Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-04


adopted, then there would have been vote
taken on agreeing to the amended resolution;
which tpould have been a vote on the ueston
of making Mr.. Smith the Speaker. We have
no reason whatever to believe that it would
have obtained more than the forty-seven votes
originally given for the resolution thus to
elect Mr.. s. to the Speakership. We make
this explanation on the suggestion of Demo
cratic member, who, having voted for the SUBJ
stitute on Thursday to be sure of killing the
plurality resolution, of course voted against the
original resolution to elect Mr.. Smith Speaker;
as in common with the mass of his party, he
could not have voted for gentleman occupy
ing Mr.. SIS position in the last Virginia eles-
ton, or that with reference to the platform
adopted by the Democratic caucus Of the
House.
John w. Fornsy, Esq We have repeat
eddy taken occasion to point out the fact that
the war made on this gentleman personally, by
the opposition press, was wholly undeserved,
unjust, and, indeed, atrociousIy disgraceful
in its character. We, therefore, have double
qualification in calling public attention to the
resolution concerning him unanimously adopt
ed by the House of Representatives on Satur-
day evening last, which embraces eompli-
ments, that, under the circumstances under
which they are paid, stamp him as no ordinary
man. The present House came together preju.
diced against Mr.. Forney through the menda-
cious attacks Of the press upon him during the
past summer and fall, more bitterly than
similar body was ever before prejudiced against
gentleman holding his position. They met
him face to face, and held daily official inter-
course with him for nine weeks, under circum-
stances in which his intelligence, his integrity
as public officer, and his courtesy, his fair
ness, as a man of honor in his dealings with all,
have been severely and thoroughly tried.
Their rights were, in the course of those nine
trying weeks, held in the hollow of his hand.
The result of their experience with Mr.. Forney
is the passage of their unanimous resolution to
which we refer above. If the sense of shame
has not departed from the breasts of his news
paper slanderers because they dislike his
politics.) their ears will Jingle on reading it.
The Way in which it was Done.-Accord-
ing to accounts rife among the Republicans
and northern Know Nothings yesterday, the
votes given by Messrs. Broom, Whitney & Co.,
for Mr. Aiken on Friday, were only so given
in order to throw dust in the eyes of the demo-
Gratis. These accounts also say that if their
votes had been necessary on the final trial
to secure the election of Mr.. Banks he
would have received them; their purpose
of creating the impression at the South
that the simon-pure Know Nothings Of the
North were disposed to stand by the right Of
the aave-holding States having, as they
thought, been secured by their act Of SO long
preventing an organization, under the pre-
tence of indisposition to drill under the com.
mand of Mr.. Giddings.
The New Speaker.-Whatever men may
think of the politics of Mr.. Banks, for which
We confess as abiding antipathy as one can
possibly entertain, we feel very sure that he
will discharge the duties to which he has been
called, with eminent ability, dignity, and
courtesy. All that he can achieve for his bad
political cause by so administering the Speak
ership, the public may rely on it, he will
achieve. We have no idea, however, that he
will neglect any possible opportunity of
strengthening his party by his selection of com,
mittees, rulings, &c; for more thorough par
tizan is not to be found among the members
of the HOuse--nOt one. We have no idea that
he will be sustained by majority for single
week; as he must, to satisfy the leaders among
those who have placed him in the chair, ad-
minister its functions to suit their ideas of the
fitness Of things, as far as he can do so with
out turning the Hall into a mere place for the
daily assembling Of sort of abolition cOnven-
ton.
The Clerkship.-We take it for granted
that Gen. Cullom will be elected to the Clerk
ship of the House on the first ballot this
morning, as there is no serious opposition to
him among the opposition members. He has
managed his case during the late protracted
contest with consummate judgment, having
adhered throughout it to his original deter
minatiOn not to involve himself in it in any
manner whatever.
The Current Operations Of the Treasury
Department. Saturday, I'd of February,
there were Of Treasury Warrants entered on
the books Of the Department
For the redemption Of Stocks.... So 33I q
For the Treasury Department. 1866 90
For the Interior Department. 1885 81
For Customs. ................... A, S04 40
Interior repay warrants received
and entered. ................. 4,363 81
From miscellaneous sources...... 30,62l SO
From Customs. observation-disclosures. 4,132 05
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, on Saturday, after we went
to press, the three majority vote trials to elect