The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-02-01
FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsIIINGTON. Ian


The place OF Assistant Secretary
Of the Treasury has been filled by the
appointment Of Mr.. ALLEN A. HALL
late Register of the Treasury. MIcn.
1AEL E. NoURsE, who has. for forty
)years, been in that Bureau, as Chief
Clerk, is now acting as Register OF
the Treasury. But. learn that i,
has been determined to nominate, as
Register, Mr.. HAINEs, late Secretary
Of State in Pennsylvania. We hear
Of no other official changes here.
"O!d Zack' is quite composed
amidst the storm that is raging around
him. He is, rs have no doubt, de.
"termined upon his own course, and
has the prudence to keep his own
counsel. | do not find that he has dis.
closed to any one his purposes, and
they are only to be Inferred from the
declarations Of his late message. He
is treated with marked respect bv
both parties, so far as Congress is
concerned. He has cautiously felt
his way, and is, as | believe, now en-.
tireIy out Of leading strings. He is
now, SO far as the more important
matters are concerned, every inch,
the President.
The House, unable to agree upon
the election of door keeper, has,
very wisely, postponed the subject till
the 4th of March. 1851. On Monday,
the House will be ready to proceed
to business, in good earnest; but, it is
expected that il will, at once, become
involved in the agitation of the miser.
able question which now overshndows
all other subjects.
The ordinary subjects of legislation
will be neglected. for some months to
come. Every member nerves him-
self for the coming storm. The gen.
eraI opinion is. that the crisis is una
voidable, and cannot be retarded; and
that this is the time to settle the ques-
ton, at once and forever. Some fow
despair Of an adjustment, saying, that
neither party can suddenly change its
front.
If the matter we're left to Congress
alone, it would be, indeed, impossible
to adjust it. Pride of opinion, personal
rivaries and enmi'ies, and the fear of
constituencies would prevent it. But
the people will take up the subject.
and counsel their representatives. !!
am not much mistaken, the northern
people. in immense masses, are now
exercising potent influence upon
their representatives. They have
become aware of the danger. and will
not allow small faction of fanatics
and demagogues, longer to hazard
their interests.
Mr.. CALHOUN was, last evening,
quite i'll, though not dangerously so.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 90.
Gen. Cass's elaborate and able ar
gument against the Wilmot Proviso
was concluded Yesterday, and is high.
ly commended. Gen. Cass announced,
in the outset. that he would vote
against the Proviso, contrary to his
instructions. and resign his seat. If
he can establish his principle of non.
Intervention, he will gain an immorta!
triumph, but nothing has occurred to
show that the North will yield the
assumed power to prohibit slavery in
the States. The Senate. as now con.
stituted, will not deem it cxpcdient to
exert the power, and it is yet to be
seen whether Congress will agree to
compromise Of the question. 1t has
been state,! that the passage of the
Wilmot Proviso, in the Senate, will
depend on the vote of a Senator from
Delaware. But | believe this to be
a mistake. Thirty.three Senators, as
| am assured. will vote against. OF
the rest many are in favor Of evad.
ing it.
The question blocks up all business
in both Houses. 1t is now made
known, by declarations of Southern
members, both in and out of Congress,
that they will not vote for any appro'
priations. until the territorial question
shall be adjusted. Mr.. CLINcMAN, of
North Carolina, though Wing. and
a friend of the Administration, declar-
ed this policy, in his speech, to day.
tt e attack. from the South, on Gen.
TAYLoR's policy, in relation to Cali
fornia and the territorial question, was
answered. TO day. by Mr.. CLINGMAN,
in a very able and impressive speech,
and he was followed, on the same
side, by MIR. HowARD, Of Texas
This discussion is in Committee Of
the Whole on the state Of the Union.
and is likely to continue.-Ch. Cour.
LISTENING TO EVIL REPORTs.--Ihe
longer live the more feel the inn
portance of adhering to the rules
which have laid down for myself in
solo tim 4, c,,oh To hnor