The daily union., 1854-12-23

GEsEaAL WHirrmLD.-The Washington correspondent of
the Pennsy furnishes the following sketch of General
Whitfield:
General Whitfield the delegate from the new Territory
OF Kansas after the customary oath had been administered
him, took his seat in the House to-day. Judging from the
he produced among his fellow members II is not at
all surprising that he elected to Congress by
overwhelmingly large. He is about six feet five inches his
stockings, well and powerfully put together has fine open
forty years old The General is native of Tennessee and is
sound national democrat"
NAvdArIoN OF THE PoroMAo.-The Alexandria Gazette
Of yesterday morning says The above this place is
again blocked up with ice compel the steamboats,
plying between this place and Washington discontinue
their trips. The mail steamer Powhatan is however, able
to make her through the ice, and makes her regular
trips to Aqua creek in the usual time. The river below this
place is nearly free of ice."
CRnISAL couaT.In the case of the United States u s
f. Lucas charged with obtaining money false preen
ces Judge Crawford, finding the indictment detective
dered new trial. The trial is pending Mr.. Ratcli
appears for the defence
sword PaEsEsTATios.-We learn with pleasure that
elegant and valuable sword will shortly be presented Cap
tain Reese, of the Hghlanders mark of the in
which he is held by his fellow citizens.
D1srRrcr nrLL-By referring to the congress
sona proceedings published in another part Of the paper
will be that the House yesterday passed the bill
form the judiciary system Of the District of Columbia. We
find in the Sentinel Of yesterday morning the following y
nopsis of the bill:
The bill aboshes the circuit court the district court
the orphans court and the criminal court including the
Offices of judges and other offices connected Herewith In
place of those it establishes of pleas with
judge hold four terms year the office of register
of wills is abolished the powers and duties thereof being
which established court of appeals to be composed OF
the three judges respectively of the court of equity the
court OF common pleas, and the criminal court
Each of the courts empowered to appoint clerk who
shall be entitled to the usual fees In case either of the
ties by Of sickness absence being interested
having been of COUNSEL be otherwise incapactated it
shall be the duty of Of the other judges who may such
time be the least engaged in holding perform such
duty during such ineapacity.
al is provided that who may hereafter be charged
with offences not of the degree of "a capital otherwise
infamous crime may upon their waiver of trial by jury be
tried before the Judge Of the criminal without jury
In the person charged shall for his trial by
jury he shall be tried by his consent without
Indictment parties in Jail to have priority Of trial
"In where it may appear fair and impartial trial
be had before jury composed in whole part of
citizens of the county shall be the duty of the court before
exclusively of citizens not resident the places excepted
by the accused pary and for that purpose the court
Each Of the judges of the courts is to be paid annual
salary of $1,000 No person above the ago Of sixty
to be appointed Judge
THE SMITHSONIAN ISsrTuTroS.-Our citizens no doubt
will be pleased to learn that making to
have only good dry ak from the to the In
sttute, but to have the same lighted with gas
LEcruRE-By referring to advertising columns it will
be that Mr. Bayard Taylor will deliver lecture in this
city Tuesday evening next taking for his subject Japan
and the Japanese" The high reputation of Mr. Taylor
and speaker joined with the peculiarly attractive char
of the subject of which he proposes to treat cannot fail
to secure large and apprecative audience.
NAToNAL THEATRE-This favorite establishment will be
opened for regular Tuesday evening next with
the drama of Uncle TOMS Cabin AS II " The ladies and
gentlemen who compose the company enjoy enyabe rep
utaon for versatile talent number Of distinguished
already engaged Tie season. although
ry short doubt will prove highly profitable to the enter
prisisg managers.