Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-25
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


ence to the probable cast of the Kansas In
vestigating Committee, was very great, indeed,
up to the Speakers announcement, on yester-
day, of it's composition. It is certain that
many gentlemen who swear by the Abolition
Republican cause were most anxious to be
selected for it, as the discharge of its duties
bids fair to afford an opportunity for gentle
men who design to become notorious in con.
nection with "the cause of freedom" to make
their " shrieks" heard clear above those of any
rivals. 1t is also very certain that quite a
dozen members of the anti-slavcry stripe were
urged on the Speaker for service on this Com
mittee. His selections have taken the House
and the political outside world of Washington
by surprise, and are variously construed.
Some allege that they amount to a condem-
nation, utter and palpable, of his friends on
the Elections Committee-to a decision that
they are not of the calibre to fit them to be
entrusted with what the Republican party
conceive to be theirimost responsible trust-a
forcible defence of their cause as involved in
the Kansas embroglio. Others, again, allege
that he has taken this delicate way of quietly
removing Mcssrs Campbell and Howard from
the Committee of Ways and Means, and en-
trusting hereafter the most important func
tions of the management of the business of
that committee to Messrs Phelps, Howell
Cobb and John Letcher.
Many of the friends of Mr. Dunn are said
to be most emphatic in their denunciation of
the manner in which the Speaker has treated
him in this affair. Our verdict is, that he has
" sarved 'em right" For We cannot regard
Mr.. D g move in introducing hi, anti Repub-
lican star chamber proposition in any other
light than as an effort to take the abolition
wind out of the sails of those who are, par
excellence, the Speakers friends. The sue
cessful proposition of Mr.. Dunn, while under
the rules of comfy heretofore governing the
selection of committees, it squinted towards
affording him, personally, an opportunity of
making great noise in the world as cham
pion Of anti-slavery, is so drawn up as to
place in the hands of those named on it to
make abolition capital in the approaching
Presidential contest, powers as despotic as
exist under any despotism the sun now shines
on. Powers, that are by no means necessary
if it is designed only that fair and honest
investigation and report as between the two
great conflicting interests or causes in the new
territory, shall be made.
In refusing to yield to the reported pres
sure upon him to select Mr.. Dunn, the Speak
er has evidently but faithfully carried out
the wish Of the almost unanimous Republi
can party Of the House. This is evident from
the tone of the Republican party newspapers
for some days past. While Speaker Banks
has thus rejoiced the mas of his immediate
political friends, he has given dissatisfaction
only to the corporals guard who swear 20.
litically by Mr. D. The friends Of the Ne
braska bill did not care snap of the finger
whether no was appointed, or his friends dis
appointed. They judge it essentially uncor-
tain where he will be found on his own resolu-
tions in twenty-four hours. They, however,
thank the Speaker for the selection Of Mr..
Oliver, Of Missouri, as the third member of
the committee. He is familiar with the peo
pie to be tried under Mr.. Dunn's secret in
QUESTION. Many of them were not long since
his immediate constituents. He is man of
sagacity, energy, and nerve sufficient to ena-
ble him to do all that one man can do by way
of getting, for the cause of truth, Justice, and
right, as fair trial as is possible under the
resolution, which affords ample scope for the
majority to deal unfairly and act unjustly,
and work injustice; backed as they will be by
the assistant sergeant alarms and clerk they
are empowered to select, and by the effort of
the resolution to strip every body Of their con
'titutional rights they may essay to call be-
fore them; and encouraging them, as they
do, to enforce their edicts at the point of the
bayonet, if they fancy SO to do; and, further,
to compel all but the correspondents of aboli
ton newspapers who will accompany them to
refrain from giving their versions Of what goes
on whiIc the mock investigation may be in
progress.
Such is the tenor Of the resolutions, and
such is the work which the Republican party
managers expect to be carried out But they
will find Mr.. Oliver precisely one too many
for the success of their scheme, or we are no
judge of the public men of tho day.
P. s. Speaker Banks seems to have aban-
doned his alleged views On the equality Of
races. Vide, the "start" he has taken &C.
casion to give Mr.. Dunn.
California Surveys The returns have just
reached the General Land Office of a large
number of exterior lines of townships, among
which are about forty townships, extending
from the coast range of mountains westward
to the Pacific shore at Esteros bay, and en-
bracing the valleys of the Salinas river and
its tributaries together with the MAPS of
ffty-dve townships, subdividcd into sections,
all surveyed from the Mont Diablo meridian
and base line. Of these, twenty-six townships
are situated in body north of Walkers Pass
and east of the Sierra Nevada. tventv ona