The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-25

pondsnes Pioneer and Democrat.


WAsHISorox, Feb. Q, 1855.
The Kansas question has advanced but o
single stage towards its solution. In the
Senate, the Lecompton Constitution has
been referred to the Committee on Terrific
ries, while, ia the House, after desperate
parliamentary struggle, it has been coaiided,
at the instance OF Mr.. HARRIS, OF Illinois
("Douglas Democrat" term much in
vogue)-tO q select committee Of fifteen,
with the following instructions:
Rssoiced, That the message Of the President
Of the United States concerning the constitu.
ton framed at LecOmptOn, in the Territory Of
Kansas, by q convention 81 delegates thereof,
and the papers accompanying the same. be re.
ferred to q select committee of fifteen mem bers
70 be appointed by the Speaker that said com.
mittee be instructed to inquire into all the facts
connected with the formation Of said coDstitu.
ton, and the laws under which the same was
originated. and into all such facts and proceed.
ings a. have transpired since the formation OF
said constitution, having relation to the ques-
ton OF the propriety Of the admission Of said
Territory into the Union under said constitu
tion; and whether the same IL acceptable and
Of Kansas; and that said committee have power
to send for persons and papers.
The vote by which this resolution passed
was rs ayes to Ill nays. On the a1irma-
tive side but two votes came from the South
--FRASK Z. BLAIR and II. WINTER DAVIS
There are nmety-two Republicans in the
HouSc, and az two Of this number were alb.
sent, it is evident that twenty-threc North
ern Democrats voted for the resolution of
Mr. HARRIS. This is regarded here a. n
test vote. Eight members were absent, but
their presence would not have changed the
result.
The terms Of the resolution give great
powers to the committee, and the dog-days
may como and go, before they will be able
to report.
A new phase Of the Kansas question has
been presented by the action of General
CALHOUN, who has concluded to give the
certificates Of election TO the Free State Of
ficers, elected on the 4th Of January, instead
of 20 the Pro-Slavery candidates, as pre-
viously announced. Gen. CALHOUN is now
in Washington, and as this intention has
been just announced since his arrival here,
il is but fair to presume that the change has
been produced by the dangers awaiting the
Iecompton Constitution. A provision will
also he inserted in the bill admitting X an
sas into the Union, affirming the right of the
people of Kansas to change their constitu
ton whenever they deem proper, notwith'
standing that document asserts in positive
terms that the constitution shall not be
amended prior TO 1864 This is the com.
promise relied upon, as u last resort to bring
Kansas into the Union under the Lecompton
Constitution and while it gives the admins
tration the appearance Of victory, the Free
State men achieve every substantial advan-
tagc for which they have coDtended. The
a." MEDICINE" however, is liable to an objec-
ton which the Southern States Rights men
will probably urge it acknowledges the
power Of Congress to interfere with the
State government after the State has been
admitted into the Union. 1t not only vio-
lates squatter sovereignty, bat in effect
abrogates State sovereignty--rather dan
gerous precedent to establish.
" course you have heard by telegraph
oil about the fight between GROw and kEIrr.
Yesterday, in tho House, and in the pres
ct,ce Of probably two thousand persons in
the galleries, Mr.. KErrr ACKNOWLEDGED him.
self the aggroSsor, and as wholly entitled to
all the eensure arising from the disgraceful
scene. MIR. Grow also explained that he
merely acted in selfdefcncc. KEirr is fine
specimen OF the untcrriiied chiyalry he
would be- brute were it nos that education
has transformed him into an oratorical bully.
NJ.