The New York Herald Newspaper, December 21, 1857, Page 2

NEW YORK HEKALD, MONi4* AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON. Our Washington Correspondence. Wasuncron, Deo. 14; 1857. The Gay Season in Washington—Tuft Hunting, Intriguing, ‘Polking and Feasting—The Political Banquets in Pros- | pect—Hospitaiities of the British Kmbassy, be. ©The gay season |”” This in a hackneyed, a somewhat snobbish phrase, perhaps, but peculiar to this latitude, ‘and very expressive. By tho “(gay season’? in Washing. | ton is meant that portion of the year when the Solons and | Lycurguses of the nation assemble and meet together in | noisy conclave, to save a country which never was and | never can be lost; to plug up leaks in the treasury with very small spiles, and puil out very big bungs at one and | the same time; to rack their own braing and be-muddle | those of the people by the enactment of new laws; or, in other words, to throw as many mazy involvements as possible around old ones; and to get up a pretty big muss erally about their own and the Presidential election. gay season is the season when every lady calls on every other lady—or, to adopt the phrasoology of this region—when every hice person calls oa every other nice person, sedulously striving to be as general iu the pay ment of visits as propricty and circumstances will allow, to ‘the end that she may not, by any possibility, be omitted in the general distribution of reception and party invitations; for, be it knowa to you, that Washington lady of fashion ‘would no more ‘mise & party” than & pious Mussuiman would fail to prostrate himself towards Mecca at the ery of the muezzin. The gay season is peculiarly the season whon tuft huaters and toad eatera—profes.ional as well as amatour—stalk boldiy forth at noop-day and ply their virtuous calling; When smali beer gentility. spreads its wide skirts @pd flutters its garish ribbons. It is the season for terrapins, oysters canvass backs, and » plenty of'em. It is emphatically the season for Fiddling, feasting, mumming, dancing, masking everywhere; but in Washington, when the whole machin- ery of gayety—includimg the lancers—is in full motioa, ‘with cogs and driving wheels in order, they do say it is about the liveliest place of its age and size on this side of Jordan. ‘The gay season, then, will scon be upon us, and it prom- fwes to be abundant and cropful in its yield ‘of pleasures. Faint premonitory symptoms of its approach already be- gin to manifest themselves, in the shape of little aside Parties—triai trips, as it were; sinall select gatherings ‘within certain charmed circles, just to keep the hand in; Limited tea fights, smal! conversariones, (the Irish word, I believe, for talking matches.) soirées musicale and lite suppers for logrolling parposes. “The regular party giving Beason will not fairly open until after New Years. ‘Tho Cabinet ie composed of wealthy men, from whom much in the way of entertaining will be expected; and they will not disappoint the pleasure-seekers, or Lam no bk soa There are, besides, some half-milionaire ngressmen, as well as permanent residents, who under- stand both the savoir fatre and the savoir vivre—and the foreign representatives are generally ‘ well todo,” and invariably hospitable. In an especial manner may I'name Tord Napier, to whom and his lady the language onde. Sparkler may be happily applied—that “ there's no be- gad nonsense about them.’ They have already had several small gatherings, and they are always spoken of as modest, well-behaved gentle-folk. My lord’ bas but little, if any, of the cockney yaw-yaw and braggadocio too common with his fellow islanders, and her ladyship wins all hearts by the affability and Sweetness of ber manners. They have made a good im- thus far, and are daily gaining upon the metro- tans. ‘They live m a square, brick, gloomy, dun- rown house, and a genuine Yankee would stand in Ro foar of losing credit with acollege of guessers if he should onounce it at first sight a lying-in hospital, an institution for the blind, or a county jail; butas comfort, elegance 4 hospitality reign within, we may not hypercriticise the color or the style of architecture, but can well afford to overlook any trifling defects in these matters. This Jeter, which was only intended as an entering wedge, may get too long if 1 don't hold up. So, with the hope of some pleasant tattle hereafter, I am yours. Wasminetow, Dec. 14, 1857. Sir Gore Ouseley's Mission—The President Firm in his Hos- bility to the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty—Selfish Views of Great Britain in her South American Policy—The Cotton and Sugar of Yucatan—Prizes worth Struggling for. General inquiry is made here as to the true motives and purpose of Sir W. Gore Ouseley’s visit and sojourn in the Metropolis. If a special Minister to Central America, why should he take a house and prepare for a winter's resi- ence at Washington? No sensible European would think of venturing into that inhospitable climate after the “ides of March,” if he could possibly get there before. But what will take Sir Gore Ouseley to Central America? What an he hope to accomplsh, if there? Is there any govern- ment in that direction interested in dnd having the right to speak on the questions involved in the controversy be- tween Great Britain gad the United States, whose opinions are worth consultine’ Certainly not. Sir Gore Onseley can visit the British settioment of Belize, the Bay Islands, the Mosquito coast, and confer with his half naked Majes- ty, the King of the Mosquitots; but how wif all this facili- tate matters towards an adjustment of the long pending ‘and vexatious questions at issue between England and the United States? Mark it, Sir Gore Ouseley’s mixsion is not to the States of Central America, but indirectly to our own go- vernment. When the facts are ascertained it will be found to be a master stroke of Lord Palmerston to circumvent our pment and accomplish by address or “honey fuggling”” that which diplomacy avd bluster have both so signally failed to do. Presuming upon a ‘‘long acquaint- ‘nce with Mr. Bachanan,’ and marriage with an “American lady,” my Lord Paimerston doubtless thought Sir William Gore Ouseley the very man for the place. Anticipating that the President would recommend an abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwer compact iu bis message, and as the cherished purpose of Palmerston ts to retain that imstrument intact—fur there. Dy be restrains the ‘manifest destiny” of the American peopie—the wily minister determines to send among us a gentieman who, by marriage relations, long, familiar and {intimate acquaintance with the present head ef o: ‘vernment, and other aliuring peculiarities, 4 be to accomplish that which he (Palmerston) with all his ity, had utterly failed in. * Will the trick succeed 1 ms Tho President, notwithstanding the “friendly spirit’ of his message in treating of this vexed question, is fixed in bis perpose not to yield au iota of the ground heretofore taken. He desires to throw the sily Clayton Bulwer treaty tothe wind de now. If he » yield, or and commence negotiat! ¥ ritlement be effec yin maintaini engiand treaty ded by uine- ja binding our tenths of our p who grovel amid the desolation of former grandeur. If the country then supported hundreds of cities and towns, each one vastly greater than the largest of the present half dozen cities, why could it not do so again, under proper goverument and cultivation? Besides the production of cotton, sugar, corn, &¢., Yucatan raises and exports rice, coffee, tobacco, hemp, pepper, hides, tallow, indigo, mahogany, cedar, sarsapa- Tilla, logwood, fustic, brazilleto, &o , kc. Most of those, | arecent British gazeteer says are produced aud exported from the Belize, amounting to over £600,000 in value por annum. Her imports are about the same. Immediately on the advent of Sir W. Gore Ouseley, came tg, Loudon Times with an article professing to shadow forth the nature of Sir Gore’s mission. In the course of the article occurs this remarkable paragraph:—‘ The complaint that England stil! retains some rights on this coast is evidently frivolous. England has nothing but the hittle settlements which date back so many years, and which she has bound herself not to extend.’” Belize, of course, is one of the “* little settlements" so erate alluded to. Where, how and when did she “bind hers not to extend ”’ these possessions? By the Clayton-Bulwer treaty? Ifso, what becomes of the Ruatan Island colony t —of the Honduras claim ’—of the Mosquito coast? cool assurance of the Times, in thus announcing the mis- sion of Sir Gore Ouseley, is quite characteristic of great exponent of English policy. While wpon the subject, lagus see what is the Belize settioment, and whether it iJ accurately detined upon our maps. Is it the ter- ritory embraced between the Rio Hondo aad river Belize, or Wallis river, according to andas defined by the treaty of 1783? Or is it even the extension of that territory to the river Sibun, as agreed to by the treaty between Spain and England of 1786” Neither. The little British settlement called Bolize is an undefined extent of country running far down into Guatemala, and north-northwest into Yucatan. From a few comparatively small and unimportant factories and depots it has grown into an actual dominion, over- shadowing the entire adjacent territory, and disseminating a baneful influence over countless thousands of deluded people. It already embraces much of tho most desirable aud productive lands onthe peninsulaof Yucatan. The manner in which this species of silent, but by no moans bloodless, conquest is carried on, is well explained by the Commissioner sent to this government by Yucatan pending the war of races which distracted that country in 1845, and is row laying waste the finest parts of that unfortu: nate State. He says, in his letter to Mr. Buchanan, then the distinguished head ef the Department of State :—~‘+ In the outset she [Fngland] only obtained permis- sion to establish a species of factory, but now it (the Belize] is a vast depository sf contraband, which annihilates Yucatan, and invades the States of Tabasco, Chiapas and Guatemala, Day by day these men are penetrating to the very heart of the peninsula, ani ob- taining in the fnterior ‘the amplest, the most extensive, and, withal, the most fraudulent reiations."’ Are these of no importance or interest “to the English people?” Is it to regard such “little settlements,” prod and yellow fe ally asserts, of no value or impor- Times taay feign to think so, attempt to i tange to Great Brita Sir Gore Ouseley conviction, bus Mr. Buchanan a studied the geography of tropical Am better purpose may We prediot, again, that Sir Gore Oygaley’s mission will be e failu We predict that the effort of Great Britain to piace Yucatan under the “protection” (that’s the English phrase for annexation) of that grasping government will be watched and thwarted, uniess, perchance, the Yucatacos, driven to desperation by the horrors of ‘savage warfare and political despotism among themselves, should, failing to get relief from our own government, throw themselves | into the outétretched arms of the British nation. The condition of that isolated portion of our continent was never more imminent than at this moment. In the lan- gnage of President Polk, the position of Yucatan, ‘‘from its vicinity to Cuba, to the Capes of Florida, to New Or- | leans, and, indeed, to our whole Southwestern coast, it | would be dangerous to our peace and security should it become a colony of any European nation,” and should never be permitted by our people, Yucatan can remain asshe is, but never can become a dependency of any European Power. To this policy the whole people of the United States are pledged, and no act of the administra. tion could be more approved and applauded than any step towards the prevention of England consummating 50 great an outrage. But enough for the present. Wasmnctox, Dec, 17, 1857. The New Hall Compared with the Old—The Position of Judge Douglas—General Henningsen and the Adminis- tration—The House Binding, dc. The most prominent topic of conversation here is the removal of the House of Representatives to the new hall. They have certainly taken possession of it before the building was ip a state of preparation to receive them. And why this hurry to get there? Why should the mem bers, officers and visiters travel through unfinished cor- ridore and passages, up boarded and unfinished stairs, croyding among workmen and hindering their operations? cannot yams upto the galleries without aweeping aleng with their rich droases the mortar and dirt which necessarily accompanies the labor af masons and carpen- ters. Love of novelty seems to be a controlling-sentr- ment even with legisiators. What bad taste to occupy the new hall at this stage of the work on that wing of the bailding ! I went into the old hall which had just been deserted after I had seer the House organize in the new one, and I never was so impressed before with the simple grandeur of the former. My mind was irresistibly seized by the con- trast. I said tomy friend, in this is displayed the character ofour people. In all ages people have impressed their civili zation on their public monuments and buildings. In no- thing is the taste of a people or of an age so much dis- played as in these. The old hall is simple, grand and Classical, like the minds of the fathers of the republic, and like the people in the days when the Capitol was built. Bot we have become artificial and showy, and follow after glitter aud pretence, and such is the character of the new hail As to the acoustics, ventilation, the style of architecture and gjher matters connected with the Capitol, | purpose writthg to-morrow Neither the architect in charge nor the military director of the work seems to hu y Ligh opinion of the va lue of the press. The gallery appropriated to reporters and correspondents is immediately behind and over the Speaker. The Speaker and even some of the members of the House cannot be seen from most parts of this gallery; besides it is about the worst place in the House for bear: ing. The “third estate” certainly deserved more con sideration from the hands of these gentlemen who owe so much to * kindly notices ‘On the listof newspapers taken for members of the House of Representatives, the Philadelphia Press is exten sively patromized by the black republicans; almost every member of that party bas ordered it poverament Gontral Amorioan portion of o Britain attempts to co ment’s #erious consideration Seven years of quibbling, delay and disgraceful shuffiing have shown the true purpose of England with regard vo her policy in tropica! America. She is determined to hold all she now bas, and extend her domain and infuence in definitely. What bas sbe not doue ever since the Clayton Bulwer Convention? Lovk at ber Bay Islands colony, set up with all he pomp and form and ceremony of a regu lar government! Look at her Belize setietnonts, how she has, through unscrupul agents, insensibly, as it were, extended their dominion aud influence! Now, in this con nection, allow me to say Ghat the question of British influ ence is Bhowing itsel! in a new form and anew direction Information has been reccived bere which leaves little or no doubt that Fngland is exerting ber influence with the view of ultimate acquisition in Yucatan. The Indian war, ‘Which is now devastating that fair peminsula, it is alleged ‘owes ita origin, and is mainly kept sp by British agente from the Belize. The savages who have been and still @re laying waste by carnage and conflagration Ghe fairest portion of that peninsula, have been found armed with Britwh muskets, c! 4 with British bali and powder, furnished oy British agents, for the sole purpose of massacreing the defenceless ‘white inhabitants of that State. This charge, it will be remembered, was made against the Britub government by the Commission sent from Yucatan to the United Biates in 1848. The fact now cannot be denied, for the most direct evidence ix at hand in support of the declara on. Is not this discreditable in this day of enlightened Corvtanity’ What can be the object, it may be inquired, of Groat Brita, wanton in this mercilese warfare? Simply policy Of ain. The cxtension of her Belize settiement | over the eutire of Yucatan would be the consummation of | 8 tong indulged bope The possession of Yucatan would Great Britain the most important acquisition she surface of the globe. It would | give ber unbounded commercial advantages, unsurpassed tr pomsensions; a naval depot without ao equal on the Western continent; and finally, would place ber in solute control of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, 1] the outlets and imlots to our entire Southern coast old literally enable her to connect the Merican Gulf, | oy @s che bas alreaty done the Mediterranean Sea, into | What Napoleon called an Euglish lake. It would give ber ‘very soon the island of Cuba, and then, in the ——— or the Chairman of the Senate Conmittee oo Foreign Relations in 1846, “She would have both the lock and key of the Gull ‘Yeoatan Of Mexico and the mouth of the Mississippi!”” ‘apart from the advantages which itz possession would give Great Brita, in «commercial point of view, | would enable her to cope largely with the cotton and | sugar growing intervete of the United Sates. There is ot on the surface of the giohe a more productive soil, | gonial clime and delightful place of abode than ov the —- of Yucatan. Some paris of it are, it is true. rren aud unproductive, with «hot, dry, sickly atmos pore; ts wie vant proportion ofthe penta tbe moat | beautiful country, WKB @ soil unsurpassed for produc Cveness, and abounding in the most luxuriant growth of | Almost every apecies of tropical plants and truits In a letter now before me from a geuticman who has | velled extensively iu tat country, {find these remarks | Die statements — ‘Sugar and cotton both grow ty perfec tion in Yucatan, the former Ihave seen thirty four foot high—oine months growth—of the ribbon species. Uatii he breaking out of the Indian wars the State produced aQ Ma