Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-02
WASHINGTON HRws AND GOSSIP.
The Contest for the Nomination Cam

| Aoe SonIosI Iol the Nomlnetlon Com.
msnces.-On the 9th instant, Democratic State
conventions for the choice of delegates to the
approaching Cincinnati Convention meet in
Tennessee and Alabama, and on the 10th in
slant in Mississippi, while on the 9Th it will
will be recollected, the National Democrats
committee assemble in this city to determine
at what precise time the Cincinnati Conven-
tion shall come together. These facts have
caused terrible commotion among the Demo.
cratic politicians of all shades, now assembled
in Washington. Very little is seen of it on the
surface Of things, bat there is already heav-
ing to and fro underneath, which must very
shortly result in great bubbling and seeth-
ing on the surface. 1t is now very certain
that there will be at least four gentlemen
prominently urged for the nomination-Mr.
Hunter, of Virginia Mr.. Buchanan, Mr.. Dali
las, and last, but by ne means least important in
his strength before the convention, President
Pierce, for a denomination. All of them have
advocates among the Democratic members
and the numerous leading Democratic politi-
clans who have been in Washington since the
first Monday in December last.
As the different Democratic State conven.
tiOns will all be very soon held, the politicians
of that party among US will have very ex-
cited time of it for the next two months; as
upon their action will depend almost entirely
the solution of the mystery of probable action
of their represents tives at Cincinnati.
No little bad blood and backbiting on the
subject has already been manifested here; and
as there is little reason to believe that the
race Of professional politicians has improved
its code of moral ethics Of late years, we an
ticipate witnessing display of much more of
the same sort Of work.
By the by, the distinguished DR.. Valentine,
of story telling notoriety, is here, and many
believe that he is about to undertake a story
telling electioneering campaign for the benefit
of Mr.. George Laws aspirations for the Pres
idency. Dan Rice, it is well known, has al
ready gone into the canvass heartily, Gin the
ring" in aid of Mr.. Fillmore's aspirations for
the National American party nomination,
shaping all his clowns new jokes of the season
50 as to increase the popularity of the Mr.. F.
with the b'hoys. What, in the Lord name,
are We coming to?
| Parker Il. French.-The District Attorney
of New York, JnO. McKeon, Esq, has recently
had ccasion to address letter to this indi-
vidual, that has found its way into the news.
papers. Its closing paragraph is as follows:
| "The courtesy extended to you is that of
going to Washington and of returning to the
foreign country from whence you claim to
! come as minister, within q reasonable time
In the hope that no further complaint will be
made against you, and in rendering to you my
| best wishes for your safe return to your own
country, remain, &c. &C.,
JOHN McKKoN, U. s District Attorney.
The meaning of this significant intimation,
we take to be, that if French is found in the
United States much longer, the Government,
disregarding his diplomatic pretensions, will
"jug' him on the old charge Of fraud, in pro-
curing arms belonging to the United States
from Lieut.. Benton, of the Army, under false
pretences. That is, by means OF q forged
letter Of credit. 1t seems to be understood
here, that the War Department are nervously
anxious for the expiration of the period Of
courtesy, during which the head of the State
Department may conceive it due to diplomatic
usage to leave him unmolested by the opera
| ton of the crimina al laws Of the land.
| The Comphment.-We know Of no higher
compliment that could possibly have been
| paid to the management of our foreign rela-
tons by the President and his energetic and
sensible Secretary of State, than that involved
in the emphatic endorsement which the posi-
ton of the message treating of our relations
with Britain, growing out of the Central Amer
lean question, uttered on Monday last by Sen
ators Clayton and Seward, in the Senate cham
Der. No other two public men are more sys-
tematically jealous of the policy of the present
administration, and nought but the influence
of strong belief in the entire fitness of all
that the President has done upon that most
important, delicate, and threatening of all
cur pending International questions, would
have induced them thus to come forward in
stantly and proclaim to the world that what
has been done in the premises, meets their en-
tire and hearty approval, and receives their
warm sympathy and suppOrt-such being the
gist of the remarks of both these distinguish
| ed gentlemen.
An Important Treasury Department Or
| derive print below a circular letter, which
will be found of great Importance to all, in all
| quarters of the country, who disburse money
on Government account. 1t is founded on
law passed in the early days of the Republic,
which, strange to say, has, up to the date of
this paper, remained dead letter on the stat
ute book, never having been executed in these
branches of the public service. Its justice and
propriety will strike all readers, and its effec.
cannot fail to be the saving of thousands of dol
lars hereafter to the treasury of the United
States 1t bears date " Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office, December IL,
1885," and is addressed "to P. Clayton, Esq,
| Second Auditor, R T. Atkinson Fso Tb;rd