Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-03-18

resentatlveS by MI HARRIS, Chairman OF
the Special Committee appointed under his
own resolution, which embodies the jour
nal ofthc proceeding from the time of the
first, down to the last, meeting of the Com
mittee. 1t will be seen by what follows
that the desire to suppress investigation,
not to elicit truth, was the object of the
majority.
Mr.. Harris says that he and his friends
thought it pertinent and essential to the
objects Of investigation to inquire into,
L. The population of the Territory.
2. The disposition of the people thereof
toward the Government of the United
States.
3. Whether, as charged by the Prcsi-
dent. the people of Kansas are in rebellion
against the Government under which they
live.
4. Whether the alleged vote, on the sense
of the people for and against Constitu-
ton, was taken under such laws and i'll
such manner as to entitle it to be consider
ed as the sense of the people.
5. Whether the paper purporting to be
the Constitution of the State of Kansas"
was made by the people over whom it is
designed to act, and embodies 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 SO
taken, conducted and returned as to give
effect to the popular will, and what that
will was and is.
Z. How far the results ofthe election on
the 4th of January, when they voted for
said Constitution and for State officers is
indicative of the will Of the people of Kan
sas either as to the propriety of the al
mission Of said State into the Union, or as
showing whether the said Constitution is
acceptable and satisfactory to majority of
the legal voters of Kansas; and hence an
inquiry whether the returns of said election
as published are true or false. And rs a
further reason for such inquiry, that as
said Constitution provides no mode OF cor
rccting frauds, or contesting elections, how
far Congress might, by the admission Of
said State, commit itself to the Endorsement
and confirmation of frauds, and to fasten-
ing upon people government and Con
stitution against their will.
s. Whether CERTAIN protests and resolves
said to have been passed by the Territorial
Legislature against the admission of Kan
sas under the Lccompton Constitution ought
not to be obtained and considered as indi-
eating the will of the people n that regard.
In pursuance of the policy marked out
above, at the meeting OF Feb. 10Th. Mr..
Adrian introduced the following:
Resolved. Thai there be procured with
all possible dispatch from the Department
of State or from the Acting Governor of
Kansas Territory. copies of the returns and
votes cast for and against a Convention at
an election held in the Territory Of Kansas
in October, 1856;
Also, copies OF the census and regstra-
ton of votes in the Territory of Kansos un-
der the provision of the act of said Legis-
laturc. passed February. 1857. providing
for the election of delegates and assembling
a Convention to frame Constitution;
Also. copies of the returns Of an election
held in said Territory on the 21st of De-
cembcr, 1s47, under the schedule Of the
Lecompton Constitution upon the question
of Constitution with Slavery" or Con
stitution without Slavery"
Also, copies of the returns of an :elec-
ton held in the Territory ofKansas on the
4th day of January. 1853, under the aus
thority of a law passed by the Legislature
Of said Territory submitting the Constitu-
ton framed by the Lecompton Convcn-
ton, to vote OF the people for ratification
or rejection:
Also, copy Of said law.
Hesolred, That the Chairman of this
Committee be requested to procure from
the acting Governor of Kansas, and from
the State Department at Washington, cop
les of returns of election held in said Ter
ritory on the Lccompton Constitution on
the 4th day of january, 1853. under the
schedule Of the Lccompton Constitution,
for Governor and other State officers. and
for members of the Legislature, specifying
the name of each officer to whom ccrtifi-
cate Of election has been awarded, and the
number of votes cast and counted for each
candidate, and distinguishing between the
votes returned within the time and in the
mode prescribed in said schedule, and those
returned subsequently, and in other modes,
and stating whether. at either of said cleo
tons, any return of votes was rejected in
consequences of not having been returned in
time. or to the right office. or in proper
form. OF for any other cause stating spe-
officially for what cause.
Mr. Stephens moved to amend the reso-
luton of Mr.. Adrian by striking out all after
the word Resolved" and inserting as fol-
lows:
That the Chairman Of this Committee.
after inquiry made at the State Department
and the Interior Department for the same,
report TO this Committee at its next meet
ing copies of the following papers, or such
as he can obtain, and in case he cannot get
copies Of the whole Of the same, that he re-
port those that he can procure copies of. to
wit:
Copies OF the laws under which the Con-
vention assembled at Lecompton, and un-
der which the Constitution then adopted
was organized, also, the returns Of the cleo
ton or vote on said Constitution on the
2lst Of December last, also. copies Of the