Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-26


print views antagonistic to his own, he being
q member of Congress, and its conductor the
House printer, was funny exhibition. We
had thought that the press was free in this
country--even to differ from the venerable
Colonel. Free to express its views on public
affairs, zealously and according to the convic.
tions of its conductors; even, when, as in the
case of the Union, one might be doing mech an
ics' work for the House
We have yet to see in the Union, since Ma
jor Nicholson became its conductor, the first
word or line over-stepping the bounds of the
strictest ideas of decorum, in writing concern
ing Congress. For our own part, we agree
with those who fancy that that gentleman has
In his propensity to keep within the bounda-
ries Of propriety," more than once neglected
bis duty to the country, in failing to cry aloud
and spare not, where, by so doing, he might
have trod on those tender, overgrown, and al
ways protruding things-congressiona toes
The COlonels main argument was based
on the assumption that the South forced the
Missouri Compromise on the North, and were.
therefore, in duty bound to abide by it for all
time. Had he consulted, what strikes US as
81 the truth Of history he would have in
formed his hearers, that the North being il
the majority, was endeayoring unjustly to de-
priye the South of all the latter's co-eoual
rights in and to the territory acquired f.om
France. That this conduct on the part of the
North was about producing a dissolution O.
the Union, when gentlemen from North and
South. to avert that catastrophe, agreed upoI
settlement by which the North gave up
portion OF her unconstitutional and improper
demands for total Southern exclusion, and the
South portion Of her rights to co-equality in
the achole territory thus acquired. Thus we
read the history of those times and as thus
read by at least half the people of the United
states, the facts Of the case form very odd
foundation indeed for the venerable Colonel :
rather dogmatic conclusions
But we regret that we cannot, in Jus ice to
other subjects, devote much more space to this
speech, which gave such delight to all the anti
Nebraskaites who were present The subsequent
effort to force the majority to abase their rules
in order that the Colonel might speak beyond
his hour, exhibited strange combinations, and
singular facts in the natural history of politics
Thus, evidently, the most ardent supporters
OF the Colonefs indirect demand for the tenn
porary abrogation of the rule, were Mr. Peck
ham and other very Hard gentlemen, who.
up to the time the Administration refused
to acknowledge them as exclusively, the Dem
ocratic party in New Yo.k, professed to be al
most ready to breakfast, dine and sup on re-
groes daily, should the South recommend
such regimen. We begin to believe that
we are pretty shrewd observers of public az
fairs, when recollecting how constantly, from
the fourth of March last, we have assured the
South that the political professions of the Haras
are not worth the paper on which they are
printed. The fact that this truth is at last
realized, was on the countenance of almost
every Southern man in the Hail. yesterday
1t is worthy Of remark, in conclusion, that
the Colonel's second speech was not only anon
sequitnr to mis- frst but emphatically reply
to the only portion of that which may be dig
nifed with the appelation of an argument
On the whole, the venerable Colonel, notwith-
standing the length of time he has taken for
preparation for this effort, (and the thousand
and one puffy newspaper remarks upon it
which saw the light before its delivery, COM
mencing usually 'sCol Benton says he is going
to''-do this or that extraordinary thing) ha.
added little indeed to his reputation, for aught
but retailer of stale parliamentary jokes
Prompt and Efficient Work at the Wash
ington Navy Yard.-On Wednesday last, the
United States steamship Fulton anchored of
the Washington Navy Yard. Since new
cross-head Of scrap iron has been made for ben
in the Navy Yard maehine-shops, and fitted
complete in its place. at 5 p. m, yesterday
she was again ready to proceed to sea, Othel
repairs, Of not much Importance, however
we're put upon her in the course of the week.
A. Navy Officer Detached and Ordered -
James NJ. Watson, detached from the command
of the steamer Fulton at his own request, and
has three months leave. Lieut. John K. Nit
cheli has been ordered to the command of the
Fulton in his stead
The Confirmation Of the Treaty-It is
! oeiieVed, that as confirmed, the treaty offers
| ten millions Of dollars for the abrogation OF
the nth article Of the treaty of Guadalupe
hidaigo, the REIMBURSEMENT of Mexico's claim
to the Mesiiia Valley, and right of way acros.
the Mexican territory comprising an area Of
about $4,000 square miles. These are, il
fact, all the points of immediate nationa
concern involved in the questions considered
| by the agents Of the two governments in tn,
original negotiations for this treaty. ID -.
We may add, that our impression certain,
is, that as ratified, this treaty proposes t.