The Washington union., 1858-03-13


ready to show It.
Mr. GROW said they were instructed to inquire ittc
all the facts connected with the formation of the const
tuition not whether they believed them material OF not
Mr. STEPHENS rose TO point of order
ar GROW, iintsttsp.ng) / object.
Mr. STEPHENS The gentleman is speakitg upon
report before the House When that report is before
the House win be ready to show that il all the
facts
The SPEAKER, The gentleman will confne himself
within the legitimate line Of debate.
Mr. GROW then proceeded with his argument to show
that the committee had been instructed 10 inquire into
the facts conhettga ,h the formation of the State
sttution notwithstanding repeated tas TO order
Mr.. ENGLISH, of Indiana, one of those whe be
eved that the select Kansas committee should have been
constituted that majority of it should have reflected
the opinions Of te House Whether constituted or not
he thought it their duty to caft out the order OF the
House and if they failed in doing they would be in
contempt of the authority of the House. and should be
discharged But how they To know whether or not
that order Had been carried outf The gentleman from Hi
no said it not carried ot epd the gentleman from
Georgia took precisely the opposite groutd IL could
not be dene by allowing individual members to make
statements of what had trasired The proper way
present the official record of the proceedings of the
coirrt,ttee He understood that such had been made,
including the report of the gentleman from Georgia and
everything else The right way was 70 'es both statc-
ments be presented.
Mr. QUITNIAN, of Mississippi, sorry to be obliged
to call the gentleman to order but he was not discussing
the question before the House. He hoped gentlemen
perform their duty.
The SPEAKER, The gentleman will please to confne
himself 10 the qusstioi. :,
Mr. ENGLISH inquired if the House tonld allow both
be presented whether il would not se in
order that they be printed, and their further
consideration be postponed few days in order that gen
uemen might examine the records submit that question
to the House
Mr.. STEPHENS said that was exactly what he
wanted
Mr. GROW rose 70 d Point Of order
The SPEAKER, The gehtfenian has propounded the
question to the Chair whether if the views 9t the major
ity and minority were presented it would be tn order to
TO postpone TO day certain The reports can be
received by unanimous consent If the reports and state
ment shall be received the majority and minorty--t
will then be competent for the Hoss to take such action
as it peases.
Mr.. ENGLISH inquired whether, if this we're dotie, 1t
would be in order to discharge the committee to re-
commit with instructions, or to add to it
The SPEAKER. The papers will be in the possession
of the House. and it could make whatever disposition of
them that it pleased.
Mr. ENGLISH Then appeal to all sides to take that
course.
Mr. WAsHBURN, of Maine (excitedly.) object now
and at oil times.
Mr. HARRIS of aryland submitted a resolution that
the whole matter befoe the House be made the order of
the day for Tuesday the 10th instant, ut O'clock, when
the majority report should be presented to the House
Mr. WASHBURN (emphatically.) 1object
Mr. ENGLISH With leave that the report be print
ed IConfusion.l
The SPEAKER. The House will come to order. The
gentleman from Maine objects.
Mr. UNDERWOOD, OF Kentucky, submitted propo-
on that unanimors consent be given to both branches
of the committee TO sahe their report that they be
printed and made the special order for Wednesday
next
Objection from all sides of the House
Mr. ENGLISH renewed his proposition.
Mr. STANTON ssid if the majority report proposed no
action, he objection
Mr. STEPHENS stated that he had repeatedly said he
wished ample time for debate
Mr. ENGLISH said he understood that the gentleman
simply proposed to submit resolution, and did not pro-
pose to submit bill providing for tho admission of Kan
under the Lecompton constitution. He would ask
him whether he did or did not
Mr. STEPHENS. / do not. s.ts
Mr. ENGLISH. Well, then, there is no way in
which they could take action
Mr. CAMPBELL, OF Ohio suggested that, if the sub
ect brought before the House. it would be the right
of the member to propose amendment They should
ax poviso excluding any right for any member to III
troduce bill so long any five members OF the com
mittee might desire further time
Mr. HOUSTON, of Alabama, inquired whether it would
be in order to TO strike out the resolution and in
sert bill. nrl
The SPEAKER. It would not be iii order.
Mr. COLFAX of Indiana said if the proposition was
modified to call only for the official journal OF the
committee without the arguments or the reports, 1t would
be satisfactory to his side of the House
Mr. STEPHENS. 1t is not in order, but must state
it, There official journal kept by this side II
there any kept it must have been kept by the mi
nority There clerk, nor was any journal read
Mr.. COLFAX said he perfectly willing that the
members of each party might get together and agree
upon what done
MIR. HARRIS replied that the chairman had kept n
careful journal and minute of the committee and signed
it, and it regular it had been kept by forty
clerks, and the official journal.
Mr. STEPHENS said that the majority had never seen
heard word of it read He had 1t certainly
the official one, unless read to the committee
1t might be that the gentleman had kept it, but it did
follow that it the official one unless sanctioned
by the committee.
Mr.. ENGLISH pressed bis proposition.
Mr.. STEPHENS remarked that ii the appeal with
drawn the reports could be made by consent
and the subject postponed till this day week.
Mr.. WASHBURN, of Maine, (most emphatcally) |
object
Mr.. HOUSTON asked that the rules be administered
Confusion
MIR. ENGLISH inquired whether, il the subject was
postponed it would not stand us it did to day.
The SPEAKER stated that the papers would be before
the body for debate
Mr.. ENGLISH asked whether the question would re-
main the same.
The SPEAKER replied that the papers not now
before the House; only question of privilege
Mr.. WASHBURN, of Maine, earnestly explained his
objection. II true, the Chair stated that
when these papers came before the House by unanimous
consent they the possession and control of the
House. Then ii the majority opposed to recommit
ment, they could vote down that proposition and if
they in favor OF sustaining the previous ques-
ton they could bring the House directly to vote upon
the resolutions reported by the committee and it would be
order submit Joint resolution and they would have
it in their power to pass it, and this would be considered
equivalent to a legislative admission of Kansas. He
would object to it at all times,
Mr.. STEPHENS stated that it not his object,
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