Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-16
FRIDAY, MARCH II, 1858.
SENATE

WAS far preferable to war, and in consonance Win
humanity. Adjourned.
FRIDAY. MARCH H. 1858.
SENATE.
After the presentation ofa large number oil petitions
and the introduction Of billie, &C. the Senate pro.
ceeded to the consideration of the Kansas bill.
Mr. Chandler made speech in opposition 10 the
admission, and MIR. Hunter spoke in favor OF 1t.
Mr.. Kennedy made a strong American speech
He said he had no iavors to gain from the Democra.
cy, but he would vote for the admission of Kansas
under the Lecompt0n Constitution. lie must 20
with one or the other Of the two parties On nation
al questions he could not 60 with the opposition. be
cause that party WAS sectional and not national. He
regretted the admission of Minnesota and Kansas
had been coupled. because the Minnesota Constitu'
ton confers tbs elective franchise on aliens and half
breeds. He said that Maryland was true to all the
interests of the South. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House passed the consular and diplomatic bill.
Mr.. Clingman, from the committee on foreign at.
fairs reported bill making an appropriation Of s75D
to pay for the repairs TO the Norwegian bark Ellen,
hch rescued the passengers of the steamer Central
American. Passed.
The House aIso passed the Senate bill authorizing
certain officers and men engaged in the several eIpe'
diiions from the United States in search OF Sir John
Franklin to receive medals from the British Govern
ment.
The Speaker announced that the pending question
WAS the appeal Of Mr. Harris of Illinois, from the de.
csion of the Chsir-that he could not read the jour
nal and statement Of the Kansas committee to show
that the committee had moi executed The order OF Inc
of the House, for the reason that minority could not
maks a report from committee, and therefore 1t was
no question Of privilege.
MIR Harris said that nothing but imperative duty
impeled him to raise the question. IL was not done
rashy The CASES quoted by the Speaker he contend
ed were not analogous to that under consideration.
He aud Others Of the minority Of the committee do
not propose IN make report from the committee OUT
merely to show that the other members OF the DOM.
mittee have dsObeyed the orders OF the House. The
minority report no bill for legislative action.
The substantive proposition is: The privileges OF
the House had been nringed, and the minutes OF The
committee are part OF that report and therefore they
had no right TO refer to or produce these minutes lie
repeated that this not report, but merely pro-
ducion of facs TO sustain the action Of the minority
He quoted authorities showing that The House may
entertain such a movement rs question OF privi
lege.
The doctrine ia laid down, th.t when committee
Is remss in duty, it is sufficient ground for further
in the House. II co. how is II ever to
be known to the House that the committee is reinss
unless that knowledge is brought to the House, and
one member is sufficient to produce the fact
Mr.. Stephens repeated that no precedent for
the movement claimed 6y MIR. Harris couio oe
found in the British Parliament or any legislative
body in the world. The gentleman from Illinois had
no: produced authority 10 austain him. The question
ia whether remissness in mslority or minority OF
the committee is question OF privilege. II ID not.
No precedent or authority could be found in Hansard
or any other authority. The gentleman had utterly
failed. He considered this the most important move.
ment ever made in the House since the foundation OF
the government. il is revolutionary and strikes al
the foundation of the rules and orders OF the House,
and under it's operations the House could do no bust
ness.
Mr. Stephens coutended that the majority must irst
make their report before the House can determine
whether the committee had executed the order OF the
House. He was prepared to show that 1t had been
fully executed. II the report is not satisfactory 10
the House, let them discharge the committee, recon-.
NIT it, or turn it over to another committee. He was
ready to meet the issue, but opposed 10 the eide
way Of overturning rules and orders of the House
and the upsettng Of parliamentary law.
Mr. Grow caused to be read the resolutions under
which the committee WAS appointed, to show that
the committee instructed to inquire into all the
facts connected with the adoption OF the Lec0mpton
Constitution, and whether said Constitution was sat.
isfsctory to majority OF the legal voters of Kansas.
