The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-02
For the Southern Press.
Relies OF Scraps and Musings.
No. 81.
I" IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNORS"

No. "a.
IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNORS"
l soc by the public papers, that certain
EPHRAIM MORRIS has taken out a patent for
the Improvement Of governors" which hope may
be of some use to Governor Hunt, in his Off.
cal capacity, and Undue him with new principles
of action. especially refer to late letter Of
the governor to the Spanish minister, in reply to
an application for the pardon of ANTONIO Lopez,
convicted of the murder Of an American citizen,
in which he says
"The evidence leaves no doubt on my mind
that he was guilty of the killing of FOSTER, nor
do find in the circumstances OF the case any
justification of the offence. But should do in
Justice to my countrymen, If resisted the SEN
timents which the exalted conduct of your
sovereign has 80 universally inspired. Nor can
forget how deeply we ARE indebted to your
prompt and humane interposition for the lib
eral policy which has signalized the recent action
of the Spanish government in behalf OF some
Of our citizens"
Influenced by these considerations, the gov
ernor pardons ANTONIO LOPEZ, on condition that
he leaves the country, and never returns. II is
DOG
such language and sentiments under the official
signature Of the chief magistrate Of great
State. The release of thirty or forty prisoners,
in my opinion, is but poor atonement for shoot
ing down in cold blood, and without trial,
fifty Americans, not takenin arms on the Cuban
soil, but in an open boat on the high seas, with
out the power hher of defending themselves,
or The mean ydsndng Others. Exalted
conduct" indeed and meri.ing The eternal graft
tude of the people of the United States! !
hope the United States will one day have an op-
portunity of showing their gratitude in some
other mode than that Of releasing Spanish muir,
derers, and saluting Spanish consul with fifty
guns.
These are the ordinary pretexts Of despo!ic
governments, and those which aim at becoming
!. so, for expressing the people. In England, the
" Rye House" and g Meal Tub" plots, as they
are called, were Matched solely for the purpose Of
furnishing pretext for prosecuting the Catholics
and republicans and the usurpation of LOUIS
NAPOLEON is sought to be justified on the
ground that the republicans and socialists were
To obige him TO conform to fundamental pro-
vision of the constitution, which forbade his re-
election to the Presidency. Whenever that
miserable ape of the great NAPOLEON wishes to
crush the popular sentiment by the bayonet to
Danish any of those who do not approve his
arbitrary measures, or to impose new letters on
the press, he has only to manufacture plot, and
all these measures become merely those Of self
defence. Thus the Abolitonsts, Freesoiers
and other exclusive friends Of the Union, got
up plot in the South for its ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
and are meditating consolidation-solely for
its prevention.
i CONGRESSIONAL TRUANTs.
/ To those who are aware how often the mos,
important measures of public policy are adopted
by very small majority Of both Houses of Con.
grcss and sometimes by single vote, it must
be subject of equal surprise and regret to wit
ness the almost daily occurrence of the want o.
quorum for the transaction of business. Wher,
this is not the case, it will be found that man,
most weighty laws are passed by n bare quorum
! late measure Of much interest was adopted
by the Senate the other day by vote of TWEEN
ty TO nineteen, showing that scarcely two-tbird
Of the whole number Of senator's were present
Cases are perpetually occurring in which the alb
sence Of members affords opportunities to grea
legislative tacticians, to smuggle laws through
both houses, which could never have passed hat
) the members attended to their duties. The,
/ put me in mind Of school.boys who take ever,
opportunity to play truant This is all wrong
the country requires all their wisdom, and the,
have little 10 spare.
STATE LEGIsLATIoN.
The following is fair sample of days worl
Of the Green Legislature" of New York, rs
is called by the Albany people:
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.
Senate.
ALBANY, Feb 49,
! t. Mr.. Vanderbilt presented memorial TO clos,
! certain streets in Brooklyn.
Bills passed in Communicable authorize thu
supervisors Of New York 70 raise 81, SOC So
| Ny hdA, W uthay CtIthU COUlingeUt expenses
: To authorize n convention 10 revise tbs char
; ter Of the city Of Bnffalo.
. The bill 10 change the name Of the Buffalo
and Cohocton Valley railroad company, wa
taken up in committee and debate sprung u,
which took wide range.
Mr.. Clark offered an amendment, that ant
stakeholder who desired, might withdraw iron
the company and have his money refunded.
This proposition was voted down; also. tn,
: sections reported by the standing committee
3 allowing stockholders who were at the time o
e subscription residents Of the town Of Erwin, Il
o withdraw their stock therefrom.
e Several other amendments were offered an
lost.
Mr.. Conger moved 10 strike out the enactin!
: clause Of the bill Lost--ayes s, nays IL.
The committee then reported the bill 10 tn
, senate, and the senate adjourned.
Only a vote Of I 696,65O dollars for the econ
tingent" expeusebof single city, for singl