The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-26
Our Albany Correspondence.

ALBANY, Dec. "a, 1857
Activity Of Office Ssekers-CiOse Contest-Ameri-
cans Holding the Balance Of Poscer-Pr Probable
Result in Ele ting Speaker, Clerks and other Off,
GERS, &c.
The strife for the various Offices in the gift of the
Legislature, such as Speaker of the House, and
Clerks, Sergeantat Arms, Doorkeepers, Postmasters
and innumerable other places, has fairly begun
Both the two main parties appear confident of sue
cess. Both talk loudly that they are all right with
the Americans who most assuredly hold the balance
of power in both houses. Now, the republicans
claim that sixteen Senators theirs, whether or
no; but they cannot rely on over fifteen upon any
question, whether in the election Of officers any
other matter involving politics. They count Mr..
Johnson of the Albany district, because he was
voted for pretty generally by the republicans; but
he is an old Henry Clay wing, more re-
Gently the hardest kind of silver gray and
horoughgoing Know Nothing American, as
strong in the faith as when that party was in its
most palmy days, two years since. Mr.. johnson will
vote for no officers for the Senate whom the republi
cans bring forward. He openly states that many
leading republicans opposed his election, and had he
not taken the field and stump personally, thus would
have succeeded in defeating him. So with Judge
Stowe of the Genesee district. He is an original
national whig' the Washington Hunt stamp. The
people took him up in opposition to Upham, part
cular pet OF Thurlow Weed. Not black republ
in the district voted for him. Democrats, wings,
Americans joined together in electing him. and his
success over the strongest Sewardite IN western
New Yerk was one Of the most emphatic triumphs
over black repubcansm which the last election
heralded through the State. The republican candi-
dates for Clerk of the Senate are Mr.. Allen, OF Ro-
chester, the present incumbent, and Mr.. Terweger,
Of his deputies. The democrats will centre upon
Harness. ChpnanpO
held the Senate cleykship through the casting vote
OF Lieut.. Governor Church. Barnes prospects are
decidedly most favorable.
The republican candidate for Speaker of the
House is Mr.. Van Valkenburgh, of Steuben. His
qualifications are undoubted. He has served three
sessions in the House with ability. He would make
as fair and impartial Speaker as partisan dsci
pline will permit. The democrats in the centre of
the State have agreed upon Mr.. Alvord, Of SYRIA
cuse. This gentleman occupied seat in the House
several years since, and although then young
man. sustained a leading position. The democrats
in the southern part of the State will bring forward
Mr.. Hanford, of Williamsburg. His course in the
House for two or three sessions has been honorable
and high minded and though in minority, he has
uniformity commanded the respect and entire good
will of his brother members Of all parties. Mr.. Han
fords experience, his tact and talent, qualify him
for the position of Speaker equally with any Of his
competitors.
House, being, as it is, the most lucrative and inn
portant office in the gift of the House. Mr.
Richardson, the present Clerk, will be the
candidate Of the republicans. His conduct
last year gave excellent satisfaction, and after he
became broke in as the saying is, expedited bust
with despatch equal to any of his predecessors
There will be no republican candidate against him.
The democrats have two candidates in the fed-Mr
John j. Rielley, of the city of New York and Joseph
b. Cushman, Of Oneida. The former gentleman
served in the two last Legislatures. He was lead
ing democrat in the city delegation. He was charged
with many important matters concerning the city of
Nnx Work and UpnQr IQ1 N
all measures which he proposed. As democrat he
stood in the front rank and though in minority he
batted manfully for his party. II services to the de-
mocratc party taken into consideration, az well
as competency for the Clerkship, no man is entitled
TO il in preference to Mr. Relley. The candidate
from Oneida i think has the inside track. He has
managed 10 secure an influence not proper to men,
ton here, which seems impossible TO overcome. IL
is power when consolidated, as in this instance,
which is almost omnpotent; and from present APP
pearances it looks as though Mr.. Cushman, notwith.
standing he was deputy under wing Clerk OF
the House in 1856, may be the next clerk OF the
House Of Assembly. negotiations are pending
among certain Moguls. which may elect an American
Speaker of the House. though they count only eight
or ten members. The Americans feel confident OF
controlling the election of officials to such an extent
will 10 of their friends the best posi-
tons in the gift of the Legislature.
Governor King has at length yielded 10 the wishes
of his republican friends in nominating 10 the Senate
a Canal auditor, in place of Mr.. Benton. The party
screws have been put on his Excellency. lie will
send up the names OF either Patterson who is always
in Office or Leavenworth, who il eternally wanting
one. The former is the Seward and Weed man, and
will probably be successful in being sent TO the door
of the secret session of the Senate II there to be
secret sessions, which at present is very much
doubted: but his confirmation will not be effected,
sixteen Senators are needed to allow Lieut.. Gov.
Seden TO give his casting vote which number cannot
be obtained. Should the Governor make the attempt
10 remove Mr. Benton. the republicans will receive
no favor from the Americans during the session.
The Union Of tho Army and Marine Corps.
PROTEST A MARINE-ruE MARINE CORPS no