Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-29
Washington News.

VANlA.-Ne dpprcnenu tnat tnere Is u very
exciting struggle in progress for this office,
though, so far, the public have seen little OF !
it indeed. The Government have had impor-
tant business in the hands of the incumbent,
John w. Ashmcad, Esq, General Taylor's
appointee) or he would probably have been
long since removed. As strange. as it may ap-
pear to those desiring places, as in the case of
Philip r. Fcndall, Esq, U. S. District Attor-
ncy for this District. the President eyinces a
determination to hazard giving general dis
pleasure to his office seeking friends, rather
than turn out District Attorneys with half
concluded cases of great Importance to the
public interest in their hands. Yet the chances
are ninety nine in 4 hundred that 60 they all
will, in the end. Horn Il. kneas, James C.
Van Dyke, and Charles j. Biddle, Esqs., (the
last being a Democratic son of the vcrtable
old Nick himself) are the most prominent
candidate for the Attorneyship in Philadel
phia one of the most valuable in the Admin
istration's gift. Their friends-at least their
drumming friends-are about equally active,
and have pulled and hauled at great rate
over this Office since the 4th of March last.
Mr.. Van Dyke is perhaps by long odds best
qualified of the three, if his professional repu-
tation is a fair criterion from which to form a
Judgment Mr.. kneas is a veteran Office seeker
Mr.. Biddle served as a captain in the Mexican
war with considerable credit, and though the
youngest of the trio, is perhaps, personally:
the most popular. Nevertheless we shall by no
means be surprised if the President relieves
himself from this dilemma by rendering the ap
pointment in dispute between them, to the
Hon George NJ Dallas, than whom no other
Philadelphia lawyer is better qualified for the
position We do not know that Mr.. d. would
accept even this Office, which, we repeat, is one
Of the mos< desirable in the Governments
gift, for gentleman intending to continue the
practice Of the law.
Mr. JONI A. CUTnBERT, of Alab ANA, who
accepts the * Live Oak Agency in that quar-
ter, was orig inally a candidate for the mission
to Mexico. We mention the fact only by way
of exemplifying in his case the extent to which
the mania for Federal Government Office, per-
vadcs the active politicians of the day.
THE ALLEGED DEFALcATIoN OF Mr.. WM. p
ZASrzISGER, LATE DIS BURSTING AGENT FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.-For two days past ii
had been whispered around tie city that Mr.
z. had proved defaultcr We refraincd from
noticing these reports until we could obtain
accurate information concerning the facts,
| which we find to be as follows viz In 1851
10 III
which that Government paid to this, certain
money to be distributed to American claim
ants. This fund was placed in Mr.. Zantzing
er's hands as disbursing agent of the State
Department, to be paid over to the claimants
as they presented and proved their accounts
On the LIST instant, Mr.. L was removed from
Office, and subsequently: in settling with his
successor for the balance of this fund remain
| ing in his hands, he gave 4 check for upwards
of $40 Cocoon Corcoran & Riggs. This check
money in bank to meet it, was protested; the
return made by the notary or bank being no
funds" Up to the hour at which VIC 90 to
press, this afternoon, we understand that the
money has not been paid Mr. Z. S case comes
under sub-treasury law, and it is to be pre-
sumed that the District Attorney for this Dis
! trct will be promptly directed to take it in
hand.
A STUrENDoUs CLAIM.-A Western Pennsyl-
vania company have set up claim to the
| whole of the Western Reserve of Ohio under
a grant from Connec lieut., alleged to have been
made after the year 1902, when Charles Cd
granted to that colony a patent for the Re-
serve. In 1895, it viii be remembered, she
sold the Reserve to another company, rclin-
gushing all claim to jurisdiction over the ter
ritory to the United States, in 1900. These
Pennsylvania parties to-day applied to the
General Land office to make to them patents
for all the Reserve, The Office replied, We
learn from parties interested in the = specu-
lation, that the Government never having
had a claim to or proprietorship over that ter
ritory. they cannot entertain the applications
and that the State of Connecticut is the party
to whom the Pennsylvania company must look
for redress, if they really have rights involved
in the case
LETTERS FOR THOSE IN THE U. S. EAST IN
Ola SQUADRON may be sent, post pail, to the
navy agent at Baltimore. He will forward
any such to Macoa, by the Rocbuck, which
sails thence for that port on Wednesday next,
with coal for Pcrry's squadron; and to Shang-
hal in perhaps ten days afterwards. in the
Rose Standish, which ship is to sail at that
time for Shanghai, with similar cargo for the
Government.
SECRETARY OF LEGATION TO CHILI-Dr
Thomas E. Massey, Of Mobile, Alabama: has
been appointed Secretary to the American