Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-17

alive upon the mind of Congress, we presume,
to continue, as of late years, to kill any Ben
ton proper position whatever, that he may
bring forward.
French Spoliati,ns.-The distant public
have little idea of the contraptions' and
contrivances being essayed to bring about the
triumph of the spoliation bill, and, least of all,
probably, have the members of the House who
will exert themselves most to secure it's an act
ment. Those who manage its affairs outsid.
are exceedingly wary at this-Mr. Letcher's
commissioning worked wonders, apparently,
upon their organ of discretion. Neyerthe.
less, they have assembled at this point any
number of representatives fof both sexes,
OF the claimants, who, some two generations
back, for the most part, were put under the
Sod The aggregate amount sought to be taken
from the treasury On this account being i'm.
mensely large, the style of approach for votes
is extensively varied. Every member las lad
put at him some person from or in hi district
purporting to be an original claimant or
descendant from some such person, we take it
for granted. In the mean while it seems to
us that the enormous amount which must b ave
been expended in travelling expenses, board
bills, advertising accounts, &c, to compass
the enactment Of the spoliation bill, is just 10
much money thrown away; inasmuch az all
shrewd observers conclude, from the tone of
tae Administration upon it, that the Prssi
dents executive record upon it will surely
tally exactly with his legislative record in
that connection. Nor do we think that it
can pass the House Of Representatives,
though the electionsering for its success
before that body is generally understood
| to have been unprecedented in tho history
Of the legislation Of the Ameries2 Con-
gross, which is supposed to have furnished
precedents for almost anything conceivable in
that way.
ihe Smithsonian Ipstitution.-The Intel
ltgeneer, which, having repaired the damage
| referred to in another column, appeared at
10 a. N to day, contains the Journal of tho
proceedings of the smithsonian institution.
This is by'no means the publication required
by the exigencies of tho case, inasmuch as it
gives the public any thing but correct idea
Of what the proceedings thus journal sed really
were. The publication in question, under the
circumstances, amounts to nothing moro than
an effort, as it WERE to hide all real light upon
| what has taken place in the secret sessions of
| the Board, while seemirg to be publishing
them to the world
A Refutation.-As an act of justice to Mr..
Forney, we make room for the following com.
plete refutaticn of an improper charge:
M-sSrs. Editors Permit me to make a
few plain statements through the columns of
your valua bic paper, in answer to an article
headed " More Forneyism," which appea red
in the American Organ of yesterdays date.
The Clerk of the House of Representatives
is required by law to publish, at the close of
each session, list of all appropriations made
! for the public service.
About July Oath last not being acquainted
with Mr.. Forney, [ requested member to
introduce me to him, and in whose presence [
| made my application, and the Clerk of tho
House told me l might insert the advertise
| ment into tho columns of the National Demo
| KRAFT.
Tae advertisement appeared on October 2ls.
II y
Demokrat. 1t was likewise published by the
National Inteiigencer, Union, Evening Star,
| WashiDgton News and Metropolitan The
American Organ was not then yet in existence
| Hence all papers OF this city, the National
| Era excepted, published this advertisement
When the Clerk of the House directed me
to insert the advertisement into my paper, not
one word was said concerning the principles
was to advocate; nor ever afterwards
L a ~ he III
saw, except on the day of his Inauguration,
and once or twice in the streets. never had
| any communica ton with him, directly or in
| directly. on this or any other subject.
Mr.. Florence was addressed by me in Octo-
Der last. and I requested him to get ms
written order from the Clerk of the House of
Representatives, (both being then in PhiIa.
| delphia,) having hoard such was the usual
practice, and having further heard from the
Chief Clerk that the name of my paper had
not yet been entered upon the advertisement
list.
My paper was printed by Messrs. Buell. and
Blanchard, and the number cont tanning tho
| advertisement was sent not as tho Organ has
| 1t, to fifty or one hundred " but to t.oo thou
| sand subscribers. 1t was mailed by Mr..
Jonas, now clerk in the Office of the Ameri-
| can Organ.
The gentleman, who Is produced as a wit
"a
letter is now before us,'' ia MI. William
| blanchard, who did himself give me infor-
nation Of this fact to-day in his Office.
Now, last summer l told Mr. Blanchard,
who printed the National Demokrat for me,
that [ had procured translate ,ns Of the Con-
stitution of the United Statesinto the German,
French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch AID Norwe-
gian languages that I intended to have them
stereotyped and would try to get a resolution
passed by the Senate and House of Rspresen-
tatives to take 10000 copies for each body
These are I" the documents to be st.reotyped
tor the next Presidential election
had note of mine passed by one Of the
banks of this city, endorsed by Mr.. Blanchard
said note was not paid at maturity, aud Mr..
Blanchard refused to endorse a renewal. So
the note was protested. On January 1, 1855,
l received letter from Mr.. Blanchard, closing
with the following words 81 will state that f
the note is not paid, [ think know O way of
enforcing it; at least l know q way of stopping
Mr. Sohmidt's progress with his new friends. 3
The note was paid on January 3, 1855.
That the American Organ should be so
shocked with Mr.. Schmidt's anti slavery sen.
timents, is rather testfe surprising, inasmuch
as Mr. VIM. Blanchard, the printer of the
National Era is, as q stockhoider. interested