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READ AND CIRCULATE.
it u 10 irr of r.n nr.
cOi(;iu:ssiOiA l
r
iillTBTKATIK COMMITTEE.
tors, except those appointed by the l1 r-i(lfiit, nwf their positions In
tton resident voters. None have been elected by the settlers, mid your
( loitiinitii R have lie'1" unable lo find tlin( uny political power whatever,
however iinimpunuiit, Inn been cxcirised i y the people of the Ter
1 it my.
In October, A. D. Kit, Gov, A. II. Herder mid the other nllircrs
appointed hy t lie President, arrived in tint Territory. Scttli rs Ironi
nil parts nf the country were moving in, 111 great lunula rs, 1 ,1 i k 1 11 (r
their i'lainis and building Tueir cabins. About the same tune, and be-
lore imy c I' 1 1 11 n was or could lie held ill til" 1 en ilory, u secret polit
ical society was formed in the State of Mtssnuii. It whs known by
uiMerent names, such 11s Social Land , " r nrnds Society, H
I
sonri, was present, hut did not vote. lie said he did not intend lo vote,
but came to see llml others voted. After the election, the Missonriiins
relumed ihe way ihey came.
The cleriion 111 ilie (hh District was held nt Foil Scott, in the. south
east, part of the Territory, and near the. Missouri line. A party "f ..
about lift) men from Cas, and the Counties in Missouri south of il,
went into tli3 Territory, traveling about 4f miles, n.ot of them Willi
their wagons und lenis, and camping out. Thry appeared at llie
I i e of cleriion. Nome attempts were made to i ear them, hul two
of the Judge w ere prevailed iijum not to (In so, and none were aw 01 n,
and ns many as chose voted. There were hut few resident voters ut
llie twill. T lie settlement was sparse about v!." actual settlers voted
Tho SPECIAL COMMITTEE appointed to investigate
tv8 troubles ia tho TERRITORY OF KANSAS, having
performed tho duties reiuired by the House, beg leave
to submit tus following
It E P 0 R T .
A journal of prueeeilins, in- hiding siiiidiy communications made
5, and !v ilia CiniKiiiiti e, w'ms kept, i eopy of which is h rcwith su!
mlted. ''I'he testimony is also herewith submitted ; a ropy of it hud
U.'lt made and arrnnt'ed, not according to lie: or l"r in which it was
taken, but r.o as to pieseiu, as clearly as possible, a eon ,e,-otive history
ol .'iits in the Territory, fmm in or 11 w. t un to the lilth day nf
;i.rcii, A. D. I w-'- . . .
Your r.ointnitlee de-rn it lh"ir duly lo state, as briefly as possible, t lie
p-utciiwd f'' IS proven before them. When the ae! to 01 -.iiiie the Ter-
ri't'wy of K inwi was pas.ed, on iby of May, the Kreater
p itmn of Us eastern border was included in I mini 11 reservatiitni not
1'.. ...,t.,I.,.nt. no. I ilirre were Inn few w liite scMb rs in anv nor-
i, ), t o;t"II O" n. v .... j 1
i,',, I ,oit of the Territory. hsl:i(lian poptdntion was rapi.liy dei:iea6in.
in!i 1 w ild- many emigrants fi 0111 dit'teiem (i.irts of the eoutilry w ere anx
soul' waiting; tbe exlineiion of llie mliau title. lind the eMidihslimenl
i!'..ii i of ft TeruWnrtlU.ivernuieni, to seek new huuies in its fernh: prairies.
I !t rjnnol b- double I that if ns coa lition an 11 free Territory bid Viecn
J.. . UM'llaiU V-I 1 -J .j ' . vi...... jj.. . v j
j-seeful and ptospuous. lis etouate, noil, and its easy an eMj to tlie
:.' . wiileuieiits. Wiiuld have made it I tie favored course for the. liiie
,, r.inoil roiiitailllv floin'i to Ibe W
lie." " 'J'lie klls ol die South." Its tnen bei s were bound together out of iOfi votes cast, lea v in 2 W) ille"al voles. After tbe Totm? wan
by secret o,i!h, and thry had pass-words, mu'iis and crips, l y which I over, the Missourians went 10 their wagons and coinnienced leaving
loey were h'lown In earl, other. IN n.ilties w ere ini)0;nst tor violntinir lor home.
