Year: 1860

N--N
position of the Senate A number of those
who voted against the adjourned session
have expressed willingness to vote the
other way if a majority of the party in
the assembly should so decide. A caucus
was held on Friday evening, at which a
resolution was offered declaring that all
the members of the party were bound to
vote on the matter in accordance with the
decision of the majority. The same reso-
luton in different forms has been before
two other meetings of similar kind, and
elected very warm discussion. Several
members from your immediate vicinity took
the ground that a caucus could not bind any
one except as to nominations and measures
which were directly included within the
party platform, and repudiated the idea
that they would be trammelled if a majori-
ty should determine to vote for an extra
session.


The members from the southern part of
the State are excessively urgent on this
measure. They declare that in several
Congressional districts where they are mis-
represented by reason of the manner in
which the last Democratic gerrymandering
of the State constructed the districts, the
great issue mode was upon the re-district-
ing, Especially in those counties where the
American" element was pretty large, it is
said there was great lukewarmness as to
the Senatorial question, and that the cleo
tiOn was carried on the issue of the Con-
gressiOnal Districting. By way of max
ing the thing as taking as possible, they put
it in the form of a proposal to adjourn
early in March to meet again on the lst of
FEBRUARY 1861, with a prOviso that both
sessions shall not exceed the ordinary length
of one.


There are quite number of northern
members who will yield to no compromise
of the matter. They feel that the biennial
session plan with all its inconvenience and
i'll consequences ought to be fairly abided
by until the people make change in the
Constitution. They feel also that short
single session will give such certainty of
carrying the State in both 1860 and 1861
as to leave no rational doubt that the State
may be properly redistricted before tho
Congressional election of 1862.


The thing which in my opinion throws
real doubt over the final decision of the
question is the fact that the Democratic
members are very generally desirOus of an
extra session, both for personal reasons and
because they think it would give them an
advantage in the coming canvass. 1t is
well understood that if the Republicans
can be made to carry the measure alone,
the Democracy will oppose it and take the
credit of the opposition, but if it becomes
necessary they stand ready to join with I
any one to decide upon meeting again next
winter, feeling confident that they can af- /
terward get majority and repeal any ap-
pOrtionment of the District which the Re-
publicans may make


The members of the House have the re-
spOnsibility of action upon them now, as the
Senate's resolution to adjourn sine die lies
upon their table. A week will probably
give some decisive indication of what will
be done, and meantime 1 can only warn
you not to be too confident of judiciOus ac-
tiOn from body in which the true Repub-
licans are fully equalled in number by the
Democracy, the balance of power being
in the hands of conservative"
faction who are neither fish, flesh, nor
good red herring" as the proverb has it.


Numerous acts have been passed within
ten days past, but none of them are of
very marked general interest. l think tie J
legislation of the session Will be character
zed by caution AMI judiciousness. Many
weeping laws are proposed. but few of
hem get through the Committees or come
o the third reading. You viii find
more complete summary of them in your
Columbus exchanges than 1 have room to !
i've. The interest question is taking rank :
mOng the irrepressibles, new bill hay :
ng been introduced which proposes to al
ow contracts to be made for eight per cent
interest, but all claims after being put into
alignment to run at six. Its fate is uncer-
ain, but hope that no change in the ex- o
sting law will be made at this session. C
The peculiarly factious conduct of the
'nservatives has 50 far prevented action Il
pom any distinctively Republican measures, I
being regarded b:st to hold back till the p
enatorial question and the Servility bill b
ere disposed Of but you may look for Il
rush with the Odious visible admixture" Sc
", before the close of another week. VI


G. "