The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-03-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
EERRTARY %.

tons that are to take place here and in Balti-
more tomorrow.
1t is still to be determined whether the ap-
portionment of Representatives is to be made
or not in time to govern the next Presiden-
tial election The Presidents Message on the
subject is before the Committees on the Ju-
dietary. They have had the subject before
them for week and have come to no cOnclu-
sion. The Secretary of the Interior indicates
three modes in which Congress may settle
the question rs to the defective returns of the
population of California; but they each in
volve some nice questions. The number Of
Representatives. to which each State will be
entitled in the 33d Congress, will be fixed by
the Secretary under the law, as soon as Con-
grcss shall adopt either Of his propositions.
| If the number be reported at once to Con-
gress and the State Executives, there will be
time for the State Legislatures TO district their
( several States according to it, before their
next Congressional elections The first cleo
ton of Representatives for the 33d Congress
/ takes place as early as June.
The next Presidential election will be held
under the new apportionment, if it be made in
due time. The laws require that the number
OF electoral votes to be given at 4 Presidential
election, shall be eqnal to the number of
| Representatives and Senators to which each
State is entitled in Congress al the time when
the President elect is sworn into Office. That
time will be the 4th of March, 1858, when
the 32d Congress is ended, and the 33d Con-
grcss is in existence. If the apportionmcnt
be made at any time before the election of
President, it will govern it, whether the States
shall before that be districted under the new
apportionment or not.
The decision of the Supreme Court in the
Wheeling Bridge case gives great dissatistac-
ton in Virginia, Ohio, Maryland and part of
Pennsylvania The decision claims jurisdic-
ton for the United States over bridges, and
may prevent their construction even across
streams which lie wholly within State. 1t
is urged that such n jurisdiction was not
claimed by Chief Justice Marshall, and is dis
claimed by Chief Justice. fancy Iris rep
resented in numerous letters to Congress that
the bridge is not such a nuisance to naviga-
ton as to require its removal, and that the
United States has not, under the right to
regulate commerce, the constitutional power
to prevent the construction Of bridges over
rivers. The object Of the present petitions
are to induce Congresst to make the Wheeling
Bridge post route, and, in this mode, accOr-
ding to the decision of the Court, the bridge
can be rendered constitutional and be pro-
tccted.
Thetemperance movement with which Gen.
Houston is identified appears to prosper. 1t
will create some excitement for the time be-
ing, but may not last till the election
FEBRUARY %.
The Congress banquet given in commence
ration of NVashngton's birth day, was very
brilliant affair More than three hundred gen.
tlemen, mostly members and public officers,
were present. Among the principal speakers
on the occasion were Commodore Stockton,
General Scott, Judge Bailey, Mr.. Crittenden
and Mr.. Tombs. Mr. Crittenden's speech
was an hour in duration, and was an elaborate
review and commentator of Washingtons
policy, especially in regard to intercourse with
other countries Gu this subject Mr.. Critten-
den's opinions are similar to those which Mr..
Clay is known to entertain.
General Scott responded TO toast com
pmentary to the Army, and took especial
care not to allude to any political topcs.--
His remarks are noticed and commented on,
not on account OF whatthey did, but what they
did not contain. The public have been led to
| expect of late that Gen. Scott would at some
/ time avow, as Gen. Butler has lately done, his
sentiments on the subject of the recent ad-
/ justment of sectional questions and it was
thought likely that he might avail himself of
this occasion for the purpose Many say that
Gen. Scott intends to stand his hand as it is,
making no explanations nor professions.
In party politics there is now nothing that
interests the public or is worthy of notice in
dispute. There are no great political issues
before the country, and here the subjects of
Intervention and of the compromise are the
prominent questions of the day, and are not
distinctly party questions.
As to questions before Congress, there are
now none that directly divide parties. The
tariff and internal improvements are questions
which both parties seem TO be afraid of, or in
different to, and in no vote on them would
parties be divided on old lines. As far as
personal questions are concerned, the old par
ties MAY fall into line. Thus, in the organi-
zation of the House, the Democratic party
work well together, and so they may possibly
| in regard to the Presidency, after the Balti-
more nomination. Cor. Char. Cour.
r.Sy- The Senate Of Rhode Island have
| nossad n hill TO increase the tax on bank cap-