Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-09
TAUNTON SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERTISER.
WASHINGTON lrEMs-The Washington letters

WASHINGTON lrEMs.-The Washington letters
OF last week indicated that there would be a
considerable struggle in the Democratic caucus,
Which met on Saturday night, for the positions
OF Speaker, printer, door-keeper ETC., to the
House. The Western Democrats it was stated,
were marshallDg for the caucus of Friday night
upon one distinct sectional issue. namely, the
Pacific Railroad. Col. Orr has always been an
antl-Pacitic Railroad man, and the members
from the West and Northwest demanded rep
representative of their great interest. Col. Har-
rls OF Illinois, was generally preferred BY them,
as being identified with tile Pacific Railroad.
The contest for clerkshi2 was in main between
Hon. James Allen, of Illinois, and Mr. Robin
son, United States Marshal of Indiana. The
members were rather non-committal.
With regard to the Kansas question the cor
respondent Of the New York Tribune wrote:
"The conflict in Congress on the Kansas ques-
ton, it is thought by the Democrats, will not a.
mount to much. They expect that if the mat
ter assumes a formidable aspect, the Lecompton
Constitution will be abandoned by general con-
sent, and an enabling act like that for the admis-
sion of Minnesota, or some plausible and COM
promising scheme of pacfcaton, will be brought
forward, which will again restore peace to the
country, and again preserve the Union. 1t is
the impression among the Democrats that Sem
ator Douglas intends such o movement, and
there is likely to be scramble for the position
OF Grand Pacificator."
Forney's paper, The Press, disposes of the ru-
NOR that Senator Douglas supports the Kansas
Constitution follows.
"The statement that Senator Douglas supports
the Calhoun Kansas Constitution Is nanuiac.
tured falsehood, despised by the counterfeiters
who uttered it. He is decidedly and unaltera-
bly, opposed to that contrivance."
The Baltimore American of Saturday says:
"Senator Douglas in conversation with his
friends freely defines his position on the Kansas
question. He stands, he says, on the principle of
the Nebraska-Kansas bill, guaranteeing to each
State and Territory the right to regula e their
domestic institutions to suit themselves and
will follow that principle wherever its logical
consequences carry him, defending it against all
assaults from whatever quarter they may come
In its application to Kansas, he insists upon ig-
noring entirely both the Lecomptop and Topeka
movements, and securing to the people the right
to form Constitution for themselves. He con-
siders the Lecompton movement in directsVi
olation OF the principles of the Kansas Nzbrasks
bill and the Cincinnati plat Y.al, and fsil prcis
ably at an early period OF the Session 81 Congress
Introduce bill authorizing the pe0p,,
sas to call a Constitutional Convention
"lt is now stated that the Presidents message
will express distinct approval of Gov. Walk
ers entire official course in Kansas. The Pres
ident will also, in that document, express the O.
pinion that the Convention should have submit
ted the whole Constitution to the popular vote.
and his own regret that it did not pursue this
course; while he viii also say that in his opin.
ion the spirit of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill has
been carried out in the submission of the qnes-
ton of slavery, which has been the principle
topic of controversy. But the President will
not recommend the admission of Kansas under
the Lecompton Constitution, nor even suggest
any specific action upon it. He will merely lay
that document before the legislative body for its
consideration"