Mr. Stephens rose 10 point of order.
Mr. Grow said that came with q bad grace from
Mr. Stephens who had been INDUCED in the utmost
latitude Of debate.
Mr. Stephens replied that he had confined himself
strictly 10 the question before the House. IL Dir.
row wanted to 70 into Investigation OF what the
committee had done, he waa ready.
Mr. Grow said that parliamentary law requires that
majority of the friends o! the measure be put the
but the presiding officer had put ma
or'y Of its opponents on. Ii is correct principle
that child should not be put to nurse with one who
csres nothing about it.
Mr.. Winaow called Mr. Grow 10 order.
MIR. Grow.-Ot cOurse.
The Speaker said the question was a ds,Icsie one,
as Mr.. Grow was commenting on the action Of the
chair.
Mr.. Grow resumed, saying if the majority of
committee violate the order Of the House, how il the
House TO take action to ascertain the facts unless by
The statement of one or more Of the members of that
Mr.. Stephens said he was ready to show, when the
repor. came up, that the committee examined every
material fact.
MIR Grow said the committee had no discretion.-
They were directed to investigate all the facts.
MIR. English asked how were they to know whether
the committee had executed the order Of the House
under the present Aspect Of the case The gentleman
from Illinois, says the committee have not done 3d.
Mr.. Stehpens takes precisely opposite ground. He
thought the proper way to submit an official record
which he understood embraced the entire scion of
the committee including the report of the majority.
Let each branch OF the committee put in their papers.
Mr.. Quitman called him to order, saying be WAS
ready to show that the committee had done their
duty.
The Speaker said the reports could be received by
general CONSENT and would be proper for the House
to take such action as they think proper.
Mr. English appealed TO all sides of the House to
receive the papers and iI day for their ooDsidsra.
ton.
Mr.. Washburne, of Maine, objected.
Mr.. Harris, Of Maryland offered proposition that
each branch Of the committee present their papers
and postpone further consideration Of the matter till
Tuesday.
Mr.. Underwood offered similar proposition, both
Of which were objected 10.
Mr.. Campbell suggested to Dir. English to aHi1 a
provso that no amendment be made TO the report of
the majority in favor If bill to, admit Kansas, go
ong az any Eve members Of the committee desired
10 he heard on tbs facts.
Mr.. Houston said that no similar proposition had
ever been made.
Mr.. Campbell said he recollected that foreign
State was once admitted into the Union by joint re-.
solution and why could not an attempt be made to
sdmit Kansas in the same way
Mr.. Colfax asked Mr.. English to modify bis propo.
,tion to call only for the official report Of the
committees proceedings.
Mr. Stephens said he did not know that any official
ournal was kept. There was no clerk, and no jour.
nal was read to the committee.
Mr.. ColfsI said be was willing that tue members
VI the committee should come together and agree up
IN a statement of their proceedings.
Mr.. Harris said he did not know what gentlemen
understood by official report, but one was kept
Mr.. Stephens ssd he never heard it Rad. He did
not call il official unless it was sanctioned by the COM
nittee,
Mr. Merrill suggested informal gu omission Of the
reports and thar the pending question be postponed
until Friday next.
Mr.. Washburne explained Why be objected to Mr..
Engsh's proposition. He thought il the House adopt
he report Of the majority, With proposition in favor
Of the admission Of Kansss, it would amount to legs
alive action.
Mr.. Stephens said II Was not the object of the com.
nittee to append bill or joint resolution for The sd
mission of Kansas.
Mr.. Washburne, of Msine-You can have your re.
port introduced into the records of the committee.
Mr.. Stephens.-I stand upon the rights of the COM
niItee.
Mr.. Adrien said we were approaching de6nits
point. The great excitement was passing of. If
Mr. En-. sh's proposition Vas correct it ought to be