New-York daily tribune., 1858-03-04


f'on SPECIAL Corre,pond~t
WASHINGTON, Wednesday March g. 49,.
Senator Stewards speech attracted an audience,
which at an early hour of the morning thronged all
egalleries and bbbes with distinguished persons
and ladies'. The floor Of the Senate was crowded
| with members Of the House and of the diplomatic
corps.
Mr.. Seward engaged attention fIedly through
| out, and on 70 former occasion did the Southern
aide of the Chamber exhibit the same Difference TO
| the speaker and interest in what he was saying
Dir Mason and others, who have heretofore affected
| Indifference, ssd have usually withdrawn, sat
| giving a most careful ear to every word, and
making copious notes for future replies.
The speech il conceded on all hands to be most
mastery production in its grasp and arrangement
of the subject and in the superior skill with which
its branches were treated. Mr.. Seward has added
cubit 70 his political stature.
| The Select Committee of the House met to-
| night All the members were present, including
Mr. Letcher of Virginia. The Committee sat
nearly three hours.
The first business was the presentation of Mr.
Stephens's report on behalf of the majority, which
occupied nearly three quarters of an hour in read
ing. He maintained the legality of the Lecompton
Convention throughout, claiming that the election
of delegates cOnformed to the requirements of the
law, and that therefore the act of the Convention
in framing the Constitution was binding upon the
people. He contended that those who refused to
vote were barred by their own act and could not
complain. He reviewed Senator Douglass Spring
field speech and the letters Of Gov. Walker and
Sec. Station, with the view Of demonstrating the
inconsistency of their present and past positions.
The report concluded by recommending the ad-
mission of Kansas under the LecOmptOn COnstitu-
ion, purely md simply
At the close of the report were presented II Sc
ries of resolutions covering the meager information
already obtained from the Department, probably
with the design of making the record complete, as
the facts were embodied in the report itself
Then vote was taken on the report and resOlu-
tons, which were adopted by vote of eight to
seven.
Gen. Calhoun's statement, which had been made
to the Territorial Committee of the Senate and
called for by Mr. Morrill, of Vermont at the last
meeting, WAS then presented, but not read. Mr..
Bennett moved that il should not be considered as
evidence, which motion Mr.. Stephens amended
slightly. 1t was then adopted by vote of nine to
six, Messrs. Stephens and Russell voting aflrlna.
lively, thus repudiating Cahoun's testimony.
Afterward Mr. Stephens moved to adjourn sine
die, to which an tme ndment was offered, substi-
tuting tomorrow night. The amendment was
voted down by Yeas to Nays Then the sine
die amendment was carried.
Mr.. Stephens expressed an intention OF reporting
next Wednesday, professedy with the view OF CIV
ing the minority time to prepare.
There are several Republicans absent from Con
gress who ought to hasten their return, as their
presence is imperatively required. There is some
prospect that the order of business in the House
may prevent the report from being made, because
general consent is required; or if attempted under
the regular call of the Committees, months may in
tervene before this special one is reached. OF
course Speaker Orr will rule all points against the
Opposition. Therefore every vote is important.
A member of the Kansas Investigating Commit
sion is expected here tomorrow or next day, with
II full report of the facts.
The Senate confirmed Mr.. Washington as Col.
lector Of San Francisco against the opposition of
Mr. Broderck. The Presidents nominee for Post
master of Hartford was also confirmed.