the rub's and secrets of liie Order. Written minutes were kepi of the The most shameless fiaud prnelierd upon the rights of the settler
proeeitlini of the Lodges, and the ditl'e.rent Lodges were connected , nl 1 1 1 .4 election, was in llie 7th district. It is remote settlement, bIkiiiI
mother by an etiective orani.alion. It embraced threat nutidrtTS of . miles IWio the Missouri line, and contained in February, A I.
the cuiens of Missouri, and was extended into other Have (slates and j In",,'), three months nt'iei ward, when llie cerises was taken, hut ; vot
nitii the Territory. lis avowed purpose was not only lo extend 1 en ; and yet the poll bonks 1 .how that (fit votes were cast. 'J heeler
Shivery into Kansas, but also into oiler Territory nl t he L' niicd Si ales, ' lion was held at the house of h'rey Mel ee, at a place railed "110.'
and to form a union of all the friends of thai institution. Its plan of 1 Hut few of llie actual settlers were present at the polls. A w itness
operating was lo organize, and si ml men to vote at the 1 lections in llie j who formrily reMiie.j in Jackson County, Mo., and as well arepunnl
Terntory, to collect money to pay tin ir expenses, and if necessary to ed w it li the. citizens of that (.'ouniy, says that he saw a creat many
protect theiri in vniinjj. Ii also proposed lo induce pio-slavery men1 wagons and lenis at llie place, ot flection, and many individuals lie.
to emigrate into the Territory, lo aid and sustain linn) while there, ' knew fmni . I. ickson County. He was in their lenis and ronversed
and lo elect none lo ollice but iho.sn friendly lo their view s. 'This dan- I w it h some of them, and they Mil him they had come w ilh llie intention
serous society was controlled by men w ho avowed their purpose lo of voting. I le went lo the polls intrniliu; lo vole, for T'lennekin, and
extend Slaveiy into Ihc 'Territory at all haaiils, and w as altogether Ins Helo t bene' of a ihllcicnt 1 olor from ihc rest, lux vole was hal
ihe. most efli rtive insiuitiienl t!iir;ani7iri the sul wiurnt tinned inv a- lenu" d by Krey Met b e, w ho had been appointed one of the Judges,
I sinus and In rays. In lis I ,od;;es ill M is-aiuri, the a Han s of K a 1111 ; but did no! vt ve. lninel lialstone, a citieu of M issourt, was acini";
Were discussed, llie. force necessary lo control the i lections were divided in Ins place. The witmss Uieli clmlleni d llie vole of a yonn 3 man
into bands, and leaders s, lic,e,l, means weie collicted anl kipin and , by the liana, of Nolan, whom he knew lo rcxiiic in JackMiii Cimnty.
bulges were agreed upon. While the ereal body of the actual seiili rs linally the tliins was hushed up, as the witness hsd a ftood T iany
of the. Territory were r-lyi hit upon the rights securcil lo ilieni by the : fi tends there from that County, and it nnphl lead to n ftjiht ifhe rhal
01 gallic, law , and had formed no 01 'rani7.aiion or combination w hat- i leu-ed anv more voles. Uolh voted, and he then went down to their
ever, even of a party 1 harac:iT, this ci.nspiinry ai'iiinst their rights j cmip. iJc there saw many of his old acquaintances, w hem he knew
was gathering strenelh in a neihborilig ! lutf, ill nt would have Ih-ih j had voted at the election In August previous, in Missouri, mid who
siiil'c'ient al their fust election to have overpowrrid them, if liny had ; still resided in that Stale. Hy a careful comparison of the poll list
been uniied to a maii. ! with llie census rolls, we find but twelve names on the poll book who
Your Committee had grral difficulty in eliciting the proof of the de- j were voiei s when the census was taken three months Hl'lerwaid, und
tails in repaid to this secret Society. One witness, member of the we :ir satisfied that not more than 'JO legal voles could have lieen
Lepisle.iive Council, refined 10 answer ipiestions in refeience to it. polled ul that election. The only resident who are know n lo have.
Another declined lo answer fully, because lo do so would result lo his ; vnled, are iiatned by the w itness, and are 13 in number thus leaving
( libers ciiu d or w-ou d on v answer as in the "eneral iiurposes 1 1 illc'-nl votes cast m a remote district, wnere 111c seiueis w iiinii
f I
iniiirv.
of the Society, but aufiicicnt is clisclofed ill the lesMmony to show the
uillueiiee it had ill cnnirollin:; llie. elcclions ol llie territory.
'The first election was lor a lelcate toCnnnres. Il was appointed
for the '.'Dili of November, lis.'il. The Governor divid'ij the M errilory
into seventeen t. lection Districts, appointed Juilnes, aim prescritxil
ninny miles w ere airp.ininled with each oilier.
