governments, or in any way endeavor to turn him upon hi? own gallant achievwulMits, ite hurries Jo* away from the subject to some point of scientific interest which he presume* will more oourern and engage yourself: or he says or does something that makes you think he is occupied with hi, own inferiority in some matter which you r conversation presents to hiin One is obliged to struggle with Liui to maintain the tone of respect which his character and achieve inents deserve , and when the inter view is over, a feeling of disappointment retrains for the failure in your efforts to ran sack the man as you wished and to render the tribute which you owed hiiu. We wish we could be sure that bo will hot, in bis forthcoming work, give us the drama without its hero :or we wish the expedition and it? hero had a chronicler as wortliv as he would be were he not the prin cipal character in the story. Dr. Kaue'e Narrative of the Expedition, cow preparing, and in process of publication by Messrs. Cbilds & Peterson of Philadel phia, will embrace the important discoveries made in the frozen regions far beyond the reach of all the predecessors of the Ameri can exploring party, and their perilous ad ventures, crowded with romantic incidents, which in the language of the Socrctary of the Navy, not only exite our wonder, but borrow a novel grandeur from tbe truly be nevolent consideration? which animated and neived him to the task.— [Giabsm s Maga zine, Feb. 1556. mil HO WW I HCOMfLE. BEDFORD. Pa. Friday Morning. Feb 8. 1856 "Fearless and Free." pavid over. r.iuTo3 ASP proprietor Organlfation of the House. We are happy to announce to onr readers that the House of Representatives was or ganised on Saturday last, hy the election of N. P. Banks, Jr., Amerioan and Repub lican, as Speaker. Ever since Congress met, about two months ago, the Loeofoco* have been blaming the Americans for not •rgatiting the Honse, and endeavoring to hnmbng the people, by representing that tue T.oeos were in no wise responsible. W c have frequently endeavored briefly to correct them* misrepresentations; and the result show* we were correct, and that the action of the Loeofoco members of Congress was the principle, if not the sole cause, why Congress was not organized at least six weeks ago. At the commencement of the •Session the triangular fight got up between the friends of Banks, of Richardson, and of Fuller, and it very soon became mani fest that no one could be elected without adopting the plurality rulo—that is, the rutc which allows the highest candidate to be elected, even though he may not have a majority over all. The Americans and Re publicans who supported Campbell of Ohio* for a few days, and then nominated Bank*, gave the latter on an average abont 30 votes more every ballot, than the Loeofoco* eould give their nominee, Richardson. No election could be had however, because some thirtv odd straglers persisted in scattering their vote* on Fuller and others. Some six weeks ago, when this state of thing* already exi! ;d, the Americans and Republicans re paired in caucus, to offer the plurality rule* an# to carry it in the House if possible.— They have offers# it again and again, al most, if not quite, every day for weeks past, and voted for it to a man, with one single exception, (L. D. Campbell,) but never sue jeeded in carrying it until last Saturday, and when carried the Speaker was elected the ae day. The plurality rule could not b adopted or carried, because the Locofo cos resolved in caucus, and re-resolvcd again nnd again, to oppose it; and they did op pose it almost to a man, (#n)y two or three of (-he* ever voting for it until the last day,) and thus defeated the only plan by which an organisation mold be effected. Such are the fact, and it does seem to us the most impudent, and dishonest charge imaginable, uuder these circumstance*, to represent the American party as re*j>onsib!e for tho delay in the election of Speaker.