New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-13
THE LECOMPTON FRAUD.
INVESTIGATION SUPPRESSED.
REPORT PROM Mr.. HARRBS COMMITTEE

II
maturity of the Committee constituted a. it original
sss with majority of it, members hostile to the res
osor +. which il wa, created and under which va
| directed TO act.
The undersigned indulge in no reflections dscredhs
bic TO the character and integrity Of the majority Of tht
| Committee. from whom they have been compelled L
| differ most Of whom Undoubtedly selec>ed from
the ablest and most experienced Dembers Of tie
House Yet in their action in the opinion of the under
-gned they have stripped the resolution under which
they were appointed Of practical effect, and submitted
tbeir own views and reflections alone in great mess
ure for that eviderce which ought to have been col
lected by the Committee With the exception of a cay
upon Mr. Calhoun proposed by spe of the Undersigned
the majority have resisted successfully every effort at
inquiry ade by either of u.s. while they themselves
bsye elected nothing relative to the matter of inquiry
not already before the country Indeed Of the
most important items of information admitted by the
majority in the resolutions adopted by them in Com
mee at it, last session to be essential to the nves-
tigaticn have never been obtained by the Committee
to wit: the vote Of the people under the law for
ticking their "sense' for or against Const tuition
the election of Delegates, as officially certified
to- and the vote on the adoption Of the Constitu-
lion under its own schedule, and provisions Off
facts admitted to be essential by the maority-have
not, far as the undersigned have knowledge ever
been brought before the Committee.
In addition to these important facts, we thought it
entirely pertinent and essential to the objects of eur
investigation to ascertain by the best evidence within
our reach:
/. The population Of the Territory.
9. The disposition Of the people thereof toward the
Government of the United States.
3. Whether as charged by the President the people
under which they live.
4. Whether the alleged vote, the sense of the
people for and against Constitution, taken under
such laws and such to entitle it to be
sdered as the sense of the people.
S. Whether the paper purporting to be the econ
"stitution of the State of Kansas made by the
people whom it s designed to act and embodes
their will, fairly and legally expressed.
6. Whether the elections which have been held in
connection with the formation of said Constitution,
both before and since its adoption by the Convention,
were taken conducted and returned as to give eff
feet to the popular will and what that will and is.
:. How far the results of the election on the 4th of
January, when they voted for SAID Constitution
and for State officers s Indicative of the will Of the
people of Kansas either to the proprety Of the al
mission Of said State into the Union, showing
whether the said Constitution acceptable and salts
factory majority of the legal voters Of Kansas and
hence inquiry whether the returns of said election as
published are true or false. And as further reason
for such inquiry that said Constitution provides no
mode of correcting frauds, contesting elections how
far Congress might, by the admission Of said State,
commit itself to the Endorsement and confirmation of
frauds, and to fastening upon people government
and Constitution against its will
s. Whether certain protests and resolves said to have
been passed by the Territorial Legislature against the
admission of Kansas under the Lecompscn COnstitu-
ton ought not to be obtained and considered ndi
eating the will of the people in that regard
These, and numerous other points of inquiry which
the undersigned thought material and essential TO the
investigation ordered by the House as facts connected
with the formation of said Constitution and facts
connected with the law under which the same was
originated" and facts relating to "the question or
propriey of the admission OF said Territory into the
Union under sad Constitution and whether the same
"is acceptable and satisfactory to majority of the
illegal voters of Kansas" were untouched, and un.
noticed by the Committee, and on the sd nst the
Committee, BY an adjournment sine die, brought its
laborsto close, having, in our opinion, failed 10 &C.
complish any one important object foT which it was
rais ed.
There ore scores of prominent citizens of Kansas, of
all parties, now here who could have given the most
weighty evidence touching all the points Of inquiry
embraced in the resolution, particularly in relation to
the mos! monstous frauds pepetratea at the election
on the 9st of December last.
We think there is 40 or Rogleotng TO use the
means within the reach of the Committee, and for re-
turning to the House with information bat what was
aJ, int ha IF Of IN members
the investigation was ordered except the speculative
reasopinps and cssuisc lucubraons laid down by the
msoIity in their report, which, leaving out Sundry
quotations from the opinions of Governor Walker and
Senator Douglas and considerations growing out
of these opinions but reiteraton Of the views laid
down in the Presidents Message. The majority OF the
Committee assume to decide upon the proper line Of
inquiry instead Of obeying the order of the House. II
Congress cannot Inquire into the mode and manner Oh
the Abortion OF ~ Iecompton Constitution, then they
cannot INQUIRE q Il was ever adopted at ALL
We therefore submit, that tire Committee have and
as we think the journal viii bear ample proof not
conducted the investigation in accor lance with TIE let
ter or spirit of the instructions of the House drecnng
but have done il in derogation OF both
Tie undersigned claim 10 be their privilege to report
the proceedings of the Committee to the House. 10 'ne
end that if the Committee shall by the House, be held
have failed to comply with its order the response
bity may rest where it belongs. They also hold thsi
under their views of the action of the Committee II IL
their duty to report that action to the HoEse to the
end that it may make such further order thereon a.
may be deemed just and proper.
| (signedl THos. l. HARRIS, ChsirnnAl-
J. &. MORRILL, EDWD. WADE.
| HENRY BENNETT, ID. s WALBRIDUE
| G. b. ADRIAN. JAS. BUstINION
Journal of tie COMMITTEE.