own sugar, snd tied much to export to other parte af the republic, but the Indians ravaged the sugar districes nd destroyed many, nay, most of the restates, and are now importing sugar from Haw 2 Oe ton grows almost spontaneously, of a quality and ycld Deter than | have ever seen in the Paited Sates. # | giwaye seares = high, a. igh ig cultivated for | ye want be State, for want of laborers=the great ‘rant of the country aye Both cotton and corn will grow two crope a year. Sugar may be mace all the yoar round, but 5 pot her = & profit. The climate of Yucatan i# the most salubri fhat can well be imagi The thermometer soarcely wropeds @ variation of ten degrees throughout the year former times, when flourished in fullness and vigor the que races Whose vast and mysterious ruins rise up thousands all over that magnificent poning Who filled these wonderful citios—now i desolation—must have exceeded almost asa W Oe the provont race of indolent barbarians re | | ad I ‘A carious circumstance to be noted is, that Jadge Dong. las, having the impression that in consequence of hie course on the Kansas question he would not, ia the re. Organization of the Senate committees, be re-appointed as yo Terriv moved ali chairman of the Coznsu itt is things from the commitiee room, his defectivn has not created such a terrible apprebension, and that he i# magnamimously re-ap 01nted to his former position, he may remove thet back again. The oj ech of Senator Green, of Missonri, delivered in the Henate yesterday Ja reply to Judge Douglas, is one of the ablesi made in that body for many years past. The orator ba ood himself in the front rank of American statesmen. This is the impression of most of those who heard him. He did not leave the Judge a leg to stand upon, Ttmade the Senator from Illinois uneasy in his “i brought him frequently to bis feet. ‘hatever speeches may be made by other Senators @b the Kausas question for tbe sake of political effect at home, or for the sake of speechmaking, Mr. Green has really closed the argument and completely vindicated the administration With reg to foreign appointments, the President in formed a prfninent applicant that he should, after com sulting the delegations in Congress of the different States, apportion them as fairly and as equally as possible, Con sidering there are in each of the States men always to be found of sufficient capacity and character, this decision shows the characteristic wisdom of Mr. Buchanan. It is expected that the President will act upon the ap pointments for the Mstrict of Colambia within a short time when the name of Mr. William Flinn wae mentioned to the President, be re marked that Mr. Fiimm was now ‘‘one of his family’ — meaning that te held the confidential of a private secretary. In view of the long friendship the President bas had for that gentleman, who is a Pennsylvaniea, aad for many years a resident of the District, it is thoug! will obtain the appointment General Henningsen is in Washington, endeavoring to understand the real views of the government before he makes any further movements for the re conquest of Nice. ragua, asthe determined opposition of the administration to Walker would, in all probability, render his efforts futile In a conversation with the Postmaster General, [ learned that be is very desirous of having the Post Offlce built im your city at the earliest time the government may be able to afford him the means, and he expresses the bope that it will not be long first. The site is definitely fixed at the lower ond of the Park. I \d the Postmaster at home in the evening, oocupied as if were in his affice, laboring over piles of official documents. It ia @ position of im mense labor. Apropos of Governor Brown, I will relate ‘an interesting and characteristic jeu d'esprif, which came to my knowledge trom another source. The Postmaster General asked one of the officials of his department how many mail agents there were in Pennsylvania, the reply was three. ‘Three,’ be sad, emphatically, ‘that is sia. gular.” “No, sir,” answered the official, ‘it is in the plural.” “Well,” rejoined Governor Brown, smiling, “that sort of plurality will not suit me." Nicholson declined being a candidate for the Senate The caucus of Senators nominated Col, Harris, Fntom yesterday for printer. He will probably be dtoday. It is understood that ao efficient corps of writers will be employed upon the Union, and the gene ral political conduct of the paper will be controlled by a gentleman holding a high official position in the State de partment. ‘The House binding, another prize, worth about $59,000 the Congress, is being warmly conteste: Mr. Wen iso. Pettibone and Price are contest nnessee, Singleton of ippi, and of Ohio, are the committee of the House to dis 6 of this patronage. Toe three contestants, it appears, have each a man of the committee. Now, Wendell is amart, having cut bis eye teeth some years agy at Albany; and hay grown up among politicians at both your State Capital and at the federal capital be i¢ certainly tore thao & match for 90 modest and retiring aman as Mr. Price or for Mr. Pettibone. The example of the genti@nen who Imely cam@ed to fight for the larger prize of the House printing might give the weaker party in this biading busi bese a0 iden prin of the el Wasimsoron, Deo. 17, 1957. The Gowernorship of Nebraska—Comgraasional Reporting on a New Basie—The New Arrangement in Regard to the Chaplain of Congress—The Recently Appointed Territorial Secretary of Kansas, dc., de , de. The acceptance of the position of Governor of Nebraska by Mr. Richardson may render a few facts in regard to his appointment of sufficient interest to justify publication At this particular time. You may remember be wag of- | wi fered the office last spring, but it is only very recently that be has consented to accept. Whatever bis motive may have been for witabolding his consent so long, it is impossible to say, but his acceptance of the post proves ‘that there must bave beensome valid reasons to actuate him. It appears that he had an interview with the Presi- dent before the message was delivered and another after its delivery. Those who pretend to find a motive for everything, say that his acceptance of it under those ctr- cumstances proves that he is in favor of (he position aa- sumed by the President in his message towards the Kan Sas question, and that bis course in accepting the office may be regarded as a pledge to support Mr. Buchanan on that issue. The course adopted by Mr. Rives, the publisher of the Congressional Globe, in regard to printing the speeches of the members as they are delivered and notas they are afterwards prepared, when the written reports are pre sented to them for correction, has crested a litte bit of quiet excitement among some of the orators. Tne reasons which he urges for bis refusal to continue accoraing to the old plan are both just and forgible, and will meet with the approval of every far minded and impartial per- son. members, when their speeches were submitted to them as they had been delivered, not satisfied with correcting and improving, were in the habit of inserting whole paragraphs which’ were never uttered, aud upon points which were not even alluded to in their speeches, ‘The result of this has been not only to misioad the reader, but to do injustice in a great many instances to the speakers on the opposite side of the question. However, this is trifing in comparison with another abuse to which the privilege which has thus been accorded to mem- bers of improving and correcting their speoches, bas been subjected. Not satisfied with simply adding to their remarks they @iso cut out those parts which they may, iu their cooler moments, consider objectionable to their con- stituents, This 1s a common practice with regard to any part of their speeches that may have been severely handled, or cut up, by an opporent in debate. Of course no man—especially if he had the power to preventit— would allow anything to be published exposing his own weakness or discomfiture. It is pot to be wondered at, therefore, if, when presented wil the opportunity of placing themselves in a better position before their con- Stituents than a fair verbatim report would put them in, that they take advantage of it. If Mr. Rives holds on to the course which he has adopted, the public will know precisely what our public iegislat@rs really say, whether it is said in good or bad English. Tt is but justice to the people that they should know what their senators and representatives say upon the great public matters submitted to them, and not what they would have said, or what they intended to say. Another good effect must follow the carrying out of this plan. It will, to a great extent, put a.stop to those upgeatlemanty exhibitions of ill temper which occasionally disgrace the debates in our national Legislature. The new arrangement which has been made with re- gard to the office of chaplain must meet with general ap- proval, The salary system was fast bringing about the ame eager competition for the sacred office of chaplain that is ypw