Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-10
WASHINGTON NEWS AND eossrp.


WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Col. Jere Cemens.-The letter of this ran
tleman to Mr.. John Van Buren,, in opposition
to the infringement of the Missouri Compro
mise in the case of Nebraska and Kansas. III,
publication of which we foreshadowed a few
days..ago, having been before the w flashing
ton public for day, creates much conversa.
ton in political circles; inasmuch rs it pre-.
sents the writer in a new political phase
wherein, in connection with Mr.. Van Buren,
there is proof of the truth of the adage that
extremes are prone to meet. The ex-senator
will be remembered as having been almost
uproariously earnest in defence of the rights
Of the South, before he joiped the compromise
party of 1850 His position on the compromise
of 80 was exceedingly Unsatisfactory to the
people of the South, as is manifest in the polti-
cal fate of most of the distinguished public men
of the Democratic party, himself included, who
held it in common with him. The rest of them
as though to recover lost ground, are at this
time more intensely southernish than oul
friends, the ''fre-eaters'' themselves, who stand
in need Of no extra grand southern fourishes
to maintain themselves at home. Ex-senator
Clemens, however, is, in this letter, legitimate
ly carrying out the doctrines he advocated,
and the positions he occupied in 1850, which
we conceive to have involved q surrender Of
States rights We do not credit the south
ern compromise men with having sustained the
settlement of 1850, becauseit involved return
to the right principle of the Constitution. The
northern supporters of those measures only
may fairly set up claim to have been SO
aetuated. They stood up against the momen-
tary sentiment of their constituents, justifying
themselves on the ples that they were contend
ing for the inviolability of the right of the
people to choose their own institutions. The
supported the measure, not because they adj
mitted the right Of the people Of the territories
to choose institution for themselves, which most
of them denied practically in their speeches,
but as the best settlement which they con-
ceived they could get from the North We are
among those who believe that had they pre-
sented firm front, the South would have had
all her rights in California. That is, that the
territory would not have been foreclosed
against her by the early action of the General
Government, as was done.
While we highly esteem ex-senator Glenn
ems personally, we think that his letter is most
unfortunate for him, because it advocates al
unconstitution al arrangement, which was SCI
at nought when that act became necessary t.
deprive the South of her rights guaranteed
under it. He was againstit, in advocating tho
compromise of 1850, when it was the shield o
the South for the time being; and he is for i
now, when, having been practically abroga
ted then, its inviolability is trumped up BY
Mesers Giddings, Chase, and Co. because
acquiesced in at this time, it bids fair to again
deprive the South Of her rights, as in 1920.
But to return to the letter 1t has not served
to elevate the reputation of its author in pub
lie estimation here, as statesman. He Away
was considered vaccilating-apt to ''fy of tn
handle" So no one in Washington is mucl
surprised at its positions. Personally, he is
great farorite among us, though politically, b
thus seems to be greatly under the infuenc
of the weather.
The Opposition to the Nebraska Bill--Tb
ablest speech so far delivered against thi
measure, was that of the Hon. Senator Smith
of Conn, spoken yesterday. Mr. S., though
no means what is termed a popular orator
talks very pointed and pertinent thoughts, an
rarely approaches an important question with
| out great precarious careful preparation. 7
this case he has built up an argument wbic
the friends of the bill will be compelled to
their best to overthrow. Though there wa
not so great show of dignity in and aroun
the Senate chamber as usual, of late, while h
occupied the floor, he was listened to wit
profound attention by the public men presen
A Pensioner may Revoke his Power ,
Attorney, given under any Circumstance
The acts of Congress of April 10, 1906, Ma
18th and 24th, 1928, having provided that pc,
sions are not subject to levy or seizure by Leg
process, nor to be transferred or mortgaged.
is always within the power of the pensioner
revoke, at any time, q power of attorney whic
he may have given for the collection of h
pension, and demand payment of the Pensio
Agent to be made to himself
The Defeat Of the Deficiency Bill.-The vo,
Of the House, given after we went to pre-
yesterday, by which the deficiency bill W.
"killed," has by no means taken well il
formed men in Washington aback. 1t VIZ
| thought before we penned the article on th
subject appearing in the Star yesterday, tn.
it could not become law, as amended by til
House in Committee of the Whole; it bein
understood that the minority designed so divio
ing upon it on the final vote, as that the r,
sponsibility for its enactment should rest who'll
on the majority of the chamber. Theerrc
was committed in Committee of the Whole, i
| voting on to the bill various Independent pro,
| Ositions designed for Buncombe by the varior
movers. The amount SO appropriated was ne
the question, as it was comparatively trifin,
1t was in the principle. 1t is wrong to spen
the public money for purposes asked by ind
| vidual members, unless their several propos
tons have been duly referred to some COMM
tee for thorough scrutiny. The fact that tn
bill, as reported back from the Committee
the Whole, embraced every such propositio
which had been seriously asked, killed tt
bill when the direct question came to be-wi