Delaware Crossing re-
turns, only that public runner bad given to
tbs democratic party n majority at tnat pre-
cinct of som three or four hundred. l sup
posed the returns from that precinct were III
my Office, and was undeccived only when all
the returns we're opened and they we're not
found. These returns were OF great Impor'
lance, as they determined not only the polItI-
cal complexion Of Lravenworth COunty, but
of both branches OF the legislature. As they
-tood at the opening If the returns, withou'
the Delaware Crossing vote, the republicans
had a majority in L~eavenw0rth county, and,
Consequently, II majority IN both branches
of the legislature.
In order TO ascertain the truth, | sent q
MESSENGER to that precinct to see the judges
Of election, and learn the facts as TO the
tldIEt VI lldil III W. ~ wv ''Nf
time, the -ealei returns from that precinct
were put into my bands ~ Mr.. Dle'endorf,
one of the cummlssiun'r rs tor LcavcnwOrth
county, and on the sam. day that the me-
senger returned from Delaware Crossing pre-
cinct. | received the returns and the mes
s%enser's report at Weston, Missouri, on the
Dist day Of January. The messenger brought
to me the following SlCorH statements OF the
Judges and clerks Of the precinct IN qnes-
ton
TERRITORY OF KANSAS,
County Of Le]avenworth.
The undersigned, Judge and clerks of the
election held for SAFE officers and members
of the State Legislature, held at the precint
known a. Delaware Agency, on the lib day
of January, \. D., 1888, 90 hereoy certify
that the returns made by Us OF sad election
were correct and genuine, and that aHy state
ment made 10y any person as to the vote OF
sad precinct, can only be determined, a. t.
it's truth or f~alsity, by a reference to sand r.
turns made by ~ as managers and clerks OF
said election at said precinct.
Isaac MoSDAY
THEODORE +. GARRETT. Judges.
JAMES e. GRINTEa,
W. G.. WILSON, CIo.L,
JAMES FINDLAY,
Sworn to aud subscribed this 18th day OF
January, A. D., 1858.
TERRITORY OF KANSAS,
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