New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-20
pondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON. Friday. Z


WASHINGTON, Friday, Feb. i9, 1853.
1t was doubtless the design Of the majority Of
TIE Committee on Territories in the Senate, in
taking snap judgment upon the minority, by the
summary process Of 6na action on the Kansas
Message this morning, to have got their partial
views before the country in advance, aud thus
have stolen o march upon their colleagues. The
whole scheme wss concocted with some adroitness,
and included in its programme a one.sided state
ment from Calhoun, which hss not even yet been
seen BY the minority. But when Mr. Green nOti-
fed Judge Douglas yesterday of the intended ac-
ton to-day in direct contradiction to the agree
ment Of the Committee at its former meeting, i'm
mediate steps were taken by him to bring up the
leeway of his report and to be prepared for the
emergency. He act to work i'll good earnest at
once, and by labOrng steadily up. to o'clock this
morning, the report was completed and copied as it
progressed in time to start by the early train,
to be ready for publication in case the threatened
purpose was carried into effect. Judge COllamer
had put most of his matter in form previously and
with sufficient clerical force, that also was got
ready for the first mail. When the Committee
met to-day the majority did not 6nd the minority
unprepared o. expected. and they directed the re-
ports 10 be made without the customary form of
reading. When it came to be understood after
ward that the reports were then on the way to
keW.YOrk. it may be imagined what was the de-
gree Of virtuous Indignation expended by Nr. Green
and his confreres This practical joke is too good
to be lost and may be useful hereafter TO the enter
prisiDg managers, who happen to have been caught
in their own trap.
The explanation which Mr. Green gave the Com
mittee. for withholding Calhouns statement, was
hardly clear or satisfactory 81 could have been
desired and ss part Of his report was predicsted
upOn its allegations, suggestion was made that it
ehOud be suppressed, since the minority had had
vpI,,rtuuity vf commenting ufvs. tt.s.-- TLe
suggestion was accepted, bat subsequently that por-
ton Of the report was said TO have been retained,
from some misunderstanding by Mr.. Green. 1t is
very significant that al these mistakes and misap-
prshensions occur on one side, and always against
the Free State sentiment in Kansas.
Calhouns Jesutical publication this morning
ovefshOOts the mark entirely, and so fur from re-
lieying the embarrsssments Of his position, only
serves to expose shortcomings which might other
wise have escaped detectiOs. He begins the so
called explanation OF the Delaware Crossing vote by
saying that before he counted the returns, ne was
called upon By Gov. Robinson and others concern
ing the alleged frauds to whom he replied that they
shoud be fully investigated before the certificates
we're Issued He states further that lfe conferred
w;th Governor Denver on this subject and author
ICED bin to say that if the Judges-hls own, remem-
ber-of the election would make sn affidavit that
Ttturn5 were lTduuultut, IL Wouiu thc
certificates. Yet in the presence of these dechra.
tions at the outset, and of his personal knowledge
that the reported vote OF Delaware Crossing must
be an audacious fraud he has the efr0ntery to as
sert further down, " | came to Washington with
"no particle of doubt on my mind as to the result
that is, that the Pro-slavery party had carried
the Legislature After this confession. it must be
obvious that Calhoun was fitting instrument for
the service in which he was employed.
Let it be remarked too, that in this letter, which
ia desened 10 entrap Northern Democrats into the
support of LecOmpton, he does not bind himself to
issue certificates even if the required evidence be
furnished. He seeks to convey that impression,
but nowhere makes the distinct cOmmttal His
qualified pledge is, If the Judges of election at
" that precinct furnish to me, as 1 informed Uov.
denver before leaving Kansas, reliable and sworn
statement that but fOrty-three votes were polied
" there, l should make myself party to the fraud
" if decline to be governed by the Oaths OF the
&" Judges" Who does not see how easily this con.
dition might be evaded Calhoun makes himself
the exclusive Judge OF the statement 10 be maze oy
the Judges as he was made Of the election under the
Lecompton Convention, and he is quite rs capable
of acting in the one case ss hs was IN the otner.
The whole thing looks suspicious, Tor Cshoun
knows well that Gov. Denver has communicated 70
the Secretary of the Interior the very oaths whlcn
he Processes to desire II is true that they are IN
printed form, but they were published from the re-
cords Of the Commission appointed by the Legisia
ture and were made in d measure official by TINS
act Of an Administration Governor on the spot II
ANYBODY is deceived By this last sham, it must DO
with deliberate design.
The Select Committee ofthe House efectually shut
downhe gates upon investigation last night, and con
veIted the affair into solemn farce. On every
important proposition to ascertain the facts, tue
vote was eight to seven. They are to meet week
hence, but il is easy TO with what practical ei-
feet. Meantime this delay will be used IN drumming
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