The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-11

Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The morning hour was consumed on the question
OF excuslng member of the Committee of Accounts
from serving.
Mr.. Stephens asked leave to present the House
port of the Kansas Committee.
Mr.. Sherman; of Ohio, objected until the Select
Committees should be called
Mr. Stephens said that would not be- for two
months yet-meantime he should take the response
bility of printing it.
The volunteer bill was resumed.
Mr.. Curtis made speech in favor of additional
regiments being placed at the disposal
OF the President, to operate in Utah. If he failed
to use this description of force, let the responsible
ty rest upon him.
The House then passed to the consideration (techni-
cally) of the Consular and Diplomatic appropra-
ton bill.
Mr.. Foster made an anti-Lecompton speech and
opposed the extension of slavery
Mr.. George Taylor delivered his views and Mr.
Haskins made speech in favor of the admission of
Kansas.
The House then adjourned.
REPORT OF THE KANSASsINVESTfGAT ALTON
COMMITTEE.
WASHINGTON, March l0.-The views of the ma
jority of the Kansas committee which Mr.. Steph-
ems is about to publish on his own responsibility,
not having obtained consent to present it in the
House sets out by saving that the subject matter to
which attention should be directed was:
First-The law for taking the census of the people.
Second-The law calling the convention. Third
The registry of the voters and the apportionment
under it. Fourth-The assembling of the conven-
ton and its journal. Fifth-The constitution so
made. Sixth-The official vote the ratification
| of the sub ject submitted. Seyenth-The committee
filed, not deeming it material, the act of December
last, providing for vote for against the slavery
clause on 4th January.
Eighth-The official announcement of the vote
| and ninth. The written statement of Gen. Calhoun
in relation to the registry of votes &c. but which
| sheds no light on the subject
The report says that these facts show great regu-
larity and strict conformity to law, and that no
State heretofore applying for admission has shown
a clearer record
No objection to the admission of Kansas arises on
the usual inquires-frst to the application; see
ondly, as to the regularity of the proceeding; and
thirdly whether the constitution is republican in
form.
The report then answers the objections going very
fully into reply to Gov. Walkers argument, foam
| ded on his assumption that the validity of every
State constitution depends on its having received the
sanction of popular vote. This assumption is de-
MED as not being sustained by principle orauthority
"Sovereignty," Governor Walker says, is mali
enable, and rests exclusively with the people This
| is granted, but the report says it does not follow
that sovereign power cannot be delegated. The
formation of constitution requires the exercise OF
sovereign power; but so does the commonest act of
legislature If the one can be delegated, so can
the other All the constitutions of the old States
were made by conventions without notifications ex
cept that of Massachusetts.
The Constitution of the United States was rati-
fled by State conventions, and never by the popular
vote. The amendments to it are to be cOncurred
in by State Legislatures, and not by the popular
vote, to give them validity. If Governor Walker
doctrine is correct should be without State con
situations laws in half of the States of the Union
The objection that enabling act is necessary is al
so answered. and shown to be untenable, both il
principle and authority
The question relative to the registry and appoint
ment is very fully treated. The charge that nine
teen counties were disfranchised is completely an
swered. There are but thirty-four organized coun
ties in Kansas. Twenty-one of these were repre-
sented. Nine of the thirteen unrepresented coun
ties have very little population. In seven of then
not vote was cast at the January election agans
the constitution. In two others of the nine les
than one hundred were thrown; and in the four re
naming, namely: Franklin, Anderson, Coffee anC
breckenridge, there were eleven and thirty five
In these four counties the officers prevented
from making registry.
The report also shows, from the registry and ap
portionment, together with the official returns
that at the fourth of January election, the fiy,
counties of Leavenworth, Atchson, Douglas, DOM
phan and Jefferson, cast five thousand hundred
and eighteen votes, which is a majority of the
whole vote cast throughout the territory agains
the constitution And vet all these counties were
registered and represented in the convention, hav
ing thirty-six of the sixty delegates of which thu
convention composed.
Ii 1T be true that the opponents of the constitu
ton were so largely in the ma ority in those coun
ties, and so violent in their opposition, why dic
they not elect men to form constitution more tt
their liking? They had within four votes of two
thirds of the convention; why, then, did they fai
to act at the proper time? Their refusal, there
fore, did not nvalidae the just fair and legal action
of the convention.
The resolution under which the committee wa
appointed, directed them to inquire whether thu
Lecompton constitution is acceptable and satisfac
tory to the people? The reply to this is, that thu
only correct test is the ballot-box, and such
preston of the popular will is there given at thu
according
test the constitution was adopted by an overwhelm
ing majority of those who joined in the election
These only can be considered as the bona fde cti
zens of Kansas. Others who abstained are male
tide residents, who went to Kansas for mischief anC
strife They acknowledged outlaws, anC
are not to be considered constituent elements o
community or society, against which they il
open rebellion.
But on the 4th of January, at the election fol
state officers under the constitution, thar
lZoO0 voters in Kansas did go to the polls and thus
showed conclusvely that at least four tfths of the
voters OF that Territory were willing to vote for the
election of State officers under the constitution
inns shows that the constitution not only &C
ceptabe but it has been accepted by at least four
hiths OF the voters of that Territory, though not
tirely satisfactory to all of them.
The committee declined to go into an investiga-
ton OF the alleged frauds at the January election
Tor State officers, for want of jurisdiction of the
House over the subject. They say they can no more
investigate frauds relating to the election of State
officers in Kansas, than in any other State Those
matters to be inquired into by other appropri-
ate Legitimate tribunals. If the seat of the mem
Der of Congress elected to this House, be contested
on the ground of alleged frauds, the House would
nave jurisdiction that question but not to
frauds in the election of Governor or members Of
the Legislature of Kansas.
The report concludes with recommendation fol
the admission of the State of Kansas in pursuance
OF the views of the President, believing the welfare
and prosperity of the people of Kansas as well a:
the general welfare, peace and harmony of the
thereby promoted.
FIRE In ELYRlA, OHIO.
CLEVELAND, March "a fire in Elyria last night
destroyed eight buildings, causing loss of $40 900
There was an insurance for $4,000 on the property
MARKETS.
New YORK, March l0.-Cotton is firm; sales o.
$500 baes;- market generally unchanged, but
holders pressing sales Flour is rm sales OF l3, O0t
bbls. at an advance of cents on State and Ohio
common to good State S425@S4.35; Ohio S5@ So.
10; Southern is quiet Wheat is heavy-sales :, 500
bushels only; Southern red ll0@l20 cents; white
l2S@l35 cts. Corn is very dull-saes unimportant
POrk-Mess has declined 10 cents; sales of Western
Repacked at Sl3.3S@S13.5O. Lard is steady at 97s
@l0l4 cents Whisky is dull. Sugar has advanced
I@H; Orleans frm-6@6A cents. Coffee gene
tine spirits closed steady at 4s14 g49 cents. Rosir
is steady. Rice is firm
At the tea sale to-day, greens were steady
Blacks declined about per cent
New Orleans sugar at auction was sold at very
full prices. In some cases there was slight i'm
| prOyement.