The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-02-18
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE N0NPAREIL.

BY pressing onward evermores
coRREsroNDENcE OF the NoSPAREiL.
2 WAsHlScrox, Feb. ID, 1860.
DIAN ED1roR- Another hard-fought bat
tie is ended, anott Or victory won; and, oil
over tho Union, the hearts OF the Liberty
loving millions ere throbbing with honest
exulsation. At quarter before O'Clock,
Yesterday, VIM. Pennington, Of New Jersey
was duly elected Speaker Of the XAAVlth
Congress. Swifter than time, the lightning
bore tho glad tiding Westward to the Mis-
souri,: and, to-day a. write, the jovial,
"whips'' Of the Western Stage Company,
are cracking their lashss with, gles as their
ooaches, (leaviDg the nevs,) roll rapidly
uorthward, to the tune Of there's gooc
time coming" The struggle just endsd'
has had no parallel in the foundation OF our
Government. It closed one day earlier
than the memo orabls contest which resulted
in the election Of Banks, but the bitterness OF
spirit with which it has been conducted,
shows that deeper depths have been stirred
than were ever reached during that struggle.
Never, perhaps, were the skill and 'asaelty
Of political tacticians brought more actively
into play, or more thoroughly tested, than
thew have been here during the last six days ;
and, from Friday till Wednesday, the scales
were so evenly hung, that both parties were
alternately in feverish excitement between
hope and fear; but, when the House ad-
formed Tuesday night, the ranks OF the
opposition we're 80 thoroughly broken, that
it hardly needed prophetic vision to see
victory already perched upon the standard
Of the Republicans. Yet. with almost GER
tain defeat staring them in the face, the
Democracy strovs hard stave OFT the election
for another day, at least-the effort, how
ever, was futile; and, after kicking and
splursing with the frantic energy of drown
ing men, they went under, and the waves
passed over them, trust, forever. l! but
didn't the Democrats and Americans a. the
death struggle came on, probe each other,
and smarting wounds with burning caustic.
The Americans, however, applied the most
EXQUISITE tortures, and with their scorching,
withering, words, buried deep into the very
yitals Of tho writhing Democrats. Ether
idge, of Tennessee, the master magician OF
them all, made short speech on Tuesday,
after Smith had been dropped; which, -
the embodiment of irony and sarcasm, sur
passed anything Of the kind ever before
heard. Those Democrats who had voted
for Smith under protest, he fogged alive
Hssa;d if painter wished to depict undying
human agony, he could not select better
subjects than they were, as they cast their
votes for Smith. Mr.. Pennington was
conducted to the Speakers chair by Messrs.
| Sherman and Bocock; and, after being
sworn in, made short and appropriate
address. The various delegations were
called by States, and sworn in. ! thought
the single Representative of little Delaware,
must feel lonely, as he marched up to the
chair with no colleague by his side. This
business was no sooner over, than the
temporary quiet was again broken BY the
cries Of "Mr. Speaker" g Mr.. Speaker"
and "order'' "order," from DOZEN throats
in different parts of the hall. A vain at
tempt was made to have an appropriation
bill passed, for the relief of the mail service.
Several appeals were taken from the de-
cisions Of the Speaker on points OF order,
etc., byyarious members Of the Democracy;
and, finally, motion to adjourn till Friday
va, carried, and the turbulant Lawmakers
parted, dispersed. Last night, grand
ovation was given to the Speaker, at Will
lard's. Several speeches were made-the
Republicans feeling 0 K; and, some OF the
Democrats in attendance, cursing the mem
bers Of the Peoples Party Of Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, and II. Winter Davis Of
Baltimore, as traitors for going over to the
Republicans.
Our folks went into caucus to-day, at
twelve, to nominate for the other Offices.
There il determination to put in ~ many
Republicans % possible.
The Washingtonians are in high spirits
after their long fit of the blues, for money
will b plenty now while the session lasts.
If the struggle had been protractsd much
longer, the boarding house keepers and
traders would many of them have gone BY
the bosrd. The weather 10 cold, but the
sxprsssion Of fretfulnsss which many faces
have worn so long, has given place to .
warm glow Of satisfaction; and, to use
honely phrase, the masses here "feel
good" generally. Swarms Of dissipated
Office seekers will be leaving for home in
day or two, sadder, If not wiser nsn, for
this nine weeks siegsin Washington hotels,
has sfsctually depleted their pocke1.-
Senator Harlan, is daily expected here, and
he will meet warm Welcome. Gov. Grimes
i ably opposing Rice's bill in the Senate,
for the organisation Of Dacotah, and will,
if possible, get it annexed to Nsbfsska for
the present. Rics is anxious to have it
organised nosc. He expects the capitol will
be located pretty we'll north in the Tsrr tory,
which vould besof national assistance to