Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-01
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
What's to Become Of it .-Washington con-
tains INA grsafess litsrary treAsnfnin.Amerioa,
though its existence even, il unknown to nine.
tsntbs Of tho people Of the United States. We
refer to the American historical library of Col.
Peter Force. For perhaps thirty years, Col.
T.. has been collecting psihssd bools and man
uscripts bearing on the history of all portions
Of America, and the islands adjacent to Amer
lean coasts. He is the editor Of the q Ansricsn
Archives" the computation Of A1nericsh revo-
iutionary state and military papers, which for
years past has been in the course of publica-
ton under the orders of Congress, the full
value Of which will hardly be generally ap-
pre;iated for a century; when 1t will be
known, the world over, as the only perfectly
reliable history Of the American Revolution.
In preparing to do Justice to this great work,
Col Force has managed to collect perhaps
twenty thousand printed volumes, and as many
volumes Of manuscripts, or single manuscripts
Of interest and Importance bearing on the his
tory Of this continent, from its original discov-
cry by the Mortimer, to this day, and treating
OF America and all conceivable purely Anne
rican topics. From the first printed account
of the voyage of Columbus Gin LATIN down to
complete files of the leading newspapers of the
day, one may find in this library copy of
of every thing now known to have been pub
lished likely to throw light upon an American
historical, or otherwise public question. In
rsvnfo lon 81
rich. From Washington's orderly book in the
campaign which ended in Braddock's defeat;
nay, from manuscripts written by persons taken
part in the expedition Of the earlier Spanish,
French and American discoveries, down to
original letters upon public affairs, written by
the statesmen Of our country of the day, every
thing of interest which industry or money
could procure to make the collection complete,
graces it. One sees there ponderous tones of
official records never yet in print, copied from
the archives Of European governments at the
cost Of thousands Of dollars. Signatures, let
ters and dispatches from the pens of English
sovereigns, from Elizabeth to George ", if
We remember correctly, and from those of many
other European crowned heads; familiar let
tiers from all who have in any way impressed
their influence upon American public affairs,
from first to last, &C., &c.
The world holds no other such collection of
general American history. This is universally
acknowledged by all we'll informed persons
who have examined it. As yet, the country at
large have not the slightest idea of its national
value. For, as general thing, people must
exist much longer than We have yet existed as
nation, to appreciate the true value of such
means of preserving faithful mirror of their
own past times. Though it is probable that
this collection embraces very much which has
been elsewhere preserved, it is certain that no
other library in the world contains 1.-THE as
much concerning America, which has been pre-
served no where else.
We have often asked ourseIves-what is
eventually to become of these books and pa.
pers? Col. Force cannot live always, and at
his death, if not sold entire, it must be broken
up; for it embraces much, for which bibliol-
ogists Of the old world, where they understand
the true value Of such things, would cheerfully
give ten times their weight in gold Wegrow
jealous whenever it strikes US that in this way
these historical treasures may be eventually
spirited away rs it were. The United States arc
their proper custOdians, and they should form a
portion of the Library of Congress. The states
man who may originate and carry through some
proposition, under which they shall become the
property Of the General Government, to be
preserved for all time, will confer benefit on
pOsterity, indeed.
The Caucus Last Night, assembled in the
Capitol at the hour appointed. Seventy five
members were within the bar, and about ten
| outside Of the bar, but within the doors of the
Hall. Mr.. Orr was made chairman, and Messrs
Ingersoll and Florence secretaries There is
said to have been some debate ere they came
to vote, principally as to tho competency of
the caucus to bind the Democratic party in the
House Mr.. Lane, of Indiana, We hear, took
| occasion to complain of the way in which he
coneeives himself to have been treated by the
| President, in the matter of an appointment or
| appointments in his State and district. It is
we'll known here, by the by, that Mr. L., and
| Mr.. John L. Robinson, now U. s. Marshal for
Indiana, do not love each other Mr. L. is
supposed to think that Mr.. R. uses his Office 50
As to defeat his reelection to Congress, and
conceives for that and other reasons, that the
President should withhold RS nomination
from the Senate. Hence, we take it for granted
arose Mr.. Lanes complaints in the caucus last
night. We hear, however, that while protest
ing against the treatment he holds that he has
received from the Administration, he declared
that he acknowledged the obligation upon him
to sustain whoever might be their nominee.
Mr.. Pratt, Of Connecticut we learn, spoke
against the nomination of Judge Nicholson (as
the party's candidate for House printer) be-
cause the Union under his control had urged
the repeal Of the Missouri compromise. Mike
Walsh, who voted on preliminary questions,
left the Hall, we hear, ere the nomination was
made; saying, under an erroneous impression,
that there was not majority of the Demo
cratic members present, which he held, alb
solved him from the obligation to sustain its
action. MI. Fenton, when his name was called
in making the choice, is said to have excused
himself, on the ground that he had come in at
30 late period as to prevent him from under
standing what had been going On sufficiently