Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-26
wAsH1NaroN NEWS AND GOSSIP.

l debate, at ali past Twelve CLOCK this morn
ing, the Senate passed the Nebraska bill in
precisely the shape in which it came from tn
House. Throughout the day, and for large
portion of the night, the galleries were crowded
with spectators, who watched-eyes, ears and
mouth wide open-with the greatest interest
what was frequently the rather frothy current
OF wordy fight. Lord Elgin seemed to regard
! the proceedings with the liveliest satisfaction,
| as they must have afforded him refreshing
contrast to the dull, prosy, half-dead and alive
| mode of doing business in the British Parlia-
| ment. His lordship remained on the ground,
or rather, on the floor, until the final vote was
taken; his round, good.natured face, becoming
rounder and more beaming as the struggle
drew nearer and nearer to a close. This was
his first lesson in American legislation; and,
in honor of the occasion, his lordship was
shown how the lie could pass in the true Pick
wickian vein Of pleasantly, and how we do
the politically pathetic" on this side of the
water.
The main muss was between Messrs. Toombs
and Bell, estimable gentlemen both in their
private relations; Mr.. Toombs' onslaught on
his antagonist was after the fashion Of that of
Mr. Churchwell in the other House. He es-
sayed to speak from the book, insisting that
Mr.. Bell's failure to protest when it was an
nounced in the Wing (southern) caucus, that
their action was to be regarded as unanimous
pledged him to the bill. This he denied EN-.
phatically, being unwilling to be held respon-
sible for anything not absolutely done by him
self. Both between Messrs. Toombs and Bell,
and Messrs. Bell and Badger, it was essentially
stand-from- under contest
Inside and outside of the Senate chamber,
as soon as the result was known, there was
every outward manifestation of satisfaction
exhibited that could be got up at short notice in
| the short hours. There were shaking of hands
and clapping of hands-considerable shoutin g
booming of cannon startled the sleepers of the
wearied city from the orthodox propriety of
recumbent positions.
The bill is now in the hands of the Presi.
dent, and We presume ere the lapse of many
hours-certainly not dsys-it will receive his
signature, and thus become the law of the
land. In another column will be found tho
yeas and nays on the final vote. The vote on
the bills passage was-yess IS, nays 13
Mr.. Olds.-As this gentleman is just now
being berated at great rate by the anti-Ne-
braska press, for his share in the passage of
the Nebraska bill through the House, it may
not be amiss to mention that he is understood
to have been informally designated by the
caucus of the majority, as the member whom
they desired the Speaker to call to the Chair
during the consideration of the Nebraska ques-
ton. He was long Speaker of the Ohio State
Senate, and is famous as a practical parlia.
mentarian, without making pretensions in the
Chair, of any sort. His temper, when presi-
ding, is invariably excellent, as that of such a
short, round, jolly looking gentleman should
be, of course. 1t seems to be further under
| stood that the majority are indebted in a mea-
| sure to his knowledge of the quirks in the
rules for the successful coup detat tegistanf
by which they were enabled to get the bill
out of committee in trice, when satisfied th at
delay to defeat-not time for further discus
sion-was the point sought to be attained by
the tactics of the minority. Mr.. Olds is a very
general favorite in the Hall, notwithstanding
the vim with which he sustains his positions
on every thing on which he takes sides. So
far as his ruling in this particular case is con-
cerned, we apprehend that there cannot be The
slightest doubt that it was rigidly correct
No one pretended to appeal from it at the
time, though many of the ablest parliameuta-
! rians of the House..were among those drought
| up with a round turn by it. The novelty of
the question involved, alone created surprise;
| not his decision upon the question when made.
As matter of course he may expect to be
| roundly abused, because his talents and ex-
periencs were eminently available in securing
the enactment of the bill. Every gentleman
who has made his mark upon the history Of
the times in that struggle, may Of course ex-
pect to be berated and misrepresented by the
abolition press, pro rata with his usefulness
in urging the bill through. Therefore, their
homiliss against Mr.. Olds should be taken by
| the friends of the principle of popular sover-
eighty as 20 many compliments to hin--forced
Acknowledgements of the Indebtedness of the
country to him for his share in the good work.
They may, however, abuse him to their hearts
content. We will answer for him, that all the
ISLANDERS they may publish against him will
not for An instant disturb the equanimity Oh
| Edison B. Odds
Barking up the Wrong Tree.-The New
York Heratd's very last wonder is an as
sumed quarrel between Senator Brown, OF
Miss, and the Secretary of War, coupled
| with statement that the consulship to Ha-
vana was offered to the former to get him out
of the way for the re- ELECTION of General Davis
to the United States Senate. The Heraia;s
last previous Washington roorback worthy Of
| notice, was its story that Senator Douglas
had turned against the bill, which was SO pre-
| posterous that one of its own correspondent
made haste to brand it as false. We will moi
dignity its story of want of cordially between
l the Administr alton and Senator Douglas (pul
forth day or two since, even with the title oi
roorback, for it is too signally silly in the ex
listing condition of affairs here, to find sirg
believer in the country. 1t was evident J
written to the Herald merely for the lack d
something else to write.