exhibited in the struggles for the oflice of public pMihter. The voluntary ater which has been made by the clergy of Washington of their services is very for- tunate at this particular time, for it will save all’ good citizens the mortification of behelding the clergy engaged hereaiter in a scramble for public oifice. The voluntary service was the system which prevailed in the early Coa- gress among the fathers of the Revolution, and the return to it ought to be a subject of general congratulation. The new Territorial Secretary of Kansas, General Den- ver, is said to be just the man for the position. He is a man of the most unflinching determination, and will car- ry out the policy of the administration with firmness. He represented California in the thirty-fourth Congress, and is thoroughly conversant with the whole history of legisla- tion on Kansas, ‘Wasurnaton, Dec. 18, 1857. Taking Possession of the New Hall of Congress—Associa- tions Connected with the Capitol—Its History—Its Design- er and Builder—Style of Architecture—Its Late Enlarge- ment—Mr. Webster's Prophecy, ec. The act of the House of Representatives taking posses. sion of the new hall in the south wing of the Capitol exten- sion appropriated to it, and abandoning the old one, with which are asgociated so many incidents of great national importance, is an event of more than ordinary interest. The essence and embodiment of this great ein the Capitol to regulate its destinies. Shoul ple, then, of the United States be proud of a clas- sic structure with which their history is so ly identified? As a proof bow much they desire to have a noble edifice as the Capito! of the country, and how little they regard the vast app-opriations for the purpose, we hardly ever hear, even amotig the strictest economists, any objection to such appropriations? The history of the building of the Capitol, with its pre- sent condition, being s matter of such public interest, I propose briefly: to notice it. ‘The Capitol was commenced in 1798 by Mr. Hallet as architect. He was succeeded by Mr. Hadfield and Mr. Hoban, who finished the north wing. Mr. Latrobe ‘was then placed in (charge of the work and direct- ed the building of the south wing, and prepared the halls for the reception of Congress. Such por- | tons of the building having been completed as were apy en necessary for public teow further pro- ings were sus} c em! non. inter- Sourse and war, at'which. time the terior oF ‘both w was dy d in an incursion of the enemy. For several sessions after the close of the war of 1812 Congress as- sembled in a building patriotically raised by the citizens of Washington for its accomt In 1815 government resolved to restore the Capitol. The work was commenced by Mr. Latrobe, who superintended it until December, 1817, when he resigned. Mr. C. Bul finch then took charge of the work, and proceeded to exe- cute the designs already adopted for the Representatives’ ‘Hall and Senate Chamber, and to lay the foundations of the centre, comprising the rotunda, library and soforth. Inthe course of ten = these, together with the terraces, gateways and lodges, were completed. After that the ‘wings and centre were finisbed, and the whole composed, one part ip unison with another, the noble building as it stood previous to the present enlargement. > Thus it appears that, contrary to the received opinion, Mr. Latrobe was not the designer of the Capitol. Hallet commenced the building. but it would appear that to Had- field, who succeeded him in the direction of the work, should riven the honor of the design. It was generally ki ma at the time that the ideas and labors of Hadfield, who was a highly educated architect, were made of by a Mr. Thorton aud by Hallet, the first architect, for their own fame and profit. “Mr. Latrobe bas the merit of having assisted in the building, and for a portion of the interior finixh of the bi ‘The atyle of architecture of the Capitol is Roman Corin- hb Jelled from the Pantheon at Rome, the propor: The rotunda and dome yy the same. rt size So precisely has the cupola of the Pantheon been copied that the cupola of the Capitol was left in an unfiniehed state, corresponding with the dilapi dated condition of the Pantheon, which was stripped of its surrounding statues and columns and of its lantern, by one of the Roman emperors, to ornament a palace of his son- inlaw. The silver shingles which covered the cupola were taken afterwards by another Gwsar, and meited into coin to pay hit armies, The cupola iteelf was formed of pummice stone, in long pieces, two and a half feet thick, led into each so as to form a whole, having esutfal panels carved on the inside in the solid. This material was selected by the ancients for its lightness, durability aud strength, and as & non conductor of electricity. Compare this with the tMaasive piece of iron work now being put up by Le pa Meigs to form a new dome for the Capitol, and we shall see what a wretched mistake bas been made by deviating from the original design for the Capitol enlargement as made by Mr. Anderson, which was intended only to finish the dome in accordance with that of the Pantheon before it was despoiled. Michae! Angelo, in building St. Peter's, at Rome, tonk the Pantheon as a model for its proportions. Most celebrated architects in all ages, since the Pantheon was built, have used it aaa model in that style; and it Was judiciously se- lected for our Capitol on account of the beautiful irregu- larity of the site demanding Roman architecture The idea of enlarging the Capitol bad been put forth, and the subject discussed many yeara before Congress cn- tertained the matier. On the 28th of May, 1859, Mr. Hunter, of Virginia, proposed in the Senate the committons of both the Senate and House of Representatives act to. gether in maturing a plan of action with regard to an enlargement of the Capitol. On the 24h of Sept. 1860, Mr. Hunter submitted the resolution “ that the Oommittes on Public Buildings be authorized to invite jans, accompanied by estimates, for the extension of the pitol, and to allow a premium of $500 for the pas which may be adopted by the joint committees of both Houses.’ This resolution passed on the 20th, two days after. Immediately afterwards the Secretary of the Senate ad vertised, inviting architects to submit Some thirty to forty Uesigns were submitted, out of which five or six were selected, and sent by the Cormittens of Congress to President Fillmore for him to choose the design, as it was discovered that by a former act of the President of the United States alone had that power, as well a3 the power to direct the execution of the work. Among the designs submitted was one from C. F. Ander fon, of New York. Mr. Filimore and his Cabinet examined the architeots on their plans, and on the one submitted by Mr. Anderson, when, with the accord of his Cabinot, he decided on that of Mr. Anderson. The Secretary of State, Mr. Webster, urged thie design, and remarked that what ever they might do at present they would bave to come to that in the end ked out the ground and had the request of the Pre illmore, with an expres sion of regret, that his Cabinet had deemed it expedient to employ another to superintend the execution of the work What has been the consequence? An architect who could not understand the plan as the designer, aad who proba je was desirous of changing it to acquire credit for him self, was appointed over the work. Afterwards, when the defecte of this arrangement became apparent from an investigation by a committes of the Senate, the entire work was placed under the charge of the engineer depart ment of the army, and Captain Meigs appointed to super. intend, still retaining Mr. Walter aga subordinate, Capt Meigs,on taking charge, consulted Mr. Anderson on the nature of the errors committed in his plan, and caused alterations ® be made, which have probally cost the eoaney near half a milion of dollars. The dlerations Were vory oxtensive, but some of ihe defects cv well be repnired only at a gremt cost, and so have ed Oxplain Meigs, in bis (urn, appears to been ambitiows, too, of originality, and of having his The result of the ame identified with so great a wor! changes he has mate from his own —— and taste is seen in the defects of the new hall in other parts of the butiding The ventilation is bad, the hearing is misera ble, and the fishy attempt at ornament is wretobed, and all done spparentiy without a knowledge of architecture. ‘When shall we cease to be humbu by having every public work —even so great a work ion the national Capitol —made a “job"' of by speculators ‘tical patronage? Mr. Webster's propiretle yy i yet he realized, unless we mean to submit to the existing glaring defects— that wes hall yet Iuyeto go back tothe original lesign, Aut “ous te be hoped that before any more moaey be spent, the dcme of the Capitol especially may not be built ina seanper that will disfigure the building, and which makes eee gerous from the lightning andto the supsraructure beat Correspondence of other Papers. [Correspondence of the Missouri Democrat.) Wasmmnaton, Dec. 