Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-12-11
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

| The Cabinet and virginia.-The extent 70
which the stories concerning the alleged re-
cent action of the Electoral College OF VAR
| ginia, lin assuming to recommend appoint
ments to the President elect) have damaged
the reputation of their State, is beginning to
manifest itself in the comments of outside
nevspapers We have seen the subject alluded
to in perhaps fifty journals already, wherein
It has been the topic Of derogatory remarks.
We regret its occurrence, more especially be-
cause it has afforded many who have no kind
feeling for the Old Dominion, her honored his
| tory and her honored sons, to cast slurs upon
thsm all Doubtless, the acts of the electors
in this connection wero the result simply of a
generous sentiment of good fellowship, with
out thought Of their effect upon the popular
| sense Of propriety; and wo are satisfied from
| what VIC know Of those gentlemen (the VIr-
ginia electors that were the thing to DO done
over again, they would one and all be clear
of engaging in any such work.
While we are upon this subject we may not
| inappropriateIy allude to the current misrep-
reservations in Northern journals concerning
alleged chickering's of tho Virginians at home
and in this city, with reference to the person.
mel and policy of the incoming administration
Though individual Democratic citizens of the
Old Dominion, Of course entertain preferences
| for different gentlemen as Cabinet Ministers,
the idea OF any concerted action among them,
| in order to effect the cast of Mr.. Buchanan's
| council, without an invitation from him to that
ond is simply absurd. Yet to believe the
New York Herald ct al, will be to believe
that all Virginia is doing little else just now
but cahOodling, as explained above. The
distant public may put in its pipe and smoke
all the RerGtI's wonderful stories Of this sort
There is not the least foundation for them
not the slightest. When her real public men
may be asked by the President elect for ad-
vice with reference to tho complexion of his
Government, they will doubtless respond; as,
otherwise, responsibility for its failure 70
square with their ideas OF what may be boz
for the public interest if it should so turn out)
in its formation, might rest with them. until
then, as gentlemen in their positions should
do, they will refrain from thrusting advice,
unasked, which could amount to nought but
petitions, on the President elect, whom it is no
part of their policy to embarrass after any
such fashion:
If in the selection of his constitutional ad-
visers he shall deem it to be v Use to ask any
such counsel, the reader may rely on it that
it will be given only after due consultation,
not only among themselves, but with the lead.
ing Democratic public men Of other Southern
States, as keenly alive as themselves to what
they deem to be the necessity for keeping the
Ship of State, while under Democratic com
manI, true TO the old land marks of the faith
as administered by her own sons in the Presi-
aency, and as c"utended for By every genera
ton Of them to the present hour We state
these facts that strict cOnstructionists at dis,
TANGO may comprehend that nothing will be
done In the namo Of Virginia in any such
matter, by those who may be fairly supposed
to have light to act formally in her name
on such point, likely to leopard the cause of
State rights, strict construction and rigid
economy, which has been the shibboleth of the
Southern Democracy since the existence of the
Democratic party.
The Panama Railroads.&c. disclosures
Of the Postmaster Generals report concerning
the difficulties his Department has had to
contend with in relation to the mail service
performed by this railroad company, are open
ing the eyes Of the public to the necessity for