Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-26
NO SPEAKER YET.

It is now seven weeks since the House of Repre-
sentatives assembled and about one hundred and
twenty trials have been made, and yet no Speaker
has been elected Our readers are informed as to
the state of things at Washington and quite as
capable as we of forming an opinion as to the
result 1t seems to be probable, however, that the
plurality rule will be adopted; and IN that
event Speaker will at okce be chosen The oppo-
sition to the administration in the House could adopt
that rule, if disposed to do they could elect
Speaker by majority of the whole number Of
votes The responsibility from this continued dis
organization is, therefore, upon them.
No interest of domestic nature is suffering by
this delay The masses of the people arc, to great
extent independent action ofthe federal govern
mcnt. The State governments never stood out in
such bold relief as they do now; they are moving
forward in their accustomed paths, protecting life
and property and caring for the welfare and physi-
cal and social happiness of the millions of all classes,
from Maine to California But it is not to be denied
that the foreign interests of the country have been
placed by faction in the House, in condition to be
injuriously affected
There are two plans by the adoption Of either of
which the House might be organized. Let the mem
be impractcabc, let the House take a recess until
about the first of May. Let there be either ap-
peal to, or a consultation with, the people.
We are free to say that entertain no serious
apprehensions account of this delay and disor-
ganization. The government soiI not be dissolrea-
faction and abolitonism, if they should obtain
plete control in the House, aoM be checked by the
Senate, they haze been re6uked by the President
and the Constitution and the rights of tie States
will forth from this fiery trial, intact, and more
firmly fixed in the hearts of the masses of all Sec
tons than at any former period. This is our firm
belief The government has bt wisely contrivcd
so balanced, and its powers so distributed that
no combination of bad men, in any of its de-
partments, can destroy it. "The schole head must
be sick, and the wAole heart faint" before ruin can
overtake it. The late message of the President is
working silently, but powerfully and steadily, for
the rights of the States, for higher and noble asp
rations and views in public affairs, and for the per-
petuation of the Union according to the Constitu
ton. The House may, therefore, continue to disor
ganize, but the patriot will still hope.
THE WEATHER.
The weather here is still quite cold, and the snow
is disappearing slowly. Accounts from all quarters
represent the season as unequalled in severity for
many years. The last Hillsboro' Recorder says:
1--WE said last week that the snow had lasted
longer and made better sleghing than was ever be-
fore known here to the oldest inhabtant" We
spoke from own experience of thirty-six years
but we find we were mistaken friend, not one
of the Oldest" informs us that about fortv-six
years ago. fell before Christmas which lasted
until complaining time;" it remaining in the cor
of fences and protected places until after the
LIST of April. We hope the spell we now passing
through will not beat that"
The ice in the river at Niagara Falls is frozen
twenty to thirty feet thick and persons it
from the American to the Canada side. On the 18th
instant the bed of ice formed up to Goat Island !;
which has not taken place since 1926. The weather
has also been quite cold in the far South Snow has
fallen at Galveston, Texas and the Rio Brazos was
so firmly frozen over that teams were crossing on
the ice.
SMALL. NorEs-North Carolina, Virginia. and
South Carolina all have laws prohibiting the issue
and circulation of small notes. AS the currency of
these States is, to extent, currency common
to the people of all of them, every law which affects
or controls it is matter of common interest. Will
the Richmond Enquirer and the Charleston Mercury
oblge their readers in this State by procuring and
publishing the laws Of their respective States on the
subject Of small notes !
H Prof Emmons was IN this City day or two
since, having just returned from the Western Coun-
ties. He has favored US with an interesting COM