10, 1857. Missouri Free Soil View of Douglas and his Course. ‘The moral effect of Douglas’ demontgation is plainly appreciable in political circles. The talisman of the pa- tional democratic party is broken; the spell wand which never failed to rally that great host and keep it united, is disenchanted and reduced to a vulgar noun substantive, and ere long its late association will render it an offence in the ears of all honest men, The most devoted partizans the democratic Fy do net know which of the two, Bu- chapan or Dougias, isthe heresiarch. The prestige and per- sonal qualities of the senator counterbalance the official au- thority of the President. Indifferentism and digorganization ervade the ranks of the democrats from the*free States. Party fealty sits light — them. Membership and fra- ternity in the party ceased to be a yoke to bow their necks, and the title of national democrat is a despised apd meaningless distmction. The secession of Douglas is not like that of Abdicl from the rebel ranks of Satau, who went solitary and alone. He carries with him one third of the democratic Congressmen from the free States, the leading democratic journals of the free States, anc the mags ot the rank and file. Nor is he with- mpathy and su; has given the pational democratic party. Jt is no longer a unit, no longer a national organization, much loss a pratorian guard to make Presidents at pepe It is now a slave- ry party geographically as well ax politically, incapable of putting forth another plausible delusion, although its fa- Culty of invention is marvelous. ‘The dividing line which ren north of New Jersey and l’ennayivania, of Indiana and Tilinois, at the last general lection, runs ‘south of Mason and Dixon's line; and the next Presidential contest will not lie between the entire South, fortified in front by a tier of free States and a section of the North, but between & section of the South and the entire North, including Cati- fornia, aided by the friendly poutrality or the activo alli- ance of the border slave tes. The united North and the divided South will be the parties to the next contest. Mr. Douglas in his speech, deciared his determination to stand by the principle of popular sovereignty, whatever might enste, and that he would take the consequences if his conduct involved the disruption of his political asso- ciations. He spoke with a robus! energy which excited universal admiration. He crossed the Rubicon, unlike the Roman, without showing the least trepidation or inde- cision. When Burke, shocked by the crimes of the French revolutionists, passed over from tho side of Fox to the side of Pitt there was much pathos fand shedding of tears. When Douglas declared against the democratic party, there was no demoxstration; but wheu he resumed hig seat, the galleries shook with applause. WaAsHINGTON, Dec, 12, 1857. * * * * * * * I bave informed you that he (Douglas) will carry with him five or six democratic Senators, and though the ad- ministration press teems with statements to the contrary, Lhave every reason to rely on the correctness of my in- formation. “He will also carry with bim the five demo. cratic representatives from Ilinois, including Samuel S. Marsball, w! well known prociivities gave the Southern members high expectations of his continued adbesion to them, and in addition, most of the democratic representa- tives from Ohio, Indiana, Connecticut and California. The democratic’ representatives from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, will probably support the President, for there are’ many valuable appoint- ments yet to be made, and l’ennsyivania and New York politicians are liberal of their votes, when the public almoner is liberal of his gifts, Jewett, of Kentucky, will also go with Dougias, but I know of no Southern Representative who has the intrepidity to follow his example. With such a formidable following in both Houses, and with the republican bost in the rear, ready to receive him at any moment, it is not surprising that Douglas is implacable and aggreasive—that the adminis- tration hesitates to prescribe him, or to make the Lecomp- ton constitution a test of orthodoxy. The dismissal of Stanton and the appointment of Denver to succeed him, with the immediate confirmation of the new Secretary, is no indication of the unity of the democratic party in’ the Senate, no evidence of the isolation of Dougias in that body, for Denver was the only Secretary of the Territory of Kansas officially known to the Senate, and there was no reason for rejecting him. Stanton had not been con- firmed by the Senate; his name was never submitted to that body, and consequently his dismissal as well as ap- pointment was a simple Presidential act, with which the confirming power had no complicity. If his appointment had been ratified by the confirming power, and bis dis- missal eanctioned by the prompt confirmation of Denver, the act might justly be interpreud as ap administration triumph, but as it stands it means n more than that the democratic Senators are acting together in a compara- tively unimportant part of their duties. ‘The administration hopes to be relieved from the dan- gers whieh menace its Ig yee Position on the Kansas question by the‘fisue of the approaching election. Multi- plied instructions haye been sent out to the Territory vehumently requiring large election returns and the rejec- tion‘Of the slavery article. The whole force of the admi- nistration is exercised to this end. Agents and_emmissa- ries have been dispatdhed to the Territory. The Kansas slavery men who were called to Wasbington have been remanded to participate in the elect!®h, and mould the result to conformity with the necessities of the adminis- tration; and as Douglas bitterly said, on Wednesday, there ‘will doubtless be a‘ large vote returned,” whatever vote may be cast, while the slavery article, which is a mere superfulty, will be condemne ye * * * * But the Legislature of Kansas, now in session, may few honorable exceptions Congress is patriotism of the purve. have launched the most destructive missile against the cause of the South. It may have annulled the proceedings of the Convention, pronounced the constitution null and void, forbidden the election on the 21st, and taken mea- sures for organi: ew constitutional Convention. If this has been done, the slavery men in Congress will be placed in adilemma, which indeed will not embarrass their action, but which will destroy their only argument. To support the majesty of the law will then be the privi- lege of those who are now supporting the rights of the people, while those who are now opposing the sovereignty of the people will also be compelled to oppose the sovereignty of the law, and invent a new Xt to sanc- tion the old purpose of forcing slavery on . (Correspondence of The South.) Wasmaron , Dec. 15, 1857. ‘The Foreign Aj The Embassy to Spain. On Saturday last President Buchanan stated to a member of Congress that he would on the evening of that day com- mence a careful review of the list of foreign and consular appointments, in order to ascertain what few appointments yet remained to be disposed of; and that he designed to Apportion such remaining posts among the different demo- erat “sand on this point he was anxious to hear sug- gestions from members of Congress. e In relation to = Embassy Mr Buchanan said that he bad fully made up his mind to appoint no man to that post unless be was fully conversant with the lan- aage, the manners and even the prejudices of so pecuhar ft Jealous a people as the Spanish. As soon as ho could fing such a man, he Was ready to appoint him to this post, but be would appoint nove other, aad appreciating the oulty of finding a man qualified as thé President wished, worthy in other respects, he would invite suggestions on the subject. The discreet and determined action of the President with regard to the foreign appointments cannot fail to command the approbation of the country. Mr. Buchanan bas shown that he has « will of bis own in this matter, and bis practice has been, as Lam well assured, in cases where he has conceived a preference of bis own, to dis- miss, very summarily, other whatever it be. He will aay:—« pointment myself, and Iam willing to hold myself per- sonally responsible for the fitness and integrity of the gentleman I shall name.”’ The disclosure of the action of the Naval Courts of In- quiry Waited with great anxiety, not only by the vic. Uma of “the immortal fifteen,’ but by the public gene- rally. re ‘of the inquiry do not come before Congress unless called for, but the President will follow the recommendations of the courte, or may obey the dic- tates of his own judgment in sending in nominations of officers. I understand, from an authority entitied to con- siderable reliance, that the decisions of the Naval Courts are in favor of the reinstatement of about one-half of the number of officers who had applied to them. A large jan gd thore reinstated on the active list will bo bone- itted by an advancement in rank. Correspondence of the Press.