Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-06-01
WASHINGTON NEWS And GOSSIP.
Til. uaxu HArk Hards and their Address. :


i WASHINGTON NEWS And GOSSIP.
The New York Hards and their Address. -.
After the House went into committee of the
Whole, yesterday, debate ensued, which will
be long remembered for its wit, brilliancy,
humor and downright sledge- hammer blows
Mr.. Perkins. of Louisiana, having the floor, he
took occasion to notice the manifesto, procla
nation, or pronunciamento, of the FIVE New
York Hards, which appeared in the National
| Intelffgeneer, of yesterday. This prociama-
ton is addressed to the constituents of these
five members, and is evidently put forth, not
only to palliate and excuse their palpabls
treachery to the party which had warmed
them into political existence, but to render
that treachery as destructively mischieyous as
possible. Mr. Perkins read from the address
in which they (the five Hards aforesaid) say
that the anuulment of the Missouri compro-
mise of 1920 was the first of a series of mea-
sures long pl emeditated and deliberately pur-
sued, having for its object great sectional or
southern party, Of which the President was
designed to become the leader; and further
| that it is designed, in connection, to purchase
reckless of expense, territory from Mexico to
increase the limits of slavery and perfect the
| political symmetry of the South Mr.. P. de-
clared that if the address had stopped here
he would have regarded it as undeserving of
notice. 1t was the following extract from the
| address which he desired should be brought to
public attention:
"In pursuance of the same political scheme
| it was determined, at an early day, to acquire
Cuba, utterly reckless of consequences. To
| that end gentleman was selected to represent
| this country at the Court of Madrid, whose ap
| p0intment eccasiOned alarm in the minds Of
| those who were acquainted with. his DISPOSE
| ton, manners and political sentiments. Whe-
| Their he attempted to open negotiations for the
peaceable acquisition of Cuba is not known,
but it is certain that no success attended his
| efforts, if any were made. The seizure of the
Black Warrior by the authorities at Havana
| afforded Mr.. Soule, as We are credibly inform
| cd, the opportunity to address communica
| ton to the Spanish government, so insOlent in
| tone, SO peremptory in manner, and couched
| in language of a character so insulting, as to
| render compliance with his demands in the
highest degree improbable.
| Mr.. P. Indignantly denied that any attempts
had been made, or were now making, to erect
great Southern or sectional party. The utter
| Stiffness of the charge was its own contradic-
| ton. And so with the alleged designs on
| Cuba, and the official conduct Of our Minister
| to Spain, Mr.. Soule. The whole charges, al
legations, and specifications of the address,
were manufactured out of newspaper reports
and street gossip and they must, necessarily,
melt and dissolve in their own weakness. Mr..
Maurice (Hard) attempted to vindicate the ad.
dress, by asserting and re-asserting that the
statements which he and his colleagues had
put forth must be true, as they had been
| :'credibly informed that such was the case;
| but on sitting the matter, it leaked out that
credible information meant newspaper re.
| ports and statements. 1t was no doubt az
much a relief to Mr.. Maurice as it was to the
| House, when he got through with his excuses
| Mr. Maurice was followed by ex-Governor
Smith, of Virginia, (or as he is more familiarly
known, Extra Billy,'') in a short, SHARP
speech, that was literally crushing. Members
gathered around the eloquent Virginian, and
seemed to enjoy the cutting up and laying out
Of the unfortunate &" Hards,'' with an outward
relish not often manifested on the floor of the
House We have heard of victims being tick
led to death by their tormentors; of bene
iayed alive; of being g cut to mince meat by
some sabreing savage; Of being hanged anc
quartered; and of being quietly deprived o
life under slow roast. Mr.. Smith seemed t.
he perfectly familiar with all these modes Of
ital ali Hp nffi 10
tons of these five hard" gentlemen of New
York, with all shades of opposition; Of thei
abandonment Of Democratic principles; o
their factious hostility to the Administr atiol
and the National Democratic party; ant
wound up by declaring that their detection
would prove a party gain or, to use Mr.
smiths own words, at the democratic, like tn
physical body, have occasionally to throw Of
its excrescences and impurities
The severest blow which the poor ''Hards'
have yet received, is at the hands of their &C
knowiedged organ, the New York Herald; bu
when did the Herald ever spare friend or foe
when doa0aa? That organ Of the "Hards' thu
notices their address:
" Messrs Maurice Wheeler, Peck, Peck
ham, and Oliver, who betrayed their prin
ciples by voting against the Nebraska bill
have been sInilten with remorse, and hav
given vent TO their feelings of contrition in
small octave pamphlet. Had they been me-
of sense, they would have voted for the bill
the first place; o., at all events. having fool
, shly voted against it. they would not hav
borrowed arguments from the free sellers t
justify the act. This, however, is what Messrs
Maurice, Wheeler, Peck, Peckham and Olive
have done. Their justification is a rehash G
the abolition arguments against the BILL an
is dreadfully dull at this stage Of the business
1t will have a double effect. As members
Congress it will prove them to be men of n
; vgor or originality; as national democrats,
will utterly destroy them"
|, Postmasters Franking Privileges.-An
postmaster whose fees for the previous fscs
year, ending Both June, did not exceed $2O(
: may send and receive, free of postage, all le
tiers written by, or addressed to himself, NJ
= exceeding half an ounce. He cannot send c
receive any description of printed matter, no
send or receive an letters Gree writer By
or addressed to his wife, or any other membe
of his family, or by or to firm of which he
n member; neither is he authorized to fran
2 letters containing money or other things, nc
\ letters written by himself on business of other
Presidents Proclamation .--Subjoined is tn