The Nevada Democrat., 1858-03-24
From the Democrat Extra" Of Saturday.
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMER SONORA.

ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMER SONORA.
Congressional.
Our last Congressional adviees were to Feb
4th. On the 5th, the Kansas question was Ia
ken up in the Heuse and occupied the session
which lasted until Saturday morning Feb. 9th.
The struggle was upon the resolution of Mr..
Harris, douglas DemOcrat) of Illinois, to re-
fer the Presidents Message with instructions,
to a special Committee of l3; this the Speaker,
Orr, decided to be an amendment to the motion
of Mr.. Hughes ef Indiana, to refer the message
to Committee without instructions. Mr. Har-
rs accepted the ruling, and called for the previ-
Gus question.
Mr.. Clingman Of N. Carolina, moved to sd-
journ. Motions for a call of the House, to ad-
journ, to excuse q member from voting, to ex-
cuse another member. were piled upon one
another, and upon each the ayes and noes were
called. The friends of the Lecompton Const-
tuition tried to stave off vote. They proposed
compromising but at every turn they were
beaten by various but decisive majorities At
two O'Clock A. NJ. fight occurred on the floor.
The House was very quiet, and Mr.. Quitman
Of Miss having risen to make proposition,
Mr. Grow Of Penn, passing down the aisle OF
the democratic side of the House. when Mr.
Keitt of South Carolina, accompanied BY Mr..
Davis of Miss, came up to him, Mr.. Grow OBJ
jected to Mr.. Quitman's making any remarks.
Mr.. Keitt-"If you are going to object, 60
over to your own side of the House."
Mr.. Grow-"This is q free land, and every
man has right TO 60 where he pleases."
Mr.. Keitt then came up to Mr.. Grow, and
wanted to know what he meant by such an ans
wer as that. Mr.. Grow said he meant just what
be said. that this was free land and every man
had right TO be where he pleased.
Mr.. Keitt took Mr.. Grow by the throat and
said, "I will let you know you are damned
black republican puppy"
Mr.. Grow knocked his hands off and said, II
shall occupy such place in the Hall as please.
and no niger driver can crack his whip over
me-"
Mr.. Keitt then seized Mr.. Grow, by the
throat again, and Mr.. Grow Knocked him down.
Several Southern members attacked Mr.. Grow,
who defended himself bravely. The Republic
cans rushed to his assistance, and general fight
ensued in the middle Of the Southern side Of the
House.
1t lasted about two minutes, and terminated by
the Sergeant at Arms, who thrust himself among
the contestants, and with his mace. and aided
by the cooler members, restored order.
The House, after a severe struggle referred
the Presidents Kansas Message, with the Le-
compton Constitution, to a select Committee by
the close vote of l15 to Ill.
The motion Of Mr.. Stevens, which had priOri-
ty to refer to the standing Committee on Ter
| ritOries, was defeated by majority Of one
Yeas, lI3-Nays, ia
Mr.. Keitt then made an ample apology to the
House for his attack on Mr.. Grow, during the
preceding setting. and Mr.. Grow expressed re-
gret that necessity bad constrained him to en-
gage in personal collision on that floor.
| In the Senate Mr. Fessenden made q long
speech in behalf of free Kansas. eliciting ex-
planatOry remarks from Messrs. Mason, Seward,
Q. G. Clay, and JEFF. Davis. The LecomptOn
message aud Constitution we're then referred to
The standing committee on Territories by six
majority.
On the 9th, the Senate discussed the Army
Bill.
On the 18th, the Senate refused to take up
Mr.. Douglas resolution of inquiry into Kansas
affairs, by vote of "a to 20. While Mr. Douglas
was proceeding to give the reasons for its i'm
mediate consideration, be was interrupted by
JEFF. Davis, Of Miss and Mason, Of Virginia,
who seemed desirOus of cowing him down.
A discussion arose on the Army Bill, which
was advocated by Mesers Masen. Davis and
Crttenden, aud opposed by Mr. Hale.
The House was occupied during its whole
sitting in considering the bill extending the
provisions Of the steamboat law Of 1852. to
| ferry and tug boats. and imposing additional
restrictions and penalties
On the llth, the Senate passed by the close
vote of 26 to 25 that section of the Army bill
which proposes to add two companies to each
of the present regiments; the increase was limit
ed to two years.
| In the House, after some discussion concern
ing witness in the Lawrence, Stone d Co.
! investigation, who refused to answer, bis coun.
sci being sick, time was granted him.
On the 18th the Senate adopted the joiHt res
olution for the reception of the Turkish vice
Admiral. Mr.. Trsmbull's amendment to the
resolution, providing for the taking Of testimo
ny in the case of the Indiana Senators, was re-
jected and the resolution after having beer
amended by the insertion of a provision limit
ing the time allowed, to ninety days, was adopt
ed.
Mr.. Wilson offered an amendment to the Ar
my BILL providing for the employment Of vol
unteers for Utah. Mr.. Hunter gave netice tha
he should move a substitute
Mr.. Houston presented a resolution instruct
! ing the Committee on Foreign relations to in
qure into the expediency Of our Govern
ment assuming a protectorial over CeEtra
America and Mexico.
On the 18th the anti-Lecompton resolution
Of the Michigan Legislature, we're presented to
the Senate by Mr.. Chandler.
The Houston resolution relative to a protec
torial over Central America and Mexico, wa
laid on the table.
The Army Bill was then taken up. Mr.
johnson. of Tennessee, submitted q substitute
which Mr. Wilson accepted in place of his owr
amendment, providing for the enrolment O
regiment rolls to serve during the present trou
bles.
On the 18th the admission Of Kansas, uRdel
the Lecompton Constitution, was reported t.
the Senate by Mr.. Green. of Missouri, in the
name of a majority of the Committee on Terri
tories. The accompanying report, signed by
Messrs. Green of Missouri, Jones of Iowa, Sc
bastian of Arkansas, and Fitzpatrick of Ala
starts from the premises that the people OF q
Territory may form a Constitution in one Of
three ways. by mass meeting or through their
representatives endowed with plenary power, OF
with instructions to submit the Constitutions te
their constituents, in the case Of Kansas, the
second method was pursued. The Convention
having been legally called, its members legally
elected, and itself clothed with authority to make
Constitution, it is logical to infer that iti
| -xnrIr M hn intnrfnrnd uuiih hrr thl