The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-07
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
From the ~. Y. Evening Post.
Latter from John Brown.

We have received the following letter from
our intelligent correspondent, John Brown and
we leave our readers to judge-for their oppor-
tunities are as good as ours--of the accuracy of
his revelations. 1t is due to Mr.. Brown, to say,
that we have rarely found him in error, though
frequently we have felt called upon to suppress
some portions of his communications which
hardly seemed fit at the time for the public eye.
OF this description are the closing passages of
the following letter relating to Mr. Stewards
prospects for the Presidency, which we have
taken the liberty of withholding from our read
ers for the present at least:
JERSEY FERRY,)
December Sd, 1850.
Our ferry has been beset, during the past
week, by congressman and politicians, on their
way to Washington, and every one was as full
of schemes of plumber and glory as dog is of
f1eas. | must say, | never have beheld so many
long faces on the North River in the same space
of time, since have been ferryman. Webster
looked so black, when he came on board, that
did not know hint was nearly dark-and |
thought, at first, it was fugitive slave sug-
gested the idea to Massachusetts politician,
who happened to be at my side, and he told me
that | would have been nearer right if [ had
called him fugitive from justice. He then told
me it was Webster, who had grown black with
broodng over the Massachusetts election. Cass,
and his friend Buel, crossed more recently, and
both looked as if they might be bought at bar
gain. The senator's face reflected the "great
change" which had come over the political senti-
ments of his constituents since ! hast saw him,
and poor Buel seemed to be pining over the
Improbable Investment be had made of a couple
of hundred dollars, for a portrait of himself in
the Democratic Review, in anticipation Of re-
election to Congress,
Now and then we had passenger in good
spirits Horace Mann seemed 10 be at peace
with all mankind. Preston King was as con-
teLted-f you will allow me to use profess
sional .netaphor-as a clam Mt high water. But
tn, most self.complacent man that has crossed
the river this season, was Seward. He looked
as if he owed no man any thing, and forgave all
his debtors. He talked with me very freely
about his position and prospects, rs if he was
satisfied with them, and cared not who knew it
He also gave ME some information which is
worth your knowing. He says he has the le-
gislature, by clear majority over all cotnpeti-
tors, whether Silver Greys, Barnburners, Hun
kers, or what not. He claims sixty-seven Sew
ard delegates in the House, which IS more than
half of the whole number. Fish is to be his
candidate for the Senate, to succeed Dickinson.
He will not listen to the name Of any other can
didate That scat was promised at time when
Fish's assistance was most important to him.
Fish has wealth and family influence, both Of
which make him All important political ally, and
yet more important political dependant. Fish
cannot talk, and therefore, when the State of
New York has anything to say in the Senate,
Mr.. Seward will have to say it. Mr.. Fish is not n
political strategist, and can never stand in Mr.
Stewards way, but must always be secondary
planet aud shine OILY with such light as his
hoof To L;.Ll,
frmness, a good character, and what is better,
has an abiding faith in the political sagacty of
Seward and his advisers. The consequence is,
that Fish will be run in upon the first ballot and
in the next Congress, Mr.. Seward will WELD the
whole senatorial influence of the most powerful
State in the Union, and no thanks to The admin
dstrdtion,
Again, he has eleven out of the seventeen
Wing members of Congress, who will always
sneeze when he takes snuff All the Wing coun.
try members elect, but two, arc opposed to the
Administration in its pro-slavery policy.
lie has, likewise, the Governor elect depend.
mt upon his nod, and will have the Comptroller
who is to be appointed Ey Governor Fish in ;
few days. Benedict, whom Mr.. Fillmore re-
moved from the Post Office at Albany, for his
pro. Seward inclinings can have the place if he
wants it, and he will probably take it, if for no
other purpose than to nortify the President.
Nor is this ALL Seward has somehow found
1T least one friend at court. Tom Corwin and
he, are as thick with each other as two pick
pockets.
The Secretary refuses to spot the Senator's
friends, regardless of the complaints and the
threats of the Silver Greys. About twenty Of
fcers in your Custom House have been dis.
charged by Mr.. Maxwell, or rather reported to
Mr.. Corwin as "desartless" men the Collector
of the Secretary-but they still remain ut their
posts, draw their pay, and snap their fingers at
Mr.. Maxwell and the Silver Greys. Hastings,
of the Albany Knickerbocker, and an officer in
the Custom House, at Albany is in the cate
CORY, the Albany Custom House being in Mr.
Maxwels bailiwick. Hastings is warm friend
of Seward, and no respecter of Mr.. Fillmore
Mr.. Maxwell put the artillery Of the Silver
Greys in battery, several weeks since, and fired
at the unbeliever, but the ball was charmed, and
he did not fall. Corwin has sent for the
charges and the proofs-the powder and the
waddng
As Mr.. Hastings's offence was only political
infdelity to Mr.. Fillmore, the statement of it on
paper looks awkward, and Mr.. Maxwell's whis-
kers belong to man who is quite too old to be
caught in the trap which has been laid for him,
The Collector remembers that he was one of the
al Taylor's proclamation of amnesty for all par.
tizan Offences he knows that Seward and Weed
remember it too, and he means to leave the mat
ter for Mr.. Fillmore and his Secretary to settle
between them. Meantime, Hastings and his
eighteen or twenty compatriots are enabled to
bear their state of suspense like Christians rely
ing, with exemplary faith, upon the protection of
Mr.. Corwins "higher law The President is
frightened, and dares not move in the matter for
very good reasons. He has found himself strip
ped, in less than three months, of all support
from Congress, and is left with no political
power, except that which belongs to his official
patronage, to keep him in countenance. He is
so mortified and alarmed at the prospects of the
next Congress, which are staring him in the face,
that he has already made overtures to Seward.
Among the conditions offered for his support,
were the retention of all his friends in office, and
an equal distribution of the new appointments
Seward Sew plays off, for two reasons He says that
rh,more mas not hrmnrss and character enough
10 keep ms bargain, if he makes it that his ad-
ministration is already broken down and his o.