Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-12-10
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE STANDARD.

2: <t WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 1906.
The first week of the second regular session Of
this Congress has expired, and the work accomplish
ed may be summed up in single woodworking
A considerable majority of the House If Represen-
tatives having been elected as Know Nothings it is
not surprising that they should prove practc al do
nothings-except 10 renew if possible, the agitation
of the slavery and Kansas questions. 1t twas hoped
by all moderate that the slavery agitation would
be allowed to sleep for awhile, now that the Presi
dental election is over, but the experience of sim
gle week has dissipated this hope and disclosed the
policy of the black Republican party to be, to con.
tinue the agitation. This might have been antici-
pated, as the slavery question is the only capital
possessed by the black Republicans, and to throw
that question aside, to dissolve their organiza-
ton.
Immediately upon the meeting of the House of
Representatives on Monday last, Mr.. Phelps, of No.
presented the credentials of Gen. Whitfield, elected
as the delegate from Kansas. The presentation of
these credentials followed by motion to refuse
a seat to Gen. Whitfield, when the motion succeed
ed bv a small majority. The whole strength of the
Republican party on hand the first day, ready
to carry out the programme doubtless agreed upon
beforehand. The motion to refuse him the seat was
carried in consequence of the absence of several
Southern members. On a motion to reconsider,
long struggle ensued, the Democrats seeking to
sumo time that the absentees might arrive, and the
Republicans endeavoring to force vote. On FRI
day it was ascertaned that Whitields friends were
sidered by majority of three. The further
sideraton of the subject was postponed by general
consent until Tuesday, when the Republicans may
turn the tables upon Whitields friends and attempt
the ultimate defeat of the latter by the of the
same tactics Whitfields friends are certainly in a
small majority in the House, the trouble being in
making it available when needed. The black Re-
publicans thoroughly drilled and do not fail to
take advantage of the casual absence of any of our
friends
Gen. Whitfield now presents himself as the dele
gate from Kansas, asolaving been duly elected in
consequence of the action of this House of Repre-
sentatves, declaring, at its first session. the seat to
be vacant. There is no contestant. He received all
The votes that cast at the late election. There
was Republican candidate in the Territory, and
the abolitiOnsts abstained altogether from voting
Gen. Whtfeld's rejection is placed upon the sole
grounds of the nulty of the Kansas territorial laws
and the want of legal authority the part of the
local officers by whom the election was held. Tim
wolves assumption of the right the part of the
House of Representatives to pronounce upon the
legality of the Kansas laws and is therefore an in
vasion of the jurisdiction of the judiciary. Yet
black Re2ublcansm hesitates not to confound all
the departments of the government or to disregard
the provisions of the Constitution ITSELF to accom-
plish its party ends.
The Message of the President was transmitted to
Congress on Tuesday, and duly read in the Senate.
1t is able state paper, and has called out the I'M
qualified commentator of numerous Senators from
the Southern States. Its resume of the Kansas Ques-
ton and the admonitions towards the people of the
country 10 yield cheerful obedience to the Consi
tuition and to maintain the right of each State and
locality to determine its institutions, could not
have been more complete. The motion in the Sem
ate to print seized upon by the abolition Sena
tors to the Kansas di scussion in that body,
the discussion being little than re iteration of
stump speeches during the Presidential campaign.
The message was not read in the House, the Whit
field case engaging its attention, and it is hardly
probable that it will be read formally. The preced-
ing annual message never read in the House and
never even referred to the different Committees.
The different reports from the Executive Depart
ments present interesting view of the state of the
country and of its progress and material prosperity
The report from the Navy Department is we'll writ
ten. full Impractical suggestions for the improvement
of the service, and dscoses great improvements in
the efficiency of the Navy during the period of Mr..
Dobbins administration.
On Wednesday, the death of Mr.. Clayton Senator
from Delaware, was announced to the two Houses,
when appropriate cuogies were pronounced and the
usual resolutions of coincidence adopted Mr.. Clay
ton the senior Senator, and for long period
occupied the position Of the leading man in Della.
ware.
1t is probable that the subject of Kansas and its
pacification will be taken up after little while, with
the intention of enacting Mr.. Toombs' bill, which
passed by the Senate last summer, and is now
pending in the House. If it can be reached, and
every one OF us supporters III tne House arc III telT
places. it be carried and thus the measure, de-
feated by the Black Republican party because il
would stop the wounds of "bleeding Kansas" will
yet become law. The new Legislature of Kansas
will probably obvate the necessity for part of this
bill by the repeal of the obnoxious laws, which have
been pronounced unconstitutional by Democratic
Senators in their places. The Legislature meets
this winter and these laws will doubtless disappear
from the statute books in compliance with an over
ruling public opinion.
There will be no business done by Congress until
after the first of January, and not then if the
| Black Republicans can prevent it. They may ever
attempt to defeat the appropriation bills, and thus
place Mr. Buchanan under the necessity of conve
ming an extra session some time next summer
Should faction create such necessity the true friend
of the Union will cheerfuly sustain the Prcsi
dent in taking steps to remedy the attempted injury
| to our country and its Government
There are numerous rumors af1oat with regard Il
| the composition of Mr. Buchanans cabinet, but they
can hardly pretend to be than rumors. Ye
| two three points appear to be settled-that Mr.
Toucy will be the New England representative, ant
that Gov. Floyd, of Virginia, will probably be invi
ted to place, perhaps to take charge Of the Treas
ury Department. Twelve of the Virginia elector!
have signed paper recommending Gov Floyd
which, however, at his special request, may not b.
| forwarded to Mr.. Buchanan yet expression O
the wishes of the Virginia Democracy, it will hav
its effect Neither Mr.. Wise Mr. Hunter wis
to occupy seat in the cabinet. 1t is said also tina
Mr.. Bocock has been recommended by his colleague
in Congress for the Navy Department These ru
| mors and speculatons give rumors only, an
your readers will give them credit accordingly.
MECkLENBURG.
The DEMOCRACY Enthusiastically gala
day for the Democracy of Richmond. As soon a
the unanimous vote Of the Electoral College wa
r d IL slx-ao