Southern shield., 1860-02-04

f of either refusing to vote for hlm, or tax ing the responsibility of non-organization
 The scene which followed beggar description. The Democrats, one aftel the other, pulled down the flag and rur up the old Wlig standard The ordel was given by the little hand of twenty
 three Opposition men to Democrats
 ground arms, and down went every mus : ket.
 The Democracy for once is defeated it is demoralized and prostrate. The dimsy excuse that Smith is not an Amer
 ican and never was, will not do; he ha' consistently from the beginning acted
 with and voted for the American candi date. Old Whiggery is not g disguise
 that will serve the treachery of these gentlemen, who were elected by foreign constituencies.
 The desire of the Democrats to defeat
 Mir. Sherman has sent the arrow to their : own hearts. Every western Democrat elected by foreign votes went over. The Democrats were more than three hours in changing their votes. One after the other went, until it was reduced to Val landigham, Cox, Howard and Allen. Mr. | Nallandigham went the whole ticket without choking. Howard went the same way, but it went harder with Cox he writhed horribly under it, but went down in the mire. Then there were two or three left and manipulation was i'm mediately commenced upon these gen. tlemen. Mr. Keitt of South Carolina talked against time and played the part 1 of the buffoon for the Democratic party. He played 1t well.
 It IS not known whether any trade was made with the Democrats to give them all the pap or not; it Is not however inn probable.
 All other matters are lost in the strug- gle of to-day for the Speakership.
 Messrs. Stokes, Hatton, Briggs and Hlll, will call upon Smith to define his position respecting Americanism, and others will ask his views regarding a | slave code. ALPHA. WASHINGTON, January 27--In the House yesterday the Democrats general ly voted for w. N. II. Smith, of North Carolina, American. He was not elected
 Messrs. J. G. Davis, of Indiana, Allen, of Ohio and Holman, of Indiana, did not vote vote for Smith, but all the other Democrats did. Riggs, Adrain, anti-Le- compton Dems., of N. J., did not vote for him. The Democrats are mad beyond deception. They declared themselves sold, cheated and totally destroyed The test vote is past.
 The adjournment until Monday, which the Republicans supported, was carried. They desire to consult.
 Mir. Corwin now has his friends, and MT. Pennington his. It is doubtful which has a majority.
 Mir. Sherman appointed caucus to- morrow upon his own authority.
 The near approach of Smith to election does not surprise me-, Late last night 1t was confidently stated in Democratic circles that the conservative element, as they term it, were about to contrive and endeavor to elect a Speaker to-day. Their intention was to effect q concentra- tion on Millson, who having opposed the Lecompton bill, was certain of obtaining the anti-Lecompton vote The votes. however, of the Pensylvanians for Smith, encouraged them to go to his support and the experiment nearly succeeded.
 As l write there is general move ment of the Republicans toward Corwin and Pennington, one of whom 1 think now will eventually be elected
 Great excitement prevails, and there is no telling what the day may bring forth.
 The trial of Leach, superintendent of one ot the wagon roads, who has been indicted by the grand jury of this district. will develop some rich disclosures in re- gard to the manner of conducting these < tss.ass'---s f0ads
 The difficulty between Postmaster General Holt and the President, growing out of the conflict of opinion in regard to the removal of the Chicago postmaster, and matters connected with mail contract OTIS, has been satisfactorily arranged. l learn from reliable sources that Wise Is certain to beat Hunter in Virginia, and | will secnre large majority of the dele gates from that State. The masses are | with Wise and his fuss and fummery over the Harper's Ferry affair just suited l the excited condition of the public mind.
 The delegates, however, from that State will not bolt the nomination of Douglas in case he succeeds. They do not like him, but they will submit in case he should outgeneral them.
 Some of the most ultra fire eating south erners have avowed their determination to sustain him in case he is selected.
 A noticeable backing down has taken place among southerners recently. lief ferson Davis, who makes more speeches than any other man in the Senate, during the early part of the session, avowed his determination to resist the election of Republican President without waiting for the overt act, yesterday, in response to MT. Wilson, said that the election of Republican President was not necessa- rily a cause for dissolution, as there were some men in that party less objec tionable and more conservative than others. This Is a decided concession, and coming from so respectable and in- fuental source, had its effect.
 Mr. Seward wisely keeps quiet, and is waiting for the elements to subside and i'll feeling to exhaust itself before he speaks.
 Appleton. Assistant Secretary of State, it is positively stated, will resign and and take the collectorship of Boston.
 The Senate committee on foreign rela tions have as yet done nothing with the McLane treaty, not having had the printed documents yet before them. Meanwhile, the recent success Of Mira mon have greatly dampened the pros poets ofsuccess ofthat treaty in the Senate.
 Ex-Governor Thomas, of Maryland, has accepted, and will shortly take pos session of the office of Commissioner of Patents.
 Mir Shugart, chief clerk, acts till he .,rnur,nr tln li,4inr