The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-02-12
,.rsspondence Of the Charleston Mercury.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1852.

@sTeSp0Tdence OJ mS CHdTteStoH MeTCWy
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1852.
The grasp of the Kossuth grippe has
choked off your correspondence for short
time past, which, having relaxed its hold,
allows the continuance Of that communion
with your readers.
The gap,however,ha been by no means
an important one, for nothing of much in
terest has transpired in the interval. The
letter writer's here, many of them, from
Mig habit, have learned to spin out very
long yarns obout the most tritiing matters,
and most vague rumors, to supply the u
s,ral quota Of letters; for to vary line of
Byron's, "a letter is a letter although
there's nothing in it." The diufnal labors
of the two Houses have not consumed on
an average more than three hours respect
lively, if so much, and speech-making, and
sparring about resolutions, takes up much
Of that small allowance of time devoted to
the public service. This Congress, howev-
er, has the credit of good intentions in the
matter Of work, and when the Committees
have had time to carve out that work
which is lying in rough shape before
them, an opportunity Of forming a proper
judgment viii be afforded. Thus far no
great deal has been done, though some
little headway has been made. The null
titude Of claimants here is very great
Some preferring private claims, others ca
ger to obtain aid from the Government in
the prosecution Of some scheme, by which
they claim to promote public and private
interest The Collins line of steamers has
its busy agents and strikers, pressing on
Congress the necessity and propriety of
further appropriations to aid it in breaking
down the Cunard oompetition-and vari-
Gus other steam projects contended to open
communication with China, the Sandwich
Islands, and innumerable other points, are
either before Congress, or concocting. All
of these projectors and applicants appear
to think that the public treasury is suffer-
ing under Plethora, which it is matter
of pure necessity Immediately to subdue
by very large depletion. There are so ma
ny new men in the present House, that the
old hands at the I" lobbying" business
(Which IS almost the trade here,) have to
commence their operations anew in first
getting acquaintance and then exerting in
tiuence. 1t does not follow by any means
that the intrinsic merits of any particular
case will always insure it priority either
In the calender or in the House, for man.
agement does much in these matters, even
without the employment of undue means.
Hence it is that so many claims, the JUS
tice of which is indisputable, have been
kept suspended in Congress year after
year, while others passed through prompt
y. A knowledge of this fact, derived
from dear bought experience, has brought
into existence what may be regarded as
new profession-the Claim Agents who
constitute very numerous and very bu-
sy class of outside members of Congress,
their attendance being more punctual, and
probably as well paid for as that of the re-
gularly elected members of that body.
The political world here is still quiet
All the Presidential aspirants and their
friends are keeping wary and watchful
eye % sh9is rivals and opponents. Each
Iears TO show H. hand first, bat waits for
further developments, as indicated in the
movements OF the people in their district
meetings. Since the departure of Kossuth
and the plowing over of that breeze, all
the politicians have kept cool, and preser-
we'd discreet silence. There is n vast
deal Of quiet intriguing going on nevcrthe-
less, and the Halls of Congress and the
Hotels are the scenes Of constant conferen-
ces and comparisons of views and wishes
among the parties either directly or indi-
rectly interested in the coming contest
Never was there greater diversity of fee
ling, and wider divergence of views of
policy, presented before by the constituent
portions of parties than at the present mo-
ment. All seems confusion, dissatisfaction.
and disagreement, and how anything like
order or arrangement can be produced a
mong such conflicting elements is hard to
imagine. Both of the old parties are split
up into different cliques, not alone repre-
senting the interests each of a different can
didate, but discordant in principle, in mea-
sures, and the means for carrying them out.
Look, for instance at the Whig party. or
the remnants off it. 1t includes not alone
Q Scott party, a Fillmore party, and n
Webster party, but Seward party also.
Oii and vinegar, one would suppose, could
be made to mix as easily as any of these.
So, too, with the Democratic party. 1t
has host Of candidates, no two of whom at
all harmonizc as to the platform which shall
be taken; and every day complicates mat
ters more and more. The recent move
ments in the States of Georgia, Alabama
and Mississippi have also tended to exas-
perate and increase these divisions, becom-
ing more irreconcileable. Nobody can
pretend to believe that the Southern RIGHTS
and Union Democrats Of the South will
even make a show Of Cooperation, and the
adoption of either wing Of the Democratic
party at large viii inevitably amount to
of the other. The proceedings
'f the Union party fell like bor.D shells in
o this political camp, for hitherto it has
been believed that they would fall back in