Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-28
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

IHE CHA1RhANSHlP OF THE SENATE LEN
RIroRIAL CoMMIrrEE.-AMany of our southern
and other democratic contemporaries are specu-
lating over the fact that Senator Douglas has
been reelected to the Chsirmanship Of the
Senate Committee on Territorial Affairs, not
outstanding his avowed sutagopism 70 the po-
sition Of the Democratic majority Of the Senate
upon the great Territorial question that now
divides parties in this country. word of
explanation in this connection may not be
amiss: Thus we have to say that the Demo
cratic Senatorial caucus nominating Sena-
tor Douglas for the craftsmanship of their
committee, took place before the delivery
of his speech of the 9th inst, wherein he
took occasion first to take ground definitely
against the Kansas policy of President Buchan-
an and the Democracy. Up to the delivery Of
that speech, his friends were protesting that he
would be found acting, as ever before, in entire
afiliation with the Democratic party. Though
great doubts were entertained by his fellow
Democratic Senators as to his probable course,
all realized that to refuse. upon a mere suspi-
cion, to accord to him his old place on the com.
mittee, would appear to the country as though
the Democracy of the Senate had taken especial
pains to go out of their way to strike an unde-
served blow at him. To have " shelved' him
under such circumstances would have been
such blow.
Yet the Democracy Of the Senate were not
caught mapping in this matter. Though they
were careful not to invite the hostility of Mr..
Douglas to the Democratic party-tO justify
s:subsequent regeneration, in advance, as it
were-yet anticipating that the then notorious
uncertainty with reference to his future course
on the Kansas question, might result in his be-
coming an ally of the Republican party. they
took due care to give him for fellow committee
men a working majority of sound and able
Democratic Senators. An inspection of the
list of the Senate s Territorial Committee which
we published some time since, will satisfy the
most skeptical of the truth Of this statement.
While the Democratic majority of the Senate
saved its reputation for courtesy and cvinced
its indispOsition to do aught manifesting its
want of respect for and confidence in Senator
Douglas in advance of an overt act Of hostility
to the policy of the Democratic party on his
part, it took due care, As we explain above,
that its due consideration of what Senator
Douglas had a right to expect from the Democ
racy under the circumstances should not work
any harm to the future of the party
The NEW HOUSE HALL.-Our friends of the
distant press, having expended their ire upon
the determination of the House to consign them
to the portions of the gallery Of their new Hail.
now known as the reporters quarters, each, in
a letter leveled at the Hall as an entirety, it
may not be amiss for US to say that, with very
few exceptions indeed, even they have come to
the conclusion shared in by all others here,
that for all the legitimate purposes of legsla-
ton, the new Hall is as much superior to the
old one as light to darkness. Its acoustic
properties are inconceivably fine. In or over any
part Of it, every member speaking in oratorcal
tones can be heard distinctly The inducements
of the old Hall for members to be temporarily
out of their proper places are all Of them absent
in the new one and, indeed, all on the floor
are so under the eyes of all constantly as that
a hundred causes conspiring in the old hall to
delay the prompt transaction Of the legitimate
business of their sessions, are now obviated
We have watched the sittings of the House
daily since the winter of 1923, know its rules
of order thoroughly, its methods and modes,
and what have been the drawbacks to its proper
Many a time and oft have we essayed to draw
the attention of honorable Members, through
the Star, to them. The malconstruction of
the old Hall, however, has always proved more
potent than our pen editorial-and we have
cried out against them in vain
We have now, however, every reason to hope
that the advantages gained in the plan of the
new Hall will at once cure most of the evils
showing that they are not, rs we once imag
ined the result of chronic propensities Of hon
orable Members Of Congress, as much rs Of the
circumstances of locality by which they were
surrounded, Solar the amount Of actual bus
mess transacted in the new Hall and the gene
raj desire of members-as all see and all hear
everything going on distinctly-to push legiti-
mately ahead in business style, has really as
tonished the veteran members of the press sit
ting over the House. All things argue well in
this connection for a more thorough business
session than has occurred in ten years past
The advantages referred to above can hardly
fail to result in the saving of millions Oh mil
lions to the United States Treasury.
The INSTRUCTIONS TO Acting GOVERNOR
the documents bearing on
Kansas affairs, recently sent to the Senate by
the President, in answer to a call for informa-
ton by resolution, we find the following cap
ital instructions, under which Acting Governor
Denver is now conducting the affairs of his
new office They are the theme of unstinted
praise among all public men in Washington not
allied in their feelings with the Topeka Consti-
tuition politicians of the Territory:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, December ~, 1857 {
Jd"eS w DsHr.r, Secretary and Acting Cover
nor Of Kansas TsTTitoTy.
SIR You have already been informed that Mr.
stanton has been removed from the Office of Sec
rotary Of the Territory Of Kansas, and that You
have been appointed in his place I desire now
to state TO you distinctly the reason OF this change
The Convention which met at Iecompton on
the LIST Of September, had framed a Constitution
and had authorized its President to submit the
question to the people ON the Dist Of December,
who are to decide whether this Constitution
should be adopted without slavery. The impor-