Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-11

10 warren All movements, To support all mea-
sures tending to the general welfare, and to
oppose all unjust, all sectional legislation.
The Democracy is determined to present a
united front in the coming contest; to present
principles which will command confidence now
as they have hitherto done. 1t will present
broad, national principles, excluding sections
and isms. It's principles are for perpetuity,
for the abiding welfare of the country, and not
for temporary use to obtain spoils. Bad coun-
sells have at times allowed the admission Of mer-
cenary parties to the Democratic ranks, when
defeat has usually followed. But on every oc-
casion when uncompromisingly adhered to, the
Democratic principles have commanded the
support of majority of the people of the
country.
REELECTION OF SENATOR MASON
By THE VIRGINIA LEGlSLATURE.
We never announced the result of any cleo
ton with more pleasure than we did that of
Hon. James M. Mason 10 the United States
Senate by the Virginia Legislature, on Satur
day last. We deemed the occasion one of so
much interest as TO make it proper to issue
slips from our Office in order to circulate the
intelligence We shall not here attempt any
labored eulogy of Senator Mason. He is so
well known 10 his State, and 10 the country, as
to render such an undertaking unnecessary.
OF her two Senators, the Old Dominion may
well be proud. They are not only gentlemen
of eminent abilities, but of incorruptible and
unimpeachabie integrity.
The Richmond Enquirer, of yesterday, thus
announces the reelection Of Senator Mason:
The Author of the Fugitive Slave Law
Fully Endorsed by the Old Comm on
wealth.
The people Of Virginia and the true lovers
of the Constitution and the Union every where
will rejoice to know that on Saturday, James
NJ. Mason was reelected United States Sena.
tor, by the overwhelming majority of 55-the
joint vote of both Houses being for Mason "a
for all others 50. The only regular opposition
to our faithful sentinel in the United States
Senate was the nomination of George W. Sum
mers, and Mr.. Mason's majority over him was
SO. We regretted to see this organized oppo-
sition, even from the Know-nothings, who
probably felt sore under the hard things said of
them by Senator Mason in the last canvass.
Had they not been bound up by the action
Of caucus, we do not doubt that many of them
would have cheerfully voted for Mr. Mason, not
as a Democrat, but as an acknowledged cham
pion of Southern Rights. As it was, we are
happy to see that few Of the ablest of the anti
Democratic members of the Legislature freely
cast their votes for Mr.. Mason.
Contrary to general expectation, Saturdays
election W. tho rnoot mn ad nd ,r,at e,ro
torial election we have ever witnessed In the
Senate Mr.. Deneale and Mr.. Parks presented
the respective claims of Messrs. Mason and
Summers, in brief and sensible speeches. In
the House a similar scene was witnessed in the
speeches of Messrs. Pitman, Hiett, and Bran
non for Mr.. Mason, and Messrs. Smith and
Rufner for Mr.. Summers. Our friend Ben.
Smith, of kanawha, generally astute aud ef-
fective, sought TO produce a diversion in favor
of trans Allegheny Western claims, upon which
he played with harp of a thousand strings"
but the superstructure of his argument could
not stand before the happy and telling speech
of Mr.. Brannon, of Lewis, from the extreme
Northwest, whose sentiments coming from the
heart, met with glorious Virginia response
from every portion of the State.
This election, SO promptly and enthusiast.
cally effected, will cause a glow of pleasure in
the hearts OF all Constitution and Union-loying
men everywhere. We can freely say that il
shows Virginia to be fully united upon the great
question of the day, and that we never record
ed any event with more heartfelt pleasure.
From the same paper 1.-THE Enquirer we
extract the proceedings Of the Legislature in
reference to the election. They are as fol-
lows:
The Speaker having announced that the
hour had arrived to proceed to the considera.
ton of the special order, being the election Of
Senator TO the United States Senate to FIJI
the vacancy to be occasioned by the expiration
Of the term Of James NJ. Mason, which occurs
the 4th Of March, 1857.
Mr.. Hiett moved that the Senate be informed
Of the readiness of the House to go into the
election.
The Speaker remarked that the motion was
not in order before nominations were made.
Mr.. Pitman said rise to put in nomina.
ton for this distinguished position James NJ.
Mason, which ! do with hearty good will,
and in entire obedience to the wishes OF the
people who have sent me here. do so with.
out intending any reflection upon any other in
dividual who may be put forward. With these
remarks present to you Mr.. Mason as can.
didate, feeling assured that his merits are
sufficiently known 70 every member Of this
House, and therefore needing no eulogy from
me.
Mr.. Ruffner.-I put in nomination for the
Office Of United States Senator, Mr.. George
w. Summers, Of Kanawha.
Mr.. HrETT.-I rise to respond to the nomi-
nation of the gentleman from Shenandoah,
(Mr. Pitman.) do so with sincere pleasure,
feeling, as | do, that the position to which il is
proposed TO re-elect Mr. Mason will be appro.
priateIy filed, as it has been hitherto. So far
as the portion of the country from which j
come is concerned, know there is but one
feeling upon the subject Of this election, and
that has reference 10 the choice Of Mr.. Mason
] will now content myself by expressing my
hearty concurrence in Mr.. Mason's nomina-
| ton.
/ Message from the Senate.
Mr.. Catett, from the Senate, informed the
House Of the readiness Of that body to proceed
with the joint order Of the day, being the cleo
ton of United States Senator, and that James
M. Mason and George w. Summers we're in
nomination.
IL r.