New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-29
wAsHMGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
"a of The n. Y. Tribune.

WASHINGTON, "Wednesday, Dee. y.
The debate in the House to-day, upon the
Presidents veto of the River and Harbor bill at
the last session, was seasoned with little Pick
wickan spice, aud was therefore toerable in
these excessively dull times. But. to an out
slider, there seemed to be prOfdse waste of
words by both parties, TO little purpose Cen
tlemen are sometimes fond of making nice verb
al distinctions, where the public welfare calls
for no distinctions at all; and not unfrequently
the public time is consumed in very useless,
though it may be an amusing, colloquy. Such
seemed to be the character of the debate to-day.
The merits of the question were not touched.
The whole debate was upon the question OF pro-
priety involved in the manner of the Presidents
communication Of his views: and even upon that
point there seemed to be no difficulty The OppO-
sition members insisted that the President should
be given an opportunity 10 fulfill his promise OF
communicating bis reasons for vetoing the bill.
The friends of the Administration insisted the
Opposition would not be influenced by those rea-
Sons and could only want them TO make politi: sl
capital. The Opposition re(oined, and thus de.
bate sprung UP. Each speaker had his argument
or illustrations; and each argument and illustra-
ton furnished peg for some one else to hang
speech upon. At last Mr. Orr inamated that the
President would very soon communicate his views
on the subject, which should have ended the de-
bate, though it did not.
Editors often have to write from necessity, and
without anything to write about. But members
of Congress, though not under such necessity,
speak with equal fuency on all occasions-and
with equal apparent pleasure to themselves.
They re as inexhaustble in arguments and illus
trations as the Princess Scheherazade was in sto-
ries: but doubt if their eloquence would have
dissuaded the King from the execution OF his
bloody edict for SO long period. thousand
and one nights of Congressional rhetoric might
exhaust the patience Of Christian, much less OF
Persian Prince.
Your remarks upon the late speech OF Col. Ben
ton, read to the House by his colleague, Mr. Oil
YER expresses the general feeling of the friends OF
Freedom in Washington. He has fallen never 10
rise again. His lapse will not gain him friend
in the ranks of PrOSlayery men, while he forfeits
the confidence Of those with whom he has lately
acted 1t is worthy of remark in this connection
that the Legislature of Missouri, either now in
session or shortly to assemble, n composed of ~
Bentonites, 60 Wings and 90 Atchison Loco-fo.
cos. The Wings. therefore, hold the balance OF
power, and though less Pro- Slavery than the Atch
isOn men, they are for admitting Kansas with
Slavery. The speech of Mr.. Benton is therefore
opportune, considering that Senator is 10 be
elected: but he will not be trusted, and will fall
to the ground, ''unwept, unhonored and unsung.'
For one never believed in Benton's Free-Soil-
ism, and said so when his Northern pOpu-
larity was at its hight. Until about the year
1876 he was distinguished for bis bitter hostility
to Anti-Savery in every form, and ! have never
had any certain evidence Of his conversion. j ia
chine to the opinion that another Southern man,
who has received his full share OF applause from
the North for his course on the Nebraska BILL will
be found wanting when weighed in the balance
But sufficient unto the day for the evil thereof As
general rule would not promote newly-con-
verted old sinner to the high places OF the Church
If he be truly converted, then his modesty will
restrain him from asking anything but free par
don of his sins; while, If be be after the Bag or the
loaves and fishes, he deserves nothing.
The Baltimore Clipper is one OF the most liberal
newspapers in this quarter on the subject OF
Slavery; bat doubtifit would be willing 70 carry
OUT IN this country, ito doctrine of interventls.
which it lays down for foreig nations. The Ed
iter urges upon tho Federal Government the duty
protecting Americans abroad in their religious