Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-29
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

tleman comes to Washington without either
Congressional certifcats. That Is, without the
Governors certificate Of his election by the
people Of his Congressional district 10 tho
House of Representative, or that function
ary's certificate of his subsequent election to
the q. s. Senate in place Of Senator Shields.
There is a clause in the State constitution
of Illinois, which was originally adopted to
make stephen A. Douglas ineligible for Con.
gress, providing that no one who held State
judgeship should be eligible to be elected to
any Office whatever, until stated period after
the termination of his judicial term of Office,
Mr., d. being then Judge and Congressional
aspirant with almost surety of being sent to
Washington. If We are not mistaken, it was
not held to be operative in Mr.. Douglas case.
In this case, however, the Governor is said to
have refused to certify to Mr.. Trumbulps
original election to the House of Representa-.
tivss, he being State judge when elected.
In tho case of his election to the U. s. Senate
SOON afterwards, it Is said that in addition TO
the reason mentioned above, the Governor
found bar to giving him the necessary certif-
cate, on the ground that he had not declined his
election to the House. Whatever the reasons
operating on the Governors mind may have
been, however, it is pretty certain that Mr..
Trumbull is here without the usual certificate
for either position, and it Is equally as certain
that there is to be strong opposition made to
his taking his seat as Senator, with what re-
suit remains to be seen.
A Protest.-The Baltimore american DEM
ocrat protests earnestly against the proposition
OF the Organ Of this city. to strike the Phila-
delphia-platfOrm flag and march directly over
into the Republican camp; which we presume
Is translated to be the pith of our talented,
amiable, knowing and ingenious neighbor's
new platform" announced on Monday last.
when formally announcing himself candi
date for the House printing. Discussing our
neighbours amusing project for reconciling the
difference between Messrs. Walker, of Ala.
Lake, Of Miss, ct al and Messrs. Wilson and
Birmingham, of Mass, ct. al, on the slavery
question, the Assertcon Democrat says:
" And how does the Organ propose to recon
Gle the difference By abandoning our
ground and going over to the camp of the en-
eny' BY giving up our nationality and be-
coming sectional. BY surrendering everything
we have been contending for, We have no
doubt the Organ is right in thinking that the
seceders would be Unreasonable ii they did
not.n
With reference to the effect on the Know
Nothing party, Of "going over into the camp
of the enemy" the 44msriea,, Democrat also
says:
ut will become a sectional party. The
era CT slavery agitation will be revived, and
IL VIII rage with a rancor Of which We have
heretofore NJ, had not the faintest conception.
The moment the American party goes into
caucus with the Seward men, that moment it
is denationalized and destroyed"
The reader will perceive in these brief OK.
tracts, that at a distance the scheme OF sell
ing out the southern and national Know
Nothings to that very astute gentleman, Sena-
tor Wilson, and his allies, is not more favorably
received than by the real fth-section men
In Washington, Of whose very unanimous con-
demnation of it we took occasion to write
briefly yesterday.
Paid Fire Department.-We have lately
read every thing within our reach likely to
inform us reliably upon the question of the
success OF failure of the new system Of relv.
Ing, for the protection Of property from Ire in
cities, on the services Of paid fire depart
ment. The conclusion to which we have
come-and We have carefully conned English,
French, and Prussian, as well as American.
(Boston and Cincinnati,) statistics bearing on
subjects, that in most cases the deerea &c in
the value of property destroyed BY fire,
brought about by the change, has been nearly
one half; while the increase of the cost of the
maintenance Of the fire departments (wherc
the system has been adopted) has been In all
cases inconsiderable, when the services rend
cred by the paid 6remen, as auxiliary police.
men, &C., are taken into consideration. We
propose, as soon as We can find the necessary
space in the Star in which to treat the sub
ject, TO present data bearing on it, which. we
think, will be likely to bring our tax.paying
fellow-citizens to our conclusion, that Wash
N1 phohpeiJ avail ueIselI OF
the experience with the new system already
before the world. In the mean time We sh all
be thankful to our friends, whether in favor of
or opposed to the change, to send US in manu-
script or in print any thing that may be likely
to add to the publie's stock of information
upon it.
TIL
The speakership.-Thore appears to be 80
general disposition among the Democratic
members Of the House who have arrived in
Washington to vote for the Hon. Mr.. Richard
son, of Illinois, as their candidate for Speaker,
that we take it for granted that be will be
if Democratic party caucus be
held. 1t is understood that the position of
the Democracy Of the House now among rs
are invited to meet this evening at the house
OF fellow member for consultation, when IL
will doubtless be determined whether regular
nominations of that party had best DO made.
Whether the result of tbis corta,,rlat.I -.