Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-02-13
'I'LL bid farwell 10 every fear,
Aud wipe my weeping eyes
From the Correspondence Of the Char. Standard.

From the Correspondence Of the Char. Standard.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 5. 1856.
The most memorable, and perhaps the most
interesting, political contest ever known 10 the
history of our government, was brought TO a
close on Saturday evening last, at the National
Capital, BY the election Of Nathaniel L. Banks
Jr., (Black- Republican, -Nothing) +" the
Speakcrship of the 34ih Congress OF The United
States. The excitement which has attended
this protracted contest is well known to readers
of the Standard, and need not be recapltnIated'
Suffice il TO say that more intense feeling has
never before been exhibited in the metropolis,
aud the dense crowd which filled the hall, lob
bies and galleries, spoke plainly the Interest
which pcrvadcd the community in general. For
the first time since Tie foundation OF our gov
crnmcnt was 4 strictly sectional issue presented
in the election of the eiSpeaker, and well might
such IN issue arouse>fhc deepest anxiety III tho
breasts Of all patriots. But the contest came,
and with it the election Of Mr.. Banks, by three
majority, over gallant South Carolinna, Mr..
Aiken-AIr. Orr having Withdrawn his name.
This result followed, necessarily, the adoption
of the plurality rule, rule which was opposed
at every stage bv your whole delegation, and
particularly by MIR. Boyce, whose fiery cloqucnce
more than once defeated its passage. Had The
Southern know.NotIngs stood firm for u ns-
lonal organization, seclionaIism would have
been defeated, even under the operation OF the
plurality rule, but this party of the " dark IAN
term" when the struggle came, showed itself
TO lave been abulilionized and the victory was
lost. Even the eloquent Henry Winter Davis,
TX. Ny from Baltimore, threw his vote away OIL
the last ballot and suffered the election to 80
by default against the South. So ncenscd are
his constituency at this betrayal OF Southern
interests. that it is said it would not be safe for
Mr.. Davis to make his appearance on the streets
of Baltimore Alas, for Know-Nothingsm II
has been buried too deep for resurrection:
Yesterday, the members were sworn IN, and
drew for seats, and the House continued liz Or
uanizalion by the election of the Hon. MIR. Cul-
iom. cx.menibur Of Congress from Tenn, to the
Clerk shin. To-day, rgeant-at-arms, Postmas-
ter and Doorkeeprr, IRE to be elected, and, rs
ihe on,i. Admins. ration members were in caucus
last night, presume that everything is cut and
dried
Tho Senate, yesterday, had under considcra.
ton the proceedings of the immortal "cuuncll
of fifteen" and DIr. Toombs, Of Georgia, pro-
uounccd the whole action OF the Board abso-
lutcly null and void. He regarded the Board as
a court of limited aud special jurisdiction. That
jurisdiction they had gone beyond, as results
show, and, at the same time, kept no record OF
their proceedings, by which to determine the
Legitimacy of their action.
Col. Parker H. French is now here, and will,
in few days, present his credentials and demand
his recognition as Minister from Nicaragua. If
refused, Wheeler our Minister, will be sent
home.