The Shasta courier., 1858-03-27
Arrival of the p. Mail steamer
FIFTEEN DAYS LATER NEWS!
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE COURIER

BY THE NORTHERN TELEGRAPH LINE.
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RED BLUFFS, March 22d, 9 o'clock A. NJ.
Steamer Sonora arrived at San Francisco at
2 o'clock Friday night The steamer did not ]
sase N6W fork until the 21st Of February.
News from Washington up to the 10th of Feb.
The Douglas men in the House carried the
proposition to refer the Lecompton Constitution
to special committee of thirteen, by vote of
lis to Ill.
Ia the Senate the Administration has six ma
jority for Lecompton.
Minnesota and Kansas are to be admitted to-
gether.
Rheti, of South Carolina, and Grow, of Pa,
had fight on the floor of the House over Kan
sas matters-al settled next day.
Hon. J. B. Clay, and the late Clerk of the
House. had fight in Browns Hotel, in Wash
ington-it fist fight.
California State bonds gone up to sol cents.
HA-Full particulars will be brought by this
afternoons stage Courier Extra Of Monday.
A severe snow storm on the goth February
delayed the departure of California steamer till
the 2lst.
Congressional.
The excitement in Congress has been intense
On the 9Th of February the Kansas question was
called up in the House, which continued in ses-
sion until O'Clock the next morning. The
struggle was on the resolution of Harris Doug
las Democrat of Illinois, to refer the Presidents
Kansas message to a select committee of thir-
teen, with instructions. The previous question
was moved and carried, when Mr.. Cliueman of
North Carolina moved an adjournment, which
was lost Motions for call of the House to ad-
journ, and TO excuse members from voting; were
piled upon one another, and upon each one of
the ayes and nays demanded. The friends of the
Administration tried every means to stave off a
vote, but at every turn were beaten by varying
but decisive majorities. At two o'clock A. NJ,
a fight occurred ON the floor of the House. Mr.
Grow, Representative of ofPcnnsyvana was walk
ing down the aisle on the Democratic side, while
Quitman of Mississippi was making PROPOSE
ton. Mr.. Grow objected to Mr. Quitmans max
ing his remarks. Mr.. Keitt of South Carolina
Was standing near and said TO Mr.. Grew, G if
you are going to make any remarks go over to
your own side of the house." Mr.. &. replied,
" this is free country and every man has a
right to be where he pleases." Mr.. X. then went
up to Mr.. G. ard wanted to know what he meant
by such an answer Mr. Grow said he meant
just what he said. Keitt then caught Grow by
the throat and said, II will let you know you
are id Black Republican puppy" Mr. G.
knocked his hand off and said, % | shall occupy
such place in this hall as please, no nigger-
driver shall crack his whip over me.' Keitt
seized him by the throat again, whereupon Grow
knocked keitt down. At this time the southern
men waded in on one side and the northern on
the other, and general melee ensued lasting
two or three minutes, when order was restored
BY the Sergeant-at-Arms, with the assistance Of
the cool members.
On the Sth the house, after severe struggle,
refer ed the Presidents Message and the Le-
compton Constitution to select committee bv
the close vote of Is to Ii IL. The motion of Mr.
Stephens of Ca, to refer to the standing COM
mittee on territories, which had priority was
lost by majority of one; the vote standing | l3
ayes to IA nays. Mr.. Keitt made an ample
apology to the house for the attack on Mr. Grow,
during the preceding setting, and Mr.. Grow re-
GREETED that he had been forced into personal
collision on that floor.
In the Senate, Mr.. Fessenden made long and
powerful speech upon the Lecompton message
The message was referred to the committee on
territories, by majority.
On the 10th the Senate refused to take up Mr.
Douglas resolution of inquiry into Kansas af-
fairs, by a vote of "a to 23 While Mr.. Douolas
was proceeding to give the reasons for its i'm
mediate consideration, he was interrupted re-
peatedy by JEFF Davis and Mason, who seemed
desirous of cowing him down
The army bill has occupied much of the time
OF the Senate, eliciiing great deal of very an
mated debate.
On the llth that section which proposed to
add two companies to each of the present regi-
ments was passed by vote of 26 to 25, the in
crease was limited to two years The case of
the In llama Senators was under consideration
and was finally disposed of for the present by
giving the occupants 80 days further time to pro-
cure testimony.
The anti-Lecompton resolutions of the Mich
igan Legislature, were presented on the l7th.-
Mr.. Houston presented resolution in regard to
establishing protectorate over Central Ameri-
ca and Mexico, which, after discussion, was laid
on the table.
On the 18th resolution admitting Kansas un-
der the Lecompton constitution, was reported
by MIR. Greene, of NO., from the committee on
territories. 1t starts with the premises that the
people OF a territory may form constitution in
one OF three ways-by a mass meeting, or
through the agency of representatives, endowed
with penary powers or with instructions to sub
nit their work to their constituents In the case
OF Kansas the second method was pursued The
convention having been legally called, its men,
bers legally elected and itself legally clothed
with authority to make a constitution, it is
logical to infer that its work can no more be in
terfered with by government or legislatures.
than If the people had acted in mass meeting-
For Congress to do away with this instrument,
would be step unwarrantable and uncalled for.
since majority Of the people have it in their
power to modify or destroy their own work, at
legal times and places.
minority report signed by Collamer and
Wade, takes the ground that the territory O.
Kansas was never legally organized, but was
nsurped by a foreign force, that the Federal Co
vernment has sustained the usurpation, in order
to establish perpetual slavery in Kansas, and
that the Lecompton Constitution is but the con-
summation of acts of despotism, to give it the
force of law, would he to give success to fraud