— We never had very much faith iu the supe rior intelligence of the I-ocofcco party, but thown who make charges like these must have still less than we have. We cannot belitxt- that ar.y party, or any intelligent man, can. bare any difficulty in seeing where (he responsibility li" in this matter, and we hope no ooc will hesitate to hold that party accountable, which so duterminndiy resisted tho plurality rule, and which at least is so signally defeated, as it most richly deserved-. Goort commences next week, end from appearance, it will be pretty throng. The sleighiog is still excellent, and tnow a ccupls fret deep. A.n old tiuao winter, ! lbit 0: <i b*lp the poor HF" In looking over the last week's Ga zette, many persons were greatly disap pointed, in not finding a report of the pro ceedings, so far as they have gone, in the case cf the Oouunonwealth vs. Draue and Coburn, for robbing the State Arsenal at Ilarrisburg. As it was known that the ed itor returned from there several days be fore, it was anxiously expected that an ac count of the object of his visit, and the his tory of the case, would be given, but our friend is as silent as the grave on the sub ject The public, however, still anxious ly ask, Who appointed Mr. DraDe, and who will have to pay the costs of suit, includ ing Mr. Bowman's trips to Harrisburg T Can't yon enlighten honest inquirers after truth, brother George ! O*" Whilst Governor Johnstou was in office, lie paid off over three quartors of a million of Loeofoco State Debt! Gover nor Bigler was next elected, and he increas ed the State Debt over a million and a half Governor Pollock is paying off again ! The present Locofoco Legislature has been in session over a mouth, and as yet Las dene nothing but increase tbe expenses, by creating a number of sinecure offices, and filling them with foreigners! The last Le gislature, which was American, abolished a number of such tinicures. James A. Drane, who was appointed to of fice by Mr. Bowman, and A. Coburn, a Lo eofoco member of the Legislature, plunder the State, and the people have to pay the expenses of the trial. Is it any wonder that our taxes are so high * Special and Extraordinary Message. Od Thursday of last week, the President transmitted to congress a special Message on Kansas affair*. It goes the whole figure for Slavery denounces the course of the citneßs of Kansas in resistiug the eneroa rnents of the Missouri "Border Ruffians," and justifies the latter iu their outrage; upon the unoffending "free State" citizens of Kansas, aud declares his determination to enfore the laws of tho "Ruffian Legis ture" over the people of tLa Territory.— The following L# a synopsis of the message, a* communicated in the telegraphic report of the Congressional proceedings. It sets forth that circotnstauces have oc ( currcd to disturb the course of tue govern ; tuent of Kansas, producing a condition of i things which renders it incumbent on bin. to call the attention of Congress to it, and urgently reccotnmends the adoption of such measure* as the exigency seems to requir e . He alludes eulogistically to the principles l cmbnted in the Kansas-Nebraska act, and ! the system of government and laws passed ;to put it into operation. While Nebraska has been successfully organized, the organi zation of Kann has been long delayed, at tended by serious difficulties and embarrass ments, partly from local nul-admiuistration, i and partly from unjustificable interference ! from the inhabitants of some of the .States, with views foreign to the interests and : rights of the Territory. Got. iteeder, in stead of exercising constant vigilance in 1 the discharge of his duties, allowed his at ; tendon to be diverted from Lis official ob ligations by other objects, himself setting an example of violation of law and duty which impelled the President to retnov e him. lie alludes to the misdirected zeal of the propagandist emigration and the clash ing of the slavery and anti-slavery iuter , rsta as the cause of the mischief, and as ' emphatically condemns the efforts to an -1 ticipate or force the determination of tlut ; question in this incubate state. Tue first , legislative assembly, whatever may have been the informalities in the election of , members was for ail practical purposes, a lawtul liody. and in this connection, the I President renews Gov. Reeder'* conduct regarding the removal of the seal of gov j ernmeut, and bis refusal to sign the bills : passed by that body. , The ill-feeling in thai territory has now t reached such a point that it threatens the I pence, not only of Kansas, but of the Union. Relative to the recent Convention which formed a Free State Constitution, lie says it was by a party, and not the people who thus accede contrary to the principles iof public law, the practise under the Con stitution ot the United States and the rule of right and common sense. The movement in opposition to the Constitutional authori ties of Kansas, was revolutionary iu its character, and jf it shall reach a point of organized resistcnce, it will be tresonable Insurrection, and will become the duty of the I'ederal Government to suppress it. It is not for the President