Washington telegraph., 1854-12-06
For Mc Telegraph
HOUSE OF REPS.
LITTLE Rock. Nov. 20, 1854.

Mr.. EDIToR There il now considerable
agitation here upon the subject OF swamp
lands. Some of the most distinguished
lawyers are Of opinion that the law exempt
ing those lands from taxation is inconsistent
with that part Of the constitution of the
State which provides that taxation through
out the State shall be equal and uniform
The almost universal impression Of those
who have examined TIE subject, is. that
swamp lands must DO taxed like other
real estate. The question win. Of course,
come before the Judiciary.
You have, Of course, heard Of the affair
between Gov CONWAY and Senator KEITH.
The worthy Senator. who is gentleman
Of most distinguished ability, drank some
what Unexpectedly for few days after lis
arrival here. One day. when he was more
than usually excited with liquor, be took Of
fence @ the passage Of a bill through the
Senate and instantly wrote out his resigna-
ton. addressed to the Governor. and sent it
to thai functionary By the hand Of a little
negro. "A resignation addressed to the
Governor, was, of course. void, for The con-
stitutitn provides that. if a member Of the
Legislature resigns during the Legislative
session the resignation must be addressed
TO the presiding officer Of the body to
which lie belongs, and The implication i,
that it does not take effect until accepted bv
that body. But Gov. CONWAY instantly ac-
ccr.ed Mr.. KEITH's resignation. so called.
and, in one hour after bis receiving it,
writ for new election was made out by
him and deposited in the Post-ofiice. Mr.
KEITH took Lis seat in the Senate the next
morning as usual, and On the day following.
message was received from the Governor,
announcing Mr. ks resignation and the
issue of an order for a new election. Mr..
KEITH, who had then quit the use Of spirits
and has used none since. made brief. but
tasteful and admirable speech treating biz
note to the Governor as an act of momcu-
tary insanity. showing that the resignation
could have no possible validity and claim
ing an unquestionable tile TO bis seat
The matter was referred to a committee,
which reported unanimously in favor Of Mr..
X ! title to his seat, and The report was
unanimously adopted by The Senate. Il is
said, however. the Governor. who, you well
llruw. sets himself Hp as . sort of Arkansas
Gen'l JACKSON. contends that Mr. kElTH's
seat, in spite of the Senates decision Is
vacant, aud that the now election must and
Shall Le held, and that the man elected shall
have the place. So here Is beautiful con-
test between the Senate and his Excelency.
~ tie constitution makes the Senate the
solc Judge of the qualifications Of its own
members, and as the Senate has already de-
cided. hy unanimous vote. that Mr.. KEITH
il Still the Senator, | d. not understand
how our little General JACKSON can make
any show in this fight, but perhaps he does.
Tie whole matter has been made tic subject
of much mirth and nerriment at his Excel
lency's expense.
Several days ago Mr.. GADDIs MILLER,
who is as famous fnr his wit as the Governor
is for his wisdom, and who creates most
laughter when lie i most serious, offered
resolution in the House Of Representatives,
denouncing the Know Noihings as The ene-
mics Of the country Yesterday the reso-
luton come UP FIT consideration and the
Governor, who j. said to be dreadfully BIT
ter against the Know Nothings, was present
with bis Secretary DC State. to witness it,
passage and participate in the triumph Of
the result Without discussion, the ayes
and noes were ordered on a motion 10 Law
The resolution on the table For time the
Governor ard his Secretary kept their posi-
ton, but, as the voting proceeded, their IN
Der jaws gradually fell and, ere the ioll
was half called, no Governor. and no Secre-
tary we're visible in the Hall. The anti
Know -Npthing was laid on the table for an
indefinite period by vote Of two to one.
The Governors friends are much chagrined.
! should think. for my own part, that one
who knows % little aS the Governor, ought
to have a liking for Know-Nothings.
The excitment on the subject of Railroads
still continues in the Legislature and out Of
II. The men who we're here from Helena
went suddenly home last week. and it is
generally understood that the Helena pro-
iect j. utterly dead. The President Of the
Company. before his departure, remarked
that Helena could get no road, and that be
was fur breaking down all the Railroad pro
lects in the State together. The friends Of
the Napoleon interest are now here in con-
considerable force. and are making a very
strenuous effort 10 secure the route TO that
place. but it is well known to all but them
selves that there is not the remotest posi-
bilitv Of their success. The advocates Of the
Napoleon route are very few in numbers in
the Legislature, and, in general, their views
are expressed with commendable modera-
ton hive no doubt that nearly the whole
Of them, when they find. as they will. that
there i no chance for their faeOritc route,
will 20 for the route to Memphis. The
Memphis route, for the reason that it is OBJ.
viously the orc which the interests Of the
G-,ta rar,iira bae lnpr SiandIiv nniniur ~