Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-01-27
WASHINGTON. Jan. 26. 1860

Mn. EDrToR; In fulflment off, prom
Use to let you hear occasionally what is
TRANSPORTING in this great political Mecca,
have determined to devote line or
two in that way, if for no other purpose
than to testify to the dearth Of news
which now pcrvades the Federal Metrop.
oils.
The question Of the election Of a
/ Speaker Of the House of Representative
seems to have lost much of its concern
with those who have no peculiar interest
10 tho action of Congress, but with le-
gislative stipendiaries good deal of vex-
alton and dissatisfaction is eyinced at the
slender hope, still existing, of speedy
organization The relative positions of
parties in the House are so irrcconeilable
as to preclude much probability of the
anti Republican forces uniting on any
candidate unless they are compelled to DO
SO by plurality rule in some shape. The
proposition advanced in the House few
days ago by a New York Democrat seems
most likely to be adopted, and, if so, an
immediate organization will follow-it
is, that vote shall be taken, and if no
one candidate shall receive majority of
all the votes cast, then to drop all save
the two highest candidates and proceed
to vote second time, and thus force all
to decide between a Helferite and his
competitor.
Among the prominent names now men
toned in connection with The nomination
Of candidate for the Presidency at the
Charleston Convention, no one seems to
meet with more general favor than that
Of General Joe Lane, of Oregon-a man
of large experience, thoroughly Demo-
cratic IN his principles, and as immovable
as jackson himself, he is believed by
many to combine, in a greater degree,
those qualities which distinguished "Old
Hickory" land which are peculiarly
wanted at the present time, } than any of
bis competitors General Lane comes to
the Senate from the most Northern State
on the Pacific coast, and representing a
constituency imbued with a full share of
that deep-seated prejudice against the
rights Of the South and its peculiar in
stitution," and which now forms the most
prominent element of Northern politics.
But hear the words of this old soldier and
defender Of the Constitution on this ques-
ton of Southern r; tights in the Territories
as they fell from his lips in the Senate on
a recent occasion: =" Sir, (said Gen. Lane
in the course of his argument) Congress
has no power over the question Of slavery
1t cannot, under the Constitution, either
establish or prohibit it in any of the Ter
ritories, nor can legislative assembly in
Territory, deriving its powers from
Congress, do that which Congtess itself
cannot do the citizens of the States have
equal rights in the Territories, while
they remain in their Territorial condition,
and when the people who inhabit any one
Of them come to form State Constitu-
ion theu It is their right to prohibit
! - q. establish il as they see fit. and
they We rlsa1 @ be admitted into the
Union as .aey shall fUeide-lt
4 This is not only the doctrine ai the
South, but it is the language Of the Con.
stltution as expounded and amphhed by
the supreme Court, and the plain inter
| probation of tho doctrine of the fathers
of the Republic, and all the sophistry and
ingenious clap-trap of ten thousand
Dougiasses can never divert the public
mind from one title of its truth or force.
Our old friend @ is here battling, as
only veteran can do, for the interests
of old Montgomery ID the Metropolitan
Railroad project. Although host in him
self and willing to go italone," yet he
cannot be expected to perform miracles;
and | have often wondered why his eff
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