Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-15

application for patent for any absurd thing,
to be named by the other side, and that after
running his eye over the papers, he would greet
the applicant with his customary congratula-
ton on the triumph of his genius! The other
party accordingly named, as the subject for
which the patent should be applied, project
for making mahogany plank out Of pine saw
dust. Nothing daunted, Mr.. Lear, drew up
the papers in due form, and the proper green
looking bearer being speedily found, he was
duly introduced to DR.. Thornton by the UNI
pires selected; and Lear won his wager!
Now, when Mr.. washburne, of Ill. ,yester-
day announced SO authoritatively in the hall
that all the House opponents of the present
administration should meet last night in caucus,
an involuntary recollection of the Yankees
never-tO-b e-forgotten scheme "for making
mahogany plank out of pine saw-dust" came
over us; the union Of the opposition on the
basis of the political positions and views of
Messrs. Greedy and Giddings-the end to have
been accomplished by the proposed caucus
being just as feasible, quite, as the scheme
over which, as narrated above, the venerable
and eccentric DR.. Thornton had been earnest
ly puzzling his brain, before the lop-sided
Yankee presented himself before him.
The Announcsment-of the proposed eau
Gus of all the Opposition members Of the House,
to be held last night, made yesterday in the
hall by Mr.. Washburn, CT H., one of the tellers
| who conduct the protracted and vexatious
election of q Speaker, (who seems destined
never to be chosen,) created no little surprise
though all present were we'll aware that to get
the conglomerated majority out Of their tribu-
lations satisfactorily, is a problem on which
their very wisest and most experienced head >,
| have been keeping up ID of thinking
ever since Monday afternoon of last week. All
| sorts of rats were instantly 90 smelled" in
1.-THE announcement; and it was received
| accordingly. "Humph," said one member
who swoars by the 18th section, to his neigh
Dor: " Here's lew abolition trick on foot ;"
A bystander says, that the Hon. Mr.. Haven
rubbed his backbone inquiringly, as though
to ascertain whether it absolutely required
being doctOred by Drs Greeley, Watson Webb,
Z. p. Blair, Preston King, ct a., with Gid
dinS's liniment. Mr.. Fuller, of Pa, and Mr.
Broom, his colleague, locked at each other a
glance full Of meaning; which told the tale Of
their unwillingness to be trapped through any
such scheme, into selling out Pennsylvania
coal and iron in exchange for political "wool. 4"
Our friend Mr.. Wheeler, is reported to have
exclaimed with emphasis, SO that all those in
his vicinity heard him, @ No you don't, Dickey
Riker." Many other little circumstances &C.
Cured, leading 20 the conclusion, that the Pre- =
posed caucus would not be attended by any
one of the gentlemen who were expected to be
forced into the Greeley and Giddings harness
through its obligations.
An Army officer Dsad.-Tho War Depart
ment have advices Of the death of Major
o. L. Winship, Assistant Adjutant General
U. S. A, at Troy, N. Y, on the 18th instant,
suddenly, Of inAammatory rheumatism. He
was recently from the Sioux expedition, hav-
ing been General Harvey Adjutant General.
His disease attacked his head, for which we
believe, there il no cure. He literally fell a
victim to the arduous nature OF his duties on
the Sioux campaign. lie reached his family
at Troy on the Thursday only before his death,
| and was i'll on arriving there.
Major W. was through the whole of the
Mexican war, Distinguishing himselfin nearly
every one of its great actions. At Palo Alto
he was under Col. Nay in the celebrated
charge on the Mexican artillery. Major W.
was one of the most intelligent, active, useful,
and hightoEed officers in the service, and his
death will be sincerely mourncd by its mem
bers Of all grades.
Lands in Kansas Territory Inquiry hav-
| ing been made as to whether lands in Kansas
are locatable with bounty land warrants, we
learn that the public lands in that Territory
will be subject to location with bounty land
warrants after they shall have been surveyed,
offered at public sale, and become subject TO
private entry; that at present there arc TO
lands subject to private entry in the Territory
and consequently none now subject to location
with warrants. The Indian trust lands, how
ever, to be sold for their benefit, will not be
subject TO such location.
The Current Operations of the Treasury De.
partment.-On yesterday, 14th of December,
there were Of Treasury Warrants entered on
the books Of the Department
For the redemption Of stockg.... S24.973 &C
For the Treasury DEPARTMENT.. 1919 81
For the Interior Dopartmont..... I6,454 SO
For the Customs. ......,......... 20I 81
War Warrants received and On
tered ....................... 29s, CAT 9;
War repay warrants received and
entered. ...................... 2O3, 447 9;
Interior repay warrants received
and entered. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 5,43I O;
On account Of the NavV......... 23l ,977 q
PERSONAL.
l. go. Jacob Bankers Autobiogr Apply is pub