} f Wasmusutos, Dec. 18, 1857. ham Young—Report of the United States Treasurer, de. General Bowman haa arrived here, and, aa I wrote you some time ago he would be, he is now beset with hosts of Wehting, engraving. ihograpbing, for furnishing paper printing, engraving, lit for jishit | ay He will find, 1am sure, before he fs bere oa that the euperintendency of the public printing, where he has to stand between so many conflicting interosts, is not exactly a bed of roses. Subjoined is the letter of Brigham Young, referred to in my letter of yesterday :— Orrick SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AvParns, Gueat Ratt Lake Cry, ‘Tererrony UTAn, Sept. 28, 1857. Dr. Gartaxp Hret:—Sir— Tam informed You purpose going to the States by some unfrequented route, and in company with certain Indians as pilots and travelling com pani: Such a conrse ia very uneafe and highly im- proper in an officer of our government. I therefore re- Hay 4 advise you, when you are ready to start upon pad ney to the Fast, to call upon me, at my office in reat Salt Lake City, and { hereby pledge you sufficient scort and ® comfortable carriage for your speedy and rafe trangportatien to the protection of ‘the United troope en rowle for this ‘aig Trusting that this advice will meet with cheerful com- pliance on ee Tam, BRIGHAM YOUNG, W'r and ex-officio Sup’t Indian AMairs, The follewing is the latest weekly report of the Treasu- rer of the United States. It will be perceived that he hag the pleasure to chronicle, this time, an increase instead of a reduction — Amount subject to draft, Deo. 14 $6,212,904 81 Amount of reesipte 676,903 67 Drafts returned paid . sees 1102/9081 46 Drafts isaued .. 43,625 85 Increase... veee 243,277 82 Bankrupt Law for Banks and Ratlroads, TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Deargre, Iowa, Dec. 17, 1857. Under the head of “The Proposed Biikrupt Law,” in the Henann of December 10, you diseaes the propriety and necessity of baving such an act passed by Congress and I simply submit the questron for your privaty option publicly expre-sed, rhpther the bank and rafroad in torests of the country permit Congres to pass such @ law. If, aa experience has too often taught us, the moneyed power of New York can influence legislation in Congress, it i surely too much to expect that the com- bined of bank and railroad interests—thoso of the Fast, West, North and South united—will suffer Congress to pass any law effecting their interests to the extent pro- . You admit that all our great railroads control the ites in which they are located. Their united power will control Congress. and depend on it that Congress will not and dare not pass sacha aw thi weaion eG DECEMBEK: 21 18687. :NTERESTING FROM KANSAS. Meeting of the ure—Alleged Alterna- tions In the Coustitution—The ‘Topeka Constitution to be Submitted to the People— Mass Convention at Lecompton, &c. {Yrem the St. Louis Democrat, Dec. 17. We are in session of news from Kansas to the 12th instant. In the counties along the Missouri river attempts were being made to get up companies of voters to go to Kansas on the 2ist. A meeting was held at Lexington on Saturday for that purpose, but the proceedings wore kept secret as far as practicable. ‘The proposal did not meet with @ very enthusiasije reception, At Fayette, in How- ard county, a meeting for the same purpose was held on ‘Thursday, and a number of erevenavorng Along the border the blue lodges were en ring te reorga- nize and vote claim holders in Je m county—that is, men residing it Platte and Jackson, who have driven stakes in Kansas government lands. Large preparations are boing made for fraudulent returns upon the bogus constitution, The nulliflers had held a convention to no- minate candidates under the State organization. It was to Lave beew held at Lecomptou on the 7th, but some fifteen hundred free State men from Lawrence came over, giving three cheers for froe Kansas, whon tho nullifiers, somo three hundred in all, adjourned across tho river and made their nominations, en route home. Calhoun wes, by accla- mation, tendered the race for Governor, but he declined the flattering honor. Mr. Marshall was then selected as the candidate for that post, and Mr. Mathias, Speaker of the House of Representatives, was nominated for Lieutenant Governor. In the Territory the people are em masse opposed to tho bogus convention and all its doings. They will not submit to it under apy terms, Soy ‘one Bewspapor supports the constitution with any hearti- ness. The news of Suanton’s removal had not reached the Territory. ‘The Legislature was in session and had ; 70 fully organised. The nuilifiers returned as members from / former | Leavenworth had been threwn out, and their seats given — to the free Sigte men, which secured the latter full con- trol by moré Wan a two-third vote of both branches. The | course of policy it was believed they would repeal the act authorising’ the had not beon fully detormined upon, bat | ,.,Public Printin Calhoun convention. Mr. Henderson (whorecently figured | at Washington) had passed up oa Monday, bearing, as was reported, Secretary Denver's commission, and in- structions to Calhoun. ‘The proceedings of the Legisla- ture are reported ypry fully in the Leavenworth Times of the 12th, which has: been kindly forwarded to us, Wo subjoin the most important items. The mass convention of the free State men, which had adjourned over from Lawrence, and which met at Lecompton on the 7th, is said to have been a very enthusiastic assembly. It march- ed in procession, fully armed, each man with a Sharp’s rifle and revolvers, presenting a very formidable appear- ance. ALTERATIONS OF THE KAN3AS CONSTITUTION. It seems that General Cathoun and his committee, who bave in keeping the bogus constitution, have not been idle since the adjournment of the convention, but have chang- cd that instrument at will to suit their own views. Every change, too, has made the body of it more radically pro- slavery. Our correspondence from Kansas to-day alludes to these alteraticns, and we may as well point some of them out. They occur chiefly in the schedulo, and the most important of the additions are to the eighth and fourteenth sections. Thus they have inserted in the eighth section, the words “to be conducted as the election pro- vided for in the seventh section of this article,” and this is done to take the control of that election out of the hands of the Territorial Assembly, and invost Calhoun with the power of appointing judges, selecting precincts, falsify ing returns, and recognizing the members of tho future State Legisiature. This language was not in the origi- nal draft of the schedule, either ag printed in the Territory, or as printed’ from an official tran- script sent to the Washington Union, and it has been in- serte.. since the adjournment to answer the end designa- ted. The next alteration is in the fourteenth section, and amounts to the perpetuation of slavery in Kansas for all time to como. It is in regard to the calling of a new con- vention after the year 1864, to revise the constitution, and the sentence surreptitiously put in is as follows : “But no alteration - hall be made to affect the rights of property in the ownership of slaves.” This clause was not in the first publication of the instrument, and is a palpabie in- terlineation. Now, when we remember that the same constitution prescribes as a rule for judicial decision, that “the right of an owner of a slave to such slave and its increaze is the same and _ as inviolable as the right of the owner of any property whatever,” it will be readily seen that the effect of the Clandestine addition is to make Kan. sas irrevocably a slave State in the future. The last change that we shall notice is in the seventh section, where the following words are substituted: “And to estab- lish precincts for voting, and to cause polls to be opened at such places as they may deem proper in their respective counties."