Year: 1861

mcnt. The House makes no visible progress
towards the'election ofa Speaker. Last night
there was pretty full conference Of the
Democratic members and after they had
talked away two or three hours, they left Off
where they began. This contest is a serious
one 50 far as the future of the Democratic
party is concerned. The nomination of Mr.


Couness by a vote Of nearly four to one of the
Democratic members plainly indicates that
the solRd-i c., the true Douglas Democracy
are al-powcrful among the masses of the
regular Democratic organization. 1t cannot
be denied that we have among us a few who
supported Douglas, hoping to thereby secure
a share Of the plunder, while they privately
told their old irc-eoting friends that they
were against the platform of our party
These are chiefly politicians and a few, Il
very few of them crept into the Assembly.
They indicated their "fshiness' on the first
day by helping to precipitate the House into
the election ola Speaker previous to caucus
being held. They would now delight to
break up the party, and creep into the Seces-
sion fold. They yeam to cnce more be hum
ble instruments of the Washingtons, the
Bottses, the Fairlaxes, and the SCOTS, to ele-
vate the latter to place and power. Califor-
MIA is drifting off too rapidly from the strang-
ling embraces of the Gwin school of politi-
cans,-our people are getting TO feel alto
gether too independent of ultra Southern
influence to suit some men who were born to
be slaves, and to bend their necks when so
bidden 10y the class have named. The ar
my of clustering, staggering slanderers who,
following at the heels of win during the late
canvass, denounced every supporter Of Doug.
las and Johnson as a mUidto-a Black Re
publican without courage to so decare-a
being unworthy of fellowship with them
are now trying TO get back into the Demo-
cratic organization 10y the aid of an incon-
siderable number of traitors in the camp, and
that, too. not only without humiliation, or
penitence for past transgressions, but in tri-
umph, and in response to overtures from
those they insulted and denounced. Not
only so, but they expect to be admitted Oh
equal terms while they are denouncing the
very platform which our organization is
formed TO sustain 1t is degree of insolence
| do not recollect TO have seen equaled in the
party history of the State From among the
rotten and unsound Democrats who hate the
doctrines of Non-Interventon and Popular
Sovereignty but who advocated them to en-
sure a seat in the Assembly, the Mont gomery
stripe of Democrats O generously offer to
permita Speaker to be selected These high
toned men who opposed Douglas on principie
offer now to support any man who voted for
Douglas, IN oiolatlon Of pri,ciple and for the
sake of organization. They refuse to support
any man who heartily endorses the National
Democratic Platform of 1860, upon which
Douglas and his friends fought, but they will
trust any of their old time-serving hewers of
wood and drawers of water who voted for
Douglas solely because they thought his the
strongest side. Mr.. Conness may not be the
special favorte Of some sincere, truthful
Democrats-others in the House might as
truly represent the doctrines Of the party
but the only reason that he is so bitterly op-
posed 10y the Breckinridge men is that he is
one of those who sympathized with Dougla.
IN the indecent war made upon that states
man by the corrupt and infamous administra-
ton Of James Buchanan, at the instance OF
the disunion traitors in the South. These are
the reasons why the contest is to affect the
future welfare Of the Democratic party. II
any man should be elected to the Speakership
who reluctantly supported Douglas and John
son, it would be triumph Of the hereditary
office holders who have infested this State
from its earliest governmental organization,
and who, though numbering less than a
thousand, have managed to hitherto control
for their own benefit the purse-strings of the
State, to WELD its power and designate the
most OF its representatives. at the Federa
Capitol. But they will not succeed Our
camp is too well organized. Neither fear
favor, affection, hope of reward, nattcring in


vitations to drink and dine. or any other in.
ducement will serve to reduce our vote ma
terially. Conness may eventually be with
drawn, but there is no present prospect OF
such an event. If he should be, no candidate
will be substituted who did not support our
ticket last fall as well on principle as for the
sake of organization.





In the Senate this morning, Qrwin, the
President pro tenn. being in the chair) the
point of order was raised that no bill could
be introduced in that body until the House
should be organized by the election of q
Speaker. The Chair promptly decided that
the point of order was not well taken, and
from his decision an appeal was taken. The
appeal is made the special order for to.mor-
row at III o'clock. AT the time of adjourn.
ment the Senate was pretty nearly equally
divided, but they will have to unanimously
sustain the President pro tenn to-morrow, foi
dissenting Senator tells me that he has
since found out his error by reference to the
proceedings of the United States Senate last
winter During the contest over the Speak
ershiP which resulted in the election Of Mr.
Pennington, bills were almost daily intro
duced and referred in the Senate. This pre-
cedent is conclusive. Irwin presides with
easy dignity, and his frmness this morning


when many older Senators confidently de-
clared him wrong shows him to be a man Of
proper self reliance. lie will doubtless oc-
cupy the Chair much of the session, for it is