Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-02-06
HOUSE.

ASHiNGTON, ErlQayi Jau' %
Senate not in session.
HOUSE.
On motion Of Mir. Quitman, resolution
was adopted, calling on the President TO com
municate the number of soldiers gagged il
the late war with Great Britain, and IN th'
Indian wars at the same period; also, state
| ment showing a proximate estimate OF The
expenditure Of extending them the benefit;
OF the Revolutionary pension laws. This in
formation is desired preliminary to action Oh
the bill pending for that purpose.
The House then took up the Ohio contested
election case. After a Call of the House, IN
order to procure a full attendance, the ques-
tiun was taken on the amendment proposed
by the minority of the committee, that the
sitting member, and Mr.. Val!andigham, the
contestant, be allowed forty days to take sup
Elementary testimony, was rejected by Is
majority. The resolution of the majority Of
the committee, that it is mex pedlent 10 allow
further time to take testimony, as asked by
that sitting member, was adopted by l3 ma.
jority.
The Speaker laid before the House an
amended answer of ]. D. Williamson, that
presented yesterday being unsatisfactory. 1t
is addressed to the Speaker, and says, that
when the subpoena was served upon him, he
consented to appear, and prepared to do so,
but being under heavy bonds III New York
not to leave the Jail limits of that city, the
sheriff told him, that if he LETT the city vol
UNFAIRLY, his bonds would be forfeited, but if
his attendance was compelled would not sut
fer loss. Upon this advice he acted, suppos-
ing 1t was right, and never intended to COM
init any contempt. He closed by saying
81 now hold myself in readiness to anewer
all such proper questions as the committee
may put to me.
Mr. Stanton remarked that the witness had
appeared before the committee and answered
very promptly, and without equivocation,
every question propounded. On MIR. Stan
tom motion, Williamson was discharged from
custody.
The Presidents Kansas message was con-
sidered.
Mr.. Grow called attention to the fact, that
while the President transmitted copy of the
Minnesota Constitution and official returns of
the election, making no Recommendation con-
corning its admission as State, he sent in a
copy of the Lecompton Constitution, with no
returns, but a recommendation that Kanzas
be admitted under that instrument. The
Presidents message, instead Of uommunicat-
ing any desirable information, abOunds in ep
ithets and ISLANDERS against the people OF Kan
zas. He gave way to
Mr.. Harris of Illinois, who said he wished
to withdraw the resolution he had previously
submitted, aud introduced another, with the
view Of obtaining information. If we are
about to enter on new order of things, let
the world, the country, and history know the
facts III which this new order Of things is to
be initiated. There is a wide diversity of
opinion relative to the existing affairs in Kan.
zas. Allegations have been made of fraud,
corruption, outrage, and infamy, which, if
true, and gentlemen by their action, endorse
what has been done they became accessories
after the fact, in perpetuating these frauds. 1t
was due to themselves and to those whom they
represent, and due to those who are to come
after them, and to the world, that the facts
should be obtained in authoritative form If
there should be a call for information from
all the sources where it can be obtained, he
trusted no gentleman would attempt to pre-
cipitate q vote on a question which lies at the
bottom of the subject of the admission of
Kanzas, until they shall obtain all the facts
connected with the origin of the Lecompton
constitution, and facts which have transpired
since its formation, so far as they can affect
the prOpriety Of the admission of KanZas into
the Union. He had not proposed a call for
tAAbi vi aAA tudb has OGSuIIbu kleFet IOc
he held in his hand statement which salts
fed him that there ought to be an investiga-
ton. He sent up to be read letter from Ex-
Secretary Stanton.
Mr.. Letcher raised the poiont in order that
Mr.. Grow could not farm out the floor to Mr.,
Harris.
Mr.. Grow yielded the floor altogether to
the last named gentleman.
Mr. StantoD'S latter tbap T. -
he says, among other things, that on their ar
rival in Kanzas both he and Gov. Walker
supposed the question of slavery WIS the only
cause of contention, and that they treated thi:
as the chief subject of difference. He soon
found, however that this view was altogether
too limited. 1t did not reach the true ground
of the controversy. Mr.. Stanton then proceed.
ed to speak of the complaints of the great
mass of the people concerning the local Gov.
ernor forced upon them by fraud and violence
and their utter want of confidence in CONTROL.
ing unscupulous partizans who had talsl6ed
the returns and who sought to undermin,
both him and the Governor because they
rejected the Oxford returns, etc. He con
cluded by submitting resolution that the
Presidents Message and the Lecompton Con.
stitution be referred to a select Committee Of
fifteen to be appointed by the Speaker, will
instructions to inquire into all facts connect
ed with the formation of the said Constitu
ton, and the laws under which the sam,
originated, and into all the facts and proceed
ings which have transpired since the forma
ton of the Constitution, and whether il i
satisfactory to the legal voters of the territory
the Commtie to have power to send for per
sons and papers.
The Speaker said that Mr.. Harris could of
fer his resolution only as an amendment t
Mr.. Hughes's motion to refer the message t.
a select committee of thirteen.
Mr.. Harris believed the ruling of the Sneak
er correct, aud in order to at once ascertain
the fate of his resolution, moved the previou
| question.
Mr. Stephens of Georgia, in vain appeale
to Mr.. Harris to withdraw the motion, an
then moved a call of the House.
Mr.. Clingman moved an adjournment.
Calls of "let us take the question" ming
led with yociferations of "No, no." Grea
disorder prevailed. A yoice-"Go it, bows
the fights commenced-ha! hall The Hous
! by yeas and nays, first voted down the motto
to adjourn, and then a motion to adjourn II
Monday. Both parties were evidently nerve
for the fight Somebody on the Democrat
side moved an adjournment till Tuesday.
Mr.. Clingman-We are getting into
snarl.
Mr.. Campbell Of Ohio amid much confu
sion proposed that the several proposition
for adjournment be withdrawn and that tn
House come to direct vote on the pendin
proposition respecting the resolution. Thi
was received with laughter and cries of " nc
no, you can't steal a march on us in this
way and that is the very thing we war
| to avoid /"