Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-06


be, in different language s1-1' ls-s1slsss.sz
True, Messrs. Douglas and Stuart protest
that they would oppose the acceptance Of
non-slave holding State Constitution, had that
been sent here by the Lecompton Convention,
~ earnestly as they oppose the one now before
the Senate. Yet, Who does not comprehsnd,
from the drift Of their entire speeches snd
their present political afiliations as explained
with SO much naivete in the Washington cor
respondence Of the Republican party press,
that their current ambition'is to become the
head and front of the Northern anti-slavery
sentiment with reference to the future of the
Territories of the United States = If any such
there be, we advise them to study the leaders
in the Philadelphia Press, which labors as
openly and avowedly for the triumph of t'the
Free State party of Kansas" as the New
York Tribune itself. The responses to the
message that are reaching us by every mail in
the columns Of Democratic exchanges will,
however, very shortly compel all in Congress
who oppose its (the message 81 recommendation
to contend 10 an open field. ...
These responses on the part Of faithful Dem
ocratic journals, show that the great mass of
the party at the North are rapidly coming to
comprehend the hollowness of the pretence that
has been abandoned here as explained above,
that to receive the Lecompton Constitution
will be to force the people of the Territory to
live under organic law that may be objection
able to q majority of them. The responses of
the Republican party and fshy Democratic
press on the other hand, tell plainly that the
latter can continue to wear that mask very
little longer. When it may be thrown off else
where, the contest here will become one in
which the mystifcation of positions at this
point will be of no avail to strengthen the op-
position. Then that policy will be entirely
abandoned here also, of course.
The FIGHT IN THE HOUsE.-We have already
heard several versions of the eight which
occurred in the House of Representatives last
night, but the following is the best authenti-
Gated account we have been able to gather. 1t
appears that the House was continued in ses-
sion until about two o'clock, by a series of
parliamentary stratagems to avoid a direct
vote on the resolutions relative to referring the
Presidents Message which accompanied the
Lecompton Constitution. These stratagies con-
sisted in raising motions to adjourn, to excuse
members from voting, to call the House, &c
Finally, MIR. Quitman, of Miss, attempted
to introduce resolution, which will be found
in the report of the proceedings in another
column. Of course, unanimous consent was
necessary for its submission to the House, and
no objection being made the Speaker proceeded
to put the resolution to vote. At this stage of
the proceedings Mr.. Grow, of Pa from posi-
ton on the opposite side of the House from
where his seat is situated, and while passing
down the aisle, objected to the resolution Mr..
Keitt, of S. c., said to Mr.. Grow, % Go on your
own side of the House and object" Mr.. G.
replied, "Ill object where / please, and
report says, he added, without being intimi-
dated by any Southern negro driver
But few words passed before these gentlemen
were engaged in a pitched battle, but as to
which of them commenced it we cannot say.
In the attempt of their friends and the officers
of the House to separate them, Mr. r. was
pushed down, but both the belligerents were
carried from the scene of action in a very short
time, and before they had received any serious
injuries. In the meantime, however, a large
number of Mr.. Grows friends, headed, it is
said, by Mr.. Potter, of Wisconsin; poured into
the arena Immediately in front of the Speak
er's stand. Here they were met by a nearly
equal force of the opposition, and here &C.
Cured
Z" The shock of the two contendng hosts"
A regular ''free-fght' ragged few minutes
but was finally broken up by the prompt inter-
vention of the officers of the House and many of
the more thoughtful and conservative members.
Nobody was hurt to any extent wort tn noticing
To say the best of the affair, it was disgrace
full, but it will no doubt be greatly magnified
by letter writers. From what we can learn,
not more than ten or twelve members were
really engaged in it as beligerents, the others
having crowded up for the purpose of quelling
the disturbance. Its principal result is deep
modification TO the most active participants
After the termination Of the ARRAY, the ses-
sion was conducted with quiet and order until
adjournment
ARRIyED.-General Calhoun of Kansas
reached this city by yesterday evenings trair,
and has rooms at the Kirkwood House. His
original intention, we presume, was to have
borne the Constitution to Washington in per-
son. But as business Of Importance delayed
his departure it was sent hither in the hands
OF another General c., accompanied by Col
Jack Henderson, reached Harrisburg on the
night before last, where H. remains for the
time being, Pennsylvania being his original
home. In Harrisburg, General Calhoun was
the object of universal attention Indeed, a
company of perhaps one hundred members of
the Legislature and other prominent Democratic
politicians insisted upon speech from him at
his hotel, and he was thus compelled to address
them briefly in explanation of facts connected
with the present phase of Kansas affair. u
We have known Gen. c. long and we'll, and
predict that his presence here will result in
the dispersion Of any existing doubts on the
mind OF any sincere member of the Democratic
party, who, deceived by the persistent misrep-
reservations Of the opposition letter writer's from
Kansas and telegraphers from st. Louis, may
be still inclined to believe that frauds were
committed to secure the triumph of the Le
compton Constitution, on the same side, and in
the an haeouont aloct;ors