Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-29
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The House Scene Of the Session.-We have
long faithfully attended the sittings of the
House of Representatives, the United States,
and have witnessed every extraordinary event.
coming of in their Chamber, for at least eleven
years past In all that time we have before new
er heard in the Hall, anything resembling the
debate of yesterday. at the conclusion of the
morning hour, they went into Committee of
the Whole, when Mr.. Giddings, who had OBJ
| tanned the floor on the day before, by unani-
nous consent, in order to mako a personal ex-
PLANTATION, availed himself of that privilege:
first to reply to the speech of Mr.. Smith, of
| Virginia, delivered on Thursday wherein
the latter had commented upon the before ad-
mitted declaration of John Quincy Adams, in
effect, that he would welcome the day when
slavery should be abolished in the United
States. even if its accomplishment could only
be obtained by the sacrifice of the lives of all
the whites of the South, &c. In the course OF
Mr.. G s defence of Mr.. Adams, he took occa-
sion to indulge in harsh and supplementary
remarks towards Mr.. Smith. He next ap-
preached the gist of his personal explanation,
heaping upon Ex-Governor S. (who had ar
raigned his congressional course) epithets al
most as coarse, derogatory, and vituperative
as we ever heard from the lips of the most
abandoned loafer in the streets We are very
sure that such language was never before
spoken in debate. There was very general
disposition manifested to confne him to the
use of language such as is considered parlia-
mentary. Mr.. Taylor, q Wing member from
tennessee, rising, protested against the ind1g-
nifty to the House involved in Mr. e. IS style
But Mr.. Smith and his friends interfered, and
insisted that as he had selected that system of
tactics, he should he allowed tn fnllow it to the
end; to say what he pleased in his own way.
until he choose to cease. At the conclusion of
his remarks, ex Governor S. took the floor and
briefly explained how and why it was utterly
out of the power Of gentleman to defend him
selfotherwise from such assaults from the men,
Der from Ohio, and then replied in detail to his
defence of Mr.. Adams. He then turned upon
Mr. Giddings himself, carefully aiming to sub
stantiats the correctness Of all his original crit
icisms upon that members Congressional
course; doing it evidently to the satisfac-
ton Of at least nine-tenths of the House and
auditory, without distinction of party While
so doing he incidentally replied to many of the
personalities of Mr.. Giddings, scathing and
Calling him as We never before heard hin
scathed and CALLED though We have witnessed
all the oratorical rencontres he has had in the
Hall for so many years. The rejoinder of ex.
Governor Smith was indeed in his best style,
solar as the completeness of his triumph over
his adversary was concerned. We regret, how
ever, that he permitted himself to say more
personally derogatory to Mr.. Giddings, than
just enough to explain to the world that that
member is not and cannot be held responsible
for things he may say in debate, concerning
any gentleman in Congress.
We regret, too, that he added to his mastery
reJoinder to such an attack upon him, n
single word upon any subject but that of the
Congressional course of Mr.. Giddings. Had
he stopped there, his speech would have proved
the political death warrant of every man who
may hereafter essay to get into Congress by
playing the demagogue abolitionist. His pero-
ration was general defence of the institution
Of slavery, powerful in its way and meeting the
views evidently Of most of the members from
the South. However much it would have an
swered good purpose on an ordinary occa-
sion, In the connection in which it was de-
ivered, it will do much to mar the legitimate
effect Of the main portion Of his speech, which
will not fall upon the northern mind in such
c"n""os,v-, Win tItne OF the Iorce IL wouIu
otherwise have had.
To the people of Virginia we need hardly
say that, in such contest, Elk Governor Smith
ground his antagonist to powder, so far as the
argumentive issues between them are con.
cerned. They have all heard him in contro.
versy with men of eminent ability, on the
stump, and realize that the country has so far
produced 10 man known to them competent to
hold his own against Ex- Governor S., on such
occasions
The New Treaty with Nicaragua.
many somewhat contradictory accounts of the
tenor OF this convention, recently sent home by
Mr. Borland, We have endeayored to ascertain
Its precise character, and have to say that our
impression is, that it embraces practical guar
antee Of all the boundaries of Nicaragua
against all claimants whatever. Or, in 9th
er words, that in this particular it amounts
to an agreement for a complete protectorate
over that State. This is its main political fea-
ture, the rest being commercial.
We have not the slightest idea that it will
ever reach the Senate, embracing any such fea-
turs We draw this conclusion from the repeat
edly-avowed determination of the present Al.
ministration, to make no new engagements
whatever, that may, in any manner, unauly
mix the United States up with the domestic
affairs of any other government even on this
continent. At present, we have but single
engagement of that sort. That is, the oblica.
ton in the Clayton and Bulwer treaty to pro
tect the Nicaragua Canal Company, which We
presume, will, Of course, be done, if ever the
of the United States be requisite
in of NH, al -,