Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-08
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP
A Deplorsbls Accident to Cen. Csss =

At / o'clock, p. m, to-day, Gen. Cass, in de-
soending the granite steps of the great portico
leading into the rooms of the Interior Depart
ment, fell, and injured himself very severely
indeed, cutting his head. He bled proiusely
Assistance was rendered him as soon as posi-
BILE, under the supervision of DR.. Garnett, who
was Immediately called in. As soon as DR.. G .
could dress his wounds, no was carried on a
mattress, by hand, to his lodgings, a. the Ma
tional Hotel.
At the time We went to press, it was utterly
imJ ossible for Us to obtain satisfactory infcr-
nation relative to the injury he has received
further than that it is very severe.
Those who Immediately surrounded the bed
on which he was transported to his lodgings,
seemed to think his situation critical, all will
be deeply panied to hear.
P. s. We hear that Drs. earn EFT, May,
and Boyle, all of whom were forum stely near
by, were called In, and did all that they could
for the relief of the unfortunate gentleman,
whose situation is critical.
The Mexican Drsfts.-We are glad to hear,
and we are sure that all who value integrity
of dealing on the part of States with private
citizens, will rejoice with US, that General
Almonte, the Mexican Minister, has received
instructions to raise the protest of his Govern
ment against the payment Of the drafts of the
late Government of that country against the
last instalment of the treaty of the Mesillia,
due to sundry citizens of the United States for
monies actually advanced. A considerable
portion of the amount covered by the drafts in
question is said to have been paid yesterday,
at the Treasury.
Believing that this case involves much of
the future of the extension of our foreign COM
merce safely and proftably, we have felt
great anxiety that the enterprising American
houses of Hargous and Aspinwall and others
interested in these drafts, should not be losers
through such malfeasance on the part Of the
Mexican Government as was certainly antici-
pated not long since. 1t recent action through
its minister at this point has, however, hap
PLY relieved its reputation from the stain, in
this connection, that seemed likely to res.
on it.
The Formation Of the Committees .-As
usual after the election of a Speaker, the
army of persons surrounding Congress, inter
ested pecuniarily, directly or indirectly, in its
legislation, are on the Gun ViUe to shape the
selection of the various committees of the
House. 1t is to be expected that gentlemen
involved as principals or attorneys in the fate
of measures which they know are to be passed
on by Congress, will exert themselves to their
utmost, through friends whom they believe to
have influence with the new Speaker, to have
the committees who are to decide on their
cases preliminary to the action upon them of
the whole House, so constructed as to be most
likely to report in favor Of their interests
This occurs around every legislative body in
the world, and as our country has been in
creasing in prosperity and wealth and in the
extent and variety of the private interests
locked up with those of the publici 1T has year
by year been increasing at this point, until
the skill and the talent employed, and the
| ramifcations of the combinations of that skill
and those talents to control the legislation of
Congress without permitting the body to know
how it is being done, confessedly battles the
astuteness Of all the shrewd and energetic
members who Sc: their faces against such
practices.
Honorable gentlemen who fail at nothing
else, find themselves mere novices in the mat
ter OF contending against the unseen and ap-
parently unaccountable influences that are
brought to bear to shape the action of Con.
gress where private interests are deeply in
volved. They feel their weakness, however,
when opposed by such combinations; and with
modification realize the steady progress in
our land of the great antagonist of practical
liberty and civil equality-special privilege.
On Monday next the new Speaker is to name
the various standing committees of the House,
nearly half of which are to be charged with
the investigation of subjects that, if dis
posed Of without due consideration, or with d.
out constantly keeping in view the con-
servation Of the great principle of public
and private justice, not only the public
treasury, but private interests may, nay,
surely will, be injured to the extent of
terprising individuals, many of whom make a
trade of specializing in legislation.
We know case occurring some years ago,
in which, on the recommendation of the ablest
and most venerated legal names of the coun.
try surrsptitiously obtained, Judiciary Com
| mittee were induced to report a general bill
to effect the final decision Of particular case
that had long been before the courts. Of
| course, the members of the committee were
not permitted to know for what particular
| purpose they were being used nor, indeed
to know who were using them. We refer to
this example by way of illustration of the fact
We endeavor to elucidate above.
The construction of the Committee on Pat.
ents seems this year to be the chief cause Of
'olieitude on the part of the army of drum
mers by whom the doors of Congress are now
surrounded. Efforts will doubtless be made