New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-29
FROM WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Dec. q, 1867.
1t is pretty well determined that Nathan Cliff.
ford must pass muster as Judge of the Supreme
Court. Since the President was known to have
appointed him from personal partiality, rejection
would have involved az much discredit upon one az
upon the other. Hence when Mr.. Hale opened
bis raking brOadside, steps were at once taken to
repair the damaging effects, and every influence
exerted to secure bis confirmation. To that end,
the favor of Chief Justice fancy and some of his
colleagues was impressed, and they have certified
Mr. Clifford would make respectable and accept.
able Judge. Democratic Senator'S who were
inclined to reject have yielded under such per-
suasion, ard the nomination will go through with
some twenty or more negative votes on the
has ever been subjected. In strong party times
nominees for the Judgeship were rejected for po-
ltical reasOns-Mr Crittenden among Others-but
instance will be done.
The Administration is greatly exercised at the
turn of things in Kansas, and Cabinet meetings,
Senatorial conferences and the like are OF frequent
and sudden occurrence. As yet no information has
reached here verifying the rumOr of bloody con-
Hct but the indications point to such catastropba
as by no means improbable, il not actually impe1l
ing. General Harvey has posted troops at points
where the least collision would lead to blOodshed,
and with the Interpretation given to rebellion"
sucha collision might be provoked with little If any
cause If the Free.State men decided not TO psrtl.
cipate at all in the election the 2lst, it WAS Of
course ne-sided affair which involved no contest,
and therefore nothing but wilful and medtsted
outrage could lead to disturbance.
@ Every influence from this quarter wss exerted to
poll large vote for the LecOmptOn Constitution,
or rather for the clause a. without Slavery" and
emssares were dispatched to the Territory with tho
Kansas portion of the Presidents Message before it
was delivered TO Congress, in order to accomplish
that resut-the object being to arrest the Northern
detection in the Democracy, and to Kill of Douglas
by flank movement These agents report that the
vote NAV reach five or six thousand, but other IN
telliQence dscredts this sanguine estimate, even
with the polls in the hands OF Calhoun and bis con-
federates.
The great cause Of apprehension here is that the
election ordered BY the Legislature will completely
.xtingrish the pretensions of that under the Con-
yenton, and show up in trle colors the gross frauds
heretofore perpetrated, well as the actual dspar-
ity between the Free-State and Pro-Slayery inter-
ests. And in order to provide for such probable
contingency. and give the Administration tocus
p,nitentio, il will be observed that Gen. Denyers
instructions extended protection to this election
like the other, and that Mr.. Biger and other Sena-
tors as well as The Union, have asked delay for the
DEVELOPMENTS from Kansas before making any fur
ther committals. And Mr.. Douglas. not TO be out
done in the way Of warning, suggested the other
day that when the LecOmpton Constitution came
here, Southern gentlemen might not be so zealou
in their support of the Presidents policy, referring
10 the scheme of nominally prohibiting Slavery.
Applying the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty,
if the majority of the people of Kansas vote down
the Constitution, under authority of law conferred
by a Legislature admitted to be legal, Congress
dare not admit Kansas with the LecOmPton con,
trivance. And as the returns OF bott elections VIII
be- sent to Congress direct, and not to the Presl-
dent. he will escape the responsibility Of making a
recommendation for either. Though committed 10
Lecompton, he cannot pursue 1t beyond certain
point, even though the returns should aPPareTy
figure out vote as imposing as II was ordered ~
BIZ. What then viii follow The elections being
a nurty Mr.. Douglas will seize that occasion 10
press his enabling act as the means OF extrcation.
and of presenting himself as the Great Pscracator
"a character which Clay, Webster and Others pei
sonated to such little practical advantage.
Whenever that point in the game IL reached, the
Administration viii combine al its force direct and
Indirect in opposition, upon the ground that II is IN
PREVENTION, and that the people Of Kansas have a
right 10 form their institutions In their own way
That is to be the argument BY which the tables are
TO be turned upon Douglas, with the Nebraska bill
as the ever Looking ahead little beyond me
mist of these complications, the prospect Is thst
the session will expire without any satisfactory
legislation for Kansas; and the fear and expectation
in court circles is that the Legislature VIII order
new Convention, frame Constitution, form State
Government, elect Senators under it, to appear here
next Winter with q demand for admission. They
are willing to give an enabling act if Douglas VII
repeal so much Of the Nebraska bill 81 authorizes
the people to regulate their Own institutions taell