The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-21
Warrington,
Correspondence Of the Herald

WASHINGTON, March 49, 1874.
You have no doubt noticed that Congress by some
of its committees purpose sweeping retrenchments.
Amongst the several projects, the army does not
fail to be the subject of some of the most ultra;
and several high army officers have complained to
me that much of the serious injustice in contempla-
ton is the work of one of their number-of
one who, holding the highest rank, and being I'M
der a moral and professional obligation to stand by
his comrades, is nevertheless playing pander to the
dirty course OF the leading Jewellers. Full of rd-
cuous schemes-OvertlOwng with a vanity and
egotism which allows him to think and speak only
OF matters OF interest to hlmself-trucklingly fur
nlshing food for these ravening committees out of
others larders, to keep his own bone to himself
he has been engaged all winter in decrying and
disparaglng all around him. The only man, SO far
as can hear, who has not plumply refused to fur
nsh the committee with materials touching other
departments, he is said to have made 1t his parcu-
lar business to defame and undervaue. His own
office is an anomaly, understand, IN the military
system-useess, a burthen, and now filled, a
cancer in the vitas. His department, greatly over
loaded with officers of high rank, for whom he Is
perplexed to find even ostenslble employment, he
has therefore seen, and is laboring 10 arrest for
their use, even the legal functions of other
departments To save himself and his, he is now
striving 10 turn the edge of the pruning knife into
the bowels ct the poor hrevet second lleutenants,
and the still poorer cadets.
military friend has promised me to show up
these mannuvres IN their minuta; and since the
person alluded TO has made himself so active, and
| been so oficious in meddling with other peoples
messes, will, besides. demonstrate the absurdy
of the organization of that department-that, for
| instance, there Is no reason under heaven why
there may not be General, Colonel and Lieut..
Colonel striker off More anon. In the mean
time, give my respects to Mrs. Blair"
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1874.
In the Senate to-day Mr. Choate made very
bewitching speech 1t is impossible not to listen TO
/ l. -.
of his arguments. He is well read, has a good
memory, and is well able to make highly finished,
classical, eloquent speech. He said to-day that
the Oregon friends claimed that they were for
peace, but the whole tendency of all their speeches
and measures was war. In illustration of this he
introduced Shakspeare's speech, which he puts
INTO the mouth of Mark Antony over the body of
Caesar, with admirable effect. The whole ten
dency of the speech was TO STIR up the population
to revenge C9sar's assassination, although II was
not so worded: In like manner is the tendency OF
the speeches of the Oregon friends.
! Very much of Mr.. Choates speech was but
capltulatlon OF his former speech yet II was SO
beautifully and classcally served up, that arrested
every ear, and all attention He again at length
reiterated his former position, that England had
not the slightest idea or intention of coonizing
Oregon In proof he read extracts from English
papers, and English books and English quarterlies
He said the game had altogether retired from the
! south of the Columbia River, and the hunters with
them and that the whole of that section of the
Territory is now waiting for an agricultural occu-
patton.
He averred most emphacally, that the Hudson
Bay Company did not oppose the slightest opposi.
ton to this agricultural occupation from the United
States. This enough TO answer the aver
ment, that that company were killing of,
by five hundred at time, the emigrants from
the United States As to the matter Of fact
the murders alluded to committed fifteen
years ago-during the whole of which time thi 8
government has been IN possession OF these facts
And why did not Gen. Jackson take cognizance of
theml lie explained how they came to be pcrpe-
raed. He denied positively that that Company
exertlng the least influence upon the savages
TO murder our own people
Mr.. G. denied most emphatIcally that i'll blood
in the veins of the American people as respects
England. Enmities had existed in times past /,
which had been expIaied by the blood OF the brave
Let them be forever forgotten. On this topic Mr.
G. was truly eloquent
Mr.. Choate's speech was highly finished, elabo-
rate classical howery ornamental, and listened to
with the most profound and silent admiration.
When he finished Mr.. BUCHANAN took the floor :,
and said if he bad ever perpetra'ed poetry" Gas
had been charged upon hm,) he now entirely
Welded the palm 10 the honorable Senator from
| Massachusetts; for more beautiful piece of poet.
| nv he never heard upon the floor of that Senate
| chamber He said he yielded the floor 10 Mr.. G.
IN make an explanation, !" and he had made set
and elaborate speech; yet he did not complain.
Ii is proper to say that the Oregon friends antici-
pate much less difficulty in replying to Mr.. Choatc's
arguments than they do to his poetry. :. b.