Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-03-20
The Kansas Question In the House

The anti -Lecomptonites have had
their cause most severely damaged by
the action of the House on Thursday
and Friday Of last week. Mr.. Harris,
the selected champion Of the Anti-Le-
compton forces and chairman of the
select committee, appointed on his
motion, under cover of a privileged
question, attempted to place upon
record q statement which is nothing
more nor less than a partizan attack
upon the majority of the committee
for refusing to enter upon the consde-
ration Of subjects not embraced in the
resolution, and which had no connec-
ton with the subject matter referred to
the committee for examination. The
nakedness Of this attempt to cmbarrass
the House, and prevent the majority
from reaching the Kansas question by
the ordinary and legitimate means Of
business, will be seen by reference to
the fact, that but few days previous
to this movement on the part of the
minority Of the select committee, the
anti Lecomptonites had objected to and
prevented the majority of that com
mittee from reporting to the House the
conclusions they had arrived at, after
q full investigation of the whole ques-
ton submitted. The arranged scheme
of Mr.. Harris and his followers was,
however, promptly met by Speaker
Orr, who very properly decided that
the question was uot one of privilege;
and thus foiled at the onset of the
struggle, Mr.. Harris had but one path
open for a retreat, and that through
an appeal to the decision of the chair.
This was done, and after procrastina-
ting the discussion fer two days, the
anti-Lecompton leader withdrew his
appeal, and thus gave up the point.
The last vote upon Mr.. Jones motion
to lay the appeal on the table, showed
100 votes in favor Of the motion, and
Ill votes in opposition to the same.
This was the signal for retreat, and
Mr.. Harris skulked from the contest,
and abandoned his own offspring to
which had given premature birth. On
motion to lay on the table this appeal,
the anti-Lecomptonites fell two votes
behind the number pollcd for the
original resolution Of inquiry proposed
by Mr.. Harris, although Marshall and
Ricaud, Lecompton men, both voted
with them on the latter occasion.
The result Of this attempt Of Mr..
Harris to override the rules of the
House for the purpose of reaching a
political object, demonstrates most
clearly two propositions. The first is,
that whenever the question comes up
in plain, legitimate shape. that Kan
90 will be admitted under the Le-
compton constitution. There can be
no question as to the result. Lecomp-
ton II seven votes stronger than those
polled in favor Of tabling the appeal
while anti-Lecompton will lose at least
those Of Marshall and Ricaud, if not
one or two more on the final vote
The certainty Of this termination will
also dispirit the anti-Lecomptonites
and make each succeeding effort weak
OF and more readily and easily over
come BY those who are contending TO
the right Of the people of State t.
frame their constitution in their owl
way, and then claim admission init
~ Union under that instrument.
Asnia the proceeding Of the anti
Leeempteonas under he led q kr
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