Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-06
NEWS AND GOSSIP

WARN TINES IN THE HousE.-After dis
posing of the pending question relative to the
Ohio contested election case - 81 p. IN. yester-
day, the question of the reference of the Presi-
dents special message came up in the House,
and Mr.. Harris, of Illinois, amended his pend
ing proposition, so that it was made to call for
the appointment by the Speaker Of a select
committee OF fifteen, to be charged with the
duty OF investigating and.reporting on all the
circumstances connected with the history OF
the Kansas State Constitution, with power to
send for persons and papers. On that he de-
manded the previous question, which had it
been gwen. would have prevented any further
debate whatever on the subject The Demo-
cratic party in the chamber recognised in
stantly in this proposition a scheme to perpet-
uate the sectional controversy over the slavery
question until the national election of 1860.
ana OF course opposed it by all the means within
their reach
They were not to be entrapped, as the Re-
puoiicans and their allies intended, by any such
Parliamentary tactics. Had they permitted the
convenient proposition of Mr.. Harris to prevail.
they would have virtually legislated to stave
on nnal action on the Lecompton Constitution
until the last hours of the present Congress
In the mean time, going step by step towards
the completion of their thorough Identification
with the schemes, measures and principles of
the Republican party, their nominal Demo
cratic allies in the House would be able to de-
wise some expedient for keeping the question
over still longer for the benefit of those desiring
to play in the next Presidential election on the
lvrf 81 ha
States. These facts were so patent as that the
democracy OF the House instantly determined
TO defeat the cunningly- devised abolition
senemei Tor 1T amounted to nothing more nor
less, In the consequences of its adoption.
we LETT the chamber at 9 p. m, when they
were still engaged in opposing its triumph by
The legitimate expedient afforded under the
rules governing the proceedings of the House.
at that hour; calls for yeas and nays had been
ordered, sufficient to continue the balance Of
the session until day break.
ihe leading fact elucdated by the proceed.
lngs OF last night is the completeness of the
identihcation OF the nominal Democratic CO.
laoorers Of Douglas with the Republican party.
Thus they fought shoulder to shoulder together
throughout the night with the Republicans
and for the benefit of the principles and plan,
Of the latter. Many of our political f,;snd.
VINO nave been cheating themselves with the
nope that Mr. Douglas, and those thoroughly
identned with him in his present anti Demo
cratic party labors, only meant to get ND a
little hubbub inside Of the Democratic organi.
ration, we know, have thought hard of us for
20 soon and so emphaticalIy taking ground
against his new positions and affiliations.
Inc work OF his handful of nominal Demo.
cratic supporters in the House hall. of Las,
last night will, however, prove sufficient to sat.
my our friends to whom we here allude that
our Judgment and course have been correct in
this matter from beginning to end. Our OK.
Perisnce in such matters assured US that thew
are on the high road to avowed Republican
partyism, and we felt it to be duty to apprise
the Democracy Of the fact, instanter.
What sound and sincere Democrat, after
thoughtfaily examining the proceedings of the
House last night, will dream longer that there
IL fair reason for hoping that, sitter all the end
and ann OF Mr. Douglas and his friends is not
70 oreak down the Democratic party organiza.
non oy Strengthening the cause of an III slavery
In tne nope OF profting by the favor of its 70.
taries hereafter?
The Presidents TENDER or IN, o,,,
BRANCH The close observer Of the nrocead.
ings Of Congress will comprehend from -.
temper and tenor of the debate in the SENATE
the day before yesterday on the message. tb.,
the Presidents urgent appeals for a Cessation
Of the too long drawn out national controversy
over slavery involved in his recommendat;on
for the immediate entire remission of all tbe;,
matters in issue to the people of Kansas them
selves, is quite as warmly opposed by the Dem
ocratic enemies Of the Lecompt0n Constitution
a. by the Republicans. True. the former pro-
test that they seek to keep open the controver-
ny, not to that particular end, but only in the
belief that the instrument Is not acceptable to
majority Of the people of the Territory. The
plea that the latter cannot change the instru-
msnt a. they may please immediately after the
admission Of the Territory into the Union has
been abandoned, evidently, in Congress. With
its abandonment expires, necessarily. every
hope of keeping alive the impression that Dem
ocratc opposition on the subject is not identical
with that of the Republican party. The distant
public will note the fact, 50 patent to all here.
that the practical sfhliatiOn Of both wipgs-tbe |