? This is an enlargement of the power of tbe commissioners to befappointed by Calhoun to control the election, and its object is too manifest to be dwelt upon. Several other minor substitutions we might mark; but, as they are unimportant, they need not be specified. How many more the constitution wi!l undergo before the 21st is purely conjectural; but, as the people are not to be permitted to vote on the instrument, we suppose Gen. Calhoun, in bis character of dictator, will consider himeeif perfectly at liberty to amend, change or strike out at pleasure, until the appointed time, when his work shall bave been fulfilled, and Kansas shall have been made a slave State. Any one wishing to verify the foregoing facts, can do so by comparing the first pubiica- tion of the schedule in the Wadhington Union of the 8th with the publication just made in the same paper. The schedule was originally as given, not only in the Democrat and the Territorial papers, but also in the official organ of the administration, and the alterations took place under the direction of Calboan and bis committee nearly a week after the Convention had adjourned. They also took ‘occasion to add a few names to the whole instrument that ‘were not authorized—names of men who now disavow the signatures. Such is the last developement in connec- tion with this attempt of the nullifiers to install their bogus constitution over the heads of the people of Kansas. the same paper of same date. } MASS CONVENTION AT LECOMPTON—PIFTREN TIHOU- SAND FRE STATE MEN IN ATTENDANCK—THB TER- RITORIAL LEGISLATURE ORGANIZING. Lecourton, K. T., Dec. 8, 1857. Yesterday was the day designated by the proclamation of Freder' P. Stanton, acting Governor of Kansas, for the Territorial Legislature to convene in extraordinary ression at this place, for the purpose of legisiating upon the Lecompton Constitution. The delegate convention held at Lawrence on the 24 inst., also adjourned to meet in Lecompton on the same day in mass convention. Since the publication of Stan ton’s proclamation, the defunct Legislature, of Shawnee notoriety, avowed their intention to answer the call, and take their seats in the legislative halls, thereby causing the country to be filled with the exuberant threats of the pro slavery party, that Atchison, Kie! and the border counties of Missouri would send up their blue lodge re- cruits to aid and assist these scoundrels in their infamous ings. ‘The morning dawned with a cloudy sky, and soon com- menced raining, and the roads and weather wore an un- propitious appearance fur so important a day in the his tory of Kansus, But, notwithstanding the adverse ap- pearance of uncontrolable elements, the people re- solved to put their Legislature in possession of the halls, and there defend them, if necessary. Between twelve and fifteen hundred assembled at an early hour, headed by the Lawrence brass band, marched into this citadel of border rufflepiem (6 the clarion notes of ‘ Hail Columbia.”’ Gen. Lane rode in the van and gave the word halt in (ront of the legislative halls, and then proposed three cheers for the Topeka constitution, and three groans for the Le- compton swindle, Simultaneously three multitudinous cheers went up for the “ Gid Banner—Free Constitution,’ which was inscribed on @ banner borne by the Topeka company, and tbree none the less signiticant, for the Tooshpen swindie. Gov, Robinson was called to the chair, and object of the meeting, after which a ocmmittee was ted on resolutions. Gen. Lane, being chairman, eaid committee would repair immediately to the Groceries, or grog-shops, are about the grocery. only buildings accorsible in Lecompton. meeting was addressed by Lane, Robingon, Conway, Phillips, and other distinguished speakers, after which the following resolutions were — Resolved, That we, the people of Kansas, in mass Con- vention assembled at Locompton, this seventh day of De- cember, 1867, do fully and earnestly endorse the proceed ings of the Delegate Convention assembled at Lawrence, on et , Which proceeding we hereby submit asa part of resolutions. Resolved, That we do hereby enroll our names in the and covenant formed by that Convention, and pledge ourrelver, individually and collectively, to oppose tho utte , the constitution at Tecompton, and to resist every attempt which may be made to pul into operation a government under the same. Resolved, That we reiterate our adherence and devotion to the Topeka constitution and government, and express our unalterable determination, when the proper time shall have arrived, to give tt force and offect in pursuance of the | pee ond b which it originated. ‘The Legislature failed of a quorum in the lower House Both branches have two-day, und Tead Stanton's message. The following letter from our Kansas correspondent, al- though not so late as others we have published, yet co tains some information that my be of interest:— Lawnxwer, Doc., 1887. The constitution has been altered in many essential points since ite adoption, but all in favor of national demo eracy. The apportionment has been altered and revised, aud three more Senators added to the list by the com- mittee on verbiage. A more ez parte piece of rascality could not well be gotten up withoui time or study. John. gon county, notorions for Oxford frauds, has four repre- sentatives, and Lykins one, while Lykins has four times the population of that of Johneon Douglas has five rep- resentatives, and bas ten times the population of that of Jobneon, and so on to the end of the ohapter of outrages. The preamble eays—'We, the people of the Territory of Kaneas, by our representatives in vention assembled at Lecompton, do mutually agree to form ourselves into a free, independent and sovereign State, by the name and style of the State of Kaneas.’’ Tho ‘we’ spoken of, men, women and children, number about seventeen hundred; and the “representatives” repre- sent the we,’ and « portion of Missouri, with the admin istration at Washington. Gov. Walker surrounded the “representatives to keep those represented from disturbé ing their deliberations, How very consistent the adminis. tration of the decapitated Governor has been with that of the general government, except in one particular, and thon he used his own discretion, and has gone to Washing ton to make an explanation. He rejected the Cincinnati Alphabetical poll list, in order to get the bogus constitaven through. Tt seems to be the conviction of e' thinking freeman in Kaneme, that there ie but one way for the people to rid themselves of the degrading institution of slavery, and that way is, to organise under their own government, and never susrender one inch to border fi em or the pa- geant display of federal mithority, but steadily and per sistentiy atbere to the prineipies there unertert, antil tyrants and usurpere are hnsled from t® “high pisces,’ and the rotten admintatestion government gives way for one recognis nd respected by the citizens of Kansans. Every movement for the accomplishment of the same purpose in any other direction xeems to fail, and leaves the government stil! as a sconrge iustead of & protection. Poptilar eentiment begins to awake from the slumber it has taken over the O.tober election, and rise in ita dignity and wrath in opposition to the assumption of power which the adminiswration would force upon ur. The fiat went forth to the soupedes, that the Octeber election would settle the difficulties in Kansas, but no sooner did the half-breed democracy discover that they were beaten, aad the people wore in power, than ley renoriad lo | B. Whitesides, A. B. Bartlett, extreme measures offraud and villainy and are sustane by the chief magistrate of the nation. LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS. [From the correspondence of the Leavev worth Times.] Lacomrton, Dec. 811 4. M. House of Re} fives met. The roll was called, amd the following membors ane wered to their names ; Denman, Brook, ae, oe, — Cooper, Speer, Deitzior, Appleman, Still, Morrill, Lang, Zina, Seymour, Lockhart, Cuctis—17; no quorum. The ‘Council met at 11 A. M., and organized by the olee- tion of the following officers :— President, C. W. Babcock; chief clerk, Joel K. . first assistant, J. M. Colton; sergeontat arms, A. Cutler; door-keeper, Mr, Frost; engrossing Clerk, D. H. Weir, ea- rolling clerk, B, T. Hutchins; obapiain, Rev. 8. Y. Lum. At four P. M., the House re-assembled. On motion of Nr. Speer, the House preceeded to the election of perma- nent officers. A motion to clect by ballot waa lost. A motion to elect by viva wee was carried. The names of D. W. Deitzlor and Mr. Bartlett were put im bowination for President. Of the 21 votes cast, Mr. Deit- zler received 18, and was declared elected unanimously. Mr. D. responded in an excellent speech, which was well received by the House. Mr. C. F. Currier, of Leaven- worth, was elected chief clerk by acclamation. Inthe . same inanuer, Mr. Parsons, of Bur! , Was elected as- sistant clerk. Mr. Warren was elected sergeant-at-arma. Mr. Blake was eleoted doorkeeper by 16 out of 21 votes cast. The petition of G. H. Kollor, and others cont tho seats of the members for Leavenworth, was read by} Jobu Speer, and referred to a committee of live. Lecomrton, Dec. 9—6 P. M. The Houso has done but little to-day. The various standing eommittees have beea announced as follows:— Electious—Messrs. Speer, Jamison, Morrill, Lockhart and Jenkins. Muitia—Messrs. Owens, Stratton, Brock, Appleman an@ in. ‘Ways and Means—Measrs. Barker, De Lang, Still, Owens *Tegialalive ixpend Messrs. Appleman, Se} islative jitures Messrs. man, our, Mitchell and Cooper. — Public Printing—Messrs. Seymour, Owens, Still, Jen- Engrossed Bilis—Messrs. Cooper, Curtis, Morrill, Leok- hart and Brock. Enrolled Bills—Messrs. Curtis, Graham, Jamison, Go- lumbia and De Lang. Lecompron, Dec. 10, 1867. ‘The House was wholly occupied to-day in considering the (ollowing report of a special committee, appointed te investigate the alleged frauds in Kickapoo precinct, im Leavenworth county :— To Tux Hononawis THE SrkaKER oF Tx House or Rerwa- SRNTATIVES:— . ‘The special committee to whom was referred the me- morial of George H. Keller, Il. Miles Moore, R. O, A. Bassett; William McClore, William Pennock, Patrick