The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-02
KANSAS In THE HOUSE

urSt Time, inc true state oi Pafueo heiO s' WY
Kansas question 1t is obvious that a large majority
Of the House concur with the President in desiring
! prompt settlement of the Kansas difficulties by
admitting Kansas into the Union. The FIRST vote
yesterday was on Mr.. Giddings's motion to reject
the Senate BILL and the proposal of this Nestor OF
the black-republicans voted down by majority
Of forty-two. This was square division between
those who desire settlement of the Kansas difficult
ties and those who desire to keep them open to
plague the country in the future. All the black
republicans voted for the rejection, together with
Messrs Harris, of Illinois, and Chapman and lick
man. Of Pennsylvania, who have sometimes been
found in better company All the Lecompton dem
ocrats in the House voted in the negative. together
with the South Americans, and the most of those
who elected democrats, have yet thus far follow
ed Douglas against the organization of their party
on this question. The ayes 50, flor rejec-
tion,) and the 1877, against rejection)
There can be no installing the significance Of this
vote, and the whole country will hail it with salts
faction as substantial endorsement of the Kansas
policy Of the administration The next question, had
no amendments been offered, would have been a
naked question on the passage of the bill, which
would then have been triumphantly successful But
the opposition did not dare to meet the question thus
fully on it's merits and therefore, proposed the Crit
tenden amendment as altered by Mr.. Montgomery.
The backrepnblicans all supportedit because il was
their only alternative to the passage Of the bill,
and when the amendment had been voted in,
they supported the bill as amended, although
it involved violation Of all their Kansas doc
n 49,: II a.,
had been compelled to pledge themselves to do
30 before they could get the votes of the South
Americans and few of their democratic allies in ia
vor Of amending the bill Some of them, like Mr.
Gddings of Ohio, resisted tho agreement for long
tfme upon principle, but yielded at last to consid
erations Of expedency. The reasoning addressed to
them by the great body of their associates this
Eve have common disposition to keep the Kansas
question open for future In order to do this we
cept by the aid Of some Of those who do not usually
act with us and who DESIRE not to defeat the bill but
to amend il. If we adopt their amendment, and pass
the bill amended, the Senate will with
the House and if this disagreement continues our
object is accomplished If, moreover, (what is quite
improbable the amended bill should prevail cven in
that event, the whole subject goes back to Kansas,
and cannot be disposed Of there except by the
sent Of our party friends On the one side are GER
tain defeat and entire loss of capital, and on the
other side are two chances of escape, one by per-
manent disagreement Of the two branches of Con-
gress. the other by the action of cur friends
in Kansas to delay its admission until the
proper time Upon this reasoning, OF some
thing like it, the patriarch and his special disciples
seem to have yielded. The Montgomery amendment
prevailed and the bill passed as amended, and was
sent to the Senate. The Senate, we have no doubt
will now non-concur in the amendment of the House.
and the bill will go back to the latter body If the
House shall persist in occupying it's present position
the disagreement Of the two branches must be per
manent one and the cardinal object of the blackre
pubcans-a non-scttlemcnt of the Kansas question
will be successfully accomplished. We will not
pause now to describe the inevitable consequences
Of this result--the consequences alike to the bust
Of the country, to its political parties, and to
the harmony, it may be, of the Union--because
every rejecting man can foresee and adequately es
innate these consequences for himself. We put the
argument now upon the naked facts they are
shown by yesterdays proceedings, and in view of
that record we appeal to every member who hon
estly desires an adjustment of the Kansas difficulties
to adopt that course, as legislator which alone
contribute TO such result.
This is the condition Of parties On the one side
those whose sole object it is to defeat the adj
mission Of Kansas, and, for known party purposes to
keep alive the agtatons and cxcitements in that
Territory which have 80 long nterfcred with its
own PROSPERITY and with the peace and quiet of the
whole republic On the other side are those who's
sincerely anxious to close up these mischcfs
shut the Pandora's box from which they have cma-
mated, and give prosperity to Kansas and peace to
the Union by admitting that Territory as State
OF the latter class the great majority in favor of
admitting the State with the Leoompton constitu-
ton, not only being the only certain solution Of
the question, but as being one also, which can
involve no wrong to the people Of Kansas,
since, if they are not satisfied with the constitl-
ton, they have undoubtedly the power to change
IL On the question Of striking out the declaration
in the Senate bill which recognises this power there
was majority Of 80 in favor of the declaration The
choice, therefore, 10 between Lecompton, with the
power Of change, aud permanent disagreement be
tween the two branches, which will prevent the
passage Of any blu, win continue the Kansas trou
bles indefinitely and NAV be atteuded ,.;,h a;,.a