The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-12-12
Important from Washington.


The Washington correspondent of the
Times says that the Administration had a
secret agent in Kansas during the settling
of the Constitutional Convention, engaged in
advising the members on their behalf and
through whom the Executive dictated por.
lions, ifnot the whole, of the schedule.
The Courier q. Enquirer's Washington cor
respondent states that Major General Smith,
in command of the Western Division, but
now in temporary duty at the East, has been
directed to repair from Philadelphia to
Washington to consult with the Secretary
of War on the expediency CT equipping an
expedition in California to relieve the COM
mands of Col. johnson in case of necessity
This relieving force, iforganized, will neces-
sarily consist for the most part of volnn-
teers.
The appearances are that the House will
effect an organization on Monday, without
trouble. The contest is particularly warm
for the post of Door Keeper and Printer.
1t is now contemplated to send the Pres-
dents Message in advance to New York,
Philadelphia and Richmond. A decision in
the matter will probably be arrived at to-
morrow.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l.
At the Cabinet meeting to-day the Kansas
question was discussed. A number of lead
ing Southern Democrats have arrived with
in day or two, and their influence upon the
counsels of the Administration is always
very manifest. The LecomptOn Constitution
is to be forced upon Kansas if it can be got
through Congress by the most stringent par
ty drill The South insists upon it, and the
Administration acquiesces. Personal as wei
as party considerations have tended to pro-
duce this decision. 1t is considered good
opportunity to check the aspirations of Gov.
Walker and Senator Douglas, and to purify
the party from the remnants of Free-State
sentiments Governor Walker, if not remov-
ed, will have policy in Kansas prescribed
to him which he cannot follow, and which
will compel his resignation. 1t is thought
that the Free State men of Kansas can be
induced to vote on the 21st of December,
and if they do vote, the calculation is that
Congress will admit Kansas as nominally
Free State, the South being satisfied with
the recognition Of perpetual property in
slaves.
Gov. Walker has gone to New York on
private business for four or five days, leaving
here with an inclination not to resign, though
advised to the contrary by some friends. He
will probably be removed before his return,
in which event the Government will temper
arily fall into Secretary Stanton's hands, un-
less the President refuses to receive his re-
all of his previous resignation.
Not only the Presidents Message, but the
Reports of the Heads of Departments will
be supplied to the press in the principal At
lantic cities, and to newspapers elsewhere,
when the reading of the Message shall have
been commenced in Congress. The same will
be previously sent to postmasmasters, who
will be telegraphed at the proper time with
that view. The propriety of such an arrange
ment is apparent from the fact that it will
avoid Geographic blunders, and secure cor
rect publication in newspapers distant from
the Capitol at the earliest practicable time.
Although the utmost care has been taken to
prevent redundant language, the Message is
unavoidably long, owing to the prominent
subjects of Kansas, Utah, Central America
and the currency.