The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-24
Affairs In Washington.
OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT.


WASHINGTON, May 22-9 Pm.
The Passage of the Nebraska Bal-Clostng Scenes
IN the Ho.lse
The House Of Representatives is at the moment |
commence this letter, engaged in the interesting
Legislative process of calling the roll on motion to
adjourn. This may be the thirtieth fortieth time
that the operation has been performed since the
parliamentary practised by the friends OF
the Nebraska BILL this morning, in moving that the
enacting clause be stricken out Of the bill his, by
the rules of the House. precludes all further amend
ments and therefore closes the five minutes debate
with which the opponents of the measure had cacu-
lated TO prevent its passage at this time, and pro
tract il perhaps indefinitely. The striking out OF
the enact ng clause in bill is tantamount to its
lection by the committee which thereupon report it
back to the House with recommendation that it do
not pass This takes it out Of the Committee of the
Whole, and then the question is taken ON agreeing
to the report Of the committee The friends Of the
bill then turn round and vote against concurrng in
the report, and being in the majority they gain their
point. This is precisely tie scheme that has been
successfully carried ont to-day. The opponents of
the measure were utterly taken by surprise-al-
though the modus oIhTGndi was probably pub
lshed in the HERALD before it was preached
in public here to-day-and all their efforts
have only avacd in staving of the inal question
for q few hours As write all the preliminary OBJ
stacles that the opposition could interpose have
been overcome, aud the clerk is engaged in report
ing the substitute for Gle House bill. IN hour or
two more the measure VIII 10 carried, and the Ne
braska struggle in the ose Of Representatives will
be at an end.
The attendance .! members to-day has been I'M
usually large. Comparatively few have been absent
rom their posts. Tie ladies' galleries have been,
md still are, crowded with hundreds Of the beau
whose pretty faces gay desses, and costly fans
coquettshly kept il motion, make the scene highly
interesting. The galleries appropriated to the mas
culine gender have also been largely patronzed all
the day. But still we have not had for so far any
thing at all approAmating to repetition Of the
udicrous scenes which took place here on Thursday
evening last. The members have not entered into
enjoyment of the fun with tithe of the buoyancy
or recklessness which characterized the farce
On its first presentation 10 admiring public.
It is not that, under like circumstances, members
would not be prepared to go into it with as much
spirit and gusto as they did that occasion. No
such thing. But circumstances have sadly changed.
The minority which were then in exuberent spirits,
are now depressed in an increased ratio. The hopes
of triumph, which were then strong, have been IN
expectedy and completely squashed, and there is
not spirit enough left in them TO get up or partici-
pate in any I'm. And the victors desire, perhaps,
to evirce "a outward sembance OF moderation.
One of the very latest moves made to protract the
inevitable hour, WIS the call by Mr.. Dean for the
reading of The bill IN ertenso for tie information as
he said of members. The genteman's request being
politely complied with it to be at least expected
that he would have paid marked attention to the
reading; but instead OF doing so, he cooly walked
without the bar, and procuring light from Mike
Wash, who was stretched on one of the sofls en-
Joying the odor Of an Havana, commenced perambu-
lating in the OF the Speakers chair evidently
as much pleased with his last achievement as
with his fragrant weed. Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee,
who occasionally nduI.e in sly joke, moved that
the reading of the bill be Discontinued, nasmuch as
the member for whose particular information, and
at whose special request IL was commenced was not
ayaiiing himself of the opportunity TO become en-
lghtened The matter caused general laugh, but |
the cerk whose lot it was to read the bill, utterly
irrespective Of punctuation and pronunciation was I
not relieved OF his task but continued it to the Bit
ter end"
Although we have not had, for SO far much bac-
chanalism within the precincts of the legislative |
hall, several members have paid flying visits to
restaurant on Capitol Hill, known Caspari's. and
few of them have returned thence in 4 highly Gle
waited intellectual condition. They come back
smoking segars, and form themselves into very Jolly
lotteries, telling spicy anecdotes about several mem
beers of the opposition. Among the most original.
most elevated, and most witty IT the sets, is Mike
Walsh. Mike makes fun OF some OF his colleagues, I
and his dcineatons are rich and racy. He tells a
story atwhich all listeners laugh extravagantly, and
with which he eucidates his theory Of the impossi
bility of some people getting over first principles.
When ! came to Washington, just before the
opening OF CongIess-top,itip Mike thought
would step in one day ard take sqnint at the in
ternal arrangement OF the White House. Some of
the Congressional chaps from New York came along
In tow. Jeames admitted us, ana by and by showed
us into the East room. While was associating |
NJ
was inquiring what the carpet cost, John Wheeler,
who was of us, placing his hands on his hips,
and surveying the apartment with a professional
eye, broke out into note OF admiration: /" What a
D-n the fellow, says I, if he can't have an idea
above his business, he should have stuck to it, and
never have come to Washington Most of the
listeners had beard the story before, but they en-
Joyed it not the less, told by Mike with all the beau
ties of the Bowery dialect and those t. whom the
story was new laughed at IT until the Speaker had,
IN his most stately and imposing manner, to
request gentlemen to keep order in the hall.
shortly after, the presiding officer descended from
his velvet chair for the purpose of stretching his
limbs and enjoying little dose Of free-and-easy.
He came upon the laughing circle in which Mike
was acting the part of low comedian. They were
still talking of the honorable member from New
York. why" says Mr.. Speaker Boyd, Ginning in
with the subject, and evidently exhibiting lacerated
sensbilities that subject che addresses the chair
rs he would his waters" "Mr. Speaker with snap
of his fingers, accompanied by that sharp whistle
peculiar to the prolession) move that the House
do ADJOURN 1t Is exactly in the same style as
be would say. "wl-ett, pitcher of water to
40; hurry up to IA that's three times No. l27 has
rung. Whit, d-n You, what are you all sleep
Ing about n The truth of lie picture being in
Itantly recognized and appreciated. the laughter
was renewed ard the Speaker him .cl,--though
without departing from his accustomed dignuy-
participated in il as much decorum would re nit
Nevertheless Mr. Whceer-apart from the pecu
larities with which his cenfccs were so mich
unused today-is active and attentive member,
and contrasts favorably with many presentatiyes
from New York, even although he did MT vote for
the Nebraska bill. There is little about him q that
loquacous and pretentious quality characterized in
vulgar parlance as gas" Of which know one or
two FRI your city have any quantity 10 dispose OF,
and are eyer ready to administer - in sickening