'J'he. (ot.d minilx r of while inhabttaiils in the 11th District. ii the
month of February, A.I). IKi'i, including men, women and children,
was lit!, of whoui 'Jl were voters yet the poll lists in the Uistrirt
show that 21 j voles w ere east at this election : for reasons stated here-
per rules f ir the election. In llie Ul, Hth, 'Mh, IDtb, 12th, 13ih 1 after in re;anl to the chctioium the DOlh of March, your Committee
t.e..
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or
( uiul i"U Dtrvii. tbere ntwar Ivj have U-e.n but tittle- if any fraudu
j itnl xiunitf. - ' I
I 'I hc election in the M District was hcl I at the village of Dou;;las,
nearly fifty miles Ironi the Missouri line. In the. day before the elec-
weie unuble K tirocure the atlenijuliee of wiii ses fmin this ( 'ri".
t'roin Ihu records it clearly appears that the votes cast could not
have been by lawful resident voters. The best test in the absence nf
direct proof Icy which 10 ascertain the number of le;al voles cast, is by
. , n 1. n- 1 1... . 1.: . . : - : ' t . . . , 1 . . . ' . r . 1 n .1 .111 1. 1 ...1....U
cotistanuy iiowiii' 01 i"r; Tret.noo, oy nip 11 , n ; tion, tare compatnes 01 men came 11110 me 1 msii ici 111 wiiimuis anu on , u cotiiparison 01 me census roil wun inc. pou uooa, uy mm 11 hp iindu
w.iul I have Ikcii a hu.lted 111:0 llie l) 11 1011 as 3 I 11 c Mate, wit limit the j li,.rS(.s, ami ileclarcd thai they were fmin the svate ot Missouri, and 1 that but 1 reside nt semen voted, und 'Job xrolci were Illegally and
i, )t sectional 1 xcitenieni. II so or'auied, none lull llie Kindest, ti ei- , y eic oins lo I louhis lo vote. On the tnoni.ti ol llie electinn Ihey Iruu'lulcutly eiven.
f eoild ha vi; exi ,ted b'tween it an I I he adj. mini;; State. Their j .jathered around I he bouse where the fleet loll was lo be held. Two of , 'The election in the Mil) District was held at the house of Ueniamin
riiuiu.il intcrots and iiuerci'in se, instead of. as now, ei, l.-'iii'rin the J !!. Judaea appointed by the Ciovernor did net appear, and other Jiu.'es I Imdiiiij, a few iniles from the town of Si. Joseph, Missouri. Kefore
h-irn uiV of I lie Union, wool I have strengthened Hie lies of naiional ; we,e elected by the crowd. AH then voted. In order to make a pie- the poils were opened, a lare number of citizen of Buchanan Co.,
broth' rliood. 'The testimony clearly shows that before I he proposi-1 i,ik nf ri'hl in vole, some persons of the company kept a pretended Missouri, and anion?; them many of the leading citizens of St. Joseph,
tain to r pe l the, Missouri Com prom 1 e was introduced into I 'onress, I tei iter of squatter cia itn.i, on which any one could enter his name ; were nt the place of votinjr, and made a majoniy of the cc inpany pres-t'li-people
of Wes'ern M issuun appean-d iudillereiii to llie prohibition j and 1 hen assert he had a claim in the Territory. A citizen of the ' e nt. At I he time appointed by the Governor for opening the polls,
of Siavery 111 that Terntoi y, and neither asl.nl nor desired its repeal. .)i strict, who was him s. If a candidate for delegate lo Co n;,' 1 ess, wtis tw o of the Judges weie fiot there, and it became ihc duty of the legal
When, however, lb" prohibition w as removed by the action of Con- j ,,, by one of llie straiten that lie. w ould be abused an I probably , v Hers present to select other Judges. 'The, Judf;e w ho w as present
res llie aspe. t of ad'aii entirely ehanseil. 'Tbe w hole country w 11 s ! lulled, if he chi.llciii'ftl a vote, lie win seized by the collar, callctl a j su:j;estrd ihc nuine of Mr. Wa'eiion as one ol the Judges hut tli
u 'tta'ej by the rc-openin'I of 11 eontrovei sy w hieh rousei va'ive men j ( , abolitionist, and was t onipelltil lo nc I; piotection in the. room 1 cr owd voted down the proposition. Some discussion then arose a lo
in did '-rent sections hnpil bad been settle I in eveiy Stalcand 'Territory 1 wj, 1 1, e Judges. Aljout thetnncthe polls w ere closed, these strangers 1 the riirht of non-residents to vole for Judges, during which Mr. Bry-
iv ijouie I'' beyond llie danger ot repeal. the excitement which has j mounted their hors' s and not into their wagons, anil c.usl out, ''All i am was lionnnalcd antl electee! by the crowd.
