The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-02-09
Washington.
Especial Correspondence Of the Picayune.l
WARRINGTON, Jan. rs, 1855.

WAsHlNGroN, Jan. rs, 1855.
The last two days balloting in the House
exhibits the fact that Col. .Orr's nominationNby
the Democratic caucus has cut off every chance
he might have had to be elected Speaker. Had
Richardson b. Withdrawn, and no new cand-
idate formally nominated. by the Nebraska
men, The Southern Americans would have
looked upon the fact ass .retirement,'A saheo-
lutely, Of all the action Of the caucus which
nominated the gentleman from Illinois and
under such an understanding, it is believed that
they might have, unf~d with those who have
voted for MI. Richardson in. electing Col. Orr.
1t has been said that from the commence
ment IF the session Col. Orr and his friends
have been operating at cross purposes with
Cobb, Jones Of Tennessee, Geo s. Houston,
and other Of the most exprn nced Democrat
politicians, the former desiring toeoect q Dem
ocratic organization, and the latter preferring
not to undertake. its responsibilities without hav-
ing a party to sustain them. The Orr men have
for weeks felt satisfied that a majority could be
united upon him, and when Richardson de-
clined they thought the game was quite. sure
AS the case now stands. it is impossible to
effect o union between the Americans and
Democrats. s.1ot
49, II O~uuy Liz 4NCUIuShu mCA aLC CtiuOAtiy
quite discouraged and several of them are
privately urging the propriety and expectancy
Of organizing the House - way or another,
by adopting the plurality \end forcing the
Southern Americans to choJs6 Aetween Col.
Orr and +. Banks. / shall look daily forthe
execution Of some such plan as this \ fhe
contest is ended.
The message Of the President yesterday y
regard to Kansas affairs has created little d
no excitement. Many insist that its chief pur,
pose is to make all argument against Gov.
Reeder, with q view to its effect upon the New
Hampshire election. One thing is a little sim
gular. The President states that he was COM
PEELED to remove Gov. Reeder and Judges
johnson and Gilmore because Of their specula-
tions in Indian lands. I don't intend at this
time to enter into the discussion of the pro-
priety of that act but with a view of show
ing that President Pierce's course is not gov
erned by any fixed principle, or any just regard
to the public interest, but is, on the contrary,
governed by considerations Of personal expedi-
ency, | want to state the fact and challenge
denial, that the District Attorney Of Kansas,
Mr.. Isacks, was just as deeply implicated in
the speculations complained Of as was either Of
the other parties, and the evidence against him
is just as explicit, and yet he has not been re-
moved. He expected his removal, and wrote
a letter to Attorney General Gushing on the
subject, which should have caused his removal
for impertinence, independent Of his partici-
patton in the speculations. | will venture ma
comments on the Presidents messaga ~ !
enclose you q copy for your perussl and dis
~cussion.
In the Senate yesterday, 1rletter of Lord
John Russell, called for b lgblution of Mr.
Clayton, was made public You will see it
confirms the statement that, at the very time
when the Aberdeen Ministry retired, and the
Palmerston Ministry was again established, in
January, 1858, the British Government was
: fully determined to maintain the Clayton.
Bulwer 1nRty in its only just Interpretation
and the whole controversy amicably
byt wing from Central America. Mr.
ca Beloved the introduction Of this let
= tel 4h a forcible speech Of an hour, in expo
sItl0n Of the pretences under cover of which thu
Palmerston Administration now disgracefully
seeks to evade the obligations of the treaty 0
1850. Mr.. Cass stated his inability to follow
7 Mr.. Clayton Immediately, but indicated hi
9 purpose of so doing on Monday next.
After some further informal debate on thi
: subject, the subject of the Navy Retiring
Board was brought up by Mr.. Mason's presen.
n tation of Com. Thomas ap Catesby Jones'
memorial asking relief. Mr.. Mason urged tina
= it was an error to suppose Congress had no
the power to reverse the action Of the Board
He argued that the law authorizing the Boart
n was not executed in all its parts, and so ex
, hausted, until the nominations made to I'll
:, vacancies consequent upon its recommendatio
have been confirmed. He believed it was ye
within the province of Congress to restore al
d the officers who have been " RETIRED" although
# he admitted that it could provide no remed,
for those who have been dropped from TIL
service. Mr.. Benjamin briefly replied to MI
Mason in some remarks. He, as well as MI
Clayton, expressed entire confidence that a
d the proper time the Retiring Board would b
' fully relieved of all obloquy, and be s~ustaine,
by the country. SIGMA
A Stroud of Gold.