Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-17
THE KANSAS QUESTION.

IMPORTANT REPORT OF HON. a. III. STEPHENS
OF GEO, FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF
FIFTEEN.
On behalf of the majority of the Select
Committee of Fifteen, of the House of Rep
resentatives, Mr.. Stephens presented on
Wednesday, March 10, 1858, the following
report:
The select committee of fifteen appointed I'M
der the resolution of the House of the 9Th
of February, to whom was referred the mes
sage of the President of the United States
of the I'd of February, concerning the
constitution framed at LecOmpton, in the
Territory of Kansas, by Il convention OF
delegates thereof. and the paper accompany
ing the same, +" with instructions Ito inquire
into all the facts connected with the torma-
ton of said constitution, and the laws I'M
der which the same were originated and
into all such facts and proceedings as have
transpred since the formation OF said con-
stitutiOn having relation to the question or
propriety of the admission of said Territory
into the Union under said constitutions; and
whether the same is acceptable and salts
factory to the majority OF legal voters OF
Kansas" have had all the matters commit
ted to them under consideration, and now
present the following report:
The leading object of the resolution under
been the ascertainment of all the essential
facts bearing upon the question or propriety
of the admission of Kansas as State under
the Lecompton constitution, in accordance
with the recommendation of the President.
This object has been the controlling principle
of the committees action III their iHyestiga-
ton. The scope of their duties embraced an
inquiry into all facts relating To the legality
and regularity of the prOcet dngs resulting in
l..tl
cedent and subsequent thereto, showing
whether or not it DC the embodiment of the
legally and fairly-eXpressed will of the bona
fde citizens of Kansas. With this understand
ing of the field of labor before them, the com
mittee directed their attention
Ist To law passed by the territorial leg
islature providing for taking the sense of the
people at the October election in 1856, upon
the expediency of calling n convention to
form State constitution.
I'd. The law of the Territory passed the 18th
of February, 1851, in pursuance of the popu-
lar will expressed under the previous act,
providing for an election to he held on the
18th of June, 1857, of delegates to such n
convention.
3D. The official registry of voters, and the
apportionment made by the acting governor
(Stanton) of delegates To the convention so
called in accordance with the provisions OF
said act.
4th The assembling of the convention nj
Lecompton on the first Monday of September
under the act last aforesaid and the journal
OF their proceedings.
5th. The constitution formed by the con-.
vention so assembled, alluded 10 in the mes
sage of the President.
9th The action Of the peonls 90 'A- 49,
lions submitted to them by Que of the clauses
of the schedule in the constitution.
These laws facts, and proceedings consti-
tute, in the Judgment of the committee, all
matters having any material bearing upon
the main questions embraced IN the recon-
menda ton of the President, and covered by
the resolution of the House. But they per-
mitted To be fled. and report To the House
without deeming them relevant or material:
7th. The act of the territorial legislature of
Kansas, at its called session in December last,
providing for vote TO be taken on the ith OF
January, just passed for aud against said con-
stitusion.
9Th. The official announcement of saif vote.
And also, as cumulative, though not mate
rial
9Th. The letter OF Mr.. Calhoun. president
of the Lecompton convention. to the chair
man of the Committee on Territories in the
Senate.
All these papers are appended in full to
this report. Except part OF the journal which
has not vet been received, but which Is ex-
pected in time 10 be presented With the rest)
and marked rs exhibits In regular order The
committee deem 1t necessary TO go into an
elaborate exposition of them by detail. A
general reference TO some of the material
parts, for the purpose Of illustrating the con-
illusions to be drawn from them, will be quite
sufficient. Those which they deem material
are all documentary, about which there can
be no dispute. They show a full aud COM
pete history of the proceedings resulting la
the formation OF the Lecompton constitution
from tneIr beginning To their end First. the
law for taking the sense of the people upon
the propriety Of applying for admission. Next,
the law authorizing the call, in pursuance Of
the popular will. Next. the registry OF vot-
ers, aud superintendent OF delegates. Next
the assembling OF the convention, with their
proceedings. Then, the constitution so form
ed and lastly, the ratification Of 10 In the
mode aud manner provided by the convention.
The legality and regularity of the whole are
marked throughout Every step in Its pro-
gress was taken i'm strict conformity to law.
Bat little appears on the face Of the record