.i..us H,-c.oaioaiiicd the discussion ol tint Muvcry iiuestion. was ; ahi.atd for Wesinort and Kansas CitV.
e-r.-vW increa-,e I by the hope on the one hand of extendi 11 1; Slavery I us residents of Missoui i, and anion " ilieni was Samuel 1 1. Woodson, ' dem of St. Joseph. At that tune he was the City Attorney of that
iott a re.
ie,r.
oy
The
of the Slavery question, was i nboiinl for WYstnort anil Kaiisus CitV." A lum.ber Were recoui.td
r.....i vLOii,.), If had been t xcbl ied hv blW. and OI1 the ' n I. o.lmn l.,u.-i'..r .llwt n,.tu!,aw-n. ( II lliivp v Itnve iiiones are oil the
lllli I'.O'I I , ........ - --
iiilrte by 11 sctwe of wron; done by w lint was regiinJsl as a dishonor j poll book.-, H.'i were resident senlers, und 'JM were non residents.
n'' ft naliiiltnl cninna-.t. 'This f xeiieiin iit w is naturally transferred J The election in the lib I listric.t w i.s held at Dr. Chaj ninn's, over 10 j
io'. the border Counties of Mihsouu an 1 1 he I ei 1 itory, ns settlers fuv- miles from the Missouri State hue. It was n thinly sell led region, con
end; lice or slave, institutions' moved imo it. A t tw dtlli ulty soon 1 taining but -17 voters in l'cbtiiary, 1K"3, when the census was taken.
i, tfiorej. Dill' rent const ruei ions were put upon the organic law. Il t ),, t- day before the election, finui Kill lo l.'iO citizens of Cass and
wa Cornell led by ill" rule parly that the right 10 held si. ivcs in the : Jackson C'lHinlics, Mo., came into this district, declaring their purpose
Torritoi y existed, and llml neither ihc people, inn ihc Tentorial Leg- i vote, and llial they were bound lo make Kansii.i u Slave Slate, if
islamic could piohilci Slav, ry 'hai that power was alone possessed they it.d il at llie poioi of the swonl. 1'ersona of the party on (he way
.. 1 1 . ,.,e.,le when ihcV weie autboi azed to f irm a State (Jot eminent. ; hove each a ttake in the ground and called it a claim ami in one
1
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i"
t, i. nd. d that tbe removal ol llie restiictiou virtually csititi- ;
li,4i -d SiaVfiy in the Territory. 'This claim wis urged by many,
pr-tpaiiienl io.-h in Weslcin Mi3.oiiri, who actively engaged m the af-!
f or of the. Tri ritnry T.very iiiov euieiil of whatever character w hich ;
te.t.'e.l In establish free iiistltntiouj, w as icanied as an inlci fiaeiice j
wH'i their I'lghis,
cas- several names were, put 00 one stake. A party of strangers
ciiinpcd all night wheie the election was lo be held, antl ill the luoi n
ing were at ihc election polls and Voted. One of their party got
hunk, and lo get rid of Dr. Chapman, a Judge of the election, lliey
lace, and so continued until this spring, but he claimed that the night
before he hud come lo the house of Mr. Bryant, ami had engaged board
ing tor a nuuilli, and considered himself a resident of Kansas on that
ground. 'The Judgen appointed by the Governor refused to put the
iioniiiiulion of Col. Scott lo vote, because he was not a resident. Afler
some discussion, Judge Leonard, a citizen of Missouri, stepped for
waid and put the Vote himself; and Mr. Scott was declared by him as
elected by the crowd, und nerved ns a Judge of Election that day.
After the election was over lie returned lo St. Joaeph, and never since
has raided in the Territory. U is manifest that this election of
linn-resident lawyer as a Judge, was imposed upon the settlers by the
citizens of the Stale. When the board of Judges was thus eompieltd,
the voting proceeded, but the effect of tbe rule adopted by the Judgei,
illnvvcd many, if not n majority ot llie non-residents to vole. 1 iiey
asseil, urn! as soon its its
V.'nhiii a lew- ilavs after the organic la
pal. ibc rould be known on the bonh r, leading citi.i ns of Missouri
Clse. into llai I Ct rl! It , lieio S'piJIICI mert.llirs aim 1111:1 leiuili'.o
.-,Hicir homes Among then solutions are tbe lollovving:
'1'linl t w III att'onl preiis lion to 1. ' Aliolilliaii-t ti eit. r nf this Teriitnry."
