Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-12
FRONI wAsHINGroN.
Tcorres,nn8eno. ~ A. 1,,,,,,,,

OF TIKI HOUSE is TAKEN UF-PICKWIcK1k in
scRNEs-sPSEcHEs OF suNDRT NEMpRRsS
coRwIS's DEBUT. -
WASHINGTON, Dee. 8, 1859.
1t is reported somewhere that the Duke
of Wellington once said to friend, cater
you have sat one or two months in Parlia-
ment and have obtained a knowledge of the
mode in which questions arc discussed.
time is spent and business done there. YOU
will probably be advertised as have been
howknglaRGcamc by hergreatncss. Hadnot
my last Notwithstanding thorunning debate
and excited dialogue between couple of
the honorable members Of this House, mr.
rived at an already over-length at the hour
of adjournment. think should have ans {
pended the above quotation, as expressing
my opinions in brief, of the days work, and
indeed of the whole weeks proceedings up
to,that time. 1t was evident that all the
progress that had been made, was made
backward, and that the House when it rose
was further from an organization than ever.
The debates have been so almost wholly
personal in their character that the ONLY
tendency seems have been to ALLEVIATE any,
thing like compromise, to make the four di-
visions of the House retire within the sep
arate limits of their distinctive organiza-
ton with sullen determination not to go
outside of them for n candidate. Thus the
Anti-Lecompton men felt nggrieved at the
odium cast on Horace Clark, of n. Y, by
LuciuS Lamar, of Miss. The South Amer,
leans and Wings, by the scene which had
taken place between Messrs. Nelson 4 Pryor
especially the contemptuous emphasis with
which the latter had alluded to the $50 cal
led American party" While the Republic
cans felt deeply insulted at the pertinacious
personalities addressed to their standard
bearer, John Sherman, in whom they re-
cognize ia Nazzarite in whom there is no
guile" The feelings on the part of the
Southern Democrats seemed to be that of
Bones in Christy's Minstrels, who sings the
song intoxicating the duty of shaving the
black cat to the tail when you catch him.
They, the Southern Democrats, have the
black cat by the tail, in the shape of Har-
pers Ferry and Helpers book, and they are
determined never to let go their hold until
they have shaved it bare. Thus you see
how the matter stands, and how the vast
multitude of spectators, from day to day,
may we'll express contempt and disgust for
the whole proceedings, and wonder with
the Duke how their country is ever to get
reputation for Statesmansllip out of such
discordaut material as they see before them.
If you willtake the trouble to read the
debates closely, you will perceive great
proportion of time iswasted.in useless per-
sonal allegations, disclaimers and expl0na-
tions. don't know whether Dickens
description OF the memorable passage be-
tween Messrs. Blotton and Pickwick was
81 81 cOt 1nI, D.
Lament or not. Certain it is, however,
that any one on whose sense of the ridicu-
lous it ever made much impression when
reading it, would be often reminded of it
herc-especially during the closing of the
debates to which Iallude above The cries
of "order," ''ycs," 'tnO," ego on" "leave
of" cheering, clapping of hands, &C.
therein recorded, are not exaggerated types
of what occurs in the House here Some
sensitive man like Mr.. Blotton, of Agate,
rises to question of order He wants to
know how he may understand the last re-
mHrk--or else, from his seat he wishes the
gentleman to repeat his remark Some
ponderous Mr.. Pickwiek answers, evasively.
in reply, that he twill not put up TO be put
down." The sensitive Mr.. Bolton then
repels its "false and scurrillous allusion
with profound contempt. THESE last were
almost the words applied by Nelson to Pry-
or, you recOllect.) Then, of course, there
is sensation-sometimes an "immense
sensation" The Chair raps the gaveI, but
what good does its gayel dor Friends on
either hand venture interpretations. Gen
tlemen meantsso andso, if other gentlemen
meant this and that, and it winds up at
last IN good humoFed Pickwickian way,
by Mr.. BlOtton making haste to say that
he had not used his expression gin its COM
hmon seuse"-but in its Pickwickian accep
tation, whereupon Mr.. Pickwick is somuch
gratihed by "its fair, candid and full expla-
uation of his honorable friend" that he bcgs
leave to say that he had only intended his
remarks in, the same sense.
Well all this is right enough, if it would
only last But that seems to be the trou
BILE. 1t has to be done and done over again.
md done again, No odds how many dis
al3imers an honorable gentleman makes
when he rises, of personalities, he is sure
N his promiscuous slashing about to, hit
md hurt somebody's pet ism that has be-
come insepcrablc from their personality.
Thesquestion then must needs follow
whether Sampson "bites his thumb at us.
SIR" Sampson can not, of course. make a
direct disavowal right short in the midst of
his high7excitement, hut he comes down
.nough to say, Ono, sir; / do not bite NV
thum at you, Sir, but sbitemy thumb, :sir!;'
II
You willEplease to recollect, rs tIiey saw
in the.plays, that a space of time inter-
Venes between the paragraphs in my letter
that am employed the half hour or SO
before coming TO order, in writing my pre-
! Jude, insorder that maybe able to com
mence,yith the proceedings as they 90.
l might save myself that trouble to-day.
however, for here I have sat from twelve
until tits now ten minutes to four, and
not a word have written. The proceeds
ings have not been letterabIe, (ifI may
employ the word.) There was nothing
that you could take. hold of. 1t has been
II repetition, for tue most part of tbc stale