Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-31
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

4
the two Houses of Congress to-day, at few
minutes past twelve. The advent of the Presi.
dents private secretary in the hall of the
House, announcing "a communication from
the President Of the United States" took all
by surprise. W.
That body was debating what course should
be pursued in relation to the document, when
We went to press. In the Senate the Message
was promptly read.
1t opens by adverting to the fact that the
President cannot reconcile it to his sense Of
duty to longer refrain from communicating
unto Congress and the country, notwithstand-
ing the failure of the House to elect Speaksr
1t then proceeds to discuss the Central
American question, next the recruitment ques-
ton, next the matter of Sound dues. 1t then
proceeds to consider other subjects of foreign re-
lations, and then to matters of domestic in
terest.
These being concluded, it announces with
explicit disinterestedness the views of Presi-
dent Pierce in relation to the constitutional
theory of our Government.
That portion of the document which treats
of the constitutional theory of our govern
ment, although marked with great ability, is
not less stirling, or interesting, or able than
the discussion of the constitutional relations
Of slavery which follows.
We are much mistaken if this Message does
not promptly take rank with the very ablest
of American State Papers.
Tomorrow or next day, certainly Ever
since the termination of the first week of the
present session Of Congress, the Washington
writers for the Republican press have been
amusing their readers with predictions of the
triumph of Mr. Banks on Tomorrow or next
day, certainly" On all such occasions noses
had been counted and the wished for result
had been reduced to a matter about which
there could be no longer any question what
ever. In the face Of the fact that it has al
ways proved to be impossible to poll the votes
of a majority of the members present, the de-
sired end was to have been accomplished ac-
cording to these wiseacres in one or two ways,
viz: either by his receiving the votes of two
or three gentlemen who would only vote for
him when their saffrages would elect him be-
yond per-adventure, or by the voluntary
withdrawal from the Hall of two or three of
the sturdy phGlanx Of Democrats, who long
since nailed their flag to the mast head.
Now 1t strikes us, in view of the glaring
failure of all the representations to which
we refer above, that the country will not long
hence comprehend the fact that notwithstand-
ing their boosted majority, those who enter
tain views on the leading issue between par
ties at this time similar to those Of Mr. Banks,
are not in majority in the House of Repre-
sentatives. There is, indeed, at least as much
difference between the sentiments of Mr. Ha-
ven, Mr.. Bayard Clark, Mr.. Whitney, Mr.
Walk, and two or three other northern oppo-
sitiOn members and Mr.. Gidiings, on slavery
questions, as between the former and the pro.
Nebraska bill Democrats He who does not
by this time realize that when the House shall
have organized, the National Americans will
be found voting with the Democrats upon all
slavery questions, is not gifted with keen per.
ceptions of things in the dim and misty future.
The unity of sentiment on this question
which is destined to bring together the two
parties last above mentioned, in the transac-
ton of the future business of the session it is,
which prevents the former from aiding Mr..
Giddings and his friends to organize the House
so that Mr.. G. g views of the fitness of things
shall be carried out. All the bowling of the
nti-slavarv nress ovar tho nrotopdad sttxoool
cry to freedom" of the northern National
American party of the House, is based on the
silly story, that the northern twelfth section
men were elected on pledges identical in effect
with those made by the ultra anti-slavery
men. Before this contest had fairly COM
menced, we published the fact that the New
York Tribune, and its kindred prints, would
have to do an awful amount Of believing be-
fore the House organized.
We knew we'll that the National Americans
could not, and would not aid in abolitionizing
the popular branch of Congress, and that the
majority Of the opposition, running mad with
their present much greater strength in the
hall than ever before, would be content with
nothing less than the Inauguration of their
own extreme views as the future policy of the
House of Representatives Of the United States
They are the views on public affairs so sig
nally repudiated in the late election by the
people of Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts,
New York, Pennsylvania, New jersey, and,
indeed, Of Ohio; for. the aggregate opposition
to the Republican party threw m ajority Of
oil the votes cast even there. The struggle has
been to install in the House policy signally
repudiatcd by the country; and the factionists
are simply bent on doing that thing, as all
people of common sense will realize. Hence
the failure to organize.
The Message Sidney Webster's an
nouncement Of the annual message in the
House to-day, excited a great furry there
Father Giddings got as hot as a pepper-bo1
over the alleged impudence of the President
in daring to send in his message before the