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

KANSAS AFFAIRS
mon necessity, and greatly desirous of promoting the common good.
do hereby call upon and request all bona fide citizens of Kansas Territory, of whatever political views or predilections, to consult togethler
in their respective election districts, and in mass convention or otherwise elect three delegates for each representative to which said election
district is entitled in the house of representatives of the legislative
assembly, by proclamation of Governor Reeder of date 10th of March,
1855o; said delegates to assemble in convention at the town of Topeka,
on the 19th day of September, 1855, then and there to consider and
determine upon all subjects of public interest, and particularly upon
that having reference to the speedy formation of a State constitution,
with an intention of an immediate application to be admitted as a State
into the Union of the United States of America."
Other meetings were held in various parts of the Territory, which
endorsed the action of the Lawrence meetings, and delegates were selected in compliance with its lecommendation.
They met at Topeka on the 19th day of September, 1855. By their
resolutions they provided for the appointment of an executive committee, to consist of seven persons, who were required to "keep a
record of their proceedings, and shall have a general superintendence
of the affairs of the Territory, so far as regards the organization of a
State government." They were required to take steps for an election
to be held on the second Tuesday of the October following, under
regulations imposed by that convention "for members of a convention
to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas,
and take all needful measures for organizing a State government preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the Union as a State." The
rules prescribed were such as usually govern elections in most of the
States of the Union, and in most respects were similar to those contained in the proclamation of Governor Reeder for the election of
March 30, 1855.
The executive committee appointed by that convention accepted
their appointment, and entered upon the discharge of their duties by
issuing a proclamation, addressed to the legal voters of Kansas, requesting them to meet at their several precincts at the time and places
named in the proclamation, then and there to cast their ballots for
members of a constitutional convention, to meet at Topeka on the 4th
Tuesday of October then next.
The proclamation designated the places of elections, appointed
judges, recited the qualifications of voters, and the appointment of
members of the convention.
After this proclamation was issued public meetings were held in
every district in the Territory, and in nearly every precinct. The
State movement was a general topic of discussion throughout the Territory, and there was but little opposition exhibited to it. Elections
were held at the time and places designated, and the returns were
sent to the executive committee.