Mariposa Democrat., 1858-03-25
ARRIVAL OF THE SONORA.
LATER FROM THE ATLANTIC STATES.


Francisco, Friday, 10th, after an extraordinari
ly long passage of eighteen days from Panama
She brings 5S3 passengers.
The Sonora brings New York dates to tn,
21st Feb; European dates to the Sd February
and later from Central and South America
The steamer connecting with the Sonora was
detained at New York one day over her time
on account Of a heavy snow storm which pre-
vailed there on the goth February.
Congregational.
On the 5th Feb the Kansas question was taken uI
and occupied the session. which lasted until O'CLOCK
: Saturday morning. The struggle was upon the reso
luton of Mr.. Harris, douglas Democra) of Illinois
to refer the Presidents message with instructions to
select committee of thirteen. This Speaker Orr de
cded to he an amendment to the motion of Mr. Hughes
of Indiana to refer the Message to committee with
out instructions. Mr.. Harris accepted the ruling and
called for the previous question.
Mr.. Clingman, of North Carolina, moved an ad
journment Motion for call of the House. TO adjourn
to excuse a member from voting upon motion, and a
motion to excuse another member, were piled upon
one another, and upon each the yeas and nays
called.
The friends Of LecomptOn tried to stave of a vote
They proposed compromises. At every turn they
beaten by varying but decisive majorities.
Two o'clock, A. MA fight occurred the floor
The House very quiet and Mr.. Qnitman, Of Miss,
having risen to make proposition, Mr. Grow, of Pa,
was passing down the aisle Of the democratic side Of
the House. when Mr.. Keitt of S. G., accompanied by
Mr.. Davis, Of Miss, came up to him. Mr.. Grow OBJ
jected to Mr.. Q.'s making any remarks. Mr.. X. said
" If you going 10 object go to your own side
Of the House,"
| Mr.. Grow replied, This is a free land, and every
man has right TO be where he peases." Mr.. X. then
came up to Mr.. Grow, and said he wanted to know
what he meant by such as that. Mr.. G.
said he meant just what he said that this a free
land, and had a right to be where he pleases.
Mr. X. took Mr. g. by the throat, and said, will let
you know you are id black republican puppy"
Mr. G. knocked his hand off, and said, shall occupy
such place in the Hall as please and no niggerdrver
can crack his whip over me' Mr.. X. then seized Mr..
@. by the throat again. and Mr. G. knocked him down.
Several Southern members attacked Mr. g., when the
republicans rushed in body to his assistance, and a
general fight ensued in the middle Of the southern side
of the House. 1t lasted about two minutes, and was
terminated by the Sergeant-at-Ams who thrust him
self among the combatants, and by the assistance Of
the cooler members restored order.
On the sth, the House, after severe struggle re-
ferred the Presidents Kansas message, with the Le
compton Constitution, to select committee, by the
close vote of lis 10 Ill.
The motion of Mr. Stephens which had priority, to
refer to the standing committee territories, was
defeated by one majonty-yeas ll3, nays IA.
Mr. Keitt then made an ample apology to the House
for his attack Mr. Grow, during the preceding sit
ting, and Mr. Grow expressed regret that necessity
had constrained him to engage in a personal collision
on that floor.
In Senate, Mr.. Fessenden made long speech, in
behalf Of free Kansas eciting explanatory remarks
from Messrs. Mason Seward, c. c. Clay and Jefferson
Davis. The Lecompton message and constitution was
then referred to the standing committee territories
by six majority.
! On the 9th, the army bill was discussed.
| On the 10th, the Senate refused 10 take up Mr..
Douglas resolution of nquiring into Kansas affairs,
by a vote of "a to 49, While Mr.. Douglas was pro
ccedng to give the for its immediate consider
alton he was interrupted by Messrs Davis and Mason.
A discussion followed upon the army BILL which
was advocated by Mcssrs Mason, Davis and Cr1tten-
den and opposed by Mr.. Hale.
The House was occupied during its whole sitting in
considering the bill extending the provisions Of the
steamboat law Of 1852, to ferry and tug boats, and
imposing additional restrictions and penalties.
On the 10th, the Senate adopted the joint resolution
for the reception of the Turkish vice.Admiral.
Mr. Wilson offered an amendment TO the army bill
providing for the employment Of volunteers in Utah,
/ tb.t l.. uInulI aa
substitute
Mr.. Houston presented resolution instructing the
committee foreign relations to inquire into the ex-
pedency Of our Government assuming protectorate
over Central America and Mexico.
| Mr. Houstons resolution relative TO protectorate
over Central America and Mexico, was laid on the
table, after some discussion.
The army bill was then taken up Mr.. johnson, of
Tennessee, submitted a substitute, which Mr. Wilson
accepted in place Of his own amendment providing
tor the enrolment of 1000 volunteers, to serve only
during the present troubles.
! On the 18th, Mr.. Green of Missouri, in the name Of
the majority of the Committee on Territories, sub
mitted report in favor Of the admission Of Kansas
under the Lecompton Constitution.
The accompanying report, which was signed by
Messrs Green of NO., Jones, Of Iowa, Sebastian Of
Arkansas, and Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, starts from
the premises that the people Of Territory may form
constitution in one of three ways--in mass meeting,
or through the agency Of the representatives, either
endowed with plenary power, or with instructions 70
submit the work TO their constituents In the case of
Kansas the Ond method was pursued. The conven-
ton having been legally called, its members legally
elected and itself legally clothed with authority to
make constitution, it is logical to infer that its work
can no more be nterered with by Governor or Leg
sature than if the people had acted in mass meeting
For Congress to do away with this instrument would
be step unwarrantable and uncalled for, since ma
orty of the people had it in their power to modify
aud destroy their own work at legal times and places
A minority report, signed by Messrs. Collamer and
Wade and written by the former, takes the ground
that the Territorial Government of Kansas was never
legally organized, but that it was usurped by foreign
force that the Federal Government has sustained this
usurpaon in order to establish and perpetuate slavery
in Kansas, and that the Lecompton Constitution is
but the contamination of these acts of despotism
Congress- to give it force Of law, would be to give il
fraud and force and to give the people to John
Calhoun to put such men in power as be may see dt
Al N IN in ,uhi