Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-02-13
THE NEWS.

/ aSainsC Ine Lecompton constitution.
Mr.. Douglas offered resolution in til,
Senate on the 4th, calling upon the Pres
dent for full information in relation to Kan
sas affairs especially in relation to election
frauds, which was STAYED off by an objection
That information will never see the light il
an official form if the advocates of the Le
compton swindle can keep it back. 1t does
not mater, however, to the main issue, as il
is already before the whole country through
the newspapers.
CoNGREss.-A scene of great disorder oc
Cured in the House On Friday, consequent
upon Mr.. Harris moving the previous ques
ton on his resolution calling for informa-
tin upon Kansas affairs. AT the date OF
our las; Washington dispatch, both parties
were holding out and making unsuccessful
efforts to adjourn. .
p. S. We learn by a subsequent dispatch
received at the telegraph Office in this city
that this scene of disorder ended in "free
fight" commencing between Mr.. Grow, of
Pa, aud Mr.. Keitt, of S. c.. Ten or twelve
members participated, and several were hurt.
The House finally adjourned till Monday.
"A dispatch from Washington of the 9TH
says the movement of Mr.. Harris, of Ill.,, in
the House, to refer the PRESIDENTS Message
to a special committee appointed by the
Speaker, embodies the policy of the Douglas
men. Should res luton or resolutions for
that purpose be adopted, and the Speaker
appoint committee unacceptable to the an
ti-Lecomplon Constitution men, an effort, it
is >aid, will be made to set it aside and elect
one by ballot. The reports privately say
they will support such Il ,navemen5 with Il
view to secure the lest attainable end,
while their votes will be given in favor of
the proposition to refer the question of the
formation Of a constitution to the people of
Kansas. The Douglas Democrats will unite
with the Republicans in making it test
vote on the Harris resolution, which the Ad-
miniStration is prepared to accept
We give elsewhere an account of the
rufiianly assault of Mr. Keitt, of s. c., upon
Mr.. Grow, of Pa, in the House of Repre-
sentatives. keitt, as is we'll known, is a
champion of the slavery propagandists i'm
perious, naughty and arrogant to an ungen-
tlemanly degree while Mr. Grow is quiet
but firm advocate of freedom "a gentleman
by instinct and education, who would not
provoke quarrel but who does not lack
sufficient spirit to resent an insult The as
sault of Keitt on Grow seems to have been
as ungentlemanly and unprovoked as that Of
upon Mr.. Sumner.
The steamer Col. Crossman burst one
of her boilers and took fire on Thursday the
4th inst about mile above New Madrid,
Mo, and was entirely destroyed, causing the
loss of fifteen or twenty lives. The explo-
sion took place at about ! O'Clock in the
evening. The flames were rapidly commu-
nicated fore and aft, and in few minutes
the entire boat was in flames. The pilot
either lost control of her or abandoned her
to her fate, and she foated down the river
very slowly on the bar side of the river, the
flames consuming her fast. While opposite
New Madrid, the cabin fell in and the confu-
sion became general. Boats were dispatch
ed from the town with all possible prompti-
tude to save those who escaped the flames
All were saved that human efforts could res
cue under the circumstances. The South
erner coming along at the close of the scene,
offered all the aid she possibly could. The
boat is total loss. She grounded below
the town, On the opposite side, and burned
to the waters edge. She was heavily freight
ed and had large number Of passengers for
her size. Among the lost are Capt. Con-
verse, of St. Louis, one fireman, Alexander
Martin, barkeeper, Mrs. Green, and Mr..
Durking, Chicago. Supposed to be lost
Mrs. Taylor and child, St. Louis; Mr.. Chez
yer, st. Louis; Johnston, clerk; Wilson
Ferris, pilot; Lowe, mate; one assistant
engineer and the steward, John B. Canada.
-Leavenworth (Kansas) papers of the
3Oth say that Gen. Stickley, the Commits
sioner appointed by the President to audit
claims of citizens of the Territory who sus-
tained losses during the difficulties, has al
lowed claims amounting to nearly four hum
dred thousand dollars. The Board of Com
missioners appointed by the Legislature are
now in session at Leavenworth, engaged in
taking testimony relative to the election
frauds.
CoNGREss-Feb. Sth, forenoon session.
The galleries of the House were tensely
crowded, including many ladies. The Speak
er announced the pending proposition to be
on seconding the demand for the previous
question on the several motions to refer
the Presidents message The demand was
seconded by 10 against los. MIR. Wash.
burn, of Maine, demanded the yeas and
nays, but did not press it. The main ques-
tiOn was ordered to be put by yeas lO|,
nays ll3. The result of this vote was watch
ed by everybody with extreme anxiety. The
next question announced was on the mo-
ton of Mr.. Stephens to refer the message te
the Committee on Territories. The House
disagreed by ia against ll3. IA very
close vote! The reader should bearin mint
that the anti-Lecompton members want th'
message referred to special committee in
stead of the Committee on Territories, as th
latter is unfairly constituted. If this ma.
be regarded as test vote, they have on
majority in the House. The final disposl
ton of the message will be watched TO
with great INTEREST,"
In the Senate, Mr.. Douglas made severa
Intellectual efforts to take up his resolution