to define the duties f the States or the Tertitories, or to decide weather the law t* wise or unwise, just or unjust. It u bis duty to cause it to be ex ecuted. Ihe great popular prerogative of self-government must le respected. The President says, it is bis duty to pre serve order in th- territory, and to vindi cate tho laws, whether federal or local, and to protect the people in the full enjoy ment of self-government from all eneroucluncut* from without. Although serious and threatening the disturbance* announced to him by Governor Shannon, in Deceiabtr last were quieted without the the effusion of blood, ihore'ano reason now, however, to apprehend renewed disorder there, unless decided measures be forthwith taken to pre vent them. lie concludes bv raying that i? the inhabitants of Kansas shall d*aire a -tate fprmtjoe, and be of sufficient cum- bers, the proper course would Lea conven tion of delegatei to prepare a constitution, and recommends the enactment of a law to that effect in order for its admission into the Union in a lawful and proper manner, and that a special appropriation be made to defray any expenses which may become requisite in the execution of he laws, or in maintrining public order in that territory. LETTER FROM GOV. REEDER. WASHINGTON UITV, Jan. 25, 1856. GENTLEMEN: —The special message of the Presideut of the United States, com municated yesterday to Cougress, assailed not only myself personally, but also ray constituents, whom inclination as well as duty, imperiously demands of me to justify and protect. Entirely satisfied as I ain with the course adopted up to this time, by the people of Kansas—convinced that it has bean Jictated by a desire to preserve the peace, the reputation and the glory of our country —knowing that it has, at every stage, been characterized by the most con servative moderation and laudable regard for the rights of others—having seen at every step the plainest manafestations of an anxious desire to avoid even the semblance of encroachment or aggression, I should be false to every manly impulse, and every sense of duty, if I allowed the aspersions of the Message to pa3 unnoticed. Uuless the message shall incite aud stim ulate new invasions of our Territory, and fresh outrage upon our citizens, it will produce to us no regret, as it has caused no surprise. After having seen our people trampled on, oppressed and robbed, on the one hand by the invaders of their soil, and on the other by tbe influence,theautbority, and the officers of the present administration; after having witnessed the cold-blooded murder of an unarmed and uuoffetiding citizen by an officer of the Administration, who is not only uumolested by the laws, and urebuked by the President who appoin ted him, but who has, perhaps, strengthen ed his official tenant and enhanced his chances of promotion by the act; it is not at all surprising that we should by the heaJ of that Administration, be misrepresented and perverted. After having seen the Chief Magistrate, during five organized invasions of our Territory, unmoved by a single sympathy in favor of an unofreuding people, innocent of all wrong, and laboring only to carry out faithfully for themselves the doc trine of self-government, and to build up and extend the greatness of our country— after having seen our invaders coming upon us armed, (without reproof, if uot with of ficial permission,) from the contents of tbe Arsenals of the United States, establishing a system of martial law over life aud prop erty regulated only by the uncontrolled will of vindictive and irresponsible men. A system under which life was taken and property destroyed; the highways obstruc ted, travellers seized, searched and detained; ali the pursuits of life paralyzed, and the destruction aud extermiuaiiou of the whole settlements threatened, aud evidently in tended—backed up by the sanction and authority of the Federal officers, who pledge publicly the co-operation of the President, and all based upon the fact, that a man encouraged, perhaps aided by his friends, had made his escape from arrest on a Constable's peace warrant —after having thus seen our natural and legal proteotors joining ia the most atrocious measures of op pression and wroug, it is no matter of sur prise to see misrepresentations of our posi tion an! our obj*cts emanating from the sains sou rce. Tuts is not the mode unr the time in which to discuss the themes of this mes sage. Expecting, as I have a right to ex" pect from the clearness of the exclusive title I am prepared to show, tbit I shall en joy a scat anda voic ton the floor of the House, I ant willing patiently "to bide my time." At the proper tiuii and place, bow ever, I pledge myself to meet and expose the mis-statements of facts and the error of law and logic wbieh it contains.