The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-18
KANSAS CORRESPONDENCE GREAT
FRAUD.

LAWRENCE, February 4, 1853.
To the Et tor of the National Era:
Much terest is being felt here in relation to
the electi O frauds. A committee was recently
appointed by the Legislature, for the purpose
of investi .ating the frauds alleged to have been
committe at the 4th of January election. You
are awai that the whole thing was made to
turn upo the vote said to have been polled at
the Della are Crossing.
1t was known that the notorious Jack Hen
derson received the returns from that pre-.
cinct, a. accordingly he was arrested, and
brought, efore the committee of investigation.
He imnh diately wrote line to Calhoun, re-
questing chat the returns from that precinct
should NIT be opened and accordingly, when
the retul ss were examined, which was done in
the pres nee of Gov. Denv, and the Speakers
of the ouse and Council, the returns from
Delawa, Crossing were not presented.
Since calhoun left the Territory, it is report
ed that has stated that the Pro Slavery ticket
had bee elected, and also q majority of both
branche of the Legislature. This led to an
examin, jon of the matter, inasmuch as it con-
hicted III the returns examined in the pres
ence Of ;he gentlemen before alluded to. A
process was accordingly instituted, by which
the retN ms of Gen. Mclean, Calhoun's chief
clerk, az the custodian of the papers in CAL
houn's Essence, should be brought before the
commit~se of investigation. Mclean was by
process Of law brought before the committee,
and pu, upon oath. He testified that soon after
Calhouy left the Territory, messenger, pur-
porting 70 come from Calhoun, called on him,
and rec lived the returns left in his possession
since w5ich time he had not seen them, and, as
he periF41 believed, had been taken to Washing.
ton. rSe person calling for the papers was,
as alled "a by Mclean, unknown to him.
The Committee, however, did not believe this
staten. ct, although made under oath. They
accord gly sent the sheriff of Douglas county
with a sufficient posse, to bring Mclean and
papers Sefore the committee. They had, pre-
viously 10 sending out the posse, received init
mAtiot l@of the papers whereabouts, so had no
diaicus6 in finding them.
Mel san was found at the Surveyor Generals
Office, 9Th posse of some ifteen or eighteen
persons. and thirty or forty loaded muskets.
McLes protested against the search being
made, assuring the sheriff that nothing was to
sheriff S,eplied that he thought he knew where
the pss ers were. Mclean inquired, where
The sss5riff replied, 81 think they are buried
under = pile of wood, back of this Office
Wherenpon Mclean lost countenance. He
did NOT sink, but doubtless wished to. Mean
time, lie sheriff's posse had exhumed the box
contaiA3ng the desired papers. The sheriff was
directeJ to bring Mclean, in case the safety
OF the papers would not be endangered by sc
DOING. An effort was evidently about being
madesto raise sufficient force to take the pa
pers fom the possession of the sheriff.
Upta receiving the word of Mclean, as q
gentle, ,qn, to come Immediately to Lawrence
and p esent himself before the committee, who
had { rected the sheriff to bring him before
them, the sheriff proceeded at once to con
vey to papers to the committee, or rather te
the tdge of probate, with whom they were
depossed until evening. They we're Their
broug it into the Legislative Hall, and directed
to be spened in the presence of Gov. Denver
and y . Speakers of the two Houses. A larg.
audie ce was present, all of whom evinced thu
most. intense interest in the result. The pa
| pers .ere then examined by the gentlemen al
lnded 10, and declared to be the same paper
they ,ad examined in the presence of Johr
] Calh. IN, on the 18th of January. They wer,