The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-12-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence OF the Post]
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House; but the expectation has not been
realized. And were ii not for the impressive
fact that members can draw no pay until an
organization does take place, should despair
of ever seeing the factious and discordant
materials of which the House Of Representa-.
tivos seems to be composed, approach any
nearer such consummation than they nre
at present. But as, most Of the honorable
gentlemen are known to be "hard up for tin, y
many believe they will not be able to hold
out much longer. Boarding-house and no.
tel.keepers are growing restless and impor-
tunate, and candor constants me to say that
members Of Congress are not permitted to
avail themselves of the credit system to n
greater extent than other people. The opin-
ion prevails generally that under the pecu-
uiary pressure some sort of an organization
will be effected by Christmas.
You will have noticed that Mr.. Banks,
who is tho fayoritc of the Black Republicans,
has not been able TO rise above the vote
gave you in my last The democrats stick
to Richardson "liko grim. DEATH" and the
vote for Fuller remains ut about one thing
1t Is evident the democrats are Influenced TO
the course they are pursuing by the hope to
make capital for the Presidential campaign
If they can force the national Know Moth
ings into the support of Banks, they believe
it will destroy the party at the South. Could
the latter overlook the insult offered to them
by the action of the democratic caucus, and
90 to the support of Richardson, the result
would be equally disastrous. In my view,
the national Know Nothngs took the right
"shu!e" at the commencement of the strug-
gle, and if they perscvere to "the bitter end"
they are safe
There are twenty men in the House who
would discharge the duties of presiding of.
ficer with eminent ability and satisfaction;
but where all are refractory, compromise is
almost out Of the question. Many of Banks
friends think he will be elected finally. From
all cali learn, am Of opinion he has already
run the length of his tethcr, and will, after n
few more ballottings, "fall down" or be
dropped altogether But there is no pre-
dieting what will happen, when we look at
the factions and sub lactions into which the
House, or what ought to be the House, is d.
vided. Let the struggle for Speaker tcrmi-
nate rs it may, it is evident TO all who have
watched it, that the tendency is to the for
nation of two great sectional parties: re-.
suit all patriotic minds would deplore. No
matter what individual opinion or predilcc-
ton in the promises may have been, we can
no longer blink the fact that the great mis-.
take Of the administration party was the
adoption of the KansasNebrnska bill, MS it
has re.kinded the fires of agitation and IA.
naiicism on the subject of slavery, and rem
dercd futile and nugatory the laJors of the
great men who wrought ont the soothing
Compromises Of 1850. The disorganizaton
of the House of Representatives, after n
struggle of two weeks, is one of the fruits
of that unreasonable measured and the coun.
try will not forget who are responsible for
the existing state of affairs, though repeal
of the bill and the restoration of the Missouri
Compromise is Improbable and out of the
question. What mean is: il would have
been much better for the peace, happiness
and prosperity of the nation, to have left this
Rerplcxing subject with the Compromise of
1850, under the healing influences of which
the fanatics and agitators were fast losing
their power to do mischief, and agitation
would have finally ceased. am not one of
those who think that the integrity of the
Union is in immediate danger, yet if this
sectional struggle is to be kept up from year
to year, and every succeeding compromise be
abrogated, the bonds of brotherhood will me-
cessarily become weakened, and dissolution
must finally ensue. But enough on this head
for the present.
The dssutory debates which occur in the
House are of good natured character, though
occasionally there is a little fairness and acri-
mony manifested. Hon. +. X. ZollcofTer
made good speech yesterday, TO which I
would direct your attention as it contains as
correct m exposition of the views of the
American party in the contest, as you will
be likely to meet with.
In reference to Presidential movements |
have nothing new to send you--the Speaker
ship being the all-ubsorbing topic in political
circles. In fact, it is idle 10 speculate upon
the subject, as the termination of that strug.
gle may destroy all previous calculations and
result in entirely new ombinations-some of
them, perhaps, of a character not now dream
ed Of 49,
The rumors of peace brought by the last
European advces, receive but little eredcnce
here; on the contrary, those who are presum.
ed'to be best posted on the subject, express
the opinion that Russia Is bending all her
energies and concentrating her immense 70.
sources for fierce and protracted defence.
The City is still crowded, though many
who were here on the first Monday of De.
cembcr have departed to their homes, dsap-
pointed, and perhaps wiser than when they
came. A "looker on" may witness many in.
teresting scenes, and see much of what is
called beauty and fashion in this "city of
magnificent distances" but have sojourned
in places where time could be as agreeably
and quite as pro6tably disposed Of.
There was very pretty little fight be-
L.