Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-12
The FirAt Act.

In the House of Representatives Monday last, the
following resolution, offered by Mr. Harris, of Illinois,
adopted by a vote of ia to u, that is by
jority of votes -
Resolved That the message of the President of the
United States concerning the constitution framed at Le
compton, in the Territory of Kansas by convention Of
delegates thereof and the papers accompanying the same
be referred to select committee of fifteen members, to
be appointed by the Speaker and that said committee
instructed to inquire into all the facts connected with
the formation of said constitution and the laws under
which the same was originated, and into all such facts
and proceedings have transpred since the formation
of said constitution having relation to the question of
the prOprety of the admission of said Territory into the
Union uuder the said constitution and whether the
same is acceptable and satisfactory to majority of the
legal voters of Kansas and that said committee have
power to send for persons and papers.
This, far it goes, is clearly triumph for the
friends of continued agitation It's the first part of the
anti KansaS programme, and few doubt that it is dcta-
ted from influential quarter, namely, Senator Doug
las. 1t puts Kansas affairs, not under the direction or
investigation of Kansas but of Congres-not under the
investigating power of the constituted authorities of the
Territory or nchoate State but under that Of Con-
gressional committee The legal certificate of the
horites of Kansas is to be ignored and that of Con-
gressional committee substituted.
1t is contended that little delay will spring from this
that all the information is at hand easily attainabe
and further that the Speaker has the appointing of
the committee it will be SO constituted as to report at
an early day.
We still think that the chances are in favor of the adj
mission of the State before Easter although the vote
must necessarily be close On looking over the
vote given, and summing up the absentees still
figure up majority for Kansas, taking this test
vote and hardly think that all who voted for Harris
resolution will adhere to the " bitter end"
The only further matter in the House. consisted of the
personal explanations and apologies of Messr Keitt and
Grow. That of Mr.. Keitt is peculiarly manly and
generous, and the frank candor of that gentleman in
acknowledging his own responsibility, might be well
studied by those excitabe partizans who 60 it right
wrong and seek to make mountains out of molehils-
Growsis whining and purtanica and after Mr. Keitts
ought never to have been couched in such language
it is =
Mr.. Keitt, Of South Carolina addressed the House
as follows:
Mr.. SPEAKER ask the House to indulge me a mo-
ment in personal explanation. The House will re-
remember that its proceedings during the session of Fri
day were broken with an unpleasant incident It is
due to fair dealing that should assume upon myself all
the responsibility for the violation of its order dignity
and decorum. was the aggressor, and whatever Of
responsibility attaches to the act properly belongs to me
alone It is also due to justice that should make what
eyer reparation is in my power to the dignity and de
corum of the House violated do that in the ex
preston OF profound regret at the occurrence Persona
collisions are always unpleasant very seldom excnsabe
rarely just6abe, never in legislative body I feel
then, the full force of the responsibility which assume
in saying that was the aggssor and that the entire
responsibility properly belongs to me-
In this connexion | have but one other remark t.
make-and that is, whether any blow was struck at mn
is more than l can say. / am at least utterly uncon
scious Of having received any. With this explanation
part with the subject
/ Mr.. Grow, of Pennsylvania, then spoke as follows:
Mr.. SPEAKER: have been taught, from INV child
hood, that all fights among ares disgraceul to hu
man nature and to a Christian community and e,neci
ally when it occurs among the Lawmakers Of people
in the midst of ther deliberations The Judgment sir