The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-20
AFFAIRS At The NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Our washington Correspondence.


National Hotel. The probabilities of South Caro-
ina seeding from the Union being under Discus
,ion one Of the party celebrated as the shrewdess
politician in the couasy, offered the following
sentiment -
" The best co nmssoners 10 solia Csrolna-
The union Of the Uaaoa and the Press,-Ihe elec-
ton of Douglas and Hunter President and vice.
President OF The United States
The toast was drank three times thee, with the
widest enthusiasm Amongst those preseat, l
noticed the editors of the Southern Press, Fisher
and De Leon, also Major Donelson, the new edit
cor of the Union. From what saw, Il could nor
be inferred that there was any organization fof
Douglas and Hunter but from the manner IN
which the sentime nj received, II proved clear
" 10 my miRd that the great demoerauc party are
looking about for a candidate, ana that they VIII
certainly unite on some such ticket. Gen. Houston
is much spoken of here for the Presidency, but
have heard no suggestion as TO the Northern man
likely 10 be associated with him. Should Houston
carry Ohio, Us the probabilities are that he will, at
ed, and the North Western stalls, il is thought.
will bring forward Douglas. You've AMERICA
WASHINGTON, March IS, 1851.
The Presidential Qaestio,-- The Chances -Some Of
the Ca~didqtes-Part Tests.
Your editorial oi yesterday has been the subject
of much conversation here in w ashingtoA, and III
correctness of your views generally admitted
The River and Harbor bill was the tombstone OF
democracy. Had II passed the Senate in the shape
m which II came from the House, without dotting
an i, or crossing t. as Mr. Clay desired it should
pass, the democratic pary would have been de-
morslzed dissolved, annihiiated for the next
wenty years, and tae Lord himself only knows
what would have become of the Union. Gen.
Cass ard Mr. Douglas, as you very properly re-
~. - Z.
with great wisdom and patriotism, called all hands
on deck, and wore ship. Gen. CGss acted as cap
tain, and Senator Douglas as tirst maze
That there should have been Western and North
western democrats VINO, in the eagerncss TO i'm
prove our Western Mediterranean lakes and
The Mississippi-were likely 10 forget the more dis
iant prospects of harmony and peace to the whole
Union is, perhaps, human but that democratic
Southern Senators should have been found lighting
the battle of internal improvement, on the log roll.
ing principle, is humiliating in the extreme. Mr..
Borland fought tor paltrv improve nent In the
Arkansas river, with tenacity which sadly
Washington, after he had committed hmsei If
against the Compromise. II seems az if Mr..
Borland were equally unhappy in his attempts
AZ special or sectional legislation, and that his
influence in the Senate is very hte above
aero. Had the bill which ne was advocating, and
to which he was willing TO sacrifice the South, the
democracy, and the Union, passed, Mr.. Borland
would, in all probability, have presented himself
10 the people Of ais State, with jewel In his nth
worth nifty thousand dollars, 1.-THE item allowed in
the bill for the Improvement OF the Arkansas rivcr)
which might have dazzled them much TO
overlook his other indiscretions; but no Southern
Senator was willing to follow, or even approach
Mr. Borland, exec pr his colleague, and Mr. King,
the President OF the Senate, reminded Mr.. Borland
distinctly, that he need only 90 ste further 10 be
completely out OF the pale of the democratic party.
The River and Harbof bill is the basis Of the
new democratic platform, and with sound views
On the compromise, IN all its details, will be en-
hid lSd into he arin AZ
substitute for the River and Harbor appropriations,
II will be laid down, ss a maxim, that the States
ought to have the power to lay tonnage duty for
the improvement OF their own rivers and harbors.
An attempt Of that sort was made by Mr.. Robert
McLane, OF Baltimore, on the last day OF the
sson, but II failed by strict party vote 1t will,
doubt, be repeated al the Rext session. Il ought
be observed here, that Gen. Houston, whom some
Of the fshy democrats OF the North are secretly
tavorng fer the Presidency, has completely dsap-
pointed the Wentworihs, the Binghams, the
Durkies, the Wiimots, nc. He may be disposed
10 oppo,e the ultrss of the South, but he has no
idea Of crafty ing his free soil friends al the North,
oy voting large appropriations for MYERS and har.
kofs.
itrelly al the next Congress, than they have been
at any period since the passage OF the compromise
measures; and lou may rely on II, strict party no
limitations will be made in 1882. The Southern
democrats, as you very fhrewdly observe In your
editorial ,.erday do rot claim the honor Of the
presidency. They know that Northern man is
more likely TO assume Northern risks for Southern
favor or popularity than Southern man, who,
from bis geographical position, Is much more likely
10 look to the North for popularity. What the
Senate claim IL, that Southern ulira-of course
one who shall not be positively committed against
The Union-shell be the Vice Presidential cAndi-
date and that the Northern candidate for the Pre-
sidency shall not be connected or found tamperiag
with the free sellers. II the Northern Presidential
ear didate should happen 10 be a man wholly com.
mitted 10 the South then Southern ultra would
make the ticket weak at the North but If any un-
exsepuonable Northern democrat Chat is, unex-
eepton able al the NORTH could be yoked with a
that either Butler, of South Carolina, Hunter, of
Virginia, Will be the next Vice Presidential candi-
date. The five or six Northern Candidates from
which the President IL TO be chosen, are Cas-,
Woodbury., Buchanan, Dickinson, Dallas and
Douglas. Az to General Houston, he would, no
sosbt, be very strong before the people OF the
North, and make the best harrah candidate Of all.
Bot his candidacy is Ill suited TO the various ar
nge ments Of politicians, and 10 the position
" hich the country II now placed All that the
democratic votsrs want, is candidate who carries
no weight; parry discipline, party principles, and
party sffnities must DO the rest. propose TO DIS
euss each Of the prominent candidates, ia the order
IN which ] have named them. L.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1851
The Case Of Commodore Jones' The Conduct Of
the SECRETARY Of The Napy-Er-Steretayv MIrey
aaa CcurGI Scott.
sent you, some tine ago, the sentence and
findings in the case Of Commodore Ap Catesby
Jones. That gentleman has, in coaseq lence, pub
iished state ment in jus ifcalion Of his conduct,
and calling in question The proceedings of the
court, ard rejecting upon the Secretary Of the
Navy for permitting the sentence 70 be published
before the President had an opportunity Of nves
tigating the matter Justice to the Secretary d.
MAIDS that | should repeat that he declined 10
promulge the sentence, but, OF course, he had no
power 70 decline permitting copy Of II to be made
He had approved the sentence; and the public had
a right TO be informed what II was AZ for the
President investigating the matter, Commodore
Jones knowes that the law gives the power OF ap-
proving or dlsapproying The sentence Of the court,
where 1t does not extend TO a dismissed from the
service, tothe Secretary Of the Navy; and that the
President has nothing to do with H.
BY the way, there lie rather a singular circum-
stance in the life OF Commodore Jones which pre-
snts a striking coincidencesin all but the con-
10 2nra