The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-11
Rar Mr.. Wheeler is the accredited agent for
the Era, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
WASHINGTON, D. C..
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1851
j. NIGHT sEssI0N-SCEEEs IN THE HOUSE
NATURE OF THE STRUGGLE

The policy of Observation-Disclosures Party wa
to have the Lecompton Constitution, and thu
Presidents message recommending its adop
ton, referred to the Committee on Territories
The a. Assumption is. that there should be no In
quiry beyond the Constitution itself-is it re
publican in form? As to the character OF the
Convention that formed it, the manner in which
it was organized, its proceedings, the mode in
which the Constitution was submitted, or
the expression of the popular will concerning
it--these were subjects with which Congress
had nothing to do: the President and his sup.
pcrters wanted no investigation On the other
hand, the Republicans and the supporters ofM
Douglas insisted upon full preliminary inves.
tigation, SO as to ascertain whether the Consti-
tuition was or was not fair expression of the
will of the people of the Territory.
Mr.. Hughes, of Indiana, who had the floor
on the question of reference, hearing that Mr..
Harris, Of Illinois, intended to move reference
of all the papers to q select committee, with in
structions to Investigate and report, thought to
to anticipate the movement, and keep the mes
sage under the control of the Party, by moving
simply reference to a select committee, omit
ting instructions-and by usage, too, be entitled
to be appointed chairman.
Mr.. Harris, however, obtained the floor sub
sequenty, and moved to amend the resolution
of Mr.. Hughes as follows:
"That the message ftbe President, enclosing
the Constitution formed at Lecompton, in the
Territory of Kansas, by Convention of dele
gates thereof and the papers accompanying
the came, be referred to select committee of
fifteen, to be appointed by the Speaker, and
that said committee be instructed to inquire
into all the facts connected with the formation
Of eaid Constitution, and the laws under which
the same was originated, ard into all such facts
and proceedings as have transpired, since the
formation of said Constitution, having relation
to the question of the propriety of the admission
of said Territory into the Union under said
Constitution, and whether the same is accepta.
BILE and satisfactory to majority of the legal
voters of Kansas; and that said committee have
power to send for persons and papers"
And on this he demanded the previous queq.
ton, thus excluding all idle debate. Mr.. Ste
phens, of Georgia, seemed to think this was
taking them by surprise, and forthwith the Ad-
ministration. Party, feeling its weakness, COM.
menccd a war of parliamentary expedients to
stave eff vote, ard compel an adjournment.
The Opposition, well disciplined in trials of
endurance, entered warmly into the struggle,
and on the first motion to adjourn, cast ll2
votes, against 50 given for it. The struggle
was continued, without debate, four or five
hours, the yeas and nays being called times
without number on all sorts of idle questions,
moved by Administration men,; but the Oppo-
sition was infexible, betraying no indication of
impotence or yielding.
Midnight came, and still the voting went on.
Between one and two O'Clock, an outbreak sud-
denly occurred, which for few moments threat
ened general conflict.
Mr.. Grow, of Pennsylvania, passing down an
aisle on the Administration eide of the House,
hearing General Qaitman, of Mississippi, an.
nounce his desire 20 offer proposition, cried
out, " / object" Mr.. Keitt, of South Carolina,
who was near him, said to him, $50 to your
own side of the House, and object. Mr.. Grow
replied" This is a free hall, and shall object
wherever please and he passed On to the
area before the Speakers chair. Here he was
met by Mr.. Keitt, who had passed down an.
other aisle, and who asked hims sw BAH he
said" replied Mr.. Grow 4" this is free hall,
and shall object wherever / please" an
let you know" said Mr.. Keitt, trying to take
Mr.. Grow by the throat. Mr.. Grow struck his
hand ur. but Mr.. Ke,t repeated" I'll let you
know, you Black Republican puppy and
i will let you know" said Mr.. Grow, +" that no
negrodriver in this hall shall crack his whip
over me-" All the words that had passed be-
tween them were quietly spoken, SO as to at.
tract no general attention. No sooner had Mr.
Grow replied, than Mr.. Keitt sprapg towards
him, and q second time tried to seize him by
the throat; but this time Mr.. Grow knocked
him down. In an instant he was surrounded by
Southerners, and at the same moment, C. C.
- Washburn, E. B. Washburne, Mr.. Potter of Wis
consin, and other Republican members, appre.
hending that Grow would be injured, rushed to
the rescue, and conflict ensued, in which
MANY hard knocks were given before it was un.
derstocd that it was the object of several of the
Southern men who inter:ered, to prevent, not
invite, such a controversy and the Sergeant
alarms appearing among them, sustained by
the efforts of the Speaker and the members gen.
orally, order was soon restored. The conflict
continued only two minutes, and the House pro-.
ceeded with the regular order of business, with
rs much good humor as if nothing had happen
ed. The Opposition being more determined
than ever to bring the House to action, the yeas
and nays were called about dozen times, and
the Administration members began to grow
weary. AT last, Mr.. Quitman' proposed that the
House a6journ over till Monday next, when the
subject under consideration should be resumed,
and the vote en- the pending proposition be
taken without deisy, debate, or dilatory motion.
This being agreeable to the Republicans, and
being understood to be agreed to By the AID.
ministration members, was promptly accepted
by the Opposition, and at 6a o'clock, Saturday
morning, after continuous session of lSl
hours, the House adjourned till Monday.
SO much for the first struggle in the House
between the Administration and Opposition
forces. 1t vas preliminary question, not test
of the exact relative strength of parties-but i,
served to draw the lines, and show that the
Administration has less ground for confidence
than it pretends to have.
RESULT OF THE FIRST STRUGGLE.
r. 81 L. 49, Al