Alexandria Gazette

Correspondence of United States Gazette.

WASHINGTON, NOV. 25, 1843.

The arrival of members becomes more and more frequent. Mr. Adams is here. Mr. Wilkins, Mr. Rhett, and some twenty or thirty others.

The weather is mild and pleasant, and as the organization of the House—the election of Speaker, Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper, &c. will excite interest, doubtless the members will all be on the ground early. There are a large number of candidates for each place, and it is impossible as yet to surmise who will be the successful ones. The Calhoun men will probably support Mr. Campbell of South Carolina, as their candidate for Speaker. He is a very amiable man, courteous in his manners, and liberal in his political feelings. He was the author of the Single District System, which has been so abused by his party and disregarded by four States. Should the Whigs unite upon him he may possibly beat the Van Buren candidate. The whole number of members elected, is said to be 211, of whom 68 are Whigs, some say 35, and some 41 Calhoun men, and the remainder Van Buren and Buchanan men. Supposing all the Whigs and all the Calhoun men to be present and vote for Campbell, if the latter number 41, he would be elected.

The Whigs, however, may determine to run a candidate of their own and make no amalgamations. Harris, who is the most prominent Loco-foco candidate for Clerk, is a Calhoun man, though he probably deems it good policy to keep his preferences to himself for the present. Should Campbell be the Speaker, I think the chances would be greatly in favor of the re-election of the former officers of the House.

One of the most important questions to be decided this session, will come up in, or immediately after the organization of the House; I allude to that of recognising the right to seats of those members elected by general ticket, and not by single districts. The question is, will the House nullify its own act by admitting members elected in violation of it? Again, should the House treat that law as a nullity would any act passed by them, elected in part contrary to law, be constitutional. Setting aside the enormous outrage and dangerous precedent of one branch of Congress nullifying a law constitutionally passed, the subject presents grave aspects to the people and is pregnant with evil. Such a nullification would be one step in party madness, more than any party in its most infuriated moments has ever yet dared to go. As the Calhoun men are the advocates of the Single District System in party organization, consistency will require them to sustain the laws, especially as their own candidate for Speaker is the father of it.