Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-19
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

fro.-Much OF yesterdays remarkable
debate in the House Hall reminds us of the
game Of Faro, with which, in courtesy, we
must write that it is presumed no member of
Congress is acquainted Mr.. Giddings was the
imaginary banker. He proclaimed boldly and
emPhatieally, if not in so many words that the
bank" is his that his resolutions in caucus
form the platform on which the main opposi-
ton are row cOntending, and that that plat
form IL simply the one upon which he has been
standing nearly solitary and alone in the hall
for twenty years past. There was no mistakipp
his declarations. lie ayowed, practically
that he and he only had built the platform
wholly ont OF materials that heretofore were
peculiarly his; and that in adopting it, those
now acting with him have tacitly agreed to
sink every other issue hereafter in American
politics but naked and undeniable abolition.
ism, for the supremacy of which in the Gov.
ernment-live or die, sink or swim-they are
alone to contend. Mr.. Allison, Of Pennsylya-
MIA, also made an announcement equivalent to
the same thing.
Mr.. Banks played the dealer" admirable
Always imperturbable, no erOupier Of fifty
years experience behind the baize-eovered
table, ever raked in the stakes lost by infatu
ated men who 1c1H persist in playing a game
at which they must surely be losers in the
long run. He disclaiined individual response
bility for the adoption of the platform of Mr..
Giddings, as quietly as, on the day before, he
had made similar disclaimer of responsibility
for the publications Of letter writer's In his
favor In the lObby-as quietly as the ctoupier
declines to g interfere with gentlemen making
their bets. each man Of you, gentlemen,
wager on the card you think will VIM
whether the black card Of abolitionisn, or the
red, Of Know NothingiSm- lie seemed to know,
as the erOuprsr does, that, however, gentlemen
tvoting with Mr.. Giddings,) lay their stakes
IN this election, they must necessarily 90 to
swell his pile; and to care not the snap Of his
niger, whether he wins on "spades," Adolf
tionism, or on "hearts, - Know Nothingism-
provided he soins.
Field Day-Having attended, with per-
maps nall dozen exceptions in all, every days
session ofthe United States House of Represen-
tatives since that of 1912 and I543, we have
rarely witnessed a more interesting one than
that Of yesterday. We style it ga field day."
such it was, indeed, more especially for the
supporters Of Mr.. Richardson, who, under the
lead of Mr.. j. Clancy Jones, gained many
important points against both the opposing
parties. Mr.. J. exhibited himself in a new
character-One which we presume his modesty
has not before permitted him to assume-in
that of party leader. Capitally did be dis
charge its delicate and really trying response
bilities, preserving an equanimity, if not a
very Jollity, Of temper throughout the day,
that gave him inealculable advantage, and
turning eVerythingti from his foiled and
at times over-excited opponents to the benefit
OF the cause he was so skillfuliy engineering
through the threatening circumstances by
which it was surrounded. After we went to
press, Mr. Walker, Of Alabama, labored ap-
parently TO induce him to admit that the Demo-
cratic party were stand. ug on a Southern sec
uonal plat'orm-seemirg anxious to have that
plea 10 justify him in voting hereafter for Mr..
Richardson. While Mr.. Warshburne, Of ILL.,,
Iaoored even harder to induce him to make the
same admission that he might thereon hang a
Justification for his evident purpose of hereaf-
ter sustaining pure and unauthorized anti
slaVeryism and nothing else. But Mr.. Jones
was caught in neither trap. lie demonstrated
the thorough nationality Of the resolution on
which his party stand, md so explained their
position upon it, as that while he made it ap
parent that the South can find no refuge and
shield outside of that platform, it will be idle
to argue at the North that it aims to secure
Tor the South more than tho bare rights COW
cred and sealed in her favor by the Constitu'
lion Of the United States.
The Exeitenent.-It is very evident to rs
from the proceedings of yesterday and the
day before in the House hall, that if an or
gsnization shall ever be effected, the session
will be almost wholly devoted " the slavery