The true Democrat., 1856-03-18
Letter from Washington.

R. Il. JOHNSON, esq., Dear Sr:-I have been here some time | and have teen patiently looking on. 1 find our members both in tbe Senate and House truly at their posts. in good health, ready for the emergency of the times. We truly have right to be proud of their zeal and energy. Rust's castigaton of Greeley has met favor ill nearly all quarters; he does not find it as comfortable to lash southern democrats, as the northern abotionists, who crouch at his pen l have doubts whether Judge Greenwood will return home, unless he is able to take d scalp or two from some of the black republicanS without this he could not look good demo- crat m the face, and especially north of the Arkansas river, possibly for the good of the democratic cause, and the affinity he has for some little urchlns, he may pass through that way to join Walker. TC be plain, he is desper- ate. Sebastian is chairman of Indian affairs, which at the present session gives much labor, as that committee at this time have several h. dian treaties before it, besides diverse claims against the government, all of which demands strict Investigation This, am of the opinion, he does with care from the confidence the Sem ate has in his reports; further you discover from the bills he has introduced, he Is fully in favor and desirous to aid in the navigation of the Arkansas and Red rivers Johnson is bu- sy, as you know he would not be otherwise. calm as summers morning, fully showing ! th diUnitv which hooop,aS n car,.or
 Speculation is running rife, as to who will be our next nominee for president. Buchanan IS spoken as having prominent position be-
 fore the people by his friends. have no doubt he would make good run, as he has long been looked to as a safe man by the democratic pN- ty. Pierce is largely spoken of in all circles that have mixed with Let me say | was present at the delivery of his inaugural address. lie then inspired my mind with his soundness, winch view has been substantated in the bold manner he met all factions, clearly with the constitution as his guide, and with 1t he has drove abolitioniStS and Kansas outlaws to the wall, and all that Is now wanted Is for the peo- pie to come to the aid ot the constitution aud its chief
 l hope our State convention will nominate the present incumbent for the next chief ma. gistrIte, which think clearly due him. True we have other sound men, but to assure the world that we fully appreciate honesty of pur- pose and integrity of miud, hope al exprcs- sion in his favor will be made
 Gen. Hempateai i- here, full of life and good humor, determined to know how the world wags on; also Col. Fowler, he is gool specimen of our race, boII and ardeut; with all this he has quite a humliating situat on here, and 1t mast be to his friends at the Rock to know he here has to take the hand of Gid- dinss Wilson, Greeley. and a hundred others of { the black republicans, and call them brothers. The most casual passer by can discover the inner man recoing at the sight, and excaim- ing, Absolom, Absolom my sou!.
 The Know Nothing convention is now on hand, we have much speculation, what kind ol plaster will be sufficient to hold the different discordant elements together. Since some of the Tennessee papers have come out in faver of ig- nofng the l2th section of the Philadelphia platform, this view is gaining some strength T his may be done, ignore the slavery question. the Missouri compromise, the Nebraska act slavery in the District of Columbia, the Catho- lie test the foreign test and all. other signs and grips, and they will have such rckctv concern no man will dare take passage, for the good reason the people have become ieal- ous of their rights. And, at the next election, every candidate will have to fully define his position, and should 1t have the hand writing or the impress on the wall of Know Nothing ism or black republicansm, l am certain it will be no go in the south. Much is said in Congress, and out, as to the pruning of the naval board; in the main good thing no doubt. To give you an idea of the anxiety mani fested on the two last days balIotngs for speak er would be idle, so great was the scramble for a situation ill the lobby, suppose never has been, by all grades, sizes and sects. Nearly the same run was acted over when the printer was elected.
 suppose the country is looking for but lit tie during this Congress; in this am satisfied they will not be disappointed
 To-day the papers from Philadelphia inform us of much confusion on the 18th nstamong the Know Nothing party organized in council At night the southern Know Nothings held a meeting, and resolved they would not strike out the 18th section of the Philadelphia plat. form. The northern Know Nothings at the same time in caucus declared they would not go for any man, for President, that was in favor of the 18th section. think it very possible on this rock they will split and after this meet ing will be the last of nationality with this ! rarty.
 1 am in favor of yielding nothing no po- Hey to be consulted, as to what State Mir. Buch | anan, or any other man can carry but at once take the man that is pledged to the constitu- ton, and the rights of the people, Pierce has fully done this, his correspondence with the | Governor of Kansas and lis message to Con- gresss has fully satisfied the minds of the most doubting, has taken ground occupied by Mir. | Calhoun in '32 and '33, true another branch | of our rights, but precisely the same in prnci- pie. which was sanctioned and acted on in '46. | so far as the tariff is concerned, the same prin- ciple ad vocated by R. w. Johnson in 1850 | through his letter home, that the Union would and ought to dissolve, rather than the abolition ists should rule, which nearly caused his de- feat at the next election. What has been the result in our State since? Johnson better than a year since standing on the same platform received the entire vote of both branches of our legislature, fol the unexpired term, and for full term to the United States Senate. So stands the case with Quitman and Davis, repu- diated in 1851 for the same doctrine; and in | 1855 by the same people elected nearly Lr Taka tbic oourca onl a,.