Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-07
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


Speaker of the House of Representatives Of
the United States, to be one of the first legisla-
tive statesmen of the country Of his age But
II that fact was not previously known IL would
be manifest in the unprecedented manner of
his nomination on Saturday night by the Dem
ocratic caucus of House members. The idea
Of the selection Of a candidate by the domi
nant party for that position by reclamation, in
times of so great sectional strife, when the
House. too, was never graced by perhaps as
many men of talents, ability and experience, is
a novelty in the history Of American public
affairs 1t is pregnant with meaning; telling
not only Of the eminent qualifications of Mr..
Orr for the Speakership, but of his command
ing influence among his fellow members, the
result OF their experience and that of the coun-
try at large with him as legislative states
man He is yet very young man--so young,
as that his nomination by reclamation by the
Democracy Of the House to the second Office
known to our system of Government, embraces
evidence Of the fact that he has a brilliant
future before him, depending, so far as its
hnale Is concerned, on himself. 1t also en-
braces conclusive proof that there is to be heart
felt harmony between the National Admins.
tration and the Democratic party in Congress.
MIR. Orr is well known to all his fellow men,
bers to be as closely identified with the Ma
tlonal Administration, as it is possible for a
representative in Congress. to be-to sympa-
thize with it in all its positions on test-party
questions and to be entirely in its confidence.
Mr.. Allen of Illinois, the nominee for the
second office in the gift of the House-the
Clerkship-won his victory over his gallant
and popular competitor, Mr.. Robinson of ILL
nois, in some measure through the fact that he
had served in the House hall with half the
voters on the occasion, all of whose kind re.
CARDS and entire confidence he had won person.
ally.
Mr.. Glossbrenner was of course renominated
for Sergeant-at-Arms; as he will be, so long as
the Democracy hold sway in the chamber. Any
man who car be elected to such a position as
easily as he was two years ago, when bis party
are In minority of the chamber, will hardly
be opposed for the nomination of his party.
Mr.. Hackney, the nominee for the Doorkeep-
ership, owed his good fortune for the most part
to the fact that he was the candidate of Vir-
gInia for the post involving the heaviest patron
age in the gift of the House. Through her
united delegation she formally asked his selec
ton at the hands of the Democracy of the
House, and it was gracefully accorded We
know him well to be gentleman of excellent
sense and high character, and predict for him
an administration of the now multifarious trusts
and heavy responsibilities of the Doorkeeper-
ship OF the House, which will secure for him as
great popularity with the body as is enjoyed SO
evidently with Mr.. Glossbrenner
Mr.. Cluskey, the nominee for House Post
master, though quite a young man, is we'll
known to the Democratic party politicians
everywhere, for a man of talent, character and
party utility. He was the Secretary of the
National Democratic Committee during the
late Presidential canvas, and subsequently the
clerk of the House Committee on Military At
fairs He came from Georgia-his native State
to the Federal Metropolis some years since.
and has subsequently resided among US.
The CRowD.-Nearly thousand Dem ocratic
politicians Of all degrees, embracing persons
from, probably, every State and Territory in
the Union, congregated on Saturday evening
last In and around the rotunda and approaches
to the House hall, drawn thither by interest in
the action Of the progressing Democratic caucus
A very large proportion Of them were them
selves candidates for places in the gift of the
elective, or immediate friends of the elective, or
of the class named above. Intense excitement
OF course pervaded the throng, though most
commendable good humor was manifested on
all sides. As the announcement of succeeding
action and voting was made the countenances
OF the crowd changed according to the manner
In which the interests and hopes of the particu-
lar individuals were affected those triumphing
evincing as commendable moderation, as those
failing evinced commendable good temper and
resignation. On the whole, the behavior of
this remarkable congregation Of politicians en-
braced an earnest Of Democratic fellowship in
time to come, full of promise of good fruit.
Yesterday, the disappointed were in the best
possible humOr, while those who hal won on
the night before were, take them all in all, the
happiest fellows Imaginable. As for the nomi-
nee for Doorkeeper, Mr. Hackney, who really
deserves his good fortune if but as reward
for his own indomitable perseverance, it was
more satisfactory than a capital oyster supper
to look on his jolly phiz-three inches shorter,
as it was, than at any previous time in the last
year or two-for in his case . nomination ia
equivalent to an election
The CAUcUsEs ON SATURDAY NIGHr.-We
are indebted to the telegraphic correspondence
of the New York Herald for the following sue
cinct account of the caucuses of the two par
ties in the House Of Representatives, held on
Saturday night last after our last issue went to
press. We transfer it to the Stars columns
because we know that it embraces substan.
tally truthful summary of their proceed
ings:
WARRINGTON, Dec. S, 1857
The Democratic caucus was held in the hall OF
the House OF Representatives. and was organized
by the election Of George w Jones, of Tennes-
see, as chairman; Mr.. Ruffin, OF North Carolina,
and Mr.. Phillips, Of Pennsylvania, as secretaries
One hundred and fourteen members were pres
ent.
Mr.. Phelps, Of Missouri, having previously
Withdrawn, proposed Colonel Orr for Speaker
who was unanimously nominated
Two nominations for Clerk were then made
Mr.. Allen Of Illinois, and Mr.. Robinson of In.