Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-09
Correspondence Of the Times.
WAsmINcrox, Dec. q, 1856.

we have strong reason to infer that they are trav-
elers from your section of the country; at least
they have the smack Of the North, and
give our Southern bellies an embrace that is more
feeling than agreeable. If the earth here only
had the white robe which nature kindly spread
over her. at the North, to protect her from the too
fierce embrace of winter, we might without any ef-
fort OF the imagination, fancy ourselves few de-
grees nearer the North pole than geographcrs as
sure us we are. But a reverie Of that kind might
chance to be knocked to pieces like child's card
house, by some such apparition as that which just
now meets my eye, to wit, an old rickety one
horse cart with boards and sticks set on end in
side of it, and the space thus made fllqd with
ssucks, or husks of corn, followed by an Old negro
rugged out in s'a coat of many colors'' and as ma
ny pieces, with an old fur cap, or what was once,
and preceded by two animals, one before the 9TH
or, which have four legs, and arc here called hor-
ses. Such sight as this, say would at once dis,
pei the hallucination of being at the North, and
bring us back to the plain matter of fact that we
in land where shiftlessncss results from sla-
very naturally thrift from industry, enterprise
and economy.
Now do not infer that am setting up for phi
lantropist, and disposed to join the abolitionists
in their wild, impracticable schemes no such
thing. If slavery is a curse, it is curse to the
masters and not to the slaves. The condition of
any 10000 or 100000 blacks in the slave states,
take them where you may, is better than the con-
dition of a like number taken from any part of
their own country, except from the colonies that
hovo hoo oI n hx, A
cans. The negro is made for the tropical regions
and hot countries, not for cold regions and even
the temperature of this climate is uncongenial to
to his nature but take them into such an one as
Canada, and they will soon run out and disappear.
He, therefore, who would preserve the race,
should provide means to send them South, rather
than under ground railroads to enable them to 60
north; as servants, they may be made tolerable,
provided they are in a state of absolute subjec-
ton; but if not, they intoerablc, and consti-
tutc the greatest trials of house keeping.
Since my last letter was dispatched, various
subjects of more or less Importance have been up
in the two branches of Congress. In the House,
MIR. Mace, Democrat, of Indiana, brought forward
proposition to re-cstablish the Missouri Com
promise, which was the subject of debatc-Mr.
Mace, Mr.. Washburnc, of Me-, Mr.. Stephens, Of
Ga, MIR. Campbell, of Ohio, and some others ta-
king part. Mr.. Oliver, of Missouri, few days
ago obtained permission of the House to read
speech from Mr.. Benton, on this subject, at Mr..
BPS request, he being absent at Boston. This is
new innovation, and one which should not be
countenanced. 1t is quite enough that members
themselves, when present, read speeches; but to
have them read by others when they are away, is
going quite too far in the boring line. '.
In the House, too, Know Nothingism has been
the subject of attack and defence the assailant
being Mr.. Barry of Miss, and the champion of the
'American Party,'' Mr.. Banks of Nas,., Demo-
crat. ti a.r2 f" .-i va SAG IH -r-F
In the Senate the proposition to establish
board of claims, was discussed and referred to a
select committee who have reported in favor of
establishing court, which shall adjudcate all pri
vatc claims against the government. The judges
constituting this court, to be appointed as other
U. S. Judges are. This plan will probably be f.
nally adopted, but whether by this or a future
Congress is more than can say. Any change
from the present system must be a change for the
better, for that operates denial of justice,
makes it so expensive and vexatious of obtainmcnt
as to amount to the same thing.
In the Senate also has been and still is under
consideration, bill to establish s'Law Depart
mcnt" of the government. The bill proposes to
s., into Department, and to make the Office of
Solicitor of the Treasury Bureau of said Depart
ment, the Solicitor to be hereafter denominated,
the Solicitor Of the U. S. 1t also provided for the
appointment of an assistant Attorney General,
and transfers from the Department of the Interior
the supervision &c. of the amounts of Judges,
Marshalls, Clerks of U. S. Courts &c, to the Law
Department. The bill also makes provisions for
auditing and adjusting of the amounts against the
Z. s., giving to the First Auditor those of the
Treasury Department; to the Second those of the
Interior; to the Third those of the War; to the
Fourth those of the Navy; to the Fifth those of
the State and Land Department.; to tho Sixth
those of the General Post Office. This is good
arrangement, and will greatly simplify the duties
of the government accounting officers.
The only debates which have taken place cal
culatcd to excite any feeling in either House, are
those mentioned upon Mr.. Mace's proposition,
and upon Know Nothingism and these created
but slight ripple upon the face Of the placid
waters. Know Nothingisn, or the ss ssAmcrican
Party" creates more talk outside of " the bar Of
the House, than any other subject, save that of
the war in the Crimea. 1t is so mysterious and
at the same time SO powcrful,--is so invisible,
and yet SO perccptiblc in its effects, that those
who have heretofore denounced it, and scould do
so now, are perplexed and intimidated. They are
like men who, hearing the solemn warning, Island
from under !" feel q dread of danger, yet know
ing not where to go to get into place of safety.
When Democrats see their old strong holds, vir-
ginia and New Hampshire giving way, and the
walls of these fortrcsscs crumbling under the un-
seen and unheard attacks of the Know Nothings;
and when they look around for the foe and draw
their trenchant blades to destroy him, hut ean see
no one, Is it not calculated to cause them alarm
and trepidation? Now both of these States are
as certain 10 fall into the hands of the American
Party, at their next election, ms that those ecc-
tions are to take place is useless for any ono to
rail or complain; an american feeling is at
length arousedIn the breasts Of Americans They
have borne and forcborne until forbearance has
ceased to be a virtue. They have submitted to
the dictates Of foreigners courtsd by both parties
but allied chiefly with the Democracy, until re-
yuls:on has taken nIacc and nov fhe cnyrcnt of