Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-15
WASHINGTO " NEWS AND GOSSIP

An ExPOsIrIoN.-As we find the opposition
letter writers and press busy with misrepre
sensations Of the action of the House on Friday
last, We have to explain that action in detail as
follows:
Our readers are aware that on Thursday, the
Hon. I. L. Harris, of Illinois, claimed, as a
matter of privilege, to bring before the House
what he called the journal Of the select COM
mittes Of fifteen, appointed upon the Presidents
special Kansas message. He declared it to be
his purpose to show, from the journal, that the
committee had failed to comply with the order
of the House. The Speaker decided that it was
not question of privilege; and Mr.. Harris
appealed from his decision.
On Thursday, a motion was made to lay the
appeal on the table, and lost; and thereupon
the subject was postponed till o'clock on Fri
day last.
At the appointed hour on that day the sub.
ject was called up. The Speaker stated the
grounds Of his decision. Mr.. Harris argued
ingeniously and sophistically against the Speak
er's decision, attempting, unsuecessfully, to
show that his motion was a question of privi-
lege. Mr.. Stephens, Of Ga, replied, and Mr..
Grow sustained Mr.. Harris. Then Mr.. Eng
lish, of Ind, got the floor and submitted sew
eral propositions of compr omise. Various gen.
tlemea explained their position, and Mr.. Eng
ish did not succeed in effecting compromise.
Thereupon the motion to lay the appeal on the
table was renewed, and again lost by vote of
100 ayes to Ill noes. Mr. Harris then with
drew his appeal and the whole subject re-
manned m stafH ono ante 6eflHm."
THE King OF F Iance, with forty thousand men,
Marched up the hill, and then marched down
again"
This is the record. We wish to look for
moment beneath its surface. The move of Mr..
Harris was unparalleled in the history of par
Elementary proceedings. To be willing to over
rule the Speaker on such a point shows a
great degree of bitterness on his part and
those nominal Democrats who went with him.
That Mr.. English of Indiana, Mr.. Grosbeck,
Mr.. Lawrence, and Mr.. Hall of Ohio, showed
some difficulty on the subject is favorable in
dication on their part. Though considered
anti-Lecompton, they have not yet determined
TO break with the Democratic party. We have
hopes of such men in the future. There is
another feature in the case which will arrest
the attention of the public
The American party Of the House, small as
it is, was rent in twain on this vote. The gal
ions <<oiFSOnSis VA AChHcoScC, III COmpduy Win
his colleagues, Mr.. Ready and Mr.. Maynard
with Mr. Trippe of Georgia, Eustis of LOUISE
ana, and Anderson and Woodson of Missouri,
stood by the Speaker, and by parliamentary
usage; while Messrs. Humphrey Marshall ar
Underwood of Kentucky, Gilmer of North
Carolina, Ricaud and Morrison Harris Of Mary
land, followed Mr.. Winter Davis over to tie
side Of the Republicans and absquatulatiny
Democrats on this question.
We fear that this division indicates the feel
lngs Of these gentlemen in relation to the ad-
mission Of Kansas. Can it be possible that
such men as Underwood, Gilmer, and Ricaud,
will prefer a triumph over the Democratic
party, to the achievement Of the admission of
Kansas. Can it be? We leave the question
with them and their constituents
Though Mr.. Harris apparently triumphed on
that occasion by two majority, yet be was in
fact defeated Upon the call of the roll, Mr..
Groesbeck, Mr.. Lawrence, and Mr. Hall of
Ohio, all voted to lay on the table. They after
wards changed their votes, upon the promise
Of Mr.. Harris as it is understood, that if they
would not lay bis appeal on the table he would
withdrawit. He did withdraw it, which shows
that he himself despaired Of its beirg sus-
tanned. Even upon that vote, if the absentees
- had been present, Mr.. Harris's motion would
have been voted down.
Mr.. Harris was virtually beaten on Friday,
n We explain and hence his withdrawal of the
appeal. Let the friends of speedy settlement
OF the Kansas question persevere, as true men
should in such a contest.
UTAH SURvEYs.-We have before us ma D
of he limited atess uryavs in Ttab To--;..--,
by David II. Burr, Surveyor General, and con-
fess our astonishment at their extent. From
north to south they comprise twenty-six town
ship ranges, extending from range twelve,
south, to range fourteen, north Of Great Salt
Lake City, or distance Of one hundred and
fifty -six miles. Their distance east and west
is forty eight miles, and includes range east,
and range to 7 inclusive west of the meridian
of Great Salt Lake City. The tract is bounded
on the east by lofty ridge called the Wah-
setch mountains, Immediately at the western
base of which is situated Great Salt Lake City.
The Lake itself extends nearly to the base of
the mountains.
In the southern portion Of the surveyed tract
Is . body Of water some twenty eight miles long
and sixteen wide, called Utah Lake Jordan
river flows from this lake, and after pursuing
q northwardly course for about forty miles,
discharges its waters into Great Salt Lake 1t
il on the eastern banks of this river, and at a
distance of ten miles from its mouth, that Salt
Lake city has been built, and it apparently &C.
cupies the entire width Of the plateau between
the river and the Wahsateh mountains. South
Of Salt Lake, on the tract surveyed, are the
Tuilla and Rush valleys, Valley Of the Jordan,
and Cedar Tintic and YOnab valleys. North
Of the Lake are the Cache, Bear River, Ma
1ade, Blue Springs and Hansel Springs valleys.
These vallies are all Of considerable extent,
and from the chart before us they appear to be
well supplied with watercourses. Between
them are mountain ridges, which seem to inter,
sect the country in every direction.
Judging from its appearance on the map,
Ill LII