— I will show that there is nothing but cold cruelty aud insult in the request of an ap propriation to pay an army or a posse to prevent the people of Kansas from the com mission of outrage and treason. I will show thai the movement for a State Gov ernment is mis-stated as to the facts of its origin and progress, and that all we have done in this direction has been uuder the sanction of the precepts and examples of all the great men of the country for the last fifty years—of the legislation of Congress aud the action of the Executive in repeated and well-considered cases, and of a deliber ate opinion of a high and distinguished At. toruey-Geuaral of the Uuitcd States, and which, as it is a part of thoarchives of the Executive Department, it is to be regretted the {'resident did not consult before tbe de livery of the Message. If it is illegality and iuuipient treasou for a uew State to be formed without an enabling act of Congress, 1 will show that fourteen Senators of the United States hold their scats, and seven Stales stand in this Union by virtue of il legal aud treasonable proceedings—tha* Congress has sanctioned revolution, illegal ity and treason, again and again; and that the rak and noxious weed has even flour ished in tbe White House and tbc Executive Departments; and, have vindicated my people, I will also, with the utmost confi dence of success; proceed to the miuor and secondary of vindicating myself in BEDFORD INQUIRER AND CHRONICLE. such a manner, 1 trust, as to show the at tack to have been ill-advised and unfortu nate. As to the discussion in the message of points involved in the contested scat, 1 shall meet them when the case is heard, and, as the House is the sole constitutional judge of the qualifications of its own members, I trust that the minds of members may be kept open and unprejudiced uutil they shall bear the law and the frets of the case, and that whether the discussisn by the execu tive of some of the points involved, lias been made because they were incidental to another subject, or aimed and intended to prejudge my claim, I hope in either case that both sides may be heard before a decis- This hasty note has swelled to an unpre meditated length. Its object is only to so licit from the House and the public, a sus pension of judgment as to the position aud notion of our people—as to my right to a seat, and as to the charges against me in the Message, uutil I can be heard. Mr EDITOR: —Nothing new here of much note since my last. The supplement to the law iu relation to landlords and tenants has passed the Senate. It dispenses with the jury iu proceedings before two jutiees to get possession, and makes the remedy more summary in other respects. This afternoon tbe Senate had uuder con sideration a bill authorizing exceptions to the rejeetiun of evidence by Judges, and writs of error in criminal cases. The indi cation are that it will pass, though not without considerable objection. To-morrow is the day set apart for the consideration of the Wilkins liquor bill. I understand that Senator Browne, tbe democrat who drew up tbe liquor law of last session, has prepared another iu the shape of a stringent license law, and which he and some others who think with liirn will endeavor to substitute for Wilkins' bill when the matter omnes up. Anything coming from Browne on this subject will no doubt be prety stringent, inasmuch as he is radical temperance man in both precept and example. The troubles on this subject arc only commencing. The House in passing the bill it did for the absolute repeal of the law of last session, accompa nied it with protestations of a willingness and a desire that astriug-nt license law should he substituted Ttie indications now ire that the Senate w ill put the sinceri ty of the Honsc to the test, at the same time holding on to the present law until the tet is made. It is more than suspected that quite a number of patriots in the House really desired a substitute for tbe law of last Session, but at the same time they were anxious to put the Governor in a predicament by presenting to him for ap proval the naked repeal, and time force him to commit himself by signing it or vetoing it. This might pass muster very well as a political trick; but it seems the Senate ! cmtld not appreciate soch patriotism as this, nor eonsent to be actuated by such motives. Of course 1 do not profess to be posted on the Governor's views, bnt I believe if the naked repeal had been forced upon him he would have signed it, alihough very reluc tantly, as from his message he is evidently in favor of a stringent liceusc law as a sub stitute. A strange proposition was sent over from the House to the Senate to-day, in the shape ! of a joint resolntion to adjourn both Houses from the 15th to the 25th of this month.