The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-03-08
TnI KAssAs INvrs1reArrSa COMMITTEE,

The KANSAS INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE,
appointed by speaker Orr, have brought o
deeper infamy on the cause they attempt to
serve. The majority have not preserved even q
decent regard for external propriety. They
have violated every idea of fairness and duty,
and boldly disregarded the instructions of the
House, and refused to fulfil the commission
given them and the primary objects for which
they were appointed. They were directed 10
investigate the frauds in the Kansas election
and the manner in which the Convention was
organized, and the mode in which the consti-
tuition was promulgated and submitted to the
people. They have refused to have any wit
messed summoned--have held but two or shrco
abortive meetings at long intervals, and per-
sistently defeated every attempt of the mi
nority to obtain evidence; after framing an ex-
pate report, voted to adjourn sine die to pre-
vent anything further being done. greater
outrage upon parliamentary law and duty is
not upon record. 1t is but consistent part
Of the system of forco and fraud by which
the infamous act of tyrannyis to be CONSUME
mated. The report Of the majority drawn
up by Mr.. Stephens of Georgia fully sustains
che Lecompton Constitution. The oppo-
sition will make an attempt when it comes
up in the House to have the subject re-
committed, and two new members-elccted
by the House-added to the committee. This
will be test question. If a re-commitment
DO carried, the opposition will have strength
10 elect the new members of the committee Of
tho right stamp, which win change the pres
ont majority into a minority, and forco an
investigation. Ifthis cannot be done, further
resistance to the iniquity in the House will
DO useless, and will be abandoned.
The report was presented to the House on
the Sd inst. 1t declares all the preliminar.
proceedings in the formation Of the Conven
ton, and its proceedings under the authorit
which created it, regular and legal, rs proves
by the documentary evidence before the com
mittee, beyond which they did not deem
proper to 60 in their Investigations. PEI
feet legality and regularity they say, markc
every step of the proceedings in the forma
ton Of the Convention and the Constitution
The report then takes up and answers Il
objections which do not arise upon the fa'
of the record. "No Constitution can be val
which is not first ratified by popular vot
This position of Governor Walker is said
be untenable, both on principle and author
~. None of the Constitutions of tho o
States were thus ratified, and many Of Il
new have not been. The second objection
the want Of an enabling acts shown to
untenable by numerous precedents, the Co
Of California in particular. Another obje
tion rs to the fairness of the registry and a
portionment. This is attempted to be a
swered. Thore are thirty eight counties
Kansas, twenty Of which were represen
cd. Thirteen of the others had little or
population. In these thirteen, on the 4th
January election, there was less than o
hundred votes cast against the Constitutio
The four others had no registry, because t
officers were not permitted to make it. TIL
were driven away by force and threats.
The report ignores the votes of the 4th
January, though it pretends that fair int
Pse.ation of that vote, even upon the basis
superintendent made by Secretary Stantc
would show that the Constitution had \
been defeated even then"