New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-04-21
WASHINGTON Correspondence, ].
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[FRoM o.UR SPECIAL ooRREsPoNpENTsl
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1856. II
The debate in the Senate on Thursday, on the
question Of the reception of a memorial from the
spurious Legislature Of Kansas, was decidedly the
most interesting Of anywhich have yet heard. IT.
was participated in by the leading men of the body
Butler, Cass, Crttenden, Benjamin. tRusk, Seward,
and several others. AS Ibefore advised you the pc
tition was secuted from the Senate almost unani
mously. Three Senators only Seward, Sumner and
Harlan-voted to receive it.
The speeches Of Judge Butler, Mr.. Crittenden and
MI. Benjamin, were, in my opinion, the best that
were delivered. Twas particularly pleased with that
Of Mr.. Benjamin, whom heard on Thursday for the
first time In not only the graces of the orator. but
in beautiful eocution and forcibe defamation, he
stands equal to any man in the Senate His denun-
citation of Seward and his cohorts was one OF the
keenest, as well most whitening that have ever
heard. It brought wildly to mind the scene which
the historian has handed down to us, of the sudden
andimpetuous onslaughiupon Catalina inthe Senate
of Rome, by her magnificent orator. 5 1@$ a
But the most exciting encounter was that between
Mr.. Crittenden and Mr.. Seward. After Seward found
out that there was scarcely corporas guard of the
Senate with him, he began to grow desperate and
abusive-and charged Mr.. Crittendens criticisms of
the memorial with being unworthy X of him, and
more becoming county court lawyer than the pre-
sence of the Senate Of the United States. Mr. Crit
tenden's reply was one Of the most scathing and
terrible that the Senate has witnessed for long time.
He said, among other things, that he acas lawyer,
and was proud Of it-but that he would rather be a
professional lauyer. even of county court, than
professional politician, (pointing his finger at Seward
and looking him sternly in the eye) "He may
Think, continued Mr.. Crittenden, 6 that it is I'M
worthy Of me, but must say that suspect his pur
pose. It's for no public good-for no public pur-
pose but for agitation, for party, for sectional
purposes against the interests OF the country and its
peace and harmony. Isay that much, sir. The gen.
tleman may think that this is q suspicion unworthy
Of Senator tell him that that depends on the
Senator to whom it is applied" ~.
During the delivery Of this terrible philippc-made
much more severe by his emphatic manner of speak
ing-I expected every moment to see Seward skulk
from the Senate Chamber in shame and confusion.
But he braved it all, and in reply, protested so
piteously against the humiliation to which he had
been subjected, that Mr. Crittenden was'completely
disarmed. predict it will be a long time before
Seward ventures to arouse Old Kentucky again. re
The Senate Chamber, during the whole of this de-
bate, which lasted from II to o'clock was crowded
with members Of the House, foreign Ministers, and
officers of the Government-and the galleries were
thronged with ladies. $50 o. u
Friday, in both Houses, was, consumed in the con-
sderation of private bills. Among those passed by
the House was one for the relief of John s. Pendleton
Of Virginia. Minister to one of the South American
republics, under an appointment of President Harr-
son. He has been for ten twelve years, pleading
in vain for even ordinary JUSTICE and his case is by
means unusual Many persons, wearied out with the
indifference and negligence of Congress, have actually
surrendered claims upon the Government which were
clear and indisputable. The Court of Claims was es
tablshed to remedy the evil but it is of little avail in
that respect. Both Houses adjourned over from Fri
day to Monday. r..
Yesterday, the birthday of Henry Clay, was eele-
brated with great spirit at Slash Cottage, Hanover
county, Virginia-distant only four miles from the
spot where Mr.. Clay was born. A large number Of
distinguished gentlemen from this city went down,
and met with still larger delegation from Rich
mond Eloquent and patriotic speeches were made
by Senators Butler Crittenden, Douglas and Jones of
Tennessee, Hon. John Minor Bolts, of Virginia, and
Mr.. Cushing of the Cabinet. It was a glorious re-
union of men of all parties, assembled to pay the tri
Clay.
1t would appear from Mr.. Marcy's summary dispo-
sal Of the Central American question, by informing
Congress that there has been nothing newt received
at the State Department in relation to it, that the
matter was at an end. Such indeed the impression
that Mr. Marcy is trying to produce But 50 far from
that being the case it is generally considered by
those who have paid attention to recent political de-
veopments in Central America that we are just at
the beginning Of stirring times in that part of the
continent. In addition to the significant movements
Of Great Britain, the landing Of $4,000 French troops
at Guadaloupe does not seem to wear altogether a
pacific aspect. The war in the East in which the three
great powers of Europe have been involved, appears
now to be on to the point of termination. Following
upon the heels of this announcement comes the news
that Great Britain has annexed to her India possess
ions the province of Dude. 70 suppose that Great
Britain and France will remain quiet spectators of
the struggle between repubicanism and despotism in
Central America, is to suppose what nothing in their
past history ustities. Great Britain first subugated
the province Of Dude, and then annexed it because
the people did not govern themselves according to
the liberal principles of the age. And yet Mr.. Marcy
finds liberal principles already implanted in Nicara-
qua by another and he refuses even to recognize the
movement A new order of things has been insti.
tuted in Central America, revolutions have COM
menced and are still progressing, and the European
powers are watching with jealous scrutiny every de-
velopment Of the contest. In the midst of it, Mr..
Marcy is sereney calm and utterly obliyious Of what
is passing around him. Hscoolness and nonchalnnce,
were they not affected, would have no parallel in
ancient or modern history The negrowho was struck
on his head by q brick from high house, and who
looked up and quietly remarked that he thought he
heard chip fall or the philosophic smalbones i'm
mortalized in of Maryatts novels, who swallowed
an of arsenic and remarked that it only gave
him "a slight twinge in the stulnmick," are the best
historical exemplars of our illustrious Premier.
doubt whether he would have yet heard of our wal
with Mexico had not his malignity towards Genera
Scott prompted him to court martial that officer, ever
in the midst Of his most splendid successes. "The
times change and we change with them" is an old
and n received AXIOM Mr.. Marcy is an exception
He is the same Marcy now that he always has beer
and always will be, usque I'D .fnene.
The belief is gaining ground here that Mr. Buchanan
will be choked off by the combined exeltions of the
other Presidential aspirants There has BEEN of late
a very decided manifestation of hostility to old Buck
My impression is that what left undone by the poll
ticians here, will be finished by the two-thirds rule
and that Mr. Buchanan will be again shelved If SO
Pennsylvania is good for Fillmore against any Other
m hp thirty thnueand omn W.