— I suspect the Senate will 'real this a little | like they did the bill for the absolute re i peal of the liquor law. If they do not | postpone the matter indefinitely, theobsnces ; are that they will either vote it down, or | hold it under serious consideration, until | after the 25th inst. Modern domocracy is [ a queer thing, and sometimes difficult to ! understand. Last Friday week, the House j refused to adjourn over until Monday; and ! after thus putting themselves right on the I record, by the yeas and nays, tbey ran off" ; until there wa barely a quorum on Satur i day; aud now they pass a resolution by 41 ; to 86, to adjourn for ten days, at a time too, j when both branches have just got fairly started on the business of the Session. The election of Banks as Speaker of the 1 House of Representatives at Washington, ! created a great sensation here. It is "a | clean defeat" for the administration, and its | friends, and is considered an omen of good ! things to come. SPECTATOR. ARRIVAL OF THE ARABIA^ ONE WEEK LATER EROM EUROPE. HIGHLY IMPORTANT' TTIE CZAR ACCEPTS THE PROPOSITIONS OP THE ALLIES AS A LIAS! 6 POR NEGOTIA TIONS—LARGE DECLINE IN UKEADSTCFPS —CONSOLS ADTANCED. HALIFAX, Jan. 31.— The Canard steam ship Arabia arrived here this evening, with Liverpool dates to the 19th inetant, being a week later. The news by this arrival is of great impor tance. The London Times, Vienna correspondent telegraphs under date of Wednesday 16tb, at 10 A. M., that Russia has uncondition ally accepted (fit propositions of the allied power;r. The above i about the sum of all the news. The prospect of a speedy return of peace aw allowed op all else. Very respectfully, yours, A. H. KF.F.DKR Cor. Inquirer and Chronicle. HARKISBUG Feb. 4, 1856. [SECOND DESPATCH.J HALIFAX Jan, 31,10 o'clock P.M.— The Arabia sailed from Liverpool on tbe morning of tbe 19tb, and arrived here 9.28 this evening, bringing 107 passengers. The steamer Asia also arrived out on the 13th, and the steamer Baltic on the 17th. The steamer Union did not touch at South, auipton on her passage out. The news of Russia's acceptance of the allied propositions caused an immense sense., tion. The funds rose 3 per cent., aud cotton 1 farthing. A panic also ensued in the other markets. Tbe actual facts in connection with the propositions arc that when the Austrian Ambassador handed the allied note Nessel rode he said he was not authorized to enter into a discussion, but if the note was not accepted unconditionally before the 18th he and all the Austrian Embassy must leave St. Petersburg. To prevent this Ncssclrodo communicated with Vienna direct and Prince Gortschakoff at Vienna had a talk with Connt Buel, in which the former pro duced a memorandum expressing tbe gene ral inclination of Russia to negotiate, but inasmuch as it did not contain ♦he uncondi tional acceptance of the propositions, Aus tria could not reply without the concurrence of France and England. The Ambassadors of these powers were accordingly sent to at London and Paris, and a reply was re ceived that the Western Powers hud no motive to change tbe deocsion already care, fully considered : and further, that if Russia did not accept by the 18th, Connt Esterhazy and the Austrian legation would leave, and Austria would immediately seek to obtaiu the armed co-operation of the Germanic Diet. This was reported to be authentic an,} caused an immense excitement throughout Englaud but the Government despatch published the next day put a different face upon the affair—being in effect that Russia had only accepted the allied proposals as basis of negotiation. This slightly relaxed public confidence and less sanguine hopes were now entertained. Doubts were ex pressed that Russia had merely accepted the proposals to prolong the negotiations aud gum time. The next day the English Government published a despatch from Minister Seymour as follows: "Russia agrees to accept the proposals as a basis of negotiations." This qualified announcement curbed tbe excitement, and the alarmists begin to fear that Russia merely wants to gaiu time by