New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-08

To-dsy's doings in the House viii probably Sc
cure the triumph or s,al the fIte of the Lecomp-
ton Constitution. Should Col. Harris's motion Of
reference prevail sending the instrument to Sc
lcct Committee instructed 10 investigate and report
all the material facts connected with the origin OF
that instrument and casting light on its popularity
with the People on whom it s to be imposed, we
shall cherish strong confidence that it cannot be
pressed through without conditions and modihci-
tions which will render its acceptance barren VIC
tory to its advocates. On the other hand, should
it triumphantly pass this point and be referred TO
the Standing Committee on Territories, whereof A.
II. Stephens is Chairman, backed by sure majori-
" Of LecomptOntes, we shall regard its naked
passage as more than probable, We shall contest
it with no less resolution but with less hope, from
the hour that the House decides to put it virtually
into the honds of 50 able and unscrupulOus par
liameutary tactican as Stephens who will be ready
to report it next day next week, next month, or
Just when the machinery shall have been, carefully
cilcd for putting ii through the House with certain
ty snd dispatch. On the contrary, if Col. Harriss
motion preyails he will necessarily be Chairman of
the Select Committee, With majority i'll favor Of
the investigation demanded. In that case, it's
chances are but slight even though, while this Com
mittee is at work an act of Admission shall have
been driven through the Senate and sent down to
the House for concurrence
What are the prospects as to the result of to-
days struggle
There are mnety-two Republicans in the House,
including those nominally Americans who owe their
election to Republican nominations and votes; these
are all sure against Lecompton aud We trust they
will be able to cast ninety votes on the Main
Question to-day. To balance these, the Slave
States have ninety Members, Of whom but one
(F. p. Blair of st. LOuis) is Republican. OF
the residue though we believe at least ten intensely
oathe the Lecompton fraud and all it's belongings,
while twice as many believe il bad policy for Slavery
TO press this measure upon Congress, We do not
EXPECT more than three votes for the reference to
| Select Committee. We are told that Mr.. MdlsOn
of Virginia is restiye under the Lecompton load; We
hear that James B. Clay is resolved to act on this
absorbing issue as all men know his illustrious
father would do were he now alive and In Congress;
we have been told that his colleagues, Jewetand Ste
yenson. fully concurred with hun on this head, but
We never felt sure Of this, and it is now squsrey
contradcted so far as his own course is concerned,
| by a card from Mr.. Stevenson. Then we have had
ominous mods and winks, implying manly resolve
to defy section al pressure and stand for truth and
right on The part of Messrs. Gilmer of North Caro-
lima, Ricaud Of Maryland, and more especially
Winter Davis of the ast-nsmed State. We shall
be very happy to learn that these intin nations
were wei founded; but We cannot forget
the system Of terrorism to which Mem
oeIs from Slave States are habtuaIly sub
lectec-to which Senator Bsgby succsmbed III
voting for the Annexation of Texas directly after
he had demonstrated the unconstitutonaity of that
measure and pledged himself 10 resist il TO the last
nay to which Col Benton quaiIed on the same
question after months Of earnest and unmeasured
hostility and denunciatior-and to which nearly al
he fifteen Southtn Members vto voted against
| he Ksnsas Netrssis BIZ. including R.aJsu Hunt