New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-25

can reduce it to the level Of the meanest capacity.
- Washington bids fair to be fuller and gayer
through the next month than at any time the past
Winter. G'
FROM Our owa Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March %, 1856.
simultaneously with the presentation of Gen.
Jamess bill in the Senate for the repeal of the
duty on wool and the admission of articles entering
into the manufacture of wooden fabrics, free,
perfect shoal of the most notorious of the lobby
members appeared on the ground, to resume their
old vocation. 1t must be confessed that these
auspices do not materially tend to help the new
movement in Congress- or to advance 1t in favor
with the public Such influences as have now as
sembled incline rather to excite suspicion and to
confirm an inclination to prejudice, which already
exists. When discarded ex-members Of Congress,
venal adventurous and desperate politicians, are
employed to aid in procuring special legislation,
honest men may well begin to entertain scruples;
and especially too when the former performances
of these same actors, are not remembered with any
particular credit
The truth is, there is a bad OdOr about, and deep
seated repulsion to- this sort of outside and charac
ferless influence; and even good measure under
such advocacy as has suddenly congregsted here,
NAV be damaged to an rreparable extent. One
of the most notorious brokers' Offices for Congress
siona yOtes-fOr il is no secret that system OF
brokerage has been established-was closed early
in the session under instructions from the parties
interested and if the mercenaries who have just
appeared under the first scent of the spoils were
IA summary recalled, the proposed legislation
which they are asking might be freed from the
odium of such communicating connections.
A portion of the press preserves rigid silence
on such schemes as these, and others that are now
under consideration before some of the commit
tees. But when it is known that this reserve Is
often the result of consideration paid and that
INSCRIPTIONS members of an honorable profession
have become but the instruments of sp0ilsmen the
public surprise may be somewhat diminished.
When newspaper editors are ticketed at SO much
a head, it 10 not much to be wondered at that the
character of journalism should be deprecated
here, and reprOach fastened upon an influential
calling. The same opinion which fixes the oppro-
brium, discrimnates, however, between the guilty
and the innocent.
A bill will soon be reported from the Committee
on Commerce TO extend the provisions and restric
fOns Of the present law in regard to steamboats, to
ferry and other craft driven by steam. The recent
calamity on the Delaware OF itself, If there were
no other reasons, suggests the policy and necessity
of some additional legislation a safeguard for
the valuable lives and property which are exposed
to the imperfect protection of these small aud
rickety steamers. And if the proposed improve
ment would 60 step further and require the
boats pying on particular thOr0ughfares 10 CONFORM
in dimensions and means of security TO the average
travel and transportation, still greater benefit
would be conferred upon the whole public. They
are almost univ ersay used as modes OF conveyance
between the great cities and outlying suburbs on
the rivers and bays. Vast multitudes OF women
and children, without protection, are thus daily
transported, making up probably an annual aggre-
gate of millions One accident might spread s0r-
row and desoatiOn through an entire community,
and therefore the precautionary measures should
Ia equal TO the admitted contingencies of danger.
Ii is now conceded, even by the friends OF Mr..
Douglas that mis- demonstration on Thursday has
wholly failed to accomplish the object at when IL
was aimed. That intended Precipitation OF the
South is refused in some quarters and scorniully
rejected in others, by the indirect application OF
his reasoning in regard to Kansas, TO the resist
ance to Federal authority made by South Caro-
lima, and enuncated as principle of Southern
RIGHTS by the celebrated Nashville Convention.
The Senator from Illinois evidently forgot be was
welding two edged sword, and the back action
in striking was quite as severe upon his friends IN
the rear as bis foes in 'front.'
In the hope of escaping Executive Veto and
in the hope of keeping the President up to the
mark of his approval for the Cape Fear River
the Committee on Commerce have resolved TO re-
port all the appropriations for Rivers and HarbOrs
separately. In this way each one must stand or
fall ON its individual merits aud the President will
thus be required to confront each community that
msy be interested. The Senate has pursued this
policy in the bills already brought in; but the
action in that chamber can hardly be supposed to
have a sympathetic motive with the design in the
other The Rivers and HarbOrs will al least get
9he liberal cOuntenance of Congress, even if they
should fail to receive the sanction of the Executive
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