Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-02-25
Calhoun,s card.

General Calhoun published in the
Washington onion of the 18th inst. a
stateman in reference to the Delaware
Crossing returns, about which so much
has been said in Kansas and the States.
We give below the material part of it,
1t will be seen that the position occu-
pied by Mr.. Calhoun is a very fair one,
Indeed, it is the only proper course for
him to pursue
On the 18th of January, the day be-
fore 1 opened the returns of the Kansas
elections for and under the constitution.
I was called upon by several gentlemen
from Lawrence, headed by Doctor or
Governor Robson, and asked if would
be governed, in determining the result
of the election in Leayenworth County,
by the sworn statement of one of the
Judges of election at the precinct known
as the delaware Crossing" I replied,
no; that I could not and would mo- go
behind the election returns. 1t was
then stated that the question was as to
the legality of. r~eturns; and fraud was
charged, on what information 1 did not
learn, upon the ground that the returns
sent to me were not the true returns as
approved and signed by the judges of
election. To give the full opportunity
of submitting testimony as to the legal
ity of the returns, 1 told the gentlemen
that, as the Legislature would have no
duties to perform until after the decision
ofthe question of admission, there could
be no necessity for the immediate issu-
ance of certificates of election in that or
any other case, and that the difficulty
which they suggested could, in the mean
time, be fully Investigated.
This statement 1 made the next day.;
in the presence of the gentlemen who
were present at the opening of the re-
turns. / also authorized Governor
Denver to state that if the judges of
election would furnish me, under oath,
a statement that the return made was
false and fraudulent, 1 would treat such
statement as a correct return, and be
governed by it in giving certificates of
election. 1 knew nothing of the Della
ware Crossing returns, only that public
remor had given to the Democratic par
aty a majority at that precinct of some
three or four hundred. l supposed the
returns from that precinct were in my
Office, and was undeceived only when
all the returns we're opened and they
were not found. These returns were of
great Importance, as they determined
not only the political complexion of
Leayenworth County, but ofboth branch
es of the Legislature. As they stood at
the opening of the returns, without the
Delaware Oh ossingvot the Republicans
had a majority in Leavenworth County,
an1 aocaoranflu a oaIOrItu nf both |
branches in the Legislature.
In order to ascertain the truth, [ sent
a messenger to that precinct to see the
Judges of election and learn the facts as
to the charge of fraud in the RETURN
from that precinct were put into my
hands by Mr.. Diefendorf, one of the :,
commissioners for Leaveuworth County, :
and on the same day that the messenger .
roEurucd from Delaware Crossing Pre- 9
cinet. l received the returns and the :
messengers report at Weston, Missouri, '
on the 21st day of January. The mes =
senger brought to me the following :
sworn statements ofthe judges and clerks =;
of the precinct in question: !
= TERRITORY OF KANSAS, :
County of Leavenworth. y
Inc uuOCTSlSueu, JUICES anu NlSIho
of the election held for State officers T
and members of the State Legislature,
held at, the precinct known as Delaware :
Agency, on the 4th day of January, A,
D. 1858, do hereby certify that the re-
turns made by US of said election were
correct and genuine, and that any state
mentsmade by any person as to the vote
of said precinct can only be determined,
as to its truth or falsity, by a reference
to said returns made by us as managers
and clerks of said election at said pre-
cinct. 4;
ISAAC MUNDAY,
THEODORE GARRETT, I Judges.
JAMES c. GRINTER,
TAH n sf FTSDGAY, Clerks, !
TERRITORY OF KANSAS, ! s
County of johnson.
Before me, Samuel Salters, an acting
Justice of the Peace and for the County {
and Territory aforesaid, personally APP +
peared Isaac Munday, Theodore F. Gar '
rett, James C. Grinter, VIM. c. Wilson, t
and James Findlay, who, being sworn, |
deposeth and saith that the foregoing |
is true, to the best of their I
knowledge and belief. t
ISAAC MUNDAY,
THEODORE f. GARRETT, a
JAMES G. GRINTER, S
w. C. WILSON,, t
JAMES FINDLAY. r
y