The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-18

Kansas Constitution to the House, and then
doubtless. the influence of the Administrations
would prevail. From the correspondence o.
the Richmond Enquirer saying thst the LIE
compton Constitution had arrived, and would
be ITO day) submitted to Congress, with a spe
cial message from the President. The vote
upon it was uncertain. Strict party discipline
might carry it through the Senate, but in the
House there was o sjority Of four against it
1t was said that Mr.. Buchanan had declared
his intention to put it through in thirty days
Laughter These four votes might be had, az
there were q number of desirable executive ap
pointments to give out, but that required nice
engineering.
Mr.. Millson, of Virginia, caused portion Of
the Manual to be read, to show tnat Mr.. Fen
ton himself had committed breach of the
privileges Of the House, in reporting his reso
luton to the House.
Mr.. Warren said he would raise the point oil
order. The Chair must see that it was no ques
ton of privilege, and it was radically wrong to
allow him to proceed. he hoped, therefore
that the Chair would determine at once the
question which he raised.
Mr.. Fenton then proceeded to read from the
New York Tribune q paragraph stating, IL
substance, that it was understood until Monday
last that Mr.. Burns, of Ohio, would oppose the
Lecompton Constitution, but that on the morn
ing of that day he had changed his mind, or
the understanding that his sonin-lsw shoulc
retain the valuable place of postmaster at Keo
kuk, and that be himself should be appointed
marshal of the northern district of that State
at the close Of his Congressional service. Ht
next read from the Constitution of the United
States and Washington's Farewell Address te
sustain his position. He desired to say that al
this rumor required that they should vindicate
BY this examination the dignity and prerogative
of the House.
Mr.. Warren said that he could not speak fol
the other side of the House, but he would say
that his side could not be bribed, because they
we're not made of that sort of material. If the
gentleman attempted to insinuate that there
was q man upon his side of the House who
could be influenced by the hope of reward Il
take any action at all, he had mistaken his
character altogether. They would see that hit
point was we'll taken, that it was not priv
legged question. If they wanted to attack the
President, the Cabinet, or the Democratic par
ty, they should come up and attack him openly
and they would meet them, but not attempt to
stab him in the dark.
The Speaker stated that he had heard the
statement of Mr.. Fentop, and it was his opinion
that there was nothing in it that justified the
resolution. However, he would not undertake
to say that this was not a question of privilege,
but would refer the question to the House, for
its decision.
Mr.. Burns, of Ohio, at this stage of the pro-
ceedings, called for the reading of the par
agrsph from the New York Tribune.
The paragraph having been read,
Mr.. Burns pronounced it falsehood from
beginning to end.
Mr.. Stephens said there was nothing in the
statement from any person known to the House.
The member had presented nothing but news.
paper articles, correspondence, and vague ru-
NOR, which did not show that any such under
standing existed between the gentleman from
Ohio and the President. He therefore moved
that the whole subject be laid on the table.
After brief remarks by Mr.. Giddings, of
Ohio,
The question was taken and the motion was
agreed to-yeas l08, nays 88-the Admins
tration men aud Americans voting yea, the Re-
publicans, nay.
The House adjourned until Monday.
Monday, February Is, 1858.
Mr.. Wilson submitted the following resolu-
ton, remarking, that ss he had something to
say upon it, it could be read, and laid over under
he rule:
Resolped, That the President of the United
States be requested to communicate to the
Senate, if not incompatible with the public in.
terest. the instructions given to the Hon. Rich.
ard K. Meade, United States Minister to Brazil,
previous to his departure from the United States
Mr.. Seward gave notice that he would ask
leave to introduce bill to reorganize the Su-
prene Court of the United States and the Circuit
Courts of the United States, so that the several
States shall be represented by judges in said
courts more nearly on the basis of their Federal
population, while the administration of Justice
shall be made more speedy and efficient
The joint resolution from the House of Rep
resentatives, making an appropriation for the
payment of expenses of investigating commit
tees of the House of Representatives was read,
and, without being referred, was, on motion of
Mr.. Hunter, considered and finally passed.
Indiana Contested Seots.-Mr Hamlin moved
that the Senate proceed to the consideration of
the report from the Committee on the Judiciary,
on the the subject of the contested seats of the
Hon. G. N. Fitch and Jesse D. Bright.
The Chair announced that the hour for ia.
king up the special order had arrived.
Mr.. Hamlin contended that his motion was
The Chair having ruled las the Reporter
understood) that the subject was up, Mr.. 81.
went on to deliver his views, and a general dis.
custom ensued, which was participated in by
Messrs. Benjamin, Collamer, Pugh, Toombs,
Simmons, Trumbull, Green, Stuart, and others.
When the question was about to be taken
MIR. Hunter suggested, that as the Senate
was thin, and the hour somewhat late, the
further consideration of the subject should be
postponed until one o'clock tomorrow, with
the understanding that the question should be
taken at that time. The suggestion having
been acquiesced in
Mr.. Shdell moved that the Senate proceed to
the consideration Of Executive business which
was agreed to, and after brief session the
doors were opened, and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. j. Il. Jones, of Pennsylvauia, from the
Committee of Ways and Means, reported a io;n,
resolution making an appropriation of S35. 900
for the payment of the expenses of the several
investigating committees of the House of Rep
resentatives during the present session the
same to be added to the contingent fund of the
House.
Mr.. Jones said this resolution was intended
to cover expenses already incurred, and work
already laid out by two OF three emily of the se
lect committees. There were seven select com
mittees already ordered /; besides which, the
Judiciary Committee was about to bring before
the House proposition to impesch one of the
Judges of the United States. If they chose to
act to the full extent of their powers, it was his
own opinion that $l00, 900 would not be enough
but that the whole expense mightreach $3.50, 900
Mr.. Harris, of Illinois, asked to have the es
timated expense of each one of the committees
stated.
Mr.. Jones said it was mere matter of opin
ion only.
Mr.. stanton, of Ohio, chairman of the selec
committee on Lawrence, Stone, & Co., said thai
committee had no means of knowing how ia,
their investigations would proceed, but the ex