The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-24
Our Delaware Correspondence.

WILMINGTON, Sept. 4, 1854.
Men and Things IN Wilmington, Dela,care
Political l6ars-Th Kno,o .Nothings-
NeU Custom House--.Nom nations
ford Bank, &C., &c.
The state of parties here is anything but
satisfactory. Party cant and drill, that once
had Influenced and led each of the antagonistic
ranks against the other at the polls, are COM
pletely overwhelmed by the secret operations
of the day. The wings are hard set to get any
respectable or responsible man to accept a
nomination. doubt very much if the demo-
Gratis will be in any better state than their op-
ponents. Our Maine Law League have inter-
rogated number of individuals of respectable
abilities and standing who decline having any
thing to do with set ofmen whom they charge
with want of principle, and charging them
with deficiency of judgment in that they do
not really know what they want done in the
cause Of temperance-that every legislative act
which granted all they asked for, had only
whetted their appetites for something new in
the novelty of legislation.
The Know Nothings have organized a large
body in this city and vicinity, and their secret
operations keep all other parties in fear and
dread Of their acts. They say, however, that
when they have enrolled in their order one half
Of the votes of the State, they will then hold
convention, and we shall then know more of their
intentions than at present. It is understood
here that the Hon. John M. Clay ton is shortly
to publish letter in favor of the Know
Nothings, which he has prepared with much
oh nd nd yuip E~ox
gress. The signs of the times indicate clearly
that he will be the Know Nothing candidate for
the Presidency,
Much complaint exists here in the manage
ment Of the Post Office. While members Of
Congress have been censured for not forward
ing papers and documents to their constituents
it has been discovered that they remain here
for three or four months in the Office, from
sheer neglect of duty in the proper officer to
have them delivered; and the same may be said
with regard to other mailable matter arriving
ut this place. Our new Custom House here Is
progressing at snail like speed. We received
twenty five thousand dollars as an appropria-
tion in the first place, some three gears ago, aud
at the last session an additional sum of twelve
thousand, to make the building fire proof The
first amount was all sufficient to have built
line establishment for port Of entry. Of
this size. where the receipts of custom
are about $500 per quarter; but there are
two snperintendents appointed by the govern
ment to see the work well done, and some fine
pickings are yet to come out Of this national
building. Our present representative in Con-
gress having made an elaborate report on
guano, and rs it has been tolerably well circu-
lated, we have some hopes of having him NOM
mated for reelection, being loath to dispense
with his valuable services at this inauspcious
hour, and bis expertness in legislation is of
great moment with the soft shells, or admins
tration de nocrats, 30 that bis chance for nomi-
nation is good. As to the majority he will be
likely to receive we shall say nothing about,
until after the second Tuesday In November
Business of all kinds here is quite brisk, and
the trade Of shipbuilding particularly so. All
our yards are actively engaged in building
briggs, barks, sch0oners, steamboats,, DC. The
Milford bank, it is said, is not yet broke, as re-
ported in New York some few days since
she only forgot to keep specie on hand in Phila-
delphia, to redeem her notes.
The Bank Of Wilmington and Brandy wine has
been making very large dividends for some
time back. There is very little of anything
here to speculate In except IL be bank stock,
and that Is pretty generally confined to the
directors, who sell ont while the dividends are
large. We have South Sea Company here who
are making great preparations in the way of
steam engines and diving bells for the pearl
fishery In the South Pacific ocean. They count
their profits at 100 per cent. There are still a
few shares Of stock ON hand. The weather con-
tlnues dry, and the corn suffers in proportion.
LAMONT.