Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-23
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Bladensburg, AT naif- past q. m Shots were
exchanged, the ball from Bell passing through
Williams hat. Williams, reserving his FIRE,
lowered his pistol and cred in the ground.
The friends of the parties then interposed, and
the affair was adjusted on terms Satisfactory
and honorable to both parties.
The principals in this duel were Lieut.. Da-
vid Bell, LIST Cavalry, and Lieut.. Robert Will
liams, lst Dragons. Capt. Jas. Mcintosh, LIST
Cavalry, acted as second for Bell, and Col.
Hardee and Lieut. Hill for Williams, we hear.
Dr. W. H. Berry was the surgeon of both par
ties
This is the second duel only, that has taken
place between graduates of the West Point
Military Academy. The first was between
Capt. W. M. Graham (who was subsequently
killed at Moline del Reyl and Lieut. F Paige.
G. was wounded slightly. They were both of
the 4th Infantry.
ADMISSION OF KANsAs-We have already
noticed briefly the report of the Committee on
Territories on the admission of Kansas, which
was submitted to the Senate on the 18th inst,
BY the Hen. James L. Green, Of Missouri 1t
Is State paper Of exceeding merit, and we'll
worthy careful perusal by every person desir-
Gus of becoming acquainted with the true char
acter of the issue involved in the Kansas ques-
ton. The Committee first advert to the fact
that Kansas is portion of the Territory &C
quired from France in 1903, under what is
known as the Louisiana Treaty" which in
strument, in order that the rights of the inhsb-
itants should be protected, contains a special
stipulation that whatever States were formed
out of the Territory included in the cession
should be admitted into the Union on equal
footing with the original States Of the Confede-
racy. In view of this obligation, and in con-
formity with the uniform practice of the United
States, on the 30th May, 1854, Congress passed
an act for the establishment of a Territorial
Government for Kansas, which act contempla-
ted its future erection into State and its ad-
mission into the Union.
. The committee proceeds next to recount the
history Of the settlement of Kansas, and the
rise of the agitation which has subsequently
prevailed respecting its ultimately becoming
member of the Federal Union. In this con-
neotion they declare that % soon after the Ter
ritorial government went into operation a par
ty OF disaffected persons formed combinations
to resist the laws and set at defiance both the
Territorial and United States governments"
Affiliated with these lawless associations were
others in some Of the Northern States known
as Emigrant Aid Societies." which assisted
the insurgents by sending them arms, mum
nons OF war, moneys, &c, and encouraged
them in their resistance to the legal authorities
Finally, in order to carry out their avowed
object OF preventing the introduction Of slavery
into the Territory, the malcontents met in an
illegal assembly at Topeka, and pretended to
form State government, at q time when the
population of Kansas amounted to less than
10000 inhabitants, and without any authority
tor their conduct, either from Congress or the
people. This attempt being justly regarded as
offensive to the Southern States, the committee
proceed to say that the attention of Congress
was called to the matter, and an investigation
instituted. Hon. Mr.. Douglas chairman If
that investigating committee, subsequently
submitted report to the Senate, in which the
conduct Of the malcontents is characterized as
being illegal, and the State of Massachusetts, il
implicitly censured for having incorporated the
" Emigrant Aid Society"
In July, 1855, the legal Territorial govern
ment OF Kansas, passed an act preparatory to
the formation of State government, and the
vote of the people on the question to have
convention to frame State Constitution was
almost unanimous TIE convention was ac-
cordIngly held pursuant to strictly legal pro-
visions, and constitution thoroughly republi-
can in form adopted. The committee add
Ont OF Difference to those who might be op-
al u
OF complaint On the part Of opponents, the con-
vention, accepting the suggestion of Governor
s,arton, submitted the question Of slavery to
Territory That election was OF d,red for the 2Ist
December, 1857, when il was accordingly held
and resulted as follows:
Constitution with slavery. G, 226 votes
Constitution without slavery $50 @
Making an aggregate Of. ........6,19
An opportunity has consequently been afforded
10 the people OF to decide this question of
slavery Tor themselves, and that decision Is now
before us with all the sanctions of law - '
After mentioning the circumstance that the
adherents OF the Topeka organization refused
to vote on the question of the above clause. the
committee continue
III Is Well known that the only real matter OF
controversy In Kansas was the question of sla-
very. Evidence TO that effect could be accumu.
lated almost without limit establishing the fact
But the committee deem this unnecessary as
the fact itself will hardly he disputed by any
one such being the case, no reasonable ground
OF complaint can he found for that question wa,
submitted TO all the bona tide inhabitants for de-
clslon on the 2lst December. There is no pre-
tence that any districts, Counties or persons were
dlsfranchised at that election. Every qualified
voter, whether registered OF not regisixred had
the nnrestrained privilege of voting for or against
slavery Here, then, was the opportunity to settle
the only existing difficulty, If il was desired
w ould IL not be very extraordinary to permit a
IA Gus portion OF the people, in total disregard
OF The law, to stay wilfnlly from the polls when,
according TO law, and according to the published
notice oil Gov. alker, they were eaually bound
as II they had voted and then claim the privilege
oil having resEbmisSion'
III IL were true, that they had, as they assert.
MAJORITY opposed to slavery, they could have
voted out the clause sanctfoning that insti-
luton. ny their own act the clause is retained.
ana then they desire to reject the whole consti
tuuon, because OF the so-called obnoxiou slave
ny clause, left in by their own wilful refusal IN
vote such wilfulDess is not to he cone iljated or
tolerated In country governed by laws sun
pose twenty opportunities should be afforded To
the same people to vote all these unestions
VINO can guarantee that they will act better In
the future :han they have ia the past, Who can
say they Will vote at all, And il not wouId moi
the same direction QGNy made lao. "a v.i;t a, :.