The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-02-25
FROM KANSAS.

Opening Of a Mysterious. BOe-Me r.
fsrnal Contents-Startting Derclo,
ments Of Squatter Sovereignty.
Correspondence of the Missouri Democrat
LAWRENCE, Kansas, Feb. 3, 1858
The board of commissioners, copst;tr
ted by special act of the Legislature far
the purpose of investigating the fraud,
committed at the elections held On tIa
Dist of December and 18th of January I,et
have demanded the returns, but IN -
this date, were unable to procure them
Calhoun refused to produce but part
keeping back the Delaware Ferry polI,
books, while Henderson was in custody
charged with adding about 800 names ia
the list, which returns substantiate the
charge, The board Of commissioners now
sitting in this place, issued complaint
to the probate Judge Of this county, ask.
ing him TO place in the hands of the Sher.
if Of Douglas, . warrant for the purpose
of searching the surveyor generals Office
and adjacent buildings, in quest of said
election returns. Yesterday, Sheriff Walk,
er, by some "scull-duggery," unknown
to yours truly, learned that they were un,
der pile Of wood near the suryeyor-gcu,
erals office, and this day proceeded, with
posse Of ten or twelve. to that citadel uf
corIuption-Lecompton. The chief clerk
protested against their search, but by or,
ders from the sheriff, the wood was soon
scattered, the earth removed, and box
disclosed, bearing the following inscnn,
ten on the cover "Gen. l., \. Mclean,
Lecompton, *, T." On one ED was
marked Star candles" "E. G.. Wilson"
The triumphant party soon brought tile
box to Lawrence, where it was paced ia
the hands of the probate Judge, who or
dered it opened in his honors presence.
and in the presence OF Gov. Denver, the
beard Of commissioners, the president Of
the council, and the speaker of the House
of Representatives The Legislative hall
was used as Z court room, and was literally
jammed by the members Of the Legislature
and eager spectators. The box contained
| FIVE large rolls of poll-books, from the diff,
fercnt precincts Of the elections held On
the 2lst of December and the 9Th Of Jan
uary last Among the rest were the Del,
aware Ferry returns, which the Judge Of
election swore, while in custody, before
Calhoun, the president Of the council,
and the speaker ~ the House of Repre-,
sentatives, while they were counting the
vote, contained but 50 votes.
The poll from that precinct show
800 votes. Henderson must have added
all over 80. Gov Denver, and the speak
er of the House and president of tie
council, were sworn, Gnd examined the
returns, and certified to their being the
returns Of elections held On the 21st of
December and the 18th Of January last
They will undoubtedly show the free ex-
ercise Of the elective franchise of Kan,as
democrats, upon being examined by the
commissioners. The whole returns will
undergo a thorough investigation by tho
commissioners. The nigger in woJL-
pile" which the democracy secreted so
carefully at midnight, has certainly been
found this time The commissioners in
vestigation at Oxford, shows 35 legal yo-
ters in the precinct, aad half of the nun
Der free state
"National democracy" is on the de.
cline in Kansas. s, c. K,