The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-25
THE BEGINNING.

The supporters of the Lecompton Constitu
ton, backed by Executive influence, are deter
mined and reckless. The business in which
they are engaged requires despatch, and they
are not to be restrained by the ordinary rules
of fair play or parliamentary law. The Com
mittee on the resolution of Mr. Harris, epioin-
ing full inquiry into the circumstances at
tending the formation and adoption of Calhoun's
Constitution, ought to have been 30 constituted
as to be able to carry out faithfully the will of
the House but Mr.. Orr, the Speaker, gave the
majority to those members opposed to full
investigation-in other words, assumed the re-.
sponssility of defeating the express will of the
House. He might, with as much propriety, in
terpose diret veto upon its vote, and refuse to
form any committee at all.
The Committee of Inquiry has done nothing,
and, we presume, will do nothing; for major
ity of its members, under the lead of Mr.. Ste.
phens of Georgia, has thus far arrested every
project of the minority for fair examination.
The scheme is, to have the bill reported by Mr..
Green in the Senate, hurried through that body,
sent to the House, and put through there, by
such appliances as carried the Kansas Nebraska
bill, without the slightest reference to anything
that may be done by the Committee of In
quiry.
The same rude and reckless disregard of ap.
pearances characterizes the accompanies in
the Senate. 1t was the understanding that the
Committee on Territories should report on the
subject last Monday, Mr.. Douglas, the Chair
man, having been delayed in the performance
of his duties, by severe domestic affection. But,
the majority of the committee reconsidered the
matter, determined to hasten their report, and no.
tilted Judge Douglas Wednesday of last week
that they would bring it in the next morning. A
correspondent of the Tribune says" The whole
scheme was concocted with some adroitness,
and included in its programme onesided
statement from Calhoun, which has not even
yet been seen by the minority" Mr. Douglas,
not to be forestalled, as seemed to be the pur.
pose of the majority, set to work at once, and,
by writing till three o'clock Thursday morning,
got his report ready, while Messrs. Collamer and
Wade, who had received no notification of the
change of time, were ready, nevertheless, and
all the reports came in at once. So the major
ity made nothing by their indecent haste.
We cannot fud room for these documents
The report of the majority occupies whole
page of the Washington Union, and is dull
gssSSHms Of what we have heard the ,s-t IT, ~,
months IRON inc ausCCalcS vi ncCOfn ptCn. mat
of Judge Douglas occupies more than a page
the New York Tribune, is written with his
characteristic force and clearness, but the ma
terial points will doubtless be reproduced in the
speech which he proposes to make when the
discussion shall have begun, and which we shall
lay before our readers. The report of Messrs.
Collamer and Wade is concise, and to the
point, reaching the same practical conclusion as
that of Judge Douglas, although by some
what different route.
The report of Green, or the majority of the
Committee, ventures no opinion as to the power
Of the People to alter their Constitution imme-
diately after the admission of Kansas as q State,
and the bill reported provides fer its admission
under the Lecompton Constitution, without
any qualification. 1t is given out, however, on
" the highest authority" that, when the subject
shall come up, an amendment will be offered
from the Administration side, expressly declar-
ing that nothing in the Lecompton Constitu-
tion shall be construed or held to interfere with
the right of the People to alter, amend, or mod
ify, it at pleasure" On this amendment and
on the effect of Mr.. Calhoun's announcement
that he intends to govern himself by the depo-
sitions of the Judges of Election at the Della
aware Crossing-a pledge which, it is hoped,
will satisfy come Douglas Democrats that the
Free State Party is to have the maj ority of the
if Kansas be admitted-the Ad-
ministration probably relies for securing the
passage of the bill.
The debate, it is supposed, will open this
week when it shall close, will depend pretty
much on the convenience of the Opposition par
ty in the Senate.