deceptive negotiations. Meantime the funds remain steady. Previous to the above announcement the Vienna papers represented the state of affairs as most serious aud alarming, and stated that the personnel of the Austrian embassy had received orders to quit. The Russian embassy had been ordered to leave Vienna during the week elapsing between Russia's first and second reply and an intense apprehension existed in Vienna, but on tbe 16tb these apprehensions subsi ded by the announcement as above stated; ♦ hat Russia agrees to negotiate on the terms proposed. There is nothing doiug of importane 0 from the Crimea. MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, Jan. 18, Friday Evening.— Brown & Shipley's Circular quotes: Cotton has advanced—sales of the week 58,0 M bales including 5000balo* for export, and 9,000 bales taken on speculation. Richardson & Speoce's Circular quotes Breadstuff's have considerably declined. The market is unsettled and correct quota tions cannot be given—Western Canal flour 405., Ohio 425. Wheat has declined aud Corn also with a downward tendency, mixed Corn 40s. DEATH OF A Nl >. The Catholic Mirror chronicles the death at the Carmeiile Convent in the city of Bal timore, on the 19th inst. of sister Veronica, who had been suffering for some time past with consumption, in the 41st year of her age, and the 15th of her religions profes sion. Iter real name was Juliet Ann Sax tpn, a uative of St. Mary's county, in this State. We do not remember ever to have seen the death of a nun announced in the public print* before; aud conclude that this de parture of the Mirror from its customary silence is referable in some measure to the disposition, recently nmuifested, to make legal inquiry into the ultimate fate of im mured recluses, whioh the American party assert to be one of tbo rights of society.— If this were not the case, why is the natural death of this Carmelite and the disease of which she died, published to tlio world, seeing that Miss Juliet Ann Saxton has been civilly dead, and her property prob ably sequestered to "pious uses," for near fifteen years? How oan the death of a nun cencern secular people, exoept to gratify gaping curiosity? Of suoh, the law, virtually ceases to taka cognisance frotn the moment of her inoaroeration, or her religious profession, (which aro different names for the same thing.) From that moment, she is alike beyond the pale of society and the protection of law, literal ly abandoned by both. From that moment bar lift and death are exclusively an eccle siastical affair, the sole interest in and con trol ovar which pertain to an alien priest hood, who do not ebooae that a Coroner's jnry, which somettle of scandal might call for, should uador any pretext, intrude upon the privacy of convents, bringing into thoae sacred abodes, a legal inquisition into sup posed crime, however strongly suspicion may attach. In charity, let us hope that crime and violent death are unknown with, in the privileged precincts of a convent, and that therefore coroner's inquests can have no business there; yet, their very exclusion implies the existence of an order of persons io our midst, who are above the law and mock it; and it is remarkable, that while the dwelling of every secular institution whether it be an almshouse, jail, pen iten tiarv or benevolent asylum, is subject to the most rigid scrutiny of the law, monastic re ligious houses are exempted and practical ly set the officers of the law at defiance.— The abstract right of entry of a coroner's jury is undeniable, but the impossibility of gaining evidence to authorize its proceed ing, makes it null and void. Sister Veronica died of consumption!— She suffered long with the insidious disease that she was told to regard as a proof of her vocation—of the acceptability of her sacratice, —but which was brought ou by ex posure, mortification, aud perhaps undue constraint and toil. Poor lady, she "died by inches," with no kindly hand of near af fection, no fond mother or sister dear, t 0 smooth the pillow for the aching head, to fan the fevered, hectic cheek, to receive life's latest sigh; these sad offices were transfer, red to stranger hands; most likely, they were gently administered; but of the disap pointment, remorse and anguish of near fif teen years, no sympatbytiog euccor knew, for she was secluded from the law's protec tion and relief. How idle areour boasted liberties, when the bare possibility of such a life andsuctyt death are considered. Let the common jailor but exercise inhumanity towards a condemned