The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-11
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON D. c. FEBRUARY H. 1853

THE NATIO-
Mr. L uglas asked its immediate considera
ton, de ring to have all the facts before tn
commit se.
Mr.. sson objected, which caused it to b.
iaid ovt under the rule.
Mr. gown then rose and concluded his re
marks pmmenced yesterday; and the debat
was co sinued by Messrs. Wilson, Green, Big
Ter, Pui !, Douglas, Stuart, and others, until
L. NJ, ben the Senate adjourned to Monday
| HOUSE
The incipal part of the sitting was occupied
in disc, sion as to the proper disposition of Mr.
j. ID. illiamson, for his contumacy in no
obeyinp the summons of the select committe,
sppoinf~d to examine the charge of corruption
| In the e of money to secure the passage O
certain eatures of the last tariff act. The wit
ness hA put in his answer in writing, stating
his feaE MS for not appearing, and denying th,
authort of the House to question him upor
matters pertaining to his private business.
Aftess propositions by Mr.. Stanton, chairman
OF the 4,mmittee, and other members, it wa
annouI ed that Mr.. Williamson was willing tt
withdr, his answer, amend it, and to RESPOND
to all sessions which might be legally anG
properl proposed to him.
Therf lpon, on motion of Mr.. Stephens, Of
Georgia the request of the witness was grant
| eds and lime allowed him until one o'clock the
next dc to prepare his amended answer
The ,nsideration of the bill reported by Mr.
SsvageSof Tennessee, from the Committee on
Invalid tensions, to grant pensions to the sol
disrs she war of 1872, and of the Indian wars
OF that period, was postponed to the Oath inst
The contested election case from Ohio was
further considered, and Mr.. Marshall, of KY.
| gave views at some length in favor 81 the
apple, Son OF the sitting member for further
time t Jake testimony. The House, sitting as
judges, should at least allow the latitude which
a cour, of law never denied.
| Mr.. Eephens, of Georgia, opposed the prop
osition or further time, on the ground that the
sitting member had acted discourteously to-
wards he contestant in the commencement
and on desired delay.
Mr.. kashburn, of Maine, moved to amend
the res luton of the committee by the one re-
ported rom the minority, granting the time
desired 10 take further testimony.
Pene ng this motion, the House adjourned.
Friday, February S, 1853.
The snate did not sit to-day.
- HOUSE
The hiO Contested Election. report OF
the Cos-nittee on Elections on the Ohio con-
tested section case was then taken up, the
questioakbein on the amendment offered BY
Mr.. We hburn, of Maine, to substitute the res.
olution eported by the minority for that of the
msjorit.
Mr.. ashburn, being entitled to the floor
yielded.o
Mr.. G, inner, of North Carolina, who replied
to the Atmarks of Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia
and adv Gated the resolution for extension oil
time, a asked for by Mr.. Campbell.
Mr.. ,larris, of Illinois, closed the debate,
contenc ng that Mr.. Campbell had not present.
ed ca > sufficient to authorize the House in
its disc tion to grant further time.
The nendment to substitute the resolution
Of the sinority was rejected-yeas 100, nays
l-3
The Gas and nays were then taken on the
fcllowi Z resolution, reported by the majority
OF the, ,mmittee:
Resi- ped, That it is inexpedient to allow
fnrthet ime to take testimony in this case, al
| asked by the sitting member.
The resolution was adopted yeas ia
The : 1ontumdciOus Witness-The Speaker
| called .,ttention to the response of j. D
| Willialason, of New York, the witness before a
select .zsmmittee.
Theysponse was read.
Mr.. s anton, of Ohio, said the witnsss had
been b1ore the select committee and had an.
sweredc sery promptly, and without hesitation
| or equi ocation, every question propounded to
him. The committee had no further business
| with hia that he knew of.
The illness was ordered to be discharged
The /. ecompton Constitution.-The Speake,
said tn business next in order was the consid
GRAFTON sf the Presidents message transmitting
| he IF tha g..
its reference, upon which Mr.. Grow had the
| floor. =
Mr.. s@row, of Pennsylvania said the President
had sc = to Congress message recommending
the af .5isson of Kansas under the Constitution
| frame. at Lecompton in November last. The
first q, sstion for them to consider was, els the
Constl Dtion republican in form?" and the
seconS = Does it in its essential features meet the
will afsJ wishes of those who are to be affected
byitfa The President had failed to send the
vote o. the people of Kansas on the Constitu
ton, a that they might judge in relation to the
secons question from the official record. Ir
the CT q of minnesota, he was content with
merck transmitting the Constitution and the
votes, rtithout any recommendation but in the
case o< Kansas, without sending the facts, he
had 4 u message Astounding in epithets and
denu cations against majority of the people
of Ktnsas. N
| Mr., harris, of Illinois, here asked permits
sion # the gentleman from Pennsylvania to
| mod the proposition made by him the other
day, nd upon that modification to make 9
brief explanation.
NJ. Grow said he would yield for that pur
pose.
| Mr.. Harris said he would withdraw hit
amend nent offered the other day to the resolu
ton c the gentleman from Indiana, Mr.
Hughsi] His object in Offering the amend
ment HAS to obtain certain information which
the CO ntry required.
The was a wide diversity of opinion in
relatio,, to the state of affairs in Kansas. AL
legati, as had been made of fraud, of corruption
of outage, of infamy; and if these allegation,
were s'ue, and they endorsed them by their
action they would become accessories after the
fact It was due to themselves, to their con
stitue- Is, and to those who were to come aftel
them, hat the facts should be obtained in al
autho tative form. What objection could there
be to n inquiry into the facts?
He proposed the following resolution as G
distin proposition
Ret iced, That the message of the President
of tn, United States concerning the Constitu
ton ,med at Lecompton, in the Territory o.
Kansb >, by Convention of delegates thereof
and I papers accompanying the same, be re
ferret to q select committee of fifteen members
to be- appointed by the Speaker; and that sale
comm .ttee be instructed to inquire into all the
facts pnnected with the formation of said Con
stitut IN, and the laws under which the same
was d jginated, and into all such facts and pro
ceedi gs as have transpired since the forma
ton, said Constitution having relation to the
quest of the propriety of the admission o.
said ,rritory into the Union under said Con
stitut N and whether the same is acceptable
and ,tisfactory to majority of the legal voters