Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-16
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON NEWs AND GOSSIP.
The Change Of Ministers at the Court Of
Spain, as announced here yesterday afternoon,
tit being erroneously said that the Hcn. j. c.
Breckinridge had been unaninousIy confirmed
to that position took every one in Washing
ton, not in the secret, completely BY surprise,
though 1t was we'll known to many personal
friends Of Mr. soule that he had made up his
mifa to retire from Madrid whenever he
should become satisfied that his labors at that
point for the acquisition of Cuba, could not
possibly prove successful. The occurrences
in the Spanish Cortez Chamber, referred to
ia another column Of the Star, to day, explain
the circumstances under which Mr.. s. became
satisfied that he could do nothing more, likely
to induce Spain to sell US tho island.
It is presumed that the Adm nissration kept
to themselves the fact of his resign alton, in
order to be entirely free from the smbarrass-
ment of tie strenuous urging of conflicting
claims Of rival aspirants for the position, in
making the necessary selection. The country
taken the mission out Of the miro of partizan
politics, in selecting to fill it, gentleman
whose name had but to be mentioned in the
Senate of the United States, in connection
with the position, to be received by the mem
bers of that body with unanimous acclama.
ton, there being mono indisposed to confirm
him instantly. We need say little of Mr..
Breckenridge after this really remarkable sen.
atori al demonstration as the times run, further
than that be is credited by all public men OF
all parties now here, for being the best pos
sible selection for the post thas the President
could have made, among all the!public men of
the Democratic party.
By-the-by, the manner in which the secret
was guarded is an illustration Of the utter
falsity of the boasts of the New York Herald
and other " such like" journals, that they oh
tain this and that wonderful intelligence from
that Department of the Government Such
journals do at times obtain garbled informa-
ton from looss-jawed officials abroad or per-
sons associating with them, more especially
where the former are disappointed or discon-
tented and, here, from individuals who are
identified with claims on foreign Governments,
DC, who must necessarily be in possession of
s)me smattering of knowledge of tho move
ments of the State Department in their own
cases. This is the key to the fact that, under
the bushel of the chat of untruth and mis-
representation concerning our affairs abroad,
which the Herald publishes almost daily, once
in 4 great while there may be discovered o
grain of truth
Mr.. Soule is expected to return to the United
States by the LIST of March.
The North W. tho south.-The facts being
ELECTED in the current controversy in the
House hall between Messrs. Stephens Of Ca,
and Campbell, of Ohio, is worthy Of the atten
ton Of all rejecting mon of the country, mas
much as it is eliciting the publication to the
world Of an avalanche Of interesting facts,
statistical, historical, and otherwise bearing
on the future political economy of our Govern
mont which are eminensly worthy of public
attention, and, properly appreciated, bid fair
to dispel the influence of the mass of mis-
representation concerning the South - her
political history as part Of the Confederacy,
and her future prospects.
Dir. Stephens began it, by declaring that
the South, as general thing, only asked Of
the North that she would keep her hands out
of her the South 81 pockets; and by instituting
some time since comparison between the
enterprise and productions of Ohio and Geor-
gia, in which the former was made to cut q
sorry figure, comparatively.
MI Campbell, in reply, confined himself
almost wholly to the pocket charge, holding
that the South had mulcted the national
Treasury heavily for the purchase Of
Louisiana and Florida, for the acquisition of
Texas, the Mexican war DC. Mr. Stephens
rejoined yesterday, showing that the purchase
Of Louisiana and Florida were national and
not sectional achievements, and had In every
conceivable way been for the benefit of tho
North, rather than of the South that the
United States had acquired by purchase some
two millions seven hundred thousand square
over nine hundred thousand square miles had
been devoted to the institutions and settlement
Of the North, and but over seven hundred
thousand square miles to the institutions of
and settlement by the South particularly
In tie matter Of Texas, he showed, further.
that nearly two thirds of that acquisition lay
north of SO deg. 80 min, and that it must
ultimately become an acquisition for the ben.
eft of the North
We are without space in which to follow
the line of argument of either of these gentle
men, both of which, so far, have proved them
selves IN this controversy to be exceedingly
astuts and able legislative statesmen.
Ii has been conducted with most commend
able dignity and fairness; and having attract.
cd universal attention at this point, cannot
fail to prove exceedingly interesting to tho
country at largo.