Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-02-20
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE srA1pAaD.

NoTM Cdr0ttnd-Repu6ilcdn deteHfeG an thar
first Contest-Business about to Commence COL
Biggs Resolutions-7he Nacal Board in the Sen !
ate-Ihe Kansas PrOcldnaation-Fdten
> The organization of the House of Representatives
has been completed, with the exception of choosing
Chaplain Printer has been elected after a
weeks scrambling the Committees have been ar
nounced, and the many communications that had
accumulated on the Clerks desk during the long
struggle for Speaker, have been disposed of by re-
ference to the appropriate Committees. 1t is ques-
tionab'e whether the cause of morality would not
be suSserved and respect for religion promoted by
the postponement altogether of the election of a
Chaplain. greater farce cannot well be imagined
than for the two Houses of Congress to be opened
with prayer every morning. to which hardly half
dozen members pay the least attention. 1t has, in
these evil days. degenerated into idle ceremony,
more honored in the neglect than in the observance
And then what humating spectacle, to behold
some twenty or more of the clergy electioneering
for the place like professional politicians
The election of Mr.. Wendell, the nominee of the
Democratic caucus took the black Republicans cs-
peclaIy ty surprise, it having been part of their
programme to establish daily organ of that party
at this City, supported by the public printing He
is not connected with any of the political press here
but his success is very gratifying to the Democracy
if for no other reason than it deprives the enemy
of the sinews of war. The black Republicans arc
manifestly badly organized party, more success
! would have attended their plans They are timid
set of fellows, full of ambitious aspirations, and
about jealous of each other they are suspicious
of the movements of the Democracy.
The Committees present an extra rdinary spec
tacle. Mr. Banks has taken care of his friends and
| the North in the most studied manner The
South does not get the Craftsmanship of single i'm
| portant Committee, and but two of any Sort
| while those Committees under whose consideration
matters of vital interest to the South fall, are pack
| ed with the most notorious agitators, whose daily
avocation it has been to assa the South and her in.
situations. What could be more insulting than to place
Mr.. Houston of Ala, old and experienced MEM
Der, the able head of the Committee of Ways and
Means for four years, low down on the Committee
| of Territories with Galusha A. Grow Wilmots sue
cessor at its head I? From this Judge of ALL The
Committees are evidently arranged with design to
make up issues for the House in manner TO adj
vance the interests Of the Republican party, to
| swallow in Committee whatever may have ad-
tendency. The article in the Union of yestcr-
day morning is but reflex of the views of the DE.
mocracv in Congress generally and it may be add
ed that the 18th section Know Nothngs arc no less
dspleascd with the arrangement and little consider
alton shown them than are the Democrats. .
/ Each Of the Representatives from North Carolina
placed Committee, follows: Mr.
Branch, on the Committee on Public Expenditures
Mr.. Wirsow on Naval Affairs; Mr.. CIingman, on
Foreign Affairs; Mr.. Craige, Revolutionary Pen
sions; Mr. Ruffin, on Roads and Canals; Mr.. Paine
on Patents; Mr.. Puryear, on the Public Buildings
and Grounds and Mr.. Reade, On Expenditures in
the Post Office Department.
The first struggle in the House over a matter of
business. between the Republicans and the conser-
vative side, occurred yesterday, resulting in the de-
feat of the former. The Presidents special message
on Kansas came up in due course for such reference
as the subjects therein considered demanded Mr..
Houston, of Ala, moved its reference to the Com
mttee of the w hole on the state of the Union say
| ing that it embraced subjects properly coming un
der the consideration of several different Commit
| tees that the proper course was to discuss it in
| khoN l,11o
appropriately to the different Committees whose re-
ports would be made under the instruction of the
| House. Mr. Grow desired it to be sent directly to
the Committee on Territories, for the purpose doubt
less of giving that Committee opportunity to make
up its report in advance of any discussion and be-
| fore the members may have committed themselves
to any particular line of policy The motion of Mr..
| Houston was not an unprecedented one by any
means, Mr.. Humphrey Marshall citing in its sup
| port the action of the House on the special
sage of Gen. Taylor in 1850, recommending the adj
mission of Utah and New Mexico as States, which
was referred to the Committee of the Whole-a case
| directly in point. The vote by ayes and noes re-
suited sc to 49, the Democrats and National Know
Nothings having majority of three over the dark
Republicans
day. In the interim. the Committees will probably
have their first meeting. Monday is resolution day.
when resolutions may be expected in perfect food
The call commences with the State of Maine, and
goes through the States in order. The Presidents
Annual Message, well as the Kansas Message,
have been referred to the Committee of the Whole,
| and by Tuesday the House may resolve itself into
Committee for the first time, and the debate nomi-
naily on the State of the Union but really on the
prospects Of the Presidential election, fairly COM
lnence. Black Republcansm and Know Nothing
ism have signalzed their advent in the halls of leg
isation by consuming nearly three months in get
ting ready to make beginning
The resolution of Mr.. Biggs, directing that the
Senate go into an election of its officers, ought to
have been adopted by that body. The ancient usage
of the Senate was to hold election of its officers
every Congress- thus passing in review the manner
! in which they had discharged their duties. few
years since resolution was adopted changing the
tenure of these officers entirely; they hold Of
flee at the will of the Senate, and not by virtue of
an election held at any stated and regular interval.
This change can hardly be regarded strictly in
accord with the principles of political system,
and looks like one step towards increase of the
prerogatves and privileges of the Senate. The
whole country looks to the Senate as the coHserva
tive feature in form of government and it should
be exceedingly careful not to impair its influence
with the people or to lessen their confidence in it,
by making the least departure from those principles
which are regarded as essential to the permanence
of the Republic.
The action of the late Naval Board has almost
engrossed the attention of the Senate during the
present week. No settled opinion appears to have
been formed to what if any thing, shall be done.
The clamor to which the action of the Board has
given rise, is by means unexpected. What re-
form was accomplished without the violent op.
position of all whose interests were invaded? be-
lieve that the decision of the Board will stand, and
am quite sure that it ought to stand. Reform in
the Navy was acknowledged to be a necessity to
make it efficient; if the step that has been taken is
retraced then the Navy is rrevocably given up to the
surerannuated and worthless and the best material
will be driven QUITO find better employment in the