Year: 1861

Guerra made his first committee appointment,
and although it was merely committee OF
three to report the number of attaches the
Senate would require, its complexion was
little ominous-two Republicans phelps and
Ueacock) and one Breckenridge man (Parks).
Although the Good Don owes his position to
the votes of Breckinridgers and Republicans
l believe he will make up the Standing Com
nittees without partiality towards them. lie
probably intended no dseourtesy this morn
ing TO his own party. 1t may be well that
committee raised TO report the amount of
patronage The Senate would be obliged to
bestow in order to do its business with COM
fort and dispatch, should be composed entire
w Of those opposed to the dominant party.
Such committee will not be likely to enter
tain eXtravagant ideas. should not have
thought of these things so particularly had |
not heard a Breckenridge Senator, on Mon
day, after De la Guerras election, expressing
his mind pretty freely to the effect that the
Bfeckinrdge men would be "all right on the
Standing Committees. | hope that he was
less in earnest than he seemed and that the
President is free to construct committees in
such 4 manner as will satisfy the reasonable
expectations of the Democratic party of the
State.


In the House, the contest over the Speaker
ship is getting interesting Sixteen ballots
were had to-day, and without material chang
es from former efforts, except that Showalter
was voted for by the Boilers ntead of Mont
gomery. Uncle Zach. made characteristic
speech, and it is understood to be the ulti-
matum of his party. They are determined to
aid in the election of no Democrat acho sup
ported Douglas on principle. They will do
their utmost TO prevent an election, unless
they can name the man from our party No
man who voted for Conness in caucus will be
likely to ever desert him. l do not mean 10y
this that any others will do So know of
no man elected by Democrats who will bolt
regular party caucus nomination. How
then, you will say, is the House to be organi-
zed ? That is the main question. OF course
every man has his solution of the problem at
his tongues end. Many believe that when
Gf ever) it shall seem impossible to elect Con
ness, and after the B1eckinridgers come to
regret their foolish resolution not to vote for
that gentleman, and to agree to vote for any
other candidate our party may name, some
other faithful and hearty supporter of Doug
las, who is acceptable to Mr.. Conness will be
regularly substituted in caucus, and elected.
The Republicans most loudly declare that
they Will adhere to their own candidate to
the end. | think, however, they would glad
y combine with Breckenridge men to force
upon us any Objectionable man if they could
only receive fair allowance of the loaves
and fishes to be dispensed by the House AZ
ter all, the people Of the State may as well
pay for a few weeks struggle over the
Speakership, and be excited and amused by
it, as to pay for Indifferent legislation, or
feeble efforts towards eecting United States
Senator.


AS TO the Senatorship, l do not see that any
one aspirant has formidable party BY this
| mean that there is no vehement or enthus'
astic clamoring in behalf of any one. The
great chieftains who once made these contests
rock the whole political community with ex-
citement are not here. The temper of people
hereabouts, both in and out of the legislature,
is much affected by the conditions of affairs
East of the mountains. Every man wants to
Senator elected whose feelings, instincts,
principles and prejudices are in accordance
with his own Let us have man who iusti-
fies secession and applauds treason, or let us
have one who will never give up the belief in
the power and duty of the Federal Govern
ment 10 preserve itself if need be by the utter
determination of all the rebels in the land ;
one who will say "If no one citizen of South
Carolina will obey the laws of Congress, then
let every one of them die the death prescribed
in the Constitution for traitors" This seems
to be the issue, and think it is The man
who would succeed VIM NJ. Gwin in the U.
5. Senate must either be an arrant traitor as
he is or sound Jackson man. Denver. Nu-
gent, McDOugal, Randolph and others have
friends in the legislature. Others, too, have
been named. 1t may yet appear that either
McCorkle or Griffith has more strength than
all the Others combined. Senator Hill, of
Sonoma, very courtly old gentleman of the
old school, and always a prominent Demo-
crat, is sometimes spoken Of as a possible com.
promise candidate. This gossip is, however,
but idle, and | will drop it. Really, there is
no other excitement here just now than the
fight for Speaker.


The streets here are in frightfully muddy
condition, with but little prospect of a speedy
mending. The weather is fine but the mud
is of about the thinncss of buckwheat batter.
No amusements but the Melodeons Next
week, however, we are to have the Marti.
nettis. CApITo1
| WANTS THEM AT HoME-The Charleston
/ Al