New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-22
FROM WASHINGTON
epplauded
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.

w ASHIN6ION, Oep, IL, lco|'
The recent bifuication of the California overland
mail route does lot change the original sectional
character of the arrar g. ment. The order of the
18th inst. recites that if the contractors SHALL in
writing, request permission to carry the mails from
st. Louis by way of Springfield 10 the southwest
part Of Missouri, Fort Smith and Fayetteville in
Arkansas, to Preston in Texas, instead of by the
way of Little Rock, they may do so. So far as
directness Of route is concerned it can make little
difference whether the St. Louis branch DIVORCES at
Little Rock OF Preston. From the latter point to
Ell Paso the line of conveyance descends two de-
grees. 1t reaches latitude thrty-One and half
omewbere in the Gadsden purchase, and again
ascends to latitude thirty-eight in California. This
circuit seems to have been adopted for the purpose
Of keeping the service as much as possible within
lave territory, and to secure the building of Pa.
cific railroad OH the most southern route.
1t appears that the contractors are to be allowed
year from the acceptance of this new proposal for
the preparations necessary to begin the service.
The enterprise is already regarded as failure, and
there is no doubt that the whole subject will come
before Congress for review before the first attempt
is made to perform the contract. All persons ac-
auainted with the region of country trayersed by
tie lice ridicule the suggestion that the journey can
be made within the twenty-five days required by
law.
The Naval Courts of Inquiry are again active, and
the most alduous duty Of our OVerwOrked, iD-paid
and much abused officers seems to be, to attend
upon these august tribunals, and give testimony in
tie cases Of their aggrieved brethren Many Of ths
uDfOrtunates, indeed, most OF those VINO have sp-
Piled for reinstatement in the rank held before the
action of the Board which excluded them from the
active list, are confident that the President will re-
store them to their former positions 1t said that
not more than half of the officers affected by the
law creating the retired list have applied for relief
The hopes and prospects Of ex.AttOrney-General
Clifford have been much dampened by the Maine
election. His pretensOns to the vacant seat on the
Supreme bench, or to Toucey's place in the Cabinet
would have been strengthened had the people of
Maine returned to their allegiance to sound niger
Democracy. But it would BOT be in conformity with
the plant character of Mr.. Buchanan to disgust his
Southern patrons by favors to members of a com
munity who show themselves regardless of their
duties to the Union and the Constitution" as
Maine has done for the last three years.
Brother Schell of the Custom House has been
here comforting with Mr.. Cobb in regard to the
oyerrulDg of his decisions, which have become so
frequent as to be seriously alarming. The reduc-
tion of duty on plads and figured wooden goods,
claimed by the importers to belong to the class of
fanDes from "a to 10 per cent, will have no incon-
siderable effect upon the revenue.
Mr.. Schell does not propose to dismiss many of
the Pierce Democrats until after the election. The
original Buchanan men are expected to attest their
devotion to principle and their experiences as cleo
tiOneerers before being put upon the Administrations
payroll. This policy will DO doubt add some thou
sands to the Wood majority in the city, as the ser
vices not only of all the patriots who are ill., but OF
all who expect to get in, will thus be secured Mr..
ScheFs course with reference to the Custom House
boys is entirely approved.
1t is not yet easy to say who wins in Mexico in the
struggle for the Tehuantepec grants. Benj.m
who is general agent for schemerS, is attorney for
HargOus, who, as assignee of Garay's rights, was
originally opposed to both the Sloo and Louisiana
compaDys cOtere. But Mr.. HargOus judging that
the combination Of New. Orleans interests would be
too strong for him, very shrewdly bought the Fal.
cOnette leI upon the SOo contract and then united
himself with La Sere and his associates Whatever
advantages result from the new shuttle and deal will
probably be shared by him. In the mean time,
Tehuantepec appears likely to rise like a soap bub-
bic and explode like stock bubble. PEMAQUID.