Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-03-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
THURSDAY. March IS.

Administration for taking the vote on the
Lecompton Constitution, and the attempt was
made to force the minority to the point The
minority claimed the right of debate, and
proposed to ask only a reasonable time for it.
The majority refused, the minority insisted,
and the consequence was that the whole night
was spent in "fllibustering" In the morn
ing, the majority were compelled to accept
the proposition Of the Republicans then,
with the consent of both sides, Monday next
was fixed as the day for closing the debate.
There was one scene unbecoming the dignity
of the Senate, which threatened collision
between Senators Green of Missouri and Cam
cron Of Pennsylvania; but on Tuesday, the
matter was settled by mutual explanations
Night sessions of Congress can hardly be in
dulged without "evl deeds" The Kansas
debate is now occupying the whole time Of
the Senate, with the exception Of the first
half hour Of each days session. Among the
speeches. delivered since my last, there have
been two which will command the attention
of the whole country. The first was by SEN
ator Wade of Ohio-as rough as granite
rocks, and wthal as strong. It's irresistible
strong in argument, and as strong in lam
guage as a perfectly fearless man could make
it, One member Of the House compared
Senator Wade to Ethan Allen, and another
TO Mad Anthony Wayne SO much by
way of a hint to read Wados speech. hope
the IFaicimap will give it, The other speech
to which alludc, was made yesterday, by
Senator Crittcndcn of Neutrality-suspicious. dc
LcropJton Constitution. The argument was
based mainly on the ground Of fraud. lie
charged, and proved, that from the beginning
to the end the purpose has been to crush the
people of Kansas by fraud--to deprive them
of the right Of solfgovcnment by the foul
est and most palpoblc frauds, such as never
before were pcrpctratcd among any people,
or winkod at by any government The Ter
ritorial government was initiated by fraud /;
the Constitutional Convention was vitiatod
by fraud the ballot on the partial submits
sion of the Constitution was vitiatcd by fraud ;
and the Constitution itself is yitiatcd by
fraud The People of Kansas have rcpudiat-
ed that Constitution as a fraud; two Cover
nors. the officers of the Federal Government,
attest to the facts the Territorial Legislature
attosts to the fact and no Senator no intel
ligent man, in Congress or out of it, darcs to
deny or reject this crushing weight Of legal
evidence How, then, dare Senators coun-
tcnancc such frauds--how dare they assent
to such an outrage upon the rights Of a free
people They take shelter behind the little
tcchnicalitics of a court of law-bchind forms
and shadows of legality. They act on fctions
and against facts. An this Mr.. Crttenden
secuted as utterly beneath the dignity of the
Senate and the stern honesty and common
sense Of the old Kontuckian were really re-
frcshing--so rare are those qualities in these
days. To-day, Senator Toombs Of Georgia
spoke on the wrong side, beginning with a
declaration that he has already counted the
cost of the Union and found it absolutely
nothing to the South, and ending with a
Proclamation that the defeat of Lccompton
will be, ipso focto, dissolution Of the Union.
suspect that the Union cannot be disposed
I of so easily, Both government and people
may take it into their heads to sag and do
something ON that question. Senator Crit
tenden responded very briefly, but in terms
which brought storm Of applause from the
/ gallery. Thus it sooms-and | think it is
truc-that genuine popular sentiment even
here, abhors Lccompton. Senator Bell then
tool, the floor, and the old war-horse was
thoroughly reused for the battle by the UNI
/ patriotic sentiments Of Toombs and the al
most savage temper in which they were utter
cd Mr.. Bell is making powerful speech
against LecomptoH. Senator Foot will prob
ably succeed him tonight, or take the floor
tomorrow.
Matters in the House.
On Monday the States were called for the
introduction of bills for reference, and roso-
lutions that are not objected Among the
resolutions were two, looking to further leg
islation against the slave-trade, under the
modern schemes of Coolies, apprentices, and
labor transportation companies but one might
as well run stick into a hornets nest and
expect peace, as to stir up slavery and expect
the Southern members would not object o.
course they did object, and the resolutions
could not be received. Among the bills was
one relative to Kansas-a sort of enabling
bill, looking to the admission Of Kansas When
the people have consented to a Constitution
fairly submitted to them. The Lecompton-
ties proposed to refer it to the Committee on
Territories, and the opposition proposed the
Select Committee. The opposition carried
their motion by nine majority over the Lee
comptonitos. BY the way, the prospect O
defeating the Lecompton Constitution in the
House is now quoted flair" by prudent iudg,
es, and certain by the more sanguine. Tn,
doubleday the position of Senator Crittonder
has had an effect to strengthen the opposi
ton previously existing, to a considerable ex
tent, among "American' members from South
orn States. The Army bill has been discuss
ed in the House, and there is disposition tc
come to the vote to-day.