New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-08
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 1856.

with the same ubilant confidence in the perpeuity OF
the Union, and the expansive glory and grandeur OF
the Republic, as when he last left it. Our gallant
leader-the protector and defender of the Union-has
been struck down. The array of sectional parties has
crushed him as between the upper and the neither
mlstones. For the first time in the history OF the
nation have we Union segregated by geographical
boundaries. That it will continue to be Union long
under such circumstances may be, and u.s. a hope
cherished by many. But their faith, l confess, is
greater than mine
Washington, at this time, exhibits all the custom
ary evidences of the approach of session. The
avenues, usually presenting the appearance Of some
banquet hall deserted during the recess, now begin
to swarm with the masses who regularly congregate
here during the winter Coteries Of members may be
seen at the and in the halls of the hotels,
busily engaged in discussing the probabilities of the
future. Scores Of agents. lobby-men and political
Adventures generally, throng the highways. III
Short the congressional carnival has regularly com
| menced, and will remain in full blast until new
President assumes the robes Of office, and the old
one, like Mrs. GumnidBe, Ga lone, lorn creetur,'
retires to the obscurity of private station.
As may be supposed, the principal topic of con-
verston in political circles is the composition of the
new Cabinet. Though it is yet three months i'll adj
vance OF the time conjecture is busy with the names
of future Cabinet officers. There is scarcely fifth
rate man in any section of the Union, whose Jealous
and Oyerpartia friends have not proclaimed as COM
pretending every virtue necessary for State service
You may Judge of the depth of the descent into OBJ
security which these partsans have made in search OF
Cabinet material when I mention that even John w.
Forney and Charles James Faulkner, of Virginia,
have been Wanted peculiarly fit for seats around
the Presidential Council Board.
| From what l hear conclude that not even Mr..
Buchanan himself has definitely arranged his Cabinet
From some private assurances that have received,
it is Mr. Buchanan's intention am very confident to
tender the Secretaryshp of State to Gen. Cass His
term in the Senate will expire the 4th of March,
and the Black Republican Legislature of Michigan
will not reclect him. Some have supposed that Gen
Cass would not accepta Cabinet seat if offered to him.
But this think, is an error. The old General has
been in public station all his life, and has chronic
passion for office Barring his bitter hostility to the
British Government, and his penchant for Gen
Cass would make an excellent Secretary. Familiar
with European politics, and the diplomacy of Euro
pcan courts. it would he difficult for any foreign
power to get the advantage Of him in negotiation
Though older in years. he is not 50 old in fOgyism as
Mr.. Marcy-nor has he the timid, pddling policy
which characterizes Marcys craftsmanship.
Strange as it may appear, an effort will be made to
retain Mr. Marcy in the Premiership of the new ad
ministration-an effort inauguratcd and to be kept
up mainly by those who oppose and affect to dcspse
! the regeneratiye movements Of Walker in Central
| America. The keynote Of this change has already
been sounded in several quarters. Such movement
no one anticipates will lie successful.
For the remaining seats in the Cabinet the chances
are that Thompson, of New Jersey, Bayard, Of Della
ware, and Floyd, of Virginia, will be of the number
chosen. 1t is understood tibet Senator Sldel, of
louisiana has the refusal Of any position he may de-
sire But he will not go into the Cabinet. The mis-
sion to France is what he wishes and will accept, ii
any decent pretext be found for recalling Mason.
But the construction of the Cabinet, as well as the
general policy of the administration, will be de
tcrnined in great measure, by the legislation Of the
! present session.
Already the Democracy arc agitated by internal
! discussions and antagonstic interests The strict
constructionists Of the Virginia and South Carolina
school are ineXpressibly gravecd at Mr.. Buchanan's
open advocacy of the constitutional power to build
railroad to the Pacific with the means of the Federal
Government. Nor can they admit the consistency of
Democratic denials of the power to make appropra-
tons to rivers and harbors, with the actual practice
of Democratic majority i'll the Senate, in over-rung
the Presidential veto of bills of this character. On
this rock the amocratic party of the nation is bound
inevitably to 81 to pieces-eycn there no con
trareity Of opinion among them as to the question OF
slavery in the Territories. Nothing has kept them
together long as this, but that agent which Mr.
Calhoun graphically and sententously denomnatcd
the cohesive power Of the public plumber"
The question of the admission of Kansas will be
aF
Congress from the North were elected the issue of
Kansas being inevitably free State, under the ope-
ration of Douglas bill. Such may be the case hut
the South, having already lost its equality with the
North in the House, can only expect to maintain
it in the Senate In this view is essential to South
ern equality in the Senate that Kansas be a slave
State The result then must necessarily be, either
that the Northern Democracy will be driven into the
ranks of Freesoism by the admission Of Kansas as
Stare Stute--or the partisans of the South Caro-
lima school of secessionists and dsnionists already
potent in numbers and character will receive such
addition to their ranks to make them the predomi-
nant party in the South, if Kansas should be admitted
as a free State. On whichever side we turn, the
prospect is gloomy and portentous.
While this state of affairs is appreciated by the
thinking men of the Democracy, the rank and file,
and the oiccseekors, are making themselves ridcu-
ouS by magnificent celebrations of the election Of Mr.
Buchanan honires torchligh professions, and other
demonstrations Of party enthusiasm. Such celehla-
ton was had here day or two ago by the dlsrAn-
chiscd citizens of this metropolis. 1t gotten up
by otfcc.hoders and ofiicc-scekers-the former, to
retain their places; and the latter to Dust the present
occupants Some idea of the raernal feeling exist
ing among them may be formed from the fact that at
preliminary meeting which they held for the pur-
pose Of making arrangements, regular fight enScd
arising from the mutual jealousy Of those who wished
to lie the leaders and the science Of puglism and
1.-THE manly art Of sclfdctcnce" were Illustrated in a
manner which would have done credit to q Sullivan
or Hyer. AS for the procession itself, it comprised
a mosaic patchwork Of every nation on earth. The
confidential intimateS of the President himself walked
arm in arm with Patrick, and Michael. and Hans
fresh from their lapidaly labors on the public
buildings.
| have a suspicion that some double dealing and
trcnchery contemplated by the Administration to
wards Walkers government in Nicaragua. Further
Developments will be made, perhaps, in the l'resi
dents message, which will be communicated to both
Houses Tomorrow ESSEX.
The White Mountains may now be seen cIa''in then
winter costume The soft white brilliauCE ui crnnt