Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-14

Mr.. Calhoun. The letter assumes that Colonel Ben
ton 'Snm0ncdhis adhertRfs 0Rd dr0HRccd Inc ctect0,
OF Mr.. Lo'ciS, because he Nuhfcr and this se
| is made the pivot of the speculatons of the Sentne
and National lntcllcnccr in regard TO collision be
tween Mcssrs. Benton and Calhoun, and as starting
contest for the succession 10 the Presidency between
ticm more than nine months before the present can
didat", whom they both support for rccectiOn, has
passed his second ordeal
/ But to the facts on which this gigantic
strife is prematurcly raised. First The anony
nous lctcr-wrltcr is mistaken in supposng that Colo
mel BENToS's immediate and bosom friends voted
against MIR. LEWIS. The members from Missouri and
the warmcst friends Of Colonel BENTON in the House
voted for Mr.. LEWIS. Second: The American Sen
tne is mistaken in supposing that this lctterwrIter as
a friend organ of Mr.. CALHOUN, expressed his
opinions represented his feelings On the contrary,
have TO believe that the remarks and state
nens Of the letter utterly at variance with tie be-
lief, views, and wishes of MIR. CALHouN.-Gtobc.
Items of Intelligence.
| MAssAcHUsETTs.-1hc Legislature assembled on
Wednesday, the first of January In the SeuGt1, Mr..
Pratt, Democratic member, proposed that, until te
vacancies i'll the Senate be filed tic Nor member Of
the Senate should be authorized to preside. This would
postpone the choice of President Of the Senate tin
the vacancies shall DC filed. The Wings, however,
having, in the present state Of that body majority,
refused to agree to this aiN adopted motion ordering
an immcdatcshlection of President of the Senate
Daniel p King, Wing, and of the youngest
bcrs elected by the people, accordingly chosen by
majority of tile votes He received thirteen; his De-
mocratc competitor Leonard NJ Parker, eleven; and
one vote was given to Seth Whitmarsh Charles {.
Calhoun chosen Clerk almost unanimously
In the House of Representatives, Luther S. Cus!l-
ing UNANIMOUSLY chosen Clerk, after which the
votes for speaker were given The Speaker OF last
year, Robert e. Winthrop reelected. Tie received
80 votes his competitor Nathaniel Wood, ?al and
there twelve scattering votes. The Bay State
Democrat which gives report Of Tie proceedings u!
the legislature, from which derive these particulars,
says Of Mr.. Winthrops election:
"rhis has been brought about by the absence Of
many Democratic members, will be BY the
for speaker, given III report al the organization G
the House. The almost impossible state of the roads
in the Wesern part ofthc State, has we believe, given
the Fcdrralsts this temporary advantage Mich the
largest portion Of the Fcdcralsts from the large
towns, where the communication with the capital IS
more direct and certain.
letter from Boston, dated January Isl, says: "1herc
are twelve vacancies in the Senate OF which the De-
mocrats hope to fill six at least, and perhaps The
House OF Representatives have appointed committee
count the votes for Governor who vii! probably
port tomorrow, January I'd.
.'rhc absence Of Many Of the Democratic members
al the organization Of the House Of representatives APP
pears 80 have been unavoidable 4 large number of
them from the counties Of Hampshire and Rerk-
shire where the roads Instructed By snow, which
has fallen four feet deep average and is drilled
into enormous heaps. The Bay Stale Democrat says
that some of the members from those counties, in
sequence of the determination 10 reach Boston
son, walked several miles snow shoes and drew their
baggage behind them s!cds
MMSE.-Thc Legislature of Maine has assembled
and organized itself b. the choice of officers. Stephen
c. Foster was elected President of the Senate, and
William Irailun Secretary. Hannibal laml!n was
elected Speaker of the House oil Representatives, and
E!lri,lrc Gcrrv Clerk. They all Democrats