The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-24
NO. $50.
WASHINGTON ITEMS.

rension of one or two houses. Of the Bank of
Commerce, the Star remarks
"In the mesn time, we hear, its propretors
lave taken steps to obtain from distance, at
once coin sufficient to enable them to pay off
al The checks and drafts which they have so far
dshonored for the time being. They of course
continue to cash their issues on demand. The
partners in the Bank of Commerce are well
Known as among the wealthiest persons in this
region, and having determined at once to OBJ
tain all the actual money that may be neces-
sary to pay eff every demand that can be
brought against their institution, the public of
the District will be satisfied that their embar-
rassrnent can be of but snort duration.
We learn from the Philadelphia North Amer.
;eaa that Gas late as the 7th of August, at
which time the Minnesota was spoken at sea,
cur new Minister to China was in good health,
ard had had pleasant and prosperous voyage.
At the rate the vessel was going, and making
due allowances for stoppages to coal, it was
probable the Minnesota would be in the Chi
nese waters about the lst of November, at
which time negotiations will most likely have
reached proper point for American co-opera
ton Mr.. Reed expresses the highest satisfac-
the ship"
Official advices have been received from
Commander Foote, of the sloop of war Ports
mouth, dated off Menam river, Siam, June l6.
On arriving, he proceeded in the Kings steam
er 10 Bankok, with Consul Bradley, the bearer
Of the treaty concluded between the United
States and Siam. During their stay, they we're
presented to the two Kings Of the country, and
received with marked consideration by all the
members of the Court. The second King visit
ed the Plym outh-the first instance of King
of Siam going on board of foreign vessel.
The Kings sent present of lamp oil, rice, SUI
gar, dried fish, and fruit to the ship, for which
payment was positively declined. Commander
Foote is Of the opinion that the treaties be-
tween Siam, and Great Britain, France, and the
United States, are rapidly developing the re-
s5u,ces Of that country Several vessels were
leaving for the United States with sugar, the
chief staple of the country.
OF the sixty millions of domestic specie ex-
ported during the year ending the 3Oth Of
June, thrty-one millions and nearly third was
bullion. And of the upward of twelve million
and a half of specie imported, little less than
half million was bullion. The above state
men: makes more specific the official table re-
Gently published.
William r. Calhoun, Of South Carolina, has
been appointed Secretary of the Legation at
Paris, in place of o. Jennings Wise, of Virgin.
a. resigned.
Associste Justice Curtis has been officially
notified OF the acceptance Of his resignation to
a seat in the Supreme Court of the United
States The President through the Attorney
General, thanks him for pos.poning the time
for it TO take effect, until the first of October.
The United States practice-ship Plymouth
was at Lisbon on the 18th of August. The
ordnance practice was continued during the
voyage There was in port large Dutch veg
gel, which had on board a number Of midship-
men who had passed the first stage of service
ia smaller vessels.
ELEcrIoYEERING.-Th Daily Ne,os of New
York, and the Administration organ in that
great city, calls upon the supporters of the Ad-
ministration party to make their contributions
to carry on the State election campaign. The
Star OF this city remarks upon this:
GLOW much better would it be for all parties,
Il the modern system of electioneering, re-
curing the expenditure Of large sums of money,
we're done away with. What becomes of the
hundreds, thousands, and tens and hundreds of
thousands. collected over the country, for such
purposes? Some of it goes legitimately to pay
for printing and the use of teams on election
day; the rest for the most part to the keepers
of grog shops and to persons hired to play the
rowdy ruffa for the occasion, or who profess
to be able to influence the votes of rowdy ruff
fans, or others equally unfit to exercise the
right Of suffrage inteligibly and conscientiously.
"In Virginia, and south of that State, the
use of party funds for any such purpose is COM
paratively unknown. One consequence of that
state of things is evident in the universally -ad
mitted fact, that the odor of corruption in Pc
cuuiary legislation has never yet attached it.
self, directly indirectly, to the skirts of any
one honored with a seat in Congress from either
Of these States. When candidates for Office are
expected to buy votes, even indirectly, with
money, it is not wonderful that they soon come
to see no wrong in buying nominations nor
any in selling their official integrity, now and
then, after election"
These remarks are Just, and deserve praise
among al honorable men. But were it not for
the "rowdy rufians" and the /" grog Shops"
We imagine the Administration victories in GER
tain Northern States would be nowhere. How
would bis Honor Fernando Wood contrive to
gain majority of the votes of the citizens of
New York, were the use of these al-potent
weapons prohibited?
As to the Stars statement respecting Vir-
ginia and the other slave States we are skepti-
cal-the use of money in elections must be
known in the South; though the fact that the
Slavery interest overrides all others, and rem.
ders the success of the Administration party
almcs. certain, must in a measure do away with
that closeness CT political competition which is
SO provocative of bribery and corruption among
venal politicians.
a Kansas correspondent of the Charleston
Mercury writes as follows of the character of
the Constitutional Convention
:" have no hesitation in saying that an
overwhelming maj ority of the Convention about
10 assemble are in favor of positive slave
clause, and no reference. unless some new
scheme can be sprung, different from any now
known. Some delegates are instructed to refer
back the Constitution to the registered voters.
This most of us deem uuadvisable, and think
1t will not be persisted in. After formal in
PRODUCTION, these men will fall back upon no
ratification. But one delegate know of, is in.
structed to act upon Walkers reference. There
Is no use TO disguise the fact, that the instru-
nentalties placed in bis hands by the Admin
'stration, TO accomplish its purposes, have, to q