Litchfield enquirer., 1858-02-18
Political and Congressional.

Our last weeks record of the dsings of Con- gress closed with the adjournment of the long and turbulen, Friday and Saturdays session oI 1 ohstinacy of the Lecomp'on party finally yielded to the will of the majority. and the session clos ed with significant triumph of the opposition. On Monday, the House, after severe s,rug- gle, referred the Presidents Kansas Message with the Leeompton Constitution, to Seiec, 1 Committee. whereof Coll l.. Harris, (Dem. ) of IIiiaois will be Chairman, by the close vo,e of
 ll5 to III. The motion of Mr. Stephens, which had priority to refer to the Standing Committee on Territories. was defeated by barely one majer- ity-Yeas lla, Nays IA. So the whole quss- ton of admitting Kansas under ,he Lecompton Constitotion goes to Select Committee, in- siructed to make thorough investigation. Mir.
 heitt then made an ample apology to the House 1 for his attack on Mir. Grow during the preceding sitting, acknowledging his entire responsibility for the outrage. but comforting his wounded hon. or by declaring that he was not conscious of hav- ing received any blow Mr. Grow in very be- coming and dignifed terms. expressed regret that necessity had constrained him to engage in per- sonaI coll sion on that floor /; when the subject was dropped, and the House adjourned
 The rest of the week the House was occupied in the Fonsderation of sundry bills of minor in- terest,ssnd Of the various investigations of repu- ted briberies. On Friday MT. J. w Wocot, was brought to the bar If the House for contempt In nota ,ori l.
 riff Investigating Committee. Pleading the ill-
 q. ss of his counsel, Mir. Reverdy Johnson, Mr. Wolcott asked to be allow ed time till Monday to consider lis answer. After some discussion, his reques, was granted.
 The. Select Committee on the Kansas Message as announced by Speaker Orr, has a. it's head Mir
 Harris. the mover of the resolution: but contrary to aft preprety and parliamentary usage, ma. Jon,y of the Committee is given 10 those opposed to the investigation. Better things had been sx- and honorable man; but |" the days of ch.ualry are past"
 Our account of tie doings in the Senate is con- deuseti from the daily Summary in the Tribune. On Monday, the stI,, Mir. Fcssenden made
 ong and strong speech Tn behalf of Free kAnsas, eiiciling explanatory renarks from Messrs. Ma. son, Seward, C. C. Clay and Jrff. Davis. The Iircompton Message and Constitution were then refsffsd to the Standing Committee on Terri,o- ries sssuss for LeconspssA) by six majority.
 onnesdsy. the Senats discussed the Army bull. .fnsasspirt worthy 5as better days of lhe Re- public. Foot of fsisuis,nt ca.ne ou. squarely against dfagscning not only Kansas but Utah, and esfsciaffy against butchefng Indians because white lAceuhdfrIs have robbed and maddened ihein <. he demonstrations from both sides oi the chamher against any increase of the Army were most gratifying. Even Mr Pugh offered to fsote fpra blil materially reducing both the Army IAnd ,he Navy. Mir. Secretary Floyd will get no
 kw regiments this year. MT. Mason of Va. pn- dErtooR to crack his overseer whip over the Sem ate Tn opposition to Mir. Douglas's motion for an investigation of Kansas frauds, but nobody was muci, appalled,. The Ssnae may order or refuse investigation, but the facts will al all eysnss he officially established MT Dixon spoke al length in defence oi Freedom in Kansas The preceding days work in ths House had wrought manifest aud salutary change iH the atmosphere of the Sem ate.
 Wednesday, the Senate refused to take up Mir Douglass resolution of inquiry into Kansas af- fairs by a vote Of 24 to 8. While hir. Douglas was proceeding 10 give the reasons for its ilnme- dlaie consideration, he constantly interrupted " Jeh Ddfls ana Mason. Who SeeineO 0eSlIous of cowing hun down, but only succeeded in hiring his t.mper. A discussion followed upon lhe Ar- my bill, which Was advocated by hiessrs Mason, Davis and Ctirsrnden, and opposed ny Mr Hale.
 Thursday, the Senate passed. hy inc close vote of 26 10 %, that section of the Army bill winch proposes to add two companies to each of the present regiments. The increase Was limited to two years ResoIations making appropriations for printing the opinions of ihe Supreme Court u the bred Scot case were repor;,d and passed.
 Friday and Saturday, the Senate was not in