The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-08

Our Washington Correspondence.

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Our Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, May 6, 1851.
The Cuba ExYmitio~-7A Neusruiay Lac of 1878
Efforts Made to arrest the Cuban Leaders, &C.
The announcement from Nex Orleans, that the
Cuba pratcal expedition has been abandoned, is
not borne out by the information daily being re-
ceived by telegraph up TO the present time, by the
government here. As stated in my special tele-
graphic despatch to the Herald, last week, nothing
definite il, however, known regarding the move
mcnts Of the 'spatyiots." Bodies of unarmcd men,
without officers or leaders, and apparently without
any particular destination are heard OF IN different
parts Of the country and when questioned they can
give no nc ,ount VI themselves approaching the
verge Of probability. All that the officers Of the
abe slightest apprehension that any expedition will
succeed IL escaping the vigilance Of the authorities
The law Of 1913 may, TO casual readers, appear
sufficiently wide in its scope to enable any pratical
eSpedition like the present ono, or the former at
tempt upon Cuba, to bo eHectually suppressed and
its authors punished; but a little reelection will
show that il falls far behind any such result. BY
unceasing vigilance, an expedition may DO frustrated
by the seizure Of vessels as in the case of the
Cleopatra and by binding the principals over
Tor trial Thus lar, the matter depends upon the
action OF the executive. The parties are brought
mp for trial. Under the law, ia order to convict,
the intent must be proved. no one need be told
1hat this is Of the most difficult matters that
can be undertaken. still it may be proved-and
what then Has the government the po YER to
compel ajury to convict, if every circumstance
y preved9 Let the recent trials in New Orleans
answer.
The truth is, that although the great mass of the
people Of the United States opposed 10 any vio-
latiOn Of treaty stpulations, and with salts
faction the prompt ana energetic conduct Of our go
vernment as manifested IN tho dispersion, at every
point Of any assemblago Of suspicious characters,
still place these very cItisens, who thus opposed
to the piratical attempts, in jury COX, and ask
them to render verdict which will cons sn fellow
citizen to loathsomc prison, for having, perhaps
under a mistaken sense Of patriotism, violated the
neutrality laws, and they will refuse to do They
may be satisfied that the at,cm outrage; but
they viii still refuse to aid i'm sending jail fell
low citizen who after ali, has beon guilty Of what
is generally regarded as merely political offence.
II is all very well to talk OF this matter upon alb
stract principles of right and wrong but bring it
down to practical question, and all the abstract
reasoning falls to the ground, the natural sym
Pathy which is then cailed into play.
Gov. Letcher, our Minister to Mexico, had long
Interview with the President this morning
The Attorney General has not yet given his
opinion upon the tor interest Florida claims.
lie Las already, on former occasion, given an
opinion adverse to the payment Of interest," and it is
generally supposed he has not changed this view Of
The matter.
MIR. Corwin, the Secretary Of the Treasury, has
not been able yet to the duties OF his Office,
IN consequence Of q continuance Of his complaint,
added recently to attack Of ch,l and fever.
Nr. Hodge, the highly efficient Assistant Secretary
OF the Treasury, continues to discharge the duties
Cf the department..
The complaints against the recent Board Of Mex
lean Commissioners loud ever. The whole
matter viii, undoubtedly, be brought before Con-
grcsS next session, wheu if tho half Of the charges
turn out to be true, the Commissioners will have
hard time Of it.
WAsnIsaroS May 6, 1851.
Mr.. Coiein and the Floyida Claims, and also the
Cau,r,, Mr.. Letris, Mr.. Webster, and Phla-
ddPhia COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Senator Corwin was interested in the Florida
claims at the time seat in the cabinet was ten
dered to him. 1t then understood by the kno w.
Ing ones, that his income from the allowance Of in
terest on The claims he interested in, would be
about ouc hundred thousand dollars Some Of Mr.
Corwins newspaper defenders declare that he now
has no interest whatever In those old Florida claims
that he disposed Of the small interest he had
In them, &c, sc.
II is understood that the interest is now about to
to 30 allowed, and paid by tho Treasury Depart
ment--Mr. Secretary Graham having been on
gagged to perform the part of Secretary Of the Trea-
sury ad ,nfai.n, for the occasion.
Now, the question arises, would Mr.. Corwin sur
render an interest Of hundred thousand dollars.
contingent upon the allowance OF interest the
Florida claims, for the priv ego Of holding cabinet
station in Mr.. Fillmore's Administration Is it
But il Mr.. Corwin did dispose Of his interest in
the Florida claims, how was Il done, and TO whom
was the interest disposed Was II to his,cousin
Robert Corwin, that he dispo ed Of his interest
And II 50, ard MIR. Robert Corwin gets the amount
ofthat intsrest-one hundIvd Thousand dollars moro
ar less-s no part Of the sum to 10 ultimately into
fbe ownership and possession of Thomas Corwin
That Il the question. Let Mr.. Corwin, tho Sec
reiary Of the Treasury, II him SELF aud not
by employed and Interested newspaper writers, if
nc can. Let him deny, explicitly, aud without
evasion, II lac can, that he 10 receive and that he
expects 20 receive, moneys for his late, IL not his
present, connection with not only the Florida
claims. but Nc xicsn claims recently decided upon
by tho Board Of Commissioners On the last named
claims.
These matters arc enough to kill OF Mr.. Corwin,
unless he can speedily and satis.aeorly clear them
up. Gaphinism seems to be still IN the ascendant.
But Mir. Corwin has more perplexing busins 80 on
bis hands. lie has resolved TO stand by ald sus-
tain Mr. Collector Lew, against tho kno ~n wishes
Of Mr.. Webster. lie puIpoeely acted, and got the
President 10 act, in the majie in Mar. Wcbslers alb
sencc. MIR. Webster is at homo now, and 20 morrow
will receive and counsel with a committee Of gen
tlomer from Philadelphia, CON poscd Of JOSIAH Ran.
dali Charles Gibbons, MIR. Pitinso, representative
~ The last Congress, Senator Cooper, Sc, NJ TO
what IL boat TO be done relatiye to the Collectors
case. II j. gvon out here, In high quarters, that
Mr. Webster says that IL Dir. Lewis Is to be retain
ID, h. shall himself go out OF ofce. Mons parD,s
Breakers ahead
Our New Orleans Corr cspondence.