R. Orr and J. P. Hatterscheit, claiming seats in this house as representatives from Leavenworth county, respectully. report that they have given to the contesting parties, as well as the certifled members, ample opportunities ty pre- sent testimony, and that in said investigation they have elicited the following facts:— First, That by the admission of both parties, the re- turns of Leavenworth county were not received at the ofliee of the Secretary of the Territory until about the lat of November, and that consequently the contestants had no means of complying literally with the requirements af the statutes, (laws of 1865, ch. 66, sec. 25 and 28,) which require contesting members to give notice to per- sons having certificates, so that the persons holding seats by virtue thereof wero completoly stopped from any bar against the rights of the contestants, on account of failure to certify. The committee, however, do not regard a strict adherence to the forms prescribed by statute indis- pensable, since it is an universally acknowledged prim- ciple that a legisiative body is the sole judge of election and qualification of its own members, and has full and ex- clusive power over the mode and manner of administer- ing them. : Second, That in the absence of any ‘lamation, or of- ficial notification of the result of the election im said coum- ty, but acting upon general acknowledged facts, the oon- testants resorted to the only possible proofs within their reach, by taking the affidavits of reputable citizons, (which ailidgvits are herewith submitted,) conclusively Proving that extensive frauds and grosa acts of dishonesty were practised at the polls in the precinct of Kickapoo, im gaid county of Leavenworth; satisfying your committee that more than five hundred fraudulent votes were added to the real vote of said_preciuct, and given almost exclu- sivoly to the certified of this House from said county. Third, That the poll books of said Kickapoo precinct bear impress of gross fraud and dishonesty. ‘The certificate of the judes is not only contrary to the form prescribed in the statutes, but is inserted on the | back of the fifth page, and certifies only that «‘ the forege- ing is a correct list,” etc., apparently purposely evading the charge of falsifying the returns by failing to ce that the pine pages following were correct at all. 4 moreover, that portion of the returns following the sixth pes is, in the opinion ef the comngttee, more glaringly rraudulent, being evidently “ simulated and fictitious.’” From an investigation of them, it appears, 1st. That the ‘vote for township officess is almost wholly wanting; 2d. ‘There is almost perfect unifosmity in the vote purporting to have been polled—a feature that does not aj on the preceding pages. It was dlso in evidence about 200 soldiers and teamsters connected with the troops at Fort Leavenworth voted the democratic ticket, or against the memorialists, in violation of the organic act, which declares that ‘no officer, soldier, seaman or magine, or other persen in the employ of the United States, or at- tached to troops, or other person in the army or navy of the United States, shall be allowed to vote or hold oifice in the territory, y reason of being on service therein.’ By the rejection of these votes, as fraudulent, your me- morialists would be entitled to seats in this House, as | having received a majority of all the legal votes polled in the first district. Your committee would therefore Moore, H. B, Denman, A. B. Hazzard, B. J. Johnson, F. Silas At , and W. 8. Sharp, are not entitled to membership in this House, and recommend that H. Miles Moore, George H. Keller, Wm. M. McClure, J, P. Hatterschiet, (0. A. , Wm. Pen- rock, R. G. Filiott, and Patrick R. Orr, be admitted to seats in this House, as the legally elected members there- of from the first district. Committee. Mr. Speer, chairman of the committee, stated that bot the sitting and contesting members bad been motified of the ume and place of meeting of the commitiec; that the sitting members absolutely refused to sead for any wit- nesses, relying upon their t against the whole pro- ceedings, and doing nothing further in the premises. ‘The report was adopted, Mr. Stratton, ‘of Doniphan, call- ing the previous question.’ Mr. Curtis, one of the commis- tee who signed the report, voted against its adoption. ‘The Council have been considering the same matter day, but no final action has yet been taken, {From the Lawrence Republican, Dec. 10.] RE-SUBMISSION OF THE PROPLR'S OR TOPEKA CONSTT- TUTION. Tt has been proposed by some of the free State party, out of Kansas, that our Territorial Legisiotive ‘Aswembly all provide for the calling of & new constitutional con- iow, which could re-enact, substantially. the people's constitution framed at Topeka, and thus place that conati- = far above all valid objection on the ground of for- ity. ‘This line of policy was urged by some free Stote mee here previous to the grand Delegate Convention of the 24 instant, but upon thorough consideration the idea wan’ bandoned, and the policy of submitting the People’s stitution together Was unanimously adopted. the policy of the people is, therefore, settled, it may not be amiss to indicate some of the reasons which induced ita unanimous adoption. 1. The time for calling a new Convention, and submit- ting the constitution they should frame to the voice of the people, is too limited to influence the action of Congress at its present session. The great and imminent dangor to the free State cause now is, that Congress may accept of the Lecompton constitution. ‘2. The constitution framed at Topeka would not receive ingle jota of formality or legality, beyond what it now poseesses, by boing brought forward as the work of a Constitutional Couvention assembled under the provisions of an act of the Torritorial Legislature. All such acta are entirely illegal, informal and void. Such was the decision of Attorney General Butler in the case of Arkansas, and such was the sentiment of Mr. Buchanan, in bis speech im a A may only opportunity that the « Kansas will ever have to show by formal evidence that the Topeka constitution i their choice. The Territorial Legiclature is now a legal and valid body, and an election held by ita authority would possess all legal formality” which any election could have Our conclusion, theretore, and that to which the have arrived, ix that the constitution framed at should be submitted by the present Territorial Legisia- ture to a vote of the people, and at as early a day as sible. That duty, we, and the ), think Levolves upon the Legisiatire at its called session. There is only ‘once valid objection to its being done at the extra session, ‘and that is thet certain pledges were made, by members of the Lagisiature and others, to acting Governor Secre- tary qguton, to induce him to make the call. Good faith req that those pledges be scrupulously kept. No roses prospective advantage could reward us for @ reach of honor, Our own opinion is that the proposed submission would not be a violation of those pledges. ‘That, however, is ® matter for the Legislature in its wis- dom to decide. {From the Leavenworth Daily Lodger, Dec 8] MEETING OF THB OLD LINE WHIGS IN LEAVENWORTH corry. Ata meeting of the old line whigs, held in the Market Hail on Saturday evening, Geo. H. Shotwell was elected President and T. Sinks, Secretary. On motion, & com- miitee of five, consisting of Geo. W. Melane, Jeremiah , Clark, R. Thompeon, Dr. Parks and T. Sinks, was appoint- ed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. The committees reported the following resolutions, pe hcg being briefly discussed, wore unanimously Whereas, the time has arrived in the affairs of Kanone when it becomes all good citizens to express their views upon the questions which are now exciting the publia mind, and whereas we have a deep and abiding confidence: in the justice and conservatism ‘of those who have been guided by whig principles, and who once constituted the whig party; and whereas we believe that a full expres- sion of the views of the whigs of Leavenworth City and county in mass meeting assembled, will be appreciated by all be Deny men; and whereas the particular in- tercets of the present and future of Kansas are seriously wo ree ‘efore, Reselved, That wo, members of the old national and constitufonal whig party, are now as herotofore governed by the principle instilled by the training and teaching of said pripciptes, are to all fraud and ciroumven- tion in tics as well ag morals—that wo are still aa pda vor of a pure ballot box, ‘and the rule of the ma- jority. Resolved, 24. That we do not now meet for purpose of a whig organization or re-organization, velering the time has not yet arrived for that purposo—but we meet to con- = ‘upon the Eo — of our political interests im armen —cepecialiy in Feference to tik tution pba fa pm pee to express our ee fou fe and reliable basis ine) of our rorious a party. : le ved, 3d. That we are in favor of settling the af- faire of qui Territory upon the principles of Ue Manan, . { ss