Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-02-10
WASHINGTON NEWS AND aossIr.

hr. Ed5srton on thu star-The dis.in-
guishsd gentleman from Ohio, (Mr Edgerton,)
VINO took occasion, yesterday, to rap US over the
kouekles for calling the attention of the
Country, before the opening of the last session
OF Congress, to the efforts which we then
thought would be made to influence the Iegis
latiOn of the body, in various cases, is our
creditor. We lowe him one,'' inasmuch as II
Is very clear that the country does not enter
tain an opinion Of our labors, similar to his,
as expressed 10 the course Of his speech to
which we refer We are by 10 means dis
posed to quarrel with him for the hard things
he said against Us on that occasion. The re-
ply Of Mr.. Eddy to that portion of his re
marks, which was involved in his (Mr. E 's)
defence of himself and his colleagues on the
Letcher committee, embraced more than our
modesty will permit Is to say for ourselves.
The country is rapidly coming to understand
the fact that the Star Is very useful "insti-
tuition" indeed. saying just what its conduc-
tors think it should say, on public affairs,
without the slightest thought of persons or
parties We strive TO tell the public tho
truth, and although, as all newspaper men do
in these days, at times We may occasionally
color matters somewhat too highly under the
influence of what +. p Blair used to STYLE
'the excitement of composition" we do pre-.
sent the public with such an avalanche of
truthful news from Washington, as that those
to whom the truth, the whole truth, and moth
ing but the trath is distasieful, dread Us as
a somewhat famous old gentleman Of another
region is said to dread ''holy water
In the article from the Star, which Mr.
EdgeIton did Us the favor to read to the House
yesterday, not word is said against the in
tegriIy Of Congress. 1t simply embraced a
warning to the members, and had the effect,
as Mr. Edgerton explained, of fixing public
attention with great earnestnsss on the pro-
ceediDgs Of Congress. 1t waf>penned more
than year ago, and the circumstances which
led US to write it have, for the most part,
passed out Of our memory, for we exist in a
constant whirl and whiI of shifting ciroum.
stances, making up the Star of the day al.
most entirely on the occurrences and ideas
aaOat in political, Executive, and Congress
sional CIRCLES Of the Federal metropolis, in
the twenty four hours Immediately preceding
each issue Of our journal. Yesterday, We
published a letter from New Mexico, bearing
estimony-evidently heartfelt testimony-of
many prominent citi.sns of that far of section
of the confederacy, to the value of our labors
as journalists and, to-day, have the so great
pleasure Of acknowledging the compliment in
vOlyed in what was SAID Of us in the House
hall by Mr.. E. We know that be did not in
tend II as compliment. Yet it, nevertheless |
was One-an abiding one in its probable iriiu-
ence on the public mind.
We shall strive to continue to deserve "6rst
rate noices" at the hands of our friends of
all parties
The surpriss.-No one in Washington, out
side Of the Cabinet and the State Department,
had the least idea that the result of the delib-
erations Of Mr. Breckenridge, of Ky whether
or not TO accept the Spanish mission, would
be his dsclenson of that SO very aattering
appointment 1t was supposed that in asking
time 10 deliberate, he was playing of the
usual seeming coyness of the man in public
life. We never knew an appointment to give
greater satisfaction than his, to all men of all
parties in Congress. The unanimity with
which 1t was hailed WAS, perhaps, unprece-
dented in the history Of American public |
affairs, notwithstanding the fact that be is one
ofthe most devoted friends Of the Administra. |
ton now liz this city. The mission itself being
regarded as one Of the very best prizes within
the Presidents gift, all supposed that he would
accept it His announcement Of different
purpose, therefore, camo upon the House yes
terday almost like an electric shock.
The subsequent announcement Of the nomi-
nation and instant confirmation of the Hon. |
Senator Dodge, of Iowa, to the position made
vacant By the declension Of Mr.. Brsckinridge,
was as unexpected as the act of Mr.. b. We
need hardly say that his appointment was as
unexpected to himself as that Of Mr.. Breck- |
Ihridge, it being understood that the receipt |
Of the latter was instantly followed 10y the