Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-24
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

Il
casion evinced the style in which they would
"rule America" were the power SO to do
| lodged in their hands. The treatment ac-
corded to him by that class of Washington
Know Nothings was sufficient to induce most
ambitious public men forever to stand out
against our city.
But Mr.. Florence, thanks to his good sense,
proved to be too manly to be governed in this
matter by personal considerations. Instead
| of turning his back on the interests of the
Federal Metropolis in subsequently, legislating
upon questions affecting those interests, he has
proved to be always its steady and reliable
friend; no other member being more fearless
and .unwaveripg in the Districts defence
We know that we express the opinion of our
Know Nothing fellow citizens who have some
thing to lose by the prevalence and supremacy
OF rufdanly rowdyism here, as we'll as that of
the anti Know Nothing party of the District,
in thanking him for tho undertaking friend
ship he has manifested for the interests and
rights Of the ward of Congress, notwithstand-
ing the incentive for him to act otherwise, to
which We refer above.
The Hon. Henry Winter Davis has always
been treated with courtesy and respect by
| his political opponents on the many occa-
| sions in which he has delivered speeches in
the District from the stump. He has been
more petted and caressed by his political
friends of the District of Columbia than any
| other gentleman in either branch of Congress.
When he aided in the election of Mr.. Banks,
by taking ground against the rest of the Rep
resentatives from slaveholding States, and
storm of Indignation thereat seemed likely to
arise among the Know Nothings of Baltimore,
our Know Nothing fellow citizens promptly
went to his rescue, adopting in one or more
Of their lodges; resolutions which, if meaning
| any thiag, were meant as shield interposed
between his political future and the dissat is
| faction and discomfort of his immediate con-
stituents and supporters on account of his
course on that the Speakership) question.
Never did party labor more earnestly
than did the Know Nothings of Washington
to shield Mr.. ID. on that occasion. His return
for their kindness compares badly, indeed,
with tho return made by Mr.. Florence for the
| brutal insults to which he was subjected by
| those whose connection with the Know No.
thing party of Washington causes the blush
of shame to mantle the cheek of its many
worthy, respectable and truly public spirited
| members among US.
question, proved to be among the most dctor-
| mined and efficient opponents Of the enter
prise, setting out upon that question, of all
( questions, in tor him, an entire new political
| character. In that Of a strict constructionist
| Up to that time We never heard of bis having
a scruple as to the constitutionality of any
thing seriously proposed to be done by the
| General Government. On this occasion his
scrupleS carried him to the extreme of, alone
of all the House, disputing the constitution.
ality Of the so necessary work, 1t will not
| be saying too much to aver tn at had his course
| upon this question been the reverse of what it
was, he could have carried the proposition !;
for he is gentleman of fine abilities and much
oratorieal adroitness. A District man himself
until few short years ago, and the represen
tative of constituency located at our very
doors, his activity against the District on this
important question, has go far carried the day
against the Governments ward, of which, Of
all men in Congress, Mr.. D. should rightfully
be the especial guardian.
Enlisted Men acting as Auctioneers "A
disbursing officer Of the army paid commits
sions to sergeant, amounting to five per cent,
On sales of quartermasters' stores and other
public property. The payment was disal-
lowed in the settlement Of the officers &C
count, as it was held that the pay of SER
gesnt being fixed by law any additional al
lowance for the performance of extra services
ia clearly forbidden by the third section of the
act of March 3, 1882 and second section of
the act of August %. 1843, which declare
"that no officer, in any branch of the public
service, or other person, whose pay, salary, OF
emolument is or are fixed by law or reguIaS
tiOns, shall receive any additional pay, extra
allowance, or compensation, in any form what.
ever for the disbursement of public money,
or for any other service or duty whatsoever,
unless the same shall be authorized by law
and the appropriation therefor explicitly get
forth that it is for such additional pay, extra
allowance, or compensation"
| Mr.. Buchanan on the Pacific Railroad
Democratic subscriber at a distance has
asked US to enlighten him upon the position of
Mr.. buchanan on the Pacific railroad cues
ton, and We have accordingly hunted up thai
distinguished gsntleman's speech delivered at
the dinner at the Merchants Hotel, in Philadel-
phia, on the 18th of July, 1853, the occasion
being in honor of the visit of President Pierce
to that city, on his northern tour. 1t embraces
all that has ever appeared in print concerning
Mr.. Buchanan's views on the subject, and
therefore it may fairly be taken as his "plat.
form" on the Pacific railroad question. 1t is
Il oil