Report of the special committee appointed to investigate the troubles in Kansas,: with the views of the minority of said committee.

KANSAS AFFAIRS.
It now being most fillly shown, as the undersigned believes, that
the anti-slavery party formed secret political organizations of a militarv character to resist, with force of arms, the execution of the laws
of the Territory, and to defend themselves against any effort which
might be made by officers to enforce obedience to the laws and authorities of the Territory; after preparing the minds of the people
to embark in any measures, however reckless and desperate in their
nature and characters, the primary objects of these seditions, secret
associations were boldly developed at a convention held by the antislavery party at Big Springs on the 5th and 6th days of September,
1855. But, before proceeding further in relation to this convention,
the undersigned deems it proper to remark, that after the legislative election in M'arch, 1855, Governor Reeder issued his proclamation, convening the legislature at Pawnee city, upon the express
understanding that if there were not sufficient accommodations
there for the members and officers of the legislature, they could,
strictly in accordance with the provisions of the organic act, adjourn
to any other point in the Territory, and if they did so he would cooperate with them. In proof of this, reference is made to the testimnony of the Rev. Thomas Johnson, a member of the council. The
legislature consequently met at Pawnee city. They remained there
but a short time, as thev found no accommodations for the members
and officers of the legislature, the great majority of them having to
camp out and cook their own provisions, there not being boardinghouses in the place sufficient to receive and accommodate them. The
cholera also broke out there, and several deaths occurred in consequence. The legislature then adopted a resolution adjourning to
Shawnee Mission. It is evident that Pawnee city was not a suitable
place for the convening of the legislature, because of the absence of all
accommodations for members, as well as being 145 miles fromfi the
Missouri river, whence they derived chiefly their supplies for subsistence. The house in which they were convened had neither doors nor
windows, and but a temporary floor.
While in session, however, at Pawnee, the governor recognised them
as a legally constituted legislative body, as will be more fully shown
by reference to his message to that body; but, after they removed to
Shawnee Mission, he vetoed all the bills they passed, of every description, upon the ground that they were sitting then at a place not
authorized by law-the only ground alleged.
Meanwhile, "The governor, instead of exercising constant vigilance,
and putting forth all his energies to prevent or counteract the tendencies to illegality which are prone to exist in all imperfectly organized
and newly associated communities, allowed his attention to be diverted from his official obligations by other interests, and himself set the
example of a violation of law in the performance of acts which [as it
seems] rendered it the duty of the President of the United States, in
the sequel, to remove him from the office of chief executive magistrate
of the Territory."
The undersigned, in proof of the want of accommodations at Pawnrc
city, refers to the testimony of Rev. Thomas Johnson, member of the
council, A. S. Johnson, Thomas Barbee, Wm. G. Matthias, and other
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