The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-22

WASHINGTON, Aug 90 1876.
Members of Congsss-Mdjor French-Mr. Hay
wood- Commander Shieids-The Navigation Of
the Columbia-Cabinet Changes-Rumors-I
ISmithsonian Institute.
There are, as far as / have been able to learn,
but six members in the city, viz: Messrs. Drom-
goole and Rhett, of the House, and Messrs. Ben
ton, Bagby, Mangum, and Westcott, of the Sc
nate.
Major French, the efficient and talented clerk
of the House, has been visit to Piney Point;
but the duties of his Office would not admit OF a
longer absence than two days. He and his pre-
decessor,iM st. Clair Clarke, who has great re-
putation for ready wit, were, during their brief
soiourn at that delightful watering place, the
"bright particular stars"
Mr. Haywood is at Coleman's. Six thousand
copies of his defence, for resgning his seat in the
Senate, have been printed by Blair and Rives,
his 'spersonal and political friends" have seen
copy of the address, just wet from the press.
He resigned his seat on the 9th OF July, and, in
brief preface, dated the 10th of August, he says
that he DELAYED giving his reasons until he re-
gained his self control, so as to write in temper
respectful to the people, and with spirit becom-
ing christian and gentleman, and the vindca-
ton of his reputation.
Commander Shields, have been informed, has
been ordered to the command of thu Preble, one
of the tour soops of war built in 1899, and rating
sixteen guns. Her destination is the Pacific. OF
the Dnety-six commanders, no one is more re-
spected and better qualified than Commander
Shields. He entered the navy as midshipman IN
lSl4
Some of his friends think that he ought to have
larger vessel but, when it is considered that
out Of forty or fifty waiting orders, he has been
selected for active service, the complaint should
not be INDUCED.
Mr.. Benton has furnished to the Infeligencer,
the substance his remarks on The Oregon treaty.
If the ground which he assumed be correct, a fu-
ture cause of contention between Great britain
and the United States has been averted he says
that the year 1863 is the limit oil the navlgation
granted to the Hudson Bay Company and that
those who do not yield 10 the reading OF the treaty,
as it NV stands, will only have to wait untn 1000,
when time will bring an argument whlch Nv o,i1
can misunderstood. Lord Aberdeen has peenau-
vsed of the acceptance Of the British Proposiuoh
in this limited sense and as no protest has been
received from that government against TINS inter-
pretation Mr.. Benton considers the 9uesrsVh q. an
end Mr.. Cass is immovable In the neleI tna' .ne
navigation OF the Columbia oy .n1 ,ruu .' ,s ny
Company is in perpetuity; ana many OF the
friends OF both these gentlemen cannot, rom the
vag,e terms of the treaty, come 10 a decision on
the subject. -,
changes in the Cabinet, but nothing Tangible To-
dav. however, the light begins to dawn; and, from
n gentleman who is intimately acquainted with
the President, and in daily intercourse with him,
cleaned the following, as the anticipated lorna
ton, VIZ:
Secretary of state, Mr. Rantoul
Secretary of tho Treasury, Mr. walker.
Secretary OF the Navy, MIR. Mason.
Postmaster General, Mr.. Johnson
Secretary of War. MIR. Marcy.
Attorney General, IA Pennsy lvanian not namely
From another source, a gentleman VINO lniorui-
ed me he had the information from d'stln'