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


Mr.. Stephens moved to lay the pream-
bic and resolutions upon the table, and the
question being taken by Yeas and Nays,
was decided in the negative.
Mr.. Walbridge, on the same day, offered
this preamble with the resolution attached:
Whereas, The Territorial Legislature of
Kansas appointed Commission to invcs-
tigate certain frauds said to have been per-
petrated in the elections held in said Terri
tory on the 2lst of October and the 4th of
January last, and in the returns of said
elections, and whereas, said Commission
are understood to have made such invcsti-
CATION, and to examine many returns in
relation thereto; therefore
Hesoired, That the Chairman of this
Committee he and he is hereby instructed
to procure an authenticated and duly certi-
he'd copy of all the testimony taken before
said Commission in relation to such frauds.
Voted down.
Mr.. Wade. also on the oath. summed up
the allegations of fraud current in all the
newspapers of the country, and repeated
now m every Anti-Lccompton speech, in
resolution which he offered.
Whereas, The House of Representatives.
by ordering the appointment of the Com
mIttee, has assumed that Congress is
clothed with the power prior to giving its
assent to the admission into the Union of
new State, organized out of the territory of
the United States. without an enabling act
OF Congress authorizing such State organ
lzation, to inquire into and ascertain all
facts affecting the justice. good faith, anil
especially to ascertain whether such Con-
stitution was formed. and such application
made with the consent of. a majority of the
bona hdc residents, being legal voters of
such Territory at the time of the organiza-
ton and application for admission into the
Union of such State Government. And
the said House did further determine that
Congress is not esstoppcd 10y any legal
forms whatsoever under which such frauds
may be attempted to he concealed, from ex-
aiming into the same, and for COOL cause
treating the same as absolutely null and
void therefore
Resoiued, That it is the duty of the
Committee to proceed forthwith to obtain
all such evidence, either oral or document
AIRY, which may be obtained, tending to
prove:
First: Fraud in dividing the said Terri
tory of Kansas into election districts pre-
paratory to the election of delegates TO the
Lecompton Constitutional Convention.
and such of the Territorial elections subse-
qnently held in said Territory down to and
including the election of Jan 4, 1853,
whether held for Territorial purposes or
State and Federal officers, under said Lee
compton Constitution.
Second: Fraud in the registration Of IL
legal or the omission to register the legal
voters of said Territory, or of any election
districts Or precincts of the SAM, prepare
tory to each ana all of the elections above
specified.
Third: Frauds at such elections. or any
or either of them. by receiving illegal or
by the exclusion OF legal votes.
Fourth: Frauds in the returns Of sail
election, OF any or either of them, by re-
the erasure OF non registering the names of
legal voters, or the destruct on or withhold
ing OF the poll-book of said elections. or
any or either OF them, in any of the election
districts or precincts in said Territory.
Fifth: Frauds in taking tho census of
said Territory, or any part thereof. whereby
illegal or fictitious voters were enumerated
in, and the bona .Jife residents of said Terri
tory excluded from such enumeration.
.Sixth: Frauds or forgcries in the returns
and certificates of the returns of such cleo
tons, or any or either Of them, or at any
election district or voting precinct in said
Territory, at snch elections or any or either
Of them.
Serenh: Such frauds or illegal violence
in said Territory. or any voting precinct
thereof, whereby the legal voters, or any
portion Of them, in such precinct or pre-
cincts were reasonably deferred from AZ
to exercise their right of voting
at such elections or any Of them.
Resofeed, That tho Chairman of tho
Committee be and is hereby directed to
take immediate measures to procure the
OcfOic tlc NOll1iifttcc OF art
document or documents in the archives of
the Executive Government ut Washington,
and also in the possession of the Acting
Governor. Secretary, or other officer of The
Executive Government of the Territory of
Kansas, or of any subordinate officer or Of
ficer having in his or their possession such
document or documents containing evil
dence pertinent to the proof or disproof of
the facts aforesaid; and also to procure the
attendance of such witnesses as may be
able to give oral testimony pertinent to the
same.
Here arc allegations which, if proven,
would have driven the Lecompton Consti-
tuition out of Congress; but the majority at
once stiicd inquiry. The resolutions were
laid on the table.
One moro attempt was made by Mr..
Adrian, as follows:
Resolved, That the election held in tho
Territory of Kansas on the 4th of January
last. submitting the Lecompton Constitu-
ton to the vote of approval or rejection by
the people of said Territory, in pursuancs
of the act of the Territorial Legislature, APP
proved by Gov. Denver on the 18th De
cember, 1857, at which it appears, by the
procl ma ffon IF III Gr,-or,,or t1,ok tl,or,