The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-12
AFFAIRS AT the NATIONAL CAPITAL.


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Our Washington Correspondence.
wAsHIssros, Feb. s, 1854.
The War of the Rosss-Supply,ng The Capital
Nth WatG-Ihs Gadsden 1reaty-1he Pacific
Railroad, &C., &c.
The war between the hards and softs from New
York is about to break out afresh In the House Of
tatiyes, Is understand the beigerents on
both sides are preparing for the spring campaign,
and furnishing their arms for the conflict. Mr..
Cuttiur-than whom there Is not an ADLER, an hon.
ester, OF more sincere member Of the House of Rep
resentstives-who led Of some time since on the
removal Of Collector Bronson from your Custom
House. is holding back at present for the purpose Of
giving his colleagues, Messrs. Wheeler and Walsh,
chancSof opening their batteries upon their oppo.
nents. From what Mr.. Cutting has already said and
done since be took his seat in that body, although
the impression he has made is most favorable one,
the House has not had fair opportunity as yet to
judge Of his forensic and parliamentary abilities as
lawyer and debater. Like all new hands at the bel
lows oflegislation particularly in this pandsmonum
Of public plumber, place-huntng and axe-grinding,
he is yet but novice but with one OF his keen oh
servation, it will not take him long 10 dive into the
depths Of corruption, and fathom the motives that lie
Is in the market for every measure in which large
appropriations Of the public money form the central
point OF attraction. In addressing the House OF
Representatives, Mr. Cutting must remember he has
not jury Of his unsophisticatea counrymen before
him. who are to be governed by the law and the evil
dense Of his case, but by body Of gentlenen who
generally know more OF the law Of selfinterest and
who, when the principles Of party are mentioned as
guide or rule Of conduct for their acts, put tho
forefnger Of the right hand to their nose, and ex
IN EynpdipncV
From this end OF the avenue the transition TO the
other is easy and comfortable, and, what u still bet
ter, harmony on all such subjects regns supreme.
The gigantic scheme Of spending some five or six
millions Of dollars upon "Roman aqueduct," before
the city Of Rome is built, is one of those visionary
projects which dazzle the eye for moment, but
when properly examined, is found to be fallacious.
Such is the scheme Of bringing water to this city
from distance Of twelve thirteen miles, at cost
Of not less than ten millions OF dollars, If the work
can be ever done for that; and even II il could be
done for that sum there is not practical engineer or
architect in the country that would guaranty is per
msnency for five years on the principle pr oec led.
The Committee OF the House Of Representatives on
the District have been, within faw days past, on
the ground near Georgetown, and not more than two
miles from Washington, and 50 forcibly have they
been struck with the natural advantages which 1t
presents for as good supply of pure water as the
one projected by the military engineer who has
planned the one from the Little Falls, and for one
fourth the cost besides the advantage also Of perfect
ing the work in two instead of ten years, that they
intend to recommend to the War Department the
adoption ofthe least costly. Iearnalso that Jefferson
Davis has been convinced of the superiority Of this
latter plan over the other, and is now prepared to
recommend its adoption. 1t is to be upon the plan
of the Paramount works at Philadelphia, instead of
that of the Croton at New York.
Mr.. Stanton, of Kentucky, while am writing, IL
assailing the practice OF placing military men In po
siti0ns which should be filed by civilians.
The report Of the special committee, of which
Hon. Andrew Stevenson, of Virginia, is chairman,
against continuing military men at the head Of the
Unite States armories sho Hs how jealous the people
are OF the military power; aud when this is the
with regard to what would seem to be part of their
proper sphere Of action how much more sensitive
ought the public be to that system Of military cen
tralzation which places all the public works Of the
country under the control Of army engineers! The
Capitol extension has been changed much for the
worse since the plan first adopted by President
the whole structure will have to take place. Instead
OF the plan proposed by @. B. Cuskey for the hall
OF the House of Representatives, having windows on
three sides OF 1t, 30 as to give abundance Of light
and air the present constructor Ca ot Meigs has SO
altered it as to give but one side having windows,
and for the ngress Of air has substituted fan the
apex OF the dome. Now, any one at all acquainted
with the principles Of veDt stion knows that fou air
ascends, and if this should be subject to be thrown
back upon the lower stratum OF pure atmosphere by
the operation OF fan, as 1t undoubtedly will the
suits to the health Of the members will be injurious.
Capt Meigs, however learn, has 10 retire from the
The Gad.den treaty has become a subject OF con.
siderable interest to o number Of gentlemen from
your city, among whom are the Hargous. ] also see
here Senior Atocha, Santa Annals especial friend
and 6nancicr Whether the latter here on his wn
hook or that of his distinguished friend, the Mexi
can dictator ia not exactly known, but presume II s
for both purposes. When the commits ioner for set
Ting the claims Of our citizens under the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo, was in session, this gentle
man submitted one of his losses sustained during the
trouble in that country, previous to the Mexican
war, which was not allowed, although two thirds of
those that had not half the merit that his has
to justify favorable decision of the commissioners.
Galpblnism has great many offshoots, besides the
one on which era Word, Ewing aud others OF that
celebrated Spots cabinet fed on at that period.
The Hon. Robert j. Walker is to be here in q few
days. He goes in strong for the Pacific Railroad
through Texas and the Mesilla valley route. This
route. If adopted by Congress- will join toe Opelou
sas road at Alexander, in Louisiana. Whenever you
find Dir. Folks Sc rotary OF the Treasury here be
though the land coded 10 us by Santa Anna for
twenty millions OF dollars may not be intrinsicaly
worth that sum for agricultural pur poses it is for
q transit route 10 California, end as such t is viewed
BY the Cabinet and Congress. Whenever we want
more aud to the south OF it for settlement there
be no difficulty abou. il, as we begin TO fad out
now that tbs whole Of Mexico is, aud of right,
from the days OF creation. Fiiibustering is only
double.refned tenn for migration and as the srba
risn hordes of ancient times practiced the largest
liberty in the pursuit Of hap piness, why not our
polished pioneers do the same in this happy age Of
proeressf
CcrrcspoI deace or Oiher Papers.
Correspond eace Of be hl'ttao-r -us.
WAsaIgroS Feb. s, 1854.
Another special Cabinet meeting vas held last
evening on the subject of the Gadsden treaty. The
treaty will probably be submitted TO the Senate With
propositions for amendments. II is believed by some
thst messenger has beeu is about 10 be- seut to
Mexico, with propositions to Santa Anna for modii-
cations Of the treaty. 1t is quite certain that de-
tern nation has been arrived at aa yet, upon the
hionA In ILL hold