Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-28
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Nv a
Jefferson Davis.-We extract the following
paragraphs from a Washington letter in the
New York Herald of Wednesday, the 18th in
slant:
WASHINGTON, March "A, 1857.
L have had long conversation with Gov.
Geary In relation TO the late proceedings in
Kansas He has not yet received any intima.
ton from the President whether his resigua-
tion has been accepted or not, but he hopes it
will be, as mueh of his prestige in Kansas has
been destroyed by the Vaccinations of Mr.
Davis, the late Secretary OF War.
Governor Geary tells me that for weeks be-
fore he was aware Of the fact, the border ruff
fans in the streets of Lecompton openly an
nounced that his power was broken and that
he was used up. He heard of these boasts
frequently, but believed il was nothing but
brsg, as he had received no intima, ion from
President Pierce that q change Of policy had
been determined on ard new orders issued to
General Persifer Smith not to give him the
aid Of the troops. When the contingency did
occur, and he called upon Gen. Smith for a
company 10 prevent An anticipated riot, be
was answered that he could not have them,
and that all the troops in the Territory had
been detailed for other and distant services
be thus found himself suddenly abandoned
and Poweriess AZ tho very moment when q
steady perseverance in the policy be had adopt
ed was necessary to secure the permanent peace
Of the Territory.
Since his arrival here, Governor Geary has
been assured by ex President Pierce that this
course OF the War Department towards him
was adopted without a knowledge on his part
OF all the facts, and with deception in relation
70 others. The whole move is evidently q cor.
uivance Of JEFF. Davis, and it brings Mr. b.
chansn at once into collision with the policy
Of the Southern Ere eaters.
The rest Of this correspondents aspersions
upon General Davis not being german to
these untruthful statements of Gov Geary
concerning his (G,n. D.'s) acts, we, of course,
pass over them as not being Of importance to
our subject in hand.
After seaIsful examination of the charges
of Governor Geary, in connection with the
oficial history Of the operations Of the Army
of the United States in the Territory of
Kansas, during his CGeary's) sojourn there,
We have satisfied ourself that there is not q
shadow OF foundation for his unealled- for and
untrue aspersiOns upon General Davis, Nor
have We any belief that his report Of q con-
vsrfstiOn with ex President Pierce is true.
General Davis wrote not q word to General
Persifer Z. Smith while the latter was in
command Of the troops in Kansas, which is not
on file in the War Department; nor did he
give tina, officer, directly or indirectly, sin
gle order that has not been long since pub.
hshed. We refer the, reader to pages %, 2e,
30 and 81, Of House Document No 1, Third
Session Of the Thirty-fOu Congress, where
he viii End all the instructions of the Secrs
tary Of War to Brevet Major General P. r.
Smith, c. s. A commanding the department
Of the West, relative to civil affairs in the
Territory Of Kansas; and for the narrative of
events In that quarter, so far as the Army is
concerned, during Gov. Geary's administra.
tieA, We refer the reader to the same docu.
nsNt, from page 50 TO 14s, inclusive. In Sen.
ate Document No %. First Session. Thirty.
fourth Congress, at pages 50, 81, 80 and 80,
the reader will find the instructions of the
Secretary of War to the commanding officers
Of Forts Lesvenworth and Riley, and the pro-
ciamation Of the President mentioned in the
letter of the Secretary Of War 10 Gen Smith,
dated June Hrh, 1856.
Under such circumstances a a nerusa, NJ
OF these documents discloses, We feel verv snre
that General Persifor z. Smith did not refuse
to Gov. Gssry the use of the troops of the Uni.
led States for any legitimate purpose 1.-The
asked for body guard to attend him in the
midst Of the people he was appointed to gov.
ern, it could not have been granted, there be.
Ing neither Law nor precedent for any such use
of troops Of the United States. Tho only or
dsrs Of tho War Department upon which the
most sinister mind could base such misreprs.
sensations as those Of Governor Geary to the
n"a4e' Washington correspondent, are one
uong hnce fubiished) directing a movement
70 DC executed next summer, by troops in
Aansas; CT an order issued directing q NOV.
nsnt OF troops now or then In Nebraska n
o'egoh Aeffhory, which order has since been
eo0ntermahded, and the troops in question
nave been ordered, instead. to Jefferson Ba,.
racks
The truth Is, Geary accepted the Govs,,o,-
ship Of Kansas In the belief tina, hs oon,a -.
ginesr himself into the United State. SAINT.
from the Territory when admitted, a. a Stat.
into the Union. He, however, soon found !,
impossible to supplant ex-senator Atchison,,
and DR.. 5tringfellow's prospects Of Carrying
Of the Senatorial prizes, if looking 70 the SUP.
port Of the Law and order party of the Terri
tory. 20 he quickly changed his tactics
placing his reliance on the favor Of the Aboli.
ton party there This 10 apparent not only in
his Astounding revelations" whispered into
the "lug" of this and that Washington CORES
Pondsns Of newspapers inimical to the Demo
craHe party and the National Administration
out In late publications in the st. Louis Dem
oeTat, evidently smsnating from him, and DC
one si'e' Kseder's dishonest eupidity ha,
haf0iy involved that individual in position
worse than that in which Gsary ends hipsslf,
though tho maehinstions Of bis own foolish
ambition guided by his own weak mind and
the copnsels Of ner.ons "a. x..k :. :