Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-18
The Lecompton Fraud--Investiga-
ton Suppressed-R Report from
Mr.. Harris Committee.

ally was, with a majority OF ls MEMBER
TO the resolution by which 1t was
created and under which i was directed TO
act.
The undersigned indulge in no reflections
drscredilab'e 10 the character and integrity
of the majority of the Committee, from
whom they have been compelled 20 differ,
most O. whom were undoubtedly selected
from the ablest and most experienced mem-
bers of the House. Yet in their action, in
the opinion of the undersigned, they have
stripped the res luton undrr which they
we're appointed Of pratical effect, and sub
mit,ed their own views and reflections alone
in a great measure for that evidence which
ought to have been collected by the Com
niitee. With tie exception o. a call upon
Mr. Calhoun. proposed by one of the under
signed. the minority have resisted success
fully every effort at inquiry made BY either
of US. while they themselves have ELECTED
nothing relative to the mater of inquiry not
already before the country. lnceed. some
of the most importsut items OF Information,
admitted BY the majority in the resolutions
adopted by them in the Committee at its
last session TO DE essential to the Investi-
CATION" have never been obtained by the
committee. to wit: "the vote OF the people
under the law" for taking their "sense" for
or against a Constitution; "the election of
delegates as officially certified to-" and "the
vote on the a~doption of the Constitutions
under its own schedule, and provisions as
officially adjudged and announced" These
important facts-sdmiited to be essential by
.he maiority-have not, as far as the under
signed have knowledge, ever been brought
before the Committee.
In addition to these important 'ac's, we
thought i, entirely pertinent and essential
TO the objects Of our investigation to ascer-
tain bv the best evidence within our reach:
/. The population of the territory.
2. The disposition of the people thereof
towards the government of the United
States.
.. Whether, as charged by the President.
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 fer and against a Constitu-
ton, was taken under such laws and in such
manner as to entitle it TO be considered as
he sense of the people.
5. Whether the paper rurporting TO be
the "Cons,itution 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 oil
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.
I. How far the results OF the e~iection on
the fourth of January, when they voted for
said constitution and for state officers, is in
| dicatiye of the " i'll of the people of Kansas
either as to the propriety of the admission
of said state into the Union, or as showing
whether the said Constitution is acceptable
and satisfactory to a majority Of the legal
voters of Kansas; ard hence an inquiry
whether the returns of said election is true
or false. And as a further reason for such
inquiry, that as said Constitution provides
no mode Of correcting frauds, or coniesting
elections, how far Congress might, by adj
mission of said state, commit itself to the
endorsement and confirmation of such frauds
and 10 fastening upon a people a govern
ment and Constitution against its will.
8. Whether certain protests and resolves,
said to have been passed by the Territorial
Legislature against the admission Of Kan
.as under the Lecompton Constitution, ought
not 10 be obtained and considered as inGicat.
ing the will of the people in that regard.
These, and numerous OF er points of in
quiry, which the undersigned thought ma
terial and essential to the Investigation or
dered by the House, las facts connected
with the formation Of said Constitution
and facts connected with "the law under
which the lame was originated" and as
facts relating to "the que stion or proprie,y
of the admission of said Territory into the
Union under said Constitution, and whether
the same is acceptable and satisfactory to a
majority of the legal voters of Kansas
were untouched, and unnoticed by the Com.
miItee, and on the Sd instant, the Commit
tee, by an adjournment sine die, brought it,
labors to a close. having, in cur opinion,
failed 10 accomplish any one important OBJ
ject for which it was raised.
There are scores of prominent citizans OF
Kansas, of all parties, now here. who could
h~avejgiven the most weighty evidence touch
ing all the points of inquiry embraced IN
the resolution, particularly in relation 10
the most monstrous frauds perpeirated in the
election on the 2lst of December last.
We think there is no excuse for neglect.
ing to use the means within the reach oil
the committee, AMI for returning to the
House with no information but what was
already in the possession of each OF Its
members when the investigation was order.
ed, except the speculative reasonings and
casuistic lucubra.ions laid down by the ma
jprity in their report, which, leaving out
sundry quotations from the opinions of Gov
ernor Walker and Senator Douglas, and
some considerations growing out of these
opinions, is but a ..reite-ation of the views
laid down in the Presidents message. The
majority of the Committee assume to decide
upon the proper line OF inquiry, iastead of
obeying the order Of the House IL Con-
gress cannot inquire into the mode and
manner of the adoption of the Lecompton
Constitution, then they cannot inquire if i;
was ever adopted a. all.
We, Therefore, submit. that the Commit
tee have (and we think the journal will bear
ample proof not conducted the investiga-
ton in accordance with the letter or spirit
OF the Instructions OF the House directing
it, but have done it in derogation Of both.
The undersigned claim it TO be their
privilege to report the proceedings of the
Committee to the House, to the end that il
the Committee shall, by the House, be held
to have failed to comply with its order, the
responsibility may rest where it belongs
h