The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-24
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
Interesting Discussion in the House on
the Slavery Question.

tAO SAosOAy USSSsASAs
Views Of the South Relative to the Re-Opening
Of the African Slave Trade.
NO PROSPECT OF An ELECTION OF 4 SPEAKER
NOMINATION Of A PRINTER TO THE SENATE.
Serious Charges Against the Printing Super.
intendent,
&e., &C., &e.
Our Special WashIMeten Despatch.
WARRINGTON, Dec %, 1859.
THE PREStDKNf's MESSAGE.
Contrary to the general expectation the President did
rot send his Message Congress to-day. There s no
prsspect of the House organizing till after the holidays,
and the indications that there will be NO quorum In
The Senate until Tuesday week. the ID Of january can
seQuenty is not probable that the Presidents Message
viii be communicated prior to that time.
m BATTLE FOR THE sPEAKERsiur
not at present appear 70 be any prospect OF
electng Speaker before January.
There was only ballot TO day for Speaker. Mr. Sher
man held his relatively, receiving one hundred and
hre eyotes-cxacty the number that elected N Banks,
under the plurality rule, in 1856. Mr. Wilson's vote ran
down 70 twenty seven The rest Of the democrats
scattered
The most noticeable fact developed in this ballot was
that four democrats-Messrs Davidson, Of Louisiana;
English Of Indiana Ilorence Of Pennsylvania, and Un
derwood, OF Kentucky-voted for Mr.. Maynard, Ten
nessee Know Nothing. Mr. Florences vote particular
H commented upon, he is indebted 70 the foreign vote
for his election.
The largest total vote yet cast was two hundred and
thrtywe to-day on the twentieth ballot. the total
hundred and twelve, showing twenty members TO be
absent pair. AL attempts to adjourn the House
the holidays were resisted dayby the republicans and
will continue TO be-
The NEW UNITED STATES DISTRICT ArroRNEYsHIp.
The President sent to the Senate to-day the name OF
Judge Roosevelt United States District Attorney, and he
was unanimously confirmed
The Senate also to-day confirmed the following nomi-
nations-T. B. Browne, Postmaster at Philadelphia Is
rae T. HATCH Postmaster at Buffalo, Mr. Walter, Post
master At Cincinnati, and Mr. Bishop, Commissioner Of
Patents.
17n pREs,pxscY-AKErlsa AMERICAN, WIG AND UNION
DEIBGATBs-
Delegates fully representing the American whig and
Union parties met here this evening, when, after
discussion OF conversational character the following re-
solution was adoptedThat the Chairman Of this meeting
be empowered and requested, in conjunction with
the Chairman Of the National Central American Commit.
tee and the Chairman Of the Wing and National Commit
tee, to call National Union Convention, for the
nomination Of candidates for the Presidency and
Presidency OF the United states and to issue
xn address, II il shall expedient TO them 20
TO do the people OF the United States suggesting the
mode ef electng delegates the said Convention and
setting forth the reasons which make the present Union
indispensable to the perpetuty Of the govern
nent. The meeting was harmonious and unanimous In
sts action.
THE UNION MEETING FAILURE.
A Union meeting was held here might, and It
tended by from 400 to 900 persons Resolutions were
offered denuncaoy Of the nreeaters of South and the
fanatics Of the North and proposing remedy for the
present evils TO rally around the constitution and the
Union substitute then offered declaring that this
meeting s nopportune and Unnecessary, which the ma
iority favored There much confusion throughout
The proceedings and the meeting separated in disorder to
the music OF full band. The falling Of the platform,
with many gentlemen thereon, among the incidents
HORACE +. uARKs POSITION
When Horace F. Clark finished his speech on Wednes-
day. in which he promised show how Speaker could
not be electedsomethng which every member had prac
tcal knowledge of-his colleague, Mr. Haskin, made
effort 70 obtain the floor for the purpose Of exposing the
broken pledges inconsistencies Of Mr. Clark, but was
not recognized by the clerk Mr. H. will it is said, take
an early opportunity to do this.
THE SENATE puNIiNG-HE LATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
PRINTING TIGHT PLACE
The democratic Senatorial caucus met at one O'Clock TO-
day nominate Senate printer and continued in session
upwards Of three hours There about thirty Senator'S
present Senators Gwin and2 Sdell appeared the
champions Of Mr. Bowman Of the Consultation, and de-
Tended him from charges Preferred with zeal worthier
better cause.
The following extract Of letter. signed by Mr.. Wendell
was read the caucus and embraces the charges against
Gcneral Bowman alluded to in the HERALDs despatch
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec. 8, 1852
DEAR SR-ln answer to yours Of the 9th inst, would
cay the following the facts in relation TO my trans
fer Of the Uxion newspaper to Geo. w. Bowman presum
ing that he at the time Superintendent Of the Public
Printing and the following extract from United States
Statutes a. Large Thirty ;ona Congress- drst session.
chapter o. section o. page 81 has an immediate bearing
on the Case
shah ns be directly or nteseses 70 ne puoa; pfsi
n a ana 9f M any % e. sSa @ Ss = s. :s
than more than five years and addition aere:o
be fned IN any from one houssad 20 ton thousand dollars
On the 26th Of March, 1862 stipulated transfer the
Union to General G. w. Bowman, under certain condi-
tons and pay him also The sum Of $40 600 per
OF the profits Of the public printing In pursuance
thereof on tne llh Q. April following paid him, as per
sapjoinei receipt, $4,000
t. e. AsE Of
y2ss ss per ss %s1s e 1 gs By said Wen
''-- - GRO. W. sowxANs
This ehows that Bowman Interested IN the public
printing early March &c. and that ne received three
thousand dollars cash the 1lth Of April He ofca.ed
Superintendent of the Public Printing, and drew his
sary therefor up to the 18th Of May per receipt
Tile u the Treasury Department. and reference being ad
thereto will fully appear that six weeks after be
bscame Interested il the public printing. These the
simple facts in the case
regard TO the modus opgandi Of conducting organ
which known the unriiated. II was proved
and admitted .sat the coritution paper losing ID.
stution to amour. o. eighteen Thousand aoars per
year over and above s receipts and tha. &
usey essential . give i tho public printing 10 order
sos-ain it, The debate participated in BY large
number o. Senator's. General Bowman ard his caper