Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Clerkships of the next House.-


there be one, there are fifty active politicians
busily engaged in electioneering for the Clerk
ship of the next House of Representatives, all
of whom are identified directly or indirectly
with one or the other wing of the party claim
ing to have the majority of the body with
them. Some of these gentlemen stand on the
Philadelphia platform" while others hoist
the banner of the new Abolition Republican
party. Washington is the nominal hesdouar-
tiers for all the cahoodling upon this subject
though as yet there is a scarcity of opposition
politicians here, in this middle of long recess.
New York is, in truth, just now the point
where nearly all the efforts are being made to
eonsummate bargains, coalitions, and conccs-
sions to effect that election. We are inclined
to think that the Know Nothings of this city
have very generally adopted John Wilson,
Esq. as their candidate; while it is very clear
that the Organ association arc hackers of the
pretensions of J. W. Brice, Esq, of New York
city, very fine fellow, in his way, who is now
among US. Robert Latham, Esq, of the late
firm of Selden, Withers & Co, is candidate
on his own hook, and SO also is said to be j.
Z. q. Kennedy, Esq, the chief of the Census
Bureau under the Fillmore administration.
We, also, not unfrcquently hear the name OF
that veteran Wing, Nathan Sergeant, Esq,
mentioned in the same connection Mr.. Ken
nedy ard himself, we take it for granted, have
their respective " claims on their identified
,ion with tho Ranpbl;oan nor+r oc,roso;J W.
might extend this list, ad infnitmm-almost
But We have recently obtained information OF
an arrangement consummated in the famous
political parlor of the Astor House in New
York since the Tennessee election came off.
that strikes us as bidding fairest of all to win
as promising to turn out to be the very iden-
teal pole that will knock off the so much
longed-for persimmon.
Through that arrangement, a new and en-
tirely unexpected candidate for the Clerkshi
takes the field, in the person of no less dis
tinguished gentleman than the Hon. Mr. Cul
lon. His immediate hackers and enterers foi
this contest, are the parties at the North who
took so much interest in his race for Congress.
as to offer to furnish the sinews of politica,
war las they are recognized in the arena Of
New York politics. to any extent that his (Mr
Cullom's) managing friends at home, nigh
deem necessary to make his reelection to the
House 4 matter of absolute certainty H.
was to have been the candidate of their party
for the speakership, beyond all doubt; the
progra having been arranged, and means
having been devised, 1--WE feel assured wthou,
Mr.. C.'s klOwledge,) to buy his election to that
post, if any amount of money would accom-.
plish that object. In Tennessee neither party
in politics practices upon any such principle
which is too much in vogue with all parties in
the Empire State.
This is the first occasion in which it has been
proposed to carry out the system in the elcc
ton OF the Speaker of the United States Hous,
of Representatives,. It was doubtless to have
been done without letting Mr.. Culom know
any thing about the manner in which it wa
effected, least he himself might decline to III,
for an Office to be SO secured for him. 1t wa.
not proposed to hribe members whose votes
were doubtful, to vote for him. but to use tbe
money with some Of their their personal frierd
aad associates supposed to be abe TO d.,
much in the way of influencing their votes
However, the over confidence of the friends
of Mr.. CullOm at home, having completely
spoiled the plan for placing that gentle
man in the Speakership, it has already been
arranged to run him for the clerkship of the
House with much better prospect of success
than he would have had for the Speakership;
as very few of the Southern Know Notbings
and of the Northern Philadelphia platform
Wings would have voted for him, because e
the great anxiety Of Mr.. Stewards friends to
place him in the position. As the clerkship
is not, strictly speaking, a political Office, he
can poll much larger vote for it in the Hall,
than be would have been able to poll for the
other. Though he may rot already know
that he is q candidate, he is at this moment by
far the most formidable gentleman in the field
for the clerkship Of the United States House
of Representatives,
The Hards.-At the last New York State
election, it turned out that the Adamantines
linen with very hard conscieDces) had dwindled
down to some $4,000, while their inter-rarty
rivals, the Softs, poIlel rs, 600 votes Those
who note the progress Of political events i'll
this country with care, are familiar with the
circumstances under which the Hard faction
virtually disbanded after that fashion. A
large wing-the honest among them-forget-
ting their personal Tor faction's) griefs,
reunited with the Democratic party of the
State on Governor Seymour, and those most
hungry for spoils went off to the Know Moth
ings; leaving but 80, 900, as before remarked
adhering to the Hard ticket
They have just held their State convention
prior to the approaching State election,
whereat, through the exertions of Mr.. Daniel
Z sickles, as is very apparent from the report
Of their proceedings, they exhibited more com-
mon sense than is their wont of late years.
Their address, of course, is redOlent with their
annual abuse and Misrepresentation of the
iAan md -, L.