Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-10-18
Washington News and Gossip.

to Secretary Guthrie. The account OF 1t In
the Star this evening, is our regular teie-
eraphie correspondents summary OF its con-
tents.
TaE DooRKEEpER OF THE HOUsE.-This po-
sition, usually much sought after, is destined
to be a prize for which more persons than
usual will struggle when Congress meets
Mr.. z. W. McKnew, the doorkeeper of the
last House is, of course, candidate for
reelection, and We already know of three
others Mr. Samuel j. Johnson, of Indiana.
the polite and efficient messenger or under
doorkeeper, who has oficiated tor two years
past, at what is known as the Democratic
door of the Hall-the West door, which leafs
directly into that portion of the chamber
where most of the Democratic members arc
seated Mr. Peter German, of Howard dis
trict, very popular and clever Maryland
Democratic politician, is also in the ring
Mr. G. is we'll known around Washington,
especially to those who were in either House
Of the last Congress. lie has troops of friends,
owing to the fact that lie is emphatically
i'd Joseph Berrett, Esq, formerly of Carol
County, Nd, subsequently of this city, but for
the last eight or ten years resident of Bos-
ton Mass, where he is well known al
ardent and somewhat conspicuous Fugitive
Slave Law man. He was for some years in
the Custom House there. We observed his
name rather conspicuously displayed among
those who composed the recent 6 Very Hard"
Massachusetts, Democratic State Convention,
wherein one Mr. Barstow denounced Attorney
icncral Gushing Mr.. Berrct-wc beg his
pardon Major Bcrret, is also personally we'll
known to all who have been in Congress of
late years and has many popular ws,s about
him. These gentlemen are well matched SO
far as their chances are concerned, though the
late incumbent appears to have the inside
track so far; possession being nine points of
the law. The legal compensation is now
81 500 per annum. That is, in the hands of a
strictly honest man. The chances for picking
and ste ling in sly way are very ample.
however, There will, probably, in the end
be fifteen or sixteen candidates and in these
days of loose notions of right and wrong, it
is possible that some one may get into the
position who will make improper use of the
opportunities for feathsring ones nest, which
seeml to be inseparable from the peculiar de-
scriptiOn of disbursements which it is the
duty of the doorkeepsr Of the House 20 make.
CURRENT LABORs OF OFFICIALS IN WASH
INGroN.-Not only the President, but the re-
spective heads of each Department and Bu-
reau of the Government, are Just no W immersed,
each in the preparation of his annual report
to be presented to Congress on the first Mon
day Of December next. Their engagements
after this fashion, operate as something of
clog to the transaction of business. such az
furnishes us with items for our Washington
news columns. 1t will be quite month ere
they get through with their reports. we arr.e-
bend
Mn. TESTERS RECEsr MsNIrEsTo-The
statements of this remarkable paper do not
seem to find credit in political circles in Wash
q Sullivan, with whom MIR. l.. says he can
hold no communication on account Of his OH
sinal Free Soil procivitie. and his 6ilibuster-
in. tendencies, insists that he received a pro
position from Mr. L. once on a time, for the
use of his London Time correspondence in
aid of the cause and purposes Of the fill
busters, By theby, the present commenda-
bic horror Of Mr.. L.. for FREQ Sellers. is evil
dcncc that radical and thorough change has
come over him of late We reoullect well
that on the It'll of August, 1913, while the
sore headed" Democrats of New York were
beating up for delegates to the Buffalo Con-
vcn.ion. meeting was held at Washington
Hall, Brooklyn, where it was resolved that
those present approved of the call Of the Buff
falo Convention, and would send delegates
to il.
ID. They resolved general denunciation
Of slavery
I'D. "Reyoired, That We cannot and will
not vote for candidate for the presidency
who is in favor Of extending slavery over soil
now free; therefore We cannot vote for Lewis
Cass, for he has declared that he would not
vote for the Wilmot provso
4th. - Resotred, That Martin Van Buren,,
by the high and honorable stand he has taken
upon the question of Free Soil and the non-
extension of slavery, has entitled himself to
the respect OF the American people, and Of the
citizens Of Kings county
At the meeting at which these resolves
were passed, we remember that Mr. C.. Ed
We state these facts only by way of fulfilling
our determination, in all cases, to shed light
upon the current political history of the times.
so mystifed systematically, as it were, by the
party press.
ton is to-day filled with rumors concerning the
failure of noted steamship operator in New