New-York daily tribune., 1856-04-24
MATTERS IN WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, Tuesday, April %, 1856.
This was the day set aside for Mr.. Houston's
reply TO Mr.. Clayton on the proceedings of the
Naval Board, but as the latter was absent from
indsposition the chyalry of the former prevailed,
and his threatened personalities were reserved for
some future occasion. At best, these exhibitions,
10 matter under what proyocation they may orlgl-
nate are dsparaging to the dignity OF the Senate,
and by no means serviceabe 10 the character OF
those who see fit TO engage in them. 1t Is time
they were checked, and the former reputation OF
that body revived, by some Difference to the
marked dspleasure which the country has evinced
toward scenes which are both discredltable and
humhating.
The present purpose of the Naval Committee in
the Senate is TO report all the pending nominations
occasioned by the action OF the Board, and thus
bring the i sue of confirmation or rejection directly
where il belongs. An attempt will be made IN that
body to postpone action indefinitely, in the hope OF
an accruinp advantage which is anticipated to result
from the failure to adopt either alternative. But
there are members ON that floor who while OPP
posed to the whole proceedings of the Board, VIII
not resort 10 such indrectOn for any possible pen
eft They are honest and brave enough TO vote
against all the promotions upon principle, now
ever much they may respect the particular lndlVld-
usls who happen 10 be involved. And it is only
fair TO all parties that this manly and straghtior
ward course should be pursued. The Senate
should meet cases in this category upon their broad
merits or defects and either emphaticay reject or
confirm according 10 their convictions. The ques-
lions connected with this matter are embarrassing
in every aspect, and more so TO the Senate, oe-
cause it so occurs that almost every member oi 'ha'
4 i. ] :. Z .t fpHr
claim of constituency. 60,
A leading southern man. of large political ex.
perence and acknowledged sagacity who has just
returned from tour through the states OF Norlh
Carolina Tennessee and Kentucky, expresses
confident opinion as the result OF hlS o0serNa-
hOn and inquiry, that if the Antl,Nebrasks men
select some such candidate as J0hn Mclean Ior
President, and John Bell or Sam houston ior
Vice President the whole clamOr OF secIlOhalN
will be destroyed, and Nationsl complexion
given TO the ticket which will wholly eXnnsulSa
Mr.. Fillmore sLOu Il he persist IN being rag
mentary candidate There is force in this sugSes
tiOn-nOt particularly as applied 10 the Sou'h'
from which no very material assistance can oe "a
fected under the most propitious circumstance
out with reference 10 large ana Important III,
ferest in the Free States, which. while opposed
10 the Nebraska business in all It's phases Is essen
italy conservative and must be addressed through
acsndidatc Of tried character and Acknowledged
weight with the country. 1t Is very wei uhucr-
stood here that Judge Mclean entertalns the opi1'
ion that the Missouri Compromise was constitu
iiOnal and it's repeal was violation of iai'h ana
compact Neither is it any secret that ne recog'
hlies Dow. as he has always heretofore done, tle
night Of Congress to pronibit Slavery in the Ier'-
tories, deriving it from the police power by when
hat or any other exclusion might be exercised:
IN word, without being ObnoN.ously ldeniihed
With the issue, lie is as sound upon it as any who
figured more prominently in the contest and per
hsp more so than some OF its proiessed cham
P'ons. At all events his views have been most
hsnkly expressed throughout and while they have
sO' been obtruded upon the public his friends have
seen aware that they could be obtained on any
Proper occasion.
iae Dsacieucy bill was pretty well closed up TO-