Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-12-29
Correspondence of the Charleston Mercury.
WAsu1NeToN, Dec. l9, ls

| Correspondence Of the Charleston Mercury.
WAsHINeToN, Dec. 10, 1851.
| Everything here has been frozen up for the
last few days, except the tongue of Henry 5.
Foote-that has been wagging even more busl-
ly than usual, as his appointed time of depart
ure approaches He will probably leave on
Monday next for Mississippi; most desirable
event, and will thaw down to the true level of
his native insigni6cance, when he gets home,
as the ice in the Potomac vauishes under the
action of the sun. The cold here has been in
tense-the rigors Of the season perfectly Sibe-
ran, and every body suffering more or less
| from violent infuenzas. Even the coming of
Kossuth failed to warm the frosted features of
the wayfarers on the avenue-and Northern
feelings have predominated over all others. In
the two Houses of Congress little has yet been
done, Except in the way of carving out work
for the administration Resolutions of inquiry
concerning our domestic and foreign difficulties,
the Cuba affair, the Thrasher case, the Nor
mon matter, &C., have been adopted, and some
responded to, as the published proceedings of
Congress show. The course and policy that
have been pursued by this administration, in
| all matters requiring spirit and promptitude,
No glozing words, nor high sounding Profes-
sions can cover this over. The facts are too
plain and palpable, and more have yet to be
elected, ofwhich the public is ignorant. If the
Fillmore regime will hereafter be memorable
for anythi.E it will be its utter mbecility, and
cautious cunning. Non-committalism is its ye-
ry essence.
Thus while the English captives in the Gu
ban expedition have been liberated, the Ameri-
cans are left to tug at the oars in the galleys
at Ceuta. While Mr.. Webster is rounding the
periods of his dispatches to the Captain Gen
eral, Thrasher, after having been long immured
ina loathsome dungeon, sails for Spain. The
Prometheus is fired into, and it is hoped that
nothing is meant by it. The sympathies of the
people and the attention of Congress is speci.
ally invited to the Hungarian exile, liberated
already by one act-while the unhappy victims
of Spanish barbarity meet only only with abuse
in the same message In short, the present ad;.
nor respect abroad With the exception of
Webster and Crittenden, who have brains, the
rest are "barren rogues ALL"
Henry Clay is failing fast, and becoming
very old man. He probably came here in the
hope of recruiting his shattered energies and
failing powers; but heavy hand rests upon
him which he cannot shake of, Since the last
session he has broken down wofuily. The
collapse of the high excitement Of the strife
that then sustained him, and the utter annihi-
hilation of the high hopes he nourished, have
suddenly aged him, and what but short time
since, looked like an old, but still strong tenn
ple-gracefnl yet in its proportions; firm still
upon its base, is crumbling fast into ruin.-
He has been confined to his room for the great.
or part OF the session, and has recently been
compelled to 60 to Philadelphia to recruit. 1t
is more than doubtful whether he will ever fill
his seat in the Senate agOin. To few is it
granted to die as died Chatham and Calhoun.
but Clay is ambitious Of meeting the same end.
A great change is gradually taking place in
our Public Councils, by the removal of those
who long stood as conspicuous landmarks in
the Senate Chamber and the Forum. He who
now glances over that familiar scene, meets no
more the lion port, and the eagle eye of Cal
hoan-the face haggard and worn, yet bright
with intelligence The grand brow and caver
nous eye Of Webster, full of lurid light, scowl
no more on the spectators; aud now, last lin
gerer of the three, the spare form and quick
eye Of Henry Clay pass like shadow on the
wal, on the way to the land Of shadows. The
big and burly form Of Benton, strong man in
his sphere, has also vanished from that scene,
and Cass sits alone, unremoved and unmoved,
amidst "tho noise and confusion" which now
characterize that once dignifed body. Apathy,
good digestion and sound sleep, have preserved
him in fine keeping, while the brighter lights Of
his day have either been darkened, or gone out
in the eclipse of DEATH
He, however, is politically as dead as the
object of his former toadyism, and subsequent
abuse-the King of the French. He is the
Louis Philippe Of this revolution in politics, and
little Senator Stephen Douglas treads hard on
his heels to play the part of Louis Napoleon.
The general candidate knows this, and has re.
Gently been violently affected with Young A.
mercanism. He has tried to be rs progress
i've as Capt Rynders, as foreign in his instincts
as kossuth, and as universal in his philanthropy
as Mr.. Pecksniff. But it all won't do. He
can't get the nomination. On the Wing side,
Gen. Scott is whipping up again, and will be
formidable candidate, should the general popu-
larty plan be adopted as in the case of Gen.
| Taylor. On the other side, the Freesoilers
banker much after w. o. Butler, of KY, and the
Van Burens if restored to communion with the
party, will make strong push for him, with
Pierce, of N. III. as Vice President. That tick
ct would take well at the North, and that is the