Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-12

Of the Wilmot proviso ana against the Mis-
souri, line and the CLAYTON compromise, m
itistcd this effort. He proposed an amend
ment, extending over California and New
Mexico the Constitution Of tho United
States $50 far a. IT. pfovisiocs werc april,
cable 70 the conditions Of Territory, ana
several specified acts Of Congress. with az
ssosy 20 ss = s z speeu and a.
force orderly civil government This
amendment was adopted by tho Ben,
ate. No southern senators voted
against IL cxcep. BADGER of North CARO-
Ina, Johnson and Pearce OF Mary
land, and Spruance and Wales OF Delaware.
II was, however. stricken out 10 the House,
every southern Representative pIesens
voting TO retain II. The Senate insiste1
conference was appointed. This committee
agreed upon report retaining the walker
amendment, but adding to IT proviso
which was acceptable to the southern
members. The Senate promptly accepted
this report. and II the House had concurred
the session of Congress would have ciosed
before the midnight OF March "a. Ice
Senate after midnight had no business pc
fore II and continued In session Simply
10 await the action of the House.
The chairman Of the House committee OF
conference was the Hon Charles. ). More
head, distinguished Wing member from
Kentucky. He presented the report OF the
COMMITTEES and moved tho concurrence OF
the House. As soon as he took his seat
Mr.. George Ashmun, of Massachusetts,
arose and asked the Speaker. If the motion
of Mr.. Morehead was adopted. would the
bill DO open for further amendment. Inc
sachusctts) answered that it would. be:
The southern men were startled az
this response. and speaking through
Mr.. Bayly, Of Virginia. and Mr..
Cobb. of Georgia. appealed TO the speaker
10 change his ruling. They insisted that
the motion of MIR. Morehead had been that
the House concur with the Senate In the
bill as sent from the Senate containing the
Walker amendment, with the propose
be did not so understand the motion
that he understood it as motion to
amend the Senate's amendment, conceding
that il the motion, as stated by Messrs.
Bayly and Cobb, had been made by Mr.;
Morehead its adoption by tho House would
have been conclusion OF the controversy
and the adoption of the bill: de SAID
however, with the fairness when cnarac-
terized his whole public career, that II DIT.
Morehead would say that he bad submit
ted the motion as stated by Messrs. Bayly
and Cobb he would withdraw his ruling
and submit the question to the house upon
the adoption of the bill with the proposed
proviso. Mr.. Morehead fully appTeciatea
the delicacy of his position, and stated
that while he had intended to make the
motion in the form stated by Bayly ana
Cobb he could not say that he had done SO.
The Speaker then said that he must rely
upon bis own understanding OF the NOTION
and. if il was adopted by the House. enter
tain further motions for amendment. Inc
vote was then taken and Dir. Moreheads
motion was adopted. Immediately theie-
after Mr.. Asbmun moved TO amend oy III
serting the Wiimot proviso. ms MOTION
was adopted. The two houses were thus
left hopelessly at variance unless the BEN
ate would recede from its insistence upon
the Walker amendment. The Senate dld
recede and the bill was agreed upon py
both houses about 8 or O'CLOCK on the
morning of Sunday, March 4th. MIR. Polk
had remained in the Capitol TIL after MID
night, but returned to the White House
before the passage OF the Dill. ~ WIS SEM
TO him promptly and returned with his APP
proyal as the light of early dawn was steal
ing into the halls of the House and Senate.
STRAIGHT FIGHT.
Tn neither house was there anything like
flibusterine or any concerted effort by
either party to compel the adjournment OF
Congress without the passage OF an appro-
nriation bill. There were no dilatory mo-
lions, no unnecessary consumption OF time
in factious debate, and no calls OF the
AYES and noes II was an honest.
straightforward parliamentary fight be-
tween two great parties upon
most imposing and momentous ques-
ton. There was, of course, the mani
festation of the intensest excitement
and feeling. but in the midst, OF all the
whitehead OF the controversy there was as
little indecorum and disorder as could
have been expected from any legislative
body under the like circumstances. IL Is
true that when the Senate was at leisure
awaiting the action OF the House there was
some confusion and disorder. but it was
occasioned mainly by O single senator
Mr.. Foote, of Mississippi-who was con-
tinually upon the floor, sometimes address
ING the Chair and sometimes strlding along
the aisles of the Senate, proclaiming that
the body had after IL o'clock at night no
more authority than town-meeting.
MANY senators agreed with him IN the
opinion that the session had legally closed
at ~ O'Clock, but they contented them
selves with temperate protests and ab.
stained from voting. The division or
opinion was not sectional or partisan:
Certainly neither Mr.. Benton nor General
Cass could have been regarded as followers
of Mr.. Calhoun or factious southerners,
and they were two of the most pronounced
adherents of the opinion that the consti-
tutional limit of the session had been
passed at midnight.