The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-21
WASHINGTON ITEMS.

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WASHINGTON ITEMS
Wednesday of last week, James B. Clay,
of Kentucky, son of Henry Clay, delivered his
maiden speech in the House, upon the Mica
rapua question. He defended the Administrs-
ton, and acquitted himself handsomely.
The Senate INDUCED in a little pleasantly
last week, Wednesday. Mr.. Fitch, of Indiana,
arose to explain the resolution recently adopted
by the Democratic Convention in Indiana. The
resolutions apparently condemn the course pur'
sued in the Senate by the Indiana Senators,
and Mr.. Fitch endeavored to enlighten the
Senators as to their meaning. He was replied
to by Mr.. Douglas when Mr.. Hale arose to
explain the resolutions passed three weeks ago
by the Democratic Caucus in New Hampshire.
During the whole of his speech, the Senate was
convulsed with laughter.
Speaker Orr has made ample and excellent
provision for the corps of reporters and letter
writer's attending upon the sessions of the
House.
Mr.. Blair, of Missouri, made his first speech
in the House last Thursday. 1t excited much
curiosity and attention. He spoke against Sla'
very, but took care to have it understood that he
would not accord to the negro the rights of
citizenship in this country, but would colonize
him in Nicaragua and other countries.
The New York Journal of Commerce pub
fishes an interesting account of the prepara-
tons of the Secretary of War to reinforce the
army in Utah, from which we extract as fol-
lows:
ga detachment will probably be sent from
New York in the course of the next fortnight
first to Jefferson Barracks, there to be drilled,
and get into lighting order, and will thence be
moved to Fort Leavenworth, where they will be
added to the various regiments which require
filling up. The regiments specially detached
by Lieut.. Gen. Scott, with the appreciation of
the War Department, to reinforce the army of
Utah, are the lst regiment of cavalry, 9th and
7th regiments of infantry, the 4th regiment of
artillery, and light companies A and M of the
I'd artillery. The additional force will number
over 1900 men, which, with the (about) 1000
already in the Territory. will make up an army
large enough to bring the rebellious fanatics to
terms. General SCOTS orders direct that Forts
Smith, Washita, Arbuckle, and Belknap, shall
be abandoned for the present, and that all the
troops comprising the garrisons, excepting the
ordnance sergeants, shall at the earliest posi-
BILE day proceed to Jefferson Barracks. The
necessary preparations for the campaign will
be pushed forward with great vigor, and the
movement into Utah will probably be made
early in the spring"
H@r The Administration journals are al.
ready claiming all the votes cast in Kansas on
January 4th, for State officers, as for the Le-
compton Constitution. This dodge is unworthy
honest men, or men who pretend to be hon
est. All the men in Kansas who voted for
the Free State ticket, did so, protesting
against any recognition of the Lecompton
fraud. They voted merely to secure the State
for Freedom, or something better than anar.
chy, in case the Calhoun Constitution we're
crowded through Congress. To count these
votes in favor of Lecompton, is proof of strange
blindness, or astounding wickedness.
nay Senator Brown, of Mississippi, is out
in letter to the N. p. Herald, denying that
he has backed down from his defence of the
Lecompton Constitution, as some of the letter.
writer's have asserted. The Senator should
have some regard for the daily writer's for the
press they must write something. What bet.
ter than that he has been converted to the
cause of justice
T. g, "A ~ A. -. L.
more strongly than ever on forcing the Leeomp-
ton Constitution through Congress. 1t is said
that he makes it personal matter. If this ia
true, the worse for him.
BD~ A California exchange reports q singu.
lar slave trial in Stockton, California. 1t seems
that citizen of that State had the hardihood,
not only to buy negro, but attempted to de.
fend his claim in the courts. He was defeated,
but the exchange in question intimates that
quite number of slaves is held at this time in
California.
Day Charles Mackay, the poet, who is among
US, is writing pleasant descriptive letters to the
London Illustrated NesOs. He is much pleased
with this new country and people.
The House of Representatives was last Friday
thrown into good deal of excitement, by the
introduction of a resolution appointing com
mittee to inquire into the alleged expenditure
of Messrs. Lawrence, Stone, 4 Co., of Massa
chusetts, of large sum of money, during the
last Congress, to procure the passage of the
amended tariff laws. One or two Democratic
members, very unjustly, attempted to make
party capital out of the charge.
THE UNION IN DANGER The Union il
again in danger of dissolution. The Mobile
Register says
"We sincerely trust there will be no finch.
ing or hesitation on the part of our South.
ern Representatives in Congress in the emer.
gency before Us. We hope they will meet the
issue with an unbroken front; and let it be
distinctly understood that the admission OF
Kansas wiM her present Constitution, and upon
her present application, is the sine qua non OF
the continuance Of the Southern States in the
COntederacy. Let them not be seduced and
hoodwinked with any ingenious and delusive
compromises, nor frightened from their propri.
ETY. by any regard to the consequenoes.u
Who shall step forward with the old remedy
for this frequently occurring disease com.
promise9
JUDGE LoRING.-The case of this Massa-
chusetts judge, which has so long agitated New
England, is about to be disposed of, according
to correspondent of the New York Times, in
the following manner:
"The Judge Loring question, it is expected,
will be got rid OF by side movement. The