Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-15
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.

WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. 10, 1860.
Another move has been made towards thorough
organization of the House, by announcing the stand
ing committees. The Helperite Sherman, rather
than Speaker Pennington, appears to have formed
these various committees, and with meanness which
might cause even black republicanism to blush, he
has put the democratic members at the taiend of
the least important. Well, no fayors are asked of
these people, yet the commonest courtesy would
have dictated at least appearance of generosity
particularly when Mr. Speaker Orr, during his term
exercised so much liberality towards them as to in
cur the disapprobation of some of his southern
friends The budget opens with the Committee on
Elections, John A. Gilner, of NJ c., Chairman.-
Ihls Is committee of first consequence as there
are number Of of contested seats to 20 before
, it. among them that Of Henry Winter Davis, the
supporter and intimate friend of the chairman Of
the committee 1t will be perceived that Mr.. Gil
mers abolition friends have not forgotten his ser
vices-that they not unmindful Of the direct and
indirect support which he gave their party in the
late contest for the Speakershp, and that an &C
acknowledgement of these services is given by confer
ring upon him, their southern ally, the chairman
ship of the Committee on Elections.
Had MIR. Gmer been elected Speaker would he
have complmented Thad Stephens, E. Joy Morris
and others with prominent positions on the commit
tees Did he make any pledge to this effect while
his name was before the House and he was receiving
the support OF these men? 1t appears Cd; for his
most ardent friends insist that he would have been
elected by these votes had the democrats also sus
tanned him; and inasmuch as they 6olted from Smith
because he acouM make pledges, the inference is
legitimate that, if they would have adhered to Gill
mer, he did make the gerry pledges Mr. Smith re-
fused to gice. Let the know nothing papers "put
this in their pipe and smoke it"
Sherman, of Ohid b Helperite, is Chairman of
tho Committee of Ways and Means; Mason Tappan,
Helpcrite, of Claims; Washburne, of ILL.,, Helper
ito of Commerce; Thayer, Helperite-the Virginia
Yankee colonizer-of Public Lands; Colfax, of IN
DIANA Helperte, Postoffices and Roads; Carter, of
N. Y, of Dist. of Columbia; Hickman, the foul
mouthcd abotionist and political huckster, of the
Judiciary; Briggs, of N. Y, of Revolutionary
claims; Haskin, the man of pistol-notoriety, of
Public Expenditures; Washburne, of Wisconsin,
Helperite, Private Land Claims; Adams, of Mass,
of Manufactures; this position once held by his
father, j. Q. Adams Buttertield, of N. Y, of Agri
culture; Etherdge, the guerrilla chief of the know
nothing squad, of Indian Affairs Stanton, of Ohio,
Heperite, of Military Affairs; Corwin, of Foreign
Affairs; Grow, of Penn, Helperite who lives to
fight another day." of Territories; Morse of Mainc
Heperite, of Naval Affairs; this gentleman is a
member of the delegation elected with money, fur
nshed by Parson Peck, who robbed the State Treas
ury, and contributed some $4,000 to secure the
election of French Soames and Foster to Congress.
| Adrain of N. j., is at the head of the Committee
on Engraving. Of the North Carolina delegation,
Mr.. Branch is on the Foreign Affairs Committee,
the same on which he served so acceptably during
the last Congress Smith on Commerce; Winslow
on Naval Affairs, served on same last Congress
| 2uffin on Militia; Leach and CSaige on Revolution
airy Pensions, and Vance on Revolutionary Claims.
The election of Printer to the Honsc has been
| postponed to Monday next several of the promi-
nent republicans refusing to support Mr.. Dcrees,
the nominee of their caucus meeting
They are having quite lively time in the south
wing of the capitol just now. There is legion Of
patriots scrambling for the spos, and every now
and then off goes some poor fellows head, while f
ty anxious expectants with sharppened appettes for
nibbe at the public crib, snarl and fight over the
vacant place Barclay, the Journal Clerk, is perhaps
the only one who will be spared and he owes his
retention to the fact that were he ousted the talent
cd and experienced Mr.. Speaker Pennington would
have to "shut up shop" or else subject himself to
ridicule in consequence of the mistakes and errors
his inexperiencc in the duties pertaining to such
position, would necessarily involve him in. The
Gerry best men have found Barclay necessity-wha1
1iU he be to the present Speaker who in response
to an address to "Mr. Speaker" thunders out in
Stentorian tone, "SIR;" or on being second time
appealed to, inclines his head and asks, "What d.
you want Mr.. Or, again, when several
members had the floor, and he found difficulty ir
determining who entitled to it, would say, " AL
O you set down." Ghost of Jefferson rest quietly
if you can, in your honest grave! The politicians
at this point are now giving themselves up body
and soul, to the work Of furtherng the interests O.
their respective friends, who aspire to nomination
at Charleston. When aoiN the people take the con
troll of such matters in their hands, and not bt
the unconscious dupes and instruments of sefag
grandizing politicians? How long will they permit
| H. &c al loko
for them who shall be their nominee? To one who
has access to political circles here and who has hi
eyes and ears open it appears as though Washington
city was alone the point from which should be an
nounccd the Democratic Presidential nominee, an.
that the Charleston convention was but packet
concern, held submissive under certain pains ant
penalties to ratfy the nomination of the man, th
selfconsttuted dictatorship Of Washington city
should present to them. The press is bought up
mems pens and brains bought and paid for ant
used-seensing editorials scattered broadcast
north cast south and west declaring the pc pula
voice is for a certain man. States which are know
to be hostile to the candidates of these parties ar
represented as having "a strong under current" TO
him. The Vice-Presidency is held up as a tempta
ton--men in, doubtful States spoken of in connec
ton with it and eulogized to tho seventh heavens il
the hope that the sugar-coated pill will be taken
and these gentlemen use their influence in securn,
the votes of their respective States. Flaming edto
rails appear for instance, in the Cincinnati EhQul
rer; tomorrow, and the next, and succeeding day
the same editorial, differently worded is exhibited
in New Hampshire, New York, Missouri ant
Georgia paper, representing the existence of an un
exampled enthusiasm and strength for this particu
lar candidate; the unsuspectng people bite at tn
gilded and tempting bait, thinking these editorial
the honestly expressed convictions Of their respec
tive editors while they are paid for in ready none
or rich promises to be redeemed in the future
Trickery, intrigue and scheming seem to be the OF
} der of the day. -,t T.
By the way, will here state President Buchan
ans opinion of the chances of success for a demo
cratic nominee for President. I have this direc
from friend with whom he held the conversation
He says that he does not believe that the strengt
of Mr.. Douglas in the convention will exceed ninet
votes, notwithstanding the parade which has bee
made about his overwhelming strength. Farther