The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-30
Esflhaaake.

1'hfee distinct shocks of an earthquake wsr'
lelt in this city on yesterday, at about twev'
o'clock. But like all other movements here o
late it was sectional, and local. II was felt only
In one end Of the town, and it create grea
Consideration in the Executive Department. Th'
shocks extended down Pennsylvania avenue
but were not felt at the Southern Press office
which intervenes between the Executive ant
Legislative departments of the government.
There is mysterious sympathy between thu
physical and moral world which neither philoso
ply nor mesmerism has explained But it bal
been recognized in all ages. The wise ant
valiant Romans consulted the auspices, and re
spectcd omens, portents, and prodigies. 1t wa,
but the other day that the Potomac overlooked
and carried away the southern sections of thu
Long bridge, which connects this city with the
South. This was a movement of the elements
for dsunon; and straightway the Wing party
divlded-North and South. Now an earthquake
has occurred in the same quarter We happened
not TO be present, nor any of our reporters w.
can, therefore, only rely on what we have
heard
The Executive Departments were precipitate
~ deserted by the fugitive chiefs and clerks
their speed probably quckened by guilty con
sciences The President, in his flight out of the
White House, betrayed his remorse at not having
the law faithfully executed respecting the Exec
utive Printing, and promised to turn out all the
falthlcss secretaries who had violated the law
lie muttered something about the jobs he had
winked at out of the fifty three millions of ex-
pendlture but his words were lost in the noise
and confusion
The Secretary Of the Navy confessed he had
dubbed worse than county court lawyer, and
promised to make restitution out of his salary
Tor the amount of which the Press had been
deirauded by his evasion Of the law. The Sec.
Rotary of War WAS horror. struck at his omen
oe'iahce OF Inc law in that case, particularly
after he had prosecuted gallant old soldier,
General TALcoT, for merely neglecling some
trivial regulations of the department. We are
afraid, however, the Secretary of War relapsed
after the earthquake was over.
The Secretary of the Treasury begged for.
gveness for having lodged or delayed deci-
sion so long, after promising il prompty-and
promised to turn out of the Department the
Abolition clerks and Southern submission as.
sistants, who had misled him. AS for the Post
master General, he despairod Ills numerous
sins rose so thickly before him, that he offered
to resign Immediately, and give up the mission
to Europe
The shock of the earthquake extended Of
course to the Union and Republic Offices. The
editor OF the Union ran out as fast as his legs
could carry him, the very picture of remorse !:
offered to give up the coalition-to, give up
Gen. CAss,-and at the third shock, even con-
scented to surrender the extra.alow ances made
him by the committee on Towers bid. AS for
General ARMSTRONG, he said he. knew that
dreadful would happen that he had
opposed the coalition and would not touch anv
Of the lll-got'en gans-and tn at he would dis
'olve partnership at once with DosELsoN. The
editor of the Republic was completely un.
manned, and promised not to compare the Sc
'esslonists with the Free ,solers any more, and
lot to have any more dealings with DoNE1-
ION.
The shock did not extend to Congress--the
'tflce OF the Southe I'm Press interviewed. But
We suppose, OF cor .rse that the Committee on
'uollc Printing grew pale on hearing the re-
'ort of it, and determined to make report
themselves to congress of their proceedings.