Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-19
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP,

The Committee on Commerce this
committee is usually consigned all questions
connected with the regulation of internal and
sea-ward commerce, except in the matter of
duties on imports. 1t has also come to be the
originator the internal Improvement (rivers
and harbors) bills-it being claimed by the
advocates Of such legislation that the power
of the General Government to make rivers
navigable above tide-water, to construct lake
harbors, &C., comes as an incident Of the
power to regulate and protect commerce, &c.
So great has our oceanic commerce come to be
however, as that the legitimate duties of this
committee are at this time second in public
importance only to those Of the Ways and
Means. Speaker Banks has strictly carried
out, ON behalf of the new Republican orgsni-
nation, the bargain originally made in 1s4S
between Benz. f. Butler, on behalf of the
sore-headed Democrats who would not support
Cas-, and Joseph L. White, on behalf of the
Wings who would not ego" Taylor. This
bargain, which was concluded on the way be-
tween New York city and Buffalo as the two
distinguished leaders were journeying to the
Van Buren, and Charles Francis Adams,
pledged the Wing portion Of the Free Sol,
party to abandon the Wing conservatives, if
the disappointed and therefore disgruntled
Democrats would place in their common plat
form the time-hopored federal doctrine of in
tsrnal Improvements by the General Govern
ment. We know that this bargain was duly
made by the two distinguished leaders named
above, and that it was contaminated subse-
quently at Buffalo, and afterwards in the
election Of '4e. The Republican party being
heir to what was left of the Buffalo Free Soil
organisation, Speaker Banks has made an
ntsrnal-improvement-by the general govern
msnt-committee up to the hub-as he has
made an ultra protectionist Committee of
Ways and Means.
Mr.. Elihu B. Washburne, of ILL.,, who is
now serving his second term in the House, is
the chairman Of the committee under review
He is Republican Of as ultra type as any
other in the Hall. His transition to that
party from Seward Whigsry, was of course
natural and easy. The public may rely ont
that no scheme for spending money in clean
ing out creeks and rivers, constructing docks,
30, above tide water, can be started, which
will shock the nerves Of his constitution alism-
He is man Of energy, activity, and business
talents, and there is no more industrious gen
tleman in the Hall. We do not regard him
as one Of the prominent dsbaters of the cham.
Der; yet he is always sufficiently ready in de-
fence of his points
Mr.. w ade, of Ohio, has been four years a
member. He is the gentleman who wrote the
letter about his colleague, Mr.. Campbell So
far, he has merely distinguished himself by
the ultraism of his political abolitionism,
which Is cut in all respects closely after the
lash-and-chains style of that of his colleague
the venerable Joshua. He will support any
scheme whatever for the expenditure of the
public money on internal harbors and rivers,
provided not dollar Of it is proposed to be
expended south Of Mason and Dixon's line
We will not vouch that his propensity 70,
the internal improvement doctrine will carry
him TO the extent Of sustaining its applica-
tions outside of the non-slaveholdipg States
He attends sufficiently to all business devolv
ing on him, and makes no pretensions 10 ora.
toYical ability.
Mr.. Millson, of Virginia, number three or
the list Of this committee, is famous for being
perhaps, the strictest constructionist in tn,
Hall. That is, he is more prone to arpu,
such questions; which he always does will
marked ability. As an orator, his style i
necessarily involved, because he is really
profound man where points of law are con
cerned. As an abstract lawyer, he probabl
mas no superior in the chamber. Being
very high-toned and scrupulous gentleman
as we'll as strictly conscientious in the dis
charge Of his public duties, he possesses
very large share of the confidence of tn
House without distinction of party.
Mr.. Mcqueen, of South Carolina, hss serve,
two terms in Congress. He il industrious and
sxcssdingly liked by those who know hin