The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-08
BS- Mr.. Wheeler is the accredited agent for
the Era, in Cincinnati, Ohio.


the Era, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
WASHINGTON DC.
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1853.
..zsr==s==uzz===.= 81
Our readers win fnd, upon the FIRST page, an
extract from the Anti Lecompton speech of Mr.,
Montgomery, (Dsm-,) Of Psnnsyivania, deliver.
ed some time since in the House of Represent.
asives. The whole speech is manly and elo.
quent in style and sentiment ~ 'eei
ACTION OF THE HOUSE, Ann SENATE on THE
LKCoNPTox hill. /.
Last Thursday, in expectation of the final
proceedings of the Hoase on the Lecompton
Bill, great multitude was early in attendance
at the Capitol The spacious galleries were
thronged, and every door opening into them
was crowded with eager spectators. Two hun.
dred and thirty three members were present
Mr.. Caruthers, of Missouri, Q sufferer from Sc
we're illness, being the only Representative alb
sent. 4 s. gas--iase "a rfru
At one O'Clock, Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia,
rose, and, in pursuance Of notice, moved to take
up the Senats Bill for the admission of Kansas
into the Union. His manner was quiet and
digni6ed, and his conduct, from the beginning
to the end of the proceedings, fair and honors-
bic. The members were grave, and, If excited,
perfectly selfpossesssd. No indication could
be detected in any quarter of haste, irritation,
or an indispositon 10 ascertain honestly the will
of the majority. Better order and decorum we
have never witnessed in any deliberative body.
Such is the natural result of a recognition of
freedom of debate and scrupulous observ-
ance of those forms of procedure designed to
secure thorough consideration and deliberate
action. The question at issue had been dis.
cussed for months every member had had an
opportunity to be heard there was no principle
bearing upon it that had not been elaborated,
no fact connected with it that had been over.
looked. The argument having been completed,
and the case made up, no member could com.
plain that his rights had been disregarded, and
all parties cheerfully agreed to decide the con-
troversy by votes.
First, an opportunity was given to those who
desired to vote directly against the Bill, to put
themselves right on the record. Having been
read once by its title, Mr.. Giddings objected to
the bill and on the question, Shall it be reject
ed, the vote stood-yeas IS, nays 1871. All the
Republicans (ninety-twe) voted in the aAirma.
tive, together with Hickman and Chapman of
Pennsylvania, and Harris of Illinois, Demo.
Gratis. Pass
The Washington Union says, " This was a
square decision between those who desire set
Element of the Kansas difficulties, and those
who desire to keep them open to plague the
country in the future "a sheer misrepresenta.
ton, for there is not one of those ninety-f
members who is not anxious to settle the diff
culties upon honest principles but not one who
will lend his countenance to fraud and tyranny.
There can be no mistaking the significance
of this VOTE" it continues, "and the whole
country will hail it with satisfaction as sub
stantial endorsement of the. Kansas policy of
the Administration" An allsuficient COM
mentary upon this extravagance of the "organ,"
is the fact that, few minutes subsequently,
twenty-five of the one hundred and thirty seven,
who had voted in the negative, united with the
ninety.fve in voting down the policy of the
Administration" as embodied in the Leeomp.
ION UNI.
Mr.. Stephens now remarked that, understand
ing the opponents of the bill had agreed to q
proposition which they wished to offer, he would
yield for that purpose, and that the mover
might explain its provisions. His friend from
Mississippi, Mr.. Quitman, had also a substitute
which he proposed to offer for the amendment
of the opponents of the bill. This too could be
submitted. aG.
Mr.. Montgomery then offered the amendment
printed in the Era Last week, previously intro
duced in the Senate by Mr.. Crittenden, but with
certain notifications. In the first section, for
example, instead of the words, " whereas it is
disputed whether the Constitution under which
Kansas is now admitted" &c, We find the fol-
lowing" Inasmuch as it is greatly disputed
whether the Constitution framed at Lecompton
on the seventh day Of November last, and noso
pending before Congress-" DC. The section
with this modification simply declares the ad-
mission of Kansas into the Union as State,
and refers the question of what form of Consti
tuition it will have to the People themselves.
The original amendment of Mr.. Crittenden pro.
vided that, should the People of Kansas adopt
the Lecompton Constitution, the President
should declare the new State member of the
Union-but, it made no provioion of the kind,
should the People, rejecting that Constitution,
form one for themselves. Mr.. Montgomery
amendment gives the same effect to the Presi
Dental proclamation as in the former. The
Washington Union affects to think this uncon.
stitutional, as it is Congress, and not the Pres
ident, who may admit new States into the
Union. That is true, but Mr.. Montgomery
amendment does not propose to authorize the
President to admit Kansas. 1t proposes that
Congress admit Kansas into the Union, on the
fundamental condition precedent, that its PEG
pie adopt the Lecompton Constitution, or form
one for themselves-aRd that the fact being
duly made known TO the President, he shall then
proclaim that, the fundamental conditions hay
ing been complied with, Kansas is a member
of the Federal Union. His proclamation viii
not admit her, but declare her admission &C
cording to previous act of Congress. IS e
The other modification relates to the qualif
cations of electors in the elections authorized
by the act. The original bill required that the
voters should be white males over twenty.one
citizens of the United States, and resident il