Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-25
WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WAsHMHT0N NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The very last Clemens Letter.-Washington
has been not little excited for forty sight
hours over . letter written BY Ex-senator
Clemens, Of Alabama, to the editor of the
Huntsville Alabama Advocate, wherein that
gentleman says:
But few days since, in conversation
WITH Northern Senator and myself, he Presi-
dent Plercel gave it as his decided opinfon
mat Douglass bill was q proposition . in favor
Oh ireedom'-and added that if it should pass
although We might absorb the whole of
Mexico, not another Stare State sconld eUer
come into the Union He expressed great
surprise at the opposition it met with from the
North, and equal surprise that the South
should be willing to take it. I agreed with
him fully, and could not help recurring to the
scratagem by which the Greeks effected the
destruction Of Troy
Such an understanding of the words of Pres
ident Pierce is, of course, sufficient to explain
the excitement on the subject of this letter.
which has existed here, as above explained.
Now, it is known around the city, in politi-
cal circles, that Col. Clemens, yesterday, on
seeing the above extract from his letter to Mr..
Davis, in other journals, with comments which
he did not conceive to be warranted by what
ne meant to express, promptly addressed to the
President note, in which he remarked that
he did not pretend, in his letter to Mr.. Davis,
to give General Pierce's language, and thinks
it very probable that he misunderstood his re-
marks. He is said to add in this note, that the
President did not express surprise that the
South should be willing to take the Nebraska
bill.'' But surprise that the men of the North,
who intend to give the South their rights under
the Constitution, should hesitate to supper.
Judge Douglas bill, when the South were
willing to take it," The President, as we un-
derstand Mr.. Clemens says in this explanatory
note, has always, whenever they have con-
versed upon the subject, expressed himself
warmly in favor Of the principle of tho terrific
rial bill now pending Namely that of popular
sovereignty; and has always insisted that the
bill was just for both sections of the confeder-
acy, and that both ought to support it. Mr..
Clemens, however, probably does not concur
with the President in that view, if we NAV
draw conclusions from his letter to Mr.. Davis.
The Proposed Observation-Disclosures
efforts are just now being made to organize all
the possible elements Of opposition in the
House. The scheme is the work of the "Con-
science party, which desires to lead in the
eyes of the country, of course in the hope of
turning to their own advantage the mass of
any INSTRUMENTATION combination they may
manage to make. The Wings, as a party, do
nottake to them. The lobby (which has cause
to realize that the Administrations emphatic
opposition to their plans, one and all, has
done much to render the prospects for their
success this winter so exceedingly blue) is
working manfully to perfect the desired secret
organization. Every nominal democratic mem
Der who is known for a disappointed man. is
being sounded cautiously to ascertain how far
he is willing to 60 in the work of aiding to
defeat the measures of the Government As
such gentlemen do not care to show their hands
in such work, for their accommodation the
game Of this combined opposition will be
played as far as possible on questions, and
under circumstances, in which it will prove ex-
ceedingly difficult to fasten on those who
are secretly aiding it, the fact that they are
rowing one way, while seeming to look 10 ano-
Their direction.
1t strikes US that they have at last fairly
bagged some of the New York Hards, from the
fact that the Southern members are just now
any thing but complimentary to those gentle
mon, whom criticising their professions by the
light of their practice Ever since the last
split took place in " the party in New York,
We have steadily proclaimed the belief that
the Hards were, most of them, very slippery.
Again and again We have taken occasion to
call public attention to the fact. We believe
that, so soon, they have demonstrated to the
satisfaction of all in Congress, that it will be
exceedingly unsafe to calculate in any case
that they will stand by what they vaunt as
their principles, if it appears likely in the re-
hottest degree that they can make point
against the President, by proclaiming to the
world in their votes, that their professions are
q mere cloak to conceal purposes they dare not
avow. That man does not live who believes
that their cause of disaAsction springs from q
higher source than that of disappointment in
the division of the "spoils;;' OF who is not
satisfied that, had they been permitted to die
tate the Administration policy with reference
to the distribution of Office to New Workers
from first to last, they would have been the
most earnest partizans of the present Admins
tration. These facts are now so very patent
as to deprive them, utterly, of the slightest
sympathy on the part of the few Democratic
members Of Congress who were at first reluc-
tant to find them failing to carry their point
with the National Administration Of course
We except tho two or three sympatbising gen.
tlemen who have personal grievances of their
own, at heart. .a.-.
We make these remarks, because we find
that some Of the Hards are still bent on play
ing fast and loose; aiming, evidently, to effect
objects which they dare not proclaim. They
have fairly entered into tho combination refer
red to above, and 30 far, are tho only nominal
Democrats who have been roped into it, past
all chance for . withdrawal in time to save
their connection with "the party" .i'
We feel very certain that the main body of
the party in the House are being worked
up, rapidly, to the point of driving of all, who
protesting to be true to their organization
II