criminal, and his impunity would arouse the land; let a cruel master oppress his slave, and his rights of property would be no defeuse against the condemnation of the community and the punishent that would surely follow, let the unnatural parent rx pose his child, and ample legal remedies are within reach; yet the possibility of in humanity aud oppression in a convent is never inquired into, though the frequency of consumption in those locked Hp walls is ample demonstration that it proceeds from natural causes—misery, privation and ex posure. How long the evil will be endur ed in tliis age of enlightenment and of Civil and Religious liberty,no man can fore see, but the people, the fountain of power in the State, are accountable to Him, "who in every step by which we have advanced to the character of an independent nation, has distinguished us by some token of his Providential agency," for every hour of suffering and wrong and every death that occurs, unaccounted for, under the odious and unlawful tyranny of the Conventual system,—a system, that "uuder color of re ligion" * * * "injures others in their nat ural and civil l ights" contrary to the pro vision and express letter of the 33d Article of the "Declaration of Rights," of the poo ple of Maryland.— Frederick, Examiner. THE FRACAS AT WASHINGTON. MU. OHEELKr's ACCOUNT OT RUST** AT TACK ON lIIM. (Editorial CjrrnponUnct of the X. I*. Tribune> WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 1856.—1 have heard since I came here a good deal of the personal violence to which I was exposed, but only one man has offered to attack me till to-day and he was so drunk that be made a poor fist of it. In fact, 1 do not remember that any man ever seriously at tacked me till now. 1 was conversing with two gentlemen on my way down from the Capitol, after the ad journment of the House this afternoon, when a stranger requested a word with me. I stopped, an l my friends went on. The stranger, who appeared in the prime of life, six feet high, ind who must weigh over two hundred, thus began— •ls vour name Greeley V 'Yes.' ♦Are yoa a non-oombatant!' 'That is according to circumstances.' The words were hardly out of my mouth, when h struck mo a s'.unning blow on the right side of my head, and followed it by two or three more, as rapidly as possible.— My bands were still in my great coat pock ets, for I had no idea that he was about to strike. He staggered me against the fence of the walk from the Capitol to the Avcnue > but did not get me down. I rallied as soon as possible, and saw him standing several feet from me, with ooveral persons standing J or rushing in between us. 1 asked, Who is this man? I don't know him,' and under stood him to anwer, with an imprecation, 'You'll know nie soon enough,' or 'You'll I know me hereafter,' when he turned and went down towards the street. No one answered my inquiry directly, but some friends soon came up. who told tne that my assailant was Albert Rust, M. C. from Arkansas. He gave me uo hint of any cause or pretext be uiav have had for this assault, but I must infer that it is to be found in my strictures in Monday's Tri bune (letter of Thursday evening last) on his attempt to drive Mr. Banks out of the field as a candidate for Speaker, by passing ] a resolution inviting ail the present candi- I dates to withdraw. I thought that a rneau trick, and said so most decidedly; I certain* i think no better of it, now that I have made the acquaintance of its acfbor v The bully turned and walked down along I followed, conversing with two friends.! Crosaing Four-and-a-half atreet, they drop ped behind to speak to a-qnaintances, and 1 I, walking along toward the National llo tel, soon found myself in the midst of a hud dle of strangers. One of these turned short upon me—l saw it was my f orU i r assailant—and said, 'Do you know roe now? I answered, 'Yes, you arc Rust, of Arkan Has,' He said something of what he would * do if I were a combatant, and I replied tha ( I claimed no exemption on that account. He now drew a heavy oane which I had not seen before, and struck a pretty heavy blow at my head, which I caught on my left aru with no other damage than a rather severe bruise. He was trying to strike again, and I was endeavoring to close with him, wht-; B everai persons rushed between and separ: ted us. I did net strike him at all, norl.y a finger ou him; but it certainly would hatt t been a pleasure to iwe, had 1 been able, to perform the public duiy of knocking hir. down. I cannot mistake the movement ol his baud ou the Avenue, and aiu sore it must have been toward a pistol in his belt And the crowd which surrounded us \TI nearly all Southern, as he doubtlest knw before be renewed his attack on c. 1 THIRTF-FOIRTH CO3GRESS. Find Session. WAHBI.WOTON, Feb. 2. The Seuate is is not in i-rssion io-da\. HOUSE—Mr Smith, of Tennessee, sa ; . be had heretofore voted against the electi • , of a speaker by a plurality vote, but yesterday'e vote indicated some chance of electing, as speaker, a man of sound nation, al views, he now offered a resolution to (i.-i effect. A motion to lay it on the table was no;-, atived, by 10 majority. The plurality resolution was then ado;- < ted by a vote of 1 111 yeas to 104 r.ays.- - The announcement wae bailed with tune applause. Mr. Orr unconditionally withdrew LH name as the caucus candidate, there heic.- now a probility ol the concentration of greater strength upon his colleague, Mr. Aiken. Mr. Boyce moved to rescind the resolu tion. The motion was laid on the table—ve;.- 117, nays 101. (Applause.) Mr. Jones, of Tennessee, referring to th-> term* ef the resolution—that if there shall be no election by a majority ou the ues-. three trials the candidate receiving th highest rote shall be declared Speaker,— remarked that the Republicans were drille r and ready for the contest, and in order tr give the opportunity to other gentlemen t. come here understandiugly, moved an ad journment till Monday. The motion was disagreed to—yeas 84 nays 13d (Applause and impatient cries o: "call the roll." Mr. Walker moved to rescind the plural ity resolution. Mr. Payne moved that the House ad journ. (Hisses in the galleries.) The motion was disagreed to, and gm applause from the galleries followed. Mr. Orr. s*id, if the House was to be anoy ed by applause from the gallaries, ho woull move to clear them, excepting those occu pied by ladies. Mr. Pane made an ineffectual motion t r rescind the plurality resolution. The House tlieu proceeded to again ballc : for Speaker, with the following result:— Banks, 10*2 j Aikeu, 93 Fuller, 14. Messrs. Barclay and Hickman, Deuiocist r voted for Mr. Wells, and -Messrs. Dann„ Harrison, Moore, and Scott for Mr. Camp bell, of Ohio. Necessary to a choice 108. The next rote, with the exception that Mr. Puller lost one, was the same as the first. The third vote was the same as the second, excepting that Mr. Aiken lost one. Mr. Fuller, of Pennsylvania, repeated what he had said on two former occasions, namely, that ho was not and did not desire to be a candidate. One hundred sud thirty votes had satisfied him that be w:. not the choice of a majority of this body, and on no other terms or conditions would be eoosent to take that position. Mr. Barclay rem* r ke<i that he has been averse to anything like a coalition with Know Nolhiogistu, whether it oatue froui the North or the South. He asked Mr. Aiken whether be (Mr. A. j stood ou the Demo cratic platform and whether he had not written a letter to Horophrey Marshall,, making pledges to the Southern wiug of ths Know Nothings. Mr. Aiken—l am not a candidate; if my friends think proper to placo me in the Chair, 1 will serve them to the best of my ability Mr. Hnmpbery Marshrll—l have only to say that Mr. Aikeu has addressed me no let ter whatever. (Applause} and cries of "call the roll," while the most intense ex citement prevailed. Mr. A. K. Marshall, daring the call of. the roll congratulated bis Amerioan friends that they have fought the good fight, and conquered. There was no deoaocratio can didate now in the field with the offensive, caucus platform. It waa in performing his duty as a patient, and not as a partisan, that he had voted for Mr. Aiken. Mr. Waiker voted iu the same way, es teeming Mr. Aiken a man with uo stains of mere partisan ism on his skirts. A man who has not sought the office, but to whom the office is teDdred, and who is true to the con stitution. Messrs. l'mne and Lindiey voted for Mr. Aiken, kuowiug him to be a national man. Mr. Smith of Ala., voted for Mr. Aikeu under protest. Other gentlemen vainly sought th op* portuuity for explanation aund the contu sion. The call of the roll having been comple ted, several members changed their votes, and for so doing were greeted with applause. Impatient cries of "Announce the vote, followed. The lobbies and galleries- were densely crowded, and the excitement at tbi* point was increased by a startling cry that a boy was being crushed to. death by the pressure of the crowd above.. Some me®: V*rs shouted "Fall back"' xt>d otb^l/'HauA,
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