'I Int w rrctwiiise Hi' Inx'imtl't'i ol' "'! iv"iy nlreinly rtiatln( la HiIh Terrl
kf, m.J sJvew i.irUiltieia Ui inn uluee llinr proK-rtjr u srly aililt "
S aailar resolutions were psssl in various pa is f the l'i rritoi y,
n;:. l,y mee: iu;-s in several Couniicii of M usoni i. 'Thus Ihe firsL elli c.i
ol'tlie rrneal of ihe r-slre tioii ag-vimu Slav ci v was lo sti 1', i 1 1 uic llie
fioils ei atlliovl exeiusiveiy 01 citizens ! 1
scut for bun lo come and see a sick man, 1111 i in his absence filler his ' claimed that their presence on the ground, especially when they had a
place with another Judge, w ho was not sworn. They did not deny j elm, it in the Territory, ";ave thein a right to Tote under that construc
or conceal that they wer residents of Missouri, and ninny ol" them tion of the law, tle y readily, when required, swore that they were
weie recognized as such by others.
They declared that they were i " residents," and ihm voted. By tins evasion, us near as your (.11111-
Ijouiitl lo make Kansas a Slave Slate. They insisted upon their right , uiitlee rau ascertain I mm the testimony, as many as illegal voles
to vote in the 'Territory if they were in il one hour. A Iter the election ! were cast in this district out of 1. '', the whole number polled.
; Ihey aguin returned to their lionies in Mtssouii, camping over nigjit j 'The election in Ihe 1'iih Disirict was held at I'enseinan's, on
j 011 the way. Stranger Creek, a few miles from Western Missouri. On the day of
We find upon the poll hooks Ifil names ; of these not over 30 resided the el-ction a huge numlxr of citizens of Plane County, but chiefly
I in the. Tcmloiy ; lol woe non-resideiiis. from Western and Platte. City, came ill small parlies, in wagons ami
j lint few settlers attended the election in the ath District, the District ' 011 horseback, to tbe jadls. Among them were several leading, citizens
i being large and llie sell lenient scHilcitd. h-J voles wi re cast; of these j ot 'hat town, uml llie names of many of them arc ;iven by tbe wit-
tw cell -ill ami ;k) were selilers ; the lesidoe were citizens of Missouri. ; nessi -,. I hey generally insisted upon their right lo vole, on the grounil
1 :
1 u il.,r matl 1. si I'lUiil VI .I'll l.IUllivl iVi' I s lr V fi I P 7' l
r,ra siu-!e Stale for th' dcbbi iat action of Con-ivs,, acijiiie.srt d 111 I I licy passed into llie 1 errilory by way ol lite .nnin fi: roan, aiei ny 1 tnai evei-y mall Having a eiumi 111 inc 1 cri 1101 y, . umu , o. u.oori.
tor t in " five years. ! ihe icsidenceof Dr. Wesifall, who then lived on ihe western line of where he lived. All voted who chn.se ; no man was challenged or
lias 'unlawful interference h been continue.! in every important ', Missoui i. Some bi'.le excitement arose at the (a ill as lo the legality i sworn. Some of the resiiknls did not voie. The purposeof the slran-
;..i..! ; r ,i. T. n . rm ilr.H.n, Ins lu-en rn,iiri.l. I of 1 1. r.r vol in" bin they (I "ul Vote for ( triv. V hit field . a nd said they in-1 gcis in voting wasdcrlatrd lo Iw to make Kansas a Slave Sute. We
hd p t by Ihe actual netilen, bu by fitizei s of .Misouii, mid as a ' tendnl lo make Kansas a slave Sinu- and that liny had claims in the I nnd by the poll Isiok
c-uatr j.ie,'re, ev y oH.crr HI llie 'J 'rV.lol V, fl.mi Coi.jlal.le lo e,-. h,. Te,,it,uv. .lil.ige TerV. Jod-e of ' V C'.-J't In kstlll Comity. M's- ' VI no- ,,i, 'h- rcpsoj r
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ol them we rind hut
;i voters in Fehrns'V foHowmj Your
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