The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-06
WASHINGTON ITEMS.


The House of Representatives, by agreement,
took up the Compromise Kansas bill last
Wednesday week. At one o'clock, the House
was very full, and the galleries were crowded.
1t was soon made manifest that the Lecompton-
ties were without the power to enforce the pre-
vious question, and it was not moved. Mr..
Howard, of Michigan, the dissenting member
of the House committee, delivered an effective
speech, and was followed by other gentlemen
on both sides of the question. At about four
o'clock, the previous question was moved, but
MIR. Stephens, wishing to gain time, moved an
adjournment, and it was carried, because one
or two members who were opposed to the bill
wanted an opportunity to explain their votes.
Lscompton was in minority, evidently, on
Wednesday afternoon.
Thursday last, the House was full and the
galleries crowded. 1t was soon known, or at
least rumored, that the Lecomptonites were in
majority. Soon after the journal was read,
Messrs. Cox and Lawrence, of Ohio, announced
that they should vote for the bill, and made
speeches in defence of their votes. The preyi.
Gus question was moved, but not sustained as
several Southern gentlemen were not prepared
to cut off debate. While Mr.. Humphrey Mar
shall, of Kentucky, was delivering very effect
i've and eloquent speech, Mr.. Giddings inter-
rupted him, to state his reasons for giving his
vote for the Montgomery amendment, and, the
moment he had finished, he fell back in faint.
ing fit. Great excitement ensued, but in
short time Mr.. Giddings recovered sufficiently
to be able to vote upon the preliminary ques.
tons. The day was one of the stormiest in the
House this session, and no vote was had upon
the bill.
Friday, in the House, the English Com.
promise bill came up for final consideration.
The Lecomptonites, after allowing two of their
own men to explain the reasons for their votes,
moved the previous question, and would not
allow the Opposition the same privilege. By
threatening resort to dilatory motions, how.
ever, an opportunity for further debate was ex.,
torted from the majority, and Messrs. Campbell
of Ohio and Haskin of New York made speeches.
They both paid their respects to Mr.. Cox, of
Ohio, who voted for the bill, though he was op-
posed to it the first part of the week. After
very boisterous and exciting session, the bill
passed by decided majority, and the House
adjourned over to Monday. Mr.. Giddings was
in his place as usual, having entirely recovered
from his attack of the day before.
A few days ago, the Doorkeeper of the House
OF Representatives stated to the Speaker that
one of his aids had discovered in one of the
vaults under the rotunds boxes of books cover.
ed with ashes and rubbish. The Speaker Or
dered an examination, and $4,000 volumes
were disinterred, many of them nearly spoiled,
but all valuable books. Among them were 800
full sets of the works of John Adams and rec
ords of the debates in Parliament. This shows
what sort of care is taken of the property of the
nation by the paid officials
The new regiments of volunteers will, it is
said, both consist of mounted rihemen. They
cannot be called out till the deficiency bill is
passed.
DGs~ Mr.. Giddings received letter recently
from citizen of a slave State, stating that a
friend of his had died, leaving a will by which
one of his slave women is set free, and 81, 900
is set apart to remove her to a free State. The
balance is to be secured to her in a safe invest
ment. The writer of the letter applied to Mr.
Giddinga for information, and the latter recon-
mends that the woman be sent to Mercer or
Shelby counties, in Ohio, where there are -four.
ishing settlements of colored people. They
have schools and churches, neat villages, and
as a class, are in as good condition as their
white neighbors.
FORT SNELLNG-The Select Committee or
dered by the House of Representatives to in
quire into the sale of the Fort Smelling Reser. |
walton, have reported, after three months of in.
vestigation. The committee have ffty-two wit.
nesses, and the transaction has received a
thorough examination. They express the opin-
ion that the Secretary of War had no authority
of law to dispose of the Reservation that the
sale was conducted in an unfair and illegal
manner that the post should not have been
cold, as it was essential and important for mill.
tary purposes; and that the price paid was en-.
tirely disproportionate TO the value of the prop.
erty. 1t is also stated that the evidence shows
that Franklin Steele was not the sole purcha.
ser, but that q band of spectators, styling
themselves the New York Company" used
him as their tool for the purpose of getting a
portion of the reservation.
They comment severely upon the conduct of
the Secretary of War.
The minority of the committee make re.
port exculpating the Secretary from all blame.
PRAIsE.-The Anti Lecompton Democrats
who have gone back to the Administration |
fold, over the bridge made by the conference
committee, are getting part of their reward |
in large instalments of sweet praise from Gov.
eminent journals. Hear the wide.awake Star of
this city upon Mr.. English:
"Mr. English, of Indiana, is fairly TO be con.
graduated on his escape from the very jaws of
Republican partyism, SO recently gaping wide
open, with longing tongue out, to lap him into
that Moloch of over fast gentlemen in
politics. We knew him well for many years
before he worked his way into seat in Con-
gress, for one of the most emphatic, and, we
thought, sagacious members Of the Democratic
party with whom we ever associated. When
We found him playing, as we thought, into the
hands Of abolitionism on the great question in
issue before the country, we fairly held out
breath in amazement. Yet we did not despair
Of him on the contrary, we concluded that 30
Der second thought would ere long vindicate
the integrity OF his devotion to the cause of
Democratic principles"
If the Star held its breath when Mr.. English