The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-14
BY The SOUTHERN MAIL.
Washington.
Correspondence Of the Herald

WASHINGTON, 18th May, 1915.
Mr. Pickens Of South Carolina and the Mission TO
England-1he reasons as giren By the Croakes-
Mr.. Calhoun and Mr.. Eln,ore, and the reasons
ichy they declinea-Tiue reasons ,chy Mr.. P,ckens
declines-Ihe Contracts for Balances for the Post
Office Departments Clerk in the State Department
Office Seeksrs-lM Rorponay's Grand Ball, &c.
The report that Mr. Pckens has declined the Mis-
sion TO England is very probably true. Assuming
this to be the fact the croakers in full feath,
just now prophesying all sorts of evil, and dcermin-
ing with great accuracy the exact amount of oppo-
sition which South Carolina will give TO the admin
istration the trouble which il will cause and the
bother which will arise. They look upon it as very on
nous indeed that the Mission should have been first
offered TO Mr.. Calhoun and declined BY him, then
10 Mr.. Elmore and declined by him, and then to Mr.
PIckens and declined by him. This is generally
regarded here evidence that the South Carolnians
viii not commit themselves by accepting this mis-
sion at the hands of Mr.. Polk, but intend to hold
themselves perfectly aloof and independent so as
TO be IN readiness TO oppose the administration
My information, however, which is from the best
sources, leads to very different conclusion. Ihave
the best reasons for believing that these refsas have
not been dictated by any such reasons as those al
trlbuted, but that Mr. Calhoun and his friends en-
terrain the kindes feelings towards Mr.. Polk, and
have full confidence in him. Mr.. Calhoun, il is well
known, declined the mission at the instance of his
friends, who thought if he retired to his farm, the
people would eventually call him thence as their can
dldate for the Presidency and because he thought it
possible that he might receive Instructions if he ac-
cepted. to take lower tone than he had assumed in
his celebrated letter to Mr.. King the subject of
Tie interference OF England with the internal con-
Germs OF this country. Then it is equally well
known that Mr.. Elmore declined the mission solely
on account OF his private affairs being of that
ture, and IN that condition. that for him to have
ceped, would have involved the complete sacrifice
OF his personal fortunes. In his letter declining
The mission, he expressed himself in that earnest,
truthful, convincing manner, which forces convic-
ton 10 the mind that there can be no mistake on the
subject. He said he considered the offer which had
been made as the highest compliment which could
be paid 10 him, and expressed his qualification at the
confidence In him displayed by Mr.. Polk in making
the OTTER, but that Its acceptance would state
the destruction of his personal fortune and on that
account alone he was compelled TO decline it
These two retusals too, itmust be remembered were
long previous to the reception of the news from
England relative to the Oregon Territory and no
one tor moment suspected that Mr.. Elmore's de-
cllnaton arose from anything but the state of per-
sonal affairs. Now, since the mission was offered
to Mr. Plckens,. the English mail has arrived, with
the debate IN Parliament, with the declarations Of
Lord John Russell, Sir Robert Peel, and Others re:
spectlng Oregon; and MIR. Pickens, and the South
Carollnians generally, have seen that the news and
a
northern press, to the effect that as South Carolina
minister was to be sent, there would be no war; be-
cause the terrltoryto be acquired would be convert
ed INTO tree and not slave States Is it not, then,
much more probable, that instead of being actuated
by hostile feelings towards the administration, Mr..
Plckens has been actuated by chivalric feeing-a
desire 10 deprive the enemies of Mr.. Polk of the
weapon OF assault, which they would inevitably
frame out OF this appointment, whether it resulted in
q war ornot il even a successful negotiation
the result obtaining all south of 40 degrees, which
has been offered over and over again, TO be taken,
these same northeners who, when in office would
give even more than that, would complain that S.
Carolina had given away territory because it was
not to make slave States. There is, indeed, little
doubt but that Mr. Calhoun, having been superseded
IN the State Department by Mr.. Buchanan, a north
ern man, when IN the midst of this negotiation and
these unworthy reflections having been cast upon S.
Carohnlans generally, by portions of the northern
press, they have determined, so tar as they
cerAed, to let Mr. Buchanan, some other northern
man, have the settlement OF II. This is the true
reason why Mr. Pickens has declined, and it is GER
tainly a satisfactory one to my mind.
The decision respecting the contracts for 1900
balances for the use Of the Postofiice Department
under the new law to weigh letters will be made.
probably tonight or tomorrow morning. The
e Coaster ssns sS p1,s sds Mr. NJ 81 saxn
Office, Colonel Gardner of the City Postotice
and the Deputy Postmasters of Georgetown and
Alexandra, as Committee Of Examination. All
arranged on tables, and then each of the makers was
allowed to make such explanations to the examiners
as ne thought proper, and to answer such questions
as might be asked, none of the other being allowed
10 interrupt or Interfere with the one engaged. The
examiners then to be left alone with the spec-
mems, and were to select from them such as they
might think were best suited from their principles,
and experiments made, to answer the purposes re-
CURED by the department., and all the others were to
be rejected. This having been done, the Postmaster
General and his Assistants would take the bids for
the selected specimens, and would decide according
10 convenience, usefulness, portability and cheap
ness, to which they would give the preference.
Mr.. Secretary OF State Buchanan has appointed
Lund Washington TO the vacant Clerkship in the
State Department. caused by the transfer of the son
fathers office at an increased salary. MIR. Wash
lngton IS, believe, brother of the present Post
ohce Auditor, and was reporter on the Globe, and
shortly after his brothers appointment as Auditor,
ne was appointed to Clerkshlp OF Sl4OO per annum
IN his office, whence he is removed to the State
Department.
The ofii0. seekers still poster the President al
most to DEAN. They go up to the White House,
and remain there botherng him without mercy. You
cannot drive II into their heads that they only nure
their own prospects by DOING for though the Pre-
sdent is uniformly courteous TO all, he has deter
mined mlnd and those who plague him SO will find
out that they gain nothing by 1t but-as the rishman
saba loss.
Mr. koponay is about to have grand comp-
mentary ball gwen to hun here, by those who have
experienced his gentlemanly conduct and his skill
and proficiency as a teacher 1t is to be given at
Carusis, on Thursday evening next and all the elite
of the city will be there, as the matter has been
taken IN hand by those who do not know the mean
ing OF the word "fail." understand the Professor
intends, very soon, to close his engagements here
and return to New York, TO make preparations, and
proceed thence to Saratoga, &c. for the summer
operations Success attend him, for he is a gentle
manly proficient in his art
Philadelphia.
Correspondence of the Herald
PHILADELPHIA, May IL, l945.