Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-01
DOINGS In CONGRESS.


There has been, during the week, new
blazing up of the Kansas conhagration. The
proposition of the majority of the conference
committees of the two Houses has raised
new and most determined opposition, and called
forth series Of speeches in both bodies which
forvigor, earnestness, ability, and plain-spoken
language, we have never seen surpassed. The
discussions in the two Houses during the week
will long stand out in bold relief, and are, we
think, destined to produce most intense feel
ing in some, if not all sections of the country.
Mr.. Crittenden opened the discussion in the
Senate in a temperate, eloquent, and stirring
speech; one characteristic of himself, and
therefore fraught with lofty, national feeling
and with patriotic sentiments.
Mr.. Hunter replied, and defended the propo-
sition Of the Committee of Conference with his
accustomed ability.
Mr.. Collamer next addressed the Senate in
an argumentative speech, which those who
concurred in his views pronounced exceedingly
able. Ia rH -.... ..
Mr.. G. was followed by Mr.. Hale in very
animated and earnest Speech denouncing the
proposition as "five-milion bride"
Mr.. Wade succeeded, and his friends say
overy sentence he uttered was driven home
with the nerve and energy with which whale
men use the harpoon. Certainly there was a
plainness and nervousness in his language
which indicated that he felt what he said.
Mr.. Green, tho chairman of the Conference
Committee, then took the floor, and began by
replying to Mr.. Crittenden. Attempting TO be
witty, and to ridicule the noble Kentucky
Senator, he compared him to "Kentucky
climber" .... "..
| Mr.. @. desired to know what the phrase
meant, as he was totally ignorant Of its mean
ing ... .. .......
Mr.. Green undertook to explain, but feeling
the indelicacy of the allusion he had made, he
was confused and mysterious.
Mr.. CmTTEEDEN "The gentleman grows
more and more mysterious every word he
utters." .... .s.. s..
| We are glad TO say, we believe Mr. Green
became heartily ashamed Of the gross and in
decent allusion he had made, and of its at
tempted application TO one SO far above ridi-
cule, reproach, or the reach of low wit, (as
wholly out Of place in the Senate, as Mr.. Crit
tenden. Mr.. G. subsequently said he meant
nothing unkind or dsrespectful TO Mr. G. or
his State; to which Mr.. G. responded, "Then,
sir, it is only that curious and mysterious
figure of speech which do not understand"
Much laughter.]
On Wednesday Mr.. Stuart, " Michigan,
democrat, opposed the bill presented by the
committee. 1t misrepresented the real issue
between the two Houses Of Congress, which
were divided upon the question wcther the Lee
compton Constitution was the work Of the peo-
pie Of Kansas and embodied their will, and not
upon the amount Of land which should be con-
ceded to the State in the event Of her admission.
The Senate had insisted on taking the Constitu-
ton as it is f; the House had insisted on sub
hitting the Constitution to vote of the people.
The difference between them had relation only
to the character Of the instrument framed at
Lecompton, and the committee in seeking TO
transfer the disagreement to another subject
had rather raised n new question than fairly
met or composed the outstanding discussions.
And what was this new question: On its face
it purports to be proposition to secure vote
on the acceptance or rejection of certain land
grants, which vote, however, is to decide the
acceptance or rejection of the Lecompton Con-
stitution. The land grants are the bait, the
Lecompton Constitution is the trap in which it
is hoped to catch the people of Kansas by this
arrangement
The terms Of the proposition, moreover, are
so constructed as to serve the purpose Of polit-
ical juggling -afIording to the North the pre-
tence Of virtually submitting the Constitution,
and afTording to the South a pretence for deny
ing that it is submitted. He then proceeded to
analyzo the provisions Of the bill to show that
ii falsifies every argument that had been used
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