Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-02-01
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WAsnrNGfoN CRY, Jan. 81, 1860.

Il U
the House against the common enemy have proven
failures, and to-day the prospect of eecting pre-
siding officer Is less encouraging than ever. The
democratic members thoroughly convinced after re-
peated trials that unaidcd they can accomplish no.
thing, have abandoned voting for regular nominee
and are casting their votes at random until some
change manifeSts itself in the ranks of the South
Americans and anti-Lecomptonites to invite a
centration Of their strength on some member
There are many who think that Mr.. Bocock, who
can command the entire democratic vote, should
have been adhered to and never permitted to with
draw his name. The democrats however, in pursu-
ing this course exhibited their readiness to yield
personal preferences and unite on any sound man
who could bring to his support more votes than
their regular nominee When Mr.. Bocock was
nominated there seemed general understanding
that the South Americans would cast their votes for
him, and thus secure sound and competent pre-
siding officer over the head of the anatca nominee
of the republicans. But when his name was pre-
sented the American party boted, assigning
reason that their support of caucus nominee of
the democratic party would be regarded an aban-
donment of their party organization. The demo-
Gratis anxious to organize the House, and willing to
make sacrifices to that end at once met this ohjcc-
ton and made clear the way by allowing Mr.. Bo-
cock to withdraw bis name. Here then was offered
the opportunity which the Americans profeSSedly
sought for acting with the democracy Did they
avail themselves of it? The record proves they did
q member Of their o'cn party, nominated Mr.. Mill
son, and after repeated ballots it demonstrated
that he could not get one half of the know nothing
vote. Again this same party, intractable, exact
ing and inSincere, intmated that Mr. Hamilton, of
Texas would be acceptable to them. 1t was thought
that as he was but little known. had no record
against him and was elected over the regular demo-
cratic nominee in his district, he would prove
card. The democrats yielded again, and were again
met by fal're on the part Of the Americans to
support this gentleman Mr.. Hamilton, although
gentleman of worth and ability not the choice
of the democracy, who sought success with cam
didatc who was, by experience, CmiReht!y ftted to
discharge the complicated and difficult duties of the
SpcakerShip satisfactorily; but they readily and
cheerlully supported him on the ground Of GraiLa
bitty when all other efforts had failed. And he:e
| will remark, without any intention to diSparage
Mr.. Hamilton or reflect upon his fitness for this
post, that there are numbers Of gentlemen whose
names appear prominently in connection with the
SpeakcrShip supported not ior what they have
done but for what they have nOtnOt that they
Ply elevated position in the House. and possess COM
handing influence but they are little known, ana
their political reputation being confined to their own
districts little can be said against them. The mega
tive man is now the most available, and that will
explain the prominent position of some members
who, but for this contest, would never have been
known to the country.
But to return to the state of affairs in the House
Yesterday, Mr.. Hamilton satisfied that he never
could DC elected, formally withdrew his name. and
the democrats not nominating member Of their
party gave scattering votes, of which BOcock :ecCv
ell 81. The know nothingS having abandoned Mr..
Gmer, united upon Mr.. Smith of \. c., and by the
aid OF few democrats ran up his vote to 81. Mr..
Smiths chances of success have been thoroughly
canvaSScd for the last ten DAYS and his nomination
strongly urged by his party, who thought that as he
was new member, had no record, and no political
aspcritics to smooth away, he would be available.
But how is his election to be compaSSed even giving
him the democratic vote? Ii requires Is to elect
of this number the republicans have IL, the demo-
Gratis 81, the know nOthinSS 81, and the ant-Lc
compton-ant-A Administration men ). To elect it
would be necessary to get the entire democratic and
know nothing vote and three of the anti-LccOnp-
ties. These three votes Mr. Smith caa necer get as
these men have been approached on the subject and
percmptorily refused their support. 1t is plain then
that Mr. Smith is not draiidJLe as his friends urged
he was-that if the whole vote of the democrats
given him he would still lack three of cleo
ton. This being the case, it is expecting quite too
much of the democracy that they should go outside
their own organization to give mere c0myiiHeHit-
ry vote to any man. | see no promise of an end to
this struggle. The democrats have made concession
after concession without ctfecting anything; the
know nothngS hold back and refuse to all them,
while Thad. Stevens, the mouth piece of the rcpub
licans, declares that they will adhere to Sherman
"untl the crack of DOOM"
In the Senate they have been discussing the rcso-
luton of Mr. Douglas nstruc;ing the judiciary COM
mittee to report bill for the protection of each
State and Territory from invasion from other States
and Territories, and for the suppression and pun
iShment of cOnSpiracics &c, DC. The speech OF
Mr.. Douglas on his bill is regarded bid for the
votes Of southern men in the Charleston Convcn-
ton The Republicans, who claimed him as a con-
vert to their political faith, are nightly stirred by
the position he takes and the whole hive arc swarm
ing about the little giant, inilictng pretty
stinss. Wilson, of Massachusetts, has got o.
his annual grafton, not, however, without dig il.
the ribs fran Senators Clingnan AMI Davis of Mis-
siSSipp of so telling nature to require another
'oration" from Wilson, in an attempt to regain
what he had lost by the encounter.
Giddngs of Ohio, John Brown JT., DR.. Howe
Boston, Sanborn of Connecticut, Thad. Hyatt @
New York City, and others had been summoned be-
fore the lIarper's Ferry investigating committee.
There is very pretty quarrel going on Just now
between Wcndall and Gen. Bowman, which will ul-
timatcly evolve political scandal injurious to
all concerned. Wcnda AYERS that he gave Bowman
the " Union" newspaper establishment 5000 in
consideration Of Bowmans securing and turning
over to him the Senate printing. After Bowmans
election by the Senate he repudiatcd this alleged
bargain, and made arrangements with Jno. c. Iives
to execute the work in the Globe Office This arous-
ed the ire of Wenda and gave rise to diff Guilty
which is now to be settled by the courts. gov
ernment printing office should be established and
then this source OF corruption would be rot only
removed, but the work executed at cost of about
onc-half the rates now paid.
| would call the attention Of your mercantile
readers to the last dodge of knavish spectators
the political condition of the times Lists of Re-
publican and ant-Republican northern firms are be
ing published for the avowed benefit Of southern
purchasers in order that in buying they may not
patronze an abolition house. These lists uare
liable, and / presume the most intense Heerite
could, by liberal brbing, easily have his name in
serted among those recommended to the southern
trade. l do not mean to dictate even suggest
what should be done, but content myself with say
ing that if no northern house is patrOHized, and
those Of y0ur section are you will not be cheat
ed by these knaveS and will be contributing to build
nr,l infrrnStS and thnSn e