United States. Congress. House. Select Committee Of Fifteen.

About the Author

The United States Congress House Select Committee of Fifteen, established in 1858 amid the turbulent debates over slavery and territorial governance, was a pivotal body tasked with addressing the contentious Lecompton Constitution proposed for Kansas. Comprising fifteen members from diverse political backgrounds, the committee meticulously examined the document's implications for statehood and national unity, reflecting the era's deep divisions. Their official report, presented by Mr. Stephens of Georgia on March 10, 1858, offered critical insights into the constitutional process and the broader struggle over popular sovereignty. This collective work stands as a key historical artifact, illuminating the legislative intricacies and ideological clashes that shaped pre-Civil War America, underscoring the committee's role in navigating one of the nation's most divisive episodes.