The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-07


We recorded yesterday the melancholy demise
OF one eoaliiio, The following editorial from
the Boston Alias, records the progress Of smother
coalition, which is alive" and will BE- kick
ing" shortly
The ORGAslzATIo OF The LrGIsL AruRE.
Inc TWO branches OF the legislature met yester-
day in the State House, aud effected an oroau;-
zation Of their respective bodies. The Hon..
Is unusually large this year, there being somc
four hundred members The seats in the bodv
OF the House are all taken, and seats are .pro
vlded Tor some seventy members in the east and
West galleries We have not known. since
ls43, 20 great an interest felt ia the orvanixa-
t'on ~ there has be~a this year. Up to the no.
ment when the 81 eee reported the result of
the balIoting 81 Spc4ker, no certainty was felt
what the result would be- II true the Wings
Knew that they were in minority In both
branches. But it was doubted in some quarters
whether the LOcofocos ard Free-soilers. the late
adherents Of Mr.. Van Buren, and Cass the M
holders of the Buffalo platform. and the plat
form OF Baltimore; the friends Of Texas an.
nexatlon, and the Opposers Of IT. the friends of
the Mexican war, and the ultra opponents of il |;
the opponents of the Wilmot Proviso, and the
ultra friends of it; the upholders of the Fugi-
tive slave law, and the vehement opposers of it
In short, the professed Abollionists and the
advocates and apologizers for Slavery could pos
sibly unite.
But those doubts have been solved. The
Hub'con has been passed. The union has been
made !; ne possible and impossible hare Joined
hands. Ebony and Topaz have blended into one.
eien. Cushing and John Milton Earle, who pro-
Tess before the people To advocate the violent
extreme points ofpoiicy and politics. have united
TO wrest the power from the hands ofthe Whigs,
and to parcel out like The spells Of victory. ths
offices OF the Legislature to the victor. We pre-
sumo the work thus auspieously begun, will be
carried out until not Wing shall be left in the
pc session of an office. em H
We make no complaint The Wing party of
Massachusetts have no apologies to offer they
have made the State Of Mass. the foremost
IN the Union in all good works, and they have
confident belief that the sober second thought
OF the people will again place them in power
The party, or rather the parties which now hold
possession OF the legislature, came into power
under pledges that there were abuses to reform,
and the people will see, before the session is
over what those abuses are, in the reforms
which are proposed. Ii we mistake not, it will
be seen that the chief abuses were that compe-
tent men held offices, and the reform will be that
men less competent are to be appointed in their
places. But we will not anticipate. We shall
keep up the daily record, and the people can
strike the balance for themselves.
The Boston Journal (also Whc) grieves
greatly. also, that the Democrats have outridden
the Wings, and in its issue Of the 4tI inst. says
The COALITION DAReAIN-The Conference
Committees of the Free-soi and Democratic,
parties were again in session yesterday after
noon and evening, but, up to nine o'clock rs we
learn, had made no report OF course, their
consultations were held in secret and their doings
cannot be ascertained-at least, by those Of
another stamp-until reported to their respec
tive constituents. The Democrats did not us
semble last night, but the Free-soilers were
in caucus in the lobby over the Green Room
Keeping their doors closed, however. W.
understand the point upon which the matter
hangs Mt present Is the precise complexion oi
the Free-soil candidate for senators for the long
term-two Democrats being willing to concede
the senator, but requiring that he shall be a
Free-soiler we'll tinctured with Locofocoism.
We find the following statement of the pro.
ceedings referred to, in the Albany Aids, Dem
Free.soiI,) which thus prefaces them:
MASSACHUSETTS PoLyrIcs.-It will be seer
that the attempts of the Washington Union, and
kindred presses, to disturb the relations of the
opposition, have been uravailIng, and that the
iae,as cordiale continues.
The Democrats and the Free-Solers held
their caucuses in contiguous rooms on the night
previous TO the organization, and it was agreed
between them, that the nominations for the or.
ganization Of the Senate should be made by the
Free-Soil members, and those for the House by
the Democratic MEMBERS subject, in each case
to the confirmation and ratification of the other
party. In accordance herewith, Gen. HENRY
WILSON, of Natck, was nominated for President
of the Senate, and CHAUNcEY L. KNAPP for
Clerk. The latter was formerly Secretary OF
State in NJ Hampshire. NATHANIEL p. Banks
of Waltham, was nominated for Speaker of the
House, and LEWIS JossELYr Of Lynn, for Clerk
The latter is the editor Of the "Bay State" a
Democratic paper, which has taken high anti
slavery ground. The nominations in each case
were unanimously confirmed by the coucuses OF
the other party. This arrangement was car
ried out by the Legislature.
THE LEGISLATURE.
The annual session of the legislature Of Mas
sachusetts commenced ut Boston on Wednes-
day, the LIST inst Gov. Briggs administered the
oath to the members.
In the Senate, Henry Wilson, Free-sOil, was
elected President by a vote of 10, against 0
given for David Sears, the Wing candidate
Chauncey l. Knapp, Free-soil, was elected Clerk,
having 20 votes, against u given for the Wing
candidate, Charles Calhoun.
In the House, Nathaniel p. Banks, Democrat,
was chosen Speaker by a majority of 30 votes
over his Wing opponent Lewis Joselyn, Dem
ocrat. was elected Clerk of the House by ma
jority of IL over all competitors.
Committees of both Houses were appointed
to count the votes given at the late election for
Governor, when they adjourned to hear the
preaching of the annual election sermon.
EH- We have received the first number Of n
new paper published at Suffolk, Va, under the
title Of the Virginia Souihron, and il The promise
of its first number be kept, il will prove most
valuable accession to the reading community of
~ II h. Il. -.