Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-20


Mr.. Maxwell, Of Florida, is Democrat,
now in his second term in the House. He is
an able debater, though not given to spout
ing Upon public land questions he goes for
the States embracing public domain within
their limits. No other member attends more
closely to business with which he charges
himself personally, or is charged by the
House.
Mr.. Thorington, Of Iowa, is Republican
party man, and a new member, evidently with
little legislative experience. His genial and
frank manners have already made him popu.
lar in the Hall, which, if he is Is shrewd as
we take him to be, will be turned to account
of the interests of his constituents. We have
no idea that he will come to rank as much of
a debater. Upon public lands questions he is
Of course to be oouned with those who re-.
gard the national domain a. to be hereafter
disposed of for the benefit of the States wherein
it may lie.
The Kansas Contested Election Case.-The
Kansas ball was fairly opened yesterday in
the House hall, on the consideration of the re.
solution from the Elections Committee author.
izing them to send for persons and papers in
the Kansas case. The cost Of adopting this
resolution, to the national treasury, cannot
fall below half million of dollars! We ap-
prehend that to adopt it will be surely to put
off the final decision Of the case until some
time next session The proposition is, in few
words, to bring on to Washington all those
who voted for General Whitfield whose right
to vote in Kansas is disputed; as it cannot be
that the committee propose to import hither
only the witnesses on ono side. The Kansas
correspondents of the Tribune and Times of
New York insist that there were more than
two thousand votes polled for Whatfeld by
persons from Missouri, who had not fulfilled
the requirements of the law under which they
voted. 1t will cost Uncle Sam-this particu-
lar shrek for freedom-a pretty penny indeeI
to bring all Of Thorn hither, as we'll as those
who are relied on to disprove the legality of
their votes-won't it?
In the course of the brief debate OF yester.
day, it was made manifest that Ex-Governor
Reeder has commenced his contest without a
shadow Of legal proof that he is entitled to
the seat, or that his competitor was not in all
respects legally elected. True, he claims that
the certificate of General W 3 election is not
legal, because the legislature removed from
his TOWNSHIP speculation to place judged
by them to be more convenient for their pur.
poses; and he asks Congress to declare, for his
own personal benefit, that his acts and official
declarations, az Governor of the Territory, are
void and false. He has filed no pretence of
proof, We hear, that illegal votes were given
for General Whitfield. His excuse is, that
when he went to take testimony to that end, he
could find no judicial oficers-msgistrates-
in the Territory, before whom to take it. The
folly Of such subterfuge was exposed yester-
day, by Mr.. Stephens, of Ga, who pointed out
the fact that the three United States Judges,
the highest judicial officers known to the law
there, were certainly within his reach, and
werc in all respects competent to have dis
charged the duties of commissioners in the
premises. The truth is, Ex-Governor Reeder
and his hackers are bent on substituting such
testimony as the Kansas correspondence of the
Abolition newspapers, for the proof required
under the law.
Now, as well might the opponent of the
Hon. Mr.. Eustis, of Louisiana, whose seat is
also contested, claim that he shall be ousted
on the partizan representations of the New
OIL - L.,
gal votes were thrown for him, with as much
pertinacity as the New York Tribune insists
that Whitfield was elected by illegal voting
1t was moved yesterday to re-commit the
extraordinary resolution on which we COM
ment above, that the facts before the commit.
tee on which it was based might be given for
mally to the House in reporting it back
This sensible and fair proposition was de-
feated only by the casting vote of the Speaker,
who thus promptly shows his willingness to
aid in overriding common sense, justice, law
and precedent, to compass the triumph of ex.
Gov. Reeder; who was himself an ultra pro-
slavery man until discovering that that
"dodge" on his part would not induce the
President to overlook his speculations in the
sacred fruits that had been oonfded to his
guardianship.
1t seems hardly possible that party drill
will suffice to induce the House to set at de
hance all the laws, rules, and precedents, that
govern in such cases, in order to get up
sheer pretence for ousting General Whitfield
on partizan grounds, which this resolution
proposes to do-such being its very evident
intent. 1t is to be hoped that tho attention of
the country will at once DO concentrated on
the discussion that has commenced in the
House; as the result cannot fail to be an i'm
mediate general comprehension of the fact
that nine-tenths Of the abolition hubbaboo
about border ruff anism," and all that sort
of thing, is only cover and excuse for illegal
acts on the part Of abolitionism to carry their
points in the new Territory by fraud and force
combined
The Texas Debt Bill.-It turns ont the