Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-12
Kansas In the House.

arising out OF reSOlut,On Ofefeu Dy MT harris, Oi
Illinois, to refer the whole Kansas matter to select
committee with instructions to inquire into the history
Of Kansas and the constitution formed at Lecompton,
the laws under which it originated the events which
have since taken place in the territory etc. etc. in fact
to make such All investigation must necessarily con-
sumo many weeks if not months and thus postpone the
of the question. Upon this resolution Mr.
Mr.. Harris demanded the previous question, which
would have cut of all debate, and forced issue unfa
vorable to the speedy admission of Kansas in the alb
of number of those known to be in favor of such
admission Mr.. Harrss, being appealed to, refused
to withdraw the demand for the previous question, where
upon the Southern members by motions to adjourn and
FORTH fought it out under the rules preventing vote
being taken upon Mr.. Harris resolution under the gag
of the previous question: which is not usually resored to
until the House is tired of debate upon any question:
and anxious to close it-seldom never the intro
duction of resolution and before debate
Say that of 80 Southern members, Sc are in favor of
the prompt admission of Kansas then 81 Northern votes
will be required to make tie The question is, where
these votes to come from? All depends on Pennsylva
na The Democrats of N York will generally stand up.
If majority of the Pennsylvania Democratic delegation
goes for the measure then New Jersey will follow suit
IF not-not. The sanguine friends Of the measure
figure up majority of 10 for it. Unquestionahly the
Administration has saked much upon the bold position
it has assumed Even victory must for the time pro-
duce embarrassment This would be folly to deny as
it would be useless to assert that this issue will not bear
hard upon the Democracy of the North, against whom
roeous hue aud cry will be raised which must produce
an effect still the country is tired of the whole thing and
the settlement made, will be glad rather than sorry
grateful to the administration for the great good efec
ted, and not cautiously critical about details.
No legislative business will be done until this ques
ton is disposed othe country wants to business
done, and the wrange ended-members of neither House
the session therefore we may hope to see some bona d
approach to settlement at reasonably early day, but
muc, of this must depend upon Senator Douglas. If
he is willing to adopt or advise factio4s opposton-to
encourage STAYING off of the question by means of
parliamentary tactics, June may find parallel or the
heat of its days in the heat of the debates in the House
of Representatives. We expect no such course from
Mr.. Douglas, however.
| We learn from the Union of yesterday morning
that the session of the 9th ns proracted long into
the morning of the 9Th the House adournng at GU a.
m, on Saturday. with the understanding that the whole
subject of Mr. Harris motion slogd be resumed Dur
ing the greater part Of the time the contest under the
rules carried with the greatest good hunour IN
til about O'CLOCK in the morning Of Saturday, when
the members becoming nervous from want Of sleep,
free fight occurred starting with Mr.. eti, of South
Carolina, and Mr.. Grow, Of Pennsylvania. There are
different accounts of it. 1t would seem that Gen Quit
man, of Mississippi being apxious to end the pss offer
ed resolution for All adjournment until Monday, when
the main question ON Harris resolution would be taken
without tue uterpostion of any unnecessary delays
motions Mr.. Quitman proceeding to state why he
offered this resolution when Mr. Grow Black Rcpubli-
can, who was walking up and down the aisle on the
Democratic side Of the Hall objected to Mr. Quitmans
making any remarks. Mr., Keitt said, II you are going
to object return to your side of the House" Mr.
Grow responded This is a free Hail. and every man
has right to be where he pleAses" Mr. kcitt demand
ed to know what he meant by such answer as that
Mr.. Grow replied that he meant what he said. Mr.
kctt graSped him by the throat, telling him he
Black Republican puppy. Grow made al equally excit
cd reply and the parties were separated for moment
when kcitt again grasped Grows throat and Grow
struck him, the accounts generally say knocked hin
down. During the scue the respective friends of both
parties rushed to the rescue and dozen members
were exchanging good, dry knocks. Finally the
Sergcantaarms separated the combattants and ther,
was silence for the space of two minutes.
We cannot but regret this occurrence. Perhaps 9th
er accounts may yet arrive to put different face upor
it. We presume they will, but we feel that it is toe
true that Mr.. Kett yielded to feeling of irritation al
a moment when GOODNESS and sclfpossession were all
important. We fear that his indiscreton has done sc
rious injury to the Of Kansas. Already has il
been seized upon and preached over by the Black Re
publican papers of the North Already has been uset
to add fuel to the flame raging in that section Already
has it weakened the hands of Northern friends Al
between Grow sympathies are with the S. Car
nian but this fact stares in the ace-that Mr. keit
under no obligation to speak to Or to attack Mr.
Grow-that Mr.. Kett could have avoided precipitatine
a difficulty wellcalculated to hurt his friends anG
benefit his enemies and therefore it was Mr.. Keitts
duty to those iends-to the cause for which they il
common, were working, to have avoided it. We speal
not of the dignity of the House. of the charac
ter of members. We speak simply of Mr. Keitts duty
to his friends and to the South A man, if he is brave
and excabe ought not to seek opportunities for the dis
play Of either or both qualifications at the expense of
great party aud great There are interests il
comparison with which Mr. Keitt aye, and South Caro-
lima, too, sink into comparative littlenes.
s6s~ The following little ballad was sweety sung b,
Miss Anna Kemp at Thalbergs Concert III this place
and brought down the house. AS sung by her it
perfect little gen. as all who attended the Concert vii
cOncede:
The Dearest Spot Earth.
The dearest spot of earth to me,
Is home, sweet home;
The fairy land I've longed to see,