Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-26
Statement by General Calhoun.

yards.
Statement by General Calhoun.
WASHINGTON Cry, Feb. II, 1858.
To the Editor of the Union:
SIR Il have already communicated to the Commit
tee Territories in the Senate full statement of facts
connected with the application of Kansas for admission
into the Union State need not repeat those
facts in this paper as they will doubtless reach the
public in 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
tent have been connected but the various and con-
Trajectory statements that have been made by unscr
puous and irresponsible to the public press
touching the discharge of my duties as president of the
constitutional convention, make the duty imperative
Excitement conflict, and great confusion must neces-
sarily attend the organization of government for
munity brought together from all parts OF the world,
and actuated by different objects, motives and preju
ldices. No Territory organized IN the United
States has suffered more from causes of this character
than Kansas The conflict about the shaping of our
institutions constantly directed by persons and par
ties outside of the Territory, has forced within its limits
class of population from every portion OF the Union,
most dssimar in character and with the strongest pre-
disposition to collision That disorder and confusion,
the violation of individual and public rights and duties,
should result from such causes, may be depored, but
could not be prevented. Good men have sought the
peaceful remedy to these controversies IN the baotboX
Bad men have been governed by scrupes as to pub
lie or private action In the periodical addresses put
forth by the law-and-order or democratic party OF
Kansas every foreign influence has been repudated and
every effort made to procure for Kansas the quiet peace
full settlement of all questions OF public policy by the
fair and honest expression of the popular will TO the
fullest extent these recommendations have not probably
prevailed with their own party friends, whO in oppos
ton to party knowing and respecting no law, may
have been driven to the extremity Of wrong and the
violation of public right and duty But it is not my
object to go into full examination of this subject
NY object now is to place myself right before the pub
1lio off a n
of the legislature in Leavenworth county, the statements
in reference to which have been conflicting and con
| Trajectory.
On the 18th of January the day before | opened the
returns of the Kansas elections for and under the cons
tuition was called upon by several gentlemen from Law
renee headed by Doctor Governor Robinson and ask
ed if would be governed determining the result of the
election in Leavenworth county, by the statement
of Of the judges of election at the precinct known
the Delaware Crossing" replied, no! That could
not and would not 60 behind the election returns 1t
then stated that the question to the legality
of returns and fraud charged, what information
did not learn upon the ground that the returns sent C
not the true returns approved and signed by
the judges of election To give the full opportunity
submitting testimony as to the legality of the returns
told the gentlemen that the legislature would have
duties to perform until after the decision of the question
of admission there could be necessity for the mme
diae issuance of certificates of election in that any
other case, and that the difficulty which they suggested
This statement / made the next day in the presence O.
the gentlemen who present at the opening of the
returns also authorized Gov Denver to state that
the Judges of election would furnish me- under OATH
statement that the return made false and fraudulent
would treat such statement corrected return, ant
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
majority at that precinct of three four hundred
supposed the returns from that precinct in my Of
IL
opened and they not found These returns were
great Importance, they determined not only the pot
lcal complexion OF Leavenworth county, but of boil
branches of the legislature AS they stood at the open
ing of the returns without the Delaware Crossing vote
the republicans had majority in Leavenworth county
and consequently, majority Of both branches of TIT
legislature
In order to ascertain the TRUTH sent messenger tc
that precinct to the judges of election and learn the
facts to the charge of fraud in the return. In the
time the sealed returns from that precinct were
fput into my hands by Mr. Defendor one of the commits
soners for Leavenworth county, and on the same day
that the messenger returned from Delaware Crossing
precinct received the returns and the messengers
port at Weston, Missouri, the 2st day of January
The messenger brought to the following sworn state
ment of the judges and clerks of the precinct in ques
ton:
TERRITORY OR KANSAS,
County of LeavenwOrth. {
The undersigned, judges and clerks of the election hell
for State officers and members of the State legislature
held at the precinct known as Delaware Agency on th
fourth day of January, A. D. 1858, do hereby certf
that the returns made by Of said election corree
and genuine and that any statement made by any
as to the vote of said precinct only be determined
to its truth lsity by reference to said returns mad
by managers and clerks of said election at said pre-
cnct.
ISAAC MONDAY,
THEODORE F. GARRETT, eJudges
JAMES G. GRINTER,
y "a Il T FHSPEAr, Clerks: