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,